Hybrid steamer iron assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12173448-B2
Application number	US-202118023930-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 7, 2021
Priority date	Sep 8, 2020
Publication date	Dec 24, 2024
Grant date	Dec 24, 2024

Abstract

Methods and features described herein are applicable to an improved hand-hand steaming iron that reduces dripping while operating in various orientations and that improves consistent steam generation. The iron includes a steam generating chamber that includes an integrated resistive heating element, and the chamber utilizes multiple dividing and fluid guiding elements with back and forth turn features to prevent liquid water from escaping the steam generating chamber in both vertical and horizontal positions. The combination of the geometric walls and the interaction with the heating element allow for a consistent soleplate temperature and efficient steaming of water that enters the chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hand-held steam iron comprising:
a housing including a handle portion for manipulation of the hand-held steam iron, the housing also including a water reservoir that is accessible from outside the housing for filling and that is fluidically connected with a pump for delivering water to a steam generating chamber from a water outlet, the housing also including an electrical power connection for providing power to a power circuit including an electrical connection with the pump as controlled by a trigger provided for user manipulation at an external position of the housing so that when the trigger is activated, water will be pumped from the water reservoir to the steam generating chamber; and
a soleplate assembly operatively connected with the housing, the soleplate assembly comprising an inner soleplate and a cover, the inner soleplate including a steam generation surface and a heating element below the steam generation surface that is also connected with the power circuit for heating the inner soleplate and thus the steam generation surface, the cover being connected with the inner soleplate to enclose the steam generation surface for creating the steam generating chamber, the cover including an opening that facilitates the water outlet to communicate with the steam generating chamber,
wherein the inner soleplate is shaped to have a pointed tip portion and a rear base portion, and wherein the steam generation surface further comprises plural guide elements that extend from the steam generation surface to the cover for defining at least one steam flow path from a hot zone located under the water outlet, the flow path crossing the heating element at least at one point between the hot zone and the tip front portion and at least at one point along at least one portion of the heating element that extends along the rear base portion.

2. The hand-held steam iron of claim 1 , wherein the soleplate assembly further comprises an outer soleplate spaced from the inner soleplate on the opposite side as the steam generation surface, wherein the inner soleplate includes at least one opening for allowing steam to travel from the steam generating chamber to a steam delivery chamber that is formed between the inner and outer soleplates, the outer soleplate further comprising at least one steam delivery opening for discharging steam from the hand-held steam iron upon activation of the trigger.

3. The hand-held steam iron of claim 2 , wherein plural steam flow paths are defined by the plural guide elements, each steam flow path starting from the hot zone and travelling similarly in crossing the heating element.

4. The hand-held steam iron of claim 3 , wherein outlets are provided from the steam flow path between the tip front portion and the hot zone, which outlets fluidically communicate with the steam delivery chamber.

5. The hand-held steam iron of claim 4 , wherein the plural guides of each steam flow path create a first steam flow path portion extending from the hot zone toward the tip front portion followed by a second steam flow path portion extending rearward from the first steam flow path portion followed by a third steam flow path portion extending toward the tip front portion to the outlets.

6. The hand-held steam iron of claim 5 , wherein the outlets provide fluidic communication from the steam generating chamber to the steam delivery chamber by way of peripheral channel that at least partially surrounds the steam generating chamber.

7. The hand-held steam iron of claim 1 , wherein the heating element is connected with the power circuit near the pointed tip front portion.

8. The hand-held steam iron of claim 7 , wherein the heating element is shaped along the inner soleplate for heating the inner soleplate from one power connection point to a second power connection point, wherein both power connection points are located near the tip front portion.

9. The hand-held steam iron of claim 8 , wherein an intermediate portion of the heating element between the first and second power connections is arranged to extend from the first power connection point toward the rear base portion and then back toward to the tip front portion, then back toward the rear base portion and then to the second power connection point, including the at least one portion that extends at least partially along the rear base portion.

10. The hand-held steam iron of claim 9 , wherein the heating element creates the hot zone of the steam generation surface that is positioned below the water outlet as a result of the shape of the heating element at a central portion of the inner soleplate.

11. The hand-held steam iron of claim 10 , wherein the hot zone is a central hot zone.

Assignees

• Spectrum Brands Inc

Inventors

• Heidenreich Drew W
• Koebler Rachel B
• Nernberger Kroy E
• Sampath Boopalan
• Strong Daniel R

Classifications

• D06F75/38

  Sole plates (D06F75/20 takes precedence) · CPC title

• D06F75/20

  Arrangements for discharging the steam to the article being ironed · CPC title

• D06F75/08

  Hand irons internally heated by electricity · CPC title

• D06F75/24

  Arrangements of the heating means within the iron; Arrangements for distributing, conducting or storing the heat · CPC title

• D06F75/18 Primary

  the water being fed slowly, e.g. drop by drop, from the reservoir to a steam generator · CPC title