GB2256652A

GB2256652A - Filling nozzle for an electric steam iron water tank

Info

Publication number: GB2256652A
Application number: GB9212523A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gerhard Molz
Original assignee: Rowenta Werke GmbH
Current assignee: Rowenta Werke GmbH
Priority date: 1991-06-14
Filing date: 1992-06-12
Publication date: 1992-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 2012-06-12
Also published as: FR2677674A3; ITMI920585V0; GB9212523D0; GB2256652B; ITMI920585U1; IT226675Z2; FR2677674B3; DE4119643C2; DE4119643A1

Description

2 2 " L_ 1 - Electric Steam Iron The invention relates to an electric

steam iron.

It is known to provide an electric steam iron comprising a handle, a flat sole, a water tank and a water inlet nozzle connected thereto, said water inlet nozzle being connected to the water tank via a water channel.

Steam irons of this kind are filled with water with the iron directed upwards. The water is poured, by means of a beaker, into the water inlet nozzle and flows through the water channel into the water tank. Steam irons which have a detachable water tank are also known. In irons of this kind, the water tank can be removed from the iron in order to fill it from the mains. The known steam irons have the disadvantage of bubbles being formed by the escaping air when the water tank is filled which block the free inflow in a counter current,' thus making filling difficult and causing flooding of the inlet nozzle. When filling the hot iron, in particular, the water flows from the water inlet across the hot flat sole. As a result the hands of the person using the iron risk getting burnt by the steam thus created. The water flowing from the inlet nozzle might also come into contact with the electrics of the iron, thereby causing a short circuit when the iron is reconnected. In order to overcome the problem of bubble formation when filling the water tank, the arrangement of additional channels in the inlet nozzle is known which might enable a bubble-free filling. A bubble-free filling is, however, not possible by means of these channels either, since the air is not able to escape freely from the water tank into the atmosphere if the inlet nozzle is flooded with water.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an electric steam iron, comprising a handle, a flat sole, a water tank and a water inlet nozzle connected thereto, said water inlet nozzle being connected to the water tank via a water channel, wherein a deflection rib is arranged inside the inlet nozzle within the region of an inlet opening, the deflection rib is connected, by means of one end thereof, to a wall of the inlet nozzle, the other end of the deflection rib extends beyond the centre of the inlet opening into the interior of the inlet nozzle, the deflection rib is inclined in the direction of the inlet opening and a water port is defined between said other end of the deflection rib and the wall of the inlet nozzle.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an electric steam iron comprising a water inlet for receiving water and connected via guide means to a water tank, the guide means being arranged to guide the water in an arcuate path such that air which escapes from the water tank can follow a path radially inwardly of the arcuate water flow path.

Preferably therefore the water inlet comprises a well having an opening connected to the water tank, a deflection rib provided in the well being arranged to direct water, introduced into the well, along a wall of the opening, the said opening wall having an arcuate configuration so as to guide said water along said arcuate water flow path through the opening.

In a preferred embodiment, the well is elongate and the deflection rib extends obliquely at least half way across the width of the well.

A bubble-free filling of the steam iron is thereby achieved. Even if the water is flooded in, the air enclosed in the water tank can escape freely from the tank. As a result of the deflection rib provided in the inlet nozzle, the water is guided spirally or helically along the wall of the inlet nozzle towards the inlet opening. The water flowing into the tank thus forms a 1 whirlpool, in the centre of which it is possible for the air enclosed in the tank to escape, in a counter stream, from the tank to the atmosphere. Since the free flow of the water is thus not hindered by air bubbles, the inlet nozzle cannot flood and there is no evaporation of water spillage on the hot iron sole or any contact of water with the electrics of the iron. This prevents the users of the iron from burning their hands and obviates any short circuits on reconnection of the iron.

Preferred embodiments thus provide a steam iron without the disadvantages of the prior art arrangements and with a water tank which can be filled without bubbles being formed.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a partial view of a steam iron with the inlet nozzle according to the embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 shows the inlet nozzle of Figure 1 in plan view.

The steam iron shown in the drawings comprises a handle 1, a water tank 2 and a flat sole 3. For the purpose of filling the tank, an inlet nozzle or well 4 is provided in the front region of the handle 1, said inlet nozzle being connected to the water tank 2 via a water channel 5. A deflection rib 6 which is connected, by means of one end 7 thereof, to the wall 8 of the inlet nozzle 4 is arranged inside the inlet nozzle 4. The other end 9 of the deflection rib 6 extends at least half way across the inlet opening and preferably beyond the centre of an inlet opening 10 into the interior of the inlet nozzle 4. In the region of the inlet opening 10, the wall 8 is curved or arcuate. A water port 11 is provided between the end 9 of the deflection rib 6 and the wall 8 of the inlet nozzle 4. As a result of the deflection rib 6 being inclined in the direction of the inlet opening 10, the water poured into the inlet nozzle 4 is guided spirally towards the inlet opening 10 and flows through the water channel 5 into the water tank 2 while forming a whirlpool. The air enclosed in the water tank 2 is now able to escape unhindered by way of a counter stream from the water-free centre of the whirlpool to the atmosphere.

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Claims

1. An electric steam iron, comprising a handle, a flat sole, a water tank and a water inlet nozzle connected thereto, said water inlet nozzle being connected to the water tank via a water channel, wherein a deflection rib is arranged inside the inlet nozzle within the region of an inlet opening, the deflection rib is connected, by means of one end thereof, to a wall of the inlet nozzle, the other end of the deflection rib extends beyond the centre of the inlet opening into the interior of the inlet nozzle, the deflection rib is inclined in the direction of the inlet opening and a water port is defined between said other end of the deflection rib and the wall of the inlet nozzle.

2. An electric steam iron comprising a water inlet for receiving water and connected via guide means to a water tank, the guide means being arranged to guide the water in an arcuate path such that air which escapes from the water tank can follow a path radially inwardly of the arcuate water flow path.

3. An electric steam iron as claimed in claim 2, wherein the water inlet comprises a well having an opening connected to the water tank, a deflection rib provided in the well being arranged to direct water, introduced into the well, along a wall of the opening, the said opening wall having an arcuate configuration so as to guide said water along said arcuate water flow path through the opening.

4. An electric steam iron as claimed in claim 3, wherein the well is elongate and the deflection rib extends obliquely at least half way across the width of the well.

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5. An electric steam iron substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

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