US3038269A - Steam and spray iron - Google Patents

Description

`Fune l2, 1962 A. s. KNAPP STEAM AND SPRAY IRON Filed June 6, 1960 June 12, 1962 Filed June 6, 1960 A. S. KNAPP STEAM AND -SPRAY IRON 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 /Zoooolonoooo By@ Vzwm M 147' TURA/EVS.

June 12, 1962 A. s. KNAPP 39038269 STEAM AND SPRAY IRON Filed June 6, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 V NTO/P.

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@im mfp/imm States *arent @ffice 3,638,269 Patented June l2, 1962 3,038,269 STEAM AND SPRAY IRON Andrew S. Knapp, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Knapp- Monarch Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Filed .lune 6, 196i), Ser. No. 34,196 7 Claims. (Cl. 38-77) This invention relates to an improved steam iron and more particularly relates to an iron from whence water may be sprinkled onto the material to be ironed during use of the iron either for dry ironing or steam ironing.

The desirability of sprinkling water on articles to be ironed prior to the ironing process has', of course, been known for many, many years. Although the use of steam irons in recent years provides an improved means for ironing of certain goods, nevertheless it has been observed that the prior sprinkling of water on the article to be ironed, whether the article is to be dry-ironed or steam-ironed, is frequently a desirable procedure.

Others have heretofore suggested the use of a steam iron to both sprinkle water on the article to be ironed and to produce steam for the steam-ironing operation. In such prior devices, the generation of steam within the steam generator portion of the iron is utilized to provide Ithe pressure necessary to force the spray of water outwardly from the iron to effect sprinkling. The use of a pressurized fluid and gas system to effect sprinkling from a spray iron poses many dicult production problems Aand results in a rather complex steam iron. Furthermore, it is impossible to sprinkle from such a steam iron until suilicient steam pressure has been generated, and at the beginning of an ironing operation it takes a substantial period of time before the initial steam is generated. Still further, the pressure available for spraying water from the iron is apparently a function of the steam pressure generated, and it will be appreciated that the steam pressure available will likely vary from time to time.

Thus, one object of this invention is to provide a steam iron with means for spraying water therefrom, wherein it is not necessary to generate steam in the iron, in order to be able to sprinkle water therefrom.

Another object of this invention is to provide a steam iron with sprinkle means therein, wherein it is possible 'to sprinkle water therefrom at any time, without having to wai-t for the generation of steam pressure within the iron.

A further object of this' invention is to provide a steam iron with water sprinkling means therein wherein the pressure on the water being sprinkled from the iron is independent of the pressure of the steam in the steam generator of the iron.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a steam iron with sprinkle means therein, which iron is characterized by the simplicity of construction and control and by its efficiency of operation.

The foregoing objects are achieved generally by the use of a simple mechanical pump and spray `means for selectively pumping water from a water reservoir in the iron and for spraying the water forwardly of the soleA Such a system has the desirable feaplate of the iron. ture of simplicity of construction and corresponding reliability and serviceability.

While, in the instant development, a water reservoir for the sprinkler may be provided independent of the w-ater reservoir for the steam generator, in the preferred form disposed herein it is intended that a single water reservoir supply both the -steam generator and the sprinkler means.

It is always desirable to have advance knowledge that the supply of water in the reservoir of a steam iron requires replenishing. it is thus, a further object of this invention to utilize the combination of the mechanical pump means and the steam reservoir as a test means to advise the user of the steam iron when the water in the water reservoir needs replenishing. The latter object is achieved by having the pump means positioned to draw water fromthe water reservoir at a point where, when 'the water level is low, such information will be noted by the failure of the pump means to effect sprinkling of water from the iron.

While sprinkle means for irons have heretofore been associated only with steam irons because of the utilization of steam pressure therein to effect -sprinkling of water from the iron, it will be seen that the sprinkle means herein disclosed may be used with irons that are not used as steam irons. Thus, still another object of this invention is to provide an iron with sprinkle means therefor, so that a sprinkling operation may be combined with a dry-ironing operation in a single device.

The number of controls for a steam iron having sprinkling means therein gets to be rather substantial. There must be a control to select either steam or dry operation, a control to selectively operate the sprinkling means, and a control for selecting the temperature of the irons sole plate. In order to provide an eflicient device, the controls should be located closely adjacent each other and in a location to be conveniently operated by the hand that is moving the iron.

Thus, another object of this invention is to provide a steam iron with sprinkle means wherein the manual controls for the steam operation and water sprinkling operation are conveniently located closely adjacent each other lon the irons handle means, and wherein such closely adjacent manual controls require only push button operation.

Still a yfurther object of this invention is to provide an improved remote control means for a thermostat for an irons sole plate.

And another object of this invention is to provide improved manual remote control means for the thermostat for an irons sole plate which permits of positioning of said manual temperature control closely adjacent other controls essential for the operation of the steam iron.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a longitudinal axial cross-section view FIGURE 5 is a vertical, axial, cross-section view ofy the pump and spray of the sprinkling means for the iron of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5A is an enlarged cross-section view showing the rear side of the spray disc portion of the spray nozzle and is taken substantially on line SA-SA of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the sole plate subassembly;

FIGURE 6A is a bottom plan view of the sole plate;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan View of the water reservoir sub-assembly;

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of the cover shell;

FIGURE 9 is a top plan View of the handle moulding with sprinkler pump sub-assembly attached and with control cover panel removed;

p aoaaaea FIGURE l is a bottom plan view of the handle moulding shown in FIGURE 9 with the temperature control attached; and

FIGURE ll is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of the rear end of the handle of FIGURES 9 and 10.

Referring now to the drawings, the improved steam and spray iron is generally indicated at 10 in FIGURE l, and it will be understood that the steam iron itself is formed from a number of sub-assemblies which are shown in greater detail in later figures in the drawings.

The steam iron includes a sole plate that is generally indicated at 12 and is more clearly shown in plan in FIGURES 6 and 6A, a sheet metal cover shell that is generally indicated at 14 and is more clearly shown in plan in FIGURE 8, a water reservoir that is generally indicated at 16 and is more clearly shown in plan in FIGURE 7, and a handle assembly that is generally indicated at 18 and is more clearly shown in plan and perspective in FIGURES 9, l0 and ll.

The handle assembly 18 is so shaped and arranged as to detachably receive therein a moulded control cover panel, or housing part, that is generally indicated at 20 and is seen in perspective in FIGURE 4. Further, there is provided a removable name plate shield which is gerierally indicated at 22 in FIGURE l and which overlies and conceals the assembly bolt that is utilized to secure the various sub-assemblies together.

Referring now specifically to the sole plate 12, it will be understood that the sole plate is a casting and is shown to have a pointed toe 30 and a blunt heel 32. A heater element 34 is imbedded in the casting of the sole plate, in a manner that is well known in the art, and the heater element 34 is arranged to extend alongside and inwardly of the lateral edges of the sole plate 12, so as to substantially uniformly heat the entire sole plate. The forward half of the sole plate, as seen on the right of FIG- URE 6, is provided with a cover plate 36 that is secured to the upper side of the sole plate casting 12, and which cooperates with certain recessed portions therebelow to define a steam-generating chamber, or cavity, 38 into which water may be controllably dispensed for the purposes of generating steam within the chamber 38 upon contact of the water with the heated sole plate.

The sole plate, in combination with the cover 36, also defines a generally arcuately extending channel 40 which, it will be understood, communicates with the steam-generating chamber 38 to receive steam therefrom; and the under side of sole plate 12 is provided with a plurality of arcuately disposed steam-delivery apertures 42 which communicate with the steam channel 40, as can best be seen by reference to FIGURE l. The cover plate 36 is provided with an upstanding annular stud 44 having an upwardly facing frusto-conical seat for purposes of cooperation with the water-delivery means of the water reservoir hereinafter described.

Positioned on the sole plate 12, in close heat-sensing relation therewith, is a pre-assembled, totally enclosed, thermostatically controlled switch unit generally indicated at 46, the details of which are well known in the art and need not be described in detail herein. The thermostatically controlled switch 46 is, in part, retained in position by a sheet metal strap 48 which overlies switch 46, and the ends of strap 48 are secured by screws 49 to the sole plate 12. The switch 46 includes an upwardly extending control shaft 50 for the purposes of selectively controlling the setting of the thermostat, and the upper end of shaft 50 is splined for a purpose that will appear hereinafter. A lower portion of shaft 50 carries thereon a ring 52 having radially extending, and arcuately spaced, arms 54 and 55 which are adapted to cooperate with an upstanding stop pin 56 that is carried by switch 46 and which is arranged to limit the range of rotation of the control shaft t?.

The means for energizing the heater 34 includes an electric lead 58 connected at one end to heater 34 and carrying a tapped terminal 59 at its other end. A second lead 60 is provided carrying a tapped terminal 61, and this lead 60 connects to one terminal 46a of the thermostat `switch 46 and a second terminal 4611 of thermostat switch 46 connects by lead 62 to the other end of heater 34, Thus, there is provided a simple energizing circuit for the iron including the thermostatically controlled switch 46 interposed in series with the heater 34. The tapped terminals 59 and 61 are adapted to extend upwardly through passageways provided in the handle means, as hereinafter described, so that the leads of a service cord may be connected thereto.

The sole plate 12 is provided thereon with pairs of formed horizontal lands 64 and 65 which are bounded on `their inner edges with upright adjacent shoulders 64a and 65a, and a land 66 adjacent the toe 30 that is bounded adjacent its inner edge with an upright shoulder 66a. The lands arid shoulders are for the purpose of receiving thereon the cover shell 14 shown in FIGURE 8.

There is also provided a tapped hole 68 adapted to receive an assembly bolt, as hereinafter described, and the rear end of the sole plate is provided with a rigidly mounted bracket 70 having an upstanding arm 72 with a horizontal tab 72a adapted to supportingly cooperate with the water reservoir, as hereinafter described.

The water reservoir 16, shown in plan in FIGURE 7 and in cross-section in FIGURE 1, is a hollow, generally watertight, body having a bottom horizontal plate and a formed upper plate 82 of inverted cup form, the edges of plates 80 and 82 being joined at a watertight bead 83 which extends along the lower periphery of the reservoir 16. The hollow reservoir 16 is centrally apertured and sleeved at 84 to provide a vertical passageway for an `assembly bolt extending therethrough, and is sleeved at 86 to provide a vertical passageway for the control shaft 50 of the thermostat 46 extending upwardly therethrough. The' junctions between the sleeves 84 `and 86 and the respective parts 80 and 82 are made watertight to prevent any leakage from the interior of the reservoir 16.

The upper portion 82 is also apertured at 88 and surrounded by a frusto-conical seat 90 which is adapted for receiving and centering a depending portion of the handle that is hereinafter described. A rearward portion of the seat 90 is notched at 91 to accommodate a portion of the water pump means that is hereinafter described.

The bottom 82 of reservoir 16 carries thereon a tting 92 directly below the aperture 88, `and the fitting provides radial drain grooves 93 in the upper surface thereof adjacent the bottom 82 and draining to a drip tube. The lower portion of fitting 92 provides an annular seat por- :tion 94 below bottom plate 80 which is `adapted to cooperate with the annular frusto-coriical seat defined at l.the upper edge of tubular stud 44 that extends upwardly from the sole plate 12. The iitting also carries a depending drip tube 96 through which water is adapted to be dispensed at a predetermined flow rate to the steamgenerating chamber 38. It will be seen from FIGURE l that when parts are assembled the drip tube 96 extends downwardly through tubular stud 44 into the steamgenerating chamber 38. The upper end of the tube 96 serves `as. a valve seat adapted for cooperation with a needle-type flow control valve that will hereinafter be described.

The reservoir 16 is supported at its forward end by engagement of the fitting 92 with the upper edge of the stud 44, and by support of the rear edge of reservoir 16 upon the horizontal flange 72a formed at the upper end of the upstanding arm 72.

The shell 14, which is best seen in FIGURES l and 8, is a formed sheet steel body, having -a lower edge 100 which is adapted to seat on lands 64, 65 and 66 defined on sole plate 12, `and outwardly of shoulders 64a, 65a, and 66a, so as to properly position the shell on the sole plate, with the water reservoir 16 enclosed therein. The shell 14 is provided With a rear oblong aperture 102 for receiving therethrough a moulded depending stud formed on the handle, that Will be hereinafter described. The, shell is also formed with a forward circular aperture 104 for receiving therethrough another depending moulded stud on the handle. A central aperture 105 provides for passage therethrough of the control shaft means for the switch `46. Still further, `an `aperture 106 surrounded by `a horizontal annular shoulder 108 provides for passage therethrough of the shank of an assembly bolt, and the shoulder 108 provides .a bearing surface for cooperation with the head of the assembly bolt. The shell is also formed to dene a forward flat portion 110 having a pair of apertures 112 therethrough adapted to receive -therein mounting bolts whose heads engage the underside `of ilat I110 and which are for securement of the shell 14 to the handle, `and la rear flat i114 having a single aperture 116 therethrough to provide for -a rear mounting bolt that secures the shell to the handle. A portion of the shell rearwardly of aperture 105 is upwardly embossed at 118 and serves as -a retainer for a portion of the means that are used for actuating the temperature control -that is mounted in the handle, as hereinafter described.

- The handle 18 is a unitary body that is moulded from plastic and defines a lower, laterally extending coverengaging part 120, `a forward upwardly extending hollow post 122 (as best seen in FIGURE 1), a laterally extended hand grip portion 124 which connects to the upper end of the post 122, and a rear socket-forming post 126. The arrangement of the handle segments is such as to surround a hand-entry space 128, as best vseen in FIGURE 1.

The underside of cover-engaging part 120 is provided with a pair of tapped forwardly-located apertures 130 and a .tapped rearwardly-located aperture 132 which are adapted to be respectively aligned with apertures 112 and i116 in shell I14 to receive therein assembly bolts which secure together the shell 14 :and handle `18. The rear assembly bolt 133 is seen in FIGURE l.

After the handle 18 and shell 14 are sub-assembled by bolts including bolt 133, then this sub-assembly may be assembled with `the reservoir 16 and sole plate 12, as shown in FIGURE 1, by means of assembly bolt B which slidably extends through sleeve 84 and screws into tapped hole 68 inthe sole plate. A lock washer 134 is preferably provided between the head of assembly bolt B and annular shoulder 108 on shell 14.

The handle 18 is also formed with a depending oblong stud 135 which is adapted to extend through oblong aperture 102 in shell 14. The stud 135 is provided with upwardly extending passageways 136 and y138 through which the leads 58 and 60 are caused to extend to present the terminals 59 and 61 at a point outwardly of the shell 14. The said passageways 136 and 138 open at their upper ends into `a recess, or cavity, 140 defined in the rear side of socket-forming post 126. Within the cavity 140, the threaded terminals 59 and 61 may be appropriately secured to the ends of the leads of a service cord (not shown).

Within the cavity 140 is an enlarged, tapped, mounting boss 142, -and the cavity 140 is surrounded by structure which includes a pair of lateral sides that are slotted at 143 and 144. A moulded cover plate 146 is provided, having a central bore 147 adapted to receive therethrough a mounting bolt 148 that screws into boss 14'2 as is best seen in FIGURE 1. The cover carries an elongated tongue 150 on one side and a shorter -tongue 152 on the opposite side. The tongues 150 and 152 `are adapted to cooperate with slots 143 and 144 in the handle so that when plate 146 is fully assembled one of slots 143 and 144 is fully closed while the other slot presents a circular opening through which the service cord may extend; Since the cover plate 146 is symmetrical, it may be reversed to provide the cord entry aperture as part of slot 143 or as part of slot '144, as desired, thereby arranging the iron for either right-hand or left-hand operation.

On 4the underside of the handle 18 there is defined a reduced socket or sleeve 154 (FIGURE l) for receiving the upper end of -a control tube 156. The lower end of control tube 156 is internally splined to telescopically cooperate with the upper splined end of control shaft 50. There is also defined in the underside of handle 18 au enlarged recess 158 (FIGURE 1) wherein is seated a chain pulley `160` that is carried on, and movable with, control tube 156. The lower -side of pulley 160 is bounded by an enlarged plate 160a which overlies the chain that is coiled, or Wound, upon the pulley 160. The plate 160e separates the chain `160 from a restoring helical spring 162 that surrounds control tube 156 below plate 160Q.

The underside of handle 18 is moulded -to define a depending V-shaped rib 164 that is spaced from an anchor plug 166 to define a V-shaped recess 168. The recoil spring 162 is a helical spring, the inner end of which is connected to the control tube 156 for movement there with, and the other end of which is hook-shaped at 16211 and is entered through recess 168 to grippingly engage the anchor plug 166. When the handle 18 is assembled on the cover shell 14, the upwardly embossed part 118 on shell 14 lies closely adjacent the lower edge of rib 164 and of anchor' plug 166, thereby preventing inadvertent dislocation of the hook 162e and of spring 162 from their assembly, as disclosed in FIGURES l and 10.

The cover-engaging part 120 of handle 18 is provided with an aperture 170 through which access may be had .to the assembly bolt B that is best seen in FIGURE 1. The cover plate 212 is preferably provided with spring assembly tabs (not shown) which are adapted to extend through apertures 172 defined in handle 18 to grippingly but removably secure cover plate 22 to the handle. The cover plate 22 then overlies and shields the recess 154 and the aperture 170.

The handle 174 is also provided with a forwardly located tubular stud 176 Ithat depends through aperture 104 in the cover shell 14. The tubular stud 176 is provided with a fiusto-conical edge 178, as best seen in FIGURE 1, for cooperation with the frustoaconical seat 90 in the water reservoir 16. An annular sealing gasket 179 is provided between said frusto-conical edges 178 and 90u Adjacent the rearmost extent of the tubular stud 176 there is rigidly positioned a pump body, generally indicated at 180, which communicates through a delivery tube 182 to a spray-nozzle body, generally indicated at 184, the latter being moulded within the handle 18 and extended outwardly forwardly therefrom.

A sheet metal cap 186 is carried on the forward end of handle 18, and the forward nozzle portion 188 of spray nozzle 184 is threaded onto a stud portion of nozzle 184 which projects through the handle 18 and the cover plate 186. The cover plate 186 also surrounds a central water-till aperture, generally indicated at 190 in FIGURES 1 and 10.

The laterally opening water-till aperture 190 communicates with the interior of the upright tubular stud 176 delined as part of hollow upright post 122 of handle 18. It is understood that water introduced into aperture 190 with the iron tilted slightly upwardly about its heel 32 will flow through tubular stud 176 into reservoir 16. The interior wall 177 in hollow post 1,22 separates the portion of post 122 through which water flows from the rearward hollow portion of post 122.

The upper portion of the handle 18, located forwardly of the hand-grip portion 24 and above the forward portion of hollow post 122, is a at surface portion 192, having a central depressed region 194 within which is positioned a chain pulley 196, as best seen in FIGURE 1. The upper side, or face, of the pulley 196 has a laterally extending arm 198 formed integral therewith and having 7 a iinger-grippable knob 200 mounted on the outer end thereof.

The pulley is arranged to pivot about a bearing portion 202 of a irst ferrule 201, the lower end of said ferrule being threaded into a counterbored and tapped hole 204 in the handle 18. The upper end of ferrule 201 is provided with an outwardly extending ange 206, the peripheral edges of which are provided with flats for gripping purposes and to afford tightening up as desired. A spring-type, bowed, friction washer 208 is positioned between the underside of flange 206 and the upper surface of pulley 196, and this arrangement provides means for varying the friction between pulley 196 and washer 208 which is being utilized to maintain the pulley in selected positions against the restoring bias of the spring 172 acting upon the temperature control sleeve 156.

A segmented lflexible chain 210 connects the pulley 196 with the pulley 160. It will be seen that the swing of arm 198 is limited to a range of about 180 degrees by reason of the upright walls 211 and `211a dened in the handle 18. This swing of 180 degrees is within the arcuate spacing of the arms 54 and 55 on control shaft 50, so that a full range of operation of the control shaft 50 may be obtained through the remote pivotal movement of the arm 198. The chain 210 extends through a passageway 212 formed in the hollow post portion 122 of the handle 18, and, as best seen in FIGURE l, the chain 210 is caused to pass over a smoothly curved surface 214 in the interior of handle 18, as it runs from pulley 160` to 196.

It will be understood yfrom the foregoing that movement of the arm 198 to selected positions will cause the control arm 156 and shaft 50 to be pivoted against the bias of helical spring 172 to a selected position, and the friction from friction washer 208 will maintain the controls in their selected position against the bias of spring 162, the lbias of spring 162 tending to maintain the chain 210 taut. The arrangement of the parts is such that the chain 210 is cause to pass laterally of the assembly bolt B and of the access aperature 170, as best seen in FIGURE l0.

The forwardmost portion of the handle 124 is formed with a rather deep recess, or socket, 216 that is bounded by opposite spaced lateral walls 217 and a rear wall 218. A metal bracket 220 is shaped to t within the socket 216 and to have a portion thereof extending `forwardly to overlie the pulley 196. The bracket 220 is secured to the 'bottom of the socket 216 by means of a mounting screw 222. The forwardly extending portion of bracket 220 is apertured at 224 to register with the central aperture of ferrule 201, and is provided with turned-down spacer tabs 225 which span beyond the edges of flange 206 of ferrule 201. The rearward portion of bracket 220 is provided with upwardly extending spring tabs 226 having raised bumps 226a adapted for releasably gripping a cover panel that is press fit thereinto, as hereinafter described.

There is provided a second ferrule 228 having a threaded portion 229 that extends through aperture 224 and screws into the upper female-threaded portion of the first ferrule 201. The second ferrule 228 is provided with an outwardly extending flange 230 provided with peripheral edges that have been ilatted for gripping. A spring-type, bowed, washer 231 is disposed between the underside of flange 230 and the upper surface of bracket 220, and operates to maintain the ferrule 228 at selected positions.

A flow control stem member, generally indicated at 232, is provided, having a tapered needle valve 234 dened at the lower end, adapted for cooperation with the upper end of the drip tube 96 which is part of the conduit means for feeding water from the reservoir 16 to the steam-generating chamber in the sole plate 12 below the reservoir. When the stem 232 is in its lowermost position, the needle valve 234 enters the upper portion of drip tube 96 and engages the inner periphery thereof to seal off the water reservoir 16 from the steam-generating chamber 38. When the stem 232 is in a raised position, there is established an annular flow passageway from reservoir 16 into drip tube 96, through which water will ow at a pre-selected rate to the steam-generating chamber 32 in the sole plate 12.

The control means for selectively opening and closing the water conduit means, by maintaining the flow control stem 232 at selected open or closed ow positions, includes a shoulder formed on an intermediate portion of stem 232 and having a washer 238 seated thereagainst; a coil spring 240 slid onto stem 232 and abutting Washer 238 at its lower end; a second washer 242 slidable on stem 232 and engaging the upper end of `spring 240; and a sealing gasket 244 above washer 242. The washer 242 under the bias of spring 240 is adapted to compress the sealing gasket 244 against an abutment surface of the handle means 18, and the upper portion of stem 232 passes through a bore 246 in the handle 18 and then through the central bore of rst `ferrule 201, and through the central bore of the second ferrule 202 to extend above the second ferrule 202.

The upper portion of stem 232 is attened, as seen at 248, and is provided with an aperture 250 extending therethrough, normal to the flats and transverse of the longitudinal axis of stem 232. A bifurcated, moulder toggle member, generally indicated at 252, has a central recess into which the flattened upper portion 248 of stem 232 extends. A headed pivot pin 254 passes through apertures 253 in toggle member 252 which apertures `are in register with bore 250 in stem member 232, thereby pivotally connecting the toggle member to the ow control stem.

There is provided a centrally apertured, formed, valve stem lift plate 256 that is positioned between the second ferrule 228 and the toggle member 252. Although the greater portion of plate 256 is flat, a central portion ythereof is crimped, or bent, to provide an upturned dwell ridge 258 which runs transverse the axis of the central apeiture therein and on opposite sides of said aperture, and said ridge is adapted to cooperate with appropriate spaced crotches formed in the lower edge of toggle member 252. The toggle member 252 is formed with two crotches 260 and 262 which are spaced different distances from the axis of the pivot pin 254. This arrangement provides that when the dwell ridge 258 is seated in the crotch 262, then the axis of pin '254 is spaced further from the dwell ridge 258 than when the dwell ridge 258 is seated within crotch 260. This arrangement provides two positions for the needle valves 234 relatives to the drip tube 96, the lowerrnost position of needle valve 234 being the closed valve position, and the upper position of needle valve 234 being the open valve position, wherein water flow is established from the reservoir 16 to the steamgenerating chamber 38.

The toggle member 252 is provided with laterally extending and upwardly projecting spaced arms 264 and 266. The arrangement is such that when arm 264 is depressed to pivot the toggle 252 about the axis of pin 254, then the crotch 262 is moved into engagement with the upturned dwell ridge 258, and this operates to raise the needle valve 234 and set the iron for a steam operation. When the arm 266 is depressed to move the crotch 260 about the pivot pin 254 into engagement with the upturned dwell ridge 258, then the needle valve 234 is in its lowermost position, which prevents flow of water to the sole plate and, thus, the iron can be used as a dry iron.

The moulded control-cover panel 20 is located above the hollow upright post `122 through which extends the upright stem member 232 and within which is positioned the spray pump and nozzle 184 heretofore referred to. The panel 20 is provided with a semi-circular forward wall 268 which, when assembled, is spaced above the flat surface 192 formed in the handle 18. This is best seen in FIGURE l, wherein the cover panel 20 is spaced above the wall 192 to define a horizontal slot 269 within which the arm 1.98 may be swung as the temperature is selectively varied. The semicircular wall 268 carries thereon an indicia strip 270 that :nay be adhesively attached, and which designates thereon the type of material that may be ironed with the temperature that is being obtained through the setting of the switch 46 through the use of the control arm y'198. This setting of control arm 1918 is readily observed because the control knob 286 is positioned adjacent and forward `of the selected indicia on the indicia strip 278.

The cover panel 2'@ is also provided in its upper surface with apertures 272 and 274 through which the arms 264 and 266 will respectively project, as the toggle member 252 is swung to the steam or dry position. Appropriate indicia, as seen in FIGURE 4, is provided adjacent the apertures 272 and 274 to advise the operator `of the condition being obtained within the iron.

The control cover panel 2li is also provided with rearwardly extending side walls 276 which t into the socket 216 closely adjacent the side walls 217 of the socket. The side walls 276 are each provided with a vertically extending recessed portion 278 having a dimple 2780 therein for cooper-ation respectively with the upstanding tabs 226 having bumps 226a thereon. This arrangement provides resilient gripping means between the bracket 22()` and the cover panel 20, so that the cover panel 2o may be releasably mounted in the socket 216 provided therefor, and the cover panel then operates to conceal the operative mechanism heretofore described. The cover panel 2@ is also provided with an enlarged central aperture 288 for receiving therein a push button control 282 for spray means whose operation will be described hereinafter.

Turning now to the mechanical pump-and-spray mechanism, which is best disclosed in FIGURES l, 5 and 1G, said spray mechanism includes the pump 180 that is rigidly carried by the handle 18 and is adapted to extend downwardly into the reservoir 16, with the intake for the pump 180 disposed closely adjacent the bottom of the reservoir adjacent the region wherein water enters through tting 92 for movement through drip tube 96 to the steam-generating chamber 38.

The pump 180 includes a cylinder 298, defining a pump chamber 292 therein within which a piston 294 is adapted to be reciprocated. The piston carries an -ring type packing 296 which prevents leakage and insures development of the desired spray pressure. The piston 294 carries an upwardly extending piston rod, or stem, 298 which slidably extends through a reduced sleeve 380 that extends upwardly from cylinder 290. The upper end of rod 298 extends above the upper terminal edge of sleeve 300 and a coil spring 302 is positioned between the edge of sleeve 300 and a washer, or lock ring, 304 carried by rod 298. The length of rod 298 extending above sleeve 300 is suicient to accommodate the stroke of the piston 294 yand the compression of the coil spring 382.

At the lower end of the cylinder 29u there is secured, in watertight relation, a pump base, or fitting having a downwardly extending passageway 306 within which is positioned a ball check valve 308 that rests and .seals against a truste-conical seat 3111 that surrounds a reduced, central, intake aperture 312 in sleeve part 313 that extends downwardly fro-m pump 1841 within the water reservoir 16. The delivery, or connector, tube 182 opens laterally into passageway 306 at a point above the ball valve 308 and spaced from the opposite wall.

The upper end of delivery tube 182 connects to spray nozzle 184 which includes a hollow spray nozzle connector 314 to which is threadably connected a tubular nozzle body 316 having a reduced flow passageway 318 communicating with the interior of hollow connector 314. A second ball valve 320 is positioned within an enlarged portion of tubular body 316 and is normally biased by a coil spring 322' toward a frusto-conical valve seat 324 that surrounds the reduced ow passageway 318. One end of spring 322 abuts ball 320 and the other end is seated in the counterbore 326 of a pressure plug 325 that is removably tted into the outer end of body 316. The counterbore 326 commanioates with a reduced passageway 328 in plug 325 that, in turn, communicates with radial cross-passages 338 in the wall of plug 325'. The passages 33t) open outwardly to an enlarged bore portion 332 of body 316 which communicates with a plurality of cross-passages 334 that are formed in the rear face of spray disc G35 and which communicate with a central spray discharge outlet 336 through disc 335. The passages 334 are offset from the axis of outlet 336, as seen in FIGURE 5A, and serve to give a swirling motion to the water, which assists in effecting a tine spray from nozzle 184. The disc 33S is held in position against the terminus of tubular body 316 by means of an annular nozzle part 188 that is screwed onto the male-threaded tip of part 316. The tubular part 316 has an outwardly extending flange 338 formed thereon which is adapted to cooperate with handle 13 to position and retain nozzle 184 on handle 18.

From the foregoing, the operation of the device should be understood that, assuming the pump chamber 292, the tube 182, and nozzle 184 to be filled with water, the selective manual depression of srod, or stem, 298 will force water under pressure to unseat the second ball valve 320 against the bias of spring 322, and the water under pressure will ow through the communicating passageways of nozzle 184 to be discharged in a line spray from the nozzle opening 336. Because of the fact that the spray nozzle is pointed forwardly and downwardly, as best seen in FIGURE l, the spray from the spray means will be discharged forwardly of the toe of the iron onto material to be ironed. Upon the release of downward pressure upon stem 293, the spring 382 will restore the piston 294 to its upper position vand this will immediately cause the second ball valve 320 to be reseated, and this will maintain the passageways upstream of valve 320` lilled with water, but the suction effected by upward movement of piston 294 will cause the first ball Valve 36S to raise and water will be drawn upwardly through the passageway 312 in tubular sleeve part 313 yand then through the passageway 386 into the pump chamber 292. When the stem 298 is again pressed downwardly, the first check valve 308 immediately reseats and the spray is again eifected as aforesaid.

The sleeve 300 of the pump cylinder 290 is imbedded, or press t, into the plastic handle so that `the pump body is rigidly carried by the handle. The means for actuating the stem 293 includes an upright push rod 34@ having an offset as seen in FIGURE l, andthe lower end of rod 348 is positioned yto engage the upper end of rod 298, and the upper portion of push rod 348 is 'adapted to extend lthrough an aperture 342 in bracket 220. The push button 282 has a Vertical recess 344 formed therein for receiving the upper end of the push rod 348, so that manual pressure applied downwardly on fthe push button 282 is transmitted through push rod 340 to the operating stern 298 of the pump means. The fore- 'going arrangement thus locates the conduit control rod 232 and the pump control rod 34d adjacent each other in the substantially hollow post 122 of the handle 18.

The push button 282 is formed with an outwardly extending ilange 282g which engages the underside of the top of the portion of the control-cover panel 20 that surrounds the aperture 280, thereby preventing dislocation of the push button 282.

From the foregoing it will be understood that operation of the mechanical pump-and-spray mea-ns is completely independent of the steam means, so that water may be sprayed lfrom the spray means regardless of whether there is any steam pressure generated. The spray may be used with the iron operating as a dry iron or as a steam iron. By disposing the inlet 312 to pump 180 within the water reservoir 16 spaced laterally adjacent to but above the entrance to the water conduit epesses means, there is provided a simple means for determining the status of the supply of Water in reservoir 16, because if, upon actuation of push ybutton 282, no spray is forthcoming, the operator may assume that the reservoir 16 needs refilling. Clearly, the arrangement provides that the supply of water available to the pump will be exhausted before the supply of water available to the steamgenerating means is exhausted.

It will further be observed that conveniently the upright control rods 232 and 340, respectively for controlling the conduit means and for actuating the sp-ray pump, are disposed adjacent each other `and that the push-button type controls therefor, including button 282 `and arms 264 and 266, are loc-ated on the exterior of the iron closely adjacent each other and protrude above the upper lateral surface of the handle means which includes the cove-r panel 20.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is intended in thel -appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim `as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. A steam and spray iron comprising, in combination: a sole plate; a water reservoir maintained at atmospheric pressure and positioned above said sole plate; selectively operable steam generating means for generating and dispensing steam from said sole plate including means defining a steam generating chamber that is wholly separate from said water reservoir, conduit means for feeding water from ladjacent the bottom of said reservoir to said steam generating chamber so `as to permit build-up of pressure in the steam generating chamber while leaving the reservoir at atmospheric pressure, and heater means in heat transfer relation with said sole plate and said steam generating chamber; and spray means independent of the said steam generating means for selectively spraying water from said water reservoir onto material Ito be ironed at any time regardless of whether the iron is being used `as a steam iron or as a dry iron, said spray means including a water inlet disposed within the water reservoir spaced adjacent to the entrance to said conduit means and spaced `above the bottom of said reservoir, so that when no spray is forthcoming from the spray means upon actuation thereof, the operator may assume that the reservoir needs refilling.

2. A steam and spray iron comprising, in combination: a sole plate; a water reservoir maintained at atmospheric pressure and positioned above said sole plate; selectively operable steam generating means for generating and dispensing steam from said sole plate including means defining a steam generating chamber that is wholly separate from said water reservoir, conduit means for `feeding water from adjacent the bottom of said reservoir to said steam generating chamber so as to permit buildup of pressure in the steam generating chamber while leaving the reservoir iat atmospheric pressure, and heater means in heat transfer relation with said sole plate and said steam generating chamber; and spray means independent of the said steam generating means for selectively spraying water from said water reservoir onto material to be ironed at any time regardless of whether the iron is being used as `a steam iron or yas a dry iron, said spray means including a manually actuatable water pump, a water intake vfor said pump positioned within the water reservoir spaced ladjacent to the entrance to said conduit means and spaced above the bottom of said reservoir, so that when no spray is forthcoming from the spray means upon actuation thereof, the operator may assume `that the reservoir needs refilling; -a first upright control rod spring biased downwardly :toward a position for closing said conduit means, a second upright control rod operatively associated with said water pump and spring biased upwardly normally `and adapted to be reciprocated vertically to selectively actuate said pump to effect spraying of water, and said first and second control rods being disposed adjacent each other iand having push button actuators at their upper ends, with said actuators located on the exterior of the iron closely adjacent each other.

3. A steam and spray iron comprising, in combination: a sole plate; a water reservoir above said sole plate, said reservoir having a top with an access opening therein, so that the water in the reservoir is maintained at atmospheric pressure; steam means for generating and dispensing steam from said sole plate including means defining a steam generating chamber that is separate from said water reservoir, conduit means through which water may be selectively fed from adjacent the bottom of said reservoir to said steam generating chamber, and heater means in heat transfer relation with the sole plate and said steam generating chamber; a handle means subassembly for said iron positioned above said Water reservoir and including a generally upright post and a generally laterally extending hand grip; spray nozzle means carried in said upright post and spaced above said water reservoir and disposed for spraying water downwardly therefrom and forwardly of the sole plate; and water pump means carried by said handle sub-assembly and including water intake means which project downwardly from the handle means through the access opening into said reservoir to be spaced adjacent to the entrance to said conduit means and spaced above the bottom of said reservoir, so that when no spray is forthcoming from the spray means upon actuation thereof, the operator may assume that the reservoir needs relling, and said pump means being operative to selectively ingest water from the reservoir and to pump same upwardly to said spray nozzle means spaced above said reservoir for discharge therefrom.

4. A steam and spray iron comprising, in combination: a sole plate; a water reservoir above said sole plate, said reservoir having a top with an access opening therein, so that the water in the reservoir is maintained at atmospheric pressure; steam means for generating and dispensing steam from said sole plate including means defining a steam generating chamber that is separate from said water reservoir, conduit means through which water may be selectively fed from adjacent the bottom of said reservoir to said steam generating chamber, and heater means in heat transfer relation with the sole plate and said steam generating chamber; a handle means subassembly for said iron positioned above said Water reservoir and including a generally upright post and a generally laterally extending hand grip; spray nozzle means carried in said upright post and spaced above said water reservoir and disposed for spraying water downwardly therefrom and forwardly of the sole plate; and water pump means carried by said handle sub-assembly and including water intake means which project downwardly from the handle means through the access opening into said reservoir to be spaced adjacent to the entrance to said conduit means and spaced above the bottom of said reservoir, so that when no spray is forthcoming from the spray means upon actuation thereof, the operator may assume that the reservoir needs refilling, said pump'means being operative to selectively ingest water from the reservoir and to pump same upwardly to said spray nozzle means spaced above said reservoir for discharge therefrom, and a selectively operable ow controller carried by the handle sub-assembly and projecting downwardly through said access opening into the reservoir and positioned in ow-controlling association with said conduit means to said steam generating chamber.

5. A steam and spray iron comprising, in combination: a sole plate; a water reservoir above said sole plate; handle means for said iron including a generally upright hollow post and a generally laterally extending hand-grip;

steam generating means for generating and dispensing steam from said sole plate including means defining a steam generating chamber, conduit means for feeding water from said reservoir to said steam generating chamber, and heater means in heat transfer relation with said sole plate and said steam generating chamber; and selectively settable thermostatic control means lfor said heater means including a temperature-responsive control positioned below said waterreservoir in heat-sensing relation with said sole plate, an upright control shaft spaced laterally from said upright hollow post and extending upwardly from said temperature-responsive control to above said water reservoir and carrying a first pulley thereon, coil spring means normally biasing said control shaft in one direction, .stop means for limiting pivoting of said control shaft in said one direction under the bias of said spring means, a second pulley pivotally mounted on said handle means and having a control arm extending Itherefrom, cable means passing through the hollow post of the handle means and interconnecting said first and second pulleys, so that manual movement of the control arm causes the second and first pulleys to move in unison, and friction means cooperating with said second pulley to maintain said second pulley in selected positions against the bias of said spring means.

6. A steam and spray iron comprising, in combination: a sole plate; a water reservoir above said sole plate; cover means secured to said sole plate and generally enclosing said reservoir; handle means for said iron connected to said cover means and defining a lower laterally extending cover engaging part, .an upright hollow post, and a laterally extending hand-grip portion connecting to the upper end of said post and spaced above said lower part of the handle means; and selectively settable thermostatic control means for said iron including a temperatureresponsive control positioned below said reservoir in heatsensing relation with said sole plate, an upright shaft spaced from said hollow post and extending from said temperature-responsive control to above said reservoir and through said cover means, spring means normally biasing said shaft in one direction, a first pulley on said shaft between said cover means and said lowerlaterally extending part of the handle means, a second pulley pivotally mounted in said handle means adjacent the 14 hand-grip portion of the handle means and above said hollow post, cable means interconnecting the first and second pulleys and extending through said hollow post, and friction means cooperating with said second pulley to maintain said second pulley in selected positions against the bias of said spring means.

7. A steam and spray iron comprising, in combination: a sole plate; a water reservoir above said sole plate; steam generating means for generating and dispensing steam from said sole plate including means defining a steam generating chamber in heat transfer relation with a first portion of said sole plate, conduit means for feeding water from said reservoir to said steam generating chamber, heater means in heat transfer relation With said sole plate and steam generating chamber, and an upright push rod for selectively opening or closing said conduit means; and thermostatic control means for said iron including a temperature-responsive control in heat-sensing relation with a second portion of said sole plate spaced laterally from said portion of the sole plate adjacent the steam generating chamber, an upright control shaft for said temperature-responsive control spaced laterally of said upright push rod, a first pulley on said control shaft, a second pulley arranged coaxially of said push rod, cable means interconnecting said first and second pulleys, a selectively movable control arm for said second pulley, spring means tending to pivot the control shaft in one direction, and friction means coaxial of said push rod and cooperating with the second pulley for maintaining the control arm at a selected setting against the bias of said spring means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,216,460 Kilgore Feb. 20, 1917 2,674,054 Maykemper Apr. 6, 1954 2,729,904 Maykemper Jan. 10, 1956 2,741,044 Maykemper Apr. l0, 1956 2,755,574- Herman uly 24, 1956 2,802,289 Hoecker Aug, 13, 1957 2,817,169 Schott Dec. 24, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,206,984 France Aug. 31, 1959

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