Ultrasonic iron

• US 5,094,021 A
• Filed: 12/26/1990
• Issued: 03/10/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Su-Min Chen
• Original Assignee: Su-Min Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Su-Min
• Primary Examiner(s): Schroeder, Werner H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Izaguirre, Ismael
• Application Number:
  US07/633,992
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 38/113, 38/69, 38/74, 38/82, 38/88, 38/89, 38/93, 219/245, 219/254, 112/217
• US Class Current: 38/82
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 75/243 using other than ohmic-resistance heating means, e.g. electrolytic or induction heating

Abstract

An ultrasonic iron comprises a metal ironing plate fixedly mounted therein, ultrasonic vibrators and amplitude amplifiers, and a power adjusting circuit provided on suitable inner side thereof, so that the power adjusting circuit is capable of driving the ultrasonic vibrator as to resonate the ironing plate with a high frequency as soon as the ultrasonic iron is switched on. Heat energy is thereby quickly and directly produced between the contact surface of the ironing plate and the clothes when the ultrasonic iron is moved on the clothes back and forth. The heat energy required for the pressing of clothes is available immediately upon the onset of operation of the iron.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic hand iron comprising:

an ironing plate;

ultrasonic means attached to said ironing plate for generating ultrasonic waves in said ironing plate; and

a housing attached to said ironing plate having handle means for grasping said housing and moving said housing and said ironing plate with a human hand in order to generate heat in said ironing plate by said moving.

2. An iron in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said ironing plate is substantially triangular in shape.

3. An iron in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

an ultrasonic wave amplifier placed between said ultrasonic means and said ironing plate.

4. An iron in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

detecting means for inhibiting said generation of said ultrasonic waves when said ironing plate is not in an operating position.

5. An iron in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

heat sensing means for inhibiting said generation of ultrasonic waves when said ironing plate is beyond a preset safety range of temperature.

6. An iron in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said ultrasonic means has an ultrasonic vibrator driven by a middle stage amplification circuit, said middle stage amplification circuit is controlled by a pulse width modulation circuit.

7. An iron in accordance with claim 6, further comprising:

temperature control means connected to said pulse width modulation circuit for sensing temperature in said ironing plate, said pulse width modulation circuit controlling said middle stage amplification circuit dependent on said temperature control means.

8. An iron in accordance with claim 6, further comprising:

a diaphragm between said ironing plate, and a group of said middle stage amplification circuit with said pulse width modulation circuit.

9. An iron in accordance with claim 6, further comprising:

heat adjusting means connected to said pulse width modulation circuit for presetting an amount of said heat to be generated in said ironing plate.

10. An ultrasonic hand iron comprising:

an ironing plate substantially triangular in shape;

a diaghragm means mounted on said ironing plate for slowing heat transfer from said ironing plate through said diaphragm;

an ultrasonic wave amplifier fastened with epoxy resin adhesive on said ironing plate between said ironing plate and said diaphragm means;

an ultrasonic vibrator attached to said ultrasonic wave amplifier for generating ultrasonic waves in said ironing plate;

a printed circuit board means electrically connected to said ultrasonic vibrator for driving said ultrasonic vibrator, said printed circuit board means mounted on a side of said diaphragm means opposite said ironing plate for insulating said printed circuit from said heat transfer from said ironing plate; and

a housing attached to said ironing plate and said diaphragm means and containing said printed circuit board means in between said diaphragm means and said housing, said housing having handle means for grasping, directing and moving said housing and said ironing plate with a human hand in order to generate heat in said ironing plate by said moving.

11. An ultrasonic hand iron comprising:

an ironing plate substantially triangular in shape;

a diaphragm means mounted on said ironing plate for slowing heat transfer from said ironing plate through said diaphragm;

an ultrasonic wave amplifier fastened with epoxy resin adhesive on said ironing plate between said ironing plate and said diaphragm means;

an ultrasonic vibrator attached to said ultrasonic wave amplifier for generating ultrasonic waves in said ironing plate;

a printed circuit board means electrically connected to said ultrasonic vibrator for driving said ultrasonic vibrator, said printed circuit board means mounted on a side of said diaphragm means opposite said ironing plate for insulating said printed circuit from said heat transfer from said ironing plate, said printed circuit board means has a middle stage amplification circuit, said middle stage amplification circuit is controlled by a pulse with modulation circuit, with a load feedback presetting and comparison circuit, a temperature control circuit, a load current sensing circuit, a power adjusting circuit and a power supply circuit; and

a housing attached to said ironing plate and said diaphragm means and containing said printed circuit board means in between said diaphragm means and said housing, said housing having handle means for grasping, directing and moving said housing and said ironing plate with a human hand in order to generate heat in said ironing plate by said moving.