Clothes Iron With Means For Inducing Orbital Oscillatory Motion Into the Sole Plate

Abstract

A clothes iron comprises a body ( 2 ) and a sole plate ( 3 ). The body ( 2 ) is supported on the sole plate ( 3 ) by means of laterally resilient springs ( 4 ). The springs permit sideways movement of the sole plate ( 3 ) relative to the body ( 2 ). A motor ( 8 ) has a shaft ( 9 ) that carries an eccentric portion ( 10 ) which is received within a socket provided in the upper face of the sole plate. Thus, operation of the motor will cause the sole plate to execute orbital oscillatory motion relative to the body, in the plane of the face of the sole plate.

1 . A clothes iron comprises: a body; a manually graspable handle secured to the body; a sole plate connected to the body, the sole plate having a substantially planar face for engaging items to be ironed; and means for inducing orbital oscillatory motion into the sole plate in the plane of the face thereof to enhance the performance of the iron. 
   
   
       2 . A clothes iron according to  claim 1  wherein the means for inducing orbital oscillatory motion comprises: a rotary motor mounted in the body or the handle, the motor shaft having an output shaft and eccentric means on the shaft. 
   
   
       3 . A clothes iron according to  claim 2  wherein the eccentric means comprises an eccentric portion of the shaft which is received in a socket in the sole plate. 
   
   
       4 . A clothes iron according to  claim 3  wherein the eccentric means comprises an eccentric weight mounted on the shaft. 
   
   
       5 . A clothes iron according to  claim 3  wherein the eccentric portion of the shaft is received as a snug fit in a socket in the sole plate. 
   
   
       6 . A clothes iron according to  claim 5  wherein the socket in the sole plate is provided by the inner race of a bearing, the outer race of which is secured to the sole plate. 
   
   
       7 . A clothes iron according to  claim 3  wherein a lost motion connection is provided between the eccentric portion of the shaft and the sole plate. 
   
   
       8 . A clothes iron according to  claim 7  wherein the lost motion connection is provided by a slot in which the eccentric works, the slot having a length shorter than the throw of the eccentric so that the sloe plate moves in a figure of 8 pattern as the shaft rotates. 
   
   
       9 . A clothes iron according to  claim 1  wherein the sole plate is connected to the body by flexible coupling means so that the sole plate may oscillate in the plane of the face thereof relative to the body. 
   
   
       10 . A clothes iron according to  claim 9  wherein the flexible connecting means are resilient connecting means which tend to maintain the sole plate in a predetermined position relative to the body. 
   
   
       11 . A clothes iron according to  claim 10  wherein the resilient means comprise laterally resilient elastomeric bodies or laterally resilient springs. 
   
   
       12 . A clothes iron according to  claim 1  wherein support means are provided for engaging the surface being ironed to react part of downward load imposed on the iron onto the surface being ironed, the support means being independent of the sole plate and connected to the body. 
   
   
       13 . A clothes iron according to  claim 1  wherein an attitude sensitive switch is incorporated for automatically initiating vibration of the sole plate when the iron is tipped from a generally upright rest position to a generally horizontal use position, and for interrupting vibratory movement when the iron is again turned to its rest position. 
   
   
       14 . A clothes iron according to  claim 1  wherein means are provided for manually or automatically controlling the speed of oscillation. 
   
   
       15 . A clothes iron according to  claim 1  wherein the sole plate comprises a rigid base and a sandwich structure secured to the base, the sandwich structure comprising an envelope filled with a liquid or paste. 
   
   
       16 . A clothes iron according to  claim 15  wherein the envelope is of Kevlar and the paste comprises an oil and metal particles. 
   
   
       17 . A clothes iron according to  claim 1  including an ultrasonic transducer for inducing ultrasonic waves in the surface of the sole plate that contacts the clothes.