IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0253181
(2002-09-23)
|
§371/§102 date |
20031205
(20031205)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
7 인용 특허 :
5 |
초록
▼
The present invention is a clothing iron capable of lifting the iron, and thus the hot sole plate of the iron, away from a surface on which the iron rests when the iron is not in use, to reduce or prevent damage to the surface on which the iron rests. An important characteristic of the invention is
The present invention is a clothing iron capable of lifting the iron, and thus the hot sole plate of the iron, away from a surface on which the iron rests when the iron is not in use, to reduce or prevent damage to the surface on which the iron rests. An important characteristic of the invention is that the sole plate of the iron is lifted in a direction including a vertical vector, with a plane of the sole plate remaining roughly horizontal. The elevation of the iron is accomplished through the use of an elevation mechanism including apparatus for extending at least one leg from the underside of the iron when the sensor indicates that the user's hand is not in contact with the iron.
대표청구항
▼
1. An iron for use on a support surface defining a plane, the iron comprising:a sole plate, at least one leg for holding said sole plate above a support surface, an elevation mechanism moving said at least one leg between a first configuration to lift said sole plate away from the support surface, a
1. An iron for use on a support surface defining a plane, the iron comprising:a sole plate, at least one leg for holding said sole plate above a support surface, an elevation mechanism moving said at least one leg between a first configuration to lift said sole plate away from the support surface, and a second configuration to allow said sole plate to contact the support surface, and elevation mechanism which moves said at least one leg between said first configuration and second configuration. 2. The iron of claim 1, wherein said at least one leg holds said sole plate in a plane approximately parallel to the plane of the support surface.3. The iron of claim 1, wherein the iron comprises at least two legs.4. The iron of claim 1, wherein said at least one leg extends through an aperture in said sole plate.5. The iron of claim 1, wherein said iron includes a side, and wherein said at least one leg acts as a sole plate guard if said iron is tilted one said side.6. The iron of claim 1, wherein said sensor is a sensor selected from the group consisting of: heat sensors, conductivity switches, pressure activated switches, force sensors, capacitive sensors, matched emitter detector pairs, or light or signal emitters and receivers that are interrupted when contacted by the hand of a user.7. The iron of claim 1, wherein said at least one leg is biased downward by at least one spring.8. The iron of claim 1, wherein said elevation mechanism includes a motor.9. The iron of claim 1, wherein said extended or retracted configuration of said at least on leg provides a visual queue of an operational status of said iron.10. The iron of claim 1, wherein said sole plate includes a tail portion adapted to perform a selected ironing task.11. The iron of claim 1, wherein said at least one leg is configured to inhibit the iron from tipping.12. An iron for use on a support surface defining a plane, the iron comprising:a sole plate, at least one leg for holding said sole plate in a plane above the support surface approximately parallel to the plane of the support surface, an elevation mechanism for moving said at least one leg between a first configuration to lift said sole plate away from the support surface, and a second configuration to allow said sole plate to contact the support surface, and elevation mechanism which moves said at least one leg between said first configuration and said second configuration. 13. A method for operating an iron comprising the steps:providing an iron comprising a sole plate, at least one leg for holding said sole plate above a support surface, an elevation mechanism for moving said at least one leg between a first configuration to lift said sole plate away from the support surface, and a second configuration to allow said sole plate to contact the support surface, and a sensor capable of sensing when a user has grasped the iron, thereby actuating said elevation mechanism; grasping said iron, activating said sensor thereby actuating said elevation mechanism which moves said at least one leg to allow said sole plate to contact said support surface; and releasing said iron, thereby actuating said elevation mechanism which moves said at least one leg to lift said sole plate away from said support surface. 14. The method of claim 13 wherein said step of releasing said iron, thereby actuating said elevation mechanism which moves said at least one leg to lift said sole plate away from said support surface, causes said sole plate to be raised above the support surface in a plane approximately parallel to said plane of the support surface.15. The method of claim 13 wherein said step of releasing said iron, thereby actuating said elevation mechanism which moves said at least one leg to lift said sole plate away from said support surface, causes said sole plate to be raised at least one half inch above the support surface.
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