Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an ironing assistance pad for use with an iron to assist with ironing, in particular for assisting with ironing multiple layer items.

Background

Ironing, especially in a domestic context, involves sweeping the hot metal plate of a hand iron across fabric such as clothing, bed linen or similar to remove creases. The ironing process can leave creases and tell tale pressed seam lines on clothing and it can be very difficult if not impossible to get a smooth, crease-free and line-free finish when ironing by hand due to the various cuts of a garment.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following:

US Patent US 5 355 599 (Spenneberg) discloses a pocket-flap pressing device for pressing pocket flaps of different sized pockets located on a garment.

Japanese Patent Application JP2005205859A (Hayazaki) discloses a mat member used as the underlay when performing ironing.

UK Patent Application GB1569377A (Ramalho) discloses a method of ironing an article of textile fabric which comprises placing on the article a sheet of porous resiliently compressible material so that said porous sheet is in contact with said article, wetting said upper layer, applying a heated iron to the gpper layer and then removing the iron.

UK Patent Application GB622575A (US Rubber) discloses an ironing board pad adapted to withstand heat comprising a thick layer of water absorbing padding material capable of supporting the ironing pressure and a flat water tight bag or skin enclosing said material.

Dutch Patent Application NL7009237A (Koffeman) discloses a self-moistening ironing blanket.

United States Patent Application US2009/Q000164 (Scheipe) describes and shows an ironing cloth includes a fabric sleeve having a top layer, an intermediate layer and an attachment layer. The top layer and the intermediate layer are attached to form an upper portion of the sleeve. The attachment layer is attached to the upper portion of the sleeve on a side of the intermediate layer such that an opening for receiving a lid of a top loading washing machine is formed therebetween.

United States Patent US 8112917 (Tameo) describes and shows an ironing aid for assisting in ironing of clothing including at least pants and shirts by extending inside of a sleeve or pant leg. The ironing aid includes an elongated handle extending along a longitudinal handle axis and including proximal and distal ends with the proximal end for grasping by a user for insertion into a sleeve or pant leg.

International Patent Application WO2011/112580 (Kaminer) describes and shows a steam permeable pad for a steam appliance, such as a steam mop or garment press. The pad includes an outer fabric layer and an internal steam management layer which may include a terry fabric. The pad may further include a laminate of jerry fabric, cushioning knit, and open mesh. An attachment feature allows the pad to be mounted to a head or frame of the steam appliance. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ironing assistance pad which goes some way to overcoming the abovementioned disadvantages or which at least provides the public or industry with a useful choice.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided an ironing assistance pad for use with an iron and ironing board, comprising: a central layer having two substantially parallel opposed planar faces and a resiliently deformable body; first and second outer fabric sheet layers formed to allow the penetration of steam and heat from an iron, each sheet layer is sized and shaped to cover a face of the central layer, wherein the pad is sized to fit within a garment section selected from one or more of: a pocket of a garment, a shirt pocket, a trouser pocket, a hip section of a pair of trousers, a leg section and/or a shirt arm such that in use the pad is received within the garment section so as to space apart and hold layers of surrounding clothing of the garment section in shape while ironing.

Ideally the fabric layer is formed form cotton although other high temperature resistant materials may be used, such as heat resistant synthetics or linen.

Typically the central layer and fabric layers are formed to allow the penetration of steam and heat from an iron, or through-passage thereof at least so as to aid with the ironing process.

The penetration of steam and heat through the central layer may be achieved by perforations and/or a cellular structure such as foam.

The pad can thereby be placed inside clothes or other items to be ironed to space apart layers of clothing and as a consequence hold the layers and surrounding clothing in shape while they are ironed. Alternatively the pad can be placed between an iron and clothes to help shield the clothes from excess heat or steam produced by the iron while they are being ironed, while steam and heat can still freely penetrate through the pad to allow clothes to be ironed to the required finish and help to prevent tell tale pressed seam lines.

Advantageously the pad aids with the ironing process making it quicker, more efficient and less damaging to fabric.

Preferably the first and second sheet layers are cotton and connected to one another around their perimeter edges. The first and second sheet layers may be flocked or otherwise textured which helps to hold the central layer in position sandwiched between the sheet layers, wherein the central layer is typically a cellular structure such as foam.

In some embodiments the central layer is removable from between the sheet layers. For example the sheet layers may be separated at an opening so as to allow the central layer to be added or removed. Advantageously this allows the central layer to be exchanged or replaced. For example the central layer may be replaced if it becomes deformed or damaged.

Ideally the pad is washable so as to be cleaned and suitable for re-use. Therefore both the central layer and fabric sheets may be formed from a material that is suitable for being washed and exposed to high temperatures during ironing.

The perimeter edges may have invisible or reversed seams so as to prevent creasing of garments being ironed.

Advantageously, the first and second fabric sheet layers are unconnected to the foam layer. This helps to ensure the foam layer is free to distort and move but is securely held between the layers thus preventing bunching of the fabric sheet(s) during ironing that may create creases on the garment/fabric being ironed. Preferably the fabric sheet layers are connected by stitching around the perimeter edges. Stitching provides a secure attachment while being simple and inexpensive.

In some embodiments the fabric sheets may be bonded for example being bonded by a heat resistant adhesive.

In an alternative embodiment the fabric sheet layers may be formed from one continuous piece of material that is folded to encompass the foam layer and only stitched or bonded on the unfolded sides.

Advantageously, the fabric sheet layers may be metalized and/or perforated so as to aid with the ironing process.

Metal ization of the sheets helps to strengthen the sheets to provide robust service in use and allowing the pad to become rapidly heated in response to presence of the iron The perforations' allow steam and heat to easily penetrate through the pad and allows for better steam circulation to enhance the ironing process making it quicker and more efficient.

Advantageously, in plan view the pad has three straight perimetrical sides and an outwardly curved side. The curved side allows the pad to be placed in position easily wherein the curved side is typically passed into the garment pocket or section first.

Preferably two of the perimetrical sides are parallel and bounded by a straight perpendicular side and the outwardly curved side. This shape is most convenient for the largest number of ironing operations.

Advantageously, embodiments of the pad are sized to fit within a shirt or trouser pocket. This allows the pad to be used for the common ironing operation of ironing on and around a pocket and for the required finish to be achieved. Advantageously, embodiments of the pad are sized to fit within the hip section of a pair of trousers. This allows the upper section of a pair of trousers to be easily ironed to the required finish, particularly where generous cuts have more fabric that can be difficult to iron flat.

In some further embodiments the central layer may allow curvature and flexure to accommodate extra fabric, for example wherein a central core of the central layer may be resiliently deformable and/or relatively rigid, for example in order to allow resilient or permanent bowing upwards in use, and/or wherein a displaceable core or base may be inserted or placed beneath the central layer or pad.

Yet further embodiments may be sized to fit leg sections or other standard garment sections, such as under garments, shirt arms and cuffs.

In another embodiment, the invention may broadly be said to consist in a kit of parts for ironing clothing, comprising a plurality of ironing assistance pads as claimed in any one of the preceding statements, each pad of different size. For example a plurality of iron assistance pads may be provided to be purchased as a package, such as to include one large pad for use in trouser legs, a second medium pad for use in sleeves and a third small pad for use in trouser or shirt pockets.

In yet a further embodiment the pad size may be adjustable by addition or removal of displaceable parts. For example it may be possible to separate the pad from the cotton layers and fit additional concentric layers around an outer perimeter of a pad so that a pad is nested within another part so as to increase overall size of the pad:

Preferably the pad parts fit together by a resistance fit. In some embodiments the displaceable parts may be connected by corresponding interlocking portions, for example to include male and female portions or a toothed arrangement. Once the displaceable parts have been added or removed the central layer can be placed between fabric layers of a corresponding size so as to provide an alternative ironing assistance pad.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an ironing assistance pad according to an embodiment of the invention, the pad having a main body with two opposed planar faces, the pad formed so that in plan view the pad has two parallel perimetrical sides bounded by a straight side perpendicular to the parallel sides, and an outwardly curved side;

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the pad of figure 1 ; Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the ironing assistance pad of figure 1 , showing detail of a central foam layer sandwiched between two cotton layers which are connected by stitching around their perimeters; and

Figure 4 shows the pad being located into the top of a pair of trousers for use when ironing and finishing trousers.

Detailed Description

An embodiment of ironing assistance pad 1 will now be described with reference to the figures. The ironing assistance pad 1 has a central foam layer 2 that forms a flat layer with two opposed faces when no external forces are acting upon it (e.g. when lying on a table or ironing board).

The foam layer 2 is deformable, e.g. by bending, rolling, etc. This allows the pad to be easily fitted into and arranged within a garment section or pocket. The foam layer 2 has a body suitable to allow the penetration of steam and heat from an iron due to the cellular structure of the foam. Most advantageously, the foam layer is formed from an asbestos-free material and is heat resistant.

The foam layer 2 is sandwiched between two cotton sheets 3, 4, each of which rests on one of the opposed faces, and each of which is sized and shaped to just overlap the foam layer 2 so that the perimeters of the cotton layers can be brought into contact for connection to one another by stitching 5 around their perimeter edges.

The stitching 5 connects cotton layers 3, 4 only so that there are no stitches through the foam layer 2. This helps to hold the foam layer in position sandwiched between the layers 3, 4 while also helping to ensure the pad 1 is free to move and distort between the cotton sheets, which helps to protect the pad 1 from tearing or other damage in use and limits bunching of the cotton sheets that may cause creasing during ironing.

The cotton sheets 3, 4 are metalized and perforated. Metalization of the sheets helps to strengthen the sheets 3, 4 so that they are robust and will resist the heat from the base plate of the iron and stand up to repeated heating and cooling by the iron and steam therefrom in use.

The perforations allow steam and heat to easily penetrate through the pad 1 from the iron to the clothes which are being ironed and for the steam to circulate more effectively thereby aiding with the ironing process.

In plan view the pad 1 has three straight perimetrical sides 6, 7, 8 and an outwardly curved side 9. Two of the perimetrical sides 7, 8 are parallel and bounded by the third straight side 6 at on end of the pad 1 and the outwardly curved side 9 at the other end. The curved side 9 allows the pad 1 to be easily slipped or otherwise placed in position within clothing for ironing operations. The pad 1 can be provided in a number of sizes, for example sized to fit within a shirt or trouser pocket. This allows the pad 1 to be slipped into a pocket for use in the common ironing operation of ironing on and around a pocket and for the required finish to be achieved. The curved end 9 allows the pad 1 to be easily slipped into a pocket curved end first.

A larger size of pad 1 can also be used for ironing the upper or hip portion of a pair of trousers, as shown in figure 4, the pad 1 slipped sideways (that is, edge on to the front and rear of a pair of trousers) into a pair of flattened trousers and assists with ironing this portion of the trousers.

The pad 1 can also be placed between an iron and clothes to help shield the clothes from excess heat or steam produced by the iron while they are being ironed.

A number of pads of different sizes could be sold as a kit ranging in size from a small pad for pockets and a larger pad for a trouser finishing operation as described above.

Typical sizes would be as follows: for a large pad the width would typically be 0.29m between the parallel sides, and 0.49m from the apex of the curved side to the opposite straight side. For a small pad the typical size would be 0.12m width and 0.17m from the apex of the curved side to the opposite straight side.