WO1998006890A1

WO1998006890A1 - Steam iron

Info

Publication number: WO1998006890A1
Application number: PCT/KR1997/000049
Authority: WO
Inventors: Oh Sung Kwon
Original assignee: Oh Sung Kwon
Priority date: 1996-08-09
Filing date: 1997-03-28
Publication date: 1998-02-19
Also published as: KR960037543U; AU2308397A; KR200144363Y1

Abstract

A steam iron is disclosed. In the steam iron, means for locking a heating means does not penetrate the heating means, thus being isolated from water and being free from rusting and lengthening the expected life span of the iron. The steam iron also has partition walls and shielding panels, thus preventing water from overflowing or slopping from side to side in the body. An artemisia fumigation and fomentation means is attached to the bottom of the heating panel outside the body. Therefore, the sap of artemisia does not unexpectedly flow into the body so that the sap of artemisia is not mixed with water and does not form impurities in the water. In addition, the powdered artemisia is not scattered into the body so that the cleaning-hard interior of the body is kept clean. The steam iron may be provided with a brush on the bottom of the heating panel for easily brushing clothes while doing the ironing.

Description

STEAM IRON

Technical Field

The present invention relates, in general, to steam irons used for pressing clothes with steam and, more particularly, to a steam iron suitable to be used as an iron for smoothing out clothes without causing any damage on the clothes, an artemisia fumigation and fomentation means for keeping a human skin clean and healthy by an artemisia fumigation and fomentation effect, an aromatic means or a humidifier.

Background Art

As well known to those skilled in the art, steam irons are used for pressing clothes with steam. Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing the construction of a typical artemisia fomentation steam iron with the right of using being assigned to this applicant.

As shown in Fig. 1, such a typical artemisia fomentation steam iron comprises an iron body 100, with a cap 101 on the top and an heating panel 103 on the bottom. An artemisia container 105 is installed inside the body 100 at a position under the cap 101. The iron body 100 also includes an arcuate handle 102 on an appropriate position around the rear portion. A heating means 104 is installed on an appropriate position inside the body 100.

However, the above steam iron is problematic in that the heating means 104 is mounted to the body 100, with a plurality of locking bolts penetrating the heating means 104 and being exposed to water inside the body 100, so that the locking bolts easily rust by water, causing rust stain on clothes in addition to reduction of expected life span of the iron.

Another problem of the above steam iron resides in that the iron body 100 is not equipped with any partitioning means for preventing water in the body 100 from overflowing or slopping from side to side. Therefore, water inside the body 100 may overflow or slop from side to side while doing the ironing. A further problem experienced by the above steam iron is that the artemisia container 105 is positioned inside the iron body 100 and causes the sap of artemisia to unexpectedly flow from the container 105 into the body 100. The sap of artemisia is mixed with water inside the body 100 and forms impurities in the water. In addition, powdered artemisia inside the container 105 may be scattered into the body 100, making the cleaning-hard interior of the body 100 dirty.

Disclosure of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention has been made with the above problems occurring in the prior art in mind, and an object of the present invention is to provide a steam iron, of which the locking means used for locking the heating means inside the iron body does not penetrate the heating means thus being effectively isolated from water and being almost completely free from rusting and thereby lengthening the expected life span of the iron.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a steam iron, which is provided with two partition walls and two shielding panels inside the iron body thus almost completely preventing water in the body from overflowing or slopping from side to side.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a steam iron, which has an artemisia fumigation and fomentation means detachably attached outside the iron body so that either the sap of artemisia does not unexpectedly flow into the iron body thereby being free from mixing with water inside the body and from forming impurities in the water or the powdered artemisia is not scattered into the body, thus keeping the cleaning-hard interior of the body clean.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a steam iron, which is provided with a brush on the bottom of the heating panel for easily brushing clothes such as woolen garments or mink coats . In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a steam iron comprising: an iron body having both a handle and first and second vertical fitting means therein; a first shielding panel vertically fitted in and held by the first fitting means inside the iron body, the first shielding panel having first and second extension walls formed on the top and middle portions and adapted for preventing water from slopping in a vertical direction inside the body and a first opening on the top portion and adapted for passing steam therethrough; a second shielding panel vertically fitted in and held by the second fitting means inside the iron body, the second shielding panel having a vertical panel part having at least one vertical hollow pipe on one side a horizontal panel part perpendicularly extending from the other side of the vertical panel part and having a fitting slot on the distal end and a second opening formed on the vertical panel part at a position above the horizontal panel part and communicating with the vertical hollow pipe; a heating panel attached to and closing the bottom of the iron body, the heating panel having both a tapered locking pipe and a first partition wall on the inside surface and at least one brush mounting slot on the outside surface; a second partition wall provided on an appropriate position inside the iron body and adapted for cooperating with the first partition wall of the heating panel to prevent the water from overflowing or slopping from side to side in the body; means for heating the water inside the body thus vaporizing the water into steam, the heating means having at least one electrode member; means for locking the heating means inside the body, the locking means being isolated from the water; means for holding the iron body on a support surface when the body stands on the rear end; and a control switch provided on the handle of the body.

The steam iron further comprises artemisia fumigation and fomentation means detachably attached to the heating panel outside the iron body. The artemisia fumigation and fomentation means comprises an artemisia case having a plurality of regularly-spaced perforations on the bottom wall while opening to the top; a sealing cap closing the top of the case; and a coupling pipe provided on the top of the sealing cap and selectively fitted into the bottom end of the locking pipe thereby detachably attaching the artemisia fumigation and fomentation means to the heating panel outside the iron body.

The steam iron further comprising a brush having at least one fitting protrusion and detachably attached to the heating panel outside the iron body, with the fitting protrusion being fitted into the brush mounting slot of the heating panel. Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing the construction of a typical artemisia fomentation steam iron;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a steam iron in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the steam iron of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the construction of the steam iron of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the construction of the steam iron with an artemisia fumigation and fomentation means according to the present invention; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the construction of the steam iron with a brush on the bottom side of the heating panel according to the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Figs. 2 to 6 show the construction and configuration of the steam iron in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the drawings, the reference numeral 10 denotes an iron body. A fixed arcuate handle 20 is provided on an appropriate position around the rear top section of the iron body 10. The rear end of the body 10 has a holder 21 at a position around the junction between the body 10 and the handle 20. The holder 21 supports the iron body 10 on a support surface or a floor when the iron body 10 erects on the support surface.

An electric cord 22 extends from the handle 20 at a position approximate to the holder 21, while a control switch 23 is provided on the top portion of the handle 20. A heating means 40, which heats water in the body 10 thus vaporizing the water into steam, is fixed to an appropriate position of a bracket inside the body 10 using a locking means 42. The above heating means 40 includes two electrode members 41, which are brought into contact with water in the body 10 and are preferably spaced out at an interval of 4 - 6 cm and heat water using AC voltage.

The above locking means 42, which attaches the two electrode members 41 of the heating means 40 to the bracket, comprises a locking bolt 43 and a nut 44. The above locking bolt 43 is a stud bolt, which does not penetrate the electrode members 41 but protrudes on the top of the members 41, so that the bolt 43 is effectively isolated from water in the body 10. The exposed end of the stud bolt 43 is tightened by the nut 44 thus being attached to the bracket along with the electrode members 41 inside the body 10, with one end of the electric wire 22 being connected to the bolt 43. In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the locking means 42 comprises the stud bolt 43 and nut 44. However, it should be understood that the locking means 42 may comprise another members in place of the bolt 43 and nut 44 if the members effectively attach the heating means 40 to the bracket inside the body 10 while being isolated from the water. The electrode members 41 are preferably formed from carbon because a carbon electrode member has a high heating value, effectively resists against rusting and thereby expects a long life span.

A heating panel 30 is watertightly closes the bottom of the body 10 so that the panel 30 does not cause a leakage of water from the body 10. The heating panel 30 has a first partition wall 31 on an appropriate position of the inside surface so that water in the body 10 is prevented from overflowing or slopping from side to side. At least one brush mounting slot 33 is formed on the outside surface of the panel 30.

In order to guide steam from the body 10 into the atmosphere, the heating panel 30 has a vertical locking pipe 32 on the front portion. The locking pipe 32 is also used for detachably attaching an artemisia fumigation and fomentation means 60 to the body 10 as will be described later herein. It is preferable to taper the locking pipe 32 from the bottom to the top.

A second partition wall 11 extends downward from the top wall of the body 10 to a length at a position approximate to the first partition wall 31, with both a gap being formed between the two walls 11 and 31 and a first chamber 12 being defined in the rear section of the body 10 by the two walls 11 and 31.

Two pairs of parallel fitting channels 13 and 14 interiorly and vertically extend upward on opposite side walls of the body 10. A first shielding panel 80 having a rounded top is vertically fitted in and held by the first pair of fitting channels or rear fitting channels 13, thus forming a second chamber 15 inside the body 10 between the second partition wall 11 and the first shielding panel 80.

First and second extension walls 81 and 82, having different widths, integrally and perpendicularly extend from the top and middle portions of the first shielding panel 80 to the back. The rounded top end of the first shielding panel 80 is cut off to a depth at the center, forming a rectangular first opening 83 with the first extension wall 81 being formed on the panel 80 at a position above the opening 83.

On the other hand, a second shielding panel 50 is vertically fitted in and held by the second pair of fitting channels or front fitting channels 14, thus forming a third chamber 16 inside the body 10 between the first and second shielding panels 80 and 50.

The second shielding panel 50 comprises two panel parts: a vertical panel part 51 and a horizontal panel part 52. The horizontal panel part 52, having a rounded front end, perpendicularly extends from the middle portion of the vertical panel part 51 to the front. At least one hollow vertical pipe 53 is provided on the back of the vertical panel part 51. The vertical panel part 51, having a rounded top end, also includes at least one rectangular second opening 54 on a position above the horizontal panel part 52. The second opening 54 communicates with the vertical pipe 53. Thus, the number of the second opening 54 is equal to that of the vertical pipe 53. The rounded front end of the horizontal panel part 52 is cut off to a length at the center, forming a fitting slot 55. A packing panel 56 with a circular opening 57 is tightly fitted into the fitting slot 55 so that the tapered locking pipe 32 can be fitted into and held by the opening 57.

The second shielding panel 50 defines a fourth chamber 17 inside the front section of the body 10. The iron body 10 also has a cap 18 on the top wall at a position above the third chamber 16.

As shown in Fig. 5, the steam iron of this invention may be used with an artemisia fumigation and fomentation means 60. In this case, the artemisia fumigation and fomentation means 60 is detachably attached to the bottom of the iron body 10, with the top coupling pipe 64 of the means 60 being fitted into the bottom end of the locking pipe 32.

That is, the artemisia fumigation and fomentation means 60 comprises the artemisia case 61, which has a plurality of regularly-spaced perforations 62 on the bottom wall and opens to the top. The above case 61 is closed by a sealing cap 63, which has the top coupling pipe 64. The coupling pipe 64 is fitted into the bottom end of the tapered locking pipe 32 thus attaching the means 60 to the heating panel 30 outside the body 10.

As shown in Fig. 6, a brush 70 having at least one fitting protrusion 71 is detachably attached to the bottom of the iron body 10, with the fitting protrusion 71 being fitted into the brush mounting slot 33 formed on the outside surface of the panel 30.

Prior to doing the ironing with the steam iron, the cap 18 is removed from the top wall of the iron body 10.

Thereafter, a predetermined quantity of water with salt is poured into the body 10. In this case, it is preferable to add 0.3-0.5 g of salt to 150-200 cc of water. However, it should be understood that the ratio of water to salt is not limited to the above-described ratio but may be somewhat changed, maximizing the ironing effect.

The salt added to water is for maximizing the electric conductivity of the water and conserving electric power for the heating means 40. The cap 18 is, thereafter, tightened to the top wall of the body 10 thus watertightly closing the body 10 prior to standing the body 10 on the rear end. When the iron body 10 stands on the rear end as described above, the salt water is collected in the lower section (first chamber 12) of the standing body 10.

In the above state, the iron body 10 stably stands on a support surface, with the holder 21 supporting the body 10 on the support surface thus being convenient to a user while doing the ironing.

When the switch 23 of the handle 20 is turned on, electric power is applied to the locking means 42, comprising the bolt 43 and nut 44, through the electric cord 22 and in turn is applied to the heating means 40. The heating means 40 in the above state flows AC voltage in the salt water and boils the water at 100 ^*C within about 25-30 seconds thereby vaporizing the water into steam.

In the steam iron of this invention, the two electrode members 41 of the heating means 40 are formed from carbon so that the electrode members 41 have a high heating value and effectively resists against rusting thus being semi-permanent. In addition, the locking bolt 43 comprises a stud bolt, which does not penetrate the electrode members 41 into the first chamber 12, so that the bolt 43 is effectively isolated from water inside the chamber 12 thus being almost completely free from rusting. The locking bolt 43 does not cause rust stain on clothes but lengthens the expected life span of the iron. When the salt water in the first chamber 12 is boiled by the heating means 40 and generates steam, the steam is primarily introduced from the first chamber 12 into the second chamber 15 through the gap between the first and second partition walls 31, 11 and in turn flows into the third chamber 16 through the first opening 83 of the first shielding panel 80 as shown by the arrows of Fig. 4. Thereafter, the steam flows into the fourth chamber 17 through both the hollow vertical pipe 53 and the second opening 54 of the second shielding panel 50. The steam in the fourth chamber 17 is, thereafter, flows out of the heating panel 30 through the locking pipe 32 thus moisturizing clothes while a user presses the clothes with the heating panel 30. Hence, the iron of this invention improves the ironing effect .

In the above state, the first and second partition walls 31, 11 and the first and second shielding panels 80, 50 effectively prevent the water in the body 10 from overflowing or slopping from side to side in the body 10. On the other hand, the first and second extension walls 81 and 82, which integrally and perpendicularly extend from the top and middle portions of the first shielding panel 80, effectively prevent the water from slopping in a vertical direction in the body 10.

When the water in the body 10 is completely vaporized into steam, electric current does not flow between the two electrode members 41 any more so that the electrode members 41 are automatically turned off, preventing overheat of the body 10 and effectively preventing safety hazards while doing the ironing.

The steam iron of this invention may be used with the artemisia fumigation and fomentation means 60 for keeping a human skin clean and healthy by an artemisia fumigation and fomentation effect as shown in Fig. 5. In order to use the means 60 with the steam iron, an appropriate amount of artemisia is contained in the artemisia case 61 prior to closing the case 61 with the sealing cap 63. Thereafter, the artemisia fumigation and fomentation means 60 is detachably attached to the bottom of the ironing body 10 by fitting the tapered coupling pipe 64 of the cap 63 into the bottom end of the tapered locking pipe 32 of the heating panel 30.

After attaching the artemisia fumigation and fomentation means 60 to the body 10, water is vaporized into steam in the same manner as described above. The steam is distributed from the body 10 through the locking pipe 32 and in turn is introduced into the case 61 through the coupling pipe 64 thus passing through the artemisia inside the case 61 while steaming the artemisia prior to being exhausted into the atmosphere through the perforations 62 of the case 61. The artemisia steam from the means 60 gives sterilizing, relieving the pain, nourishing, reviving and antiphlogistic effects to a human skin.

In the steam iron of this invention, the case 61 of the artemisia fumigation and fomentation means 60 may contain a perfumery in place of artemisia. In this case, the means 60 can be preferably used as a sterilizing and aromatic means.

As shown in Fig. 6, the brush 70 may be detachably attached to the bottom of the iron body 10, with the fitting protrusion 71 of the brush 70 being fitted into the brush mounting slot 33 of the panel 30. In this case, the steam iron easily brushes clothes such as woolen garments, mink coats, pleated skirts, woolen knitwear or silk wear while moisturizing the clothes with steam and smoothing the clothes with the heating panel 30. Industrial Applicability

As described above, present invention provides a steam iron, of which the locking means used for locking the heating means inside the iron body does not penetrate the heating means thus being effectively isolated from water and being almost completely free from rusting and thereby lengthening the expected life span of the iron.

The steam iron is also provided with two partition walls and two shielding panels inside the iron body, thus almost completely preventing water in the body from overflowing or slopping from side to side.

In the steam iron, the artemisia fumigation and fomentation means is detachably attached to the bottom of the heating panel outside the iron body. Therefore, the sap of artemisia does not unexpectedly flow into the iron body so that the sap of artemisia is not mixed with water inside the body and does not form impurities in the water. In addition, the powdered artemisia is not scattered into the body so that the cleaning-hard interior of the body is kept clean.

The steam iron of this invention may be provided with a brush on the bottom of the heating panel for easily brushing clothes such as woolen garments or mink coats while doing the ironing. Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

Clai s

1. A steam iron comprising: an iron body having both a handle and first and second vertical fitting means therein; a first shielding panel vertically fitted in and held by said first fitting means inside the iron body, said first shielding panel having: first and second extension walls formed on the top and middle portions and adapted for preventing water from slopping in a vertical direction inside the body; and

a first opening on the top portion and adapted for passing steam therethrough; a second shielding panel vertically fitted in and held by said second fitting means inside the iron body, said second shielding panel having: a vertical panel part having at least one vertical hollow pipe on one side; a horizontal panel part perpendicularly extending from the other side of the vertical panel part and having a fitting slot on the distal end; and a second opening formed on said vertical panel part at a position above the horizontal panel part and communicating with said vertical hollow pipe; a heating panel attached to and closing the bottom of the iron body, said heating panel having both a tapered locking pipe and a first partition wall on the inside surface and at least one brush mounting slot on the outside surface; a second partition wall provided on an appropriate position inside the iron body and adapted for cooperating with the first partition wall of the heating panel to prevent the water from overflowing or slopping from side to side in the body; means for heating the water inside the body thus vaporizing the water into steam, said heating means having at least one electrode member; means for locking the heating means inside the body, said locking means being isolated from the water; means for holding the iron body on a support surface when the body stands on the rear end; and a control switch provided on the handle of the body.

2. The steam iron according to claim 1, further comprising: artemisia fumigation and fomentation means detachably attached to the heating panel outside the iron body, said artemisia fumigation and fomentation means comprising: an artemisia case having a plurality of regularly-spaced perforations on the bottom wall while opening to the top; a sealing cap closing the top of said case; and a coupling pipe provided on the top of said sealing cap and selectively fitted into the bottom end of said locking pipe thereby detachably attaching the artemisia fumigation and fomentation means to the heating panel outside the iron body.

3. The steam iron according to claim 1, further comprising: a brush having at least one fitting protrusion and detachably attached to said heating panel outside the iron body, with said fitting protrusion being fitted into said brush mounting slot of the heating panel.