EP2584090B1 - Iron comprising a vaporisation chamber connected to a scale recovery cavity comprising a descaling orifice - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an iron comprising an ironing sole surmounted by a heating body and a housing having a rear end provided with a heel having a rear surface on which the iron can rest during the inactive phases of ironing, the heating body comprising a steam distribution circuit comprising a vaporization chamber connected to a scale recovery cavity at the rear of the iron and more particularly relates to an iron in which the steam chamber includes a descaling orifice closed by a removable cap accessible from the outside of the iron.

It is known from the document FR 2,688,807 an iron comprising an ironing sole surmounted by a heating body and a housing comprising a heel provided with a removable cap giving access to an orifice for injecting a descaling product into a steam distribution chamber . However, such an iron only allows a rinsing of the distribution chamber by means of a descaling product but does not allow the recovery and storage in a cavity of recovery of descaling particles by gravity of the vaporization chamber when the iron is placed vertically on its heel.

It is known, from the patent EP 0 569 822 filed by the applicant, an iron comprising an ironing sole surmounted by a heating body and a housing having a rear end provided with a heel on which the iron can rest substantially vertically during the inactive phases of ironing . The heating body of the iron has a steam distribution circuit comprising a vaporization chamber for the production of steam connected to a scale recovery cavity at the rear of the iron, the scale recovery cavity being provided a descaling orifice closed by a removable cap accessible from the outside of the iron.

However, in this document, the cap is placed under the heel of the iron so that the cap is largely hidden by the heel of the iron when the iron rests on its sole. Thus, such an iron has the disadvantage of requiring the lifting of the iron from its sole to be able to extract the cap from the descaling orifice, so that this operation is made uncomfortable.

In addition, such an iron, wherein the plug is disposed in the immediate vicinity of the sole, has the disadvantage of greatly increase the risk of burns of the user's hand on the hot soleplate of the iron when the user manipulates the cap. Finally, the immediate proximity of the plug and the sole has the disadvantage of generating significant thermal stresses on the plug so that it must be made of a heat resistant material and providing good thermal insulation to prevent the user is burned in contact with the plug.

Also an object of the present invention is to provide an iron overcoming these disadvantages by providing an iron comprising a vaporization chamber connected to a recovery cavity equipped with a descaling orifice in which the descaling operation is made more ergonomic, and that is simple and economical to achieve.

The object of the invention is achieved by an iron comprising an ironing sole surmounted by a heating body and a housing comprising a posterior surface inscribed inside a heel on which the iron can rest. during the inactive ironing phases, the heating body comprising a steam distribution circuit comprising a vaporization chamber connected to a scale recovery cavity at the rear of the iron, the scale recovery cavity comprising an orifice of descaling closed by a removable cap accessible from the outside of the iron, characterized in that the cap is disposed on the rear surface of the housing.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to obtain an easily accessible plug when the iron rests on its sole.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the posterior surface is inclined forwards when the iron rests on its sole.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to further improve the accessibility of the plug, thanks to the inclination of the posterior surface towards the front.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the heel comprises two arms extending substantially symmetrically with respect to the median plane of the iron from a gripping handle, the two arms forming between them a space in which is formed the cavity receiving the Descaling orifice.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the scale recovery cavity is disposed in a portion of the housing being cantilevered behind the sole when the iron rests on its sole.

Such a characteristic has the advantage of moving the cavity of the tartar recovery from the thermal radiation zone of the soleplate and the heating body, which makes it possible to reduce the contact temperature at the level of the removable plug.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the removable cap comprises a tartar recovery spoon being introduced into the descaling orifice when the cap closes the descaling orifice.

Such a feature has the advantage of allowing the extraction of scale from the iron with the cap without having to lift and transport the iron over a trash.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the scale recovery cavity extends obliquely with respect to the plane of the sole.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the spoon is disposed in a hollow body having an open front end and a closed rear end.

Such a feature has the advantage of allowing the maintenance of scale in the hollow body of the cap when the cap is tilted so that the spoon is oriented vertically with its open end upwards. Such a position therefore allows easy transport of the cap without risk of tartar overturning.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the body supports a seal coming into contact with the scale recovery cavity.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the cap comprises fastening means which are mounted mobile in rotation relative to the spoon.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the fixing means allow the establishment of a bayonet type connection between the removable cap and the descaling orifice.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the plug supports a seal coming to be applied at the edge of the descaling orifice.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the descaling orifice is arranged in a recess provided on the posterior surface, the removable cap supports a dressing part coming to hide the recess.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the removable cap comprises a gripping tab which is rotatable relative to the plug.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un fer à repasser selon un mode particulier de réalisation de l'invention lorsque le bouchon de l'orifice de détartrage est en position fermée ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective d'une partie du corps chauffant du fer à repasser de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue de coté, en coupe partielle, du fer à repasser de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective du fer à repasser de la figure 1 lorsque le bouchon de l'orifice de détartrage est enlevé ;
• la figure 5 est une vue en coupe du bouchon représenté seul ;
• la figure 6 est une vue en perspective éclatée du bouchon de la figure 5 ;
• les figures 7 et 8 sont des vues en perspective du bouchon de l'orifice de détartrage lorsque son organe de verrouillage occupe respectivement une position de verrouillage et une position de déverrouillage.

The aims, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the description given below of a particular embodiment of the invention presented by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :

• the figure 1 is a perspective view of an iron according to a particular embodiment of the invention when the plug of the descaling orifice is in the closed position;
• the figure 2 is a perspective view of a part of the heating body of the iron of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 is a side view, in partial section, of the iron of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 4 is a perspective view of the iron from the figure 1 when the cap of the descaling orifice is removed;
• the figure 5 is a sectional view of the plug shown alone;
• the figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the cap of the figure 5 ;
• the Figures 7 and 8 are perspective views of the cap of the descaling orifice when its locking member occupies respectively a lock position and an unlock position.

Only the elements necessary for the understanding of the invention have been represented. To facilitate the reading of the drawings, the same elements bear the same references from one figure to another.

The figure 1 illustrates a steam iron 1 having a plane ironing sole 2 provided with a set of steam outlet holes, not visible in the figures, the sole 2 being surmounted by a plastic housing 3, composite type BMC, enclosing a water reservoir 30, the housing comprising a handle 31 connected to the front of the iron in known manner by a foot 32 extending a front end of the handle.

Advantageously, this foot 32 at the front of the handle 31 is hollow to contain iron members, and the housing 3 has a rear surface 33 inscribed inside a heel 4 on which the iron can rest substantially. vertically during the inactive ironing phases, the heel comprising two arms 40 extending from the handle 31 away and then narrowing down to join the rear surface of the housing 33 so that the resulting structure is substantially triangulated .

The arms 40 delimit between them a space where the rear surface 33 of the housing includes a passage for a power cord 5 supported by a flexible sleeve 50 pivotally mounted on the housing 3 and can occupy a storage position, illustrated on the figure 1 , in which the sheath 50 is inserted into a groove 41 formed between the two arms 40, at the rear end of the handle 31.

Preferably, the rear surface 33 of the housing is inclined forwards when the iron 1 rests horizontally on its sole 2 so that the space between the arms 40 of the heel is easily accessible in this position.

In accordance with the figure 2 , the sole 2 of the iron is thermally and mechanically bonded to a heating body 6 integrated in the lower part of the housing 3, below the tank 30, the heating body 6 having an aluminum foundry comprising a resistive element 61 bent iron at horse and a boss 62 provided to receive a temperature control thermostat of the sole 2.

The heating body 6 has a peripheral wall 63 projecting from the upper face of the foundry and laterally delimiting a space comprising a main vaporization chamber 64, a steam chamber 65 and a steam distribution circuit. The main vaporization chamber 64 is disposed in the center of the upper face of the heating body 6 and the steam distribution circuit comprises side channels 67 extending on either side of the main vaporization chamber 64, the lateral channels 67 conventionally having orifices passing through the heating body 6 to open on the lower face of the heating body 6, at the level of steam distribution cavities, not visible in the figures, arranged facing the steam outlet holes of the soleplate.

The heating body 6 also comprises a closure plate 7 which rests on the upper edge of the peripheral wall 63 of the foundry and the main vaporization chamber 64 is delimited laterally by a partition up to the closure plate 7, in being sealed with the latter, so that the vapor produced in the main vaporization chamber 64 can escape only through a steam outlet opening 70, shown in dotted line on the figure 2 formed in the closure plate 7. The steam outlet opening 70 opens into a steam distribution channel disposed above the closure plate 7 which is delimited in its upper part by a cover 73 and laterally by a lateral rib 72, the closure plate 7 also having two lateral openings 74, represented in dotted lines on the figure 2 placing the two ends of the distribution channel in communication with the side channels 67 of the steam distribution circuit.

Preferably, the main vaporization chamber 64 is of instantaneous vaporization type and comprises for this purpose a bottom having a multitude of pyramidal pads for increasing the heat exchange surface, the water of the reservoir 30 arriving at the droplet. drop in the main vaporization chamber 64 through an orifice 75 of the closure plate 7 surmounted, in a manner known per se, a drip plug not shown in the figures, allowing the production of a continuous steam flow of the order of 40 gr / min.

More particularly according to the invention, the vaporization chamber 64 is connected to a cavity 80 for the recovery of scale, this connection being preferably effected by an opening 68 formed in the peripheral wall 63 at the rear end of the chamber. spraying 64.

In accordance with the figure 3 , the opening 68 opens onto a duct 69, of substantially rectangular section, made in the foundry of the heating body 6, this duct 68 extending obliquely with respect to the plane of the sole 2 over a length of about 4 cm , at an angle of the order of 20 °, and being extended by a collector 8 made of plastic, for example of the PPS (phenylene polysulfide) type, integrated into the casing 3 of the iron and defining the cavity 80 of tartar recovery.

The collector 8 has a rectangular front end 81 fitted into the duct 69 and extends axially in the extension of the duct 69 over a length of the order of 5 cm, the collector 8 comprising a flange covered with a seal 82 bearing against the edge of an opening 34 formed in the bottom of a recess 33A present on the rear surface 33 of the iron, better visible on the figure 4 .

The collector 8 has a rear end passing through the opening 34 and defining a fastening flange 83 protruding into the bottom of the recess 33A, the fastening flange 83 surrounding a descaling orifice 84 opening into the cavity 80 for recovering scale and receiving a removable plug 9 fixed to the fixing flange 83 by a bayonet-type connection, the plug 9 comprising for this purpose a ring 90 comprising claws 90A rotatably engaging on locking ramps 83A formed on the periphery of the fastening flange 83.

Preferably, the removable plug 9 is completely integrated in the volume of the recess 33A and is integral with a trim piece 91 that obscures the recess 33A, the trim piece being rotatable relative to the plug 9 so as to to allow the rotation of the cap 9 without rotating the dressing part 91. The dressing part 91 comes in the extension of the wall defining the rear surface 33 of the housing at the edge of the recess 33A and is advantageously made of plastic material, polycarbonate type.

The cavity 80 for recovering the tartar formed in the manifold 8 advantageously has an oblong section and has a reduced section near its front end, forming a step 80A in the lower part of the cavity 80 so that the tartar recovered by gravity in the cavity 80 when the iron is placed on its heel 4, tends to remain in the cavity 80 of scale recovery when the iron 1 is rested horizontally on its sole 2.

In accordance with Figures 4 to 8 , the removable plug 9 comprises an oblong body 92 which is inserted into the descaling orifice 84 when the removable plug 9 is mounted on the fastening flange 83, the body 92 of the plug 9 having a shape complementary to the cavity 80 of tartar recovery and having an open front end.

The body 92 of the cap is advantageously made of plastic material, of the polyamide type PA 6-6 reinforced with 30% glass fiber, and supports a first silicone seal 93A coming into contact with the inner wall of the cavity 80 for recovering the scale when the elongate body 92 is inserted therein, the cap having a second silicone seal 93B sandwiched between the edge of the descaling orifice 84 and the cap 9 when the latter is attached to the fastening flange 83.

The body 92 of the cap has a lower portion provided with a tartar retention spoon 94, advantageously made of the same material as the body 92 of the cap, the spoon 94 comprising a hollow part in which the scale is stored and a front end equipped with a step 94A to prevent the scale recovered in the spoon 94, when the iron is arranged vertically on its heel 4, does not return by gravity in the steam chamber when the iron 1 is arranged again on his sole 2.

In accordance with figures 5 and 6 , the removable cap 9 comprises an organ locking member 95 comprising a gripping tongue 96 pivotally mounted about an axis 97 between a rest position, illustrated in FIGS. figures 1 and 5 , in which the tongue 96 is integrated in a recess 91A adapted from the covering part 91 and an actuating position, illustrated in particular on the figures 4 and 6 ; in which the tongue 96 protrudes at 90 ° with respect to the dressing part, the tongue 96 being braked in the actuating position by an elastic blade 98 having a boss 98A inserted into a complementary cavity of the tongue 96.

The locking member 95 is rotatably mounted on the covering member 91 of the plug and comprises for this purpose three studs 95A traversing grooves 91B formed on the dressing part and engaging in holes 90B adapted to the ring so that the ring 90 is integral in rotation with the locking member 95, the grooves 91B allowing a rotation of the order of 30 ° of the locking member 95, in the trigonometric direction, with respect to the dressing part 91. The body 92 of the cap is advantageously fixed on the dressing part 91 by means of a screw 99, visible on the figures 3 and 5 , so that the body 92 of the cap is immobile in rotation with respect to the dressing part 91, the spoon 94 being preferentially constituted by an insert inside the body 92 of the cap and fixed on the latter by the screw 99.

A plug 9 is thus obtained comprising a rotatable ring 90 which can occupy a locking position, illustrated on FIG. figure 7 , in which a first abutment 90C of the ring bears against a rib 91C protruding from the back of the dressing part 91 and the claws 90A of the ring are arranged such that they are engaged behind the ramps of locking 83A of the fixing flange when the cap is placed on the descaling orifice 84, thus ensuring immobilization of the plug 9 on the fastening flange 83.

The movable ring 90 can also occupy an unlocking position, illustrated on the figure 8 , in which a second abutment, not visible in the figures, bears against a second rib 91 D protruding from the back of the dressing part 91, the claws 90A of the ring being in this position arranged such that they are disengaged from the locking ramps 83A of the fixing flange when the cap 9 is placed on the descaling orifice 84, thereby allowing the plug 9 to be removed from the descaling orifice 84.

The iron thus produced has the advantage of having a long life and provide great ergonomics of use.

Indeed, such an iron has the advantage of providing good ironing performance, including a steam chamber for the production of a high flow of steam, and allow the user easy evacuation of particles tartar produced during spraying.

In particular, when cleaning the vaporization chamber is necessary, that is to say after several steaming sessions, the user can easily extract most of the scale present in the vaporization chamber by placing the iron vertically on its heel so that the scale particles present in the vaporization chamber descend by gravity through the conduit, then into the scale recovery cavity and in particular in the tartar recovery spoon. The iron can then be repositioned horizontally on its sole, so as to allow easy access to the plug disposed on the rear face of the housing. It is then sufficient for the user to unscrew the cap by grasping the lower edge of the tongue that is flush with the edge of the housing to bring the tongue into the actuating position, then to turn the tongue in the trigonometric direction to bring the organ locking in the unlocking position in which the claws are disengaged from the locking ramps, the cap can then be extracted from the descaling orifice by axially sliding the spoon out of this orifice.

During this extraction of the spoon, the tartar recovered in the spoon is preserved in the spoon thanks to the hollow shape of the spoon and the presence of walking near the front end of the spoon which prevents the particles of Tartar does not fall by gravity into the duct while the spoon is tilted 20 ° downwards.

Such a scale extraction operation has the advantage of being carried out without risk of burning by contact of the hand on the soleplate since this descaling operation is carried out while the iron rests on its sole so that the latter is inaccessible.

In addition, the localization of the scale recovery cavity in a part of the housing located cantilevered behind the soleplate makes it possible to move the radiation recovery cavity away from the heating body and thus makes it possible to lower the temperature of the housing. in the environment of the cap and its gripping tab.

The piece of clothing integral with the cap also has the advantage of serving as a protective guard preventing the user's fingers from coming into contact with parts, such as the tartar recovery spoon, initially contained in the recovery cavity and may have a high temperature. The dressing part also has the advantage of having a flat bottom edge on which the cap can come to rest stably when it is extracted from the descaling orifice, which limits the risk of undesirable overturning of the contents of the spoon. tartar recovery.

Finally, the iron thus produced has the advantage of having a cap that is aesthetically integrated into the iron case, thus obtaining an iron with a valuable aesthetic.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment previously described and illustrated which has been given by way of example. Modifications are possible, particularly from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Thus, in an alternative embodiment of the invention, the iron may include a scale indicator warning the user about the need to open the plug of the scaling orifice to perform a cleaning operation of the chamber Spraying. Such an indicator of scaling can be activated according to the time of use of the iron or the number of filling of the tank and its activation speed can be modulated according to the position of a hardness indicator of the water.

Claims (12)

1. Iron (1) comprising a soleplate (2) surmounted by a heating body (6) and a housing (3) comprising a rear surface (33) placed on the inside of a heel (4) on which the iron (1) can rest during inactive phases of ironing, the heating body (6) having a steam distribution circuit comprising a vaporisation chamber (64) connected to a scale recovery cavity (80) formed at the rear of the iron (1) to recover the scale particles falling under gravity when the iron is placed vertically on its heel, the scale recovery cavity (80) comprising a descaling hole (84) closed by a removable plug (9) accessible from outside the iron, characterised in that the vaporisation chamber (64) is connected to the scale recovery cavity (80) by an opening (68) formed in a peripheral wall (63) at the rear end of the vaporisation chamber (64) and in that said plug (9) is arranged on the rear surface (33) of the housing (3).
2. Iron (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said rear surface (33) is inclined forwards when the iron (1) rests on its soleplate (2).
3. Iron (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the heel (4) has two arms (40) extending substantially symmetrically with respect to the midplane of the iron from a gripping handle (3), said two arms (40) defining between them a space in which the cavity (80) receiving the descaling hole (84) is formed.
4. Iron (1) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the scale recovery cavity (80) is arranged in a part of the housing (3) overhanging behind the soleplate (2) when the iron (1) rests on its soleplate (2).
5. Iron (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the removable plug (9) comprises a scale recovery spoon (94) which can be inserted into the descaling hole (84) when the plug (9) closes the descaling hole (84), said spoon (94) having a hollow portion in which the scale is stored and a step (94A) near its front end.
6. Iron (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that said spoon (94) is arranged in a hollow body (92) having an open front end and a closed rear end.
7. Iron (1) according to claim 6, characterised in that the body (92) is fitted with a seal (93A) coming into contact with the scale recovery cavity (80).
8. Iron according to any of claims 5 to 7, characterised in that the plug (9) has fixing means (90A) which are mounted rotatably relative to the spoon (94).
9. Iron according to claim 8, characterised in that said fixing means (90A) allow the creation of a bayonet type connection between the removable plug (9) and the descaling hole (84).
10. Iron (1) according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the plug (9) is fitted with a seal (93B) which presses against the edge of the descaling hole (84).
11. Iron according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that said descaling hole (84) is arranged in a recess (33A) formed on the rear surface (33) and in that said removable plug (10) supports a trim piece (91) which masks the recess (33A).
12. Iron according to claim 11, characterised in that the removable plug (9) has a gripping tongue (96) which can be rotated around the plug (9).

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