Abstract: A steam iron and burn prevention apparatus includes an iron body having a bottom plate opposite a top plate with a side wall extending generally vertically between the bottom and top plates. The apparatus includes an iron guard having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having a generally inverted U-shaped configuration defining an open bottom and an interior area, the lower portion being movable between a retracted configuration substantially situated inside the interior area and an extended configuration substantially displaced from the interior area. The iron guard includes a plurality of biasing members coupled to the lower portion and extending upwardly into engagement with the upper portion, the plurality of biasing members biasing the upper portion away from the lower portion to the extended configuration.

Abstract: Devices and methods for applying vibrations to the iron sole of an ironing appliance to facilitate the movement of the iron sole over a fabric, thereby improving the effectiveness of the ironing appliance in removing wrinkles, especially on thicker fabrics.

Abstract: A method and tool for forming decorative picots is provided. The tool comprises a triangular substrate having a base and two sides intersecting at an apex, indicia defining a centerline extending from the apex to the midpoint of the base, and indicia defining one or more guidelines extending from one side of the substrate to the other, parallel to the base. The method comprises placing the substrate on a rectangular strip of fabric having a width twice its height, aligning the substrate on the fabric such that the apex is positioned at the midpoint of the top edge of the fabric and the bottom edge is positioned parallel to the base of the substrate, folding the top edges of the fabric over the substrate to align with the centerline and applying an iron to the folded fabric to crease the fold.

Abstract: Iron's soleplate comprising a body that is a single ceramic plate (1) having an ironing outer side and an inner side (11), and a heating element having at least one screen-printed resistance (2) on said inner side of the ceramic plate. The ceramic plate is made of alumina or a glass-ceramic material and is provided with some steam outlets (3). The ironing outer side of the ceramic plate is uniformly granulated, in order to form a plurality of micro-channels for uniformly distributing the steam, or else is smooth and is provided with some channels for distributing the steam too.

Abstract: A clothes iron comprises a body (2) and a sole plate (3). The body (2) is supported on the sole plate (3) by means of laterally resilient springs (4). The springs permit sideways movement of the sole plate (3) relative to the body (2). A motor (8) has a shaft (9) that carries an eccentric portion (10) which is received within a socket provided in the upper face of the sole plate. Thus, operation of the motor will cause the sole plate to execute orbital oscillatory motion relative to the body, in the plane of the face of the sole plate.

Abstract: An apparatus to measure ease of ironing comprises a base supporting a vertical rail assembly; a lockable roller bearing block that rolls vertically on a vertical rail assembly for locking and raising and lowering the block at a selected location according to the raising and lowering along the vertical rail assembly. An adjustably inclinable ironing board for accommodating a test cloth is supported at one end by the lockable roller bearing block. The block is raised and lowered along the vertical rail assembly; a standard ironing structure secured overhead to the guide strut and resting at or near the board upper end includes a release mechanism, which releases the iron. The iron moves along the incline and a start sensor and a finish sensor sense the glide of the ironing structure down the board for measuring ease of ironing when the standard ironing board is in an inclined position.

Abstract: A soleplate for a clothes pressing iron, composed of: a metal sheet having a lower surface that will be directed toward fabrics to be ironed, a lower surface layer that extends form the lower surface and an interior region that is separated from the lower surface by the lower surface layer, the lower surface layer being mechanically hammer-hardened, or work hardened, to have a hardness greater than the hardness of the sheet prior to being mechanically hardened; and a coating that is hard and resistant to scratching covering the lower surface.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to devices, methods and product for removing wrinkles and smoothing fabric, especially articles of clothing, linen and drapery, using ultrasonic energy and an ultrasonic transmission fluid.

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 safety circuit for an electrical iron is provided comprising a double through position sensitive switch having a common contact that is connectable to connect a horizontal position sensing contact and a vertical position sensing contact. When the iron is in use, the common contact will continually shift its contact between the two position sensing contacts, which enables the coupling of power to the heating circuit of the iron. When the iron is placed either horizontally or vertically, a delay timer of a control unit will start to count passage of time. When a preset time has elapsed, the control unit will deactivate the coupling of power to the iron's heating circuit. However, during this period when time is being counted or subsequent to the deactivation of power, if use of the iron is resumed, the control unit delay timer will start to count from the very beginning and the power will be activated again.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a switch arrangement for signaling the movement and the inclination of the switch arrangement which is accommodated in a housing. The switch arrangement (2) includes a first switch (12) configured as an On/Off switch and a second switch (10) connected to a capacitor (K). The switches include each conductor portions (22, 24) adapted to be connected to each other by a movable actuating member (18). While the switch (12) signals both the movement and the inclination of the arrangement (2), the switch (10) signals a movement of the arrangement (2) by issuing pulse signals. In the position of the rest of the actuating member (18), none of the switches is activated. In one configuration of the switch arrangement, the actuating member is guided in a cutout whose sides extend towards each other in a converging fashion.

Abstract: An automatic switching apparatus for a hand held electrically operated appliance, such as a pressing iron, is provided within a circuit board located within the housing of the iron. The automatic switching apparatus includes a first timing circuit and a touch sensitive switch which function in conjunction with one another such that when the user breaks contact with the touch sensitive switch, located on the handle portion of the iron, the first timing circuit is enabled to de-energize the heating element of the iron after contact has been broken with the touch sensitive switch for a predetermined period of time. A second timing circuit is provided to disable the first timing circuit for a second predetermined period of time when the iron is initially plugged into the wall outlet so as to permit the heating element to reach a temperature level suitable for ironing without necessitating the user to contact the touch sensitive switch when the heating element is initially energized.

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: A smokeless carpet seaming iron for melting an adhesive on a carpet tape wherein non-contaminated air is discharged into the ambient from the seamer includes a housing which contains a vent outlet and an open bottom. First and second filters are disposed internally of said housing and are accessible externally of said housing for removal and replacement. An electrically heated sole plate is disposed internally of said housing for creating heat at said open bottom of said housing. And a motor and a fan with filters are disposed internally of said housing between the first and second filters for creating a suction within said housing drawing smoke and fumes created during the carpet seaming operation through the open bottom into the housing for filtration by the first and second filters before discharge through a vent head to the ambient atmosphere.

Abstract: A carpet iron constructed with a weighted member having a flat bottom surface with a plurality of orifices therein, through which a cool gas is supplied, the carpet iron being used to press and cool a carpet seam that has been prepared with an underlying hot melt tape.

Abstract: A steam iron having a soleplate to be heated by a heater, an evaporation chamber disposed upon the soleplate, a tank located above the evaporation chamber, and a pump which delivers water from the tank to the evaporation chamber, wherein the pump is driven at specified intervals so as to generate extra steam, to attain an improvement of manipulation of the steam iron in ejecting extra steam and preventing blow-off of hot water.

Abstract: A steam-iron sole-plate comprises a first plate constituting the sole-plate proper and provided with a roll-bonded layer of brazing alloy, a second plate constituting the steam chamber and provided with a roll-bonded layer of brazing alloy and a flat resistance heating element inserted between the two plates and separated from these latter by insulating layers. The two plates are assembled together by means of a fluid-tight peripheral brazed joint and a series of brazed joints at the level of bosses formed on the second plate.

Abstract: An ironing device includes an iron body having an electric heating element, a seat on which the iron can rest when not in use and a power supply cord terminating in a connector having a socket adapted to connect with prongs on the iron body for supplying power to the heating element. The connector is provided with a first releasable latch for detachably interlocking the connector with the iron body so that the iron can be used as a corded iron and a second releasable latch for detachably interlocking the connector to the seat so that the iron can be used as a cordless iron. The user can selectively interlock the connector to either the iron body or the seat by activating a button device on the seat which selectively releases either the first or second latch.

Abstract: A combined set of household electrical appliances and a handgrip therefor, includes a handgrip element removably coupleable with the bodies of electrical household appliances. The handgrip element has a coupling element removably coupleable with a corresponding coupling seat defined by the electric household appliances. The handgrip element is provided with a connecting cable for connection to the mains connected to electric contacts provided at the coupling element and adapted to be arranged in electric conduction connection to coupling electric contacts provided in the cited coupling seat.

Abstract: Automatic switching apparatus for a hand held electrically operated appliance such as a pressing iron. A motion sensor and an electronic timer cooperate to automatically shut off the iron if the iron remains stationary for a predetermined period of time. A simplified mechanism is manually operable in the event the user desires to reactivate the iron. A circuit board mounting simplified electronic circuitry is located within the handle of the iron. An appropriate indicator informs the user whether the iron is in the active mode or in the inactive mode.

Abstract: The disclosed tool has a base plate with opposed upper and lower faces. A handle is mounted off the upper face. A layer of an anti-friction material may be present on the lower face of the base plate. The base plate has a plurality of through holes between the upper and lower faces, arranged in a closely spaced array over the whole lower face. Other than the interruption these holes may provide, the lower face is flat and smooth. The tool is used with the lower face being placed on, pressed against, and moved along a connecting seam, from the upper side of the carpet, that is being established between two adjacent carpet pieces by means of a lapping tape having a heat-activated adhesive thereon, which upon cooling becomes bonded to the carpet edges. The tool effectively holds the carpet pieces in place while the adhesive is cooling and simultaneously dissipates heat from the carpet and seam to set the seam quickly.