Steam iron

Abstract

A steam iron with external steam supply, has a handle, a switch for actuating a steam valve on a steam accumulator, a power supply for an electrical resistance heater, a steam tube, an iron base with a temperature-selection switch, a soleplate with a steam-supply connector, and a steam duct with at least one steam-outlet nozzle. The steam iron does not leak water during operation. To prevent spitting, the steam iron includes a steam dryer with a separate external or integrated housing.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A steam iron, comprising: 
 an iron base;    an electrical resistance heater disposed in said iron base to be connected to a power supply for powering said electrical resistance heater;    a soleplate being connected to said base;    a steam-supply connector being disposed on said soleplate;    a steam duct having at least one steam-outlet opening, said steam duct being connected to said steam-supply connector; and    a steam dryer connected to said steam supply connector and having a separate housing for connecting to an external steam supply.    
     
     
         2 . The steam iron according to  claim 1 , including a handle connected to said base.  
     
     
         3 . The steam iron according to  claim 1 , including: 
 a steam accumulator interconnecting the external steam supply and said steam-supply connector and having a steam valve; and    a switch for actuating said steam valve;    
     
     
         4 . The steam iron according to  claim 3 , including a steam tube interconnecting said steam-supply connector and the steam accumulator.  
     
     
         5 . The steam iron according to  claim 1 , including a temperature-selection switch being connected to and controlling said electrical resistance heater.  
     
     
         6 . The steam iron according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said soleplate has a rear region; and    said housing is disposed in said rear region, directly on said soleplate.    
     
     
         7 . The steam iron according to  claim 1 , wherein said housing is produced from material with good heat conduction, has a contact surface contacting said soleplate, and is heated passively via direct heat conduction from said soleplate into said housing.  
     
     
         8 . The steam iron according to  claim 1 , wherein said housing includes a connection stub for connecting to a steam tube connected to the external steam source, a collecting device collects water droplets, a connection element has an inner steam inlet, and said connection element is connected to said steam-supply connector of said soleplate.  
     
     
         9 . The steam iron according to  claim 8 , wherein said steam dryer is passively heatable by said electrical resistance heater.  
     
     
         10 . The steam iron according to  claim 8 , including a separate electrical resistance heater in said steam dryer for actively heating said steam dryer.  
     
     
         11 . The steam iron according to  claim 8 , wherein said steam dryer is actively heatable.  
     
     
         12 . The steam iron according to  claim 8 , wherein said steam inlet is a steam snorkel.  
     
     
         13 . The steam iron according to  claim 12 , including: 
 a connection element;    a contact surface of said housing contacting said soleplate;    said steam snorkel at least partly being disposed within said housing and adjacent said contact surface, and leading into said connection element, said snorkel having a snorkel opening being formed therein and extending near a top of said housing.    
     
     
         14 . The steam iron according to  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said connection stub has a part extending into said housing; and    said part of said connection stub extending into said housing is provided with a sintered-metal attachment for introducing hot steam into said housing therethrough.    
     
     
         15 . The steam iron according to  claim 1 , including: 
 a hollow screw having an end thread and being inserted in said steam-supply connector, said connection element of said housing extending around said hollow screw; and    a closure screw securing said hollow screw on said soleplate by being screwed into said end thread of said hollow screw.    
     
     
         16 . The steam iron according to  claim 1 , including a protective cap on said housing of said steam dryer for preventing heat losses and burns.  
     
     
         17 . The steam iron according to  claim 1 , wherein said base extends beyond said housing.  
     
     
         18 . The steam iron according to  claim 13 , wherein said housing and said base define an air gap therebetween.