Patent Publication Number: US-8109018-B2

Title: Iron tote

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure generally relates to a device for carrying a steam iron. When one desires to iron, or press, an article of clothing, the steam iron, and other accessories, e.g., spray starch, water spray and lint roller, are typically stored separately and awkwardly carried to the ironing board as separates. The iron and accessories are set onto the ironing board surface during the ironing operation, consuming valuable ironing board space. Moreover, the accessories, e.g., the spray starch, the water spray and the lint roller, when located on the ironing board are prone to tipping and falling to the floor. If the ironing board is bumped or jiggled during use, equipment on the board, such as the iron and accessories, easily tips and falls. In the presence of children or pets, such incidents can be highly undesirable because of the extreme heat of the iron. 
     Most irons include an electrical cord that is plugged into an electrical socket to deliver electrical energy to the heating element of the iron. The electrical cord projects from the heel of the iron and toward the operator. Because of this configuration, the electrical cord often becomes entangled underfoot and further tangles and interferes with items on the ironing board. 
     In addition to the aforementioned problems, accessing the iron and ironing accessories can be difficult, awkward and inefficient during an ironing operation. Moreover, the ironing board cannot be easily moved or repositioned during use due to the likelihood of equipment that is resting on the ironing board falling from the ironing board. Finally, putting the iron and accessories away after use requires the same awkward handling as bringing them out, e.g. the steam iron, spray starch, water spray and lint roller are typically carried from the board as separates. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     An iron tote that can overcome the aforementioned shortcomings includes a soleplate rest, an iron seat, a cord guide, and a wall stand. The soleplate rest defines a soleplate resting surface for the soleplate of an associated iron. The iron seat connects with and projects generally forwardly from the soleplate rest. The iron seat defines a heel resting surface oriented generally normal with respect to the soleplate resting surface. The cord guide connects with the soleplate rest above the iron seat. The cord guide can have a contoured contact surface along which an electrical cord of the associated iron rides during operation of the iron. The wall stand connects with and projects generally rearwardly from the soleplate rest. 
     The iron tote can further include an accessory shelf connected with and projecting from a side of the soleplate rest. The accessory shelf can include a base defining a generally planar support surface and a support wall projecting upwardly from the base and defining a curved support surface. The generally planar support surface can be substantially co-planar with the heel resting surface. The soleplate rest and the iron seat can be a wire frame construction and the accessory shelf can be made from a material that is substantially devoid of openings. 
     The wall stand can pivot with respect to the soleplate rest. The wall stand can pivot between a first position and a second position. When in the first position, the wall stand can be configured to contact an associated vertical wall to position the soleplate resting surface at least about 15 degrees with respect to vertical. The iron tote can further include side members connected with the soleplate rest. The wall stand can include a stop on the wall stand that contacts at least one of the side members when the wall stand is in the first position. 
     The soleplate rest can include left and right soleplate rest side members interconnected by a plurality of cross members. The soleplate rest side members and the cross members can be made from wire. The iron seat can include a portion of a wire elements that includes rear side members rearwardly offset from the soleplate rest side members. The iron tote can further include a lifting handle connecting the soleplate rest side members to the rear side members. The rear side members can include a left rear side member and right rear side member. 
     An ironing accessory kit can include the aforementioned iron tote in combination with a cord clip configured to adhere to the housing of an associated iron. A method of operating an iron includes holding an electrical cord for the iron against a housing of the iron adjacent a nose of the iron using the aforementioned clip. 
     An iron having a “cord forward” orientation generally includes a housing, a soleplate, a heating element and an electrical cord. For the iron having the “cord forward” orientation, the electrical cord extends from a nose of the iron. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an iron tote. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the iron tote of  FIG. 1  hung on a vertical wall with a wall stand connected at a different location as that shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic depiction of a cord guide for the iron tote shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  cooperating with an electrical cord of an iron. 
         FIG. 4  is an end view of a typical ironing operation showing an ironing board and an iron. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the ironing operation shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is an end view of an ironing operation employing the iron tote depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and a cord clip. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the ironing operation depicted in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a top plan view of an iron having a cord clip attached thereto to depict a “cord forward” configuration. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the iron and electrical cord depicted in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is an end view of a cord clip such as the one depicted in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
         FIG. 11  depicts an iron having a “cord forward” orientation. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , an iron tote  10  includes a soleplate rest  12 , an iron seat  14 , a cord guide  16 , and a wall stand  18 . The iron tote  10  can provide a convenient device for carrying a steam iron I ( FIG. 2 ) as well as other accessories, e.g. spray starch, water spray and lint roller, that are commonly used in an ironing operation. By using the iron tote  10 , the steam iron and accessories that were typically set on an ironing board surface during use can now be located in a convenient location off of the ironing board surface. The iron tote  10  can be made from a wire frame construction and a heat resistant material, e.g. metal. 
     The soleplate rest  12  in the depicted embodiment defines a sole plate resting surface  22  ( FIG. 2 ) for the soleplate SP of the iron I. In the illustrated embodiment, the soleplate rest  12  is of wire frame construction that includes a left soleplate rest side member  24  and a right soleplate rest side member  26 . In an alternative embodiment, the soleplate rest  12 , as well as the remainder of the iron tote  10  (described in more detail below) can be made from another construction, e.g. a stamped metal construction, a cast construction, a molded construction. With reference back to the depicted embodiment, the left soleplate rest side member  24  and the right sole plate rest side member  26  are interconnected by a plurality of cross members  28 . In the illustrated embodiment, the sole plate rest side members  24  and  26  are generally vertically oriented and the cross members  28  are generally horizontally oriented. Voids exist between the cross members  28  and the side members  24  to facilitate heat dissipation from the soleplate SP ( FIG. 2 ) when the iron I is seated on the iron tote  10 . The left side member  24  is spaced from the right side member  26  in a horizontal direction to accommodate the width of a conventional iron, such as the iron I shown at  FIG. 2 . Also in the depicted embodiment, the soleplate rest  12  can also include an iron outline wire element  32 . The iron outline wire element  32  generally follows the periphery of a conventional looking soleplate for an iron to provide a user of the iron tote  10  an indication as to how the iron fits onto the iron tote  10 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , the iron seat  14  connects with the soleplate rest  12  and projects generally forwardly. With reference to  FIG. 2 , what is meant by the term “forwardly” is that the iron seat  14  projects away from a vertical wall W from which the iron tote  10  is hung. The iron seat  14  defines a heel resting surface  34  that is oriented generally normal to the soleplate resting surface  22 . The heel resting surface  34  provides a location for resting the heel of the iron I. The iron seat  14  extends forwardly from the soleplate resting surface  22  less than about 1½ inches, which is enough to provide a sturdy support for the iron I without making removal of the iron from the iron tote  10  cumbersome. 
     In the depicted embodiment, the iron seat  14  comprises a portion of a wire element  36  that includes rear side members  38  and  42  that are rearwardly offset from the soleplate rest side members  24  and  26 . More specifically in the depicted embodiment, the wire element  36  includes a left rear side member  38  that is disposed rearwardly from the left soleplate rest side member  24  and the wire element  36  includes a right rear side member  42  that is rearwardly offset from the right soleplate rest side member  26 . The rear side members  38  and  42  are generally vertically oriented and generally parallel to the respective soleplate rest side members  24 ,  26  that they are disposed behind. The left rear side member  38  bends at a bend  44  transitioning into a generally horizontal portion  46  that resides generally in the same plane as the heel resting surface  34  ( FIG. 2 ). The right rear side member  42  also bends at a bend (not visible) where the right rear side member  42  transitions into the horizontal portion  46 . This horizontal portion  46  of the wire element  36  makes up the iron seat  14 . As seen in  FIG. 1 , the left soleplate rest side member  24  terminates at this horizontal portion  46  as does the right soleplate rest side member  26 . With the rear side members  38  and  42  offset rearwardly from the soleplate rest side members  24  and  26 , a space is provided behind the soleplate resting surface  22  to accommodate an electrical cord C for the iron I that is to be stored on the iron tote  10 . As more clearly seen in  FIG. 2 , the rear side members  38  and  42  appropriately offset the iron tote  10  from the vertical wall W to allow the cord C to be horizontally spaced from the wall W. 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , the iron tote  10  includes a lifting handle  50  that allows one to lift the iron tote  10  and any ironing equipment stored on the iron tote. In the depicted embodiment, the lifting handle  50  is made from a wire frame construction, e.g., a wire element  52 , similar to the soleplate rest  12  and the iron seat  14  that have been described above. The lifting handle  50  can also be coated with a rubber-like or other flexible material to provide a more comfortable grip for an operator when lifting the iron tote  10 . In the depicted embodiment, the lifting handle  50  connects the soleplate rest side members  24  and  26  to the rear side members  38  and  42 . The lifting handle  50  projects generally forward (see  FIG. 2 ) so that the iron tote  10  nicely engages the wall as is shown in  FIG. 2 . Even though the lifting handle  50  is shown as a wire element  52  in the depicted example, the lifting handle can take other configurations and be made from other materials. 
     With continued reference to the depicted embodiment a hanger  54  cooperates with the iron tote  10  to hang the iron tote from the vertical wall. The hanger  54  in the depicted embodiment is a wire element  56  that includes a left loop feature  58  and a right loop feature (not visible), respectively, for engaging a fastener (not shown) affixed to the wall W ( FIG. 2 ), which can be used to attach the hanger  54  to the vertical wall. The hanger  54  engages the handle  50  between the left soleplate rest side member  24  and the left rear side member  38  and between the right soleplate rest side member  26  and the right rear side member  42 , respectively. 
     With continued reference to the illustrated embodiment, the iron tote  10  also includes the cord guide  16  that is connected with the soleplate rest  12  above the iron seat  14 . The cord guide  16  in the depicted embodiment is a wire element  62  having a contoured contact surface  64  along which the electrical cord C for the iron I rides during operation of the iron I, which will be described in more detail below. The cord guide, and more particularly the contact surface  64 , can be coated with a material that reduces the friction between the contact surface and the electrical cord C so that the electrical cord can ride freely along the contact surface. The cord guide  16  in the depicted embodiment is generally U-shaped having its terminal ends connected to a respective soleplate rest side members  24  and  26 . In the depicted embodiment, the wire element  62  that makes up the cord guide  16  extends forwardly and downwardly from where the wire element  62  connects with the respective soleplate rest side members  24  and  26 . As more clearly seen in  FIG. 2 , this configuration properly locates the electrical cord C for the iron I horizontally from the vertical wall W to which the iron tote  10  is hung. This provides for desirable retraction of the electrical cord C, which will be described in more detail below, during an ironing operation. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , in plan view the cord guide  16 , and more particularly the contact surface  64  thereof, is formed as a compound curve.  FIG. 3  schematically depicts the electrical cord C in three different locations (one on the left side of the cord guide  16 , one in the center of the cord guide, and one on the right side of the cord guide). As seen in  FIG. 7 , the electrical cord C is plugged into an electrical socket that is typically well below where the iron tote  10  is hung and the electrical cord rides over the upper surface, which is the contact surface  64 , of the cord guide. The electrical cord C enters an opening  66 , which is generally defined by the cord guide  16 , so that when the iron I is removed from the iron tote  10 , which then results in the electrical cord C riding over the cord guide  16 , the electrical cord is aligned generally perpendicular to a tangent of the curve of the contact surface  64  at the location where the electrical cord contacts the cord guide. This allows for easy extraction and retraction of the cord with respect to the cord guide  16  during an ironing operation. As can be seen in  FIGS. 4-7 , a conventional ironing board B is not circular or half circular. Since the ironing board B has an elongate configuration, the cord guide  16  could not maintain the cord C aligned generally tangent to the curvature of the cord guide, where the cord C contacts the cord guide, by making such a curve to have a single radius. Accordingly, in the depicted embodiment it is desirable to provide the contact surface  64  as being a compound curve. 
     The iron tote  10  also includes the wall stand  18 , which is connected with and projects generally rearwardly from the soleplate rest  12 . In the depicted embodiment, the wall stand  18  is a wire element that is bent. The wall stand  18  operates to offset the lower portion of the iron tote  10  from the vertical wall W, as seen in  FIG. 2 . In the depicted embodiment, the wall stand  18  pivots with respect to the soleplate rest  12 . The wall stand  18  can pivot between a first position and a second position. With reference to  FIG. 2 , when in the first position (shown in solid lines in  FIG. 2 ) the wall stand  18  is configured to contact the vertical wall W to position the soleplate resting surface  22  at least about 15 degrees (and more particularly at least about 17 degrees) with respect to vertical. Accordingly, this also offsets the heel resting surface  34  at least about 15 degrees (and more particularly about 17 degrees) with respect to horizontal. When in the second position (shown in phantom in  FIG. 2 ), the wall stand  18  pivots into a storage position. 
     In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the wall stand  18  connects with a left-hand accessory shelf  70  and a right-hand accessory shelf  72 , which will be described in more detail below. In the depicted embodiment, the wall stand  18  is a wire element  74  including a left axle end region  76  that is received in an opening (not visible) formed in the left accessory shelf  70  and a right axle end region (not visible) that is received in an opening (not visible) formed in the right accessory shelf  72 . The wire element  74  forming the wall stand  18  bends adjacent each axle end region  76 . A left leg  86  extends rearwardly from the left axle end region  76  and a right leg  88  extends rearwardly from the right axle end region. The wire element  74  forming the wall stand  18  then bends again to form a left stop  92  and right stop  94 . The left stop  92  contacts the left rear side member  34  when the wall stand  18  is in the first position (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). Likewise, the right stop  94  contacts the right rear member  42  when the wall stand  18  is in the first position, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The wire element  74  forming the wall stand  18  also includes a base  96 , which is generally U-shaped and its terminal ends emanate from respective stops  92  and  94 . When the wall stand is in the first position, the base  96  is generally horizontally oriented. When the wall stand is in the second position, the base is generally parallel with the rear side members  38  and  42  and the soleplate resting surface  22 . In the depicted embodiment, the wire element  74  is a continuous wire that makes up the left axle end region  76 , the left leg  86 , the left stop  92 , the base  96 , the right stop  94 , the right leg  88  and the right axle end region (not visible). 
     The wall stand  18  can be made from materials other than a wire frame construction, e.g. stamped metal, cast metal, plastic, etc. Also, the wall stand  18  can attach elsewhere, for example to the left soleplate rest member  24  and the right soleplate rest member  26 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . In either configuration, the wall stand  18  can pivot between a use position (shown in solid lines in  FIG. 2 ) and a storage position (shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 2 ). 
     As mentioned above, the iron tote  10  can also include accessory shelves  70  and  72 . Each accessory shelf  70 ,  72  connects with and projects from a respective side of the soleplate rest  12 . More particularly, the left accessory shelf  70  engages the left soleplate rest side member  24  and the left rear side member  38 . The right accessory shelf  72  engages the right soleplate rest side member  26  and the left rear side member  42 . The left accessory shelf  70  is similarly configured to the right accessory shelf  72 ; therefore, a specific description of the left accessory shelf  70  will only be provided understanding that the right accessory shelf  72  will have the same or very similar configuration. 
     The left accessory shelf  70  includes a base  100  defining a generally planar support surface  102 . A support wall  104  projects upwardly from the base  100  and defines a curved support surface  106 . In the depicted embodiment, the generally planar support surface  102  is substantially co-planar with the heel resting surface  34  ( FIG. 2 ). As mentioned above, the soleplate rest  12  and the iron seat  14  are of a wire frame construction thus providing large openings between the wires. The accessory shelves  70 ,  72 , on the other hand, are made from a material that is substantially devoid of openings. The curved support surface  106  is configured to generally match the curvature of a typically sized can of spray starch. The curvature can also follow the typical size of a water spray bottle and a lint roller. 
     The iron tote  10  can be sold as a knocked down kit where the wire frame construction making up the soleplate rest  12 , the iron seat  14 , the cord guide  16  and the wall stand  18  are pre-assembled and connected to one another and the purchaser of the kit can connect the accessory shelves  70  and  72 . Accordingly, an iron tote  10  is provided that allows an operator to carry the implements that are used when ironing in a very efficient manner so that the equipment used during the ironing operation can be easily accessed during an ironing operation and easily stored when not being used. 
     As mentioned above, the iron tote  10  can be sold as part of a kit and the kit can include a cord clip  110 . With reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the cord clip  110  is configured to adhere to the housing H, which is typically plastic, of the iron I. More particular to the depicted embodiment, the clip  110  can be used to hold the electrical cord C for the iron I against the housing H of the iron adjacent a nose N of the iron. This allows the operator of the iron to operate the iron in a “cord forward” manner. In other words, the electrical cord C (shown in dashed lines connected with the clip  110  in  FIGS. 8 and 9 ) protrudes from the forward end, or nose N, of the iron I, as opposed to extending from the rear, or heel, of the iron (shown in solid lines in  FIGS. 8 and 9 ). 
     As seen in  FIG. 10 , the cord clip  110  includes a hook feature  112  that is configured to retain the electrical cord C of the iron I and an adhesive element  114  that is configured to stick to the housing H of the iron I. The cord clip  110  can be configured to attach to the iron I in other conventional manners, e.g. a magnetic connection, a hook and loop fastener connection, etc. 
       FIG. 11  depicts an iron  120  where the cord extends from a nose  122  of the iron, as opposed to the heel. The nose  122  is generally where the iron has its pointed end. The iron  120  is similar to a conventional iron, such as the iron I shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , but the iron  120  is configured to have a “cord forward” orientation without requiring the clip  110 . The iron  120  includes a housing  124  and a soleplate  126 . The iron  120  also includes a heating element  128 , which is similar to a conventional heating element. The heating element  128  is electrically connected via circuitry  132  (depicted schematically in  FIG. 11 ) to an electrical cord  134 . The electrical cord  134  exits the housing  124  and/or the soleplate  126  and extends from the housing adjacent the nose  122 . 
     Reference will now be made to  FIGS. 4-7 , which depict a known ironing operation in  FIGS. 4 and 5  and an ironing operation using the iron tote  10  and cord clip  110  in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The ironing operation depicted in  FIGS. 6 and 7  is also applicable to the iron  120  depicted in  FIG. 11  in that  FIGS. 6 and 7  depict an iron having a “cord forward” orientation. 
       FIG. 4  depicts the iron I with the electrical cord C extending from the heel of the iron. When in this orientation, no matter which longer side of the board B the operator of the iron stands on, the cord C that projects from the heel of the iron I extends toward the user and can become entangled underfoot and interfere with any items on the ironing board B. 
     On the other hand, a method for operating an iron can include holding the electrical cord C for the iron I against the housing H of the iron adjacent a nose N of the iron using a clip  110 . Alternatively, the iron  120  depicted in  FIG. 11  having the “cord forward” orientation would operate in much the same manner. The method can further include passing the electrical cord C over a cord guide  16  ( FIG. 1 ) positioned above an ironing board B such that a length L 1  of cord extending from the cord guide to the lowermost location of the electrical cord, with respect to the floor F, is greater than a length L 2  of cord extending from cord guide to the iron. The method can also include maneuvering the iron over an item that is to be pressed. With the length L 1  being greater than the length L 2 , the mass of the electrical cord between the cord guide and the lowermost location of the electrical cord pulls against the mass of the cord between the cord guide and the iron so that the cord retracts over the cord guide as the iron moves closer to the iron tote  10 . This conveniently takes the electrical cord away from the ironing board surface thus keeping it out of the way of the operator of the iron. Accordingly, it can be desirable to position the iron tote  10  above the ironing board B such that L 1  is greater than L 2  no matter the location of the iron I on the ironing board. Furthermore, it can be desirable to hang the iron tote  10  above the ironing board B, wherein the ironing board has two longer sides on opposite sides of the board and to stand on the side of the ironing board opposite the side nearest the iron tote while maneuvering the iron over an item that is to be pressed. For example, one would stand on the side of the ironing board opposite the wall W in  FIG. 6 . 
     An iron tote, a kit including an iron tote, a method for operating an iron, and a “cord forward” iron have been described with particularity. Modifications and alterations will occur to those upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. The invention, however, is not limited to only the embodiment described above. Instead, the invention is broadly defined by the appended claims and the equivalents thereof. 
     It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives or varieties thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.