US2707841A - Laundry appliances - Google Patents

Description

May 10, 1955 F. H. FIGURA LAUNDRY APPLIANCES Filed octfls. 1951 FIG.2.

- fiIVNTOR. FLORENlEIilf/Gg/RA,

av z ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent LAUNDRY APPLIANCES Florence H. Figura, Robertson, Mo.

Application October 15, 1951, Serial No. 251,286

5 Claims. (Cl. 38-111) This invention relates to improvements in laundry appli ances, and more particularly to an improved laundry rack for supporting and protecting articles during the pressing thereof.

An important object is realized in providing a laundry holder and shielding member that is adapted to be positioned on the floor, in underlying relation with an ironing board, and an elongated rack operatively connected to the laundry holder by a collapsible rack-supporting structure which normally supports and retains the rack in the preferred horizontal position at substantially the same working level as the ironing board, but in spaced relation therewith. This structure greatly facilitates the ironing of sheets, spreads, table-cloths and like laundry by affording a convenient supporting means for them as they are being pressed. The articles are protected as against soiling prior to ironing, and thereafter are folded or draped over a supporting rack conveniently located at the rear of the pressing table. The pressing of large flat pieces particularly may be carried out expeditiously with the useof my improved rack.

An objective is attained by the inclusion of a swingable laundry protector panel pivotally connected to the laundry holding member which, in use, disposed on the floor be contact and interfering with the movements of the presser.

I Still another object of the present invention is attained 2,707,841 Patented May 10, 1955 dry protector and rack assembly, generally designated at and later fully described, will be expanded and normally located in the shown operative position with respect to any of the common types of ironing boards, one of which is indicated at 11 and illustrated by broken lines.

A laundry holder and shielding floor panel 12 of the device 10 provides a floor frame 13 consisting of a right stantially rectangularly shaped structure, the swingable frame 15 consisting of spaced, opposite side portions and an end portion that connects an end region of each of the side portions of frame 15. The other end regions of the side portions of frame 15 are pivotally connected by pins 16 to the other end regions of the side portions of floor frame 13. The above description reveals a preferred construction of the framework of the respective laundry protecting panels 12 and 14, yet should be under- I stood in an informative sense, it not being intended to in an auxiliary rack assembly having structural and other useful features especially adapting the same for the reception of the larger articles which may be foldeddirectly thereupon during the ironing process, and otherwise provide additional rack space for clothes hangers.

Itis also an important object hereof to provide a combined laundry protector and rack device which is especially simple, practical, compact and durable in construction, easy to clean and inexpensive to manufacture, and particularly a device of this character that may be collapsed into folded arrangement for storage or shipping purposes, and readily expanded into a condition for use. I The foregoing and other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the following detailed'description of a preferred embodiment, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the combined laundry protector and rack assembly shown in operative position with an ironing board;

- Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view' ofthe protector and rack assembly shown in Fig. l, and r Fig. 3 is a side view of the laundry protector and rack assembly in a folded, partly closed position.

Referring now by characters of reference to. the drawrestrict.

The swingable protector panel 14, and hence swingable frame 15 is limited in its extended angular displacement by a stop means which consists of inturned tabs 17, formed from the end of the side portions of floor frame 13 in such manner as to abut and engage the adjacent side portions of the swingable frame 15 upon displacement of frame 15 from a folded, nested position within the U- shaped frame 13 to the position shown in Fig. l. apparent that the stop means interconnects the adjacent side portions of the frames 13 and 15 to limit the angular displacement of and to retain the swingable frame 13 in an extended, inclined position.

A flexible material 18, for example canvas or other washable cloth, is detachably secured to the frames 13 and 15, the canvas substantially covering and bridging the underside of the cooperating frames 13 and 15, to provide panel members 12 and 14. The end portions of the canvas 18 are looped respectively over the end portion 19 of the U-shaped floor frame 13 and over the end portion 20 of swingable frame 15, and detachably secured by a plurality of snap fasteners 21. This detachable connection permits the canvas to be disassembled quickly and easily from about the panel frames, washed and as rapidly re-assembled for use. Of course, it is apparent that each laundry protecting panel may be ing, it may be noted from Fig. 1 that the combined laun constructed of a separate rigid or flexible sheet material,

but the construction described provides a preferred assembly inthe interests of realizing a compact, lightweight, easy to clean laundry protector.

When the novel device 10 is expanded and in use, the

larger laundry holding panel 12 is located on the floor,

in underlying position with respect to the ironing board 11, and the swingable panel 14 is maintained in 'an upwardly inclined position (Fig. l). The panels cooperate to provide a clean container, which holds the unironed laundry, and hence prevents it from being soiled by con tact with the floor. In addition to other functions, the swingable panel 14 serves to guide and'direct the unironed' portion, of the article being ironed, upwardly to the overlying ironing board 11, and is disposed at an angle from the floor such that ample space is provided the personironing for complete freedom of movement.

A collapsible rack assembly is secured to and supported by the horizontally disposedlaundry holding panel '12, in the region opposite the pivotal connection of swingable panel 14, the assembly including a bar 22 normally supported and retained in a horizontal plane, substantially at the level of the ironing board 11. The rack assembly further provides right angle extension arms 23 secured at one end to each extremity of bar 22, and extended downwardly, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, for pivotal connection with coacting right angle. extension arms'24. The latter extension arms 24 normally lie with one endportion in overlapping relation with an arm 23, and with the Opposite end pivotally attached by pins .25 to the inner face of the side portion adjacent end portion 19 of the U-shaped floor 13. The pivotedextension arms 23and 24 are arranged so that 'the'lower angle arms '24 open toward the swingable panel 14, and the upper angle arms 23 overlap the respective cooperating arm24 and open outwardly toward the oppositeend of the U-shaped frame 13. This arrangementattains greater strength and rigidity in the support of bar 22, and provides a stop means which limits the pivotal movement of and locks the extension arms 23 and 24 in the fully extended, alignedposition shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Braces'26are pivotally fastened at one end thereof by pins 27 to the outer face of .an upper extension arm'23, at a point above the,pivot connection 28, and have the opposite end pivoted to the end of the side portion adjacent the end portion of the U-shaped floor frame '13. These braces '26 serve to reinforce the locking action of the coacting extension arms 23 and 24, the'braces 26 and extension arms'23 and-24 constituting ,a rack-supporting means that serves to maintain and support the raised bar 22 in substantially the plane of the ironing board 11, but in horizontally spacedrelation therewith. In the extended position, as the article is ironed, it maybe folded over the' bar 22 without permitting any portion to become soiled or wrinkled from contact with the floor, and hence be arranged immediately for storage or use after a single ironing.

Bar 22 is of a tubular structure, and is of sufficient internal diameter and length to receive andhouse an auxiliary bar 29, the latter bar providing a gripping portion 30 whichprojects from bar 22 and which maybe utilized to extend the slidable auxiliary bar to any selective position on either side of bar 22. Without intending to restrict, it may be noted as a preference that the movable auxiliary bar 29 is constructed of solid wood, and is fitted with reasonably close'tolerance in bar '22. When slidably moved to an extended position, the auxiliary bar 29 may serve the same function as and assist bar 22 in supporting the finished ironed material in a folded or draped arrangement as it leaves-the ironing board 11, or-the auxiliary bar maybe used conveniently to support hangers.

Fig. 3 shows the combined laundry protector and rack assembly in a collapsed, partly closed position. The swingable-frame has-been angularly displacedto an overlapping and nesting relation with the cooperating horizontal floor frame 13. Also, the interlocking relation between the pivoted right angle extension arms 23 and '24 has been broken, thereby permi-ttingthe arms'to be folded in nested arrangement within the U-shaped frame 13. Thus, it is obvious that the laundry protector and rack assembly is particularly adaptable by its novel construction, to bequickly and easily collapsed into a convenient compact form for storage or shipping.

The use of the laundry protector and rack device '10 is thought to have become apparent-from the foregoing detailed description, but in the'interests offurther clarity and completeness, it will be notedthat the assembly may bereadily expanded for use-by-placing thelarger laundry panel 12 horizontally on the floor,--raising the=bar=22 to the uppermost position as shown in Fig.1,locking theextensionvarms 23 and 24 in rigid alignment,-and-raising the swingable panel 14 to the position determined by' the stop tabs 17. The horizontal floor panel 12 is moved to a position underlying the ironing table such't-hat bar 22 Willi-be located substantially parallel to.and -in-spaced relation with the ironing board margin opposite the operator. When expanded and placed in this position, as in Fig. 1, the laundry protector and rack device is ready for use.

The operator then places the unironed laundry upon the canvas covered panels and proceeds to iron. As an article is ironed, the operator folds or drapes the finished portion over bar 22, reversing the material from one side of the rack to the other, without permitting any portion to contact the floor. If the article being ironed is very large, for example a sheet, curtain or bed-spread, it may be advisable and convenient to extend the auxiliary bar 29, which augments the effective length of rack structure. The use of the rack. assembly in this manner permits the finished ironed article to be folded for storage or immediate use with only a single ironing operation.

The unironed portion of the material is contained by the canvas covered panels, thus. protecting the ,article from being soiled. .The'front swingable panel 14 assists in containing the laundry, serves to direct and guide the unironed portion upwardly to the ironing board, and provides the maximum shielding area yet provides ample leg and foot space for the operator.

Although the invention has been described by making detailed reference to a single preferred embodiment, such detail is to be understood in an instructive, rather than in any restrictive sense, many variants being possible within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

'I claim ,as my invention:

1. In a'laundry protector and rack assembly, the laundry protector comprising a floor frame having opposite side portions and an end portion, a swingable frame having opposite side portions and an end portion, one end region of each side portion of the swingable frame being pivotally attached to oneend region of each side portion of the floor frame, a-stop means carried by a side portion of one of said frames and cngageable with an adjacent side portion of the other said frame, said stop means retaining the swingable frame in an extended, inclined position, a flexible material substantially bridging the frames, said material being detachably secured to the respective end portions of each frame, the rack assembly being of inverted U-shape, the legs of the U-shaped rack comprising a pair of pivotally connected extension arms, and the connecting member of said U-shaped rack comprising a bar, one of said arms of each leg being secured to thebar, the other arm of eachleg being pivotally connected to a side portion of the floor frame adjacent the end portion, a stop means interconnecting said extension arms which limits thepivotal, movement of. and locks the extension arms in extended position, and a brace connected to one of said extension arms at a distance spaced from the pivotal connection of said arms, and connected to a portion of said fioor frame.

2. In a laundry protector and rack assembly, the laundryprotector comprising a floor frame having opposite sideportions and an end portion, a swingable framehaving opposite side portions and an end portion, one end region of each sideportion of the swingable frame being pivotally attached to one end region of each side portion of the floorframe, a stop means carried by a side portion of the floor frame, said stop means being adapted to abut the adjacent-side portion of the swingable frame, whereby to retain the swingable framein .an extended position, a flexible material substantially bridging the frames, said material being detachably secured to the respective end portions of each frame, the rack assembly being of inverted U-shape, theJegs of the U-shaped rack comprising a pair of pivotally connected extension arms, and; the. conmeeting member of said U-shapcd rack comprising a bar, one of the arms of each leg being secured to the bar, the other arm of each leg-being pivotally connected'to aside portion of the floor-frame adjaeent'the endportion, a stop means-interconnecting adjacent portionsof said extensionarms-which limits pivotal movement of and locks to one end region of each side portion of the floor frame, 1'

a stop means interconnecting adjacent side portions of the frames which limits the angular displacement of the swingable frame, a flexible material substantially bridging the frames, said material being detachably connected to the respective end portions of each frame, the rack assembly being of inverted U-shape, the legs of the U-shaped rack comprising a pair of pivotally connected extension arms, and the connecting member of said U-shaped rack comprising a bar, one of said arms of each leg being connected to said bar, the other said arm of each leg being pivotally connected to a portion of the floor frame, stop means interconnecting adjacent portions of said arms to retain said arms in extended position, and a brace pivotally connected to an arm connected to the bar and pivotally connected to a portion of the floor frame.

4. In a laundry protector and rack assembly, the laundry protector comprising a floor frame normally located in a horizontal position on the floor, the floor frame having spaced side portions and an end portion connected to an end region of each side portion, a swingable frame I) having spaced side portions and an end portion connected to an end region of each side portion, the opposite end regions of the side portions of the swingable frame being pivotally attached to the opposite end regions of the side portions of the floor frame, a stop means interconnecting adjacent side portions of the frames that limits the angular displacement of and normally retains the swingable frame in an extended, inclined position, a flexible material substantially bridging the frames and detachably secured to the respective end portions of each a frame, the rack assembly being of inverted U-shape, the legs of the U-shaped rack comprising a pair of pivotally connected extension arms, and the connecting member comprising a bar, one of the arms of each leg being secured to the bar, the other arm of each leg being pivotally connected to the opposite end region of a side portion of the horizontally disposed frame and pivotally connected in overlapping relation to the first mentioned of said extension arms, stop means interconnecting adjacent overlapping portions of said arms to retain said arms in o extended position, and a brace pivotally connected at one end to one of said extension arms and at the opposite end to the floor frame.

5. In a laundry protector and rack assembly adapted for use with an ironing board, the laundry protector comprising a laundry shielding floor frame normally disposed in a horizontal position on the floor underlying the ironing board, the floor frame being substantially of a U- shaped configuration having an end portion and spaced side portions, a swingable laundry protector frame of substantially rectangular configuration having an outermost end portion and spaced side portions, one end region of each side portion of the swingable frame being pivotally connected to the free end region of each side portion of the floor frame so as to adapt the swingable frame to lie in nested relation to the floor frame when in folded position, a stop means on a side portion of the floor frame which limits the angular displacement of the swingable frame, and serves to retain the swingable frame in an expanded inclined position, a flexible material substantially bridging the said frames, and detachably secured about the respective end portions of each frame, the rack assembly being of inverted U-shape, the legs of the U-shaped rack comprising a pair of pivotally connected extension arms, and the connecting member of said U-shaped rack comprising an elongated tubular bar, an auxiliary bar slidably received and contained in the tubular bar, and adapted to be extended to augment the effective length of the tubular bar, an extension arm of each leg secured to the tubular bar, the second coacting extension arm of each leg having one end thereof pivotally connected to the opposite end region of a side portion of the floor frame, with the opposite arm end portion overlapping and pivotally connected to the first said extension arm, stop means interconnecting adjacent portions of said arms to retain said arms in extended position, and a brace having one end pivotally attached to an extension arm secured to the tubular bar and the opposite end pivotally attached to the floor frame, the extension arms and brace being adapted to retain the bars in extended position at substantially the same plane as the ironing board, and being adapted to collapse into a compact, folded arrangement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 172,051 Paul Jan. 11, 1876 494,654 Smith Apr. 4, 1893 650,663 Whitcher May 29, 1900 719,433 Carroll Feb. 3, 1903 2,340,540 Lange Feb. 1, 1944 2,445,403 Mayerman July 20, 1948 2,473,047 Bershad June 14, 1949

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