Abstract:
An apparatus is provided for stabilizing an ironing table, comprising a weight and a hollow base member that holds the weight. The base member connects to the legs of an ironing table and extends outwardly from the legs. The weight in the base member adds mass to the lower portion of the ironing table, increasing the table&#39;s resistance to tipping or wobbling. In one aspect of the invention, the weight may be removed from the base member to decrease the overall weight of the ironing table when the table is being transported.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to ironing tables and more specifically to ironing tables with stabilizing components that reduce the potential for tipping.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    In the present state of the art, ordinary ironing tables feature an ironing surface or board that is elevated above the floor by two or more legs. The legs are supported by base members or outriggers that extend outwardly from the legs to balance the table in a standing position. In this standing position, the board is elevated to allow an individual to iron clothing, linens and the like while the person is standing. The elevated board also prevents clothing and linens from contacting the floor when they are being ironed. Common ironing tables feature a light weight design to allow the table to be easily repositioned, transported and stored.  
           [0003]    The light weight construction of ironing boards frequently makes them top heavy and creates problems with table stability and safety. Much of the table&#39;s weight is concentrated at the top of the table when the table is in a standing position. Top heaviness is even more apparent when an iron, clothing, and other objects are placed on the board, adding weight to the top of the table. Under such weight, the table&#39;s stability is limited by the configuration of the legs. In particular, the board is typically limited in width to approximately 15 inches, and the legs do not extend far beyond the perimeter of the board. Therefore, the weight of the board and its contents are balanced over a relatively small area. This arrangement makes the table very prone to tipping and rocking so that the table can be easily knocked over through inadvertent contact. If a hot iron is positioned on the table, tipping over the ironing table can lead to serious burns and other injuries.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    In light of the foregoing, the present invention provides a more stable ironing table that offers the same utility and advantages of ordinary light weight ironing tables. The invention features a top board supported on a pair of legs. Base members or outriggers extend outwardly from the legs. The density of the base members is greater than the density of the legs. One way to increase the density of the legs is by weights. When the table is set up for use, the weights are inserted into cavities in the base members to increase table stability and reduce the potential for tipping or wobbling. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    The foregoing summary as well as the following description will be better understood when read in conjunction with the figures in which:  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stabilized ironing table in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a stabilizer used in the ironing table in FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0008]    Referring to FIGS.  1 - 2  in general, and to FIG. 1 specifically, a stabilized ironing table  10  is shown. Table  10  includes a generally horizontal board  20  and a pair of legs  30  that extend from the board. Legs  30  are pivotally connected with a pin  32 . The pin connection  32  allows adjustment of the table between a standing position, in which the legs extend outwardly from board  210  to elevate the board above a floor, and a folded position, in which the legs collapse inwardly to allow the table to be stored. Table  10  uses a conventional latch release mechanism to adjust the table between the standing position and folded position. In FIG. 1, table  10  is shown in a standing position. A plurality of base members  40  extend from the lower end of legs  30 . When table  10  is placed in a standing position, base members  40  concentrate the table&#39;s weight in the lower portion of the table to enhance stability and counteract top heaviness in the table. Base members  40  can have a variety of geometric configurations. In FIG. 1, base members  40  are illustrated as a pair of straight tubular members having a cylindrical cross section. Base members  40  are bisected by the lower ends of legs  30  and are connected to the legs by any connecting means known in the art. In FIG. 1, the base members  40  and legs  30  are connected by welding. Base members  40  extend along the floor in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the board.  
         [0009]    The legs  30  comprise the vertical support for the table. The legs are formed of a material that is sufficient to support the weight of the ironing board  20  and the forces applied during ironing. However, preferably the legs are as light as reasonably possible to limit the weight of the table  10 . Accordingly, preferably the legs  30  are formed of hollow rigid tubing, such as steel tube having approximately {fraction (1/16)}″ thick walls.  
         [0010]    As described above, the base members  40  comprise the lateral supports for the table  10 . The base members  40  are designed to engage the floor surface when the table  10  is set up for use. In contrast to the vertical support legs  30 , preferably the base members  40  are designed to have a relatively high density to lower the center of gravity of the table  10 , thereby increasing the stability of the table. More specifically, preferably the base members  40  have a greater density than the vertical legs  30 .  
         [0011]    The increased density of the base members  40  can be accomplished in one of several ways. For instance, the base members  40  can be formed of steel tube having a thicker wall than the tube used to form the vertical legs, or the base members can be formed of solid metal. However, preferably, the base members  40  are formed of steel tube that is substantially similar to the steel tube used to form the legs. The density of the base members is then increased by inserting weights  50  into the base members. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, preferably the base members  40  are hollow forming a cylindrical cavity  42 , and the weights are configured to cooperate with the interior cavities of the base members. More specifically, preferably, the mass of each weight is greater then the mass of the corresponding base member.  
         [0012]    Base members  40  include open ends  44  adapted to receive weights  50 . Each open end  44  is covered by an end cap  46  that retains the weight  50  within the respective base member  40  when the base member is tilted or moved. End caps  46  are formed with interior recesses  47  adapted to conform with the outer perimeters of base members  40 . The interior diameter of each recess  47  is equal to or slightly larger than the exterior diameter of each base member  40 , such that the end cap forms an interference fit when slipped over the end of the base member. Alternatively, end caps  46  include male threads in recesses  47  that cooperate with female threads on the ends of base members  40 . Where a threaded connection is used, the end caps connect to base members  40  when the caps are aligned with the ends of the base members and rotated. End caps  46  are preferably formed of a flexible material, such as synthetic rubber, or a durable plastic. The end caps may be removably connectable so that the weight can be removed as desired, such as to lighten the ironing board to store it. However, preferably, the end caps  46  are substantially permanently attached to the base member.  
         [0013]    The addition of weights  50  to the base of ironing table  10  will affect the balance of the table. If a significant amount of weight is placed on one side of the base with respect to the table&#39;s longitudinal axis, the table will resist tipping in only one direction. Preferably, weights  50  are inserted in base members  40  in an arrangement that is substantially symmetric about the longitudinal axis of table  10 .  
         [0014]    Operation of the ironing table  10  will now be described. The table  10  is initially stored in the folded position. Using the latch release mechanism, table  10  is opened so that legs  30  extend outwardly from board  20 . Once the legs  30  are fully extended, base members  40  are positioned on a floor and the table is set in the standing position. If weights  50  are not yet inserted into base members  40 , an end cap  46  is removed from each base member to expose the interior cavities  42  in the base members. A weight  50  is then aligned with each cavity  42 , as shown in FIG. 2, and fully inserted into the base member  40 . End caps  46  are realigned with the ends of base members  40  and secured back onto the base members. Ironing table  10  is now stabilized and ready for use.  
         [0015]    With weights  50  inserted into base members  40 , the center of gravity of the table  10  is moved downwardly so that the table is more resistant to tipping or rocking. In particular, a greater lateral force must act on table  10  to lift the ends of base members  40  off the floor. If the end caps  46  are removable, when the user is finished ironing, the user can remove an end cap  46  from each base member and remove the weights  50  from cavities  42 . The end caps  46  are then reattached to the base members  40 . The latch release mechanism is actuated to return table  10  to the folded position so the table can be conveniently transported and stored. Weights  50  may be left in or removed from base members  40  as desired by the user.  
         [0016]    The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation. There is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof. It is recognized, however, that various modifications are possible within the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention incorporates variations that fall within the scope of the following claims.