Textiles: ironing or smoothing – Smoothing implements – Flatirons
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-30
2001-06-26
Izaguirre, Ismael (Department: 3765)
Textiles: ironing or smoothing
Smoothing implements
Flatirons
Reexamination Certificate
active
06249996
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a fluid transfer device for a pressing iron.
Fluid transfer devices are used in pressing irons to spray water from a water reservoir in the interior of the iron through a nozzle ahead of the iron and onto the fabric to be ironed, or to direct the water to an evaporator so that a burst of steam is discharged, for example, from the underside of the iron. Fluid transfer devices of this type are customarily actuated by an essentially cylindrical control button which protrudes from the iron's housing and can be pressed down applying thumb pressure. From GB-A-2103663 a pressing iron is known whose fluid transfer device includes a compressible rubber bellows as pump chamber which can be compressed using a cup-shaped actuating button. Such fluid transfer devices are, however, relatively bulky and have disadvantages with regard to assembly and convenience of operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved fluid transfer device for pressing irons which avoids the disadvantages of known fluid transfer devices. In particular it is desirable to provide a compact and easy-to-operate fluid transfer device of straightforward construction.
According to the present invention this object is accomplished in a fluid transfer device with the following features. The fluid transfer device essentially includes one lower module part and one upper module part between which a planar membrane foil is clamped in sandwich fashion, in which foil there are integrally formed both elastically movable valves and an elastically deformable membrane acting as pump element. This results in a very straightforward construction involving only three parts (excluding optional return springs for returning the pump element). Considering that in pressing irons it is conventional practice to use two pumps, one for example, for the spray function and one for the steam burst functions, this basic construction enables a fluid transfer device to be provided with two parallel integrated pumps involving likewise essentially three parts only. To accomplish this, in all housing module parts and the membrane corresponding multiple, parallel provision is made for pump elements, valves, channels, supply and discharge conduits. In all cases, a single membrane preferably performs both the valve and the pump functions.
In an advantageous further feature the sandwich construction operates to clamp the elastic membrane between hard plastic parts such as to cause the elastic membrane to deform and hence to seal the housing of the fluid transfer device against the outside. In addition, the membrane's elastic connecting sections between the pump element and the valves prevent leakage flow from occurring within the fluid transfer device. The housing and the pump element are constructed as two separate parts having a rigid connection between them. In particular the pump element can be clamped in place between two parts of the housing. The two housing parts can be joined together by a snap-on connection. Such a connection allows a particularly simple geometry of the pump element. The edge of the pump element can be clamped circumferentially in sandwich fashion. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the pump element can be connected with the housing in an elastic positive-engagement relationship. To this end the membrane has one, preferably several fastening sections which cooperate with complementary fastening sections of the housing. Advantageously, through this connection with or in the housing, the elastic membrane acts in peripheral areas at the same time as a seal, thereby obviating the added provision of a sealingly clamped O-ring. It is thus not necessary to make provision for further sealing means for the fluid transfer device.
A compact construction is also accomplished in that all liquid channels are already formed in the housing parts.
The membrane is advantageously a three-dimensional foil affording ease of manufacture using injection molding techniques.
For control of the fluid flow generated in the pump chamber, provision is preferably made for a respective valve, in particular a check valve, in a supply conduit and a discharge conduit of the pump chamber. An advantageous embodiment of the invention resides in that the valve is formed by the elastic membrane itself. In this embodiment the membrane of the pump element or actuating member has corresponding valve sections that are conformed to a corresponding valve passage so as to close the valve passage. When the pump element is actuated and fluid is transferred at a corresponding fluid pressure, the fluid pressure operates to move one of the valve sections away from its position closing the valve passage, causing the valve passage to be opened while the other valve section maintains its sealed condition. Forming the valves integrally by the elastic membrane itself reduces the number of components of the fluid transfer device, which results in a reduction of cost. The valves are made of an elastically sealing material (where applicable, integral with the membrane) in the form of planar movable sections which cooperate with rigid sections and are moved towards or away from these depending on whether a pressure below or above atmospheric prevails in the pump chamber.
Advantageously, at one valve section the valve foil is of a particularly thin-walled construction for the outlet of fluid and is provided with an opening with a diameter smaller than that of a pin of the lower module part, which pin projects through the opening. Experience has shown that this valve effects a particularly tight seal. Other valve sections are formed as elastic flaps moved by the fluid pressure during aspiration or discharge, releasing or closing an opening in one of the module parts.
The valve which is intended to prevent a return flow of the displaced fluid (or/and also the other valve) may also be constructed as a ball valve acted upon by a spring, where applicable. This allows a simple membrane geometry and greater freedom of valve arrangement. The aforedescribed integral formation of the valve by the membrane allows however a more compact construction of the fluid transfer device.
The aspiration of fluid into the pump chamber is generally effected by an elastic recovery of the membrane in its initial position upon an actuation, whereby the volume of the pump chamber is increased. Recovery of the membrane preferably takes place by its own accord as a result of the membrane's elasticity. To support the recovery or shorten the recovery period, in a further aspect of the invention or as an alternative a spring device may be provided as the sole restoring device for biasing the pump element into the position in which the pump chamber volume is at a maximum level. As spring device it is generally possible to use a separate spring element as, for example, a cylinder spring or a leaf spring. To reduce the number of components and thereby simplify the assembly, it is possible according to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention to form the spring element as one piece integral with a portion of the housing. In this way the housing possesses a spring portion acting upon the membrane in the direction of its position of rest as it is deformed from this position. The spring characteristic of the corresponding housing portion is accomplishable in particular by appropriately shaping this particular portion.
In a further aspect of the present invention, the membrane itself may include a spring portion which supports the self-supporting section of the membrane needing to be deformed and which is deformed on an actuation of the membrane. Hence the spring element may be formed in one integral piece with the membrane.
For a precise actuation of the fluid transfer device, the membrane is preferably configured such that a deformation resistance of the membrane in a position of rest of the membrane has an initially high value, dropping to lower values after an initia
Colas Jimenez Miguel-Angel
Condes Antonio
Dorber Ralf
Falco Desideri Sastre
Rebordosa Antonio
Braun GmbH
Fish & Richardson P.C.
Izaguirre Ismael
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