Textiles: ironing or smoothing – Smoothing implements – Flatirons
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-02
2001-11-27
Izaguirre, Ismael (Department: 3765)
Textiles: ironing or smoothing
Smoothing implements
Flatirons
C038S096000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321472
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an iron, and more particularly, to an improved heel rest and an improved sliding fill door for an iron.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Generally, the ironing of clothing occurs on an ironing board having a flat surface made from metal or wood. An ironing board cover is generally placed over the flat surface. However, when the soleplate of the iron contacts the surface of the ironing board, high temperatures result, which may cause the fabric being ironed to burn. As a result, padding is generally placed between the ironing board and the ironing board cover to function as insulation between the ironing board and iron. The padding may even be incorporated directly into the manufacture of the ironing board cover. The padding also serves an additional purpose of providing a smoother and softer surface to enable the iron to more freely and smoothly traverse the surface of the fabric.
Generally, when a person is adjusting the article to be ironed, the iron is left supported by the heel of the iron in an upright position. When the person is finished ironing, the iron is placed in an upright position on the ironing board. One reason for placing the iron in an upright position is because of the high temperatures that the soleplate of the iron attain, for example, temperatures greater than the boiling temperature of water. As a result, if the iron tips over onto the fabric being ironed, or tips over onto furniture or a carpet, burning or discoloring may result. In addition, a steam iron left in its vertical position may tip and leak water from the pores of the soleplate onto an item, such as the fabric being ironed, furniture or carpet, thus possibly staining the item. Accordingly, it is desirable to have an iron which will remain stable in its upright position.
Known irons include rear covers or heel rests having a shape or a configuration not conducive to providing stability to an iron in the upright position when placed on soft surfaces.
Generally, heel rests for irons are flat, smooth and may contain a plurality of ridges. Such irons are disclosed in Van Surksum, U.S. Design Pat. Nos. 316,621 and 317,519; Gudefin, U.S. Design Pat. No. 326,939; Stutzer, et al., U.S. Design Pat. No. 349,377; and Simmon, U.S. Design Pat. No. 349,378. Irons having a heel rest are also disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 03-075100-A and German Patent No. 20 54 327.
Irons having a generally flat heel rest tend to tip over on a soft padded surface, thereby possibly burning the person ironing the clothes or causing a fire hazard to the household.
In this regard, Hensel et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,619,812, having a common assignee herewith, attempts to overcome the disadvantages of the above heel rests. The iron of this patent includes a heel rest having a recess in the outer surface so that the iron will be less likely to tip over while in its upright position on a soft surface. In such case, as the weight of the iron forces the soft surface downwards, the portion of the soft surface directly underneath the recess moves upward to fill in the recess. As a result, the soft surface in the recess acts as a barrier in the recess to prevent the iron from tipping over. However, even with this heel rest, it is possible that some slippage may occur.
Further, many irons provide a fill opening at the top for filling the iron with water. In some irons, a door is placed over the fill opening to prevent water from spilling out during the ironing process. For example, McMullen, U.S. Pat. No. 4,233,763 and Kubicz et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,420 each disclose a fill door that is pivotally connected in overlying relation to the fill opening. However, such pivotal fill doors can be easily broken by a user and are not very stable.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an iron that overcomes the aforementioned deficiencies of prior art irons.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an iron with an improved heel rest to prevent the iron from tipping over.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an iron in which rubber feet are provided on the heel rest adjacent the recess.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an iron with a slidable fill door at an upper front portion thereof, in covering relating to the fill opening.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an iron includes a soleplate, a water tank connected to the soleplate for supplying steam to the soleplate, the water tank including a cavity for holding water, and a handle connected with the water tank. A rear cover is connected to a rear end of the water tank, the rear cover having a rear plate in covering relation to a rear portion of the iron, and the rear plate including an arrangement for stabilizing the iron in an upright position on a soft surface. Specifically, the arrangement includes a recess in an outer surface of the rear plate, and at least one non-slip foot extending from the outer surface of the rear plate.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an iron includes a soleplate, and a water tank connected to the soleplate for supplying steam to the soleplate. The water tank includes a cavity for holding water, a fill opening for filling the cavity with water, and a guide arrangement associated with the fill opening. A handle is connected with the water tank. A fill door is slidably mounted on the guide arrangement between a closed position in covering relation to the fill opening and an open position to permit filling of the cavity with water through the fill opening.
The guide arrangement includes parallel, spaced apart guide rails, and the fill door includes opposite lengthwise edges with grooves for riding along the guide rails. Preferably, the fill door has a part cylindrical shape. In addition, a housing is in surrounding relation to the water tank, with a gap therebetween, and the fill door slides within the housing in the open position. In this regard, the fill door includes a finger tab at an upper edge thereof for moving the fill door between the upper and lower positions, and for limiting sliding movement of the fill door within the housing.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, an iron includes a soleplate and a water tank connected to the soleplate for supplying steam to the soleplate. The water tank includes a cavity for holding water, a fill opening for filling the cavity with water, and a guide arrangement associated with the fill opening. A handle is connected with the water tank. A rear cover is connected to a rear end of the water tank, the rear cover having a rear plate in covering relation to a rear portion of the iron, and the rear plate including an arrangement for stabilizing the iron in an upright position on a soft surface. The arrangement includes a recess in an outer surface of the rear plate, and at least one non-slip foot extending from the outer surface of the rear plate. A fill door is slidably mounted on the guide arrangement between a closed position in covering relation to the fill opening and an open position to permit filling of the cavity with water through the fill opening.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2485955 (1949-10-01), Busch
patent: 4115935 (1978-09-01), Toft
patent: 5010664 (1991-04-01), Sakano et al.
patent: 5390433 (1995-02-01), Brady
patent: 5619812 (1997-04-01), Hensel et al.
patent: 5799421 (1998-09-01), Bouleau
patent: 166199 (1984-09-01), None
patent: 75097 (1984-04-01), None
patent: 1141692 (1989-06-01), None
Matthews Mark C.
Perko Stacie L.
Roberts Bruce R.
Vish Ronald J.
Izaguirre Ismael
Krame Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
Sunbeam Products Inc.
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