IMPROVEMENTS IN LAUNDRY IRONS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Augustus Kirke Cook, of Londonderry, in the
County of Londonderry, Ireland, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LAUNDRY IRONS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Augustus Kirke
Cook at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th June 1881.
FREDERICK AUGUSTUS KIRKE Cook, of Londonderry, in the County of London-
derry. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAUNDRY IRONS."
This Invention consists of a combined smoothing and glossing iron. The body of
the iron is hollow, and in plan view it is tapered at each end, and at one of these
ends there is a special curved and tapered projection, by means of which glossing
or polishing can be effected. The iron is heated internally by means of jets of
vapour or gas which play on the bottom part of the iron, and the burner for these
jets is formed as follows:-On the upper surface of the bottom part of the iron is
a ridge of metal, and on this is placed another piece of metal hollowed out, so that
when it is fixed to the said ridge a cavity or chamber is formed. Into this cavity
or chamber gas and air are introduced by a pipe leading from the outside of the
iron, and jets of gas and air pass from the cavity or chamber through holes made
in the sides of such chamber, the holes being made at such an angle that the jets
impinge on the bottom part of the iron. The shell or body of the iron has a lid or
cover which may be fixed to the body, or which may swivel on one of the fixed
supports of a handle which is placed above the cover. When the lid or cover is
thus made to swivel, it is provided with a notch or stop piece to catch against the
other support of the handle, also with a moveable pin so that the lid may be
secured when in position. In the lid or cover are one or more holes for the egress
of the products of combustion, and over these holes is a shield or cover which
causes the products to be discharged only on the side furthest from the person using
the iron. The handle with which the iron is worked is carried on supports fixed to
the body of the iron, and although this handlo may be made horizontal it is
preferably made to slope, so that the end over the front of the iron may be higher
than the end over the rear of the iron.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Lotters Patent filed
by the said Frederick Augustus Kirke Cook in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 21st December 1881.
FREDERICK AUGUSTUS KIRKE COOK, of Londonderry, in the County of London-
derry. 'IMPROVEMENTS IN LAUNDRY IRONS."
My Invention consists of a combined smoothing and glossing iron. The body of
the iron is hollow, and in plan-view it is tapered at each end, and at one of these
ends there is a special curved and tapered projection, by means of which glossing
or polishing can be effected. The iron is heated internally by means of jets of gas
or vapour and air which play on the bottom part of the iron, and the burner for
these jets is formed as follows :—
On the upper surface of the bottom part of the iron is a ridge of metal, and on
this is placed another piece of metal hollowed out, so that when it is fixed to the
Baid ridge a cavity or chamber is formed. Into this cavity or chamber gas and air
are introduced by a pipe leading from the outside of the iron, and jets of gas and
nir pass from the cavity or chamber through holes made in the sides of such
chamber, the holes being made at such an angle that the jets impinge on the bottom
part of the iron. The shell or body of the iron has a lid or cover which may be
fixed to the body, or which may swivel on one of the fixed supports of a handle
which is placed above the cover. When the lid or cover is thus made to swivel it
is provided with a notch or stop piece to catch against the other support of the
handle, also with a movable pin so that the lid may be secured when in position.
In the lid or cover are one or more holes for the egress of the products of
combustion, and over these holes is a shield or cover which causes the products to
be discharged only on the sido farthest from the person using the iron. The handle
with which the iron is worked is carried on supports fixed to the body of tho iron,
and although this handle may be made horizontal it is preferably made to slope, so
that the end over the front of the iron may be higher than the end over the rear of
the iron.
In the accompanying Drawings which illustrate a smoothing iron embodying my
Invention, Figure 1 is partly a section and partly a side view; Figure 2 a plan with
handle and tube removed; Figure 3, an end view; Figure 4, a cross section taken
midway through Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 5, a perspective view of the iron when
in use for polishing or glossing purposes, which operation is carried out by raising
the front a and carrying the heel b over the material, as indicated in Figure 5.
In the Drawings like letters refer to like parts. The main portion A of the iron
is hollow, open at the top and covered by a sliding or movable lid B, which may be
turned sideways around the post C. The latter besides serving as a pivot for the
lid B supports the rear end of the handle D, which rises slightly towards the front
end and is there supported by the second post C³. A horizontal plate or partition E
which fits into the main portion A is provided on its under side with a ridge 6
which rests on a corresponding ridge e' cast on the inner surface of the bottom of
the iron, thereby forming an inner or supply chamber F and an outer or combustion
chamber G, which latter is partly filled with asbestos or other suitable material.
A supply pipe H passing through the side of the iron provides the inner chamber F
with a mixture of gas or vapour and air, which enters at A and escapes into the
outer or combustion chamber G through small perforations g.
The products of combustion formed in the combustion chamber pass through
perforations and escape through the lid, for which purpose the latter has
perforations c and a side opening d. This opening provided in the top plate J
causes the products of combustion to escape sideways, thereby protecting the hand

page_text: of the worker from burning or becoming overheated. The openings e², e², serve
also for introducing the asbestos or other suitable material. The screws K serve to
secure the top plate J to the lid, while the screws L fix the partition to the base of
the shell A. The lid may be secured in its closed position by a pin l. The shell A,
lid B, and partition E, are preferably made of cast iron, the two posts C and C' of
wrought iron, and the handle of wood, but I do not bind myself to the smaller
details as these may be varied considerably without departing from the nature of
my Invention.
What I claim as my Invention is,―
1. A smoothing iron provided with a curved heel b to render the iron applicable
for glossing or polishing purposes.
2. In smoothing irons the combination of a shell A with a partition E, projecting
ridges e, e', perforations g, openings e³, and gas inlet k.
3. In smoothing irons the combination of a shell A with posts C, C¹, inclined
handle D, lid B, turning on one of the said posts and having opening C for the
discharge of the products of combustion.
4. In smoothing irons the application of a side opening or openings & in the lid
for discharging the products of combustion.
The whole substantially as described and illustrated and for the purposes
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Augustus Kirke Cook, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this 19th day of December, A.D. 1881.
FREDERICK AUGUSTUS KIRKE COOK. (L.S.)