Fast heat/fast cool iron with steam boiler

• US 7,926,208 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2007
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Applica Consumer Products Incorporated (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Applica Consumer Products Incorporated (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cavada, Luis
• Primary Examiner(s): Izaguirre; Ismael
• Application Number:
  US11/673,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20080189993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,527 Days
• Field of Search: 38/74, 38/771, 38 776- 7783, 38/779, 38/81, 38/88, 38/93, 219/245
• US Class Current: 38/93
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 75/06 with means for supplying steam or liquid to the article being ironed D06F75/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 75/26 Temperature control or indicating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 75/38 Sole plates D06F75/20 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and device for controlling the temperature of a soleplate of an iron, the method having the following steps: 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 60° C. to a temperature of greater than 100° C. in less than 45 seconds. A method and device for controlling an iron, the method having the following steps: setting a soleplate of the iron to a first temperature; and setting a steam boiler of the iron to a second temperature, wherein the first and second temperatures are different.

Claims

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

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

providing the soleplate with a first insulating film adhered to a first side of a heater element via a first adhesive layer, a first side of a second insulating film adhered to a second side of the heater element via a second adhesive layer, and an ironing plate adhered to a second side of the second insulating film via a third adhesive layer

wherein the first, second, and third adhesive layers are distinct and discrete layers from the first and second insulating films; and

wherein the first and second adhesive layers are two separate adhesive layers adhering to the first and second sides of the heater element, respectively.

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

C. to 60°

C. in less than 4.5 minutes.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the energizing a heater element comprises energizing a foil.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the energizing a heater element comprises energizing an infrared source.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the energizing a heater element comprises maintaining an ironing temperature by energizing with less than 1000 watts.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the energizing a heater element comprises energizing more than one heating zone.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising sensing a user, wherein the sensing controls the energizing a heater element, such that when a user is sensed the heater element is energized and when no user is sensed the heater element is not energized.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising sensing a user, wherein the sensing controls the energizing a heater element, such that when a user is sensed the heater element is energized and when no user is sensed the heater element is energized by a relatively lesser amount.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising automatically stopping the energizing a heater element associated with the soleplate after a predetermined period of time.

10. A method for controlling an iron, the method comprising simultaneously:

heating a soleplate of the iron to a first temperature by heating a plurality of independently controlled heating zones; and

heating a steam boiler of the iron to a second temperature, wherein the first and second temperatures are different.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the first temperature is less than or equal to 100°

C. and the second temperature is greater than 100°

C.

12. A method according to claim 10, further comprising independently controlling the first and second temperatures, respectively.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the heating a soleplate of the iron to a first temperature comprises applying less than 1000 watts to the soleplate.

14. A method according to claim 10, further comprising sensing a user, wherein the sensing controls the energizing a heater element, such that when a user is sensed the heater element is energized and when no user is sensed the heater element is not energized.

15. A method according to claim 10, further comprising sensing a user, wherein the sensing controls the energizing a heater element, such that when a user is sensed the heater element is energized and when no user is sensed the heater element is energized by a relatively lesser amount.

16. A method according to claim 10, further comprising automatically stopping the energizing a heater element associated with the soleplate after a predetermined period of time.

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

a heater element; and

a soleplate comprising a first insulating film adhered to a first side of the heater element via a first adhesive layer, a first side of a second insulating film adhered to a second side of the heater element via a second adhesive layer, and an ironing plate adhered to a second side of the second insulating film via a third adhesive layer;

wherein the first, second, and third adhesive layers are distinct and discrete layers from the first and second insulating films; and

wherein the first and second adhesive layers are two separate adhesive layers adhering to the first and second sides of the heater element, respectively.

18. A device according to claim 17, wherein the soleplate comprises a polyimide material.

19. A device according to claim 17, wherein the heater element is integrated with the soleplate.

20. A device according to claim 17, wherein the heater element is proximate the soleplate.

21. A device according to claim 17, wherein the heater element comprises a foil.

22. A device according to claim 17, wherein the heater element comprises a thickness smaller than ⅙

a width.

23. A device according to claim 17, wherein the heater element comprises a thickness between 0.05 mm and 0.15 mm, and wherein the heater element comprises a width between 1 mm and 5 mm.

24. A device according to claim 17, wherein the heater element is an infrared source.

25. A device according to claim 17, further comprising a rib in mechanical communication with the soleplate, wherein the rib structurally supports the soleplate.

26. A device according to claim 17, further comprising a backing in mechanical communication with the soleplate, wherein the backing structurally supports the soleplate.

27. A device according to claim 17, further comprising a user sensor, wherein the user sensor controls the heater element, such that when a user is sensed the heater element is energized and when no user is sensed the heater element is not energized.

28. A device according to claim 17, further comprising a user sensor, wherein the user sensor controls the heater element, such that when a user is sensed the heater element is energized and when no user is sensed the heater element is energized by a relatively lesser amount.

29. A device according to claim 17, further comprising an auto-OFF module, wherein the auto-OFF module automatically stops the energizing a heater element associated with the soleplate after a predetermined period of time.

30. A device according to claim 17, further comprising a battery power supply in electrical communication with the heater element, wherein the device is a cordless device.

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

a soleplate comprising a steam hole;

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

a steam boiler in fluid communication with the steam hole of the soleplate; and

a boiler heater element associated with the steam boiler so as to primarily heat the steam boiler;

wherein the soleplate comprises a first insulating film adhered to a first side of the soleplate heater element via a first adhesive layer, a first side of a second insulating film adhered to a second side of the soleplate heater element via a second adhesive layer, and an ironing plate adhered to a second side of the second insulating film via a third adhesive layers;

wherein the first, second, and third adhesive layers are distinct and discrete layers from the first and second insulating films; and

wherein the first and second adhesive layers are two separate adhesive layers adhering to the first and second sides of the heater element, respectively.

32. A device according to claim 31, wherein the soleplate comprises a polyimide material.

33. A device according to claim 31, wherein the soleplate heater element is integrated with the soleplate.

34. A device according to claim 31, wherein the soleplate heater element is proximate the soleplate.

35. A device according to claim 31, wherein the soleplate heater element is a foil.

36. A device according to claim 31, wherein the soleplate heater element comprises a thickness smaller than ⅙

a width.

37. A device according to claim 31, wherein the soleplate heater element comprises a thickness between 0.05 mm and 0.15 mm, and wherein the heater element comprises a width between 1 mm and 5 mm.

38. A device according to claim 31, wherein the heater element is an infrared source.

39. A device according to claim 31, further comprising a rib in mechanical communication with the soleplate, wherein the rib structurally supports the soleplate.

40. A device according to claim 31, further comprising a rib in mechanical communication with the soleplate, wherein the rib structurally supports the soleplate and the rib is formed from the same material as the soleplate material.

41. A device according to claim 31, further comprising a backing in mechanical communication with the soleplate, wherein the backing structurally supports the soleplate.

42. A device according to claim 31, further comprising a soleplate temperature control in communication with the soleplate heater element and a steam boiler temperature control in communication with the boiler heater element, wherein the soleplate temperature control and the boiler temperature control operate independently of each other.

43. A device according to claim 31, further comprising a user sensor, wherein the user sensor controls the heater element, such that when a user is sensed the heater element is energized and when no user is sensed the heater element is not energized.

44. A device according to claim 31, further comprising a user sensor, wherein the user sensor controls the heater element, such that when a user is sensed the heater element is energized and when no user is sensed the heater element is energized by a relatively lesser amount.

45. A device according to claim 31, further comprising an auto-OFF module, wherein the auto-OFF module automatically stops the energizing a heater element associated with the soleplate after a predetermined period of time.

46. A device according to claim 31, further comprising a battery power supply in electrical communication with the soleplate heater element and the boiler heater element, wherein the device is a cordless device.

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

a soleplate comprising a steam hole;

a steam boiler in fluid communication with the steam hole of the soleplate;

a heater for heating both the soleplate and the steam boiler;

an insulating layer between the heater and the soleplate; and

a soleplate temperature control that controls the thermal capabilities of the insulating layer to control the insulating capacity of the insulating layer.

48. A device according to claim 47, wherein the soleplate temperature control allows independent temperature control of the soleplate and the steam boiler.

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

a heater element;

an ironing plate;

a first insulating layer adhered to a first side of the heater element via a first adhesive layer;

a second insulating layer having;

a first side adhered to a second side of the heater element via a second adhesive layer, and

a second side adhered to the ironing plate via a third adhesive layer;

wherein the first, second, and third adhesive layers are distinct and discrete layers from the first and second insulating films; and

wherein the first and second adhesive layers are two separate adhesive layers adhering to the first and second sides of the heater element, respectively.

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

an ironing plate;

a heater element having a first side facing toward the ironing plate and a second side facing away from the ironing plate;

a first insulating layer positioned between the ironing plate and the first side of the heater element; and

a second insulating layer positioned adjacent the second side of the heater element facing away from the ironing plate;

wherein the heater element comprises an elongated flat strand arranged in an undulating manner to form one continuous, electrically resistant, heat generating coil.

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

an ironing plate;

a heater element having a first side facing toward the ironing plate and a second side facing away from the ironing plate;

an insulating layer adhered to the second side of the heater element facing away from the ironing plate;

wherein the heater element comprises an elongated flat strand arranged in an undulating manner to form one continuous, electrically resistant, heat generating coil.