Steam iron for receiving a fragrance cartridge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9879374-B2
Application number	US-201615306582-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 8, 2016
Priority date	Feb 10, 2015
Publication date	Jan 30, 2018
Grant date	Jan 30, 2018

Abstract

The present application relates to steam iron ( 1 ). The steam iron ( 1 ) comprises a sole plate ( 3 ). The sole plate ( 3 ) has a steam channel ( 6 ) for the passage of steam, an ironing surface ( 10 ), vents ( 4 ) for the passage of steam between the steam channel ( 6 ) and the ironing surface ( 10 ), an aperture ( 9 ) extending between the steam channel ( 6 ) and the ironing surface ( 10 ), and a fragrance cartridge ( 7 ) being received in the aperture ( 9 ) such that it extends into the steam channel ( 6 ) to diffuse fragrance in the steam channel ( 6 ). The aperture ( 9 ) secures the fragrance cartridge ( 10 ) in the sole plate ( 3 ) such that fragrance cartridge ( 7 ) is flush with the ironing surface ( 10 ). The present invention also relates to a fragrance cartridge ( 7 ) and to a method of imparting a fragrance to steam produced by a steam iron ( 1 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A steam iron comprising a sole plate, said sole plate comprising a steam channel for the passage of steam, an ironing surface, vents for the passage of steam between the steam channel and the ironing surface, an aperture extending between the steam channel and the ironing surface, wherein the steam iron further comprises a fragrance cartridge received in said aperture such that it extends into the steam channel to diffuse fragrance in the steam channel, wherein the aperture secures the fragrance cartridge in the sole plate flush with the ironing surface.

2. A steam iron according to claim 1 , wherein said aperture is circular with a diameter of between 5 mm-10 mm.

3. A steam iron according to claim 2 , wherein the aperture comprises a screw thread adapted to cooperate with a screw thread formed in the fragrance cartridge.

4. A steam iron according to claim 1 , wherein the aperture extends between the steam channel and the ironing surface in the proximity of where steam enters the steam channel.

5. A steam iron according to claim 1 , comprising a fragrance receiving element and a holder to hold said fragrance receiving element.

6. A steam iron according to claim 5 , wherein the fragrance receiving element extends through the holder from the steam channel to enable it to be filled with liquid fragrance without removing the holder from the aperture.

7. A steam iron according to claim 5 , wherein the holder comprises a recess to receive the fragrance receiving element and wherein the recess only extends partially through the holder such that the fragrance receiving element extends partially through the holder and is inaccessible from the ironing surface when the fragrance cartridge is received in the aperture.

8. A steam iron according to claim 5 , wherein the fragrance receiving element is adapted to protrude into the steam channel.

9. A steam iron according to claim 5 , wherein the fragrance receiving element is made of porous material.

10. A steam iron according to claim 5 , wherein the holder lies flush with the ironing surface.

11. A steam iron according to claim 5 , wherein the holder is removably secured within the aperture.

12. A steam iron according to claim 11 , wherein the holder is manually removable from the aperture by movement of the holder relative to the sole plate.

13. A method of imparting a fragrance to steam intended to be sprayed over garments during ironing by a steam iron having a sole plate, said sole plate comprising a steam channel for the passage of steam, an ironing surface, vents for the passage of steam between the steam channel and the ironing surface and an aperture extending between the steam channel and the ironing surface, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
disposing a fragrance cartridge in said aperture such that it extends into the steam channel to diffuse fragrance in the steam channel and is flush with the ironing surface,
passing steam into the steam channel.

Assignees

• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Zhao Lihong
• Liao Yile
• Jiang Yong

Classifications

• A61L9/02

  using substances evaporated in the air by heating or combustion · CPC title

• D06F75/38

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

• D06F75/20 Primary

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

• D06F75/00 Primary

  Hand irons · CPC title