Patent Publication Number: US-8539700-B2

Title: Iron and a method thereof

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to steam irons. More specifically, the present invention concerns a means for preventing a funnel used to refill a steam iron from becoming lost and a method for preventing loss of the funnel. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Steam irons have a reservoir within a body of the iron for storing water. The reservoir is refilled with water via an orifice positioned on the exterior of the body. When refilling the reservoir a separate funnel is often inserted into the orifice and used to channel water. However, such a funnel is bulky which presents a problem when storing the funnel. Furthermore, the funnel can be lost. 
     It is an objective of the present invention to overcome at least one of the above or other identified problems. More particularly, the objective is to provide a means for storing the funnel to prevent loss of the funnel. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention there is provided an improved iron, and method as set forth in the appended claims. Other optional features of the invention will be apparent from the dependent claims and the description. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided an iron with a storage means to removably stow a funnel. Advantageously a funnel can be stowed with the iron to prevent the funnel from becoming lost. 
     Optionally the storage means includes a cavity positioned at a heel region of the iron to receive the funnel. Advantageously, the funnel when inserted into the cavity does not extend beyond a body of the iron. Consequently, the iron can be securely rested upon a suitably designed heel of the iron when the funnel is stowed. Furthermore, an iron can be adapted to include a cavity at the heel region without substantially changing the geometry or substantially increasing material usage. Furthermore, the funnel can be concealed within the cavity and is thereby prevented from being caught on anything else when being placed in or removed from storage. 
     The storage means and funnel may be secured using a first securing means. Advantageously, the funnel can be secured to the storage means using the first securing means, thereby preventing the funnel from separating from the storage means accidentally such that loss of the funnel could occur. 
     In one example the first securing means includes a bayonet fitting. The bayonet fitting comprises one or more outwardly extending latches positioned on the funnel suitable for engaging one or more catches positioned on the storage means. In another example the first securing means comprises a screw fitting. The screw fitting including a male thread positioned on the funnel suitable for engaging with a female thread positioned on the first securing means. In another example the first securing means comprises a clip fitting, the clip fitting including one or more elastic clips positioned in the funnel suitable for engaging a catch positioned on the storage means. In another example the first securing means comprises opposed surfaces positioned on the funnel and first securing means such that the funnel is mated to the storage means using friction. Advantageously, the above fittings can be quickly disengaged and engaged. 
     Optionally, the funnel includes a finger grip positioned in a mouth region of the funnel. The finger grip is arranged to be gripped by a user to manipulate the position on the funnel. Advantageously, the finger grip can be gripped by the user to remove the funnel from the storage means and disengage the first securing means. 
     Optionally, the funnel includes one or more breather holes. The one or more breather holes comprise a passageway through a stem region of the funnel. Advantageously, the breather holes enable air outflow through a passage way separate to water inflow when refilling a reservoir within the iron. 
     An orifice for filling the iron with water and the funnel may be secured using a second securing means. Advantageously, the funnel may be secured to the orifice when filling the iron. 
     Optionally, the second securing means comprises the same fitting as the first securing means. Advantageously, the funnel can be secured to the storage means or to the orifice by using the same operation. 
     According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of storage for an iron and a funnel. The method comprising removably stowing the funnel on a storage means positioned on the iron. 
     Optionally the method includes securing the funnel to the storage means using a first securing means. 
     Optionally the method includes securing the funnel to an orifice positioned on the iron by engaging a second securing means. 
     According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit of parts comprising a funnel and an iron. The iron including a storage means to removably stow a funnel. 
     According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of refilling an iron. The method comprising removing a funnel from a storage means positioned on the iron. The removal of the funnel from the storage means including a step of disengaging a first securing means. Securing the funnel to an orifice positioned on the iron by engaging a second securing means. Filling the iron through the orifice via the funnel. Disengaging the funnel from the second securing means. Attaching the funnel to the storage means. The attaching of the funnel to the storage means including a step of engaging the first securing means. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view showing an iron including a funnel according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cut-away isometric view showing the iron and funnel according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged isometric view of the funnel shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 4 and 5  are enlarged isometric views of additional embodiments of a funnel according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded isometric view showing a modular attachment for an iron according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an iron  100 . The body  200  of the iron  100  includes a storage means  600  to removably stow a funnel  700 . Advantageously, the funnel  700  can be stowed with the iron  100  to prevent the funnel  700  from becoming lost. 
     The storage means  600  comprises any means suitable for removably attaching the funnel  700  to the body  200  of the iron  100 . In this example the storage means includes a cavity  602  that the funnel  700  can be stowed within. However, in another example the funnel need not be stowed within a cavity. 
       FIG. 2  is an isometric view showing the storage means  600  and funnel  700  in more detail. In this example the storage means  600  is positioned in the heel region  202  of the body  200  of the iron  100 . In another example the storage means  600  may be positioned elsewhere on the body  200  of the iron  100 . 
     Advantageously, in this example, the funnel  700  when stowed sits level to, or is concealed within, the cavity  602 . In this way the funnel  700  or heel  212  of the iron  100  may provide a surface to rest the iron  100  upon. Advantageously, by positioning the cavity  602  in the in the heel region  202  of the iron  100  the funnel  700  can be stowed compactly without substantially changing the geometry of the iron. Consequently, the storage means  600  can be incorporated in an iron without a substantial increase in material usage. 
     The funnel  700  comprises a means for channelling water through a mouth region  702  into a stem region  704 . The mouth region  702  has a large cross-sectional area and the stem region  704  has a reduced cross-sectional area. The funnel includes a finger grip  706 . The finger grip comprises a substantially flat surface positioned within the mouth region  704 , that can be gripped by a user to manipulate the position on the funnel  700 . Advantageously, the finger grip  706  can be gripped by the user to remove the funnel  700  from the storage means  600 . The funnel  700  further includes one or more breather holes  750  (not shown). The breather holes  750  comprise separate passageways through the funnel  700 . Advantageously, the breather holes  750  enable air outflow through a passage way separate to water inflow when refilling a reservoir within the iron  100 . The geometry of the mouth region  702  and stem region  704  of the funnel  600  may encompass a wide-range of variations known in the art all of which are capable of being stowed by the storage means  600 . 
       FIG. 3  shows the funnel  700  in more detail. Here the funnel  700  is attached to the storage means  600  by a securing means  708 . The securing means  708  comprises any means to securely attach the funnel  700  to the storage means  600 . In this example the securing means  708  comprises a bayonet fitting, which includes one or more outwardly extending latches  710  positioned on the stem region  704  of the funnel  700 . The storage means  600  includes one or more catches  602  for receiving the latches  710 . In use the stem  704  of the funnel  700  is inserted into the storage means  600  such that the latches  710  pass through gaps  604  in the catches  602 . Thereafter, the funnel  700  is rotated such that the latches  710  are engaged with the catches  604 . Advantageously, the funnel can be secured to the body  200  of the iron  100  using the securing means  708 , thereby preventing the funnel  700  from separating from the iron. To remove the funnel  700  from the securing means  708 , the funnel  700  is rotated to disengage the latches  710  from the catches  602 . Thereafter, the funnel can be removed by retracting the latches  710  through the gaps  604 . Advantageously, the funnel  700  can be manipulated during the above operations using the finger grip  706 . 
       FIG. 4  shows an alternative securing means  708  in more detail. In this example the securing means  708  comprises a screw fitting. Here the funnel  700  is secured to the storage means  600  by engaging a male thread  720  on the funnel  700  with a female thread on the storage means  600 . 
       FIG. 5  shows an alternative securing means  708  in more detail. In this example the securing means  708  comprises a clip fitting. Here the funnel  700  is secured to the storage means  600  by engaging one or more outwardly extending protrusions  730  on the funnel  700  with a recess  630  on the storage means  600 . The protrusions  730  may be elastically supported or made from an elastic material to facilitate their insertion into the recess. 
     The securing means  708  may further include a tight fitting stem  704  and storage means  600 , such that the funnel  700  is held in place by friction. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 2 , the body  200  of the iron further includes and orifice  250 . The orifice  250  comprises an inlet with a small cross-sectional area for filling the iron  100  with water. Optionally, the orifice  250  includes a second securing means  720  for securing the funnel  700 . The second securing means  720  comprises any means to securely attach the funnel  700  to the orifice  250 . Advantageously, the funnel  700  may be secured to the orifice  250  when filling the iron. Here the securing means  708  and second securing means  720  comprise the same fitting. Consequently, the funnel can be secured to the storage manes  600  orifice  250  by using the same operation. 
     To fill the iron  100  the funnel  700  is removed from the storage means  600  by disengaging the securing means  708 . Thereafter, the funnel  700  is secured to the orifice  250  by engaging the second securing means  720  and the iron  100  can be filled. After filling the iron  100 , the funnel  700  is disengaged from the second securing means  720 . The funnel  700  is then secured to the storage means  600  by engaging the securing means  708 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a modular fitting  800  for an iron  100 . In this example the modular fitting  800  is positioned in the heel region  202  of the body  200  of the iron  100 . However, the modular fitting  800  can be positioned elsewhere on the body  200  of the iron  100 . The modular fitting comprises a container  802  that enables a range of configurations for the iron  100 . In one example the container  802  may be configured to be sealed with a blanking plate  804 . In a further example the container  802  may be configured to comprise a storage means  600  to removably stow a funnel  700 . In a yet further example the container  802  may be configured to comprise a receiving means  500  and support plate  806  for storing a connector  300  and cable  400 . 
     Although preferred embodiments(s) of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. 
     Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. 
     All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. 
     Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. 
     The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.