Patent Grant
7082705
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
In the past, ironing board covers have been made from many different materials to provide a support surface for a hot iron that is resistant to scorching and burning from the iron. Some designs incorporate scorch resistant materials into the fabric of the entire cover, while other designs attach separate panels and pads to the cover.
While these previous designs offer limited protection from the heat from an iron, none of these previous designs offer protection from the steam that often emits from an iron. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,381,884 discloses an iron having a sole plate with outlet holes for emitting steam. There are many different designs for similar steam irons. In previous designs, the ironing board cover absorbs the steam thereby causing the cover to become damp and resulting in stains on the cover. The cover must then be cleaned to remove the stains, which is an additional task often loathed by the owner.
Therefore, there is a long felt need for a ironing board cover that supports a hot iron and is resistant to both heat and steam, and for methods of use.
The invention is an ironing board cover assembly for use with an iron having an ironing surface and methods of use. The ironing board cover assembly comprises an ironing board cover with a heat-resistant and waterproof panel attached to the ironing board cover. The panel has a base with a continuous brim defining a basin and a plurality of protuberances capable of supporting the iron. When the iron is placed with the ironing surface facing the panel, the iron is supported by the protuberances so that a gap is formed between the ironing surface and the base to allow steam to flow through the gap about the protuberances and condense in the basin.
In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification:
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.
The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. The description clearly enables one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives, and uses of the invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the invention.
As shown in
The cover 12 is shaped to fit over an ironing board 18. The ironing board 18 is embodied as a typical ironing board with a generally rectangular rear portion 20 and a narrowing nose portion 22, which is supported by legs 24. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that any shape of ironing board can be used. The cover 12 also includes a binding 26, including but not limited to a bungee cord, elastic, or drawstring, positioned around the perimeter of the cover 12 for securing the cover 12 to the ironing board 18.
The cover 12 can be made of cotton as known in the art, or can be made from a material with burn/scorch resistant characteristics, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,481. In other embodiments, the cover 12 includes multiple layers of materials, including but not limited to a layer of foam padding.
The generally rectangular shaped panel 14 includes a base 27 having an upper surface 28. A continuous unitary brim 30 extends upwardly from the upper surface 28 around the perimeter of the base 27, thereby forming a basin 31. A plurality of protuberances 32 unitary with the base 27 project upwardly from the upper surface 28. In the preferred embodiment, the hemispherically shaped protuberances 32 extend upwardly from the upper surface 28 forming a generally planar lattice of contact points 34, which are capable of supporting an iron 36. In the preferred embodiment, each protuberance is about 7/16″ in diameter and each protuberance extends about ¼″ from the upper surface 28. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the size of the protuberences can be any appropriate size that allows steam to flow with minimal restriction. Also the preferred embodiment includes a 6×9 lattice of contact points, but other arrangements of different shapes, sizes, and numbers, can be used.
While the preferred embodiment includes hemispheric protuberances, those skilled in the art will recognize that other shapes can be used, including but not limited to cubical, frusto-conical, pyramidal-frustum, truncated, and catenoid shapes. In alternate embodiments, each protuberance can include more than one contact point.
As shown in
The base surface 28 effectively blocks steam from contacting the cover 12, which prevents the cover 12 from absorbing the steam and becoming damp or stained. A portion of the steam will condense onto the panel 14 and be retained within the basin 31.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that other appropriate means of securing the panel 14 can be used, including but not limited to adhesive or removable fasteners, such as snaps. In an alternate embodiment shown in
The panel 14 is preferably made from a flexible, heat resistant, and waterproof material including but not limited to elastomers, such as high temperature silicone rubber, having a heat resistance high enough to resist, at peak heating loads for an extended period of time, scorching and burning from direct contact with a hot iron surface and damage from steam. The panel 14 is preferably molded, such as by injection molding, to be one unitary piece.
In operation, the cover 12 is placed over the ironing board 18, with the binding 26 securing the cover 12 underneath the ironing board 18. The operator turns on the iron 36 and begins ironing clothes on the board 18 and cover 12. When not ironing but while the iron 36 and the steam option is on, the operator can place the iron 36 directly onto the panel 14 allowing the sole plate 37 to extend approximately parallel to the base 27. In this position, the sole plate 37 rests on the contact points 34 of the protuberances 32. As mentioned above, the panel 14 prevents the steam from contacting the cover 12 and allows the steam to condense and collect within the basin 31.
Changes can be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
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