Self-cleaning steam iron

Abstract

A self-cleaning steam iron has a self-cleaning function. The self-cleaning function is activated by an integrated steam control means which also controls the steam level in the ironing mode. The control means resets a steam iron to the ironing mode after each self-cleaning but does not alter the steam level set in the ironing mode unless a self-cleaning is performed subsequent to the steam level setting.

1 . A steam iron including a main housing, a reservoir, a steam generating chamber, a valve and a valve controller, said reservoir being communicable with said steam generating chamber through said valve, said valve includes a first and a second alternative valve aperture defining regions for varying the extent of communication between said reservoir and said steam generating chamber, wherein the size of the aperture defined by said first aperture defining region is generally smaller than that defined by said second aperture defining region, and said controller includes means to urge said valve to return towards said first region.  
     
     
         2 . A steam iron according to  claim 1 , wherein said valve includes an elongated shaft having a longitudinally extending groove.  
     
     
         3 . A steam iron according to  claim 2 , wherein the cross-sectional area of at least a part of said groove varies along its length.  
     
     
         4 . A steam iron according to  claim 1 , wherein said valve includes an elongated shaft and said valve controller includes a rotary member which is connected to said shaft via a transmission link, said controller includes means to restrain said transmission link in a fixed location on said rotary member when said valve is operating in said first aperture defining region, said controller further includes means to urge said shaft to move towards said first region when said valve is operating in said second aperture defining region.  
     
     
         5 . A steam iron according to  claim 2 , wherein said elongated groove includes a portion which tapers towards the end of said shaft not connected to said controller.  
     
     
         6 . A steam iron according to  claim 2 , wherein said controller includes a rotary member which is connected to said shaft via a transmission link, said rotary member includes a crank track for receiving a portion of said transmission link, said crank track is substantially radially disposed on said rotary member.  
     
     
         7 . A steam iron according to  claim 6 , wherein said crank track includes a first and a second region corresponding to the valve operating in said first and second aperture defining regions, wherein when said valve is operating in said first valve defining region, said received portion of said transmission link is substantially maintained at a fixed location with respect to said rotary member, when said valve is operating in said second aperture defining region, said received portion is moved along said crank track under an urging force.  
     
     
         8 . A steam iron according to  claim 7 , wherein said rotary member includes means to move said transmission link along said crank track when said valve operates in said second aperture defining region.  
     
     
         9 . A steam iron according to  claim 1 , wherein said valve controller includes a rotary member, a pusher, a spring bias means, a crank track, a transmission link connecting said rotary member to said shaft, wherein a portion of said crank track is received and slidable along said crank track, said portion of said crank track is located at a fixed position relative to said rotary member when said rotary member moves between a first and a second angular positions, said portion is moved along said crank track under an urging force when said rotary member rotates beyond said angular range.  
     
     
         10 . An electric steam iron according to  claim 1 , wherein said valve contoller includes a lever handle member having a first, a second and a third arm, wherein said first arm is for use by an user, said second arm is for driving said piston member in said first region and said third arm is for driving said piston into said second region under spring bias.  
     
     
         11 . A steam iron including a steam controller, said controller including a valve and a valve controller, said valve includes at least a first and a second operative regions corresponding to variable aperture sizes for steam generation, said controller includes means to control said valve to operate either in said first region or said second region, said controller also includes biasing means to return said valve to said first operating region when said valve is set to operate in said second region.  
     
     
         12 . A steam controller of  claim 11 , wherein said first operating region includes aperture of variable sizes for ironing and said second operating region includes apertures for generating steam for self-cleaning of said iron.  
     
     
         13 . A steam controller of  claim 11 , wherein said controller includes lever means to control said valve to operate in either said first region or said second region, wherein, said lever means will be subject to a spring urge to return the said first region when said lever means transitions from said first operating region to said second operating region.  
     
     
         14 . A steam controller of  claim 13 , wherein said controller includes a cam member to drive said lever means to said second operating region and against spring bias.