EP3186435B1 - Household electrical appliance including a steam-generating base supplied by an electric cable - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an appliance with a steam generating base and an ironing and / or steaming device interconnected by a cord, wherein the base is electrically powered by a cable intended to be connected to a home network, the cable having an end provided with a connector for electrically connecting the cable to a complementary shaped connector carried by the base and accessible from outside the base.

It is known from the prior art an ironing appliance having a steam generator base connected by a cord to an iron, the generator base being electrically powered by means of a cable comprising an end provided with a plug intended to to be inserted into a wall outlet to allow its connection to an electrical network.

However, depending on the country, the type of plug used varies so that, in order to be sold in these different countries, the device must be manufactured with different types of plugs, which complicates the manufacturing logistics, complicates the assembly of the device and increases the manufacturing cost. In addition, the correct operation of the device is usually tested at a control post located at the end of the production line, this test can only be performed by manually connecting the plug of the device on a feeding device, which is a tedious operation for the operator in charge of the test.

It is known from the patent application WO 2013/167700 , an ironing apparatus comprising a steam generating base connected by a cord to an iron, the base being electrically powered by a cable comprising an end provided with a connector for connecting the cable to a connector of complementary shape carried by a side face of the base. In this document, the cable is removable from the generator base of steam and can be connected directly to the end of the cord of the iron to feed the iron without passing through the base.

Such a device, however, has the disadvantage of having a connector on the side of the base which is unsightly and can disconnect involuntarily when a pull is exerted on the cable.

Also, an object of the present invention is to overcome these disadvantages by providing a household appliance having a steam generator base electrically powered by a cable may include different types of cards depending on the country of marketing, which is simpler to manufacture any by remaining aesthetic and reliable of use.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a household appliance comprising a steam generating base and an ironing and / or steaming device interconnected by a cord, the base being electrically powered by a cable intended to be connected to a network. domestic, the cable having an end provided with a connector for electrically connecting the cable to a complementary shaped connector carried by the base and accessible from outside the base, characterized in that the complementary shape connector is disposed at bottom of a cavity formed on a lower face of the base, the lower face having a groove in which the cable is positioned when the cable is connected to the base, the groove having means for catching the cable and maintain it in the groove.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to have an ironing / steaming appliance comprising a supply cable which can be attached after manufacture and assembly of the steam generator base. The manufacture of the steam generating base can thus be common for devices intended for countries comprising different power cables. In addition, the presence of the connector on the underside of the device facilitates the test phase on the production line by allowing the realization of the latter automatically. Finally, the means for wedging the cable to prevent inadvertent disconnection of the cable on the base, for example when transporting the device for storage or when an involuntary pull is exerted on the cable.

According to another characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention, the means for wedge the cable comprise a rib extending inside the groove, on one side of the latter, the rib coming to press the cable to hold it under a holding hook disposed at the edge of the groove, the opposite of the rib.

Such means have the advantage of being simple and economical to implement and to be particularly effective, while having a good ergonomics of use.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the connector disposed at the end of the cable comprises a bent head, the location of the complementary shape connector being adapted so that the base rests at least partly on the head of the connector when the last is only partially pushed into the connector.

Such a feature allows either to create sufficient pressure on the connector head to ensure automatic reconnection of the cable when the connector is not properly depressed, or to create instability of the base informing the user about the bad connection of the cable .

According to another characteristic of the invention, the groove opens obliquely on a lateral face of the base, the cable being advantageously directed towards the rear of the apparatus.

Such a feature allows a better ergonomics of use of the device by limiting the annoyance created by the cable.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the cable forms an angle of between 30 and 60 ° with respect to the side wall at the exit of the groove, and preferably of the order of 45 °.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to offer an inclination of the cable with respect to the lateral wall allowing both an easy storage of the cable by winding around the base of the apparatus and a limited annoyance of the cable during the installation of the in particular avoiding that the cable slips under the base.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the groove opens into a groove, formed on the side wall of the base, adapted to receive the cable for storage, the groove extending over the entire periphery of the base.

Such a feature facilitates the storage of the cable.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the base contains a vessel for the generation of steam under pressure.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the connector disposed at the end of the cable is a female connector and the connector carried by the base is a male connector.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the complementary shape connector is carried by a support piece which is attached to the base, the support piece also supporting at least one device member to be supplied by the cable.

Such a feature allows to gather on the support part, near the power supply connector, the various organs to be electrically powered. It also makes it possible to pre-assemble the members supported by the support piece in a step prior to mounting the support piece in the housing for better mounting ergonomics.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the support piece supports a control panel of the apparatus.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un appareil de repassage selon un mode particulier de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue de dessous de l'appareil de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective du dessous de l'appareil avec le câble électrique déconnecté de la base ;
• les figures 4A et 4B sont des vues de détails, en perspective, du dessous de la base respectivement démunie et munie de son câble d'alimentation.
• la figure 5 est une vue en perspective d'un sous-ensemble solidaire d'une pièce support intégrée sous la façade avant de la base génératrice de vapeur.

The aims, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the description given below of a particular embodiment of the invention presented by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :

• the figure 1 is a perspective view of an ironing apparatus according to a particular embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 2 is a bottom view of the device from the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 is a perspective view of the bottom of the apparatus with the electrical cable disconnected from the base;
• the Figures 4A and 4B are views in detail, in perspective, of the underside of the respectively deprived base and provided with its power cable.
• the figure 5 is a perspective view of an integral subassembly of an integrated support part under the front facade of the steam generator base.

Only the elements necessary for the understanding of the invention have been represented. To facilitate the reading of the drawings, the same elements bear the same references from one figure to another.

The figure 1 represents an ironing appliance for domestic use, of the steam generator type, conventionally comprising a base 1 generating steam connected by a flexible bead 2 to an iron 3.

The steam generating base 1 comprises a reservoir 10 of water extending along the periphery of the base 1 and contains, in a manner known per se, a vessel for generating steam under pressure, not shown in the figures, comprising a controlled electrical resistance to produce steam at a pressure greater than 4 bar, and preferably of the order of 5 to 6 bar, the tank being supplied with water from the tank 10 by an electromagnetic pump providing a pressure of the order 15 bars.

The steam generating base 1 comprises a substantially flat bottom face 11 intended to rest on a work surface during the ironing sessions and is connected to a domestic electrical network by a cable 4 comprising an end provided with a plug 40 intended to be engaged in a wall outlet of complementary shape, not shown in the figures.

In accordance with figures 2 and 3 the cable 4 is detachably connected to the steam generating base 1 and comprises for this purpose a connector 41 which connects to a connector 12 of complementary shape carried by the base 1 and arranged at the bottom of a cavity 13 formed on the lower face 11 of the base, the connector 12 being preferably disposed in an area under a control panel 15 of the apparatus, visible on the figure 1 , arranged at the front of the base 1.

As can be seen on the figure 3 , the connector 41 disposed at the end of the cable 4 is a female connector with an angled head, type according to IEC 320 C13, with three contact blades extending perpendicularly to the direction of the cable 4 and the connector 12 formed in the bottom of the cavity 13 is a male connector, type according to IEC 320 C14, the cavity 13 advantageously has a shape complementary to the shape of the bent head of the connector 41.

Preferably, the depth of the cavity 13 is adapted so that the bent head protrudes from the feet 16 carried by the lower face 11 of the base 1 when the female connector 41 is not correctly connected with the male connector 12 and is located set back from feet 16 when properly connected.

As can be seen on the Figures 4A and 4B , the lower face 11 of the base comprises, on the edge of the cavity 13, a groove 14 receiving a portion of the cable 4 when the female connector 41 is connected to the male connector 12, this groove 14 opening on the one hand into the cavity 13 and secondly on a lateral face of the base 1, at a groove 17 extending on the edge of the lower face 11, over the entire periphery of the base 1, this groove 17 for the storage of the cable 4 by winding.

Preferably, the groove 14 opens obliquely on the lateral face of the base 1 so that the cable 4 is oriented towards the rear of the apparatus, advantageously forming an angle of the order of 45.degree. at the side wall, at the exit of the groove 14. Such inclination is a compromise allowing both to facilitate the winding of the cable 4 in the groove 17 for its storage and to distance sufficiently the cable 4 of the base for make it easy to connect to a wall outlet.

More particularly according to the invention, the groove 14 comprises means for wedging the cable 4 and keeping it inside the groove 14, these means being advantageously constituted by a hook 14A formed on one side of the groove 14, and by a rib 14B protruding inside the groove 14, opposite the hook 14A.

Thus, when the cable 4 is engaged in the groove 14, it deforms elastically to pass under the hook 14A and is immobilized in this position by the pressure exerted by the rib 14B, the latter preventing the cable 4 from escaping the hook 14A .

In accordance with the figure 5 , the connector 12 of the base 1 is advantageously molded directly with a support member 5 constituted by an independent piece which is attached in the base 1, the support part 5 advantageously supporting the control panel 15 of the apparatus and a circuit board 18 associated therewith to form a compact subset electrically powered by the power cable.

Such a subassembly has the advantage of being pre-assembled outside the base 1 of the device, before mounting in the device, which improves the ergonomics of assembly.

Preferably, the support part 5 also supports other components of the device such as a connector for the electrical connection of the cord, a connector for the electrical supply of the electrical resistance of the tank and the pump for send the water from the tank into the tank, so as to form a subset comprising the main components of the apparatus.

The apparatus thus produced has the advantage of being more economical to manufacture and offers improved mounting ergonomics.

Indeed, the base 1 steam generator can be manufactured in the factory without having to manage the type of power cable 4 to be associated with it, which limits the number of references, the pairing of the cable 4 with the base 1 steam generator that can be performed once the device is manufactured and tested on the production line.

In addition, the presence of the connector 12 on the underside of the base 1 makes it possible to simplify the operation of checking the correct operation of the apparatus carried out at the end of the production line, this test being able to be carried out automatically placing the device on a bench having a complementary shape connector adapted to connect to the connector 12 to electrically power the base 1. The operator does not need to manually plug the plug 40 into a corresponding socket, or to worry about the type of plug fitted to the device.

Finally, such an apparatus has the advantage of having a power supply cable 4 which, once coupled to the base 1, remains firmly connected to the connector 12 thus avoiding its involuntary disconnection. Indeed, the cable 4 is firmly held in the groove 14 by the wedging means 14A 14B so that an involuntary pull on the cable 4 does not cause the disconnection of this latest. In particular, the location of the connector 12 on the bottom face 11 of the base makes it possible to prevent disconnection of the cable when the base 1 steam generator rests flat on a work plane. In addition, the location of the connector 12 in the cavity 13 has the advantage of being adapted so that the bent head of the connector 41 protrudes from the feet 16 when the cable 4 is not correctly coupled with the connector 12 so that the base 1 rests at least partially on the bent head of the connector 12, which allows either to create sufficient pressure on the latter to ensure automatic reconnection of the cable 4, or to create instability of the base 1 informing the user on the bad connection of the cable 4.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and illustrated which has been given by way of example. Modifications are possible, particularly from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Thus, in an alternative embodiment not shown in the figures, the means for wedging the cable in the groove may be constituted by a removable cover which is fixed on the lower face to close the groove.

Claims (10)

1. Household electrical appliance comprising a steam-generating base (1) and an ironing and/or smoothing device (3) connected to each other by a cord (2), said base (1) being electrically supplied by a cable (4) intended to be connected to a home network, the cable (4) comprising an end equipped with a connector (41) enabling to electrically connect the cable (4) to a connector (12) of complementary shape supported by the base (1) and accessible from the outside of the base (1), characterised in that said connector (12) of complementary shape is arranged at the bottom of a cavity (13) conserved on a lower face (11) of the base (1), the lower face (11) comprising a groove (14) wherein the cable (4) is positioned when the cable (4) is connected to the base (1), said groove (14) comprising means (14A, 14B) for trapping the cable (4) and keeping it in the groove (14).
2. Household electrical appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that said means (14A, 14B) for trapping the cable (4) comprise a ridge (14B) extending inside the groove (14), on one side of the latter, said ridge (14B) pressing the cable (14) to keep it under a retaining bracket (14A) arranged at the edge of the groove (14), opposite the ridge (14B).
3. Household electrical appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterised in that the connector (41) arranged at the end of the cable (4) comprises a bent head and in that the placement of the connector (12) of complementary shape is adapted such that the base (1) rests at least partly on the head of the connector (41) when the latter is only partly pressed into the connector (12) of complementary shape.
4. Household electrical appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the groove (14) leads obliquely to a side face of the base (1), said cable (4) being advantageously oriented towards the rear of the appliance.
5. Household electrical appliance according to claim 4, characterised in that the cable (4) forms an angle of between 30 and 60° with respect to the side wall at the outlet of the groove (14), and preferably about 45°.
6. Household electrical appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the groove (14) leads to a recess (17), conserved on the side wall of the base (1), adapted to receive the cable (4) for the storage thereof, said recess (17) extending over the whole of the periphery of the base (1).
7. Household electrical appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that said base (1) encloses a tank for generating pressurised steam.
8. Household electrical appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the connector (41) arranged at the end of the cable (4) is a female connector and the connector (12) of complementary shape supported by the base (1) is a male connector.
9. Household electrical appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that said connector (12) of complementary shape is supported by a support part (5) which is carried in the base (1), said support part (5) also supporting at least one member of the appliance intended to be supplied by the cable (4).
10. Household electrical appliance according to claim 9, characterised in that the support part (5) supports a control panel (15) of the appliance.

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