Abstract: In a steam iron an improvement is provided comprising a separate molded plastic baffle that is inserted from the bottom of the tank into the riser portion, the baffle having a transverse vertical wall extending completely across the tank. To the vertical wall, an integral horizontal wall is cantilevered on one side to provide a stop by abutting the underside of the tank top when inserted from the bottom. A pair of vertical channels is offset from the vertical wall on the other side thereof and the channels extend into the riser portion being spaced to provide an opening for handle-mounted components including the dump rod, the channels being designed to direct water into the tank. A slanted and offset aperture in the vertical wall for guiding ribs around it, the aperture providing a supported guide for the low end of the rod.

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.

Abstract: A steam iron is disclosed having a water tank, steam generating soleplate, a guided water valve to start and stop water to the soleplate for steam generation, and a dumper valve in the bottom of the tank to suddenly empty the tank onto the soleplate to purge and clean the iron. To this conventional structure an improvement provides a unitary assembly of the dumper valve that includes a first smoothly continuous tubular member with its upper end connected to the bottom of the tank and its lower end extended below the tank towards the soleplate. Cooperating with this is a second smoothly continuous concentric tubular member telescopically disposed frictionally with the first member so the two tubes are pushed and locked together. Each of the members has an inwardly directed flange at one end and at the opposite end from the other so that the flanges define reduced openings at the upper and lower tubular ends.

Abstract: A steam iron having an interior water tank and steam generating soleplate with a loop-shaped heating element therein and steam ports in the soleplate. An improvement in steam generating capacity is provided of a main generator inside the loop fed by a metering water valve and directly connected to first distributing passage means supplying steam to the ports. A separate soleplate generator is supplied separately from the main generator on the outside of the loop and a second circuitous separate passage means extends generally parallel to and over the heating element with the separate passage means being completely separate from the distributing passage and later connecting to it.