Patent Application
20080250676
The present invention relates to an adjustable ironing board cover and in particular to an ironing board cover including a tensioning means to assist in keeping the cover taut over an ironing board and adjusting means so that the cover may accommodate ironing boards of different sizes.
Domestic ironing boards generally include an ironing table mounted on a pair of pivoting legs that adjust the height of the table. The ironing table also includes a pad to assist in dissipating the heat from an iron, the pad itself covered by a suitable material cover. This cover usually not only extends over the surface of the table but also extends around the periphery of the table. A drawstring or an elastic binding is known to be used around the periphery to assist in keeping the cover in place. The problem with these is that they are not very effective in keeping the cover taut across the table especially in the longitudinal direction. Through use the cover generally moves or rotates requiring continuous adjustment.
The present applicant is the owner of a co-pending Australian patent application which relates to an ironing board including a plurality of sheets, the first of which extends over the surface and periphery of the ironing board table and the second of which extends underneath the table. The second sheet is elastic (suitably made of synthetic materials such as those used in wetsuits, where the material is homogeneous in its resilience in all directions) and thereby provides a tensioning force on the sheet to keep the cover taut over the ironing board table.
Although effective in providing a taut cover for the ironing board, the applicant has recognized that such covers are not capable of sufficiently accommodating ironing boards of different shapes and sizes. In particular, ironing boards are available in a variety of different widths and lengths and at present, significant time and material needs to be used to manufacture covers for accommodating such boards.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an ironing board cover which overcomes this problem or at least provides the public with a useful alternative.
Therefore in one form of the invention there is proposed an ironing board cover for an ironing board having an ironing table, said cover including:
Preferably said second portion is secured to the periphery of said first portion.
In preference said second portion includes a longitudinal opening defined partially by spaced apart side edges, said opening enabling the cover to be fitted over at least first and second leg assemblies supporting the table.
Preferably at least a portion of said opening is closeable by use of an insert of predetermined width fastened to said spaced apart side edges. Inserts of different width may be selected according to the width of the ironing table.
Preferably said insert is fastened using a zipper. Alternatively said insert is fastened using a hook and loop fastener.
In a further embodiment of the present invention said second portion includes a transverse opening defined partially by spaced apart side edges.
Preferably at least a portion of said opening is closeable by use of an insert of predetermined length fastened to said spaced apart side edges. Inserts of different length may be selected according to the width of the ironing table.
Preferably said insert is fastened using a zipper. Alternatively said insert is fastened using a hook and loop fastener.
In a further embodiment, said second portion includes a longitudinal opening defined by two flaps which are closeable by fastening means along internal edges thereof, one of said flaps including a plurality of further fastening means spaced outwardly from said side edge fastening means to thereby accommodate ironing tables of different width.
In preference said fastening means is a zipper. Alternatively said fastening means is a hook and loop fastener.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several implementations of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings,
The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Although the description includes exemplary embodiments, other embodiments are possible, and changes may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts.
Referring to the figures there is shown in
The ironing table 12 includes a peripheral edge 34 usually of an ‘L’ shape. Located on the underside 36 of the table 12 are various supporting structures that may include support rails (not shown) that enable the table to be used for ironing purposes. The ironing board cover 38 of the present invention extends across the top surface of the table 12, around the peripheral edge 34 with the edge of the cover 38 located close to the proximity of the ‘L’ shaped peripheral edge 34.
Although not shown, the cover 38 preferably includes a first sheet extending over the upper surface of table 12 around the edge 34, and a second sheet extending partially underneath the table 12 and secured by appropriate means (such as stitching) to the peripheral edge of the first sheet. The second sheet is manufactured from an elastic material to provide a tensioning force to the first sheet and thus keep it taut over the ironing table 12. It has been found that even a relatively small surface area of the elastic material provides sufficient tensioning to keep the cover taut in place. The use of such resilient material forms the subject matter of a co-pending patent application owned by the present inventor. Suitable materials for the underside of the cover 38 may include synthetic materials such as those used in wetsuits, where the material is homogeneous in its resilience in all directions.
An opening 40 in the cover 38 allows it to be fitted over the table and for the legs 14 to slidably move along the underside of the table from a storage to a working position. The opening 40 extends along the length of the underside 36 and includes transverse slits 42 and 44 at positions which allow the leg assemblies 14 and 16 to pass when in the working position. As mentioned in the preamble of the invention, a need has been recognized by the present inventor for such covers to include adjustment means in order to accommodate ironing tables of different widths and lengths, thereby alleviating the need to manufacture different sized covers for such tables.
As those skilled in the art would realise, for two zip portions to engage, one portion must include a slideably moveable zipper adapted to engage a track on the other portion. For the purposes of the present invention, it is not essential which portion 46 or 52, or 48 or 54, includes the track or zipper, as long as the zipper is located on the outer side of the cover so that the insert 38 may be easily attached and removed. Furthermore, it is not essential that the insert be attached between the opening using only zips. Any other appropriate attachment means, such as hook and loop fasteners, could equally well be used.
As mentioned earlier, the cover could be configured not only to accommodate ironing boards of different width but also of different length.
The skilled addressee should now appreciate how the present invention overcomes problems associated with fitting the applicant's improved ironing board cover to ironing boards of different shapes and sizes. It is to be understood that the cover embodied herein may include other features that are not essential to the invention but provide additional assisting features. For example, the cover may include an opening (not shown) allowing an iron holder to extend from the table.
Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. For example, further improvements to the invention may be the use of different types of elastic materials, such as ones where the elasticity is in one-dimension only.
Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope and spirit of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.
In any claims that follow and in the summary of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprising” is used in the sense of “including”, i.e. the features specified may be associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007901890 | Apr 2007 | AU | national |
