U.S. patent application number 10/288453 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-09 for iron and plate for an iron.
This patent application is currently assigned to TERMOZETA, S.P.A.. Invention is credited to Doria, Alessandro.
Application Number | 20030188464 10/288453 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28687137 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030188464 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Doria, Alessandro |
October 9, 2003 |
Iron and plate for an iron
Abstract
An iron comprising a main body provided with a handle portion
and an additional metallic plate removably associated with said
main body on the opposite side to said handle portion. The iron can
further comprise its own plate integrally associated with the main
body on the opposite side to said handle portion. In such a case,
the additional plate is removably associated with the iron's own
plate on the opposite side to the main body. The provision of a
removable additional plate allows a specialisation of the iron,
since it is possible to use a specific plate for a specific task:
for example, a larger plate for ironing large surfaces, such as
sheets or tablecloths.
Inventors: |
Doria, Alessandro; (Milano,
IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington
DC
20037-3213
US
|
Assignee: |
TERMOZETA, S.P.A.
|
Family ID: |
28687137 |
Appl. No.: |
10/288453 |
Filed: |
November 6, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10288453 |
Nov 6, 2002 |
|
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PCT/IT02/00216 |
Apr 8, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
38/81 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 75/38 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
38/81 |
International
Class: |
D06F 075/38 |
Claims
1. Iron, comprising: a main body provided with a handle portion; a
first metallic plate associated with said main body on the opposite
side to said handle portion; heat generating means acting on said
first plate; characterised in that said first plate is removably
associated with said main body.
2. Iron according to claim 1, wherein said heat generating means
are housed in said main body and act directly upon said first plate
through the interposition of a conductive surface.
3. Iron according to claim 1, further comprising a second plate
integrally associated with said main body on the opposite side to
said handle portion, wherein said heat generating means are housed
in said second plate and said first plate is removably associated
with said second plate on the opposite side of said main body.
4. Iron according to claim 3, comprising a layer of highly
conductive rubbery material between said first and second
plates.
5. Iron according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said
first plate comprises a plurality of first through-holes for the
delivery of steam.
6. Iron according to claim 5 when dependent upon claim 2, wherein
said conductive surface comprises a plurality of second
through-holes for the delivery of steam and wherein said plurality
of first through-holes is provided in correspondence with said
plurality of second through-holes.
7. Iron according to claim 5 when dependent upon claim 3 or 4,
wherein said second plate comprises a plurality of second
through-holes for the delivery of steam and wherein said plurality
of first through-holes is provided in correspondence with said
plurality of second through-holes.
8. Iron according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said
first plate comprises a pair of opposite guides for centring said
main body on said first plate.
9. Iron according to claim 8, wherein said pair of opposite
centring guides can be adjusted in position on the first plate.
10. Iron according to any one of the previous claims, comprising
disengageable locking means between said first plate and said main
body.
11. Iron according to claim 10, wherein said disengageable locking
means can be adjusted in position on the first plate.
12. Iron according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said
first plate is manufactured in a single piece.
13. Iron according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said first
plate is manufactured in at least two distinct pieces.
14. Iron according to any one of claims 3 to 13 when dependent upon
claim 3, comprising a shaped contact surface between said first and
second plates.
15. Plate for an iron, comprising locking means suitable for
allowing a coupling of the plate with an iron according to any one
of the previous claims, characterised in that said locking means
can be disengaged so as to realise a removable coupling.
16. Kit of parts comprising: an iron; at least one first plate
adapted to be removably associated with said iron.
17. Kit of parts according to claim 16, comprising a plurality of
different sized first plates.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to an iron and to a plate for
an iron. The invention also relates to a kit of parts comprising an
iron and at least one plate for an iron.
[0002] As is known, conventional irons essentially comprise a main
body provided with a handle portion, a heat-conducting metallic
plate integrally associated with the main body on the opposite side
to said handle portion and heat generating means acting on the
plate to heat it during use. Typically, the heat generating means
comprise one or more electrical resistances embedded in the
plate.
[0003] Throughout the present description and the subsequent claims
explicit reference shall be made to the term "cloth" to indicate
the article to be ironed, for example an item of clothing, sheets,
table-clothes or a fabric in general.
[0004] The overall size of conventional irons is such as to satisfy
the two contrasting requirements of: 1) managing to iron even
hard-to-reach or small areas of the cloth, such as the
shirt-sleeves or the shirt-creases, 2) guaranteeing an easy and
fast ironing of cloth (or of those areas of the cloth) of a large
size, like for example sheets or tablecloths.
[0005] The aforementioned requirements are partly satisfied by
providing the plates of conventional irons with a pointed end
portion suitable for allowing the iron to reach the hard-to-reach
or small areas; the remaining portion of the plate, on the other
hand, is larger in size and is typically squared to allow an easy
ironing of extensive surfaces.
[0006] Often, it would be preferable to have irons with larger
plates to be able to iron large cloths, such as sheets or
tablecloths, more easily and quickly; more generally, it would be
preferable to somehow be able to adapt the size of the iron to the
size of the cloth to be ironed, so as to make easier the ironing
operations.
[0007] The technical problem at the basis of the present invention
is that of allowing a better and easier ironing of various types of
cloths of different sizes with a single iron.
[0008] The present invention therefore relates, in a first aspect
thereof, to an iron, comprising:
[0009] a main body provided with a handle portion;
[0010] a first metallic plate associated with said main body on the
opposite side to said handle portion;
[0011] heat generating means acting on said first plate;
characterised in that said first plate is removably associated with
said main body.
[0012] Throughout the present description and the subsequent claims
frequent use shall be made of the expression "additional plate" or
"first plate" to indicate the plate which is removably associated
with the main body of the iron.
[0013] Advantageously, the presence of a removable plate allows the
iron to be specialised according to the type of cloth to be ironed,
and in particular to its size. That is, it is possible to use a
specific plate for a specific task: for example, a larger plate for
ironing large cloths, such as sheets and tablecloths, or a more
pointed plate for ironing the particularly hard-to-reach or small
portions of cloth.
[0014] Advantageously, the additional plate of the iron of the
present invention is part of a set of different sized additional
plates; at each use a particular plate is selected according to the
size of the cloth to be ironed.
[0015] In a first embodiment of the iron of the present invention,
the heat generation means are housed in said main body and act
directly upon said first plate through the interposition of a
conductive surface. In this case, the iron of the present invention
is similar to a conventional iron in which, however, the heat
generating means are housed in the lower portion of the main body
of the iron, and in which an additional removable and
interchangeable plate is provided in place of the iron's own
conventional plate.
[0016] Throughout the present description and the subsequent claims
frequent use shall be made of the expression "iron's own plate" or
"second plate" to indicate the conventional plate integrally
associated with the main body of the iron.
[0017] In an alternative embodiment, the iron of the present
invention comprises a second plate integrally associated with said
main body on the opposite side to said handle portion, wherein said
heat generation means are housed in said second plate and said
first plate is removably associated with said second plate on the
opposite side to said main body. In this case, the iron of the
invention is therefore a totally conventional iron equipped, in
addition, with a further removable and interchangeable plate.
[0018] In accordance with the two embodiments discussed above, the
additional plate can therefore be a component of a special iron
(that is an iron without its own plate), or an accessory of a
conventional iron (that is an iron having its own plate).
[0019] Preferably, in the case in which the iron of the invention
has its own plate, a layer of rubbery material with a high
conductivity is provided between said first and second plates, to
allow a more efficient transmission of the heat from the iron's own
plate to the additional plate and to guarantee the planarity
between the opposing contact surfaces of said plates.
[0020] Preferably, the first plate (additional plate) comprises a
plurality of first through-holes for the delivery of steam. Said
holes are provided in correspondence with a plurality of second
through-holes formed on said second plate (iron's own plate) or on
said lower conductive surface of the main body of the iron. Steam
delivery is thus allowed like in a conventional iron.
[0021] Preferably, said first plate comprises a pair of opposite
guides for centring said main body on said first plate, in order to
allow an easy use of the iron when the additional plate is
associated with the main body thereof.
[0022] Preferably, said pair of opposing centring guides can be
adjusted in position on the first plate; this allows a single
additional plate to be adapted to a plurality of irons of different
sizes.
[0023] Preferably, the iron of the present invention further
comprises disengageable locking means between said first plate and
said main body or said second plate. More preferably, said
disengageable locking means can be adjusted in position on the
first plate to allow the adaptation of a single additional plate to
a plurality of irons of different sizes.
[0024] In a first embodiment thereof, the additional plate is
manufactured in a single piece.
[0025] In an alternative embodiment thereof, the additional plate
is manufactured in at least two distinct pieces which are mutually
connected so as to be coplanar.
[0026] In a particular embodiment thereof, the iron of the present
invention comprises a shaped contact surface between said first and
second plates or between said first plate and the lower conductive
surface of the main body, so as to increase the heat exchange
surface and, therefore, to improve the heat exchange between the
two plates or between the conductive surface of the iron and the
additional plate.
[0027] Throughout the present description and the subsequent
claims, the expression "shaped contact surface" shall be used to
indicate a non-smooth and non-planar contact surface, for example a
toothed or knurled surface.
[0028] In a second aspect thereof, the present invention relates to
a plate for an iron, comprising locking means suitable for allowing
a coupling of the plate with an iron, characterised in that said
locking means are disengageable so as to realise a removable
coupling.
[0029] Preferably, such a plate comprises all of the structural
characteristics discussed above with reference to the iron of the
invention; it therefore allows to achieve all of the advantages
highlighted above.
[0030] In a third aspect thereof, the present invention relates to
a kit of parts comprising:
[0031] an iron;
[0032] at least one first plate adapted to be removably associated
with said iron.
[0033] The iron may or may not be equipped with its own plate.
Preferably, the iron and the plate of the kit of parts have all of
the structural characteristics discussed above with reference to
the iron of the invention; it is therefore possible to achieve all
of the advantages highlighted above.
[0034] Preferably, the kit of parts of the invention comprises a
plurality of different sized first plates. It is therefore possible
to specialise the iron according to the size of the cloth to be
ironed, each time selecting a specific plate from the plurality of
plates available.
[0035] Further characteristics and advantages of the present
invention shall become clearer from the following detailed
description of some of its preferred embodiments, made with
reference to the attached drawings. In such drawings:
[0036] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a first embodiment of an
iron and of an additional plate in accordance with the present
invention, in a mutually decoupled operating configuration;
[0037] FIG. 2 is a schematic rear view of the iron and of the
additional plate of FIG. 1 in the mutually decoupled operating
configuration;
[0038] FIG. 3 is a schematic view from below of the iron of FIG.
1;
[0039] FIG. 4 is a schematic view from above of the additional
plate of FIG. 1;
[0040] FIG. 5a is a schematic side view of the iron and of the
additional plate of FIG. 1 in a partially coupled operating
configuration;
[0041] FIG. 5b is a schematic side view of the iron and of the
additional plate of FIG. 1 in a mutually coupled operating
configuration;
[0042] FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of a second embodiment of an
iron and of an additional plate in accordance with the present
invention, in a mutually decoupled operating configuration;
[0043] FIG. 7 is a schematic rear view of the iron and of the
additional plate of FIG. 6 in the mutually decoupled operating
configuration;
[0044] FIG. 8 is a schematic view from below of the iron of FIG.
6;
[0045] FIG. 9 is a schematic view from above of the additional
plate of the iron of FIG. 6;
[0046] FIG. 10a is a schematic side view of the iron and of the
additional plate of FIG. 6 in a partially coupled operating
configuration;
[0047] FIG. 10b is a schematic side view of the iron and of the
additional plate of FIG. 6 in a mutually coupled operating
configuration;
[0048] FIG. 11 is a schematic view from above of an alternative
embodiment of the additional plate of FIG. 1, with an element in
section;
[0049] FIG. 12a is a schematic side view of the iron of FIG. 1 and
of the additional plate of FIG. 5 in a mutually coupled operating
configuration;
[0050] FIG. 12b is a schematic side view of the iron of FIG. 1 and
of the additional plate of FIG. 5 in a partially coupled operating
configuration;
[0051] FIG. 13a is a schematic view from above of the iron of FIG.
1 and of the additional plate of FIG. 5 in the mutually coupled
operating configuration;
[0052] FIG. 13b is a schematic view from above of the iron of FIG.
1 and of the additional plate of FIG. 5 in the partially coupled
operating configuration;
[0053] FIG. 14a is a schematic side view of the iron of FIG. 1 and
of an alternative embodiment of the additional plate of the present
invention in a mutually decoupled operating configuration;
[0054] FIG. 14b is a schematic side view of the iron of FIG. 1 and
of the additional plate of FIG. 14a in a first partially coupled
operating configuration;
[0055] FIG. 14c is a schematic side view of the iron of FIG. 1 and
of the additional plate of FIG. 14a in a second partially coupled
operating configuration;
[0056] FIG. 14d is a schematic side view of the iron of FIG. 1 and
of the additional plate of FIG. 14a in a mutually coupled operating
configuration.
[0057] In FIG. 1, an iron in accordance with a first embodiment of
the present invention is indicated with 1. The iron 1 is similar to
a conventional iron; most of its known characteristics shall
therefore not be described in this context. However, the innovative
structural characteristics shall be described in detail.
[0058] The iron 1 comprises a main body 2 provided with an upper
handle portion 3. On the opposite side to the handle 3 a plate 4 is
provided integrally associated with the body 2, in a totally
conventional way.
[0059] The plate 4 is of the conventional type; it is manufactured
in heat-conducting metallic material and has a pointed end portion
4a wherein a plurality of through-holes 5 suitable for allowing the
delivery of steam are formed.
[0060] The iron 1 comprises, moreover, conventional heat generating
means; the generation and delivery of steam takes place in a
totally conventional manner and therefore is not described in
detail in this context.
[0061] The heat generation means are adapted to heat the plate 4
and comprise, for example, one or more electrical resistances
embedded in the plate 4.
[0062] An additional plate 6, typically of a different size with
respect to that of the plate 4, can be removably associated with
the iron 1. In particular, the plate 6 can be associated with the
plate 4 of the iron 1 on the opposite side to the main body 2.
[0063] The plate 6 is also manufactured in conductive metallic
material, like the plate 4.
[0064] Between the plate 4 and the plate 6 a layer of rubbery
material with a high conductivity can be interposed. Said layer is
suitable for guaranteeing the planarity of the coupling between
plate 4 and plate 6 and, therefore, an efficient heat exchange by
conduction.
[0065] Just as in the plate 4, the additional plate 6 comprises a
pointed portion 6a upon which a plurality of holes 7 are formed to
allow the delivery of steam. In particular, the holes 7 are formed
in correspondence with the holes 5 of the plate 4 so as to allow
the delivery to the outside of the steam generated inside the body
2 of the iron 1 and passing through the holes 5 of the plate 4.
[0066] The removable coupling between the additional plate 6 and
the plate 4 of the iron 1 is achieved by means of disengageable
locking means 8 suitably provided on the additional plate 6 or on
the lower surface of the iron 1. The locking means 8 can be of
various types; in accordance with a first embodiment thereof,
illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5a and 5b, they comprise a slip-joint
seat 81 formed in correspondence with the free end of the pointed
end portion 6a of the additional plate 6 and adapted for receiving
the point of the plate 4 in the way illustrated in FIG. 5a, and a
pair of opposite fasteners 82 provided on a rear end portion 6b of
the plate 6 and adapted for fastening the rear of the plate 4 of
the iron 1 in the way illustrated in FIG. 5b. In particular, each
fastener 82 comprises a lever 83 integrally associated with a heel
84 and a counter spring 85 between the lever 83 or the heel 84 and
the plate 6. At rest, the spring 85 tends to keep the fastener 82
in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 5a. By acting upon the
lever 83 so as to move it downwards in the clockwise direction and
counteracting the elastic force applied by the spring 85, the
rotation of the lever 83 and, therefore, the lifting of the heel 84
with respect to the plate 6 is achieved; the plate 4 of the iron 1
can therefore be laid down on the plate 6. By releasing the levers
83 the fasteners 82 go back into the configuration of FIGS. 5a and
5b by reverse process; in such a position the heels 84 act upon the
plate 4 (or against respective seats provided on the rear of the
plate 4) so as to press it against the plate 6.
[0067] The fasteners 82 also act as lateral guides for centring the
iron 1 on the plate 6. Preferably, the position of the fasteners 82
and of the seat 81 on the plate 6 can be adjusted to allow the
plate 6 to adapt to different sized plates 4.
[0068] The plate 6 can be manufactured in a single piece, as
illustrated in the attached figures, or it can be made up of two or
more pieces.
[0069] Preferably, the plate 6 is part of a set of plates all of
different sizes and all capable of being associated with the iron 1
in the way described above.
[0070] FIGS. 11, 12a, 12b, 13a and 13b show an alternative
embodiment of the additional plate of the present invention. Such a
plate, also indicated with 6, is similar to the plate 6 illustrated
in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5a and 5b: the only difference lies in the
different type of disengageable locking means which are provided on
such a plate.
[0071] In this embodiment, the locking means comprise a pair of
opposite lateral guides 91a, 91b adapted for acting as sliding
rails for opposite side edges of the plate 4 of the iron 1. The
cross-section of the guides 91a, 91b is L-shaped (see section Q-Q
in FIG. 11). The guides 91a, 91b extend horizontally on the plate 6
and parallel to the side edge thereof, with a first portion 93
substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X-X of the plate
and a second portion 94 slightly inclined with respect to such an
axis in correspondence with the pointed end portion 6a of the plate
6. The inclination of the portions 94 of the guides 91a, 91b with
respect to the axis X-X generates a sliding slip-joint for the
plate 4 on the plate 6; the L-shaped section, on the other hand, is
such as to keep the plate 4 pressed against the plate 6. The iron 1
is coupled with the plate 6 by making the plate 4 slide along the
guides 91a, 91b to the end of the travel; the holding in position
of such a coupling is ensured by providing, on the rear portion 6b
of the plate 6, an elastic device 95 and, on the opposite side with
respect to the axis X-X, an abutment device 96. The elastic device
95 comprises a ball 97 housed elastically, through the
interposition of a spring 98, in a seat 99 provided on the plate 6.
The abutment device comprises a pad 100 and a ball 101 integrally
associated with the pad 100. The ball 97 of the elastic device 95
and the ball 101 of the abutment device 96 act from opposite sides
against the plate 4 of the iron 1 holding it in position on the
plate 6. The elastic device 95 can be replaced with any other
locking device, such as for example a screw or a pin mobile
perpendicular to the axis X-X.
[0072] FIGS. 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d show a further alternative
embodiment of the additional plate of the present invention. Such a
plate, also indicated with 6, is totally identical to the plate 6
illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5a and 5b and 11, 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b:
the only difference lies in the different type of disengageable
locking means which are provided on such a plate.
[0073] In this embodiment, the locking means comprise a slip-joint
seat 151 formed in correspondence with the free end of the rear end
portion 6b of the additional plate 6 and adapted for receiving the
rear free end portion of the plate 4 in the way illustrated in FIG.
14b, and a ratchet fastener 152 provided on the pointed end portion
6a of the plate 6 and equipped with a seat 153 adapted for housing
the point of the plate 4, as illustrated in FIGS. 14c, 14d. The
ratchet fastener 152 comprises a spring 154 which, at rest, keeps
the fastener in the position illustrated in FIGS. 14a, 14b. After
the rear part of the plate 4 has been housed in the seat 151, the
iron 1 is rotated downwards until the point of the plate 4 engages
with the seat 153 of the ratchet mechanism 152. Continuing the
rotation, counteracting the elastic force applied by the spring
154, the rotation of the fastener 152 is determined while the
spring 154 is loaded until it passes its neutrality point beyond
which the spring 154 thrusts the fastener 152 downwards, into the
position illustrated in FIG. 14d. In such a position the plate 4 is
pressed against the additional plate 6. A lever 155 allows the
unfastening of the ratchet 152 by reverse process and therefore the
decoupling of the iron 1 and the additional plate 6.
[0074] In FIG. 6 an iron in accordance with a second embodiment of
the present invention is illustrated. Such an iron, indicated with
201, in its main constituting elements is totally identical to the
iron 1 of FIG. 1: it comprises a main body 202 equipped with an
upper handle portion 203. Unlike the iron 1 of FIG. 1, the iron 201
does not comprise its own plate 4 and the heat generating means are
housed in the main body 201 and act upon its base surface 204
manufactured in heat-conducting metallic material.
[0075] An additional plate 206 similar to the plate 6 described
above can be removably associated with the iron 1.
[0076] The transmission of heat between the base surface 204 and
the plate 206 takes place by conduction; in order to increase the
efficiency of the heat exchange, the area of contact between
surface 204 and plate 206 can be increased by realising toothings
or knurls on the upper surface of the plate 206 and on the base
surface 204.
[0077] The additional plate 206 comprises a pointed end portion
206a upon which a plurality of holes 207 for allowing the delivery
of steam are provided. In particular, the holes 207 are provided in
correspondence with respective holes 205 formed on the lower
surface 204 of the iron 201, so as to allow the delivery to the
outside of the steam generated inside the body 202 of the iron 201
and passing through the holes 205 of the lower surface 204.
[0078] The removable coupling between the additional plate 206 and
the iron 201 is achieved by means of disengageable locking means
208 suitably provided on the additional plate 206. Also in this
case the locking means 208 can be of different types; in accordance
with a first embodiment thereof, illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7, 9, 10a,
10b, they comprise a seat 209 for the base surface 204 of the iron
1. Such a seat is equipped, in correspondence with the pointed end
portion 206a of the additional plate 206, with a pin 210 adapted
for being housed in a respective seat provided in the front portion
of the main body 202 of the iron 201 in the way illustrated in FIG.
10a. On the opposite side to the pointed end portion 206a, that is
on a rear end portion 206b of the plate 206, a pair of opposite
fasteners totally similar to those described above with reference
to FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5a, 5b are provided.
[0079] Obviously, a man skilled in the art will realise that it is
possible to foresee various alternative embodiments of locking
means between the additional plate 6, 206 and the iron 1, 201.
[0080] Preferably, the plate 6 or 206 is part of a set of different
sized plates all of which can be associated with the iron 1 or 201
in the ways described above. The user, in operation, selects the
additional plate deemed most suitable according to the type of
cloth to be ironed, or its size.
* * * * *