Multi-function steam iron

Claim 2

In a steam iron having steam control means, a fill opening to an interior water tank and a steam generating soleplate with ports therein, the improvement in means to purge said iron of water and steam through the soleplate and to separately supply a surge of steam through the soleplate comprising, a substantially large opening in said tank communicating directly with the inner surface of said soleplate, dump means operable to open and close said opening whereby the water in said tank may be suddenly emptied onto the soleplate to purge said iron rapidly through said ports and, separate means connected to operate on said dump means to momentarily open and discharge a quantity of water and then automatically close to provide an extra surge of steam through said soleplate without emptying said tank.

Claim 3

Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said dump means to open and close said opening is operable by manual means disposed on the iron handle, and said separate means operable on said dump means is operable separately from said manual means.

Claim 4

Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said opening is in the bottom of said tank and is disposed directly above the hottest part of the soleplate.

Claim 5

Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said tank has means closing it to ambient pressure when the iron is steaming and, a balance tube connecting the steam generating portion of the soleplate with the interior of said tank.

Claim 6

Apparatus as described in claim 4 having means impeding the normal generated steam flow to said ports on opening of said dump means whereby increased steam pressure to said tank interior assists said emptying and said discharging of said water.

Claim 7

Apparatus as described in claim 5 wherein said impeding means consists at least partly of the water through said dump means.

Claim 8

In a steam iron having a fill opening to an interior water tank and a steam generating soleplate with ports therein, steam control means including an on-off water valve to start and stop a metered flow of water from said tank through an orifice and onto the soleplate to generate steam, the improvement in means to purge said iron of water and steam through the soleplate and to separately supply a surge of steam through the soleplate comprising, a substantially large opening in the bottom of said tank spaced and separate from said orifice, said opening communicating directly with the inner surface of said soleplate, an interrupted stem dump valve means operable from said handle to open and close said opening whereby the water in said tank may be suddenly emptied onto the soleplate to purge said iron rapidly through said ports, and separate means on said handle connected to contact and operate said stem valve means at said interruption to momentarily open and discharge a quantity of water and then automatically close to provide an extra surge of steam through said soleplate without emptying said tank.

Claim 9

In a steam iron having a fill opening to an interior water tank and a steam generating soleplate with ports therein, steam control means including an on-off water valve to start and stop a metered flow of water from said tank through an orifice and onto the soleplate to generate steam, the improvement in means to purge said iron of water and steam through the soleplate and to separately supply a surge of steam through the soleplate comprising, a substantially large opening in the bottom of said tank spaced and separate from said orifice, said opening communicating directly with the inner surface of said soleplate, an interrupted stem dump valve means operable from said handle to open and close said opening whereby the water in said tank may be suddenly emptied onto the soleplate to purge said iron rapidly through said ports, and separate means on said handle connected to contact and operate said stem valve means at said interruption to momentarily open and discharge a quantity of water and then automatically close to provide an extra surge of steam through said soleplate without emptying said tank.

Claim 10

Apparatus as described in claim 7 wherein the stem for said dump valve is biased and composed of multiple sections, dump button means on said handle operable on said stem to open the dump valve and empty said tank, a separate steam knob means on said handle, a quick release means connected between a stem section and said steam knob for said knob to independently actuate said dump valve in pulses to provide said surge of steam.

Claim 11

Apparatus as described in claim 8 wherein said multiple sections are substantially vertically aligned and longitudinally spaced from one another, spring means biasing each section upwardly, and common means connecting said steam knob to both said stem valve means and to said on-off water valve.

Claim 12

Apparatus as described in claim 9 wherein said common means includes a lost motion connection to said on-off water valve, whereby said steam knob pulses said dump valve and, upon further actuation, then actuates the water valve to close said orifice for dry ironing.

Claim 13

In a balanced pressure steam iron having a fill opening to an interior water tank and a steam generating soleplate with ports therein, separate steam knob means to an on-off water valve to control a metered flow of water from said tank through an orifice and onto the soleplate to generate steam, the improvement in means to purge said iron of water and steam through the soleplate and to separately supply a surge of steam therethrough comprising, a substantially large opening in the tank bottom spaced and separate from the orifice and communicating directly with the soleplate inner surface, a dump valve in said opening connected by a vertical multiple-section stem to dump button means on said handle spaced from saiD steam knob means, said sections being longitudinally spaced and upwardly biased for sequential connection on operation of said button means to dump said tank through the opening and rapidly purge said iron through the ports, a common means connecting said steam knob means to both the stem and on-off water valve and including a lost-motion linkage connecting to the water valve, whereby said separate steam knob means first pulses said dump valve and, on further actuation, closes said orifice for dry ironing.

Claim 14

In a balanced pressure steam iron having a fill opening to an interior water tank and a steam generating soleplate with ports therein, separate steam knob means to an on-off water valve to control a metered flow of water from said tank through an orifice and onto the soleplate to generate steam, the improvement in means to purge said iron of water and steam through the soleplate and to separately supply a surge of steam therethrough comprising, a substantially large opening in the tank bottom spaced and separate from the orifice and communicating directly with the soleplate inner surface, a dump valve in said opening connected by a vertical multiple-section stem to dump button means on said handle spaced from saiD steam knob means, said sections being longitudinally spaced and upwardly biased for sequential connection on operation of said button means to dump said tank through the opening and rapidly purge said iron through the ports, a common means connecting said steam knob means to both the stem and on-off water valve and including a lost-motion linkage connecting to the water valve, whereby said separate steam knob means first pulses said dump valve and, on further actuation, closes said orifice for dry ironing.

Claim 15

Apparatus as described in claim 11 wherein said multiple section stem includes three longitudinally-spaced sections each biased upwardly, the first section connected to said steam knob means, the third connected to said dump valve, and the mid-section disposed between and spaced from the other sections for sequential downward operation of said sections on actuation of said steam knob means, and a separate connection between said dump button means and stem midsection for independent operation of said dump valve.

Claim 16

Apparatus as described in claim 12 wherein the common means includes, a quick-release means between said stem and steam knob means whereby said separate steam knob means actuates the dump valve in pulses to provide a surge of steam and, the valve is also independently actuable by said dump button means to dump the tank.

Claim 17

Apparatus as described in claim 13 wherein each section is separately biased and the mid and third sections are transversely offset and connected by a deformable member to provide a calibration clearance between said sections.