WO2013117395A1

WO2013117395A1 - Electric hand iron and transparent soleplate assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2013117395A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/050791
Authority: WO
Inventors: George Ralph Adkins; Michael James; Jamie Michael Sellors
Original assignee: Morphy Richards Limited
Priority date: 2012-02-07
Filing date: 2013-01-17
Publication date: 2013-08-15
Also published as: EP2699725A1; GB2498407B; GB201202039D0; GB2498407A

Abstract

A soleplate assembly (100) and an electric hand iron (500) that includes the assembly (100), The soleplate assembly (100) and electric iron hand (500) have a heat conductive frame (101) and frame heating element sections (102, 103) in contact with the heat conductive frame (101). There is a transparent soleplate (104) mounted to the heat conductive frame (101) so that the heat conductive frame (101) surrounds the soleplate (104). There are soleplate heating element sections (105, 106) in contact with the soleplate (104).

Description

ELECTRIC HAND IRON AND TRANSPARENT SOLEPLATE ASSEMBLY

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to sole plate assemblies and electric hand irons.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Conventional electric hand irons typically have a metal soleplate with an embedded electric heating element. However, the use of a glass or ceramic soleplate has been proposed in the prior art. For example US 2008/0235998 discloses an electric hand iron having a ceramic glass soleplate which is heated by a thin film heating element. Some advantages of ceramic glass soleplates are that they are transparent or translucent and therefore have aesthetic appeal. Furthermore, ceramic glass soleplates, incorporated in electric hand irons, can allow the user of an iron to see through the soleplate and observe the textile or fabric being ironed. As result, the potential for accidental creases in the ironed textile or fabric can be decreased.

[0003] Although electric hand irons with ceramic glass transparent or translucent soleplates are beneficial, they can be susceptible to damage, especially when dropped, due the relatively fragile properties of the ceramic glass. To reduce the possibility of such damage, the ceramic glass soleplate can be mounted to a metal frame so that a lower face of the soleplate is recessed relative to a lower face of the metal frame. This recessed soleplate is therefore protected, to some extent, by the metal frame.

[0004] The ironing surface of the above electric hand iron with the ceramic glass soleplate can be mounted to a metal frame that has an ironing surface that is the combined lower surface area of both an exposed region of the lower face of the soleplate and a lower face of the metal frame. As a result, the useful ironing surface of the electric hand iron is typically just the ceramic glass soleplate since the metal frame is relatively cold. This may cause ironing inefficiencies or user annoyance.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a soleplate assembly for an electric hand iron, the soleplate assembly comprising: a heat conductive frame; a substantially transparent soleplate mounted to the heat conductive frame so that the heat conductive frame at least partially surrounds the soleplate; at least one frame heating element in said heat conductive frame and arranged for heating said heat conductive frame; and at least one soleplate heating element on said soleplate.

[0006] Suitably, the frame heating element is an outer heating element and the soleplate heating element is an inner heating element, wherein the outer heating element and inner heating element are separate heating elements. In an alternative suitable form, the frame heating element and the soleplate heating element are both sections of a common heating element. [0007] Preferably, the frame heating element is mounted in a recess in the heat conductive frame. In another suitable form, the frame heating element is mounted in a cavity in the heat conductive frame.

[0008] Suitably, the soleplate heating element is a thin film heating element. [0009] Preferably, the soleplate has an ironing face and an opposite heating element support face and the soleplate heating element is disposed on the heating element support face. [0010] Suitably, the soleplate heating element is substantially transparent.

[0011 ] Preferably, the heat conductive frame totally surrounds the soleplate. [0012] Suitably, the ironing face of the soleplate is recessed relative to an ironing face of the heat conductive frame. In one suitable form, the ironing face of the soleplate is recessed relative to an ironing face of the heat conductive frame by a distance in the range 0.3mm to 1 .0mm. [0013] Preferably, the mounting of the soleplate to the heat conductive frame includes an assembly with at least one shock absorbing cushion disposed between a peripheral portion of the soleplate and the heat conductive frame.

[0014] Suitably, the shock absorbing cushion has heat resistant properties. In one preferred form, the shock absorbing cushion is a continuous seal.

[0015] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric hand iron comprising the soleplate assembly according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0016] Other aspects are as set out in the claims herein.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, there will now be described by way of example only, specific embodiments, methods and processes according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which : Figure 1 illustrates a partial cross sectional view of a first preferred embodiment of a soleplate assembly for an electric hand iron; Figure 2 illustrates a partial cross sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of a soleplate assembly for an electric hand iron;

Figure 3 illustrates a partial cross sectional view of a third preferred embodiment of a soleplate assembly for an electric hand iron;

Figure 4 illustrates schematically a perspective view from above of a preferred embodiment of a transparent soleplate that forms part of the soleplate assembly of Figures 1 to 3; Figure 5 illustrates a side view of a preferred embodiment of an electric hand comprising the soleplate assembly of Figures 1 to 3;

Figure 6 illustrates a schematic underside plan view of the electric hand of figure 5;

Figure 7 illustrates a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment an electrical circuit employed in the electric hand iron of figure 5;

Figure 8 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a fourth preferred embodiment of a soleplate assembly for an electric hand iron; and

Figure 9 illustrates an assembled partial cross sectional view of the soleplate assembly of figure 8. Detailed Description of the Embodiments

[0018] There will now be described by way of example a specific mode contemplated by the inventor or inventors. In the following description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding. It will be apparent however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without limitation to these specific details. In other instances, well known methods and structures have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the description. [0019] In the drawings, like numerals are used to indicate like elements throughout. Furthermore, terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that assembly, circuit, hand iron or device components that comprises a list of elements do not include only those elements or components but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such an assembly, circuit, hand iron or device. An element preceded by "comprises ...a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements that comprises the element. [0020] In this specification, there are described embodiments having a transparent semi-conducting metal oxide thin film heating element(s) disposed on or applied directly to a glass sole plate. However the material of the thin film heating element(s)in other embodiments is not restricted to a transparent thin film, but may comprise opaque heating elements, for example a metal heating track.

[0021] In this specification, the term "glass" is used to refer to materials commonly known in the art by that description and including clear transparent and colored transparent glasses, and including, but not limited to amorphous non-crystallized solid materials. The term includes but is not limited to

Borosilicate and quartz glasses, and includes plastics or other silica free amorphous solids. [0022] Referring to Figure 1 there is illustrated a partial cross sectional view of a first preferred embodiment of a soleplate assembly 100 for an electric hand iron. The soleplate assembly 100 has a heat conductive frame 101 , a frame heating element section 102 and a further frame heating element section 103 both in contact with the heat conductive frame 101 . The soleplate assembly 100 also has a substantially transparent soleplate 104 (typically made of glass) mounted to the conductive heat frame 101 so that the heat conductive frame 101 at least partially surrounds, and in most cases totally surrounds, the soleplate 104. There is also a soleplate heating element section 105 and a further soleplate heating element section 106 in contact with the soleplate 104.

[0023] Typically, each one of the frame heating element sections 102, 103 is a section of an outer heating element 107 and each of the soleplate heating element sections 105, 106 is a section of an inner heating element 108. However, in one embodiment instead of having two separate heating elements 107, 108 there can be a single common heating element formed by frame heating element sections 102, 103 and soleplate heating element sections 105, 106.

[0024] As illustrated in this preferred embodiment, the frame heating element sections 102, 103 are mounted in a cavity 109 in the heat conductive frame 101 .

[0025] There is a transparent cover plate 1 10, typically made of heat resistant glass, mounted to the heat conductive frame 101 to provide a space 1 13 between the soleplate 104 and the transparent cover plate 1 10. The soleplate 104 has an ironing face 1 1 1 and an opposite element support face 1 12 and the soleplate heating element sections 105, 106 are disposed on the element support face 1 12. More specifically, in this embodiment, the soleplate heating element sections 105, 106 are thin film heating element lengths deposited on the element support face 1 12.

[0026] The soleplate heating element sections 1 05, 106 are typically formed from a transparent conductive film, micro-thin wire elements or an electrically resistive compound deposited on the element support face 1 1 2. A height of the space 1 1 3 between the soleplate 1 04 and the transparent cover plate 1 10 can be of a size so that the inner heating element 1 08 is sandwiched therein such that upper surfaces of the soleplate heating element sections 1 05, 106 abut the transparent cover plate 1 10. Alternatively, as shown the space 1 1 3 is of a sufficient height so that there is a gap between the upper surfaces of the soleplate heating element sections 105, 1 06 and the transparent cover plate 1 1 0. As will be apparent to a person skilled in the art, the transparent cover plate 1 1 0 has heat reflective properties and therefore assists in the heat transfer of the soleplate heating element sections 105, 1 06 to the soleplate 104.

[0027] As illustrated, the ironing face 1 1 1 of the soleplate 1 04 is recessed relative to an ironing face 1 14 of the heat conductive frame 101 . Typically, the ironing face 1 1 1 of the soleplate 1 04 is recessed relative to the ironing face of the heat conductive frame by a distance D in the range 0.3mm to 1 .0mm.

[0028] The mounting of the soleplate 104 to the heat conductive frame 101 includes an assembly with at least one shock absorbing cushion 1 1 5 disposed between a peripheral portion of the soleplate 1 04 and the heat conductive frame 1 01 . The mounting in one embodiment is effected by clamping the soleplate 1 04, shock absorbing cushion 1 1 5 and cover plate 1 10 between a frame ledge 1 16 of the frame 1 01 and a casing 1 1 7 of an iron.

[0029] The shock absorbing cushion 1 15 has resilient, heat resistant properties, and can be formed from silicone rubber. As will be apparent to a person skilled in the art, the thickness of a horizontal portion 1 18 of the shock absorbing cushion 1 15 determines the height of the space 1 13 between the soleplate 1 04 and the transparent cover plate 1 10. Furthermore, the thickness of the shock absorbing cushion 1 15 determines the effectiveness of the general shock absorption properties of the soleplate assembly 1 00. [0030] The heat conductive frame 100 is normally made of a metal such as steel, aluminum or a like material. As illustrated in cross sectional profile, the heat conductive frame 1 00 has a main body 1 19, a rounded outer peripheral edge 1 20, and a peripheral ridge or lip 1 21 . In this embodiment, the heat conductive frame 1 00 comprises an upper portion 1 23 and a lower portion 1 24 to facilitate easy insertion of the heating element sections 102, 103 in the cavity 109. During fabrication of the soleplate assembly 100, the upper and lower portions 1 23, 124 are initially separated and the heating element sections 1 02, 103 are placed into part of the cavity 1 09 in the lower portion 103. The heating element sections 102, 1 03 are then enclosed in the cavity 109 when the upper portion 1 23 is placed on the lower portion 1 24. The upper and lower portions 1 23, 124 are then typically secured together by suitably located aligned screw shafts passing through apertures in the upper portion 123 and engaging complementary threaded apertures in the lower portion 124. [0031 ] The peripheral ridge or lip 1 21 engages a corresponding recess or channel 122 in the casing 1 1 7 so that as the casing 1 17 is slid over the sole plate assembly 1 00 in a direction from the front towards the rear of the sole plate 104, the sides of the casing lock the sole plate assembly components together. The rear of the outer frame 101 may be secured to the casing 1 1 7 by a pair of downwardly extending screws (not shown) which pass through the casing 1 1 7 and engage threaded apertures (not shown) in the heat conductive frame 1 01 . These screws engage the threaded apertures prevent the sole plate assembly 101 from sliding out of the recess or channel 1 22 in the casing 1 1 7. [0032] Referring to Figure 2 there is illustrated a partial cross sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of a soleplate assembly 200 for an electric hand iron. As most of the assembly 200 has been described above with reference to the assembly 100 of Figure 1 , a repetitive description of this assembly 200 is not required for one of skill in the art to understand the invention and therefore only the differences will be described. In this second preferred embodiment the cavity 109 is replaced by a recess 209 in an upper face of the heat conductive frame 101 that is adjacent part of the casing 1 17. It will therefore be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the frame heating element sections 102, 103 are mounted in the recess 209 and in this embodiment the heat conductive frame 101 does not necessarily require to be formed from an upper portion 123 and a lower portion 124. The frame heating element sections 102, 103 are typically secured in the recess 209 by strategically located countersunk screw and washer assemblies 230 engaging complementary threaded apertures in the heat conductive frame.101 . Although not illustrated, there may be a cover secured on top of the recess 209 to enclose the heating element sections 102, 103 and provide a heat shield for the casing 1 17. This however is optional and may depend on the heat resistant properties of the casing 1 17.

[0033] Referring to Figure 3 there is illustrated a partial cross sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of a soleplate assembly 300 for an electric hand iron. As most of the assembly 300 has been described above with reference to the assembly 100 of Figure 1 , a repetitive description of this assembly 300 is not required for one of skill in the art to understand the invention and therefore only the differences will be described. In this third preferred embodiment the cavity 109 is replaced by a recess 309 in an inner face of the heat conductive frame101 that is adjacent the shock absorbing cushion 1 15. It will therefore be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the frame heating element sections 102, 103 are mounted in the recess 309 and in this embodiment the heat conductive frame 101 does not necessarily require to be formed from an upper portion 123 and a lower portion 124. The frame heating element sections 102, 103 are typically secured in the recess 309 by strategically located countersunk screw and washer assemblies 330 engaging complementary threaded apertures in the heat conductive frame 101 . [0034] Referring to Figure 4 there is illustrated schematically a perspective view from above of a preferred embodiment of the transparent soleplate 104 that forms part of the soleplate assembly 100, 200 and 300. The transparent soleplate 104 comprises a plurality of substantially chevron shaped thin film heating element tracks 401 that are the soleplate heating element sections 1 05, 1 06 plus further heating element sections. Each individual heating element track 401 extends between a first power rail track 402, adjacent a first peripheral edge region of the soleplate 1 04, and a second power rail track 403, adjacent a second peripheral edge region of the soleplate 104. With this configuration, each heating element track 401 extends across a width of the sole plate and all the tracks. At the rear of the soleplate 1 04 are provided first and second electrical contacts 404, 405 for the first and second power rails respectively, being regions of increased area or "pads" to which electrical contact may be made. [0035] At the rear of the soleplate 1 04, the two electrical contact pads 404,

405 are connected by a substantially arrow shaped heating track 406, and at the front of the soleplate 1 04 a leading heating element track 407 has its tip formed into an arrow shape so as to give extra coverage of the tip region of the soleplate . The individual widths of the heating element tracks may be varied from the tip to the rear of the soleplate 1 04, so as to give a designed power output and power density on the sole plate to achieve either uniform heating of the sole plate, or heating of the soleplate 104 which is slightly increased towards the tip of the soleplate 104 so as to provide additional energy at the tip to compensate for the additional energy required for evaporating water nearer the front of the soleplate 104 than at the rear of the soleplate 1 04.

[0036] In the best mode, the heating elements have a film thickness in the range 300 μΐη to 400 μΐτι, and track widths in the range 0.1 mm to 1 5mm. [0037] In Figure 5 there is illustrated a side view of a preferred embodiment of an electric hand iron 500 comprising the soleplate assembly 1 00, 200 or 300. For brevity, the soleplate assembly 1 00 will be referred to when describing the electric hand iron 500. The electric hand iron 500 has a body 501 , formed from the casing 1 17, with a substantially transparent/translucent cowl 502 that enables a user to see through a body 501 to the material being ironed underneath the soleplate 104.

[0038] Above the cowl 502 there is a cavity 503 formed inside the casing 1 17 between the top of the soleplate assembly 100, and the transparent/translucent cowl 502. In various embodiments this cavity 503 may be open to outside atmospheric air via one or a plurality of optional lateral vents 504 at a base of the casing and immediately above the metal outer frame of the soleplate 104, or in other variants, the cavity 503 may be sealed and filled with an inert gas such as argon, or filled with a clear transparent or clear colored gas. The cavity 503 may also be sealed and configured to hold water if the electric hand iron 500 is of the steam iron variety.

[0039] The electric hand iron 500 typically further comprises a thermal protection switch for turning off the iron in the event of overheating, an on/off switch 506; a temperature selection controller/switch 507 and an air fan (not shown) positioned at the rear or heel of the iron 500. The air fan is positioned internally inside the body of the iron 500 and draws in air from an air inlet vent

(not shown) at the heel of the iron 500. The air is urged out from a plurality of the first plurality of air outlets 505 positioned at a rearward portion of the casing 501 , and/or the vents 504. Electrical power is supplied to the electric hand iron 500 via a cord 508.

[0040] Referring to Figure 6, there a schematic underside plan view of the electric hand iron 500. The frame 101 totally surrounds edges of the soleplate 104 to provide protection for the relatively fragile soleplate 104, and in this embodiment the shock absorbing cushion 1 15 is a continuous seal. As illustrated, the thin film heating element tracks 601 are of a slightly different shape than the chevron thin film heating element tracks 401 as illustrated in Figure 1 . This difference in shape is simply to show that such tracks can be formed from numerous configurations. However, in this embodiment the soleplate 104 is patterned with a plurality of the heating element tracks 601 (formed from metal oxide semi-conductor material) arranged in rib-like tracks across a width of the transparent soleplate 104. The heating element tracks 601 are patterned towards the rear of the soleplate 401 so as to give a substantially uniform power density across the glass soleplate 401 , so as to ensure a substantially uniform heating of the soleplate 104. At the front of the soleplate 104, the spacing, dimensions and layout of the heating elements tracks 601 may be arranged to give a slightly higher heating capacity per unit area, since the tip of the soleplate 104 can cool more rapidly than the rear of the soleplate 104, due to the extra energy needed to evaporate dampness in the fabric/material, as the tip of the sole plate generally comes into contact with the fabric/material before the rear of the sole plate in normal ironing, as the iron 500 moves in a forward direction. [0041] A smooth flat lower surface of the frame 101 in use contacts the material being ironed. The ironing face 1 1 1 of the soleplate 104 is recessed in a vertical direction, by the distance D as previously described above, so that if the iron is dropped the soleplate 104 will be protected by the frame 101 . In some preferred embodiments, the width of the heating element tracks 601 are preferably of the order of 1 .0mm and 5.0 mm, but track patterns could be designed using track widths in the range 0.1 mm to 15mm. The thickness of the heating element tracks 601 is typically in the range 300 μΐη to 400μΐτι and the length of the tracks 601 , depending on the width of the soleplate 104 is in the range 3 cm to 22 cm. The combined overall power of the heating elements of the soleplate 104 is typically in the range 900 to 1 ,100 Watts. The heating element tracks 601 are preferably transparent and as shown the transparent/translucent cowl 502 can be viewed through the underside of the soleplate 104. [0042] There is shown a cut away portion of the frame 101 to illustrate part of the cavity 109 and enclosed frame heating element sections 102, 103 that form the outer heating element 107. Typically, the frame heating element sections 102, 103 almost fully enclose the soleplate 104 and may provide a combined output power in the range of 500 to 1 ,000 Watts. As will be apparent to a person skilled in the art, the soleplate can be of different shapes and the frame 101 may not necessarily fully enclose the soleplate 104. However, if the frame 101 does not fully enclose the soleplate 104 then there could be an increased possibility of damage to the soleplate 104 when the iron 500 dropped.

[0043] Referring to Figure 7, there is illustrated a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment an electrical circuit 700 employed in the electric hand iron 500. The electrical circuit 700 includes power terminals 710, 71 1 that in use are connected across a power supply 701 . There is a thermal protection switch 702, coupled to terminal 710 and provides for turning off the iron 500 in the event of overheating. The on/off switch 506 selectively supplies electric current to the controller 507 from terminal 710. The controller 507 has two outputs one output provides current to the outer element thermo sensor or thermostat 703 in series with the outer heating element 107 and terminal 71 1 . Another output of the controller 507 provides current to an inner element thermo sensor thermostat 704 in series with the inner heating element 108 and terminal 71 1 . The controller 507 has circuitry (typically a current controller) for limiting the amount of current that can flow through the respective thermo sensors or thermostats 703, 704 and heating elements 107, 108. In operation, the controller 507 provides for selectively controlling temperatures of each of the heating elements 107, 108. Thus it is possible to heat individually either element 107 or 108 or set the temperatures of the elements to the same or different temperatures.

[0044] Referring to Figure 8 there is illustrated a fourth embodiment of an exploded perspective view of a soleplate assembly 800 for an electric hand iron. The soleplate assembly 800 has a heat conductive frame 801 , normally made of a metal such as steel, aluminum or a like material, a frame heating element section that in this embodiment is a single heating element 802 and a metal soleplate retainer 803. The soleplate assembly 800 also has a substantially transparent soleplate 804 (typically made of glass) with a periphery of a complementary contour to the soleplate retainer 803. The soleplate 804 has heating element tracks (heating element sections) 805 and is essentially the same as the soleplate assembly 104. [0045] There is a silicon gasket providing a shock absorbing cushion 806.

There is also a chassis or cover plate 807 having a peripheral edge 809 of a complementary shape to an inner surface 810 of the frame 801 . The chassis 807 also has a continuous ledge 816 around its inner periphery. The soleplate 801 also has cover plate securing tabs 808 extending inwardly from the inners surface 810 and a recess 81 1 in the soleplate 801 provides for location of the heating element 802. There is another silicon gasket 812 for cushioning and securing of a transparent cover plate 813 typically made of sodium glass. As shown, the chassis 807 has suitably located recesses and apertures 814 for locating components and terminals 815.

[0046] Referring to Figure 9 there is illustrated an assembled partial cross sectional view of the soleplate assembly 800. As shown, the single heating element 802 is located in the recess 81 1 and the metal soleplate retainer 803, supported from the frame 801 , supports the soleplate 804 and the thickness of the retainer 803 provides for recessing an ironing face of the soleplate 804 from an ironing face of the frame 801 . The shock absorbing cushion 806 is of a "T" shape. A vertical portion of the shock absorbing cushion 806 is disposed between the soleplate 804 and the retainer 803 and a horizontal portion of the shock absorbing cushion 806 is disposed between both the retainer 803 and soleplate 804 on one side and the chassis 807 on an opposite side.

[0047] The silicon gasket 812 engages and protects a peripheral edge of the transparent cover plate 813. As shown, to provide protection of the transparent cover plate 813, the peripheral edge engages the ledge 816 via the silicon gasket 812. A casing 901 of an electric hand iron is mounted to the assembly 800 at the chassis 807 by a series of countersunk screws and threaded apertures (not shown) and provides a securing of the transparent cover plate 813 to the assembly 800.

[0048] The heating element 802 is typically a resistive cable and can be compressed and inserted into the recess 81 1 as an interference fit. Also during assembly, the chassis 807 is slid over the shock absorbing cushion 806 and under the tabs 808 in a direction from towards the rear of the frame 801 . There is also a transparent cover 902 mounted to the casing 901 that allows a user to view, a material being ironed, through the cover 901 , transparent cover plate 813 and transparent soleplate 104. Other features and functions of the assembly 800 and hand iron employing the assembly are as above and for brevity will not be discussed further.

[0049] One method of making the soleplate assembly 800 is performed by forming a soleplate sub assembly 905. The soleplate sub assembly 905 is formed by inserting the heating element 802 into the recess 81 1 and then placing the metal soleplate retainer 803 onto the frame 801 . The soleplate 804 is then placed onto the metal soleplate retainer 803. Next, the shock absorbing cushion 806 is then pushed into place between the metal Soleplate retainer 803 and the soleplate 804 thereby completing soleplate sub assembly 905.

[0050] A chassis sub assembly 910 is formed by fitting the silicon gasket 812 around a peripheral edge of the transparent cover plate 813. The silicon gasket 812 is then positioned onto the ledge 816 of the chassis 807. A series of countersink screws are then used to secure the chassis 807 to the casing 901 , in turn sandwiching the transparent cover plate 813 and silicon gasket 812 therebetween. In some embodiments, to complete the chassis sub assembly 910, the transparent cover 902 is mounted to the casing 901 by screws or snap fitments.

[0051] The Soleplate sub assembly 905 is slid onto the chassis sub assembly 910 from front to back such that the tabs 808 on the frame 801 locate onto corresponding slotted recesses present on the chassis 807. Once slid into position, screws are inserted through the chassis 807 and secured into threaded bosses forming part of the frame 801 . This therefore completes the forming of the soleplate assembly 800.

[0052] Although in this embodiment there are two thermo sensors or thermostats, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the controller 507 and thermostats 703, 704 can be combined into a single or two electromechanical temperature controllers. Also, in one embodiment the heating elements 107, 108 can be either series or parallel connected and controlled by a single thermo sensor or thermostat.

[0053] Advantageously, the present invention provides for the useful ironing surface of an electric hand iron to include both the transparent soleplate 104 and the protective heat conductive frame 101 . This therefore reduces or at least alleviates perceived ironing inefficiencies or user annoyance that may be caused when the heat conductive frame 101 is relatively cold compared to the transparent soleplate 104. Also, the present invention may, if required, allow for selective controlling of the outer and inner hearting elements 1 07, 1 08 in order to selectively heat the soleplate 104 and heat conductive frame 1 01 . In this regard, it is possible to selectively heat just the heat conductive frame 101 for small or delicate fabrics and the like.

[0054] The description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the forms disclosed. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but covers modifications within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1 . A soleplate assembly for an electric hand iron, the soleplate assembly comprising: a heat conductive frame; a substantially transparent soleplate mounted to the heat conductive frame so that the heat conductive frame at least partially surrounds the soleplate; at least one frame heating element in said heat conductive frame and arranged for heating said heat conductive frame; and at least one soleplate heating element on said soleplate.

2. The soleplate assembly, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the frame heating element is an outer heating element and the soleplate heating element is an inner heating element, wherein the outer heating element and inner heating element are separate heating elements.

3. The soleplate assembly, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the frame heating element and the soleplate heating element are both sections of a common heating element.

4. The soleplate assembly, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame heating element is mounted in a recess in the heat conductive frame.

5. The soleplate assembly, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the frame heating element is mounted in a cavity in the heat conductive frame.

6. The soleplate assembly, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the soleplate heating element is a thin film heating element.

7. The soleplate assembly, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the soleplate has an ironing face and an opposite heating element support face and the soleplate heating element is disposed on the heating element support face.

8. The soleplate assembly, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the soleplate heating element is substantially transparent.

9. The soleplate assembly, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat conductive frame totally surrounds the soleplate.

10. The soleplate assembly, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein an ironing face of the soleplate is recessed relative to an ironing face of the heat conductive frame.

1 1 . The soleplate assembly, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein an ironing face of the soleplate is recessed relative to an ironing face of the heat conductive frame by a distance in the range 0.3mm to 1 .0mm.

12. The soleplate assembly, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a mounting of the soleplate to the heat conductive frame includes an assembly with at least one shock absorbing cushion disposed between a peripheral portion of the soleplate and the heat conductive frame.

13. The soleplate assembly, as claimed in claim 1 2, wherein the shock absorbing cushion has heat resistant properties.

14. The soleplate assembly, as claimed in claims 12 or 13, wherein the shock absorbing cushion is a continuous seal.

15. An electric hand iron comprising the soleplate assembly, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 and a casing having a substantially transparent cowl that enables a user to see through both the casing and the soleplate.