Convertible iron/steamer

Abstract

A hand-held, convertible pressing iron/steamer device includes a steaming module including a compartment for holding water, and a heater for producing steam from the water. The device further includes an ironing module including a heatable flat pressing bottom surface, the ironing module being selectively attachable to the steaming module so as to direct steam through the flat pressing bottom surface. There is also a handle attachable to the steaming module and the ironing module. In a first configuration, the handle is operably and detachably mounted to the steaming module alone. In a second configuration, the handle is operably and detachably mounted to the steaming module and the ironing module.

1 . A hand-held, convertible pressing iron/steamer device, comprising: 
 a steaming module including a compartment for holding water, and a heater for producing steam from the water;    an ironing module including a heatable flat pressing bottom surface, the ironing module being selectively attachable to the steaming module so as to direct steam through the flat pressing bottom surface; and    a handle attachable to the steaming module and the ironing module, wherein in a first configuration the handle is operably and detachably mounted to the steaming module alone, and in a second configuration the handle is operably and detachably mounted to the steaming module and the ironing module.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , including a power cord operatively connected to the handle to provide power to the steaming module and the ironing module.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the handle seals the compartment for holding water in the steaming module.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the handle and steaming module includes a docking clamp for engaging a docking recess on the other of the handle and steaming module when the handle and steaming module are engaged, and a switch for releasing the docking clamp when disengaging the handle and the steaming module.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the steaming module includes a steam passage aperture in alignment with a steam tube in the ironing module when the device is in the second configuration.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the ironing module includes a switch for activating/deactivating the heatable flat pressing bottom surface.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the ironing module includes a switch for adjusting the temperature of the heatable flat pressing bottom surface.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , including a switch for activating/deactivating emission of steam from the steaming module.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the ironing module is operably and detachably mounted to the steaming module.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the steaming module and the ironing module are each operably and detachably mounted to the handle at a particular interface, and wherein the handle includes a power cord for providing power to the steaming module in both the first and second configurations, and to the ironing module in the second configuration.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the ironing module and the steaming module are slidingly engaged from a first direction at an interface.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein a post on at least one of the ironing module and steaming module engages a recess on the other of the ironing module and steaming module.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the handle and the steaming module are slidingly engaged from a second direction.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein a post on at least one of the handle and steaming module engages a recess on the other of the handle and steaming module.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein a post on at least one of the ironing module and steaming module engages a recess on the other of the ironing module and steaming module.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein a first post on at least one of the ironing module and steaming module engages a first recess on the other of the ironing module and steaming module, and a second post on at least one of the handle and steaming module engages a second recess on the other of the handle and steaming module.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein a portion of one of the handle and steaming module includes male electrical connections, and a portion of the other of the handle and steaming module includes female electrical connections, wherein the male and female electrical connections engage when the handle and steaming module slidably engage from the second direction.  
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein a portion of one of the handle and ironing module includes male electrical connections, and a portion of the other of the handle and ironing module includes female electrical connections, wherein the male and female electrical connections engage when the handle and steaming module slidably engage from the second direction.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein a portion of one of the handle and ironing module includes male electrical connections, and a portion of the other of the handle and ironing module includes female electrical connections, and a portion of one of the handle and steaming module includes male electrical connections, and a portion of the other of the handle and steaming module includes female electrical connections, wherein the male and female electrical connections of the handle and steaming module and the male and female connections of the handle and ironing module respectively engage when the handle and steaming module slidably engage from the second direction.  
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the handle and steaming module includes a docking clamp for engaging a docking recess on the other of the handle and steaming module when the handle and steaming module are engaged, and a switch for releasing the docking clamp when disengaging the handle and the steaming module.  
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the steaming module includes an aperture for emitting steam operably connected to the heater for producing steam; and the ironing module includes a steam tube for passing steam through the ironing module and emitting steam from the flat pressing bottom surface of the ironing module; wherein the steam tube is directly aligned with the aperture for emitting steam when the device is in the second configuration.  
   
   
       22 . A hand-held, convertible pressing iron/steamer device, comprising: 
 a steaming module including a compartment for holding water, and a heater for producing steam from the water;    an ironing module including a heatable flat pressing bottom surface, the ironing module being selectively attachable to the steaming module so as to direct steam through the flat pressing bottom surface; and    a handle attachable to the steaming module and the ironing module, wherein in a first configuration the handle is operably and detachably mounted to the steaming module alone, and in a second configuration the handle is operably and detachably mounted to the steaming module and the ironing module;    wherein the ironing module and the steaming module are slidingly engaged from a first direction at a first interface, and the handle and the steaming module are slidingly engaged from a second direction at a second interface.    
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein the first interface includes a first post on at least one of the ironing module and steaming module engages a first recess on the other of the ironing module and steaming module and the second interface includes a second post on at least one of the handle and steaming module that engages a second recess on the other of the handle and steaming module.  
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein a portion of one of the handle and ironing module includes male electrical connections and a portion of the other of the handle and ironing module includes female electrical connections, and a portion of one of the handle and steaming module includes male electrical connections and a portion of the other of the handle and steaming module includes female electrical connections such that the male and female electrical connections of the handle and steaming module and the male and female connections of the handle and ironing module respectively engage when the handle and steaming module slidably engage from the second direction.  
   
   
       25 . A hand-held, convertible clothes pressing iron/steamer device, comprising: 
 a steaming module including a compartment for holding water, a heater for producing steam from the water, and an aperture for emitting steam operably connected to the heater for producing steam;    an ironing module including a heatable flat pressing bottom surface, a steam tube for passing steam through the ironing module and emitting steam from the flat pressing bottom surface of the ironing module, the ironing module being selectively attachable to the steaming module so as to direct steam through the flat pressing bottom surface when the device is in the second configuration and the steam tube is directly aligned with the aperture for emitting steam; and    a handle attachable to the steaming module and the ironing module, wherein in a first configuration the handle is operably and detachably mounted to the steaming module alone, and in a second configuration the handle is operably and detachably mounted to the steaming module and the ironing module, wherein the steaming module further includes at least one docking clamp for engaging a particular docking recess on the handle when the handle and steaming module are engaged and a switch for releasing the at least one docking clamp when disengaging the handle and the steaming module;    wherein the ironing module and the steaming module are slidingly engaged from a first direction at a first interface, and the handle and the steaming module are slidingly engaged from a second direction at a second interface, wherein the first interface includes a first post on at least one of the ironing module and steaming module engages a first recess on the other of the ironing module and steaming module and the second interface includes a second post on at least one of the handle and steaming module that engages a second recess on the other of the handle and steaming module; and wherein a portion of one of the handle and ironing module includes male electrical connections and a portion of the other of the handle and ironing module includes female electrical connections, a portion of one of the handle and steaming module includes male electrical connections and a portion of the other of the handle and steaming module includes female electrical connections such that the male and female electrical connections of the handle and steaming module and the male and female connections of the handle and ironing module respectively engage when the handle and steaming module slidably engage from the second direction.