Patent ID: 6640472
Filing Date: 2003-11-04
Classification: D06F

Abstract:
A steam iron comprising:an iron unit including a soleplate and a plurality of steam outlets in said soleplate; a base unit having a receiving space defined therein; an evaporating unit concealed in said receiving space in said base unit and including a thermally conductive housing that confines a steam generating chamber, and a heating unit for heating said housing, said housing being formed with a water inlet and a steam port that is in fluid communication with said steam generating chamber; a water reservoir detachably connected to said base unit; a pump unit for drawing water from said water reservoir into said steam generating chamber via said water inlet; and a connecting tube interconnecting said evaporating unit and said iron unit so that said steam outlets in said iron unit are in fluid communication with said steam port in said evaporating unit, thereby permitting discharge of the steam from said steam outlets in said iron unit; wherein said water reservoir includes a hollow receptacle body with a water outlet, and a water valve disposed within said water outlet so as to seal said water outlet, said water valve being activated to open said water outlet when said water reservoir is installed on said base unit so as to permit water flow from said water reservoir is installed on said base unit so as to permit water flow from said water outlet into said pump unit; and wherein said base unit has a stop unit and a water port that is in fluid communication with said pump unit, said water valve being constructed as a poppet valve, and including: a tubular sleeve connected removably to said base unit so that said water outlet in said water reservoir is in fluid communication with said water port in said base unit, said sleeve having a rear end valve hole; a valve rod disposed movably within said sleeve and having a front end that abuts against said stop unit, and a rear end; a valve connected fixedly to said rear end of said valve rod and spaced apart from said valve hole in said sleeve so as to permit water flow from said water outlet in said water reservoir into said water port in said base unit via said sleeve; and a front spring for biasing said valve rod forward within said sleeve so that said valve seals said valve hole in said sleeve when said water reservoir is removed from said base unit, thereby preventing discharge of water from said water reservoir via said water outlet.