EP3362598B1 - Iron comprising a steam chamber provided with two separate evaporation areas - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the field of irons comprising a plane ironing sole, a heating body comprising a lower face in thermal contact with the sole and an upper face at which a vaporization chamber is formed. The invention relates more particularly to an iron comprising means for injecting water into the vaporization chamber comprising at least two injection orifices simultaneously injecting water on two different evaporation zones of a bottom wall of the vaporization chamber when the soleplate of the iron is arranged horizontally.

It is known, documents CN201660791U and GB2117012 , an iron comprising a plane ironing sole surmounted by a heating body having an upper face provided with a vaporization chamber, the iron having a plurality of injection orifices simultaneously injecting water on several distinct zones of the vaporization chamber. Such a construction makes it possible to better distribute the water on the surface of the bottom wall of the vaporization chamber when the iron is held horizontally, which improves the evaporation.

However, the construction of the spray chamber presented in this document has the disadvantage of being particularly bulky so that it can not be used on a compact iron, travel iron type. In addition, when the iron is held vertically, the water injected through the orifices can escape directly through passage openings provided at the top of the walls effecting the separation between the different vaporization zones, so that water can escape through the steam outlet holes without being sprayed.

The following invention aims to overcome these drawbacks by providing in particular an iron with a vaporization chamber having a particularly compact construction and that ensures perfect evaporation of the water injected into the vaporization chamber whatever the orientation, horizontal or vertical, given to the soleplate of the iron.

The object of the invention is achieved by an iron having a plane ironing sole, a heating body comprising a lower face in thermal contact with the sole and an upper face at which a vaporization chamber is formed, and means for injecting water into the vaporization chamber comprising at least two injection orifices simultaneously injecting water on two distinct evaporation zones of a bottom wall of the vaporization chamber when the sole of the iron ironing is arranged horizontally, the vaporization chamber being bordered laterally by a lateral wall extending from the bottom wall to a closure lid attached to the heating body, the side wall having at least one passage establishing a communication between the vaporization chamber and a steam distribution circuit leading to at least one steam outlet orifice formed in the characterized in that the passage is provided at a longitudinal end of the vaporization chamber and in that the vaporization chamber has a separating wall extending from the two evaporation zones to the passageway for partitioning. between the two zones of evaporation.

The partition wall thus formed has the advantage of extending over the entire height of the vaporization chamber, from the bottom wall to the closure cap, and over the entire length of the vaporization chamber, from both evaporation zones to the passage of communication formed in the side wall, so that the water injected into any one of the two evaporation zones can not be transferred directly by gravity into the other of the two zones of evaporation when the sole of the iron is oriented horizontally or vertically.

This gives a better distribution of the water sprayed on the different surfaces of the vaporization chamber may vaporize the water.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the side wall and the partition wall have a shape adapted so that the water injected by one of the two injection ports falls by gravity on the partition wall while the water injected by the other injection port falls by gravity onto the side wall when the soleplate of the iron is arranged vertically in any angular orientation.

This feature optimizes the vaporization of the water injected into the steam chamber when the iron is held vertically, regardless of its angular orientation in the vertical plane. Indeed, the water injected into the vaporization chamber is then distributed equitably between the surfaces of the side wall and the surfaces of the partition wall, each of these surfaces then acting as a vaporization surface.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the heating body comprises at least one electric heating resistor and preferably two electric heating resistors.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the iron comprises a first U-shaped electric heating resistor comprising two branches extending at the periphery of the heating body and a second U-shaped electric heating resistor extending between the branches of the first electric heating resistor.

Preferably, the power of the first electric heating resistor is of the order of 900W and the power of the second electric heating resistor is of the order of 550W.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the partition wall extends above or along an electric heating resistor.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to obtain an excellent thermal transfer between the heating resistor and the partition wall so that the surfaces of the separation wall can quickly vaporize any droplet of water coming into contact with them.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the vaporization chamber has a generally U-shaped shape and comprises a central part where the water is injected by the injection orifices and two longitudinal ends where a passage establishing communication with the steam distribution circuit.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to obtain a vaporization chamber particularly compact offering very good vaporization performance.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the heating body comprises a thermostatic device which is disposed outside the vaporization chamber, in a location between the U-shaped branches of the vaporization chamber.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to maintain a compact heating body in which the thermostatic device is disposed as close as possible to the vaporization chamber, making it possible to obtain a very high reactivity to the temperature changes of the vaporization chamber.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the partition wall has a generally U-shaped shape and is disposed substantially midway between a first part of the U-shaped side wall which delimits the front part of the chamber. and a second part of the side wall, also U-shaped, which delimits the rear part of the vaporization chamber.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the distribution circuit comprises a U-shaped channel laterally surrounding the vaporization chamber, the channel comprising a front end comprising an opening passing through the heating body and opening on the lower face of the heating body. .

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the steam distribution circuit comprises a diffusion chamber formed on the lower face of the heating body, the diffusion chamber comprising a rib, coming into contact with the soleplate, which channels the steam towards the back of the heating body and the force to be walked along the side edge of the heating body before exiting through the sole outlet steam outlet.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the sole has a pointed front end.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the side wall and the partition wall have a shape adapted so that the total surface of the side wall and the partition wall on which the water injected by the two orifices injection falls by gravity when the iron is held vertically is substantially equal to the surface of the bottom wall on which the water falls by gravity when the iron is held horizontally.

Such a feature provides a vaporization chamber providing substantially equivalent performance when the iron is held horizontally or vertically.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the iron comprises a housing comprising a gripping handle disposed cantilever relative to the sole, the gripping handle comprising a free rear end supporting a power cord.

Such a feature has the advantage of providing the iron a great maneuverability, whether it is used horizontally or vertically.

The invention also relates to an apparatus comprising an iron as previously described and a base connected by a cord to the iron, characterized in that the base comprises a water tank and an electric pump for sending water from the tank to the injection ports of the iron.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un fer à repasser selon un mode particulier de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective du corps chauffant et de la semelle équipant le fer à repasser de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective du dessus du corps chauffant de la figure 2 démuni de sa plaque de fermeture ;
• la figure 4 est une vue de dessus du corps chauffant de la figure 3 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue en perspective éclatée du corps chauffant et de la semelle de la figure 2.

The aims, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the description given below of a particular embodiment of the invention presented by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :

• the figure 1 is a perspective view of an iron according to a particular embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 2 is a perspective view of the heating body and the soleplate equipping the iron of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 is a perspective view from above of the heating body of the figure 2 without its closure plate;
• the figure 4 is a top view of the heating body of the figure 3 ;
• the figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the heating body and the sole of the figure 2 .

Only the elements necessary for the understanding of the invention have been represented. To facilitate the reading of the drawings, the same elements bear the same references from one figure to another.

The figure 1 represents an iron 1 having a flat sole 2 provided with steam outlet holes 20, the sole 2 being surmounted by a plastic housing 10 comprising a handle 11 arranged cantilevered with respect to the the rear end of the sole 2, the handle 11 comprising a free rear end connected by a cord 3 to a base (not shown in the figure) enclosing a reservoir.

The sole 2 is made of stainless steel and has a pointed front end disposed opposite the grip 11, and a rounded rear end having a greater width, the sole 2 having reduced dimensions providing great maneuverability on an iron 1.

For example, the sole 2 has a length of less than 15 cm, and advantageously of the order of 14 cm, and a width of less than 10 cm and advantageously of the order of 8 cm, the handle 11 making laterally protruding over a length of about 12 cm.

In accordance with Figures 2 to 4 , the casing 10 of the iron 1 encloses a heating body 4 which is in thermal contact with the soleplate 2, the heating body 4 comprising a foundry 40, advantageously made of aluminum, which comprises an upper surface where a peripheral wall 41 is made vertically protrusion on a height of the order of 14 mm. The heating body 4 also comprises a closure cap 5, visible on the figure 2 , which comes to rest on the peripheral wall 41 being sealed to the latter.

The peripheral wall 41 and the closure cover 5 define a volume in which are formed an instantaneous vaporization chamber 6, the contour of which is illustrated in dashed line on the figure 4 , and a steam distribution circuit connecting the vaporization chamber 6 to the steam outlet holes 20 of the sole 2.

As can be seen on the figure 4 , the peripheral wall 41 has two lateral portions 41A which extend along the lateral edges of the heating body 4, and comprises a rounded front portion 41B disposed slightly recessed from a front end of the casting 40 coming into contact with the pointed front end of the soleplate 2, as well as a rear portion 41C comprising two flat lateral parts disposed on either side of a horseshoe-shaped central portion, extending towards the front of the heating body 4.

Preferably, the heating body 4 contains a first electric heating resistor 7 and a second heating resistor 8, each comprising two connection ends opening near the rear end of the heating body 4, outside the volume defined by the peripheral wall 41.

The first heating resistor 7 has a generally U-shaped and extends along the side portions 41A and 41B before the peripheral wall 41. This first heating resistor 7 advantageously has a power of the order of 925W.

The second electric heating resistor 8 has a generally U-shaped shape, of reduced size relative to that of the first heating resistor 7, the second heating resistor 8 extending inside the branches of the first heating resistor 7 being disposed substantially parallel to the latter. The second heating resistor 8 advantageously has a power of the order of 545W.

The vaporization chamber 6 is formed in the central portion of the heating body 4 and comprises a bottom wall 60 at which two separate evaporation zones 61, 62 are separated from one another by a separation wall. 42, the vaporization chamber 6 being bordered by a side wall 43 extending from the bottom wall 60 to the closure cap 5.

The side wall 43 of the vaporization chamber 6 comprises a first U-shaped portion 43A which delimits the front part of the vaporization chamber 6 and which is advantageously arranged in the area of the bottom wall 60 extending between the first and second chambers. and second heating resistors 7, 8.

The side wall 43 of the vaporization chamber 6 also comprises a second U-shaped portion 43B which delimits the rear part of the vaporization chamber 6, this second part 43B being included between the branches of the U of the first part 43A of the Lateral wall 43. Preferably, the second portion 43B of the side wall 43 of the vaporization chamber 6 extends along the edge of the second resistor 8, inside the latter, and is constituted by a portion of the rear portion 41C of the peripheral wall 41, such a construction for obtaining an extremely compact heating body 4.

The first and second resistors are regulated by means of a thermostat, not illustrated in the figures, arranged in a location 9 formed between the U-shaped legs of the second part 43B of the side wall 43, the thermostat making it possible to maintain the vaporization chamber 6 around a set temperature of the order of 150 ° C preferentially not adjustable by the user.

Preferably, the passage section of the vaporization chamber 6 decreases progressively from its central portion to passages 63 formed at the two longitudinal ends of the vaporization chamber 6 where the steam is released into the distribution circuit, the distance between the first part 43A and second part 43B of the side wall 43 being of the order of 2.5 cm at the central part and gradually decreasing to a distance of about 1 cm at the passages 63.

The partition wall 42 extends substantially midway between the first and second parts 43A, 43B of the side wall 43 of the vaporization chamber 6 and extends beyond the passages 63 following the curvature of the rear portion. 41C of the peripheral wall 41. This partition wall follows the U-shaped path of the second heating resistor 8, being disposed above the latter, so as to be maintained at high temperature by the heat released by the second heating resistor 8.

The vaporization chamber 6 thus produced has a generally U-shaped shape, centered on the longitudinal axis of the heating body 4, which communicates with the vapor distribution circuit through the passages 63 formed at its two longitudinal ends, the steam distribution circuit having a channel 44 U-shaped having branches extending around the perimeter of the vaporization chamber 6.

In accordance with figures 4 and 5 the channel 44 comprises two rear ends communicating with the passages 63 formed at the longitudinal ends of the vaporization chamber 6 and comprises a front end comprising an opening 45 passing through the bottom wall 60 to establish communication with a vapor diffusion chamber 46 arranged on the underside of the heating body 4.

As can be seen on the figure 5 , the vapor diffusion chamber 46 extends substantially over the entire surface of the lower face of the heating body 4 and has a U-shaped rib 47 which follows the inner contour of the first heating resistor 7. The rib 47 comes to the contact of the sole 2 when the latter is assembled on the heating body 4 and thus contributes to the heat transfer of the heating body 4 to the sole 2, the temperature of the sole 2 being advantageously maintained below 135 ° C during the operation of the iron to iron 1 because of thermal losses between the vaporization chamber 6 and the sole 2.

The rib 47 thus produced channels the vapor towards the rear of the heating body 4 and forces the steam to flow along the lateral edge of the heating body 4, that is to say under the first heating resistor 7, before being able to escape through the steam outlet holes 20, the latter opening into two grooves 48 arranged in V on the front portion of the sole 2.

In accordance with the figure 2 , the vaporization chamber 6 is supplied with water by two separate injection orifices 51, 52 formed in the closure lid 5, the two injection orifices 51, 52 being arranged on the longitudinal axis of the heating body 4 and opening respectively vertically of the two evaporation zones 61, 62 of the vaporization chamber 6 when the sole 2 of the iron 1 is disposed horizontally.

These two injection orifices 51, 52 are supplied with water by means of a pump, not shown in the figures, which is integrated in the base and whose operation is controlled by a trigger 12 disposed under the front end of the handle 11, the pump advantageously having a flow rate of about 25 gr / min when the trigger 12 is actuated.

The iron 1 thus produced has the advantage of having a great compactness while integrating a vaporization chamber 6 allowing a large flow of steam, of the order of 25 gr / min, and this regardless of the vertical orientation or horizontal of the sole 2.

Indeed, the water injected by the pump through the two injection orifices 51, 52 is projected onto the two evaporation zones 61, 62 of the bottom wall 60, when the iron 1 is held horizontally, either on the side wall 43 and the partition wall 42 when the iron 1 is held vertically.

However, the surface of the bottom wall 60 which defines the two evaporation zones 61, 62 has the advantage of being disposed in the immediate vicinity of the heating resistors 7, 8 so that these two evaporation zones 61, 62 are permanently maintained at an elevated temperature ensuring a high vaporization of the water injected through the injection orifices 51, 52 when the iron 1 is disposed horizontally.

Similarly, when the iron 1 is disposed vertically, the water injected by the two injection orifices 51, 52 is sent on two separate walls, constituted by the side wall 43 of the vaporization chamber 6 and by the wall separation 42 regardless of the orientation given to the front tip of the sole 2 of the iron 1.

Thus, the water injected by the two injection orifices 51, 52 comes into contact with the two distinct walls 42, 43 which are arranged in close proximity to the first and second heating resistors 7, 8 so that these two walls 42, 43 are permanently maintained at an elevated temperature ensuring an immediate vaporization of the water injected through the injection orifices 51, 52 when the iron 1 is arranged vertically.

In particular the shape and orientation of the side wall 43 and the wall of separation 42 prevent the water injected through the injection ports 51, 52 out directly through the opening 45 without coming into contact with the walls 42, 43 superheated so that there is no risk that the water injected through the orifices flows directly through the opening 45 without coming into contact with one of the side walls 43 or separation 42 of the vaporization chamber 6.

In addition, any droplets of water that would be carried away by the vapor stream outside the vaporization chamber 6 are progressively vaporized when they successively run in the channel 44 of the distribution circuit arranged above the first resistance. heating 7 and then in the steam diffusion chamber 46 formed under the heating body 4.

Finally, in such an iron 1, the surface of the side walls and / or separation on which the water from the injection orifices 51, 52 is sprayed when the sole 2 of the iron 1 is oriented vertically corresponds substantially at the surface of the evaporation zones 61, 62 of the bottom wall 60 on which the water issuing from the injection orifices 51, 52 is sprayed when the sole 2 of the iron 1 is oriented horizontally, so that the vaporization chamber 6 produces substantially the same flow of steam that the iron 1 is used horizontally or vertically.

This gives a particularly compact iron, and therefore very manageable, providing a flow of steam of the order of 25 gr / min regardless of the horizontal or vertical orientation given to the sole of the iron, allowing the user to perform indifferently ironing using the iron 1 horizontally on an ironing board or vertically such a steam brush.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and illustrated which has been given by way of example. Modifications are possible, particularly from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Thus, in an embodiment variant, not shown, the iron may comprise even more zones of evaporation separated from each other. others by partition walls and fed by at least one dedicated injection port.

Thus in yet another variant embodiment not shown the injection ports may be replaced by nozzles for spraying a water mist in the vaporization chamber to further promote the rate of evaporation.

Claims (12)

1. Iron (1) comprising a flat ironing soleplate (2), a heating body (4) comprising a lower face in thermal contact with the soleplate (2) and an upper face at which a vaporisation chamber (6) is arranged, and means for injecting water into the vaporisation chamber (6) comprising at least two injection openings (51, 52) that simultaneously inject water onto two separate evaporation areas (61, 62) of a bottom wall (60) of the vaporisation chamber (6) when the soleplate (2) of the iron (1) is arranged horizontally, said vaporisation chamber (6) being bordered laterally by a side wall (43) extending from the bottom wall (60) to a closing cover (5) attached to the heating body (4), said side wall (43) comprising at least one passage (63) establishing communication between the vaporisation chamber (6) and a steam distribution circuit leading to at least one steam outlet opening (20) arranged in the soleplate (2), said passage (63) being arranged at a longitudinal end of the vaporisation chamber (6) and the vaporisation chamber (6) comprising a separation wall (42) extending from the two evaporation areas (61, 62) to the passage (63) so as to provide a partition between the two evaporation areas (61, 62), the separation wall (42) extending over the entire height of the vaporisation chamber (6), from the bottom wall (60) to the closing cover (5), and over the entire length of the vaporisation chamber (6), from the two evaporation areas (61, 62) to the passage (63) arranged in the side wall (43), characterised in that said side wall (43) and said separation wall (42) have a suitable shape so that the water injected by one of the two injection openings (51, 52) falls by gravity onto the separation wall (42) while the water injected by the other injection opening (51, 52) falls by gravity onto the side wall (43) when the soleplate (2) of the iron (1) is arranged vertically according to any angular orientation whatsoever.
2. Iron (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the heating body (4) comprises at least one electrically heated resistance element (7, 8) and preferably two electrically heated resistance elements (7, 8).
3. Iron (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that it comprises a first electrically heated resistance element (7) in the shape of a U comprising two branches extending at the periphery of the heating body (4) and a second electrically heated resistance element (8) in the shape of a U extending between the branches of the first electrically heated resistance element (7).
4. Iron (1) according to any of claims 2 to 3, characterised in that the separation wall (42) extends above or along an electrically heated resistance element (8).
5. Iron (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the vaporisation chamber (6) has the general shape of a U and comprises a central portion where the water is injected by the injection openings (51, 52) and two longitudinal ends where is arranged a passage (63) establishing communication with the steam distribution circuit.
6. Iron (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that the separation wall (42) has the general shape of a U and is arranged substantially midway between a first portion (43A) of the side wall (43), in the shape of a U, which delimits the front portion of the vaporisation chamber (6) and a second portion (43B) of the side wall (43), also in the shape of a U, which delimits the rear portion of the vaporisation chamber (6).
7. Iron (1) according to any of claims 5 to 6, characterised in that the distribution circuit comprises a channel (44) in the shape of a U laterally surrounding the vaporisation chamber (6), said canal (44) comprising a front end comprising an opening (45) passing through the heating body (4) and leading to the lower face of the heating body (4).
8. Iron (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that the steam distribution circuit comprises a distribution chamber (46) arranged on the lower face of the heating body (4), and in that the distribution chamber comprises a rib (47) coming into contact with the soleplate (2) which channels the steam towards the rear of the heating body (4) and forces it along the side edge of the heating body (4) before exiting via the steam outlet opening (20) of the soleplate (2).
9. Iron (1) according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the soleplate (2) comprises a pointed front end.
10. Iron (1) according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the side wall (43) and the separation wall (42) have a suitable shape so that the total surface of the side wall (43) and of the separation wall (42) whereon the water injected by the two injection openings (51, 52) falls by gravity when the iron (1) is held vertically is substantially equal to the surface of the bottom wall (60) whereon the water falls by gravity when the iron (1) is held horizontally.
11. Iron 1 according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the iron (1) comprises a case (10) comprising a gripping handle (11) arranged cantilevered in relation to the soleplate (2), the gripping handle (11) comprising a free rear end supporting a power cord (3).
12. Appliance comprising an iron (1) according to any of claims 1 to 11, and a base connected by a cord (3) to the iron (1), characterised in that the base comprises a water tank and an electric pump that makes it possible to send water to the injection openings (51, 52) of the iron (1).

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