EP1109964B1 - Steam iron - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an electrically heated iron, namely steam iron according to the preamble of claim 1.

In the case of such known irons, an iron soleplate is excluded Aluminum on an electric radiator, also called Heating insert is called and with it in heat conducting Connection is established. When training the iron as Steam irons are also one from the soleplate Steam chamber, steam boost channels and a steam labyrinth formed, which via steam holes to a tread of the soleplate is open. For good heat transfer is the Sole made of aluminum. To keep the glide too improve the scratch resistance or increase aesthetic The soleplate is made with a thin steel foil encased or on its underside with an additional Sole plate made of steel, which is a thickness of some Can have millimeters. This coating or casing or have the additional steel sole plate the fundamental disadvantage of being less than aluminum Thermal conductivity. This relatively bad Thermal conductivity has the consequence that the heat transfer between the heating of the ironing body and one to be ironed Items to be ironed are delayed. This is happening especially in the area of the sole tip when ironing edges, Pintucks, wrinkles are noticeable, the temperature of the Sole tip can drop sharply.

An electric iron is already part of the prior art consisting of soleplate with electric radiator and a hood handle part that is spaced above the soleplate is arranged and in which between the hood of the hood handle part and the soleplate in the area of the iron tip a two-leg spacer is arranged (DE-G 97 17 313.1). At the front upper area of the spacer can be formed a retaining lug, which in the installed state Grips the tip of a hood handle part. The spacer a connection of thermoplastic hood handle parts with metal sole plates without an air gap in the Allow area of iron tip that is normally for the hood portion as a heat shield against that of the soleplate outgoing heat, and thus the disadvantage of the air gap avoids straps between the hood and the soleplate, Bows, buttons, buckles or similar accessories for the ironing material Clamp. So that the spacer the heat shielding function of the air gap to the hood, it is clear that the Spacers are made of poorly heat-conducting material got to. The electrically heated iron with spacer points So with regard to the undesirably strong cooling of the iron tip the same disadvantage as that discussed above known steam iron without such a spacer.

In a known electrically heated steam iron a soleplate that is thermally conductive with an electrically heated mass is connected and which is made of a plastic poor thermal conductivity, with one exception the rear of the soleplate with a raised edge Groove that is used to hold the heated mass (US-A-4,233,763). In the area of the sole tip, the edge goes into a Elevation with a threaded hole for receiving a fastening screw about. Steam channels end in the heated mass - seen in the longitudinal direction of the iron - at a distance from the elevation. The small bump and the grooved edge, the same like the rest of the soleplate made of poorly heat-conducting plastic exist, are not suitable and are not intended the thermal conditions in the area of the sole tip are noteworthy to influence.

In contrast, the present invention has the object based on an electrically heated steam iron at the beginning mentioned genus uncomplicated to train that in the area the sole tip on the tread of an additional sole plate made of steel or a steel coating of the soleplate No annoying temperature drop occurs when the sole tip heat is removed by ironing. This is said to be in use of the iron for better, faster and more even ironing results to lead. The advantages of coated or with one Covering or an additional sole plate refined tread the iron should be preserved.

This task is accomplished through the training of the electrically heated Steam iron according to the characterizing part of claim 1 solved in that the soleplate in the area of the sole tip a thickening of good heat-conducting and good heat-storing Has material. This material is according to claim 5 aluminum, of which the soleplate is also made. A coating of this soleplate with steel, so a material of proportionate to aluminum poor thermal conductivity, or the additional sole plate made of steel does not cause an undesirably large drop in temperature in the sole tip area when ironing, because the delayed due to the low thermal conductivity of the steel Heat transfer between the heating of the iron and the Ironing goods through the good heat-conducting and good heat-storing thickened sole tip is balanced. Through the thickening made of good heat-conducting and good heat-storing material The soleplate in the area of the tip of the sole becomes quick Guaranteed heat delivery to the sole tip, with what even a higher temperature in Area of the sole tip than in the remaining area of the soleplate is achieved. This is with the steam iron important because of the heat removal by evaporating water. For this purpose, the thickening with two legs is approximately V-shaped when viewed in plan view, the Thigh a steam generator and especially a steam labyrinth at least partially grasp the top of the soleplate, which removes a lot of heat from the soleplate and thus significantly to cool a sub-area the soleplate contributes.

Variants and advantageous embodiments of the invention are Subject matter of claims 2 to 7.

With the bug-like design specified in claim 2 Thickening becomes the desired temperature profile in the sole tip achieved to the remaining area of the sole surface or the tread merges smoothly. This shape Ironing with the tip of the sole does not hinder either.

According to claim 3, in a variant, the thickening is in one piece molded from the soleplate, which includes that the Thickening made of the same material as the soleplate, especially made of aluminum. A heat transfer problem cannot occur between the soleplate and the thickening.

In the variant according to claim 4, however, is the thickening formed as a separate molded body on the soleplate is attached well heat conductive, for example screwed is. This variant has the advantage that the molded body is separated can be made to fit conventional sole plates, that not necessarily a special soleplate production must be set up.

So that the heat generated by the radiator well into the thickening is transmitted, the features are according to the claims 6 and 7 provided.

Further features can be derived from the description below and advantages of the invention emerge.

Fig. 1

eine elektrisches Dampfbügeleisen in einer schaubildlichen Ansicht von seitlich vorne;

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht des Dampfbügeleisens gemäß Fig. 1 im Bereich der Bügeleisenspitze geschnitten und

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht auf das Dampfbügeleisen gemäß den Fig. 1 und 2, ebenfalls im Bereich der Bügeleisenspitze geschnitten.

An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to a drawing with three figures. It shows:

Fig. 1

an electric steam iron in a perspective view from the front;

Fig. 2

a side view of the steam iron shown in FIG. 1 cut in the area of the iron tip and

Fig. 3

a plan view of the steam iron according to FIGS. 1 and 2, also cut in the area of the iron tip.

In the drawing, 1 denotes an iron body, of a lower housing and one arranged above this Contains water tank and a handle. Under the case an iron soleplate 2 is located on the iron body Aluminum. Between the plastic housing there is an air gap between the iron body and the soleplate 2, which is designated in the area of the sole tip. In the Soleplate is a heating element 3, of which in Fig. 2 shows a cross section. Are located above the radiator 3 there is a steam chamber 4, on both sides as a leg adjacent steam boost channels 5 and 6 are arranged. Essentially. runs parallel to it, i.e. to the iron tip towards a steam maze 7, in the bottom of which steam holes 8, 9, 10 through the soleplate and one on the Additional sole plate attached to the underside of the soleplate reach out of steel 11.

From Fig. 2 it can be seen that the steam chamber 4 and that Steam labyrinth 7 covered by a steam duct cover 12 above are, which is also over the steam boost channels 5 and 6. A water valve 13 extends through the steam duct cover 12 the water tank (not shown) into the steam chamber 4.

In the area of the sole tip, the soleplate 2 has a bug- or plow-shaped thickening 14 on the top view 3 with two legs not designated a part of the steam maze 7 and the steam chamber 4 includes. The thickening consists of the same good heat-conducting Material that also has a relatively high heat capacity has like the soleplate, namely made of aluminum. Due to their shape and arrangement, the thickening causes on the soleplate tip not only that this in time average a higher temperature than without such Has thickening, but it also ensures the desired temperature of the adjacent steam-generating or - guiding elements. To achieve the desired temperature profile the sole of the soleplate, which is also one for ironing should have a suitable shape, the strength of the Thickening of the soleplate tip and an outer edge 16 starting at first quickly to gradually move towards the back Soleplate 2 fall off, as shown in detail in FIG. 1 and 2 can be seen. Around the housing of the iron body 1 compared to the increased temperature at the thickening 14 of the To shield the tip of the soleplate is between the top of the thickening and the housing the air gap 15, which is higher and set back compared to the usual air gap between the top of a soleplate and a plastic housing.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

iron body

2

Soleplate (with radiator)

3

radiator

4

steam chamber

5 and 6

Steam channel

7

steam labyrinth

8, 9, 10

steam hole

11

additional sole plate (made of steel)

12

steam manhole covers

13

water valve

14

Thickening on the soleplate tip

15

air gap

16

Outer edge of the soleplate

Claims (7)

1. Electrically heated iron, namely a steam iron whose baseplate is in heat-conducting connection with an electric heating element and is provided on its working surface with a coating or an additional baseplate having relatively less good thermal conductivity,
   characterised in that
   the bottom of the iron has in the area of its baseplate tip a thicker portion (14) made of a material with good heat-conducting and heat storage properties, and the said thicker portion (14) is formed with two limbs that enclose a steam labyrinth (7) on the upper side of the iron's baseplate.
2. Electric iron according to Claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the thicker portion (14) is shaped similarly to an iron, being adjacent to an outer edge (16) of the iron's baseplate, and from the baseplate tip inwards it first thickens increasingly towards the back and then descends towards the level of the baseplate (2).
3. Electrically heated iron according to either of Claims 1 or 2,
   characterised in that
   the thicker portion (14) is formed as one piece with the iron's baseplate (2).
4. Electrically heated iron according to either of Claims 1 or 2,
   characterised in that
   the thicker portion is formed as a separate moulded body attached to the iron's baseplate with efficient heat conduction between them.
5. Iron according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the iron's baseplate (2) and the thicker portion (14) consist of aluminium and the coating of the baseplate or the additional baseplate (11) consist of steel.
6. Iron according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   in the area between the thicker portion (14) and the heating element, the iron's baseplate has essentially no hollows that interfere with heat transfer.
7. Iron according to Claim 6,
   characterised in that
   the steam labyrinth (7) is arranged essentially above the thicker portion (14).

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