Steam iron

Abstract

An electric steam iron is described. The iron includes a water reservoir and a soleplate. The soleplate includes a base, a heating element, a constant steam chamber in fluid communication with a plurality of constant steam chamber apertures passing through the base, and a steam shot chamber. The steam shot chamber includes a front cavity and a steam shot channel in thermal communication with the heating element and in fluid communication with the front cavity, the front cavity including at least one steam shot chamber aperture passing through the base, the steam shot channel defining a pair of flow paths substantially overlying the heating element, each flow path having a re-entrant shape. The iron further includes a constant steam chamber water delivery means for delivering water from the water reservoir into the constant steam chamber, and a steam shot chamber water delivery means for delivering water from the water reservoir into the steam shot chamber in the soleplate.

1 . An electric steam iron comprising:
 a water reservoir;   a soleplate including:
 a base; 
 a heating element; 
 a constant steam chamber in fluid communication with a plurality of constant steam chamber apertures passing through the base; 
 a steam shot chamber including a front cavity and a steam shot channel in thermal communication with the heating element and in fluid communication with the front cavity, the front cavity including at least one steam shot chamber aperture passing through the base, the steam shot channel defining a pair of flow paths substantially overlying the heating element, each flow path having a re-entrant shape; the iron further including 
   a constant steam chamber water delivery means for delivering water from the water reservoir into the constant steam chamber; and   a steam shot chamber water delivery means for delivering water from the water reservoir into the steam shot chamber in the soleplate.   
     
     
         2 . The iron according to  claim 1 , wherein the soleplate is of unitary construction. 
     
     
         3 . The iron according to  claim 1 , wherein the total length of the steam shot channel is greater than the length of the heating element. 
     
     
         4 . The iron according to  claim 1 , wherein the total length the steam shot channel is over twice the length of the heating element. 
     
     
         5 . The iron according to  claim 1 , wherein the pair of re-entrant flow paths are symmetrical and meet at a confluence, and wherein the steam shot chamber water delivery means delivers water from the water reservoir into the confluence, the flow of the delivered water being split by a flow splitter so as to be divided between the pair of flow paths. 
     
     
         6 . The iron according to  claim 1 , wherein the constant steam chamber includes a central cavity in fluid communication with a pair of lateral channels in which the constant steam chamber apertures are located, the central cavity adapted to receive water from the constant steam chamber water delivery means and vent the received water as steam from the constant steam chamber apertures. 
     
     
         7 . The iron according to  claim 6 , wherein the central cavity and lateral channels of the constant steam chamber and the steam shot channel and front cavity of the steam shot chamber are defined by one or more walls extending normally from the soleplate. 
     
     
         8 . The iron according to  claim 1 , further including a soleplate cover adapted to seal the constant steam chamber and the steam shot chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The iron according to  claim 8 , wherein the soleplate cover includes a first aperture through which the constant steam chamber water delivery means passes, and a second aperture through which through which the steam shot chamber water delivery means passes. 
     
     
         10 . The iron according to  claim 1 , wherein the steam shot chamber is in fluid isolation from the constant steam chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The iron according to  claim 1 , wherein the steam shot chamber water delivery means includes a pump operable by a user to deliver water from the water reservoir to the steam shot chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The iron according to  claim 1 , wherein the constant steam chamber water delivery means includes a constant flow-rate valve for delivering water from the water reservoir to the constant steam chamber at a predefined rate, the water delivered to the constant steam chamber vented as steam from the constant steam chamber apertures to provide a constant steam flow. 
     
     
         13 . An electric steam iron comprising:
 a water reservoir;   a soleplate, the soleplate being of unitary construction and including:
 a base; 
 a heating element; 
 a constant steam chamber in fluid communication with a plurality of constant steam chamber apertures passing through the base; 
 a steam shot chamber including a front cavity and a steam shot channel in thermal communication with the heating element and in fluid communication with the front cavity, the front cavity including at least one steam shot chamber aperture passing through the base, the steam shot channel defining at least one flow path substantially overlying the heating element, the at least one flow path having a re-entrant shape; the iron further including 
   a constant steam chamber water delivery means for delivering water from the water reservoir into the constant steam chamber; and   a steam shot chamber water delivery means for delivering water from the water reservoir into the steam shot chamber in the soleplate.   
     
     
         14 . The electric steam iron according to  claim 13 , wherein the total length of the at least one flow path is greater than the length of the heating element. 
     
     
         15 . The electric steam iron according to  claim 13 , wherein the at least one flow path includes a pair of flow paths, each flow path in the pair of flow paths substantially overlying the heating element, and each flow path in the pair of flow paths having a re-entrant shape. 
     
     
         16 . An electric steam iron comprising:
 a water reservoir;   a soleplate including:
 a base; 
 a heating element; 
 a constant steam chamber in fluid communication with a plurality of constant steam chamber apertures passing through the base; 
 a steam shot chamber including a front cavity and a steam shot channel in thermal communication with the heating element and in fluid communication with the front cavity, the front cavity including at least one steam shot chamber aperture passing through the base, the steam shot channel defining at least one flow path substantially overlying the heating element, the at least one flow path having a re-entrant shape, the total length of the at least one flow path being greater than the length of the heating element; the iron further including 
   a constant steam chamber water delivery means for delivering water from the water reservoir into the constant steam chamber; and   a steam shot chamber water delivery means for delivering water from the water reservoir into the steam shot chamber in the soleplate.   
     
     
         17 . The electric steam iron according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one flow path includes a pair of flow paths, each flow path in the pair of flow paths substantially overlying the heating element, and each flow path in the pair of flow paths having a re-entrant shape. 
     
     
         18 . The electric steam iron according to  claim 16 , wherein the soleplate is of unitary construction.