Bench

Dec. 6, 1938.

2,139,248

L. C. UPTON

BENCH

Filed April 15, 1936

<img file="US2139248A_D0001.tif" />

ATTORNEY

Patented Dec. 6, 1938

2,139,248

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,139,248

..... BENCH

Louis C. Upton, St. Joseph,. Mich., assignor to Nineteen Hundred Corporation, Binghamton, N. Ϋ., a corporation of New York

Application April 15, 1936, Serial No. 74,445

Claims, (CI. 155—151)

This invention, relates to ironing machines for domestic use and more particularly to the type presenting a cabinet effect when not in use.

A feature of the invention is the provision of ₅ . a cover for the operating elements of an ironing machine which, may be readily removed from its .enclosing position on the main frame and utii lized as a bench by the operator of the machine. In the preferred form of the invention the cover ₁₀ member is provided with legs which may be readily folded-into a concealed, inoperative posi• tion when the cover is applied to the machine and may be rendered operative when the cover is to be used as a bench.

An object of the invention has been to provide an inexpensive, sturdy construction of the character specified in which the cover is capable of being readily employed for its dual purposes.

_: Other objects, features and advantages of the 20 invention will appear from the detailed description of one form of the same which will now be given in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an ironing ma25 chine embodying the invention, with the cover removed and serving as a bench, the position of the cover on the machine being indicated in dot and dash lines.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through 30 one end of the cover adjacent one wall, and

Fig. 3 is a transverse section along the line 3—3 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing, the ironing machine is illustrated as comprising a main frame ₃₅ having a table portion 10 and a pair of pedestal or leg portions i I and 12. At one end of the table portion 10 there is mounted a gear case or housing 13 arranged to rotatably support a padded roller 14. An ironing shoe (5 is also supported 40 by the case 13 and is arranged to be shifted toward and away from the roller to render the shoe effective or ineffective, as desired. The devices within the gear case 13 for causing rotation of the roller 14 and movement of the shoe 15 may 45 be of any suitable construction and have not been shown since they form no part of the present invention.

For the purpose of concealing the roller, shoe and other operating devices, a cover 16 is pro50 vided, this being normally carried by a small shoulder provided along each of the edges of the table portion 10. When the cover is applied to the main frame, as indicated in dot and dash lines (Fig. 1), it produces an attractive cabinet ef55 feet and conceals the various operating devices.

In the preferred construction there is no permanent connection between the cover and the main frame so that the cover may bereadily.lifted and removed from the machine whenever desired.

The construction of the cover may be of any ₀of a variety of forms. As illustrated, it may be in the nature of , a box-like enclosure open on only one side and may consist of a front section 17, a back section 18, and a middle section 19. The front and back sections may be formed with ₁₀outwardly projecting flanges 20 extending around three sides of a rectangle while the member 19 may be provided with inwardly turned cooperating, flanges 21, which may, conveniently, be united with the. flanges 20 by welding or the like. If 45 desired, the three sections might be formed as one integral member. However, the. construction illustrated is relatively inexpensive and at the same time offers the desired sturdiness which enables the use of the cover as a bench. At the 20 ends of the cover the center section 19 may be provided with suitable handle projections 22 to enable the cover to be readily removed from and applied to the machine.

Within the cover there is preferably provided, 25 adjacent each end, a bracket including a cross member 23 suitably secured, as by welding, to the top portions of the sections 17 and 18. A pair of rearwordly and downwardly extending arms 24 is provided on each of the brackets, the lower ₃₀portions of these arms being further bent, as indicated at 25, and welded or otherwise secured to the end portions of the sections 17 and 18. These arm portions of the brackets serve to strengthen the upper corners of the cover to a ₃₅certain extent and the brackets as a whole provide appropriate support for the devices to be described. The ends of the cross member 23 of each bracket are bent downwardly, as indicated at 26, to form a suitable support for pivot pins ₄₀27. These pivot pins form the means of attachment of bails 28, one of which is provided at each end of the cover. These bails may suitably be produced from round rod stock bent to provide a pair of arms and a cross member. The 45 ends of the arms are preferably flattened or otherwise formed to provide suitable portions to receive the pivot pins 27. A series of springs 29 are provided one end of each being connected with a pin extending from one of the arms and 50 the bails 28 while the other end of each spring is connected with an ear 30 extending inwardly from one of the arms 24 of the bracket member. The location of the ears 30 and the pivots 27 is such that the springs 29 tend to swing the bails 55

2,139,248 to either side of a dead center position. When the bails are swung into the full-line position, indicated in all of the views, their arms will be held against the end portions of the sections IT 5 and 18 of the cover. In this position of the bails they provide suitable legs for supporting the cover from the ground when it is to be used as a bench. These legs are of appropriate length to place the top of the cover at the correct location 10 to serve as a seat for the average user of the machine. It will be observed that the load imparted to the bails 28 when a person sits on the cover is largely longitudinal of the arms. A slight outward thrust is produced at the point of 15 contact between the arms of the bail and the ends of the cover but the cover is sufficiently strong to resist this thrust. Preferably the lower edges of the cover sections IT and 18 will be folded back upon themselves to a slight ex20 tent and thereby strengthen the cover as well as eliminate any possible roughness of the lower edge. It will be noted that the flanges 20 and 21 serve to stiffen the top and ends of the cover and thus enable its use as a bench without injury.

When it is desired to apply the cover to the machine, it is simply necessary to swing the bails 28 about their pivots 27 past their dead center positions and the springs 29 will then swing them into the dot and dash position indi30 cated in Figure 2. In this position they are above or otherwise out of the plane of the operating devices of the machine and therefore enable application of the cover to the main frame in the manner indicated by the dot and dash 35 lines in Figure 1. Whenever it is desired to use the cover as a bench again, the bails 28 may be readily swung downwardly past their dead center positions so that the springs 29 may throw them into the full-line positions indicated.

While an illustrative form of the invention has been disclosed in considerable detail, it will be understood that numerous modifications may be made without departing from the principles and scope of the invention. Springs 29 might, 5 for example be omitted and sufficient friction created between the bails and their supports to retain the bails in either of the positions indicated, or simple latches might be used to retain the bails in one or both positions. The terms 10 and expressions employed herein have been used simply as terms of description and not of limitation.