GB2328449A

GB2328449A - Foldable ironing board.

Info

Publication number: GB2328449A
Application number: GB9717622A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Day
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-08-21
Filing date: 1997-08-21
Publication date: 1999-02-24
Anticipated expiration: 2017-08-21
Also published as: GB9717622D0; GB2328449B

Abstract

A folding ironing board compising a board member (10) with an upper ironing surface (16), and a lower surface (11) which may be provided with silvered glass to form a mirror when the board is stowed vertically. In use, the board (10) is supported by articulated arms (19) which fold parallel with the board when stowed. The board is pivoted on swivels (20) slidably mounted in recesses (21) in a supporting frame (13), and may have a recess (17) to receive an iron (18). Also, it may have a timed switch (23) which is automatically operated by deployment of the board and cuts off power to the iron after a predetermined period. A further cutoff switch (24) may be provided, removing power from the iron when the iron and board are stowed.

Description

IRONING BOARD This invention relates to an ironing board which is optimised for installation and use in locations where space is restricted, such as hotel rooms, caravans, holiday apartments and mobile homes.

It is noted that for example in hotel rooms it is usual to provide grooming facilities for guests, including trouser presses for example, but not ironing facilities for ironing skirts blouses or dresses. Because travellers and short break guests wish to look their best, using a hotel for a base for theatre or restaurant visits for example, guests tend to use self provided facilities, such as travelling irons to iron their clothes free of wrinkles and creases arising from packing and transportation in suitcases. Any available flat surface of reasonable firmness may be used as a base, particularly floors, and sometimes beds.

Clearly this practice has safety implications, since in the event of an interruption, a switched on iron on a bed or carpet surface can pose a fire hazard. Also, no facilities are available for occasional or infrequent travellers who have not invested in transportable ironing equipment.

When equipping hotel rooms, space is a major consideration, and thus it is important for any equipment or facilities provided to use as little space as possible. This is a consideration which also applies to equipping other facilities such as motor homes, caravans and campers, and holiday apartments where the space usually available in ordinary houses is for cost or practical reasons not available.

It is an object of the invention therefor to provide an ironing board which is optimised for installation and use in locations where space is restricted.

According to the invention an ironing board comprises a planar member mounted so as to be alternately disposed in a substantially horizontal use position, and a stowed position.

Preferably the stowed position extends substantially vertically, for example within a recess or housing provided on or within a vertical surface such as a wall or partition.

The planar member may be supported when in the use position by one or more strut members which can be folded to as to lie parallel to the planar member when in the stowed position.

The planar member may provide a recess for reception of an iron. This recess may be adapted to house the iron when in the stowed position.

The planar member may be receivable when in the stowed position within a frame, and be provided with an end, engaging with the frame which permits pivotal movement of the planar member relative to the frame.

The said end of the planar member may be received in slots at each side of the frame whereby the said end can be displaced along said slots when the planar member is deployed or stowed.

The ironing board may incorporate a switch which may be activated on deployment of the planar member to operate a timer which cuts off electrical power to the iron after a predetermined period, say ten minutes, to allow for a short period of ironing before the power is cut off. The switch may be resettable by manual activation, and whilst it may be connected to a meter for financial charging purposes, is primarily intended as a safety feature so that an unattended iron will be switched off after a relatively short period.

The side of the planar member which forms the lower side thereof when deployed, may form part of a mirror or alternatively a decorative panel, together with a fixed lower panel, for example.

A further cut off switch may be associated with the frame to isolate the iron from the electrical supply to the iron when the planar member is in its stowed position.

A preferred embodiment of ironing board according to the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is an elevation view of the ironing board according to the invention, in stowed position; Fig. 2 is a side view of the ironing board of Fig 1, also in stowed position; Fig. 3 is a side view of the ironing board of Figs. 1 and 2 in deployed position; and Fig. 4 is a diagram showing part of the ironing board within a housing.

As shown in the drawings, an ironing board according to the invention comprises a planar member 10 which has a surface 11 which forms the underside of the ironing board when deployed (see Fig. 3) and also forms an exposed surface when stowed (as in Fig. 1).

In the Fig. 1 stowed position, the surface 11 is continuous with a lower panel 12. In the preferred embodiment surface 11 and panel 12 are provided with a reflective surface such as silvered or aluminised glass to provide a mirror.

The mirror, comprised of surface 11 and panel 12 is surrounded by a frame 13 which is mounted on a vertical support surface such as a wall 14. The surface 1 1 is curtailed to leave a notch 15 at the top to enable the planar member 10 to be gripped to be pulled down and out for deployment into the Fig. 3 position. The deployed ironing board features the planar member 10 extending horizontally from the frame 13, providing an upper ironing surface 16 which is covered with a suitable heat resistant fabric. A recess 17 in surface 16 provides a nest for an iron 18.

The member 10 is supported by articulated arms 19 which fold in line with the member 10 when the board is stowed.

As shown in Fig. 4, the member 10 is pivoted on a swivel 20, which is slidably received in a vertical slot 21 provided in a respective member 22 at each side within the frame 13. This enables the member 10 to be neatly accommodated within the frame.

A timed switch 23 is provided adjacent the recess 17 on the ironing surface 16. This can be activated automatically on deployment, or by the user, and will operate to cut off electrical supply to the iron after a predetermined period such as ten minutes, and may be resettable by the user for longer periods of use. This switch may if the use of the iron is to be charged for, be connected to an automatic logging device which will add charges to respective room account. The primary purpose is however to ensure safety so that an iron which has been left due for example to an interruption does not heat indefinitely and pose a fire hazard.

As a further feature an over riding cut off switch 24 may be provided eg at the base of slot 21, to be actuated by the swivel 20, on stowing the ironing board, so as to cut off the electric supply to the iron when the board is stowed.

The ironing board according to the invention may incorporate modifications and variations with respect to that described above.

The surfaces 11, 1 2 may for example be a decorative panel rather than a mirror.

The ironing board is suitable for use in any location with restricted space, not only in hotel rooms and guest houses, but also in caravans, holiday apartments or camper vans.

Claims

1. An ironing board comprising a planar member mounted so as to be alternately disposed in a substantially horizontal use position and a stowed position.

2. An ironing board according to Claim 1 wherein the stowed position extends substantially vertically, within a recess or housing provided on or in a vertical surface.

3. An ironing board according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the planar member is supported when in the use position by one or more strict members which can be folded so as to lie parallel to the planar member when in the stowed position.

4. An ironing board according to any preceding claim wherein the planar member has a recess for reception of an iron, adapted to house the iron when in the stowed position.

5. An ironing board according to Claim 1 wherein the planar member is receivable within a frame when in the stowed position, and is provided with an end engaging pivotally with the frame, which permits pivotal movement of the planar member relative to the frame.

6. An ironing board according to Claim 5 wherein said pivotally engaging end of the planar member is received in slots at each side of the frame, whereby said end can be displaced along the slots when the planar member is deployed or stowed

7. An ironing board according to any preceding claim incorporating a switch which is activated on deployment of the planar member to operate a timer which cuts off the electrical power to the iron after a predetermined period.

8. An ironing board according to Claim 7 wherein the switch is resetable by manual activation.

9. An ironing board according to Claim 1 having a side which forms the lowerside when deployed, forms part of a mirror or decorative panel, together with a fixed lower panel.

10. An ironing board according to Claim 7 or 8 wherein a further cut-off switch is associated with the frame to isolate the iron from the electrical supply to the iron when the planar member is in its stowed position.

11. An ironing board substantially as herein before described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.