Pivoting Ironing Board Design to Reduce Support Structure Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ironing devices are heavy, bulky, complex to manufacture, and have a support structure that interferes with garment positioning, affecting ergonomics and safety during use.

Innovation Solution

An ironing device with a pivotally mounted board between a front and rear panel, allowing for adjustable orientations without visible support interference, enhancing ergonomics and safety while simplifying production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the board is pivotally mounted with a visible support structure, then the board can be arranged at different inclinations for ergonomics, but the support structure interferes with garment positioning and affects aesthetics

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveergonomics of useVSAvoidsupport structure interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pivot axis is integrated between the front and rear panels of the board, nesting the support mechanism within the board structure itself. This eliminates the need for external visible support structures while maintaining the pivoting functionality for ergonomic adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The pivot mechanism is extracted from a separate support structure and integrated directly into the board panels, removing the interfering support structure while preserving the essential pivoting function for ergonomic positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the board is made heavy and wide to remain stable when horizontal, then stability is improved, but the device becomes heavy and bulky

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveboard stabilityVSAvoiddevice weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of increasing weight and width in the horizontal plane to achieve stability, the invention uses the vertical dimension by positioning the pivot axis between the panels. This allows the board to achieve stability through its pivoting mechanism and panel configuration rather than through increased mass.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If a complex support structure is used to enable board pivoting, then ergonomics are improved, but the device becomes complex to manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveergonomics of useVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure and pivot mechanism are merged with the board panels themselves. The pivot axis is positioned between the front and rear panels, combining the structural elements into a single integrated assembly that is simpler to manufacture than separate support components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3754098B1Ironing device having a ironing board with two opposite faces against which an item to be ironed can be placed

Publication Date: 2022.08.10 SEB SA

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AI summary

Ironing device comprising an ironing board (5) having two opposite faces against which a garment to be ironed can be placed for processing with a steaming and/or ironing tool, said board (5) extending along a longitudinal direction over a length L, characterized in that the board (5) is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis (70) which extends between a front panel (50), defining one of the faces of the board, and a rear panel (51) defining the other face of the board (5), said first axis extending transversely to the longitudinal direction L.