HK1021391B - Steam iron with steam output at the front and sides of the iron sole - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a steam iron with a water reservoir for supplying water to an evaporator chamber, wherein the water supplied is convertible into steam in the evaporator chamber and which is connected to at least one first and second steam outlet, a heating element embedded in a shoe for heating both the evaporator chamber and a iron sole, wherein the iron sole is mounted on the shoe, wherein the iron sole has a brazing surface and a brazing tip at its forward end in the direction of motion, and the first steam outlet of the adjacent part is arranged to the brazing tip so that the steam spreads in the area adjacent to the brazing tip.

It is common knowledge that steam ironing produces a much better smoothing effect on the solder than dry ironing. Conventional steam irons have several steam outlets at the bottom of the solder base which moisten the solder directly below the solder base with steam. However, this steam is usually very hot and meets a similarly hot solder so that the steam is poorly condensed.However, in the case of known steam irons with surface steam, most of the steam escapes upwards and moistens the hand and face of the operator because the exit opening and/or the steam pressure are unfavourably selected. The surface steam is applied to a generally unover-polished material which has not yet been heated. This allows a much more effective condensation of the surface steam on the irons, so that a better glow is achieved when the pre-polished material is subsequently over-polished compared to the conventional low-pressure irons.

SU 1201376 A is a steam iron that is supplied with steam from an external steam generator by a second line to the heating element to heat the bottom of the iron. Such iron systems are usually used in the professional field, with the external steam source usually producing a steam pressure of about 200 kilopascals, which is about 1000 times greater than the steam pressure of conventional household steam engines with integrated water and drip valve.The steam is directed through the steam line into a supply channel, the flow direction of which is almost perpendicular to the ironing material in the surrounding groove. From the groove, the steam passes through a very thin slit between the ironing material and the slightly raised outer edge of the iron base. Since the slightly raised outer edge of the iron base is approximately semicircular in cross-section on the side facing the iron base, the steam is first greatly accelerated at the narrowest point between the iron base and the iron base after the venture effect, and then deflected to the upper edge by all angles of the angle of deflection.

The advantage of this is that a small slot can be closed by a very thick material or a very soft solder, so that no steam can escape to the surface. The outer contour of the solder, which is rounded in cross-section, has relatively good mechanical smoothing properties but very poor distribution of steam after leaving the slot. The steam exits in the same way in all directions, including upwards, so that all the surrounding air is evaporated to a height of at least 50 cm from the solder. This is also very uncomfortable for the operator, but also greatly increases water consumption, which requires a large external reservoir of water.

Err1:Expecting ',' delimiter: line 1 column 1081 (char 1080)

USPS 3,722,117 is a steam-driven iron already known to have a heating element for heating both the iron core and the evaporator chamber and a drip valve to gradually bring water from the water tank integrated in the iron into the evaporator chamber. There is a second steam-driven outlet in the iron core for the conventional steam-driven outlet below the steam-driven one and a first steam-driven outlet near the top of the steam-driven iron core to the top of the iron core. The steam-driven valve is connected to either the second steam-driven outlet for the steam-driven one or to the first steam-driven outlet for the steam-driven one or to the second steam-driven outlet for the steam-driven one, or to the first steam-driven outlet for the first steam-driven one, or to the second steam-driven outlet for the first steam-driven outlet, or to the second steam-driven outlet for the first steam-driven outlet, or to the second steam-driven outlet for the first steam-driven outlet, or to the second steam-driven outlet for the first steam-driven outlet, or to the second steam-let.A further disadvantage of this embodiment is that the steam must pass through a very narrow winding path to the first steam outlet due to the valve mechanism in the steam line, so that the steam spreads only in an area immediately in front of the iron tip. In this case, the steam from the first steam outlet hits the fabric just a few centimetres in front of the iron tip and is already preheated by thermal radiation from the iron sole, so that the condensation properties of the steam at the iron tip are not optimal.Finally, in this familiar embodiment, the first steam outlet is similar to that in DE-OS 4133295 above the iron base and only at the iron tip, so that a large amount of the outgoing steam is also deposited on the iron body itself and a considerable proportion of the total steam from the first steam outlet floats uselessly as a high cloud of steam in front of the iron and condenses into the air, increasing the risk of burns on the hands of the operator.

Another problem with all known steam irons described above is that the steam attached to the outlets below the iron base is considerably reduced in steam pressure because many of the fabric types of the iron base are so dense that the steam cannot pass through them or because the iron base is not sufficiently permeable. This results in a significant reduction in steam flow which reduces the positive effects of the steam iron base. Similarly, when a very thin iron base is welded with the conventional steam core openings below the iron base, most of the steam passes through the iron base without the steam being absorbed by the boiler, and the same effect can be observed at the boiler base, due to the low external pressure.

The steam is then directed to the sole by a steam-exit opening, and the sole is not flat but slightly convex, so that a gap is provided between the solder and the steam-exit opening.

The steam-rolled flat iron of the type described above is already known from US 3.407.521. This steam-rolled flat iron has a steam-rolled base with a slanted fine-grained tip.

The present invention is intended to provide a steam iron of the type described above without a boiler system for steam generation which will deliver the steam available from the evaporator chamber to the solder as efficiently and as widely as possible, with the solder being generally more smooth.

This task is solved by a steam iron with the characteristics of claim 1.

The first and second vapour outlets, respectively, in the ironing board are formed in a favourable way so that the vapour spreads very close to the surface, since today's ironing boards are generally less than 10 mm high and therefore the first vapour outlet for the surface vapour in the ironing board is placed less than 10 mm above the height relative to the ironing material or the ironing surface of the ironing board preferably less than 5 mm relative to the ironing surface in the ironing position.The first and second vapour outlets are connected by pressure-equilibration so that, if one of the two vapour outlets or groups of vapour outlets is closed by thick solder fabric or at least the pressure is reduced, more vapour is released through the other vapour outlet by self-regulating action. This may be achieved by a fold on the top edge of the solder outlet closing the first vapour outlet or by a second vapour outlet closing the first vapour outlet on the side so that the total vapour outlet is less dense, or by a second vapour outlet closing the first vapour outlet so that the total vapour outlet is less dense.where the second steam outlet is formed at the bottom of the ironing iron, while the invention maintains continuous and unimpaired efficient surface evaporation in the first case, in the second case, where the first steam outlet is designed for surface steam and the second steam outlet is designed for steam under the ironing iron, either both steam outlets are simultaneously and continuously usable or at least the steam produced in the evaporation chamber is usable independently of the flow in the total volume and with optimal distribution.

The first and second steam outlet openings are connected in an advantageous way independently of the solder, so that the pressure-balancing connection line or connecting nut between the first and second steam outlet is so sized or formed that even with very soft fabric of the solder and therefore deep impressions of the steam iron into the solder, a pressure-balancing steam connection is nevertheless provided between the first and second steam outlet openings.

A first steam outlet designed to allow the steam to escape only adjacent to the top of the ironing board and adjacent to the sides adjacent to the top of the ironing board, on the one hand, provides a much larger surface vapour coverage area, also adjacent to the side of the ironing board, compared to the openings in DE 4 133 295 and US PS 3.722.117, and, on the other hand, by omitting surface vapour coverage areas on the side facing the top of the ironing board or on the back side where the ironing board is also normally deposited, the ironing board is moved towards the front of the ironing board to a more steeply-drawn surface and is thus exclusively intended for the area of the ironing board, which is then drained.The second steam outlet is located within the essentially flat outlet of the steam iron, so that the steam is released through the second steam outlet under the steam iron and the steam iron is moistened under the steam iron. It is therefore possible to operate conventional steam under the steam iron and surface steam simultaneously over the first steam engine already open next to the steam engine, so that a significant improvement in the glowing output is achieved by the steam engine, after the first steam engine has been opened, from the outer surface of the steam engine.The operator is thus even more independent of the drying of the ironing material, which he could compensate for in a conventional steam iron without surface steam or with inefficient surface steam only by constantly operating the water spray piston pump, which usually causes the ironing material to be over-moistened by the water spray.

In further training, the first and/or second vapour outlet are in continuous connection with the evaporator chamber, allowing nominal vapour flow rates to be maintained under all real soldering conditions.

In another advantageous embodiment, the first steam-outlet is connected to the second steam-outlet by a groove on the arc surface, the groove entering the first steam-outlet. In particular, when using ironing irons of easily malleable aluminium material, it is very easy to make a pressure-balancing groove between the first and second steam-outlet in the arc, i.e. without any change in the tools for the aluminium body mounted on it, with the hot element.In one embodiment the nut is merely the extension of the steam outlet for steam already placed in a nut-like depression below the steam iron. Another embodiment, which is only briefly shown here, provides that the pressure-balancing connection between the first and second steam outlet and/or the connection to the evaporator chamber is not formed in the surface of the iron soles but in the body above it which absorbs the heating element. This ensures that this steam outlet cannot be broken by the iron. This solution is particularly relevant for iron-hard materials such as stainless steel or iron, which are not easily deformable and which require a flat or flat surface with as little or no deformation as possible.The test shall be carried out on the same test piece as the test piece.

In another advantageous embodiment, a line of symmetry between the first and second steam outlet through the nut and a line of symmetry through the top of the iron and the center of the iron surfaces is projected at a sharp angle so that the steam from the first steam outlet is directed laterally forward in the direction of motion.

To achieve an even distribution of steam under the iron, several secondary vapour outlets are provided, which are essentially V-shaped with the tip of the V facing the iron tip, so that the iron can be easily moved or rotated.

Another advantage is that the first steam outlet is formed by a slope at the edge of the ironing surface, preferably at an angle of between 2° and 10° from the material, so that the steam from the first steam outlet is directed very near the surface. The flatness of the slope also has the advantage over a rounding, that a defined, small angle of steam outlet from the first steam outlet is reached upwards to the operator with no or few undesirable vapour discharge components.

In a further advantageous form, several slits or circular vents for the steam outlet are formed in the slope from several first vents. These are easy to make and ensure an even surface vapour distribution in a front area sideways to and in front of the steam rail. These openings or slits are formed between the utility and the iron, if the utility connects the second vapour outlet to the first vapour outlet in the slope, or if they are not formed directly within the bus sole without the involvement of the iron.

In another advantageous embodiment, the inclination is only extended so close to the tip of the iron, that the flat inclination of the iron sole extends evenly to the tip of the iron and around the tip of the iron, with the first steam outlet adjacent to this area. This maintains a fine inclination on the two adjacent sides of the iron sole edge, which is usable for particularly difficult areas, e.g. around buttons, but ensures that the surface is extended close to the tip of the iron, ensuring that a pump is also available in a larger area of the iron.

Err1:Expecting ',' delimiter: line 1 column 446 (char 445)

In another advantageous embodiment, a further iron base is provided, removable and adjustable from the iron base firmly connected to the steam iron, in which either only the first steam outlet openings are formed, so that a conventional steam iron base can be switched to only surface steam or additional surface steam by applying the additional iron base.

In another advantageous embodiment, the first or first steam outlet (s) are formed from the top of the ironing iron on either side at a marginal area of the ironing iron base, but extend only as far as the middle or the rear part relative to the preferred ironing direction of the ironing iron tip, so that the ironing iron is moistened or evaporated by the front part of the ironing iron and the ironing iron is exclusively dried by the rear part of the ironing iron.

Beneficial embodiments of the invention are described in the subclaims.

Further features, advantages and applications of the invention are shown by the following description of several embodiments, which are described in more detail in the drawings.

It shows: Fig. 1a view of the arc surface of an ironing board in a first embodiment of the invention;Fig. 2a view of the arc surface of an ironing board in a second embodiment of the invention;Fig. 3a view of the arc surface of an ironing board in a third embodiment of the invention;Fig. 4a view of the arc surface of an ironing board in a fourth embodiment of the invention;Fig. 5a view of the arc surface of an ironing board in a fifth embodiment of the invention;Fig. 6a view of the arc surface in a sixth embodiment of the invention;Fig. 7a view of the arc surface in a sixth embodiment of the invention;Fig. 8a view of the arc surface in a sixth embodiment of the invention;Fig. 8a view of the arc surface in a sixth embodiment of the invention;Fig. 8a view of the arc surface in a sixth embodiment of the invention;Fig. 8a view of the arc surface in a sixth embodiment of the invention;Fig. 8a view of the arc surface in a sixth embodiment of the invention;Fig. 8a view of the arc surface in a sixth embodiment of the invention;Figure 8a view of the arc surface in a sixth embodiment of the invention;Figure 8a view of the sixth embodiment of the invention;Figure 8a view of the sixth embodiment of the invention;8a. a cross-section along line 8a-8a through the iron base in Fig. 8;Fig. 8a. a cross-section along line 8b-8b through the iron base in Fig. 8;Fig. 9a. a view of the iron base of an iron base in a ninth embodiment of the invention;Fig. 9a. a front side view of the iron base of an iron base in Fig. 9a;Fig. 10a. a view of the iron base of an iron base in a tenth embodiment of the invention;Fig. 10a. a front side view of the iron base of an iron base in Fig. 10a;Fig. 12a. a quick view of the iron base of a sheet metal base in an elliptical embodiment of the invention;Fig. 12a. a view of the iron base of an iron base in a twelve-sided cross-section, especially the edge of the iron base of the figure 12a;Fig. 12a. a view of the iron base of an iron base in a twelve-sided cross-section;Fig. 12a. a view of the iron base of an iron base in a twelve-sided cross-section;Fig.In particular, in Fig. 12b, Fig. 13 a prospective representation of a suction iron base according to the invention and in Fig. 14 a schematic representation of the vapour diffusion of the surface vapour on an iron base according to Figures 1-13.

The soles of ironing irons shown in the figures are part of a household ironing iron, which has essentially the following structure.

Err1:Expecting ',' delimiter: line 1 column 355 (char 354)

The steam iron has a water tank, integrated or integrable in the housing, which is intended to be a reservoir for the steam to be produced.

The steam-rolled steel has also a so-called boot 13 (see Fig. 12c) to which the steel sole 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 is attached at the bottom. The boot 13 is formed as an aluminium casting body in which a heating resistor 14 is embedded as a heating element. The heating resistor 14 corresponds to the shape of the arrangement of the second steam-outlet openings 15, U-shaped in boot 13. The boot 13 has a steam-outlet chamber consisting of a steam-generating chamber and a steam-generating chamber connected to this boiler or steam-generating chamber 16 which is located at the bottom. The steam-generating chamber 16 is arranged in an open area of the steam-generating chamber 13 in the upper part of the boiler, so that the steam-generating chamber 16 is arranged in a vertical plane in relation to the first and the steam-generating chamber 16 on the lower side. The steam-generating chamber 16 is arranged in a vertical plane in the upper part of the steam-generating chamber 16 and is therefore connected to the second boiler.

The iron sole 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 is formed as an aluminium sheet and is surrounded at the edge area as shown in Fig. 12c so that a sharp angle is included and the edge area of the shoe 13 is included. In this case the first steam outlet 18 is formed in the iron sole.

The first vapour outlet 18 is an opening for the release of steam from the ironing board 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 or the shoe 13 which is located at the outer edge of the ironing board or shoe and which, as a result, leads the hot vapour from the evaporator chamber to the exit not below the ironing board but next to it.

The second steam outlet 15 is an outlet for the release of steam from the ironing iron sole 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 or the shoe 13 which releases hot steam below the ironing iron sole but in the area covered by the ironing iron when ironing the ironing iron. Only in the special case not shown in the figures that no steam is to be released from under the ironing iron and only surface steam is provided instead is the second steam outlet similar to the first one, corresponding to the formation of surface steam.

Preferably, a large number of first and second steam vents 18, 15 are provided in each case; in particular, more than 2 or 3 second and more than 5 first steam vents 15, 18 are formed in or adjacent to the iron base.

Figures 1-8, 9a, 10a and 12a show a view of the side of the iron base facing the solder during soldering.

In Figures 1-8 and 9a-12a, the second steam outlet 15 is similarly formed and arranged in the iron base 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12. For all these figures, the second steam outlet 15 is described as follows by way of example in Figure 12a. This figure shows an embodiment in which the second steam outlet 15 is formed conventionally and independently of the first steam outlet 18. A total of 71 separate second steam outlet 15 are provided, arranged together in the main U or V-shaped direction directly below the equally shaped steam outlet chamber 16 and respectively.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 1-6, 8 and 10b, the first vapour outlet 18 for surface vapour is formed by extending the drip-shaped groove of the second vapour outlet outwards to the side or outer contour of the iron base, so that the opening of such a groove 19, 24, 25, 26 for surface vapour on the outer contour together with the groove 19, 24, 25, 26 forms the first vapour outlet.

In all embodiments, the first and second vapour outlet openings 16 are in continuous steam connection with the vapour distribution chamber 16 and thus are connected to it by pressure balancing or pressure balancing. For example, if such a steam iron is mounted on an ironing material which, due to the fabric and possibly the ironing board, does not allow any or very little steam to pass from the second vapour outlet 15 the nominal vapour pressure in the vapour distribution chamber 16 is sufficient to continue to increase to dampen the vapour pressure of the paper material through the first vapour opening 18 and the combined vapour balancing connection ensures that, under all conditions, a uniform vapour pressure is achieved.

Err1:Expecting ',' delimiter: line 1 column 176 (char 175)

The first 18 vapour outlets extend to about the front half of the front of the top 20 vapour outlets, the two legs of the V-shaped 19 vapour outlets enclose an angle of about 60-110°, so that the vapour from these nuts has a flow direction and an outlet direction in the direction of lateral movement.The first and second steam outlets 18, 15 are arranged in a forward direction of the steam outlet, so that the steam outlet is located in the rear direction without steam outlets, and the steam is therefore driven out in a very efficient manner. This operation is the same for all the embodiments shown in the figures. For the steam outlets 1-10 and 12, the same applies, that the first steam outlet 18 is not located in the forward part of the steam outlet 20, but is positioned backwards.Err1:Expecting ',' delimiter: line 1 column 657 (char 656)The second V-nut 19, as seen from the tip of the ironing board, and all the other 19 nuts turned to the top of the ironing board 20 follow each other at equal distances, each closing two by two second vapour outlets 15 to supply these V-nuts with steam. In the case of the ironing board 1, in the second V-nut 20, as seen from the tip of the ironing board 20, there are in addition in the top of the V further second vapour outlets 15 - nine in all - so that in a front area of the ironing board around the tip of the ironing board 20 a particularly large amount of surface vapour is provided.The total number of V-shaped notes 19 is provided for this embodiment.

In the case of the ironing board of Fig. 4, after the second V-nut relative to the top of the ironing board 20, each further rear V-nut 19 is placed on each fourth droplet nut for the second vapour outlet 15.

In the case of the iron base 2 as shown in Fig. 2, apart from a V-shaped nut 19 directly adjacent to the iron tip, 20 further nut 24 are inserted into the iron base as an extension of second steam outlet 15 in this case the drip-shaped nuts are only extended outwards to the outer contour 22, 23 of the iron base. After the three to the iron tip 20 front drip-shaped nuts for second steam outlet 15 are followed (again mirror-symmetrically) by a nut 24 on either side of the symmetry axis 50 which results in each three-pointed nut 24 being extended to a total of 15 to five drip-shaped nuts, each of which is equipped with a 24 or 2 pointed drip-shaped nut.

The iron base 3 of Fig. 3 differs from iron base 2 essentially only in that it has two front V-shaped notches 19 followed by three notches 25 on the side opposite the iron tip 20 which extend not only to the outer contour 22, 23 of iron base 3 but also to the inner area to the above-mentioned line 50 of symmetry or connection, without, however, two equal-height opposite notes 25 being joined together to form a V. This base is in effect a compromise between iron base 2 and 4.

The iron base 4 is designed to provide a larger night drying area 51 adjacent to the rear outer contour 21 of the iron base 4 with a side facing the tip of the iron base 4 and the V-shaped nut 19 adjacent to the tip of the iron base 20 has two secondary vapour outlets 15 so that more surface vapour is available in the area immediately surrounding the tip.

Finally, on the side opposite the iron tip 20, the drip-shaped nut 24 is followed by the drip-shaped nut 24, which extends only outwards, as already shown for the iron tip 2. Finally, for every fourth drip-shaped nut 19 adjacent to the iron tip 20, there are three more W-shaped nut 15 with these second steam-outlet holes.

The ironing board 6 of Fig. 6 has, like the ironing board 2, a V-shaped nozzle 19 for surface steam in a region adjacent to the ironing board 20 and, like the ironing board 2, three 24 knots on each side, which are arranged on each third droplet-shaped nozzle for the second steam outlet, as in the ironing board 2, and extend only outwards to the outer contour of the ironing board.Err1:Expecting ',' delimiter: line 1 column 387 (char 386)

The iron base 7 of Fig. 7 has, like all iron base 15 described above, second steam outlets 15 which have a total shape of V or U with the tip of the V or rounded U facing the iron base 20 respectively. Three front droplet-shaped nuts are provided in which the second steam outlet 15 is drilled three times each for each droplet-shaped nut in the top area.The iron base 7 is particularly characterised by the fact that the whole middle area and a large rear area are directed towards the iron base 20 and towards the rear outer edge 21 as a large night-drying zone without any vapour outlet. Over the length of the iron base 7 from the iron base 20 to the rear outer edge 21, the iron base 7 is also removable, so that it has a vapour evaporation area below the iron base and for the rear outer edge, which is only the substantial front half of the iron base.Err1:Expecting ',' delimiter: line 1 column 370 (char 369)The short knots 28 extend on either side of the sides adjacent to the tip of the iron 22 and 23 from the outer contour inwards (about 1 cm) to the centre of the iron surface, and are similar to the knots 19, 24, 25, 26 described above, at such an angle to the outer contour 22, 23 that a steam loading component is provided for the front of the iron tip or a lateral loading component.the one closest to the direction of movement for the first ironing of an area on the ironing board.

The direction of movement is considered to be the direction in which the iron is moved immediately in front of the iron tip 20 or immediately adjacent to and in front of the areas adjacent to the iron tip. In these areas, the surface vapour is evaporated by the arrangement of the first 18 vapour outlets and the orientation of the 19, 24, 25, 26, 28 knots on the iron. Of course, the iron is movable in all directions, the above direction of movement is to be the preferred connection by which the iron is first passed over the iron tip. The first 28 knots are usually the three forward-moving vapour outlets for the vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour vapour v

The V-shaped nut 19 is equipped with three v-shaped vents and the V-shaped nut 19 is equipped with nine second vapour outlets. As with the previous vents for surface vapour, the V-shaped nuts are arranged at approximately equal distances from each other and in a forward area relative to the tip of the nut. The first V-shaped nut 19 immediately adjacent to the v-shaped nut 20 closes between its thighs at an angle of 60° and a half-angle of 30° respectively.The angle 31 between the longitudinal centre axis 50 of the iron base and the centre axis 49 is made by the nut 19 of a V-shaped nut shaft, which includes an angle of greater than 50°. This results in an even distribution of the surface vapour around the forward part of the iron base in the direction of motion. A representative section through one of the 19 nuts along the longitudinal axis or symmetry axis 50 of the iron base 8 (see Fig. 8a) shows how the impressions into the aluminium sheet are formed. A depth of the nut 32 of at least 1 mm already ensures that the first and second opening can be in a comparable relationship with each other regardless of the shape of the iron base.The width of the nut 33 is preferably 2-4 mm in the deeper area and 3-5 mm in the area on the solder (see Figure 8a, reference 34).

Figure 8b shows a cut through the groove 19 near the first outlet 18 and shows that the slope in the groove or the width of the groove at the surface adjacent to the solder of the iron base widens with respect to the cross-section of the groove according to Figure 8a, so that the size 35 is preferably 4-6 mm. This greater rounding 37 compared to the rounding 36 according to Figure 8a prevents the parts protruding on the groove from hooking laterally with the groove 19 or the first steam outlet 18 at the outer contour.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 9 and 10, the surface vapour exits the outer contour of the iron base through a slope 38; it is of particular importance that this slope is formed as an inherently flat surface, where each point on this surface includes the same point angle to the other point point of the iron base 9, 10 in the main plan. Unlike a rounded outer contour for surface vapour, the slope with a point angle to the iron base can ensure a flat surface vapour outlet without major vapour loss upwards.

Although in Fig. 9a the left part of the inclination is equipped with circular first steam vents 18 and the right part with several slit-shaped first steam vents 18 spaced apart, the mirror-like opposite part of the inclination is to be equipped with the same first steam vents 18 so that only circular openings or only 2/3 slits are formed in the inclinations.

As can be seen from Fig. 9b - a side view of the iron base 9 - the slope 38 extends from the iron base 39 upwards to the iron handle by about 1-4 mm, preferably 1-2 mm (see Fig. 9b, measure 40). The second vapour outlet 15 is conventionally arranged in drop-shaped nuts without a utility connection to the first vapour outlet in the iron base 9.

The iron base 10 has no openings in the outlet and is instead fitted with 41 extender knots which, like the iron base 2, provide a steam connection between the first and second steam outlet 18, 15. The extender nut 41 extends the droplet-shaped nut for the second steam outlet 15 along the outer edge of the iron base 15 until it is closed, so that the steam outlet is at the same time four times as wide as the outlet. The first steam outlet 18 in this case is approximately 38 mm wide and 4 to 6 mm wide. However, the basic width of the outlet is provided by a width of approximately 38 mm. The two side of the outlet are independently of each other, so that the two sides of the outlet are approximately 18 mm wide.

Fig. 12a shows, as described at the outset, a iron base 12 in which, in the conventional way, second steam outlet openings are arranged. The first steam outlet openings 18 are only visible in this embodiment in the side view of the iron base shown in Fig. 12b, as they are formed as spaced side slits or other, e.g. circular openings, in the surrounding side wall of the iron base. This embodiment ensures a conventional uniform surface of the iron base, as in the case of the previous iron base, with the exception that the upper surface is not exposed to light by the first three openings, but by a third of the iron base discharging a vapour.

As shown in Fig. 12c - a partial section through the shoe and the ironing iron sole - the pressure-balancing connection between the first and second vapour outlet is made in this embodiment by having 13 knots, channels or slits or the like formed in the shoe so that the first vapour outlet 18 is connected to the vapour distribution chamber 16.

Fig. 13 shows a perspective view of an ironing boot 46 which can be fitted to a conventional steam iron. Thus, by placing the ironing boot 46 on the steam iron sole firmly attached to the steam iron, it is possible to provide a steam iron with additional first steam outlet openings for surface vapour. The ironing boot 46 is positioned immediately below the second steam opening 15 of the steam iron (in the uppermost state with the iron sole 46) The second steam openings on page 47 The second steam opening 47 are rectangular or approximately 48 mm high, so that the vapour is discharged from the bottom of the iron tube, but the opening 46 can be arranged on a smaller tube, similar to the first tube, but with a diameter of 48 mm. The second opening 46 is arranged on a smaller tube, so that the vapour is discharged from the bottom of the iron tube in the same way as in the first tube.

Fig. 14 shows a schematic of an ironing base 52 corresponding to one of the ironing base 52 described above. The schematically shown ironing base 52 shows an ironing base 20, adjacent to it immediately, pages 22 and 23, and a side 21 facing the ironing base of the outer contour. Fig. 14 is intended to illustrate the vapour distribution of the surface vapour which is discharged in an area around the ironing base, i.e. in front and next to it, and in an anterior area of the adjacent pages 22 and 23.

Claims (17)

1. A steam iron with a water reservoir for the supply of water to an evaporation chamber in which the fed water is convertible into steam and which is connectable to at least one first and one second steam outlet (18, 15), with a heating element (14) embedded in a shoe (13) for heating both the evaporation chamber and a soleplate (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 46), said soleplate being attached to the shoe (13) and having an ironing surface (39) and a nose (20) at its forward end when viewed in the direction of movement, and said first steam outlet (18) being arranged in such close proximity to the iron's nose (20) that the steam propagates in the area adjacent to the iron's nose (20), characterized in that the first and the second steam outlet (18, 15) are formed in the soleplate (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 46) or the first and the second steam outlet (18, 15) are arranged at a height of less than 10 mm relative to the ironing surface (39), in particular at a height of less than 5 mm, that the first and the second steam outlet (18, 15) are in balanced pressure communication with each other, irrespective of the material being ironed, and that at least one groove (19, 24, 25, 26, 41, 48) is formed in the soleplate (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 47, 52), said groove's free end being constructed as the first steam outlet (18), or in the shoe (13) is provided at least one groove or one duct (45), such that the path of said groove or said duct (19, 24, 25, 26, 41, 45, 48) determines the direction of the steam discharge from the first steam outlet (18) laterally forwardly when viewed in the direction of movement.
2. The steam iron according to claim 1, characterized in that the first steam outlet(s) (18) is (are) arranged such that the steam exits solely adjacent to the iron's nose (20) and adjacent to the sides (22, 23) contiguous with the nose (20), as a result of which the material being ironed is dampened solely adjacent to the steam iron at the iron's nose (20) and at the two sides (22, 23) directly contiguous therewith.
3. The steam iron according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second steam outlet (15) is arranged within the substantially plane ironing surface (39), the steam thus exiting through the second steam outlet (15) under the steam iron, dampening the article being ironed underneath the steam iron.
4. The steam iron according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first steam outlet (18) and/or the second steam outlet (15) is/are in uninterrupted communication with the evaporation chamber.
5. The steam iron according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first steam outlet (18) is in communication with the second steam outlet (15) through the groove (19, 24, 25, 26, 41, 48) on the ironing surface, and that said groove (19, 24, 25, 26, 41, 48) opens into the first steam outlet (18).
6. The steam iron according to claim 5, characterized in that an imaginary center line (49) between the first and the second steam outlet (18, 15) through the groove (19, 24, 25, 26, 41, 48) forms an acute angle (30, 31) with an imaginary line of symmetry (50) through the iron's nose (20) and the center of the ironing surface, so that the steam exiting from the first steam outlet (18) is directed laterally forwardly when viewed in the direction of movement.
7. The steam iron according to claim 6, characterized in that the groove (19, 24, 25, 26, 41, 48) extends crosswise over the soleplate (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 46) from the first steam outlet (18) to a further first steam outlet (18) on the opposite side of the soleplate (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 46), said groove (19, 24, 25, 26, 41, 48) extending in a V- or W-shaped configuration.
8. The steam iron according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that several second steam outlets (18) are provided which are arranged in an essentially V-shaped configuration, with the tip of the V pointing at the iron's nose (20).
9. The steam iron according to any one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first steam outlet (18) is formed by a bevel (38, 43) provided on the edge of the ironing surface (39).
10. The steam iron according to claim 9, characterized in that the bevel (38, 43) is at an angle of inclination of between 130° and 178°, preferably between 170° and 178°, to the ironing surface (39), so that the steam exits close to the surface of the material being ironed preferably at an angle of between 2° and 10° between the material being ironed and the bevel (38, 43).
11. The steam iron according to claim 9, characterized in that the bevel (38) includes slots or circular orifices for the first steam outlet.
12. The steam iron according to claim 9, characterized in that the bevel (38) extends to the iron's nose (20) only such an amount that the ironing surface (39) of the soleplate (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 46) continues to be plane up to the nose (20) and around the nose (20), with the first steam outlet (18) being arranged adjacent to this area.
13. The steam iron according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first steam outlet (18) is provided above the ironing surface (39) and on the side of the soleplate (12, 46).
14. The steam iron according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that provision is made for the soleplate (46) or an additional soleplate in which the first or/and second steam outlet (18, 15, 47) is formed, to be demountable from and attachable to the steam iron.
15. The steam iron according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that solely first and second steam outlets (18, 15) are provided that deliver steam laterally around the soleplate (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 46).
16. The steam iron according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one first steam outlet (18) extends from the iron's nose (20) to either side for a length of about one fifth to two thirds of the entire lateral contour length of each side (22, 23) of the soleplate (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 46) adjoining the iron's nose (20).
17. The steam iron according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an area of the soleplate (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 46) from the side (21) remote from the iron's nose (20) is devoid of steam outlets (15, 18), said area covering one seventh to one half of the overall length from the iron's nose to the opposite end (21), so that in the rear portion of the ironing surface, when viewed in the direction of movement, a drying zone is formed for drying the material being ironed without dampening it.