Textiles: ironing or smoothing – Smoothing implements – Flatirons
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-21
2001-07-24
Izaguirre, Ismael (Department: 3765)
Textiles: ironing or smoothing
Smoothing implements
Flatirons
C219S255000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263596
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to the general technical field of appliances designed to smooth a textile article, such as an article of clothing, by subjecting it to the combined action of a thermal treatment, of a mechanical pressing treatment and of a steam treatment.
The present invention concerns an electric pressing iron comprising a hot part constituted by a sole plate and an evaporation chamber for which the temperature control is assured by the intermediary of a heating circuit in thermal communication with a temperature regulation or control device.
The present invention equally concerns a regulation process for an electric steam iron.
PRIOR ART
Steam irons known in the prior art generally include a heating element in thermal communication with an evaporation chamber, for example a molded tubular heating element in the cast part of said chamber, said heating element being associated with regulation means, which are fixed most often on the cast part. This conventional construction presents several drawbacks. When the selected temperature of the regulation means is fixed at a low value, in order to obtain a low sole plate temperature, for the purpose for example of pressing articles made of delicate fabric, not able to withstand high temperatures, the temperature existing in the evaporation chamber is insufficient to evaporate the water introduced into said chamber. This situation is troublesome since it does not permit the benefits of steam production during pressing of delicate articles. When the selected temperature of the regulation means is fixed at a high value, in order to obtain a high sole plate temperature and preferably a substantial steam flow rate, for the purpose for example of pressing durable articles, it is known and indicated by thermography that the part of the sole plate located under the steam chamber is substantially colder than the rest of the surface of the iron, in particular during the evaporation operation. This situation is troublesome since one desires in general that the surface of the sole plate of the iron attain its optimum temperature at the moment when the steam is emitted.
It is known from the document U.S. Pat. No. 3,110,975 to construct a steam pressing iron comprising a hot part composed of a sole plate and an evaporation chamber, the sole plate and the evaporation chamber each forming a thermal zone provided with a heating element associated with regulation means, the sole plate and the evaporation chamber being thermally isolated from one another. During ironing of delicate fabrics, it is then possible to obtain in the evaporation chamber a temperature sufficient for evaporation of the water, while maintaining a sufficiently low sole plate temperature to not harm the article to be ironed.
This form of construction presents the drawback of having two distinct heating means each associated with its own regulation means. It results therefrom that this construction is disadvantageous, and cumbersome, since there are two regulation means and these must be disposed at appropriate locations.
It is known from the document FR 2 727 439 to construct a steam pressing iron comprising a hot part composed of a sole plate and an evaporation chamber, the hot part being divided into at least two thermal zones, each of them being provided with a heating element, a first zone comprising at least one surface corresponding substantially to the evaporation chamber, a second zone corresponding to at least one surface corresponding substantially to the portion of the sole plate situated under the chamber, the heating element of the first zone being associated with a regulation device disposed in said zone, the heating element of the second zone being associated with a regulation device disposed in said zone, the first zone and the second zone being in thermal communication with respect to one another, the heating element associated with the first zone being provided to partially assure the heating of the second zone. During ironing of articles requiring large quantities of steam, the heating element of the second zone permits prevention of the formation of a cold zone of the sole plate under the evaporation chamber. The ironing is then more effective.
This form of construction presents equally the drawback of having two distinct heating zones each associated with its own regulation means. This form of construction is thus costly. In addition, in order to limit the temperature of the sole plate for ironing delicate fabrics, mastery of the thermal transfer between the sole plate and the cast part of the evaporation chamber requires a reduction of the exchange surface between the sole plate and the cast part, which renders difficult the fluid tightness and the mechanical strength of the sole plate.
For all of the reasons set forth previously, the forms of construction cited above are not satisfactory.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is thus to construct a steam pressing iron permitting pressing, in an effective manner, thick or strong fabrics requiring a substantial steam flow rate, and permitting ironing of delicate fabrics by producing steam without risk of damaging them, all while presenting a simple and economical construction.
Of course, the invention is applied equally to pressing irons having an integrated reservoir, as well as pressing irons having a separate exterior reservoir.
The objects of the invention are achieved by an electric steam pressing iron comprising a hot part composed of a sole plate and an evaporation chamber, the hot part of the iron being divided into two thermal zones, a first zone corresponding substantially to the evaporation chamber being provided with first heating means, a second zone corresponding substantially to a portion of the sole plate disposed under the evaporation chamber being provided with second heating means, the first heating means being associated with a regulation device disposed in said first zone, the first heating means being provided to partially assure the heating of the second zone, characterized in that the second heating means are associated with the regulation device of the first zone.
The iron thus obtained is of a simplified design since it only includes a single regulation device. The power of the second heating means must of course be selected in a manner to not damage the article to be ironed. For the powers of the second heating means chosen in a manner to compensate more than the temperature drop of the sole plate due to the evaporation of the water in the evaporation chamber, this arrangement permits higher sole plate temperatures to be obtained when the water is introduced into the evaporation chamber and thus to better dry articles that are difficult to press requiring a large amount of steam. Delicate articles requiring lower ironing temperatures not requiring a large amount of steam, the present invention permits to obtain with a less costly construction a control of the heating means particularly adapted to the ironing of different categories of articles.
Advantageously, the second heating means are formed by a flat heating element.
The bulk of the iron is thus substantially reduced, thanks to the small thickness of the flat heating element. In addition, heating of the sole plate is more uniform, the flat heating element providing a heating on a surface.
The objects of the invention are equally achieved by a regulation process for an electric steam pressing iron, comprising a hot part having a sole plate and an evaporation chamber, the hot part of the iron being divided into two thermal zones, a first zone corresponding substantially to the evaporation chamber being provided with first heating means, a second zone corresponding substantially to a portion of the sole plate disposed under the evaporation chamber being provided with second heating means, the first heating means being associated with a regulation device disposed in said first zone, the first heating means being provided to partially assure the heating of the second zone, characterized i
Brandolini Jean-Louis
Pedron Jerome P.
Browdy & Neimark
Izaguirre Ismael
Seb S.A.
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