Iron With Actively Cooled Soleplate

• US 20080189991A1
• Filed: 05/10/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Applica Consumer Products Incorporated (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Applica Consumer Products Incorporated (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cavada, Luis O.
• Granted Patent: US 7,610,701 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 38/75
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 75/08 Hand irons internally heated by electricity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 75/246 using infrared lamps

Abstract

A method for cooling a soleplate of an iron, the method comprising: flowing a cooling fluid adjacent at least a portion of the soleplate; and transferring heat energy from the soleplate to the cooling fluid. A device for removing wrinkles from fabric, the device comprising: a soleplate; a heater element associated with the soleplate so as to heat the soleplate; and a housing of the soleplate and heater element connected to one of the soleplate and heater element, wherein the housing comprises a cooling fluid vent, wherein a cooling fluid is passable through the cooling fluid vent so that heat energy is transferred from one of the soleplate and the heater element to the cooling fluid. A device for removing wrinkles from fabric, the device comprising: a soleplate comprising a thickness less than 2.0 mm; a heater element associated with the soleplate so as to heat the soleplate; at least one turbulator associated with the soleplate; a fan associated with the soleplate so as to pump a cooling fluid in heat-transfer communication with at least a portion of the soleplate, whereby heat energy is transferred from the soleplate to the cooling fluid; and a controller in signal communication with the fan.

Claims

1. A method for cooling a soleplate of an iron, the method comprising:

flowing a cooling fluid adjacent at least a portion of the soleplate; and

transferring heat energy from the soleplate to the cooling fluid.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the flowing comprises drawing cooling fluid into a skirt chamber, wherein the skirt chamber is defined at least in part by the soleplate.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the flowing comprises impinging the soleplate with positively pressurized cooling fluid.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the cooling fluid comprises ambient air.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

energizing a heater element associated with the soleplate, wherein heat energy is transferred from the heater element to the soleplate; and

heating the soleplate from room temperature to a temperature of greater than 100°

C. in less than 45 seconds.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising cooling the soleplate from a temperature of greater than 100°

C. to less than 60°

C. in less than 4.5 minutes.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising turbulating the cooling fluid as it is flowed adjacent the soleplate.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising controlling the flowing so that the flowing begins after a heater element in the iron has turned OFF.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the flowing a cooling fluid comprises pumping a cooling fluid.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising powering the pumping with a capacitor.

11. A method according to claim 9, further comprising powering the pumping with a battery.

12. A device for removing wrinkles from fabric, the device comprising:

a soleplate;

a heater element associated with the soleplate so as to heat the soleplate; and

a housing of the soleplate and heater element connected to one of the soleplate and heater element, wherein the housing comprises a cooling fluid vent, wherein a cooling fluid is passable through the cooling fluid vent so that heat energy is transferred from one of the soleplate and the heater element to the cooling fluid.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the soleplate comprises a thickness less than 2.0 mm

14. A device according to claim 12, wherein the soleplate comprises a Kapton material.

15. A device according to claim 12, further comprising at least one turbulator associated with the soleplate, whereby cooling fluid is turbulated as it flows adjacent at least a portion of the soleplate.

16. A device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a fan associated with the soleplate so as to pump a cooling fluid adjacent at least a portion of the soleplate.

17. A device according to claim 16, further comprising a capacitor in electrical communication with the fan.

18. A device according to claim 16, further comprising a battery in electrical communication with the fan.

19. A device according to claim 16, further comprising a controller that turns the fan ON after the heater element has turned OFF.

20. A device according to claim 16, further comprising a controller that turns the fan OFF after the soleplate has cooled to a temperature less than 60°

C.

21. A device for removing wrinkles from fabric, the device comprising:

a soleplate comprising a thickness less than 2.0 mm;

a heater element associated with the soleplate so as to heat the soleplate;

at least one turbulator associated with the soleplate;

a fan associated with the soleplate so as to pump a cooling fluid in heat-transfer communication with at least a portion of the soleplate, whereby heat energy is transferred from the soleplate to the cooling fluid; and

a controller in signal communication with the fan.

22. A device according to claim 21, wherein the controller turns the fan ON after the heater element has turned OFF, and wherein the controller turns the fan OFF after the soleplate has cooled to a temperature less than 60°

C.