Patent GB-622633-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to flat irons
IPC: D06F75/40
Filed: 1947-04-02
Abstract: 622,633. Hand-irons. BRITISH THOMSON-HOUSTON CO., Ltd. April 2, 1947, No. 8992. Convention date, April 4, 1946. [Class 138 (ii)] One or more supports are mounted on a flat iron and so biassed that tilting the iron longitudinally from the ironing position moves the support or supports from a horizontal retracted position to a generally vertical extended position to hold the iron in a rest position. A leg 9, Figs. 5 and 7, is pivoted on each side of the shell 5 of an electric iron by means of a shaft 10. Each shaft is keyed to one of the legs 9 which is retained in position by a split ring 13. A U- shaped counterweight 21 is secured to the other end of each shaft and so positioned that, when the toe of the iron is tilted upwardly a few degrees, the weights move the legs from a position parallel to the sole plate which they occupy when the iron is horizontal to an extended and supporting position. In order to retract the legs, the iron is either moved forwardly or lifted and rotated forwardly about a transverse axis. The shaft 10 and counterweight 21 at each side are journalled on a bracket 17 secured to the sole plate of the iron, the inner end of the shaft having a conical pivot 10a which bears against a pressure plate 23 mounted on the bracket 17. Each pressure plate 23 has an extension to limit the movement of the counterweight when retracted. Movement in the extended direction is limited by the bracket 17 or counterweights engaging flat springs. The two counterweights are coupled together by a helical spring 24 so that the legs 9 may move independently if necessary, but normally move together. In the modification shown in Fig. 11, each leg 28 is pivoted solely on the shell 26 of the iron and is independent of the other leg. The forward and rearward movements of each counterweight 31 are limited by wings 33, 33a on a bearing plate 32 assembled in the inside of the shell, springs 34 or other sound-deadening means being provided to cushion the movements of the legs. For use with an iron having a shallow shell as shown in Fig. 12, the legs 38 are mounted on shafts 39 which extend through the shell and have crank arms 40 connected by links 41 with counterweights 43 disposed in a hollow chamber 44 in the rear standard of the iron handle. Each leg 47, in the modification shown in Fig. 15, retracts into a slot 50 in the sole plate and is pivoted on a bracket 49. In the modification shown in Fig. 20, the U-shaped counterweights 59 have their inner ends pivoted on a bracket 63 secured to the shell 52, and their outer ends secured to the shafts 26 on which the legs 55 are mounted; the shafts 56 are journalled in the shell 52. The two counterweights 58 are connected by a U-shaped wire link which is also pivoted on the shell. This arrangement provides space for mounting a thermostat on the sole plate. In the further modification shown in Fig. 27, each leg 79 retracts into a groove 84 in the sole plate, and is rigidly connected with a U-shaped counterweight 83; the counterweights 83 on opposite sides of the iron are rigidly connected by a transverse shaft 85, movement being cushioned by springs 86, Fig. 31, the angle between the arms 86a, 86b of the spring being greater than the angle of swing of the legs. This construction may be further modified as shown in Fig. 36 by the provision near the toe of the iron of a third leg 93 which may be coupled to the other pair by a wire link 97. The iron is then supported parallel to the work-table. If desired, four or more supporting legs may be provided.