Ironing table comprising an iron holder

Abstract

An ironing board includes a board (1), an iron rest (13) and two legs (4, 5), at least one beam member (2, 3) rigidly connected to the lower surface of the board (1) and guiding one end of one (4) of the legs in a sliding manner, a portion (2a, 3a) of the at least one beam member (2, 3) protruding from the edge of the board (1) and the iron rest (13) being supported on the protruding portion (2a, 3a).

Description

The present invention relates to an ironing board, particularly an ironing board having a part intended to receive an iron.

Typically, an ironing board comprises a board mounted on two elements forming legs, one end of at least one of the two elements forming legs being mounted such that it slides along at least one beam member forming a rail, preferable two beam members, fixed to the lower face of the board. Sliding enables the ironing board to move from a folded position for storage, in which the elements forming a leg are folded substantially parallel to the board, and an extended position for use, in which the board is arranged horizontally, supported by the elements forming a leg, the end of at least one element forming a leg being abutted against abutment means, particularly the teeth of a rack, to thus prevent sliding. A conventional ironing board also comprises an iron rest made of a different material to that covering the surface of the board, particularly a material that can withstand heat, so that the iron can be placed here while still hot, thus allowing the user to have their hands free.

As a general rule, an iron rest consists of a base made from stamped sheet metal or moulded plastics material and is fixed to a support by welding or by clipping, for example made of wire or a bent tube. This support is then fixed to the board or to an intermediate element beneath the board. The disadvantage of this arrangement is that it is not very rigid and is complex to use.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

The object of the invention is an ironing board according to claim 1, improvements thereto being defined in the dependent claims.

This thus dispenses with the need for a support made of wire or a bent tube specific to each iron rest to be fitted additionally on or beneath the board specifically to support the iron rest. A more rigid assembly, which is more compact, easier to use and identical for different types of iron rest is thus obtained.

Preferably, the ironing board comprises two beam members, each having a portion protruding from the board, thus improving the stability of the assembly.

According to one favourable embodiment, two legs are provided and the end of the other of the two legs is fixed to the portion of the at least one beam member protruding from the board to increase the pivoting range and thus allow a wider height adjustment range for the ironing board, also making the table more compact.

According to another equally favourable embodiment, two legs are provided and the end of the other of the two legs is fixed to the portion of the at least one beam member that does not protrude from the board.

Preferably, the portion of each side element protruding from the board is substantially the same length as the width of the iron, in particular is slightly shorter in length than the width of the iron rest. The iron rest is thus supported across its entire longitudinal direction.

Preferably, each side element has at least one main portion having a substantially U, C or S-shaped cross-section.

Preferably, the end mounted such that it can slide of one leg comprises two wheels, each of which rolls in a respective beam member such as to move longitudinally while being guided in the beam member, both wheels being joined together in translational movement since they are connected by an axle.

The ironing board may comprise a rack comprising a plurality of teeth, which, between them, define hollow spaces intended to receive the axle so as to stop the sliding end of the sliding element forming a leg from moving.

The iron rest may be fixed by screwing, clipping, welding or riveting or by similar means to the beam members.

The iron rest may be made of stamped sheet metal, moulded plastics material or any other heat-resistant material that provides the iron rest with sufficient rigidity to support an iron or a steam generator.

Preferably, the at least one beam member is made of metal, particularly steel or aluminium, plastics material, wood or another similar material.

Preferably, the board is in one piece, in particular it does not comprise a part that can be folded over the rest of the board.

Preferably, the ironing board may move between a folded position for storage, in which the at least one element forming a leg is folded substantially parallel to the board, and an extended position for use, in which the board is arranged horizontally, supported by the at least one element forming a leg, and said one portion of the at least one beam member protrudes from the edge of the board and the iron rest is supported on the protruding portion in the extended usage position and/or in the storage position.

Preferably, the iron rest has a lower face in direct contact with the upper face of the at least one beam member.

Preferably, the upper face of the iron rest is at the same level as the upper face of the board.

By way of example, a preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of an ironing board according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ironing board from FIG. 1, before attaching the iron rest;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the assembled ironing board from FIG. 1, the board and the iron rest being shown as transparent, and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an ironing board according to another embodiment, the board and the iron rest being shown as transparent.

The ironing board comprises a board 1 in the traditional shape for an ironing board, substantially rectangular, flared towards the front, having a curved front edge and a straight rear edge which is wider than the front edge. Preferably, the board 1 is in one piece, and in particular does not comprise a part that can be folded over the rest of the board.

Two parallel horizontal beam members 2 and 3 are fixed with screws to the lower face of the board 1 so as to be rigidly connected thereto, i.e., in particular without there being any possibility of mutual sliding between the beam members 2, 3 and the board 1. The board 1 is supported by two elements 4 and 5 forming legs. Each element 4 and 5 forming a leg consists of two feet connected by a spacer and two parallel tubes connected to each other at their lower end by the spacer and at their upper end by a respective horizontal bar 6 and 7. The bar 6 is pivotally mounted between the two beam members. A handle 8 is mounted as an integral part of the horizontal bar 6 and protruding perpendicularly from said bar, and an axle 9 is mounted at the upper end of the two parallel tubes of the element forming a leg 4, each end of the axle 9 comprising a wheel 10.

Each beam member 2 and 3 comprises a portion, 2a and 3a respectively, protruding from the board 1 by its rear edge, and a portion, 2b and 3b respectively, with a C-shaped cross-section fixed to the lower surface of the board 1. Each of the portions 2b and 3b with a C-shaped cross-section forms a rail for a respective wheel 10 allowing the axle 9 to slide along these two rails 2b and 3b. Thus, if the axle 9 slides up to the end of the beam members 2 and 3 located on the side of the front edge of the board 1, the element 4 forming a leg is substantially parallel to the board 1, as is the element 5 forming a leg, the element 5 forming a leg being mounted such that it is rotationally fixed with the bar 7, which is pivotally mounted on the protruding portions 2a and 3a without any possibility of sliding.

According to another embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the bar 7 is pivotally mounted on the portions 2b and 3b of the beam members that are not protruding, without any possibility of sliding.

A rack 11, comprising a plurality of teeth, which, between them, define hollow spaces intended to receive the axle 9, is rigidly connected to the bar 6. When the axle 9 is received in one of the hollow spaces on the rack, the rack blocks displacement of the wheels 10 in the beam members 2 and 3 and thus prevents the legs 4 and 5 from pivoting. As a function of the hollow space in which the axle 9 is positioned, it is possible to adjust the height of the position of the ironing board. The rack 11 is pivoted by the user using the handle 8 which is rotationally fixed to the rack 11 by the bar 6. A spring 12 serves to move back the handle 8 when released by the user.

An iron rest 13 is fixed to the portions 2a and 3a protruding from the rear edge of the board 1. The length of the iron rest in the longitudinal direction of the ironing board is substantially equal to the length of the portions 2a and 3a protruding from the rear edge of the board 1 and the width of said iron rest, in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the ironing board, is substantially equal to the width of the rear edge of the ironing board. The iron rest 13 has a rim surrounding a central part which is intended to receive an iron.

According to an embodiment, the iron rest 13 is made of stamped metal sheet.

According to another embodiment, the iron rest 13 is made of moulded plastics material or any other heat-resistant material that provides the iron rest with sufficient rigidity to support an iron or a steam generator.

According to an embodiment, the iron rest 13 is screwed, riveted, clipped, welded or similar to the portions 2a and 3a protruding from the rear edge of the board 1.

According to another embodiment, the iron rest 13 is riveted to the portions 2a and 3a protruding from the rear edge of the board 1.

Claims

1. An ironing board comprising a board (1) having a peripheral edge, an iron rest (13) extending at least partly outside the peripheral edge and at least one leg (4), at least one beam member (2, 3) rigidly connected to the board (1) and guiding one end of the leg (4) or one of the legs in a sliding manner, characterised in that a portion (2a, 3a) of the at least one beam member (2, 3) protrudes from the edge of the board (1) and the iron rest (13) is supported on the protruding portion (2a, 3a).

2. The ironing board according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises two beam members (2, 3), each having a portion (2a, 3a) protruding from the board (1).

3. The ironing board according to claim 2, characterised in that each beam member (2, 3) has at least one main portion (2b, 3b) having a substantially U or C-shaped cross-section.

4. The ironing board according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises two legs (4, 5) and the end of the other (5) of the two legs is fixed to the portion (2a, 3a) of the at least one beam member protruding from the board (1).

5. The ironing board according to claim 1, characterised in that two legs are provided and the end of the other of the two legs is fixed to the portion (2b, 3b) of the at least one beam member that is not protruding from the board.

6. The ironing board according to claim 1, characterised in that the portion (2a, 3a) of each beam member protruding from the board (1) is substantially the same length as the width of the iron rest (13), in particular is slightly shorter in length than the width of the iron rest (13).

7. The ironing board according to claim 2, characterised in that the end mounted such that it can slide of one leg comprises two wheels (10), each of which rolls in a respective beam member (2, 3) such as to move longitudinally while being guided in the beam member (2, 3), both wheels (10) being joined together in translational movement since they are connected by an axle (9).

8. The ironing board according to claim 7, characterised in that it comprises a rack (11) comprising a plurality of teeth, which, between them, define hollow spaces intended to receive the axle (9) so as to stop the sliding end of the element forming a leg from moving.

9. The ironing board according to claim 1, characterised in that the iron rest (13) is fixed by screwing or riveting to the beam members (2, 3).

10. The ironing board according to claim 1, characterised in that the iron rest (13) is made of stamped sheet metal or moulded plastics material.

11. The ironing board according to claim 1, characterised in that the or each beam member is rigidly connected to the lower surface of the board.

12. The ironing board according to claim 1, characterised in that the board is in one piece, particularly in that it does not comprise a part that can be folded over the rest of the board.

13. The ironing board according to claim 1, characterised in that the ironing board may move between a folded position for storage, in which the at least one element forming a leg is folded substantially parallel to the board, and an extended position for use, in which the board is arranged horizontally, supported by the at least one element forming a leg, and said one portion of the at least one beam member protrudes from the edge of the board and the iron rest is supported on the protruding portion at least in the storage position.