GB2391556A

GB2391556A - Electric iron cable housing

Info

Publication number: GB2391556A
Application number: GB0218319A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kai Tung Augustine Fung
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-08-07
Filing date: 2002-08-07
Publication date: 2004-02-11
Anticipated expiration: 2022-08-07
Also published as: GB2391556B; GB0218319D0

Abstract

An electric iron (100) has a body (110) including a sole plate (111) and an internal heating element arranged to heat up the sole plate (111) for ironing. The iron (100) includes a power cable (120) for delivering electrical power to the heating element, a self-return reel (210) for storing the power cable (120) wound thereon, and a case (220 and 230) encasing and supporting the reel (210) for rotation. The case (220 and 230) is separately manufactured and subsequently connected to the iron body (110). Inter-engageable rotary sliding contacts (121-123 and 234-236) are included to effect electrical connection between the power cable (120) and the heating element.

Description

239 1 556

ELECTRIC IRON

The present invention relates to an electric iron.

5 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electrical appliance, such as electric irons, is known to incorporate a power cable that is capable of being automatically wound up onto a springloaded reel provided 10 internally of the appliance housing. The presence of such power cable retrieving arrangement" inevitably complicates the production and/or assembly of the overall appliance.

The invention seeks to mitigate or at least alleviate such 15 a problem or shortcoming by providing an improved electric iron. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

20 According to the invention, there is provided an electric iron comprising a body including a sole plate and a heating element provided in the body and arranged to heat up the sole plate for ironing. The iron includes a power cable for delivering electrical power from an external 25 power source to the heating element, a self-return reel for storing the power cable wound thereon, and a case encasing and supporting the reel for rotation. The case in separately manufactured and subsequently connected to the

-2- iron body. Inter-engageable rotary sliding contacts are included to effect electrical connection between the power cable and the heating element.

5 Preferably, the power cable has three cords including an earth cord that is connected via a pair of the rotary sliding contacts to an earth point in the iron body.

More preferably, the pair of the rotary sliding contacts 10 comprises an annular member having an inner periphery and a elongate member passing through the annular member in resilient engagement with its periphery.

More preferably, the other two cords of the power cable 15 are live and neutral cords, each of which is connected via another pair of the rotary sliding contacts to the heating element.

Further more preferably, each pair of the rotary "riding 20 contacts comprises an annular member having a surface and a resiliently deformable member bearing against the surface of the annular member.

It is preferred that the annular member of the or each 25 pair of the rotary sliding contacts is fixed on an end wall of the reel.

It is further preferred that the other mummer of the or

-3 each pair of the rotary sliding contacts is located on a plate as part of and closing the case.

In a specific embodiment, the plate has an outer surface 5 provided with first engaging means interlocked with second engaging means provided at a rear end of the iron body. More specifically, the first engaging means comprises a 10 plurality of hooks.

More specifically, the second engaging means comprises a plurality of holes.

15 Advantageously, the case has a shape matching with that of the iron body and an outer surface lying substantially flush with that of the iron body.

In a preferred embodiment, the case includes first 20 engaging means interlocked with second engaging means provided at a rear end of the iron body.

More preferably, the first engaging means comprises a plurality of hooks.

More preferably, the second engaging means comprises a plurality of holes.

- - Advantageously, the case has a shape matching with that of the iron body and an outer surface lying substantially flush with that of the iron body.

5 In a preferred embodiment, the aforesaid electric iron includes a spring-loaded catch arranged to stop return rotation of the reel and, upon actuation, to permit said self-return rotation.

10 More preferably, the reel includes a plurality of ratchets which abut with the catch to stop return rotation of the reel and turn past the catch to permit rotation of the reel in the opposite direction unwinding the power cable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying 20 drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an electric iron in accordance with the invention, said iron including a self-return reel module provided at its rear 25 body end for storing a power cable; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the rear body end and reel module of Figure 1;

- s - Figure 3 is an exposed perspective view of the rear body end and reel module of Figure 2; 5 Figure 4 is a perspective view of two parts of the reel module of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the parts of the reel module of Figure 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawing, there in shown an electric iron 100 embodying the invention, which comprises a plastic 15 body 110 having a sole plate 111, a heating element (not shown) provided in the body 110 and arranged to heat up the sole plate 111 for ironing, and a power cable 120 including a power plug 122 for delivering electrical power from a mains power source to the heating element. The 20 power cable 120 has three cords, i.e. live, neutral and earth cords. A temperature control dial 112 is provided curl the iron body 110 for adjusting the temperature of the sole plate 111.

25 The iron body 110 has a pointed front end 110A and a fit.

rear end 110B, and includes a built-in water crasher 113 that extends from the rear body end 110B to the front body, end 110A. The chamber 113 has an inlet port 114 at the

front body end llOA, and is in communication with an outlet nozzle 115 ahead of the port 114 for dispensing water contained in the chamber 113. A pair of press knobs 116 is provided on top of the iron body 110 for operating 5 the nozzle llS to dispense water in the form of either a spray or mist respectively.

The electric iron 100 further includes a self-return reel module 200 for storing the power cable 120. The reel 10 module 200 comprises a selfreturn reel 210 on which the power cable 120 is wound, and a plastic case 220 encasing and supporting the reel 210 for rotation. The came 220 resembles a cap having an open backside, and incorporates a mounting plate 230 closing the backside and for mounting 15 the overall reel module 200 onto the rear end llOB of the iron 100. The mounting 230 is secured by means of four screws through respective holes 231 to the case 220. The case 220 includes an internal central "heft 221 on which the reel 210 is supported for rotation.

The reel 210 is formed by a pair of Front and rear end discs 211 and 212. Each disc 211/212 includes an integral cylindrical central boss 213/214 extending co-axially inwards and adjoined with the other boss 214/213 to form a 25 thickened shaft around which the power cable 120 is wound between the discs 211 and 212. Both bosses 213 and 214 are hollow on their outer sides to form respective cylindrical recesses 215 and 216.

-7 The front recesm 215 contains a wound coil spring 222 that has opposite ends connected to the front disc 211 and the shaft 221 of the case 220 respectively. The coil spring 5 222 is loaded to resiliently bias the reel 210 to rotate in a (return) direction winding up the power cable 120 (back) onto the reel 210 (after use). The rear recess 216 is formed with four equiangularly spaced ratchets 217 around on its periphery, which are asymmetrically shaped 10 to counteract the return wind-up rotation of the reel 210.

The rear recess 216 has a bottom wall on which three concentric copper contact rings 121 (outer ring), 122 (middle ring) and 123 (inner ring) are fixed, which are 15 permanently connected to the live, neutral and earth cords of the power cable 120 respectively. As the power cable 120 is wound on the reel 210 for simultaneous rotation, the permanent connection of it" three cords to the corresponding contact ring" 121 to 123 is warranted.

20 Unlike the outer and middle rings 121 and 122, the inner ring 123 includes equiangularly spaced teeth 124 that protrude inwardly from the inner peripheral edge of the ring 123.

25 Referring to the mounting plate 230, it has, on its inner side relative to the case 220, an integral cylindrical central boss 232 that protrudes co-axially into the rear recess 216. The boss 232 has an end wall 233 on which

- 8 three copper contact members 234 to 236 are located for sliding engagement with the contact rings 121 to 123 of the reel 210 respectively. Each of the first and second contact members 234 and 235 is in the form of a radially 5 extending copper strip which has opposite ends bearing resiliently against the outer/middle contact ring 121/122.

These two contact members 234 and 235 are connected by respective wires to the internal heating element via the temperature control dial 112. The third contact member 236 10 is in the form of a copper rod which passes through the inner contact ring 123 and against which the teeth 124 of the ring 123 resiliently bear. This contact member 236 is connected by a wire to the relevant earth point inside the iron body 110. While engaging through the contact ring 15 123, the rod 236 also acts as a shaft cooperating with the first mentioned shaft 221 to support the reel 210.

On it" outer side, the mounting plate 230 includes seven small integral flat hooks 237 for connection to the rear 20 end llOB of the iron body 110. The hooks 237 lie parallel to the plate 230 and extend downwardly for slidably engaging the rear body end 110B in that direction to hold the plate 230 tight against the body end 110B. A pair of laterally protruding small bottom tabs 238 is further 25 included for securing to the body end 110B by means of respective screws 239, thereby ensuring that the plate 230 cannot slide back and separate from the body end 110B.

- 9 - Referring now to the rear end llOB of the iron body 110, it includes a matching plastic wall 130 which is formed with seven small rectangular holes and recess 137 receiving and interlocked by the corresponding hooks 237 5 of the mounting plate 230. Two more small rectangular holes 138 are present into which the respective tabs 238 are inserted.

The body wall 130 includes a spring-loaded catch 132 at 10 its upper end for stopping return rotation of the reel 210 Of the reel module 200 when the power cable 120 is in use.

The catch 132 has a press knob 133 and includes a metal bar 134 depending from the knob 133, the bottom end of which is bent through 90 to form a hook 135. The hook 135 15 projects out of the body wall 130 into the rear recess 216 of the reel 210 for abutting the ratchets 217 therein, thereby stopping self-return rotation of the reel 210 against the action of the coil spring 222.

20 The power cable 120 can be pulled out unwinding from the reel 210 against the action of the coil spring 222, with the ratchets 217 turning past the hook 135. Upon pressing of the knob 133, the hook 135 disengages from the ratchets 217, whereby the reel 210 is released to automatically 25 return by the spring 222 and as a result the power cable 120 is withdrawn into the case 220 and wound back onto the reel 210.

-10 Throughout the winding and unwinding actions and in fact at all time, the inter-engageable rotary sliding contacts of each pair, i.e. the outer ring 121 and strip 234, the middle ring 122 and strip 235, or the inner ring 123 and 5 rod 236, are in contact with each other to effect continual electrical connection between the power cable 120 and the heating element.

The reel module 200 is formed by the pelf-returning reel 10 210 housed in the cane 220 that also houses the power cable 120. It constitutes a selfcontained cable unit which can be manufactured separately (and therefore conveniently) from the body 110 of electric iron 100, for subsequent connection thereto when both are finished in 15 terms of production. The subsequent connection is simple and quick, as the reel module 200 only needs to be hooked onto the iron body 110. The final use of the screws 239 is optional, and may be replaced by snapping or self-latching engagement between the mounting plate 230 and the iron 20 body end 110B. The reel module 200 should preferably be shape to match with, having an outer surface lying flush with that of, the iron body end 110B.

The invention has been given by way of example only, and 25 various other modifications of and/or alterations to the described embodiment may be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as specified in the appended claims.

Claims

- 11 CLAIMS

1. An electric iron comprising a body including a sole plate, a heating element provided in the body and arranged 5 to heat up the sole plate for ironing, a power cable for delivering electrical power from an external power source to the heating element, a self-return reel for storing the power cable wound thereon, a case encasing and supporting the reel for rotation, said case being separately 10 manufactured and subsequently connected to the iron body, and inter-engageable rotary sliding contacts effecting electrical connection between the power cable and the heating element.

15

2. The electric iron as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power cable has three cords including an earth cord that is connected via a pair of the rotary sliding contacts to an earth point in the iron body.

20

3. The electric iron as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pair of the rotary sliding contacts comprise" an annular member having an inner periphery and a elongate member passing through the annular member in resilient engagement with its periphery.

4. The electric iron as claimed in claim 2, wherein the other two cords of the power cable are live and neutral cords, each of which i" connected via another pair of the

-12 rotary sliding contacts to the heating element.

5. The electric iron as claimed in claim 4, wherein each pair of the rotary sliding contacts comprises an 5 annular member having a surface and a resiliently deformable member bearing against the surface of the annular member.

6. The electric iron as claimed in claim 3 or claim 5, 10 wherein the annular member of the or each pair of the rotary sliding contacts is fixed on an end wall of the reel.

7. The electric iron as claimed in claim 6, wherein the 15 other member of the or each pair of the rotary sliding contacts is located on a plate as part of and closing the case.

8. The electric iron as claimed in claim 7, wherein the 20 plate has an outer surface provided with first engaging means interlocked with second engaging means provided at a rear end of the iron body.

9. The electric iron as claimed in claim 8, wherein the 25 first engaging means comprises a plurality of hooks.

10. The electric iron as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the second engaging mean" comprises a plurality

-13 of holes.

11. The electric iron as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the case has a shape matching with that of 5 the iron body and an outer surface lying substantially flush with that of the iron body.

12. The electric iron as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the case includes first engaging means 10 interlocked with second engaging means provided at a rear end of the iron body.

13. The electric iron as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first engaging means comprises a plurality of hooks.

14. The electric iron as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the second engaging means comprises a plurality of holes.

20

15. The electric iron as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the case has a shape matching with that of the iron body and an outer surface lying substantially flush with that of the iron body.

25

16. The electric iron as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, including a spring-loaded catch arranged to "top return rotation of the reel and, upon actuation, to permit said self-return rotation.

-14

17. The electric iron as claimed in claim 16, wherein the reel includes a plurality of ratchets which abut with the catch to stop return rotation of the reel and turn 5 past the catch to permit rotation of the reel in the opposite direction unwinding the power cable.