Steam iron and synchronous adjustment mechanism thereof

Abstract

A synchronous adjustment mechanism for use in a steam iron includes an active module and a passive module. The active module is operable to adjust steam emission rate of the steam iron. The passive module is operable to adjust temperature of a soleplate of the steam iron. The active module and the passive module are cooperatively associated with each other, so that when the active module is operated to adjust the steam emission rate of the steam iron, the passive module is driven by the active module to synchronously adjust the temperature of the soleplate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A synchronous adjustment mechanism adapted for use in a steam iron that includes a soleplate, comprising:
 an active module operable to adjust steam emission rate of the steam iron; and   a passive module operable to adjust temperature of the soleplate, said active module and said passive module being cooperatively associated with each other, so that when said active module is operated to adjust the steam emission rate of the steam iron, said passive module is driven by said active module to synchronously adjust the temperature of the soleplate.   
     
     
         2 . The synchronous adjustment mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said active module includes an adjusting rod unit that is movable to adjust the steam emission rate of the steam iron, and a switch that is operable to move said adjusting rod unit, said passive module including a temperature adjuster that is capable of being driven to adjust the temperature of the soleplate, and a transmission arm unit that is capable of being driven by said adjusting rod unit to drive said temperature adjuster. 
     
     
         3 . The synchronous adjustment mechanism as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said switch is operable to rotate among different positions so as to move said adjusting rod unit to adjust the steam emission rate of the steam iron, the movement of said adjusting rod unit synchronously driving said transmission arm unit to drive said temperature adjuster so as to adjust the temperature of the soleplate. 
     
     
         4 . The synchronous adjustment mechanism as claimed in  claim 3 , the steam iron including a main body that has the soleplate, wherein said transmission arm unit includes a transmission arm that is adapted to be mounted to the main body and that is movable to drive said temperature adjuster, said switch being operable to rotate among a first limit position, a second limit position, and a middle position that is located between the first and second limit positions, said adjusting rod unit including an adjusting rod that is pivotally connected to said switch to be driven by the rotation of said switch so as to adjust the steam emission rate of the steam iron and that has a driving portion protruding toward said transmission arm, said driving portion being in contact with an upper portion of said transmission arm when said switch is at the first limit position, said driving portion being in contact with a lower portion of said transmission arm when said switch is at the second limit position, said driving portion pushing said transmission arm to drive said temperature adjuster when said switch is rotated toward the middle position from either one of the first and second limit positions. 
     
     
         5 . The synchronous adjustment mechanism as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said transmission arm has a driven portion that is in contact with said driving portion of said adjusting rod, said driven portion having an upper driven surface that is inclined downwardly toward said adjusting rod, a lower driven surface that is inclined upwardly toward said adjusting rod, and a driven tapered end that is located between said upper and lower driven surfaces, said driving portion having an upper driving surface that is inclined downwardly toward said transmission arm, a lower driving surface that is inclined upwardly toward said transmission arm, and a driving tapered end that is located between said upper and lower driving surfaces, said lower driving surface of said driving portion being in contact with said upper driven surface of said driven portion when said switch is at the first limit position, said upper driving surface of said driving portion being in contact with said lower driven surface of said driven portion when said switch is at the second limit position, when said switch is rotated away from either one of the first and second limit positions to the middle position, a corresponding one of said upper and lower driving surfaces of said driving portion pushing a corresponding one of said upper and lower driven surfaces of said driven portion to move said transmission arm until the corresponding one of said upper and lower driving surfaces and the corresponding one of said upper and lower driven surfaces being separated from each other and said driving tapered end being in contact with said driven tapered end. 
     
     
         6 . The synchronous adjustment mechanism as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said transmission arm unit includes a transmission arm that is movable to drive said temperature adjuster, said switch being operable to rotate among a first limit position, a second limit position, and a middle position that is located between the first and second limit positions, said adjusting rod unit including an adjusting rod that is moved by the rotation of said switch to adjust the steam emission rate of the steam iron, and a driving block and a rod resilient member that are mounted to said adjusting rod, said adjusting rod being formed with an installation groove, said driving block being limitedly movably mounted to said installation groove, and partially extending out of said installation groove, said rod resilient member resiliently biasing said driving block away from said adjusting rod, said active module further including a sleeve member that permits said adjusting rod to extend therethrough, said sleeve member having a limiting through hole that corresponding in position to said installation groove, said driving block being biased by said rod resilient member to extend out of said limiting through hole by a maximum extent and pushing against said transmission rod when said switch is at the middle position, when said switch is rotated away from the middle position to either one of the first and second limit positions, said adjusting rod being moved relative to said sleeve member by said switch such that said sleeve member pushes said driving block to move away from said transmission arm against the biasing action of said rod resilient member so as to permit said transmission rod to move toward said adjusting rod to drive said temperature adjuster. 
     
     
         7 . The synchronous adjustment mechanism as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said transmission rod has a driven portion, said sleeve member further having an upper limiting surface that defines an upper edge of said limiting through hole, and a lower limiting surface that defines a lower edge of said limiting through hole, said driving block having an upper driving surface that is inclined downwardly toward said transmission arm, and a lower driving surface that is inclined upwardly toward said transmission arm, said upper and lower driving surfaces of said driving block being respectively in contact with said upper and lower limiting surfaces of said sleeve member when said switch is at the middle position, said upper limiting surface pushing said upper driving surface to move said driving block away from said transmission arm when said switch is rotated away from the middle position to the first limit position, said lower limiting surface pushing said lower driving surface to move said driving block away from said transmission arm when said switch is rotated away from the middle position to the second limit position. 
     
     
         8 . The synchronous adjustment mechanism as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said transmission arm unit further includes at least one arm resilient member that has two opposite ends respectively abutting against said main body and said transmission arm for resiliently biasing said transmission arm to move toward said adjusting rod. 
     
     
         9 . The synchronous adjustment mechanism as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said temperature adjuster has a pinion portion, said transmission arm further having a rack portion that meshes with said pinion portion of said temperature adjuster. 
     
     
         10 . The synchronous adjustment mechanism as claimed in  claim 4 , the main body of the steam iron having an inlet hole that fluidly communicates a water chamber and a steam chamber, wherein said adjusting rod further having a rod portion that is movably inserted into the inlet hole for adjusting flow rate of the water flowing from the water chamber into the steam chamber, said rod portion having a fluid-tight section, a low flow rate section that extends downwardly from a lower end of said fluid-tight section, and a high flow rate section that extends downwardly from a lower end of said low flow rate section, said low flow rate section having at least one low flow rate groove that is formed in an outer surrounding surface thereof, said high flow rate section having at least one high flow rate groove that is formed in an outer surrounding surface thereof, said high flow rate grooves having a volume greater than that of said low flow rate grooves, said adjusting rod being moved by said switch among a high flow rate position where said switch is at the first limit position and where said high flow rate section corresponds in position to said inlet hole, a low flow rate position where said switch is at the middle position and where said low flow rate section corresponds in position to said inlet hole, and a seal position where said switch is at the second limit position and where said fluid-tight section corresponds in position to and seals said inlet hole. 
     
     
         11 . The synchronous adjustment mechanism as claimed in  claim 6 , the main body of the steam iron having an inlet hole that fluidly communicates a water chamber and a steam chamber, wherein said adjusting rod further having a rod portion that is movably inserted into the inlet hole for adjusting flow rate of the water flowing from the water chamber into the steam chamber, said rod portion having a fluid-tight section, a low flow rate section that extends downwardly from a lower end of said fluid-tight section, and a high flow rate section that extends downwardly from a lower end of said low flow rate section, said low flow rate section having at least one low flow rate groove that is formed in an outer surrounding surface thereof, said high flow rate section having at least one high flow rate groove that is formed in an outer surrounding surface thereof, said high flow rate grooves having a volume greater than that of said low flow rate grooves, said adjusting rod being moved by said switch among a high flow rate position where said switch is at the first limit position and where said high flow rate section corresponds in position to said inlet hole, a low flow rate position where said switch is at the middle position and where said low flow rate section corresponds in position to said inlet hole, and a seal position where said switch is at the second limit position and where said fluid-tight section corresponds in position to and seals said inlet hole. 
     
     
         12 . A steam iron comprising:
 a main body including a soleplate; and   a synchronous adjustment mechanism disposed on said main body, and including
 an active module that is operable to adjust steam emission rate of said steam iron, and 
 a passive module that is operable to adjust temperature of said soleplate, said active module and said passive module being cooperatively associated with each other, so that when said active module is operated to adjust the steam emission rate of said steam iron, said passive module is driven by said active module to synchronously adjust the temperature of said soleplate. 
   
     
     
         13 . The steam iron as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said active module includes an adjusting rod unit that is movable to adjust the steam emission rate of said steam iron, and a switch that is operable to move said adjusting rod unit, said passive module including a temperature adjuster that is capable of being driven to adjust the temperature of said soleplate, and a transmission arm unit that is capable of being driven by said adjusting rod unit to drive said temperature adjuster. 
     
     
         14 . The steam iron as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said switch is operable to rotate among different positions so as to move said adjusting rod unit to adjust the steam emission rate of said steam iron, the movement of said adjusting rod unit synchronously driving said transmission arm unit to drive said temperature adjuster so as to adjust the temperature of said soleplate. 
     
     
         15 . The steam iron as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said transmission arm unit includes a transmission arm that is mounted to said main body and that is movable to drive said temperature adjuster, said switch being operable to rotate among a first limit position, a second limit position, and a middle position that is located between the first and second limit positions, said adjusting rod unit including an adjusting rod that is pivotally connected to said switch to be driven by the rotation of said switch so as to adjust the steam emission rate of said steam iron and that has a driving portion protruding toward said transmission arm, said driving portion being in contact with an upper portion of said transmission arm when said switch is at the first limit position, said driving portion being in contact with a lower portion of said transmission arm when said switch is at the second limit position, said driving portion pushing said transmission arm to drive said temperature adjuster when said switch is rotated toward the middle position from either one of the first and second limit positions. 
     
     
         16 . The steam iron as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said transmission arm has a driven portion that is in contact with said driving portion of said adjusting rod, said driven portion having an upper driven surface that is inclined downwardly toward said adjusting rod, a lower driven surface that is inclined upwardly toward said adjusting rod, and a driven tapered end that is located between said upper and lower driven surfaces, said driving portion having an upper driving surface that is inclined downwardly toward said transmission arm, a lower driving surface that is inclined upwardly toward said transmission arm, and a driving tapered end that is located between said upper and lower driving surfaces, said lower driving surface of said driving portion being in contact with said upper driven surface of said driven portion when said switch is at the first limit position, said upper driving surface of said driving portion being in contact with said lower driven surface of said driven portion when said switch is at the second limit position, when said switch is rotated away from either one of the first and second limit positions to the middle position, a corresponding one of said upper and lower driving surfaces of said driving portion pushing a corresponding one of said upper and lower driven surfaces of said driven portion to move said transmission arm until the corresponding one of said upper and lower driving surfaces and the corresponding one of said upper and lower driven surfaces being separated from each other and said driving tapered end being in contact with said driven tapered end. 
     
     
         17 . The steam iron as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said transmission arm unit includes a transmission arm that is movable to drive said temperature adjuster, said switch being operable to rotate among a first limit position, a second limit position, and a middle position that is located between the first and second limit positions, said adjusting rod unit including an adjusting rod that is moved by the rotation of said switch to adjust the steam emission rate of said steam iron, and a driving block and a rod resilient member that are mounted to said adjusting rod, said adjusting rod being formed with an installation groove, said driving block being limitedly movably mounted to said installation groove, and partially extending out of said installation groove, said rod resilient member resiliently biasing said driving block away from said adjusting rod, said active module further including a sleeve member that permits said adjusting rod to extend therethrough, said sleeve member having a limiting through hole that corresponding in position to said installation groove, said driving block being biased by said rod resilient member to extend out of said limiting through hole by a maximum extent and pushing against said transmission rod when said switch is at the middle position, when said switch is rotated away from the middle position to either one of the first and second limit positions, said adjusting rod being moved relative to said sleeve member by said switch such that said sleeve member pushes said driving block to move away from said transmission arm against the biasing action of said rod resilient member so as to permit said transmission rod to move toward said adjusting rod to drive said temperature adjuster. 
     
     
         18 . The steam iron as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said transmission rod has a driven portion, said sleeve member further having an upper limiting surface that defines an upper edge of said limiting through hole and that is inclined upwardly toward said adjusting rod, and a lower limiting surface that defines a lower edge of said limiting through hole and that is inclined downwardly toward said adjusting rod, said driving block having an upper driving surface and a lower driving surface, said upper and lower driving surfaces of said driving block being respectively in contact with said upper and lower limiting surfaces of said sleeve member when said switch is at the middle position, said upper limiting surface pushing said upper driving surface to move said driving block away from said transmission arm when said switch is rotated away from the middle position to the first limit position, said lower limiting surface pushing said lower driving surface to move said driving block away from said transmission arm when said switch is rotated away from the middle position to the second limit position. 
     
     
         19 . The steam iron as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said transmission arm unit further includes at least one arm resilient member that has two opposite ends respectively abutting against said main body and said transmission arm for resiliently biasing said transmission arm to move toward said adjusting rod. 
     
     
         20 . The steam iron as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said temperature adjuster has a pinion portion, said transmission arm further having a rack portion that meshes with said pinion portion of said temperature adjuster. 
     
     
         21 . The steam iron as claimed in  claim 15 , said main body of said steam iron having an inlet hole that fluidly communicates a water chamber and a steam chamber, wherein said adjusting rod further having a rod portion that is movably inserted into said inlet hole for adjusting flow rate of the water flowing from said water chamber into said steam chamber, said rod portion having a fluid-tight section, a low flow rate section that extends downwardly from a lower end of said fluid-tight section, and a high flow rate section that extends downwardly from a lower end of said low flow rate section, said low flow rate section having at least one low flow rate groove that is formed in an outer surrounding surface thereof, said high flow rate section having at least one high flow rate groove that is formed in an outer surrounding surface thereof, said high flow rate grooves having a volume greater than that of said low flow rate grooves, said adjusting rod being moved by said switch among a high flow rate position where said switch is at the first limit position and where said high flow rate section corresponds in position to said inlet hole, a low flow rate position where said switch is at the middle position and where said low flow rate section corresponds in position to said inlet hole, and a seal position where said switch is at the second limit position and where said fluid-tight section corresponds in position to and seals said inlet hole. 
     
     
         22 . The steam iron as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said main body of said steam iron has an inlet hole that fluidly communicates a water chamber and a steam chamber, said adjusting rod further having a rod portion that is movably inserted into said inlet hole for adjusting flow rate of the water flowing from said water chamber into said steam chamber, said rod portion having a fluid-tight section, a low flow rate section that extends downwardly from a lower end of said fluid-tight section, and a high flow rate section that extends downwardly from a lower end of said low flow rate section, said low flow rate section having at least one low flow rate groove that is formed in an outer surrounding surface thereof, said high flow rate section having at least one high flow rate groove that is formed in an outer surrounding surface thereof, said high flow rate grooves having a volume greater than that of said low flow rate grooves, said adjusting rod being moved by said switch among a high flow rate position where said switch is at the first limit position and where said high flow rate section corresponds in position to said inlet hole, a low flow rate position where said switch is at the middle position and where said low flow rate section corresponds in position to said inlet hole, and a seal position where said switch is at the second limit position and where said fluid-tight section corresponds in position to and seals said inlet hole.