US3292283A - Electric sad iron - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 20, 1966 E. HANNER ELECTRIC SAD IRON 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 29.. 1965 INVENTOR. v

GEORGE E. HANNER ATTORNEYS Dec. 20, 1966 G. E. HANNER ELECTRIC SAD IRON I5 Sheets-Sheet Filed Aug. 29, 1963 FIG.7

INVENTOR.

GEORGE E. HANNER FIGS ATTORNEYS Dec. 20, 1966 G. E. HANNER 3,292,283

ELECTRIC SAD IRON Filed Aug. 29. 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 F G. v INVENTOR.

GEORGE E. HANNER M w W ATTOR EYS United States Patent 3,292,283 ELECTRIC SAD IRON George E. Hanner, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to Qominion Electric Corporation, a corporation of Ohio Filed Aug. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 305,475 9 Claims. (Cl. 38-77) My invention relates to electric sad irons and particularly to electric sad irons adapted to emit steam from openings in the sole plate.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved construction in an electric sad iron which is adapted to perform improved results in the operation of the iron.

Another object is the provision for a unique combination of structural features better adapted to meet the requirements of electric sad irons and particularly electric sad irons of the steam-generating type.

Another object is the provision for the unique combination in an electric sad iron of means for controlling the emission of steam from the iron in a steaming operation and also for controlling the emission of a spray of water from the iron in the spraying of fabrics being ironed.

Another object is the provision of a construction in a sad iron which is readily adapted for inclusion or noninclusion of a water-spraying apparatus in the iron While utilizing most of the other structural parts of the iron.

Another object is the provision of an improved construction which protects the molded plastic parts of the iron which are otherwise subject to deterioration or injury from steam and hot water coming in contact with the molded plastic. 1

Another object is the provision of an improved valving construction and means for controlling the valvin-g operation.

Another object is the provision for a compact and efiicient arrangement of structural parts while obtaining superior functional operation of an electric sad iron of the general class.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of my invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through an electric sad iron embodying my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of a dialing member utilized in my iron and illustrating the cam surfaces thereon, and looking in the direction of thearrows 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the spray nozzle utilized for the spraying of water from the iron;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the valving arrangement for controlling the admission of water to the steam chamber of my iron, and showing the valve in open position;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 4 but showing the valve in closed position;

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of the cage carrying the valving arrangement shown .in cross-section in FIG- URES 4 and 5;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged elevational view of the dialing member looking in the direction of the arrows 77 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 8 is another enlarged elevational view of the dialing member loo-king in the direction of the arrows 88 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken through the line 99 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 10 is a plan view of an electric sad iron embodving my invention, drawn to a smaller scale than in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 11 is an en ar d sectional view taken through the line 11-11 of FIGURE 10;

Patented Dec. 20, 1966 FIGURE 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken through the line 12-12 of FIGURE 11; and

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged sectional view taken through theline 13 13 of FIGURE 10.

My electric sad iron includes the usual sole plate 11 which is electrically heated by a heating element 17 embedded in the sole plate. Ametal shell 12 in inverted position is mounted over the sole plate in the usual manner. Within themetal shell 12 is awater reservoir 13 used for storing water within the space between theshell 12 and the sole plate 11. At the forward portion of thereservoir 13 there are splash bafile plates 13A. A moldedplastic handle member 14 is mounted over theshell 12 in the usual manner. Theshell 12 and sole plate 11 are interconnected by twoscrew bolts 15, only one of which is shown in the drawing. Theshell 12 andhandle member 14 are interconnected byscrew bolts 16. The moldedplastic handle member 14 is made of one of the usual and commercially available plastic materials utilized for devices of this kind. It is an electric insulator and heat insulator as well and is adapted for the purpose of providing the superstructure or handle of an electric sad iron. The material, however, is subject to deterioration upon being exposed to steam and hot water. It has been a problem in the use of the commercially available plastic materials that the handle member would crack, decompose and generally deteriorate after repeated subjection to contact with steam and hot water. One of the objects of the present invention is to avoid the difiiculties of this undesirable characteristic of such commercially available molded plastic materials.

Carried by the sole plate 11 under thereservoir 13 is an adjustable thermostat assembly denoted generally by the reference character 18.Wires 19 connect the themostat with a heating element 17. Lead-inwires 20 adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy enter thehandle member 14 in the usual manner and are joined with thewires 19 and heating element 17 by leads not shown.

Disposed near the forward end of the sole plate 11 is a steam generating chamber 21 which is provided by a depression in the sole plate cove-red by agasket 30 and acover plate 29 extending over the sole plate. The steamgenerating chamber 21 is in communication with conduits extending around through the sole plate to aduct 22 having a plurality of orifices extending through the bottom of the sole plate 11. The arrangement is such that steam gene-rated in the chamber 21 is emitted or discharged out through the orifices in the bottom of the sole plate supplied thereto by interconnecting ducts or conduits.

In order to facilitate the ready ascertainment of the current level of the water in thereservoir 13, I provide atransparent sight member 73, made of glass or clear plastic, into which water in the reservoir may enter when the iron is up-ended, that is, rested on its heel and pointed upwardly as when the iron is not being used in its normal horizontal position. Thesight member 13 is cup-shaped or tubular with its lower end open and upper end closed, thus providing a recess 73D.

There are aligned openings in the top wall of thereservoir 13, in the top wall of theshell 12, and in the lower horizontal portion of theplastic handle member 14 disposed over theshell 12. Thesight member 73 extends axially through these aligned openings as shown. Thesight member 73 has an integralannular flange 73A extending therearound and protruding radially outwardly theref om. Extending upwardly from theflange 73A on diametrically opnosite sides thereof is a pair of bosses orprotrusions 73B and 73C.

A resiliently yieldable gasket 74 of silicone rubber is provided for effecting a watertight seal between thesight member 73 and the wall of thereservoir 13. This or variations in manufacture and assembly are accomgasket 74 has acylindrical portion 74B slightly tapered which fills the space between the outer wall ofsight member 73 and the edge of the opening in the top wall ofreservoir 13. The edge of the opening in the reservoir wall is turned or flanged downwardly as shown for accommodating and engaging thecylindrical portion 74B of the gasket. The gasket 74 has aflange portion 74A which extends outwardly and is positioned between the bottom side offlange 73A of thesight member 73 and the opposed upper side of the top wall ofreservoir 13.

The arrangement and dimensions of the parts are such that the bottom portion of thehandle member 14, when the iron is assembled and bolted together, presses downwardly on the top of thebosses 73B and 73C extending from theflange 73A. This causes theflange 73A to press down firmly on, and to slightly compress, the gasket 74 and to thus assure a watertight seal betweensight member 73 and the wall of thereservoir 13.

Thebosses 73B and 73C are arranged on opposite lateral sides of the sight member, that is, along a line disposed transversely of the iron. In this manner, a good firm engagement is made between theplastic handle member 14 and thesight member 73, notwithstanding a lack of precise parallelism betweenflange 73A and the bottom side ofhandle member 14. Inevitable tolerances modated for by the arrangement.

The top of thesight member 73 carriesindicia 73E, such as a line and marking as shown, for indicating a preferred water level and with which the actual water level may be visually compared when the iron is upended. The arrangement fulfills a desired object of a reliable, eflicient and economical means for indicating current water level.

Formed in the moldedplastic handle member 14 is an upright open space ordome 24, and extending forwardly from thisdome 24 is an inlet or fillopening 23. Lining the upright open space ordome 24 is ametal liner 25. Thisliner 25 entirely covers the interior wall surface of the open space ordome 24 and also extends downwardly through an opening in the upper wall of thereservoir 13 so as to communicate with thereservoir 13. Thefill opening 23 is also lined with ametal tube 26 so as to protect the plastic material of the wall of the opening. The arrangement is such that the metal oftube 26 andliner 25 protects the plastic material from contact with steam or hot water. There is a metalconcave cup member 27 covering the forward portion of the plastic material of thehandle member 14 and so disposed as to lead into or form a tunnel for themetal tube 26. Upon the iron being tipped upright, water poured downwardly against thecup member 27 and into the inlet opening 23 flows down and into theliner 25 of thedome 24, and thence downwardly into thereservoir 13 to fill the same. The metal of themember 27,tube 26 anddome liner 25 is of a suitable character, such as to resist corrosion and adverse effect from steam and hot Water and thereby protect the plastic material.

A washer orseal member 28 of silicone rubber is positioned between the top wall of theshell 12 and the top wall of thereservoir 13 and around theliner 25 so as to provide a seal at that location.

Extending through an opening in theflat cover plate 29 andgasket 30 above the steam chamber 21 is an internally threadedbushing 31 of brass or other suitable material. Thisbushing 31 extends downwardly into the steam chamber 21 and has an outwardly turnedflange 31A at its lower end disposed within the steam chamber 21. Details of this are shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. To better insulate thebushing 31 from theplate 29 and to resist the passage of heat from theplate 29 enclosing the steam chamber 21, there are utilized a plurality ofwashers 32, 33, 34 and 35.Washers 32 and 33 are above theplate 29 andwasher 35 is below thegasket 30 and above theflange 31A. The centeringwasher 34 surrounds the part of thebushing 31 that is within the hole provided therefor in theplate 29 andgasket 30. Thewashers 32, 33 and 35 are of fiber glass bonded with a suitable resin and are particularly suited to insulate thebushing 31 from theplate 29 andgasket 30. The can-1tering washer 34 is of a suitable silicone rubber and is also adapted to insulate thebushing 31 so as toresist the passage of heat therefrom.ing 31 is so mounted that a minimum of heat from the steam chamber 21 is passed upwardly therethrough.

A valveseat cage member 36 is threadably engaged in thebushing 31, the threadedportion 36D being threaded to the internal threads in thebushing 31. The valve seat.

cage member 36 is made of brass or other suitable material. Thecage member 36 stands uprightly in thereservoir 13 over thebushing 31 and it has longitudinally ex-. tendingslots 36A to permit water in the reservoir to free- 1y enter the interior of thecage member 36. At the bottom part of thecage member 36 there is avalve seat portion 36B having a restricted opening therethrough. Ex-

tending downwardly from thevalve seat portion 36B is.

alower portion 36C which protrudes downwardly into the steam chamber.

Mounted within thecage member 36 to move 1ongi-.

tudinally thereof is amovable valve member 38. Thisvalve member 38 has a roundedvalve surface 38A adapted to seat on and sealingly engage with thevalve seat 36B. Extending downwardly from thevalve surface 38A is aguide pin portion 38B which moves up and down within thelower portion 36C. Thevalve member 38 has ashoulder portion 38C as shown, and extending upwardly from theshoulder portion 38C is anupper portion 38D. Thevalve member 38 is resiliently urged upwardly so as to open the orifice around thevalve seat 36B by acoil spring 39 which pressesupwardly on theshoulder portion 38C and downwardly on the bottom wall of thecage member 36. The bias of thespring 39 is such that it may be overcome so as to move thevalve member 38 downwardly to cause thevalve surface 38A to seat on thevalve seat 36B. Thevalve member 38 is restrained within thecage member 36 by an abutment.washer 40 against which theshoulder portion 38C may abut when in its upper position. A peened-overportion 36E of thecage member 36 holds theabutment washer 40 in position. A sealingmember 37 seals thecage member 36 from the wall of thereservoir 13.

Theupper portion 38D of thevalve member 38 is positioned within atube guide 41 disposed in an upright position. Extending downwardly into the upper end of thetube guide 41 is anupper rod member 42. Thisupper rod member 42 has a roundedupper end 42A. Surrounding therod 42 is a coil spring 70. The lower end of the spring 70 resiliently presses downwardly on the top of thetube guide 41 and the upper end of the spring 70 is secured by a suitable washer and groove arrangement to therod 42 so as to urge therod 42 upwardly. This coil spring 70 is biased to resiliently urge thetube 41 downwardly. The coil spring 70 is stronger than the coil spring resistance of thespring 39. Thespring 39 will yield and permit thevalve 38 to move downwardly under the force of thetube 41 before the coil spring 70 yields. Therefore, in the first stage ofmovement of therod 42 downwardly, thecoil spring 39 yields and thereafter the coil spring 70 yields. It is to be noted that there is not a rigid or fixed interconnection betweenrod 42 andvalve member 38 and they are always resiliently urged apart. This prevents rattling and loose shaking of parts which would otherwise occur but for the resilient urging of therod 42 andvalve member 38 apart in cooperation with thesprings 39 and 70. It also compensates for manufacturing variations of the components.

In this manner,,the bush-.

Arotatable dial member 45 of suitable molded plastic material is mounted on apivot pin 49 disposed on a vertical axis. A regulatinglever 50 is swingable in a horizontal plane and is keyed to thedial member 45 so that upon the forward exposed end of thelever 50 being swung in an arc, thedial member 45 is correspondingly rotated. Thedial member 45 on its lower surface has generally two cam surfaces. There is a cam surface engaged by the rounded upper.end 42A of therod 42. The horizontal flat portion of this cam surface has been designated by thereference character 46 and the inclined portion at about a 45-degree angle thereto has been designated by thereference character 47. The bias of the coil spring 70, connected at its upper end to therod 42, is such as to resiliently urge therounded end 42A upwardly against thedial member 45. In the major portion of the rotative positions of thedial member 45, therounded end 42A engages the flathorizontal cam surface 46. However, upon rotation of thedial member 45 to the end of theflat surface 46, then therounded end portion 42A cammin-gly rides up on theinclined cam surface 47 and thus permits therod 42 to move upwardly from its normal lower position. When the roundedupper end 42A is in engagement with the flathorizontal cam surface 46, therod 42 is held downwardly and the resilience of thesprings 39 and 70 and the arrangement of parts are such that thevalve member 38 is positioned in its lower position illustrated in FIGURE 5 so that the opening at thevalve seat 36B is closed. However, upon the roundedupper end 42A moving upwardly along theinclined surface 47 to its uppermost position, then the valve parts assume the position illustrated in FIGURE 4. Therefore, when water is to be admitted to the steam chamber 21 from thereservoir 13, thedial member 45 is turned so as to permit therod 42 to move upwardly and hence permit thevalve member 38 to move upwardly to the position illustrated in FIGURE 4. At other times, when steam is not to be generated, then the dial member is rotated so that the valve member assumes the position illustrated in FIG- URE 5.

Also carried on the lower part of the member is acam surface 48 which is spaced radially outwardly from the axis of thedial member 45 more than are the cam surfaces 46 and 47 followed by therounded end 42A. Thecam surface 48 is irregular and has a profile designed for the desired setting of the thermostat assembly 18. Acam follower 54 carried by ayoke member 53 follows and moves up and down theirregular cam surface 48 designed for the thermostatic setting. Theyoke member 53 embraces or extends around thedial member 45 so as to position thecam follower 54 on the side of the dial member carrying thecam surface 48. Thisyoke member 53 is pivotally carried on pivot pins 52 which, in turn, are carried by abracket support 51 secured to the plastic material of thehandle member 14 at a location on opposite sides of therod 42. Ears 51A extending up from thebracket support 51 carry the pivot pins 52 upon which theyoke member 53 is pivotally carried. The pivot pins 52 are on a common horizontal axis.

The rearward end of theyoke member 53 is connected by a connection member 55 to aclevis device 56 which is threadably engaged with the upper threaded end of arod 57 disposed in an upright position. The lower end of therod 57 is connected by alower connection device 58 to the adjustable leaf orpart 59 of the thermostat assembly 18. Thus, upward and downward movement of therod 57 changes the position of theadjustable part 59 of the thermostat assembly. Therod 57 is moved up and down by the swinging of theyoke member 53 on the pivot pins 52 in response to the positioning of thecam follower 54 by thecam surface 48. The bias of the parts is such thatcam follower 54 is urged upwardly against thecam surface 48. Therefore by the swinging of thelever 50 to rotate the dial member through a portion of its arcuate path, the setting of the thermostat may be adjusted. The

disposition of theinclined cam surface 47 relative to thecam surface 48 is such that theinclined surface 47 be comes functional at one end of the arcuate travel of thelever 50. During the major portion of the travel of thelever 50, the thermostat is being adjusted while only when the lever approaches its extreme position does theinclined surface 47 become positioned to engage therounded end 42A and thus actuate thevalve member 38.

Atube 60 extends through thereservoir 13 and around therod 57 so as to permit therod 57 to move through thereservoir 13 but without leakage from the reservoir.

Extending upwardly from near the bottom wall of thereservoir 13 and up through the upper wall of the reservoir is a tube 61. This tube 61 extends through the sealingmember 28 and through an opening in theshell 12, and upwardly into thehandle member 14 as illustrated. The upper end of the tube 61 engages in avalve seat member 71 carried by thehandle portion 14 as shown. Aball check 62 within thevalve seat 71 permits water to move upwardly through the tube 61 but prevents water from moving downwardly from thevalve seat member 71 into the tube 61. Secured to and extending upwardly from thevalve seat member 71 is a rubber bellows 63 of elongated accordion type. Acoil spring 64 within thebellows 63 resiliently urges thebellows 63 to an expanded condition. A rubber tube 65 provides communication between the lower end of thebellows 63 with a nozzle denoted generally by the reference character 66. The detailed structure of the nozzle 66 is illustrated in FIGURE 3. Anorifice 67 in the nozzle 66 is directed forwardly so that Water may be sprayed forwardly of the iron upon fabrics being ironed. Within the nozzle 66 is a spring-biased ball check 68 which permits water to be discharged from the nozzle upon water under pressure being admitted to the nozzle from the tube 65. Positioned in the nozzle 66 is a deflector 72 which meets the stream of water entering it and breaks it up into a fine spray for emission fromorifice 67. Adjacent the nozzle 66 and to one side thereof is an illuminating light denoted generally by thereference character 69.

Disposed over thebellows 63 is a key-board pressing member 43 which is spring-biased upwardly by aleaf spring 44. The arrangement is such that upon the operator pressing downwardly on the forward end of themember 43, thebellows 63 is compressed against the bias of theleaf spring 44 and thecoil spring 64. Upon thebellows 63 being contracted, water therein is forced outwardly through the tube 65, and out through theorifice 67 of the nozzle 66. The ball check 71 prevents water in thebellows 63 from reentering the tube 61. Upon release or upward movement of themember 43, thebellows 63 is again expanded and by reason of the disposition of the ball check 68 andvalve seat 71, water is sucked up from the bottom of thereservoir 13 through the tube 61 into thebellows 63 ready for another spraying operation.

In the event it is desired to omit the spraying function from an iron having the same general construction, the bellows, water tube and nozzle may be omitted and in place of the keyboard pressing member 43 a blank piece of molded plastic may be substituted so as to fill the space otherwise occupied by themember 43 and to provide a generally smooth upper surface to thehandle member 14.

The construction and arrangement of the parts here described and illustrated provides improved results in an advantageous and economical manner.

The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims, as well as that of the foregoing description.

Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted 7 to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric sad iron adapted to emit steam comprising in combination, a base member including a sole plate, steam-generating chamber and reservoir, a handle member of heat-insulating molded plastic material secured to the base member, a valve member controlling intercommunication between the water reservoir and steam-generating chamber whereby controlled quantities of water are admitted to the steam-generating chamber from the water reservoir, a stem member in axial alignment with the valve member, a tube telescopically connecting said stem member and valve member, a first resilient member biasing said valve member to open position and toward said tube, a rotatable cam member rotatably carried by said handle member, said cam member having an arcuate cam surface disposed over said stem member, and a second resilient member biasing said stem member toward said cam member whereby rotation of the cam member causes axial movement of the stem member toward said tube and said second resilient member causes axial movement of the tube toward said valve member, the arrangement providing for operation of said valve member by rotation of said cam member.

2. An electric sad iron adapted for the emission of steam therefrom, comprising in combination, a base mem ber including a sole plate, a steam-generating chamber associated with the sole plate, and a water reservoir for supplying water to the steam-generating chamber, a port providing communication between said reservoir and steamgenerating chamber, a handle member of molded plastic material susceptible to deterioration upon exposure to steam and hot water, a metal dome extending upwardly from said reservoir and in axial alignment with said port, a metal inlet member extending through the handle member forwardly from said dome and communicating therewith, said dome and inlet member extending through a portion of said handle member whereby water may be introduced into the reservoir through the inlet member and dome and steam and hot water escaping upwardly from the reservoir into the dome and inlet member is kept from contacting the said molded plastic material, a valve member biased in open position for controlling flow through said port, a rotatable cam member rotatably carried by the handle member, said cam member having an arcuate cam surface on its underside, an actuating member biased against said cam surface to be axially moved by rotation of the cam member, said actuating member being axially aligned with said valve member and operatively connected therewith to close the valve member in opposition to the bias thereof upon axial movement of the actuating member toward the said port, said actuating member extending upwardly through said dome to said cam member.

3. In an electric sad iron adapted to emit steam from the sole plate upon generating of steam in a chamber carried by the sole plate, the iron having a water reservoir disposed over the upper wall of said chamber, and a port through said upper wall for providing communication between the reservoir and chamber, the improvement of a metal annulus member disposed in said port, the annulus member having an internally threaded head portion extending upwardly thereof and a flange portion disposed below said upper wall of the chamber, heatinsulating means disposed intermediate said head portion and the upper wall, around said annulus member intermediate the annulus member and the edge of said port, and intermediate the said flange and said upper wall whereby heat-transfer engagement of the annulus member and upper wall of the chamber is avoided, a cage member threadably engaged to said annulus member and extending upwardly therefrom into said reservoir, said cage member having a seat portion concentric with said port, a valve member carried by said cage member to be guided between closed position engaging said seat portion and open position spaced from said seat portion,

a spring carried by the cage portion and biasing said valve member to open position, and an actuating member carried by the iron [for actuating said valve member in opposition to the bias of said spring to move the valve member to open position.

4. In an electric sad iron adapted to emit steam from the sole plate and a water spray forwardly of the handle, the iron having an enclosed chamber carried by the sole plate for generating steam, a water reservoir disposed over the chamber for supplying water to the chamber, a metal annulus connecting an upper wall of the chamber and reservoir and forming a port providing com: munication therebetween, heat-insulating means around said annulus and intermediate the annulus and said upper wall of the chamber to insulate said annulus from the said wall, a valve member reciprocally movable in said reservoir for controlling flow through said port, a metal dome extending upwardly from the reservoir into the said handle, a metal inlet member extending into the, handle from the forward end thereof and communicating with the dome for introducing Water into the reservoir through the inlet member and dome, an actuating member extending through the dome and reservoir for reciprocably moving said valve member, said actuating member including a finger-manipulatable member carried by the handle movable throng-h one range of movement, a pump carried by the handle, a suction tube extending from the pump into the reservoir to draw water therefrom, a nozzle carried by the handle and directed to spray water forwardly of the handle, said nozzle being connected to said pump to spray water drawn by said pump from the reservoir, a pump operating member carried by the handle for actuating the pump, a

thermostatic control device for controlling the electrical energization of said sole plate, and linkage means interconnecting said finger-manipulatable member for operating the thermostatic control device through another range of movement of the finger-manipulatable member. 5. An electric sad iron adapted to emit steam from orifices in the sole plate, the iron having a steamgencrating chamber carried by the sole plate, a water reservoir carried by the iron over said chamber, and a handle structure secured to the sole plate over the reservoir, comprising the combination of a conduit providing communication between said reservoir and chamber for admitting water from the reservoir to the chamber, the

walls of said reservoir, conduit and chamber being of heat-transmitting metal, first heat-insulating means around and in engagement with said conduit in the plane of the wall of said chamber, second heat-insulating means around and in engagement with said conduit above said first heatinsulating means and above said chamber wall, and third heat-insulating means around and in engagement with said conduit below said first heat-insulating means and below said chamber wall, first shoulder means carried by said conduit above and adjacent said second heat-insulating means, and second shoulder means carried by said conduit below and adjacent said third heat-insulating means, said first and second shoulder means retaining said washers and conduit in position, the wall of said conduit providing a seat for a valve controlling flow through said con-,

duit.

6. An electric sad iron adapted to emit therefrom,

first actuating member biased toward and engaging said first cam surface to be moved thereby upon rotation of the dial member through a first are, the said first actuating member being operatively connected to said valve member for operating the same, and a second actuating member biased toward and engaging said second cam surface to be moved thereby upon rotation of the dial member through a second arc, said first and second actuating members engaging the respective cam surfaces on diametrically opposite sides of the axis of :said dial member.

7. In an electric sad iron adapted to emit steam :generated in a steam chamber supplied thereto from a water reservoir disposed over a sole plate and below an inverted shell covering the reservoir and over which shell the bottom portion of a plastic handle member is disposed, said iron having a heel adapted to be directed downwardly upon said iron being tip-ended in non-operative position, the top wall of said reservoir, the top wall of said shell, and said bottom portion of the plastic handle member having aligned openings having a common axis disposed uprightly when the iron is in its normal horizontal operating position, a transparent eupshaped sight member disposed axially of and extending through said aligned openings, the open end of said cupshaped sight member being disposed inwardly of said reservoir to permit water to flow into said member from the reservoir upon said iron being up'ended, said sight member having an outwardly directed flange intermediate of its ends, a gasket of resiliently yieldable material having a body portion surrounding said member and extending into said reservoir and a shoulder portion extending outwardly therefrom to between said flange and said top wall of the reservoir to provide a seal between said sight member and said reservoir, said bottom portion of the plastic handle being secured downwardly and arranged to press on said flange to urge it toward said reservoir to resiliently compress said shoulder portion of the gasket to a assure a firm sealing engagement of the gasket with the said member and top wall of the reservoir, said sight member being adapted to disclose the level of the water therein upon said iron being up-ended and corresponding level of the Water in the reservoir.

8. A transparent sight member as defined in claim 7 and in which said flange has a pair of upwardly protruding bosses engageable by said bottom portion of the handle member to accommodate for lack of parallel relation between the top side of the flange and the under side of said bottom portion upon the said bottom port-ion pressing the said flange toward said reservoir.

9. A transparent sight member as defined in claim 7 and in which said sight member carries indicium of a preferred level with and against which the water level in the sight member may be compared.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,903,804 9/1959 Kistner 3877 2,963,803 12/1960 Willman 3 877 2,970,394 2/ 1961 Brnm'baiigh 3877 3,104,482 9/1963 Jepson 38-77 3,111,780 11/1963 Smith 3877 3,129,523 4/1964 Taylor 38-78 3,161,971 12/1964 Swenson 3877 3,193,954 7/1965 Robison 3877 3,201,880 8/ 1965 Denton 38-77 i ATRIOK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. AN ELECTRIC SAID AND IRON ADAPTED TO EMIT STEAM COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A BASE MEMBER INCLUDING A SOLE PLATE, STEAM-GENERATING CHAMBER AND RESERVOIR, A HANDLE MEMBER OF HEAT-INSULATING MOLDED PLASTIC MATERIAL SECURED TO THE BASE MEMBER, A VALVE MEMBER CONTROLLING INTERCOMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE WATER RESERVOIR AND STEAM-GENERATING CHAMBER WHEREBY CONTROLLED QUANTITIES OF WATER ARE ADMITTED TO THE STEAM-GENERATING CHAMBER FROM THE WATER RESERVOIR, A STEM MEMBER IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE VALVE MEMBER, A TUBE TELESCOPICALLY CONNECTING SAID STEM MEMBER AND VALVE MEMBER, A FIRST RESILIENT MEMBER BIASING SAID VALVE MEMBER TO OPEN POSITION AND TOWARD SAID TUBE, A ROTATABLE CAM MEMBER ROTATABLY CARRIED BY SAID HANDLE MEMBER, SAID CAM MEMBER HAVING AND ARCUATE CAM SURFACE DISPOSED OVER SAID STEM MEMBER, AND A SECOND RESILIENT MEMBER BIASING SAID STEM MEMBER TOWARD SAID CAM MEMBER WHEREBY ROTATION OF THE CAM MEMBER CAUSES AXIAL MOVEMENT OF THE STEM MEMBER TOWARD SAID TUBE AND SAID SECOND RESILIENT MEMBER CAUSES AXIAL MOVEMENT OF THE TUBE TOWARD SAID VALVE MEMBER, THE ARRANGEMENT PROVIDING FOR OPERATION OF SID VALVE MEMBER BY ROTATION OF SAID CAM MEMBER.

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