Abstract: An iron having a steam chamber cover connected to the soleplate without the use of additional fasteners or adhesives. The soleplate has a raised steam chamber wall. A top of the steam chamber wall has a channel. A rim of the steam chamber cover is positioned in the channel and a portion of the wall is deformed to sealingly lock the rim in the channel. The cover can also be stamped towards the soleplate to press the cover against ribs of the soleplate inside the steam chamber.

Abstract: A light-weight, primarily plastic, steam pressing iron, which may be assembled without the use of tools and a multiplicity of fasteners, includes a ported aluminum soleplate having a steam generating area and a thermostat, with a rotatable control, a plastic skirt which is snap-fitted onto the soleplate, a plastic housing/handle having a dove-tail connection to the skirt and including a snap-assembled saddle assembly, and a pivotable cord boot retained on the housing/handle by an end cap which is secured thereto by a single threaded fastener. A steam control is operated by a rocker mechanism on the saddle assembly and the rotatable thermostat control is operated by a heat control button which is linearly movable on the saddle assembly. A reservoir in the housing/handle may be provided with either a spray or a non-spray vent cap.

Abstract: An improved power supply cord connection to an electrically heated flatiron having a permanent connected power supply cord extending vertically from the rear of the flatiron handle permits the cord to frictionally swivel or pivot from front to back along the longitudinal axis of the handle in an elongated slot in the handle between a forward non-interference position when the flatiron is in a multi-point heel rest position and a rearward position preventing cord interference with the work during use of the flatiron.The cord includes a bushing enclosing the cord conductors and an integrally formed enlarged head within the handle straddling the slot and locking the bushing therein. Transverse pivot ribs on the sides of the slot cooperate with notched friction bearing ears on the enlarged bushing end to allow the bushing to pivot between limit stops at the front and rear of the slot.

Abstract: In a portable electric appliance that is cord connected to internal electric terminals by multiple conductors as in an iron, an improved strain relief between the cord and appliance comprises a housing chamber at the cord entrance with a cover over the chamber enclosing the conductors. A formed pocket in the chamber has a straight rear wall and a non-parallel sloped wall both molded as part of the housing and spaced from the rear wall, the two walls angling toward the cord entrance. A boss in the pocket is formed on the rear wall extending toward the sloped wall to define a pair of spaced conductor channels and also a central anchor to secure the cover. A separate barbed wedge-shaped member with barbs directed away from the cord entrance fits between the pocket walls to straddle the boss and slide in the channels.

Abstract: In a conventional iron an improvement is provided in the mode valve subassembly that includes a molded cup-shaped valve housing with an upright closed peripherally extending side wall with a pair of spaced stops, the side wall enclosing a flat bottom wall all mounted within the handle.

Abstract: In a steam iron having a horizontal slot in the upper forward portion of the handle and a temperature control rod with its upper end disposed centrally of the slot, an improvement is provided in the temperature control assembly for operating the rod. A semi-circular crowned disc spring plate is provided with a projection and a depressed hollow recess in the crown surrounds the rod and has an upper annular bearing surface around the recess. The spring plate curves down from the bearing edge to the plate periphery and is fixed in the slot against withdrawal by a projection abutting the inner handle. A generally half-circular polypropylene dial plate support is provided with U-arms straddling the rod and with upper projections on each arm and in the bight of the U for locking the dial support in the handle slot.