US2682719A - Electric steam iron - Google Patents

Description

July 6, 1954 J. H. coNE ELECTRIC STEAM IRON 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 23 1951 W C W S Gttornegs July 6, 1954 J, H CCNE 2,682,719

ELECTRIC STEAM IRON Filed April 23/1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Snventor Jose/0?@ H Came?.

Gttornegs Patented July 6, 1954 ELECTRIC STEAM IRON .loseph H. Cone, Bridgeport, Conn., assignor '-to CascoProducts Corporation, Bridgeport,ionn., a corporation of Connecticut Application April 23, 1951, Serial No. v222,381

(Cl. 38-'i7) 14 Claims. 1

This invention relates to safety valve and tank .filling and emptying means of steamirons, particularly those of the boiler type.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved steam iron wherein the tank or boiler may be very easily and quickly filled `or completely emptied whenever desired.

Another object oi' the invention is vto provide an improved boiler type steam iron characterlized as above, incorporating safety valve means in conjunction with eective emptying means in a manner to obtain an extremely 'simple and rel'liable construction and one not likely to get out of order afterextended use.

A further object of the invention is to provide ra simple and easily installed unitary replacement part for existing boiler-type steam irons, comprising a -combined steam dome, emptying valve andsafety valve-whereby'the operation and performance of said existing irons maybe simply and economically improved.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a steam iron according to the foregoing,

having improved and simpliied Vstopper means for the filler opening, to minimize the likelihood of vspluttering when lling a hot iron and to reduce the cost of the stopper.

A still further object of the invention is to -provide in a steam iron of the above type im'- 'proved and simplified indicator means, in con- -junction'with the Vfiller means, to apprise a user Athat the boiler is full during the lling operation.

VIn accomplishing the yabove vobjects I provide `a novel iron structure comprising, in the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, a #boiler having separate and distinct water filling and emptying means. Preferably the emptying means is associated with the steam dome of the iron to provide a unitary assemblage and to simplify the structure and avoid duplication of parts Vas will be later brought out in detail. In

carrying this out I provide a discharge opening in the top of the steam dome, and a novel stopper assembly for sealing and unsealing said discharge opening. The stopper assembly is held captive by the steam dome .and is so arranged that'it remains in-either avsea-ling position or an unsealing position, being maintained therein by yieldable means and being readily shiftable manually between said positions. When in unsealing position, the stopper permits water to flow out of the steam dome should the boiler -be turned upside down, and by virtue of the discharge oriiice being in the top of the dome, practically all `of the content of the boiler may be easilyv and quickly emptied. When in sealing tposition the stopperniay be unseated by excessive steam pressure, thus enabling it to act as Va safety valve. In addition, the yieldable means of the stopper assembly operates to move 'the stopper to sealing position if, when it is in Aunsealing position, it is shifted toward sealing posi- Ation a predetermined extent, thus enabling an automatic closing of the stopper to be eiected if 'the iron is of the type illustrated herein, having a hinged vhandle which vis swung back to -eX- pose the filling Aand emptying/means.

By -providingfa steam dome which is readily demountable, and lby `incorporating the emptying and safety valve means in the steam dome I am enabled to provide an advantageous unitary replacement unit `forrexisting steam irons, comprising a combined steam dome, emptying valve and safety valve. Accordingly a deficiency of present irons with single-.purpose steam domes, i. e. the diculty of completely emptying the boiler, may be quickly, simply and economically corrected by a mere exchange of parts.

kI also provide Ya novel stopper lfor the filler opening which is of -simplied construction, comprising merely 'a closure member having a hollow, apertured mounting barrel movably carried in the ller opening feto position the closure in sealing or unsealing positions. The closure may Ybe readily raised or lowered manually when the 'handle of the -iron is in swung-back position,

and for the raised position Vof the stopper the apertures and strueture'of the barrel and stopper .function to `minimize spluttering if the boiler is 'filled when the Yiron is heated.

Other Vfeatures and vadvantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 .is a side `view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section of alhinged handle type steam iron embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 isa fragmentary vertical seetional View of the steam dome and safety valve portion of the viron and associated structure-showing the safety valve in blow-oli position. Y

Fig. 3 is-a side view partly in section and partly in elevation of -the .iron with the handle raised, and with the stopper for the steam dome in unseated position .for emptying the boiler.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the steam domean'd stopper means associated therewith.

Fig. 5 is a separate detail, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, showing the filler opening and Vstopper therefor, with the stopper in unsealing position. n

Fig. 6 is a view like Fig. 5 but showing a modified form of stopper, provided with indicator means.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the improved steam iron of this invention comprises a sole plate mounting a boiler 2l and casing 22.

Pivotally secured to the casing 22 at its rear is a handle structure 23 comprising a generally fiat base portion 2li, front and rear upright posts 25 and 25 and a handle proper 21. The front post 23 of the handle structure is made hollow, having a recess 23 to clear an upright tapered thimble or steam dome 29 secured to the forward upper portion of the boiler 2 i. Within the dome 23 a steam pipe 30 is disposed, leading to a steam chamber 25a, in the sole plate 20, which in turn communicates with vent holes 20o in the sole plate. Bafiies 3l are arranged around the steam pipe 3@ to minimize the likelihood of water splashing into the pipe.

In accordance with the present invention the boiler 2l is provided with a iiller opening 32 and a separate water discharge opening 33, the latter'` being in the top of the steam dome 29. At the ller opening 32 a funnel 34 is mounted, carried on the top wall portion of the boiler and extending downward. Novel and simplified anti-splutter stopper means are provided for the filler opening 32, enabling the boiler 23 to be easily and quickly lled even when the iron is hot. This stopper means comprises a sealing ring 35 of rubber-like or gasket material, carried at the end of a hollow stem or barrel 36 having elongate openings 31 in its walls, said stem being axially movable in a cylindrical bottom portion 34a. of the funnel 34. The bottom of the stem 36 has a flange 38 providing a stop when the stem is raised, and the top of the stem is outwardly flanged and has press-fitted to it a tapered handle 39 terminating in a knob Q0. Detent nibs 36a are provided on the walls of the barrel 36 and said walls are made resilient whereby the nibs may be forced through the funnel portion 34a. to yieldably hold the stopper in raised or lowered positions. In Fig. l the stem 36 and stopper 35 are lowered whereby the opening 32 is sealed. If it should be desired to fill the boiler 2l, the handle structure 23 is raised, and the stopper 35 and stem 36 raised by the knob fli, whereupon water may be introduced into the funnel to iiow to the boiler. When the water rises into the bottom of the funnel 34 it will indicate that the boiler is full, whereupon the stopper may be pressed down and the excess water if any poured from the funnel by tilting the iron. During the filling of the boiler through the funnel air will be vented from the boiler through the steam pipe 30 and discharge openings 23a in the sole plate. Also, air may be vented lthrough the top areas of the openings 31 in the stem 35. Preferably the base 24 of the handle structure 23 is provided with a depending projection 3! arranged to engage the knob 40 and depress the stopper 35 to sealing position when the handle structure 23 is swung down from the position of Fig. 3 with the stopper raised. The provision of the relatively large, elongate openings 31 in conjunction with the obstructing effect of the handle 39 and knob 40 result in a minimum of spluttering if the boiler should be filled while the iron is hot. The reason for this is that water and steam which may be forced up through the ller opening will strike the underside of the handle 39 and have their force dissipated, while vapors are permitted to escape in generally lateral directions through the upper portions of the openings 31.

For the purpose of latching the handle structure 23 in the closed or operative position shown in Fig. l, a latch mechanism is provided comprising a knob i4 carried on a shaft 45 passing through the base 24 of the handle structure. The lower end of the shaft has a crosshead 33 passing through a slot 411 in a latch plate d8 secured to the casing 22. When the crosshead d6 extends transversely of the slot 'i1 the latch is operative to hold the handle structure in the closed position of Fig. l. When the knob 114 is turned to extend the crosshead d6 longitudinally of the slot 131 the latch releases the handle structure 23 and the latter may be swung upward to the lling position shown in Fig. 3.

in accordance with the present invention novel manually operable stopper means are provided on the steam dome 29, functioning for the purpose of emptying the boiler when the iron is inverted and also as a safety valve during operation of the iron. In this connection it will be noted that the tapered shape of the dome 29 enables it to function as a spout when the iron is being emptied. By the provision of the stopper means on the dome, and by making the dome readily demountable I obtain a desirable and advantageous unitary replacement assemblage for a steam iron whereby its operation and performance can be appreciably improved, as will be brought out shortly.

Referring to Fig. fi, this closure structure comprises a barrel 49 slidable longitudinally in the discharge opening 33 of the steam dome 23. At its lower end the barrel 49 is flared outward, providing a ange 513 which acts as a guide by engagement with the inside of the steam dome. The flange 5@ also engages one end of a helical compression spring 5i the other end of which engages the underside of the top of the steam dome. The upper end of the barrel fig carries a sealing washer 52 which may be of rubber or rubber-like material, said washer being held in a iianged disk 53. The side walls of the barrel i9 are provided with discharge openings 54. It will be observed that the spring 5i normally yieldably holds the washer 52 in engagement with the top of the steam dome 29 whereby the discharge opening thereof is sealed. To oppose the action of the spring 5l l provide a lanced finger 55 in the wall of the barrel 49, having a rounded or bulbous end portion 53 adapted to engage the edge of the discharge opening 33 of the steam dome. rl"he finger 55 is so adjusted that it will maintain the stopper washer 52 and barrel 43 in raised or emptying position as shown in Fig. 3 in consequence of the washer being manually lifted to said position. The finger 55 thus acts as a spring detent. If the washer 52 should be depressed a predetermined amount, by nib 25a in the post 25 when the handle swings down, causing the bulbous portion 5,5 of the finger to pass the edge of the discharge opening 33, then the spring 5l will operate to complete the downward movement of the washer and maintain the latter in sealing engagement with the top of the steam dome The spring 5l is of a strength to enable excess steam pressure to lift the washer 52 on of the seat of the steam dome opening whereby steam may be discharged into the recess 23 of the front handle post 25, and be thereby dissipated. Accordingly the stopper structure shown in Fig. 4 functions as an eflicient and effective safety valve when the iron is being used. In Fig. 2 the washer 52 is shownfas being raised by excess steam pressure, enabling the steam to be discgcsawfio charged into the hollow post `of 4the handle. As shown in Fig. 4 the inside of jthe base portionof the steam dome 29 is provided with screw Vthreads accommodating a threaded nipple 2Ia of the boiler Vand casing, and the walls of the steam dome are made hexagonal as at 29a to accommodate a wrench whereby the dome and valve assemblage may be readily demounted, lor used to rcplacea single purpose steam dome in existing irons. vThus the combined steam dome, emptying valve and safety valve assemblage may be produced as a single replacement unit, and when such unit is substituted for the steam dome on an existing steam iron it will-provide for quick and easy complete emptying of theboiler, and f provide a reliable safety valve action. In connection'with this latter it will be noted that operation of the valve to empty the iron will disclose or correct any tendency to stickiness Awhich might impair its functioning in the important role of a safety valve.

Operation is as follows:

When it is desired to fill the boiler 2| the operator merely releases the latch for thehandle and raises the handle structure to the position of Fig. 3. He may if he desires lift the washer 52 to the raised position shown in Fig. 4, venting the boiler 2l through the steam dome. However, this is not essential as the boiler would normally be vented through the steam discharge openings 2% in the sole plate 20. 'I'he operator then pours water into the funnel 34 of the filler opening 32. By virtue of the air being vented as above set forth, water will enter the boiler through the funnel 34 without bubbling or splattering, and

quickly fill the boiler. Even if the iron is hot, the tendency for the water to splatter or be thrown up or back will be minimized by the stopper construction, as already explained.

When it is desired to empty the boiler, the user merely inverts the iron with the handle structure 23 in raised position and. with the stopper 52 raised. Water will run out of the boiler through the steam dome opening, and due to the crowned shape of the boiler top and the high position of the steam dome, substantially all of the water will now from the boiler. y

For the purpose of providing a more stable control of the iron body when the handle structure 23 is in raised position a latch mechanism-56 may g Y be provided in conjunction with the hinge means at the rear of the boiler casing 22. Such latch mechanism 56 may include a manually operable release knob l", and may operate toA automatically latchthe handle in raised position, and to release the handle when the knob A5'! is shifted. Details of one type of latch mechanism may be rhad by referring to my copending application,

Serial No. 128,270, iiled November 19, 1949 entitled Steam and Dry Flatiron.

A modification of the invention is shown in Fig. .6, wherein the stopper for the filler opening isprovided with indicator means to show when the boiler .is properly filled. This indicator means comprises aoat in theform of a ball 58 carried within a barrel 36h slidably mounted in `a funnel Sab. The barrel SGbcarries a sealing Y the walls of the opening in the funnel 34h.

When the stopper and-barrel are in raised position, illustrated in-F'ig. 6, the water level in the boiler will be indicated by the float 58, apprising a user-of` the filled condition of the boiler.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements maybe used without others.

I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a unitary, combined steam dome, emptying valve and Vsafety valve for a steam iron, comprising a thimble having a discharge opening in its top, and having means on its base for securing it to a boiler; a stopper for the discharge opening; means mounting the stopper on the thimble for movement between sealing and discharging positions; means yieldably holding the stopper in sealing position, said means yielding in response to excess steam pressure on the stopper to unseat the latter and relieve said steam pressure; and cooperating means on the valve mounting means and thimble for holding the Valve in discharge position.

2. The invention as dened in claim l, in which the stopperrmounting means comprises a barrel passing through and slidable axially in the opening of the thimble, said barrel having discharge openings in its walls, and in which the yielding means comprises a spring carried on the barrel.

3. Asa new article of manufacture, a unitary, combined steam dome, emptying valve and safety valve for a steam iron, comprising a thimble having a discharge opening in its top, and having mounting means on its base; a stopper for the discharge opening; means mounting the-stopper on the thimble for movement between sealing and discharge positions; and cooperating meansfon the thimble and stopper mounting means yieldably holding the stopper in either of said positions-in which it is placed.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a unitary, combined steam dome, emptying valve and safety valve for a steam iron, comprising a thimble formed of drawn sheet metal with hexagonal walls, said thimble having a discharge opening in its top, and having an outwardly flanged base provided with internal screw threads; a stopper furthe discharge opening; means mountingthe stopper on the Vthimble for movement between sealing and discharge positions; and means yieldably holding the stopper in eitherrof said `positions Vin which it is placed, said means including a resilient finger carried by the mounting means for the stopper, engageable with an edge portion `ofthe thimble at the discharge opening thereof when indischarge position.

5. in a steam iron, a boiler having a water discharge opening; a-stopper for the discharge opening; means mounting the stopper on-theboiier for vmovement between sealing and discharge positions, lsaid means including a barrel extending through said discharge opening and movable axially therein, and said barrel having discharge openings in its Vwails; and means yieldably helding thestopper in either or" said positions in which it is placed, including a compression spring carriedby the barrel and, including a resilient finger lanced' from the wall of the barrel in position to engage with an edge of the discharge opening when the barrel is in discharge position.

6. In a steam iron, a boiler having a water opening; a stopper for said opening; a handle for the iron, mounted-on the iron for movement between an operative position adjacent the boiler and a position remote from the boiler to expose said stopper; means mounting the stopper on the boiler for movement between positions sealing or unsealing the water opening; means yieldably holding said stopper in either of said positions in which it is placed, including means for moving the stopper to sealing position when it is shifted a predetermined extent toward said position from the unsealing position; and means responsive to movement of the handle from its remote to its adjacent position, for automatically moving the stopper said extent toward its sealing position `when it is in unsealing position, thereby to seal the opening whenever the handle is in operative position.

'7. In a steam iron, a boiler having an opening in its top portion; safety valve means on the boiler, comprising a stopper for said opening; means passing through said opening, mounting the stopper for movement between seated and unseated positions; means yieldably holding the stopper in seated position, said means yielding in response to excess steam pressure in the boiler to relieve said pressure; and a shield movably mounted on the iron and normally xed in position overlying said stopper to prevent steam from discharging upward when the stopper is unseated to relieve steam pressure.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7, in which there is a handle structure pivotally mounted on the iron, and in which the shield means comprises a hollow post of said handle structure.

9. A steam iron comprising a water tank; lling means for the tank including a :filling orifice; closure means for said orice, said tank having another orice above the normal level of the water in the tank, through which air in the tank can escape while the tank is being filled through said illing orifice; closure means for the secondnamed orifice, carried by the tank for movement between open and closed positions; and means including a manually-operable member for shifting both said closure means to closed positions, said member comprising an ironing handle for manipulating the iron, hingedly mounted on the iron for closure-actuating movement from an inoperative position swung away from the tank to an operative position disposed over the tank.

l0. A steam iron comprising a water tank having filling means in an upper portion, including an orifice, and having an air vent in said portion, spaced from the orifice; a closure for said orice; a closure for vent, lcarried by the tank for movement between open and closed positions; and means including a manually operable member movable with respect to the tank, for moving the closures against the orifice and vent with a single movement oi said member.

11. In a steam iron, a tank having an opening for the passage of iiuid; a stopper for said opening; a handle for manipulating the iron, mounted on the iron for movement between an operative position adjacent the tank and a position remote from the tank; means mounting the stopper on the tank for movement between positions sealing and unsealing the water opening thereof; means yieldably holding the stopper in either of said positions in which it is placed; and means for overcoming said yieldable holding means and shifting the stopper from unsealing to sealing positions in response to movement of the handle from its remote to its operative position.

12. As a new article of manufacture, a unitary, combined steam dome, emptying valve and safety valve comprising a thimble having a water discharge opening at the top thereof; a barrel eX- tending through said discharge opening and movable axially of the thimble, a stopper comprising a flanged disk having a sealing washer therein connected to the end of the barrel to engage and seal the opening in the thimble, said barrel being movable between sealing and discharge positions and having discharge openings in its `walls adjacent the stopper; and means yieldably holding the stopper in either of said positions in which it is placed, including a compression spring carried by the barrel and a resilient nger lanced from the wall of the barrel in position to engage with an edge of the discharge opening in the thimble when the barrel is in discharge position.

13. As a new article of manufacture, a unitary, combined steam dome, emptying valve and safety valve comprising a thirnble having a water discharge opening at the top thereof; a stopper for the discharge opening; means mounting the stopper on the thimble for movement between sealing and discharge positions, said means including a barrel extending through said discharge opening or the thirnble and movable axially of the thimble and said barrel having discharge openings in its walls adjacent the stopper; and means yieldably holding the stopper in either of said positions in which it is placed, including a compression spring carried by the barrel and a resilient nger lanced from the wall of the barrel below the top of the discharge openings in the barrel and in position to engage with an edge of the discharge opening of the thimble when the barrel is in discharge position, said compression spring yielding in response to excess pressure to unseat the stopper and move the barrel through the discharge opening in the thimble sufficiently to expose the discharge openings in the barrel to relieve the excess pressure without moving the resilient nger into holding position whereby said valve automatically ree-loses upon relief of said excess pressure.

i4. A steam iron comprising a boiler having a lling opening; means extending around the fillopening and into the boiler, providing a water passage into the tank, said means extending below the top of the boiler and preventing complete emptying of the boiler through said nlling opening, said boiler having an emptying opening spaced from the filler opening and located at its uppermost portion in unobstructed communication. with every part oi the boiler when the steam iron is inverted whereby the boiler may be completely drained of water through said emptying opening; a valve seat around said emptying opening; and a valve mounted on the boiler for controlled movement between an open position clear of the valve seat and a closed position on the seat,

/ References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number AName Date 2,189,769 Deems Feb. 6, 1940 2,279,215 Theilgaard Apr. '7, 1942 2,343,555 Huffman Mar. 7, 1944 2,432,205 Morton Dec. 9, 1947 2,475,572 Schreyer July 5, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 649,038 Germany Mar. 5, 1938

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