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(11) | EP 1 495 697 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Table equipped with an ironing board |
| (57) A table equipped with an ironing board comprises a support plane (12) and one or
more legs (16), as well as an ironing board (18), connected to at least one support
arm (19) equipped with a firm connection element (21) for the connection to the table,
in which the arm (19) is mobile from a work position, in which the board (18) is positioned
horizontally outside of the table, to a rest position, in which the board (18) is
placed back under said plane (12), and in which the plane (12) is arranged horizontally
both when the arm is in rest position and when the arm is in work position. |
[0002] Currently, fold-away ironing boards are commonly used for ironing, which must be picked up from a storeroom or cupboard each time one intends to position them to iron and which must then be put back again. Moreover, it is also necessary to pick up the iron and other tools and put them back again afterwards. These operations are often considered laborious and tiring by those who iron.
[0003] Moreover, the ironing board, the iron and the relative tools must be put away, when they are not used, in spaces like wardrobes, kitchen cupboards or other cupboards, substantially reducing the space available for other objects. Besides, since the average family apartment is tending to get ever smaller, the space in wardrobes and the like is precious, above all if one wishes to leave as few as possible objects in view.
[0004] Various types of cabinets purpose built for the sole function of containing the ironing board and all of the equipment necessary for ironing, as well as possibly also to allow the clothes to be ironed to be placed there, are also widespread for housing the ironing board. However, these cupboards are difficult to integrate into home furnishings and frequently are placed in the storeroom or in hidden spaces in any case, which are not very suitable for ironing. Often, like in the case of fold-away ironing boards, it is thus necessary to transport the entire cabinet, which is much heavier than just the fold-away ironing board, to the selected place for ironing.
[0005] The kitchen, or else the dining area, is often the preferred location for ironing because, for example, it is well-lit, it has a handy support plane consisting of the dining table, and it is close to an electric socket and to a tap for water.
[0006] The purpose of the present invention is that of realising a table equipped with an ironing board that allows to iron in a functional position and to reduce as much as possible initial preparation.
[0007] Further scope of the present invention is that of realising a table equipped with an ironing board that allows the bulk of the equipment necessary for ironing to be optimised.
[0008] Another purpose of the present invention is that of realising a table equipped with an ironing board that has an excellent aesthetic result.
[0009] Another purpose of the present invention is that of realising a table equipped with an ironing board that is particularly simple and with low costs.
[0010] These purposes according to the present invention are accomplished by realising a table equipped with an ironing board as outlined in claim 1.
[0011] Further characteristics of a table equipped with an ironing board are the object of the dependent claims.
[0012] The characteristics and advantages of a table equipped with an ironing board according to the present invention shall become clearer from the following description, given as an example and not limiting purposes, referring to the attached schematic drawings, in which:
figures 1 to 4 are partially sectioned schematic views of a first embodiment of a table equipped with an ironing board according to the present invention in a sequence of positions from a first rest position to a last work position;
figure 5 is a plan view of the table of figure 3;
figures 6 to 8 are partially sectioned schematic views of a second embodiment of a table equipped with an ironing board according to the present invention in a sequence of positions from a first rest position to a last work position;
figure 9 is an exploded side view of a support arm of the second table according to the present invention;
figure 10 is a mounted side view of a detail of figure 9;
figure 11 is a plan view of a detail of figure 9;
figure 12 schematically shows a further embodiment of a table equipped with an ironing board according to the present invention, in which the arm is extractable from an open base of a containment structure for the table;
figures 13 to 16 show a final embodiment of a table equipped with an ironing board according to the present invention in various positions, from a first rest position to a last work position.
[0013] With reference to the figures, a table equipped with an ironing board is shown in many embodiments, wholly indicated with 10. The table 10 comprises a support plane 12, one or more legs 16 and possibly a structure 13 below the plane, comprising a bottom 14 and sideboards 15, which define a space 17, suitable for collapsibly containing an ironing board 18. The ironing board 18 is firmly connected to one or more support arms 19, hinged or connected in an articulated manner inside the containment structure 13 close to its perimeter or else applied to the plane 12 itself.
[0014] The arm 19, as the figures show, is mobile from a work position, in which the board 18 is positioned horizontally outside of the structure 13, to a rest position, in which the board 18 is put back inside the structure 13, for example horizontally and flipped over, or vice-versa.
[0015] In particular, the removal of the arm 19 can take place from the top of the containment structure 13 or else even from below, in other words from an open bottom of the space 17, as shown schematically in figure 12, or else more simply from below the plane 12, as well as from an openable sideboard 15.
[0016] To remove the ironing board 18 from the top, it is obviously necessary to lift the support plane 12 to allow access to the space 17 and then to reclose the containment structure 13 with the same plane 12 when the ironing board 18 is in removed work position.
[0017] To do this, the support plane 12 is hinged to the structure 13, in the examples along a long side, and the support arm 19 is shaped so as not to interfere with the support plane 12 so that the containment structure 13 can be closed by the support plane 12 arranged horizontally independently of the position taken up by the arm 19.
[0018] Moreover, to ease access to the space, the support plane 12 can be equipped with at least one lifting-aid device 20, for example a device consisting of a piston sliding in a cylinder.
[0019] In figures 1 to 5 the ironing board 18 is shown rigidly connected to the arm 19, which is provided at one end thereof with a hinge 21 for the connection to the containment structure 13 of the table 10.
[0020] To allow a height-adjustment of the ironing board, the arm 19 is also provided with an adjustment element 22, or guide, shown schematically in figures 1 to 4.
[0021] A boiler 23 for a steam iron 24 can be applied to the support arm 19, as shown for exemplifying purposes in the figures, which could otherwise be housed inside the space itself 17.
[0022] Indeed, in the space 17, which as shown in figure 5 can be provided with a grid-shaped metal bottom 14, various accessories can be positioned such as a sleeve-board 25 or else the iron itself 24, possibly still hot.
[0023] Figures 6 to 11 show another example of the support arm 19 for the ironing board 18 comprising parallel support elements 26 and articulation shafts 27 hinged at the ends, respectively, to the parallel elements 26 and to the ironing board 18.
[0024] The articulation shafts 27, which can be two or three in number, as shown in figure 11, allow the board to have its height adjusted.
[0025] At one end of the arm 19 that is connected to the structure 13 there is a U-shaped hinge 21 suitable for being arranged straddling the sideboard 15 of the structure 13 when the arm 19 is in work position, as shown for example in the enlarged details of figures 9 to 11.
[0026] The hinge 21 comprises a flat central portion 28, and two wings, in which a first wing 29, which is hinged to the structure 13, is shorter with respect to a second wing 30, which is stably connected to the support arm 19, as can be seen in the exploded detail of figure 9.
[0027] The short wing 29 is in particular hinged to a bracket element 31 integral with the bottom 14 of the containment structure 13 (figure 10). The long wing 30, on the other hand, is stably connected to the support elements 26 through any connection method known to the man skilled in the art and therefore not described.
[0028] The last embodiment of the table according to the present invention, shown in figures 13 to 16, is also equipped with a support arm 19 for the ironing board 18 comprising two parallel support elements 26 to which an articulation shaft 27 is connected, each of which is hinged at its ends, respectively, to the support element 26 and to the ironing board 18.
[0029] The articulation shafts 27 are fork-shaped and are hinged at just one point to the support element 26 and at two spaced apart points to the board 18. This configuration offers a better, more balanced support for the board 18.
[0030] The parallel support elements 26 are slidably inserted at the opposite end with respect to the shafts 27 in a matching sleeve 35 stably applied to the table below the plane 12.
[0031] The arm 19 is then removed from an openable sideboard 15 of the containment structure 13 (figure 14). In the removed work position, shown in figures 14 and 16, it is possible to adjust the height of the ironing board 18 through the articulated shafts 27 as exemplified in figure 15, to obtain a more comfortable position for the person doing the ironing based upon their height.
[0032] To allow a greater flexibility of use of the ironing board 18 as well as to widen the range of sizes of tables 10 according to the present invention, a joint (not shown), for example a plated joint, can be placed between the arm and the ironing board, suitable for allowing the relative rotation about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the ironing board.
[0033] Moreover, to realise tables according to the present invention in small sizes, the ironing board can be realised foldable in a transversal plane to be put away folded in a containment structure of a size smaller than the length of the board.
[0034] The table equipped with an ironing board, object of the present invention, has the advantage of exploiting a space, inside the structure of the table, otherwise not used in any other way, whilst still not altering the characteristics and the aesthetics of the table which, so long as it possesses a containment structure, can be of any type and material.
1. Table equipped with an ironing board comprising a support plane (12) and one or more
legs (16), characterised in that it comprises an ironing board (18), connected to at least one support arm (19) equipped
with a firm connection element (21) for the connection to said table, said arm (19)
being mobile from a work position, in which the board (18) is positioned horizontally
outside of the table, to a rest position, in which the board (18) is placed back under
said plane (12), said plane (12) being arranged horizontally both when the arm is
in rest position and when the arm is in work position.
2. Table according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises, under said plane (12), a containment structure (13), suitable for defining
a space or housing (17) for said ironing board (18) in rest position.
3. Table according to claim 2, characterised in that said support plane (12) is hinged to said structure (13) to alternatively close it
on top or else to allow access to the space (17) to remove said board (18) from the
top, and in that said arm (19) does not interfere with said support plane (12) allowing said plane
(12) to be placed in closed horizontal position both with the arm (19) in work position
and with the arm (19) in rest position.
4. Table according to claim 3, characterised in that said space (17) has a grid-shaped metal bottom (14) suitable for allowing an iron
(24) that is still hot to be put back inside the space.
5. Table according to claim 1, characterised in that said ironing board (18) is rigidly connected to said support arm (19).
6. Table according to claim 5, characterised in that said arm (19) is equipped with an adjustment element (22), or guide, for adjusting
the height of said board (18).
7. Table according to claim 1, characterised in that said arm (19) comprises at least one support element (26) and at least one articulation
shaft (27) hinged at its ends, respectively, to said support element (26) and to the
ironing board (18).
8. Table according to claim 7, characterised in that said connection element (21) comprises at least one sleeve (35) stably applied under
said plane, suitable for slidably receiving an end portion of said support element
(26) of the arm (19).
9. Table according to claim 7, characterised in that said articulated shafts (27) are fork-shaped and are hinged at just one point to
the support element (26) and at two spaced apart points to the board (18), said articulation
shafts (27) being suitable for offering a better, more balanced support for the board
(18).
10. Table according to claim 2, characterised in that said firm connection element is a U-shaped hinge (21) suitable for being arranged
straddling a sideboard (15) when the arm (19) is in work position, said hinge (21)
comprising a flat central portion (28) and two wings (29, 30), in which a first wing
(29) hinged to said structure (13) is shorter than a second wing (30) which is stably
connected to said support arm (19).
11. Table according to claim 2, characterised in that said plane (12) is hinged along one side of the containment structure (13).
12. Table according to claim 11, characterised in that said plane (12) is equipped with at least one lifting-aid device (20) of said plane
(12) for the access to the space (17).
13. Table according to claim 1, characterised in that a joint is placed between said arm (19) and said board (18), suitable for allowing
the relative rotation about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the ironing board
(18).
14. Table according to claim 1, characterised in that said ironing board (18) is foldable in a transversal plane.
15. Table according to claim 1, characterised in that a boiler (23) for a steam iron (24) is applied to said arm (19) .
16. Table according to claim 2, characterised in that said ironing board (18) can be removed from an open bottom (14) of said space (17).
17. Table according to claim 2, characterised in that said ironing board (18) is removable from an openable sideboard (15) of said space
(17).