Steam ironing apparatus

Abstract

 The present patent application refers to a steam ironing apparatus comprising an ironing board (2) provided with a chamber (3) situated therebelow and communicating with a plurality of through-perforations provided in the worktop (4); to said chamber (3) there are associated fluid-dynamic means (5) comprising a first and a second motor (6, 7) and at least a valve (8) adapted to generate a positive pressure and a negative pressure within said chamber (3); the apparatus further comprises a steam iron (10) to which there are associated control means (9) for said fluid-dynamic means (5) and control means (12) for the emission of steam, said control means being provided separate from and independent of each other.
The control means (9) are adapted to determine the rotation of said fluid-dynamic means (5) and to select the generation of a positive or negative pressure through the selective actuation of the first or the second motor (6, 7).

Description

[0001] The present patent application refers to a steam ironing apparatus for steam-assisted ironing of garments and clothing items, which comprises an ironing board provided with blowing/sucking fluid-dynamic means and centralized control means for said fluid-dynamic means.

[0002] The steam-assisted clothing ironing method is generally known to require the generation of steam by means of a separate boiler that is independent of the iron itself; in view of improving the garment ironing process in general and also making it quicker to carry out, apparatuses have been implemented, the ironing top of which is provided with a plurality of perforations and comprises a chamber located therebelow, inside which it is possible to obtain either a pressure value that is higher than the atmospheric pressure value, hereinafter referred to as positive pressure, or a pressure value that is lower than the atmospheric value one, hereinafter referred to as negative pressure. Such pressure variations can be obtained by means of two fans, i.e. a blowing and a sucking one, arranged below the ironing top and in communication with the above mentioned chamber.

[0003] The variation in the value of the pressure prevailing inside the chamber brings about a flow of forced air, which may possibly be mixed with steam and causes the garment lying on the ironing top to correspondingly adhere thereto or separate, i.e. move away therefrom.

[0004] The operation of the fans is usually controlled by means of a foot pedal control unit placed on the floor and provided with two pedals, which are adapted to control the blowing fan and the sucking fan, respectively.

[0005] The disclosure in the European patent application no. 0 750 066 refers to a household garment ironing apparatus comprising a perforated ironing board featuring, underneath the worktop, a chamber communicating with a single axial-flow fan that is adapted to generate a positive pressure or a negative pressure depending on the direction of rotation; the apparatus further comprises a steam-assisted smoothing iron equipped with a single control push-button to activate both the emission of steam and, through an electronic circuit, the rotation of the fan: a pressure exerted manually by the user on such a push-button for pre-determined periods of time causes the fan to start rotating and the direction of rotation of the fan to be selected as desired.

[0006] A major drawback of the above described apparatus lies in that such a way of operating the fan by means of a single multipurpose control may prove rather awkward for a user to readily get familiar with it for a proper use thereof: in fact, each time that the push-button is depressed by the user for starting fan rotation, also the emission of steam is at the same time activated, even if this is not required, and vice-versa, i.e. when the emission of steam is desired, it is possible for the fan to be started even if this is not necessary, and possibly even with a direction of rotation that may not be appropriate in that particular circumstance.

[0007] Furthermore, the electronic fan control circuit based on time pulses is rather complex and delicate, so that it practically implies a lower extent of reliability of the apparatus due to an increased likeliness of malfunction or failure events.

[0008] A further reason owing to which the above cited prior-art solution may be considered as being scarcely advantageous is the high cost of the single motor with a bi-directional rotation capability, owing to the double winding required and the design and construction complications that is usually implies.

[0009] It therefore is a main purpose of the present invention to do away with all of the above mentioned drawbacks of the prior-art solutions by providing a steam ironing apparatus, in particular intended for use in household applications, which allows the user to most easily and readily understand how to use it and get familiar with the manner in which it has to be operated.

[0010] Another purpose of the present invention, within the scope of the above cited main one, is to provide a steam ironing apparatus which is fully reliable in its operation.

[0011] A further and not less important purpose of the present invention is to provide a steam ironing apparatus which is low in cost and capable of being manufactured using readily available, generally known tools, machinery and techniques.

[0012] According to the present invention, these aims, along with further advantageous features that will become apparent in the following description, are reached in a steam ironing apparatus incorporating the characteristics as recited in the appended claim 1, as well as the ones specified in the subsequent sub-claims.

[0013] 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 side, partially cut-away view of the apparatus according to the present invention;
• Figure 2 is a top view of a detail of the steam iron being part of the apparatus according to the present invention;
• Figure 3 is a view similar to the one shown in Figure 1, of a second embodiment of the present invention;
• Figure 4 is a view similar to the one shown in Figure 2, of a detail of the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] With reference to the above mentioned Figure 1, the reference numeral 1 is used to generally indicate a steam ironing apparatus. Such an apparatus comprises an ironing board 2 provided with a chamber 3 located therebelow and communicating with a plurality of through-perforations distributed over the surface of the worktop 4. To said chamber 3 there are associated fluid-dynamic means that are generally indicated at 5, which are adapted to generate a positive pressure or a negative pressure within said chamber 3.

[0015] These fluid-dynamic means 5 are constituted by a first motor 6, a second motor 7, which is separate and distinct from said first motor 7, and rotates in an opposite direction with respect to the latter, and at least a fan 8 that is coupled to said first and/or said second motor 6, 7 and adapted to be driven selectively by said first motor 6 or said second motor 7.

[0016] The selective actuation of the fluid-dynamic means 5 is obtained through the operation of control means provided on the handgrip 11 of the steam iron 10, said means being provided there separate from and independent of the steam control means. In particular, the control means for the fluid-dynamic means 5 comprise at least a push-button 9 adapted to be operated manually by the user, and the control means for the steam comprise a push-button 12 which is capable to be operated by the user as well.

[0017] According to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the control means 9 comprise a first push-button 9a and a second push-button 9b that are advantageously arranged on the handgrip 11 of the steam iron 10 on opposite sides with respect to the steam control push-button 12; the first and the second push-button 9a, 9b are electrically connected to the first motor 6 and the second motor 7, respectively, via the electric circuits 13a, 13b.

[0018] A pressure exerted with the hand on the selected push-button, eg. the push-button 9a, actuates a microswitch 14a which, by closing the electric circuit 13a, transfers the actuation command on to the motor 6, which then determines the direction of rotation of the fan 8, eg. the sucking direction.

[0019] Similarly, a pressure exerted with the hand on the push-button 9b will send an actuation command to the motor 7, via a second microswitch 14b, which then causes the fan 8 to start rotating in the opposite direction of rotation and, therefore, in the blowing mode in the exemplified case.

[0020] At any moment during all phases of the ironing process it will clearly be possible for a steam emission to be triggered by means of the push-button 12, in a manner that is fully independent of the blowing/sucking mode of operation of the fan, and vice-versa. As a matter of fact, the push-button 12 is connected to the steam reservoir 15 via the circuit 16, which is separate and distinct from the afore cited electric circuits 13a, 13b.

[0021] From the above description it can be most clearly inferred how the steam ironing apparatus according to the present invention is actually capable of reaching the afore indicated aims and ensuring all of the advantages deriving therefrom. In fact, the centralized arrangement on the steam iron 10 of both the steam control 12 and the blowing/sucking mode controls 9 enables the apparatus as a whole to be used in a more convenient and ergonomically appropriate manner; in addition, the separation of such controls for the separate and independent actuation of the blowing/sucking mode and the emission of steam, respectively, enables the user to readily and intuitively understand how the whole system works, and makes it most easy and convenient for the apparatus itself to be properly used.

[0022] On a manufacturing/marketing level, it must be stressed that such a separation of the steam and blowing/sucking control circuits, further to simplifying the construction of the apparatus, allows for less sophisticated types of electric and/or electronic component parts to be used, which therefore ensure a much greater extent of reliability as far as the operation and the durability of the apparatus itself are concerned.

[0023] It will be readily appreciated that the steam ironing apparatus 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.

[0024] So, for instance, Figures 3 and 4 can be noticed to illustrate a second embodiment of the apparatus 101, in which the control means for the fluid-dynamic means 105 comprise a single push-button 109 arranged on the handgrip 111 of the steam iron 110, advantageously juxtaposed to and distinct from the steam control push-button 112. The electric circuit 113, which connects the push-button 109 to the fluid-dynamic means 105 and is provided separately from and independently of the circuit 116 connecting the push-button 112 to the steam reservoir 115, comprises an electronic control module or board 117 that is connected to the first and the second motor 106 and 107, which are in turn mechanically coupled with the fan 108. The electronic board 117, through electronic components that substantially perform as sensors and actuators, converts the pulse generated by the pressure exerted manually on the push-button 109, and detected by the board 117 itself, into a command to energize, i.e. start the first motor 106 or the second motor 107, thereby determining the direction of rotation of the fan 108 and, as a result, the blowing or sucking function thereof.

[0025] In an advantageous manner, the sensor is constituted by a small microprocessor device that detects the pulse generated by the push-button 109 and drives corresponding actuators, which may for instance be constituted by servo-controlled switches, such as for instance Triac or relay devices, which selectively start the operation of either the first or the second motor 106, 107, in which the selective activation of a motor or the other one depends on the number of pulses transmitted by the push-button 109, as detected by the electronic board 117.

[0026] The operation of the apparatus is as follows: upon a first pressure being exerted manually on the push-button 109, a first pulse is generated, which determines, through the electronic board 117, the operation of the first motor 106, thereby causing the fan 108 to start operating in, say, the sucking mode; a subsequent pressure exerted on the push-button 109 will cause a second pulse to be brought about, which, again through said electronic board 117, causes the first motor 106 to gradually stop rotating and, after a pre-determined short period of time, starts the operation of the second motor 107 which rotates in the opposite direction, thereby allowing the fan 108 to operate in the blowing mode this time. During the operation of one of said two motors, the other motor is driven idly jointly with the fan.

[0027] A further actuation of the push-button 109 will then cause the second motor 107 to gradually stop rotating and causes in turn the first motor 106 to start rotating, thereby switching the fan 108 back to its sucking mode of operation.

[0028] Finally, a pressure exerted on the push-button 109 for a prolonged period of time of a pre-determined duration will stop both the sucking and the blowing mode of operation of the fan.

[0029] It may be noticed how even in this second embodiment of the invention the electronics used in the system is particularly simple and rather unsophisticated, so that, further to the advantages that have already been highlighted above, the additional advantage of an improved reliability of the apparatus in terms of both the durability and the operation thereof must be added in this case.

[0030] It should further be noticed that the materials used to implement the present invention, as well as the shapes and the 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, without this implying any departure from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. Steam ironing apparatus comprising an ironing board (2, 102) provided with a chamber (3, 103) situated therebelow and communicating with a plurality of through-perforations provided in the worktop (4, 104), fluid-dynamic means (5, 105) adapted to generate a positive pressure and a negative pressure within said chamber (3, 103) being associated to said chamber (3, 103), said fluid-dynamic means (5, 105) being constituted by a first motor (6, 106) and a second motor (7, 107), the latter being separate from and independent of said first motor (6, 106), and by at least a fan (8, 108) that is coupled with at least one of said first and said second motor (6, 7, 106, 107), said apparatus comprising also a steam iron (10, 110) to which there are associated control means (9, 109) for said fluid-dynamic means (5, 105) and control means (12, 112) for the emission of steam, characterized in that said control means (9, 109) for said fluid-dynamic means (5, 105) are separate from and independent of said control means (12, 112) for the emission of steam, and electrically connected to said first and said second motor (6, 7, 106, 107) to selectively operate said at least a fan (8, 108) to rotate so as to generate said positive pressure or said negative pressure.

2. Steam ironing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said control means for said fluid-dynamic means comprise at least a push-button (9, 109) capable of being actuated manually and arranged on the handgrip (11, 111) of said steam iron (10, 110), and said control means for the emission of steam comprise a push-button (12, 112) that is separate from and independent of said at least a push-button (9, 109).

3. Steam ironing apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said control means comprise a first push-button (9a) and a second push-button (9b) that are electrically connected to said first motor (6) and said second motor (7), respectively.

4. Steam ironing apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said control means comprise a single push-button (109) that is electrically connected to said first motor (106) and said second motor (107) via an electronic control board (117) inserted therebetween.

5. Steam ironing apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that said electronic control board (117) comprises sensor means adapted to detect a pulse generated by a pressure exerted manually on said push-button (109), as well as actuator means adapted to convert said pulse into an actuation command to be sent to one of said first and said second motor (106, 107), thereby selectively determining the rotation of said at least a fan (108) in the corresponding direction.

6. Steam ironing apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the number of pulses transmitted by said push-button (109), and detected by said electronic control board (117), determines the selective operation of said first and said second motor (106, 107) in a sequence to alternatively generate said positive pressure and said negative pressure through said at least a fan (108).

7. Steam ironing apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that a pressure exerted on said push-button (109) for a prolonged period of time of a pre-determined duration causes said fluid-dynamic means (105) to stop operating.

8. Steam ironing apparatus according to any of the preceding claims either individually or in combination, characterized in that said first motor (6, 106) and said second motor (7, 107) have an opposite direction of rotation with respect to each other.

9. Steam ironing apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least a fan (8, 108) is selectively and alternatively driven rotatably by said first motor (6, 106) and said second motor (7, 107).

10. Steam ironing apparatus according to any of the preceding claims either individually or in combination, characterized by what has been described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Drawing