Devices and methods of facilitating cooking and ironing using vibration pulses

• US 7,997,018 B1
• Filed: 09/25/2008
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenford, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lenford, Inc.
• Inventors: Harvey, Leonard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Izaguirre; Ismael
• Application Number:
  US12/238,024
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 38/88, 38/93, 38/74, 38/777, 38/96, 38/97, 38/75
• US Class Current: 38/74
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 75/08 Hand irons internally heated by electricity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 75/26 Temperature control or indicating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 75/38 Sole plates D06F75/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/103 being movable or rotatable

Abstract

Devices and methods for applying vibrations to the iron sole of an ironing appliance to facilitate the movement of the iron sole over a fabric, thereby improving the effectiveness of the ironing appliance in removing wrinkles, especially on thicker fabrics.

Claims

1. An ironing appliance, comprising:

a body including a handle and an iron sole;

a vibration device coupled to said iron sole, said vibration device movable between a first nominal position in which said vibration device transmits vibrations to said iron sole within a vertical plane and a second nominal position in which said vibration device transmits vibrations to said iron sole within a non-vertical plane; and

a user-operable switch associated with said handle, said switch actuable to move said vibration device between said first and second nominal positions.

3. The ironing appliance of claim 1, wherein said switch comprises a slide member slidably coupled to said handle.

4. The ironing appliance of claim 1, wherein said vibration device operates at a frequency of at least 1,000 rpm.

2. An ironing appliance, comprising:

a body including a handle and an iron sole;

a vibration device coupled to said iron sole, said vibration device movable through a range of orientations that are displaced with respect to a vertical position in which said vibration device transmits vibrations to said iron sole within a vertical plane; and

a user-operable switch associated with said handle, said switch actuable to move said vibration device through said range of orientations, said switch movable between a forward position and a rearward position to move said vibration device between respective orientations disposed forwardly of said vertical position and rearwardly of said vertical position.

5. The ironing appliance of claim 2, wherein said switch comprises a slide member slidably coupled to said handle.

6. The ironing appliance of claim 2, wherein said vibration device operates at a frequency of at least 1,000 rpm.

7. An ironing appliance, comprising:

a body including a handle and an iron sole;

a heating device associated with said iron sole; and

a vibration device separate from said heating device, said vibration device coupled to said iron sole.

8. The ironing appliance of claim 7, further comprising a switch associated with said handle, said switch operable to vary a nominal position of said vibration device.

9. The ironing appliance of claim 8, wherein said switch comprises a slide member slidably coupled to said handle.

10. The ironing appliance of claim 7, wherein said vibration device operates at a frequency of at least 1,000 rpm.