Reducing ironing effort using curved soleplate

Abstract

A soleplate includes an operable portion of an ironing surface having a front edge located opposite a rear edge, and having a first side located opposite a second side. The soleplate includes a longitudinal axis bisecting the front edge and the rear edge. The soleplate also includes a transverse axis bisecting the first side and the second side based on a midpoint of the longitudinal axis. The soleplate also includes an intersection located where the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis cross. The operable portion of the ironing surface is substantially curved along the longitudinal axis and substantially curved along the transverse axis, forming a raised pinnacle of the operable portion located along the longitudinal axis at a point other than the intersection, the raised pinnacle forming a highest point on the operable portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A soleplate for use with an iron, comprising:
 an operable portion of an ironing surface having a front edge located opposite a rear edge, and having a first side located opposite a second side;   a longitudinal axis bisecting the front edge and the rear edge;   a transverse axis bisecting the first side and the second side based on a midpoint of the longitudinal axis; and   an intersection located where the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis cross;   wherein the operable portion of the ironing surface is substantially curved along the longitudinal axis and substantially curved along the transverse axis, forming a raised pinnacle of the operable portion located along the longitudinal axis at a point other than the intersection, the raised pinnacle forming a highest point on the operable portion.   
     
     
         2 . The soleplate of  claim 1 , wherein the operable portion of the ironing surface is substantially longer along the longitudinal axis than the transverse axis. 
     
     
         3 . The soleplate of  claim 1 , wherein the operable portion of the ironing surface is curved to reduce static friction during ironing. 
     
     
         4 . The soleplate of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially curved operable portion of the ironing surface along the longitudinal axis is parabolically curved such that the intersection is higher than the average of the front edge and rear edge. 
     
     
         5 . The soleplate of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially curved ironing surface along the transverse axis is parabolically curved such that the intersection is higher than the average of the first side and the second side. 
     
     
         6 . The soleplate of  claim 1 , wherein the operable portion of the ironing surface is configured to interface with an ironing board substrate, wherein the ironing board substrate is configured to flex and compress when receiving vertical pressure. 
     
     
         7 . The soleplate of  claim 1 , wherein the operable portion of the ironing surface is configured to receive a horizontal input from a user causing the soleplate to tilt so that the front edge moves downward and the rear edge moves upward. 
     
     
         8 . The soleplate of  claim 1 , wherein the raised pinnacle of the operable portion located along the longitudinal axis is centered along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         9 . An ironing device, comprising:
 a handle configured to receive ironing input from a user;   a heating element configured to heat a soleplate proximate to the heating element and rigidly connected to the handle; and   wherein the soleplate is configured to include:
 an operable portion of an ironing surface having a front edge located opposite a rear edge, and having a first side located opposite a second side; 
 a longitudinal axis bisecting the front edge and the rear edge; 
 a transverse axis bisecting the first side and the second side based on a midpoint of the longitudinal axis; and 
 an intersection located where the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis cross; 
 wherein the operable portion of the ironing surface is substantially curved along the longitudinal axis and substantially curved along the transverse axis, forming a raised pinnacle of the operable portion located along the longitudinal axis at a point other than the intersection, the raised pinnacle forming a highest point on the operable portion. 
   
     
     
         10 . The ironing device of  claim 9 , wherein the operable portion of the ironing surface is substantially longer along the longitudinal axis than the transverse axis. 
     
     
         11 . The ironing device of  claim 9 , wherein the substantially curved operable portion of the ironing surface along the longitudinal axis is parabolically curved such that the intersection is higher than the average of the front edge and rear edge. 
     
     
         12 . The ironing device of  claim 9 , wherein the substantially curved ironing surface along the transverse axis is parabolically curved such that the intersection is higher than the average of the first side and the second side. 
     
     
         13 . The ironing device of  claim 9 , wherein the operable portion of the ironing surface is configured to receive a horizontal input from a user causing the soleplate to tilt so that the front edge moves downward and the rear edge moves upward. 
     
     
         14 . The ironing device of  claim 9 , wherein the raised pinnacle of the operable portion located along the longitudinal axis is centered along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         15 . A method of making a soleplate for an iron, comprising:
 forming a front edge and a rear edge of the soleplate, the rear edge located opposite the front edge;   forming a first side and a second side, the second side located opposite the first side;   bisecting the front edge and the rear edge, forming a longitudinal axis;   bisecting the first side and the second side, forming a transverse axis;   locating an intersection located where the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis cross; and   causing an operable portion of an ironing surface of the soleplate to be substantially curved along the longitudinal axis and substantially curved along the transverse axis, forming a raised pinnacle of the operable portion located along the longitudinal axis at a point other than the intersection, the raised pinnacle forming a highest point on the operable portion.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the operable portion of the ironing surface is caused to be substantially longer along the longitudinal axis than the transverse axis. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the substantially curved operable portion of the ironing surface along the longitudinal axis is caused to be parabolically curved such that the intersection is higher than the average of the front edge and rear edge. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the substantially curved ironing surface along the transverse axis is caused to be parabolically curved such that the intersection is higher than the average of the first side and the second side. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the operable portion of the ironing surface is configured to receive a horizontal input from a user causing the soleplate to tilt so that the front edge moves downward and the rear edge moves upward. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the raised pinnacle of the operable portion located along the longitudinal axis is caused to be centered along the longitudinal axis.