Steam iron

Claim 2

A steam iron comprising a housing, a sole plate on said housing having a pressing surface, a heating element in said housing, a discardable steam-generating chamber received in said housing and heated by said element, said element having a heat-emitting surface juxtaposed with said steam-generating chamber, said steam-generating chamber being composed of shells of thin metallic sheet secured together by beaded flanges and having a heat-receiving surface juxtaposed with said heating element, and stressing means elastically deforming said steam-generating chamber against said heating element to press said heat-receiving surface into face-to-face contact with said heat-emitting surface.

Claim 3

The steam iron defined in claim 1 wherein said heat-receiving surface is pretensioned by said stressing means in a direction such that the heat from said element causes thermal expansion of said heat-receiving surface to at least partly compensate for said pretension.

Claim 4

The steam iron defined in claim 1 wherein said heating element is a planar heating plate disposed between said sole plate and said steam-generating chamber, said heat-receiving surface being flat and bearing upon said heating plate.

Claim 5

The steam iron defined in claim 1 wherein said shells are composed of metal foil.

Claim 6

The steam iron defined in claim 1 wherein said steam-generating chamber is removably fixed in said housing and elastically deformed by said heating element.

Claim 7

The steam iron defined in claim 1 wherein said stressing means includes a plate bearing upon said steam-generating chamber and releasably engaging said sole plate.

Claim 8

The steam iron defined in claim 1 wherein said steam-generating chamber is formed unitarily with a water inlet and a steam outlet, said steam outlet lying flush with the pressing surface of said sole plate.

Claim 9

A steam iron comprising a housing, a sole plate on said housing having a pressing surface, a heating element in said housing, a discardable steam-generating chamber received in said housing and heated by said element, said element having a heat-emitting surface juxtaposed with said steam-generating chamber, said steam-generating chamber being composed of thin metallic sheet and having a heat-receiving surface juxtaposed with said heating element, stressing means elastically deforming said steam-generating chamber against said heating element to press said heat-receiving surface into face-to-face contact with said heat-emitting surface, said steam-generating chamber being formed internally with a plurality of interconnected compartments, at least one of said compartments being formed with a filter.

Claim 10

A steam iron comprising a housing, a sole plate on said housing having a pressing surface, a heating element in said housing, a discardable steam-generating chamber received in said housing and heated by said element, said element having a heat-emitting surface juxtaposed with said steam-generating chamber, said steam-generating chamber being composed of thin metallic sheet and having a heat-receiving surface juxtaposed with said heating element, stressing means elastically deforming said steam-generating chamber against said heating element to press said heat-receiving surface into face-to-face contact with said heat-emitting surface, said steam-generating chamber being formed internally with a plurality of interconnected compartments, at least one of said compartments being formed with a filter.

Claim 11

The steam iron defined in claim 5 wherein said steam-generating chamber is provided with ribs defining said compartments between them.

Claim 12

A steam iron comprising a housing a sole plate on said housing having a pressing surface, a heating element in said housing, a discardable steam-generating chamber received in said housing and heated by said element, said element having a heat-emitting surface juxtaposed with said steam-generating chamber, said steam-generating chamber being composed of thin metallic sheet and having a heat-receiving surface juxtaposed with said heating element, stressing means elastically deforming said steam-generating chamber against said heating element to press said heat-receiving surface into face-to-face contact with said heat-emitting surface, said steam-generating chamber being internally lined with polytetrafluoroethylene.

Claim 13

A steam iron comprising a housing a sole plate on said housing having a pressing surface, a heating element in said housing, a discardable steam-generating chamber received in said housing and heated by said element, said element having a heat-emitting surface juxtaposed with said steam-generating chamber, said steam-generating chamber being composed of thin metallic sheet and having a heat-receiving surface juxtaposed with said heating element, stressing means elastically deforming said steam-generating chamber against said heating element to press said heat-receiving surface into face-to-face contact with said heat-emitting surface, said steam-generating chamber being internally lined with polytetrafluoroethylene.

Claim 14

A steam iron comprising a housing, a sole plate on said housing having a pressing surface, a heating element in said housing, a discardable steam-generating chamber received in said housing and heated by said element, said element having a heat-emitting surface juxtaposed with said steam-generating chamber, said steam-generating chamber being composed of thin metallic sheet and having a heat-receiving surface juxtaposed with said heating element, stressing means elastically deforming said steam-generating chamber against said heating element to press said heat-receiving surface into face-to-face contact with said heat-emitting surface, said steam-generating chamber being formed with an inwardly pressed formation adapted to snap out upon the development of an excess pressure in said chamber, said steam iron being provided with means actuatable by said formation.

Claim 15

A steam iron comprising a housing, a sole plate on said housing having a pressing surface, a heating element in said housing, a discardable steam-generating chamber received in said housing and heated by said element, said element having a heat-emitting surface juxtaposed with said steam-generating chamber, said steam-generating chamber being composed of thin metallic sheet and having a heat-receiving surface juxtaposed with said heating element, stressing means elastically deforming said steam-generating chamber against said heating element to press said heat-receiving surface into face-to-face contact with said heat-emitting surface, said steam-generating chamber being formed with an inwardly pressed formation adapted to snap out upon the development of an excess pressure in said chamber, said steam iron being provided with means actuatable by said formation.

Claim 16

A steam iron comprising a housing, a sole plate on said housing having a pressing surface, a heating element in said housing, a discardable steam-generating chamber received in said housing and heated by said element, said element having a heat-emitting surface juxtaposed with said steam-generating chamber, said steam-generating chamber being composed of thin metallic sheet and having a heat-receiving surface juxtaposed with said heating element, stressing means elastically deforming said steam-generating chamber against said heating element to press said heat-receiving surface into face-to-face contact with said heat-emitting surface, said steam-generating chamber being formed integrally with an angled portion, said sole plate being provided with a window receiving said angled portion.

Claim 17

A steam iron comprising a housing, a sole plate on said housing having a pressing surface, a heating element in said housing, a discardable steam-generating chamber received in said housing and heated by said element, said element having a heat-emitting surface juxtaposed with said steam-generating chamber, said steam-generating chamber being composed of thin metallic sheet and having a heat-receiving surface juxtaposed with said heating element, stressing means elastically deforming said steam-generating chamber against said heating element to press said heat-receiving surface into face-to-face contact with said heat-emitting surface, said steam-generating chamber being formed integrally with an angled portion, said sole plate being provided with a window receiving said angled portion.

Claim 18

A steam iron comprising a housing, a sole plate on said housing having a pressing surface, a heating element in said housing, a discardable steam-generating chamber received in said housing and heated by said element, said element having a heat-emitting surface juxtaposed with said steam-generating chamber, said steam-generating chamber being composed of thin metallic sheet and having a heat-receiving surface juxtaposed with said heating element, stressing means elastically deforming said steam-generating chamber against said heating element to press said heat-receiving surface into face-to-face contact with said heat-emitting surface, a slide removably received in said housing and carrying a pivotal frame, said steam-generating chamber being mounted on said frema and having an inlet for water, said housing being provided with a metering device fitting in said inlet upon swinging of said frame into an operative position, said steam iron further comprising cam means for swinging said frame into saie operative position upon insertion of said slide in said housing.

Claim 19

A steam iron comprising a housing, a sole plate on said housing having a pressing surface, a heating element in said housing, a discardable steam-generating chamber received in said housing and heated by said element, said element having a heat-emitting surface juxtaposed with said steam-generating chamber, said steam-generating chamber being composed of thin metallic sheet and having a heat-receiving surface juxtaposed with said heating element, stressing means elastically deforming said steam-generating chamber against said heating element to press said heat-receiving surface into face-to-face contact with said heat-emitting surface, a slide removably received in said housing and carrying a pivotal frame, said steam-generating chamber being mounted on said frema and having an inlet for water, said housing being provided with a metering device fitting in said inlet upon swinging of said frame into an operative position, said steam iron further comprising cam means for swinging said frame into saie operative position upon insertion of said slide in said housing.

Claim 20

The steam iron defined in claim 13 wherein said frame comprises upper and lower frame members, the upper frame member carrying said steam-generating chamber and being provided with control pins engageable with said cam means whereby said steam-generating chamber is pressed against said heating element.