Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for generating steam comprising a water heating chamber in which water is heated to generate steam. The apparatus also includes a cavity having an inlet communicating with the water heating chamber so that water in the water heating chamber is received in the cavity and a sealable outlet. The cavity is configured to limit the flow of convection currents in the water received in the cavity so that scales and/or solid particles suspended in the water accumulate in the cavity. Alternatively, a guide member is disposed at the inlet to the cavity which is configured to guide scales and/or solid particles suspended in the water into the cavity.

Abstract: A steam ironing device (1), comprising: an iron, including a soleplate (18) provided with at least one steam outlet opening (20); soleplate heating means (22) configured to heat the soleplate (18); a steam generator (50) including a heatable steam generation chamber (51) that is fluidly connectable to the at least one steam outlet opening (20) in the soleplate; and control means (24, 56), operably connected to the soleplate heating means (22) and the steam generator (50), and configured to control a soleplate temperature and a steam rate of the steam ironing device, wherein the control means (24, 56) are configured to heat the soleplate to a non user-adjustable temperature in the range of 105-145° C., and to provide for a time-averaged steam rate of at least 50 grams/minute.

Abstract: A steam iron having a bipartite steam rate control, based on a combination of a user-control, which allows a user to consciously set a desired steam rate, and an intuitively operated handle, which may conditionally provide the steam rate control assembly with corrective, energy saving input.

Abstract: A steam ironing device includes a water supply device, a steam generator for generating steam, a heating element for heating the steam generator, at least one atomizating device, a valve provided in a flow path between the steam generator and the atomizing device, and an electric pump for delivering water from said water supply device to said steam generator. To obtain wet steam at the atomizing device, the ironing device includes a control device for controlling the power of the heating element of the steam generator, for controlling the flow rate of the pump, and for controlling the opening and closing of the valve, the valve being open if the ratio between the flow rate (g/min) of the pump and the power (W) of the heating element is in a range of 1:20 to 1:38.

Abstract: A steam iron (500) comprises a housing (520) that includes a water tank (580), a steam chamber (600) and a pressure equalization conduit (760). The housing (520) includes an airing means (660). The steam iron is further provided with a mechanism for allowing air selectively into the water tank (580). The mechanism comprises a steam trigger (680) that is arranged to close or open the pressure equalization conduit (760) and the airing means (660) inversely. The mechanism may also comprise a spring loaded plunger or an electronic hand sensor.

Abstract: A steam iron having a bipartite steam rate control, based on a combination of a user-control, which allows a user to consciously set a desired steam rate, and an intuitively operated handle, which may conditionally provide the steam rate control assembly with corrective, energy saving input.

Abstract: In a boiler (6) having a shell (8) enclosing a space (11) and an inlet (12) for letting water into the shell space (11), the shell space (11) has two separate sections (16, 21), wherein a first section (16) is located such as to receive a supply of fresh water to the boiler (6), and wherein a second section (21) is located such as to receive water from the first section (16) when overflow of the first section (16) takes place under the influence of a continuous supply of fresh water. A steam generating process takes place in the second section (21). Due to the fact that the second section (21) is only indirectly filled with water, it is possible to have an undisturbed process. In particular, the water may be heated in the first section (16) before reaching the second section (21). The first section (16) may comprise an inner space of a container (15) which is arranged inside the shell (8), for example.

Abstract: A device (1) for refreshing garments comprises means (5) for supporting a garment and means (3) for generating an air flow at the location where a garment is present when it is put in place on the supporting means (5). The supporting means (5) comprise two parts (6, 7) which are both suitable to be used for supporting a garment, and which are displaceably arranged with respect to each other. In this way, an enhanced functionality of the device (1) may be achieved in comparison with a device having supporting means which comprise only a single part.

Abstract: An ironing board includes a base, a body with a work surface and an easy height-adjustment operation to adjust the distance of the body relative to the base. A column extends between the body and the base and is equipped with a stationary frame secured to the base and a moveable frame secured to the body. In order to decrease the force needed to adjust the height of the body relative to the base, the height adjustment device includes device for exerting a repelling force between the body and the base.

Abstract: An ironing board (2) that can easily be stored and converted to a stable position for ironing comprises a base (1) having a variable length, and a body (5) with a work surface (6). A column (7) extends between the body and the base. An adjustment mechanism (9) arranges for the base to be shorter in case the work surface is positioned vertically and the base to be longer in case the work surface is positioned horizontally. A system comprises such an ironing board and an iron for cooperation with the ironing board.

Abstract: An ironing appliance (1) comprises an ironing device such as a steam iron and an ironing board (11) for supporting articles (2) to be ironed. In the ironing board (11), Radio Frequency Identification readers (41) are arranged, which serve for identifying the fabric type of the articles (2) to be ironed, which are provided with a tag (45) containing this information. The ironing board (11) has a heater (16) for heating the articles to be ironed, and is also adapted to supplying steam to these articles. In an ironing process of a given article, the characteristics of the supply of steam and the temperature of the heater (16) are determined on the basis of the information obtained from the tag (45) of the article by the readers (41). Due to the fact that the readers (41) are arranged in the ironing board (11), the identification process and the process of determining appropriate ironing settings take place in a fast and accurate manner.

Abstract: A steam ironing system (2) comprises a steam iron (10) and a boiler system (25) having a boiler (30) for generating steam, wherein the steam iron (10) and the boiler (30) are connected to each other through a steam hose (35). During operation of the boiler system (25), scale is formed in the boiler (30). For the purpose of removing the scale from the boiler (30), a rinsing process is performed on the boiler system (25) at regular intervals. During the rinsing process, a rinse valve (38) connected to a water outlet (37) positioned at a bottom of the boiler (30) is opened, and water is discharged from the boiler (30) to a rinse container (55). In the process, scale particles are carried along with the flow of water. Preferably, pressure is built up inside the boiler (30) prior to opening the rinse valve (38), so that the water is forcibly ejected from the boiler (30), whereby the effectiveness of the rinsing process is enhanced.

Abstract: An ironing board (2) that can easily be stored and converted to a stable position for ironing comprises a base (1) having a variable length, and a body (5) with a work surface (6). A column (7) extends between the body and the base. An adjustment mechanism (9) arranges for the base to be shorter in case the work surface is positioned vertically and the base to be longer in case the work surface is positioned horizontally. A system comprises such an ironing board and an iron for cooperation with the ironing board.

Abstract: An ironing board comprises a base (1), a body (5) with a work surface and an easy height-adjustment operation to adjust the distance of the body relative to the base. A column (7) extends between the body and the base and is equipped with a stationary frame (31) secured to the base and a moveable frame (33) secured to the body. In order to decrease the force needed to adjust the height of the body relative to the base the height adjustment means comprises a means for exerting a repelling force between the body and the base. A system comprising such an ironing board and an iron.

Abstract: A steam iron assembly (1) comprises a steam iron (10), a steam generator (20) and a water reservoir (30). Furthermore, a pump (40) is provided for pumping water from the water reservoir (30) to the steam generator (20). Inside the steam generator (20), the water is heated to steam. The generated steam is conducted through the steam iron (10) to an item to be ironed. The steam iron (10) comprises a soleplate (11) having a contacting surface (12) for contacting items to be ironed. A temperature of the soleplate (11) is kept at a relatively low level of for example 110° C. throughout an entire steam ironing process, whereas variations of an ironing temperature are obtained on the basis of variations of a temperature of the supplied steam. As a result of these factors, the risk of scorching of the items to be ironed is reduced.

Abstract: An ironing board (1) comprises a fan (20) for generating an airflow and a controlling unit (40) for controlling a mode in which the fan (20) is driven during operation of the ironing board (1). When there is a need for obtaining an airflow through an item to be ironed, the controlling unit (40) puts the fan (20) to a mode in which it is driven at a normal operating speed. However, when there is no such need, the controlling unit (40) puts the fan (20) to a mode in which it is driven at a speed which is lower than a normal operating speed. In this way, it is achieved that the fan (20) is continuously driven during operation of the ironing board (1), also in case an ironing process performed with the help of the ironing board (1) does not require an operation of the fan (20). As an advantageous result, condensation of steam inside the ironing board (1) is prevented.

Abstract: An ironing appliance (1) comprises an ironing device such as a steam iron and an ironing board (11) for supporting articles (2) to be ironed. In the ironing board (11), Radio Frequency Identification readers (41) are arranged, which serve for identifying the fabric type of the articles (2) to be ironed, which are provided with a tag (45) containing this information. The ironing board (11) has a heater (16) for heating the articles to be ironed, and is also adapted to supplying steam to these articles. In an ironing process of a given article, the characteristics of the supply of steam and the temperature of the heater (16) are determined on the basis of the information obtained from the tag (45) of the article by the readers (41). Due to the fact that the readers (41) are arranged in the ironing board (11), the identification process and the process of determining appropriate ironing settings take place in a fast and accurate manner.

Abstract: A steam ironing device (1) comprises a steam generator (20) for heating water to steam, a steam outlet (25) for letting out a burst of steam (27) from the steam generator (20), a device (30) for supplying water to the steam generator (20), a hose (40) connecting the water supplying device (30) to the steam generator (20), and a controller (50) which is adapted to operating the water supplying device (30) during a period of time in a situation in which there is hardly any need or no need at all of a supply of steam in an ironing process, while keeping the steam outlet (25) closed. In this way, a reserve amount of steam is generated, which is stored in an internal space (21) of the steam generator (20), and, as the occasion arises, inside at least a portion of the hose (40). When a burst of steam (27) is required, the reserve amount of steam is released through the steam outlet (25).

Abstract: A garment de-wrinkling device (1) comprises an enclosure (10) for moistening garments (20). An ironing board (40) and an adjacent standby area (41), which are both permeable to steam, are arranged on top of the enclosure (10). During operation of the device (1), the ironing board (40) and a steam iron (30) are used to iron garments (20) which have first been moistened inside the enclosure (10). In the process, steam released by the iron (30) penetrates the garments (20) and enters the enclosure (10) through the ironing board (40). In this way, both the garments (20) on the ironing board (40) and those inside the enclosure (10) are treated by means of steam that is released by the iron (30), and steam is used in an efficient manner. A pressed look is obtained in that the garments (20) are subjected to a moistening process and a subsequent steam ironing process.

Abstract: A steam iron (1) comprises a steam conditioning device (30) having two vortex chambers (31, 32). Inside the vortex chambers (31, 32), directing means such as a conduit for directing a steam flow toward outlets (33) of the steam conditioning device (30) are arranged. Further, inside the vortex chambers (31, 32), vortex generating means are arranged, which are arranged along a path followed by the steam flow, and which are adapted to creating local pressure differences in the steam flow in order to obtain local vortices in the steam flow. By means of the vortices, during operation of the steam conditioning device (30), water drops which are present in the steam flow are broken down to a smaller particle size. In this way, the steam conditioning device (30) is capable of producing mist-steam or dry steam.