WO2005080665A1

WO2005080665A1 - Arrangement for contaning and supporting the power and steam supply means of ironing apparatuses and ironing apparatus provided therewith

Info

Publication number: WO2005080665A1
Application number: PCT/EP2005/050578
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ermete Di Leta
Original assignee: Euro Star S.R.L.
Priority date: 2004-02-23
Filing date: 2005-02-09
Publication date: 2005-09-01
Also published as: EP1718798A1; ITPN20040005U1

Abstract

The present invention refers to an arrangement for containing and supporting the power and steam supply means in an ironing apparatus comprised of a steam generator (1) and a smoothing iron that are connected to each other via said power and steam supply means (2, 3); at least a length of said power and steam supply means (2, 3) is contained in said arrangement (4), which is additionally connected in a stable manner to said steam generator (1) so as to be capable of being selectively brought into a first resting or inoperative position, in which said arrangement (4) lies adjacent to said steam generator (1), and a second working or operative position, in which said arrangement (4) extends in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to said steam generator (1) so as to keep said power and steam supply means (2, 3) in a raised condition over said steam generator (1).

Description

ARRANGEMENT FOR CONTANING AND SUPPORTING THE POWER AND STEAM SUPPLY MEANS OF IRONING APPARATUSES AND IRONING APPARATUS PROVIDED THEREWITH DESCRIPTION

The present patent application refers to an arrangement for containing and supporting supply means, such as the power supply cord and/ or the steam supply hose, in ironing apparatuses for both residential and professional applications, as well as an ironing apparatus provided with such arrangement.

Nowadays, steam-ironing apparatuses, which are essentially comprised of a smoothing iron and a steam generator, are provided with both a power-supply cable and a steam-supply hose connecting the steam generator with the smoothing iron to allow both the electrical energy from the power line and the steam produced by the steam generator to reach the final point of use, i.e. the smoothing iron. These cables and hoses are generally held together in a bundle by winding braided wire, termed "gauze" in the current technical parlance, therearound. The bundle formed by these gauze-wound cables and tubes is generally referred to as "monotube" in the art.

In order to prevent this monotube from being likely to fall and lie upon and remain in contact with the worktop, i.e. the ironing surface, thereby causing a hindrance to the ironer, further to being subject to wear due to its being dragged along and rubbing against the worktop, use is currently made of appropriate support means consisting essentially of a metal rod - which is commonly termed "antenna" in the art - having an end portion in the shape of a crochet hook; this antenna, which is supplied separately from the steam generator, is inserted in a vertical position in a proper hole provided on the steam generator itself, with the hook-shaped end portion thereof facing upwards, so as to be able to engage and support the above- defined monotube, which is in this way kept in a raised condition above the worktop, while being free of sliding relative to the support hook so as to ensure full freedom of movement to the ironer during the ironing process.

However, owing to the continuous movement of the monotube relative to the support hook and, as a result, the monotube itself constantly rubbing against the support hook during ironing, a major drawback of such prior-art solution lies in the fact that the gauze forming the sheath around the monotube is subject to wear, so that, by fraying gradually away, it eventually causes a more or less considerable portion of the underlying cables and hoses to become bare, i.e. destitute of their covering. Now, even such bare portion of cables and hoses are subject to a same wear-away effect with time, in the case that the worn gauze fails to be timely replaced. As it can be readily appreciated, this practically means that, during the use of the ironing apparatus, it may well occur that the ironer can accidentally come into direct contact with a bare power-supply cable or steam hose, with the risk of suffering electric shocks or being scalded. In addition, a possibly worn-away power cable or steam hose may be the cause of dangerous short-circuit occurrences or hot steam leakages. A further drawback encountered with the above-described prior-art solution lies in the fact that, owing to the antenna being a separate part, actually, the user must each time remember installing it prior to start ironing, and removing it thereupon, with the risk that it might get lost between an ironing process and the subsequent one.

It is therefore a main object of the present invention to do away with all of the above-mentioned drawbacks of prior-art solutions by providing an arrangement for containing and supporting the power and steam supply means in an ironing apparatus, which is effective in ensuring a far greater durability of the same power and steam supply means, while enabling the ironer to work under improved safety conditions.

Within this general object, it is a purpose of the present invention to provide an arrangement for containing and supporting the power and steam supply means in an ironing apparatus, which is effective in sensibly reducing the wear effect due to said supply means being dragged upon and rubbing against the respective support arrangement Another purpose..... of the present invention is to provide such arrangement, which is capable of being most easily, quickly and correctly installed, and de-installed, on the apparatus by the user.

Another purpose yet of the present invention is to eliminate, or at least drastically reduce, the possibility for this support arrangement to be accidentally by the user.

A further, equally important purpose of the present invention is to provide such support arrangement at an acceptably low cost using readily available, existing tools, machinery and techniques.

According to the present invention, these aims, along with further advantageous features that will become apparent in the following description, are reached in an arrangement for containing and supporting the power and steam supply means in an ironing apparatus incorporating the characteristics as recited in claim 1. Anyway, features and advantages of the present invention may be more readily understood from the description that is given below of a preferred, although not sole embodiment that is illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a steam generator provided with a containing and support arrangement according to the present invention;

- Figure 2 is a schematical rear view of the steam generator shown in Figure 1, with the support arrangement in the resting or inoperative position thereof;

- Figure 2a is a partial side view of the steam generator shown in Figure 2; - Figure 3 is a schematical rear view of the steam generator shown in

Figure 2, with the support arrangement in the working or operative position thereof;

- Figure 3a is a partial side view similar to the one appearing in Figure 2a, but with the support arrangement in the working or operative position thereof;

- Figure 4 is a perspective view of the containing and support arrangement according to the present invention.

With reference to the above-cited Figures, the reference numeral 1 is used there to generally indicate a steam generator being part of a steam ironing apparatus and, therefore, comprising also a smoothing iron (not shown). Power and steam supply to the smoothing iron is provided via supply means 2 comprising at least an electric cable 2a and a steam delivering hose 2b, which connect the steam generator 1 to said smoothing iron. In an advantageous manner, said supply means 2 further comprise a braided-wire gauze wound around said electric cable 2a and said steam delivery hose 2b, so as to form a single supply "cord", constituting the so-called monotube structure 3, between the steam generator 1 and the smoothing iron. Connected to the steam generator 1 there is an arrangement 4 for containing and supporting the supply means 2, the latter being possibly enclosed in said monotube structure 3. The arrangement 4 is essentially comprised of a sleeve 5, through which the monotube 3 is caused to pass, and which is connected to the steam generator 1 in such a manner as to be able to take a first resting or inoperative position, as illustrated in Figure 2, in which the sleeve 5 lies close to the steam generator 1, preferably accommodated in an appropriate receptacle 6, so as to prevent it to protrude from the outer profile of the body of the steam generator itself when the ironing apparatus is not in use, and a second working or operative position, as illustrated in Figure. 3, in which the sleeve 5 is raised to extend in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the steam generator 1 so as to support - at a certain height above the same steam generator 1 - the supply means 2. Illustrated in Figure 1 is the passage from the first, i.e. resting position to the second, i.e. working position of said support arrangement.

Of course, the sleeve 5 is open at both end portions 5a, 5b thereof, so as to enable the supply means 2 to pass thereinto from the steam generator 1 - either already contained in the monotube 2 or not - and to exit therefrom - duly contained in the monotube 3 - to extend further towards the smoothing iron.

In an advantageous manner, the sleeve 5 may be provided - close to the end portion 5a, from which the monotube 3 exits the same sleeve 5 to move towards the smoothing iron - with a tubular member 7 that is elastically pliable so as to favour a correct orientation of the monotube 3 without creating abrupt, sharp bends and/ or rubbing zones that might cause the monotube 3 to rapidly wear out. This tubular member 7 may be comprised of a rubber or plastic bellows-like sheathing to be associated to the sleeve 5 by chemical or mechanical methods that are widely known as such in the art, such as interference-fit overlapping , overinjection or any similar method, and may most advantageously be provided at least internally with a low-friction surface, i.e. a surface having a low coefficient of friction. To this purpose, said surface may be either made of or coated with an appropriate low-friction material, or it may even be made with such a structure as to anyway favour or bring about a reduction in the coefficient of friction, in view of enabling the monotube 3 to most smoothly slide therethrough, thereby reducing wear and tear to a considerable extent.

In the particular embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the arrangement 4 for containing and supporting the power and steam supply means 2 is pivotally Jhinged on to the steam generator 1 so as to be able to turn manner about a pivot 8 provided at the end portion 5b facing the steam generator 1; the receptacle 6 provided to accommodate the sleeve 5 is formed by a first pocket-like cavity provided on the rear side la of the steam generator 1, adapted to receive the sleeve 5 when turned back into its resting position upon completing of the ironing process.

As an alternative to or even in combination with the pivotally turning connection used to enable the arrangement 4, which shall for reasons of brevity be referred to as "antenna" hereinafter, to be pivotally displaced into its two positions, i.e. the resting position and the working position, respectively, the antenna 4 may also be provided with a retracting and protracting structure of a telescopic kind, capable in any case of bringing about both a resting or inoperative position when retracted, and a working or operative position when protracted. As a result, it will be appreciated that the present invention may be embodied either by means of a containing and supporting arrangement that is pivotally connected to the steam generator 1, or as a telescopically retractable and protractable structure attached to the steam generator 1 in a stationary manner, i.e. without any possibility of movement, or again as a telescopically retractable and protractable structure pivotally connected to the steam generator 1 so as to enable not only the above-mentioned resting and working positions to be reached, but also the height to be appropriately adjusted, at which the monotube 3 has to be supported.

In an advantageous manner, so as this is illustrated in Figures 2a and 3a, the steam generator 1 may be provided on its rear portion la, on the opposite side with respect to said first pocket-like cavity 6, with a second pocket-like cavity 9, so as to form -jointly with said first pocket-like cavity 6 - a kind of reel for winding and containing the monotube 3 exiting from the end portion 5a of the sleeve 5, when the latter is in its resting position.

In order to ensure that the arrangement 4 containing and supporting the power and steam supply means 2 is actually brought into the correct operative position thereof prior to starting an ironing cycle, so as to ensure that the monotube 3 is correctly held in a raised position and is not likely to be subject to undue wear, on the outer surface of the steam generator 1, close to the end portion 5a of the sleeve 5, there may be advantageously provided an interlock micro-switch adapted to switch on the ironing apparatus, or some visual or sound warning signal, wherein said micro- switch may be actuated by a protrusion provided on the sleeve 5, when the latter is correctly placed vertically in its working position; as an alternative option, the micro-switch may be associated to the end portion 5b of the sleeve 5, so as to be actuatable by a corresponding protrusion on the outer surface of the steam generator.

From the above description it can be most clearly inferred how the supply means containing and supporting arrangement according to the present invention is actually capable of reaching the afore-indicated aims, along with the advantages deriving therefrom, since it is effective in really ensuring a greater durability of the power and steam supply means 2, i.e. the so-called monotube 3, while at the same time enabling the user, i.e. the ironer to work in a condition of far greater safety thanks to a considerable reduction in the factors that usually cause the power and steam supply means to undergo wear and tear. As a matter of fact, the rubbing and the abrupt change of direction of the monotube on the support hook used in prior-art solutions are replaced by a smooth sliding of the same monotube on a widely curving surface, which is possibly provided with the elastically pliable tubular member 7 that is in turn advantageously provided with an inner surface having a low coefficient of friction.

In addition, the passage of the support arrangement from the resting position to the working position thereof, and vice-versa, is an operation that can be performed by the user in an extremely easy, convenient and quick manner, while the possibility for the arrangement itself to beaccidentally lost between an ironing cycle and the next one is practically reduced to nil, owing to its being connected to the steam generator in a stable manner.

It will be readily appreciated that the arrangement that has been described above by mere way of example may be the subject of a number of modifications and different embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It should further be noticed that the materials used to implement the present invention, as well as the shape and size of the individual component parts, may each time be selected so as to most appropriately fit any particular need or comply with any application-related requirement.

Claims

1. Arrangement for containing and supporting the power and steam supply means in an ironing apparatus comprised of a steam generator (1) and a smoothing iron that are connected to each other via said power and steam supply means (2, 3), characterized in that at least a length of said power and steam supply means (2, 3) is contained in said arrangement (4), which is additionally connected in a stable manner to said steam generator (1) so as to be capable of being selectively brought into a first resting or inoperative position, in which said arrangement (4) lies adjacent to said steam generator (1), and a second working or operative position, in which said arrangement (4) extends in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to said steam generator (1) so as to keep said power and steam supply means (2, 3) in a raised condition over said steam generator (1).

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said arrangement (4) is essentially comprised of a sleeve (5), through which there is adapted to pass at least a length of said power and steam supply means (2, 3).

3. Arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said sleeve (5) is open at both end portions (5a, 5b) thereof, so as to enable said power and steam supply means (2, 3) to pass thereinto from the steam generator (1) and to exit therefrom to extend towards the smoothing iron.

4. Arrangement according to claim 3, wherein said the sleeve (5) is provided, close to at least an end portion (5a) thereof, with an elastically pliable tubular member (7).

5. Arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said tubular member (7) is provided with an inner surface having a low coefficient of friction.

6. Arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said tubular member (7) is comprised of a rubber or plastic bellows-like sheathing associated to said sleeve (5) by a chemical or a mechanical joining method.

7. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that it is connected in a pivotally turning manner to said steam generator (1) at an end portion (5b) thereof facing said steam generator (1), the passage of said arrangement from said first resting position to said second working position thereof occurring through a rotation relative to said steam generator (1).

8. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said arrangement (4) is capable of being accommodated in a receptacle (6) provided on said steam generator (1) when brought into said first resting position thereof.

9. Arrangement according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said arrangement (4) is made in the form of a telescopically retractable and protractable structure associated in either a stationary or a pivotally turning manner to said steam generator (1).

10. Ironing apparatus, characterized in that it comprises a steam generator (1) to which there is connected in a stable manner an arrangement (4) according to claim 1 for containing and supporting the power and steam supply means (2, 3) of said apparatus.

11. Ironing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said steam generator (1) is provided with an accommodation (6) adapted to receive said arrangement (4) and formed by a pocket-like cavity provided on a rear portion (la) of said steam generator (1).

12. Ironing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said steam generator (1), on said rear portion (la) thereof on the opposite side with respect to said first pocket-like cavity (6), is provided with a second pocket-like cavity (9) that, jointly with said first pocket-like cavity (6), forms winding means for said power and steam supply means (2, 3) when said arrangement (4) is in said first or resting position thereof.

13. Ironing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a micro-switch adapted to enable said apparatus to be switched on and/ or actuate the issuance of a visual and/ or sound warning signal, is associable to either said steam generator (1) or said arrangement (4), said micro-switch being actuatable when said arrangement (4) is brought into the second or working position thereof.