US2775681A - Cord connector for electric irons - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 25, 1956 M. M. KISTNER 2,775,681

CORD CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRIC IRONS Filed April 3, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Merrill M. Kismer ATTORN Y5 Dec. 25, 1956 M. M. KISTNER CORD CONNECTOR FORELECTRIC IRONS Filed April 's, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 6

INVENTOR ga min M. Kistner United States Patent 2,775,681 Patented Dec. 25, 1956 CORD CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRIC IRQNS Merrill M. Kistner, St. Petersburg, Fla., assignor to Steam Iron Corporation, Treasure Island, Fla, a corporation of Florida Application April 3, 1953, Serial No. 346,50

3 Claims. (Cl. 219-45) This invention relates to domestic irons and more particularly to a cord connector by means of which the heating element of the iron is connected to a convenience outlet. This application is a continuation in part of my copending application, Serial No. 211,998, filed February 21, 1951.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a reversible cord attaching device. Some users of irons prefer to have the cord extending from the right side and others prefer to have it extending from the left side. Heretofore it was necessary to replace the attaching member on the end of the cord to reverse it from one side to the other. I provide a member which may be mounted in either of two positions and which has its terminal connections so arranged that they will engage the terminals on the back of the iron in either position.

In carrying out the invention, I provide a cord having a connector at one end which is adapted to be received in a recess in the rear leg of the handle of the iron. This connector and the recess are so formed that the connector may be mounted in the recess in either of two positions with the cord extending from one side or the other. In either position, the necessary connections are made between the cord and the heating element of the iron.

in the accompanying drawings I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Fig. l is a vertical, sectional view of the iron;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal, sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detailed, sectional view on line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical, sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a view of the rear leg of the handle of the iron with the cord connector removed, but indicated in dotted lines;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the inner face of the connecting member on the end of the cord;

Fig. 8 is a detailed, sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the valve seat and cooperating valve member; and

Fig. 10 is a side view of the iron in up-ended position.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates the sole plate of the iron. It is provided with a polished ironing face 2 and may be of the general shape shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings providing a nose 3 and a heel 4.

The explosion chamber 5 is arranged in the sole plate, the explosion chamber receiving water from a reservoir arranged over it in a manner to be hereinafter described. The explosion chamber is provided with an outlet 6 communicating with a series of passages 7 through which the steam passes, for super-heating, to outlets (not shown) for discharge of steam on to the fabric being ironed. In the sole plate there is arranged a heating element 8 which is of rod-like form and structure and which extends from two points 9 and 19 adjacent the heel of the iron substantially parallel to the sides, forming a loop around the explosion chamber as disclosed in my prior patent.

A shell 11, suitably shaped to form substantially vertical walls 12 and a fiat top 13, is mounted over the sole plate. A reservoir 14 for water is arranged within the shell. A handle 15, consisting of a horizontal or gripping portion 16, a front leg 17 and a rear leg 18, is mounted over the shell 11.

As shown in Fig. l of the drawings, the front leg 17 of the handle is in alignment with the explosion chamber a? and the valve mechanism to control the flow of water from the reservoir to the explosion chamber is mounted in the handle and also serves to secure the handle, shell and reservoir to the sole plate at the nose end of the iron. These parts are shown in greater detail in Figs. 5 and 9 of the drawings. As shown, a boss 39 extends above the surface of the sole plate surrounding the explosion chamber and this boss is provided with external threads 2d. These threads are adapted to be engaged by the threads of a connecting nut 21. The connecting nut is provided with a central threaded opening 22 extending through a tubular portion 23 of the nut. The bottom 24 of the reservoir 14 is provided with an opening 25 and a sleeve nut 26 is arranged within the reservoir and received in the nut 21. As shown, the sleeve nut is provided with threads to engage the threads 22 and is enlarged at its upper portion to form a shoulder 27. A suitable packing or gasket 28 is arranged around the opening 55, between the upper face of the connecting nut 21 and the shoulder 27. Above the bottom of reservoir 24, the nut is provided with ports 28 to permit water to flow from the reservoir into the bore 34 of tubular nut 26.

Bore 34 is provided with a valve seat 29 to receive a valve member 3%. Valve member 30 is formed on a stem 31 and the upper end of this stem carries a ball 32. Ball 32 is received in a housing 33 and this housing is movable in an enlargement in the upper end of the bore 34 of. tubular nut 26. Its downward movement is limited by the shoulder 35 at the bottom of the enlargement of the bore. Housing 33 is in turn threaded to a tubular or hollow valve stem 36 which extends upwardly through the reservoir and handle.

The valve and valve seat are constructed to increase the flow of water as the valve is opened. As shown (see Fig. 9) the valve seat 29 and the valve portion 36 of the stem are at substantially the same angle. Beneath the valve seat the nut 26 has a bore 39 which is cylindrical, whereas the portion 4t) of the valve stem beneath the valve member 30, which extends through this bore, tapers toward the lower end 41. Thus, as the valve is moved upwardly, the space between the lower end 40 of the stern and the bore 39 becomes progressively greater.

The front leg 17 of the handle is recessed to receive the parts of the valve mechanism and Water supply. As shown, at the bottom of the leg the recess is cylindrical as at 42 and in the center portion of the leg it is also cylindrical, but of slightly smaller diameter as at 43. The upper portion of the leg is also provided with a cylindrical recess 4.4 and a flange 45 is formed between the portions d3 and 44 of the recess.

A Water intake housing 46 is mounted on the top of the reservoir and is preferably secured to a flange 47 of the reservoir by brazing. This housing engages shoulder 48 formed at the junction of the sections 42 and 43 of the bore when the parts are assembled. It carries a tubular member 49 extending upwardly therefrom and this tubular member is provided with a plurality of openings 50 for filling the reservoir. As shown (see Fig. 1) the front surface of the leg 17 is provided with an opening 51 in alignment with the openings 50 by means of which water can be poured into the reservoir when the iron is in the up-ended position shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings. A sleeve 52 surrounds the tubular member 49. When the iron is in the normal position, this sleeve falls by gravity to the position shown in Figs. 1 and to cover the openings 56. When the iron is up-ended (as shown in Fig. the tubular member 49 is at a slight incline and sleeve 52 moves to what is normally the upper end of this tubular member, thus uncovering the openings 50 to permit filling.

An externally threaded control member 53 is secured to the upper end of valve stem 36. A hold-down nut 55 engages the threads of the control member. A Washer or gasket 54 is arranged between the hold-down nut and the annulus or flange 45. When the nut 55 is in engagement with its seat, the parts, that is the sole plate, reser voir and handle, are secured together at the nose end of the iron. Hold-down nut 55 is provided with a centrally threaded bore 54', the threads of which are engaged by threads of the control member 53. The upper end of control member 53 is provided with a knurled portion 37 which receives the operating button or disc 38. When the disc is turned, the valve 30 is moved toward or away from the seat 29 by engagement of the threads of control member 53 with the threads of the hold-down nut 55. The top of disc 33 is substantially flush with the top of the handle, and the handle is provided with recesses at each side to permit access to the disc to turn it.

As shown, control member 53 is provided with a series of openings 56 communicating with the space beneath the disc 38. The handle is also loosely received in the recess 44 thus providing means for venting of air or steam from the reservoir when the iron is filled. By venting the steam from this point, where no metal parts are, condensation on the exterior of the iron is avoided.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the shell extends rearwardly beyond the sole plate and is provided with a rear portion 57 which, while slightly curved transversely of the iron, provides two end portions 58 serving as supports when the iron is up-ended as shown in Fig. 10. The handle at the top of the rear leg 18 is provided with a projection 59 which cooperates with the sides 58 of the rear of the shell to form a third support for the iron when it is in tip-ended position. The parts are secured together at the heel end of the iron by supports 60. The lower end 61 of each support receives a screw 62 which is threaded into an opening in a boss 63 of the sole plate. The upper end 64 is provided with an opening aligned with a nut 65 carried by the support. Bolts 65' are passed through openings in the bottom of recess 70 of the handle, openings in the shell, and threaded into nut 65.

A thermostat 66 is arranged in the sole plate and has an operating stem 67 which projects upwardly through a sleeve 63 pressed into the reservoir. Above the shell the thermostat is provided with an operating member 69.

The rear leg of the handle is recessed as at 70 to receive the connector 71 (see Fig. 7) mounted on the end of cord 72. As stated, connector 71 is capable of being reversed to arrange the cord on either side. At each side of the recess 70, substantially semi-circular recesses 73 are pro vided (see Fig. 6). Likewise, the connector 71 is provided with semi-circular shaped portions 74 adapted to be received in the recesses 73. The connector 71 is also provided with a central opening 75 which receives a screw 76. The screw 76 engages threads in an opening formed in a boss 77 at the center of recess 70 in the handle to secure the parts together. Thus, it will be seen that the connector 71 may be arranged in one position with the cord extending from one side of the iron and secured in place by the screw 76, or it may be reversed with the cord at the other side of the iron and secured in position by the screw.

In the recess I provide a pair of contact posts, one on each side of the opening 75, the posts being arranged equi-distant from the opening 75. Each of these contact posts (see Fig. 8) comprises a threaded portion 78 and these threaded portions are screwed into tapped openings in leads and 91. A nut 79 limits the movement of the post into the opening. The outer end of the post is split as at 80. The ends of the leads 81 and 82 are provided with ring terminals 83 which are received on contact screws 84. Contact screws 84 are received in threaded openings 35 in the connector member 71. Thus, with the connector member in one position, the contact 86 of the connector will engage the contact 87 on lead 91 and the contact 88 of the connector will engage the contact 89 on lead 90 with the cord arranged on one side. By turning the connector over to place the cord on the other side, the connectors are reversed but are properly arranged to engage the contacts in the recess when the screw 76 is inserted.

The leads 9t) and 91 extend downwardly from the contacts 87 and 89 and one of these leads is connected by a wire 92 (see Fig. 2) to the end 10 of the heating element. The other lead is connected by a wire 93 to the thermostat 66 and the thermostat is connected from its other terminal by wire 94 to the end 9 of the heating element.

The sole plate is provided with a seal or cover 95 which forms the top of the channels or passages 7 through which the steam passes. This cover is provided with a flange 96 (see Fig. 4) and is shaped to correspond to the shape of a groove 97 (see Fig. 2) in which the flange is received.

The flange extends from the seal at an angle slightly less than a right angle disposing its outer side 98 at an angle to the wall of the groove. When the flange is forced into the groove, 21 steam-tight seal is produced.

In disassembling the iron, connector 71 is removed, permitting access to bolts 65'. Removal of these bolts disconnects the shell and handle from the sole plate at the heel of the iron. To disassemble the nose end, knob 38 is first removed. The top of hold-down nut 55 is provided with slots (not shown) to receive a special tool by which it can be removed. The top of sleeve nut 26 is likewise provided with slots (not shown) to receive a special tool which straddles the tubular member 36 and rotates the sleeve nut to remove it from connecting nut 21. Removal of thermostat handle 69 stem 67 permits the sole plate to be separated from the other parts. The handle can also be lifted from the shell and reservoir.

I claim:

1. A reversible cord connector for an electric iron comprising a handle having a main recess in its rear leg and an additional recess at each side of the main recess, the recesses opening outwardly at the rear face of the rear leg of the handle, and a connector comprising a body portion and portions at each side of the body portion, the connector being removably received in the recess with the body portion in the main recess and the side portions in the additional recesses, centrally disposed means for retaining the connector in the recesses, co-acting means in the main recess and on the connector to complete an electric circuit, and a cord connected to the means on the con nector and extending from one of the side portions of the connector, the connector being reversible in the recess to position the cord on either side of the leg.

2. A connector in accordance with claim 1 in which the side recesses are semicircular in shape, and the side portions of the connector are shaped to fit in the side recesses.

3. A connector in accordance with claim 1 in which the recess and the connector are provided with centrally disposed openings for the reception of the retaining means, and the contacts of each of said members are equidistantly spaced from said openings, whereby a contact References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,257,506 MacDonald Sept. 30, 1941 6 Kistner Jan. 19, 1943 Lofgren Oct. 19, 1943 Elsenheimer July 11, 1944 Newell Oct. 2, 1945 Farr Mar. 4, 1947 Reynolds Mar. 11, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Sept. 2, 1948

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