Cordless Iron With Guiding And Locking System

The present disclosure relates to the general technical field of laundry appliances, and more specifically to cordless irons.

Among the laundry appliances, irons are used to remove creases and wrinkles from garments and fabrics through a combination of heat and pressure.

Some irons can have a separate base on which the iron's soleplate rests when the appliance is not in use. These appliances can have a steam generation feature to facilitate ironing. In this case, the appliance comprises a tank for supplying water to the steam generator. As described in documents EP 2 933 372 and EP 4 242 370, some steam irons comprise means for immobilizing the front part of the iron on the base, thereby offering a solution for transporting, storing and securing the iron. Nevertheless, these appliances have limited freedom of movement due to the lead that allows steam to flow between the base and the iron.

On the other hand, there are cordless irons that enable ironing without the inconvenience of a lead, thus offering greater freedom of movement and increased maneuverability. The cordless iron is set on a charging base connected to the power grid. The iron comprises a water tank, a vapor chamber, a soleplate and a heating element fitted so as to be in contact with the soleplate. Thus, the iron's soleplate is heated by the power supplied by the heating element, via the charging base. Document U.S. Pat. No. 3,745,676 describes such a cordless iron. Document FR 2 967 172 also describes a cordless iron with a charging base comprising a dome-shaped boss on which the iron soleplate rests when the iron is set on the dock for charging.

Nevertheless, cordless irons do not remain securely on their bases, particularly when the household appliance is transported or stored.

The present application aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks by providing a household appliance for laundry care that offers improved safety.

The present application further aims to provide a household appliance for laundry care that is easy to transport and store.

The present application relates to a household appliance for laundry care, comprising:

The guiding and locking means can comprise a fin extending rearwardly from the body of the iron and a cavity formed in the charging base, the cavity having a complementary shape to the fin and being designed to hold the fin so as to guide the installation of the iron on the charging base towards the charging position. The fin helps keep the iron in position on the charging base when the iron is in the charging position.

A notch can be formed in the fin and the charging base can comprise a lock pin projecting from the charging base so as to be received in the notch when the iron is installed on the charging base, said lock pin engaging in the notch when the iron is in the charging position to keep the heel of the iron from lifting off of the charging base when an upward pull is exerted on the gripping handle. The heel of the iron is thus locked onto the charging base, in contact with the charging base, when the iron is in the charging position.

The dock can extend substantially in a base plane, the base plane being tilted, for example, towards the cavity, the notch being designed to enable the lock pin to engage in the notch by a rearward movement of the iron in a plane parallel to the base plane, the shape of the notch keeping the heel of the iron from lifting off of the dock when the iron is in the charging position. The dock thus forms an installation ramp for the iron, which helps to better guide the iron and keep it in place on the base, and the heel of the iron is locked onto the charging base, in contact with the charging base, when the iron is in the charging position.

The installation and locking means can comprise a locking element pivotally fitted and attached to the charging base between a folded position in which the locking element releases the body of the iron, and a locked position in which the locking element engages the body of the iron, for example in which the locking element engages the head of the iron, so as to hold the body between the locking element and the charging base. The front part of the iron is thus locked in contact with the charging base when the iron is in the charging position. A household appliance comprising both a fin with a notch and a locking element is thus locked in contact with the charging base at its head and heel, enabling the entire appliance to be lifted by the gripping handle.

The locking element can be shaped like an arch pivotally mounted on the charging base.

The dock can extend substantially in a base plane. The dock can comprise at least one roller on which the iron's soleplate can roll during a rearward movement of the iron in a plane parallel to the base plane. The roller or rollers facilitate the installation of the iron in the charging position.

An electrical connector can be provided to ensure a power supply to the iron in the charging position, the electrical connector comprising a first part on the charging base and a second part near the heel of the iron. The first part of the electrical connector can be positioned so that it can be connected to the first part of the electrical connector when the iron is in the charging position, with the fin inserted into the cavity. Charging the iron thus takes place as soon as the iron is in the charging position, with no action required by the user.

The charging base can further comprise a pivoting panel designed to be moved by the fin from a closed position to an open position when the iron is installed on the charging base. Opening the pivoting panel makes it possible to charge the iron when it is in the charging position and to secure the appliance, the pivoting panel being closed so that access to the first part of the electrical connector is prevented when the fin is not inserted in the cavity.

The charging base can comprise an electric supply lead and the iron can comprise a heating element designed to heat the soleplate when the electric supply lead is plugged into a power outlet and the household appliance is in the charging position. The soleplate of the iron is thus efficiently heated by an electrical power supply via a power outlet.

Similar elements in all the figures are labeled with identical reference numbers.

A non-limiting example of a household appliance for laundry care is shown in. The household appliance comprises a cordless ironcomprising a body, a soleplatefitted and attached to the body, and a gripping handleextending from the body. The household appliance further comprises a charging basewith a dockdesigned to hold the soleplateof the iron.

The household appliance further comprises guiding and locking means,designed to guide the installation of the ironon the charging basetowards a charging position and to lock a head and a heel of the ironin the charging position, so that the household appliance can be transported by the gripping handle.

The guiding and locking means,guide the installation of the ironon the charging base. This makes installing the ironeasier for the user, and positions the ironmore precisely on the charging base. Charging the ironon the charging baseis thereby improved.

A cordless ironoffers greater freedom of movement when ironing and improved maneuverability of the ironcompared to a steam iron comprising a lead connecting the charging baseto the iron.

The guiding and locking means,lock the head and heel of the ironin the charging position. The household appliance is thus safer to use, as the ironcannot become detached from the charging baseduring transport or storage. The entire household appliance can thus be easily, reliably and securely transported as a unit by the gripping handle.

In the remainder of the application, an ironing direction coincides with an axis that is larger in size than the soleplate. The terms “front” and “rear” are defined relative to the ironing direction, such that, when the soleplateof the ironis conventionally moved in the ironing direction to remove wrinkles from a garment, the front end of the soleplatenear the head of the ironis the first part of the soleplateto come into contact with the portion of the garment to be ironed, and the rear end of the soleplatenear the heel of the ironis the last part of the soleplateto come into contact with the portion of the garment to be ironed.

“Head of the iron” refers to a front part of the bodyof the iron, in particular a pointed part designed to enable the user to maneuver the ironin narrow areas and easily reach the corners or creases of garments during ironing. “Heel of the iron” refers to a rear part of the bodyof the iron, in particular the part opposite the head, where the bodyof the ironis widest.

The charging basecomprises a substantially flat underside designed to rest on a horizontally flat supporting surface, such as an ironing board or floor. A height direction corresponds to a direction substantially perpendicular to the lower surface of the charging base. Any element of the household appliance that is positioned closer to the lower surface of the charging basein the height direction than another element is considered to be positioned underneath, or below, the other element. A length direction corresponds to a projection of the ironing direction onto the plane of the bottom surface of the charging basewhen the ironis installed on the charging base, the length direction being perpendicular to the height direction. A width direction corresponds to a direction perpendicular to the height and length directions.

The dockcorresponds to an upper surface of the charging base. The dockcan form a substantially flat side extending substantially in a base plane P. The dockcan have dimensions substantially similar to or greater than dimensions of the soleplateof the iron. Thus, in the charging position, the soleplateis fully positioned on the dockof the charging base, in contact with the dock, the dockforming a bearing area for the soleplate. Thus, the ironis stably positioned on the charging basein the charging position.

The base plane P can be tilted, in particular towards the lower surface of the charging base, that is, sloping downwards relative to the horizontal stand on which the charging baseis set. The dockthus forms an installation ramp for the iron, helping to guide and hold the ironin place on the charging base.

The charging basealso comprises a stop, forming a longitudinal rear end of the charging base. The heel of the ironcomes to rest against the stopwhen the ironis set on the dockof the charging base. The stopcan have shapes that are substantially complementary to the shapes of the heel of the iron, in order to keep the heel stably in place when the ironis in the charging position.

The charging basecan also comprise a power supply lead, not shown in the figures, enabling the charging baseto be connected to the household power grid.

The ironcan comprise a heating element designed to heat the soleplatewhen the power lead is connected to a power outlet and the household appliance is operating in the charging position. Thus, the soleplateof the ironis efficiently heated by supplying power via a power outlet. The heating element can comprise a resistor, in particular a thermostatically controlled heating resistor, a coil for induction heating, or any other heating element. The heating element can be next to the soleplate, in contact with the soleplate. The heating element can comprise a vapor chamber placed so that it can be heated by the resistor. In particular, the heating element can be a die-cast part, for example made of aluminum, comprising the resistor and the vapor chamber.

The ironcomprises a water tank and a drip valve for feeding water from the water tank to the vapor chamber. The opening of the drip valve, and therefore the amount of water fed by gravity into the vapor chamber, is controlled by a triggerplaced under the gripping handle. The water tank can be integral with the ironor be removable for easy filling of the iron.

The ironis used, for example, for horizontal and/or vertical ironing.

The gripping handlecan extend substantially above the bodyof the iron, opposite the soleplaterelative to the body. The headand the gripping handleof the ironcan be fitted and attached to each other or made in one piece; they can, for example, be produced as a molded monoblock plastic part.

The soleplatecan comprise a substantially flat ironing side, which corresponds to the side of the soleplatebearing on the dockof the charging base. The soleplatecan comprise at least one steam ventthat runs through the ironing side and is designed to release the steam produced in the vapor chamber. The soleplatecan be made of stainless steel. The soleplatecan comprise a pointed front end and a rounded rear end that is wider than the front end, for improved ironing ergonomics.

The guiding and locking means,can comprise a finextending rearwards from the bodyof the ironand a cavityformed in the charging base. The cavityhas a complementary shape to the finand is designed to hold the finso that it guides the installation of the ironon the charging baseto the charging position. Moreover, the fininserted in the cavityhelps keep the ironin position on the charging basewhen the ironis in the charging position.

The fincan have a substantially flat wall extending substantially vertically and towards the rear of the iron. A shape of the heel of the ironcan be designed so that a receiving space for the finis created under the rearmost end of the iron, without the finprotruding rearward relative to the rearmost end of the iron.

The cavityextends into the stopof the charging base. The cavitycan form a narrow, elongated slit-like opening extending in a main direction that can be substantially tilted downwards relative to a horizontal stand on which the charging baseis set, in particular substantially parallel to a tilting direction of the base plane P of the dockof the charging base. A width of the slit in the cavitycan correspond substantially to a width of the fin, so that the finis held in place between the walls of the cavityin contact with the walls of the cavitywhen the finis inserted into the cavity. Thus, the finfits perfectly into the cavitywhen the ironis installed on the charging base.

Alternatively or in addition, the household appliance can comprise any other means of guiding and locking the ironon the charging basein the charging position, such as magnetic means fitted on the heel of the ironand the charging base, mechanical means of fastening the heel of the irononto the charging base, means for snapping the heel of the irononto the charging base, and so on.

An electrical connectorprovides a power supply to the ironin the charging position, and in particular can provide a power supply to the heating resistor built into the heating element of the iron. The electrical connectorcomprises a first part on the charging baseand a second part near the heel of the iron. The second part of the electrical connectorcan be an electrical plug extending rearwards from the bodyof the iron, for example next to the finand substantially parallel to the fin. The second part of the electrical connectorcan comprise three contacts on the electrical connector, the contacts being parallel to each other and each extending rearwards from the bodyof the iron.

As with the fin, the second part of the electrical connectorcan extend into the receiving space for the finlocated under the rearmost end of the iron, without projecting backwards relative to the rearmost end of the iron. The first part of the electrical connectoris positioned so that it can be connected to the first part of the electrical connectorwhen the ironis in the charging position, with the fininserted into the cavity. Charging the ironthus takes place as soon as the ironis in the charging position, with no action required by the user. Preferentially, the electrical connectorcomprises magnetic means, such as a magnet, that generate a force that causes the first and second parts of the electrical connectorto connect when the iron approaches the charging position.

The first part of the connectorcan fit into a connector cavityformed in the charging base, in particular extending into the stopof the charging base. The connector cavitycan extend, for example, alongside and parallel to the cavityreceiving the fin.

The charging basecan further comprise a pivoting panel designed to be moved by the finfrom a closed position to an open position when the ironis installed on the charging base. The pivoting panel can extend at least partially into the cavityand into the connector cavity. Thus, when the finis installed in the cavity, the pivoting panel opens, enabling the first part and the second part of the electrical connectorof the ironto be connected to supply power to the iron, in particular to the heating resistor of the heating element of the iron. The heating element is then heated when the ironis in the charging position. On the other hand, when the ironis in an ironing position, that is, when the finis retracted from the cavity, the pivoting panel is then automatically closed by return means, for example a spring, the first part and the second part of the electrical connectorbeing separated and the heating element of the ironthus no longer being powered. Moreover, when the pivoting panel is closed, the first part of the electrical connectorcannot be accessed.

A notchcan be formed in the fin, as illustrated by way of non-limiting example inand. The charging basethus comprises a lock pinprojecting from the charging baseso that it is received in the notchwhen the ironis installed on the charging base. The lock pinengages with the notchwhen the ironis in the charging position to keep the heel of the ironfrom lifting off of the charging basewhen an upward pull is exerted on the gripping handle. The heelof the iron is thus locked onto the charging base, in contact with the charging base, when the ironis in the charging position. The engagement between the notchand the lock pinkeeps the rear part, that is, the heel, of the ironfrom moving vertically away from the dockin contact with which it rests.

The notchcan correspond to a hole drilled in the fin. The notchcan be formed near a rear edge of fin, on part of the rear edge of fin, and can extend longitudinally forward from the rear edge of fin. The notchcan be designed to enable the lock pinto be engaged by a rearward movement of the ironin a plane parallel to the base plane P, that is, a translational movement towards the rear of the iron, for example in a plane parallel to the base plane P tilted downwards. The notchshown inis substantially rectangular in shape. However, in a variant embodiment not shown, the notchcan have a substantially triangular shape, with edges diverging towards the open end of the notchto facilitate the insertion of the lock pininto the notchwhen the rearward movement of the irondoes not take place in a plane perfectly parallel to the base plane P.

The lock pincan extend into the cavityreceiving the fin, near the cavity, above the cavityreceiving the fin, or into any other position where it can fit into the notchin the finwhen the ironis installed in the charging position. In the example illustrated inand, the lock pinis positioned above the cavityand extends substantially forward. When the ironis installed in the charging position, the lock pinis engaged in the notch. The lock pinforms an upper stop that keeps the heel of the ironfrom lifting off of the dockof the charging base, which forms a lower stop for the iron.

The installation and locking means,can comprise at least two fins, or any conceivable number of fins. At least one fincomprises a notch, but not all finsneed to be notched. A number of cavitiescorresponding at least to the number of finsare formed in the charging base. A number of lock pinscorresponding to the number of finswith notchesproject from the charging baseso that each is held in a corresponding notchwhen the ironis installed on the charging base. The finscan be oriented parallel to each other and separated by a predetermined distance, and the two cavitiesare also oriented parallel to each other and separated by the same predetermined distance. The cavitiesfor receiving the finscan be located on either side of one or more connector cavitiesdesigned to hold the first part of the connector.

andillustrate such an example of a household appliance comprising an ironcomprising two fins, the second part of the connectorbeing housed between the two finsand comprising three contacts. The charging basecomprises two side cavities, with two lock pinslocated above the two side cavities. Each of the two side cavitiesholds a corresponding fin. The charging basefurther comprises three central connector cavitieslocated between the two side cavities. The side cavitiesare thus located on either side of the central connector cavities. Each of the three central connector cavitiesholds a corresponding contact from the second part of the connector. The first part of the connectorcomprises three elements each housed in a respective central connector cavity, so that they connect to the three contacts of the second part of the connectorwhen the ironis in the charging position.

The dockcan comprise one or more rollerson which the soleplateof the ironcan roll during the rearward movement of the ironin a plane parallel to the base plane P. In particular, as illustrated by way of non-limiting example inand, the dockcan comprise a front rollerand two rear rollersprojecting from the upper surface of the dock. The rollersare mounted so as to rotate freely relative to an axis running in the width direction, so that the soleplateof the ironrolls backwards over the rollerswhen the ironis mounted in the charging position. The rollersthus make it easier to install the ironin the charging position.

The installation and locking means,can comprise a locking elementpivotally fitted and attached to the charging basebetween a folded position in which the locking elementreleases the bodyof the iron, and a locked position in which the locking elementengages the bodyof the iron, for example in which the locking elementengages the head of the iron, so as to hold the bodybetween the locking elementand the charging base.