Foldable Ironing Surface for Steam Brush Garment Support

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing steam ironing appliances with vertical boards are insufficient in size to support entire garments, are cumbersome, and interfere with storage of telescopic masts, limiting their effectiveness and convenience.

Innovation Solution

A steam ironing appliance with a base connected to a steaming brush and a flexible, permeable ironing surface that can be folded or rolled for storage, featuring a telescopic mast and automatic winding mechanism to extend and retract the surface for use, allowing for a larger ironing area without occupying excessive space.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a vertical board is used to support garments during steaming, then the garment can be held against the steaming brush and greater tension can be applied to the fibers, but the board has a very insufficient size to support the entire surface of the garment and is cumbersome and interferes with storage of the telescopic mast

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to hold garment against steaming brushVSAvoidsize of vertical board

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The ironing surface is transformed from a fixed rigid board to a flexible curtain that can dynamically adjust its configuration. The curtain can be deployed vertically to provide full garment support area, then folded or rolled up for compact storage, eliminating the compromise between operational effectiveness and storage convenience that plagues rigid boards

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the rigid vertical board with a flexible fabric curtain that can be stretched and deployed to provide a large ironing surface area when needed, then easily collapsed for storage. This flexible membrane approach allows the surface area to be large during operation but compact during storage, resolving the contradiction between these two states

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Ease of operation

If a vertical board is used to support garments during steaming, then the garment can be held against the steaming brush, but the board is cumbersome and interferes with the storage of the telescopic mast

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to hold garment against steaming brushVSAvoidcumbersomeness of vertical board

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ironing surface is transformed from a fixed rigid board to a flexible curtain that can dynamically adjust its configuration. The curtain can be deployed vertically to provide full garment support area, then folded or rolled up for compact storage, eliminating the compromise between operational effectiveness and storage convenience that plagues rigid boards

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the rigid vertical board with a flexible fabric curtain that can be stretched and deployed to provide a large ironing surface area when needed, then easily collapsed for storage. This flexible membrane approach allows the surface area to be large during operation but compact during storage, resolving the contradiction between these two states

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Volume of moving object

If a flexible ironing surface is used that can be folded or rolled up, then the device size is reduced for storage and dust accumulation is prevented, but the surface must be held deployed during use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage size of ironing surfaceVSAvoiddeployment of ironing surface

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The ironing surface incorporates elastic holding elements that automatically secure the curtain in its deployed working position without requiring manual intervention. The elastic nature of these elements provides continuous gentle tension to keep the curtain extended and taut during operation, while allowing easy release when folding or rolling for storage, making the system self-regulating between operational states

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The flexible ironing surface provides a substantial area for ironing, supports garments effectively, and can be easily stored, reducing the device's size and preventing dust accumulation, enhancing usability and storage efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a base containing a device for the production of a stream of saturated steam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSteam generation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

the ironing surface consists of a flexible surface which is held deployed by at least one holding element arranged at the edge of the surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic tension: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2586908B1Steam iron comprising a crease-removal brush

Publication Date: 2015.06.10 SEB SA

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AI summary

Steam ironing appliance comprising a base (1) enclosing a device for producing a stream of steam connected by a duct (2) to a steaming brush (3) comprising at least one hole for emitting the steam, said base (1) comprising an ironing surface (50) for ironing against which the garment to be ironed can be pressed when using the steaming brush (3), characterized in that said ironing surface can be folded or rolled up on itself.