Ironing board

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ironing boards with side-mounted brackets for large textiles risk tilting during extension or retraction, leading to soiling and wrinkling of textiles due to contact with the floor.

Innovation Solution

A rail guide attached to the underside of the ironing board with sliding elements and end stops ensures the bracket moves smoothly and precisely between positions without tilting, using a U-shaped bracket with a round profile for stability and precise guidance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a bracket is mounted under the ironing board surface to extend for large textiles, then large textiles can be stored and guided without creases, but the bracket may become jammed when being pulled out or pushed in

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability to store large textilesVSAvoidsmooth movement of bracket
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A guide rail is introduced as an intermediary element between the bracket and the ironing board surface. The guide rail provides a smooth, constrained path for the bracket to slide along, preventing jamming while enabling the bracket to extend and retract smoothly for storing and managing large textiles

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the bracket is made extendable for large textiles, then textiles can be guided without creases, but the bracket may tilt during movement causing textiles to contact the floor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguidance of large textilesVSAvoidstability of bracket during movement
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The guide rail acts as a mediator that constrains the bracket's movement to a precise linear path. This prevents the bracket from tilting or deviating during extension and retraction, ensuring stability and preventing textiles from contacting the floor

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide rail creates a stable, level path for bracket movement, maintaining constant height and orientation throughout the extension and retraction process. This equipotential movement prevents tilting that would cause textiles to touch the floor

Inventive Principle:
Principle #12Equipotentiality

Data Source

PatentEP3746595B1Ironing board
Publication Date: 2023.07.05 CARL FREUDENBERG KG
  • EP3746595B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3746595B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3746595B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Ironing board (1) comprising an ironing-board top (2) and an ironing-board framework (3), wherein a bracket (4) is arranged on the ironing-board top (2) and is assigned to a longitudinal side (5) of the ironing-board top (2), wherein the bracket (4) is mounted in a displaceable manner on the ironing-board top (2), and therefore the bracket (4) can be displaced between a pulled-out position (6) and a pushed-in position (7), wherein the ironing-board top (2) is assigned a guide (8), in which the bracket (4) is mounted in a displaceable manner, wherein the guide (8) is designed in the form of a rail (9).