CN114269981A

CN114269981A - Support base for ironing equipment

Info

Publication number: CN114269981A
Application number: CN202080059735.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 里卡多·吉罗托
Original assignee: De Longhi Appliances SRL
Current assignee: De Longhi Appliances SRL
Priority date: 2019-08-29
Filing date: 2020-08-04
Publication date: 2022-04-01
Also published as: IT201900015201A1; EP4022122A1; WO2021038605A1

Abstract

A support base for an ironing apparatus (12), comprising a base body (13), the base body (13) being provided with an upper portion (15) configured to support an iron (11). The ironing apparatus comprises a support base (10) and an iron (11). A method of cleaning an ironing device (12).

Description

Support base for ironing equipment

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a support base for a steam ironing device for domestic or professional use, suitable for supporting a steam iron during the normal rest steps during ironing and when cleaning and scale removal operations are carried out. The support base is in particular configured to collect water and/or steam generated by the iron during a washing operation.

Background

Domestic steam ironing devices are known, generally comprising an iron and a supporting base for the iron, which are connected together.

Ironing devices are generally divided into two groups, generally called "hot" ironing devices or "cold" ironing devices. In "hot" ironing devices, the support base acts as a boiler, in which steam is generated and subsequently fed into the iron; in "cold" ironing devices, the support base contains water at ambient temperature, which is fed into a hot water boiler or steam generating chamber inside the iron, where it is converted into steam in contact with the heating plate.

It is well known that, in use, scale is formed in a hot water boiler and/or a steam generating chamber of a steam ironing device. The scale may impair the operating efficiency of the iron or damage the clothes to be ironed in case scum and scale deposits come out of the holes in the plate.

This problem occurs mainly in cold ironing devices, wherein the most common cause of failure is a blockage of the steam generating chamber and/or the water inlet area.

In order to solve this problem, it is known to clean the plates and in particular the steam generating chamber, to remove possible deposits of scale and/or foreign bodies, so as to avoid the clogging of the steam outlet holes.

For example, known ironing devices provide a cleaning and/or rinsing cycle comprising a heating cycle and a subsequent injection of cold water into a hot water boiler or steam generating chamber to generate a thermal shock having the function of breaking up the scale crust and subsequently discharging it through a plate or through a suitable discharge orifice.

During these operations, a large quantity of hot water and steam is discharged through the holes provided in the heating plate of the iron.

Therefore, the user must perform a cleaning operation to collect the water and the condensed steam in the container, or must perform cleaning in a proper place to prevent the water and/or the steam from overflowing and damaging precision parts.

It must also be considered that the time at which the cleaning cycle ends is not negligible.

In addition, it is necessary to keep all the nozzles or plate orifices clear in order to allow steam to escape from all the tubes and prevent the tubes from clogging while the cleaning operation is being performed.

In order to facilitate the user not having to support the iron by hand when performing the cleaning operation, it is known that the container is suitable for use as a support for the iron and consists of a small water tank made of thermoplastic material, and is therefore suitable for collecting in the container the hot water and possibly condensed steam delivered by the flat plate of the iron during the cleaning operation.

These known containers are impractical for the user, since they are accessories that are distinct and independent from the ironing apparatus, which themselves require storage space when not in use.

Thus, the user may not be able to use the accessory while performing the cleaning operation, or may not find the accessory, or may even inadvertently throw away the container, or the container may be damaged or destroyed, resulting in a delay in the performance of the cleaning cycle.

In addition, it is known that the container requires a certain waiting time interval to allow the hot water to cool down at the end of the cleaning cycle in order to move the container for subsequent emptying thereof. In addition, the container has at least one upper portion that is completely open, and thus the container is not very practical to move, because hot water may overflow during the movement to cause inconvenience or safety problems to the user who may come into contact with hot dirty water contained in the container.

Document WO-A-2016/030299 describes an accessory that can be used to perform descaling and washing operations of an iron, the accessory comprising A tank for collecting washing water and A support surface defined by an upper rim on which the iron rests during use.

Document EP- ｃA-2410088 describes ｃA steam ironing device comprising ｃA support base in which there are ｃA water tank and ｃA hot water boiler, while the support base is connected on one side to the iron by means of ｃA three-way valve to feed steam into the iron and on the other side to an external container. The support base described in document EP- ｃA-2410088 allows ｃA cleaning operation of ｃA hot water boiler, but is not suitable for cleaning and descaling operations of an iron located above the hot water boiler.

Document GB-a-2156864 describes a domestic steam generating apparatus comprising a box-like body to which an iron can be connected, in which a sleeve is provided which can be removably and sealingly connected to a flat plate of the iron so as to receive steam emitted through holes in the flat plate and to convey the steam towards the outside of the box-like body through a duct.

The applicant has therefore set itself the problem of how to improve the supporting base of an ironing apparatus, overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art as described above.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multifunctional support base for an iron that can be used to support the iron during normal rest steps during ironing and when cleaning and maintenance operations are carried out.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a support base that enables cleaning and maintenance operations without requiring any separate and distinct accessories.

Another object is to provide a support base that allows an easy and quick cleaning of the iron and the collection of water and scale residues during the cleaning cycle of the ironing apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ironing apparatus that allows cleaning of the iron to be performed when it is necessary to keep the ironing apparatus in good condition, thus allowing efficient removal of scale from the iron.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ironing apparatus that can be transported by the user immediately at the end of the cleaning cycle, safe and without the risk of hot water spillage.

The applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain the above-mentioned and other purposes and advantages.

Disclosure of Invention

The subject matter and features of the present invention are presented in the independent claims. Further features of the invention or variants of the main inventive idea are described by the dependent claims.

In view of the above objects, embodiments described herein relate to a support base of an ironing device, suitable for supporting a steam iron during normal rest steps during ironing and while performing cleaning and maintenance operations, while allowing the collection and containment of steam and hot water and/or scale.

According to some embodiments, the support base comprises a base body provided with an upper portion configured to support the iron.

The base body is at least partially hollow defining a containment compartment located below the upper portion.

According to one aspect of the invention, the upper portion comprises at least one discharge aperture capable of discharging water and/or steam and/or scale residues generated during cleaning of the ironing apparatus to the means for collecting the discharged water.

In particular, the support base comprises a tank for collecting the drained water, which is arranged in the containment compartment and is connected to the drainage aperture.

According to some embodiments, the collection reservoir may be removable from the base body, allowing for safe removal of the drained water.

According to some embodiments, the support base further comprises, in the containment compartment, a water tank suitable for containing water, and feeding means configured to feed water and/or steam into the iron.

The support base according to the invention is suitable for performing several different functions.

In fact, in addition to safely and stably housing the iron during ironing operations, the support base advantageously allows supporting the iron during cleaning and maintenance operations, avoiding the user having to use separate and distinct accessories for these operations.

In addition, the support base according to the invention has the additional advantage that the support element can be used by the user each time the iron is used. In this way, scale can be removed from the ironing device efficiently and in a timely manner.

According to some embodiments, the support base may comprise a drain collector through which water and/or steam and/or scale generated during the cleaning of the ironing apparatus is removed from the at least one drain aperture and conveyed into the collection tank.

According to some embodiments, the support base may further comprise a duct between the drain collector and the collection tank, consisting of a portion for connection to the drain collector and an end portion.

The end portion may be configured to be connected to the inlet of the collection tank, also via a gasket, and can constitute a sealed hydraulic circuit together with the inlet.

In view of the above objects, embodiments herein also relate to an ironing apparatus comprising an iron and a support base according to the present invention.

Thanks to the configuration of the supporting base, the ironing apparatus can be moved by the user immediately after the end of the cleaning cycle, safely and without hot water leakage, even in the case of containing hot water and/or scale particles, so as to remove the collected water.

In view of the above object, embodiments herein also relate to a method for cleaning an ironing device.

Drawings

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a top view of a support base according to embodiments described herein;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the support base of FIG. 1, taken along section line (II-II);

figure 3 is a schematic side view of the support base associated with the iron in the configuration of use in figures 1 and 2.

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is to be understood that elements and features of one embodiment may be readily combined with other embodiments without further recitation.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to the various embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the figures. The examples are merely illustrative of the invention and should not be construed as limiting the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used on or in conjunction with other embodiments to yield yet a further embodiment. It is to be understood that the invention is intended to embrace all such modifications and variations.

The embodiments described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings relate to a support base 10 of a steam ironing device 12, adapted to supporting an iron 11.

According to some embodiments, the interconnected support base 10 and the iron 11 jointly define an ironing device 12.

According to the present invention, the support base 10 supports the iron 11 during the normal rest steps during ironing and when cleaning and maintenance operations are carried out, as well as collects the water and/or steam and/or scale residues generated during these operations.

The support base 10 according to the present invention is suitable for being applied mainly, but not exclusively, to a "cold" ironing device 12, in which steam is generated directly inside the flat plate of the iron 11.

According to some embodiments, the support base 10 comprises a base body 13 having a front portion 13a arranged, during use, in correspondence with the tip of the iron 11 and a rear portion 13b opposite the front portion 13 a.

According to some embodiments, the base body 13 is provided with an upper portion 15 suitable for supporting the iron 11 and a lower portion 16 configured to allow the support base 10 to rest on a work plane.

According to some embodiments, the upper portion 15 may be inclined with respect to a horizontal plane such that the front portion 13a is positioned higher than the rear portion 13 b.

For example, the support surface of the iron 11 may have an inclination angle α of between 10 degrees and 30 degrees.

According to some embodiments, the support body 13 is at least partially hollow, defining a containment compartment 28 below the upper portion 15.

According to some embodiments, the support base 10 comprises, in the containment compartment 28, a water tank 27 capable of containing cleaning water, which is connected to the iron 11 during use by a water delivery pipe 32.

The water tank 27 may be a fixed type or a removable type.

According to some embodiments, the support base 10 may also comprise a plurality of electric and/or electronic components 31, such as electronic cards, pumps, etc., capable of moving water and/or steam, arranged in the housing compartment 28 of the base body 13, possibly connected to the iron 11 by electric cables, for example integrated in a single wire with the water delivery pipe 32.

According to some embodiments, the upper portion 15 comprises at least one discharge aperture 18 capable of discharging water and/or steam and/or scale residues during cleaning of the ironing device 12 to the

means

21, 22 for collecting the discharged water.

According to some embodiments, the upper portion 15 has a substantially continuous surface which defines, at the upper part, the base body 13.

The discharge orifice 18 can be made as a metal ring, or as a slit through the upper part 15, the size of which is much smaller than the extension of the upper part 15 itself.

For example, the slot may have a width of about 1cm to about 15cm as measured along the longitudinal median plane of the base body 13.

The extension of the discharge orifice 18 in the transverse direction towards the median plane may be between 20 and 50 percent of the width of the base body 13.

According to some embodiments, the support base 10 comprises a collection tank 22 connected to the discharge orifice 18, into which water and/or steam and/or scale residues are directed to flow.

The collection tank 22 may be disposed below the upper portion 15 in the containment compartment 28.

According to some embodiments, the support base 10 may have, in its upper portion 15, a housing seat 14 suitable for housing at least the flat plate of the iron 11.

The housing seat 14 is delimited in the lower part by a bottom wall 29.

The housing seat 14 is advantageously laterally delimited by an outer edge 30, which defines an area in which the iron 11 can be housed, so that the iron is not misplaced, which might reduce the stability of the ironing apparatus 12.

Preferably, the outer edge 30 extends over the entire periphery of the bottom wall 29. In this way, during use, the holes for the discharge of steam and/or cleaning and washing water are located inside the housing seat 14, so that the water and/or steam discharged from the holes is at least partially collected in the housing seat 14, preventing the lateral discharge of water and/or steam.

The at least one discharge orifice 18 may be located in an advantageously arranged sector so as to be at the lowest point of the housing seat 14, for example at the end of the latter facing the rear portion 13 b.

In this way, water and/or steam and/or scale generated during cleaning of the ironing device 12, draining from the flat plate of the iron 11, can be conveyed by gravity into the drainage apertures 18. According to some embodiments, the housing seat 14 may have a depth that increases from the front 13a to the rear 13b, and the discharge orifices 18 may be located in sectors having a greater depth, so as to facilitate the delivery of water to the discharge orifices.

Preferably, the discharge orifice 18 passes through the bottom wall 29 near the outer edge 30.

According to some embodiments and with reference to fig. 2, the support base 10 may comprise, in its upper portion 15, a cushion 17 housing the iron 11, configured to support the iron 11.

The mat 17 may be at least partially made of a heat resistant material.

The cushion 17 may cover substantially the entire upper portion 15 of the support base 10, or at least the housing seat 14.

The cushion 17 may be capable of supporting the iron 11 during a deactivation step during ironing as well as during a cleaning operation.

According to some embodiments, at least one discharge orifice 18 passes through the cushion 17.

According to some embodiments, the mat 17 may have a raised delivery edge 19, in correspondence of one end thereof, close to the discharge orifice 18, to facilitate the delivery of water and/or steam and/or scale residues into the discharge orifice 18, preventing the outflow from the housing seat 14.

According to some embodiments, the upper portion 15 may comprise one or more supporting rubber pads 20 made of a heat-resistant material, such as silicone, which protrude from the upper surface of the upper portion, while the top of the supporting rubber pads may define the support plane P of the iron 11.

The supporting rubber gasket 20 is preferably located in the housing seat 14, projecting with respect to the bottom wall 29.

According to some embodiments, the supporting rubber gasket 20 may be shaped and arranged so as to define a specific partition in the vicinity of the discharge orifice 18, so as to prevent the water draining from the flat plate of the iron 11 during the cleaning operation from wetting and/or soiling the entire surface of the pad 17.

For example, fig. 2 shows two rubber gaskets 20 that are distanced from each other along the longitudinal axis of the support base 10.

In the example case, the two rubber pads 20 are C-shaped and are arranged in a position opposite to each other with the free ends facing the front 13a and the rear 13b, respectively, so as to provide a stable support for the flat plate of the iron 11.

There may also be more rubber gaskets 20, having different shapes and configurations.

The rubber gasket 20 may be attached to the cushion 17, for example by glue or otherwise, or made integral with the cushion 17.

According to some possible variants, the housing seat 14 may also be provided itself made of a heat-resistant material and itself provided with a rubber gasket 20 or other support element suitable for supporting the flat plate of the iron 11.

According to some embodiments, the collecting means comprise a drain collector 21 connected to the drain aperture 18, by means of which water and/or steam and/or scale residues generated during the cleaning of the ironing device 12 can be removed from the upper portion 15 of the support base 10.

According to some embodiments, the drain collector 21 is arranged in a containment compartment 28 inside the base body 13.

According to some alternative possibilities, one or both of collection tank 22 and drain collector 21 may be arranged at least partially outside base body 13.

According to some embodiments, collection tank 22 is disposed in a lower elevation partition relative to discharge orifice 18 such that collected water and/or steam and/or scale remains gravitationally flowing into collection tank 22.

According to some embodiments, the collection tank 22 may be arranged below the tank 27, in correspondence of the front 13a, for purifying the water, so as to occupy a larger volume of this part of the containment compartment 12 and optimize the space. At the same time, the moving part 31 may be arranged with respect to the rear part 13b, also facilitating the connection with the iron 11.

According to some embodiments, inside the base body 13, between the drain collector 21 and the collection tank 22, there is a duct 23 comprising a collection portion 24 suitable for being attached to the drain collector 21 and a terminal portion 25 configured to be connected to the collection tank 22.

In correspondence of the terminal portion 25 of the delivery duct 23, the collecting reservoir 22 may have an inlet 26 configured to be connected to the terminal portion 25, also by means of some gasket, so as to constitute a hydraulic circuit as sealed as possible to prevent flooding of the entire ironing apparatus 12 during its movement.

Advantageously, the drain collector 21, the delivery pipe 23 and the collection tank 22 can be easily cleaned by means of flexible cleaning accessories of suitable diameter, for example by means of a tubular cleaner.

Advantageously, the collecting reservoir 22 can be cleaned separately, for example after being withdrawn from the ironing device 12 in order to pour off the collected water and limescale.

According to some embodiments, collection tank 22 may have a recessed portion 34 in a portion facing front 13a configured to facilitate gripping by a user when gripping collection tank 22 and withdrawing it from base body 13.

According to a variant not shown, the discharge collector 21 can be integrated in the mat 17.

According to another variant, not shown, both the discharge collector 21 and the delivery pipe 23 can be integrated in the mat 17.

According to a further variant, not shown, the discharge collector 21 and the delivery pipe 23 can be made in one piece.

According to a variant not shown, the collection tank 22 may not be present, while the drain collector 21 may be configured to convey water and/or steam and/or scale residues generated during cleaning of the iron 11 to the outside of the support base 10, for example through designated orifices.

According to some embodiments, the support base 10 may comprise a control command unit, not shown in the figures, configured to control and command the operation of the ironing device 12.

According to some embodiments, the control command unit may also be connected to one or more user interfaces 33, for example located on the iron 11 or on the support base 10.

Through the one or more user interfaces 33, the user may set operating parameters of the ironing device 12, such as the temperature of the flat plate and/or the type of steam delivery, etc., and/or check the operation of the ironing device 12, for example by means of a lamp indicating that the iron 11 is switched on or that the iron 11 is heating up or ready, and possibly switch on a cleaning cycle.

The embodiments described herein also relate to a method for cleaning an ironing apparatus 12 comprising a support base 10 and an iron 11.

The method according to the invention comprises placing the iron 11 on the upper portion 15 of the support base 10, starting a cleaning cycle by activating the moving member 31 to feed clean water from the water tank 27 comprised in the support base 10 into a steam generating chamber or boiler inside the iron 11, heating the device to heat the water in the iron 11 and generate a thermal shock suitable for removing possible scale incrustations, draining the water, steam and possible solid residues from the iron 11 towards the upper portion 15 and delivering them towards the water tank 22 inside the base body 13 for collecting the drained water through the drainage apertures 18 on the upper portion 15.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts and/or steps may be made to the support base 10 as described heretofore, suitable for supporting a steam iron 11, to an ironing apparatus 12 comprising a support base 10 and an iron 11, and to a method for cleaning an ironing apparatus 12, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

Also, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalents of the support base 10, of the ironing device 12 and of the cleaning method, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Claims

1. A support base for an ironing apparatus (12), comprising a base body (13), said base body (13) being provided with an upper portion (15) configured to support an iron (11) during pauses in ironing operations and during execution of cleaning and/or rinsing cycles, and with a containment compartment (28) provided below said upper portion (15), characterized in that said upper portion (15) comprises at least one discharge aperture (18), said at least one discharge aperture (18) being configured to discharge water and/or steam and/or scale residues emitted by said iron (11) to a water tank (22) for collecting water and/or scale, said water tank being provided in said containment compartment (28) and being connected to said discharge aperture (18).

2. The support base according to claim 1, characterized in that said upper portion (15) is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane so that the front portion (13a) of the base body (13) is positioned higher than the rear portion (13b) of the base body (13), and in that said discharge aperture (18) is provided in the proximity of said rear portion (13 b).

3. The support base according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said upper portion (15) comprises a housing seat (14) defined by a bottom wall (29) and an outer edge (30), said upper portion (15) being configured to house at least a flat plate of said iron (11), said discharge orifice (18) being provided in said housing seat (14).

4. The support base according to claim 3, characterized in that said housing seat (14) has a depth that increases from the front (13a) to the rear (13b) of said base body (13), said discharge orifice (18) being located in the zone having the deepest depth.

5. A support base according to any preceding claim, characterized by comprising a cushion (17) housing the iron, made at least partially of heat-resistant material and at least partially covering said upper portion (15), and configured to define a support surface for the iron (11).

6. The support base according to claim 5, characterized in that said cushion (17) comprises at least one protruding supporting rubber gasket (20), said at least one protruding supporting rubber gasket (20) being configured to define said support surface, wherein said rubber gasket (20) is configured to define a specific partition of said cushion (17) preventing water and exhaust vapours to pass therethrough.

7. A support base according to any preceding claim, comprising a drain collector (21) connected to the drain aperture (18), through which drain collector (21) water and/or steam and/or scale residues are conveyed to the collection tank (22).

8. The support base according to claim 7, characterized by comprising a duct (23) between the drain collector (21) and the collection tank (22), the duct comprising a connection portion (24) suitable for being attached to the drain collector (21) and an end portion (25) configured to be connected to an inlet (26) of the collection tank (22), the end portion being able to constitute, together with the inlet (26), a sealed hydraulic circuit.

9. Support base according to claims 5 and 7, characterized in that said drainage collector (21) is integrated in said mattress (17).

10. Support base according to claims 5 and 8, characterized in that said drain collector (21) and said duct (23) are integrated in said mattress (17).

11. A support base according to any preceding claim, characterized by comprising a tank (27) suitable for containing clean water, said tank (27) being arranged in said containment compartment (28) and separated from said collection tank (22).

12. The support base of claim 11, characterized in that the collection tank (22) is arranged below the tank (27) for purified water.

13. Ironing apparatus comprising a support base (10) according to any one of the preceding claims and an iron (11) connected to said support base (10) by a water delivery pipe (32).

14. Method for cleaning an ironing apparatus (12) according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises:

-placing the iron (11) on an upper portion (15) of a base body (13) of the support base (10);

-activating a cleaning cycle to feed clean water from the support base (10) into a steam generating chamber or boiler of the iron (11) and heat the water in said chamber, generating a thermal shock suitable for removing possible scale deposits;

-discharging said water and said steam, together with possible solid residues, from said iron (11) towards said upper portion (15);

-removing water, steam and solid residues emitted by the iron (11) from the upper portion (15) through a discharge orifice (18), delivering them to a water tank (22) for collecting the discharged water, said water tank being arranged inside a containment compartment (28) in the base body (13).

15. Method according to claim 14, comprising withdrawing the collection tank (22) from the containment compartment (28), removing water and possible solid residues, and reinserting the collection tank (22) into the containment compartment (28).