FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a clothing iron and, more particularly, to a portable/travelling clothing iron that is fueled by a gas.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Clothing irons are known in the art. Electric clothing irons are generally heavy and bulky devices adapted for domestic use. Industrial irons are even bigger and more bulky. Various travelling irons are known in the art. These devices are small, compact and lightweight.

However, all known irons in the art are powered by connection to an electricity outlet. When travelling overseas the electricity setup in the foreign countries often prevent the use of local power grid. Furthermore, even if you are at home, there are times when an electric outlet is simply not available, for a variety of reasons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention is a gas powered clothes iron, comprising a pressurized gas canister for storing a gas fuel; transport pipes for transporting the gas fuel from the canister to at least one ignition chamber, each ignition chamber of the at least one ignition chamber having an inlet for the gas fuel, at least one aperture for sucking air into the ignition pipe and an ignition actuator for igniting a gas fuel/air mixture during an initial starting mode, wherein the gas fuel/air mixture contains 45% to 75% gas fuel such that a level of oxygen in the fuel/air mixture is about 10% to about 15%; a base plate; at least one heat exchanger, namely a heat exchanger adjacent each ignition chamber for transfering heat from the ignited gas fuel/air mixture to metal coils, the metal coils configured to reach a sufficient temperature, and to the base plate, wherein the sufficient temperature is a number between 50°C and 500°C; at least one tempreature sensor for determining a temperature at the base plate, at one of the heat exchangers or at a location between one of the heat exchangers and the base plate; a controller for controlling, based on outputs of the at least one temperature sensor, operation of the ignition actuator(s) and the at least one temperature sensor and for controlling transmission of the gas fuel to the at least one ignition chamber and to the at least one heat exchanger; and a water tank and tubing, the tubing for transporting water from the water tank to at least one of (i) an outlet of the iron, for dispensing water on clothing and (ii) the base plate for producing steam, wherein, after the initial starting mode, heat from the heat exchangers maintain the base plate hot upon further delivery of gas fuel/air mixture.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, descriptions and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an iron, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the iron with the housing removed, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 is schematic of internal components including transport piping, heat exchangers and base plate, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 4 is a schematic of the base plate, temperature sensors and other components, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a photo of an inside of the iron from a side view, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a photo of a side view of the inside components of the iron with the lower platform of the base plate separated, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a photo from the top and side of the internal components of the iron, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a schematic of an ignition chamber of the iron, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

The invention generally provides a gas powered iron that can be used for travel or at home as a cordless iron. The iron is also rendered "portable" or "mobile" due to the fact that it does not need to be a power outlet. The present invention is an improvement over both irons and clothes steamers. Both devices suffer from the need to be connected to a power outlet and/or a larger device. The present invention discloses an innovative, gas powered device that can either function as a dry iron or a steam iron. The principles and operation of a gas powered portable clothing iron according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention. According to the present invention, there is provided a gas powered clothes iron. The device is portable, having no cords or need to connect to an electricity outlet.

The gas is provided in the form of a pressurized gas canister that can be replaced once the canister is empty. Any suitable pressurized, flammable gas can be used. Examples include butane, propane, methane and other gases. Propane and butane are commonly used in household or commercial heating products. The gas fuel 208 comprises a mixture that includes at least one of butane, methane and propane. In other embodiments, the gas fuel comprises a mixture that includes at least two of propane, butane and methane. In some embodiments, the gas fuel is a mixture of butane and methane and in some embodiments the gas fuel is a mixture of butane and propane.

Canisters can be recycled (i.e. refilled), but availability of a recycling station is dependent on infrastructure. In one embodiment, the gas canister has a threaded, elongated neck portion (not shown) for a screw (threaded) connection to the ironing device. In some embodiments, the canister doubles as the handle for the ironing device. Since the device is portable, and especially useful for travel, in some embodiments, iron 100 is as small and lightweight as possible.

Referring to Fig. 1, iron 100 has an ergonometric shape while retaining the requisite surface area of a metal base plate 102. The fuel supply is used for heating the base plate 102. As shown in Fig. 2, the fuel supply 200 ideally comprises a propane canister 200 or a butane canister 200. The propane or butane canister 200 has propane or butane gas therein. An ignition actuator 210, for example a spark plug, ignites the gas fuel 208 which initiates the mechanism to heat the base plate 102 in an initial starting mode by burning the gas fuel 208 supplied from the removable canister 200. In some embodiments, a coupling member (not shown) may be configured for removably and fluidly couple the fuel canister 200 to iron 100. In some embodiments the ignition actuator is elongate.

In one embodiment, the gas powered clothes iron 100 comprises a gas canister 200, for example a pressurized gas canister, for storing a gas fuel 208, transport pipes 225 for transporting the gas fuel 208 from the canister 200 to at least one ignition chamber 230 and a base plate 102. Iron 100 may include one or more valves that control outward flow of the gas fuel 208. The one or more valves are fluidly coupled to the transport pipes 225. At least one transport pipe 225 may have a first end fluidly coupled to the valve and a second end 227 extending into the ignition chamber 230.

In other embodiments not shown, the canister 200 has a dedicated port for permanent coupling to iron 100. Some embodiments include a fluid reservoir for steam production.

The gas fuel 208 itself is not visible in the drawings other than in the schematic view of one of the ignition chambers 230 in Fig. 8.

As shown in Fig. 8, each ignition chamber 230 of the at least one ignition chamber having an inlet 232 for the gas fuel, at least one aperture 231 for sucking air into the ignition chamber and an ignition actuator 210 for igniting a gas fuel/air mixture during an initial starting mode, wherein the gas fuel/air mixture contains 45% to 75% gas fuel 208 such that a level of oxygen in the fuel/air mixture is about 10% to about 15%. In some embodiments, each ignition chamber 230 is in the shape of a pipe with the ignition actuator near the bottom of the pipe.

As seen from Figs. 2-7, iron 100 further comprises at least one heat exchanger 240, namely a heat exchanger 240 adjacent each ignition chamber 230 for transfering heat from the ignited gas fuel/air mixture to metal coils 245, the metal coils 245 configured to reach a sufficient temperature, and to the base plate 102, wherein the sufficient temperature is a number between 50°C and 500°C. In some embodiments, each heat exchanger is adjacent, for example just below the ignition chamber 230.

Typically, in an initial starting mode, an ignition actuator 210 inside each ignition chamber 230 may generate a spark that ignites the gas fuel/air mixture thereby causing a flame that in turn heats the at least one heat exchanger 240 adjcent (for example below) the ignition chamber 230. After the heat exchangers 240 have been heatede - and in some cases the coils 245 therein become red hot - the controller 260 shuts off the further use of the ignition actuator 210 and no further flame is needed. The ignition actuator and flame are not used to further heat the iron after the initial starting mode. Instead, metal coils 245 of the at least one heat exchanger 240 having become red hot as a result of heating during the initial starting mode, maintain the base plate 102 hot after the initial starting mode upon delivery of further gas fuel/air mixture to the at least one heat exchanger 240 for example through the at least one ignition chamber 230.

In one embodiment, the at least one ignition chamber includes between ten and twelve ignition chambers and the iron 100 includes between ten and twelve heat exchangers 240.

Iron 100 also comprises at least one temperature sensor 250 for determining a temperature at the base plate 102, at one of the heat exchangers 240 or at a location between (in terms of the flow of fluid or heat) one of the heat exchangers 240 and the base plate 102. In some embodiments, a temperature sensor 250 is adjacent the base plate 102, for example the top platform 103 of the base plate 101. Other temperature sensors 250 may be located adjacent the heat exchangers 240, adjacent the ignition chambers 230, adjacent controller 260, etc. When the temperature sensors detect that the temperature adjacent the base plate 102 reaches approximately 450 °C, in one embodiment, controller 260 shuts off the flow of further gas fuel 208 since further heating is temporarily unnecessary. In one embodiment, when the temperature sensors 250 detect that the temperature of the base plate 102 (or of the at least one heat exchanger 240) has reached a sufficient temperature or a target temperature, the controller 260 shuts off the fuel and/or the ignition actuator. In one embodiments, the sufficient temperature is a number between 300°C and 500°C. In one embodiment, the sufficient temperature is 350°C or 400°C or 450°C. The controller 260 also takes into consideration selections made by the user (for example using the LED) as to what the sufficient temperature or target temperature is for the base plate 102.

The number of temperature sensors 250 can vary. In one embodiment, the at least one temperature sensor includes four temperature sensors.

It is noted that for the base plate 102 to reach a certain temperature, the heat exchangers 240 need to be at a higher temperature. However, the particular temperature needed to heat the heat exchanger varies depending on what type of clothing is being ironed and what ironing mode (steam, wet, dry) is selected by the user through the LED screen 330. The user can alos select the type of clothing that the iron 100 is to iron. For example, the temperature that is appropriate for ironing 100% cotton garments may differ from the temperature that is appropriate for ironing a different material or fabric. Accordingly, when the user selects a particular type of clothing, for example using the LED, the controller 260 of iron 100 configures the target temperature of the base plate 102 so that the temperature of the base plate 102 will reach and stay at a temperature appropriate for ironing that type of clothing.

Iron 100 may comprise additional pipes for transporting the gas fuel/air mixture to each of the at least one heat exchangers 240 from each of the at least one ignition chambers 230.

Iron 100 also comprises a controller 260 for controlling, based on outputs of the at least one temperature sensor 250, operation of the ignition actuator(s) 210 and the at least one temperature sensor and for controlling transmission of the gas fuel to the at least one ignition chamber 230 and to the at least one heat exchanger 240. Controller 260 may include all hardware processors, software and memory necessary for receiving outputs of the sensors 250, processing the information and determining when various components of iron 100 should be operational.

Iron 100 also comprises a water tank 280 and tubing 285 extending from the water tank 280. The tubing 285 may transport water from the water tank 280 to at least one of (i) an outlet of the iron in communication with the environment or air/space outside the iron, for dispensing water on clothing and (ii) the base plate 102 for producing steam.

After the initial starting mode, heat from the heat exchangers maintain the base plate 102 hot upon further delivery of gas fuel/air mixture.

The iron 100 further comprises a housing 290 that encloses the gas canister, transport pipes 225, at least one ignition chamber 230, base plate 102, at least one heat exchanger 240, at least one tempreature sensor 250, controller 260 and water tank 280 and tubing 285. In some embodiments, housing 290 is made from lightweight material, for example certain kinds of plastic. In some embodiments, iron 100 operates in one, two or three of the following modes: (i) a steam mode wherein water is transmitted to an area between a lower platform 101 of the base plate 102 and an upper platform 103 of the base plate 102 for steaming out of holes 104 in the lower platform 101 and (ii) a wet ironing mode wherein water from the water tank 280 is configured to be released through a conduit 300 (Fig. 6) to an outlet that has access to ambient air outside the iron and (iii) a dry mode wherein water from the water tank 280 is not transmitted to the base plate 102 or through the conduit to outside the iron 100.

In one embodiment, base plate 102 has a lower platform 101, an upper platform 103 and a space between the lower platform 101 and the upper platform 103 to receive water that is fed into the space. The wtaer then turns into steam as a result of the heat of the base plate 102 and is emitted through holes 104 (Fig. 4) in the lower platform 101 of base plate 102 during steam mode. The emiision of the steam is to points below the base plate 102 that are external to iron 100, for example clothing on an ironing board.

In one embodiment, iron 100 further includes an LED screen 330 (Fig. 1) for user interaction with the controller 260. Iron 100, in one embodiment, also features a safety handle 320 wherein LED screen 330 is inactive until safety handle 320 is actuated, for example lifted.

Iron 100 may further include additional safety mechanisms wherein the safety mechanisms includes at least one of (i) temperature sensors for detection of excessive temperature (ii) odor detection sensors for detection of gas fuel leaks and (iii) smoke detectors.

In some embodiments, iron 100 includes a slider mechanism (not shown) for adjusting the temperature of the iron 100. Vents serve as exhaust ports for the combustion process. In some embodiments, the vents are integrated into the slider mechanism to increase the vent size for increased temperature.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein.