(19)
(11) EP 2 873 767 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
11.05.2016 Bulletin 2016/19

(21) Application number: 14178443.9

(22) Date of filing: 24.07.2014
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
D06F 75/40(2006.01)
D06F 79/02(2006.01)

(54)

SPLIT TYPE STEAM IRON WITH A LOCKING STRUCTURE

GETEILTES DAMPFBÜGELEISEN MIT EINER VERRIEGELUNGSSTRUKTUR

FER À VAPEUR DE TYPE FENDU AVEC UNE STRUCTURE DE VERROUILLAGE


(84) Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

(30) Priority: 19.11.2013 CN 201310582668
19.11.2013 CN 201320733549 U

(43) Date of publication of application:
20.05.2015 Bulletin 2015/21

(73) Proprietor: Ningbo Kaibo Group Co., Ltd.
Ningbo, Zhejiang 315324 (CN)

(72) Inventor:
  • Yan, Jiebo
    315324 Ningbo Zhejiang (CN)

(74) Representative: ProI European Patent Attorneys 
Postfach 2123
90711 Fürth
90711 Fürth (DE)


(56) References cited: : 
EP-A1- 1 612 320
DE-A1-102011 080 152
WO-A1-2008/146254
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description

    Technical Field



    [0001] This present invention belongs to and relates to clothing ironing equipment, and in particular, to a split type easily-handling steam iron and a locking structure thereof.

    Background Art



    [0002] On the market today, irons of split type steam irons are directly placed at the top of bases in general. The irons are not limited in degree of freedom in all directions, and let alone lock them on the bases for integrated handling. As a result, these products may be handled by picking up their bases with both hands, thus bringing much inconvenience and many risks, for example, the hands are burned by the bottom plates of the irons, and the irons are fallen off in the process of handling, etc.

    [0003] Based on the above shortcomings, a number of engineering technicians improve the irons. WO 2008/146254 A1 relates to system irons and particularly to a fastening device for the system irons. A patent literature with a publication number of CN202359423U discloses a locking structure of a steam iron. A rear cover of the iron leans against an upper cover of a steam base, then a movable pin is pressed by a bottom plate of the steam iron, and finally a head end of the iron is screwed into a hook and the movable pin resets to lock the edge of the iron so as to lock the head and tail ends of the iron in the steam base. The iron can be swirled in a reverse direction and taken out by pressing an unlock button when the movable pin retracts into the steam base. The design in this manner has defects. Users must rotate the cumbersome iron, so that the operation has high strength and is in convenient. In addition, the bottom plate may be scratched by the movable pin.

    Summary of the Invention



    [0004] The technical problem to be solved in the present invention is to overcome existing split type easily-handling steam irons' defects of inconveniently operating and easily scratching bottom plates, and the technical mission proposed in the present invention is to provide a split type easily-handling steam iron that has a simple structure, is easy to operate and reduces damage to its bottom plate, and a locking structure thereof.

    [0005] The invention provides a spilt type easily-handling steam iron according to independent claim 1. More improvements to the iron are defined in the dependent claims.
    The invention purpose is achieved by the specific locking structure. The locking structure comprises a reversible handle and a slide lock touched by the handle. The front end of the iron is locked on the base or unlocked from the base by the slide lock in a manner of turning over the handle. The iron needs not to rotate in the course of locking or unlocking, which is convenient to operate. In addition, the bottom plate is not scratched due to locking or unlocking actions when taking out or putting the iron.

    Brief Description of the Drawings



    [0006] 

    FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an iron of the invention;

    FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a base of the invention;

    FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a locking structure in a locking state of the invention;

    FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a locking structure in an unlocking state of the invention;

    FIG. 5 is a schematic disintegrated diagram of the locking structure as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4;

    FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional diagram of the locking structure in the locking state as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4;

    FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional diagram of the locking structure in the unlocking state as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4; and

    FIG. 8a to FIG. 8d are schematic diagrams for process of placing the iron in the base and locking, wherein FIG. 8a is a schematic diagram that the locking structure is in the locking state and the iron is not placed in the base, FIG. 8b is a schematic diagram that the locking structure is in the unlocking state and the iron is not placed in the base; FIG. 8c is a schematic diagram that the locking structure is in the unlocking state and the iron is placed in the base; and FIG. 8d is a schematic diagram that the iron is locked in the base by the locking structure.


    Description of marks in figures:



    [0007] 

    01-iron,

    11-concabe portion, 12-bottom plate, 13-handle, 14-gap;

    02-base,

    21-placing position, 22-convex portion, 23-locking structure, 24-rib, 25-protective edge; 231-handle, 231a-bias portion;

    232-slide lock, 232a-fastener, 232b-accomodating portion, 232c-convex edge; 233-reset spring;

    234-mounting base, 234a-sliding chute;

    235-pressing cover;

    236-pin.


    Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments



    [0008] The present invention is to be described for details hereunder by reference to the drawings of the description.

    [0009] A split type easily-handling steam iron according to the invention comprises an iron 01 and a base 02. The iron (see FIG. 1) is gradually uplifted from front to back. A concave portion 11 is arranged at the rear end of the iron 01, a bottom plate 12 is arranged at the bottom of the iron 01, and a handle 13 is arranged at the top of the iron 01. The top of the base (see FIG. 2) is provided with a placing position 21. A convex portion 22 capable of extending into the concave portion 11 at the rear end of the iron is arranged at the rear end of the placing position 21. The base 02 is internally provided with a water tank, an electromagnetic pump, a boiler and an electromagnetic valve for heating water. The iron 01 is connected to the base 02 via a pipeline to obtain wet steam and reheats the wet steam to obtain dry steam or superheated steam.

    [0010] According to the invention, the split type easily-handling steam iron has the characteristics as follows: a locking structure 23 is arranged at the portion of the base 02 located at the front end of the placing position 21 (the locking structure is the locking structure of the split type easily-handling steam iron as required to be protected in the invention; the locking structure is the part of the steam iron and will be detailed when the steam iron is described thereinafter, and thus it is not repeated any more). The locking structure 23 (see FIG. 3-7) comprises a reversible handle 231 and a slide lock 232 touched by the handle 231. The front end of the iron 01 is locked on the base 02 (in a locking position) or unlocked from the base (in an unlocking position) by the slide lock 232 in a manner of turning over the handle 231.

    [0011] In case the iron 01 is about to be locked by users, the handle 13 is held by a hand to put the iron 01 in the placing position 21 (see FIG. 8c) of the base 02 only if the locking structure 23 is in the unlocking position (see FIG. 8b), then the convex portion 22 of the base 02 extends into the concave portion 11 at the rear end of the iron 01, and the front end of the iron is locked on the base 02 by the slide lock 232 in the manner of turning over the handle 231 (see FIG. 8d). In this way, both the front end and the rear end of the iron 01 are combined with the base 02 together, so that the overall product may be handled as long as the users lift up the handle 13 of the iron, which is convenient and reliable. In case the iron is about to be taken down from the base, the slide lock is unlocked through turning over the handle, and the handle is held by the hand to lift up the iron (see FIG. 8a).

    [0012] As for further improvement and supplement of the above technical scheme, the following additional technical characteristics are further contained in the invention. Although all additional technical characteristics are contained in figures and are the preferred embodiments of the invention, the invention is not limited to this situation. The additional technical characteristics will be selected and used for the technical scheme as stated in the superior segment according to specific roles when employing the invention.

    [0013] Firstly, the slide lock 232 is provided with a fastener 232a (See FIG. 3-7) pressing at the front end of the iron 01 to achieve locking. Or, a gap 14 is arranged at the upper side of the bottom plate (see FIG. 1). The slide lock 232 is provided with the fastener 232a extending into the gap 14 and pressing on the bottom plate 12 to achieve the locking. In general, the width of the gap 14 should be 2-10mm under conditions of ensuring the structure strength and not increasing the size. On this basis, an accommodating portion 232b capable of accommodating the front end of the iron or the front end of the bottom plate is arranged at the lower side of the fastener 232a (see FIG. 3-4, 6-7). The fastener 232b is in a shape of matching with the front end of the iron or the gas (bending shape as shown in FIG. 3-5).

    [0014] Secondly, the handle 231 is provided with a bias portion 231 a (see FIG. 5-7) driving the slide lock 232 close to the iron 01 to achieve the locking (in the locking position as shown in FIG. 6) or providing a space for the slide lock 232 to separate from the iron 01 to achieve the unlocking (in the unlocking position as shown in FIG. 7) when the handle 231 is being turned over. The bias difference of the bias portion is 2-30mm (the bias difference is the difference value between the maximum distance and the minimum distance from the external profile of the bias portion to the axis of a pin 236) under the conditions of ensuring the structure strength and not increasing the size, and limits the slide distance of the slide lock 232. The handle 231 is turned at an angle of 45-270°, and the locking is achieved when the handle 231 is turned over to close up on the base 02, thereby avoiding the handle unlocking accidentally due to collision.

    [0015] Thirdly, the slide lock 232 is acted by the reset spring 233 applying the elastic force to separate the slide lock 232 from the iron (in a direction of unlocking position), so that the slide lock 232 may automatically separate from the iron under the function of the reset spring 233.

    [0016] Fourthly, see FIG. 5, the slide lock 232 slides by putting a convex edge 232c into a paired sliding chute 234a, and the convex edge 232c and the paired sliding chute 234a are arranged on the slide lock 232 and the base 02 separately. Specifically, the base 01 comprises a mounting base 234. The convex edge 232c and the paired sliding chute 234a are arranged on the slide lock 232 and the mounting base 234 separately. The convex edge as shown in figure is arranged on the slide lock and the sliding chute is arranged on the mounting base. The position of the convex edge and the sliding chute can be exchanged during specific implementation. Furthermore, a pressing cover 235 is mounted on the mounting base 234. The sliding lock 232 is located between the mounting base 234 and the pressing cover 235, so that the slide lock is protected to ensure the reliability of its action.

    [0017] Fifthly, the placing position 21 takes the shape of tilting from high to low (see FIG. 8a-8c), which is good for the iron to move backward to enable the convex portion 22 of the base to extend into the concave portion 11 at the rear end of the iron when putting the iron 01 in the placing position 21.

    [0018] Sixthly, the placing position 21 is provided with a rib 24 (see FIG. 2) for bearing the iron. The rib should be made of heat-resisting materials without damage to the surface of metal.

    [0019] Seventhly, a protective edge 25 surrounding the placing position 21 is arranged at the top of the base (see FIG. 2, FIG. 8a-8c) to avoid the iron moving and sliding from the placing position.


    Claims

    1. A spilt type easily-handling steam iron, comprising an iron (01) and a base (02), wherein the iron (01) is gradually uplifted from front to back; a concave portion (11) is arranged at the rear end of the iron (01), a bottom plate (12) is arranged at the bottom of the iron (01), and a handle (13) is arranged at the top of the iron (01); the top of the base (02) is provided with a placing position (21) for placing the iron (01); a convex portion (22) capable of extending into the concave portion (11) at the rear end of the iron is arranged at the rear end of the placing position (21);
    characterized in that
    a locking structure (23) is arranged at the portion of the base (02) located at the front end of the placing position (21) comprising a reversible handle (231) and a slide lock (232) in contact with the handle (231); said handle (231) being provided with a bias portion (231a) driving the slide lock (232) close to the front end of the iron (01) to lock the iron (01) to the base (02) or allowing a space between the slide lock (232) and said front end of the iron (01) to unlock the iron (01) from the base (02) by pivoting said handle (231).
     
    2. The spilt type easily-handling steam iron according to claim 1, wherein the slide lock (232) is provided with a fastener (232a) pressing at the front end of the iron (01) to achieve the locking.
     
    3. The spilt type easily-handling steam iron according to claim 1, wherein a gap (14) exists at the upper side of the bottom plate (12), the slide lock (232) is provided with the fastener (232a), and the fastener (232a) extends into the gap (14) and presses on the bottom plate (12) to achieve the locking.
     
    4. The spilt type easily-handling steam iron according to claim 2 or 3, wherein an accommodating portion (232b) capable of accommodating the front end of the iron or the front end of the bottom plate is arranged at the lower side of the fastener (232a).
     
    5. The spilt type easily-handling steam iron according to claim 1, wherein the slide lock (232) is acted by a reset spring (233) applying an elastic force to separate the slide lock (232) from the iron (01).
     
    6. The spilt type easily-handling steam iron according to claim 1, wherein the slide lock (232) slides by putting a convex edge (232c) in a paired sliding chute (234a), and the convex edge (232c) and the sliding chute (234a) are arranged on the slide lock (232) and the base (02) separately.
     
    7. The spilt type easily-handling steam iron according to claim 6, wherein the base (02) comprises a mounting base (234), and the convex edge (232c) and the sliding chute (234a) are arranged on the slide lock (232) and the mounting base (234) separately.
     
    8. The spilt type easily-handling steam iron according to claim 7, wherein a pressing cover (235) is mounted on the mounting base (234), and the slide lock (232) is located between the mounting base (234) and the pressing cover (235).
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Geteiltes einfach zu handhabendes Bügeleisen, bestehend aus einem Eisenbügel (01) und einer Basis (02), worin der Eisenbügel (01) graduell von vorne nach hinten aufgerichtet ist; eine konkaver Abschnitt (11) ist am hinteren Ende des Eisens angebracht (01), eine Bodenplatte (12) ist am Boden des Eisens (01) angebracht, und ein Handgriff ist auf der Oberseite des Bügeleisens (01) angebracht; Die Oberseite der Basis (02) ist mit einer Plazierungsposition (21) zur plazierung des Bügeleisens (01) ausgestattet; ein konvexer Abschnitt (22) der in der Lage ist sich in den konkaven Abschnitt am Endstück des Bügeleisens hineinzuerstrecken (11) ist am Endstück der Plazierungsposition angebracht; Eine Riegelstruktur (23) ist an der Basis (02) angebracht, und zwar am vorderen Ende der Plazierposition (21), welche einen reversiblen Griff (231) und eine Schiebeverriegelung (232) enthält, die in Kontakt mit dem Griff (231) steht; Der besagte Griff (231) ist mit einem Spannungsteil (231 a) ausgestattet, welcher die Schiebeverriegelung (232) nahe am vorderen Ende des Eisens (01), antreibt, um das Eisen (01) mit der Basis (02) zu verbinden oder um dem Raum zwischen der Schiebeverriegelung (232) und dem besagten vorderen Ende des Eisens (01) das Eisen (01) von der Basis (02) durch Führung des besagten Griffes (231), abzutrennen.
     
    2. Geteiltes einfach zu handhabendes Bügeleisen nach Anspruch 1, worin ein Schieberiegel (232) mit einem Verschluss (232a) ausgestattet ist, der auf das vordere Ende des Eisens (01) drückt, um die Verriegelung zu erreichen.
     
    3. Geteiltes einfach zu handhabendes Bügeleisen nach Anspruch 1, worin eine Lücke (14) auf der Oberseite der Bodenplatte (12) existiert. Die Schiebeverriegelung (232) ist mit einem Verschluss (232a) ausgestattet, und dieser Verschluss ist in die Lücke (14) ausgedehnt und drückt die Bodenplatte (12) um die Verriegelung zu erreichen.
     
    4. Geteiltes einfach zu handhabendes Bügeleisen nach Ansprüchen 2 oder 3, worin ein Anpassungsabschnitt (232b) zur Anpassung des Vorderendes und des Eisens oder des Vorderendes der Bodenplatte am unteren Ende des Verschlusses (232a) angebracht ist.
     
    5. Geteiltes einfach zu handhabendes Bügeleisen nach Anspruch 1, worin die Schiebeverriegelung (232) durch eine Rückstellfeder (233) kontrolliert wird die eine elastische Kraft ausübt welche die Schiebeverriegelung vom Eisen (01) trennt.
     
    6. Geteiltes einfach zu handhabendes Bügeleisen nach Anspruch 1, worin die Schiebeverriegelung (232) sich dadurch verschieben lässt, dass eine konvexe Kante (232c) in eine gepaarte Gleitrutsche (234a) angebracht ist. Die konvexe Kante und die Gleitrutsche (234a) sind dabei jeweils an der Schiebeverriegelung (232) und der Basis (02) angebracht.
     
    7. Geteiltes einfach zu handhabende Bügeleisen nach Anspruch 6, worin eine Basis (02) eine Montagebasis (234) enthält. Dabei sind die Konvexe Kante (232c) und die Gleitrutsche (234a) auf der Schiebeverriegelung (232) und der Monatagebasis (234) angebracht.
     
    8. Geteiltes einfach zu handhabendes Bügeleisen nach Anspruch 7, worin eine Druckabdeckung (235) an der Montagebasis (234) montiert ist. Die Schliebeverriegelung (232) ist dabei zwischen der Montagebasis (234) und der Druckabdeckung (235) angebracht.
     


    Revendications

    1. Un fer à vapeur à renversement facile à manier, comprenant un fer (01) et une base (02), dans lequel le fer (01) est levé graduellement de l'avant vers l'arrière ; une portion concave (11) est située à l'extrémité arrière du fer, une plaque de fond (12) est en bas du fer (01), et une poignée (13) est située en haut du fer (01), le haut de la base (02) est fournie avec un positionnement (21) pour placer le fer (01) ; une portion convexe (22) pouvant s'étendre dans la portion concave (11) à l'extrémité arrière du fer est située à l'extrémité arrière du positionnement (21) ; caractérisé par une structure de verrouillage (23) située sur la portion de la base (02) à l'extrémité avant du positionnement (21) comprenant une poignée réversible (231) et une verrouillage coulissant (232) en contact avec la poignée (231) ; ladite poignée (231) étant fournie avec une portion en biais (231a) guidant le verrouillage coulissant (232) près de l'extrémité avant du fer (01) pour verrouiller le fer (01) à la base (02) ou laissant une espace libre entre le verrouillage coulissant (232) et ladite extrémité avant du fer (01) pour déverrouiller le fer (01) de la base (02) en pivotant ladite poignée (231).
     
    2. Le fer à vapeur à renversement facile à manier selon la réclamation 1, dans lequel le verrouillage coulissant (232) est fourni avec une attache (232a) appuyant sur l'extrémité avant du fer (01) pour terminer le verrouillage.
     
    3. Le fer à vapeur à renversement facile à manier selon la réclamation 1, dans lequel un vide (14) existe sur la face supérieure de la plaque du bas (12), le verrouillage coulissant (232) est fourni avec l'attache (232a), et l'attache (232a) s'étend dans le vide (14) et appuie sur la plaque du bas (12) pour terminer le verrouillage.
     
    4. Le fer à vapeur à renversement facile à manier selon les réclamations 2 et 3, dans lequel une portion d'accommodement (232b) capable de recevoir l'extrémité avant du fer ou l'extrémité avant de la plaque du bas est située sur la partie inférieure de l'attache (232a).
     
    5. Le fer à vapeur à renversement facile à manier selon la réclamation 1, dans lequel le verrouillage coulissant (232) est mis en action par un ressort (233) appliquant une force élastique pour séparer le verrouillage coulissant (232) du fer (01).
     
    6. Le fer à vapeur à renversement facile à manier selon la réclamation 1, dans lequel le verrouillage coulissant (232) coulisse en mettant le bord convexe (232c) dans une chute coulissante appairée (234a), et le bord convexe (232c) et la chute coulissante (234a) sont situés séparément sur le verrouillage coulissant (232) et la base (02).
     
    7. Le fer à vapeur à renversement facile à manier selon la réclamation 6, dans lequel la base (02) comprend une base de montage (234), et le bord convexe (232c) et la chute coulissante (234a) sont situés séparément sur le verrouillage coulissant (232) et la base de montage (234).
     
    8. Le fer à vapeur à renversement facile à manier selon la réclamation 7, dans lequel un couvercle de pression (235) est monté sur la base de montage (234), et le verrouillage coulissant (232) est situé entre la base de montage (232) et le couvercle de pression (235).
     




    Drawing














    Cited references

    REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



    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.

    Patent documents cited in the description