Heating Patents (Class 38/82)
  • Patent number: 5120934
    Abstract: A cordless electric iron assembly has an iron removably mounted on a power supply stand adapted to be connected to a power supply. Separable mating electric terminals interposed between the iron and stand establish an electrical connection between the electric heater in the iron and the stand so long as the iron is placed on the stand. A detector on the stand detects the presence or absence of the iron on the stand and is used to activate an adjustable counter in response to removal of the iron from the stand. The counter activates an audible alarm after the elapse of a predetermined time period during which the iron is removed from the stand and in use to signal that the iron should be returned to the stand for reheating. A carrying case is detachable from the stand and accommodates the iron positioned on the stand with the mating terminals connected for storage of the iron during non-use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi Nakada, Takahisa Tsuji, Toyohiko Yagi, Masao Shimizu, Yoshinori Kataoka
  • Patent number: 5117092
    Abstract: A cordless iron includes a stand and an iron body placeable on and detachable from the stand. The iron body has a sole plate. The sole plate of the iron body is heated when the iron body is placed on the stand. An electrically powered temperature sensor senses the temperature of the sole plate of the iron body and outputs a signal representative of that sensed temperature. An alarm device responsive to the signal outputted from the temperature sensor serves to indicate that the sensed temperature drops to or below a reference temperature. The temperature sensor is kept activated when the iron body is detached from the stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Shimizu, Yoshinori Kataoka, Naruaki Akai
  • Patent number: 5115117
    Abstract: Electric iron having a cast sole (1A) closed by a cover (2) and in which are provided two chambers (6, 7) separated from each other by a partition (8), namely, a principal vaporization chamber (6) fed with water by an injection device through an opening (9) provided in the cover (2), the water being vaporized by a sheathed resistance (10) embedded in the sole (1A), and a steam distribution chamber (7) communicating on the one hand with the principal vaporization chamber (6) by a passage (11) provided in the partition (8), and on the other hand with the exterior through outlet orifices (12) provided in the sole (1A). The sole (1A) also comprises an intermediate vaporization chamber (15) disposed between the principal vaporization chamber (6) and the distribution chamber (7) and extending adjacent the injection opening (9) of the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: Moulinex (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventors: Jacques H. J. Amiot, Jean-Paul A. A. Bouleau, Gerard R. M. Molveaux
  • Patent number: 5094021
    Abstract: An ultrasonic iron comprises a metal ironing plate fixedly mounted therein, ultrasonic vibrators and amplitude amplifiers, and a power adjusting circuit provided on suitable inner side thereof, so that the power adjusting circuit is capable of driving the ultrasonic vibrator as to resonate the ironing plate with a high frequency as soon as the ultrasonic iron is switched on. Heat energy is thereby quickly and directly produced between the contact surface of the ironing plate and the clothes when the ultrasonic iron is moved on the clothes back and forth. The heat energy required for the pressing of clothes is available immediately upon the onset of operation of the iron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Inventor: Su-Min Chen
  • Patent number: 5039838
    Abstract: In the cordless iron assembly, an iron (10) includes a base (11), a heater (12) for heating the base (11), a thermosensitive element (13) for sensing the temperature of the base (11), a temperature detecting circuit (14), and terminals (P1, P2, P3, and P4), and a stand (15) including a terminals (P5, P6, P7, and P8), a pulse detecting circuit (16), a temperature control circuit (17), and a cord (18). The temperature detecting circuit (14) produces a pulse signal in accordance with the temperature signal outputted from the thermosensitive element (13). The pulse signal detecting circuit (16) receives the pulse signal, and outputs the pulse signal to the temperature control circuit (17). By the temperature control circuit (17), the temperature of the heater (12) is controlled in accordance with the plate signal whereby the base temperature of the iron (10) can be correctly controlled when the iron (10) is supported on the stand (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Ito, Keiichi Ogiso
  • Patent number: 5039843
    Abstract: A safety cutout device for electric loads, particularly for use in pressing irons and portable heating apparatus, has a temperature switch, such as a bimetallic switch, which is adapted to be connected in series with the electric load. An electrical component adapted to be connected in parallel with the load and having an open and a closed switching state, and being normally open, is connected in series with a resistor adapted to be connected in parallel with the load and arranged in heat transfer relationship with the temperature switch and for heating the temperature switch to its operating temperature to open the switch. A further resistor, which continuously bridges and heats the temperature switch to an extent sufficient to maintain the temperature switch in its actuated open position, is connected in parallel with the temperature switch and adapted to be connected in series with the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: Limitor AG
    Inventor: Manfred K. Muller
  • Patent number: 4980981
    Abstract: An ironing machine for automatically ironing garments or other articles which are conveyed through the machine on hangers. The machine comprises an ironing zone to receive an article to be ironed and a heat applying means for applying heat to an article received at the ironing zone. The heat applying means is mounted on a shuttle which is movable relative to the ironing zone for traversing that zone. The heat applying means includes two opposed heat applying surfaces one disposed on each side of the ironing zone for contacting a surface of an article at the ironing zone and conforming to the surface contour thereof while traversing the ironing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: Aim Industries Australia Limited
    Inventor: Tholsee Naidoo
  • Patent number: 4948945
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Inventor: Tsann-Kuen Wu
  • Patent number: 4943703
    Abstract: Electrical apparatus comprising an appliance, a stand to support the appliance and an electrical connector device which can be selectively coupled mechanically to either the appliance or the stand, by coupling means incorporating a bistable mechanism so that the appliance can be used selectively in a corded manner or a cordless manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1990
    Assignee: D. H. Haden Ltd.
    Inventor: Eric Duxbury
  • Patent number: 4939342
    Abstract: An electric steam iron includes a sole plate maintained at a temperature of about 200.degree. C. by an about 800 watt electric heating element and provided with apertures for conveying steam to a surface to be ironed from a single flooded steam chamber on the iron maintained at about 100.degree. C. by an about 1200 watt electric heating element through a steam tube connecting the chamber to the apertures. The article being ironed is heated continuously by the the condensation of the steam to water in the article thereby increasing heat transfer to the article, with the article being subsequently dried by the heat produced by the sole plate, which heat is at least equal to the heat of evaporation of the condensed water. The sole plate and chamber may be thermally connected to compensate for heat losses from the chamber to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corp.
    Inventors: Gerrit Frens, Gregorius T. M. Neelen, Franciscus N. M. Trines, Marjoleine H. Van Nieuwkasteele
  • Patent number: 4897527
    Abstract: A fabric press comprises a press with a heating element (1) a temperature sensor (17), and a microprocessor based controller programmed to apply electrical power initially to the element for a boost period during which the press temperature is limited to a boost temperature, and then at the end of the boost period, to reduce the applied power and thereafter to control the power to maintain the press temperature substantially at a lower normal temperature. The controller comprises microprocessor (14) which supplied signals to a triac (12), the signals being timed to be applied at the zeros of the a.c. supply voltage and to switch the heater power for complete cycles of the supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: John Corby Limited
    Inventors: Alan H. Cripps, Peter Williams
  • Patent number: 4856212
    Abstract: Cordless-iron apparatus in which the sole plate of the cordless iron is covered with a polyimide film synthesized by a polycondensation reaction between an aromatic tetrabasic acid and an aromatic amine. Such a film exhibits a broad range of temperature stabililty, thus permitting the heating of the sole plate to relatively high temperatures without wrinkling of the film and without causing scorching of the fabric to be ironed. Steam pressing without spotting is achieved by metering the water flowing to the heated recess in the non-exposed region of the sole plate, which sole plate has apertures for the passage of steam therethrough, the polyimide cover for the sole plate also being apertured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Inventor: Joseph Dikoff
  • Patent number: 4835363
    Abstract: An electric iron wherein a cermic sole plate transmits infrared light and is heated by one or more halogen lamps within a reflector in the housing of the iron whose concave surface faces the lamp or lamps and reflects heat upon the sole plate. The reflector further effects the heating of water which is admitted into a steam chamber in the housing of the iron between the reflector and the ceramic sole plate, and the resulting steam is conveyed to nozzles extending into openings in the sole plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Robert Krups Stiftung & Co. KG.
    Inventor: Erich Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 4833297
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Oficina de Investigacion Agrupada, S.A.
    Inventor: Miguel L. Del Fresno
  • Patent number: 4774395
    Abstract: An electric heat storage apparatus, such as a steam iron, hot plate, pan, etc., includes a metal body defining a hollow housing enclosing a heat storage device containing a thermally decomposable heat storage substance comprising 30-99% by weight pentaerythritol. The heat storage substance is completely confined in a fluororesin enclosure which isolates the substance from the metal body and prevents contact of ambient air therewith so that the thermal stability of the pentaerythritol is enchanced. The metal body is heated by an electric heating element to a selected temperature for storing heat in the heat storage substance. In the case of use as a cordless electric steam iron, the metal body forms the sole plate of the iron and is provided with a vaporization chamber in heat exchange relationship with the heat storage substance for the generation of steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1988
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetaka Yabuuchi, Yoshiyasu Endo, Akira Kataoka, Tsuneo Shibata
  • Patent number: 4748755
    Abstract: A light-weight, primarily plastic, steam pressing iron, which may be assembled without the use of tools and a multiplicity of fasteners, includes a ported aluminum soleplate having a steam generating area and a thermostat, with a rotatable control, a plastic skirt which is snap-fitted onto the soleplate, a plastic housing/handle having a dove-tail connection to the skirt and including a snap-assembled saddle assembly, and a pivotable cord boot retained on the housing/handle by an end cap which is secured thereto by a single threaded fastener. A steam control is operated by a rocker mechanism on the saddle assembly and the rotatable thermostat control is operated by a heat control button which is linearly movable on the saddle assembly. A reservoir in the housing/handle may be provided with either a spray or a non-spray vent cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Assignee: Sunbeam Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin H. Bain, Jr., Henry Prost
  • Patent number: 4727240
    Abstract: An automatic-cutoff electric iron employs two timing cycles for turning off power to the electric iron upon the absence of motion for two different discrete time periods. A motion sensor includes an angle sensor to enable a short timing cycle for cutting off power to the electric iron after the electric iron is motionless with its sole plate in a horizontal orientation. The longer timing cycle is enabled when the electric iron is motionless with its sole plate tilted from the horizontal. The cutoff function is performed by a wedge-shaped actuator driven by a solenoid which releases a spring-urged shaft along with one of the electrical contacts feeding power to the electric iron. The power is turned on by mechanical actuation of the shaft whereby a latch member is engaged behind a cam boss. A manual cutoff is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Provolo, Peter A. Czerner, Michael Singleton, Roman Czernik
  • Patent number: 4716276
    Abstract: An electric steam iron housing has a sole plate with a generally flat upper surface having affixed thereto a one-piece heating assembly having a front portion and a rear portion. The front portion contains a serpentine steam generating passage with an inlet communicating with a water supply container on the housing and steam outlet leading to steam vent openings extending through the sole plate. The rear portion includes top and sidewalls defining a downwardly open chamber in which is disposed a multilayer PTC electric heating element assembly in surface-to-surface contact with the upper surface of the sole plate for heating the sole plate and the steam generating passage. An adjustable thermostat responsive to the temperature of the sole plate is connected in series with the heating element. The handle of the iron is detachable and designed to serve as a storage case for the iron and the iron can be placed in the case only when the thermostat adjustment knob is in the "Off" position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1987
    Assignee: Sanyei Corp.
    Inventors: Akio Motegi, Takao Saito
  • Patent number: 4686352
    Abstract: An electric pressing iron having a motion and attitude sensor including a mercury switch connected to a timer, and in conjunction therewith is adapted to disable the electric heater of the iron when the iron is oriented with the soleplate substantially horizontal and is not moving. The motion and attitude sensor and timer are also adapted to disable the electric heater when the iron is oriented with its soleplate vertical after the passage of a preselected period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Assignee: John Zink Company
    Inventors: Thomas L. Nawrot, John Vancha, James C. Mysicka
  • Patent number: 4651453
    Abstract: A travel iron with a plastic housing defining a hot water reservoir, with a plastic sole plate as its lower surface. An immersible PTC resistor is used to heat the water and to protect the iron from overheating. The heated water heats the sole plate and serves to control the temperature of the sole plate. The handle is reversible and is secured to the forward end of the housing. When reversed the handle provides a winding area about which the electrical cord may be wound for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Assignee: Conair Corporation
    Inventor: Edward J. Doyle
  • Patent number: 4636613
    Abstract: A combination hair-dryer and garment ironing apparatus includes a housing having an air inlet and a pair of air outlets. A blower and electric heater in the housing create a flow of heated air through the housing. A permanent, non-removable iron assembly is provided on the housing and includes a sole plate disposed in the path of the heated air flow through the housing. The sole plate forms a portion of a wall of the housing and has an exposed generally flat ironing surface. A heated air diverter member within the housing is selectively movable between a first dryer position in which substantially all of the heated air flowing through the housing is diverted from contact with the sole plate and is exhausted through one of the outlets and a second iron position in which a substantial portion of the heated air flow is diverted into contact with at least a portion of the sole plate for impingement heating of the sole plate to an ironing temperature and is exhausted from the other air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Assignee: Anne J. de la Morandiere
    Inventors: Anne J. de la Morandiere, Peter W. Bressler, Peter D. Byar, Edward A. Spector
  • Patent number: 4634836
    Abstract: An electric travel iron includes as an upper component a hand-held hot-air type hair dryer having a hand grip, an electric heating unit for heating a stream of air and an outlet duct through which a hot air stream is discharged. The lower component of the iron is formed by a thin flat metallic ironing plate detachably connected to the duct of the dryer in spaced confronting relationship to the open end thereof. The ironing plate is planar and has a surface facing the open duct end to define a direct hot-air impingement surface region and extends laterally outwardly from the direct hot-air impingement region beyond the contour of the duct end for providing a region heated by hot air laterally deflected in all directions from the hot-air impingement region. The hot air impingement region is provided with holes for direct access of hot air to the material being ironed, with the holes being located in a group having a shape corresponding to the contour of the open duct end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: Braun Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Yucel Yamac
  • Patent number: 4524263
    Abstract: An electric travel iron includes as an upper component a hand-held hot air type hair-dryer having a hand grip, an electric heating unit for heating a stream of air and an outlet duct having an open end through which a hot air stream is discharged. The lower component of the iron comprises a thin flat metallic ironing plate detachably connected to the air outlet duct of the dryer in spaced confronting relationship to the open end of the duct. The ironing plate is planar and has an upper side facing the open duct end to define a direct hot-air impingement surface region and extends laterally outwardly from the direct hot-air impingement region beyond the contour of the duct end for providing a region heated by hot air laterally deflected from the direct hot-air impingement region. The lower side of the ironing plate forms the ironing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1985
    Assignee: Braun Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Yucel Yamac
  • Patent number: 4523079
    Abstract: An electric steam iron includes a plastic housing shell forming a hollow handle structure and a soleplate with steam generating means and ports for distribution of steam. A pump actuated by a handle button delivers water from a tank within the housing shell to the steam generating means. The iron is controlled by a low DC voltage electronic control including a printed circuit board disposed in the housing shell away from the soleplate and having means including a power resistor for reducing high AC line voltage to low DC supply to the circuit. The shell and hollow handle structure are open to the soleplate and the printed circuit board is directly exposed to heat from the power resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1985
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Harry Albinger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4520257
    Abstract: An electronic safety device for automatically interrupting the supply of electric current to a heating resistor of an iron at the end of a predetermined interval of non-use, comprising a movable body adapted to control a position of contacts of an associated switch so that at least one opening-closing sequence of the switch contacts is obtained upon displacement of the movable body. Associated with the switch is a resistor bridge supplied with a rectified voltage E and comprising a first resistor R.sub.1 and a second resistor R.sub.2 in series with the switch contacts. A capacitor is connected to the terminals of resistor R.sub.2, a voltage V.sub.o being collected at the terminals of said resistor R.sub.1 and being applied to one input of a counter which is reset to zero each time voltage V.sub.o is higher than E/2, that is, upon closing of the contacts. The counter is connected to an input of a comparator for transmitting a voltage V.sub.1 when the counter attains a predetermined counting threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1985
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Schwob, Christian Mieg
  • Patent number: 4433231
    Abstract: An electrically heated appliance, such as a steam iron, is provided with an adjustable stacked thermostat assembly having an integrated overtemperature protection control. In the case of a steam iron, the thermostat assembly is mounted on a boss on the soleplate and includes a pair of contacts carried by spring contact blades and adapted to be actuated by a heat deformable bimetallic blade to make and break the circuit to the electric heating element of the iron. The overtemperature protection control includes an electrically conductive rivet electrically connected to one of the electrical power supply terminals of the iron and a U-shaped electrically conductive spring having a first end electrically connected to a conductive member in circuit with one of the spring contact blades and a second end soldered to the rivet by a solder joint fusible at a selected overtemperature to melt and break the circuit between the rivet and the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Charles A. Balchunas
  • Patent number: 4430553
    Abstract: A cordless flatiron includes a sole plate with an exposed bottom surface forming an ironing surface and a top surface including a number of projections extending upwardly therefrom. A protective hood attached to the periphery of the top surface of the sole plate forms an evacuated, sealed chamber thereabove and a heat storage element is positioned in the chamber so as to be movable toward and away from the projections of the sole plate. The heat storage element is heated by an electric heating rod extending therein. A temperature responsive regulator element positioned between the heat storage element and the top of the sole plate and responsive to the temperature of the sole plate is arranged by its configuration to position the heat storage with respect to the upper ends of the projections of the sole plate and thus determine whether or not heat is conducted from the heat storage element to the projections of the sole plate and to the ironing surface of the sole plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1984
    Inventor: Antim Antimovski
  • Patent number: 4415796
    Abstract: An adjustable stacked thermostat assembly, particularly for use in an electric appliance, such as an electric steam iron, includes a lower bimetallic heat deformable blade, an intermediate stiff conductive spring blade carrying a electrical contact and connected to a first electric terminal and an upper less stiff conductive spring blade carrying a cooperating contact and connected to a second terminal, with all of the blades being supported, secured and spaced apart at one end by interposed insulators. In operation movement of the deformable blade is transmitted to the upper blade to make and break the contacts to control heat to the appliance controlled by the thermostat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1983
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Charles A. Balchunas
  • Patent number: 4347428
    Abstract: An electronic temperature control circuit for regulating the soleplate temperature of an electrically heated pressing iron is located in the handle and supporting structure of the iron. The electronic circuit includes a thyristor controlling energization of the soleplate heater and tending to emit heat. The thyristor is mounted to a heat dissipating cooling plate located within a leakproof cavity in the supporting structure remotely from the other electronic components of the control circuit tending to be adversely affected by heat. The cooling plate and thyristor are mounted on a detachable wall closing the cavity and shaped to provide a resting stand which allows the iron to be rested flatly on a horizontal surface without the soleplate contacting the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1982
    Assignee: Rowenta-Werke GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Conrad, Hubert Seifert
  • Patent number: 4345389
    Abstract: A stacked snap-acting thermostat assembly in which a modification is provided of a single structural bracket extending over all the blades and mounted on and above the supported end with an enlarged integral portion having a bore therethrough to form an elongated bearing guide and support a control shaft rotatably in the bore contacting the tension part of the first element to position the upper spring blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1982
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Charles A. Balchunas
  • Patent number: 4322900
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an ironing device comprising an iron having an electrically heated and temperature regulated sole, at least one temperature sensor positioned in the vicinity of said sole, and a heater connected to an external electric supply. A temperature regulator is positioned remote from the iron for controlling the current supply to the heater and is responsive to the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor has at least one temperature-dependent resistor and at least one compensating resistor connected with the temperature-dependent resistor. An actual-valve input sets the desired temperature of the sole. The temperature-dependent resistor is also connected to the actual-value input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1982
    Inventors: Kurt Hacker, Jiri Dokoupil
  • Patent number: 4285145
    Abstract: A stacked thermostat assemby includes a lower heat deformable blade, a conductive intermediate stiff spring blade, and a conductive upper less stiff spring blade with all the blades being supported, secured, and spaced apart at one end by interposed insulators. Electrical contacts on the conductive blades include structure for transmitting movement between the heat deformable blade to the upper blade to make and break an electric circuit and control heat to a medium sensed by the thermostat such as an iron soleplate on which the thermostat may be mounted. To this standard construction an improvement is provided in the temperature setting control mechanism of single structural integral bracket extending over the blades and mounted on and above the supported end, the bracket having an enlarged integral portion on its free end. A smooth unobstructed bore in the integral portion forms an elongated bearing guide between the ends of and over the blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1981
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Charles A. Balchunas
  • Patent number: 4261120
    Abstract: Ready light circuit is provided which comprises a simple third switch blade added to the standard thermostat two-blade switch in an electric iron. The invention involves the improvement of mounting the third blade on one of the other blades of the two-blade switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1981
    Assignee: Scovill Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Greco, Carl D. McArthur
  • Patent number: 4219724
    Abstract: A manually operable device for pressing fabric comprising two triangular-shaped jaws, each of which has a flat surface portion. These surface portions face each other and constitute the working surfaces of the device. The two jaws are each secured to a handle. These handles are pivotally joined by a hinge so disposed that the two flat surface portions are separated from each other or are in parallel pressure engagement. The separated position of the surface portions constitutes the loading position of the device for inserting fabric between the two jaws and the other position constitutes the pressing position for pressing fabric inserted between the two jaws. Springs coacting with the handles bias the same into one or the other of the two positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1980
    Inventor: Bertil Allvin
  • Patent number: 4189855
    Abstract: Ready light circuit is provided comprising a simple third switch blade added to standard thermostat two-blade switch in electric iron. Light is activated when bimetallic element of switch drives third blade into engagement with other blade as iron reaches set temperature. Light stays illuminated as long as main contacts of standard-type blades remain open. When thermostat calls for more heat, light in circuit which is across main contacts, is shorted out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1980
    Assignee: Scovill Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: George W. Robinson
  • Patent number: 4130955
    Abstract: A pressing iron contains a safety turn-off switch to prevent scorching if the iron is held stationary for too long.An acceleration sensor produces a signal in response to a predetermined acceleration of the iron and an actuating circuit turns off the iron if the iron is not sufficiently accelerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1978
    Inventors: Erich R. Baumgartner, Peter Doehler
  • Patent number: 4109136
    Abstract: In an electric flatiron with a soleplate and central upstanding boss and having a handle having a temperature adjusting lever in the front of the handle, an improvement is provided in the temperature regulating assembly that comprises a snap action thermostat which is supported on the boss with a substantially vertically movable adjusting screw to vary the thermostat settings. An insulated cap is provided on the top of the screw and the cap has an outer splined surface. A rod is connected at one end to the temperature adjusting lever forward of the screw for rotation by lever movement for setting temperature. The rod has an offset portion at its other end loosely fitting in a driving engagement over the splined surface so the offset slides vertically over the splined surface forming a universal-like connection as the rod is rotated by the lever to turn the screw and vary the thermostat setting of the iron without undue backlash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1978
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Charles A. Balchunas