Steam Iron Removable Cap with Base Locking for Secure Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steam irons with removable caps for delicate textiles cannot be securely immobilized on storage bases due to the cap's thickness, leading to complications in storage and increased risk of loss or damage.
Innovation Solution
A steam iron with a portable base featuring a blocking element and a removable cap that fits over the ironing surface, allowing for secure immobilization regardless of the cap's presence, with openings for the base pads to ensure correct positioning and prevent steam leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a removable cap is added to the ironing surface to protect delicate textiles, then the iron can be used on delicate fabrics without shine, but the added thickness prevents the iron from being securely locked to the base
Solution Approach 1:
The removable cap is designed to nest within the iron's soleplate structure, with engagement features that allow it to be securely attached during ironing yet easily removed for storage. The cap fits into a recessed area of the soleplate, creating a nested configuration that minimizes external dimensions while maintaining protective functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The ironing surface protection system is segmented into a removable cap component that can be separated from the main iron body. This segmentation allows the cap to be removed before storage, enabling the iron to be securely locked to the base while still providing protection during use through the removable component.
2Reliability
If the removable cap is removed before storage to enable secure locking, then the iron can be immobilized on the base, but the cap must be stored separately increasing risk of loss and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The removable cap and iron body are designed as integrated components that can be easily recombined during storage. The cap includes engagement features that align with corresponding features on the iron's soleplate, allowing them to be quickly reassembled into a unified protective assembly for storage, eliminating the need for separate storage of the cap.
Solution Approach 2:
The iron is designed with pre-positioned engagement features and alignment guides that facilitate the preliminary action of reattaching the cap before storage. This preliminary reattachment ensures the cap is secured to the iron body in advance of placement in the storage compartment, preventing loss or damage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cap thickness raises the ironing surface position, then the cap provides adequate coverage, but the iron cannot be properly positioned on the storage base pads
Solution Approach 1:
The iron's soleplate structure incorporates localized recesses and contours that accommodate the cap's thickness in specific areas. These local structural modifications allow the cap to provide adequate coverage while maintaining the overall positioning geometry required for accurate alignment with the storage base pads.
Solution Approach 2:
The design compensates for the cap's thickness by introducing dimensional variations in the soleplate structure, such as stepped surfaces or angled transition zones. These dimensional changes allow the cap to extend outward for coverage while the underlying structure maintains the correct vertical positioning relative to the storage base pads.
Data Source
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AI summary
Household appliance comprising a steam iron (1) comprising a soleplate (10) having an ironing surface (10A) provided with steam outlet holes (11) and a portable base (2) comprising a location (21) for resting the iron (1) during inactive ironing phases, said location (21) comprising at least one projecting pad (25) on which the iron comes to rest when it is placed on said location in a position of storage, the base (2) comprising at least one blocking element (5) movable between an unlocked position in which the iron can be extracted from the base (2) and an immobilized position, in which the iron is immobilized in the storage position by the blocking element (5), characterized in that the appliance comprises a removable cap (6) which can be placed on the ironing surface (10A) and in that the said cap (6 ) has an opening (69) in which is e ngager the shoe (25) when the iron (1) is placed in the storage position.