Abstract:
A water fill device for a steam iron is provided with a shield in front of the outlet port thereof designed to enhance the appearance of the iron and to provide consumers with increased confidence in the avoidance of water spillage or leakage through the water fill device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a water fill assembly for a household steam iron. 
   INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
   The entirety of U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,976, issued to Beverly et al. on Jun. 12, 2001, is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Household steam irons include a water reservoir for containing water to be converted to steam when needed during an ironing process. Water is typically introduced into a water reservoir through a water fill device located at the front of the iron and opening to the water reservoir, the water fill device having a mouth into which water can be poured from a pitcher or a water tap. Such method of filling a water reservoir of an iron is illustrated in the above mentioned Beverly et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,976. 
   In many irons the water fill device includes a sliding or pivoting closure normally covering the water fill mouth and which is moved to uncover the mouth to permit water to be poured through the water fill device. However, the closure member and mounting parts are typically small and therefore subject to damage and somewhat difficult to manufacture. There are also irons that have water fill devices which have open mouths and no means to close the water fill devices. For several years many and perhaps most steam irons have been so constructed that leakage or spillage of water from the reservoir forward through the water fill device is avoided. These are satisfactory under most circumstances and have the advantage of being inexpensive and of rugged construction because they have no moving parts. However, some consumers may perceive that water, which might be heated, may spill or leak out of an iron through the water inlet opening of an uncovered water fill device and cause damage or injury. Also, some people believe that a water fill device which does not have a cover hiding its outlet port is aesthetically undesirable. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention provides a water fill device provided with a shield designed to enhance the appearance of the iron and to provide consumers with increased confidence in the avoidance of water spillage or leakage through the water fill device. 
   Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become apparent from the following description and the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a steam iron shown resting in a generally vertical orientation provided with a water fill device of this invention. A water reservoir supported by the steam iron housing is diagrammatically indicated by broken lines in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged isometric view of the water fill device of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2  also shows surrounding structure by broken lines. 
       FIG. 3  is a fragmentary side elevational view of the steam iron of  FIG. 1  with parts broken away and parts in cross section. Arrows in  FIG. 3  generally illustrate the path of water when poured into the water reservoir. 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view of the water fill device of this invention and adjacent parts of the steam iron. 
       FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of the water fill device of the preceding figures. 
       FIG. 6  is a rear elevational view of the water fill device of the preceding figures. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a representative steam iron  10  with which this invention may be used. The representative steam iron  10  comprises a housing  12  includes a top cover  14  and a bottom cover  16  supported by a soleplate  18  provided with steam vents (not shown). A power cord  20  used for providing electric current to a soleplate heater (not shown) is protected by a cord guard  22 . Control of the operation of the soleplate heater is obtained by electric and/or electronic circuitry including plural lighted switch operating members  24 . The rear  26  of the housing  12  is suitably formed to support the iron  10  in the upright orientation shown in  FIG. 1 . Steam and spray pump operators  28  and  30 , a steam control knob  32 , and a spray nozzle  34  project outwardly through the housing top cover  14 . 
   A water reservoir  36  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  and indicated in phantom in  FIG. 1  is supported by the soleplate  18  and, as seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , has a water inlet port  38 . 
   The steam iron  10  additionally includes a water fill device, generally designated  40 , comprising, in accordance with this invention, a water funnel  42  having a inner surface  44  and an outer surface  46  extending along its entire length. In addition, the water funnel  42  has a front, water inlet end  48  that forms a water inlet port  50  opening to the front of the iron housing  12  through an opening  52  in the top cover  14  and a rear, water outlet end  54  that forms a water outlet port  56  opening to the water inlet port  38  of the reservoir housing  36 . A gasket  58  made of a foam plastic or other suitable material separates the rear end  46  of the water funnel  42  from the front wall, designated  60 , of the water reservoir  36 . As conventional, an adhesive material (not shown) adheres the gasket  58  to the outside surfaces of reservoir front wall  60  surrounding the water inlet port  38  of the reservoir  36 . The water inlet port  50  of the funnel  42  is formed as a large mouth having an outer rim  62  frictionally mounted in the opening  52  in the top cover  14  and held against removal from the housing  12  by a pair of snaps  64  ( FIGS. 2-6 ) extending from the outer rim  62  and by a pair of protrusions  66  ( FIGS. 2 and 6 ) formed on the outer surface  46  of the water funnel  42 . 
   In accordance with this invention, the water fill device  40  further comprises a shield  68  supported in front of the outlet port  56  by a web construction fixed to the inside surface  44  of the water funnel  42 . The particular web construction shown in the drawings comprises four mutually equally spaced support posts  70  extending between the outlet port  56  of the water funnel  42  along the inner surface  44  thereof and joined to the shield  68  along its outer edges. The shield  68  is spaced sufficiently from the nearest adjacent surface portions of the inner funnel surface  44  that water poured into the water fill device  40  through its inlet port  50  will readily flow around the shield  68  and the supports posts  70  into the water reservoir  36  without pooling of the water within the water fill device  40 . In addition the funnel  42  is sufficiently large that the user of the iron can pour water onto the inside funnel surface  44  without pouring water onto the shield  68 . 
   The shield  68  has an arcuate, curved outwardly-facing surface  72  shaped to assist in avoiding water splashing out of the water fill device  40  when water is being poured into it. The shape of the shield  68  is such that the water hitting the curved surface  72  of the shield  68  is directed toward the inside funnel surface  44  and captured in the funnel  42 . Once the water is captured in the funnel  42  it is directed toward the water reservoir  36 . Shield  68  could also have a curved lower surface which mirrors the shape of the upper surface  72  to assist in removing water from the reservoir  36 . Experimentation may be required to determine optimal shape and size of the mouth of a water fill device  40 , to determine and the size, shape and location of a shield  68 , and to determine the open area which must be provided between the shield  68  and the water outlet port  56  of the water fill device. In general, the experimentation should be done with a view to providing for adequate water flow rates through the water fill device  40  without having water splash away from the water fill device  40 . 
   Water fill device  40  is preferably molded in one piece from a suitable plastic material of which many are available and well known in the art. 
   While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various alterations in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.