Stratified ironing board cover, method of manufacture by calendering after flame treatment, and use with bubble film

Abstract

An ironing board intended for use with a steam-type ironing device. An ironing board comprising at least one leg, in particular two legs (1,2) articulated to each other, supporting a tabletop (4) covered with an outer cover (12), characterized in that: - the tabletop (4) is made from a wood material; and - an intermediate layer (15) of plastic material is disposed between the tabletop (4) made of wood material and the outer cover (12), the plastic layer (15) having, on the side opposite the leg(s), a layer (16) of metallization, in particular a layer of aluminum.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an ironing board intended to be used with a steam-type ironing device, in particular a steam iron, a steam generator, a steam generator or the like, as well as to an assembly comprising an ironing board of this type and a steam-type ironing device.

[0002] Traditionally, ironing boards intended for use with a steam device are made with a metal plate, preferably perforated to allow steam to pass through the plate and not stagnate there. These ironing boards with metal plates have the disadvantages of being complicated to manufacture and deteriorating quickly, particularly due to corrosion, and also of causing puddles of water on the floor under the ironing board.

[0003] As for ironing boards with wooden tops, for example plywood, they are not compatible with water vapour which tends to deteriorate the wood, in particular to peel off the veneer from the wood.

[0004] The present invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by providing an ironing board which is suitable for use with steam ironing devices, which has a long service life and which is easy to manufacture.

[0005] According to the invention, an ironing board, in particular intended to be used with a steam ironing device, comprising at least one leg, in particular two legs hinged to each other, supporting a plate covered with an outer covering, in particular made of textile material, for example cotton, is characterized in that: the top is made from a wood material, for example plywood, particle board, oriented strand board or OSB (Oriented Strand Board in English), MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard in English) or other; and there is arranged, between the top made of wood material and the covering, an intermediate layer of plastic material, in particular a film made of plastic material, in particular thermoplastic material, the plastic layer being substantially impermeable to water vapor.

[0006] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plastic layer, in particular the plastic film, in particular thermoplastic, is in contact with the upper face, opposite the jamb(s), of the tray.

[0007] Preferably, the layer, in particular the film, made of plastic material, in particular thermoplastic, is coated, on the side opposite the jamb(s), with a metallization layer, in particular an aluminum layer.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one flexible element made of a thermally insulating material is arranged between the plastic layer and the outer covering.

[0009] Preferably, the flexible insulating element comprises at least one plate of cellular or foam material and / or at least one fleece fabric or felt.

[0010] Preferably, the flexible insulating element comprises at least one layer of cellular or foam material and at least one fleece fabric or felt, the layer of cellular or foam material being arranged on the side of the outer covering, in particular in contact with the lower face thereof.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plastic layer is a bubble film, that is to say a film consisting of a base film and domes originating from one face of the base film and each defining a small bubble or vapor-tight space in which air is trapped, the bubbles preferably being arranged in rows and columns.

[0012] Preferably, the face of the base film on the side opposite the domes is covered with a layer or film of metallization, in particular aluminum.

[0013] In particular, a metallized film, in particular an aluminized one, for example an aluminized BOPP film, is laminated onto the face of the base film on the side opposite the domes.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, the plastic layer is made from a bubble film, the face opposite the bubbles of which is metallized, in particular aluminized, the bubble film having been folded back on itself, domes against domes, the two folded parts being fixed to each other, in particular welded or glued or the like.

[0015] According to a particularly favorable embodiment, and which constitutes in itself an invention, independently of the aspects of the invention referred to above, but which favorably can be implemented with each of them, the outer covering, the layer of cellular or foam material and the fleece or felt are secured to each other, in particular by calendering, after singeing, in particular on its two faces, of the layer of cellular material to soften it and thus allow the three elements to be secured at the end of the calendering, so as to form a single element forming a cover.

[0016] Thus, the present invention also relates to a cover intended to cover an ironing board, comprising in succession a textile covering, in particular cotton, a sheet of cellular or foam material and a fleece or felt fabric, the three elements being secured to each other by calendering, after singeing, in particular on its two faces, of the layer of cellular material to soften it and thus allow the three elements to be secured to each other at the end of the calendering.

[0017] The present invention also relates to an ironing assembly comprising an ironing board according to the invention and a steam-type ironing device, in particular a steam iron, a steam generator, a steam generator or the like.

[0018] The present invention also relates to the use of a cover intended to cover an ironing board, comprising in succession a textile covering, in particular cotton, a sheet of cellular or foam material and a fleece or felt fabric, the three elements being secured to each other by calendering, after singeing, in particular on its two faces, of the layer of cellular material to soften it and thus allow the three elements to be secured to each other at the end of the calendering to cover a plate of an ironing board, a plastic film, in particular a bubble film, being trapped between the cover and the plate.

[0019] The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a cover intended to cover an ironing board, in particular an ironing board comprising a top made of a wooden material, even more preferably an ironing board according to the invention, comprising the steps in which: A width or strip of this textile fabric, in particular cotton, is unwound from a roll of a textile fabric; A width or strip of this fabric is unwound from a roll of a sheet of cellular or foam material, the width or strip being identical to that of the textile fabric; A width or strip of this fabric or felt is unwound from a roll of a fleece or felt fabric, the width or strip being identical to that of the textile fabric and the sheet of cellular material; The sheet of cellular material is softened, in particular by singeing, in particular on its two faces. A stack of the three widths or strips is passed together, with the softened sheet placed between the textile fabric and the fleece or felt, between two pressing elements, for example two rollers, to calender it and obtain a bond in the form of a laminate of the same width or strip consisting of the textile fabric, the sheet of cellular material and the fleece or felt.

[0020] This results in a covering element that is particularly well suited for use with a wood-based panel, especially in combination with a water vapour-impermeable plastic layer.

[0021] Preferably, at the end of the calendering process, the laminate is cut along a pattern having the shape of the outline of a board for which it is desired to produce a covering cover increased by a peripheral selvedge, then the cut laminate is provided with means for removable attachment of the laminate to said ironing board board, in particular at the peripheral edge of the laminate, for example, a peripheral bead is sewn over the entire periphery of the cut laminate in which a cord extends, the two ends of the cord emerging from the bead through an opening formed in it, thus allowing them to be knotted together to tighten the covering against the board from below it, or an elastic thread or ribbon received in the peripheral bead which allows the textile fabric to pass beyond the edge of the panel to then come to bear elastically against the lower face of the board or an elastic thread or ribbon, sewn along the periphery of the textile fabric.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment, the laminate is folded back on itself several times upon exiting the calendering machine before cutting along the pattern, thus obtaining several cut laminates, to which fixing means are then added to each.

[0023] By way of examples, preferred embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the drawings, in which: There figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an ironing board in the deployed state according to one embodiment of the invention; The figure 2 is a larger scale view of the lower part of the table of the figure 1 , not including the parts covering the table top of the figure 1 ; There figure 3 is an enlarged view of the upper part of another embodiment of a table according to the invention, comprising only the parts covering the top, the table, as regards its lower part, being identical to the table of the figure 1 ; There figure 4 is a perspective view of the table of the figure 1 in the assembled state, some parts of the table having been torn away to aid understanding; The figure 5 is a perspective view of an upper portion of yet another embodiment of a table according to the invention, the lower portion of the table being identical to that of the table of the figure 1 ; There figure 6 is a representation of a part of an assembly according to the invention, comprising on the one hand a steam iron and on the other hand an upper part of a table according to yet another embodiment of the invention; and The figure 7 is a sectional view of the plastic layer, in the form of a bubble film folded back on itself, of the embodiment of the figure 6 .

[0024] The figures show ironing boards according to several embodiments of the invention.

[0025] Conventionally, the ironing board comprises two legs 1 and 2, mounted hinged to each other along an axis 3 and which support a plate 4 by means of two longitudinal metal rails 5 fixed, by screws, to the lower face of the plate 4, the upper end of one 1 of the legs comprising a rod 6 mounted sliding in the rails 5, while the end 7 of the other leg 2 is mounted fixed to pivot on the plate 4, in particular by means of the two rails 5.

[0026] An iron rest 8 is fixed to the plate 4 on the side thereof, in particular by screws fixing tabs coming from the iron rest to the rails 5 themselves fixed to the lower face of the plate 4.

[0027] A rack 9, comprising teeth facing the table top 4, is pivotally mounted relative to an axis 10 fixed to the rails 5, a lever 11 allowing the user to pivot the rack to allow adjustment of the height of the table top in the deployed position of the table by choosing the two teeth of the rack between which the rod 6 is received.

[0028] Teeth may be provided which have a high grip profile, in particular by covering more than half of the rod 6, in order, in addition, to ensure that the rack is locked and only allow it to be unlocked by lifting the legs 1 and / or 2 above the ground, a device conventionally called a “child safety device”. However, without departing from the scope of the invention, this child safety device may not be provided.

[0029] The board 4 is made from a wood material, in particular plywood, particle board, oriented strand board or OSB (Oriented Strand Board in English), MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard in English), in particular OSB.

[0030] The tray 4 is completely covered with a bubble film 15, the upper face of which, opposite the tray, comprises a layer 16 of metallization, in particular aluminum. The bubble film comprises an elastic bias 24 sewn around its periphery to hold it tight around the wooden tray 4, against the upper face thereof.

[0031] An outer covering 12 made of textile material, in particular cotton, covers the entire tray 4 made of wood material by means of a tightening cord passing through a bead 23 formed on a rim 22 sewn around the periphery of the covering 12, the two ends of the cord emerging from the bead through an opening formed therein, thus allowing them to be knotted together to tighten the covering against the tray from below it. Instead of such a cord, it would also be possible to provide an elastic thread or ribbon received in the peripheral bead which allows the covering to pass beyond the edge of the panel 4 and then bear elastically against the underside of the tray. It would also be possible, as for the bubble wrap, to sew the thread or ribbon, like the elastic bias 24, along the periphery of the edge of the cover and thus do without the peripheral bead.

[0032] In the embodiment of the figures 1 And 4 , between the outer covering 12 made of textile material, in particular cotton, and the bubble film 15 in contact with the upper face of the plate 4, there is arranged a flexible thermally insulating element in the form of a fleece or felt fabric 14.

[0033] According to another embodiment shown in the figure 3 , it is a flexible thermally insulating element in the form of a plate 13 of cellular or foam material which is placed between the covering 12 and the bubble film 15 in contact with the upper face of the plate 4.

[0034] According to yet another embodiment shown in the figure 5 , there is arranged, between the covering 12 and the bubble film 15, a flexible thermally insulating element in the form of both a plate 13 of cellular or foam material and a fabric 14 of fleece or felt. figure 5 , the plate 13 and the fabric 14 are shown above the covering 12 to be visible. However, in use, the assembly 12, 13, 14 shown is turned upside down in the figure to be positioned on the plate with the fabric 14 in contact with the metallization layer 16 deposited on the film 15, the covering 12 forming the outermost part, the plate 13 and the fabric 14 being trapped between the covering 12 and the plate 4 covered with the film 15, itself covered with the metallization layer 16.

[0035] Thus, the stack above the plate 4 is made up, starting from the plate 4, of the bubble film 15, in contact with the upper surface of the plate 4, of the metallization layer 16 secured to the bubble film 15, of the fleece or felt fabric 14, of the layer 13 of cellular material or foam and finally of the cotton covering 12, the upper surface of which forms the upper ironing surface of the ironing board.

[0036] According to the embodiment shown in the figure 5 , the covering 12 and the flexible thermally insulating element in the form of the plate 13 of cellular or foam material and the fabric 14 of fleece or felt are secured to each other to form a single covering element forming an ironing board cover, this securing being able in particular to be done by hot calendering, heat-sealing, sewing, ultrasonic welding or any other process. In particular, to produce the cover consisting of the three elements 12, 13 and 14, it is possible to unroll from a roll of a textile fabric 12 a width or strip of this textile fabric, in particular cotton, unroll from a roll of a sheet 13 of cellular or foam material a width or strip of this sheet, the width or strip being identical to that of the textile fabric, unroll from a roll of a fleece or felt fabric 14, a width or strip of this fabric or felt, the width or strip being identical to that of the textile fabric and the sheet of cellular material,softening, in particular by singeing, in particular on its two faces, the sheet 13 of cellular material, passing a stack of the three strips or widths together, with the softened sheet placed between the textile fabric and the fleece or felt, between two pressing elements, for example two rollers, to calender it and obtain a bonding in the form of a laminate of the same strip or width consisting of the textile fabric, the sheet of cellular material and the fleece or felt. Then, at the exit of the calendering, the laminate is cut along a pattern having the shape of the outline of a board for which it is desired to produce a covering cover increased by a peripheral selvedge, then the cut laminate is provided with means for removable attachment of the laminate to said ironing board board, in particular at the peripheral edge of the laminate,for example, a rim 22 is sewn around the entire periphery of the cut laminate, comprising a peripheral bead 23 in which a cord extends, the two ends of the cord emerging from the bead through an opening formed in it, thus allowing them to be knotted together to tighten the covering against the tray from below it. Instead of a cord, an elastic thread or ribbon may be provided, received in the peripheral bead of the rim, which allows the textile fabric to pass beyond the edge of the panel and then bear elastically against the lower face of the tray. An elastic thread or ribbon may also be sewn onto the rim 22, itself sewn to the periphery of the laminate.

[0037] However, this arrangement, although very favorable, is only optional and the present invention is not limited to it, the elements being able to be independent of each other, the plate 13 and the fabric 14 being positioned on the bubble film 15 then trapped by the installation of the outer covering 12 around the assembly of the plate 4, bubble film 15 with metallization layer, fleece 14 and cellular material or foam 13. In addition, although this arrangement is favorable, it is also possible, without departing from the scope of the invention, to provide only the plate 13 of cellular material or foam or only the fabric 14 of fleece or felt.

[0038] The flexible insulating element in the form of the plate 13 of cellular or foam material and / or the fleece or felt fabric 14 serves to protect the bubble film 15. The bubble film 15 is a conventional bubble film consisting of a number of domes, each defining a small bubble or airtight space, in which air is trapped. The bubbles are arranged in rows and columns, each bubble having a diameter of between 5 and 15 mm, in particular equal to 10 mm. The number of bubbles per square meter may, for example, be 17,200.

[0039] To the figure 6 , there is shown an assembly according to the invention, comprising on the one hand a steam iron 20 and on the other hand a cover 21, consisting of a covering 12 and a flexible thermally insulating element in the form of a plate 13 of cellular or foam material (not visible in the figure 6 ) and a fabric 14 of fleece or felt secured to each other by calendering, after buckling the honeycomb plate to soften it and thus allow the two elements to be secured at the end of the calendering, the cover 21 covering a bubble film 15 having an upper layer 16 of metallization, the bubble film 15 being trapped between the cover 21 and the table top 4.

[0040] To the figure 7 , we see a sectional view of the film 15 bubble of the figure 6. The bubble film 15 comprises, on one of its faces, opposite the domes, a metallization layer 16. The bubble film 15 is folded back on itself so that the metallization layer forms the two upper and lower faces of the folded bubble film 15, the bubbles of the bubble film 15 then being sandwiched between the two upper and lower metallization layers, the lower metallized layer then being in contact with the plate while the upper metallized layer is in contact with the fleece fabric or the layer of cellular or foam material, depending on the embodiment. Preferably, the domes or bubbles of the two folded parts are fixed to each other, in particular welded, glued or the like.

[0041] The material of the bubble film can be LDPE (low density polyethylene), HDPE (high density polyethylene), LLDPE (linear low density polyethylene), Resy (recycled materials) or a mixture of these materials, in particular a mixture of LDPE 70% / HDPE 10% / LLDPE 10% / Resy 10%. The thickness of the bubble film can be chosen between 1 and 10 mm, in particular between 2 and 5 mm, for example 3.2 mm.

[0042] The bubble film has been aluminized by depositing a film or layer of aluminum, this deposit being able to be carried out by laminating, laminating, stratification or other similar process.

[0043] For example, the film or the aluminum layer may be a coextruded metallized BOPP (biaxially oriented polypropylene) film, laminated on one side of the bubble film and having an aluminum thickness of between 0.01 mm and 0.02 mm, in particular equal to 0.015 mm and a plastic material of between 100 and 200 g / m 2< , in particular equal to 110.4 g / m 2< , i.e. a thickness of the plastic material of between approximately 0.1 mm and 0.2 mm.

[0044] The layer of cellular or foam material may in particular be made of polyurethane (PU), in particular have a surface mass of between 18g / m 2< and 45g / m 2<, with a thickness of between 1.5 and 2.5mm, for example 1.8mm, when used in combination with another flexible insulating element, for example fleece or felt, and a surface mass of between 50g / m 2< and 250g / m 2<, with a thickness of between 5mm and 10mm, when used alone to form the flexible insulating element.

[0045] The layer of fleece or felt, particularly wool or polyester, can have a surface mass of between 150g / m 2 and 300g / m 2.

[0046] The steam ironing device may be defined by the fact of comprising a water tank and heating means for vaporizing this water and means for projecting this steam with a pressure of at least 2 bars, preferably at least 3.5 bars, in particular between 3.5 bars and 10 bars, the steam flow rate preferably being at least 40g / min, in particular at least 50g / min, preferably at least 100g / min, in particular between 200g / min and 500g / min.

[0047] According to the invention, the material of the plastic layer is substantially impermeable to water vapor.

[0048] According to the invention, a flexible element is understood to mean an element that can be folded and refolded easily, without it breaking or deteriorating, in particular an element which, when taken at the same time in two different places by the hands of a person of average strength, can be deformed, in particular by folding, and can then return to the shape it had before being deformed, in particular folded. 1

Claims

1. Ironing board comprising at least one leg, in particular two legs (1, 2) hinged to each other, supporting a top (4) covered with an external covering (12), characterized in that : - the top (4) is made from a wooden material; - there is arranged, between the top (4) made of wooden material and the outer covering (12), an intermediate layer (15) made of plastic material, substantially impermeable to water vapor; and - the layer (15) made of plastic material comprising, on the side opposite the jamb(s), a layer (16) of metallization, in particular a layer of aluminum.

2. Ironing board according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe plastic layer is a bubble film, that is to say a film consisting of a base film and domes originating from one face of the base film and each defining a small bubble or vapor-tight space in which air is trapped, the bubbles preferably being arranged in rows and columns, the face of the base film on the side opposite the domes being covered with a layer or film of metallization, in particular aluminum.

3. Ironing board according to claim 2, characterized in that a metallized film, in particular aluminized, for example an aluminized BOPP film, is laminated on the face of the base film on the side opposite the domes.

4. Ironing board according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the plastic layer is made from a bubble film whose face opposite the bubbles is metallized, in particular aluminized, the bubble film having been folded back on itself, domes against domes.

5. Ironing board according to claim 4, characterized in that the two folded parts are fixed to each other, in particular welded or glued or similar, in particular at the level of the domes.

6. Ironing board according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plastic layer (15) is in contact with the face of the tray (4) which is on the side opposite the jamb(s), or upper face of the tray.

7. Ironing board according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one flexible element (13; 14; 13,14) made of a thermally insulating material is arranged between the plastic layer (15) and the outer covering (12).

8. Ironing board according to claim 7, characterized in that the flexible insulating element (13; 14; 13,14) comprises at least one plate (13) of cellular or foam material and / or at least one fabric (14) of fleece or felt.

9. Ironing board according to claim 8, characterized in that the plate (13) of cellular material has a surface mass of between 18g / m 2 and 45 g / m 2 , with a thickness between 1.5 and 2.5 mm, when used in combination with another flexible insulating element, for example fleece or felt, and a surface mass between 50g / m 2 and 250g / m 2 , with a thickness between 5mm and 10mm, when used alone to form the flexible insulating element.

10. Ironing board according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the flexible insulating element (13; 14; 13,14) comprises at least one layer (13) of cellular or foam material and at least one fabric (14) of fleece or felt, the layer (13) of cellular or foam material being arranged on the side of the outer covering (12).

11. Ironing board according to the preceding claim, characterized in thatthe layer (13) of cellular or foam material is in contact with the lower face of the outer covering (12).

12. Ironing board according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the outer covering (12), the layer (13) of cellular or foam material and the fleece (14) or felt are secured to each other by calendering, after singeing, in particular on its two faces, of the layer (13) of cellular material to soften it and thus allow the three elements to be secured at the end of the calendering, so as to form a single element forming a cover (21).

13. Ironing set comprising an ironing board according to one of the preceding claims and a steam-type ironing device (20), in particular a steam iron, a steam generator, a steam generator or the like.

14. Use of a cover (21) intended to cover an ironing board comprising in succession a textile covering (12), in particular cotton, a plate (13) of cellular or foam material and a fleece or felt fabric (14), the three elements being secured to each other, to cover a plate of an ironing board, a plastic film, in particular bubble wrap, being trapped between the cover and the plate.

15. A method of manufacturing a cover intended to cover an ironing board according to one of claims 1 to 12, comprising the steps in which: - A width or strip of this textile fabric, in particular cotton, is unrolled from a roll of a textile fabric; - A width or strip of this fabric, the width or strip being identical to that of the textile fabric, is unrolled from a roll of a sheet of cellular or foam material; - A width or strip of this fabric or felt is unrolled from a roll of a fleece or felt fabric;- The sheet of cellular material is softened, in particular by singeing, in particular on its two faces, - A stack of the three strips or widths is passed together, with the softened sheet placed between the textile fabric and the fleece or felt, between two pressing elements, for example two rollers, to calender it and obtain a bond in the form of a laminate of the same strip or width consisting of the textile fabric, the sheet of cellular material and the fleece or felt. 1;