Detachable Pressing Surface Patents (Class 38/81)
  • Patent number: 9879374
    Abstract: The present application relates to steam iron (1). The steam iron (1) comprises a sole plate (3). The sole plate (3) has a steam channel (6) for the passage of steam, an ironing surface (10), vents (4) for the passage of steam between the steam channel (6) and the ironing surface (10), an aperture (9) extending between the steam channel (6) and the ironing surface (10), and a fragrance cartridge (7) being received in the aperture (9) such that it extends into the steam channel (6) to diffuse fragrance in the steam channel (6). The aperture (9) secures the fragrance cartridge (10) in the sole plate (3) such that fragrance cartridge (7) is flush with the ironing surface (10). The present invention also relates to a fragrance cartridge (7) and to a method of imparting a fragrance to steam produced by a steam iron (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Lihong Zhao, Yile Liao, Yong Jiang
  • Patent number: 8881435
    Abstract: A hand-held convertible iron is provided that includes a housing, a soleplate disposed on the housing for pressing a garment, the soleplate having a first portion and a second portion, a heating means having a first element and a second element, the first element being disposed adjacent to the first portion of the soleplate and the second element being disposed adjacent to the second portion, wherein the second portion of the soleplate is removably attached to the housing. A quick-disconnect electrical connection provides electrical power to the second element of the heating means when the second portion of the soleplate is attached to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Sunbeam Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John Harrington, Daniel Sumser
  • Patent number: 8613151
    Abstract: A steam appliance having a split handle with the upper part biased away from the handle base and an actuator for a water pump. When the appliance is pushed, the handle upper part is depressed and displaces a pump actuator to activate the pump. Use of a steam frame and steam towel allows an iron to be used as a steam cleaner. When a pole is mounted on the upper handle part, the appliance may be used as a steam mop that is activated by pushing the pole which depresses the handle to actuate the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Euro-Pro Operating LLC
    Inventor: Ognjen Vrdoljak
  • Patent number: 8424227
    Abstract: A convertible appliance and related method for treating a garment. The appliance includes a housing, a water tank disposed in the housing, a soleplate removably attached to the housing, a first steam chamber configured to generate and emit steam from the soleplate in a first configuration when the soleplate is attached to the housing, a second steam chamber configured to generate and emit steam from the housing in a second configuration when the soleplate is removed from the housing, a valve arrangement configured to fluidly connect the water tank to the first steam chamber when in the first configuration, and alternately, fluidly connect the water tank to the second chamber when in the second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Sunbeam Products, Inc.
    Inventor: John Harrington
  • Patent number: 8166679
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an electric iron comprising: at least one base unit a main body provided with a water inlet, a water outlet and a water tank connected between said inlet and said outlet; said base unit and said main body may connected or disconnected by a connecting unit; said base unit provided with a water passage which can connected with said water outlet when in assembly with said main body, a steam outlet, a chamber connected between said water passage and said steam outlet and a heating plate used for heating said chamber. Since the base unit can disconnected to the main body, user can choice different heating plates based on different clothing ironing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Tsann Kuen (Zhangzhou) Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Hwa Lee, Chien-Chih Pan
  • Patent number: 8151496
    Abstract: This invention discloses a multifunctional electric iron, comprising: a steam brush and a base unit. Said steam brush can be used as a garment steamer by connecting to a power supply or a boiler, and said steam brush also can be used as an ordinary steam iron by assembling with the base unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Tsann Kuen (Zhangzhou) Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-hwa Lee, Chien-Chih Pan
  • Publication number: 20120023789
    Abstract: A convertible appliance and related method for treating a garment. The appliance includes a housing, a water tank disposed in the housing, a soleplate removably attached to the housing, a first steam chamber configured to generate and emit steam from the soleplate in a first configuration when the soleplate is attached to the housing, a second steam chamber configured to generate and emit steam from the housing in a second configuration when the soleplate is removed from the housing, a valve arrangement configured to fluidly connect the water tank to the first steam chamber when in the first configuration, and alternately, fluidly connect the water tank to the second chamber when in the second configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventor: John Harrington
  • Patent number: 7716858
    Abstract: Disclosed is an iron having a soleplate capable of easily pleating cloth, as well as ironing the cloth. The iron 10 includes a soleplate 13 and a body positioned on the soleplate and having a switch 12 and a handle 11 installed thereon. A connecting plate 14, which is provided with operating spaces 16 formed on front and rear surfaces thereof, is fixed to a bottom of the body. Guides 15 are formed on the front and rear surfaces, opposite to the operating spaces. The soleplate 13 provided with a space 19 corresponding to the guides 15 is assembled to the guides 15 using fastening bolts 20, which is inserted into a spring 21. The heat coils 17 serving as a heat source are built in the connecting plate 14 and the soleplate 13, respectively. The heat coil in the connecting plate 14 is connected to the heat coil in the soleplate 13 by a heat-coil connector 18, so that the cloth is pushed into a pleating part 22 through a mouth 23 provided between the connecting plate 14 and the soleplate 13 to pleat the cloth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Inventor: Jung-Min Lee
  • Patent number: 7661212
    Abstract: The invention relates to an appliance for ironing or steaming linen, comprising a device which is used spread an additive over the linen and a container for said additive (20). The invention is characterized in that the additive container (20) comprises a substrate (22) bearing microcapsules and in that said microcapsules are carried progressively by a flow of fluid discharged by the device in order to spread the additive over the linen, said flow conveying the microcapsules outside of the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Rowenta Werke GmbH
    Inventor: Matthias Hahn
  • Patent number: 7640686
    Abstract: The creaser accessory device includes first and second plates pivotally connected to a lever arm that can be operated by a user to pivot the plates away from each other to receive a portion of a garment, and toward each other to press the portion of the garment such as to form a crease in the garment. The typically have apertures therethrough to allow steam from a hand held steam generating device removably coupled to the creaser accessory device to pass through the apertures to heat the portion of the garment when received in the creaser accessory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Vertical Branding, Inc.
    Inventor: Victor Wai
  • Publication number: 20080313936
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Kat Tong Ho, Pieter Johannes Werkman, Li Chen Tan, Saskia Ingeborg Kranenburg
  • Patent number: 7188442
    Abstract: A handheld iron for pressing or creasing an article of fabric without the use of an ironing board. The handheld iron having a housing, a platform, and an actuator for displacing the platform with respect to the housing. The housing further includes a heating surface and the platform further includes a platform surface. The heating surface and the platform surface are in substantially parallel planes at all times, including when the platform is displaced with respect to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Products of Tomorrow, Inc.
    Inventor: Juan Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20030188464
    Abstract: An iron comprising a main body provided with a handle portion and an additional metallic plate removably associated with said main body on the opposite side to said handle portion. The iron can further comprise its own plate integrally associated with the main body on the opposite side to said handle portion. In such a case, the additional plate is removably associated with the iron's own plate on the opposite side to the main body. The provision of a removable additional plate allows a specialisation of the iron, since it is possible to use a specific plate for a specific task: for example, a larger plate for ironing large surfaces, such as sheets or tablecloths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Applicant: TERMOZETA, S.P.A.
    Inventor: Alessandro Doria
  • Patent number: 6539651
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an ironing shoe with a fastening device for fastening and releasing the fastener of a pressing surface of an electric steam iron, with a soleplate base having soleplate openings for the discharge of steam, the underside of which is used for ironing the article needing to be ironed and the upper side of which has disposed thereon an insert arrangement having insert openings for the passage of steam from the steam iron to the soleplate openings. In order to improve the utility characteristics of the ironing shoe and in particular of the insert arrangement, it is proposed providing the insert arrangement with a capillary layer made of a moisture-absorbing material on the side close to the upper side of the soleplate base, and with an impermeable layer on the side close to the steam iron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Antonio Rebordosa Rius, Miquel Vázquez, Remedios Pozo-Marin, Desideri Falcó, Pedro Pérez, Xavier Cuesta, Juan Carlos Coronado-Sanz
  • Publication number: 20010030183
    Abstract: A heating iron apparatus including an elongate handle with a front end and rear end, a heating element secured to the front end of the elongate handle and powered by a voltage means, and a sole plate engaging means adapted to secure a heat conductive sole plate, the heat conductive sole plate abutting the heating element and translating heat from the heating element to a contact surface wherein the contact surface is pressed against a fabric surface. A temperature control switch in galvanic communication with the voltage means may be incorporated into the apparatus wherein the temperature of the heating element is regulated by the temperature control switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Inventor: Lorelle LaBarge Bowen
  • Patent number: 5721418
    Abstract: A flat-iron (5) comprises a fixed soleplate (10) against which a movable soleplate (14) is engageable in order to guarantee a safe use both for the user and for the fabric to be ironed. The soleplate (14) can be brought into contact with the fixed soleplate (10) with the aid of an electromagnet (12), which is controlled by a state-of-use detector (11) and/or a nature-of-fabric detector (27) coupled to the thermostat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Hazan, Jean-Louis Nagel
  • Patent number: 5392542
    Abstract: A soleplate of a pressing iron comprises a soleplate which is made from reinforced transparent glass material and has a flat and smooth bottom surface and a waved upper surface. The upper waved surface is coated with an infrared heater which provides a quick heat build-up thereof to heat the soleplate while preserves the heat generated thereof to a long extent as the power is interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Inventor: Kwei T. Chang
  • Patent number: 5252806
    Abstract: A carpet iron adapter plate of the type primarily intended for attachment to the sole plate of a carpet iron for extending the working surface of the iron so that wider carpet tape can be used. The adapter plate comprises a base having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface has a recessed portion formed therein that is configured to receive at least a portion of the sole plate of the carpet iron therein. The adapter plate has at least two arms attached to the top surface of the base, each arm having first and second ends. The first end of one of the arms is attached proximal to one edge of the base and the first end of another one of the arms is attached proximal to an opposing edge of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Inventor: David A. Hudson
  • Patent number: 5220738
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Inventor: Lapo Baldacci
  • Patent number: 4709373
    Abstract: A laser excitation system is disclosed in which the laser medium is preionized by a UV-generating spark array and is excited by an electric avalanche discharge. The preionized state is sustained during the discharge by a second spark array and an isolated discharge capacitance. In this manner, a continuous ionization state during discharge is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: Summit Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter B. Scott, Kristian Hohla
  • Patent number: 4642922
    Abstract: An iron having a plate (1) to the base of which is fitted a thin sheet (2) of perforated stainless steel. A recess or housing (4) defined by a peripheral border (5) and a network of channels (6, 7) for uniform distribution of the steam are made in the bottom surface of the plate (1). The perforated sheet (2) is reinforced by ribs and is centred in the recess (4) and attached to the plate (1) by means of screws (18, 19) so that it can be removed and permit access to the channels (6, 7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: D.M.D.S.r.l.
    Inventor: Giorgio Prudenziati
  • Patent number: 4532411
    Abstract: An electric fabric steaming appliance includes a non-metallic hollow-body having a first compartment provided with an electric heater for heating water received and contained in the first compartment to generate steam supplied to a second compartment on the body and having a non-metallic wall with orifices through which the steam can issue for steaming a fabric or textile material to remove creases with or without direct contact with the non-metallic wall. A metallic sole-plate having an exposed ironing surface is removable attached to the body in spaced relationship to the non-metallic wall to define therewith a sealed third compartment receiving steam from the orifices of the non-metallic wall to heat the sole-plate. The sole-plate has steam outlets through which the steam exists during an ironing operation wherein the sole-plate contacts the fabric being ironed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1985
    Inventors: Marc Terraillon, Daniel Mazzucco