Electric resistance heating devices – Heating devices – Vaporizer
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-15
2001-04-03
Paik, Sang (Department: 3742)
Electric resistance heating devices
Heating devices
Vaporizer
C038S077600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212332
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to steam irons, and in particular, to stations that cooperate with steam irons.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional steam iron has an internal reservoir that feeds water to a steam chamber in an electrically heated soleplate, in order to produce steam from the iron. Typically, water dripped or sprayed into the steam chamber then passes through a channel in the soleplate in order to complete the vaporization and/or to heat the resulting steam. Conventional irons have limits on their steam producing capacity based on the size of the soleplate, which limits the length of the channel from the steam chamber.
Also conventional irons rely on gravity to feed water from the reservoir when the iron is horizontal. Such irons cannot apply steam when the iron is upright or vertical. Such a capability is important when the user wants to apply steam to a hanging garment to coax out wrinkles or to prepare a garment for ironing.
Another disadvantage with these arrangements is the weight added to the iron by the water reservoir. Moreover, since the reservoir cannot be too large, it must be periodically refilled. Such refilling can be a great inconvenience for long ironing sessions.
Another difficulty with conventional irons is the tendency of mineral deposits to clog various passages in the iron that normally conduct water or steam.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,556 water from an external reservoir is pressurized by a pump so that a valve can spray water into a steam chamber. In the embodiment of FIG. 3 a pump keeps up pressure to a valve, but the pump and the entire reservoir assembly would need to be carried to a faucet in order to fill the reservoir. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, a pump is switched on and off by a control at the iron, but the pump is a unit separate from the reservoir and the iron, with separate hoses running to each.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,130,507 an iron has an internal water container. Water can be supplied either from this container or from a hose fed from a faucet (the hose can also fill the water container). Cloth can be dampened by depressing a button to open a valve that allows water into a steam generating chamber, so that a spray is emitted from openings 25 and 23. Another valve can be manually adjusted to allow water into a steam generating chamber in order to supply steam to outlets 35. This unit has neither a pump nor an external reservoir and therefore lacks the ability to operate at a distance from a faucet. Also, its internal reservoir will make the iron relatively heavy.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,315,773 an ironing head can be placed in a rest assembly that includes couplings that supply water and electrical power to the ironing head. This rest assembly is part of a larger structure that includes a water tank and an ironing table. A pump in the rest assembly supplies water if a water reservoir inside the ironing head is low. The internal reservoir in the ironing head adds substantially to its weight. Also, no power line or hose is connected to the ironing head. Instead the ironing head must be periodically returned to the rest assembly in order to receive additional water and electrical power.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,945 shows a base for receiving an iron and a water cassette. The water cassette does not have plumbing to fill the iron when mounted on the base.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,428,910 an iron is supplied with water from an external reservoir having a pump that is controlled by a control at the iron. Water from the external reservoir is supplied through a valve to a steam chamber. Water from an internal reservoir is supplied through another valve.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,599,357 water is either dripped into one chamber for low velocity steam, or pumped into another chamber for high velocity steam. The steam so generated follows a tortuous backward path in a soleplate, and then a distribution path in the soleplate cover to feed steam holes.
See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,197,664; 4,870,763; 4,920,668; and 5,170,577, as well as design Pat. Nos. D374,322 and D380,068.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the illustrative embodiments demonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided a steam iron station having a removable tank mounted in a case. Also included is a conduit adapted to be coupled to the steam iron. The steam iron station also has a pump mounted in the case and coupled to the tank and the conduit for discharging to the conduit, liquid drawn from the tank.
According to another aspect of the invention, a steam iron station includes a case having a tank with an outlet. Also included is a removable filter having an intake. The filter is mounted at the case to communicate with the tank. The steam iron station also has a conduit adapted to be coupled to the steam iron. Also included is a pump mounted in the case and coupled to the filter and the conduit for discharging to the conduit, liquid drawn through the filter from the tank.
According to still another aspect of the invention, a steam iron includes an electrical heater mounted in a soleplate. The soleplate has an upper channel and a lower channel. The upper and the lower channels each have a forward flowing and a backward flowing branch. The upper channel serially communicates with the lower channel. The iron also has a duct for delivering liquid to the upper channel.
By employing apparatus of the foregoing type, an improved steam iron and steam iron station is achieved. In a preferred embodiment, a steam iron station has a case with a heat resistant upper deck acting as a rest for a steam iron. A removable tank can be attached to the case with a pair of latches. Being removable, the tank can be carried to a tap, where a preferred filling cap can be removed to allow filling of the tank.
Preferably, a removable filter is mounted in the tank of the case to eliminate minerals dissolved in the water in the tank. The filter can have an intake that connects to a preferred valve located adjacent a cavity designed to hold the filter. This valve can close when the filter is removed in order to stop water from flooding the vacated filter cavity.
An outlet from the filter preferably feeds a pump that is mounted inside the case of the steam iron station. The preferred pump has a solenoid-operated piston controlled by a pump controller inside the case. In one embodiment, the pump controller had a capacitive timing circuit that drove a D-type flip flop to operate a thyristor-controlled pump.
In a preferred embodiment, the pump can supply water to a steam iron in either a continuous or enhanced (super steam) mode. In both modes, the pump reciprocates during an active interval, and stops reciprocating during a subsequent, quiescent interval. In the preferred embodiment, the quiescent interval is shortened to increase the pumping volume during the enhanced mode.
In either event, the pump enables steam generation, even if the steam iron is held upright, as when coaxing wrinkles from a hanging garment. Unlike steam irons relying on gravity to supply water from a reservoir, the pump provides a positive, reliable supply.
The preferred steam iron has a soleplate with a lower channel on its underside and an upper channel on its top side. The lower and the upper channels each have a backward flowing branch and a forward flowing branch. The forming of channels on opposite sides of the soleplate increases the length of the path available for vaporizing water and heating steam.
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Sham John C. K.
Vorakul Kumkit Kunavong
Canelias Peter S.
Paik Sang
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