PROVEMENTS IN SMOOTHING IRONS
Year: 1877

page_text: "IM-
LETTERS PATENT to Robert Reid, of the Air Burning Company, Limited, of
Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, for the Invention of
PROVEMENTS IN SMOOTHING IRONS."
Sealed the 5th March 1878, and dated the 17th September 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Reid at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th September 1877.
ROBERT REID, of the Air Burning Company, Limited, of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SMOOTHING IRONS."
This Invention has for its objects to simplify the construction of smoothing irons
and to render them more convenient in use and less liable to get out of order.
The body of a smoothing iron having the improvements is made hollow and with
an open top to which a shutter or lid is fitted. The iron is heated by the combus-
tion within it of a mixture of combustible gas or vapor and air which may be sup-
plied in the manner described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to the
present applicant and dated 4 April 1876 (No. 1431). The mixed gases pass by
a pipe fixed to the side of the iron into a bent pipe inside the iron, from which last
they issue in jets through perforations in the under side of the bent pipe, the jets
playing upon a layer of asbestos placed on the bottom of the iron. The shutter or
lid is made with an opening fitted with mica, through which the condition of the
interior may be observed. The handle is fixed to the shutter or lid, and in one
modification the shutter or lid is arranged to slide into its place in grooves in the
sides of the body, and is held by a pin or spring catch.
In another modification the shutter or lid is hinged to the body of the iron, and
is held by a spring or other suitable catch.
The exit of the products of combustion is restricted as much as possible so as to
maintain some pressure inside the iron whereby the heat is better utilised. Thus instead
[Price GdL

page_text: of making the usual large outlet openings in the body of the iron, a very small
outlet is provided, sufficient being obtainable by making the shutter or lid a not
quite tight fit.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Reid in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th March
1878.
ROBERT REID, of the Air Burning Company, Limited, of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS, IN SMOOTHING IRONS."
My said Invention has for its objects to simplify the construction of smoothing
irons and to render them more convenient in use and less liable to get out of
order.
The body of a smoothing iron having my improvements is made hollow and with
an open top to which a shutter or lid is fitted. The iron is heated by the com-
bustion within it of a mixture of combustible gas or vapour and air, which may be
supplied in the manner described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to
me and dated 4 April 1876 (No. 1431). The mixed gases pass by a pipe fixed
to the side of the iron into a bent pipe inside the iron, from which last they issue in
jets through perforations in the under side of the bent pipe, the jets playing upon
a layer of asbestos placed on the bottom of the iron. The shutter or lid is made
with an opening fitted with mica, through which the condition of the interior may
be observed. The handle is fixed to the shutter or lid, and in one modification the
shutter or lid is arranged to slide into its place in grooves in the sides of the body,
and is held by a pin or spring catch.
In another modification the shutter or lid is hinged to the body of the iron and
is held by a spring or other suitable catch.
The exit of the products of combustion is restricted as much as possible so as to
maintain some pressure inside the iron whereby the heat is better utilised. Thus
instead of making the usual large outlet openings in the body of the iron a very
small outlet is provided, sufficient being obtainable by making the shutter or lid a
not quite tight fit.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood, I hereunto append a Sheet of explanatory Drawings,
to be herein-after referred to, and representing various modifications of my improved
smoothing iron. In these Drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark
the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
Figure 1 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings is a plan of my improved
smoothing iron with the shutter or lid removed, and Figure 2 is a sectional side
elevation of the same; whilst Figure 3 is an end view.
The body 10 is made hollow and with an open top, to which is fitted a shutter or
lid 11, shown in plan and vertical section respectively in Figures 4 and 5. The
iron is heated by the combustion within it of a mixture of combustible gas or
vapor and air, which may be supplied in the manner described in my said earlier
Specification herein-before referred to. The mixed gases are conveyed into the iron
through a pipe 12 fixed about midway in the side near the broad end of the body 10.

page_text: A pipe 13 joining the pipe 12 and bent, so as to conform to the shape of the iron, is
placed in the body 10, and it has a number of small perforations (shown dotted in
Figure 1) formed in its under side, through which the mixed gases issue in jets and
play upon a layer of asbestos 14 placed underneath the pipe 13 and resting on the
bottom of the iron. The shutter or lid 11 is made with an opening 15 fitted with
a sheet of mica through which the condition of the interior may be observed. The
handle 16 is fitted to the shutter or lid 11, and according to one modification of my
improved smoothing iron the shutter or lid 11 is fitted to slide into its place in
V grooves 17 (shown in dotted lines in Figure 1) formed in the sides of the body 10,
and is held by a screw pin 18 or any suitable catch.
In order to restrict the exit of the products of combustion as much as possible
and thereby maintain some pressure inside the iron and more completely utilise the
heat, very small outlet openings 19 are provided in place of the usual large outlet
openings. Indeed sufficient outlet is obtainable by making the shutter or lid a not
quite tight fit.
In a second modification of my improved smoothing iron, shown in plan in
Figure 6, and in side elevation in Figure 7, the shutter or lid 11 is connected to the
body 10 by hinges 20, and held closed by a pin 18 or any suitable catch.
Figures 8 and 9 represent a third modification of my improved smoothing iron in
which the shutter or lid 11 is secured to the body 10 at one end by a screw pin 21
about which it can turn with a sliding movement upon the top of the iron, and
when closed is held secure by a pin 18 or any suitable catch.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but that what I believe to be novel and
original, and claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is, the combination of parts forming the improved smoothing
iron herein-before described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying
Drawings, or modified, as herein-before described with reference to Figures 6 to 9 of
the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Reid, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Fourteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow
ROBERT REID. (L.S.)