Steam iron comprising a scaling indicator

Abstract

The invention concerns a steam iron comprising a scaling indicator ( 10 ) and including a heating element ( 3 ) provided with a vaporizing chamber ( 30 ) for producing steam, the heating element ( 3 ) comprising an electrical heating resistor ( 31 ) controlled by a thermostat ( 6 ). The invention is characterized in that it is equipped with means for counting the number of cycles closing or opening the thermostat ( 6 ) and in that the scaling indicator ( 10 ) is activated based on the number of cycles of the thermostat ( 6 ).

1 . Steam iron including a scale formation indicator ( 10 ) and comprising a heating body ( 3 ) containing a steam chamber ( 30 ) for the production of steam, the heating body ( 3 ) having an electric heating resistance ( 31 ) whose operation is controlled by a thermostat ( 6 ), wherein it is provided with means permitting the counting of the number of cycles of closing or opening of the thermostat ( 6 ) and the scale formation indicator ( 10 ) is activated as a function of the number of cycles of thermostat ( 6 ). 
   
   
       2 . Iron according to  claim 1 , wherein it has a cord ( 5 ) for its connection to an electrical supply mains and means making it possible to count the number of connections or disconnections of the cord ( 5 ) to the electrical supply mains in order to determine the number of ironing sessions and the scale formation indicator ( 10 ) is activated as a function of the cumulative number of cycles of the thermostat ( 6 ) and of the number of cumulative ironing sessions. 
   
   
       3 . Iron according to  claim 2 , wherein the scale formation indicator is activated when the cumulative number of cycles of the thermostat ( 6 ) exceeds a predetermined threshold and the number of ironing sessions is greater than a given value. 
   
   
       4 . Iron according to  claim 3 , wherein said means for counting the number of cycles of closing, or opening, of the thermostat are integrated into an electronic circuit ( 11 ) controlling the activation of the scale formation indicator ( 10 ). 
   
   
       5 . Iron according to  claim 4 , wherein said electronic circuit ( 11 ) receives from the thermostat information relating to its closing and/or its opening. 
   
   
       6 . Iron according to  claim 4 , wherein the electronic circuit ( 11 ) has a nonvolatile memory in which is stored information relating to the cumulative number of cycles of the thermostat ( 6 ) and/or the cumulative number of ironing sessions. 
   
   
       7 . Iron according to  claim 1 , wherein said scale formation indicator ( 10 ) is a light disposed on the body of the iron. 
   
   
       8 . Steam iron according to  claim 3 , wherein the threshold of activation of the scale formation indicator ( 10 ) is modulated as a function of the degree of hardness of the water introduced into the steam chamber ( 30 ) which is indicated by the user. 
   
   
       9 . Steam iron according to  claim 1 , wherein it comprises a button ( 12 ) whose actuation for a predetermined time allows reinitialization of the calculation of the number of cycles of the thermostat. 
   
   
       10 . Steam iron according to  claim 9 , wherein said button effectuating reinitializing also constitutes a button ( 12 ) for self-cleaning causing the abrupt arrival of a large quantity of water into the steam chamber.