Abstract: The invention is directed to an electric pressing iron having a pressing iron body portion made of silicon containing cast aluminum and equipped with an electric heating unit and with a plate-shaped soleplate made of low-silicon aluminum and secured to the pressing iron body portion in a heat-conducting relationship thereto. In order to utilize the advantages of good formability and thermal conductivity afforded by the aluminum soleplate while at the same time obtaining high corrosion and wear resistance and excellent hardness characteristics with reasonable economy of manufacture, it is proposed providing the soleplate with a nickel and/or chromium containing coating applied by electrodeposition to the soleplate to a thickness of more than 40 &mgr;m, said coating being structured to increase progressively in hardness outwardly towards the ironing side of the aluminum soleplate. Furthermore, the invention is directed to a method of manufacturing such an electric pressing iron.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a steam iron with a water reservoir for the supply of water to an evaporation chamber in which the fed water is convertible into steam and which is connectable to at least one first and one second steam discharge port (18, 15), with a heating element (14) for heating both the evaporation chamber and a soleplate (1-12, 46), said soleplate having an ironing surface (39) and a nose (20) at its forward end when viewed in the direction of movement, and said first steam discharge port (18) being arranged in such close proximity to the iron's nose (20) that the steam propagates in the area adjacent to the iron's nose (20). The first and the second steam discharge port (18, 15) are formed in the soleplate (1-12, 46) such as to be at a height of less than 10 mm relative to the ironing surface (39). Further, the first and the second steam discharge port (18, 15) are in balanced pressure communication with each other. Provision is made for distinct steaming and drying zones.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a smoothing iron having a shoe and a soleplate, in which the shoe and the soleplate are joined to each other by an adhesive. The spacing between the shoe and the soleplate varies across the shoe. The space between the shoe and the soleplate is filled with the adhesive. No prior mechanical treatment or heating of the shoe and/or the soleplate is required.