EP0712450B1 - Steam iron - Google Patents

Abstract

A steam iron comprising a housing (1) containing a removable water supply chamber (7), a distribution chamber (6) containing a drip feed device (15) and having an opening (16) connected to the water supply chamber (7), two valves (18 and 19) provided at the opening (16) and the water supply chamber (7) respectively, and two reciprocal valve actuation members (20 and 21) for actuating said valves (18 and 19) when the chamber (7) is secured within the housing (1). One valve (18) comprises a movable plug (22) and a stationary seat (23), while the other valve (19) comprises a stationary plug (24) and a movable seat (25), and the two reciprocal actuation members (20 and 21) are designed to engage both the movable plug (22) and the movable seat (25) when the chamber (7) is secured within the housing (1).

Description

The invention relates to a steam iron comprising a housing in which a water tank is removably mounted, which comprises means for locking the tank in the housing, a filling opening in its upper part, and an outlet opening. of water which is formed in its lower part, a distribution chamber in which is mounted a drip feed device and the opening of which is intended to communicate with the water outlet orifice by a conduit, two valves respectively equipping the opening of the distribution chamber and the water outlet orifice, and two reciprocal actuation means of said valves adapted to open said valves when the tank is locked in the housing.

In steam irons of known type, when removing the removable water tank, the valves used must completely close the opening of the distribution chamber and the water outlet port of the tank to avoid any sealing problem but said valves alone do not provide perfect sealing and generally require the use of seals. On the other hand, when positioning the removable tank, the seal must be perfect to prevent any harmful leakage under the ironing conditions. Spring valves opening automatically when the tank is in place and closing when said tank is removed, are generally used but these valves deteriorate in use no longer fully fulfilling their sealing function. The use of a spring-loaded valve is for example described in document EP-0 553 065. In this document, only the opening of the distribution chamber is fitted with a spring-loaded valve, the movable valve of which is actuated when the removable tank is placed on the iron.

Document EP-0 493 765 also describes a steam iron, the reservoir of which is external, said reservoir being connected to the distribution chamber of the iron by the actuation of two spring-loaded valves.

All existing solutions require many parts and are difficult to implement, particularly with regard to mounting. These solutions also have the disadvantage of increasing the cost price of the iron.

The object of the invention is to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks by using, in a steam iron of the type described in document EP-0 553 065, a connection between the distribution chamber and the removable reservoir which is both of a simple and economical embodiment and which ensures a total seal during the extraction of the removable reservoir in the iron or during the positioning of said reservoir.

More specifically, the subject of the invention is a steam iron as defined in claim 1.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the valve, comprising the fixed valve and the movable seat, comprises a movable mounted sleeve having an annular shoulder forming the movable seat for the fixed valve and capable of occupying two positions for which either the sleeve occupies a first position in which the reservoir is detached from the housing and the movable seat is in contact with the fixed valve to form a tight seal, or the sleeve occupies a second position in which the reservoir is fixed by the locking means and the fixed valve open the movable valve so that the water in the tank flows freely into the distribution chamber.

Thanks to the invention, the number of parts used to ensure, on the one hand, the tightness and, on the other hand, the connection between the distribution chamber and the removable tank, is reduced to a single one, which, on the one hand, simplifies the assembly and the manufacture of iron and, on the other hand, decreases the cost price of said iron.

• la figure 1 est une vue partielle en coupe d'un fer à repasser à vapeur selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue arrachée de la partie inférieure agrandie du fer à repasser à vapeur selon l'invention et dans laquelle le réservoir amovible n'est pas positionné entièrement dans le boîtier du fer ;
• la figure 3 est une vue arrachée de la partie inférieure agrandie du fer à repasser selon l'invention et dans laquelle le réservoir amovible est verrouillé dans le boîtier.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, taken by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a partial sectional view of a steam iron according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a cutaway view of the enlarged lower part of the steam iron according to the invention and in which the removable tank is not positioned entirely in the housing of the iron;
• Figure 3 is a cutaway view of the enlarged lower part of the iron according to the invention and in which the removable tank is locked in the housing.

According to Figure 1, a steam iron comprises a housing 1 provided with a handle 2, a heating sole 3 of known type, powered by an electric cable 4, a heat shield 5 separating the sole 3 of the housing 1 and receiving a distribution chamber 6, and a water tank 7 removably mounted in said housing 1. The water tank 7 comprises locking means 8 of said tank 7 in the housing 1, a filling orifice 9 made in the upper part 10 of the reservoir 7 and a water outlet orifice 11 which is formed in its lower part 12.

The locking means 8 comprise flexible hooks 13 integral with the walls of the reservoir 7 which engage in not shown notches made in the housing 1 so that the reservoir 7 is securely locked in the housing 1 of the iron when it is correctly positioned. The hooks 13 can be detached from the housing 1 of the iron by actuation on operating keys 14 integral with the hooks 13.

The distribution chamber 6 integral for example with the heat shield 5 and in which a drip feed device 15 is mounted has an opening 16 intended to communicate with the water outlet orifice 11 via a conduit 17. The steam iron further comprises two valves 18 and 19 respectively equipping the opening 16 of the distribution chamber 6 and the water outlet orifice 11, and two reciprocal actuation means 20 and 21 of the said valves 18 and 19 adapted to open said valves 18 and 19 when the reservoir 7 is locked in the housing 1.

According to the invention, one of the valves 18 comprising a movable valve 22 and a fixed seat 23, the other valve 19 comprises a fixed valve 24 and a movable seat 25, and the two actuation means 20 and 21 are adapted coming into engagement, when the reservoir 7 is locked in the housing 1, on the one hand, with the movable valve 22 and, on the other hand, with the movable seat 25.

The valve 19, comprising the fixed valve 24 and the movable seat 25, comprises a sleeve 26 mounted mobile having an annular shoulder 27 forming the movable seat 25 for the fixed valve 24 and capable of occupying two positions for which either the sleeve 26 occupies a first position in which the water tank is detached from the housing 1 and the movable seat 25 is in contact with the fixed valve 24 to form a tight seal, or the sleeve occupies a second position in which the tank 7 is fixed by the means of lock 8 and the fixed valve 24 opens the movable valve 22 so that the water from the reservoir 7 flows freely in the distribution chamber 6.

The valve 19 equips the opening 16 of the distribution chamber 6 and the valve 18 equips the water outlet orifice 11 of the reservoir 7. The valve 19 further comprises an annular base 28 fitted into the opening 16 up to a stop 29 made on the base 28 and a small column 30 which is partially fixed on the base 28 and which is integral with the fixed valve 24.

According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the sleeve 26 is formed of a flexible piece in an elastomer body, for example silicone. The sleeve 26 fits over the opening 16 of the distribution chamber 6 to another stop 31 made on the periphery 32 of the opening 16. In this way, the sleeve 26 covers the valve 19 and occupies, d on the one hand, a deployed position of rest in the first position and, on the other hand, a retracted position in the second position.

The actuating means 20 and 21 comprise, on the one hand, a finger 33 fixed on the fixed valve 24, directed towards the outside, and intended to open the movable valve 22 in the deployed position of rest and, on the other hand a chute 34 secured to the fixed seat 23, the end 35 of which is adapted to come into contact with the free end 17 'in the retracted position.

In order to better understand the invention, we will describe the operation of the iron according to the invention which is illustrated by Figures 2 and 3 where the same references designate the same elements.

According to Figure 2, before complete assembly of the removable reservoir 7 in the housing 1 of the steam iron, the sleeve 26 occupies a deployed rest position corresponding to the first position. In this first position, the end 17 ′ of the sleeve 26 is in contact with the fixed valve 24 by the annular shoulder 27 formed inside the sleeve 26 thus sealingly closing the distribution chamber 6. This total sealing prevents thus any flow of water inside the housing which is, on the one hand, detrimental to the longevity of the iron, and on the other hand, unpleasant for the user.

According to Figure 3, when the removable tank 7 is locked in the housing 1, the chute 34 of the fixed seat 23 comes into contact with the free end 17 'of the flexible sleeve 26 and exerts a force on said sleeve 26 so as to him occupy a retracted position corresponding to the second position. In this way, the annular shoulder 27 is no longer supported on the fixed valve 24, which thus frees up a circulation space 36. At the same time, the finger 33 fixed on the fixed valve 24 pushes the movable valve 22 of the valve. 18 which is provided with a seal 37 completely closing the removable tank 7 when said tank 7 is not locked in the housing 1 of the iron. The seal 37 no longer bears against the internal part of the water outlet orifice 11 of the reservoir 7, the water from the reservoir 7 flows through the water outlet orifice 11 , enters the sleeve 26 through the circulation space 36 and opens into the opening 16 of the distribution chamber 6. The sleeve 26 thus plays the role of the conduit 17.

Thanks to the embodiment of the invention, the sleeve 26 alone ensures, on the one hand, the closure of the distribution chamber 6 when the reservoir removable 7 is not fitted into the housing 1 of the iron and, on the other hand, the sealing of the conduit 17 when the reservoir 7 is locked in the housing of the iron.

Claims (7)

1. Steam iron comprising a casing (1) in which there is mounted removably a water reservoir (7) which comprises means (8) for locking the reservoir (7) in the casing (1), a filling orifice (9) and a water outlet orifice (11) formed in its bottom part (12), a distribution chamber (6) in which a drip feed device (15) is mounted and the opening (16) of which is intended to communicate with the water outlet orifice (11), a first valve (19) being fitted to the opening in the distribution chamber and first actuation means (20) suitable for opening said first valve (19) when the reservoir (7) is locked in the casing,
   characterized in that the filling orifice (9) is formed in the top part (10) of the reservoir (7), in that the opening (16) communicates with the water outlet orifice (11) through a pipe (17), and in that the steam iron comprises a second valve (18) fitting the water outlet orifice (11) and second actuation means (21) for said second valve (18), one of said first and second valves having a movable shutter (22) and a fixed seat (23), the other valve (19) having a fixed shutter (24) and a movable seat (25), said first and second actuation means (20, 21) being of reciprocal action, adapted for coming into engagement, when the reservoir (7) is locked in the casing (1), on the one hand with the movable shutter (22), and on the other hand with the movable seat (25).
2. Steam iron according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve (19) with the fixed shutter (24) and movable seat (25) comprises a sleeve (26) mounted so as to be movable and having an annular shoulder (27) forming the movable seat (25) for the fixed shutter (24) and able to occupy two positions in which either the sleeve (26) occupies a first position in which the reservoir 7 is disconnected from the casing (1) and the movable seat (25) is in contact with the fixed shutter (24) to form a watertight joint, or the sleeve (26) occupies a second position in which the reservoir (7) is fixed by the locking means (8) and the fixed shutter (24) opens the movable shutter (22) so that the water in the reservoir (7) flows freely into the distribution chamber (6).
3. Steam iron according to claim 2,
   characterized in that the valve (19) comprising the sleeve (26) is fitted to the opening (16) in the distribution chamber (6) and the valve (18) with the movable shutter (22) and fixed seat (23) is fitted to the water outlet orifice (11) in the reservoir (7).
4. Steam iron according to claim 3,
   characterized in that the sleeve (26) fitted to the opening (16) is formed by a flexible piece which fits onto said opening (16), which covers the valve (19) having the fixed shutter (24) and movable seat (25) and which occupies on the one hand an extended idle position in the first position and on the other hand a retracted position in the second position.
5. Steam iron according to claim 4,
   characterized in that the flexible piece is formed in an elastomer body, preferably silicone.
6. Steam iron according to claim 4,
   characterized in that, in the extended position, the free end (17') of the sleeve (26) is in contact with the fixed shutter (24) through the annular shoulder (27) formed inside the sleeve (26), thus closing off the distribution chamber (6) in a watertight manner, and, in the retracted position, the water outlet orifice (11) in the reservoir (7) exerts a force on the free end (17') of the sleeve (26), releasing the annular shoulder (27) of the fixed shutter (24) and creating a passage space (36).
7. Steam iron according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the two reciprocal actuation means (20 and 21) comprise on the one hand a finger (33) fixed to the fixed shutter (24), directed outwards and designed to open the movable shutter (22), in the first position and, on the other hand, a spout (34) integral with the fixed shutter (23) and the end (35) of which is adapted for coming into contact with the free end (17') in the second position.

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