US1620183A - Flatiron - Google Patents

Description

1,620,183 March 8, 1927. M. c. BERSTED FLATIRON Filed Sept. 28, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR. Men/v G 55/?5750 QQQWW/ TTORNEY March 8, 1927.

1,620J83 M. c. BERSTED FLATIRON Filed Sent. 28, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 5. 5

INVENTOR. wk 7'//\/ 675595750 ATTORNEY March 8, 1927.

. 1,520,183 M. Q. BERSTED FLATIRON Filed Sept. 28, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ,PZ a 6i 1N VEN TOR. Mk? T/N G BEES 7'50.

QQQM M A TTORNEY UNITED STATES Patented" Mar. 8, 1927.

MARTIN C. IBERSTED, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

FLATIRON.

Application filed September 28, 1922. Serial No. 591,094.

My invention relatesto electric fiat irons, more particularly to automatic heat-regulating flat irons and the objects of my inventionare: first, to provide a flat iron of this class which will be held at a substantially constant temperature when in use; second,

to provide a flat iron of this class in which the heat will be automatically regulated,

thus avoiding scorching of fabrics and also reducing to a minimum the waste of time in waiting for the iron to heat up whlle engaging 1n ironing as is customary with the conventional iron; third, to provide an electric heatingapparatus in which the electrical energy is automatically shut off when a certainpredetermined high temperature is reached; fourth,to provide an electric heating apparatus of this class in which the electrical energy is automatically turned on when a certain low temperature is reached;

fifth, to provide novelly constructed automatic electric heat regulating means; sixth, to provide novel means for adjusting said automatic electric heat regulating means; seventh, to provide a novelly constructed handle for flat irons; eighth, to provide a novelly constructed electric flat iron, and ninth, to provide a flat iron of thls class which is very simple and economical of construction proportionate to its functions, durable, efficient, reliable. compact and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order..

lVith these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter my invention consistsof certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appendedclaims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this application, in which:

Figure ;1 is a plan view of my flat iron; Fig.2 is a side elevational view, thereof; Fig.3 i's alongitudinal sectional elevational view thereof showing certain'parts and portions'in elevation to facilitatethe illustration; 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view thereof taken through 44 of Figs showing certain parts and portions in plan to facilitate, the illustration; Fig. 5 is a'jfragmentary transverse sectional view taken through 5'5 of Fig. 3, also showing certain parts and portions in"ele vation; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse secof said casing into'tlie upper plate 4.

tional view similar tothat shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary rear elevational View. with certain parts and portions broken away and in section to facilitate the illustration; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken through SS of Fig; 3; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of a slightly modified form of construction of my flat iron showing a different means of manual adjustment for certain specific heats and Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional View thereof taken through 1010 of Fig. 9.

Like characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings.

The base plate 1, insulating material 2, heating elements 3, upper plate t, screws 5, casing 6, screw 7. handle supporting member 8, plate 9, handle 10, bolt 11, bracket 12, screws 13, thermostat member 14, diaphragm 15, retaining ring member 16, nut 17, circuitbreaking member support 18, screw 19, terminal support 2O. screw 21, terminal posts 22, insulating washers 23 and 24:, conductors 25, 26 and 27, screws 28 and 29, conductor 30, adjusting screw 31. mercury 32, nut 33, the end support 31 and the screws 35 comtitute the principal parts and portions of my flat iron structure in its preferred form of con- 8 struction.

In my electric flat iron the base plate 1. the insulating material Q'Which consists preferably of a series'of sheets of mica, and the resistance heating elements 3 are of the conventional type and are positioned relatively toeach other in the conventional manner. The upper plate 4 whiclris secured to the base plate by the screws 5 and positions the said heating elements between the same and said base plate is also similar to that of the flat irons now in use. The heating elements, the upper plate 1 and other members as will be described hereafter are enclosed by a casing 6 which is positional above the base plate 1 and is secured in said position by the hollowheadedscrew 7 which extends through the upper central portion A boss 6 is provided on the under side'of said casing surrounding th-e screw opening therein which spaces the upper portion ofsaid casing from the upper plate a and prevents distortion of said casingwhen secured in position. A handle supportingmember 8 is prov ded above the caslng 6 and is secured thereto by means of the screw 7. Said supporting member.

handle supporting member is provided with a bridged channel shaped portion 8 at its lower end and is provided with downwardly extending lugs 8 at said lower end which are adaptedto fit into corresponding slots 6 in said casing for positioning said handle supporting member relatively thereto. Said handle supporting member is also provided at its lower central portion with. a cup shaped, recess portion 8 for the reception of the head of the screw 7. It will be noted that the handle supporting member 8 is so constructed at its lower portion as to provide ample circulation by air so as to keep the same as cool as possible. 'A plate 9 which serves as a name plate for the flat iron is provided above the lower channel shaped portion of said handle supporting member to conceal the head of the bolt 7 and is secured to said handle supporting member as shown in Figs. 3 and 8 of the drawings by retaining lugs extending downwardly therefrom into slots in said handle arms 8 and 8 of the handle member 8 by the bolt 11 which extends therethrough and is secured in position by the .nut 11*. Said handle 10 is provided with gradually curved slightly helical. grooves 10* which extend around the lower side of the same which are adapted to receive the fingers of the hand to facilitate the handling of the iron.

- A bracket member 12 is provided within the-rear portion of the casing 6 and is secured to the inner face of the same by means of the screws 13.- Said bracket 12 is adapted to support the thermostat member 14 which consists of a downwardly extending tubular-- portion 14 at its lower end and an upwardly and outwardly extending curved flanged portion 14 at its other end. Said thermostat member is slightly beveled at the periphery of its flanged ortion and isalso provided at the nornia lly upper side and near theperiphery thereof with an annular groove 14. A diaphragm 15 is positioned.

over the upper portion of the thermostat member and is provided'with an annular 'ofi'set portion 15 which corresponds with and extends into the annular groove portion of the thermostat member 14. The diaphragm 15 is also provided with an annular flanged portion which extends downwardly over a portion of the bevelled outer-edge of said diaphragm member. Said members 14 and 15 are secured together by an annular retaining ring member 16 which engages the upper portion of the diaphragm 15 at its outer edge and extends around and below the outer edge of the flanged portion of the thermostat member. The tubular portion of the said member 14 is provided at its lower end with an internally threaded The handle 10 which is preferably made of wood is secured to the upper ends of the upwardly-extending portion 14 which is adapted to receive the threaded portion .17 of the nut 17. Said thermostat member is also tapered on its lower end and adapted to engage at said beveled end a correspondingly tapered recess portion 17 of the nut 17. A quantity of mercury 32 is provided in the tubular por-' tion of the thermostat member 14 and extends up to and engages the diaphragm 15.

The bracket 12 is provided on one side with an upwardly offset and outwardly extendingslug 12*, and on the opposite side I mil supporting member 20 which extends over the resilient circuit bre akingmember support 18 and the diaphragm l5 and is secured to the lug 12 by the screw 21. Said terminal supporting member 20 is also adapted to secure the thermostat member 14 inits supporting bracket 12. posts 22 extend upwardly from, and are secured to the terminal supporting member 20,

as shown .in Fig. 3 ofvthe drawing, and are insulated from said member by the insulating washers 23 which are positioned in countersunk recesses in the terminal sup-- porting member and which position the lower portions of the terminal osts centrally in the enlarged holes provided therein. The lower portions of the terminal posts extend therthrough and are secured in position to said supporting member 20 by the nuts 22 which are also insulated'from the member 20 by the insulating washers 24. One of said terminal posts 22 is electrically The terminal connected to the screw 19 the conductor 25, which screw extends through and is insulated from the lug 12 of the bracket 12 and the circuit breaking member support 18, and is connected at its lower end to the one end of the heating elements 3 by the flexible conductor 26, which is also insulated from the bracket 12 in the manner shown in Fig.

6 of the drawings. The other of the terminal posts is similarly connected by the flexible conductor 27 to a screw 28 which serves as a circuit breaker and extends through and is insulated from the free end of the resilient circuit breaking member support 18 as shown best in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The screw 28 is provided at the end extending through the support 18 with a reduced circuit breaking point, preferably made of tungsten or platinum, and is adapted to engage a similar point provided at the end of the screw 29 which serves as the other circuit breaker member and extends through the lug 12 from the underside thereof and which is insulated therefrom, preferably as shown in the drawings. Said screw 29 is electrically connected to the other end of the coils 3 by means of the flexible conductor 30. At the central portion of the resilient circuit breaking member support 18 there is provided an internally threaded lug 18*' which is adapted to receive and position the adjusting screw 31, which is adapted to engage at its lower end the diaphragm 15, when raised by the expansion of the mercury 32 provided in the thermostat member 14 as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6 of the drawing. A

lock nut 33 is provided on the adjusting screw 31 to lock the same in positionrelatively to the member 18 when adjusted to break the electrical circuit between the points of the screws 28 and 29 at a predetermined high temperature. From the several views of the drawings it is seen that the casing 6 is so constructed as to' conceal and enclose the conductors and circuit breaking and operating mechanism and thus reduce to a person disturbing the proper functioning of the vital members of the apparatus. It will be particularly noted ,that the adjusting screw 31 is accessible from the outside only through the small opening 6 in the casing 6 and the opening 20 in the terminal supporting member 20 by the special adjusting wrench means shown by dotted lines in Fig.-

6 of the drawing. A support 34 is provided at the rear end of the iron for supporting the same on its end when not in use and is secured at its lower end to the base plate by the lugs 34 extending downwardly from the lower portion of said support into re cesses 1 in the upper face of the rear por tion of said base plate. Said support 34 is secured at its upper end to lugs 8 which extend outwardly from the rear, upwardly extending arm 8 of the handle member 8, by means of the screws 35. Said support also serves as an enclosure for the lower rear portion of the iron and also as a guard for the terminal posts 22.

In the slightly modified form of construction of my electric flat iron as shown in Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings I have provided an indicating member 36-which is provided at its inner end with a transversely positioned resilient sleeve 36 which is adapted to receive therethrough the adjusting screw 31 which in this modified form of construction is slightly longer and is provided with threads having a greater load than the one previously described. The resilient sleeve of said indicating member is provided with outwardly extending lug portions 36 which are adapted to receive the screw 37 for securing said indicating member to said adjusting screw. Said indicating member extends through transverse circular slots 6 which is adapted to ride in the circular groove 34 in said rear support and is adapted to be engaged by the hand of the operator and shifted to the various positions indicated by the letters L, M, and H impressed in the support 34 adjacent to the groove therein, or any position intermediate said letters. It will be noted that in this modified form of construction the screw 31 is adjusted for an average heat and the indicating member is then secured thereto, which indicating member permits of slight adjustment of the heat by the operator as desired when ironing or pressing thin or heavy fabrics. It will also be noted that in this modified form of construction the manual and easy adjustment of heat as desired will provide a more even temperature and will not break and close the electrical circuit as often, therefore preserving the breaker points.

It is obvious that theindicating member shown in the modified form of construction maybe used in conjunction with'the adj usting screw and lock nut disclosed in the preferred form by positioning the loci: nut

above the sleeve portion of the indicating member and adjusting the screw as previous- 1y described.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement. of parts and portions and a certain modification thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the particular construction, combination, and arrangement nor to the modification, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction,coinbination and arrangement, substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

It is obvious from the previous description and the drawings, that I have provided an electric flat iron, which can be kept at a substantially constant temperature; that I have provided a flat iron of this class in which the heat will be automatically-regulated; that I have provided an electric heating apparatus in which the electrical energy is automatically shut off when a certain pre determined high temperature is reached by the expansion of mercury in the thermostat member 14, forcing upwardly the diaphragm 15. and disengaging the "breaker portions at ends of the screws 28 and 29; that I have provided an electric heating apparatus of this class in which the electrical energy is automatically turned on when a certain low temperature is reached; that I have provided a novelly constructed automatic heat regulating means; that I have provided a novel means for adjusting said automatic heat novelly constructed handle for flat irons;

compact, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a flat iron, a support, a stationary thermostat member positioned relative to said support, a ieldable thermostat member mounted on saic'stationary thermostat memher, a fluid heat expansible material positioned in said stationary thermostat member adapted to engage and exert a force on said yieldable thermostat member, and a circuit breaking means positioned contiguous to and adapted to be actuated by said yieldable thermostat member.

2. In a. flat iron, a support, a stationary thermostat member positioned relative to said support and provided with a tubular portion, a thin, circular, suddenly yieldable thermostat member, an expansible fluid metal positioned in the tubular portion of said stationary thermostat member, adapted to expand longitudinally therein and engage and exert a force on said yieldable thermostat member, and a circuit breaking means positioned contiguous to and adapted to be actuated by said yieldable thermostat member.

3. In a flat iron, a support, a stationary thermostat member positioned relative to said support and provided with a tubular portion, a thin, circular, suddenly yieldable theri'nostat member, and an expansible fluid metal positioned in the tubular portion of said stationary thermostat member, adapted to expand longitudinally therein and engage and exert a force on'said yieldable thermostat member.

4. In a flat iron, a support, a stationary thermostat member positioned relative to said support and provided with a tubular portion, a thin, circular, suddenly yieldable thermostat member, an expansible fluid metal positioned in the tubular portion of said 1 stationary thermostat member adapted to ex- I .pand longitudinally therein and engage and ber and adapted to be shifted by said suddenly yieldable thermostat member.

5. In a flat iron, a supporting means, a stationary thermostat member positioned relative to said supporting means, a yieldable thermostat member mounted -on said stationary thermostat member, and a separate, fluid, heat-expansible material positioned in said stationary thermostat member adapted to exert a force on said yieldable thermostat member.

6. In a flat iron, a supporting means, a stationary thermostat member positioned relative to'said supporting means and provided with a tubular portion, a thin, circular, suddenly yieldable thermostat member mounted over and closing the one end of the tubular portion of said stationary thermostat member, and a relatively expansible fluid metal positioned in said tubular portion, said fluid metal engaging with and adapted to exert a force on said yieldable thermostat member.

7. In a flat iron, a casing for said flat iron, a thermostat casing having an expandible head at one end, mercury in said thermostat casing, and a circuit breaking means positioned within said first casing and in operative relation with the expandible head of said thermostat casing.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Diego, California, this 22nd day of September, 1922.

MARTIN C. BERSTED.

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