Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F75/00—Hand irons
  • D06F75/08—Hand irons internally heated by electricity
  • D06F75/22—Hand irons internally heated by electricity with means for supplying liquid to the article being ironed
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F79/00—Accessories for hand irons
  • D06F79/02—Stands or supports neither attached to, nor forming part of, the iron or ironing board
  • D06F79/023—Stands or supports neither attached to, nor forming part of, the iron or ironing board with means for supplying current to the iron
  • D06F79/026—Stands or supports neither attached to, nor forming part of, the iron or ironing board with means for supplying current to the iron for cordless irons

Definitions

• the present invention relates to irons and more particularly to irons called “cordless” or “cordless” which allow ironing without the iron being connected by a cord to a socket or a support during the active ironing phases where the iron is held in the hand by the user.
• Such irons most often have an internal electric heating element. They are placed during the ironing stop phases on a support which includes a rapid electric current outlet, allowing the heating of the iron and the accumulation in the iron of the energy necessary for the next active ironing phase.
• Cordless irons are also known which receive the energy required by an electromagnetic inductor or an infrared lamp located in the support as described in patent WO8803579 or by contact of the sole with a hot support as described in patent DE 3538544, or even by a liquid mass transfer as in patent W09721866.
• the user is thus freed from the discomfort caused by the cord of conventional electric irons. But to get efficient ironing, the fabric often needs to be moistened. Since the iron has a water tank, the user can use the spray or sprayer for abundant local humidification.
• the iron is not electrically supplied, the spray is generally constituted by a manual pump taking water from an iron tank, and by a nozzle. But it is difficult by this means to permanently obtain a fine and well distributed spray over the ironed surface.
• cordless irons commonly allow the use of steam produced in the iron, which includes a water tank. This vapor, being distributed through orifices in the soleplate, distributes well on the laundry. But the accumulated energy is very quickly used, which leads to short active ironing times and long recharging times compared to these ironing times active. For example, a calculation shows that a 600 gram iron producing 20 grams of steam per minute and having an installed power of 2000 Watts can iron for 26 consecutive seconds before being too cold. But then it takes at least 20 seconds to find the right temperature. In fact, the vaporization of water consumes a lot of energy, and a small percentage of the vapor produced condenses on the tissues to moisten them, so that the yield of the operation is low. Waiting to heat the iron between two ironing phases is a constraint of the cordless steam iron.
• patent JP5161798 is known.
• This patent describes an iron fitted with a piezoelectric atomizer, or nebulizer.
• the mist produced by the atomizer is projected on the front of the iron as would a conventional spray.
• the surface cannot be wetted as regularly as a steam iron would, the vapor ports of which are under the soleplate and part of the mist is lost to the environment.
• the mist arrives on the fabric through a large orifice made in the sole. But this large opening is inconvenient, to flatten the linen and to heat it in order to smooth it out, owing to the corresponding lack of sole surface.
• the atomizer requires an electric current and the iron is not cordless.
• Patent DE19735214 describes an iron provided with a piezoelectric atomizer, making it possible to moisten the ironed surface regularly and without producing steam in the iron.
• the mist produced by the atomizer very close to the sole is judiciously distributed by several orifices in this sole without having to travel a long way where it could have settled.
• the atomizer that produces the fog requires an electrical supply to operate and the iron is not cordless.
• the object of the invention is a cordless iron, comprising a water tank, capable of moistening the laundry during ironing, to increase its efficiency, as well as a steam iron, and having mass equal, better autonomy of ironing and better comfort of use than a cordless steam iron of known type.
• the object of the invention is achieved by a cordless iron, having a body comprising a handle, a sole, a water tank, remarkable in that it comprises an electrically operating water atomizer and an electric energy accumulator supplying said atomizer.
• the atomized water is deposited on the linen which it effectively moistens, the soleplate dries only the ironed fabric, while a steam iron evaporates a lot of water which condenses partly on the fabric and still needs to be dried.
• the energy saving due to the absence of vaporization allows the soleplate to stay hot longer and the iron has better autonomy.
• the electrical energy required by the atomizer for the duration of an active ironing phase is accumulated in the iron.
• the atomizer consumes much less energy than vaporization, which makes it possible to accumulate energy in batteries or capacitors which are easily accommodated in the body of the iron.
• the atomizer is a piezoelectric device. This type of device makes it possible to produce very fine drops of water, similar to a mist in a small footprint. It is also easily controllable.
• the atomized water is distributed by distribution orifices opening out under the soleplate of the iron.
• the atomized water coming from the tank is thus well guided towards the linen where it is deposited by moistening it efficiently and regularly, without losses in the environment.
• an iron thus designed with the same thermal mass and the same power as a steam iron requires only about 40% lower heating times for the soleplate, for the same time of use, with the same efficiency. This time is more than sufficient for the simultaneous recharging of the electric accumulator. With the same recharge time, there is more time for an active phase ironing.
• the atomizer comprises a planar circular diaphragm having an axis, the diaphragm being disposed near and parallel to the sole and being set in motion by a piezoelectric ring of the same axis, holes for nebulizing the water being distributed over the diaphragm outside the ring above the distribution openings.
• the atomized water is deposited on the laundry without the risk of condensing on the surrounding walls thanks to a short circuit of atomized water.
• the arrangement of the holes in the diaphragm allows a distribution of the nebulized water over a large diameter surface.
• the iron comprises a rapid electrical connector having its complementary part on a support, and a charging circuit of the electrical energy accumulator connected to the connector.
• the iron recharges in heat when the user puts it down by connecting it to the support. At least part of the electric current entering the iron supplies the accumulator through a charging circuit of a type known per se.
• the charging circuit of the accumulator comprises an electromagnetic armature receiving the energy of an electromagnetic inductor located in the support or in the ironing board.
• the transmission of the energy necessary for the atomization of water, from the support to the iron, is made possible without electrical connection.
• This arrangement is particularly advantageous when the soleplate of the iron is heated without its heating requiring a connection. The user then does not have to make electrical contact when she puts down her iron. Gestures are simplified and ironing is made easier.
• the energy accumulator is a battery of one or more sealed lead acid accumulators.
• this type of accumulator supports high charge currents without significantly affecting the number of charge / discharge cycles and without significant usage restriction in terms of charge current / capacity ratio. This optimizes the charging time of the accumulator
• Figure 1 is a schematic longitudinal section of a cordless iron according to the invention.
• Figure 2 is a schematic section of the iron atomizer.
• Figure 3 is a view of the iron placed on a support showing the electrical connection of the iron on the support, in partial section.
• Figure 4 is a second version of an iron according to the invention placed on a support.
• Figure 5 is a third version of an iron according to the invention placed on an induction ironing board.
• the iron comprises a body 1 with a handle 11, a soleplate 2 secured to a heating base 21 made of cast aluminum alloy and comprising a heating element 211, a water tank 3 having a filling orifice 31.
• the water tank 3 is in communication with an atomizer 4 better visible in FIG. 2.
• the atomizer 4 comprises a circular diaphragm 41 vibrated at an ultrasonic frequency by a piezoelectric ring 42. So known, the diaphragm is pierced with holes 411 small enough not to let water pass when the diaphragm is stationary and to atomize it when it vibrates.
• the openings 22 are preferably arranged outside of the ring 42 over a large diameter area and above outlet openings 22 passing through the heating base 21 and the sole 2.
• the openings 22 have a portion shape crown having the same axis as the ring and their width does not exceed ten millimeters.
• the openings form a discontinuous circle, which allows the part 212 of the heating base located under the ring 42 and the diaphragm 41 to form a body with the rest of the base 21, and in particular to transmit heat to the sole 2
• the iron comprises an electrical connector 5, the male pins 51 of which are visible in FIG. 1 allowing the iron to receive the electric current from the sector.
• This connector is connected to a charging circuit 6 of a storage battery 7, and, via a thermostatic device adjustable by the button 10, to the heating element 211.
• the battery 7 is composed of two elements of sealed lead acid batteries.
• the battery CPS405 from the manufacturer Vision, having a capacity of 0.5 Ampere an hour for a voltage of 4 Volts is suitable, and its volume of less than 30 cubic centimeters is easily accommodated in the iron.
• the battery 7 supplies the electricity to the control and regulation circuit 8 of the atomizer 4.
• a trigger-shaped control 9 located under the handle 11 allows the atomizer to start up.
• circuit 8 also includes elements of an electronic thermostat.
• the housewife places it on a support 100 visible in FIG. 3, connected to the electrical sector by a cord 101.
• the support 100 comprises a connector 102 complementary to the connector 5 of the iron and receiving the current electrical cord 101.
• the ergonomics of the assembly is provided so that, when the housewife places the iron on the support 100, the connector 5 of the iron easily fits onto that of the support. The electrical connection is then ensured, which allows the iron to recharge.
• the atomizer 4 consumes with circuit 8 a very low energy compared to the thermal energy of the sole, with a power of less than ten watts, in the example described three Watts, easily supplied by the battery 7 previously charged. This power is to be compared to the approximately 900 thermal Watts which would be consumed to vaporize the quantity of water necessary for a comparable ironing efficiency. We then understand that the iron described saves a lot of energy which allows a much better autonomy in comparison with known cordless irons.
• the housewife deposits her iron again on the support 100 where the soleplate heats up again in a known manner and the battery is recharged.
• the charging current of the lead-acid battery 7 can be high without prejudice to its capacity, and the charging time of the battery does not cause an increase in the pause time. A new phase of use can then resume.
• the support 100 includes a control circuit 103 which controls a first high frequency inductor 104 and a second inductor 102.
• the inductor 104 is located near the soleplate of the iron placed on the support and induction heating.
• the second inductor 102 is located near the heel of the iron placed on the support.
• the heel of the iron does not have a connector but an armature 5 receiving the flux from the inductor 102.
• the iron charging circuit is connected to the armature 5 and it rectifies the current to charge the battery.
• the support 100 also includes a set of sensors 105 allowing the detection of the presence of iron and reading of information concerning the temperature of the sole. Presence detection can preferably be optical thanks to a reflective plate placed under the heel of the iron, or magnetic. Information on the soleplate temperature can be read directly by an appropriate sensor, or transmitted from the iron to the base by a signal sent by the iron regulation circuit.
• the operation of the iron is identical to that of the previous iron, but does not require any physical connection between the iron and its support, which makes ironing even easier.
• the armature 5 of the iron is arranged substantially parallel to the sole, for example in the substantially horizontal part of the heel.
• the iron is used with an induction ironing table 500 provided with inductors 501 whose operation is known. Part of the flow of inductors 501 reaches the armature 5, which allows recharging of the battery, even during the active ironing phases, which are then no longer limited in duration.
• the iron takes maximum advantage of the increase in autonomy of water in the reservoir, due to the use of an atomizer and the arrangement described.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Irons (AREA)
• Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
• Cookers (AREA)
• Electrolytic Production Of Non-Metals, Compounds, Apparatuses Therefor (AREA)
• Percussion Or Vibration Massage (AREA)
• Thermotherapy And Cooling Therapy Devices (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=8856761

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Families Citing this family (29)

Family Cites Families (15)

• 2000
  • 2000-11-22 FR FR0015082A patent/FR2816963B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2001
  • 2001-11-15 ES ES01982652T patent/ES2253435T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-11-15 WO PCT/IB2001/002146 patent/WO2002042545A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2001-11-15 JP JP2002545238A patent/JP2004514482A/ja active Pending
  • 2001-11-15 DE DE60116372T patent/DE60116372T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-11-15 US US10/432,255 patent/US6857209B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-11-15 EP EP01982652A patent/EP1336005B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-11-15 AT AT01982652T patent/ATE314519T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2001-11-15 AU AU2002214194A patent/AU2002214194A1/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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