Holding and support element for irons

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel holding and support element for irons provided with a protective support made out of an appropriate heat-insulating material, such as, for example rubber, cloth, plastic or the like, designated to hold in a movable way said ironing plate shaped and dimensioned to be adapted to the shape and size of the plate, so as to cover it over its entire extension. This protective support is constitued by one or more pieces and it is possibly provided with ribs protruding on this inside for the housing by slight pressure of said ironing plate and with a further heat insulation towards the outside of the plate itself. This protective support is also provided with pleated zone (29,30) for the adapting to irons of various sizes.

Description: The invention relates to a holding and support element for irons, designed to hold irons of different sizes that are still hot after their use, and to hold such irons in such a manner as to prevent possible harm and danutges to individuals and objects who may have come into accidental contact with them. Known at present are support elements for irons that are generally constituted by suitable small mats made out of cloth, rubber or other insulating material, provided on the handle of the iron, or in other appropriate positions, and on which the irons rest in the condition in which they are, either during the periods when they are not in use or upon having used them. This means that the irons are still very hot and, therefore, their ironing bottom-plate is removed from the support surface, preventing thus an overheating of the surface itselt without, however, averting the danger that individuals and objects come into contact with their surface, thus suffering burns and damages. A support for irons is for example described in US 5108056. The present invention has as object the elimination of the drawbacks and the limitations resulting from the use of said mats by means of a holding and support element for irons, designed to effectively and quickly hold irons of different sizes immediately after their use. Thus are prevented the dangers of eventual accidental contacts by individuals or objects with the ironing surface, avoiding the possible damages resulting therefrom, further offering the possibility of placing the holding element with the iron in various positions. This holding and support element is designed with the structural characteristics essentially described herein, with special reference to the attached claims for the present patent. The invention will be better understood from the below description, given only by way of a not limited example and with reference to the illustrations wherein: Figures 1 and 2 show a view in perspective of two different positions of the holding and support element in accordance with the invention, in a first embodiment; figures 3 and 4 show in the same view as above the present holding and support element in a second embodiment; figure 5 shows a plane view of the holding and support element illustrated in figures 3 and 4; figure 6 shows an end view of the holding and support element of figure 5, along the line A-A; figures 7 and 8 show a view in perspective of two different positions of the holding and support element in accordance with the invention, in a third embodiment; figures 9 and 10 show in the same view as that of figures 7 and 8 the holding and support element in accordance with the invention, in a fourth embodiment; figures 11 and 12 show in the same view as that of 7 to 10 the holding and support element in accordance with the invention, in a fifth embodiment; figure 13 shows a view in perspective the present holding and support element in a sixth embodiment. Above illustrations show diagrammatically a holding and support element 15 in accordance with the invention, designed for irons of different sizes, still hot after having been used and also after successive periods of time. This holding and support element is essentially constituted by a protective support 16, made out of one or various pieces of a heat-insulating material such as, for example, rubber, cloth, plastic or the like, formed and dimensioned to be adapted to the shape and size of the ironing bottom-plate 17 of a conventional electric iron 18, so as to cover the entire surface of the bottom 19 of this bottom-plate, intended for the ironing, and the entire peripheral border 20 up to a certain height of the same, preventing in such a manner any external contacts with said ironing surface. Further, this protective support has a thickness appropriate to prevent or greatlt reduce the transmitting towards the outside of the heat produced by the ironing plate 17, during or immediately after the ironing phase, while this plate is still extremely hot. In the below illustrations are described, by way of example, various possible embodiments of this holding and support element. Particularly, in figures 1 and 2 can he observed that the protective support 16 (which in this case is rubber) is made out of one piece presenting three peripheral walls 21, 22 and 23, joined to each other and having a flat bottom piece 24, formed in the shape of the ironing bottom-plate 17 of the iron in order to cover it. The walls 21 and 22 cover the front and back sections 25 and 26 of this plate and the wall 23 covers the lateral side 27 of said plate, while the wall 24 covers the surface of the bottom 19 of the plate. Further, this protective support is of such size as to allow the inserting with a slight pressure of the ironiig bottom-plate 17 of the iron 18 in the curresponding open housing 28 between the walls 21-24 so as to hold the iron, preventing in a reliable manner any contact with its still hot ironing bottom-plate and avoiding thus any possibility of injury or damage to individuals or objects, and allowing the placing of the holding and support element with the iron in any position of support, thanks to the tight fit of the protective support against the ironing bottom-plate. In figures 3 and 4 it can he observed that the protective support 16 is essentially similar to that of the foregoing illustrations and fit differs only in that the front wall 21 and the back wall 22 are pleated over a section of their extension, defining thus the pleated area 29, 30 that allows a lengthening or a shortening, within certain limits of the protective support itself, adapting it to irons of different sizes. Further, in the example it can also be noted that the lateral wall 23 of the protective support 16 extends with a protruding grip 31 that can he grasped to facilitate the insertion and removal of the iron from the protective support. Figures 5 and 6 show in more details the design of the protective support illustrated in figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, and from these illustrations can he gathered that its bottom piece 24 and its front wall 21, its back wall 22 and lateral wall 23 are provided with various series of ribs 32, 33 and 34 protruding from same and appropriately distanced from each other with respect to the open housing 28 of the support itself. The purpose is either for the inserting with a slight pressure of the ironing bottom-plate of any iron and the fitting against such plate, because of the above mentioned reasons, or possibly for a greater distance of the plate to the outside, so as to increase the insulating capacity of the support. The various series of ribs 35, protruding from the surface facing the bottom wall and oriented towards the support surface of this protective support, facilitate the fitting against the support surface while impeding undesired shifting of the support-iron unit from its position and, possibly, to increase the insulating capacity. In figures 7 and 8 can be observed that the protective support 16 15 provided with at last one strap 36 for the holding of the iron joined at one of its extremities to one of the peripheral walls of the support itself. In this case it 15 joined to the front wall 21, while the after extremity is free and provided with a series of holes 37 that are axially distanced from each other, designed to selectively fit over a corresponding botton 38 protruding from the other peripheral wall of the protective support, in this case from the back wall 22, after having passed the strap uround the ironing plate 17 and adapted to the respective size of said plate, thus binding the iron to the protective support. In figures 9 and 10 it can he observed that, like in figures 7 and 8, the protective support 16 is also provided with a binding strap 36 that, however, in this case is separated from the support itself to be adapted around the ironing plate 17 of the iron, at the extremity of which are shaped or clasped in position in a manner identical to the free extremity of above-mentioned strap. In figures 11 and 12 it can be observed that the protective support is essentially similar to the one described in figures 1 and 2, except for the fact that in this ease it is provided with a lateral wall 23 that can be coupled to and uncoupled from the adjacent front and back walls 21 and 22 of the support itself in order to allow, at first, the insertion of the iron into the open housing 28 and then the holding of the iron in the iron in the position of the insertion. Therefore, in the example in question, the lateral wall 22 is designed as an extension of the bottom wall 24 and it is provided on the two sides with protruding tongues 39 in which are axially provided various holes 40, designed to selectively catch in pertinent pegs 4 laterally protruding from both walls 21 and 22, subsequent to the pleating of this lateral wall and the adapting of the same to the walls 21 and 22 depending on the length of the ironing plate of each iron. Lastly, in figure 13 it can be observed that the protective support is similar to that of figures 11 and 12, save for the fact that the lateral wall is provided with a lateral extension 42 to be directly inserted into the ironing bottom-.late 17 of the iron, as well as with a binding strap 36 of the same type and having the same function as described with reference to figures 7, 8 and 9, 10. In this case, this protective support is designed as a general type for the inserting of irons of whatsoever size, which therefore are easily and quickly placed in position. Of course, the holding and support element designed in this manner can also be designed in other manners than described herein by way of example, provided that the components of the protective support of the type and for the above-mentioned functions, have the possibility of being adapting to irons of different sizes without, however, going beyond the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims: Support for irons comprising a platform (24) of a substantially triangular shape with two curved sides converging to a point at one end and joined by a flat side at the opposite end, from the perimeter of said platform extending lateral retention walls (21, 22) attached to both curved sides, characterized in that said platform (24) with its lateral retention walls (21, 22) forms a shell-like iron housing constructed of heat-insulating material, said platform (24) having a free lower deposit surface, and the inner surfaces of said platform (24) and of said retention walls (21, 22) being provided with protruding ribs (32, 33). Support according to claim 1, wherein from the flat side of said platform (24) extends a third retention wall (23) the inner surface of which is provided with protruding ribs (34). Support according to claim 2, wherein said third retention wall (23) is connected to the lateral retention walls (21, 22). Support according to claim 2, wherein said third retention wall (23) is hinged to the flat side of the platform (24) and comprises protruding tongues (39) with holes (40) which may be selectively fastened to pegs (41) protruding from both lateral retention walls (21, 22). Support according to any of the preceding claims, wherein from the lower surface of the platform (24) protrude ribs (35). Support according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a part of said platform (24) and the corresponding adjacent part of the lateral retention walls (21, 22) are pleated, for adapting to irons of various sizes. Support according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one iron-binding strap (36) is fastend to one of said lateral retention walls (21, 22).

Inventors: PALU CLEMENTE, PALU', CLEMENTE
Applicants: MANFRENUZZI MARIA EMMEPI, EMMEPI DI MANFRENUZZI MARIA
Application year: 1999
Main classification: D06F79
IPC codes: D06F79