Professional steam iron with removable rear cold water tank

Abstract: The invention is a new steam iron with removable cold water tank (S) applied to the rear part of the iron (F) itself. The tank is provided with an opening (S1) on its upper part and with an opening (S2) with valve (S21) on the lower part of its contact surface with the iron, while the iron is provided, on its upper part, with a plug-shaped protrusion (F1) that closes the upper opening (S1) of the tank and, on the lower part of the rear surface housing the tank, with a mouth (F2) connected to the vaporization chamber. When the tank is applied to the iron, the mouth (F2) on the back of the iron houses and opens the valve (S21) positioned in the lower opening of the tank.

Description: The present invention relates to a steam iron with a removable water thank as set forth in the preamble of claim 1. Such an iron is known from FR-A 2 704 566 and is provided with a tank in which the filling opening is disposed in the horizontal upper wall of the tank. Complex means are necessary to close the filling opening both in the horizontal and in the vertical position of the iron. In the new steam iron according to the invention, the filling opening is disposed in the upper part of the vertical contact surface of the tank facing the rear side of the iron. Basically, the back of the new iron is provided with a proper seat for the water tank and with suitable connections for the passage of water from the tank into the iron. The electric connection area between the iron flex and the electrical parts of the iron itself is internal, positioned before the water tank compartment and completely separated from it. The upper opening of the water tank is obtained on the vertical side of the iron. This solution makes it possible to position the iron vertically without causing the water to flow out of the tank; the water accumulates towards the tank side that is opposite the opening, without flowing out or leaking from the opening itself. Furthermore, this system does not require an additional plug, since the fill opening is closed when the tank is positioned in its compartment and rests against the fixed side of the iron. The lower opening of the tank serves to connect the tank with the iron and its vaporization chamber and is provided with a suitable valve that remains closed, thus preventing the water from flowing out of the tank when this is separated from the iron, while it opens to permit the passage of water only when the tank is correctly applied to the iron. The rear part of the iron has a compartment with couplings suitable for housing and holding the removable tank. In the upper part of the rear compartment of the iron there is a plug-shaped protrusion suitable for fitting in and closing the upper opening of the tank completely when this is applied to the iron. The lower part of the rear compartment of the iron is provided with a mouth suitable for housing the tank valve and opening it. When the water tank is correctly applied to the iron, the tank valve fits exactly into the mouth of the iron compartment and at the same time, thanks to the shape of said mouth, the valve is opened, so that the water contained in the tank can flow through said mouth. Inside the iron said mouth is connected - directly or through a pump - to the vaporization chamber. To fill the tank with water it is sufficient to remove it from the iron and pour the water through the upper fill opening of the tank itself. There is no risk of pouring water on the hot soleplate or on the electrical parts of the iron, since the iron is not involved in the filling operation. When the tank is applied to the iron, the tank valve is opened, thus connecting the tank with the duct that conveys water to the vaporization chamber, while the upper opening of the tank is closed by the plug-shaped protrusion provided on the rear compartment of the iron where the tank is positioned. One or two or more elastic coupling devices keep the tank in the correct position. A practical embodiment of the invention is presented in the enclosed drawing. The figure shows a vertical section of the new iron (F) provided with removable water tank (S). On the contact surface with the back of the iron (F), the water tank (S) is provided with an upper fill opening (S1) and with a lower opening (S2) with a suitable valve (S21) that remains closed when the water tank (S) is separated from the iron (F). The rear part of the new iron (F) is provided with a compartment (Fp) with couplings suitable for housing the removable water tank (S) and keeping it in the correct position. The upper part of the rear compartment (Fp) of the iron (F) is provided with a plug-shaped protrusion (F1) suitable for closing the upper opening (S1) of the water tank (S) completely when the latter is applied to the iron (F), while in the lower part of the same compartment (F1) there is a mouth (F2) suitable for housing the valve (S21) of the water tank (S) and opening it. The area with the electrical connections (Fe) between the flex and the electrical parts of the iron (F) is included between the handle (Fi) and the compartment (Fp) that houses the water tank (S) and is separated from the water connection (F2). When the water tank (S) is correctly applied to the iron (F), the valve (S21) of the tank (S) fits into the mouth (F2) of the compartment of the iron (F) and at the same time, thanks to the shape of said mouth (F2), the valve is opened, so that the water contained in the tank (S) can flow through said mouth (F2) that is connected - directly or through a pump - to the vaporization chamber.

Claims: Steam iron with a removable water tank (S) applied into a compartment (Fp) at the rear part of the iron (F) and being provided with a filling opening (S1) in its upper part and with a lower outlet opening (S2) connected via a valve (S21) to an inlet mouth (F2) of the vaporizing chamber of the iron (F), characterized in that the filling opening (S1) is disposed in the upper part of the vertical contact surface of the tank (S) facing the rear side of the iron (F). Steam iron according to claim 1, wherein the rear compartment (Fp) housing said tank (S) is provided in its upper part with a plug-shaped protrusion (F1) fitting in and closing the filling opening (S1) of the tank (S) when applied into said compartment (Fp).

Inventors: HULME DOUGLAS, HULME, DOUGLAS
Applicants: EUROFLEX S R L, EUROFLEX S.R.L.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: D06F75
IPC codes: D06F75