GB2225345A

GB2225345A - Electrically heated irons with composite sole plate

Info

Publication number: GB2225345A
Application number: GB8824740A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mauro Biancalani
Original assignee: Russell Hobbs Tower Ltd; AIRONS Srl
Current assignee: Russell Hobbs Tower Ltd; AIRONS Srl
Priority date: 1988-10-21
Filing date: 1988-10-21
Publication date: 1990-05-30
Also published as: GB8824740D0

Abstract

A sole plate arrangement for an electrically heated steam iron has an aluminium sole plate member (2) which is covered by a stainless steel sheet (3). The sheet (3) and the sole plate member (2) are secured together by an adhesive e.g. silicone through which heat is conductable. The sheet (2) forms the working surface for the arrangement. <IMAGE>

Description

ELECTRICALLY HEATED IRONS This invention relates to electrically heated irons and is concerned more particularly, but not exclusively, with electrically heated steam irons.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a sole plate arrangement for an electrically heated iron, the arrangement comprising a sole plate member of a first material the major portion of one surface of which is covered by a sheet of a second material secured to the sole plate member over a major part of its area by heat conducting adhesive.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an electrically heated iron incorporating a sole plate arrangement according to the first aspect.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of constructing an electrically heated iron, the method comprising the step of providing a sole plate member of a first material and a cover sheet therefor of a second material and bonding one to the other by means of heat conducting glue.

The first material may be aluminium or an alloy thereof and the second may be stainless steel.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a cross-section of a sole plate arrangement for an electrically heated steam iron; FIGURE 2 shows a plan view of a sole plate of Figure 1; and FIGURE 3 shows a view from above in Figure 1 of a cover sheet of the arrangement of Figure 1.

Figure 1 is a cross-section of a sole plate arrangement for an electrically heated steam iron, the iron cowl as such being indicated diagrammatically by dotted lines 1 in Figure 1.

This arrangement comprises two parts which are an aluminium sole plate 2 and a stainless steel cover plate or sheet 3.

The aluminium sole plate 2, also shown in Figure 2, incorporates a cavity 4 of generally v-shape and approximately 20 mm wide and 2 mm deep. This cavity is large enough to prevent rapid scale build-up. Steam venting from the iron 1 is via a series of recessed holes 5 into this cavity 4. The lower surface of the sole plate 2 incorporates a groove or channel 6.

The cover plate or sheet 3 is of stainless steel, is about 1 mm thick and is formed by pressing to give an upstanding lip 7 around its edge and a series of holes 8 intended to communicate with the cavity 4 and to align with corresponding ones of the holes 5 in the sole plate. The cover plate 3 incorporates a further hole 9 the purpose of which is to allow access for a tool to engage a screw 10 (Figure 2) by which the sole plate 2 is engaged with the body of the iron. This screw does not attach the stainless steel plate 3 to the iron or to the sole plate.

As shown in Figure 1, and as will be apparent from Figures 2 and 3, the stainless steel plate is flat apart from its lip and engages a correspondingly flat surface of the sole plate 2 over a major portion of the area of the lower face of the sole plate. Where they join, these two parts are secured firmly together by means of a heat conducting glue, such a silicone adhesive. It will thus be apparent that the plate or sheet 3 is intended to be substantially permanently attached to the sole plate and, by using heat conducting glue, it makes the assembly of the iron relatively simple and inexpensive. Thus, no screws or the like are employed to secure the sheet 3 to the plate 2, as was required in prior proposals where it was thought that the sheet would need to be removed readily at intervals for maintenance.

Claims

1. A sole plate arrangement for an electrically heated iron, the arrangement comprising a sole plate member of a first material, a major portion of one surface of which is covered by a sheet of a second material secured to the sole plate member over a major part of the area of the sheet by an adhesive through which heat is conductable, said sheet forming a working surface for the arrangement.

2. A sole plate arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first material is aluminium or an alloy of aluminium.

3. A sole plate arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said second material is stainless steel.

4. A sole plate arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said sole plate arrangement includes passage means for allowing the passage of steam or water vapour through said sole plate arrangement.

5. A sole plate arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein said passage means includes a channel in said sole plate member and a plurality of holes in the plate member and opening into said channel.

6. A sole plate arrangement as claimed in claims 4 or 5, wherein said passage means includes a plurality of holes provided in said sheet member.

7. A sole plate arrangement as claimed in claim 6 when appended to claim 5, wherein said holes of the sheet member are aligned with the holes of the plate member.

8. A sole plate arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein said channel is of generally v-shape, extending substantially parallel to the outer contour of the plate member.

9. A sole plate arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein one surface of the sole plate incorporates a groove extending substantially around the plate member periphery and said sheet has an upstanding lip around substantially all of the sheet periphery for engagement in said groove.

10. A sole plate arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said sheet incorporates a hole through which a screw for engaging the sole plate member with the body of the iron is accessible, said screw not attaching said sheet member to said sole plate member.

11. A sole plate arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said adhesive is a fast cure high temperature silicone adhesive.

12. A sole plate arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein said adhesive has a heat conductivity greater than 1.88 x l0#1Jm/m2/s/0C.

13. A sole plate arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. An iron incorporating a sole plate arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

15. A method of constructing an electrically heated iron, the method comprising the step of providing a sole plate member of a first material and a cover sheet therefor of a second material and bonding one to the other by means of heat conducting glue whereby said cover sheet provides a working surface for said iron.