Steam generating subassembly for electric iron

Claim 2

A steam generating subassembly for an electric iron comprising: a sole plate having a plurality of steam ports therein; a heating means embedded within said sole plate; a first steam generating chamber communicating with said steam ports through an outlet path; a second steam generating chamber, independent of said first steam generating chamber, communicating with said steam ports through said outlet path, said second steam generating chamber includes a tortuous passageway at least a portion of which extends over said embedded heating element; and a cover means secured to said sole plate to define said first and second steam generating chambers.

Claim 3

A subassembly as in claim 1 wherein said second steam generating chamber includes a substantially smooth curved water receiving passage, at least a portion of which extends over said embedded heating element.

Claim 4

A steam generating subassembly for an electric iron comprising: a sole plate with a plurality of steam ports therein; an outlet path including said steam ports; a cover secured to said sole plate; a heating element embedded in said sole plate, a portion of said heating element being generally U-shaped; a first steam generating chamber lying within said ''''U'''' and communicating with said outlet path a first point; and a second steam generating chamber, being independent of said first steam generating chamber, having a portion extending over said ''''U,'''' and communicating with said outlet path at a second point other than said first point.

Claim 5

A steam generating subassembly for an electric iron comprising: a sole plate with a plurality of steam ports therein; an outlet path including said steam ports; a cover secured to said sole plate; a heating element embedded in said sole plate, a portion of said heating element being generally U-shaped; a first steam generating chamber lying within said ''''U'''' and communicating with said outlet path a first point; and a second steam generating chamber, being independent of said first steam generating chamber, having a portion extending over said ''''U,'''' and communicating with said outlet path at a second point other than said first point.

Claim 6

A subassembly as in claim 3 wherein at least a portion of said second steam generating chamber lies within said ''''U''''.

Claim 7

A subassembly as in claim 3 wherein said first steam generating chamber includes a substantially linear passageway, and said second steam generating chamber includes a tortuous passageway.

Claim 8

A steam generating subassembly for an electric iron comprising: a sole plate having a plurality of steam ports therein; a heating means embedded within said sole plate; a first steam generating chamber communicating with said steam ports through an outlet path; a second steam generating chamber communicating with said steam ports through an outlet path, said first and second steam generating chambers being independent of each other and separately connected to said outlet path; and a cover means secured to said sole plate to define said first and second steam generating chambers.

Claim 9

A steam generating subassembly for an electric iron comprising: a sole plate having a plurality of steam ports therein; a heating means embedded within said sole plate; a first steam generating chamber communicating with said steam ports through an outlet path; a second steam generating chamber communicating with said steam ports through an outlet path, said first and second steam generating chambers being independent of each other and separately connected to said outlet path; and a cover means secured to said sole plate to define said first and second steam generating chambers.

Claim 10

A subassembly as in claim 6 wherein said first steam generating chamber includes a substantially linear water receiving passage and a substantially linear passageway.

Claim 11

A steam generating subassembly for an electric iron comprising: a sole palte with a plurality of steam ports therein; a cover secured to said sole plate to define said steam generating subassembly; a heating element embodied within said sole plate, a portion of said heating element being generally ''''U'''' shaped; a first steam generating chamber lying within said ''''U'''' and communicating with said steam ports through a common outlet path, said first steam generating chamber includes a substantially linear water receiving passage and passageway; and a second steam generating chamber, independent of said first steam generating chamber, at least a portion of which extends over said heating element, and communicates with said steam ports through said common outlet path; and said second steam generating chamber includes a smooth curved water receiving passage and a tortuous passageway.

Claim 12

A steam generating subassembly for an electric iron comprising: a sole palte with a plurality of steam ports therein; a cover secured to said sole plate to define said steam generating subassembly; a heating element embodied within said sole plate, a portion of said heating element being generally ''''U'''' shaped; a first steam generating chamber lying within said ''''U'''' and communicating with said steam ports through a common outlet path, said first steam generating chamber includes a substantially linear water receiving passage and passageway; and a second steam generating chamber, independent of said first steam generating chamber, at least a portion of which extends over said heating element, and communicates with said steam ports through said common outlet path; and said second steam generating chamber includes a smooth curved water receiving passage and a tortuous passageway.

Claim 13

A steam generating subassembly for an electric iron comprising: a sole plate with a plurality of steam ports therein; a cover secured to said sole plate; a first steam generating chamber, being substantially linear, for generating a low velocity steam; a second steam generating chamber, independent of said first steam generating chamber, having first a substantially smooth curved portion and second a tortuous portion for generating a high velocity steam; a common outlet path connecting said first and second steam generating chambers and said steam ports; and a heating element embedded within said sole plate.

Claim 14

A steam generating subassembly for an electric iron comprising: a sole plate with a plurality of steam ports therein; a cover secured to said sole plate; a first steam generating chamber, being substantially linear, for generating a low velocity steam; a second steam generating chamber, independent of said first steam generating chamber, having first a substantially smooth curved portion and second a tortuous portion for generating a high velocity steam; a common outlet path connecting said first and second steam generating chambers and said steam ports; and a heating element embedded within said sole plate.

Claim 15

A subassembly as in claim 9 wherein at least a portion of said second steam generating chamber''s curved portion and tortuous portion extends over said embedded heating element.

Claim 16

A steam generating subassembly for an electric iron comprising: a sole plate with a plurality of steam ports therein; a cover secured to said sole plate tO define said steam generating subassembly; a heating element embodied with said sole plate, a portion of said heating element being generally ''''U'''' shaped; a first steam generating chamber lying within said ''''U'''' and communicating with said steam ports through a common outlet path; a second steam generating chamber at least a portion of which extends over said heating element and which communicates with said steam ports through said common outlet path; and said first and second steam generating chambers being independent of each other and separately connected to said common outlet path.

Claim 17

A steam generating subassembly for an electric iron comprising: a sole plate with a plurality of steam ports therein; a cover secured to said sole plate tO define said steam generating subassembly; a heating element embodied with said sole plate, a portion of said heating element being generally ''''U'''' shaped; a first steam generating chamber lying within said ''''U'''' and communicating with said steam ports through a common outlet path; a second steam generating chamber at least a portion of which extends over said heating element and which communicates with said steam ports through said common outlet path; and said first and second steam generating chambers being independent of each other and separately connected to said common outlet path.