Stabilized ironing table

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for stabilizing an ironing table, comprising a weight and a hollow base member that holds the weight. The base member connects to the legs of an ironing table and extends outwardly from the legs. The weight in the base member adds mass to the lower portion of the ironing table, increasing the table's resistance to tipping or wobbling. In one aspect of the invention, the weight may be removed from the base member to decrease the overall weight of the ironing table when the table is being transported.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to ironing tables and more specifically to ironing tables with stabilizing components that reduce the potential for tipping.

BACKGROUND

[0002] In the present state of the art, ordinary ironing tables feature an ironing surface or board that is elevated above the floor by two or more legs. The legs are supported by base members or outriggers that extend outwardly from the legs to balance the table in a standing position. In this standing position, the board is elevated to allow an individual to iron clothing, linens and the like while the person is standing. The elevated board also prevents clothing and linens from contacting the floor when they are being ironed. Common ironing tables feature a light weight design to allow the table to be easily repositioned, transported and stored.

[0003] The light weight construction of ironing boards frequently makes them top heavy and creates problems with table stability and safety. Much of the table's weight is concentrated at the top of the table when the table is in a standing position. Top heaviness is even more apparent when an iron, clothing, and other objects are placed on the board, adding weight to the top of the table. Under such weight, the table's stability is limited by the configuration of the legs. In particular, the board is typically limited in width to approximately 15 inches, and the legs do not extend far beyond the perimeter of the board. Therefore, the weight of the board and its contents are balanced over a relatively small area. This arrangement makes the table very prone to tipping and rocking so that the table can be easily knocked over through inadvertent contact. If a hot iron is positioned on the table, tipping over the ironing table can lead to serious burns and other injuries.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In light of the foregoing, the present invention provides a more stable ironing table that offers the same utility and advantages of ordinary light weight ironing tables. The invention features a top board supported on a pair of legs. Base members or outriggers extend outwardly from the legs. The density of the base members is greater than the density of the legs. One way to increase the density of the legs is by weights. When the table is set up for use, the weights are inserted into cavities in the base members to increase table stability and reduce the potential for tipping or wobbling.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] The foregoing summary as well as the following description will be better understood when read in conjunction with the figures in which:

[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stabilized ironing table in accordance with the present invention; and

[0007] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a stabilizer used in the ironing table in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0008] Referring to FIGS. 1-2 in general, and to FIG. 1 specifically, a stabilized ironing table 10 is shown. Table 10 includes a generally horizontal board 20 and a pair of legs 30 that extend from the board. Legs 30 are pivotally connected with a pin 32. The pin connection 32 allows adjustment of the table between a standing position, in which the legs extend outwardly from board 210 to elevate the board above a floor, and a folded position, in which the legs collapse inwardly to allow the table to be stored. Table 10 uses a conventional latch release mechanism to adjust the table between the standing position and folded position. In FIG. 1, table 10 is shown in a standing position. A plurality of base members 40 extend from the lower end of legs 30. When table 10 is placed in a standing position, base members 40 concentrate the table's weight in the lower portion of the table to enhance stability and counteract top heaviness in the table. Base members 40 can have a variety of geometric configurations. In FIG. 1, base members 40 are illustrated as a pair of straight tubular members having a cylindrical cross section. Base members 40 are bisected by the lower ends of legs 30 and are connected to the legs by any connecting means known in the art. In FIG. 1, the base members 40 and legs 30 are connected by welding. Base members 40 extend along the floor in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the board.

[0009] The legs 30 comprise the vertical support for the table. The legs are formed of a material that is sufficient to support the weight of the ironing board 20 and the forces applied during ironing. However, preferably the legs are as light as reasonably possible to limit the weight of the table 10. Accordingly, preferably the legs 30 are formed of hollow rigid tubing, such as steel tube having approximately {fraction (1/16)}" thick walls.

[0010] As described above, the base members 40 comprise the lateral supports for the table 10. The base members 40 are designed to engage the floor surface when the table 10 is set up for use. In contrast to the vertical support legs 30, preferably the base members 40 are designed to have a relatively high density to lower the center of gravity of the table 10, thereby increasing the stability of the table. More specifically, preferably the base members 40 have a greater density than the vertical legs 30.

[0011] The increased density of the base members 40 can be accomplished in one of several ways. For instance, the base members 40 can be formed of steel tube having a thicker wall than the tube used to form the vertical legs, or the base members can be formed of solid metal. However, preferably, the base members 40 are formed of steel tube that is substantially similar to the steel tube used to form the legs. The density of the base members is then increased by inserting weights 50 into the base members. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, preferably the base members 40 are hollow forming a cylindrical cavity 42, and the weights are configured to cooperate with the interior cavities of the base members. More specifically, preferably, the mass of each weight is greater then the mass of the corresponding base member.

[0012] Base members 40 include open ends 44 adapted to receive weights 50. Each open end 44 is covered by an end cap 46 that retains the weight 50 within the respective base member 40 when the base member is tilted or moved. End caps 46 are formed with interior recesses 47 adapted to conform with the outer perimeters of base members 40. The interior diameter of each recess 47 is equal to or slightly larger than the exterior diameter of each base member 40, such that the end cap forms an interference fit when slipped over the end of the base member. Alternatively, end caps 46 include male threads in recesses 47 that cooperate with female threads on the ends of base members 40. Where a threaded connection is used, the end caps connect to base members 40 when the caps are aligned with the ends of the base members and rotated. End caps 46 are preferably formed of a flexible material, such as synthetic rubber, or a durable plastic. The end caps may be removably connectable so that the weight can be removed as desired, such as to lighten the ironing board to store it. However, preferably, the end caps 46 are substantially permanently attached to the base member.

[0013] The addition of weights 50 to the base of ironing table 10 will affect the balance of the table. If a significant amount of weight is placed on one side of the base with respect to the table's longitudinal axis, the table will resist tipping in only one direction. Preferably, weights 50 are inserted in base members 40 in an arrangement that is substantially symmetric about the longitudinal axis of table 10.

[0014] Operation of the ironing table 10 will now be described. The table 10 is initially stored in the folded position. Using the latch release mechanism, table 10 is opened so that legs 30 extend outwardly from board 20. Once the legs 30 are fully extended, base members 40 are positioned on a floor and the table is set in the standing position. If weights 50 are not yet inserted into base members 40, an end cap 46 is removed from each base member to expose the interior cavities 42 in the base members. A weight 50 is then aligned with each cavity 42, as shown in FIG. 2, and fully inserted into the base member 40. End caps 46 are realigned with the ends of base members 40 and secured back onto the base members. Ironing table 10 is now stabilized and ready for use.

[0015] With weights 50 inserted into base members 40, the center of gravity of the table 10 is moved downwardly so that the table is more resistant to tipping or rocking. In particular, a greater lateral force must act on table 10 to lift the ends of base members 40 off the floor. If the end caps 46 are removable, when the user is finished ironing, the user can remove an end cap 46 from each base member and remove the weights 50 from cavities 42. The end caps 46 are then reattached to the base members 40. The latch release mechanism is actuated to return table 10 to the folded position so the table can be conveniently transported and stored. Weights 50 may be left in or removed from base members 40 as desired by the user.

[0016] The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation. There is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof. It is recognized, however, that various modifications are possible within the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention incorporates variations that fall within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. An ironing table, comprising: a substantially horizontal ironing board configured to provide an ironing surface; a base member configured to engage a work surface to support the table; an elongated vertical support pivotably connected with the ironing surface extending between the ironing surface and the base member; wherein the vertical support has a density and the base member has a density that is greater than the density of the vertical support.

2. The ironing table of claim 1 wherein the vertical support has a lateral width and the base member extends laterally across a width greater than the lateral width of the vertical support.

3. The ironing table of claim 1 wherein the base member comprises a cavity and the weight, wherein the weight increases the density of the base so that the base member density is greater than the vertical support density.

4. The ironing table of claim 3 wherein the weight has a density that is substantially greater than the density of the vertical support.

5. The ironing table of claim 3 comprising a cover enclosing the weight within the cavity.

6. The ironing table of claim 5 wherein the cover is substantially permanently attached to the base member to substantially permanently enclose the weight within the cavity.

7. The ironing table of claim 3 wherein the mass of the weight is greater than the mass of the base member.

8. The ironing table of claim 3 wherein the weight is balanced across a vertical plane extending through the ironing board.

9. A method for forming an ironing table, comprising the steps of: forming an ironing board configured to provide an ironing surface; providing a pair of vertical legs having first and second ends; pivotably attaching the first ends of the legs to the ironing board; forming base member's or the second ends of the legs, such that the base members each have an internal cavity having a configuration; providing a weight; and inserting the weight into one of the base members.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of forming the base members comprises the steps of forming the base members as separate elements and attaching the base members to the legs.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of forming the base members comprises the step of bending the second end of the legs such that each base member and corresponding leg is integrally formed as a single piece.

12. The method of claim 9 comprising the step of configuring the weight to cooperate with the configuration of the internal cavity of one of the base members.

13. The method of claim 9 comprising the step of providing a second weight and inserting the second weight into a second one of the base members.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of providing a weight comprises the step of selecting the weight such that the mass of the weight is greater than the mass of the base member.

15. The method of claim 9 comprising the step of capturing the weight in the base member to impede removal of the weight.

16. The method of claim 9 comprising the step of substantially permanently enclosing the weight within the base member.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of inserting the weight comprises inserting the weight such that the mass of the weight is balanced across a vertical plane passing through the center of the ironing board.

18. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of providing a weight comprises the step of selecting the weight such that the mass of the weight is greater than the mass of one of the legs.