Abstract: An arrangement for repairing a backplane assembly having a backplane pin is disclosed. The arrangement includes an actuation assembly having a housing and a biasing mechanism. The arrangement also includes a pin engaging member having a tip for engaging the backplane pin. The pin engaging member is (i) secured to the housing and (ii) mechanically coupled to the biasing mechanism so that the pin engaging member is reciprocally movable relative to the housing between (1) a retracted position in which the tip of the pin engaging member is urged toward the housing and (2) an extended position in which the tip of the pin engaging member is urged away from the housing. An associated method of repairing an electrical assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A steering arm assembly for use with railway car trucks having pivotal frames and brake systems is disclosed. The steering arm assembly has two U-shaped sub-assemblies. Each sub-assembly has two side arms connected by a center arm. The side arms each have vertical open paths between top and bottom holes in their surfaces and open side paths through side access holes in their sidewalls. The open side paths intersect the vertical open paths. The vertical open paths are positioned to be aligned over the brake system brake shoe keys and the side access holes are positioned to be aligned with the side windows in the side frame. When it is desired to remove or replace a brake shoe, the brake shoe key may be moved upwardly through the vertical open path. This movement may be facilitated through use of a tool inserted through the side access hole and open side path in the side arm. A method of changing brake shoe keys and the combination of such a steering arm assembly in a railway car truck is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process is provided for automatically screw-connecting two components using the torque-controlled tightening method, and to a stud and a union nut provided for carrying out the process. Also provided are an automatic fitting machine and a connecting element via which the two components are screw-connected. In order for it to be possible to execute the screw-connection operation quickly and to obtain a secure connection between the two components, the process provides for the connecting element first of all to be pre-tightened with rotary-angle control and then to be tightened definitively with torque control. The connecting element has two same-direction threaded sections of different pitches and each threaded section is screw-connected to one component in each case. The stud for carrying out the process has a screw head for the engagement of a suitable fitting tool, a marking which indicates the angular position of the stud being arranged on the screw head.

Abstract: A method of making thermal shield (20) having a first plate (22) and a second plate (24) with an interior chamber (26) positioned in between. The method includes a seam (40) extending around the periphery of the thermal shield which prevents the ingress of fluid into the interior chamber. The seam is formed to include portions (60 and 72) that extend at least partially, and preferably completely, around the outer surface (56) of a shoulder (54) of the seam. The method may be used to form a seam (40) that is capable of sealing a pressure differential between the interior chamber and the regions surrounding the thermal shield of up to about 40 psi.

Abstract: A cutting knife assembly has a baseboard with a generally planar surface. A cutting knife is detachably connected to the baseboard. The cutting knife extends in a perpendicular direction to the baseboard. The cutting knife circumscribes a knife cavity on the baseboard. At least one elongated cross member is affixed to the cutting knife and extends across the knife cavity. The cross member is mounted to the baseboard by a removable fastener. The cutting knife may then be easily removed from the baseboard and resecured.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for machining workpieces (W1 to W4) by stock removal, in particular the main (a1 to a5) and/or connecting rod bearing journals (b1 to b4) of crankshafts. For this purpose the apparatus is equipped with at least two guideways (7, 8) which are distanced from one another and are arranged parallel with respect to one another and on which at least one workpiece fixture (9, 10) holding a workpiece (W1to W4) each can be moved from a transfer position (P1, P2) to a working position (A1 to A6), and with two discoid cutters (17, 18, 21) of which each can be moved on a cutter guideway (13, 14, 19), which is arranged between the guideways (7, 8), from a first working position (A1, A2, A5) in which it works on the workpiece (W1, W3) held by the first workpiece fixture (9) to a second working position (A3, A4) in which it works on the workpiece (W2, W4) held by the second workpiece fixture (10).

Abstract: A micromachined magnetometer is built from a rotatable micromachined structure on which is deposited a ferromagnetic material magnetized along an axis parallel to the substrate. A structure rotatable about the Z-axis can be used to detect external magnetic fields along the X-axis or the Y-axis, depending on the orientation of the magnetic moment of the ferromagnetic material. A structure rotatable about the X-axis or the Y-axis can be used to detect external magnetic fields along the Z-axis. By combining two or three of these structures, a dual-axis or three-axis magnetometer is obtained.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing the front surface shape of plural magnetic heads precisely in batch in a desired dimension After fixing plural magnetic heads 1, 2 and preliminarily processing curved surfaces along the sliding direction S on a rotary member 4, the curved surfaces Ts along the thickness direction T orthogonal to the sliding direction S of the magnetic heads 1, 2 are formed in batch by finish polishing process by means of abrasive tape or the like.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thin film magnetic head, in which throat height TH of a pole portion and MR height MRH can be formed accurately to have desired design values for improving a surface recording density and reducing a side fringe magnetic flux during a writing, an MR film 46 is formed such that the film is embedded in a shield gap layer formed on a substrate, a first magnetic layer is formed on the shield gap layer, a thin film coil is formed on the first magnetic layer such that the coil is isolated by an insulating layer, and a second magnetic layer is formed in accordance with a given pattern. The gap layer is selectively removed by a reactive ion etching in the vicinity of side walls of a pole portion of the second magnetic layer, and then the first magnetic layer is partially removed by an ion milling to form a recess having an inner side wall which serves as a positional reference. An air bearing surface is polished on the basis of a position of this inner side wall of the recess.

Abstract: A method of producing an electromagnetic coil comprises winding a length of electrically conductive wire about a non-conductive tubular body having electrically conductive pins embedded therein, coupling opposite ends of the wire to the respective pins, and embedding the pins more deeply in the body following the coupling of the opposite ends of the wire to such pins.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for molding and assembling resin parts to produce a resin product, particularly, a resin product that includes relatively moveable functional parts, such as gears, in a manner that enables one by one parts molding and assembling and also enables reduction of manufacturing cost of the resin product.

Abstract: A printed circuit board includes vibration areas where vibration sensitive components of an electrical circuit design fabricated on the printed circuit board are mechanically isolated from supporting circuitry. The present invention provides a printed circuit board with areas having an increased natural resonant frequency of vibration for the circuit board area where the vibration sensitive circuit is located. The printed circuit board comprises a number of slots, holes or other openings around the vibration sensitive circuitry. In addition, one or more circuit board conductive paths are provided for maintaining electrical conductivity between the isolated circuit and the supporting circuits.

Abstract: A hybrid circuit structure that includes a metal substrate, an inorganic electrical insulator layer and at least one inorganic thick-film passive circuit element, such as a thick-film resistor, capacitor or conductor. An interface layer is provided between the insulator layer and the circuit element to prevent the detrimental effects of interlayer diffusion. The composition of the interface layer is selected to prevent the diffusion of constituents from the inorganic insulator layer, and to have a CTE near that of the circuit element to reduce thermal fatigue. As a result, the passive circuit element can be formed of essentially any one of a number of conventional inorganic thick-film materials that are widely used on alumina substrates.

Abstract: Process and device for the contacting of a wire conductor (113) in the course of the manufacture of a transponder unit arranged on a substrate (111) and comprising a wire coil (112) and a chip unit (115), wherein in a first phase the wire conductor (113) is guided away via the terminal area (118, 119) or a region accepting the terminal area and is fixed on the substrate (111) relative to the terminal area (118, 119) or the region assigned to the terminal area, and in a second phase the connection of the wire conductor (113) to the terminal area (118,119) is effected by means of a connecting instrument (125).

Abstract: A fine pitch electrode is provided in which fine electrode lines are disposed at even intervals and with high precision, and which has improved productivity and quality. The fine-pitch electrode 11 comprises a plurality of fine electrode lines 12, each of which is coated around its periphery with a coating film which is made of an electrical insulator, and a sealing member 19 in which a plurality of the fine electrode lines 12 are disposed on a plane and which is molded so as to incorporate the fine electrode lines 12.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing a multilayer microwave board in one operation. Individually etched layers of a laminate, such as duroid, are bonded to form a package and drilled after which the resulting holes are plated. Next, the superfluous connections are removed by drilling during which process each stripline-coax transition buried in the package is tuned by a correct selection of the drill diameter and the hole depth.

Abstract: The present invention aims to obtain a flexible printed wiring board with good flatness. According to the present invention, a copper-clad film 3 is formed by applying a polyamic acid solution on one surface of a copper foil 2 and thermally contracting the polyamic acid layer la so that the other surface of the copper foil 2 may form a convex surface of a curling surface to form a polyimide film 1. A polyamic acid solution is applied on the other surface of the copper foil 2 of the copper-clad film 3, and then the polyamic acid layer 5a is thermally contracted to form a protective film 5, whereby a flexible printed wiring board 10 is obtained.

Abstract: A method for repairing the shroud surfaces of a gas turbine engine to provide corrosion and oxidation resistance of the shroud segments while also restoring the dimensional integrity of the shroud segments. The method entails removing the oxidation and corrosion products from the shroud segment, removing preexisting coating materials, applying a material compatible with the shroud segment substrate material, machining the surface, applying a corrosion-resistant, oxidation-resistant and rub-compliant material to the shroud segment using a HVOF process, machining the shroud segment to preselected dimensions and applying an aluminide coating for improved oxidation and corrosion resistance of the repaired surfaces.

Abstract: A plain blank is sized to produce an airfoil. The blank is plastically formed to include a pocket blending smoothly in one side thereof. Leading and trailing edges of the airfoil are benched. And, filler is placed into the pocket to effect an aerodynamic profile for the airfoil.

Abstract: Cylindrical heat exchangers are typically constructed of a plurality of spiral passageways created by multiple concentric annuluses, with increasing diameters, overlaying one another. Each passageway, however, typically includes a corrugated sheet between such circular layers, and the corrugated sheet acts as an obstruction, thereby decreasing the pressure of an air stream as it passes therethough. The present invention is a cylindrical heat exchanger having a plurality of spiral passageways created by a spirally wound rectangular sheet, wherein the overlapping spiral layers, that are formed by the winding the rectangular sheet, are spaced apart by a plurality of radially aligned dividers. The dividers, along with an open interface layer that is interposed between the spiral layers, maintain the constant gap between the spirals. Therefore, manufacturing the cylindrical heat exchanger with spiral rather than concentric layers improves the process of manufacturing such devices.

Abstract: Guitars have traditionally been manufactured from a variety of wood combinations to produce the best sound possible. The advent of modem day CNC machining has allowed for the construction of a hollow, lightweight, metallic stringed musical instrument body. This body can be constructed as a hollow body or solid body, as are traditional wood guitars, with or without the incorporation of sound amplification devices. This construction technique allows for unlimited body designs and modifications to produce a sound customized for the customer.

Abstract: A method for reinforcing a selected portion of a structural part utilizes a flexible tube having a unexpanded, preferably thermally expandable resin sheath. The sheath may be limited to a selected region along the length of the flexible tube. The flexible tube is inserted through a curved passage and conforms to the geometry of the part to be reinforced. After the portion of the tube having the sheath reaches the desired location, the tube is secured in place. Upon heating, the resin expands to several times its original volume and fills the structural cavity only at that region.

Abstract: The method for enhancing the capacity of a rigging truck includes cutting the vehicle body of the rigging truck between a rear end and a lift end to produce a rear cut end and a lift cut end, and attaching a structural insert between the rear cut end and the lift cut end providing an extended vehicle body having an enhanced body length greater than the original body length producing an enhanced rigging truck. The method further includes the addition of metal plating to the vehicle body to strengthen the vehicle body. The method also includes connecting additional counterweights at the rear end of the enhanced rigging truck to provide an increased weight. Vertical support beams and a cross beam are attached on the upper portion of the vehicle body and over the operator seat. A hydraulic cylinder is connected between the cross beam and the mast over the occupant seat to allow tilting of the mast with respect to the rigging truck.

Abstract: A ball-nut transmission in which each of the balls used for transferring drive between a shaft member and a nut member are encapsulated between a hemispherical cavity formed in one of the members and a helical groove provided in the other of the members.

Abstract: A safety razor blade unit includes a hair pulling member (7) located immediately in front of the cutting edge of a blade (6), the hair pulling member (7) having slots (10) through which the hairs pass defined by a series of elements (9). The edges of the elements (9) which define the slots (10) are formed to notch the hairs as they pass through the slots, and trailing end portions (14) of the elements (9) are inclined to guide the hairs to follow a path for pulling the hairs from the skin just before they are cut through by the blade.

Abstract: A utility knife handle including a housing with an interior cavity that houses a locking mechanism, a blade storage area, and a blade carriage mechanism. The locking mechanism includes a biased locking member that is slidably provided within a first housing portion and an engagement member provided on a second housing portion pivotally connected to the first housing portion. The housing has a closed position in which the locking member is engaged with the engagement member and an open position in which the locking member is slid out of engagement with the engagement member and the first and second housing portions are rotated to allow access to the interior cavity of the housing. The blade storage area includes a blade receiving portion with a magnet therein for holding stored blade within the blade storage area. The blade carriage mechanism has a blade carriage slidably disposed within the interior cavity of the housing and adjustable to a plurality of distinct locked positions.

Abstract: A dust collector-equipped power cutter includes a prime mover, a cutter, a dust-sucking fan, and a belt-driven power transmission mechanism for transmitting rotation from the prime mover to the cutting disk and to the dust-sucking fan. The belt-driven power transmission mechanism is constructed such that the rotation of the prime mover is transmitted through a single belt to a cutter-driving pulley for the cutting disk and to a fan-driving pulley for the dust-sucking fan.

Abstract: A knife has an elongated handle having a front end, a longitudinally extending flat blade secured in the handle, projecting from the front end, and having a transverse front edge and a longitudinally extending side cutting edge meeting at a point, and a blade guard longitudinally displaceable on the handle between an outer extended position projecting longitudinally outward of the point and a retracted position exposing the point. A guard spring braced between the guard and the handle urges the guard into the extended position. A button is transversely displaceable on the handle between an actuated and an unactuated position and interengageable formations on the button and on the guard prevent movement of the guard from the extended into the retracted position in the unactuated position of the button.

Abstract: A reciprocating saw 11 with a keyless blade clamp 35 having a slotted-channel 37 in a clamp body 39 for receiving a blade 40 alternatively in first and second, intersecting cutting planes. The blade 40 may be alternatively oriented in four 90° offset orientations with the blade teeth facing in the same directions as the top, bottom, left and right side of the saw 11. When the retainer 53 is in the clamp disengaged position, a blade 40 may be slidably inserted and removed from the channel 37 in any of the four 90° offset orientations. A retainer 53 is located in a track 51 in the clamp body 39 and is movable between clamp engaged and disengaged positions. When the blade 40 is located in the first cutting plane, the retainer 53 engages the edge 55 of the blade. When the blade 40 is in the second cutting plane, the retainer 53 engages the sidewall 57 of the blade 40.

Abstract: This invention relates to the planarization of inductive components by reducing standard coiled designs to single turn designs from which the required parameters are obtained by scaling the length. Single turn designs having magnetic material encircling the conductors along their full length enable the thinnest form. The single turn form also enables the inductive component to be routed according to any shape in the plane or on any conformal surface. The single turn inductors do not need to coil hence there is no overlap necessary in the plane. The planar form allows integration of inductive components with integrated circuits. These inductive components can be embedded in other materials. They can also be fabricated directly onto parts. The differential current transformer by virtue of its fabrication next to a capacitive pick-off enables the preservation of the purity of the signal obtained by taking signal differences close to the transducer and minimizing pick-up from leads.

Abstract: A scribe/guide tool used as a compass and to layout stair stringers. The tool is also used in conjunction with a straightedge or a rule to function as a compass, and is most often used in pairs. A scribe means is removably inserted into the body of the tool. The tool includes a clamping means with smooth surfaces to affix the scribe/guide tool to another cooperating tool. A clamp element is moved up and down relative to the main body via a screw drive. Position indicating edges of the main body of the tool are tapered to a very narrow point to reduce the possibility of accumulated error when marking a workpiece with the tool as a guide.

Abstract: Day and night weapon sights have a sight element which includes a rod-shaped light guide, and a self-luminescent capsule integrally co-located within an end of the light guide. Preferably, the light guide is formed of a rod-shaped fluorescently dyed transparent plastics material and the self-luminescent capsule includes a radioactive luminescent source (e.g., tritium).

Abstract: An axle alignment system includes a transmitter, reflectors, and an indicator area. The transmitter transmits signals, preferably laser beams, to each reflector. Signals received by the reflectors attached to the end of the axles are reflected at a predetermined angle and direction to be viewed on an indicator area. The indicator area receives the redirected signals from each reflector and provides a visual illustration of the relationship between the suspension axle and another suspension part such as the suspension subframe siderails. Accordingly, the angularity of the axles relative to the siderails may be adjusted such that each of the reflected signals are displayed simultaneously on a reference marker. Once the reflected signals are aligned with respect to the reference marker, the axles are assured to be in accurate alignment.

Abstract: A portable cartridge loading apparatus for holding, locating, and individually dispensing electrical junction boxes. The apparatus includes a positioning apparatus for locating the loader on a predetermined building element or stud. The apparatus has devices to locate each junction box in a predetermined depth and height location on each wall, at least two different height locations. The different height installation of each junction box is achieved without setting any other location device, other than repositioning the loading device in a second attitude on the building element or stud.

Abstract: A measuring tag for releasable securement to a garment belt to facilitate the cutting of the belt to a desired size. The belt has a buckle including a throat for releasably clamping a first end of the belt to it. The tag is an elongated planar member whose periphery includes a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of longitudinally extending side edge. The top edge has an ear folded back over itself to form a socket having a stop surface against which a first end portion of the belt abuts. The ear and the first end of the belt are releasably received in the throat of the buckle. The measuring tag also includes a surface, e.g., the rear, on which measuring indicia are provided. That indicia is a longitudinally extending size chart including a pair of side-by-side rulers showing belt sizes in inches and pant sizes in inches.

Abstract: The device that has been invented, sprays water into and around a windrow of hay evenly adding moisture to dry alfalfa to allow for baling at moistures above 14% and below 18%, reducing the losses of leaves due to shatter.

Abstract: A dehydration plant for dehydrating food products, including a microwave kiln (2), conveyor means (3) for conveying food products through the kiln (2), circulation means (21, 6) for circulating air through the kiln (2), refrigerated dehumidification means (7, 11) for dehumidifying the air to be circulated through the kiln (2), and heating means (12, 13, 14) for heating the air to be circulated through the kiln (2) such that food products conveyed through the kiln (2) are exposed to both microwave emissions and the flow of dehumidified heated air to thereby dehydrate the food products.

Abstract: A method for operating a drying device which includes at least two chambers provided with bottoms for bulk material to be dried, and a means for supplying and discharging a gaseous medium to and from each chamber and wherein the bulk material is partially dried by the gaseous medium and is then transported from a first to a second chamber. The energy increase brought about by the energy supplied to the chamber by the gaseous medium, and the energy given out by the bulk material is determined for each chamber, after which the amount of moisture that has evaporated from the bulk material is determined on the basis of the energy increase and the amount of moisture expected to be present in the bulk material discharged from the device is determined on the basis of the difference between the amount of moisture present in the bulk material introduced into the device and the amount of moisture that has evaporated.

Abstract: A grain dryer includes a wall assembly having (i) an inner wall and an outer wall which defines a grain flow path therebetween, and (ii) a discharge slot defined in the wall assembly through which grain may flow. The grain dryer further includes a grain shelf floor positioned relative to the wall assembly such that grain flowing through the discharge slot advances onto the grain shelf floor, the grain shelf floor has a hopper opening defined therein.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dehydrating solid products containing moisture, particularly food products, includes a hot gas stream device for creating a hot gas stream over the products to be dehydrated and an ultrasonic wave emitting system for directing ultrasonic waves over the products. The dehydrating apparatus includes a closed housing and at least one conveyor mounted in the housing for transporting the products. The ultrasonic wave emitting system includes a plurality of ultrasonic diffusing plates which are connected to sound wave generators and are in direct contact with the products.

Abstract: A skate with improved comfort, comprising a frame for supporting two or more wheels, with which a shoe is associated. The shoe has openings which are connected to the outside or to a vapor-permeable surface, and an innerboot, or upper, which comprises a phase-change material that releases or absorbs heat in preset temperature ranges.

Abstract: The shoe has a sole which has a ball section and a heel, the heel having an open middle section under the heel of the foot which is bridged by a bridging element. The bridging element is rigid. The open middle section of the heel can reach as far as the front edge of the heel so that this is U- or C-shaped. The edge section of the bridging element can overlap with the inner edge of the heel. The ball section of the sole can be separated from the heel so that both are connected to the upper part of the shoe without being directly connected to each other, or the bridging element can reach as far as the ball section and overlaps with approximately one third of this.

Abstract: An insole assembly for a shoe or other article of footwear. The assembly includes a soft, cushioning foam blank having an upper surface which is contoured to engage the plantar surface of a foot, and a thin, substantially rigid, resiliently flexible cap which is mounted to the bottom of the blank so as to extend around the heel end and forwardly along the medial and lateral sides thereof. The rigid cap includes an upstanding wall which engages and buttresses the perimeter of the foam blank, and a series of medial and lateral flanges which extend across and support the bottom of the blank. The flanges are configured to cooperate with the foam blank to define zones of support in specific areas, with the maximum support and rigidity being provided for the rearfoot and midfoot areas of the foot.

Abstract: Boot of the type including a rigid frame including of at least one rigid sole portion and a heel reinforcement affixed to the sole, and including an upper that is at least partially flexible, wherein it includes a part forming a cover that takes the shape of at least a portion of the rigid frame and is intended to is pulled on over at least the portion of the frame, the cover being equipped with connecting elements to the rigid frame. Advantageously, the boot includes a liner affixed to the part forming the cover, the outer wall of the liner constituting the inner wall of the part forming the cover.

Abstract: A snow shoe (1) includes a tubular frame (2) defining an interior zone. A deck (4) which is surrounded by the frame is made in part of a film (3). A binding (7) retained on the deck for securing the boot of the user. A central technical bottom piece (15) enhances the traction and floatation properties, as well as the comfort of the snowshoe (1). The central technical bottom piece (15) which is arranged along the central portion of the tubular frame (2) includes a traction surface having lateral longitudinal traction portions (18a, 18b) extending vertically from the frame (2), in this manner, the traction characteristics in the transverse direction are enhanced. The traction portions (18a, 18b) may comprise lateral walls, spikes, blades, or the like. The traction portions (18a, 18b) extend in the downward direction from the outer edge of the snowshoe rather than from the middle areas of the snowshoe (1) to increase the comfort of the shoe (1).

Abstract: A cleat for athletic shoes which provides a sole attachment member; a hub having a planar upper portion for contacting the shoe sole, a rounded lower portion for bearing weight of the user, and an edge; and resilient traction elements. The resilient elements are made up of an outward band extending from the periphery of the upper portion of the hub, an inner band extending from the periphery of the lower portion of the hub, a bottom band, a top band, and a space bordered by the outer band, the inner band, the bottom band and the top band. When the user is walking on soft surfaces, the traction elements provide traction and the lower portion of the hub does not bear weight. When the user is walking on hard surfaces, the resilient traction elements bend outwardly allowing the hub to contact the walking surface and bear weight. This allows for longer life of the traction elements as well as uniform contact.

Abstract: A method and compact portable system for excavating a two-soldier fighting position is disclosed in which the method includes using a material-retention type auger to bore a plurality of spaced hollow recesses to a desired depth, placing prepared explosive charges in each bored recess, detonating the explosive charges using a remotely operable detonation device to loosen the soil in the defined pattern, removing the loosened soil, and finalizing the interior walls of the structure. The system is compact and lightweight designed to be stored within a confined carrying pack volume and features a bucket-type, hollow auger system including handle extensions capable of being quickly assembled to bore clean holes in the earth, a plurality of explosive charges, the explosive charges being stored in canisters of a size to fit into the hollow auger bit and holes bored by the auger, means for connecting to and remotely detonating the binary charges in each of the canisters.

Abstract: A coupler device for adapting a variety of excavator apparatuses to engage a variety of excavating buckets. The coupler device has a mounting plate, a connecting device for connecting the mounting plate to the excavator apparatus, and a device for connecting the mounting plate to the excavating bucket. The device connecting the mounting plate to the excavator apparatus may include a plurality of holes adapted to fit a variety of excavator apparatuses. The device for connecting the mounting plate to the excavating bucket may include a front hook, a rear hook, and a device moving the rear hook with respect to the front hook to adapt to a variety of excavating buckets. The device for moving the rear hook may include a captured bolt threaded through a cast box support that is attached to the slidable plate.

Abstract: A steam ironing station includes a steam iron; a steam generator supplying steam to the steam iron; an iron heater disposed in the iron and having an iron heater circuit connectable to a line voltage; a temperature responsive device for opening the iron heater circuit when a predetermined ironing temperature is reached; and a steam generator heater disposed in the steam generator and having first and second steam heater circuits connectable to the line voltage. The electric power, supplied simultaneously by the iron heater circuit and by the first steam heater circuit to the steam ironing station has a maximum value of the rated power of the line voltage, and the electric power supplied solely by the second steam heater circuit to the steam ironing station has a maximum value of the rated power and a greater value than the power supplied by the first steam heater circuit.

Abstract: The present invention is a cover for an ironing board that includes a top sheet, a pad of substantially the same size as the top sheet attached to the bottom surface of the top sheet, and a skirt attached about the periphery of the top sheet. The skirt has at least one nose portion, at least two side portions extending rearwardly from the nose portion, and at least one heel portion extending rearwardly from the respective side portions. The skirt also has an adjustable draw cord housed within a hem formed within the skirt. Preferably, the draw cord exits adjacent the heel portion. The cover of the present invention also has at least one cinch that has a first and a second element. Each element has two ends. The respective first ends of the first element and second element are each attached to corresponding and opposing inner edges of the two side portions of the skirt.