GB2165442A - Ironing boards - Google Patents

Abstract

An ironing board 10 is adjustable in height in the known manner by using X legs with the top of one (or more) legs adjustable along the length of the board, by a transverse member 42 at the top of the leg sliding along grooves 22 in racks 26 extending along the board until the ends of member 42 are inserted in the desired pair of a series of recesses 28. The adjusted leg is held in position in a rack made as a sheet metal pressing of generally Tee cross-section which also serves to stiffen the board, and for this purpose extends over a length in excess of that need for the adjustment purpose. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ironing boards This invention relates to ironing boards. It is well known to provide an ironing board with a top affording a (usually) flat surface for ironing, and supported on a pair of legs arranged in X fashion, with the bottom ends of the limbs being for floor engagement when the ironing board is in position for use, the top end of one leg fixed pivotally to the board, the top end of the other leg engageable in any of a series of positions along the length of the board, so that according to the engagement position the board is at a different height above the floor. A single X may be used with the bottom end of each leg provided with a horizontally extending foot, or the X may be duplicated with the two X's linked to move unitarily.

It is possible to make the fixed pivot adjustable for example in the same fashion as the mentioned adjustable connection. Usually the arrangement is such that the X can be folded so that the legs are substantially parallel with one another and with the board surface so as to provide a unit of minimum dimensions in one plane for storage.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction.

According to the invention an ironing board height adjustment system comprises a pair of parallel racks affixed to the underside of the board and acting as stiffenersforthe board, each rack having a series of recesses spaced along its length and each recess being individually aligned with a corresponding recess in the other of the racks, so that a transverse member provided on the leg system may have opposite end portions engaged in recesses in the racks, and each rack including a groove or like connecting all of the recesses so that said ends may move from one recess to the next along the length.Preferably each rack is made from a pair of sheet metal pressings connected together so as to be of generally Tee shape with coplanar flanges, the head of the Tee being fixed to the board for example by screws if the board is made of a relatively thick material such as chipboard, plywood or the like, or possible by spot welding if the board is made as a metal pressing.

In general, the recessed portions of the racks need to extend only over a portion of the length of the board, and where two sheet metal pressings are assembled together to make each rack, one of them may be substantially longer than the other so as to provide a stiffening element over a large portion of the length of the board.

One presently preferred embodiment of the invention is more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the underside of an ironing board; Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one portion; Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of another portion; Figure 4 is an enlarged scale fragmentary elevation; and Figure 5 an end view of the parts seen in Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings, the board 10 is in this instance made from chipboard or like wood material and has a pair of stiffening elements 12 14 affixed to its underside by means of screws 16.

Each stiffening element consists of a relatively long generally L-section member having a first limb 18 fixed to the board and a second limb 20 projecting generally normally of the surface of the board, the latter having a return limb 22 lying in a parallel plane to the limb 18 but projecting in the opposite direction from the limb 20 to the limb 18.

The second member of each stiffening element is the rack proper comprising (like the part 18,20,22) sheet metal pressings have a main flange 24 which is coplanar with the flange 18 and is also fixed to the underside of the board, and a limb 26 parallel to the limb 20. The limb 26 is provided with a whole series of cutaways 28 each forming a portion of a particular recess, and the recesses being for example regularly spaced along the length of the limb 26. Each recess further includes an arcuate edge 30.

The limbs 24 and 26 are unitary and part of a single pressing which includes further limbs 32 which lie in a plane parallel to the limbs 2418 and 34 which lie in a plane parallel to the limbs 26 and also 20 of the first pressing of each pair. To make each recess, the metal is punched to create the inclined edge 38 and the arcuate edge 40 at each recess and the metal punched out of the recess remains in the same plane as the limb 34.

As shown in Figure 1,the leg system includes the transversely extending bar or tube 42 shown in ghost lines in the figures which has its end portions received in a pair of recesses, one in each of the racks, when the ironing board is erected ready for use. The curvature of the arcuate edges 40 is generally the same as that of the rod or tube 42 so that the ends are received as a snug rattle free fit in the recesses, the actual end surface (as distinct from the end portion) may abut those mentioned punched out planar portions 44.

The transverse dimension of the limb 34 which extends between the series of recesses forms the base of a groove bounded laterally by the limb 32 of the one pressing and the limb 22 of the other pressing, and the end portions of the said bar or tube 42 are a slide fit along that groove in passing from one recess to another in adjustment of height of the board.

At one end of the short pressing a plug 46 is struck up to make a stop preventing movement of the part 42 beyond the last recesses in that direction. At the other end of the short pressing a final recess 46 is provided which has the same inclined edge 38 as the other recesses but lacks the arcuate abutment for the rod or tube 42, instead having an end edge 48 which is generally normal to the length of the said slot defined by the limbs 32, 22. The purpose of this end recess is to receive the rod or tube 42 when the legs are folded generally flat and parallel to the length of the board, and the purpose of the end edge 48 of that recess is to enable the tube or rod 42 to be brought out of the recess and re-aligned with the said groove when the board is to be erected. The groove is effectively open at the recess 46 end, because there is no equivalent to the stop lug 46 at that end of the groove, for ease of assembly.

Claims (4)

1. An ironing board height adjustment system for legs arranged in Xfashion with a top end engageable in any of a series of positions along the length of the board, comprising a pair of parallel racks affixed to the underside of the board and acting as stiffeners for the board, each rack having a series of recesses spaced along its length and each recess being individually aligned with a corresponding recess in the other of the racks, so that a transverse member provided on the leg system may have opposite end portions engaged in recesses in the racks, and each rack including a groove or like connecting all of the recesses so that said ends may move from one recess to the next along the length.

2. An ironing board as claimed in Claim 1 wherein each rack is made from a pair of sheet metal pressings connected together so as to be of generally Tee shape with co-planarflanges,the head of the T being fixed to the board.

3. An ironing board as claimed in Claim 2 wherein one of the pressings is substantially longer than the other so as to stiffen the board over the length of the longer pressing, whereas the shorter pressing affords the recesses.

4. An ironing board substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.