Patent Description:
Steam ironing apparatuses for domestic use are known, generally comprising an iron and a support base for the iron, connected together.

Ironing apparatuses are usually divided into two groups, generally called "hot" or "cold". In "hot" ironing apparatuses, the support base acts as a boiler and the steam is generated inside it and subsequently fed to the iron, while in "cold" ironing apparatuses the support base contains water at room temperature, which is fed into a boiler or steam generation chamber inside the iron, in which it is transformed into steam in contact with a heated plate.

It is known that, with use, in steam ironing apparatuses, limescale formations are generated in the boiler and/or in the steam generation chamber. Limescale can compromise the functioning efficiency of the iron, or damage the garments to be ironed, in the event that the incrustations and limescale deposits come out through the holes in the plate.

This problem occurs mainly in cold ironing apparatuses, in which the most frequent cause of malfunctions is the obstruction of the steam generation chamber and/or the water inlet area.

To solve this problem, solutions are known to clean the plate and in particular the steam generation chamber, to remove possible limescale deposits and/or foreign substances, thus preventing the occlusion of the steam outlet holes.

For example, ironing apparatuses are known which provide a cleaning and/or washing cycle which comprises heating cycles and subsequent injections of cold water into the boiler or steam generation chamber, to generate thermal shocks which have the function of breaking the encrustations of limescale and subsequently expelling them, through the plate or through a suitable discharge aperture.

During these operations, a large quantity of hot water and steam is expelled through the holes provided in the heating plate of the iron.

The user must therefore carry out the cleaning operation so that the water and the condensed steam collect in a container, or carry out the cleaning in a suitable place to prevent spillages of water and damage to delicate parts due to water and/or steam.

It must also be considered that the time for the cleaning cycle to end is not negligible.

Furthermore, while the cleaning operations are being carried out, it is necessary to keep all the nozzles or the outlet holes of the plate free, to allow the steam to escape from all the ducts and prevent them from clogging.

To facilitate the user while the cleaning operations are being carried out, preventing him/her from having to support the iron manually, containers are known that are suitable to function as a support for the iron, consisting of a little tank made of thermoplastic material, suitable to collect the hot water and possibly the condensed steam inside it, which are delivered by the plate of the iron during the cleaning operations.

These known containers are impractical for a user, as they are distinct and separate accessories from the ironing apparatus and need their own storage space when not in use.

Consequently, the user may not have the accessory available whenever he/she performs a cleaning operation, or may not find it, or even the container may be accidentally thrown away, or it may break or be damaged, thus entailing a delay in the execution of the cleaning cycles.

Furthermore, known containers, in order to be transported for their subsequent emptying, require a certain waiting interval to allow the hot water to cool down at the end of the cleaning cycle. Furthermore, having at least one upper portion that is completely open, they are not very practical to transport, since during transport there may be spillages of the hot water which can cause inconvenience or safety problems for the user, who could come into contact with the hot and dirty water contained in them.

Document <CIT> describes an accessory that can be used to carry out the descaling and washing operations of an iron, which comprises a tank to collect the washing water, and a support surface defined by an upper edge on which the iron rests during use.

Document <CIT> describes a steam ironing apparatus comprising a support base in which there is a water tank and a boiler, which is connected by means of a three-way valve on one side to the iron to feed steam into it, and on the other side to an external container. The support base described in <CIT> allows to carry out cleaning operations on the boiler, but is not suitable to be used for cleaning and descaling operations on an iron positioned above it.

Document <CIT> describes a steam generation apparatus for domestic use, comprising a box-like body to which an iron can be connected, and in which a sleeve is provided which can be connected in a removable and sealed manner to the plate of the iron in order to receive the steam emitted through the holes on the plate and convey it through a duct toward the outside of the box-like body.

Document <CIT> discloses a support base for a cordless steam iron, wherein the support base comprises a water tank which can be connected by means of a pipe to a small water tank provided in the iron when the iron is resting on the support base.

The Applicant therefore set himself the problem of how to improve support bases for ironing apparatuses in order to overcome the disadvantages of the state of the art as seen above.

In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to provide a multifunctional support base for an iron, which can be used to support the iron both during the normal steps of non-use during ironing and also during the cleaning and maintenance operations.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a support base which does not require any separate and distinct accessory in order to be able to carry out the cleaning and maintenance operations.

Another purpose is to provide a support base that allows to clean the iron and collect the water and limescale residues during the cleaning cycle of the ironing apparatus in a simple and fast way.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an ironing apparatus that allows to perform the cleaning of the iron in the times necessary to keep the ironing apparatus in good condition, thus allowing to effectively clean the limescale from the iron.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an ironing apparatus that can be transported by the user immediately after the end of the cleaning cycle, safely and without the risk of spillages of hot water.

The dependent claims describe preferred embodiments.

In accordance with the above purposes, embodiments described here concern a support base for an ironing apparatus suitable to support a steam iron both during the normal steps of non-use during ironing, and also during the cleaning and maintenance operations, also allowing to collect and contain steam and hot water and/or limescale.

According to the invention, the support base comprises a base body provided with an upper portion configured to support an iron.

The base body is at least partly hollow and defines a housing compartment below the upper portion.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the upper portion comprises at least one discharge aperture able to drain water and/or steam and/or limescale residues generated during the cleaning of the ironing apparatus toward means for collecting the discharge water.

In particular, the support base comprises a collection tank for collecting the discharge water, disposed in the housing compartment and connected to the discharge aperture.

According to some embodiments, the collection tank can be removed from the base body in order to allow to eliminate the discharge water safely.

According to the invention, the support base also comprises, inside the housing compartment, a containment tank suitable to contain water. The support base may contain means configured to feed water and/or steam to the iron.

The support base according to the invention is suitable to carry out a number of different functions.

In fact, as well as safely and stably housing the iron during the ironing operations, it advantageously allows to support the iron also during the cleaning and maintenance operations, preventing the user from having to use separate and distinct accessories for these operations.

Furthermore, the support base according to the invention has the further advantage that the support element is always available to the user each time the iron is used. In this way, it is possible to efficiently clean the limescale from the ironing apparatus in a timely manner.

According to some embodiments, the support base can comprise a discharge collector, through which water and/or steam and/or limescale residues produced during the cleaning of the ironing apparatus are moved away from the at least one discharge aperture and conveyed into the collection tank.

According to some embodiments, the support base can also comprise a conveyor pipe located between the discharge collector and the collection tank, consisting of a portion for connection to the discharge collector and an end portion.

The end portion can be conformed to connect, also by means of gaskets, to an entrance of the collection tank, and is able to constitute, together with the entrance, a sealed hydraulic circuit.

In accordance with the purposes as above, embodiments described here also concern an ironing apparatus comprising a support base according to the invention and an iron.

The ironing apparatus, thanks to the conformation of the support base, can be transported by the user immediately after the end of the cleaning cycle, when it contains hot water and/or limescale particles, safely and without hot water leaks, in order to eliminate the water collected.

In accordance with the purposes as above, embodiments described here also concern a method to clean an ironing apparatus.

We will now refer in detail to the possible embodiments of the invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of the invention and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof.

Embodiments described here with reference to the attached drawings concern a support base <NUM> for a steam ironing apparatus <NUM>, suitable to support an iron <NUM>.

According to some embodiments, the support base <NUM> and the iron <NUM>, connected to each other, together define the ironing apparatus <NUM>.

According to the invention, the support base <NUM> supports the iron <NUM> both during the normal steps of non-use during ironing, and also during the cleaning and maintenance operations, and collects the water and/or steam and/or limescale residues generated during these operations.

The support base <NUM> according to the invention is suitable to be applied mainly, although not exclusively, to "cold" ironing apparatuses <NUM>, in which the steam is generated directly inside the plate of the iron <NUM>.

According to some embodiments, the support base <NUM> comprises a base body <NUM> which has a front part 13a, disposed, during use, in correspondence with the tip of the iron <NUM>, and a rear part 13b opposite the front part 13a.

According to the invention, the base body <NUM> is provided with an upper portion <NUM> suitable to support the iron <NUM>. The base body <NUM> may comprise a lower portion <NUM> configured to allow the support base <NUM> to rest on a work surface.

According to some embodiments, the upper portion <NUM> can be inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, so that the front part 13a is positioned higher than the rear part 13b.

For example, the support surface for the iron <NUM> can have an angle of inclination α comprised between <NUM>° and <NUM>°.

According to some embodiments, the base body <NUM> is at least partly hollow and defines, below the upper portion <NUM>, a housing compartment <NUM>.

The support base <NUM> comprises, inside the housing compartment <NUM>, a containment tank <NUM> able to contain clean water, which, during use, is connected to the iron <NUM> by means of a water feed pipe <NUM>.

The containment tank <NUM> can be of the fixed or removable type.

According to some embodiments, the support base <NUM> can also comprise a plurality of electrical and/or electronic components <NUM> disposed inside the housing compartment <NUM> of the base body <NUM>, able to move the water and/or steam, such as for example electronic cards, pumps and suchlike, possibly connected to the iron <NUM> by means of electric cables, for example integrated in a single cord together with the water feed pipe <NUM>.

According to the invention, the upper portion <NUM> comprises at least one discharge aperture <NUM> able to drain water and/or steam and/or limescale residues during the cleaning of the ironing apparatus <NUM> toward means <NUM> for collecting the discharge water.

According to some embodiments, the upper portion <NUM> has a substantially continuous surface which delimits the base body <NUM> at the upper part.

The discharge aperture <NUM> can be made as an eyelet, or a slit made through through the upper portion <NUM>, which has much smaller sizes than the extension of the upper portion <NUM> itself.

By way of example, it can have a width, measured along a longitudinal median plane of the base body <NUM>, comprised between about <NUM> and about <NUM>.

The extension of the discharge aperture <NUM> in the transverse direction to the median plane can be comprised between <NUM>% and <NUM>% of the width of the base body <NUM>.

The support base <NUM> comprises a collection tank <NUM> connected to the discharge aperture <NUM>, into which water and/or steam and/or limescale residues are directed and made to flow.

The collection tank <NUM> is disposed in the housing compartment <NUM>, below the upper portion <NUM>.

According to some embodiments, the support base <NUM> can have, in its upper portion <NUM>, a housing seating <NUM> suitable to house at least the plate of the iron <NUM>.

The housing seating <NUM> is delimited at the lower part by a bottom wall <NUM>.

The housing seating <NUM> is advantageously delimited laterally by external edges <NUM> which delimit the area in which the iron <NUM> can rest, so that it is not positioned incorrectly, possibly decreasing the stability of the ironing apparatus <NUM>.

Preferably, the external edges <NUM> extend over the entire perimeter of the bottom wall <NUM>. In this way, during use, the holes for the steam and/or cleaning and washing water to exit are positioned inside the housing seating <NUM>, so that the water and/or the steam exiting from the holes is at least partly collected in the housing seating <NUM>, preventing it from exiting laterally.

The at least one discharge aperture <NUM> can be positioned in a zone advantageously disposed in order to be at the lowest point of the housing seating <NUM>, such as for example at one end thereof facing toward the rear part 13b.

In this way, water and/or steam and/or limescale residues produced during the cleaning of the ironing apparatus <NUM> which are drained from the plate of the iron <NUM> can be conveyed into the discharge aperture <NUM> by gravity. According to some embodiments, the housing seating <NUM> can have a depth increasing from the front part 13a toward the rear part 13b, and the discharge aperture <NUM> can be positioned in the zone that has a greater depth, so as to facilitate the conveying of water toward it.

Preferably, the discharge aperture <NUM> is made through in the bottom wall <NUM>, in the proximity of an external edge <NUM>.

According to some embodiments and with reference to <FIG>, the support base <NUM> can comprise, in its upper portion <NUM>, a mat <NUM> on which to rest the iron <NUM>, conformed to support the iron <NUM>.

The mat <NUM> can be made, at least partly, of heat-resistant material.

The mat <NUM> can substantially cover the entire upper portion <NUM> of the support base <NUM>, or at least the housing seating <NUM>.

The mat <NUM> can be able to support the iron <NUM> both during the steps of non-use during ironing, and also during the cleaning operations.

According to some embodiments, the at least one aperture <NUM> is made through in the mat <NUM>.

According to some embodiments, the mat <NUM> can have a raised conveying edge <NUM>, in correspondence with its end positioned close to the discharge aperture <NUM>, so as to convey water and/or steam and/or limescale residues into the discharge aperture <NUM>, preventing them from flowing outside of the housing seating <NUM>.

According to some embodiments, the upper portion <NUM> can comprise one or more support rubber pads <NUM> made of heat-resistant material, for example silicone rubber, which protrude from an upper surface thereof, the tops of which can define a support plane P of the iron <NUM>.

The support rubber pads <NUM> are preferably positioned inside the housing seating <NUM>, protruding with respect to the bottom wall <NUM>.

According to some embodiments, the support rubber pads <NUM> can be shaped and disposed so as to delimit a specific zone, in the vicinity of the discharge aperture <NUM>, so as to prevent the water exiting from the pate of the iron <NUM> during the cleaning operations from wetting and/or dirtying the entire surface of the mat <NUM> itself.

By way of example, <FIG> shows two rubber pads <NUM> distanced from each other along the longitudinal axis of the support base <NUM>.

In the example case, the two rubber pads <NUM> are C-shaped and are disposed in a position opposite each other, with the free ends facing respectively toward the front part 13a and the rear part 13b, so as to provide a stable support for the plate of the iron <NUM>.

The rubber pads <NUM> can also be in greater number, and have different shapes and conformations.

The rubber pads <NUM> can be attached to the mat <NUM>, for example by gluing or other, or be made in a single body with the mat <NUM>.

According to possible variants, it can also be provided that the housing seating <NUM> itself is made of heat-resistant material and is itself provided with rubber pads <NUM> or other support elements suitable to support the plate of the iron <NUM>.

According to some embodiments, the collection means comprise a discharge collector <NUM>, connected to the discharge aperture <NUM>, through which water and/or steam and/or limescale residues produced during the cleaning of the ironing apparatus <NUM> can be moved away from the upper portion <NUM> of the support base <NUM>.

According to some embodiments, the discharge collector <NUM> is disposed in the housing compartment <NUM> inside the base body <NUM>.

According to possible alternative solutions, it can be provided that one or both of the collection tank <NUM> and the discharge collector <NUM> are disposed at least partly outside the base body <NUM>.

According to some embodiments, the collection tank <NUM> is disposed in a lower zone with respect to the height of the discharge aperture <NUM>, so that water and/or steam and/or limescale residues collected are made to flow into the collection tank <NUM> by effect of the force of gravity.

According to some embodiments, the collection tank <NUM> can be disposed below the containment tank <NUM> for the clean water in correspondence with the front part 13a, in such a way as to occupy the portion of the housing compartment <NUM> with a greater volume, and to optimize the spaces, while the movement components <NUM> can be disposed in correspondence with the rear part 13b, also to facilitate the connection with the iron <NUM>.

According to some embodiments, inside the base body <NUM>, between the discharge collector <NUM> and the collection tank <NUM>, there is located a conveyor pipe <NUM> comprising a connection portion <NUM> suitable to be attached to the discharge collector <NUM> and a terminal portion <NUM> conformed to connect to the collection tank <NUM>.

In correspondence with the terminal portion <NUM> of the conveyor pipe <NUM>, the collection tank <NUM> can have an entrance <NUM> conformed so that it can connect, also by means of some gaskets, to the terminal portion <NUM>, so as to constitute a hydraulic circuit as sealed as possible, so as to prevent water spills during transport of the entire ironing apparatus <NUM>.

Advantageously, the discharge collector <NUM>, the conveyor pipe <NUM> and the collection tank <NUM> can be easily cleaned by means of flexible cleaning accessories of suitable diameter, such as, for example, pipe cleaners.

Advantageously, the collection tank <NUM> can be washed separately, once extracted from the ironing apparatus <NUM>, for example in order to pour the water and limescale collected.

According to some embodiments, the collection tank <NUM> can have, in the portion facing the front end 13a, a recessed portion <NUM> configured to facilitate the grip by a user when gripping the collection tank <NUM> and extracting it from the base body <NUM>.

According to a variant, not shown, the discharge collector <NUM> can be integrated in the mat <NUM>.

According to another variant, not shown, both the discharge collector <NUM> and also the conveyor pipe <NUM> can be integrated in the mat <NUM>.

According to a further variant, not shown, the discharge collector <NUM> and the conveyor pipe <NUM> can be made in a single piece.

According to some embodiments, the support base <NUM> can comprise a control and command unit, not shown in the drawings, configured to control and command the functioning of the ironing apparatus <NUM>.

According to some embodiments, the control and command unit can also be connected to one or more user interfaces <NUM>, positioned for example on the iron <NUM> or on the support base <NUM>.

Through said one or more user interfaces <NUM>, a user can set the functioning parameters of the ironing apparatus <NUM>, such as for example the temperature of the plate and/or the type of steam delivery, or other, and/or check the functioning of the ironing apparatus <NUM>, for example by means of a light that indicates the iron <NUM> is switched on or that the iron <NUM> is heating up or is ready for use, and possibly start a cleaning cycle.

Embodiments described here also concern a method to clean an ironing apparatus <NUM> comprising the support base <NUM> and an iron <NUM>.

The method according to the invention provides to position the iron <NUM> on an upper portion <NUM> of the support base <NUM>, to start a cleaning cycle by activating movement components <NUM> to feed clean water from a containment tank <NUM>, comprised in the support base <NUM>, to a steam generation chamber, or boiler, inside the iron <NUM>, and heating devices to heat the water in the iron <NUM> and generate thermal shocks suitable to remove possible limescale encrustations, expel the water, steam and possible solid residues from the iron <NUM> toward the upper portion <NUM> and convey them through a discharge aperture <NUM> made in the upper portion <NUM> toward the tank <NUM> for collecting the discharge water inside the base body <NUM>.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts and/or steps may be made to the support base <NUM> suitable to support the steam iron <NUM>, to the ironing apparatus <NUM> comprising the support base <NUM> and the iron <NUM> and to the method to clean an ironing apparatus <NUM> as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

Claim 1:
Support base for an ironing apparatus (<NUM>) comprising a base body (<NUM>) provided with an upper portion (<NUM>) configured to support an iron (<NUM>) both during the pauses in the ironing operations, and also during the execution of the cleaning and/or washing cycles, and with a housing compartment (<NUM>) disposed below said upper portion (<NUM>), wherein said upper portion (<NUM>) comprises at least one discharge aperture (<NUM>) configured to drain water and/or steam and/or limescale residues emitted by the iron (<NUM>) and said support base comprises, disposed in said housing compartment (<NUM>), a containment tank (<NUM>) suitable to contain clean water, and a collection tank (<NUM>) for collecting the water and/or limescale, separated from said containment tank (<NUM>) and connected to said discharge aperture (<NUM>).