US2499078A - Folding ironing board - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 2s, 195o E. W, SHAW I 2,499,078

FOLDING IRONING BOARD 'Filed June 28, 1946 Patented Feb. 28, 1950 --"L if'.

' 2,499,018' ,y l l' Ebern W. Shaw, Cleveland, Ohio- 'I v Application June 28, 1946, Serial No. 680,145

2 Claims. (CLSB-117)' 'IIhis invention relates to a folding` ironing light, strong material, arranged in endwise abut'- board, and more particularly to an ironing board ting relation at the middle of the board.

ofthe type referred to, which in folded condition The section Iof the top may be tapered slightly noccupies a'minimum of space and which is capatoward its free end 3 inthe conventional manner ble'of use in several positions to suit a variety of 5 of an ironing board, and is secured to a frame 'different conditions. structure comprising the portion 4 locatedy at the The 4chief object of the invention is the profree end 3 and the side portions 5 and 6 extending vv'vision of a folding ironing board capable of oc- Ato the middle of the board. jcupying a space so small that the same may be *The section 2 is likewise secured to a frame easily packed and carried in ordinary luggage or 'l0 structure comprising an end portion 8 and the :in other places where heretofore such an article side portions IIJ and. I I.

would have been too bulky and heavy for conven- The side portions 5 and I0 of the frame strucient transportation. y ture are joined' at the middle of the board by a A furtherobject of the invention is to provide hinge I2, and the side portions E and Il are likeanironing board of the type referred to, which l5 wise joined by a hinge I4, S0 that the Sections I v*can be used on table tops or in similar locations, and 2 may be folded together as illustrated in fand whose height when used on such a support Figure 2. `can be conveniently adjusted. The portions 4, 5 and 6 of the frame structure A still further object is to provide a folding are cut away beneath the section I'to form a reironing board structure of light weight and cess I5, which in the region of the tapered end 3 'strong construction, capable of withstanding the of the board has an upwardly concave surface I6 vhard usage to which such a device is likely to be fora purpose later to be pointed out. put. y The portions 8, I0 and Il of the frame strucg vThe above and other objects and advantages ture are also cut away beneath the section 2 to vof the invention are accomplished by the pro- '25 form a recess I8. y'The recesses I5 and I 8 may 'vision of an ironing board, which is hinged in best bel seen in Figure 5, and together these rethe middle so that in folded condition it will cesses'form a continuous cavity in the bottom of occupy only half its normal length, and having a the board in which a foldable support structure supporting structure also hinged at the middle is receivable. which may be folded completely` within the rey The side portions 5 and IB and likewise the cessed bottom of the board or may be extended side portions 6 and II'are formed with grooves 20 to support the same in an elevated position. and 2| for the accommodation of a slidable mem- The invention will best be understood from the ber 22. The grooves 20 and 2| extend on both following description of the same constituting a I sides of the middle of the board, so that, when specification thereof, taken in conjunction with '35 the sections I and Z'a-re unfolded, the member 22 the accompanying drawings, whereincan be moved toa position beneath the middleof Figure 1 is a top plan View of the-ironing board vthe board, as seen in Figure 5, and will maintain unfolded for Iuse; f the sections in their unfolded condition. By mov- Figure 2 is a plan view of the same in folded ing the member 22 to the position shown in Figcondition; L "40 ure 4, it will be seen that the sections land 2 Figure 3 is a bottom view of the'` same in uncan be folded together as seen in Figure 2. g folded condition; The member 22 is of a thickness to t inside Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view the cavity formed by recesses I5 and I8, and cfa of the ironig board, unfolded for use, but with widthkto fit slidably between the side portions of the supporting structure folded within the rethe frame structure. The cross-sectional shape cess in the bottom of the board; of the member 22 can best be seen in Figure 6. Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional View -The member 22 is also provided with a longisimilar to that of Figure 4, but with the suptudinal slot 24 in its bottom for a purpose later porting structure unfolded to support the board to be made apparent. in elevated position, and Foldable stub legs 25 and 26 are secured to the Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken along sections I and 2 respectively by hinges 21 and 28. the line 6 6 of Figure 4. The ends of the legs 25 and 26 are provided with Referring more specifically to the drawings the slots 30 and 3| respectively, into which a stretcher ironing board comprises a top formed in two sec- 32 is received. The stretcher 32 is in two sections tions I and 2 preferably of plywood or similar 55 33 and 34 hinged together by links 35 and 36 ar- ,cavity in the bottom of them the stretcher 32 A provides a ranged on each side of the strip. The section 33 is received in slot 30 of leg 25 and is secured to the leg by a hinge 38. Section 34 of stretcher 32 is likewise received in slot 3| of leg 26 and is secured to the leg by a hinge 39.

The stretcher 32 is of a thickness to fit within the cavity in the bottom of the board when in folded position therein, as seen in Figure 4, and the section 33 of the stretcher has a curved upper surface 40 for engagement with the upwardly concaved surface I6 of the frame portion 4.

A slidable metal member 4l of square tubular' shape is provided on the stretcher 32, which is moved over the joint formed by the links 35 and 36 between the sections 33 and 34 to maintain the same in unfolded condition, as illustrated. in Figure 5. When the member 4l is movedto the position seen in Figure 4, the sections 33 and 34 may be moved into the cavity in the bottom of the board, in which position the joint between the sections 33 and 34 and the joint between sections I and 2 of the board will be aligned, and the board may be folded as seen in Figure 2.

Rubber headed tacks 44 or similar resilient pads maybe secured to the stretcher 32 and to the legs 25 and 26, in the locations seen in Figures 3, 4 and 5. The padsV or tacks on the legs 25 and 26 are received in notches 45 in the frame structure when. the legs arey in folded position, as best illusltrated in Figure 3.

The leg 25 in its unfolded position, seen in Figure 5, has its upper end 29 in abutment with the section l, and the leg 26 in its unfolded position has its upper end 3l in abutment with the section 2, thus forming together with the stretcher 32, a. firm and stable supporting structure for the ironing board.

The above described ironingV board structure can 'be put in condition for use by unfolding the same from the condition. seen in Figure 2 to that illustrated in Figure 1 and moving the member 22 into position beneath the joint between sections l and 2. The board can then be placed directly upon a table top or some other supporting surface of suitable heigh When it is desired to raise the board above the table top or other support, the stretcher 32 is pulled down moving the legs 25v and. 26 about the hinges 21 and 28. The member 4| is moved to a position covering the links 35 and 36 and the supporting structure thus formed, which is clearly shown in Figure 5 is rested upon the table top.

To fold the board for storing or transporting the same, the legs 215 and 26 are. moved into the the board, carrying with which Will then lie` flush with the bottom of the board, the member 22 of the board and the member 4l of the stretcher are then moved into the positions indicated in Figure` 4, in which condition. the board is ready to be folded into the compact condition seen in ,Figure 2.

It.- will thus be apparent that the invention folding ironing board of compact. design, rugged, construction and light Weight which is particularly suitable for packing in any available space to be carried about, and which is capable of being used wherever a convenient supporting surface is to be found.

Having thus clearly shown and described the invention, what is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A folding table-top ironing board, comprising a board including a at under surface, a pair of stub legs including fiat upper ends, hinge means hingedly connecting said fiat upper ends of said legs tc said under surface of said board for swinging movement in the same direction from a folded position with said flat upper ends at right angles to said under surface to an erect position with said flat upper ends abutting said fiat under surface, said legs each having a bottom edge formed with a slot therein, said slots each including a floor, said slots being aligned, a stretcher, hinge means hingedly connecting said stretcher to said legs, in the region of said slots whereby said stretcher is seated in said slots in verticallyspaced relation to said under surface of said board when said legs are inv said erect position.

2.. A folding table-tcp ironing board, comprising a board including a flat under surface, a pair of stub legs including fiat upper ends, hinge means hingedly connecting said flat upper ends of said legs to said under surface of Said board for swinging movement in the same direction from a folded position with said flat upper ends at right angles to said under surface to an erect position with said fiat upper ends abutting said at under surface, said legs each having a` bottom edge formed with a slot therein, said slots .each including a floor, said slots being aligned, a

stretcher, hinge means hingedly connecting said stretcher to said legs in the region of said slots whereby said stretcher is seated in said slots in vertically-spaced relation to. said under surface of said board when said legs are in said erect position, said board and stretcher each comprising a pair of sections, hinge means hingedly connecting said board sections together intermediate said legs, hinge means hingedly connecting said stretcher sections together intermediate said legs, both of said last-named hinge means being aligned for folding movement in the same direction when said legs are in said folded position, and both of said last-named hinge means being offset when said legs are in said erect position.

EBER W. SHAW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record. in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 982,093 Russ Jan. 17, 1911 1,161,794 Sheehan Nov. 23, 1915 2,023,553 Schulz Dec. 10, 1935 2,226,710 Daniel Dec. 31, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 128,648 Australia June 10, 1932

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