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(11) | EP 1 029 969 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Improved folding ironing board |
| (57) The improved folding ironing board comprises a worktop (2) below which two pairs
of legs (3, 4) for resting on the ground are articulated; the legs (3, 4) are mutually
articulated to the worktop (2) with interposed friction means (6) which can be locked
in a preset position, and a bracket-like means (7) is interposed between at least
one of the pairs of legs (3, 4) and the worktop (2); one end (16b) of the bracket-like
means can engage in a guide (8) formed by consecutive transverse sectors (8a), one
end of which is articulated to the lower face (2a) of the worktop (2) with interposed
actuation means (9). |
[0002] Folding ironing boards are well known consisting of a top on which actual ironing occurs and below which legs are fitted; these legs are articulated in various manners to each other so that they can be opened when needed and can be closed so as to be practically included in the top when the ironing board is stored.
[0003] The legs open either automatically by gravity or by acting on an appropriate locking mechanism.
[0004] In the first case, the user grips the top and lifts it, arranging it horizontally, and the legs automatically unfold.
[0005] The legs are associated in pairs and are articulated to each other substantially at the central region, so that during the unfolding they arrange themselves in an X-shaped configuration; moreover, one of the pairs is rotatably articulated, in an upward region, to the lower face of the top, while the other one can be rigidly coupled by inserting a cross-member which joins the pair of legs in a series of appropriate pairs of teeth designed to adapt the height of the top to the height of the user.
[0006] In the case of a mechanism to be actuated for unfolding, said mechanism usually consists of a bar which is arranged longitudinally and is rigidly coupled below the top; a loose collar slides on the bar and acts as a vise which is actuated by means of a lever arranged on one side of the top; in practice, by actuating said lever the vise is released and the legs can unfold, as in the preceding case, by gravity; once unfolding has been completed until the intended height has been reached, the lever is released and the vise keeps the legs in the unfolded configuration and maintains the worktop at the intended height.
[0007] This prior art is susceptible of further improvements in relation to the device that ensures the stability of the legs in the unfolded configuration.
[0008] It has in fact been observed that if the ironing tops of conventional boards are loaded excessively, the pairs of teeth and the vise both tend to yield, making the top fall to the floor with everything supported thereon.
[0009] Moreover, the maneuver for unfolding the legs is energy-intensive and scarcely ergonomic due to the actions that the user must perform.
[0010] The aim of the present invention is to solve the above-cited problems of the prior art by providing an improved folding ironing board which is easily maneuverable and has a stress resistant structure.
[0011] This aim, object and others are achieved by an improved folding ironing board which comprises a worktop below which two pairs of legs for resting on the ground are articulated, characterized in that said pairs of legs are mutually articulated to the worktop with interposed friction means which can be locked in a preset position, a bracket-like means being interposed between at least one of the pairs of legs and the worktop, one end of the bracket-like means being engageable in a guide formed by consecutive transverse sectors, one end of which is articulated to the lower face of the worktop with interposed actuation means.
[0012] Further characteristics and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of an improved folding ironing board, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an ironing board according to the invention in the configuration in which it is open for use;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the ironing board in the folded configuration;
Figure 3 is a schematic side view of the upper portion of the frame that constitutes the ironing board according to the invention;
Figure 4 is a schematic enlarged-scale sectional view of the ironing board, taken along a transverse plane designated by IV-IV in Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a detailed transverse sectional view of the ironing board, taken along a transverse plane designated by V-V in Figure 3.
[0013] With reference to the above figures, 1 designates an improved folding ironing board which comprises a conventional worktop 2 below which two pairs of legs 3 and 4 for resting on the ground are articulated.
[0014] The pairs of legs 3 and 4 are mutually articulated at 5 to the worktop 2, with friction means 6 interposed which can be locked in a preset position.
[0015] A bracket-like means 7 is further interposed between one of the pairs of legs, specifically the pair 3 that is considered as being the front pair; one end of the bracket-like means can be engaged in a guide 8 formed by consecutive transverse sectors 8a, one end of which is in turn articulated to the lower face 2a of the worktop 2 with actuation means 9 interposed.
[0016] The friction means 6 are constituted by at least one pair of cylindrical rings 10a, 10b, each of which is rigidly fitted to the respective upper end of the corresponding leg 3 and 4; both of the rings are further coaxially keyed on the pivot 12 that constitutes the articulation point 5 and can be mutually clamped tangentially in a rotational direction throuhg screw means 13 which can be actuated from outside.
[0017] These screw means are constituted by a handle 14 provided with a coupling 15 which can be screwed onto the threaded end of the articulation pivot 12 and can be gradually tightened against the nearby ring 10a.
[0018] The bracket-like means 7 is constituted, in the preferred embodiment of the board 1 shown in the drawings, by two struts 16 which are parallel and have corresponding ends 16a which are articulated to a median region of the leg 3 considered as the front leg and opposite ends 16b which are provided with a cross-member 17 which can be inserted in one of the transverse sectors 8a of the guide 8.
[0019] The means 9 for actuating the guide are constituted by a second handle 18 which is fitted so as to rotate rigidly with the pivot 19 for the articulation of the guide 8 to the lower face 2a of the worktop 2 and is adapted to move the guide alternately into a position in which it engages the cross-member 17 or into a position in which it disengages it.
[0020] The operation of the invention can be deduced self-evidently from the above description: the ironing board 1 is arranged in the configuration for use in the usual manner, i.e. by opening out the pairs of legs 3 and 4.
[0021] The opening is controlled by the friction means 6 so that it cannot occur violently, endangering the stability of the board 1.
[0022] The friction can be adjusted by tightening or loosening the handle 14, i.e. by mutually clamping the rings 10a and 10b according to the requirements.
[0023] Once the intended configuration in terms of height has been achieved, the second handle 18 is operated; by means of the handle, the guide 8 is moved so as to engage one of the sectors 8a with the cross-member 17, thus locking the configuration that has been achieved.
[0024] To ensure the stability of the configuration, the handle 14 can be tightened further, thus completely preventing the mutual rotation of the rings 10a and 10b.
[0025] The load applied to the cantilevered portion of the worktop 2 during ironing is contrasted by the struts 16, thus preventing any dangerous flexing which would endanger the stability of the iron when placed on the worktop 2.
[0026] Finally, by performing the above-described maneuvers in reverse order, the legs 3 and 4 are released and, by rotating about the articulation 5, can be folded against the lower face 2a of the worktop 2 and optionally locked again in this position by tightening the handle 14 again; in this way the ironing board 1 can be carried without risking of unfolding it accidentally, colliding uncontrollably with whatever is nearby.
[0027] In practice it has been observed that the above-described invention achieves the intended aim and objects.
[0028] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of same inventive concept, and all the details may be replaced with other technically equivalent ones.
[0029] In practice, the materials employed, as well as the shapes and the dimensions, may be any according to requirements without thereby abandoning the scope of the protection of the appended claims.
[0030] The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application No. MO99U000007 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
[0031] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.
1. An improved folding ironing board, comprising a worktop (2) below which two pairs
of legs (3, 4) for resting on the ground are articulated, characterized in that said
pairs of legs (3, 4) are mutually articulated (5) to said worktop (2) with interposed
friction means (6) which can be locked in a preset position, a bracket-like means
(7) being interposed between at least one of said pairs of legs (3, 4) and said worktop
(2), one end (16b) of said bracket-like means (7) being engageable in a guide (8)
formed by consecutive transverse sectors (8a), one end of which is articulated to
the lower face (2a) of said worktop (2) with interposed actuation means (9).
2. The ironing board according to claim 1, characterized in that said friction means
(6) are constituted by at least one pair of cylindrical rings (10a, 10b) each of which
is rigidly coupled to the respective upper end of the corresponding leg (3, 4), said
rings (10a, 10b) being keyed coaxially on the pivot (12) for the articulation (5)
of said legs (3, 4) to said worktop (2) and being mutually tangentially lockable in
a rotational direction through screw means (13) which can be actuated from outside.
3. The ironing board according to claim 2, characterized in that said screw means (13)
are constituted by a handle (14) provided with a coupling (15) which can be screwed
onto the threaded end of said articulation pivot (12) and can be gradually clamped
against the nearby ring (10a).
4. The ironing board according to claim 1, characterized in that said bracket-like means
(7) is constituted by at least one strut (16) in which one end (16a) is articulated
to a median region of the leg (3) that is considered as the front leg and the opposite
end (16b) is provided with a cross-member (17) which can be inserted in one of said
transverse sectors (8a) of said guide (8).
5. The ironing board according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in that said means (9)
for actuating said guide (8) are constituted by a second handle (18) which is rotationally
rigidly coupled to the guide articulation pivot (19) and is adapted to move said guide
(8) alternately into a position for engaging said cross-member (17) and into a position
for disengaging it.