The present invention concerns a support base for an iron, for domestic or professional use, suitable to provide both a support for the iron during its phases of non-use, and also a support for it during the cleaning and removal of limescale operations.
The invention also concerns an ironing apparatus provided with the support base, as well as a method for cleaning and removing the limescale from the iron that partly uses the support base.
Ironing apparatuses provided with an iron and a support base suitable to act as a support for the iron when it is not used are known. Known support bases normally have, integrated inside them, a tank for the water, or a boiler to generate steam, and an upper surface on which the lower plate of the iron is rested during its phases of non-use.
It is known that, with use, limescale formations tend to form in steam irons, in particular in correspondence with the steam generating device, or in general on the lower plate, which can compromise the functioning efficiency of the ironing apparatus.
Many steam irons provide a cleaning cycle, or function, in which the lower plate is heated to a high temperature and, subsequently, a large quantity of water is fed to it.
The water is transformed into steam in a short period of time, the steam being emitted by means of the holes provided in the plate. The generation of a high quantity of steam in a short time considerably increases the pressure in the steam chamber inside the iron, therefore the jets of steam that derive from it tend to draw with them the limescale particles deposited in the steam chamber and/or around the holes on the plate, making them exit from the heating plate removing possible obstructions.
One disadvantage of known ironing apparatuses is that, in order to perform the cleaning cycle as above, the user has to manually support the iron in a firm and secure manner in order to prevent the jets of steam which exit at high pressure from dirtying or damaging objects that are nearby, and at the same time avoid possible burns.
The cleaning operations are therefore inconvenient and not easy for the user, therefore they are often postponed with the consequence that the limescale becomes increasingly difficult to remove and the iron reduces its operating efficiency.
Another disadvantage is that, at the end of the cleaning and steam delivery cycle, it is often necessary to clean the surrounding area dirtied by the limescale particles and the steam that carries them.
Another disadvantage is that, during cleaning operations, the iron is at least partly surrounded by steam at high temperature, which can be uncomfortable for the user, who may risk getting burned while holding it. Furthermore, the steam causes condensation to form on the iron, which has to in turn be dried, increasing the time required to perform the cleaning and maintenance operations.
In order to try to at least in part solve these problems, from
The known tray comprises a base and a raised surface suitable to receive and support the ironing device above the base, so that the raised surface is located in complete contact with the entire circumference of a peripheral edge of the lower plate, creating a sort of airtight confinement that prevents the steam from exiting laterally and into the rear part. In the front part, where substantially the tip of the iron is positioned, the tray instead has an aperture that allows the steam to exit through a forced passage.
This known solution is not very practical for a user, since the tray is a distinct accessory separate from the ironing apparatus and requires its own storage space when it is not being used. Consequently, the user may not have it available whenever he/she performs a cleaning operation, and, depending on where it is stored, the user may forget it, not find it, or the tray may even be accidentally thrown away, or it can break or be damaged, therefore this can lead to a delay in performing the cleaning cycles.
Document
One purpose of the present invention is to provide a support base for an iron which overcomes at least some of the disadvantages of the state of the art.
In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to provide a multi-function support base for an iron, which can be used to support the iron both during normal phases of non-use, and also during cleaning and maintenance operations.
Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a support base which does not require any separate and distinct accessory in order to perform the cleaning and maintenance operations, therefore making the components necessary to perform these operations immediately obtainable and available.
Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an ironing apparatus which allows to perform the cleaning of the limescale from the iron effectively.
Another purpose of the present invention is to perfect a method for cleaning and removing limescale for an ironing apparatus which allows to easily and effectively remove possible limescale deposits, thus extending the useful life of the apparatus.
The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.
The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims 1 and 12. The dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.
Embodiments described here concern a support base for an iron comprising a base body suitable to be rested on a surface or a work plane, and a multi-function support element removably associated with the base body.
The support element has a first configuration of use, in which it is associated with the base body, and in which it is disposed with a first support surface facing upward and configured to provide a support for the iron during its phases of non-use, and a second configuration of use, in which it is removed from the base body and disposed upended with a second support surface, opposite the first, facing upward and configured to provide a support for the iron during the cleaning and removal of limescale operations.
The support element, therefore, is normally integrated with and forms part of the support base itself, and acts as a support element for the iron during all the phases in which the iron is used or not used.
When it is necessary to remove the limescale, the support element is removed from the base body, upended, and used as a support and containing base for the iron.
Therefore, as well as not needing a separate accessory to perform the cleaning operations, there is the additional advantage that the support element is always available to the user every time the iron is used.
With the term "associated" we mean that the support element is inserted, partly or completely inside the base body.
According to some embodiments, the support element is inserted completely into the base body and disposed substantially flush with it.
According to variant embodiments, the support element is inserted at least in part in the base body and protrudes above it for at least one segment.
According to some embodiments, the support element comprises a bottom wall and a lateral edge connected to the bottom wall, which extends for the entire periphery of the latter.
According to some embodiments, the base body comprises a housing compartment with a shape mating with that of the second support surface and configured to house the multi-function support element in the first configuration of use substantially recessed therein.
According to some embodiments, the bottom wall comprises a first external flat portion, connected to the lateral edge, a second internal flat portion, and intermediate connection portions between the first flat portion and the second flat portion, defining a concave portion on the first side and a convex portion of a mating shape on the second side.
According to some embodiments, the concave portion defines a first housing seating suitable to house the iron in the first configuration of use, in which first support elements are present which protrude from a bottom surface and extend substantially orthogonal to it, which define the first support surface. In this way, the lower plate of the iron is maintained distanced from the bottom wall, allowing the steam and/or condensation to exit during ironing operations.
According to some embodiments, the second support surface comprises second support elements which extend substantially orthogonal to an external top surface of the convex portion, and which define the second support surface.
According to some embodiments, the second support elements are disposed transverse with respect to a longitudinal median line of the support element, distanced one from the other. According to some embodiments, the second support elements have different heights than the external top surface, and in particular have a height progressively increasing from the front part toward the rear part of the support element.
In this way, positioning the support element in the second configuration of use on a plane, the rear part of the iron is raised with respect to the front part.
According to variant embodiments, the support element can be positioned in the housing compartment of the base body also in the second configuration of use. In this case, it can be provided that the base body and the second support elements have inclinations each opposite to the other so that, during use, the iron assumes a substantially horizontal position.
Embodiments described here also concern a method for cleaning and removing limescale from an iron, comprising:
These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:
To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.
Embodiments described here with reference to the attached drawings concern a support base 10 for an iron 11.
According to some embodiments, the support base 10 and the iron 11 together define an ironing apparatus 12.
The iron 11 comprises, in a known manner, a containing body 14 and a plate 13 associated with heating means, the plate 13 defining the lower surface of the iron 11.
The plate 13 is provided at the lower part, and possibly also laterally, with a plurality of through holes 15 for the steam to exit.
According to some embodiments, the iron 11 comprises a control member 19 to generate steam selectively activatable by a user to command the delivery of steam during ironing operations.
According to some embodiments, the ironing apparatus 12 comprises a control and command unit, not shown, configured to control and command the functioning of the ironing apparatus 12. The control and command unit can be connected to a user interface by means of which a user can set the functioning parameters of the ironing apparatus 12, such as for example the temperature of the plate 13 and/or the type of steam delivery, or other.
According to some embodiments, the support base 10 comprises a base body 20, and a multi-function support element 21 removably associated with the base body.
According to some embodiments, the support element 21 can at least partly be inserted into the base body 20 and be removed from it.
According to some embodiments, the multi-function support element 21 has a first configuration of use, in which it is associated with the support body 20 and is suitable to support the iron 11 during the phases of non-use (
According to some embodiments, the support element 21 in the first configuration of use is inserted at least in part in the support body 20 and in the second configuration of use it is removed from the support body 20.
With the expression "inserted at least in part" we mean that the support element 21 can be recessed in the support body 20 and therefore be flush with it, or it can have at least one portion protruding with respect to the support body 20.
According to some embodiments, the support base 10 also acts as a steam generating boiler and the base body 20 comprises a tank 16 suitable to contain water and a steam generating device 17 which is connected to the iron 11 by means of a feed pipe 18.
According to other embodiments, the tank 16 can be integrated into the iron 11 itself.
According to variant embodiments, the support base 10 can be provided with a tank 16 suitable to contain water and a pump, not shown, configured to remove water from the tank 16 and send it by means of the pipe 18 to a steam generating device 19 internal to the iron 11. According to these embodiments, the steam can be generated instantaneously by contact of the water with the heated plate 13 and delivered through the holes 15.
The base body 20 comprises a lower surface 22 suitable to be located resting on a support plane or surface and an upper surface 23, opposite the lower surface 22.
According to some embodiments, the upper surface 23 can be slightly inclined with respect to the lower surface 22, to allow an inclined positioning of the iron 11 during the phases of non-use.
The upper surface 23 defines the bottom wall of a housing compartment 24 configured to house the multi-function support element 21 in the first configuration of use.
The housing compartment 24 is laterally delimited by a lateral peripheral wall 25 which extends substantially in continuity with the side walls of the support element 21.
According to some embodiments, the housing compartment 24 is configured to house the support element 21 in the first configuration of use substantially recessed therein, so that it does not protrude beyond the edge of the peripheral wall 25.
According to possible variants, the housing compartment 24 can be configured to house the support element 21 in the first configuration of use so that it protrudes beyond the edge of the peripheral wall 25.
According to some embodiments, the support element 21 comprises a bottom wall 26 and a lateral edge 27 connected to the bottom wall 26, which extends for the entire periphery of the latter.
The bottom wall 26 can have, in a plan view, a shape substantially corresponding to the shape of the base body 20.
According to some embodiments, the support element 21 can have a shape symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal median line M which extends from a front part, toward which, during use, the front part of the iron 11, that is, the tip, is facing, to a rear part.
According to some embodiments, the lateral edge 27 extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the bottom wall 26.
According to some embodiments, the lateral edge 27 has two substantially rectilinear segments 27a connected to each other by respective curved segments 27b, 27c, of which a front curved segment 27b, toward which, during use, the front part of the iron 11 is facing, and a rear curved segment 27c opposite the front curved segment 27b.
The rectilinear segments 27a can be converging one with respect to the other from the rear curved segment 27c toward the front curved segment 27b.
According to some embodiments, the lateral edge 27 is configured to cooperate by interference with the peripheral wall 25 of the housing compartment 24 in the first configuration of use of the support element 21, to ensure a stable positioning thereof.
According to some embodiments, the bottom wall 26 comprises a first side 28 and a second side 29 which define respectively the side of use of the support element 21 in the first and in the second configuration.
According to some embodiments, the bottom wall 26 can have a substantially constant thickness along its entire development.
According to some embodiments, the bottom wall 26 comprises a first peripheral flat portion 26a, connected to the lateral edge 27, a second internal flat portion 26b, which lies on a plane parallel and offset with respect to the first flat portion 26a, and intermediate portions 26c connecting the first flat portion 26a and the second flat portion 26b so as to obtain a concave portion 30 on the first side 28, and a convex portion 36 mating in shape on the second side 29.
The intermediate portions 26c can have a slightly converging shape from the first flat portion 26a toward the second flat portion 26b so as to obtain respective slightly flared concave 30 and convex 36 portions.
According to some embodiments, the intermediate walls 26c can have a height substantially equal to that of the lateral edge 27, so that, in the first configuration of use, the support element 21 is positioned substantially flush with the top of the peripheral wall 25 of the support body 20.
The first side 28 defines a first support surface 28a suitable to provide a support for the iron 11 when it is stored in a condition of non-use, for example during breaks in ironing operations, or between one ironing operation and another.
According to some embodiments, the first side 28 comprises the concave portion 30 delimited by the bottom surfaces 31 and internal lateral surfaces 32 of the internal flat portion 26b and of the intermediate portion 26c respectively, which define a first housing seating 33 suitable to house the iron 11 in the first configuration of use.
The first housing seating 33 has a size suitable to contain the entire heating plate 13 of an iron 11 inside it.
According to some embodiments, first support elements 35 are disposed in the housing seating 33, which protrude from the bottom surface 31, and extend substantially orthogonal thereto.
The tops of the first support elements 35 define the first support surface 28a.
According to some embodiments, the first support elements 35 can be made in the form of ridges configured to define a first support surface 28a suitable to maintain the heating plate 13 raised with respect to the internal bottom surface 31, in order to allow the possible steam or condensation to exit through the through holes 15.
According to some embodiments, at least two first support elements 35 can be present, disposed parallel to each other, distanced along a median line of the support element 21, and transverse thereto.
According to some embodiments, the first support elements 35 all have the same height, preferably less than the height of the lateral surfaces 32, so that the first support surface 28a lies on a first support plane P1 substantially parallel to the internal bottom surface 31.
According to some embodiments, the first support elements 35 can have a height less than half the height of the internal lateral surfaces 32, for example less than a third, or a quarter of the height, so that the first support surface 28a is located at a height lower than the lateral edge 27. In this way, in the first configuration of use of the support body 21 the plate 13 can be positioned completely inside the first housing seating 33.
At the end of the ironing operations, or in any case when cleaning and maintenance operations need to be performed, it is sufficient to remove the support element 21 from the base body 20 and upend it, for example rotating it by 180°, in order to position it in the second configuration of use, in which the second side 29 faces upward (
According to some embodiments, the second side 29 defines a second support surface 29a suitable to provide a support for the iron 11 during the cleaning and removal of limescale operations.
According to some embodiments, the second support surface 29a is provided on the convex portion 36, mating in shape with the concave portion 30 present on the first side 28.
The convex portion 36 is defined by an external top surface 37, opposite the internal bottom surface 31, and by an external lateral surface 38 opposite the internal lateral surface 32.
The second side 29 also comprises a collection seating 42 disposed around the convex portion 36, and configured to collect the possible steam, condensation, or limescale exiting from the through holes 15 of the iron 11 during cleaning operations.
The collection seating 42 is delimited by the external lateral surfaces 38 of the intermediate walls 26c and by the lateral edge 27
According to some embodiments, a second housing seating 39 is provided above the convex portion 36, suitable to house at least part of the heating plate 13 of the iron 11 in the second configuration of use.
The second housing seating 39 is delimited externally by a containing edge 40 which extends substantially orthogonal to the external top surface 37. In a top view, the containing edge 40 can have a shape substantially mating with the profile of the front part of an iron 11, that is, tapered from the rear part toward the front part.
According to some embodiments, the containing edge 40 has a front segment 40a with a possibly rounded tip, a substantially rectilinear rear segment 40b, and lateral segments 40c which connect the front edge 40a and rear edge 40b together.
According to some embodiments, the lateral segments 40c have a height lower than the front segment 40a and rear segment 40b.
According to some embodiments, the second housing seating 39 has a size smaller than the first housing seating 33 and is configured to house only a front portion of the heating plate 13.
According to some embodiments, the second side 29 comprises second support elements 41 which extend substantially orthogonal to the external top surface 37, the tops of which define a second support plane P2 on which the second support surface 29a lies.
According to some embodiments, the second support elements 41 are located internally to the containing edge 40.
According to some embodiments, at least two second support elements 41 are present, disposed parallel to each other, distanced along the median line M of the tray 21, and transverse thereto.
According to some embodiments, the second support elements 41 can extend substantially in continuity with the first support elements 35 provided on the first side 28, in the opposite direction thereto.
According to some embodiments, the second support elements 41 have different heights with respect to the external top surface 37 so as to define a second support plane P2 inclined with respect to the latter.
According to some embodiments, the second support elements 41 have progressively increasing heights from a front part to a rear part of the support body 21. For example, a first support element 41a located in proximity to the front segment 40a has a lower height than a second support element 41b located in proximity to the rear segment 40b, so that, during use, the iron 11 is positioned with its rear part raised with respect to the front part.
According to some embodiments, the tops of the support elements 41 and of the rear segment 40b lie on the same second support plane P2, and together define the second support surface 29a.
In the second configuration of use of the tray 21, therefore, the iron 11 is positioned with its heating plate 13 resting on the support elements 41a, 41b and the rear edge 40b, with a rear portion thereof which remains outside the second housing seating 39.
According to some embodiments, in the event the tray is positioned on a support plane, the rear portion of the heating plate 13 remains raised with respect to a front portion located in proximity to and inside the front edge 40a.
According to a possible variant, it can be provided to position the support body 21 in the housing compartment 24 also in the second configuration of use, with the lateral edge 27 in contact with the peripheral lateral wall 25, and the peripheral flat portion 26a in contact with the upper surface 23. In this case, it can be provided that the inclination of the second support plane P2 substantially corresponds to the inclination of the support body 23, so that, during use, the second support surface 29a is substantially horizontal.
When water is fed to the heating plate 13 to generate a high quantity of steam and to allow a removal of limescale residues, the steam delivered can rapidly exit from the second housing seating 39, in particular in the front and lateral direction, through the spaces present between the lateral segments 40c of the containing edge 40 and the heating plate 13, which is located in contact with the second support surface 29a only in correspondence with a central portion thereof.
The possible limescale and water removed, exiting from the through holes 15 can be collected inside the second housing seating 39, or possibly in the collection seating 42.
At the end of the ironing operations, the support body 21 can once again be rotated by 180° with respect to the median line M, and positioned, in the first configuration of use, in the housing compartment 24 of the base body 20.
According to some embodiments, the housing compartment 24 has a shape mating with that of the second side 29.
According to some embodiments, the housing compartment 24 comprises a concavity 43 having a shape substantially mating with that of the convex portion 36, and a flat surface 44 mating with the peripheral flat portion 26a of the bottom wall 26 of the support body 21.
According to some embodiments, recesses 45, 46 are provided in the flat surface 44 of the concavity 43, suitable to receive inside them the second support elements 41 and the containing edge 40 respectively which, in the first configuration of use of the support body 21, are therefore inserted in the base body 20.
The mating shape of the housing compartment 24 and of the second side 29 of the tray 21 allows to obtain a same-shape coupling between the two components, and therefore a stable support base 10 for the iron 11.
It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the support base 10 and to the ironing apparatus 12 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.
It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of support base 10 and ironing apparatus 12, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.