Iron Handle Support Zone Design for Stable Storage and Easy Grasping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing household ironing appliances with cantilevered handles suffer from poor ergonomics, making it difficult to grasp the iron by its handle and leading to instability when stored or placed temporarily, resulting in a risk of the iron falling due to the weight of the cord's traction.

Innovation Solution

The design includes a support zone on the base that allows the handle to rest, creating space for finger passage to grasp the iron easily and enhancing stability, with a concave location and inclined planes for correct positioning, and a locking mechanism for secure storage and transport.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the iron is stored in a location with an indentation matching the handle shape, then the iron is held in place perfectly and prevented from tilting, but the user cannot easily grasp the iron by its handle because only the curved upper part is accessible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of iron in stored positionVSAvoidease of grasping the handle
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The base is designed with a multi-dimensional structure that includes both a horizontal storage location with indentation for handle stability and a vertical support zone beneath the handle. This allows the handle to rest on the support zone while being stored, creating space for finger passage and enabling easy grasping without compromising the stability provided by the indentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the iron is placed temporarily on the ironing board, then the user can access the iron, but the iron risks falling due to the traction exerted by the cord weight on the cantilevered handle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility of the ironVSAvoidstability of iron on ironing board
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The support zone acts as an intermediary element between the iron's handle and the base. When the iron is temporarily placed on the ironing board, the handle can be supported by the support zone on the base, providing additional stability and preventing the iron from falling due to cord weight traction on the cantilevered handle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3294946B1Household electrical ironing apparatus comprising an iron and a base comprising a storing place for placing the iron
Publication Date: 2021.07.28 SEB SA
  • EP3294946B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3294946B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3294946B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Household electrical ironing apparatus comprising an iron (1) comprising a heating sole (10) and a base (2) connected to the iron (1) by a cord (3), the base (2) comprising a receptacle (24) in which to place the iron (1) in a position of rest in which the sole (10) of the iron (1) rests on said receptacle (24), the iron (1) comprising a handle (12) for holding arranged in cantilever fashion with respect to the sole (10), the handle (12) comprising a front end attached to a body (11) surmounting the sole (10) and a rear end that is free, characterized in that, in the rest position, the handle (12) comprises a bearing zone (12A) which comes to rest against the base (2) and in that the base (2) comprises a shape such that a space is formed under the handle (12), between the bearing zone and the body (11) to allow the fingers of a hand to pass through so that the iron (1) can be grasped by its handle (12).