Patent GB-623648-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to ironing equipment
IPC: D06F81/00
Filed: 1946-11-07
Abstract: 623,648. Ironing-boards and stands. LEWIS, J. H. W. Nov. 7, 1946, Nos. 33173/46 and 10259/47. [Class 138 (ii)] An ironing-board or stand 1 comprises an ironing surface for the work, a fire-proof support 6 for the reception of the iron when not in use for ironing, and securing means for retaining the iron in a locked or fixed position on the support. The support 6 may be constructed as described in Specification 618,803 and comprise a metal tray which has a downwardly-inclined base 7, Figs. 1 and 2, and is mounted in a recess near one end of the board 1. When the iron is moved from the ironing surface on to the tray, projecting limbs 24 on angle members on the inner side walls 8 of the tray engage over the projecting edge of the sole plate of the iron. Mounted on a depending portion 10 at the entry end of the tray is a rotatable disc 26, Fig. 5, having a pair of cam slots 27 therein for engagement with pins 28 on the lower ends of bell-crank levers 29 pivoted on the portion 10. The upper ends of the levers 29 are formed as claws 31 for engaging over the edge of the soleplate near the front end of the iron; springs 32 are connected between the claw ends of the levers 29 and anchorages 33 on the portion 10. The disc 26 is adapted to be rotated to lock and unlock the iron by a slidable rod 34 having a pin-and-slot connection 35 with the disc. The shape of the cam slots 27 is such that the levers 29 cannot be moved except by rotation of the disc. The ironing-board, which may consist of a sheet-metal pressing with depending edge flanges 2 and channel-section reinforcement bars 3 welded to its underside as shown in Fig. 5, may be carried by a foldable support comprising two frames 39, 40, Fig. 1, pivoted together at 42; each frame 39, 40 consists of a pair of tubular legs connected at their lower ends by a cross-brace 41. The upper ends of the frame 39 are pivoted on bearing members 43, Fig. 4, carried in lugs 44 depending from the board 1 near the entry end of the support 6; the bearing members 43 are spaced apart by a tube 45, and the parts at this joint are held together by nuts 47 screwed on a crossrod 48. The legs of the frame 40 are pivoted at their upper ends to the free ends 48 of a pair of parallel links 49, the other ends of which are pivoted to lugs 50 in the underside of the board. To prevent folding of the.board unless the locking means are in position to retain the.iron on the support, the rod 34 normally engages a slot 52, Fig. 5, in a plate 51 welded to one of the legs 39 so that the frames 39, 40 cannot then be swung to folded position. When the rod 34 is moved to lock the iron in position, a recess in the rod registers with the slot 52 to permit folding of the frames. With the frames folded, the edge of the plate 51 engages in the recess in the rod 34 so as to prevent movement of the rod to release the iron. In the modification shown in Fig. 10, the iron is locked in position by a U-shaped hoop 54 carried at the ends of bars 55 which are pivoted at 56 to the stand 1. In its clamping position, depending hooks 58 on the hoop pass through holes in the board and engage openings in a spring-pressed bar 34. When the bar 34 is moved to a position to permit withdrawal of the hooks 58, the hoop 54 and bars 55 can be swung about the pivot 56 into the position shown in dotted lines. In a further modification, the claws for securing the iron are operated by a movable bar which extend towards the pivoted upper end of one of the foldable frames of the board and carries a slotted plate for engagement by a pin on the said frame for locking the frames in the erected position; movement of the bar to free the frames for folding also moves the claws into engagement with the iron. The first Provisional also describes (a) the actuation of the bell-crank levers 29 by a pivoted hand-lever which has a single pin engaging cam slots in the levers, and (b) the use of a single link, instead of a pair of parallel links 49, for connecting the upper end of the frame 40 to the underside of the board, a spring being provided for facilitating the movement of the frame to the folded or unfolded position. According to the second Provisional Specification, the hoop 54 may be constructed as a cover for totally enclosing the iron.