Patent Description:
In particular, the present invention relates to a wearable ironing device such as, for example, a glove and preferably flexible.

Common systems are currently known for ironing garments, or simply fabrics, such as the classic iron.

Other less conventional ironing systems are also known, such as, for example, the system described in patent <CIT>, owned by the applicant of the present application, consisting substantially of a glove comprising plates capable of being heated by means of resistances thanks to an internal electric power supply or to be heated by induction from an external emitting device.

Similar devices are also described in patent documents: <CIT> and <CIT>.

The known art described includes some important drawbacks.

In particular, the problems associated with common irons are mainly connected to the impracticality of use and transport due, for example, to the overall dimensions and the necessary electrical power supply.

Furthermore, in common irons there is still the problem of the limited useful life of the same appliance due to limescale.

Furthermore, a problem of common irons is connected to consumption and to the response speed of the instrument, which is only useful in the face of a certain amount of clothes to be ironed.

A further drawback is given by the high energy consumption of the irons.

Again, with reference to the device described in document <CIT>, the problems of the latter are mainly linked to the weight connected to the hand of a user and to the impracticality of the necessary metal plates placed at least on the palm of the glove in order to iron a garment.

In this situation, the technical task underlying the present invention is to devise a device capable of substantially obviating at least part of the aforementioned drawbacks.

Within the scope of said technical task, an important object of the invention is to obtain an ironing device capable of being worn comfortably and quickly.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an ironing device that can be light and easily transportable.

Again, an object of the invention is to provide an ironing device that is quick to use. Finally, an important object of the present invention is to obtain an ironing device whose power supply does not involve bulk or other problems that can negatively affect the use of the device itself.

The technical task and the specified aims are achieved by a flexible ironing device as claimed in the annexed claim <NUM>.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are clarified below by the detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:.

With reference to the Figures, the ironing device according to the invention is globally indicated with the number <NUM>.

The device <NUM> is preferably flexible.

Therefore, the device <NUM> preferably comprises a glove <NUM>.

The glove <NUM> is substantially configured to be worn on a user's hand. Therefore, the glove <NUM> can be realized in such a way as to fit the fingers individually or in groups. For example, the glove <NUM> can be a glove of conventional shape, or a glove without fingers or even a mitten glove. Moreover, the glove <NUM> can also comprise further components such as means for opening or closing the glove <NUM>, or in general means for tensioning the glove <NUM> on the hand of a user.

Preferably, the glove <NUM> comprises at least one outer layer <NUM> including a contact portion 2a.

Furthermore, preferably, the glove <NUM> comprises at least one internal layer <NUM> able to come into contact with said hand of said user.

Again, preferably, the glove <NUM> comprises an insulating portion 2b including thermally insulating material arranged within said inner layer <NUM> at least adjacent to said contact portion 2a.

Preferably, therefore, the glove <NUM> includes at least one contact portion 2a.

The contact portion 2a is substantially the area of the glove <NUM> configured to be arranged in contact with a garment to be ironed.

Said contact portion 2a can be confined, for example, in a part of the palm area, or it can also completely cover the palm area.

The insulating portion 2b, on the other hand, is the part of the glove adapted to protect the user's skin with respect to the contact portion 2a.

In an embodiment of the device <NUM> shown in <FIG>, the contact and insulating portions 2a and 2b, respectively, preferably coincide.

Alternatively, it is possible that the portion 2b has a wider extension on the glove <NUM> than the portion 2a.

Preferably, the glove <NUM> is a glove made of a material at least able to withstand the working temperatures of said flexible ironing device <NUM>.

Again, preferably the device <NUM> according to the present invention comprises ironing means <NUM> integral with said glove <NUM>.

Alternatively, the ironing means <NUM> can be removably connected, connection intended at least as a physical and electrical connection, with said glove <NUM>. Preferably, the ironing means <NUM> are arranged at least along said contact portion 2a of the glove <NUM>.

In addition, preferably, the ironing means <NUM> include at least one resistance <NUM> distributed at least on said contact portion 2a and capable of emitting heat proportionally to an electric signal.

Preferably still, according to the present invention, said resistance <NUM> is flexible, preferably completely flexible. Furthermore, it is preferably substantially constituted by a layer.

In the present text, flexible resistance <NUM> is intended as a resistance <NUM> comprising components and materials suitable for not maintaining a plastic deformation following a deformation by an external force, components and materials that can carry out a plurality of bending cycles and/or compression and/or deformation in general, without showing cracks in the material and similar.

Again, preferably, the resistance <NUM> emits heat in a temperature range between <NUM> and <NUM>, more preferably between <NUM> and <NUM>.

Preferably, the resistance <NUM> is made of copper or copper alloy or similar materials, such as carbon graphene, flex with copper wires or others.

Alternatively, the distributed resistance <NUM> can be constituted by a combination or a single material capable of emitting heat in a given temperature range.

Again, alternatively with respect to the embodiment shown, the resistance <NUM> can be a continuum of material suitable for emitting heat or a reticulated filiform structure or similar.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the resistance <NUM> is at least able to emit heat towards the outside of the glove <NUM> and of the hand.

Preferably, the resistance <NUM> is a resistance distributed over at least a portion 2a of the glove <NUM>.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, the resistance <NUM> is constituted by a heat-emitting material shaped so as to cover at least part of the portion 2a, portion 2a for example corresponding to the palm of the glove <NUM>.

The shapes and dimensions of the embodiment of the resistance <NUM>, and its extension on the portion 2a shown in the figures are provided for illustrative purposes only, as a plurality of shapes and sizes of alternative and equivalent embodiments of this component of the invention are possible.

Furthermore, the ironing means <NUM> comprise a outer conductive layer <NUM>, preferably arranged along most or all of the outer surface of the glove. It is superimposed on or flanked by said resistance <NUM>.

It is able to absorb, maintain and radiate heat. It is preferably in carbon fibre, or in one or more of the materials in aramidic fibre, in copper fibre, in thermally conductive fibres in general.

Preferably, the device <NUM> according to the present invention further comprises control means <NUM> operatively connected to said ironing means <NUM>.

The control means <NUM> are configured to control at least the operation of said ironing means <NUM>.

In the present text with control means <NUM> means, for example, control electronics, electrical data exchange circuits, power transmission circuits and more.

The control electronics can include one or more electronic cards, for example programmable cards and/or microcontrollers, known to the current state of the art and can define a basic logic, for example by means of suitable firmware.

Said control electronics is provided at least capable of allowing the control and coordination of at least some functions of the device <NUM>.

Preferably, the control electronics according to the present invention can comprise at least one temperature sensor <NUM>.

For example, the control electronics according to the present invention can comprise a temperature sensor of a resistance or a temperature sensor of the inside of the glove.

Preferably still, the control electronics can further comprise further sensors relating to operating parameters and/or control parameters of said device <NUM> or of said control electronics.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG> the control electronics are shown substantially positioned in the cuff of the glove <NUM>. It will however be evident that the position of the control electronics is not constrained to the position shown in specific embodiments.

For example, the electrical connections are electrical connections at least between a battery and the ironing means <NUM>, at least sized in order to guarantee the safe transmission of power between these two components, or electrical connections at least present between the components themselves of said control electronics.

Preferably, the control means <NUM> comprise at least per se known control electronics.

Preferably, the device <NUM> according to the present invention comprises at least power supply means <NUM>.

Preferably, according to the present invention, the power supply means <NUM> are at least operationally connected to said control means <NUM>.

Again, preferably said power supply means <NUM> are integrated within said glove <NUM>.

In addition, alternatively, said power supply means <NUM> can be connected in a removable manner to the glove <NUM>, said connection being able to guarantee at least the physical and electrical connection with the components of the device <NUM>. Preferably, the power supply means <NUM> comprise at least one battery <NUM> rechargeable which can be both cable-powered, for example with USB or wireless connection, with known charging systems.

The battery <NUM> can, in one embodiment, be physically connected to the control electronics, for example a battery <NUM> can be installed on a printed electronic board or printed circuit.

Finally, preferably, the device <NUM> according to the present invention comprises selection means <NUM> accessible from the outside, operatively connected to said control means <NUM> and configured to allow the selection of at least one mode of use of said device <NUM>.

For example, said selection means <NUM> can comprise a button suitable for allowing the selection of a heat emission mode of the resistance <NUM>, said mode selected from a plurality of modes determined for example by programming the control electronics. Other embodiments of the selection means <NUM> are possible.

The operation and the advantages of the device <NUM> previously described in structural terms are as follows.

The ironing device <NUM> according to the present invention is used substantially as a common iron, then passed on the garments to be ironed, but it has advantages linked to transportability, the lack of downtime and still advantageously compared to common ironing devices is much more flexible in use.

The device <NUM> according to the present invention does not provide the same results as an iron equipped with an ironing board and a steam boiler, but provides a simple solution for some situations in which normal ironing devices are not actually usable. The ironing device <NUM>, thanks to the innovative design and the components, can be used to iron all the garments quickly, as the materials used and the control electronics allow it to be adjusted and allow to reach the right temperature in limited times.

Finally, the device <NUM> achieves a considerable reduction in energy consumption.

Advantageously, the ironing device <NUM> is easily transportable thanks to the reduced weights and dimensions, but above all thanks to the great flexibility of all the components used, such as the flexible resistors and the electronics also printed on flexible supports.

Claim 1:
An ironing device (<NUM>) comprising:
- a glove (<NUM>) configured to be worn on a user's hand and including at least one contact portion (2a) configured to be placed in contact with a garment,
- ironing means (<NUM>) that are integral with said glove and arranged at least along said contact portion (2a),
- control means (<NUM>) operatively connected to said ironing means (<NUM>) and configured to control the operation of said ironing means (<NUM>),
and characterised in that
- said ironing means (<NUM>) comprise:
- at least one resistor (<NUM>) distributed over said contact portion (2a) and designed to emit heat when electrically powered, and
- an outer conductive layer (<NUM>) heated by said resistor (<NUM>), wherein said resistor (<NUM>) and said outer conductive layer (<NUM>) are flexible, which means comprising components and materials suitable for not maintaining a plastic deformation following a deformation by an external force, components and materials that can carry out a plurality of bending cycles and/or compression and/or deformation in general, without showing cracks in the material and similar.