Improvements in Smoothing Irons.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 16th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 18th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Smoothing Irons.
We RICHARD BASTIN, Manufacturer, and JOHN BUSH, Engineer, of 118,
Fenchurch Street, London, E.C. do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in smoothing irons of the box, flat, sad or
other type and has for its object to provide means whereby the handles of such irons
may be detached from and replaced in position in the body of same, at will, and so
prevent the handles from getting heated with the bodies of the irons when the
same are put on the fire or are otlierwise being prepared for use.
According to our invention we fashion the handle portion of the irons, separate
from the body of same, with an outwardly abutting toe-piece on the lower end of
one of the upright end-pieces (between which at the upper part the handle is fixed)
and in the other end-piece we provide a vertical slot in which is hinged a lever-
catch arrangement which is connected at its upper extremity to a rod or
push-piece which runs longitudinally through the handle. The lower extremity
of the hinged lever has formed on its outer side a toe-piece similar to the one
first mentioned which is so formed as to enter beneath a shoulder on the body of
the iron.
The upper surface of the body or iron proper is recessed and provided with
vertical flanges at the two ends of the recessed portion, which vertical flanges are
recessed on the inside to receive the two toe-pieces the one formed on the upright
end of one of the handle-pieces and the other on the lower end of the lever-catch.
The rod or push-piece which runs through the handle is provided with a coil or
other spring which normally maintains the lever-catch close to the upright
handle-piece and in so doing forces the toe-piece on the lower end of said lever-
catch, into the recess provided therefor, the shoulder formed by the upper part of
the recess, preventing the catch from coming out until the press-piece is
manipulated.
In operation, the toe-piece formed on the end of the upright handle-piece is
inserted into the recess in the iron provided for the purpose, the press-piece is
manipulated so as to raise the lower end of the lever-catch, the handle is pushed
down and the press-piece is then released, forcing the end of the lever-catch into
the recess provided therefor.
The bottom of the recessed portion of the iron is provided with grooves, or
depressions to receive any dust, ashes or the like that would otherwise prevent the
handle-part fitting into same perfectly.
The uprights for receiving the wooden or other handle are connected at their
lower ends by a metal strip, which may be formed integral with the said uprights.
Dated this 16th dex of January 1893
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Smoothing Irons.
We RICHARD BASTIN, Manufacturer, and JOHN BUSH, Engineer, both of
118 Fenchurch Street, London, E.C. do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to improvements in smoothing irons of the box, flat, sad, or

page_text: other types and has for its object to provide means whereby the handles of such
irons can be detached from, and replaced in position in, the body parts of same
at will and so prevent the handles from getting heated with the bodies of the
irons when the same are placed upon the fire or are otherwise being prepared
for use.
And in order that our invention may be the more readily understood, we have
shewn same upon the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein :--
Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of our iron complete.
Fig. 2 a perspective view of the detachable handle thereof.
a is the body of the iron which is recessed at a¹ and provided with vertical
flanges or walls a² as at each end of the recessed portion or bed a¹. The said
vertical flanges or walls as a have each a groove or recess as a formed in the
inside to receive, the former,-a toe-piece 3 formed on the lower extremity of
one of the uprights in which the handle is fixed, and the other to receive the
projecting end c¹ of the lever catch c. The handle portion 6 of the iron, is
fashioned separate from the body a of same and in the upright & I form a vertical
slot in which is hinged at 6 a lever-catch arrangement c which is connected at
its upper extremity to a rod or push piece d which runs longitudinally through the
handle b. The lower extremity of the lever-catch c has formed on its outer side a
catch or toe-piece c¹ which is so formed as to readily enter beneath the shoulder
formed by the recess a' in the end of the vertical flange or wall a³. The lower
extremity of the other upright is also provided with an abutting toe-piece b³ as
before mentioned, which is adapted to enter the recess a in the corresponding end
of the iron. The rod or push-piece d located in the handle a is provided with a
coil or other suitable spring d¹ for the purpose of returning the said rod or push
piece and also the lever catch arrangement c, to their normal positions when
pressure is taken off the knob ď.
In operation the toe-piece ³ formed on the lower end of the upright b', is
inserted into the recess a provided for the purpose in the vertical flange or wall a³.
Pressure is put upon the knob of the rod or push-piece d whereby the lower
end c of the lever catch c' is raised the horizontal connecting piece f is pushed
down into the recess a and the pressure taken off the knob d², the spring d¹ then
forcing the catch or toe-piece e' into the socket or recess a³ and so preventing the
handle portion being removed from the body of the iron until the rod or push-
piece dis again manipulated. The bed of the recessed portion a' is formed with
grooves e therein to receive any dust, ashes or the like, that would otherwise
prevent the horizontal piece f fitting same perfectly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
(1.) In a smoothing iron, the body, having a recess with a grooved surface and
vertical recessed flanges or walls, in combination with a handle portion consisting
of two uprights, the lower extremity of one having a toe-piece and the other
upright having a vertical slot in which a lever catch arrangement is hinged, the
latter being connected at one end to a rod or push-piece located in the handle, and
provided with a spring, and the lower end having a catch or toe piece substantially
as described and illustrated.
(2.) The improvement in smoothing irons, substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore described and illustrated.
Dated this 16th day of October 1893.
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.