Abstract: A heating element and a method of manufacturing the heating element including an aluminum substrate, an electrically insulating layer based on a sol-gel precursor, and an electrically resistive layer with a thickness smaller than 2 ?m. The features of this heating element solve the problem of the crack formation due to a mismatch of thermal expansion coefficient of the aluminum substrate and the resistive layer. Also an electrical domestic appliance including the heating element.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ironing shoe (10) comprising a garment contact surface (15) and having a means for accommodating a garment care agent such as an anti microbial agent, wherein accommodating the means is formed at least by the garment contact surface accommodating the garment care agent, which garment contact surface is capable of transferring the garment care agent to a piece of garment. By contacting the garment contact surface with the piece of garment, as is done during ironing, the agent is transferred to the garment. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing an ironing shoe.

Abstract: The invention relates to an iron (1) comprising a soleplate (3) having a garment-contact surface (5) and having a means for accommodating an antimicrobial agent. By contacting the garment-contact surface with the piece of garment, as is being done during ironing, the antibacterial agent is transferred to the garment. The antimicrobial agent is disposed on the garment by simply placing the iron on the garment and moving it over the garment surface. The garment stays fresher for a longer period of time. The invention further relates to a soleplate, a steam ironing device and methods of manufacturing an iron and a soleplate, respectively.

Abstract: The invention relates to an iron (1) comprising a soleplate (3) having a garment-contact surface (5) and having a means for accommodating an antimicrobial agent. By contacting the garment-contact surface with the piece of garment, as is being done during ironing, the antibacterial agent is transferred to the garment. The antimicrobial agent is disposed on the garment by simply placing the iron on the garment and moving it over the garment surface. The garment stays fresher for a longer period of time. The invention further relates to a soleplate, a steam ironing device and methods of manufacturing an iron and a soleplate, respectively.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ironing shoe (10) comprising a garment contact surface (15) and having a means for accommodating a garment care agent such as an anti microbial agent, wherein accommodating the means is formed at least by the garment contact surface accommodating the garment care agent, which garment contact surface is capable of transferring the garment care agent to a piece of garment. By contacting the garment contact surface with the piece of garment, as is done during ironing, the agent is transferred to the garment. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing an ironing shoe.

Abstract: An ironing shoe comprising a laminate having at least one laminate opening and a laminate periphery similar to a sole periphery of a sole plate of an iron, the sole plate having a sole plate surface, the laminate comprising a heat insulating layer having a sole contact surface for making contact with the sole plate surface of the iron and a heat transfer layer having a garment contact surface for ironing. The shoe can comprise a fastening means in the form of a protrusion, the protrusion and the heat insulating layer being made of the same material. The heat insulating layer can have an edge rib alone at least a part of its periphery to reduce the leakage of steam.

Abstract: Disclosed is a layer for use in a domestic appliance, based on a sol-gel precursor. This layer can be obtained by screen-printing and comprises an organosilane compound. The layer is obtained from a concentrated pre-polymerized sol-gel precursor. The layer can be used as an insulating layer or as a conductive layer in a heating element. Furthermore, the layer can be used for decorative purposes.

Abstract: A heating element includes an electrically insulating layer and an electrically conductive layer. At least the electrically conductive layer is based on a hybrid sol-gel precursor including an organosilane compound.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heating element comprising an aluminum substrate, an electrically insulating layer based on a sol-gel precursor, and an electrically resistive layer with a thickness smaller than 2 ?m. The features of this heating element solve the problem of the crack formation due to a mismatch of thermal expansion coefficient of the aluminum substrate and the resistive layer. Also disclosed is an electrical domestic appliance comprising the heating element of the invention.

Abstract: An ironing shoe (202) comprising a laminate (204) having at least one laminate opening (215) and a laminate periphery similar to a sole periphery of a sole plate (203) of an iron (201), the sole plate having a sole plate surface (210), the laminate comprising a heat insulating layer (205) having a sole contact surface (206) for making contact with the sole plate surface of the iron and a heat transfer layer (207) having a garment contact surface (208) for ironing. After mounting the ironing shoe according to the invention to the iron, the sole contact surface of the heat insulating layer is in contact with the sole plate surface of the iron. The sole contact surface and the garment contact surface of the heat transfer layer are turned away from each other. During mounting and unmounting of the shoe, as well as during ironing, the garment contact surface of the heat transfer layer is not in direct contact with the sole plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical element comprising a substrate which is provided with a transparent layer comprising an organic polymer network and one or more photochromic compounds, in which the transmission of the optical element in the visible wavelength range changes in response to a variation of incident light, while the transparent layer comprising photochromic compounds is provided with a protective coating on the side remote from the substrate side.