Abstract:
A convertible appliance and related method for treating a garment. The appliance includes a housing, a water tank disposed in the housing, a soleplate removably attached to the housing, a first steam chamber configured to generate and emit steam from the soleplate in a first configuration when the soleplate is attached to the housing, a second steam chamber configured to generate and emit steam from the housing in a second configuration when the soleplate is removed from the housing, a valve arrangement configured to fluidly connect the water tank to the first steam chamber when in the first configuration, and alternately, fluidly connect the water tank to the second chamber when in the second configuration.

Description:
This is a non-provisional patent application which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. provisional patent application no. 61/369,191 filed on Jul. 30, 2010. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an iron, and more particularly, to an improved convertible iron that includes a diverter valve for diverting water to a first steam chamber for delivering steam to a detachable soleplate when the soleplate is attached, and alternately, to a second steam chamber for delivering steam to the housing when the soleplate is detached. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There is a great need for portable, efficient devices to steam and iron garments. It is well-known to use a steaming iron when ironing clothes and other garments. Non-iron devices called “steamers” have also been used to remove wrinkles and creases from clothes on a hanger or hanging from a rack by jetting steam to the clothes. These steamers do not have an ironing function because they lack the hot pressing plate found on irons. Both steam irons and steamers have been used for applying steam to remove creases and crinkles from hanging garments and other cloth materials. Steam has also been used in the cleaning of a variety of objects such as curtains, couches, furniture covers (e.g., couch covers), etc. 
     While steamers and steaming irons have been useful steam devices, neither device by itself is versatile enough for various applications which require the use of both devices. For example, a steaming iron can be heavy and bulky to use when steaming curtains and other hanging objects such as a wrinkled suit jacket. The steamer is generally lighter and easier to manipulate for steaming, hanging clothing, and other cloth objects. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a device that can both iron and steam garments in a conventional manner and still not be too heavy or bulky for steaming hanging garments. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In an embodiment, there is provided a convertible appliance for treating a garment which includes a housing, a water tank disposed in the housing, a soleplate removably attached to the housing, a first steam chamber configured to generate and emit steam from the soleplate in a first configuration when the soleplate is attached to the housing, a second steam chamber configured to generate and emit steam from the housing in a second configuration when the soleplate is removed from the housing, and a valve arrangement configured to fluidly connect the water tank to the first steam chamber when in the first configuration, and alternately, fluidly connect the water tank to the second chamber when in the second configuration. 
     In an embodiment, there is provided a method of treating a garment using a convertible appliance, including providing a housing, providing a water tank disposed in the housing, providing a soleplate removably attached to the housing, generating steam with a first steam chamber and emitting the steam from the soleplate in a first configuration when the soleplate is attached to the housing to remove wrinkles from the garment, detaching the soleplate from the housing, generating steam with a second steam chamber and emitting the steam from the housing in a second configuration when the soleplate is removed from the housing to remove wrinkles from the garment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an iron in a first configuration, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the iron of  FIG. 1  in a second configuration; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the iron of  FIG. 1  with the soleplate detached; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of the iron of  FIG. 3  with the soleplate detached; and 
         FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the iron of  FIGS. 1-4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A convertible pressing/steaming device that can be converted from a first configuration for conventional pressing/steaming to a second configuration for non-conventional steaming of hanging garments and fabrics is described below. 
     Referring now to the drawing figures in which like reference designators refer to like elements, there is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  a convertible iron  10  in a first or fully assembled configuration. The iron  10  includes a soleplate  20  made of, for example, a metal material and having a heating element  14  (shown in phantom) mounted in a good heat conducting relationship therewith. Soleplate  20  has, for example, a bottom face or pressing surface  21  adapted to be placed in contact with a suitable fabric to be ironed. 
     A skirt  25  is mounted on the soleplate  20 , followed by a water tank  30  mounted on top of the skirt  25  and secured to the skirt  25  by the use of, for example, screws, flanges, or any other conventional means for fastening. A water tank cover (not shown) may be interposed between the skirt  25  and the water tank  30 . The water tank  30  is disposed in a housing  50 , for example, in surrounding relation to the aforementioned elements. The housing  50  may be made from plastic or any other suitable material. A similar iron having the foregoing water tank  30  disposed in a housing is illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,472, owned by a common assignee, and incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     The water tank  30  includes a cavity (not shown) which may be filled with an aqueous solution such as water. A temperature dial  35  is disposed, for example, beneath a handle  15  formed in an upper portion of the housing  50  and a steam pushbutton  40  is fit, for example, on an upper portion of the housing  50 , near the handle portion  15 . 
     In a first configuration, the soleplate  20  is removably attached to the bottom of the skirt  25 . Water contained in the tank  30  may be delivered to the soleplate  20  via a first steam chamber  60 , for example in response to activation of the steam pushbutton  40  disposed in the handle  15 , where it is emitted as steam S from openings  51  ( FIG. 2 ) in the front portion of the soleplate  20  in a well-known manner. The water is delivered to the first steam chamber  60  from the tank  30  by a pump  40 . A conduit  35  fluidly connects the water tank  30  to the pump  40 . Another conduit  45  fluidly connects the pump  40  to a diverter valve assembly  55 . The diverter valve assembly  55  is fluidly connected to a connector block assembly  57  disposed in the soleplate  20  via a nipple  57   a  extending from the connector block assembly  57  that fits into a socket  55   a  of the diverter valve assembly  55 . The connector block assembly  57  is fluidly connected to the first steam chamber  60  via a conduit  59 . 
     The use of the nipple  57   a  and the socket  55   a  arrangement allows the connector block assembly  57  to be fluidly disconnected from the diverter block assembly  55  when the soleplate  20  is removed from the bottom of skirt  25  on base  50 . The nipple  57   a  has a hollow interior  57   b  which acts as a fluid conduit from within the interior  55   a  of the valve block assembly  55  to connector block assembly  57 . The nipple  57   a  has an orifice  57   c  formed through its sidewall (best seen in  FIG. 3 ) where fluid from within the interior  55   a  of the valve block assembly  55  enters the interior  57   b  of the nipple  57   a  when nipple  57   a  is inserted in the socket  55   a  of the valve block assembly  55 . A seal  56  seals the socket  55   a  when the nipple  57   a  is removed from the socket  55   a.    
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , shown is the iron  10  in a second configuration wherein the soleplate  20  is removed from the bottom of skirt  25  allowing the iron  10  to be used as a hand held steamer. The detachment of soleplate  20  from the housing  50  significantly reduces the weight of iron  10  enabling the iron  10  to be used in both a horizontal and vertical orientation for pressing and steaming fabric. 
     Water contained in the tank  30  may be delivered to a second steam chamber  70 , for example in response to activation of a steam pushbutton  40  disposed in the handle  15 , where it is emitted as steam S from openings  75  ( FIG. 4 ) in the housing  50  in a well-known manner. The water is delivered to the second steam chamber  70  from the tank  30  by the pump  40 . A conduit  35  fluidly connects the water tank  30  to the pump  40  and another conduit  45  fluidly connects the pump  40  to the diverter valve assembly  55  as described above. The diverter valve assembly  55  is fluidly connected to the second steam chamber  70  by a conduit  65 . 
     When the nipple  57   a  is inserted into the socket  55   a  of the diverter valve assembly  55 , as described above in the first configuration, the water being pumped by the pump  40  is diverted to the connector block assembly  57  for delivery to the first steam chamber  60 . At the same time, the nipple  57   a  prevents water from being directed to the conduit  65  and the second steam chamber  70 . However, when nipple  57   a  is removed from the socket  55   a , the seal  56  seals the socket  55   a  and the water is free to flow to the conduit  65  and the second steam chamber  70 . 
     The soleplate  20  may be secured to the housing  50  using any suitable fastening means such as latches, a catch, lock, interference type fit, etc., which allow these elements to be quickly detached and re-attached as desired. For example, in an embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , a latch  29  may be provided at the rear of the soleplate  20  for locking the soleplate  20  to the housing  50  (best seen in  FIG. 5 ). The latch  29  engages a slot  30  on the rear face of the housing  50  and is released by depressing a tab  29   a . When the tab  29   a  is depressed, the soleplate  20  may be grasped and pulled away from the skirt  25  and the body  50 . However, this is not meant to be limiting as any other means for securing the soleplate  20  to the skirt  25  and the housing  50  may be used known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     At least one post  26  is provided at the front end of the soleplate  20  for engaging a socket  27  in the skirt  25  for aligning the soleplate  20  therewith. At least two posts  26  are provided at the rear of the soleplate  20  for engaging a socket  27  in the skirt  25  for aligning the soleplate  20  therewith. However, this is not meant to be means as any means for aligning soleplate  20  with skirt  25  and base  50  may be used. 
     In another embodiment, the diverter block assembly  55  and the connector block assembly  57  may be replaced with a manually rotated valve (not shown) for switching the water being supplied from the pump  40  between the first steam chamber  60  and the second steam chamber  70 . However, this is not meant to be limiting as any other arrangement for switching the water being supplied from the pump  40  between the first steam chamber  60  and the second steam chamber  70  may be used. 
     In an embodiment, a power cord (not shown) may be operatively connected to the housing  50  to provide power to the iron  10 , and in particular to the heating element  14  for heating the soleplate  20  and a generating the steam S from water supplied from the water tank  30 . The temperature dial  35  is used to regulate the amount of electrical power provided from the power cord (not shown) to the heating element  14 . The power cord (not shown) may be provided with a conventional plug (not shown) which may be connected to a conventional source of ac power. 
     All references cited herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.