Abstract: A steam generating apparatus includes a boiler for receiving water to be heated and an opening in a wall of the boiler. The opening is closable by a closing device. The steam generating apparatus also includes a steam duct for conducting steam generated in the boiler to a steam applying device such as an iron. A by-pass duct for by-passing the steam duct is provided for discharging steam from the boiler to the iron.

Abstract: An icemaker includes a body including an ice mode for receiving water and freezing water to ice. The ice mold has a first side surface, a second side surface and an arcuate bottom surface indisposed between the first side surface and the second side surface. An ice ejector including an ejector member is rotatably connected to the body. The ice ejector defines an axis of rotation. A drive mechanism is operably coupled to the ice ejector. The drive mechanism is configured to reversibly rotate the ice ejector between a first position and a second position. A first cover is fixedly connected to the body for at least partially covering a front portion of the ice mold. A second cover is connected to one of the ice ejector and the body. The second cover is configured to reversibly rotate with the ice ejector between the first position and a third position. The second cover at least partially covers a back portion of the ice mold at the first position.

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: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of nano structured silicon thin film using radio frequency (rf) plasma discharge useful for light emitting devices such as light emitting diode, laser etc. The present invention shows the possibility of precise control of the nanocrystal size of silicon and its uniform distribution without doping using plasma processing for obtaining efficient photoluminescence at room temperature. Process developed to deposit the photo luminescent nano structured silicon thin films using plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition technique can find use in electroluminescence devices like light emitting diodes (LEDs), LASER etc. This could also be advantageous for integration of silicon photonic devices with the existing silicon microelectronic technology.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a steam generating apparatus (50) comprising a boiler (52) for receiving water to be heated, an opening (54, 126) in a wall of the boiler, the opening being closable by closing means (56, 128, 136), and a steam duct (58) for conducting steam generated in the boiler (52) to steam applying means (60), wherein a by-pass duct (62, 130) by-passing the steam duct (58) is provided for discharging steam from the boiler (52) to the steam applying means (60). The present invention further relates to a method of operating a steam generating apparatus (50).

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: A system iron comprises an iron and a base that has a receiving area for receiving the iron. The base comprises a fastening device for fastening the iron to the base. The fastening device includes a first engagement member and a second engagement member arranged at mutually opposite sides of the receiving area. At least one of the engagement members is displaceable in a direction away from the other engagement member and is biased towards the other engagement member. With such a fastening device, a user can safely and conveniently lock the iron to the base using just one of his hands for gripping the main grip portion of the iron.

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: An ironing board for multifunctional use comprising a base (1), a body (5) with a work surface (6), which body has a first longitudinal axis (I-I) and is connected to the base. A column (7) extends between the body and the base, the column having a second longitudinal axis (II-II) and a tilting means. The tilting means is arranged for tilting the body about a tilting axis (T-T) extending substantially perpendicularly to both the first axis and the second axis. A system comprises such an ironing board and an iron for cooperation with the ironing board. The invention further relates to a method for refreshing an article and a method for pressing an article.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling access to data communication applications is disclosed. According to the method, the DNS names of the servers of the data communication applications are identified. The identified DNS names are used to determine the IP addresses of the servers. Furthermore, the identified IP addresses are used to control access to the data communication applications for the requests going to the servers of the data communication applications.

Abstract: An ironing system (500) comprises an iron (510) with a soleplate (512) comprising an induction heatable material. The ironing system (500) further comprises a unit (520, 530) that includes at least one induction coil (540) and a device (550). The induction coil (540) charges the iron (510) whereas the device (550) detects the temperature of the soleplate (512) by sensing a change in current flowing through the induction coil (540) or by sensing a change in voltage across the induction coil (540). The current or voltage changes as self inductance of the induction coil (540) changes with magnetic permeability of the soleplate (512) as a function of its temperature. The device (550) switches the induction coil (540) on or off depending on the detected temperature.

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: A soleplate (101) comprises a metallic layer (102), a non-ferromagnetic layer (104) and a ferromagnetic layer (103) sandwiched between the metallic layer (102) and non-ferromagnetic layer (104). The soleplate (101) is used in an induction heating-based cordless iron (100). The electromagnetic field from an induction coil (109) located in a stand (108), where the iron rests and gets charged, can pass beyond the non-ferromagnetic layer (104) and heat the ferromagnetic layer (103) efficiently. The non-ferromagnetic layer (104) that is forming an ironing plate ensures a uniform heat transfer to the metallic layer (102) for good steaming performance for effective cordless ironing.

Abstract: An icemaker includes a body including an ice mode for receiving water and freezing water to ice. The ice mold has a first side surface, a second side surface and an arcuate bottom surface indisposed between the first side surface and the second side surface. An ice ejector including an ejector member is rotatably connected to the body. The ice ejector defines an axis of rotation. A drive mechanism is operably coupled to the ice ejector. The drive mechanism is configured to reversibly rotate the ice ejector between a first position and a second position. A first cover is fixedly connected to the body for at least partially covering a front portion of the ice mold. A second cover is connected to one of the ice ejector and the body. The second cover is configured to reversibly rotate with the ice ejector between the first position and a third position. The second cover at least partially covers a back portion of the ice mold at the first position.

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: A valve assembly for a clothes treating apparatus operable in a dry cleaning process and a water washing process includes a valve inlet, and first and second valve outlets coupled in flow communication with the valve inlet. The apparatus includes a cabinet, and a wash tub and a storage tank positioned within the cabinet. The valve inlet is configured to be coupled in flow communication with the wash tub. The valve assembly also includes a first valve and a second valve configured to respectively control the flow through the first valve outlet and the second valve outlet. The first valve is configured to channel liquid from the wash tub outward through the first valve outlet in the water washing process, and the second valve is configured to channel liquid from the wash tub outward through the second valve outlet in the dry cleaning process.

Abstract: An FM broadcast transmitter transmits a broadcast signal having a carrier at a broadcast frequency and sidebands, able to be transmitted at full power, within a transmission bandwidth around the carrier. It includes a source of a modulated FM stereo signal having a carrier at the broadcast frequency and having sidebands with a bandwidth less than the transmission bandwidth representing a stereo signal. It also includes a source of a modulated in-band-on-channel (IBOC) signal, having carrier pulses spaced relative to each other to represent the IBOC digital data signal encoded as a variable pulse width encoded signal, and a bandwidth within the transmission bandwidth not overlapping the FM stereo signal sidebands. A signal combiner combines the modulated FM stereo signal and the modulated IBOC signal to form the broadcast signal.

Abstract: An asynchronous transfer mode digital document delivery system is provided. A customer premise unit is configured to permit a customer to order and receive a data stream. A buffer is coupled to the customer premise unit to store the data stream before transmitting the data stream to a customer. A server includes digital documents stored thereon for delivery to customers through a switched ATM network. A control mechanism is employed to control a data rate of the data stream between the server and the buffer to ensure maintenance of a steady data stream from the customer premise unit to a customer during a loss of a physical layer between the server and the customer premise unit.