FR3125071A1 - Household appliance comprising an ironing and/or steaming tool and a portable base connected to the tool by a cord. - Google Patents

Abstract

Household appliance comprising an ironing and/or steaming tool (1) intended to be held in the hand and a portable base (2) connected to said tool (1) by a cord (3), said base (2) comprising a storage (25) for placing said tool (1) and comprising feet (22A, 22B, 22C) on which the base (2) can rest stably, characterized in that the storage cavity (25) comprises at least one end which forms a projecting part on the base (2) and in that at least one of the said feet (22A, 22B, 22C) is carried by the said projecting part. Figure for abstract: Fig. 3

Description

Household appliance comprising an ironing and/or steaming tool and a portable base connected to the tool by a cord.

The present invention relates to the field of household appliances comprising an ironing and/or steaming tool intended to be held in the hand and a portable base connected to the tool by a cord and relates more particularly to an appliance in which the base includes a storage cavity to rest the tool and has feet on which the base can rest stably.

State of the art

It is known, from document WO2014/013360, a household appliance comprising an iron connected by a cord to a portable base, the base comprising a storage cavity for placing the iron and comprising feet on which it can rest stably .

However, the base of such a device has the disadvantage of being massive, cumbersome, and expensive to produce.

The present invention aims to remedy all or part of these drawbacks.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a household appliance comprising an ironing and/or smoothing tool intended to be held in the hand and a portable base connected to the tool by a cord, the base comprising a storage cavity for put down the tool and comprising at least a first series of feet on which the base can rest stably, characterized in that the storage cavity comprises at least one end which forms a projecting part on the base and in that at least one of said feet is carried by the projecting part.

Such a storage cavity protruding from the base makes it possible to have a less massive and less voluminous base than the known bases of the prior art in which the entire storage cavity is integrated into the body of the base. The base therefore has a reduced footprint and has a storage cavity which extends, at least partially, in a part forming a protrusion on the base, this part being used to support one of the feet of the base. Thus, although the volume of the base, and in particular its width, is less important, the stability of the base is ensured.

The apparatus may further have one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the tool is an iron comprising an ironing soleplate having a pointed front end, the projecting part of the storage cavity matching the shape of the front end and of the side edges of the soleplate of the iron.

Such a feature makes it possible to have a protruding part whose shape is adjusted to the shape of the front end of the iron, making it possible to optimize the volume of the base while visually emphasizing the function of the storage cavity. .

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the storage cavity comprises a bottom and a peripheral wall which laterally delimits the storage cavity, said foot being carried by the bottom and/or the peripheral wall.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the first series of feet comprises two pads which project from an underside of the base and a foot arranged at the lower end projecting from the storage cavity which receives the front end of the soleplate of the iron.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the base has, in profile view, a generally oval shape comprising a bulbous end and a tapered opposite end, the feet being arranged at the level of the bulbous end of the base.

Such a shape has the advantage of providing very good stability to the base, the main components of the device being arranged at the level of the bulbous end of the base.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the base comprises a carrying handle, the carrying handle being arranged at the end of the base opposite the end comprising the feet.

Such a characteristic has the advantage of simplifying the handling of the base.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the feet are adapted to allow the base to rest on a support in a first stable position in which the storage cavity extends substantially vertically.

Such a feature makes it possible to limit the footprint of the base.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the base comprises a shape and/or a second series of feet adapted to allow the base to rest on the support in a second stable position, distinct from the first stable position.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to increase the ergonomics of use of the base by offering the user the possibility of arranging the base in two positions, one or the other of these positions being able to be favored for the use of appliance or for storage.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the storage cavity is arranged on the upper part of the base when the latter occupies the second stable position.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the base comprises magnetic means ensuring the maintenance of the tool in the storage cavity.

Such a feature makes it possible to offer very good ergonomics of use by simply ensuring that the iron is held in position in the base.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the base comprises a body made of plastic material, advantageously made by molding.

Such a characteristic has the advantage of allowing the production of the base at a lower cost while offering great freedom of shape that can be produced.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the base contains a reservoir.

Brief description of figures

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 appended drawings in which :

There is a perspective view of an ironing/smoothing appliance according to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the base being shown in a vertical position with the strap in the storage position and the iron placed in the storage cavity from the base;

There is a perspective view of the iron fitted to the device of the ;

There is a perspective view of the base of the device from the ;

There is another perspective view of the base of the device from the ;

There is a perspective view of the base with the strap in the deployed position;

There is a side view of the device from the with the base arranged in a horizontal position.

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

There and the represent an ironing appliance conventionally comprising an iron 1 and a portable base 2 connected together by a cord 3, partially illustrated in these figures, the base 2 being electrically connected to a domestic network by a cable, not visible in the figures .

The base 2 comprises a body of plastic material, advantageously produced by molding, and contains, in a manner known per se, a tank 20 provided with a filling hatch 21 and a pump, not visible in the figures, which draws water in the tank 20 to send it through a pipe integrated in the cord 3, in the direction of the iron 1.

In accordance with the , the iron 1 comprises a flat soleplate 10 surmounted by a body 11 and comprises a handle 12 for gripping having a front end attached to the body 11 and a free rear end projecting laterally from the body 11, the handle 12 being arranged cantilevered relative to the sole 10.

The body 11 contains in a manner known per se a foundry, not visible in the figures, which is in thermal contact with the sole 10 and which comprises a heating resistor, regulated by means of a thermostat, advantageously non-adjustable, making it possible to maintain the temperature of the sole 10 around a setpoint temperature of the order of 135°C.

The foundry is preferably made of aluminum and comprises an instantaneous vaporization chamber into which water from the tank 20 is injected by the pump, the operation of the pump being controlled by a trigger 13 placed under the front end of the handle 12. The pump and the vaporization chamber are advantageously sized to allow the production of a steam flow of the order of 25 g/min continuously when the trigger 13 is actuated.

The steam produced by the vaporization chamber is diffused through steam outlet holes 14 formed on a flat ironing surface of the soleplate 10, the latter conventionally comprising a pointed front end 10A and a rounded rear end 10B.

In accordance with the , the cord 3 comes out of the iron 1 through an opening made on an upper surface of the handle 12 and is equipped with a cord guide device 4 which holds the cord 3 in a direction inclined towards the rear of the handle 12. The rear end of the handle 12 advantageously has a bevelled shape comprising a flat rear surface 12A forming, with the plane of the sole 10, a V which has an obtuse angle α of the order of 145°.

In accordance with the , the base 2 has, in profile view, a generally oval shape and has a bulbous end comprising a first series of feet 22A, 22B, 22C, called main feet, on which the base 2 can rest stably in a vertical position, illustrated on the , and a tapered end, of smaller width, equipped with a carrying handle 23. By way of example, the base 2 has a width of between 18 and 25 cm at its bulbous end and a width of between 5 and 15 cm at its tapered end.

The base 2 has a substantially planar rear face comprising a second series of feet 24A, 24B, 24C, called side feet, advantageously made of elastomer, on which it can rest stably in a horizontal position, illustrated on the .

The base 2 also comprises a front face, visible on the , comprising a storage cavity 25 in which the iron 1 can be placed during inactive ironing phases and for its storage.

This storage cavity 25 comprises a bottom formed by an anterior plane and a posterior plane arranged in a V, the anterior plane comprising projecting pads 26 on which the soleplate 10 of the iron 1 rests and the posterior plane having a surface of support 25A on which the rear surface 12A of the handle 12 rests. Preferably, the support surface 25A has an inclination adapted so that the rear surface 12A of the handle 12 extends parallel to the support surface 25A when the sole 10 rests against the pads 26.

According to a particular embodiment, the support surface 25A and the end of the handle 12 of the iron 1 are mutually attracted to each other by magnetic attraction. For this purpose, the support surface 25A may include a magnet 27 which cooperates with a ferromagnetic material, such as a metal plate 12B, placed on the rear surface 12A of the handle 12.

Preferably, the magnet 27 is sized to exert sufficient force to hold the rear end of the handle 12 in position against the bottom of the cavity 25 during transport of the base 2 but without however generating a lifting of the base. 2 when the user pulls on the handle 12 to extract the iron 1 from its storage cavity 25. Thus, during ironing work, the user can extract the iron 1 from the storage cavity 25 without causing the base 2 to rise, whether the latter rests in the horizontal position or in the vertical position.

In accordance with the , the storage cavity 25 includes a peripheral wall 25B which matches the shape of the front end and the side edges of the soleplate 10 of the iron 1. This peripheral wall 25B advantageously extends along the edge of the anterior plane of the storage cavity 25 so as to laterally guide the front end of the iron 1 into the storage cavity 25. Preferably, the peripheral wall 25B laterally covers the body 11 over a height of less than 5 cm when the iron 1 is arranged in the storage cavity 25 so as to facilitate the positioning and extraction of the iron 1.

Thus, the depth of the storage cavity 25 at the level of the pads 26 is preferably less than 5 cm. In the particular embodiment illustrated in the figures, the depth of the storage cavity 25 oscillates between a minimum depth, close to zero, at the level of the zone receiving the rear end of the handle 12 and a maximum depth of the order of 5 cm at the level of the zone receiving the rear end of the soleplate 10, the depth at the level of the zone receiving the front end of the iron being less than 3 cm.

In the particular embodiment illustrated in the figures, the anterior plane of the storage cavity 25 and the peripheral wall 25B have a pointed end which protrudes from the base 2, this pointed end supporting one of the main legs 22A, 22B, 22C, the two other main legs being supported by two wings 20A, 20B which project from the rear face of the base 2.

Thus, the first series of feet 22A, 22B, 22C comprises two pads 22A, 22B which project from an underside of the base 1 and a foot 22C disposed at the lower end projecting from the storage cavity 25 which receives the front tip of soleplate 10 of iron 1.

In accordance with the , the anterior plane of the storage cavity 25, supporting the pads 26, is inclined with respect to the rear face of the base 2 by an angle advantageously comprised between 20° and 50° so that the pointed end of the wall peripheral 25B receiving the foot 22C is offset towards the outside of the base 2. Such a feature makes it possible in particular to increase the distance between the foot 22C and the feet 22A and 22B and therefore the stability of the base 2 in the vertical position .

Such an inclination of the storage cavity 25 also has the advantage of improving the ergonomics of use of the device by facilitating the introduction and extraction of the iron 1 into the storage cavity 25 by a movement vertical displacement of the iron 1, when the base 2 occupies the vertical position or by a horizontal displacement movement of the iron 1 when the base 2 occupies the horizontal position. Such an inclination of the storage cavity 25 also makes it easier to make it visible to the user and therefore to simplify the positioning of the iron 1 in the latter.

In accordance with the , the carrying handle 23 has an inverted U-shaped body which comprises a first end 23A which extends from a first side face of the base 2 and a second end 23B which extends from a second side face, opposite to the first side face of the base 2. The first side face of the base 2 comprises, in the extension of the carrying handle 23, a storage sheath 28 in which the cord 3 connecting the base to the iron 1, can be inserted by being folded over in the form of a loop.

The base 2 also comprises a strap 5, visible in FIGS. 3 and 4, which comprises a first end 5A fixed near the first end 23A of the carrying handle 23 and a second end 5B held on the second side face of the base 2, at a point located in the extension of the carrying handle 23, preferably at a distance from the latter.

This strap 5 allows the user to carry the device by placing the strap 5 on his shoulder, the strap 5 then being stretched, by the weight of the device, between the first 5A and second 5B ends of the strap 5 .

When the strap 5 is not used for transporting the device, it can be placed in a storage position illustrated in particular in FIGS. 1 to 3, in which the strap 5 extends along the carrying handle. 23 and on the side of the base 2.

The device thus produced has the advantage of providing improved ergonomics of use.

Indeed, the base 2 of such a device has the advantage of being able to be arranged in two stable positions. A first working position corresponding to the vertical position, illustrated in particular on the in which the base rests stably on its three main legs 22A, 22B, 22C and a second position corresponding to the horizontal position, illustrated on the wherein the base rests stably on its three side legs 24A, 24B, 24C. Thus, when using the device or for storing it, the user can decide to place the base in the position that suits him best. In particular, the integration of the foot 22C on a projecting part of the base 2 delimiting the storage cavity 25 makes it possible to increase the stability of the base 2, by moving the foot 22C away from the two feet 22A and 22B, while limiting the volume and size of the base 2.

In addition, the device thus produced has the advantage of having a shallow storage cavity 25, and open on the front face of the base 1, offering easy installation and removal of the iron 1 while ensuring stable and effective holding of the iron 1 when transporting the base 2 by the transport handle 23 or by the strap 5.

The carrying handle 23 also makes it possible to easily tilt the base 2 from the vertical to horizontal position and vice versa, without the risk of burning with the iron 1, the carrying handle 23 having the advantage of being arranged at the opposite the part of the storage cavity 25 receiving the soleplate 10 of the iron.

Finally, the presence of the strap 5 which can be placed on the shoulder of the user allows the transport of the device without generating significant fatigue and without cluttering the hands. In addition, this strap 5 has the advantage of being able to be arranged in a storage position in which the strap 5 is perfectly integrated into the base 2 and does not interfere with the user during ironing work.

Of course, the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and illustrated which has been given by way of example only. Modifications remain possible, in particular 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 a variant embodiment not shown, the base may contain a pressurized steam generator and the connecting cord connecting the base to the iron includes a conduit for transporting the steam.

Claims (10)

Household appliance comprising an ironing and/or steaming tool (1) intended to be held in the hand and a portable base (2) connected to said tool (1) by a cord (3), said base (2) comprising a storage (25) for placing said tool (1) and comprising at least a first series of feet (22A, 22B, 22C) on which the base (2) can rest stably, characterized in that the storage cavity (25) comprises at least one end which forms a projecting part on the base (2) and in that at least one of the said feet (22A, 22B, 22C) is carried by the said projecting part. Household appliance according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said tool is an iron (1) comprising an ironing soleplate (10) having a pointed front end and in that the said projecting part of the storage cavity (25) the shape of the front end and the side edges of the soleplate (10) of the iron (1). Household appliance according to Claim 2, characterized in that the storage cavity (25) comprises a bottom and a peripheral wall (25B) which laterally delimits the storage cavity (25) and in that the said foot (22C) is carried by the bottom and/or the peripheral wall (25B). Household appliance according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the base (2) has, in profile view, a generally oval shape comprising a bulbous end and a tapered opposite end, and in that the feet ( 22A, 22B, 22C) are arranged at the bulbous end of the base (2). Household appliance according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the base (2) comprises a carrying handle (23) and in that the said carrying handle (23) is arranged at the end of the base (2) opposite the end comprising the feet (22A, 22B, 22C). Household appliance according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the said feet (22A, 22B, 22C) are adapted to allow the base (2) to rest on a support according to a first stable position in which the cavity storage (25) extends substantially vertically. Household appliance according to Claim 6, characterized in that the base (2) comprises a form and/or a second series of feet (24A, 24B, 24C) adapted to allow the base (2) to rest on the support according to a second stable position, distinct from the first stable position. Household appliance according to Claim 7, characterized in that the storage cavity (25) is arranged on the upper part of the base (2) when the latter occupies the second stable position. Household appliance according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the base (2) comprises magnetic means (27) ensuring that the tool (1) is held in the storage cavity (25). Household appliance according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the base (2) contains a reservoir (20).