Patent ID: 8464446
Filing Date: 2013-06-18
Classification: D06F

Abstract:
1. A portable, ironing pad assembly, comprising: a hollow, cylindrical, tubular housing; a generally rectangular, flexible ironing pad adapted to snugly roll up within said tubular housing, said pad being loaded within the holder, said pad comprised of a thin, foam material with an outer covering on both the bottom and top outer surfaces, said outer covering coated with a heat-resistant, nonstick, moisture repellent substance; wherein said housing has two opposite ends, a first housing end and a second housing end, and a cylindrical body extending from one end to the other end, said housing ends defining a housing longitudinal axis, said housing ends and body defining a housing interior, aid cylindrical body having a longitudinal slot formed therein and extending nearly to each of the housing ends, said slot opening into the housing interior; wherein said ironing pad has two opposite major edges and two opposite minor edges, one of said major edges being attached to an elongated, hollow rod positioned within the housing interior, said rod having two, opposite ends, a first rod end and a second rod end; a first cap structure on said first housing end and a second cap structure on said second housing end, each cap structure including a plug section having a close fit within the housing first and second ends; an internal cylindrical recess extending into each plug section coincident with said housing longitudinal axis to form a bearing surface for each rod end; a torsion coil spring arranged within the rod for normally biasing the rod to a position wherein the ironing pad is fully rolled up about the rod within the housing interior, said coil spring having one end anchored to a plug within the rod, said coil spring having another end anchored to a cap structure; a female annular ring with inwardly projecting teeth positioned within a first cap structure plug section recess; a corresponding male annular ring with outwardly projecting teeth attached to the first rod end; wherein teeth of both rings are arranged so that the rod may be rotated on one direction but not in the opposite direction, said teeth arrangement preventing the coil spring from rewinding the pad about the rod into the housing interior; a protrusion from said first rod end extending centrally through the first cap structure and terminating in a button outside of the housing, said button adapted to translate external force longitudinally against the rod first end pushing the rod second end further into the plug section recess of the second cap structure, thereby disengaging the rod male ring from the female ring allowing the coil spring to rotate the rod thereby winding the ironing pad onto the rod within the housing interior; a compression spring fitted into the plug section recess of the second cap structure, said compression spring tending to push the rod longitudinally out of the said plug section recess as soon as longitudinal pressure on the button is released thereby causing the rod male annular ring to re-engage with the female annular ring holding the ironing pad in position about the rod.