IRONING BOARD HEIGHT-LOCKING MECHANISM

Abstract: Folding ironing board (1), especially a domestic ironing board, having an ironing board table (5), a supporting frame having leg elements (11, 13) which are pivotable between a folded and an unfolded position, a locking mechanism, which interacts with one of the leg elements, for locking in the unfolded position and at a working height to be chosen within defined limits the position of the ironing board table above a floor, and provided with a locking element (17) connected in an essentially stationary manner to the ironing board table, as well as at least one locking element (19) which is movable relative to the first-named locking element. An adjusting mechanism is present, having a stop member (21) which can be placed and fixed adjustably by a user in an adjustment position and interacts with an essentially stationary part of the ironing board, which stop member, whenever the ironing board is unfolded, limits the movement of the movable locking element and thereby determines the working height of the ironing board in dependence upon the said adjustment position.

Description: Ironing board height-locking mechanism. The invention relates to a folding ironing board according to the preamble of Claim 1. Ironing boards of this type are commonly known and can easily be folded and unfolded and adjusted to a desired working height. Ironing boards of this type are generally used in the household, often continually by the same person, so that the ironing board needs always to be placed at the same working height. A drawback of the known ironing boards is that the working height has to be set to the correct working height through a system of trial and error. With some ironing boards, the height is adjustable into specific positions, with other ironing boards the height can be continuously adjusted. In ironing boards of the latter kind, the height adjustment to the correct working height is somewhat more awkward. The object of the invention is to offer a solution for the problem outlined above and is characterized by the defining clause of Claim 1. The presence of the stop member enables a user to restore an ironing board which has once been placed at a good working height over and over again to the same unfolded state. In order to achieve this, the stop member needs only to be transported to the adjustment position and fixed there. Upon subsequent usage, the stop mechanism shall determine the adjustment position as the ironing board is unfolded, so that this consequently stands at the proper working height. An embodiment of the invention is characterized in Claim 2. A very accurate, fixable height adjustment is thereby possible. A practical embodiment of the invention is characterized in Claim 3. This enables a smooth-working and stable height adjustment of the ironing board, combined with fast and simple operation. A practical embodiment is characterized by Claim 4. The embodiment here in question is distinguished by the simplicity of the means which are used. The invention shall now be explained in greater detail with reference to the drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an unfolded ironing board, Fig. 2 shows a partially perspective bottom view of the ironing board of Fig. 1, 2 Fig. 3 shows an exploded view of a stop member, consisting of two parts, used in the ironing board according to the previous figures, Fig. 4 reproduces a detailed view of individual components of the ironing board. Figures 1 and 2 show a folding ironing board 1, especially a domestic ironing board, which is provided with an ironing board table 5 mounted in an ironing board rim 3. The ironing board table is borne by a supporting frame having two leg elements 11 and 13 which are pivotable between a folded and an unfolded position. The leg elements are hinged together at 15. At the ends of the leg elements 11 and 13 there are supports having respective parts 11 A, 11B and 13 A, 13B. With the aid of these supports, the ironing board can be placed firmly on a floor. Interacting with one of the leg elements, namely the leg element 13, is a locking mechanism for locking in the unfolded position shown in Figure 1 and at a working height to be chosen within defined limits the position of the ironing board table 5 above a floor. The locking mechanism comprises one, in the drawn embodiment two, stationary locking element(s) 17, connected in an essentially stationary manner to the ironing board table, and two locking elements 19 which are movable relative to the said stationary locking element(s). An adjusting mechanism is present, having a stop member 21 which can be placed and fixed adjustably by a user in the adjustment position shown in Figure 2 and which interacts with one of the stationary locking elements 17, the design of which stop member is to be discussed in greater detail, primarily with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Whenever the ironing board is unfolded, this stop member limits the movement of the two movable locking elements 19 and thereby determines the working height of the ironing board 1 in dependence upon the said adjustment position. As will be discussed in greater detail below, especially with reference to Figures 2 and 4, the stop member 21 is continuously adjustable for a continuous adjustment of the working height of the ironing board table 5. The two leg elements 11 and 13 possess a free end, in Figure 2 the free end is [lacuna], which via the supports 11 A, B and 13A, B, in the unfolded state of the ironing board, make contact with the floor. Also visible is an opposing ironing board end connected to the ironing board table, in Figure 2 the ironing board end 23 of the leg element 13 can be seen. At the ironing board end the leg element 11 is pivotably 3 connected at a fixed place to the ironing board table. A connection of this type is commonly known and, for the sake of simplicity, is not shown in the drawing. At the ironing board end 23, along a path of transport directed essentially in the longitudinal direction of the ironing board table 5 and indicated by an arrow 25 denoted by dashed lines, the other leg element 13 is transportable between a starting position when the ironing board is folded up (not shown) and an end position (also not shown) when the ironing board is unfolded and set in the highest working position. The said essentially stationary locking element 17 is limitedly movable. The locking element 17, or preferably the two stationary locking elements 17, are namely connected to a bar 27, which is hinge-mounted in two longitudinal ties 29 fitted for stiffening purposes beneath the ironing board table 5. At one end, the bar 27 is connected to a bar portion 31 which stands perpendicular thereto and ends in a control knob 33. By reaching beneath the top surface of the ironing board, a user is able, with the aid of the control knob 33, to tilt the locking members 17 over a small angle. The locking members 17 are provided with an elongated slot-shaped opening 35. The movable locking element, or preferably the two movable locking elements present, comprise a plate-shaped locking bar 37 which fits with small play into the opening 35 in the locking members 17. The ironing board end 23 of the leg element 13 is connected to the two locking bars 37. To the ironing board end 23 there is welded, namely via a platelet 39, a bar 41, which is mounted at the end in grooves 43 in the longitudinal ties 29, whilst the bars 37 in turn, at one of their ends, pivotally enclasp the bar 41. Figure 2 shows that on only one of the locking bars 37 is their stop member 21 mounted. It is likewise also possible to provide both locking bars 37 with a stop member 21. As is primarily evident in the figure, the stop member 21 comprises a clasp 21 A which is placed around the locking bar 37 and is displaceable along it and is provided with screw thread 45, as well as a nut 2 IB which interacts with a screw thread and can be manually operated by a user and which in the shown embodiment, for example, consists of a suitable thermohardening plastic. Using this nut, the clasp 21A can be fixed on the locking bar 37, see primarily Figure 4, thereby enabling the stop member to be fixed at any chosen place in the desired adjustment position. The working of the locking mechanism is briefly as follows. When the ironing 4 board is folded, the leg element 13 pivots about the hinge pin 15 and the ironing board end 23 moves according to the path 25 along the bottom edge of the ironing board. The other leg element 11 is hinged at a fixed place to the bottom edge of the ironing board. The two stationary locking elements 17 allow the locking bars 37 to pass through the openings 35 until the stop member 21 butts against the stationary locking element 17. At this point the ironing board is placed by the user onto the floor, possibly even pressed down somewhat, whereby the two locking bars 37, by virtue of the generated friction, to some extent tilt the two locking elements 17 about the axis of the bar 27, causing the two locking bars 37 to be clamped in place as the result of a sheering effect. Following ironing, the ironing board can be refolded by operating the control element 33 and thereby twisting the bar 27 over a small angle, thereby releasing the sheering effect and enabling the ironing board end 23 of the leg element 13 to return to the starting position, again via the path of transport 25. If so desired, in support of the operation of the locking elements 17 and the working thereof, a spring can be present, which pressurizes the control element 33 and hence the bar 27 towards the position shown in Figure 2. Although the invention has been explained with reference to just a single illustrative embodiment, the invention is by no means limited thereto. Thus the stop member can have a totally different shape from that reproduced in the figures. The shown stop member 21 should only be regarded as one possible embodiment. Another simple embodiment might comprise an insert pin which is able to be inserted in an opening specially made for it in the locking bar 37. It is even possible to use a stop member which clamps itself to the movable locking element, for example in the form of a clamp which is easily operable by a user. A clamp of this type can be mounted on the locking element in such a way that it is displaceable but cannot be lost, for example. The locking element, too, can possess a totally different shape and can comprise, for example, a round rod or pipe or the like.

Claims: 5 CLAIMS 1. Folding ironing board (1), especially a domestic ironing board, comprising: an ironing board table (5), - a supporting frame having leg elements (11, 13) which are pivotable between a folded and an unfolded position, a locking mechanism, which interacts with one of the leg elements (13), for locking in the unfolded position and at a working height to be chosen within defined limits the position of the ironing board table (5) above a floor and comprising a stationary locking element (17), connected in an essentially stationary manner to an ironing board table, as well as at least one locking element (19) which is movable relative to the said stationary locking element, characterized in that an adjusting mechanism is present, having a stop member (21) which can be placed and fixed adjustably by a user in an adjustment position and interacts with an essentially stationary part of the ironing board, which stop member, whenever the ironing board is unfolded, limits the movement of the movable locking element (19) and thereby determines the working height of the ironing board (1) in dependence upon the said adjustment position. 2. Folding ironing board according to Claim 1, characterized in that the stop member (21) of the adjusting mechanism is continuously adjustable for a continuous adjustment of the working height of the ironing board table (5). 3. Folding ironing board according to Claim 1, characterized in that the two leg elements possess a free end (11 A, B: 13 A, B) which, in the unfolded state of the ironing board, serves to make contact with a floor, as well as an opposing ironing board end (23) connected to the ironing board table, which leg elements are hinged together (15) between their ends, in that at the ironing board end one of the leg elements (11) is pivotably connected at a fixed place to the ironing board table, in that at the ironing board end (23), along a path of transport (25) directed essentially in the longitudinal direction of the ironing board table, the other leg element (13) is transportable between a starting position when the ironing board is folded up and an end position when the ironing board is unfolded and set in the highest working position, 6 in that the said essentially stationary locking element comprises a locking member (17) which is limitedly movable and has an opening (35), in that the said movable locking element (37) comprises a locking bar (37) which is connected to the ironing board end (23) of the said other leg element (13) and, together therewith, is movable along the bottom side of the ironing board table (5), in that the locking bar (37) runs through the opening (35) in the stationary locking member and in that the stop member (21) can be fastened to the locking bar (37). 4. Folding ironing board according to Claim 3, characterized in that the stop member (21) comprises a clasp (21 A) which is placed around the locking bar (37) and is displaceable along it and is provided with a screw thread (45), as well as a nut (21B), which interacts with the screw thread (45) and can be manually operated by a user, for fixing the stop member in the desired adjustment position.

Inventors: DAAMS RUDOLPHUS CORNELIS HENRI, DAAMS, RUDOLPHUS, CORNELIS, HENRICUS
Applicants: BRABANTIA NEDERLAND BV, DAAMS RUDOLPHUS CORNELIS HENRI, BRABANTIA NEDERLAND B.V., DAAMS, RUDOLPHUS, CORNELIS, HENRICUS
Application year: 1999
Main classification: D06F81
IPC codes: D06F81