US3095493A - Dual voltage flatiron - Google Patents

Dual voltage flatiron Download PDF

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Publication number
US3095493A
US3095493A US166571A US16657162A US3095493A US 3095493 A US3095493 A US 3095493A US 166571 A US166571 A US 166571A US 16657162 A US16657162 A US 16657162A US 3095493 A US3095493 A US 3095493A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
handle
switch
iron
voltage
operated
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US166571A
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English (en)
Inventor
Arthur C Downing
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
General Electric Co
Original Assignee
General Electric Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by General Electric Co filed Critical General Electric Co
Priority to US166571A priority Critical patent/US3095493A/en
Priority to GB1353/63A priority patent/GB976771A/en
Priority to DEP1270A priority patent/DE1270705B/de
Priority to CH47463A priority patent/CH397104A/de
Priority to FR921571A priority patent/FR1344695A/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3095493A publication Critical patent/US3095493A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/02—Bases, casings, or covers
    • H01H9/06—Casing of switch constituted by a handle serving a purpose other than the actuation of the switch, e.g. by the handle of a vacuum cleaner

Definitions

  • This invention relates to electric tiatirons which may be selectively operated on two different voltages, and more particularly to such an iron which is protected against inadvertent connection to a high voltage source when the voltage selector is in a low voltage position.
  • the invention may be employed in any dual voltage flatiron, but is particularly useful in connection with travel irons.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a dual voltage travel iron which is automatically set for high voltage operation whenever the iron is placed in a stowage or non-ironing position and which must be consciously set for low voltage operation when desired.
  • one aspect of the invention relates to a dual voltage flatiron having dual heating elements which are serially connected.
  • a switch may be provided which when closed is connected to shunt or by-pass one of the heater elements.
  • a heat ing current will only flow through one of the heater elements so that the iron may be properly connected to a low voltage source.
  • the switch With the switch open, the iron may be safely connected to a high voltage source in that the heating current will flow through both heating elements.
  • the proper relationship between the resistances of the two heating elements and the two voltages may be mathematically computed if a constant wattage at both voltages is desired.
  • Another aspect of the invention relates to a dual voltage flatiron including a plurality of heater elements and a switch having a low voltage position wherein the elements are connected to be operated at the lower of two voltages and having a high voltage position wherein the elements are connected to be operated at the higher of the two
  • a dual voltage flatiron including a plurality of heater elements and a switch having a low voltage position wherein the elements are connected to be operated at the lower of two voltages and having a high voltage position wherein the elements are connected to be operated at the higher of the two
  • the iron is provided with a movable handle adapted to move the switch from the low to the high voltage position.
  • a travel iron of the type having a handle which is normally moved to a stowage position when the iron is carried to a new location with the traveler since the switch may be automatically moved to the high voltage position when the handle is moved to the stowage position.
  • the iron may be operated at the higher voltage when next used. If low voltage operation is deslred, the operator must consciously operate the voltage selector switch.
  • FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a travel iron embodying the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the 11011 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the rear portion of the iron with the handle in the collapsed stowage position and with the handle shown in phantom lines in the iromng position;
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the rear of the iron
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the iron electrical circuit
  • HG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional View of a modified form of heating unit which may be used in the fiatiron of the invention.
  • an electric travel iron having a soleplate 10 and a cover 12 forming a body, a handle 14, and a power cord 16. It a provision for steam generation is desired, the iron may be provided with a water bottle 18 removably attached to the cover 12.
  • the iron may also be provided with a suitable thermostat and a control lever 20 to vary the ironing temperature together with a dial plate 22 having suitable indicia thereon for indicating the operating temperature at which the control lever 20 is set. Since the detail structure of the iron that has been so far described, including the steaming provision, the thermostat, and the means for integrating these elements, does not form a part of the present invention, a complete description of each will not be given herein. The additional details may be obtained by reference to US. Patent 2,791,045-Finlayson assigned to the same assignee as the instant application.
  • the iron handle 14 is pivotally attached to the cover 12 and provided with a latch mechanism by which the handle may be folded from the ironing position as shown in FIG. 2 to the travel position wherein the front end of the handle rests against the cover 12, as shown by FIG. 3. More specifically, a handle bracket 23 is secured to the cover 12 at the rear of the fiatiron and is provided with side walls 24 and 26 to which handle 14 is pivotally secured by suitable fasteners 15.
  • the rear portion of handle 14 is shaped to provide a pocket 32 adapted to fit over the bracket 23.
  • a latch member 34 preferably formed of a suitable molded heat insulating material, is mounted for pivotal movement within the opening 36 in the bracket by means of a'lower lip 36 positioned between the bracket front wall 28 and the rear' of dial plate 22.
  • a resilient spring member 40 secured to the bracket front wall 28 urges the latch 34 forwardly.
  • the forward movement of the latch 34 is limited by engagement of its upwardly projectingeans 38 with the back surface of bracket front wall 28, as shown by FIG. 2.
  • the latch 34 may be pressed in a clockwise direction against the resiliency of spring 40 until the shoulder 42 on the handle 14 is disengaged from the latch so that the handle is free to pivotldownwardly by virtue of its own weight, until the front of the handle rests against the cover 12, as partially shown by FIG. 3.
  • the handle 14 need merely be lifted to the ironing position and the spring 46 will automatically snap the top of the latch 34 forwardly so that the latch once more engages shoulder 42 of the handle 14 to lock the handle in its normal operating position.
  • the fiatiron is provided with dual heating units 46 and 48 which are preferably embedded the soleplate 10.
  • two separate sheathed tubular heating units 46 and 48 are'spaced in parallel relationship and form U-shapes terminating at terminals 50 and 52 for unit 46, and 54 and 56' for unit 43, as best seen in FIG. 4.
  • Each of the units is provided with a suitable coiled resistance element which is centrally supported and insulated with respect to its surrounding tube by a mass of electrically insulating heat conducting material, such as compacted magnesium oxide.
  • the two sections of the dual heating element are electrically connected in series; while for low voltage operation only one of the sections of the heating element is used.
  • the usual adjustable flatiron thermostat shown schematically at 74 in FIG. is connected in the circuit.
  • one of the power lines :from the electrical supply cord is connected to a terminal 68 supported on an insulating block 62.
  • This terminal 68 preferably is connected to one terminal of the adjustable thermostatic switch, with the opposite terminal of the thermostatic switch being connected to terminal screw 60 employed to support a jumper 58 and connect it to terminal 50 of the outside heating element 46.
  • the opposite terminal 52 of the outside heating element is connected through a jumper 66 to terminal 56 of the inside heating element, while the opposite terminal 54 of the inside heating element is connected to the other side of the line by terminal bracket 67.
  • one of the heating elements is removed from the circuit, and in the embodiment illustrated by FIGS. 1 through 4, the outside tubular heating element 46 is by-passed for this purpose.
  • a voltage selector switch is connected from the terminal 52 ot the outside heating element to its opposite terminal 50, so that when the switch is closed, no electric current passes through the resistance element of the outside heater.
  • "Dhis voltage selector switch involves a spring arm 73 carrying contact 72 on one end thereof for cooperation with a fixed contact ,70 carried by the insulator 62 and terminating with the terminal screw 60 previously referred to in connection with FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 5 shows a schematic version of the circuit wherein the elements in FIG. 5 corresponding to those in FIG. 4 have been given like numerals.
  • the circuit in FIG. 5 is provided w1th a suitable thermostatic bimetallic switch 74 for controlling the temperature.
  • the resistances 48 and 46 representing the heating units are serially connected to the line terminals.
  • the voltage selector switch 7 0, 72 is connected to shunt the heatng unit 46 when the switch is closed.
  • a dual voltage fiatiron have approximately the same wattage rating at both high and low voltage. Assuming equal wattage ratings, in a dual voltage llatiron having its heating elements connected as shown in FIG. 5, the relationship between the two heating element resistances may be expressed as follows:
  • R is the resistance of heating unit 46; R is the resistance of heating unit 48; V is the higher voltage to be applied; and V is the lower voltage.
  • V is roughly twice the value of V such as 230 to or volts, R equals 3R If a different relationship exists between the two voltages to be employed, the relationship between the proper resistances of the two heating units will, of course, be varied accordingly.
  • the voltage selector switch 70, 72 may be controlled by suitable means such as a bellcrank lever 76 pivotally supported on suitable pins or shafts 85 extending from the walls 24 and 26 of bracket 23.
  • the lower end 73 of the lever is preferably made of insulating material and engages flexible arm 73, which when not restrained by the insulated end 78 holds contact 72 out of engagement with fixed contact 70.
  • the opposite end of the lever 76 is formed with a projection 80 extending through a slot 83, FIG. 3, in bracket side wall 26 and has mounted thereon a manual control button 82 for operating the lever. Suitable markings may be pro vided on the button to indicate the proper switch position for the respective voltages, as shown in FIG. 1.
  • the operator need simply move the control button upwardly so that the lever 76 is pivoted in a clockwise direction, causing its insulated end 78 to force the flexible arm 78 downwardly closing the contacts 7 0, 72, thereby shunting heater coil 46.
  • the lever 76 is in the low voltage position, its insulated end 78 is positioned to the left of the lever pivotal axis 85, as seen in FIG.
  • the present invention minimizes the possibility of such danger by providing an arrangement whereby the switch 70, 72 is automatically placed in the high voltage position whenever the flatiron handle 14 is folded into the stowage position. Since the iron is less bulky with the handle folded and since the handle must he collapsed to enable the iron to be completely received within its storage box, the user would normally fold the handle when the travel iron is to be taken, usually in the users luggage, to a new location. In accordance with the invention, this safety feature may be obtained by positioning the control lever 7 6 so that the manual control button 82 is positioned immediately beneath the handle 14 when the handle is in the ironing positionyand the button is in the low voltage setting.
  • the two individual heating units 46' and 48 may be combined into a single heating unit having two different resistance heating elements shown in FIG. 6.
  • the single heating unit comprises an outer tube 86 containing an outer helix heating coil 88 concentric with an inner helix coil 90.
  • the coils and the terminals may be insulated from the tube 86 by suitable electrically insulating, heat conducting material such as magnesium oxide 98.
  • hoth coils 88 and 90 would be connected to operate in series for high voltage operation and one would be bypassed for low voltage operation.
  • a dual voltage travel iron including,
  • a dual voltage travel iron including,
  • ( e) means to manually operate said switch when the handle is in the ironing position.
  • a dual voltage iron comprising,
  • a dual voltage travel iron comprising,
  • (a!) means actuated bysaid handle to automatically open said switch when the handle is placedin the stowage position
  • a switch control lever mounted on said body adapted to be actuated by said handle to automatically move said switch from the low to the high voltage position as the handle is placed in the stowage position and manually movable independently to either position.
  • a switch control lever pivotally mounted on a bracket supported on the rear of said cover and adapted to be actuated by said handle to automatically open said switch when the handle is placed in the stowage position
  • said lever having an external control button by which the lever may the manually operated when the handle is in the ironing position to open or close said switch.
  • Adual voltage travel iron comprising,
  • a dual voltage travel iron comprising,
  • said means being adapted to be manually moved to open or close said switch when the handle is in the ironing position.
  • a dual voltage travel iron comprising,
  • '(c) a handle for manipulating the iron adapted to be moved from an operative ironing position to a collapsed stowage position
  • (0!) means operated by said handle to automatically move said switch to the high voltage position when the handle is placed in the stowage position.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Irons (AREA)
  • Cookers (AREA)
US166571A 1962-01-16 1962-01-16 Dual voltage flatiron Expired - Lifetime US3095493A (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US166571A US3095493A (en) 1962-01-16 1962-01-16 Dual voltage flatiron
GB1353/63A GB976771A (en) 1962-01-16 1963-01-11 Improvements in dual voltage flatiron
DEP1270A DE1270705B (de) 1962-01-16 1963-01-14 Elektrisches Buegeleisen mit Einstellmoeglichkeit zum Betrieb mit zwei verschieden hohen Spannungen
CH47463A CH397104A (de) 1962-01-16 1963-01-15 Bügeleisen für zwei Spannungen
FR921571A FR1344695A (fr) 1962-01-16 1963-01-16 Fer à repasser fonctionnant sous deux tensions

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US166571A US3095493A (en) 1962-01-16 1962-01-16 Dual voltage flatiron

Publications (1)

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US3095493A true US3095493A (en) 1963-06-25

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US166571A Expired - Lifetime US3095493A (en) 1962-01-16 1962-01-16 Dual voltage flatiron

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US (1) US3095493A (de)
CH (1) CH397104A (de)
DE (1) DE1270705B (de)
GB (1) GB976771A (de)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3766673A (en) * 1972-09-11 1973-10-23 Hoover Co Iron handle latch and switch arrangement
US4267430A (en) * 1978-10-06 1981-05-12 Downey John H Dual-voltage electric hair curling apparatus and vanity case therefore
US4594801A (en) * 1985-01-23 1986-06-17 John Zink Company Travel iron with pivotable handle
US4731519A (en) * 1986-02-05 1988-03-15 Conair Corporation Curling iron adapted to provide uniform heat when used with either domestic or foreign voltages

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT8211695U1 (it) * 1982-06-10 1983-12-10 Biancalani Mauro Ferro da stiro a vapore con vaschetta per l'acqua disposta posteriormente

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB191312330A (en) * 1913-05-27 1914-05-07 William Henry Lowden Improvements in or relating to Means for Coupling Shafts and the like.
US1306542A (en) * 1919-06-10 By hazel t
US2215029A (en) * 1939-04-03 1940-09-17 Knapp Monarch Co Multivoltage sadiron
GB646328A (en) * 1948-10-22 1950-11-22 Norman Harry Lucas Electrically-heated smoothing iron
US2632934A (en) * 1947-12-30 1953-03-31 Claude H Thompson Adjustable collar for bowl covers
US2701293A (en) * 1951-08-13 1955-02-01 Richards Morphy N I Ltd Electric iron
US2727131A (en) * 1953-01-27 1955-12-13 Richards Morphy N I Ltd Current sensitive switches and electric irons embodying such switches
US2727322A (en) * 1953-07-23 1955-12-20 Gen Electric Latch for pivoted flatiron handle
US2846536A (en) * 1953-07-10 1958-08-05 Wiegand Co Edwin L Electric heaters

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1770273A1 (de) * 1968-04-26 1972-03-23 Jenapharm Veb Neue basische Ketone

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1306542A (en) * 1919-06-10 By hazel t
GB191312330A (en) * 1913-05-27 1914-05-07 William Henry Lowden Improvements in or relating to Means for Coupling Shafts and the like.
US2215029A (en) * 1939-04-03 1940-09-17 Knapp Monarch Co Multivoltage sadiron
US2632934A (en) * 1947-12-30 1953-03-31 Claude H Thompson Adjustable collar for bowl covers
GB646328A (en) * 1948-10-22 1950-11-22 Norman Harry Lucas Electrically-heated smoothing iron
US2701293A (en) * 1951-08-13 1955-02-01 Richards Morphy N I Ltd Electric iron
US2727131A (en) * 1953-01-27 1955-12-13 Richards Morphy N I Ltd Current sensitive switches and electric irons embodying such switches
US2846536A (en) * 1953-07-10 1958-08-05 Wiegand Co Edwin L Electric heaters
US2727322A (en) * 1953-07-23 1955-12-20 Gen Electric Latch for pivoted flatiron handle

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3766673A (en) * 1972-09-11 1973-10-23 Hoover Co Iron handle latch and switch arrangement
US4267430A (en) * 1978-10-06 1981-05-12 Downey John H Dual-voltage electric hair curling apparatus and vanity case therefore
US4594801A (en) * 1985-01-23 1986-06-17 John Zink Company Travel iron with pivotable handle
US4731519A (en) * 1986-02-05 1988-03-15 Conair Corporation Curling iron adapted to provide uniform heat when used with either domestic or foreign voltages

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1270705B (de) 1968-06-20
GB976771A (en) 1964-12-02
CH397104A (de) 1965-08-15

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