Patent ID: 7259356

Claim:
A soldering iron with a removable tip, comprising: (a) a soldering iron, comprising: a shaft; a ferrite bobbin disposed on the shaft; a magnetic induction coil wrapped around the ferrite bobbin; and a first sleeve spaced from the coil to define an opening between said sleeve and said coil; and (b) a removable tip assembly, comprising: a removable tip body; a tubular induction heater element extending from the removable tip body; and a second sleeve extending from the removable tip body and configured to engage the first sleeve of the soldering iron, said second sleeve spaced outwardly from the tubular induction heater element to form a space between the tubular induction heater element and the second sleeve, said space configured to receive said first sleeve of said soldering iron, wherein the tubular induction heater element is configured to be received around the outside of the magnetic induction coil and within the opening, cooperation of said first and second sleeve preventing said heater element from damaging said bobbin as said tip assembly is positioned onto said soldering iron, wherein the magnetic induction coil generates a magnetic field, and wherein the magnetic field generates heat in the tubular induction heater.