JPH0447593B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a water inlet cover device used in a steam iron for general household use.

Conventional Structure and Problems Conventionally, in the opening/closing mechanism of this type of steam iron water filler spout cover, as shown in FIG. The water inlet cover 3 is provided with a hinge portion 4 and a locking portion 5 for locking onto the handle 1. In FIG. 1, the solid line indicates the state in which the water inlet cover 3 is closed.

Now, in this state, the tank 6 installed on the handle 1
When pouring water into the tank, it is first necessary to remove the locking part 5 from the handle 2 by grasping a part of the water inlet cover 3 by hand, and then open the water inlet cover 3 to the position shown by the dotted line in Figure 1. It was hot. Furthermore, with this type of water inlet cover, the water inlet cover 3 moves in the direction of arrow A in the figure due to its own weight and covers the water inlet part 1, making it very difficult to fill the water. It was necessary to support the situation. Next, when ironing is done after pouring water, the water filler lid 3 is closed, but in this case as well, hold the water filler spout cover 3 by hand and hold the locking part 5 with the handle 2.
It was necessary to securely lock it. This operation could hardly be called a good method in terms of the usability of the iron.

By the way, a method shown in FIG. 2 is known as a method that does not require the operation of supporting the water inlet cover 3 at the position indicated by the dotted line during water injection. That is, the water inlet cover 8 is slidably provided between the handle 7 and the handle cover 9 as a method of attaching the handle 7 and the water inlet cover 8. If the water inlet cover 8 is pushed down and the water inlet part 10 is opened, Since the water inlet cover 8 does not close the water inlet part 10 when water is poured, there is no need to support the water inlet cover 8 by hand, which is convenient.

However, in any case, when opening the water filler lid,
Even when closing it, I had to hold the water filler lid firmly with my hand and move it to that position. As described above, according to the conventional system, there was a problem in that it was troublesome to open and close the water inlet cover when pouring water.

Purpose of the Invention The present invention solves these conventional problems and enables the opening and closing of the water filler lid by simply pressing a button to either open or close the water filler lid when filling or draining water from a steam iron. This eliminates the hassle of closing the door.

Structure of the Invention A handle forming a water inlet into the iron, a water inlet cover slidably provided on the handle to open and close the water inlet, and biased in either the opening or closing direction. and a locking mechanism that holds the water inlet cover in a position that is moved in a direction opposite to the biasing direction of the biasing member. The opening or closing operation of the water inlet cover is made up of a foot-shaped claw, a groove in the handle that the claw engages with, and a button that is movably attached to the handle and releases the claw from the groove. This simplified version improves ease of use when pouring and draining the iron.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 3 is a specific perspective view showing a method of using the present invention, in which a water inlet cover 13 is slidably provided between the handle 11 and the handle cover 12. This figure shows the water inlet 14 in an open state. Here, 15 is a button for releasing the lock mechanism, but if you pour water into the iron from the water inlet 14 and then press the button 15 for releasing the lock mechanism, the lock mechanism will be released, although it is not shown in the figure. The water inlet cover 13 is automatically slid upward by the urging member that urges the water inlet cover 13 upward to close the water inlet 14.

In this way, according to this embodiment, the water filler lid can be easily closed by simply pressing the button after pouring water into the iron, making it possible to operate with one hand and improving usability when opening and closing the water filler lid of the iron. It is something. Furthermore, if the biasing member is configured to urge the water inlet cover 13 downward, when the lock mechanism release button 15 is pressed to inject water into the iron, the water inlet cover 13 will automatically move downward, and the water inlet 14 will be automatically moved downward. will open.

In this manner, the water inlet cover 13 can be automatically moved to the open or closed state depending on which direction the biasing member urges the water inlet cover 13.

Next, the principle of operation of the water inlet cover of this embodiment will be explained in detail with reference to FIG. To simplify the explanation, we will explain the mechanism by which the water inlet cover automatically closes when the locking device is released.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention, and 1
1 is a handle provided with a water inlet 14; 13 is a water inlet cover for opening and closing the water inlet portion 14; the handle cover 1;
2 and the handle 11 so as to be slidable therebetween. Reference numeral 16 indicates a biasing member that biases the water inlet cover 13 upward.

In the above configuration, when the water inlet cover 13 is moved downward, that is, in the direction in which the water inlet 14 is opened, the biasing member 16 made of a spring or the like is compressed, and the locking device is activated at the position where the water inlet 14 is completely opened. , the water inlet cover 13 is held in that position. Note that the lock device will be described later.

In this state, after water is injected into the handle 11 from the water inlet 14, the locking device is released. That is, when the button 15 for releasing the lock mechanism is operated, the biasing member 16 tries to return to its original length, so that the water inlet cover 13 is pushed upward by the biasing force, and the water inlet portion 14 is pushed up. will be closed.

Next, the lock mechanism will be explained. In FIG. 5, the water inlet cover 13 is provided with a claw portion 17 for holding the water inlet cover 13 in the open position. Further, the handle cover 12 has a claw portion 17 of the water inlet cover 13.
A groove 18 is provided for holding and holding the claw 17, and a button 15 is set for releasing the state in which the claw 17 is held and held in the groove 18.

In the above configuration, the water inlet cover 13 is connected to the water inlet part 14.
The closed state is shown in Fig. 6a. Here, the water inlet cover 13 is pushed upward by the urging member 16. Then, as the water inlet cover 13 is gradually pushed down, the claw 17 bites into the groove 18 at the point where the tab 17 matches the groove 18, and the water inlet cover 1
3 will be held in that position. At this time, the water inlet portion 14 is opened. Here, the claw 17 needs to have elasticity so that it bites into the groove 18. This can be done by integral molding of resin, or it is also possible to bias the claw 17 against the groove 18 using a separate part.

Now, with the water inlet cover 13 held in the state shown in FIG. Since the biasing member 16, which had contracted the moment it came off, attempts to return to its original position, the water inlet cover 13 is pushed upward and closes the water inlet portion 14.

As described above, according to this embodiment, by using a simple locking mechanism and biasing member 16, the troublesome operation of opening and closing the water inlet cover 13 during water filling or draining can be simplified.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above embodiments, the water inlet cover device of the present invention includes a biasing member that biases the water inlet cover in the opening or closing direction, and a locking device that holds the water inlet cover in the open or closed state. This makes it possible to simplify the troublesome operation of opening and closing the water inlet cover during water filling or draining, thereby providing an iron that is easy to use.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 are side sectional views of a conventional iron water inlet lid device, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing how to use the iron water inlet lid device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a conventional iron water inlet lid device. FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of the locking device, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the main part showing the operating state of the device. 13...Water inlet cover, 14...Water inlet, 16...
Biasing member, 17...claw (locking device), 18...
...Groove (locking device).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A handle that forms a water inlet into the iron, a water inlet cover that is slidably provided on the handle and that opens and closes the water inlet, and an energizer that biases the water inlet cover in either the opening or closing direction. The device includes a biasing member and a locking mechanism that holds the water inlet cover in a position that is moved in a direction opposite to the biasing direction of the biasing member. A water filling spout cover device for an iron comprising a shaped claw, a groove of a handle with which the claw engages, and a button movably attached to the handle to release the claw from the groove.