US2339495A - Electrical appliance switch - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 18, 1944. c. R. M MANN ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE SWITCH Filed Oct. 2, 1942 ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 18, 1944 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE SWITCH Carl R. McMann, Columbus, Ohio Application October 2, 1942, Serial No. 460,574

2 Claims.

My invention relates to electric iron circuits, and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved switch stand and electric iron combination wherein the iron is provided with a terminal means coacting with the switch stand to close the circuit through the iron when the latter is rested on end on the stand, in which the stand is provided with a terminal socket coacting with the terminal means on the iron to hold the iron firmly on the stand and to bring the two terminal units into correct engagement, and in which the switch stand is designed with a view to protecting the user from accidental electrical shocks.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of an ironing board and the switch stand showing the electric iron in position on the stand.

Figure 2 is a face view of the stand.

Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an end view of the iron terminal means, and

Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, the electric iron I 0 may be of the conventional type with the exception of the terminal structure l2. The latter comprises an insulative body l4 fixed to the end Wall [6 of the iron by flanges l8 and 20. Two terminal screws 22 extends through the body 14 and are respectively connected with the wires 24 of the heating element (not shown). Each screw is provided with a contact head 26.

A stand 28 is mounted on the ironing board 30, which stand comprises an annular plate 32 of insulative material and pressed into a bore 34 in the board 30 to rest on a shoulder 36. Three depending sockets 38 are attached to the plate and project through a bore 40 coaxial with and of less diameter than the bore 34.

Above the plate 32 is mounted a movable plate 42 of insulative material and of such diameter as to move freely in the bore 34. Three pins 44 are fixed to the plate 42 and slide freely in openings 46 in the sockets 38. Nuts 48 are threaded on the pins to engage the bottoms of the sockets and limit the upward movement of the plate beyond its position of Figure 3.

Each pin 44 is provided with a fiange 50 fitting loosely in its respective socket 38. Compression springs 52 are mounted on the pins and interposed between the flanges 50 and the bottoms of the sockets to yieldingly hold the plate 42 in its normal position of Figure 3. The total spring tension resisting downward movement of the plate 42 is less than the weight of the iron l0 so that the plate will move downwardly when the iron is rested thereon, the plate being of ample diameter to constitute a rest for the iron.

Two terminals or contacts 54 extend through and are attached to the bottom 53 of a socket 58 sunk below the top face of the plate 42. Both the body l2 and the socket 58 are of rectangular contour but of such relative sizes as to permit the body to fit easily into the socket, although the body will fit into the socket in either of two opposite positions of the iron. The spacing and arrangement of the contacts 54 are such that the contacts will always engage the contact heads 25 in either position of the iron.

Attached to the plate 32 are two terminal screws 60 spaced to engage the contacts 54 when the plate 42 is pressed down. These screws are respectively connected with wires 62 of an electric circuit cord provided with a plug 64 for connection with the usual wall outlet. This cord is located underneath the board 30 and is out of the way and completely detached from the iron at all times. Thus the iron may be easily handled without interference from the cord.

A spacer 6B is attached to the handle 68 of the iron to rest on the plate 42 and balance the iron in an upright position. While the body 12 fits easily into the socket 58, the socket holds the iron on the plate 42 and prevents the iron from sliding or being easily pushed off the plate. The springs 52 are so distributed about the plate 42 as to effectively balance the plate and its load. When the iron is lifted off the stand, the plate 42 moves upwardly to space its contacts from the terminal 60 as a protection against accidental electrical shocks.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain my invention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. In an ironing board and an electric iron, the combination of a first member of insulative material fixed to the board, circuit terminals attached to the first member, a second member of insulative material located above the first member and movably mounted on said first member, contacts on said second member engageable with said terminals when the second plate is moved toward the first plate, resilient means interposed between said first and second members to yieldingly hold the second member away from said first plate, but yielding when the iron is rested on the second member to bring said contacts into engagement with said terminals, terminals on said iron engageable with said contacts, and means on said second member and said iron vfor locating the iron in a predetermined position on the second member and for bringing the terminals on the iron into aligned engagement with said contacts.

2. In a device of the type described, the combination of a first support having coaxial bores of difierent diameters to provide a, shoulder, a first plate of insulative material mounted on said shoulder, circuit terminals mounted on said first plate, sockets on said first plate engaging the wall face of one of said bores, an appliance supporting plate of insulative material movable in the other of said bores and having appliance contacts engageable with said terminals When the appliance supporting plate is moved in the direction of said first plate, pins attached to said appliance supporting plate slidably mounted in said sockets, and springs acting on said pins and said sockets to yieldingly hold the appliance supporting plate away from said terminals but yielding by the Weight of the appliance resting on the appliance supporting plate to bring the contacts into engagement with said terminals.

CARL R. MCMANN.

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