Safety stand for irons
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to ironing aids, and more specifically to a safety ironing stand mountable on of ironing board for maintaining the heated portions of the iron covered during periods of non-use in both the normal upright position of the ironing board and in the knocked-down condition thereof. 
     The use of stands for flatirons is well known. The known iron stands are typically in the form of metallic bases or plates which are intended to support the heated irons during periods of non-use. These iron bases are normally planar and are provided with an upwardly projecting lip or protuberance which conforms to the shaped of the heated portion of the iron which rests on the base. The lip prevents the iron from slipping off the base under normal conditions and, to that extent provides a limited measure of safety. 
     However, the known iron stands exhibit several disadvantages. Thus, since the above-mentioned bases or plates merely serve as support surfaces for the irons, they do not substantially enclose the irons or cover the heated portions thereof. The known enclosures for irons are normally for storage only and are not adapted for supporting an iron during short periods of non-use. Most known ironing stands are not provided with insulation. For this reason, such stands become heated and may injure a person contacting the same. Most known stands of the type described above are merely placed on the top surface of an ironing board, there being no provision normally made for securing the stand to the ironing board. Herein lies a major disadvantage of prior art stands. Not only do they fail to cover the heated portions of the iron when the iron stand is supported on an upright ironing board, but there is no means provided for maintaining engagement between the iron and the stand when the ironing board is knocked down from its normal upright position. When the ironing board is knocked down, the iron normally becomes dislodged from the stand with the result that all the heated surfaces of the iron become exposed. Such a possibility becomes a major reason for concern when the operator leaves the iron unattended and the ironing board is knocked down by a small child. Under these circumstances, even the limited protection which the stand provides in the upright position of the ironing boards is lost. 
     A further disadvantage of prior art stands is that they support the irons with heated plates disposed below the handles of the irons. With this arrangement, the heat which rises from the heated plates heats the handles. When the irons are maintained on a stand in this manner for an extended period of time, the handles may become heated to a point where they are uncomforatable to grip. 
     The present invention is intended to overcome the above and other disadvantages of known ironing stands. More specifically, the stand of the present invention provides a great degree of safety to those promimate to the iron irrespective whether the stand is supported on an upright or knocked - down ironing board. Further, the subject stand maintains the iron in a non-ironing, vertical position which causes minimum heating of the iron handle. These features are achieved with a simple and economical construction which is readily mounted on an ironing board and easy to use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a stand for flatirons which does not have the disadvantage of similar stands known in the prior art. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a safety stand for irons as suggested above which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a safety stand for irons of the type under discussion which can easily be mounted on an ironing board in a secure manner. 
     It is yet another object of the invention to provide a stand for irons as described in the last object which provides a great degree of safety from contact of the heated portions of the iron when the ironing stand is either in a normally upright position or in a knocked-down condition. 
     It is a further object to provide a stand for irons of the type under consideration which maintains the irons in a non-ironing, vertical position during periods of nonuse to prevent excessive heating of the iron handles. 
     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a stand for irons which includes a substantially closed housing internally provided with insulation to maintain the exterior surfaces of the housing at a low temperature incapable of causing injury on contact. 
     It is yet a further object to provide an iron stand which includes a substantially closed housing which covers the heated portions of the iron, and which further includes locking means in the form of a latch which retains the iron within the housing and prevents inadvertent movement of the iron out of the housing when the latch is placed in the operative locking condition. 
     It is additional object, with reference to the last mentioned object, to provide a safety stand of the above type which permits simple insertion and removal of the iron from the housing during ironing when the latch is in the inoperative condition. 
     In order to achieve the above objects, as well as others which will become apparent hereafter, the safety stand for irons in accordance with the present invention includes a substantially closed housing for receiving an iron and covering the heated portions thereof. Said housing has an opening therein dimensioned to permit insertion into and removal of the iron from said housing. Said housing is configurated to at least partially expose the handle of the iron through said opening when the iron is disposed within said housing to permit gripping of the handle for movement of the iron into and out of said housing. Mounting means is provided for securely fixing said housing to a support surface. In this manner, the iron is freely maintained on a desired support surface and has the heated portions therefore concealed during periods of non-use. 
     According a presently preferred embodiment, said housing is configurarted to conform to the exterior shape of the iron and dimensioned to receive the iron with little clearance therebetween to prevent the iron from excessive movements when received within said housing. Advantageously, locking means is provided on said housing for engaging the handle of the iron when the latter is disposed within said housing. Said locking means prevents the iron from moving out of said housing during periods o non-use of the iron. Accordingly, the heated portions of the iron are maintained concealed in all positions which said housing may assume. When the housing is mounted on an ironing board, substantially the same degree of protection is provided irrespective of whether the ironing board is in a upright or knocked down condition. of 
     In the embodiment to be described, insulation is provided on the interior surfaces of said housing which are coextensive with the heated portions of the iron. This prevents the exterior surfaces of said housing from becoming overheated when the iron is housed within the same for extended periods of time. 
     Another advantageous feature of the present invention is the provision of said opening in the region of the top of said housing, in the normal operative position thereof, and the handle of the iron is disposed through a frontal portion of said opening, whereby the heat generated by the heated portions of the iron may escape through the top of said housing without excessively heating the handle of the iron. 
     A resilient spacer means may be provided within said housing for resiliently abutting against an iron received therein, said spacer means spacing the heated portions of the iron from the walls of said housing and preventing excessive movements of the iron therein. 
     Said mounting means is preferably of the type which can easily and quickly secure said housing to an ironing board and prevent or minimize movements of said housing, and therefore the iron itself, relative to the ironing board. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     With the above and additional objects and advantages in view, as will hereinafter appear, this invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a presently preferred embodiment in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a fragmented perspective view of a safety stand for irons in accordance with the present invention, shown mounted on an ironing board; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the safety stand shown in FIG. 1, showing the arrangement of parts prior to assembly; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-section of the safety stand shown in FIG. 1, taken along line 3--3; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-section of the safety stand shown in FIG. 2, taken along line 4--4; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-section of the safety stand shown in FIG. 3, taken along line 5--5; and 
     FIG. 6 is a enlarged fragmented section of the front portion of the housing forming part of the stand shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, showing the details of the latch which prevents inadvertent movement of the iron from the covered positions suggested in FIGS. 1 and 3 out of the housing. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, in which indentical or similar parts ar designated by the same reference numerals throughout, and first referring to FIG. 1, a safety stand for an iron is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. 
     The stand 10 is adapted to receive and cover a flatiron 12, as to be described hereafter. The iron 12 is of the type commonly used today in the home and has a body or major portion 12a, a heated plate 12b and a handle 12c. The heated plate 12b is in a generally horizontal plane during ironing and in a plane slightly inclined from the vertical when the iron 12 is rested on a supporting surface, as suggested in FIG. 3. 
     As will become evident, the stand of the present invention may be mounted on any desired support surface such as a table, work bench and the like. The presently preferred embodiment shown in the FIGS. is specifially adapted to be mounted on an ironing board. In FIG. 1, a typical ironing board 14 is shown having a rectangular end 14a and a tapered end 14b. The stand 10 is shown mounted on the rectangular end 14a. In any event, irrespective of the support surface on which it is mounted, the stand 10 is configurated and dimensioned to substantially enclose an iron and cover the heated portions thereof during periods of non-use. 
     An important structural element of the present invention is a housing 16 which can generally be described as having a configuration and dimensions corresponding to those of the iron 12 so that the latter may be received within the housing 16 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. More specifically, the interior surface of the housing 16 is configurated to conform to the exterior shape of the iron 12 and dimensioned to receive the iron with little clearance therebetween to prevent excessive movements of the iron 12 when received within the housing 16. 
     The housing 16 has an inclined rear wall 16a, best shown in FIG. 3, the rear wall being inclined from the vertical direction to correspond the inclination of the heated plate 12b when the iron 12 is disposed in its rest or non-use position. Flatirons generally have tapered front end portions and the rear wall 16a has tapered edges 16a&#39; to correspond to the taper of the iron. The two tapered edges 16a&#39; meet at an uppermost point to form an apex 16a&#34;. 
     The housing 16 also has a pair of side walls 16b each of which has a narrow side portion extending along a respective tapered edge 16a&#39; and a lower wide side wall portion 16b&#34;. The narrow side wall portion 16b&#39; has an edge 16c and the wide side wall portion has an edge 16d. Thus, each side wall 16b has a side wall portion 16b&#39; which extends along the entire length of a respective edge 16a&#39; of the rear wall 16a to the apex 16a&#34;, and a side wall portion 16b&#34; which extends only partially towards the apex. 
     A front wall 16e of the housing extends to the same height as the side wall portion 16b&#34; and has an edge 16f, the edges 16c, 16d and 16f blending at the juncture points to form a smooth and continuous edge as shown. The last described continuous edge formed by the upper edges 16d and 16f of the frontwardly disposed wall portions 16b&#34; and the front wall respectively and the front edge 16c of the rearwardly disposed wall portions 16b&#39; defines an opening 16g through which the iron 12 may pass, as to be described. 
     The opening 16g may further be defined as including a passageway or space 16h in the front wall 16e which is dimensioned to correspond to the transverse dimensions of the handle 12c. In this manner, the body 12a of the iron 12 may be placed into and removed from the housing 16 through the opening 16g by gripping the handle 12c and moving the same through the passageway 16h. The shape and size of the opening 16g suggested in the FIGURE permits an iron to pass through the opening by somewhat increasing the angle of incline of the heated plate 12b and lowering the iron gradually, while in the position substantially as shown, through the opening 16g. When fully received within the housing 16, the apex of the iron is moved forwardly to position the heated plate within the confines of the narrow side wall portions 16b&#39; at its normal resting angle of inclination. 
     The housing 16 further has a bottom wall 16j. The passageway 16h is advantageously enlarged at the lower region thereof to form an opening 16i through which an electric cord of the iron 12 can pass when the iron is positioned within the housing. As best depicted in FIG. 2, the housing is fully closed by the above described wall with the exception of the openings 16g, 16h and 16i. 
     A further feature of the invention is the provision of locking means in the form of a latch 18 mounted on the front wall 16e for selectively bridging the passageway 16h and for engaging the handle 12c when the iron is within the housing 16 to thereby prevent the iron from moving out of the housing during periods of non-use of the iron. In this manner, the heated portions of the iron are maintained concealed in all positions and orientations which the housing may assume. 
     The specific type of latch or lock 18 which is used is not critical for the purposes of the present invention. Many known locks and latching mechanisms may be used, with different degrees of advantages. The lock must be capable of being maintained securely latched in all positions and orientations of the housing 16. For the lock to be consistently used, it must not be cumbersome or inconvenient to use. Shown in FIG. 6, only by way of example, a latch 18 which exhibits the above requirements. 
     The latch 18 includes a bolt or pin 18a slidably mounted on the front wall 16e by means of a flange or bracket 18b. The flange 18b may be connected to the front wall 16e by means of screws or rivets 18c. The bolt includes a gripping extension 18d at one end thereof and a latching extension at the other end thereof, the latching extension 18e being positionable on each side of the passageway 16h to bridge or clear the latter. A keeper 18f of the latch 18 is mounted on the front wall 16e as shown, by means of screws or rivets 18c. The keeper 18f includes a frontwardly disposed tab 18g, the latter being provided with a recess or cut-out portion 18h dimensioned to receive the latching extension 18e. 
     To lock the iron 12, the latter is placed within the housing 16 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. With the extensions 18d and 18e turned upwardly into a vertical plane, the bolt, 18a may be slidably moved to clear the passageway 16h. The iron may now be placed within the housing without interference from the latch 18. In the resting position of the iron, the bolt 18a is aligned with the opening formed by the handle 12c and the iron body 12a. The bolt 18a is now moved, with the extensions directed upwardly in a vertical plane, to bridge the passageway 16h and move the latching extension 18e in alignment with the recess 18h. Locking may now be effected by turning the extensions approximately 90° about the axis of the bolt 18a into a horizontal plane. The locked condition of the latch 18 will be maintained irrespective of the position of the housing 16 to prevent the iron from moving out of the latter. 
     The interior surface of the housing is lined with an insulating material 20. The insulation, which may be of any commercially available type, is provided to minimize heat transfer from the heated portions of the iron and the housing 16 so that the latter does not become excessively heated and remains at a sufficiently low temperature to prevent injury upon contact. 
     Mounting means, designated by the reference numeral 22 in FIG. 1, is provided to easily and securely mount the housing 16 on the ironing board 14. The mounting means 22 includes a pair of bases 24 and 26. 
     The base 24 has a hook-shaped free end to form a gripping portion 24a and a planar free end 24b. The hook-shaped end 24a is dimensioned to engage one of the opposing egdes of the ironing board 14. 
     The base 24 is provided with guide portions 24c each defining a guide channel 24d for guiding the base 26, as to be described. Each of the guide portions is in the form of an extension having a generally U-shaped transverse cross-section and extending from another of the opposing edges 24h of the base 24. 
     Two centrally spaced apertures 24e are provided for mounting the housing 16 on the base 24, and two apertures 24f are provided at the planar free end 24b for adjustably securing the bases 24 and 26 to each other, as to be described, to fix the safety stand 10 to the ironing board 14. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, internal ribs or protuberances extend transversely between the guide channels 24d, the ribs being provided to prevent relative movement between the bases 24,26 once secured to each other. 
     The base 26 is similar in shape to the base 24 and has a gripping portion 26a and a planar portion 26b. A series of spaced threaded holes 26d extend along the opposing edges 26d, the holes 26d being arranged in pairs to be selectively alignable with the holes or apertures 24f in the base 24. 
     Transverse ribs 26e are provided  on the upper surface of the base 26, the ribs 24g and 26e being engageable and forming complementary surfaces in the nature of friction producing means for preventing sliding movement between the bases 24,26 when the ribs 24g,26e are engaged and the bases are connected to each other with screw 28. As shown, the planar free ends 24b, 26b are connectable to each other in any one of a plurality of overlapping conditions by alignment of the pair of apertures 24f with one of the pairs of holes 26d. The provision of transverse ribs, as described, or other friction producing means on the facing or opposing surfaces of the overlapping planar portions prevents inadvertent longitudinal movement of the bases relative to each other and separation of the bases from the ironing board when the bases are moved to and locked in positions which results in secure abutting engagement between the gripping portions 24a, 26a  and the ironing board 14. 
     A mounting plate 30 is provided which serves both as a spacer between the bottom wall 16j of the housing 16 and the base 24, and to increase the aesthetic appearance of the unit. 
     The manner of assembling the unit 10 will now be described, particularly with reference to FIGS. 2 and 5. The housing 16, the mounting plate 30 and the base 24 are all connected together with two fasteners 32, which respectively extend through a set of aligned apertures in the three connected members, namely aperture 16k in the bottom wall 16j, aperture 30a in the mounting plate 30, and aperture 24e in the base 24. The specific type of fastener 32 used is not critical. However, the fastener shown in FIG. 5 is particularly suitable and permits easy and rapid assembly. The fastener 32 includes a flathead screw 32a, in the nature of a rivet, which has an internally threaded bore in its shank. The fastener further includes a flathead screw 32b which has an external thread to be threadedly engage the internal thread of the screw 32a. Countersinks provided in the upper surface of the bottom wall 16j and in the lower surface of the base 24 avoids any protuberances or projections from these surfaces which may interfere with with the movements with the iron 12 within the housing 16 or prevent free movement of the bases relative to each other. The layer of insulation 20 is disposed on the bottom wall 16j to cover the screw head 32a. 
     Once the housing 16 is mounted on the base 24, the unit 10 may be mounted on the ironing board 14 by aligning the bases 24 and 26 as shown in FIG. 2 and inserting the planar end 26b between the guide portions 24c for slidable movement within the guide channels 24d to cause at least some overlap between the planar free ends 24b and 26b. The buses 24 and 26 are now moved relative to each other along the longitudinal directions thereof to a selected degree of overlap of the planar free ends. The guide portions 24c maintain the bases aligned to permit the gripping portions 24a and 26a to receive the opposing parallel edges of the ironing board. The bases 24 and 26 are advanced towards each other until the gripping portions forcefully engage the edges of the ironing board. A sufficient number of sets of threaded holes 26d are provided to permit alignment of the holes 24f and a pair of holes 26d in a condition of such forceful engagement. When the screws 28 are tightened, the ribs 24g, and 26e engage and prevent separation of the bases and securely maintain the unit 10 on the ironing board. To provide a greater degree of adjustability of the bases relative to each other, the pairs of holes 26d may be replaced by a pair of longitudinal slots extending parallel to the edges 26c. 
     In the presently preferred embodiment, a resilient spacer strip 34 made of a heat resistive material is provided which extends along the corner formed by the rear wall 16a and the bottom wall 16j, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Insertion of the iron 12 into the housing 16 at least partially compresses the strip 34 which serves both to space the heated plate 12b from the rear wall 16a and to prevent excessive movements of the iron within the housing. 
     What has been described above is a safety stand which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture, and which conceals the heated portions of the iron during periods of non-use. The housing 16 substantially encloses and covers the heated iron portions by closely conforming to the dimensions of the iron. However, the housing is made slightly larger to permit easy insertion into and removal of the iron from the housing. For example, a distance 36 of approximately 1/4 inch is sufficient to permit movement of the iron into and out of the housing 16 while maintaining the heated portions of the iron covered or concealed. 
     In contrast with most prior art iron stands, the present stand 10, by reason of the configuration of the housing 16 and the manner in which the latter is mounted, maintains the iron in its normal resting position during periods of non-use. The above described configuration of the housing 16, including the opening 16g which opens in the upward direction, permits heat generated by the iron to escape through the opening 16g without heating up the walls of the housing. The handle 12c of the iron, which is disposed through a frontal portion of the housing, is similarly prevented from overheating by the rising heat. 
     One of the present features of the present invention is that the stand 10 continues to provide protection when the ironing board 14 is knocked down, such as by a child, and the housing assumes a position and orientation different from that shown in the FIGS. This is due to the configuration of the housing 16, the limited movement of the iron within the housing and the latch 18 which prevents the iron from moving out of the housing when the same is locked. This improved degree of safety is achieved without sacrificing facility of use and simple and economical construction. Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to a preferred embodiment of the invention which is for illustration only and is not to be construed as a limitation of the invention.