GB2235932A

GB2235932A - A base unit for supporting an iron

Info

Publication number: GB2235932A
Application number: GB9020054A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barry Graham Charles
Original assignee: Kenwood Marks Ltd
Current assignee: Kenwood Marks Ltd
Priority date: 1989-09-16
Filing date: 1990-09-13
Publication date: 1991-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 2010-09-13
Also published as: GB2235932B; GB8921045D0; GB9020054D0

Abstract

A base unit for supporting an iron, preferably of the corded/cordless type, comprises a base plate 1, a body assembly 2, a locking mechanism 3 operable by a manually-adjustable control 14, and a pivot arrangement 4. The pivot arrangement 4 enables the body assembly 2 to rotate through 180 DEG relative to the base plate 2, such that the unit can be used in a horizontal base mode in which the base plate 1 can be secured for example to a table, or it can be used in a vertical base mode in which the base plate 1 can be mounted for example on a wall. The cord of the iron may be suitably wrapped around the area of the pivot arrangement 4 for storage. The locking mechanism 3 adjusts the extent of the protrusion of a plunger 12 for insertion into the iron to enable the iron to operate in its corded mode, to lock the iron to the base unit and to lock the plug unit of the iron to the base unit whilst freeing the plug unit from the base unit for cordless operation, respectively. The mechanism may include a cam (10, Fig 2). <IMAGE>

Description

A BASE UNIT FOR SUPPORTING AN IRON This invention relates to a base for use with a corded or cordless iron.

Cordless irons are provided with a base unit such that if the iron is placed on the base unit in the correct orientation, the electrical connections are established to allow heaters in the iron to be energized. Such base units serve to support cordless irons when heating the sole plate is required.

According to this invention there is provided a base unit for supporting an iron, wherein the base unit is capable of being mounted on a generally horizontal surface, such as a table, or a generally vertical surface, such as a wall, the base unit comprising a base plate and a body assembly joined by a pivot arrangement, the base plate being adapted to enable the unit to be fixed securely to the chosen surface, the body assembly providing a location on which the iron can rest, and the pivot arrangement being adapted to allow the body assembly to rotate to change from a horizontal base mode to a wall- mounted mode.

Preferably the pivot is adapted to provide an element around which the cable can be wrapped whilst in storage.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention the base unit is provided with a locking means to enable the iron to be locked onto it. In the case of a cordless iron the locking means may enable the plug unit of the iron to be locked onto the base unit and the iron to be independent of the plug unit.

Preferably the locking means is driven by a mechanism allowing a first, second and third mode of operation to be selected by a single operation; in which (a) the first mode of operation allows the corded iron to be independent of the base unit such that the corded iron may be used; (b) the second mode of operation causes the plug unit of the iron to lock onto the base unit and to be independent of the iron such that the iron operates in a cordless mode; (c) the third mode of operation allows the plug unit of the iron to lock onto the base unit and to be securely attached to the iron.

It is envisaged that the locking means may incorporate any combination of the aforementioned modes dependent on the type of iron the base unit is adapted to receive.

Such a locking means may be a cam driven plunger and said mechanism may be a knob or a switch.

Preferably the base unit provides a control window such that the selected mode of operation is indicated by the control window.

In order that this invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, a specific embodiment will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a base unit, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view through part of the base unit to show a locking mechanism, Figure 3 shows schematically a side view of the base unit in a horizontal mode of operation, Figure 4 shows schematically a side view of the base unit in a wall-mounted mode of operation.

The specific embodiment is of a base unit for use with an iron which is capable of being used in either the corded or cordless mode of operation, and possesses a recess for receiving a locking pin as described hereafter.

The iron referred to facilitates either corded or cordless operation by incorporating a detachable electrical plug unit at the rear of the iron body, the plug unit having an electrical cord for connection to a mains power supply connected thereto. In the corded mode, the plug unit is inserted into the iron body and is locked in place via spring-loaded latches, and the mains plug which is attached to the plug unit via the supply cord is connected to the electric mains supply in the usual manner. In the cordless mode, the plug unit is locked onto the base unit such that, when the iron body is placed on the unit, electrical contact is made between the plug unit and the iron body allowing power to the element to heat the sole plate.

Such irons are well known and consequently a detailed description has been omitted.

Referring now to the figures, there is shown a base unit for use with such a corded/cordless iron having a body 16 and a detachable electrical plug unit 17, the base unit comprising a base plate 1, a body assembly 2 and a locking mechanism 3.

The base plate 1 further includes a pivot arrangement 4 to allow the body assembly to rotate through 180 degrees relative to the base plate 1, to adapt from a horizontal base mode, as shown in Figure 3, to a wallmounted mode, as shown in Figure 4. Holes 5 may be provided in the base plate for fastening the base unit to the chosen surface. Alternatively, the base unit may be securely hooked or fastened to the surface by other means.

The body assembly 2 is made up of two sections, a lower body section 6 and an upper body section 7. These sections provide a housing for the locking mechanism 3 and provide a base on which the iron can rest. The body assembly may extend along the length of the sole plate of the iron body 16 supported thereon.

The base plate 1 and body assembly 2 can be moulded in polypropylene or any similar material having quite good heat resistance and being also tough, rigid and light in weight.

The lower body section 6 provides a cord notch 8 to locate the cord of the iron and to allow the cord to be wrapped around the area of the pivot arrangement 4. The upper body section 7 provides a base for heat resistant skids in polytetrafluoroethylene which are necessary to withstand the temperature of a hot soleplate and to space the hot soleplate away from the polypropylene body. The polytetrafluoroethylene skids also provide good electrical insulation and have a low coefficient of friction. Alternatively, materials such as thermosetting phenolics could be used.

Figure 2 shows the locking mechanism 3 which may be employed to provide the three modes of operation made possible by such a system.

The locking mechanism uses a cam driven plunger arrangement. The locking mechanism comprises a cam 10, a cam follower 11, a pin or plunger 12, and a return spring 13. It is the controlled depth of penetration of the pin into the plug unit of the iron, when the iron is supported on the base unit, that determines the operational mode.

The base unit has a manually adjustable control knob 14 which rotates the cam 10 and hence adjusts the extent of protrusion of the pin from the body assembly 2, thereby adjusting the depth of penetration of the pin into the iron plug unit. This depth is indicated through a control window 15 situated on the base unit.

With the cam in a position such that the pin is substantially fully retracted into the base assembly, the plug unit latches into the iron body and the corded iron is completely independent of the base unit. In this mode, the iron may be rested an the base unit and used functionally with the base unit being securely fixed to an ironing board, table or wall.

When the cam 10 is in a position such that the cam follower 11 causes the pin 12 to protrude further from the body assembly, and thereby to be partially inserted into the iron plug unit, and the return spring 13 is slightly compressed, the plug unit is locked to the base unit and the iron body remains latched to the plug unit, so that the iron and base unit assembly is locked together. In this mode, with the iron locked to the base, the iron may be stowed away securely.

When the cam 10 is in a position such that the cam follower 11 causes the pin 12 to be fully inserted into the plug unit, and the return spring 13 is compressed, the plug unit is locked to the base unit and the extra penetration into the plug unit releases the latches between the plug unit and the iron body. The iron operates in a cordless mode, returning to the locked assembly of the plug and base units for recharging.

To reduce the depth of penetration of the pin as desired when utilizing the iron in the corded mode, the cam 10 is rotated to the specified setting as indicated through the control window 15. The return spring 13 returns the pin to its retracted position enabling the sprung-loaded latches between the plug unit and the iron to be employed, and the iron to be completely independent of the base unit.

This arrangement provides a holding device for an iron, the device being securely attached to a chosen surface. The device is adaptable to either a horizontal (Figure 3) or vertical mounting (Figure 4) position. In the horizontal mounting position, the base plate 1 may be securely fastened to an ironing board or a table. The pivot arrangement 4 enables the body assembly 2 to be rotated until it is in an orientation that enables the iron to be used functionally. The locking mechanism 3 allows the mode of operation to be selected by a single operation, this mode being indicated by the control window 15. In the vertical mounting position, the base plate 1 may be securely fastened to the wall. The invention enables the iron to be used in the cordless or corded mode by the simple operation of turning a knob, and additionally is capable of locking the iron onto the device so that it can be stowed away securely. Furthermore, the provision of the pivot arrangement and cord notch allows the cord to be wrapped around the pivot area whilst the iron is being stowed, generating a tidy appearance.

Claims

1. A base unit for supporting an iron, wherein the base unit is capable of being mounted on a generally horizontal surface, such as a table, or a generally vertical surface, such as a wall, the base unit comprising a base plate and a body assembly joined by a pivot arrangement, the base plate being adapted to enable the unit to be fixed securely to the chosen surface, the body assembly providing a location on which the iron can rest, and the pivot arrangement being adapted to allow the body assembly to rotate to change from a horizontal base mode to a wall mounted mode.

2. A base unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivot arrangement is adapted to provide an element around which an electric cord of the iron can be wrapped, when the iron is supported thereon for storage.

3. A base unit as claimed in claim 2, and including means for locating the iron cord when wrapped around said element.

4. A base unit as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, including means for locking the iron, or at least a part associated therewith, onto the base unit.

5. A base unit as claimed in claim 4, adapted to support an iron of the cordless type having an electrical plug unit detachably connected to the iron body, the locking means being arranged to lock the plug unit onto the base unit with the iron body being detachable from the plug unit.

6. A base unit as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the locking means comprises a mechanism adapted to provide at least one of three modes of operation selectable by a single manually-adjustable control, the modes of operation being as follows: (a) for use with a corded iron, the iron being inde pendent of the base unit; (b) for use with an iron of a corded/cordless type including an electrical plug unit detachably connected to the iron body, the plug unit being locked onto the base unit and the iron body being independent of the plug unit such that the iron operates in the cordless mode; and (c) for use with an iron of a corded/cordless type, the plug unit being locked onto the base unit and the iron body being securely attached to the plug unit for storage purposes.

7. A base unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the locking means comprises a plunger, protruding from the base unit, for insertion into the iron the plunger being driven by a cam mechanism and the cam mechanism being operable by said manually-adjustable control to adjust the extent of protrusion of the plunger from the base unit in order to provide any one of said selectable modes of operation.

8. A base unit as claimed in claim 6 or 7, including means for displaying the mode of operation selected.

9. A base unit for supporting an iron, the base unit being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.