US3368294A - Steam iron - Google Patents

Steam iron Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3368294A
US3368294A US481252A US48125265A US3368294A US 3368294 A US3368294 A US 3368294A US 481252 A US481252 A US 481252A US 48125265 A US48125265 A US 48125265A US 3368294 A US3368294 A US 3368294A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
soleplate
cam
knob
cam follower
temperature
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US481252A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Harold W Martin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Westinghouse Electric Corp
Original Assignee
Westinghouse Electric Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Westinghouse Electric Corp filed Critical Westinghouse Electric Corp
Priority to US481252A priority Critical patent/US3368294A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3368294A publication Critical patent/US3368294A/en
Priority to JP1969023985U priority patent/JPS469595Y1/ja
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F75/00—Hand irons
    • D06F75/08—Hand irons internally heated by electricity
    • D06F75/10—Hand irons internally heated by electricity with means for supplying steam to the article being ironed
    • D06F75/14—Hand irons internally heated by electricity with means for supplying steam to the article being ironed the steam being produced from water in a reservoir carried by the iron
    • D06F75/18—Hand irons internally heated by electricity with means for supplying steam to the article being ironed the steam being produced from water in a reservoir carried by the iron the water being fed slowly, e.g. drop by drop, from the reservoir to a steam generator
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F75/00—Hand irons
    • D06F75/08—Hand irons internally heated by electricity
    • D06F75/26—Temperature control or indicating arrangements
    • D06F75/265—Temperature indicating arrangements; Control knobs

Definitions

  • Electrically heated flat irons normally have a resistance heating element or elements in the soleplate and are provided with a thermostat in conjunction therewith for automatically controlling the temperature of the heating elemerit or elements and, consequently, the temperature of the soleplate.
  • the thermostat is manually adjustable to permit selection of appropriate ironing temperatures for fabrics of various compositions. While the thermostat is necessarily located at or near the soleplate, the adjusting means is preferably at a cooler location, where it can be readily manipulated by the user of the iron.
  • Steam irons have, in addition to such provisions for temperature control, certain apparatus features necessitated by the adaptation for steam ironing. These may include one or more manual controls for limiting the admission of water into a storage reservoir, and the emission of water therefrom, into a flash or vaporization chamber, for example.
  • the front leg is provided with a cam surface which cooperates with a cam follower, carried by the control knob and movable therewith, to open and close an inlet valve to the vaporization chamber between the soleplate and a cover plate secured the manipulations required thereby on the part of the user I and, consequently, the number of components utilized in the apparatus.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved combination steam and dry iron control comprising structure for providing two off positions.
  • object of this invention is to provide a steam iron the parts of which can be simply manufactured and assembled thereby reducing the cost thereof.
  • Yet another object of this invention is to provide a steam iron with a single means for controlling temperature of the soleplate and flow of water from the reservoir into the vaporization chamber.
  • the knob itself is provided on its underside with a set of cam surfaces, so positioned, as to cooperate with a cam follower in the form of an actuating rod for changing the setting of a thermostat in response to movement of the control knob thereby changing the temperature to which the soleplate will be raised.
  • the cams form a continuous annular groove of approximately 330 thereby providing the knob with two extreme positions of rotation each of which corresponds to an off position, whereat, exactly the same adjustment of the cam follower, that changes the setting of the thermostat, is effected.
  • the cams at the end positions are bounded by the walls of the groove thereby providing positive end stops.
  • FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a steam iron incorporating the invention
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a control knob and a fragment of the handle upon which the knob is supported for rotation;
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of an iron handle
  • FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the control knob show ing the cam that regulates the thermostat setting
  • FIG. 5 is a developed view of the cam illustrated in FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line VIVI of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line VII--VII of FIG. 4, superimposed on a cross-sectional for the purpose of illustrating an operative device in which the parts forming the present invention have their environment.
  • the iron comprises a soleplate 11 having a conventional U-shaped heating element 12 embedded therein.
  • a water reservoir 13, is supported above the soleplate by a bracket 14, secured to the soleplate in a suitable manner.
  • a steam generating or vaporization chamber 16 is provided in the soleplate subadjacent a valve seat 17 in the underside of the reservoir 13.
  • a plurality of channels 18 (only one shown), connecting the vaporization chamber with a plurality of steam discharge ports (not shown) in the soleplate, serve to convey the steam from the steam generating chamber 16 to the discharge ports,
  • a valve stem 19 is adapted to regulate the flow of water from the reservoir into the chamber in a manner to be hereinafter described.
  • the flow of current to the heating element 12 from a power cord (not shown) is effected through conventional contacts 21 carried by contact arms 22 and 22', also conventional.
  • Periodic interruption of current flow to the heating element for maintaining the soleplate at a specific temperature is effected by means of a bimetallic element 23 secured to the soleplate in cantilever fashion so as to lie intermediate the contact arms 22 and 22.
  • the bimetallic element 23 responds to an increase in the soleplate ambient temperature, defiecting downwardly, thereby contacting the lower contact arm 22, moving it such that the contacts 21 become disengaged.
  • the temperature at which this is accomplished may be varied, according to the type of fabric being ironed, through a thermostatic control rod 24, the operation of which will be discussed hereinafter.
  • a shell or cover 26 made from any suitable material, for example steel, fits over the reservoir 13 and is secured to the soleplate 11 by a stud 27, secured to the bracket 14, and a nut 28. Secured to the shell in a suitable manner is a handle 29.
  • the handle 29, made from any suitable material, for example, phenolic, comprises a front leg 31, rear leg 32 and a hand gripping portion 33 formed integrally With the front and rear legs 32 and 33.
  • the front leg 31 is hollow as indicated at 34.
  • the hollow portion 34 communicates with the interior of the reservoir 12 through a cylindrical passage at the top of the reservoir.
  • a sealing gasket 36 disposed intermediate the passage and the hollow serves to prevent water from leaking into the interior of the shell 26 thereby preventing damage to the controls and other components disposed therein.
  • the hollow 34 also communicates with a top surface 37 of the front leg 31 through a vertical bore 38 (see FIGS. 1 and 2).
  • a round control knob 35 is rotatably supported on the top surface 37 of the front leg 31.
  • the knob 35 (see FIGS. 2, 4 and 7) is provided with a central bore 30 and a radially spaced aperture 40 communicating with an open portion 9 in the top thereof (see FIGS. 1 and 7).
  • a sleeve bearing 39 (see especially FIGS. 7 and 9) which is insertable through the bore 30 and 38 and extends into the hollow 34.
  • the bearing is provided with a hexagonal flange 41 for engaging the top surface of the knob 35 adjacent the bore 30 and is externally threaded at its lower end to receive a retaining nut 42 for securing it and the control knob 35 in place on top of the leg 31.
  • valve stem 19 extends through a central bore in the bearing and a coil spring 43 carried by the valve stem 19 engages washer means 44 at the top thereof and pair of protrusions 46 at its bottom and is somewhat compressed therebetween,
  • the spring thuS serves to bias the valve stem downwardly or toward the closed position in a conventional manner.
  • valve stem 19 extends beyond the top of the sleeve bearing 39 and into the open portion 9 for receiving a valve stem lifting arm 47, which fits loosely therearound.
  • a push-on spring clip 48 engages the valve stem 19 in a conventional manner at a point immediately above the lifting arm 47 thereby serving to limit the vertical movement of the lifting arm 47 on the valve stem 19 such that when an intermediate portion of the arm 47 is fulcrumed by a pin 49 carried by the control knob 35, the valve stem 19 will be lifted or raised (see FIG. 7) to open the valve 17. It should be pointed out that by using the push-on clip 48, the necessity for vertical adjustment of the valve stem 19 is eliminated.
  • the pin 49 contacts the underside of the lifting arm 47 through the aperture 40 and is rotatably carried by the knob 35 while being free to move in a vertical plane.
  • the pin rides on the top surface 37 and cooperates with a cam surface 51 which moves the pin upwardly from the surface 37, the pin in turn, moving the lifting arm 47 upwardly while the valve stem 19 is simultaneously moved in the same upwardly direction due to the lifting arm abutting the spring clip 48.
  • the total span of the cam surface 51 is approximately 82.
  • the free end of the lifting arm 47 extends through an opening at the left of the open portion 9 and abuts a wall 50 which restricts movement of the free end of the lifting arm 47 when the end of the arm surrounding the valve stem 19 is moved upwardly as discussed above.
  • the control knob 35 as best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 is provided with an annular cam 52 in its underside.
  • the cam 52 engages a cam follower 53 (FIGS. 1, 7 and 9) attached to the upper terminal end of the thermostat control rod 24, which is biased upwardly through an opening 55 (see FIGS. 7 and 9) by an extension on the contact arm 22', and upon rotation of the control knob 35 effects vertical movement of the rod 24 thereby increasing or decreasing the temperature to which the soleplate 11 will be raised, depending upon the direction of movement of the control knob 35 and corresponding surface of the cam 52 at the rotated position.
  • a scale bearing member 54 (see particularly FIGS. 7, 8 and 9) carried by the control knob 35, is provided with indicia indicating the off positions of which there are two, hi and 10" steaming positions, and other indicia representing the type of fabric to 'be ironed at a particular setting of the knob 35.
  • the knob 35 is set by turning until the desired indicia is aligned with a fixed index 65 embossed or otherwise provided on the hand grip 33.
  • the cam follower 53 moves through an arc of 306 along the cam 52 between a first wall 56 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) and a second wall 57.
  • the walls 56 and 57 act as positive end stops which abut the cam follower 53, the horizontal position of which is fixed by the walls defining the opening 55, thereby limiting movement of the control knob 35.
  • the cam 52 comprises identical high portions 58 and 58' adjacent the walls 56 and 57 which portions correspond to the two off positions designated on the scale bearing member 54 (see FIGS. 4, 5, 8 and 9).
  • a sloping portion 59 (see FIG. 5) of the cam 52 effects movement of the thermostat control rod 24 and, thus, the contact arm 22' downwardly, as the knob 35 moves clockwise, to increase the temperature at which the contacts 21 open and close.
  • the cam 52 commences to extend upwardly to a rise portion 61 whereat the operating temperature of the soleplate 11 effected by the vertical positon of the control rod 24 is suitable for steam ironing.
  • the position of the cam follower 53 with respect to the cam surface 51 is such that the rise portion 61 of the cam 52 is engaged by the cam follower 53 simultaneously with the engagement of the pin 49 with the cam surface 51 (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 5
  • a stamped sheet metal cover 62 is secured to the soleplate 11 by means of a silicone adhesive 63 which acts as a seal as well as an adhering agent.
  • the cover 62 and the soleplate are preferably made from material, for example, aluminum, having similar thermal expansion properties and the cover material is preferably of a thin gage relative to that of the soleplate to thereby minimize stress between the cover soleplate and silasti-c, thus, assuring a longer lasting seal and adhesion.
  • a flat iron comprising: a soleplate; an electrical heating element for the soleplate; switch means including a thermostat for maintaining the temperature of the soleplate substantially constant; means for varying the temperature at which the soleplate is maintained constant, said means comprising a movable cam, a cam follower, mechanical linkage operatively connecting the cam follower through said switch means; said cam having two extreme portions and a plurality of intermediate portions; each of said extreme portions being adapted to cam said follower and mechanical linkage for opening said switch means, means adjacent said extreme portions for limiting movement of said temperature varying means relative to said cam follower.
  • a steam iron comprising: a soleplate having a vaporization chamber and discharge ports therefrom through the base of the soleplate, an electrical heating element for the soleplate, switch means including a temperature responsive element for maintaining the temperature of the soleplate at a predetermined value, a liquid reservoir, valve means for controlling emission of liquid from the reser voir into the vaporization chamber, a manually movable member having a cam operatively associated with the switch means through a first cam follower for regulating the predetermined temperature at which the soleplate is maintained, a second cam follower carried by said movable member, means operatively connecting said second cam follower to said valve means to regulate the emission of liquid from the reservoir into the vaporization chamber, said cam having an intermediate portion and similarly constructed extreme portions thereadjacent, said extreme portions being adapted to cam said second cam follower to effect opening of said switch means, and means adjacent each of said extreme portions for limiting movement of said manually movable member.
  • a steam iron comprising: a soleplate having a vaporization chamber and discharge ports therefrom through the base of the soleplate, an electrical heating element for the soleplate, switch means including a temperature responsive element for maintaining the temperature of the soleplate at a predetermined value, a liquid reservoir, valve means for controlling emission of liquid from the reservoir into the vaporization chamber, a handle attached to said soleplate, a manually movable knob supported by said handel, a cam and a first cam follower carried by said knob, means operatively connecting said valve means to said first cam follower thereby, a second cam follower, mechanical linkage operatively connecting said switch means to said second cam follower, said cam having an intermediate portion adapted to cam said second cam follower for varying the predetermined temperature value at which the soleplate is maintained, cam means forming a part of said handle for imparting vertical movement to said first cam follower.
  • said means operatively connecting said valve means to said first cam follower comprises a lifting arm engaged on one end by said first cam follower and having an aperture in its other end loosely receiving the upper portion of a valve stem.
  • a steam iron comprising: a soleplate having a vapor'ization chamber and discharge portion therefrom through the base of the soleplate, an electrical heating element for the soleplate, switch means including a temperature responsive element for maintaining the temperature of the soleplate at a predetermined value, a liquid reservoir, means including a valve stem for controlling emission of liquid from the reservoir into the vaporization chamber, a handle attached to said soleplate, a manually movable knob supported by said handle, a cam and a first cam follower carried by said knob, means operatively connecting said valve means to said first cam follower for movement thereby, a second cam follower, mechanical linkage operatively connecting said switch means to said second cam follower, said cam having an intermediate portion adapted to cam said second cam follower for varying the predetermined temperature value at which the soleplate is maintained, said cam comprising similarly constructed extreme portions adjacent the intermediate portion, said extreme portions being adapted to cam said second cam follower to effect opening of said switch means, said knob being provided with means adjacent each of said extreme portions, each of said means serving to limit the
  • said means operatively connecting said valve means to said first cam follower comprises a lifting arm engaged on one end by said first cam follower and having an aperture in its other end loosely receiving upper portion of a valve stem.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermally Actuated Switches (AREA)
  • Irons (AREA)
US481252A 1965-08-20 1965-08-20 Steam iron Expired - Lifetime US3368294A (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US481252A US3368294A (en) 1965-08-20 1965-08-20 Steam iron
JP1969023985U JPS469595Y1 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html) 1965-08-20 1969-03-19

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US481252A US3368294A (en) 1965-08-20 1965-08-20 Steam iron

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3368294A true US3368294A (en) 1968-02-13

Family

ID=23911234

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US481252A Expired - Lifetime US3368294A (en) 1965-08-20 1965-08-20 Steam iron

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US3368294A (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
JP (1) JPS469595Y1 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4155182A (en) * 1978-06-26 1979-05-22 General Electric Company Temperature control for iron
US4414766A (en) * 1980-09-10 1983-11-15 Seb S.A. Steam iron sole plate design
US4760658A (en) * 1986-03-06 1988-08-02 Rowenta-Werke Gmbh Steam-iron drip-feed valve
US5572810A (en) * 1995-08-09 1996-11-12 Black & Decker Inc. Steam iron with rotatable temperature control

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2793448A (en) * 1954-08-19 1957-05-28 Gen Mills Inc Turbulence controlled steam iron
US2887800A (en) * 1957-05-27 1959-05-26 Kistner Merrill Miller Steam iron
US3111780A (en) * 1962-03-20 1963-11-26 Westinghouse Electric Corp Steam iron
US3182411A (en) * 1962-03-13 1965-05-11 Westinghouse Electric Corp Steam iron

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2793448A (en) * 1954-08-19 1957-05-28 Gen Mills Inc Turbulence controlled steam iron
US2887800A (en) * 1957-05-27 1959-05-26 Kistner Merrill Miller Steam iron
US3182411A (en) * 1962-03-13 1965-05-11 Westinghouse Electric Corp Steam iron
US3111780A (en) * 1962-03-20 1963-11-26 Westinghouse Electric Corp Steam iron

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4155182A (en) * 1978-06-26 1979-05-22 General Electric Company Temperature control for iron
US4414766A (en) * 1980-09-10 1983-11-15 Seb S.A. Steam iron sole plate design
US4760658A (en) * 1986-03-06 1988-08-02 Rowenta-Werke Gmbh Steam-iron drip-feed valve
US5572810A (en) * 1995-08-09 1996-11-12 Black & Decker Inc. Steam iron with rotatable temperature control

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS469595Y1 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html) 1971-04-05

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US2342716A (en) Steam iron
US2345413A (en) Steam iron
US2398579A (en) Thermostat
US2337077A (en) Steam iron
US2906043A (en) Pressing iron
US2411199A (en) Steam iron
US3110975A (en) Steam iron with dual heating means
US2655746A (en) Unitary steam and temperature control for steam irons
US3308566A (en) Pressing iron
US3368294A (en) Steam iron
US2008163A (en) Thermostatic switch
US3111780A (en) Steam iron
US4495481A (en) Thermostat with bimetal compensating element
US2593812A (en) Thermostatic control and excessive temperature indication mechanism
US2439795A (en) Thermostat
US2500760A (en) Thermostatic switch
US2871589A (en) Electric iron
US2829452A (en) Electric iron
US2370146A (en) Thermostat
US2694766A (en) Thermostat construction for sadirons
US2071209A (en) Thermostat
US2424150A (en) Thermostat
US4259655A (en) Adjustable thermostat
US4109136A (en) Thermostat controlled flatiron
US1840652A (en) Electric sadiron