Patent ID: 7096612

Claim:
A domestic steam iron, comprising: a soleplate having a plurality of steam outlet holes; a steam generator having a front portion and a rear portion, the steam generator comprising: a vaporization chamber for generating steam, the vaporization chamber comprising a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the rear portion of the vaporization chamber comprises an outlet that is covered by mesh; an opening in the front portion of the steam generator, through which steam generated in the vaporization chamber passes to the steam outlet holes in the soleplate; and a pair of channels that provide a passageway for steam generated in the vaporization chamber and that extend, one on either side of the vaporization chamber, from the outlet of the vaporization chamber to the opening in the front portion of the steam generator; a first heating element, for heating the soleplate, the first heating element comprising a first thermal sensor; and a second heating element, for heating the steam generator, the second heating element comprising a second thermal sensor, wherein the first heating element and the second heating element are independent heating elements.