WO2005080664A1

WO2005080664A1 - Steam iron fitted with an extra steam chamber

Info

Publication number: WO2005080664A1
Application number: PCT/US2004/002742
Authority: WO
Inventors: Augustine Fung Kai Tung
Original assignee: Euro-Pro Operating, Llc
Priority date: 2004-01-29
Filing date: 2004-01-29
Publication date: 2005-09-01

Abstract

A steam iron is equipped with a soleplate (10) made of a heat-conducting surface, at least one heating element, a main steam chamber (16) and an extra steam chamber (20). Water is continuously supplied to main steam chamber (16) from a main water tank (28). The steam generated in this chamber is released through a group of holes (12) and (14). Steam generated in extra steam chamber (20) is released through another group of holes (18). The steam iron includes a secondary water tank (34). Water is injected into this tank under pressure from the main water tank (28). This process is activated by the user via manual control (24) in conjunction with various pressure mechanisms (22), (26), (42) or (54). Water is continuously transferred from the secondary water tank to the extra steam chamber.

Description

STEAM IRON FITTED WITH AN EXTRA STEAM CHAMBER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to steam irons and more specifically to steam irons fitted with a steam chamber producing extra steam.

[0002] Classic steam irons are generally composed of a water tank and an element-heated steam chamber. The element is located in the soleplate in order to quickly evaporate drops dripping from the water tank. The function of the heated soleplate is to provide an ironing surface while letting the steam out of the steam chamber through peripheral holes. The steam output produced in the steam chamber however is not sufficient to remove all creases.

[0003] The improved classic steam irons allow the release of extra steam for a very short time. They are generally fitted with a second steam chamber located near the tip of the soleplate, where heating is more intense. Irons functioning with two chambers are generally equipped with a manual water pump injecting a small amount of water into the chamber every time a button is pressed. The user must press the button repeatedly to obtain more steam. This extra steam removes effectively all creases left. With this design however, ironing horizontally or vertically is a tedious and non-ergonomic process. To avoid this constraint, we have devised a way to release additional steam continuously utilizing an internal or external steam generator. In both cases, the user presses a button on the iron handle either to open a bailer (for the internal generator) or to control a solenoid valve to supply steam to the iron (for the external one). [0004] Unfortunately, the use of a steam generator creates a big and heavy iron in the first case or creates clutter in the second case. In both cases, the addition of a generator is also very costly. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a steam iron with a steam chamber instead of a steam generator. SUMMARY OF THE INNENTON [0005] Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention an iron is fitted with a soleplate, heated by at least one element, a main and a secondary steam chamber is provided. The main water tank continuously supplies water to the main steam chamber. The steam generated in this chamber is released through a group of holes. Steam generated in the extra steam chamber is released through separate holes. [0006] The user manually activates the production of extra steam by pressing a button. This has the effect of injecting pressured water from the first tank into the secondary tank. Water is then continuously transferred from the secondary water tank to the extra steam chamber.

[0007] The invention accordingly comprises a product possessing the features, properties, and the relation of components which will be exemplified in the product hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. [0008] Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing(s), in which: [0010] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a soleplate layout with the two groups of holes releasing steam in accordance with the invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of an iron constructed in accordance with the invention showing a first operating mode of water supply to the extra steam chamber;

[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates a second operating mode of water supply to the extra steam chamber from the secondary water tank;

[0013] FIG. 4 illustrates a third operating mode of water supply to the extra steam chamber from the secondary water tank; and

[0014] FIG. 5 illustrates a fourth operating mode of water supply to the extra steam chamber from the secondary water tank. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0015] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrates a soleplate 10 including a first group of holes in two lateral rows 12 and 14 where steam from a main steam chamber 16 is released. The temperature of the steam is gradually elevated as it travels in the direction of the arrows until complete evaporation. Steam produced in main steam chamber 16 is the result of water supplied by a main water tank 28 released via a nozzle 29 as illustrated in FIG. 2. [0016] A second group of holes is provided in the front part of the soleplate 10 to release steam from an extra steam chamber 20. The mechanism allowing extra steam release is illustrated in FIG. 2. Extra steam chamber 20 is fitted with a manual water pump 22 activated when the user presses a button 24 connected to piston 25. A spring 26 then forces a piston 25 upwards back to its original position, and water is sucked-in from main water tank 28 into pump 22 via a conduit 23. Conduit 23 is shaped to allow proper functioning while ironing horizontally or vertically. A one-way valve 32 prevents water from traveling back into tank 26 after piston 25 has completed its upward motion. [0017] After water is sucked-in by manual pump 22, the pressure applied to piston 24 injects water into secondary water tank 34 via a conduit 36. Conduit 36 is fitted with a one-way valve 36 for preventing water to go return into the pump 22 while piston 25 is returning to its original position.

[0018] In a first operating mode, secondary water tank 34 includes a container or rigid cavity and a lid 40. Lid 40 is made of a supple membrane, which is naturally pushed to the bottom of container 34 in response to action of spring 42. [0019] When the user needs extra steam, he/she will press button 24 once or several times to inject water into secondary water tank 34. As a result of water being injected under pressure, membrane 40 lifts itself and compresses the spring 42, which maintains the internal pressure in tank 34 for as long as it contains water. Water underpressure is injected into extra steam chamber 20 through a calibrated nozzle 44. This allows a regular flow of water to be transferred in order to produce the amount of steam required by the user and to avoid a sudden internal drop of temperature. Water is injected by means of pressing button 24 repeatedly. Each time button 24 is pressed, extra steam is produced for a few seconds so that the user does not have to continually press button 24. [0020] This mechanism allowing water injection under pressure can be achieved in several ways. In a second operating mode, as described in FIG. 3, secondary water tank 34 is fitted with a piston 46 instead of a membrane. A washer 48 is placed on piston 46a in a way to be pushed back towards the bottom of rigid container 34a by a spring 42a without leaking any water. Water injected by pump 22 and transferred by conduit 36 lifts piston 46a and compresses spring 42a. Water is then supplied to extra steam chamber 24 through nozzle 44 under the pressure of spring 42a, as described in the first operating mode.

[0021] A third operating mode is described in FIG. 4. In this case, a secondary water tank 34 is completely sealed. Manual pump 22 injects water through conduit 36 with the effect of compressing the air left in tank 34b. This will result in an injection of pressured water into extra steam chamber 20 just as in the previous two operating modes. [0022] A fourth operating mode is described in FIG. 5 that also includes a sealed secondary water tank 34c connected to an air trap and a valve 48. Air comes in when the tank is not under pressure. This brings back the tank's internal pressure to the external level of air pressure. Water tank 34 is supplied with water by leveling water from main tank 28 through a conduit 50 fitted with a one-way valve 52. In this operating mode, manual water pump 22 is replaced with a manual air pump also activated by a button similar to button 24. Air is injected into tank 34 via a conduit 54 in order to increase pressure and pressured water is injected in extra steam chamber 20 through a nozzle 44. [0023] It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the proceeding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above product without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that tall matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawing(s) shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

[0024] It is also understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

[0025] 1. A steam iron including a soleplate having a heat-conducting surface, at least one heating element, a main steam chamber, a main water tank, and with an extra steam chamber, water continuously supplied to the main steam chamber from the main water tank with steam generated in main chamber is released through a group of holes and steam generated in the extra steam chamber released through a second group of holes, comprising:

[0026] a secondary water tank for receiving water under pressure from the main water tank with a manual control activated by the user with the pressure for injecting the water under pressure into the secondary water tank..

[0027] 2. The steam iron of claim 1, including a manual water pump 22 fitted with a piston and spring for injecting water under pressure in the secondary water tank through a conduit having a one-way valve.

[0028] 3. The steam iron of claim 2, wherein the secondary water tank is made of a rigid material and a lid.

[0029] 4. The steam iron of claim 3, wherein the lid is a waterproof membrane adapted to be pushed to the bottom of the container by a spring to allow water under pressure into be injected in the extra steam chamber.

[0030] 5. The steam iron of claim 2, wherein the secondary water tank is formed of a rigid container and a piston having a washer and spring piston with biased downward by the spring in order to inject water under pressure to the extra steam chamber.

[0031] 6. The steam iron of claim 2, including a sealed secondary water tank supplied from the manual water pump under pressure to transfer water from the secondary tank to the extra steam chamber under pressure.

[0032] 7. The steam iron of claim 2, wherein the main water tank is linked to the secondary water tank by a conduit fitted with a one-way valve to prevent water under pressure from returning to the main tank when the piston is not in use.

[0033] 8. The steam iron of claim 1, wherein the secondary water tank is linked to the main water tank by a conduit fitted with a one-way valve to level water between the main and the secondary tank and a manual air pump activated by a button injects air under pressure into the secondary water tank so that water is injected under pressure from the secondary tank to the extra steam chamber.

[0034] 9. The steam iron of claim 8, wherein the secondary water tank includes a one-way valve to return the tank to external air pressure after water injection to the steam chamber is completed