Iron comprising a lighting device

Abstract

Iron (1) comprising an ironing surface and a housing (4) equipped with a gripping handle (40), the housing (4) comprising a lighting device (5) comprising at least one light source (52) arranged to emit light, the lighting device (5) comprising at least one projection surface (51) for receiving the light emitted by said at least one light source (52) and projecting a beam of light onto an area located at the edge of the ironing surface, characterized in that said lighting device (5) comprises transmission means arranged between said at least one light source (52) and said at least one projection surface, for transmitting and distributing the light emitted by said at least one light source (52) to said at least one projection surface.

Description

technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of irons comprising an ironing surface intended to come into contact with the laundry and a housing equipped with a gripping handle in which the housing includes a lighting device comprising a light source arranged to emit light. State of the art

[0002] From document CN203360895U, an iron is known to include an LED lighting device configured to illuminate the area of ​​the laundry ready to be ironed, the LED being arranged behind a translucent protective cover.

[0003] Such an iron has the advantage of providing improved ergonomics by illuminating the area of ​​the laundry ready to be ironed and highlighting any creases present on the laundry.

[0004] However, in this design, the LED is housed in an unsightly protrusion on the iron's casing. This protrusion is necessary to position the LED close to the front of the iron and effectively illuminate the fabric. The front of the iron's casing typically has a tapered shape, creating a small volume that doesn't allow for the integration of the LED system without it protruding. This protrusion, besides being unsightly, obstructs the view of the ironing surface, which can be problematic when the user wants to perform precise ironing, such as ironing shirt collars.

[0005] Furthermore, to allow grazing light that highlights the creases in the ironing, the LED must be positioned relatively close to the heating soleplate, i.e. in an area where the temperature in the iron's casing is relatively high, which can impair the lifespan of the lighting device or increase the cost of the components that must be used to withstand this temperature.

[0006] Documents DE 40 02 200 A1 and US 5 250 139 A show other irons. Summary of the invention

[0007] The present invention therefore aims to remedy these drawbacks by proposing an iron in which the integration of the lighting device into the iron's casing is facilitated.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to an iron comprising an ironing surface intended to come into contact with the fabric and a housing equipped with a handle. The housing includes a lighting device comprising at least one light source arranged to emit light. The lighting device includes at least one projection surface for receiving the light emitted by said at least one light source and projecting a beam of light onto an area located at the edge of the ironing surface. The device is characterized in that said lighting device includes transmission means arranged between said at least one light source and said at least one projection surface for transmitting and distributing the light emitted by said at least one light source to said at least one projection surface. The apparatus may further have one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination.

[0009] The transmission means include at least one light guide made of transparent material, said at least one projection surface being a lateral surface of said at least one light guide.

[0010] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, said at least one light guide comprises a face opposite said at least one projection surface, the opposite face comprising light distribution means arranged to distribute the light along said at least one projection surface. According to another advantageous feature of the invention, the distribution means comprise a plurality of at least partially reflective surfaces arranged along the opposite face and each arranged to reflect a portion of the emitted light towards said at least one projection surface.

[0011] Said at least one light source is away from the projection surface, said at least one light source being located in an area of ​​the housing where the temperature, during operation of the device, is lower than the temperature in the vicinity of the projection surface.

[0012] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, said at least one light source is closer to the gripping handle than the projection surface.

[0013] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, said at least one light source is an LED.

[0014] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the handle contains an electronic circuit for managing the LED.

[0015] This characteristic has the advantage of placing the electronic circuit in an environment where the temperature is low.

[0016] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the electronic circuit includes a motion detector, such as an accelerometer, and controls the automatic switching on of the lighting device when movement of the iron in at least one direction is detected.

[0017] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the electronic circuit controls the switching off of the lighting device when no movement of the iron is detected for a predetermined period.

[0018] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the iron has a heel on which it can rest vertically during inactive ironing phases, and the electronic circuit controls the automatic switching off of the light when the iron rests vertically on its heel. According to another advantageous feature of the invention, the ironing surface is in contact with a heated soleplate, said heated soleplate advantageously comprising an electrical resistance.

[0019] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the distance separating said at least one light source from the heating sole is greater than the distance separating the projection surface from the heating sole.

[0020] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the distribution means consist of a light guide made of transparent material.

[0021] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the light guide has a general V-shape which follows the tapered shape of the front end of the iron housing.

[0022] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, a light source is disposed at each of the two ends of the V-shaped light guide.

[0023] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the projection surface is smooth and is arranged opposite an opposite face which has a plurality of grooves. Brief description of the figures

[0024] The aims, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, presented by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [ Fig 1 ] There figure 1 is a perspective view of an iron according to a particular embodiment of the invention; [ Fig 2 ] There figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the iron of the figure 1 ; Fig 3 ] There figure 3 is a side view of the lighting device fitted to the iron of the figure 1 ; Fig 4 ] There figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along line IV-IV of the figure 3 ; Fig 5 ] There figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the lighting system of the figure 3 ; Fig 6 ] There figure 6 is a detailed longitudinal cross-sectional view of the front part of the iron, with some parts of the iron not shown to better highlight the positioning of the lighting device.

[0025] Only the elements necessary for understanding the invention have been shown. To facilitate reading the drawings, the same elements bear the same reference numbers from one figure to another.

[0026] It should be noted that in this document, the terms "horizontal", "vertical", "lower", "upper", "top", "bottom", "front", "back", "longitudinal", "transverse", used to describe the sharpening device refer to this device in use, when it rests flat on its base.

[0027] There figure 1 represents an iron 1 intended to be connected by a conduit 2 to a steam generating base, not shown in the figures, the base comprising, in a manner known per se, a tank for the production of steam under a pressure of the order of 4 to 6 bars.

[0028] In accordance with the figure 2 , the iron 1 includes a cap 10 which comprises a flat lower surface defining an ironing surface intended to come into contact with the laundry, the cap 10 being attached to a heating sole 3 comprising a substantially flat lower wall coming directly into contact with the cap 10, the latter being glued to the heating sole 3 by a silicone adhesive.

[0029] The cap 10 is advantageously made of an aluminium or stainless steel sheet and generally has a triangular shape with a pointed front end and a wider rear part ending with a rounded rear edge.

[0030] The heating sole 3 consists of an aluminum casting in which is embedded a U-shaped sheathed electrical resistance 30. The heating sole 3 includes, in a manner known per se, a steam distribution circuit which is supplied by the conduit 2 and which distributes the steam through steam outlet holes 11 provided in the cap 10.

[0031] The iron 1 has a housing 4 which covers the heating sole 3, the housing 4 having a gripping handle 40 at its upper end and a heel 41 at its rear end on which the iron 1 can rest vertically during inactive phases of ironing.

[0032] More particularly according to the invention, the iron 1 is equipped with a lighting device 5 which makes it possible to illuminate an area at the edge of the head 10 and advantageously the area located in front of the pointed front end of the head 10.

[0033] As can be seen on the figures 2 à 6 , the lighting device 5 includes a light guide 50, an outer face of which forms a projection surface 51.

[0034] The projection surface 51 is arranged to project a beam of light onto the perimeter of the iron head 10, as shown by the arrows depicted on the figure 1 The light beam projected by the projection surface 51 is created by two light sources 52 arranged in the housing 4 of the iron, set back from the projection surface 51, and advantageously positioned near the front end of the gripping handle 40.

[0035] The light guide 50 has a general V-shape that follows the tapered shape of the front end of the iron housing 4, the two light sources 52 being arranged at each of the two rear ends of the V-shaped light guide 50. A preferred embodiment for the light source 52 is a light-emitting diode, commonly called an LED.

[0036] The light guide 50 collects the light emitted by the light sources 52 and transmits this emitted light to the projection surface 51 along its entire length, to obtain a light beam uniformly projected along the edge of the front end of the headband 10. The light guide 50 is made of a transparent material. Polycarbonate, and in particular a polycarbonate with high transmittance for visible light waves, can be considered.

[0037] The light guide 50 allows the two LEDs inside the iron's housing 4 to be positioned in an area of ​​the housing 4 where the temperature during operation is lower than the temperature near the projection surface 51. For example, the two LEDs are positioned at a distance from the heating soleplate 3 such that the distance between the LEDs and the heating soleplate 3 is greater than the distance between the projection surface 51 and the heating soleplate 3. This places the LEDs in an environment protected from heat and shock, ensuring greater robustness. Furthermore, the two LEDs are sufficient to project a homogeneous beam of light towards the front of the iron 1 and along the front edge of the head 10.

[0038] The projection surface 51 is smooth and is arranged opposite an opposing face 53 which has a plurality of grooves 54. The plurality of grooves 54 is arranged to reflect the light emitted by the two LEDs from the opposing face 53 towards the projection surface 51. In order to mask the inside of the light guide 50 and make the projection of the light beam as homogeneous as possible, the projection surface 51 is advantageously frosted.

[0039] Preferably, the housing 4 of the iron 1 includes an electronic circuit, advantageously located in the handle 40, for controlling the LEDs. This electronic circuit can be connected to a switch located on the front of the handle 40, which allows the LEDs to be switched on or off.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment, the electronic circuit may include a motion sensor, such as an accelerometer, and automatically control the lighting of the LEDs when the iron is moved with the head 10 positioned horizontally, and the switching off of the LEDs when the iron 1 rests vertically on its heel.

[0041] The iron thus made has the advantage of offering great ergonomics of use, thanks to the lighting of the area intended to be treated by the ironing surface, while maintaining an attractive aesthetic, the use of a light guide allowing the light source to be moved to a less cluttered area of ​​the iron's casing and more suitable for receiving the light source without altering the aesthetics of the iron.

[0042] Furthermore, the use of such a light guide allows the light source to be placed in a part of the iron housing with a lower temperature, which improves the reliability of the lighting device.

[0043] Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and illustrated, which has been given only as an example. Modifications remain possible without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

[0044] Thus, in an alternative embodiment of the invention not shown, the iron may not be connected to a separate steam generating base but may directly integrate, in a manner known per se, an instant vaporization chamber in the heating sole, this vaporization chamber being able to be supplied by a water reservoir carried directly into the body of the iron or be disposed in a separate base.

[0045] Thus, in an alternative embodiment of the invention not shown, the LEDs can be replaced by halogen bulbs.

Claims

1. Iron (1) comprising an ironing surface intended to come into contact with laundry and a housing (4) provided with a handle (40), the housing (4) comprising a lighting device (5) comprising at least one light source (52) arranged to emit light, the lighting device (5) comprising at least one projection surface (51) to receive light emitted by said at least one light source (52) and project a light beam over a zone located at the edge of the ironing surface, said lighting device (5) comprises transmission means arranged between said at least one light source (52) and said at least one projection surface (51), to transmit and distribute light emitted by said at least one light source (52) to said at least one projection surface (51), said at least one light source (52) being away from the projection surface (51) and being located in a zone of the housing (4) where the temperature, during the operation of the appliance, is lower than the temperature in the vicinity of the projection surface (51), characterised in that the transmission means comprise at least one light guide (50) made of transparent material, and in that said at least one projection surface (51) is a side surface of said at least one light guide (50).

2. Iron (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said at least one light guide (50) comprises a face (53) opposite said at least one projection surface (51), and in that the opposite face (53) comprises light distribution means, arranged to distribute light along said at least one projection surface (51).

3. Iron (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that the distribution means comprise a plurality of at least partially reflective surfaces, arranged along the opposite face (53) and arranged for each to reflect some of the light emitted to said at least one projection surface (51).

4. Iron (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said at least one light source (52) is an LED.

5. Iron (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that the handle (40) contains an electronic circuit for managing the LED.

6. Iron (1) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the electronic circuit comprises a movement detector, such as an accelerometer, and is configured to control the automatic illumination of the lighting device (5), when a movement of the iron (1) along at least one direction is detected.

7. Iron (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 6, characterised in that the electronic circuit is configured to control the switching off of the lighting device (5), when no movement of the iron is detected for a predetermined duration.

8. Iron (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 3, characterised in that the distribution means are constituted by a light guide (50) made of transparent material.

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