Steam Iron

Abstract

An electric steam iron is disclosed as including a body, a soleplate with steam outlets, a steam chamber between the soleplate and the body, the steam chamber being in a fluid-communicable relationship with the steam outlet, a water tank within the body and in a fluid-communicable relationship with the steam chamber, a valve downstream of the water tank and upstream of the steam chamber. The valve has a valve orifice, and a controlling mechanism for controlling opening and closing of the valve orifice, the controlling mechanism including a valve closure member and a pin with an actuating head. The valve closure member is a magnet and the actuating head is made of a ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic metal or metal alloy, the valve closure member being movable relative to the actuating head and the valve orifice between a valve closing position and a valve opening position.

1 . A steam iron including:
 a body,   a soleplate with at least one steam outlet,   a steam chamber formed between said soleplate and said body, said steam chamber being in a fluid-communicable relationship with said steam outlet,   a water tank within said body and in a fluid-communicable relationship with said steam chamber,   a valve member between said water tank and said steam chamber, said valve member having at least a first valve orifice, and   means for controlling opening and closing of said first valve orifice,   wherein said controlling means includes a valve closure member, an actuator and a controller,   wherein said controller is manually operable to control movement of said actuator,   wherein at least one of said valve closure member and actuator is a magnet and the other of said valve closure member and actuator is a magnet or is made of a ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic metal or metal alloy, and   wherein said valve closure member is movable relative to said actuator and said first valve orifice between a valve closing position in which said first valve orifice is closed and a valve opening position in which said first valve orifice is open.   
     
     
         2 . A steam iron according to  claim 1  wherein said valve closure member is adapted to move from said valve closing position to said valve opening position by attraction force or repulsion force between said valve closure member and said actuator. 
     
     
         3 . A steam iron according to  claim 1  wherein said actuator is movable relative to said first valve orifice. 
     
     
         4 . A steam iron according to  claim 1  wherein said valve closure member is adapted to move from said valve closing position to said valve opening position when said actuator is at or within a predetermined distance from said first valve orifice, and said valve closure member is adapted to move from said valve opening position to said valve closing position when said actuator is beyond said predetermined distance from said first valve orifice. 
     
     
         5 . A steam iron according to  claim 1  wherein when said valve closure member moves from said valve closing position to said valve opening position, said valve closure member is adapted to move a valve membrane to open said first valve orifice, and when said valve closure member moves from said valve opening position to said valve closing position, said valve closure member is adapted to move said valve membrane to close said first valve orifice. 
     
     
         6 . A steam iron according to  claim 4  wherein said actuator is movable linearly towards and away from said first valve orifice. 
     
     
         7 . A steam iron according to  claim 1  further including means for guiding movement of said actuator. 
     
     
         8 . A steam iron according to  claim 1  wherein said actuator is linked with a manually operable controller. 
     
     
         9 . A steam iron according to  claim 8  wherein said actuator is pivotally linked with said manually operable controller. 
     
     
         10 . A steam iron according to  claim 1  wherein said controller is engaged with and movable relative to a handle of said body. 
     
     
         11 . A steam iron according to  claim 10  wherein said controller is movable relative to said handle in a first direction to move said actuator towards said first valve orifice and in a second direction to move said actuator away from said first valve orifice. 
     
     
         12 . A steam iron according to  claim 1  wherein said valve member includes at least a second valve orifice in fluid communication with and in series with said first valve orifice. 
     
     
         13 . A steam iron according to  claim 12  further including means for adjusting the extent of opening of said second valve orifice. 
     
     
         14 . A steam iron according to  claim 1  wherein said actuator is out of contact with fluid passing between said water tank and said steam outlet.