Pop-up auto-shutoff indicator for electric pressing irons

Abstract

A pop-up auto-shutoff indicator for a pressing iron includes a signal-activated pop-up switch adapted to provide power to a soleplate heater when the pop-up switch is depressed by the user. An auto-shutoff circuit is adapted to receive an input signal from a motion detector and provide an actuation signal to actuate the pop-up switch upon detecting no motion of the iron for a predetermined period of time and to disconnect power to the soleplate heater.

1 . An apparatus for a pressing iron having a soleplate and a soleplate heater, comprising: 
 a signal-activated user-visible switch adapted to provide power to the soleplate heater when actuated by a user;    a motion detector adapted to provide an input signal; and    an auto-shutoff circuit adapted to receive the input signal from the motion detector and to provide an actuation signal to move the switch upon detecting no motion of the iron for a predetermined period of time so as to interrupt power to the soleplate heater and provide a visible mechanical indication of power interruption to the soleplate heater.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an attitude detector and wherein the auto-shutoff circuit is adapted to actuate the switch when the iron lies flat on the soleplate without movement for a first predetermined period of time.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the first predetermined period of time is from about thirty seconds to about sixty seconds.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an attitude detector and wherein the auto-shutoff circuit is adapted to actuate the switch when the iron is upright without movement for a second predetermined period of time.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the first predetermined period of time is from about fifteen minutes to about thirty minutes.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a light source indicating when power is being supplied to the soleplate heater.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the light source is integrated into the switch.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the auto-shutoff circuit comprises a timer.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the timer automatically resets itself upon a change in the output of the motion sensor.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the motion detector comprises a rolling ball switch.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the motion detector comprises an inductive rolling ball switch.  
   
   
       12 . A pop-up auto-shutoff indicator for a pressing iron having a soleplate heater, comprising: 
 a signal-activated pop-up switch adapted to provide power to the soleplate heater when depressed by the user;    motion detector means for detecting movement of the iron; and    auto-shutoff circuit means for receiving input from the motion detector means, providing a signal to de-activate the pop-up switch upon detecting no motion of the iron for a predetermined period of time and to disconnect power to the soleplate heater.    
   
   
       13 . A pop-up auto-shutoff indicator for a pressing iron having a soleplate heater, comprising: 
 an electric signal-activated pop-up switch adapted to provide power to the soleplate heater and to one or more DC power supplies when depressed by the user;    a pop-up switch signaling device adapted to signal the pop-up switch; and    an interface to provide to a controller control over the signaling device, so as to enable the controller to activate the pop-up switch.    
   
   
       14 . A user-actuated electromechanical switch assembly for providing power to an iron, comprising: 
 a movable switch having an on position and an off position, said on and off positions being visible by a user; and    a motion detector adapted to actuate said switch.    
   
   
       15 . A mechanical auto-shutoff indicator for a pressing iron, comprising: 
 a signal-activated electromechanical switch assembly having a moveable element and adapted to provide power to the iron when the moveable element is moved from an open circuit position to a closed circuit position by the user;    a motion sensor; and    an auto-shutoff circuit adapted to receive input from the motion detector and provide a signal to activate the electromechanical switch assembly upon detecting no motion of the iron for a predetermined period of time;    wherein activation of the electromechanical switch assembly causes the moveable element to move to the open circuit position; and    wherein the open-circuit position of the moveable element is visible to the user.    
   
   
       16 . The indicator of  claim 15 , wherein the indicator projects outwardly from the iron in the open-circuit position.