초록 ▼

This invention relates to the ironing of fabrics, such as clothes in particular, and provides a compact, light-weight apparatus suitable also for use in various ironing applications. The ironing apparatus comprises first and second fabric-pressing surfaces, supporting arms to which the surfaces are

This invention relates to the ironing of fabrics, such as clothes in particular, and provides a compact, light-weight apparatus suitable also for use in various ironing applications. The ironing apparatus comprises first and second fabric-pressing surfaces, supporting arms to which the surfaces are mounted opposite each other, to define a fabric-receiving gap between the surfaces. The supporting arms operate to urge the first surface toward the second, so to narrow the gap from a first, fabric receiving width, to a second, fabric-compressing width effective for exerting crease-reducing pressure on said fabric in the gap, while permitting relative traversing movement between said surfaces and the fabric. The supporting arms may be in the form of a flexible U-shaped member having opposed ends to which the respective pressing surfaces are mounted to be inwardly opposed, and a generally central portion defining a body.

대표청구항 ▼

1. Ironing apparatus comprising: opposable first and second fabric-pressing surfaces;support means comprising a body and first and second arm members extending therefrom;mounting means for mounting the pressing surfaces to said respective arm membersI; andorienting means for causing tracking of said

1. Ironing apparatus comprising: opposable first and second fabric-pressing surfaces;support means comprising a body and first and second arm members extending therefrom;mounting means for mounting the pressing surfaces to said respective arm membersI; andorienting means for causing tracking of said pressing surfaces to seek to assume a substantially parallel and opposed relative mutual orientation in use, said orienting means comprising features selected from: tilt-enabling means for allowing the pressing surfaced to tilt axially and transversely in relation to said arm to which it is mounted and causing adjustment of the gap to accommodate variation in thickness of an article being ironed;ball-mounting means disposed between said pressing surface and said arm;biasing means located between one or both of said pressing surfaces and said arm to which it is mounted; andcombinations thereof;wherein said body comprises urging means operable to urge said first surface toward said second surface so that said pressing surfaces are in opposed relationship, whereby: in use, a fabric-receiving gap is defined between said surfaces for receiving fabric to be ironed;and the gap is narrowed from a first, fabric-receiving width, to a second, fabric-compressing width effective for exerting crease-reducing pressure on fabric located in the gap, while permitting relative traversing movement between said surfaces and the fabric. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interrelationships between said arm members and said body are selected from: said first arm member is movably connected to said body, and said second arm member is integrally formed with said body to extend therefrom in fixed orientation;articulated connection means movably connects least one of said first and second arm members to said body;at least one of said first and second arm members comprises first and second articulatedly interconnected arm portions, wherein each first arm portion is proximate said body and located between said body and said articulatedly interconnected second portion, with said pressing surface mounted on said second portion;and combinations thereof. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising heating means for heating at least one of said surfaces, said heating means selected from: electrical heating means;steam generating means;steam-emitting means for introducing steam into the gap, said steam-emitting means comprising orifices associated with at least one of the pressing surfaces;and combinations thereof. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, comprising: steam-generating means comprising a reservoir adapted for holding water at a pressure exceeding ambient conditions,water heating means; andfluid communication means between said reservoir, said water heating means, and said steam-emitting orifices. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising features selected from: said reservoir is adapted to withstand pressure sufficient to expel water from said reservoir to reach the water heating means;said water-heating means comprises a heatable chamber for receiving water expelled from said reservoir;said chamber is heatable by means of an electric heating element;at least one pressing surface is in thermal communication with, for receiving heat from, said chamber;said chamber is configured to have an inlet for admitting steam or water to said chamber, with said orifices located above the level of said inlet;said reservoir is contained within said body; andcombinations thereof. 6. The apparatus claim 4, further comprising positioning means for moving said reservoir from a first, water-retaining position to a second, water-delivering position. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said positioning means comprises an actuating mechanism that moves said reservoir to said second position contemporaneously with said pressing surfaces being urged toward each other. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising suspensible garment-hanging means comprising an elongate horizontally-extending member having opposed ends distal from a central hanging crook by which to suspend the member, said opposed ends defining upper hanging extremities for supporting a hanging garment, and downwardly extensible spacing means which, when extended, define lower spaced extremities for maintaining the lateral shape of a portion of the garment below a portion receiving support said said upper extremities. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, comprising at least one feature selected from: said horizontally-extending member is telescopically extensible;said horizontally-extending member comprises a vertically extensible element; andsaid vertically extensible element is connected by articulated connection means to said horizontally-extending member. 10. A method of ironing a fabric, said method comprising the steps of: providing ironing apparatus comprising: first and second opposable fabric-pressing surfaces,means comprising a body and first and second arm members extending from it, for supporting said respective surfaces in opposed relationship to define a fabric receiving gap;means for urging said surfaces towards each other to narrow the gap from a first, fabric receiving width, to a second, fabric-compressing width effective for reducing creasing in the fabric, while permitting relative traversing movement between said surfaces and the fabric; andorienting means for causing tracking of said pressing surfaces to seek to assume a substantially parallel and opposed relative mutual orientation in use, said orienting means comprising features selected from: tilt-enabling means for allowing the pressing surfaced to tilt axially and transversely in relation to said arm to which it is mounted and causing adjustment of the gap to accommodate variation in thickness of an article being ironed;ball-mounting means disposed between said pressing surface and said arm;biasing means located between one or both of said pressing surfaces and said arm to which it is mounted; andcombinations thereof;causing the gap to be at fabric-receiving width;locating fabric requiring ironing in the gap while the gap is at fabric-receiving width;operating the apparatus to urge said surfaces toward each other to narrow the gap to said fabric-compressing width; andcausing said surfaces to traverse the fabric, so as to reduce creasing present therein to a desired degree. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said arm members have capabilities selected from: said first arm member being movably connected to said body and said second arm member is integrally formed with the body to extend therefrom in fixed orientation;articulated connection means for movably connecting at least one arm to said body; andcombinations thereof. 12. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of said first and second arm members comprises first and second articulatedly interconnected arm portions. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said first arm portion is proximate said body and located between said body and said articulatedly interconnected second portion, with said pressing surface being mounted on said second portion. 14. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of heating at least one pressing surface using a heat source selected from electrical heat sources, steam, and combinations thereof. 15. The method claim 10, further comprising the step of introducing steam to the fabric. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of causing said apparatus to emit steam into the gap. 17. The method of claim 10, wherein said causing step comprises a step selected from: maintaining the gap substantially constant at fabric-compressing width; andadjusting the gap according to variation in thickness of the fabric being ironed. 18. Ironing apparatus comprising: opposable first and second fabric-pressing surfaces;support means comprising a body and first and second arm members extending therefrom, said support means defining a flexible U-shaped member having opposed end portions defined by said first and second opposing arms, to which the respective pressing surfaces are mounted to be inwardly opposed for urging toward each other; andmounting means for mounting the pressing surfaces to said respective arm members;wherein said body defines a generally central portion adapted for gripping by a human hand and comprises urging means operable to urge said first surface toward said second surface so that said pressing surfaces are in opposed relationship, whereby: in use, a fabric-receiving gap is defined between said surfaces for receiving fabric to be ironed;and the gap is narrowed from a first, fabric-receiving width, to a second, fabric-compressing width effective for exerting crease-reducing pressure on fabric located in the gap, while permitting relative traversing movement between said surfaces and the fabric.