Patent US4411965A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3703777A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Steam-dry iron
Assignee: Hoover Co
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Filing: 1971-01-06
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Granted: 1972-11-28
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Expires: 1991-01-06
Abstract
Abstract A steam-dry iron which may be selectively operated to (1) produce steam at a predetermined normal rate; (2) operated to produce a momentary pulse of steam at a rate greater than such normal rate, or (3) operated as a dry iron with no steam being produced.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert S Knapp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 09:26
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06F; D06F75/00; D06F75/08; D06F75/10; D06F75/14; D06F75/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
270 words
In a steam-dry iron having an electrically heated soleplate and a water reservoir above said soleplate, such soleplate having a steam generating chamber as well as openings in its underside in communication with said chamber through which steam may escape, the improvement comprising a pump cylinder having an upper portion in communication with said reservoir and a lower portion in communication with said steam generating chamber through an orifice, a piston slidable within said cylinder and shiftable between an upper position relative to the latter wherein communication between said reservoir and said orifice through said cylinder is established and a lower position relative to he latter wherein communication between said reservoir and said orifice through said cylinder is interrupted, and means for selectively shifting said piston relative to said cylinder and for selectively maintaining said piston in the positions aforesaid, said means selectively maintaining said piston in its upper position aforesaid to provide for flow of water from said reservoir into said cylinder and consequent gravitation of water through said orifice and into said steam generating chamber to effect continuous steaming at a predetermined normal rate, said means selectively maintaining said piston in its lower position aforesaid to prevent flow of water from said reservoir and through said cylinder to said orifice thereby preventing gravitation of water through the latter and into said steam generating chamber, and said means being selectively operable to momentarily lower said piston below its lower position aforesaid to force water within said cylinder through said orifice and into said steam generating chamber to provide for momentary generation of steam at a greater than normal rate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
270 words
In a steam-dry iron having an electrically heated soleplate and a water reservoir above said soleplate, such soleplate having a steam generating chamber as well as openings in its underside in communication with said chamber through which steam may escape, the improvement comprising a pump cylinder having an upper portion in communication with said reservoir and a lower portion in communication with said steam generating chamber through an orifice, a piston slidable within said cylinder and shiftable between an upper position relative to the latter wherein communication between said reservoir and said orifice through said cylinder is established and a lower position relative to he latter wherein communication between said reservoir and said orifice through said cylinder is interrupted, and means for selectively shifting said piston relative to said cylinder and for selectively maintaining said piston in the positions aforesaid, said means selectively maintaining said piston in its upper position aforesaid to provide for flow of water from said reservoir into said cylinder and consequent gravitation of water through said orifice and into said steam generating chamber to effect continuous steaming at a predetermined normal rate, said means selectively maintaining said piston in its lower position aforesaid to prevent flow of water from said reservoir and through said cylinder to said orifice thereby preventing gravitation of water through the latter and into said steam generating chamber, and said means being selectively operable to momentarily lower said piston below its lower position aforesaid to force water within said cylinder through said orifice and into said steam generating chamber to provide for momentary generation of steam at a greater than normal rate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The construction of claim 1 wherein the flow of water from said cylinder into said steam generating chamber is restricted by said orifice to a greater degree than is the flow of water from said reservoir into said cylinder when said piston is in its upper position aforesaid whereby said orifice along establishes said normal predetermined rate of continuous steaming.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
99 words
The construction of claim 1 wherein the lower portion of said cylinder is so constructed for cooperation with said piston that water flow from said reservoir into said cylinder beneath said piston will be substantially prevented, wherein the upper portion of said cylinder is so constructed for cooperation with said piston that water flow from said reservoir into said cylinder beneath said piston will be provided, and wherein said piston is cooperable with the upper portion of said cylinder in said piston upper position and is cooperable with the lower portion of said cylinder in said piston lower position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The construction of claim 3 wherein the cylinder bore at its upper portion is larger in transverse size than the cylinder bore at its lower portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
84 words
The construction of claim 1 wherein said reservoir has a bottom wall, wherein said cylinder projects above said bottom wall, wherein said cylinder has transversely extending aperture means through which water may flow from said reservoir into said cylinder beneath said piston when the latter is in its upper position aforesaid, and wherein the restrictive effect of said aperture means to flow of water therethrough is less than that of said orifice whereby the latter along establishes said normal, predetermined rate of continuous steaming.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The construction of claim 5 wherein said aperture means has a greater effective size than that of said orifice.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The construction of claim 1 wherein said reservoir has a bottom wall, wherein said cylinder projects above said reservoir wall, and wherein said cylinder has a transversely extending aperture at substantially the level of said reservoir wall to provide for gravitation of substantially all water within said reservoir into said cylinder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
The construction of claim 7 wherein said piston, in the aforesaid upper position thereof, exposes said aperture to provide for gravitation of water from said reservoir to the interior of said cylinder beneath said piston, and wherein said piston, in the aforesaid lower position thereof, closes said aperture to prevent gravitation of water from said reservoir to the interior of said cylinder beneath said piston.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
The construction of claim 1 wherein said means for selectively shifting said piston comprises resilient means and an operator-actuated control member, wherein said resilient means yieldably biases said piston toward its upper position aforesaid, and wherein said control member is movable with said piston and has predetermined positions corresponding to said piston upper and lower positions aforeSaid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The construction of claim 9 wherein said iron further comprises a handle secured to said soleplate with said reservoir interposed therebetween, wherein said control member is shiftably carried by said handle, and wherein said handle and said control member have abutments interengageable to locate said control member in its predetermined positions aforesaid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
The construction of claim 10 wherein said piston has a piston rod projecting upwardly toward said handle, wherein said control member comprises a button vertically slidable in said handle, wherein said piston rod is yieldably biased upwardly to engagement with said button, and wherein said button is provided with vertically shaped shoulders engageable with said handle for locating said button in predetermined positions corresponding to said piston upper and lower positions aforesaid.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-11-28 | 1976-05-29 | 1976-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-28 | 1980-05-29 | 1980-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-28 | 1984-05-29 | 1984-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |