Ironing device

Abstract

A handheld iron for pressing or creasing an article of fabric without the use of an ironing board. The handheld iron having a housing, a platform, and an actuator for displacing the platform with respect to the housing. The housing further includes a heating surface and the platform further includes a platform surface. The heating surface and the platform surface are in substantially parallel planes at all times, including when the platform is displaced with respect to the housing.

1 . A handheld ironing device comprising: 
 a body portion having a substantially flat body surface; and,    a platform having a substantially flat platform surface, said platform moveably associated with said body portion such that said platform surface opposes said body surface and such that said body surface and said platform surface remain in substantially parallel planes throughout movement of said platform with respect to said body portion.    
   
   
       2 . The handheld ironing device of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator for moving said platform with respect to said body portion.  
   
   
       3 . The handheld ironing device of  claim 2 , wherein said actuator is associated with said body portion and said platform to move said platform between a closed position at which said platform is closely juxtaposed to or touching said body surface and an open position at which said platform is separated from said body surface sufficiently to allow insertion of fabric between said platform and said body surface.  
   
   
       4 . The handheld ironing device of  claim 2 , wherein said actuator comprises a trigger, a spring, and a gear assembly which are assembled to maintain said platform in an initial position.  
   
   
       5 . The handheld ironing device of  claim 4 , wherein operation of said trigger facilitates movement of said platform from said initial position a first distance adjacent to said body portion to a second position a second distance adjacent to said body portion, said first distance being greater than said second distance.  
   
   
       6 . The handheld ironing device of  claim 5 , wherein said platform surface contacts said body surface in said second position.  
   
   
       7 . The handheld ironing device of  claim 4 , wherein operation of said trigger facilitates movement of said platform from said initial position a first distance adjacent to said body portion to a second position a second distance adjacent to said body portion, said first distance being less than said second distance.  
   
   
       8 . The handheld ironing device of  claim 7 , wherein said platform surface contacts said body surface in said first position.  
   
   
       9 . The handheld ironing device of  claim 2 , wherein said actuator is removable from said body portion.  
   
   
       10 . The handheld ironing device of  claim 9 , wherein said actuator and said platform are removable from said body portion.  
   
   
       11 . The handheld ironing device of  claim 10 , further comprising a removable brush attachment, wherein said brush attachment may be connected to said body portion upon removal of said actuator and said platform.  
   
   
       12 . The handheld ironing device of  claim 1 , wherein one of said body surface or said platform surface is a heating surface.  
   
   
       13 . The handheld ironing device of  claim 12 , wherein said body surface is a heating surface and said body portion further includes a heating element adapted to transfer heat to said heating surface.  
   
   
       14 . The handheld ironing device of  claim 13 , further comprising a thermostat for controlling the temperature of said heating surface.  
   
   
       15 . The handheld ironing device of  claim 13 , wherein said heating surface is a sole plate connected to said heating element.  
   
   
       16 . The handheld ironing device of  claim 15 , further comprising a water reservoir for providing water to said heating element to facilitate the production of steam.  
   
   
       17 . The handheld ironing device of  claim 16 , wherein water may be selectively provided to said sole plate.  
   
   
       18 . A handheld ironing device comprising: 
 a housing including an elongate handle portion;    a heating element disposed within said housing;    a substantially flat sole plate forming an exterior surface of said housing, said heating element transferring heat to said sole plate;    a gear assembly removably attached to said housing;    a platform connected to said gear assembly, said platform having a substantially flat platform surface; and,    a trigger associated with said gear assembly, said trigger capable of operating in conjunction with said gear assembly to displace said platform with respect to said housing,    wherein said sole plate and said platform surface are initially in substantially parallel planes and displacement of said platform with respect to said sole plate is in a direction substantially perpendicular to said parallel planes.    
   
   
       19 . The handheld ironing device of  claim 18 , further comprising a water reservoir connected to said housing, said water reservoir providing water to said heating element for facilitating the production of steam.  
   
   
       20 . The handheld ironing device of  claim 18 , wherein said trigger is spring actuated.  
   
   
       21 . The handheld ironing device of  claim 20 , wherein operation of said trigger facilitates movement of said platform from a first position a first distance adjacent to said housing to a second position a second distance adjacent to said housing, said first distance being greater than said second distance.  
   
   
       22 . The handheld ironing device of  claim 20 , wherein operation of said trigger facilitates movement of said platform from a first position a first distance adjacent to said housing to a second position a second distance adjacent to said housing, said first distance being less than said second distance.  
   
   
       23 . A handheld ironing device comprising: 
 a body portion including a substantially flat heating surface;    a platform having a substantially flat platform surface, said platform coupled to said body portion such that said platform surface opposes said heating surface; and,    an actuator connecting said body portion to said platform, said actuator facilitating said platform to move with respect to said body portion,    wherein movement of said platform with respect to said body portion provides substantially uniform pressure to an article disposed between said heating surface and said platform surface.    
   
   
       24 . A handheld ironing device comprising: 
 a body portion having a substantially flat heating surface; and,    a platform having a substantially flat platform surface, said platform being movably associated with said body portion such that said platform surface is substantially parallel to said heating surface when said surfaces are closely juxtaposed or when said surfaces touch.    
   
   
       25 . A handheld ironing device comprising: 
 a body portion having a body surface;    a platform having a platform surface, said platform moveably associated with said body portion such that said platform surface opposes said body surface; and,    a liquid container for facilitating the production of a gas.    
   
   
       26 . A handheld ironing device comprising: 
 a body portion having a heating surface;    a platform having a platform surface, said platform moveably associated with said body portion; and,    an actuator for moving said platform with respect to said body portion,    wherein said platform and said actuator are capable of being removed from said body portion.    
   
   
       27 . A method of removing wrinkles from fabric comprising: 
 providing a handheld ironing device having a heating surface and a platform surface opposed to the heating surface;    situating a fabric article between the heating surface and the platform surface; and,    moving the platform and heating surfaces together to press the fabric article with substantially uniform pressure between the heating surface and the platform surface.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising the step of heating the heating surface to a desired temperature.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said moving step further comprises actuating an actuator to move the platform surface with respect to the heating surface.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein actuating an actuator further comprises actuating a trigger.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising the step of producing steam.  
   
   
       32 . The method of claim  35 , wherein said step of producing steam comprises providing a liquid and selectively heating said liquid to a gaseous state.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising the step of removing lint or other debris from the fabric article.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said step of removing lint or other debris from the fabric article requires the addition of an attachment to said handheld ironing device.