Steam iron

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9334605-B2
Application number	US-201514617019-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 9, 2015
Priority date	Feb 11, 2014
Publication date	May 10, 2016
Grant date	May 10, 2016

Abstract

A steam iron comprises a housing, a handle supported by or integral with the housing, a soleplate having a plurality of steam vents defined therein, a water reservoir supported by the housing for holding water to be converted to steam, and a water fill funnel supported by the housing and/or the handle for adding water to the reservoir. The water fill funnel has a top rim defining a top opening. The water fill funnel defines a bottom opening that is in fluid connection with the water reservoir. At least a portion of the water fill funnel is external to the housing.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A steam iron comprising:
a housing;
a handle supported by or integral with the housing;
a soleplate having a plurality of steam vents defined therein;
a water reservoir supported by the housing for holding water to be converted to steam; and
a water fill funnel supported by the handle for adding water to the reservoir, the water fill funnel having an upper portion including a top rim defining a top opening, the upper portion extending outward from the handle, the water fill funnel further comprising an outer wall that extends outward from the handle, the water fill funnel defining a bottom opening that is in fluid connection with the water reservoir, at least a portion of the water fill funnel being external to the housing.

2. The steam iron of claim 1 , wherein the water fill funnel comprises an inner wall and the inner wall has at least two different slopes.

3. The steam iron of claim 2 , wherein the at least two different slopes comprise an upper slope and a lower slope, and wherein the upper slope is steeper than the lower slope.

4. The steam iron of claim 1 , wherein the water fill funnel further comprises opposing planar restrictions flanking the bottom opening of the water fill funnel.

5. The steam iron of claim 1 , further comprising:
a vent tube having an upper end that is above the bottom opening of the water fill funnel and a lower end that is below the bottom opening of the water fill funnel.

6. The steam iron of claim 1 , wherein a width of the top opening of the water fill funnel is about 40% of a total width of the steam iron.

7. The steam iron of claim 1 , wherein a length of the top opening of the water fill funnel is about 20% of a total length of the steam iron.

8. The steam iron of claim 1 , wherein a depth of the water fill funnel is about 25% of a total height of the steam iron.

9. A steam iron comprising:
a housing;
a handle supported by or integral with the housing;
a soleplate having a plurality of steam vents defined therein;
a water reservoir supported by the housing for holding water to be converted to steam;
a water fill funnel supported by the housing and/or the handle for adding water to the reservoir, the water fill funnel having a top rim defining a top opening, the water fill funnel defining a bottom opening that is in fluid connection with the water reservoir; and
a vent tube having an upper end that is above the bottom opening of the water fill funnel and a lower end that is below the bottom opening of the water fill funnel.

10. The steam iron of claim 9 , wherein the water fill funnel has an inner wall and the inner wall has at least two different slopes.

11. The steam iron of claim 10 , wherein the at least two different slopes comprise an upper slope and a lower slope, and wherein the upper slope is steeper than the lower slope.

12. The steam iron of claim 9 , wherein the water fill funnel further comprises opposing planar restrictions flanking the bottom opening of the water fill funnel.

13. The steam iron of claim 9 , wherein the water fill funnel further comprises an upper portion that includes the top rim and which projects outward from the housing and/or the handle.

14. The steam iron of claim 9 , wherein a width of the top opening of the water fill funnel is about 40% of a total width of the steam iron.

15. The steam iron of claim 9 , wherein a length of the top opening of the water fill funnel is about 20% of a total length of the steam iron.

16. The steam iron of claim 9 , wherein a depth of the water fill funnel is about 25% of a total height of the steam iron.

17. The steam iron of claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the water fill funnel is external to the housing.

18. The steam iron of claim 9 , wherein the water fill funnel comprises an upper portion which includes the top rim and which extends outward from the housing and/or the handle.

19. The steam iron of claim 9 , wherein the water fill funnel comprises an outer wall which extends outward from the housing and/or the handle.

Assignees

• Hamilton Beach Brands Inc

Inventors

• Whitney Linda

Classifications

• D06F75/36

  Casings · CPC title

• B65D51/1611

  by means of an orifice, capillary or labyrinth passage (B65D51/1616, B65D51/1622 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65D51/16

  with means for venting air or gas · CPC title

• B65D47/32

  with means for venting · CPC title

• D06F75/14 Primary

  the steam being produced from water in a reservoir carried by the iron · CPC title