RU2741891C1 - Ironing shoe with heat-conducting extending structure - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: satisfaction of human vital needs.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to ironing shoe (100) made with possibility of detachable attachment to sole (101) of clothes care device (102). Ironing shoe (100) comprises plate (103). Plate (103) has outer side (104) intended for contact with garments to be processed. Plate (103) has inner side (105) made facing the sole when ironing shoe (100) is attached to a garment care device. Inner side (105) comprises heat-insulating layer (106), heat-insulating protruding structure (107) to form air gap (AG) between heat-insulating layer (106) and sole when ironing shoe (100) is attached to garment care device, and a heat-conducting extending structure (108) for transferring heat from the sole to plate (103) when ironing shoe (100) is attached to the garment care device.

EFFECT: such ironing shoe partially solves the problem of steam condensation when the ironing shoe is attached to the sole.

15 cl, 11 dwg

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The invention relates to an ironing shoe for a garment care device.

The invention is applicable in the field of garment care.

LEVEL OF TECHNOLOGY

An ironing shoe (sometimes referred to as a “fabric protection member”) is a known device for interacting with a sole-containing garment care device, such as a steam iron.

The purpose of the ironing shoe is to reduce heat transfer between the sole and the garment being processed (eg ironed). In this way, the ironing shoe treats the garment with a temperature that is well below that of the soleplate.

As a result, it is possible to iron garments made of delicate fabrics (eg silk) without damaging the garment, even at a relatively high sole temperature (eg 160-235 degrees).

Known ironing shoes comprise a plate, for example made of aluminum, in which steam holes are formed, the plate having an outer side intended for contact with garments treated with a garment care device and an inner side covered with silicone rubber and facing the sole when the ironing shoe is attached to the garment care unit. Silicone rubber reduces heat transfer.

However, with prior art ironing shoes, a certain amount of wet stains can often be observed on the garment being treated when the user starts steam ironing after attaching the ironing shoe to the soleplate.

DE10211879A1 discloses an iron comprising a steam and current supply line and a sliding function switch of the suction / blower assembly of a steam iron for switching between suction and blowing operation. The iron can be equipped with a removable soleplate, which is clamped on the back of the iron.

EP2112269A2 discloses an iron shoe comprising an ironing surface that is brought into contact with an article to be ironed, such as a garment, and a main body. The fastener attaches the iron shoe to the flattening part of the iron. The surface contains a textile material for direct contact with the product, and the iron shoe is located under the sole of the smoothing part of the iron. The surface is completely covered with this material. The textile material is a non-woven or woven material, i.e. knitted fabric. The body contains a frame made of plastic.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved ironing shoe preventing or eliminating the above problems.

The invention is defined by the independent claims. The dependent claims define advantageous embodiments.

In this regard, an ironing shoe is proposed that can be removably attached to the sole of a garment care device, wherein the ironing shoe comprises a plate having an outer side intended for contact with garments to be processed and an inner side facing the sole, when the ironing shoe is attached to a garment care device, the inner side containing:

- heat insulating layer,

- a thermally insulating protruding structure to form an air gap between the insulating layer and the sole when the ironing shoe is attached to the garment care device,

- a thermally conductive protruding structure for transferring heat from the soleplate to the plate when the ironing shoe is attached to the garment care device.

The thermal insulation layer provides the ability to reduce heat transfer between the soleplate and the ironing shoe plate. The air gap formed between the insulating layer and the sole when the ironing shoe is attached to the garment care device further reduces heat transfer between the sole and the ironing shoe plate. Due to these features, the ironing shoe according to the invention enables the heat transfer between the soleplate and the ironing shoe plate to be substantially reduced so as to enable delicate garments to be processed without being damaged by the ironing shoe attached to the soleplate, even at high sole temperatures.

The thermally conductive raised design allows localized transfer of a limited amount of heat from the soleplate to the ironing shoe plate. As a result, when the ironing shoe is attached to the soleplate, the temperature of the ironing shoe plate can rise much more quickly. In this case, after attaching the ironing shoe to the soleplate, if the user initiates steam ironing, the steam condensation on the ironing shoe is significantly reduced. In other words, the thermally conductive protruding structure solves the problem known as "spatter".

Preferably, the thermally conductive projecting structure has an upper portion defining an area of contact with the sole. The ratio between the surface area of the specified contact area and the surface area of the inner side is in the range [0.5; 30.0]%.

This range allows a limited amount of heat to be transferred locally and quickly from the soleplate to the ironing shoe plate, which contributes to the initial temperature rise of the ironing shoe (initially at room temperature) after the ironing shoe is attached to the soleplate. Due to the limited surface area of the contact area, heat transfer will not significantly contribute to the additional temperature rise of the ironing shoe after the ironing shoe reaches a balanced temperature.

Preferably, the thermally conductive projecting structure is made of a metallic material.

The use of a conductive protruding structure made of metallic material provides a simple and cost-effective method for local and rapid transfer of a limited amount of heat from the soleplate to the ironing shoe plate.

Preferably, the thermally conductive projecting structure has a cylindrical or oval shape.

Performing the thermally conductive protruding structure in one of these shapes allows for ease of manufacture.

Preferably, the thermally conductive protruding structure comprises at least one bulge.

The implementation of the conductive protruding structure in the form of a bulge (protuberances) makes it easy to manufacture the heat-conducting protruding structure in the plate.

Preferably, said at least one bulge corresponds to a stamped area in the plate.

The use of punching to form the bulge (bulges) enables simple and cost-effective production.

Preferably, the thermally conductive projecting structure is located in the central part of the ironing shoe and / or extends along the longitudinal axis of the ironing shoe.

The location of the conductive protruding structure in the center of the ironing shoe allows for even heat distribution from the soleplate to the ironing shoe after the ironing shoe is attached to the soleplate. This contributes to further limiting steam condensation over a larger area of the ironing shoe.

Since the ironing shoe is always symmetrical, the passage of the conductive protruding structure along the longitudinal axis of the ironing shoe also distributes heat evenly from the sole to the ironing shoe.

Preferably, the thermally insulating projecting structure and the thermally conducting projecting structure are of the same height.

The same height of the thermally insulating protruding structure and the thermally conductive protruding structure makes it possible to stabilize the ironing shoe on the sole, since the ironing shoe has more points of contact with the sole.

Preferably, the plate comprises at least one steam hole, and a thermally insulating projecting structure is formed on said inner side by a rim protruding around the periphery of said at least one steam hole.

The thermally insulating protruding structure in the form of a rim extending around the periphery of the steam hole (s) provides ease of manufacture. In addition, the relatively long length of the thermally insulating protruding structure around each steam hole also contributes to the firm contact of the ironing shoe with the soleplate.

Preferably, the height of the rim is in the range [0.1; 1.5] mm.

This range of values provides the ability to create an air gap that is a compromise between:

- an air gap that is too thin, which does not provide sufficient thermal insulation to the ironing shoe plate and generally results in an excessively high ironing shoe plate temperature (which can damage the garments), and

- an air gap that is too thick, which does not provide sufficient heat transfer between the soleplate and the ironing shoe plate and adversely affects the efficiency of processing garments.

Preferably, the heat insulating layer contains areas of different thicknesses.

The presence of areas of different thickness in the insulating layer prevents the transfer of too much heat to a certain part (s) of the ironing shoe from the sole. In this way, the ironing shoe absorbs heat evenly from the soleplate.

Preferably, the thickness of the first portion of the insulating layer is in the range [0.5; 1] mm, and the thickness of the second section of the heat-insulating layer is in the range [1; 2] mm.

This aspect of the invention provides economic efficiency in the first section and increased structural strength for supporting the rubber rim (s) in the second section.

Preferably, the air gap has a value in the range [0.1; 3] mm, preferably in the range [0.2; 1.5] mm.

This range of air gap values provides optimal heat transfer from the soleplate to the ironing shoe plate so as to keep the outside of the ironing shoe within optimal limits and in a relatively low temperature range compared to the soleplate temperature.

Preferably, the ironing shoe comprises first fastening means for removably attaching the ironing shoe to the soleplate.

The invention also relates to a garment care device comprising a sole for processing garments and second fastening means for attaching the ironing shoe described above by means of the first fastening means.

Detailed explanations and other aspects of the invention follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Specific aspects of the invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments described below in this document and considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which identical parts or sub-steps are identified in the same way:

Figure 1A shows an ironing shoe according to the invention detached from the soleplate of a steam iron,

Figure 1B shows the ironing shoe of Figure 1A attached to the soleplate of a steam iron,

Fig. 2A shows the inside of an ironing shoe according to the invention,

Figure 2B shows the outside of an ironing shoe according to the invention,

Fig. 3A shows a sectional view of an ironing shoe according to the invention when attached to the soleplate of a steam iron,

Fig. 3B is an enlarged view of Fig. 3A,

4A is a longitudinal sectional view of an ironing shoe according to the invention,

Fig. 4B is an enlarged view of Fig. 4A showing a thermally conductive protruding structure,

Fig. 4C is an enlarged view of Fig. 4A showing a thermal insulating layer and a thermally insulating protruding structure,

Figure 4D is an enlarged view of Figure 4C,

5 is an enlarged view of a thermally insulating protruding structure implemented in an ironing shoe in accordance with the invention.

CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Figure 1A shows an ironing shoe 100 in accordance with the invention detached from the sole 101 of a garment care device 102, such as the illustrated steam iron.

The ironing shoe 100 comprises a plate 103 having an outer side 104 for contact with the garments to be treated and an inner side 105 facing the sole when the ironing shoe 100 is attached to the garment care device.

Plate 103 is preferably made of a metal such as aluminum or stainless steel.

Preferably, the thickness of the plate 103 is in the range [0.6; 1.5] mm, preferably 0.8 mm.

The outer side 104 and the inner side 105 of the plate 103 are preferably flat to run parallel to the surface of the sole 101 when the ironing shoe is attached to the garment care device 102.

Figure 1B shows the ironing shoe of Figure 1A attached to the soleplate of a steam iron.

Inner side 105 contains:

- heat insulating layer 106,

- a thermally insulating projecting structure 107 for forming an air gap AG between the thermal insulating layer 106 and the sole when the ironing shoe 100 is attached to the garment care device,

- a thermally conductive protruding structure 108 for transferring heat from the sole to the plate 103 when the ironing shoe 100 is attached to the garment care device.

Thermal insulating layer 106, for example, is made of silicone rubber layer (s) with a coating on the inner side 105.

The heat insulating protruding structure 107 is a structure protruding from the inner side 105.

The thermally insulating protruding structure 107 is designed to contact the sole 101 when the ironing shoe is attached to the garment care device 102.

Since the height of the thermal insulating projection 107 is greater than any other elements on the inner side 105, in particular the height of the thermal insulating layer 106, this contributes to the formation of an air gap AG between the thermal insulating layer 106 and the sole when the ironing shoe 100 is attached to the garment care device. ...

The insulating layer 106 and the air gap function as insulating layers to maintain the temperature of the plate 103 within the temperature range [100; 150] degrees, at a sole temperature of 101 in the temperature range [160; 235] degrees.

Air gap AG is shown in FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B.

The thermally conductive protruding structure 108 is a structure protruding from the inner side 105.

The thermally conductive projecting structure 108 is designed to be in close contact with the soleplate 101 when the ironing shoe is attached to the garment care device 102.

Preferably, the thermally insulating projecting structure 107 and the thermally conducting projecting structure 108 have the same height (h).

In this case, the thermally insulating protruding structure 107 and the thermally conducting protruding structure 108 directly contact the sole 101 when the ironing shoe is attached to the garment care device 102.

The height (h) measured from the bottom surface of the inner side 105 is illustrated in FIG. 4B, FIG. 4D.

Preferably, the thermally conductive projecting structure 108 has an upper portion defining an area of contact with the sole.

For example, if the thermally conductive protruding structure 108 is made up of discrete elements, such as three discrete bulges having a circular top, as shown in FIG. 2A, the area of contact of the thermally conductive protruding structure 108 with the sole corresponds to the sum of the individual surfaces of the upper part, for example, the sum of the surfaces of three circles of the upper part in the example of FIG. 2A.

The ratio between the surface of the specified contact area and the surface of the inner side 105 is in the range [0.5; 30.0]%.

For example, the surface area of the inner side 105 of an ironing shoe 100 removably attachable to a garment care device 102 corresponding to a steam iron is in the range [18000; 24000] mm ² .

It should be noted that the surface area of the inner side 105 is (almost) equal to the surface area of the sole 101.

Due to this range of the surface area of the inner side 105 and the above range of the percentage, the surface area of the contact area of the thermally conductive protruding structure 108 in the range of [90; 7200] mm ² .

As a specific example, illustrated in FIG. 2A, the surface area of the inner side 105 is 22,000 mm ² .

The thermally conductive protruding structure 108 is made up of three separate protuberances having round tops with a diameter of 10mm.

The surface area of the top of each bump is approximately 78.5 mm ² .

This means that the contact area of the heat-conducting protruding structure 108 is 78.5 * 3 = 235.5 mm ² .

Thus, the ratio between the surface area of said contact area and the surface area of the inner side 105 is approximately 1%.

Preferably, the thermally conductive protruding structure 108 is made of a metallic material such as aluminum or stainless steel.

Preferably, the thermally conductive protruding structure 108 has a cylindrical (as shown in FIG. 2A) or oval shape.

Preferably, the thermally conductive projecting structure 108 includes at least one bulge, such as bulges B1, B2, B3, as shown in FIG. 2A.

Preferably, said at least one bulge B1, B2, B3 corresponds to a stamped portion in the plate 103 as shown in FIG. 4B.

Preferably, the thermally conductive projecting structure 108 is located in the center of the ironing shoe 100, as shown in FIG. 2A.

Preferably, the thermally conductive projecting structure 108 extends along the longitudinal axis (A1) of the ironing shoe, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 4A. Preferably, the longitudinal axis (A1) corresponds to the axis of symmetry of the plate 103.

Preferably, the plate 103 includes at least one steam hole 109 as shown in FIG. 1A, FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B and FIG. 5.

The heat insulating protruding structure 107 is formed on the inner side 105 by a rim R extending around the periphery of the at least one steam opening 109.

The rim R is located on the thermal insulating layer 106.

Preferably, the rim R is integrally molded with the insulating layer 106.

Preferably, the height h1 of the rim R is in the range [0.2; 1.5] mm as shown in FIG. 4D.

The rim R can be circular at the top (in FIG. 4C, FIG. 4D, FIG. 5), but it can also have a flat top.

Preferably, the thermal insulating layer 106 comprises portions (P1, P2) having different thicknesses (e1, e2), respectively, as shown in FIG. 4C.

For example, the first portion P1 of the heat-insulating layer 106 has a thickness e1 in the range [0.5; 1] mm, and the second portion P2 of the heat-insulating layer 106 has a thickness e2 in the range [1; 2] mm.

The thicknesses e1 and e2 are calculated compared to the underside of plate 103.

Preferably, the air gap (AG) value is in the range [0.1; 3] mm, preferably in the range [0.2; 1.5] mm.

The thickness of the air gap (AG) is calculated as compared to the portion of the insulating layer 106 as shown in FIG. 4D.

This means that if the thermal insulating layer 106 contains different areas (P1, P2) having different thicknesses (e1, e2), the air gap (AG) has different values in these areas:

- value AG1 = (h-e1) above the first section P1,

- value AG2 = (h-e2) above the second section P2.

Preferably, as shown in FIG. 4D, the value of AG2 above the second portion P2 is equal to the height h1 of the rim R.

Preferably, the ironing shoe 100 includes first fastening means 110A1, 110B1 for removably attaching the ironing shoe 100 to the sole 101 of the garment care device 102.

Preferably, the garment care device 102 includes second fastening means 110A2, 110B2 for attaching an ironing shoe such as described above to the first fastening means 110A1, 110B1.

In other words, for attaching the ironing shoe to the sole of the garment care device, the first fastening means 110A1, 110B1 of the ironing shoe are configured to cooperate with the second fastening means 110A2, 110B2 of the garment care device:

- fasteners 110A1 may, for example, correspond to a locking mechanism (as shown in FIGS. 1A and 2A) adapted to cooperate with fasteners 110A2, which may correspond to a projection of the sole 101 (as shown in FIG. 1A).

- the fastening means 110B1 may, for example, correspond to ribs extending from the edge of the ironing shoe (as shown in FIG. 1A, FIG. 2A and FIG. 3B), configured to cooperate with fastening means 110B2, which may correspond to the protruding top of the sole 101 ( as shown in FIG. 3A).

The above described embodiments are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the methods of the present invention. While the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the methods of the present invention may be altered or replaced by equivalents without departing from the protection scope of the present claims.

In particular, although the invention has been described based on a garment care device corresponding to a steam iron, the invention may be applicable to any other garment care device containing a heated sole for treating garments such as a garment steamer.

In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the singular forms do not exclude multiple elements. Any reference numbers in the claims are not to be understood as limiting their scope.

Claims (18)

1. Ironing shoe (100) removably attachable to the sole (101) of a garment care device (102) and comprising a plate (103) that has an outer side (104) intended for contact with the garments to be treated and the inner side (105) facing the sole when the ironing shoe (100) is attached to the garment care device, characterized in that the inner side (105) comprises: - heat insulating layer (106), - a thermally insulating protruding structure (107) to form an air gap (AG) between the insulating layer (106) and the sole when the ironing shoe (100) is attached to the garment care device, - a thermally conductive protruding structure (108) for transferring heat from the sole to the plate (103) when the ironing shoe (100) is attached to the garment care device. 2. An ironing shoe according to claim 1, in which the heat-conducting protruding structure (108) has an upper part forming a contact area with the sole, and the ratio between the surface area of said contact area and the surface area of the inner side (105) is in the range [0.5 ; 30.0]%. 3. An ironing shoe according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thermally conductive protruding structure (108) is made of a metallic material. 4. An ironing shoe according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the thermally conductive projecting structure (108) is cylindrical or oval in shape. 5. An ironing shoe according to any of the preceding claims, in which the heat-conducting projecting structure (108) comprises at least one bulge (B1, B2, B3). 6. An ironing shoe according to claim 5, wherein said at least one bulge (B1, B2, B3) corresponds to a stamped area in the plate (103). 7. An ironing shoe according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat-conducting projecting structure (108) is located in the central part of the ironing shoe and / or extends along the longitudinal axis (A1) of the ironing shoe. 8. An ironing shoe according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the thermally insulating protruding structure (107) and the thermally conductive protruding structure (108) have the same height (h). 9. An ironing shoe according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the plate (103) comprises at least one opening (109) for steam, and the thermally insulating protruding structure (107) is formed on said inner side (105) by a rim (R) protruding around the periphery of the specified at least one hole (109) for steam. 10. An ironing shoe according to claim 9, wherein the rim (R) has a height (h1) in the range [0.1; 1.5] mm. 11. An ironing shoe according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the thermal insulating layer (106) comprises portions (P1, P2) having different thicknesses (e1, e2). 12. An ironing shoe according to claim 11, wherein the first portion (P1) of the heat-insulating layer (106) has a thickness (e1) in the range [0.5; 1] mm, and the second portion (P2) of the heat-insulating layer (106) has a thickness (e2) in the range [1; 2] mm. 13. An ironing shoe according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said air gap (AG) is in the range [0.1; 3] mm, preferably in the range [0.2; 1.5] mm. 14. Ironing shoe according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising first fastening means (110A1, 110B1) for removably attaching the ironing shoe (100) to the sole (101). 15. A garment care device (102) comprising a sole (101) for treating garments and second fastening means (110A2, 110B2) for attaching an ironing shoe according to claim 14 by means of said first fastening means (110A1, 110B1).

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