Abstract:
An ironing board system, having a frame having an upper end and a lower end, a plurality of mounting hooks, each mounting hook having a first end configured for detachable securement to a door, and a second end engaged to the upper end of the frame, an ironing board having a proximal end and a distal end, a guide assembly operatively connected between the ironing board and the frame for guided movement of the ironing board between a generally vertical position and a generally horizontal position; and a biasing assembly pivotally connected between the proximal end of the ironing board and the lower end of the frame, for biasing the ironing board towards the generally vertical position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This Non-Provisional application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/772,420 filed Mar. 4, 2013, and which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    This invention relates to ironing boards for use with an iron to iron clothes, and more specifically to an easily stored, foldable ironing board. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a foldable ironing board and a container for shipping the foldable ironing board, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of the foldable ironing board, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0005]      FIG. 2A  is a cross sectional view of a biasing element of the foldable ironing board, generated by section line  2 A on  FIG. 2 , according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2B  is an enlarged isolated view of the biasing element of the foldable ironing board, shown by circle  2 B, on  FIG. 2 , according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2C  is a top view of the exploded view of the biasing element of the foldable ironing board shown in  FIG. 2B , according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the foldable ironing board, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the foldable ironing board showing the foldable ironing board in a folded configuration and hanging from a door, according to an embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the foldable ironing board showing the foldable ironing board in an unfolded configuration and hanging from a door, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. 
         [0012]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , disclosing an embodiment of the present invention, there is shown a foldable, door-hanging ironing board assembly  10  which includes an ironing board  12 , a frame  14 , a lower support member  16 , a latching assembly  18 , and an ironing board biasing assembly  19 . 
         [0013]    The frame  14  has a left frame member  20 , a center distal member  22 , a right frame member  24  and a cross cylindrically-shape, tubular, member  26 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the left frame member  20 , the center distal member  22 , and the right frame member  24  are formed from a single piece of tubular steel. The single piece of tubular steel has two semi-circular bends  28 , which are bent to form approximately right angles between the left frame member  20  and the center distal member  22  and between the right frame member  24  and the center distal member  22 , essentially forming a U-shaped frame. In an alternative embodiment, the frame  14  can be formed using separate pieces for the left frame member  20 , the center distal member  22 , and the right frame member  24 . In this embodiment, the left frame member  20 , the center distal member  22 , and the right frame member  24  can be attached to each other using any suitable method, including nuts and bolts or welding. 
         [0014]    The cross cylindrically-shape, tubular, member  26  is pivotally mounted between the left frame member  20  and the right frame member  24 , on the ends of the left frame member  20  and the right frame member  24  opposite the ends where left frame member  20  and the right frame member  24  connect to center distal member  22 , and located near the proximal end of frame  14 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the left frame member  20  and the right frame member  24  each have a cylindrically shaped attachment tube  30 , which are configured to telescopically receive the ends of cylindrically-shape, tubular, cross member  26 , for pivotal rotation therein. The attachment tubes  30  can be configured to mate with the curved outer surface of the left frame member  20  and the right frame member  24  and secured to the curved outer surface of the left frame member  20  and the right frame member  24  as with a weld. The left frame member  20  and the right frame member  24  can be secured together as in known in the art, effectively capturing the cross member  26  within the attachment tubes  30 . 
         [0015]    The frame  14  further includes a foot member  31  secured to the end of the left frame member  20  and the right frame member  24 . Each foot member  31  is configured to slide over, and fit upon, the end of the left frame member  20 , and the right frame member  24 , such as each member having a cylindrical bore to telescopically receive the cylindrical ends of members  20  and  24 . The foot member  31  is formed to have a protuberance  33  which extends inward from the left frame member  20  and the right frame member  24 , and has a flat bottom which allows each foot member  31  to rest against a flat surface, such as a door. Each foot member  31  is preferably constructed from plastic or a rubber-like material. 
         [0016]    The ironing board  12  is embodied as a typical ironing board with a generally rectangular proximal portion  32  and a generally narrowing distal portion  34 , such as a narrowing nose, the proximal portion  32  being moveably mounted, preferably pivotally, at a lower end of the frame  14  and supported by a guide assembly  36 . However, those skilled in the art will recognize that any shape of ironing board can be used. A cover  38  fits over the ironing board  12  and includes a binding (not shown), including but not limited to a bungee cord, elastic, or drawstring, positioned around the perimeter of the cover  38  for securing the cover  38  to the ironing board  12 . The cover  38  can be made of cotton as known in the art, or can be made from material with burn/scorch resistant characteristics, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,481. In other embodiments, the cover  38  includes multiple layers of materials, including but not limited to a layer of foam padding. 
         [0017]    The ironing board  12  includes a frame, the proximal end  39  of which can be seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  2 B, and  4 , that defines the outer edges of the ironing board  12 . The frame is preferably formed from square metal tubing, but could be formed from any material that gives the ironing board sufficient rigidity. 
         [0018]    The guide assembly  36  includes a left track  40 , a right track  42 , a plurality of cross supports  44 , a guide  46  and a rod  48 . The guide  46  has a lower support member  16  which is fixedly connected at one end to cross cylindrically-shape, tubular, member  26 . The connection between lower support member  16  and cross cylindrically-shape, tubular, member  26  can be made by a weld, or any other suitable fastener, such as a bolt and nut. The opposite end of the lower support member  16  is fixedly attached to the rod  48 . The connection between lower support member  16  and the rod  48  can be made by a weld. In an embodiment, the connection between the lower support member  16  and the rod  48  can be reinforced by plate  50 . 
         [0019]    A guide follower  52  is attached to each end of the rod  48 . Each guide follower  52  is sized and shaped to fit within the left track  40  and the right track  42 , and is configured to slide within the left track  40  and right track  42 . Each guide follower  52  is preferably formed from plastic, but they can be formed from any suitable material that allows them to slide within the left track  40  and the right track  42 . 
         [0020]    The latching assembly  18  has a latch  54  that is preferably formed from a steel rod which has a first leg  56  and a second leg  58 . The first leg  56  and the second leg  58  are formed by bending the rod at approximately a right angle a third of the way down its length. The second leg  58  is inserted through holes in the left track  40  and the right track  42 , and extends through the rails  40  and  42 . The second leg  58  is secured on the rear surface of the right track  42  with a clip. 
         [0021]    The latch assembly  18  further includes two latch pawls  60  and  62  that are fixedly attached to the second leg  58  of the latch  54 , preferably by a weld. One skilled in the art will appreciate that other means of attaching latch pawls  60  and  62  to the second leg  58 , without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The latch pawls  60  and  62  are sized and shaped so that when the ironing board  12  is in an unfolded position (which is described more fully below), a lower arm  66  of each latch pawl  60  and  62  engages the rod  48  of the guide assembly  36 . 
         [0022]    The latch assembly  18  also includes a load spring  64 . A first end of the load spring  64  engages with an upper surface of the right track  14 . The load spring  64  wraps around the second leg  58  of the latch  54  and has a U-shaped termination, which is sized and shaped to engage latch pawl  62 . The latch assembly  18  is configured to maintain ironing board  12  in the unfolded position described below. 
         [0023]    A latch rod  65  extends from an inner edge of the ironing board  12  frame, through holes in the left track  40  and the right track  42 , and extends through the rails  40  and  42 , to the opposite inner edge of the ironing board  12  frame. The latch rod  65  is fixedly attached to each inner edge of the ironing board  12  frame, preferably by a weld. 
         [0024]    The ironing board biasing assembly  19  includes a pivot rod  66  attached as by welding to the proximal end  39  of the ironing board  12 . The pivot rod  66  pivotally mounts ironing board  12  to the frame  14 . The left frame member  20  and the right frame member  24  each have a hole (not shown) drilled into their inner surfaces, which holes each receive a hollow, cylindrical, collar  68  and  70 , as by a press fit into the holes. The collars  68  and  70  have an inner diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of pivot rod  66 , allowing pivot rod  66  to rotate therein within the collars  68  and  70 . 
         [0025]    The biasing assembly  19  includes biasing elements, disclosed as torsion springs  72  and  74 . Prior to securing the cross cylindrically-shape, tubular, member  26  to the left frame member  20  and the right frame member  24  of frame  14  with the connecting rod, as described above, the torsion springs  72  and  74 , are mounted onto the pivot rod  66  by sliding the pivot rod  66  through a coil  75  of each of the torsion springs  72  and  74 . The ends of the pivot rod  66  are then inserted into the hollow, cylindrical, collars  68  and  70 . Once the cross cylindrically-shape, tubular, member  26  has been secured to the left frame member  20  and the right frame member  24  with the connecting rod, the pivot rod  66  is captured within the hollow, cylindrical, collars  68  and  70 . 
         [0026]    The torsion springs  72  and  74 , each include an upper arm  76  that extends from a first end of the coil  75  into a “C” shaped finger  77 . Finger  77  terminates into a claw  78  to frictionally engage with the ironing board  12  frame, here shown engaging with the proximal end  39  of the ironing board  12  frame. The inside surface  79  of the wall of the ironing board  12  frame has a curved recess  79   a.  The recess  79   a  is configured to receive the claw  78 , and preferably part of the finger  77 , to enhance engagement with the ironing board  12 . With such engagement the upper arm  76  biases against clockwise movement of the ironing board  12 , as viewed in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  2 C, of the frame of the ironing board  12 . A lower arm  80  of each of the torsion springs  72  and  74  extends generally downwardly and generally parallel with the left frame member  20  and the right frame member  24 , respectively, of frame  14 . Arm  80  bends at approximately a right angle into finger  81 . Each finger  81  fits into a bore  84  in the left frame member  20 , and bore  86  in the right frame member  24 , respectively. With such engagement that the lower arm  80  of each of the torsion springs  72  and  74  biases against clockwise movement of the ironing board  12 , as viewed in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  2 C, of the ironing board  12 . 
         [0027]    The foldable, door-hanging ironing board  10  further includes a plurality of mounting hooks  86 . Each mounting hook  86  has a unitary “U” shaped first end  88 , which is formed by first bending the first end of the mounting hook  86  at roughly a right angle to form a first leg  90 , and then making a second generally right angle bend to form a second leg  92 . The second leg  92  then bends at about a 90° angle into the main longer body  93 . Together, the leg  90 , leg  92  and the part of the body  93  alongside leg  92  generally form a “U” shape sized to receive the upper end of a door. The dimensions of the “U” shaped first end  88  are chosen so that the “U” shaped first end  88  fits over a standard door. Each mounting hook  86  has a unitary “C” shaped second end  94  that is formed by bending the second end of the mounting hook  86  into a semi-circular section. The radius of the semi-circular section is chosen so that the unitary “C” shaped second end  94  of each mounting hook  86  can securely engage the center distal member  22  of frame  14 . The “C” shaped second end  94  terminates in an engagement tab  95 , which is sized and shaped to fit into a hole  97  in the center distal member  22 . 
         [0028]    In an embodiment, the mounting hooks  86  are unitary and formed from sheet metal. One skilled in the art will realize that the configuration of mounting hooks  86  just described could be formed by other methods and use other materials, such as molded plastic. 
         [0029]    When the foldable, door-hanging ironing board  10  is in a folded configuration, as shown by  FIGS. 1-4 , the foldable, door-hanging ironing board  10  can be inserted into shipping container  96 . The volume of shipping container  96  is minimized, due to the compact arrangement of foldable, door-hanging ironing board  10  when in its folded position. 
         [0030]    Turning now to the operation of the foldable, door-hanging ironing board  10 , with the foldable, door-hanging ironing board  10  in the folded position shown by  FIGS. 1-4 , the foldable, door-hanging ironing board  10  can be stored on a door  100  by engaging the unitary “C” shaped second end  94  of each mounting hook  86  with the center distal member  22  of frame  14  as shown in  FIG. 4 . This engagement can be accomplished by inserting the engagement tab  95  at the end of the “C” shaped second end  94  of each mounting hook  86  into a hole  97  in the center distal member  22 . Then, the unitary “U” shaped first end  88  of each mounting hook  86  are placed over a top edge  98  of the door  100 . The weight of the foldable, door-hanging ironing board  10  ensures the engagement of each mounting hook  86  with the top edge  98  of the door  100 . The compact nature of the foldable, door-hanging ironing board  10  in its folded configuration, deployed as just described, allows for convenient storage of the foldable, door-hanging ironing board  10 , without interfering with the use of the door  100 . 
         [0031]    With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the foldable, door-hanging ironing board  10  can be readied for use from the  FIG. 4  position by rotating the ironing board  12  counterclockwise, from the perspective of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , with respect to frame  14 , with sufficient force to overcome the biasing force exerted by torsion springs  72  and  74 . As ironing board  12  rotates in this manner, the guide followers  52  of the latch assembly  18  slide within the left track  40  and the right track  42 . The rotation of ironing board  12  continues until the rod  48  of the guide assembly  36  engages the lower arm  66  of each of latch pawls  60  and  62  of the latch assembly  18 , with the ironing board  12  then in the  FIG. 5  position. The engagement of the rod  48  of the guide assembly  36  and the lower arm  66  of each of latch pawls  60  and  62  of the latch assembly  18  is secured by the force provided by the load spring  64  of the latch assembly  18 . When the ironing board  12  is deployed in the extended, latched position just described, the lower support member  16  maintains the position of ironing board  12  in response to downward forces generated by a user when ironing clothes on the top of ironing board  12 . 
         [0032]    After use in the configuration of  FIG. 5 , the ironing board  12  may be returned to the collapsed position described above and shown by  FIGS. 1-4 . This can be done by pulling upward on the latch  54 , with sufficient force to overcome the bias provided by load spring  64  of the latch assembly  18 . The biasing torque of torsion springs  72  and  74  applies rotational force about pivot rod  66  to cause rotation of the ironing board  12  clockwise with respect to frame  18 . As ironing board  12  rotates in this fashion, the guide followers  52  of the latch assembly  18  slide within the left track  40  and the right track  42 , and the rod  48  of the guide assembly  36  moves away from the lower arm  66  of each of latch pawls  60  and  62  of the latch assembly  18 . Once the rod  48  of the guide assembly  36  has moved sufficiently away from the lower arm  66  of each of latch pawls  60  and  62  of the latch assembly  18  such that further engagement between the rod  48  of the guide assembly  36  and the lower arm  66  of each of latch pawls  60  and  62 , latch  54  may be released. The torque from the biasing assembly  19  continues to cause rotation of the ironing board  12  until the ironing board  12  is in the collapsed position shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . The ironing board  12  is thus easily returned to the stored position of  FIG. 4 . The ironing board  12  remains in this position due to the biasing effect of torsion springs  72  and  74 . 
         [0033]    Changes can be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.