Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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"A Press"
- ~he invention relates to a press.
According to the invention there is provided a tie-press for
removing creases from at least portion of a tie comprising a
tie receiving member for receiving at least portion of a tie
; and a tie pressing member which is moveable relative to the
tie receiving member from an open position for insertion and
removal of a tie to a pressing closed position in which a tie
,is pressed between the members.
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In one embodiment of the invention the tie receiving member
,and/or the tie pressing member is provided with a recess to
receive at least portion of a tie. Preferably the recess is
shaped to conform to the general outline of at least portion
of a tie. In one case the recess is defined between a pair of
`lS spaced-apart side walls, the side walls being inclined in a
longitudinal direction to substantially follow the shape of a
';tie. Typically the recess is provided in the tie receiving
~`member. The recess may be of arcuate shape in longitudinal
cross-section.
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In one embodiment of the invention the tie is of the type
comprising a front portion, a rear portion, and an
intermediate neck surrounding portion between the front and
rear portions, the front portion having a front knot forming
section ad~acent to the neck surrounding portion and the rear
portion having a rear knot forming portion adjacent to the
neck surrounding portion, and the recess is shaped to receive
the front and/or rear knot forming portions.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the tie pressing
member is hingedly mounted to the tie receiving member for
pivotal movement between the open and closed positions.
Preferably the tie pressing member is hingedly mounted about
a transverse hinge axis.
In another embodiment of the invention biassing means are
provided for biasing the tie pressing member into a normally
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open position. Typically the biasing means comprises a spring
~ such as a hair-type spring.
- In one embodiment of the invention the tie pressing member
comprises a cover and a tie-engaging resilient mat mounted to
the cover. Typically the resilient mat comprises a pad of
` foam material.
In another embodiment of the invention the tie press includes
closure means for retaining the tie pressing member in the
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closed position in pressing engagement with the tie receiving
member. Preferably the closure means comprises co-operating
engagement means on the cover and tie receiving member, and
release meanq are provided for releasing the engagement means.
S ~pically the co-operating engagement means comprises a
pro~ection on one of the tie pressing member or tie receiving
member or engagement in a recess and the other of the tie
receiving member or tie pressing member, the projection being
. releasably mounted in the recess on closure of the tie press.
Preferably the release means comprise a spring release member
and the recess is provided by an undercut in the spring
release member which is moveable by an actuating means from a
clamping position engaged with the projec~ion to a release
position allowing the tie pressing member to move to the open
position. The actuating means and spring release means may be
integral.
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In one embodiment of the invention a projection and recess are
` provided at both sides of the tie receiving recess.
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` In one case the tie receiving member is mounted in a base
. 20 support member. Preferably the tie pressing member includes
" a pair of sidewardly projecting stub axles which are held
within recesses defined between the base support member and
the tie pressing member.
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In a preferred embodiment of the invention the tie press
includes a heating means such as an electrical resistance
heating element. Preferably control means such as a
thermostat and/or time control means are provided for the
heating means. Typically the heating means is associated
wikh ths tie receiving member. Preferably the heating means
is provided below the tie receiving recess and is covered by
a protective cover means. In one case the protective cover
. means comprises a heat resistan~ pad which may be of a foam
material.
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In a further embodiment of the invention stand-off means are
, provided to allow a tie to pass over the rear of the tie
` receiving member.
Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a tie press
according to the invention.
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Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the tie press in an
closed position, -
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Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the tie press in an open
position,
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Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a typical tie used with
the tie press,
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Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views of the tie press
respectively open and closed with a tie in position,
Figs. 7 and 8 are longitudinal cross-sectional views of
the tie press in the open and closed positions,
respectively,
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a detail of the tie press
with the press open,
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Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the detail of Fig.
9 with the press closed, and -
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Fig. 11 is a side view of a tie press mounted on a wall.
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Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a tie press
according to the invention indicated generally by the
reference numeral 1 for removing creases from at least portion
of a tie 2.
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~`` 15 Referring particularly to Fig. 4 a typical tie 2 comprises a
front portion A, a rear portion B and an intermediate neck
surrounding portion C between the front and rear portions A,
B. The front portion A has a knot forming section K~ and the
rear portion B has a knot forming section KR which becomes
creased, in use, because of the knot. The creasing is
illustrated by wavey lines in Fig. 4.
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The tie press 1 comprises a tie receiving member formed by a
base moulding 3, a heating element 4 covered by a resilient
mat such as a ~oam pad 5 and a centre moulding 6 which is
assembled o~to the base moulding 3 and sandwiches the heating
S element and ~oam pad 5 in position therebetween. The tie
press also includes a pressing member which in this case is
provided by a cover 7 having a foam filler insert 8 covered by
a resilient mat in the form of a foam layer 9. The cover 7
includes sidewardly projecting hinge pins 10 which are
engageable in complementary recesses 11 in the centre moulding
6 and base moulding 3 for hingedly mounting the cover 7 to the
tie receivin~ member.
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~he heating element 4 is preferably an elec~rical resistance
heating element, the operation of which is controlled by an
15 on-off button or switch 15. Power supply to the heating ;
element 4 is through pins 16 which are connected to a power
supply in the form of an on-board battery supply or to a mains
supply by an electric cable. A light emitting diode 17 is
provided to indicate when the heating element 4 has been
switched on. Control means may be provided for the heating
element and the control means may be either a thermostatic
control and/or a time control means. A cap 20 is provided for
the button 15 for ease of operation and to improve the
aesthetic appearance of the press when closed.
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:Closure means for retaining the cover 7 in pressing engagement
with the tie receiving member is in this case provided by co-
operating engagement means on the cover 7 and centre moulding
6. In this case there are two sets of co-operating means one
on either side of the cover 7 and each comprising as will be
particularly apparent from Figs. 9 and 10 a wedge shaped
pro~ection 30 extending sidewardly of the cover 7 and
engageable in a complementary shaped recess 31 provided by an
undercut in a spring member 35 which is movable by an
actuating button 36 from a clamping position in which the
undercut 31 is engaged with the wedge shaped projection 30 to
a released position in which the projection is released from
.the undercut 31 allowing the cover 7 to be opened for
insertion and removal of a tie. Preferably the spring member
:15 35 and button 36 are integral member and are formed as part of
the central moulding 6.
To accommodate the shape of at least portion of a tie 2 it
will be noted that the side walls of the tie receiving recess
of the centre moulding 6 diverge outwardly from the inner end
to conform to the general outline shape of that portion of the
tie 2 including the front and rear knot forming sections KR~ K~
respectively as will be particularly apparent from Fig. 5.
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In use, the cover 7 is first opened from the closed position
shown in Figs 2, 6, 7 and 10 by pressing downwardly on the
25 buttons 36 releasing the projections 30 from the undercuts 31
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and allowing the cover 7 to be raised into the open position
illustrated in Figs. 5, 8 and 9. In this open position, a tie
2 is folded over and positioned in the ~ie receiving recess
de~ined by the centre moulding 6 so that at least the front
and rear knot forming portions KP, KR are located in the press.
~ho cover 7 i8 then closed, the projections 30 engaging in the
recesses 31 on closure of the cover 7 to clampingly engage the
tie 2 between the pressing member defined by the cover 7 and
- . the tie receiving member. The button 15 is the pressed to
operate the heating element 4 to press the critical creased
area of the tie. After a pre-set time, and/or after a pre-set
temperature has been reached the heating element is turned off
:either automatically or manually and the tie with creases
pressed out may be removed by opening the cover 7.
Referring to Fig. 11, it will be appreciated that the base 3,
! cover 7, and rear hinge arrangement form a stand-off which
facilitates feeding of a tie from the rear hinge area,
particularly if the press is mounted on a wall or the like.
In this case the tie press has legs 50 which define a slot 51
20 through which the tie may pass if it is desired to press only :
one creased area of the tie. Alternatively or additionally
such a stand-off may be created in association with a mounting
bracket.
Nany variations on the specific embodiment of the invention
`~25 described will be readily apparent and accordingly the
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invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore
described which may be varied in both construction and detail.
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