An electric resistance iron of the so-called cordless type.

Abstract

 An electric resistance iron of the so-called cordless type, and more particularly a steam iron, said iron being designed for being employed with a rest and electrical supply base (3), which base can be connected to the electric supply mains and is supplied with coupling means that are able to allow the iron resistance to be connected to the supply mains when said iron (1) is placed on said base (2), said iron (1) being characterized in that it comprises signaling means (11), as for instance optic or acoustic means, temperature sensitive means (12) which are able to cause the activation of said signaling means (11) when the iron temperature during use of the same decreases below a minimum value set previously, a voltage source (10; 110) that can be connected to said signaling means (11) through a temperature sensitive switch (12); a manual control member (4) being also present in steam type irons for activating the steam emission.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric resistance iron of the so-called cordless type, i.e. of the type of electric irons designed for being employed together with a rest and electric supply base, which base can be connected to the electric supply mains and provided with coupling means that are able to allow the connection of the electric resistance of the flatiron to be connected to the electric supply mains, when the iron is arranged on that base.

[0002] Cordless flatirons have a number of advantages. Their employment indeed is extremely easier and more comfortable than the employment of irons provided with an electric supply cord. Cordless irons are in addition much safer as during the employment of the same they are not connected with the electric supply mains.

[0003] Cordless flatirons are electrically supplied and heated when they are placed on the supply base during pauses in the ironing operations. If very long times intervene between two successive pauses, the flatiron may cool too much; if the iron is of the so-called "steam iron" type, the decrease. in temperature could give rise to water leakage through the holes designed for the emission of steam.

[0004] The present invention aims at realizing an electric resistance iron of the so-called "cordless" type which is free from said drawback.

[0005] That object is realized according to the present invention through the embodiment of a flatironiof the type specified above, whose main feature consists in that it comprises:

signaling means, and

temperature sensitive means which are able to cause the activation of said signaling means when the iron temperature during use decreases below a previously set minimum value.

[0006] Further features and advantages of .the flatiron according to the present invention will be evident from the detailed diselosure given below with reference to the enclosed drawings, which are supplied for exemplification and not for limitative purposes, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a flatiron of the so-called cordless type, and

Figures 2 and 3 show a first and a second electric wiring diagram of the signaling circuit which the flatiron of Figure 1 is provided with according to the present invention.

[0007] With reference now to Figure 1, a flatiron according to the present invention comprises the very flatiron pointed out by the reference number 1, and a rest and electrical supply base pointed out by 2. The latter comprises in a way already known per se, a body which for instance may be of a plastic material, of L-shape substantially, which body can be connected to the electric supply mains through a cable or cord 3.

[0008] The iron 1. is provided in a way already known per se with a heating resistor which can be connected to the electric supply mains when said iron is arranged opportunely on the base 2, by previously connecting said base to the supply mains through the cord 3.

[0009] According to the present invention a signaling circuit is assembled in the iron 1, for instance the circuit illustrated schematically in Figure 2. Such circuit comprises a voltage source, for instance a battery 10, and a signaling device, for instance a luminous diode 11, which are connected with one another into a circuit in which a temperature sensitive switch 12 is arranged. Such temperature sensitive switch is realized for instance by employing a bimetal and it closes when the temperature of the iron 1 decreases below a previously set minimum value. Moreover, a resistor 13 is provided in the circuit for limiting the value of the current supplied to the luminous diode 11.

[0010] If the iron 1 is of the "steam" type in which the emission of the steam can be activated through the driving of a manual control member (pointed out by the reference number 4 in Figure 1), then preferably, (though not necessarily) the circuit disclosed above also comprises a further switch 14 which can be driven into the closing state when the member 4 is driven to allow the emission of steam.

[0011] The operation of the circuit shown in Figure 2 is per se evident: when the member controlling the steam emission is acted upon and the iron temperature is lower than the preestablished value, the light-emitting diode 11 lights up so signaling such occurrence, and therefore signaling the opportunity to rest again the iron 1 on the base 2 in order to allow the iron to be electrically supplied and hence heated again.

[0012] Said battery 10 can be housed within a space obtained in the body of the iron 1 and is accessible for instance by previously removing a small door from the same, such as that illustrated in a simplified way in Figure 1 and pointed out therein by the reference number 5.

[0013] Instead of the battery 10, an accumulator cell can be provided as shown in Figure 3 of the rechargeable type 110, for instance a rechargeable cell or a regulated-discharge capacitor. Such accumulator cell is provided in that case with two electric terminals 110a and 110h for allowing the cell to be recharged.

[0014] The temperature sensitive switch 12 can be a part in a suitable way of a thermostatic device of a per se known type whose intervention temperature can be adjusted.

[0015] Finally, an acoustic signaling device can be employed as a signaling device instead of the light-emitting diode 11, for instance a buzzer could be employed.

[0016] Obviously the finding of the present invention extends to all embodiments of the same spirit and scope as that of the present invention disclosed and illustrated above.

Claims

1. An electric resistance iron of the so-called cordless type, designed for being employed with a rest and electrical supply base (3) which can be connected to the electric supply mains and is provided with coupling means which are able to allow the electric resistance of the iron (1) to be connected to the electric supply mains when said iron (1) is placed on the base (2), said iron being characterized in that it comprises:

signaling means (11) and

temperature sensitive means (12) which are able to cause the activation of said signaling means (11) when the iron temperature during use of the iron (1) decreases below a minimum value set previously.

2. An electric iron according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an electric circuit including:

a voltage source (10; 110) and

a signaling device (11) which can be connected to said voltage source (10; 110) through a temperature sensitive switch (12).

3. An electric iron according to claims 1 or 2, and particularly of the "steam" type, wherein the steam emission can be activated through the actuation of a manual control member (4) characterized in that a further switch (.14) is provided in said electric circuit, said switch being designed for being actuated following the actuation of said control member (4) in order to allow the activation of the signaling device (11) just when said member (4) has been actuated.

4. An electric iron according to claims 2 or 3, characterized in that said temperature sensitive switch (12) forms a part of a thermostatic device whose intervention temperature is adjustable.

5. An electric iron according to any one of the preceding claims 2-4, characterized in that said signaling device consists of a luminous diode (11).

6. An electric iron according to any one of the preceding claims 2-4, characterized in that said signaling device is of the acoustic type.

7. An electric iron according to any one of the preceding claims 2-6, characterized in that said voltage source is a battery (10).

8. An electric iron according to claim 7, characterized in that said voltage source is a battery (110) of rechargeable type.

9. An electric iron according to any one of the preceding claims 2-6, characterized in that said voltage source is a regulated-discharge capacitor (110).

10. An electric resistance iron of the so-called cordless type, substantially as disclosed and illustrated above and for the aims specified above.

Drawing