IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF SMOOTHING IRONS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Abel Buckley Wimpenny, of Hayfield, in the
County of Derby, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF SMOOTHING IRONS."
Sealed the 4th October 1872, and dated the 6th April 1872.
'
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Abel Buckley Wim-
penny at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 6th April 1872.
I, ABEL BUCKLEY WIMPENNY, of Hayfield, in the County of Derby,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SMOOTHING IRONS," to be as follows:-
My improved smoothing irons are designed principally for the use of
calico printers, clothiers, hatters, and for other similar manufacturing
operations, wherein solid smoothing irons are generally employed, but
they may also be used by laundresses and others in the. getting up of
linen, and for other analogous purposes where a smoothing iron com-
bining lightness, cleanliness, and expedition is required.

page_text: The Invention consists in forming the smoothing iron of a hollow box
of iron, brass, or other metal, and in attaching thereto by means of union
joints two india-rubber or other flexible tubes, one of which is connected
to a closed steam boiler so as to admit into the box and heat the same
as required, and the other for the emission of the condensed water.
Both of these tubes are provided with suitable taps, and the heat may
be regulated by using either low or high-pressure steam, as may be
required.
The Invention consists in forming the smoothing iron of a hollow box
of iron, brass, or other metal, and in attaching thereto by means of union
joints two india-rubber or other flexible tubes, one of which is connected
to a closed steam boiler so as to admit into the box and heat the same
as required, and the other for the emission of the condensed water.
Both of these tubes are provided with suitable taps, and the heat may
be regulated by using either low or high-pressure steam, as may be
required.
The improved steam box iron is made with a handle of wood or other
non-conducting material, and in workshops or other large establishments
where a steam boiler is in use for other purposes may be kept always
heated and ready at hand for immediate use.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Abel Buckley Wimpenny in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 4th October 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ABEL
BUCKLEY WIMPENNY, of Hayfield, in the County of Derby, send
greeting.
.
•
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-fifth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Abel Buckley Wimpenny, Her special license
that I, the said Abel Buckley Wimpenny, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Abel Buckley Wimpenny, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION. OF SMOOTHING IRONS," upon, the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Abel Buckley Wimpenny, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or. their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly, describe. and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be

page_text: performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Abel Buckley Wimpenny, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed; to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to
say) :-
:-
My improved smoothing irons are designed principally for the use of
calico printers, clothiers, hatters, and for other similar manufacturing
operations, wherein solid smoothing irons are generally employed, but
they may also be used by laundresses and others in the getting up of
linen, and for other analogous purposes where a smoothing iron com-
bining lightness, cleanliness and expedition is required.
The Invention consists principally in forming the smoothing iron of a
hollow box of iron, brass, or other metal, and in attaching thereto by
means of union joints two india-rubber or other flexible tubes, one of
which is connected to a closed steam boiler so as to admit steam into
the box and heat the same as required, and the other for the emission
of the condensed water. Both of these tubes are provided with suitable
taps, and the heat may be regulated by using either low or high-pressure
steam, as may be required. The outer pipe may also be provided with
a clip.
The improved steam box is made with a handle, and also a cover of
wood or other non-conducting material, and in workshops or other large
establishments where a steam boiler is employed for other purposes, may
be kept always heated and ready at hand for immediate use. То
render this smoothing iron applicable to laundries or for domestic use
where no closed boiler is available, I place a screw cap on the spout of
an ordinary tea kettle, and fix in place of the ordinary lid a steam-tight
cover, provided with a short tube, to which the flexible tube is to be
attached, so that the tea kettle is converted into a steam. boiler when
required, and these appliances being readily removable, it may be thus
converted into an ordinary tea kettle.
Such being the nature and object of the said Invention for " Im-
provements in the Construction of Smoothing Irons," I will now proceed
to describe more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may

page_text: be performed or carried into practical effect; and in order that the same
may be clearly understood, I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings
illustrative thereof, and have marked the same with figures and letters
of reference corresponding with those in the following explanation
thereof.
Fig. 1 in the annexed Drawing represents a longitudinal section of
my improved smoothing iron, a, a, being the hollow box or case, which
I prefer to make of copper or brass as being good conductors of heat,
and not liable to rust or iron mould the articles operated on; b, b, is the
handle of wood or other non-conductor of heat supported upon pillars, c, c ;
d, d, is a cover of wood or other non-conducting material for the pro-
tection of the hand; e, e, is the flexible tube for the admission of steam
to the inside of the box or case a, a; and f,f, is a similar tube for the
escape of the water of condensation. These tubes are attached to short
pipes fixed in a nut j, j, which is screwed into the box or case, so that
the whole can be readily removed together and replaced when desired.
The pipe e, e, is supplied with a regulating cock, the waste pipe f,f,
being provided with a clip e*, ex, for regulating the amount of opening
in the pipe and for closing it altogether when required. The flexible
steam pipe e, e, is of a sufficient length to allow the smoothing iron to
be used freely, and unless the bench or table is very near to the boiler
or other source of the steam supply, it is connected thereto by a metal
pipe carried round the walls of the workshop or room. The waste pipe f,f,
conducts the waste water into a bucket or other vessel, or out of the
shop or room, in any convenient manner, the fixed tube fx to which it
is attached being prolonged into the box or case, and turned down so as
nearly to touch the bottom. Immediately below the end of this pipe
there is a slight hollow in the bottom of the iron to allow the water of
condensation to accumulate, so that the interior of the case is always
kept clear.
Figs. 2 and 3 show the arrangement which I employ for heating the
smoothing iron by means of an ordinary tea kettle in cases where a
closed boiler is not available; g, g, represents the kettle, to the mouth
of the spout of which I solder a screwed ring and close the spout by
a screw cap h, h. Having removed the ordinary lid, I put in its place
the lid or cover i, i, (see also detached section Fig. 3) interposing a ring
of felt or india-rubber to make a steam-tight joint, and I fix this cover
by turning the screw k, k, which takes its abutment against the under

page_text: side of the handle 1, l. This cover is provided with a short tube m, m,
to connect it with the flexible pipe e, e, and may also be provided with
a spring safety valve n, n, if required.
In some cases I prefer to use a small portable boiler made for
this purpose, instead of converting the kettle into a boiler as above
mentioned.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention for
"Improvements' in the Construction of Smoothing Irons," together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried
into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my
Invention,-
Firstly. The combination of the hollow box or case a, a, with its
flexible steam and waste tubes e, e, and f,f, and clip e*, e*, together
with the non-conducting handle b, b, and cover d, d.
And, secondly. I claim the combination with the above of the
parts h, i, and k, applied to a kettle, to convert it into a steam boiler,
all constructed substantially in the manner and for the purposes above
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Abel Buckley Wimpenny, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this First day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
ABEL BUCKLEY WIMPENNY. (L.S.)
Witnessed by
JOHN HUGHES,
Clerk to George Davies, C.E.,
•
Patent Office,
St. Ann's Sq.
Manchester.