FR2625234A1 - Device for fastening a removable sole made of PTFE foil to the smoothing iron - Google Patents

Abstract

The removable sole 1 made of PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) foil is attached to the smoothing iron 2 by means of an elastic tape 3 having buttonholes 4 and stretched around the upright 5 of the handle of the iron and secured at the two fastening points 6. The bearing point of the pull exerted on the removable sole 1 by the elastic tape 3 is the tip of the iron 2 inserted into the catching nose 7. This device for fastening a removable sole made of PTFE foil to the smoothing iron makes it possible, in particular, to use the PTFE foil of small thickness. The invention is used particularly for steam irons.

Description

 The present invention relates to a device for fixing a removable sole made of PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) sheet to an iron, in particular a steam iron; the removable sole is used as an accessory for ironing textile articles.

 The invention also relates to removable soles made of PTFE sheet comprising such a fixing device.

 The perforated PTFE sheet, used as an accessory for steam irons, in particular for ironing delicate fabrics, is already known, in particular by US Patent No. 2,750,697.

 The removable PTFE soles currently produced are intended almost exclusively for steam irons used by professionals.

 Currently the most economical removable soleplate for steam irons is produced in the form of a perforated PTFE sheet, provided with a hooking spout for the point of the iron and ties for attachment to the iron in the form of two springs. traction. The openings made on the hooking spout and on the raised part of the PTFE sheet behind the iron, are the attachment points for the two springs whose ends are provided with hooks.

 The improvement in the working conditions of ironing professionals has led the manufacturers of irons to add to existing irons the devices protecting the operator's hand from rising steam.

 This results in the impossibility of positioning the two springs starting from the hooking spout of the removable sole in PTFE sheet, except by modifying the iron. Exceptionally, a single tension spring is used located on the rear part of the removable sole in PTFE sheet, but manufacturers are forced to equip their irons with attachment points allowing the use of a single spring.

 The product, removable PTFE sole in its various executions, is very well known to ironing professionals, and almost unknown to the general public.

 Household steam irons used by individuals represent a much larger market than the irons used by professional ironers.

 Household steam irons are used intermittently, the removable soleplate in PTFE sheet is technically sufficient and is the most economical solution.

 A detailed study revealed a large difference in thermal characteristics between household irons and professional irons. As PTFE is an excellent insulator, its thickness of 1 to 1.5 mm for professional irons should be reduced to 0.5 - 0.8 mm for household irons.

Ironing tests carried out with a large number of household steam iron models reveal the inherent defects in two tension springs starting from the hooking spout of the removable sole in PTFE sheet, namely
- the forces due to the two springs deform the hooking spout and make ironing delicate for fragile fabrics. When using the thin PTFE sheet, the hooking spout deforms very quickly and ironing becomes difficult and the life of the product is greatly reduced.

 - the hooks of the tension springs fixed on the rear part of the removable sole in PTFE sheet interfere with the body of the iron and for some models of household iron no longer ensure the tension and the maintenance of the removable sole in PTFE sheet on the iron.

 - when ironing the rest position of the household iron is upright, that is to say placed on the rear part of the iron, and thus the tension springs fixed behind the removable sole in PTFE sheet come into contact with the ironing board cover and in many cases the cover has been damaged or even torn. This drawback does not concern professional irons, their rest position being horizontal on supports designed for this purpose.

 On the market there are a very large number of models of household irons. To facilitate the dissemination of the product, it seems advisable to limit the number of removable sole models in PTFE sheet. Studies have shown that a removable soleplate in PTFE sheet can be used for several models of iron provided that the length of the springs can be changed. The tension springs currently used do not solve the problem.

 The object of the present invention is to remedy all the aforementioned drawbacks.

According to the invention, the device for fixing a removable sole made of PTFE sheet to an iron, in particular a steam iron, is characterized by
- A link passes through the handle of the iron, stretched towards the rear of the iron around the amount of the handle, and is fixed on the attachment points located on the rear part of the removable sole in PTFE sheet.

 - the attachment points located on the rear part of the removable sole in PTFE sheet are applied on the PTFE sheet in the form of a protuberance.

 - The fastening link is an elastic ribbon with buttonholes, in particular the elastic ribbon commonly used for textile articles.

 Thanks to this fixing device, the hooking spout for the point of the iron no longer deforms, not being stressed by the attachments of the removable soleplate in PTFE sheet to the iron. Long-term tests have shown that ironing even fragile fabrics is no longer a problem. The lifespan of the product is considerably increased, especially when using the thin PTFE sheet.

 On the other hand, the shape and position of the attachment points prevent the link from interfering with the body of the iron.

 The tensile force necessary for the good maintenance of the removable sole in PTFE sheet on the iron being relatively low, following the comparative tests between various links, the elastic tape for the same performances represents the most economical solution.

 In addition, the elastic buttonhole tape as a means of attaching the removable sole in PTFE sheet eliminates any risk of damage to the ironing board cover, regardless of the position of the iron on the table.

 In addition, the high elasticity of the ribbon in addition to the buttonholes makes it possible to use a removable sole model in PTFE sheet for several types of iron. Indeed, the length of the elastic tape is defined to attach the longest iron, for shorter irons you can either hang the excess tape on the attachment point of the removable sole in PTFE sheet, or cut the tape, either leave it in good condition.

 Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will also appear in the description.

In the accompanying drawings given by way of non-limiting example
Figure 1 is a perspective of the iron to which is attached a removable sole in PTFE sheet.

 - Figure 2 is a section on a large scale of an attachment point of the removable sole in PTFE sheet.

In the embodiment of Figure 1, a removable sheet sole
PTFE 1 is attached to the iron 2 by the elastic tape 3 comprising buttonholes 4 and stretched around the upright 5 of the handle of the iron and fixed at the two attachment points 6. The tensile force printed on the removable sheet soleplate PTFE 1 by the elastic band 3 has as its fulcrum the iron point 2 introduced into the attachment spout 7.

 According to the invention, the fixing device attaches the removable sole in PTFE sheet 1 to the iron 2 without the need to modify the iron.

 In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the attachment point 6 in the form of a protuberance and applied to the removable sole in PTFE sheet 1 is constructed, by way of example, with a male tubular rivet 6a which passes through the removable sole in sheet PTFE I and the washer 6b and with a tubular rivet with cap 6c.

Claims (4)

 1. Device for fixing a removable sole made of PTFE sheet (1) to the iron (2), in particular steam, characterized by the use of a link (3) through the handle of the iron stretched towards the back of the iron around the handle post (5) and fixed on the attachment points (6) made as a surface on the PTFE sheet in the form of a protrusion.  2. Fastening device according to claim 1 characterized in that the attachment link (3) between the removable sole in PTFE sheet (1) and the iron (2) is an elastic ribbon comprising buttonholes (4), in particular an elastic ribbon commonly used for textile articles.  3. Fastening device according to claim 1 characterized in that the attachment point (6) is made with rivets.  4. Removable sole in PTFE sheet (1) comprising a device for fixing to the iron (2) according to one of claims l to 3.