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

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the general technical field of apparatuses designed to ensure the shaping of a textile article such as a garment, by subjecting it to the combined action of a heat treatment, of a mechanical treatment. and steam treatment.
• the present invention relates to an electric iron comprising a soleplate comprising steam outlet holes connected to a vaporization chamber brought to temperature by means of a heating circuit in thermal relation with a device for regulating or controlling the temperature, said chamber communicating with a water tank through an orifice capable of being closed by a plug, said plug making it possible to control the admission of water from the tank into the vaporization chamber.
• an iron comprising an extractable plug. This arrangement offers the advantage of being able to easily clean the plug, and thus to fight against scaling. It is also known to produce an iron in which the plug can be operated by means of a control member to occupy at least one spraying position, in which the plug at least partially frees the orifice connecting the reservoir. to the vaporization chamber, and a dry position, in which the plug plugs the orifice connecting the reservoir to the vaporization chamber.
• An iron with several vaporization positions differentiated by the flow of water admitted into the vaporization chamber offers the advantage of allowing the user to adjust the quantity of vapor emitted, to adapt it for example to the crumpled state or slightly wrinkled of the article or the nature of the fabric to be ironed.
• Such an arrangement has the disadvantage of allowing water to flow through the holes in the soleplate. when the temperature of the vaporization chamber is insufficient to vaporize all the water admitted into said chamber, for example when ironing a delicate article requiring low soleplate temperatures, and for which the thermostat of the appliance has been set to a low set temperature.
• Such an arrangement also has the disadvantage of forcing the user to adjust according to the nature of the fabric to be ironed both the thermostat of the device and the amount of water admitted into the vaporization chamber, to avoid that drops of unvaporized water come out of the holes in the soleplate.
• the object of the present invention is to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks and to produce an iron, with extractable plug, in which the water contained in the reservoir is admitted into the vaporization chamber only when the temperature of said chamber is sufficient to allow the vaporization of all the water arriving in said chamber.
• a steam iron comprising ' .a sole 11 having holes 12 for steam outlet in communication with a vaporization chamber 14, the sole 11 and the vaporization chamber 14 being in thermal relation with heating means, the vaporization chamber 14 communicating with a reservoir 15 by an orifice 16 capable of being closed by a plug 17 arranged in a housing 22, characterized in that the plug 17 comprises a rod 5 capable of closing the orifice 16, said rod comprising a shoulder 19 capable of resting on a support 3 secured to a bellows 4 forming at least part of a sealed conduit 31 between the reservoir 15 and the vaporization chamber 14, said support 3 being capable of being actuated by a bimetallic strip 1 mounted on a wall 20 in thermal relation with the vaporization chamber 14.
• FIG. 1 shows in a longitudinal section a partial view of an embodiment of an iron according to the invention
• FIG. 2 shows in a longitudinal section a detail of an embodiment of an iron according to the invention
• FIG. 3 shows in a longitudinal section a detail of a second embodiment of an iron according to the invention
• FIG. 4 shows in a longitudinal section a detail of a third embodiment of an iron according to the invention
• FIG. 5 shows in a longitudinal section a partial view of an embodiment of an iron according to the invention, in the vaporization position when the vaporization chamber is at low temperature
• FIG. 6 shows in a longitudinal section a partial view of an exemplary embodiment of an iron according to the invention, in the vaporization position when the vaporization chamber has reached working temperature
• FIG. 7 shows in a longitudinal section a partial view of an exemplary embodiment of an iron according to the invention, in the dry position when the vaporization chamber is at low temperature
• FIG. 8 shows in a longitudinal section a partial view of an embodiment of an iron according to the invention, in the dry position when the vaporization chamber has reached the working temperature
• FIG. 9 shows in a longitudinal section a partial view of an element of the invention
• FIG. 10 shows in a longitudinal section a partial view of an embodiment of an iron according to the invention, in an intermediate position when the vaporization chamber is at room temperature.
• FIG. 1 A steam iron according to the invention is shown in FIG. 1.
• the iron comprises a soleplate 11 comprising holes 12 for the outlet of steam in communication with a vaporization chamber 14.
• the soleplate 11 and the vaporization chamber 14 are in thermal relationship with heating means, not shown in the figures.
• the vaporization chamber 14 communicates with a reservoir 15 by an orifice 16 capable of being closed by a plug 17 arranged in a housing 22. As shown in FIG. 1 the plug 17 closes the orifice 16.
• the water in the reservoir 15 cannot flow into the vaporization chamber 14.
• the plug 17 is removable from the housing 22 in order to facilitate cleaning of the said plug, as well as that of the housing 22 and the orifice 16.
• the plug 17 comprises a rod 5 capable of closing the orifice 16, said rod comprising a shoulder 19 capable of resting on a support 3 secured to a bellows 4 forming at least one part d 'a sealed conduit 31 between the reservoir 15 and the vaporization chamber 14, said support 3 being capable of being actuated by a bimetallic strip 1 mounted on a wall 20 in thermal relation with the vaporization chamber.
• the bimetallic strip 1 is fixed to a boss 30 arranged on the wall 20.
• the wall 20 and the boss 30 are made of a material which is a good conductor of heat, such as aluminum, so as to transmit the thermal image of the vaporization chamber 14 to the bimetallic strip 1.
• the walls of the orifice 16 form a nozzle joint 7 and the rod 5 has a groove 6 provided for the flow of the water when it is arranged opposite said seal 7, as shown in FIG. 2.
• Figures 2 to 4 show exemplary embodiments of the duct 31.
• the nozzle joint 7 and the bellows 4 are two separate parts.
• the support 3 is integral with the bellows 4, the bellows 4 being advantageously made of silicone and molded onto the support 3.
• the support 3 comprises an external element 33 capable of being actuated by the bimetallic strip 1, as well as an internal element 34 on which is capable of bearing the rod 5 of the plug 17.
• the inner element 34 leaves at least one passage for the flow of water inside the bellows 4 when the shoulder 19 rests on the support 3.
• the bellows 4, the nozzle joint 7 and the support 3 are made in one piece, preferably silicone.
• the support 3 includes a stiffening element 35 disposed inside the bellows 4.
• the plug 17 comprises a body 18 movably mounted on the rod 5.
• the plug 17 comprises a return spring 26 mounted between the body 18 and the rod 5.
• the body 18 has a through recess 22 pierced with a light 23 and the rod 5 has a head 24, intended to slide in the recess 22, and on which is disposed a lug 25 provided to slide in the light 23.
• the body 18 disposed in the housing 22 is capable of occupying a first position in which the orifice 16 is closed by the rod 5 and a second position in which the bimetal 1 is capable of displacing the rod 5 as a function of its temperature. through the support 3.
• FIG. 5 represents an iron in which the vaporization chamber 14 is at low temperature and is not not likely to vaporize the water which would be admitted in said room.
• the bimetallic strip 1 occupies a position in which the rod 5 rests on the support 3 and obstructs the orifice to the right of the nozzle joint 7.
• Figure 6 shows an iron in which the vaporization chamber 14 has reached the working temperature for which all the water admitted to said chamber is vaporized.
• the bimetallic strip 1 occupies a position in which the rod 5 rests on the support 3 and the groove 6 is located in line with the nozzle joint 7, allowing the admission of water into the vaporization chamber 14. Thus when the iron is in the vaporization position the water admitted into the vaporization chamber 14 is entirely vaporized and does not drip through the holes 12.
• the rod 5 movable relative to the body 18 follows the movement of the support 3 actuated by the bimetallic strip 1.
• FIG. 7 represents an iron in which the vaporization chamber 14 is at low temperature
• FIG. 8 represents an iron in which the vaporization chamber 14 has reached working temperature.
• the possible displacement of the support 3 by the bimetallic strip 1 always leaves part 36 of the rod 5 at right of the nozzle joint 7.
• the support 3 is held in place by the rod 5, for example by slight tightening.
• the support 3 rests on the bimetal strip 1.
• the rod 5 is held by stop means such as the lug 25 resting on the end of the light 23, under the action of the return spring 26.
• the iron comprises means 40 making it possible to maneuver the body 18 from the dry position to the spraying position and vice-versa, and also to extract the plug 17.
• the user thus has an improved device making it possible to choose between dry ironing and ironing with steam, further ensuring that water does not flow from the holes 12 during ironing in the spray position.
• the steam iron thus produced has an anti-drip device, compatible with extracting the plug.
• the section of the groove 6 increases with the distance from the free end 21 of the rod 5.
• the deflection of the bimetallic strip 1 increases with temperature
• the section of the groove 6 disposed opposite the nozzle joint 7 increases with temperature.
• This arrangement is advantageous because the most delicate articles are ironed at low temperature and do not require a large flow of steam while the thicker and more resistant articles, ironed at higher temperature, require a large flow of steam.
• This arrangement makes it possible to produce a steam iron with an anti-drip device whose vapor flow rate varies with the temperature of the vaporization chamber.
• the body 18 is capable of occupying several positions in which the bimetal 1 is capable of displacing, as a function of its temperature, the rod 5 via the support 3.
• FIG. 10 shows an iron according to the invention in which the body 18 occupies an intermediate position between the dry position and the spraying position. In a position such as this intermediate position, the temperature of the vaporization chamber 14 from which the bimetallic strip 1 moves the support 3 so as to bring the groove 6 of the rod 5 opposite the nozzle joint 7 is greater than the temperature of the vaporization chamber for which this arrangement occurs when the body occupies the vaporization position.
• the invention also applies to irons comprising several heating means, for example a heating means provided for heating preferably the sole 11, and a heating means provided for heating preferably the vaporization chamber 14.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Irons (AREA)
• Physical Vapour Deposition (AREA)

Priority Applications (7)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Related Child Applications (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=9509558

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (11)

Families Citing this family (6)

Citations (4)

• 1997
  • 1997-07-18 FR FR9709389A patent/FR2766214B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1998
  • 1998-07-10 CN CNB988072548A patent/CN1147639C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-07-10 ES ES98937611T patent/ES2186196T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-07-10 JP JP50656299A patent/JP4014651B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-07-10 TR TR2000/00128T patent/TR200000128T2/xx unknown
  • 1998-07-10 AU AU86344/98A patent/AU8634498A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1998-07-10 CA CA002296740A patent/CA2296740C/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-07-10 BR BR9810872-7A patent/BR9810872A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1998-07-10 WO PCT/FR1998/001503 patent/WO1999004081A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 1998-07-10 DE DE69809243T patent/DE69809243T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-07-10 EP EP98937611A patent/EP1000192B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

Patent Citations (4)

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