Abstract: An electrical connector, into which a male plug, having an insulation base, a metal housing covering the base and a connection space therebetween, may be inserted in a bidirectional manner. The connector includes a plastic base, a tongue, a connection slot and two rows of connection points. The tongue is projectingly disposed at a front end of the plastic base. The slot disposed at the front end of the plastic base covers the tongue. When the plug is inserted and positioned within the slot, the tongue is inserted into the connection space. The connection points are exposed from two surfaces of the tongue. Each connection point is electrically connected to a pin extending out of the plastic base. Spaces of the slot beside the two surfaces of the tongue allow the plug to be bidirectionally inserted and positioned. When the plug is positioned within the slot, the metal housing does not touch the connection point to avoid a short circuit as the plug is inserted.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a two-way plug which can be inserted into a connection port regardless of the orientation of the plug. The two-way plug includes a rectangular frame, a hard substrate and four connection terminals. The rectangular frame is inserted into a connection port such that the rectangular frame is supported by the connection port. The substrate is disposed in a central portion of the rectangular frame. The four connection terminals are formed on each of the two surfaces of the substrate to form a symmetrical structure. Regardless of the orientation of the rectangular frame inserted into the connection port, the four connection terminals formed on one surface of the substrate are each connected to one of four connection pins provided in the connection port, and the four connection terminals formed on the other surface of the substrate are prevented from coming into contact with a tension pin provided in the connection port.

Abstract: A heating element for a film-sealing apparatus comprises a heating wire segment formed of a first metal having a first reflectance to laser radiation of a predetermined wavelength. The heating element further comprises a first conductor lead comprising a wire having one end joined to a first end of the heating wire segment, and a second conductor lead comprising a wire having one end joined to a second end of the heating wire segment. The first and second conductor leads have a lower electrical resistance than the heating wire segment, and are formed of a second metal having a second reflectance to laser radiation of the predetermined wavelength, the second reflectance being higher than the first reflectance. Each of the first and second conductor leads is lap-welded to the respective end of the heating wire segment using laser radiation of the predetermined wavelength.

Abstract: An arrangement including an electric iron having a water tank, a steam chamber, and valve for controlling the water flow from the water tank to the steam chamber, a stand for supporting the iron, an electrical connector, and a locking mechanism for locking the connector to the stand or to the iron. When the cordless mode is selected, the electrical connector remains attached to the stand while the iron is detached therefrom, and when the corded mode is selected the connector remains attached to the iron while the iron is detachable from the stand. The arrangement is provided with an actuator acting on the valve for obtaining a higher maximum water flow rate in the corded mode than in the cordless mode. The actuator may be a spring-loaded push rod arranged in the iron, one end thereof cooperating with the connector and the other end thereof cooperating with the valve.

Abstract: A chip or die attachment process and related apparatus, in which a desired quantity of solder (7 or 17) is dispensed onto each, in turn, of a number of desired locations on a substrate (4 or 18), and then an integrated-circuit chip (10) is precisely positioned at each location immediately after the solder is dispensed at that location. Hot gas heaters are used both to heat the solder (7 or 17) as it is dispensed onto the substrate (4 or 18), and to heat the integrated-circuit chip (10) and to reflow the solder beneath the chip. In one form of the invention, the solder is dispensed from a wire spool (1) and melted in position on the substrate (4). Alternatively, the solder is dispensed as a drop (16) from a liquid solder reservoir (13).

Abstract: An electrical component having a small electrically isolating ceramic plate carrying on one of its faces a screened resistive and/or conductive pattern, the other face being in contact with a metal plate intended to be heated or the temperature of which is to be measured. The pattern has at least one metallized extremity to establish an electrical connection with a conductive wire. The conductive wire is soldered onto the metallized extremity and the small ceramic plate is entirely covered by a metal cover the peripheral edges of which surround the small plate and are fixed in a watertight manner to the metal plate by a resin. The lateral wall of the cover has at least one opening for the passage of the conductive wire or wires, the opening or openings being blocked by a sealing resin.

Abstract: An electric iron having electrical terminals connected to an electrical power cord. At least one of the terminals extends through a slot in a heat insulating skirt at the rear of the soleplate. The terminal substantially blocks the slot. The terminal also has a narrow neck section above the slot The terminal is twisted or bent at the narrow neck section to prevent the terminal from being pushed back through the slot.

Abstract: A switch actuator for an electric iron comprises a one-piece member with a first end stationarily connected to the housing of an iron and a second end adapted to be depressed by a user. The second end extends through an aperture in the housing. The second end is located in front of a control switch of the iron inside the housing. The second end has a transparent section to transmit light from a signal light inside of the housing to outside of the housing. The first end of the member is interlockingly captured by a receiving area of the housing without use of additional fasteners.

Abstract: A steam iron having a soleplate, a housing, an electric cord extending into the housing through a bushing pivotably mounted to the housing, and a retaining member mounted to the housing. The retaining member has a first section with a snap-off rib that forms a strain relief with the housing for the electric cord. The retaining member also has a second section with a curved portion that forms part of the pivotable connection of the electric cord bushing to the housing. A third section of the retaining member is a cantilevered arm that holds an electronic module against the housing.

Abstract: A steam iron having a soleplate, a housing, an electric cord extending into the housing through a bushing pivotably mounted to the housing, and a retaining member mounted to the housing. The retaining member has a first section with a snap-off rib that forms a strain relief with the housing for the electric cord. The retaining member also has a second section with a curved portion that forms part of the pivotable connection of the electric cord bushing to the housing. A third section of the retaining member is a cantilevered arm that holds an electronic module against the housing.

Abstract: Pressing iron comprising a casing (1), a pressing sole (2) comprising a heating resistance (3) which is embedded in the sole (2) and whose ends (4, 5) project from the upper surface of the sole (2) in the rear region of the iron. A thermal shield (7) is interposed between the upper surface of the sole and the casing, and is maintained on the sole by fasteners. Securement structure of the thermal shield (7) comprises, in the forward portion of the sole, an anchoring member (9) for the shield (7) to the sole (2) and, in the rear portion of the sole, a hooking device (10) for the shield (7) on the projecting ends (4, 5) of the resistance (3).

Abstract: To accommodate user preferences, an electric pressing iron has a cord guard partly confined within a chamber in the body of the iron that is rotatable into positions in which it extends vertically upwardly, to one side of the iron, or the other side of the iron. Detents formed by confronting surfaces on the iron body frictionally retain the cord guard in the desired position. To enhance the stability of the iron when in an upright orientation, its rear cover has outwardly and rearwardly extending flanges surrounding a recessed center panel. These flanges include side flanges having wavy rearmost edges that further contribute to the stability of the iron.

Abstract: A garment iron including a rear face to which there is releasably attached a cord reel. The cord reel includes a catch to retain it in its position mounted on the rear face. The cord reel is hollow so as to provide a cavity which receives a beaker which may be used to deliver water to the water reservoir of the iron. During use, the cord reel and beaker are removed from the rear face so that the iron may be vertically oriented, resting on its rear face.

Abstract: A steam iron, particularly of the so called "drop-by-drop" type, where in order to cause an instantaneous steam production, the water which is contained in a reservoir (11) incorporated in the iron falls drop-by-drop into a vaporization chamber (2) provided in the inner side of the sole plate (1) of the iron in registry with the heating resistance of the sole plate (1), the so-generated steam being conveyed outwards through holes (7) in the sole plate (1). The iron is constituted by two parts (1,10) which are releasably fastened to each other by a latching device. One of the parts forms the body (10) of the iron, with the handle (110), the water reservoir (11), a portion of the latch, and the portion of the electrical connector with the diverting lug, while the other part forms the sole plate (1) of the iron with the electrical resistance, vaporization chamber (2), another portion of the latch, and the other portion of the electrical connector with the gate.

Abstract: A steam iron having a protection circuit which is located in a detachable back cover. The back cover can be detached from the iron to allow substitution of an inoperative protection circuit.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electric heating apparatus comprising a plurality of electric heaters and cords for supplying electric power to the heaters through a connector, wherein the connector consists of two separable members, the one member (the primary connector) of the connector has a plurality of contacts and at least one conductor, the cords being separately connected to the contacts, the conductor electrically short-circuiting two contacts of the primary connector which are so selected that the conductor can form a part of a circuit for supplying electric power to a desired heater, the another member (the secondary connector) of said connector has a plurality of contacts being connected only with predetermined contacts of the primary connector, and the contacts of the secondary connector form a part of the circuit for supplying electric power to the desired heater with the contacts and the conductor of the primary connector, wherby heaters to be supplied with electric power can be determined by

Abstract: An electroceramic heater including a pair of metallized electrodes disposed upon the sides of an electroceramic body and a pair of lead wires gap is welded to said heater. A specially sized copper pad is disposed between the lead wires and the electrodes.

Abstract: An improved power supply cord connection to an electrically heated flatiron having a permanent connected power supply cord extending vertically from the rear of the flatiron handle permits the cord to frictionally swivel or pivot from front to back along the longitudinal axis of the handle in an elongated slot in the handle between a forward non-interference position when the flatiron is in a multi-point heel rest position and a rearward position preventing cord interference with the work during use of the flatiron.The cord includes a bushing enclosing the cord conductors and an integrally formed enlarged head within the handle straddling the slot and locking the bushing therein. Transverse pivot ribs on the sides of the slot cooperate with notched friction bearing ears on the enlarged bushing end to allow the bushing to pivot between limit stops at the front and rear of the slot.

Abstract: An electrically heated spreader assembly for spreading, smoothing and curing plastic filler material, as in automobile body dents, includes an elongated handle provided with an slide track along a longitudinal edge. A stiff elongated spreader blade made of a synthetic plastic, such as Teflon or nylon, has an electrical heating element embedded therein and is provided along a longitudinal edge with flanged slide means adapted to be slidably received in and interfit with the slide track to secure the handle and blade together. The blade and handle are provided with separable electrical contacts which cooperate to establish an electrical connection between the heating element in the blade and an electrical supply cord on the handle when the blade has been slidably mounted in operative position on the handle.