Abstract:
Iron ( 1 ) for garments includes curved base surface ( 2 ) wherein cross-section of curved base surface ( 2 ) in longitudinal direction and/or transverse direction is substantially semi-elliptical shape. Iron ( 1 ) includes handle ( 5 ) which allows movement of iron ( 1 ) in all directions across a surface.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to an iron and more particularly to an iron with a curved base surface for contacting garments to be ironed. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Typically ironing devices are constructed to have a flat base plate for contacting the garments to be pressed or ironed. They generally function by heating the base plate to a elevated temperature which facilitates the removal of undesirable wrinkles and creases in the garment. Additionally, irons are typically constructed such that steam issues from the underside of the base plate onto the garments during the ironing process. The steam aids removal of creases and wrinkles in the garment by providing a moist and humid environment during the ironing process. 
     The disadvantage of conventional irons constructed with flat base plates is that the entire surface of the base plate is always in contact with the fabric once the iron is pressed to the garment to be ironed. This is particularly disadvantageous when delicate material is being ironed, as the material may be subject to excessive contact with the base plate resulting in burn marks or destruction of the material. 
     The flat base plate also provides that a degree of downward force be applied to the iron as this force is distributed evenly across the surface of the entire base plate and then transferred onto the garment being ironed, thus the resulting pressure applied to the garment for a given downward force is proportional to the entire surface area of the flat base plate. 
     Conventional irons are usually constructed with a handle that is horizontally disposed to the ironing surface and which is elongated in the direction of the contacting base plate. An operator of an ironing device of this nature would typically grip the handle in a closed grip whereby the operator&#39;s fingers are positioned underneath one side of the handle and the thumb loops around the other the other side as if gripping handlebars or the like. This has the disadvantage whereby a person operating the iron is substantially restricted to ironing in the direction in which the handle is orientated. 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     The present invention seeks to provide an iron which overcomes the above disadvantages. The present invention also seeks to provide an iron with a handle that allows free movement of the iron in any direction. 
     According to the present invention there is provided an iron including a curved base surface. 
     Preferably, the cross-section of the curved base surface in the longitudinal direction is a substantially semi-elliptical shape. 
     Preferably, the cross-section of the curved base surface in the transverse direction is a substantially semi-elliptical shape. 
     Preferably, the cross-sections of the curved base surface in the longitudinal and transverse directions are substantially semi-elliptical shapes. 
     Preferably, the curved base surface is in a substantially semi-ellipsoid shape. 
     Preferably, the curved base surface is elongated in the longitudinal direction. 
     Preferably, the curved base surface consists of a front portion and a back portion wherein the back portion has a greater width in the transverse direction than the front portion. 
     Preferably the front portion consists of a point which substantially defines the centre axis of the curved base surface. 
     Preferably, the curved base surface consists of openings through which steam may be emitted. 
     Preferably, the openings are aligned along the central axis of the curved base surface. 
     Preferably, the curved base surface includes a steam chamber in connection with said openings. 
     The base surface can be formed from any suitable materials such as for example metals and alloys such as aluminium, steel or brass. 
     Preferably, the iron includes a handle for operating said iron which when operated allows movement of said iron in all directions across a surface. 
     Preferably, said handle is in a substantially spherical shape and can be formed from any suitable materials such as for example wood or plastic or metals and alloys. 
     Preferably, said handle is made from wood. 
     Preferably, the iron includes a heat resistant layer positioned between the base surface and a main body portion of the iron. 
     Preferably, the heat resistant layer is made of a heat resistant plastic. 
     Preferably, the main body portion includes a steam shield portion situated on the periphery of said main body portion. 
     Preferably, the main body portion includes a handle running in a longitudinal direction of the iron wherein the handle allows free movement of the iron in any direction during use. 
     Preferably, the handle includes a pressure sensitive steam operation means. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become better understood from the following detailed description of preferred but non-limiting embodiments thereof, described in connection with the accompanying drawings, where in: 
     FIG.  1 . illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the figure shows a cross-sectional view of an iron in the longitudinal direction. 
     FIG.  2 . illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the figure shows a cross-sectional view of an iron in the transverse direction. 
     FIG.  3 . illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the figure shows an above view of an iron. 
     FIG.  4 . illustrates another preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the figure shows an above view of a base surface of an iron with the main body portion removed. 
     FIG.  5 . illustrates another preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the figure shows the underside of a base surface of an iron. 
     FIG.  6 . illustrates another preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the figure shows a cross-sectional view of an iron in the longitudinal direction. 
     FIG.  7 . illustrates another preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the figure shows a cross-sectional view of an iron in the transverse direction. 
     FIG.  8 . illustrates another preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the figure shows an above view of an iron. 
     FIG.  9 . illustrates another preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the figure shows an iron in the longitudinal direction in connection with a hand positioned for operation of the iron. 
     FIG.  10 . illustrates another preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the figure shows a cross-sectional view of an iron in the transverse direction. 
     FIG.  11 . illustrates another preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the figure shows an underside view of an iron. 
     FIG.  12 . illustrates an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A preferred, but non-limiting embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS.  1 , 2  and  3 . The iron  1  consists of a blase surface  2  which has a curved surface for contacting the garments or material to be ironed. The base surface  2  is connected to a main body portion  3  which houses a heating mechanism and/or steam generation mechanism. The heating mechanism transfers heat to the base surface  2  to facilitate in the ironing process and the steam generation mechanism generates steam which may be pushed out of orifices  4  located on the curved surface of the base surface  2 . The main body portion  3  is coupled to a handle  5  which is in the form of a sphere such that the ironing device  1  may be held in a fashion that allows the iron  1  to be operated in any direction the operator so wishes. 
     As can be seen from FIG. 1, the cross-section of the base surface  2  in the longitudinal direction is a semi-elliptical shape, and, as can be seen from FIG. 2, the cross-section of the base surface  2  in the transverse direction is also a semi-elliptical shape. 
     Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown another preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 shows an above view of a base surface  2   a  of an iron, including a curved surface for contacting clothes to be ironed, with the main body portion removed. The heating element  6  of the heating mechanism is in direct contact with a substantial part of the base surface  2  and transfers the heat generated by the heating mechanism to the base surface  2 . Steam generated by the steam generation mechanism passes through steam ports  8 , 7  into a steam cavity drilled out of the base surface along a central axis of the iron. The steam may issue out of the base surface from the orifices  4  which are located on the curved surface of the base surface  2  along a central axis, and, which are in connection with the steam cavity. The position of the orifices  4  along a central axis is advantageous for the base surface  2  from a construction perspective as the steam cavity may be simply drilled out of a die cast base plate. 
     Referring to FIGS. 6,  7  and  8  there is shown a farther preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of an iron  1   b  in the longitudinal direction with a handle  9  shaped to provide for a particular hand grip similar to that depicted in FIG.  9  and which allows free movement of the iron  1   b  in any direction. A Power cable  12  and a steam tube  11  enter the iron  1   b  from a rear sealing cap  10  which is composed of polypropylene moulding. In this embodiment the steam is generated externally from the iron  1   b  and travels to the iron  1   b  via the steam tube  11  where it is pushed into a steam cavity  13  and expelled via orifices  4   b . A steam control button  15  can be operated to control the expulsion of the steam as desired. The curved base surface  2   b  in this embodiment could be composed of any suitable material such as for example die cast aluminium. 
     A thermostat  14  is used to control how much heat is transferred onto the base surface  2   b . The body of the iron  1   b  directly supporting the base surface and steam chamber is composed of suitable material which can withstand high temperatures and which has insulating properties. 
     Referring to FIGS. 9,  10  and  11 , there is shown yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of an iron  1   c  where an image of a hand  22  has been superimposed to show how the iron may be held to allow free movement in any direction during use. This iron  1   c  also includes a steam shield  18  which can be made out of any suitable material such as for example polypropylene. The shield  18  prevents the fingers from being heated beyond a comfortable level by the steam which may issue from the bottom of the iron  1   c . A heat shield  17  between the curved base surface  2   c  and the steam shield  18  is provided to protect the steam shield from direct contact with the curved base surface and to prevent the shield from reaching a temperature that would be uncomfortable to the touch. The heat shield  17  can be composed of any suitable heat resistant material. 
     Referring to FIG. 12, there is shown an exploded view of an iron  1   d  in accordance with another aspect of the present invention. A base surface  2   d , which includes a curved surface for contacting material to be ironed, is shown to include contact points for the heating mechanism  27  and steam entry points  28 ,  29  to a steam cavity located on a central axis within the base surface  2   d . The base surface  2   d  would normally be attached to a heat shield layer  26  which in turn would normally be attached to the main body portion  24  of the iron and a rear sealing cap  25  which includes an entry point  30  for steam and/or power supply. The heat shield layer can be composed of any suitable material that is suitably heat resistant and has suitable insulating properties. 
     A handle  23  is shown which provides that the iron may be held to allow free movement in any direction during use. The handle  23  may be composed of any suitable material such as for example wood. The handle  23  is normally attached to the main body portion  24  of the iron and includes a steam control button  22  which may control the steam expulsion from the base surface  2   d.    
     Throughout this specification the word “iron”, will be understood to imply a device or iron which is used to contact garments or materials for the purposes of removing creases or wrinkles in either a domestic or commercial environment 
     The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia. 
     Although several preferred embodiments have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made herein by one ordinarily skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.