A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The present invention relates generally to ironing board storage systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a cabinet storage system for improving organization, accessibility, space efficiency and convenience of necessary components and accessories for ironing. In one embodiment, the cabinet storage system is a pull-out cabinet.
Built-in ironing centers are a common feature in many homes and have been created in many different configurations over the last century but these generally require clear wall space to be either built into or attached to.
These systems generally contain reduced sized ironing boards and they are often a visually undesirable feature on the wall of the room.
Generally the invention provides for a new an esthetically pleasing system for storing and using an ironing board and its associated accompaniments. By residing within a narrow space in a wall cabinet the impact on a room when not in use is negligible. When ironing is needed, access is very easy and quick; and when no longer needed it is just as efficient to put away.
Turning to the figures,
In the pull-out embodiment, cabinet 14 mounts to base mount 50 which is attached to and rides on base slide 52. Top slide 54 is located at the top of pull-out cabinet 14. In one embodiment, cord hook 56 is attached to the inside of cabinet 14 near iron dock 16.
The pull-out feature of the present invention overcomes space and aesthetic issues by fitting into a wall or wall cabinet in a sideways configuration. This arrangement enables the ironing center to be completely contained behind a very narrow door. In one embodiment, the door panel is less than 18 inches wide. In another embodiment, the door panel is less than 12 inches wide. In yet another embodiment, the door panel is less than 10 or 8 or 6 inches wide.
Once the ironing center cabinet is pulled out into the room it is latched into a stationary position by applying a stability latch 36 and then pulling the top of the ironing board 12 forward and the bottom up until latch pin 26 catches on strike plate 28 (see
To put the pull-out ironing center away the user will pull the latch release 30 and move the extended end of the ironing board 12 upward and into the pull-out cabinet 14. Release the stability latch 36 and return the whole unit back into the stored position within the wall cabinet where it will blend in seamlessly with other adjacent cabinetry.
One objective of the present invention is to provide the consumer with a compact, space efficient and very convenient complete ironing center that can be an accessory cabinet component integrated into cabinetry.
In the preferred embodiment this pull-out ironing center will be sized to contain a full size ironing board and spaces for storage of ironing accessories and an iron dock for safe storage of and a convenient location for a standard household iron.
Furthermore, it is an object of this application to illustrate the preferred embodiments and broadly state the methodologies that may be used in order to facilitate the assemblies of a complete ironing center into a narrow portion of wall cabinets.
While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not of limitation. Likewise, the various diagrams may depict an example architectural or other configuration for the invention, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that can be included in the invention. The invention is not restricted to the illustrated example architectures or configurations, but the desired features can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Indeed, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art how alternative functional, logical or physical partitioning and configurations can be implemented to implement the desired features of the present invention. Also, a multitude of different constituent module names other than those depicted herein can be applied to the various partitions. Additionally, with regard to flow diagrams, operational descriptions and method claims, the order in which the steps are presented herein shall not mandate that various embodiments be implemented to perform the recited functionality in the same order unless the context dictates otherwise.
Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” should be read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like; the term “example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; the terms “a” or “an” should be read as meaning “at least one,” “one or more” or the like; and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,” “standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, where this document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in the future.
A group of items linked with the conjunction “and” should not be read as requiring that each and every one of those items be present in the grouping, but rather should be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction “or” should not be read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should also be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore, although items, elements or components of the invention may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated to be within the scope thereof unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated.
The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may be absent. The use of the term “module” does not imply that the components or functionality described or claimed as part of the module are all configured in a common package. Indeed, any or all of the various components of a module, whether control logic or other components, can be combined in a single package or separately maintained and can further be distributed across multiple locations.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/388,171, entitled, “Pull-Out Ironing Center,” filed on Jan. 19, 2016. The disclosure of the related application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62388171 | Jan 2016 | US |