Description

AN IRON

[0001] The present invention relates to an iron comprising a steam exhaust.

[0002] The irons, in the implementations known in the technique, comprise a steam exhaust for blowing steam on the ironed fabric to make the ironing process easier and to increase the effectiveness.

[0003] In the state of the art United States of America patent no US2362590, a flatiron is explained. In this application, the iron comprises a fan that circulates air in the body and the channels under the handle for preventing the heat flowing from the heater heating the body and the handle connected to the body.

[0004] In other state of the art implementations, the European patent application no EP0150627 and the United States of America patent no US3716933, an iron is explained wherein a fan or similar air blower means is secured at the rear of steam irons for blowing of cold air on the fabric being ironed immediately after ironing with hot steam for cooling.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is the realization of an iron wherein the steam is prevented from harming the user in steam irons.

[0006] The iron realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises at least one fan that activates the outside air, an air inlet allowing the air aspirated by the fan to be received into the body and at least one air exhaust disposed on the body between the steam exhaust and the handle.

[0007] The air exhaust maintains the air received from the air inlet to be discharged such that an air curtain is formed between the hot steam exhausted from the steam exhaust and the handle. Accordingly, the steam is prevented from reaching the handle and its vicinity, heating these regions and harming the user. On the other hand, some portion of the steam blown from the steam exhaust is prevented from rising up from the edges of the iron, a barrier is formed that directs the steam to the fabric being ironed. Thus, the steam is largely directed to the fabric for increasing ironing effectiveness.

[0008] The air exhaust is configured such that the air is discharged virtually

parallel to the soleplate. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, more than one air exhaust is disposed on both sides of the body. [0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, the iron comprises valves that open, close the air exhaust. The valves maintain to change the air exhaust to entirely open or closed positions thereby adjusting the opening of the air exhaust and the amount of discharged air. [0010] In different embodiments of the present invention, the valves can be controlled by the user with a button etc. or can be configured to be automatically openable or closable as well in accordance with the steam adjustment used. [0011] The iron realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where: [0012] Figure 1 - is the perspective view of an iron. [0013] Figure 2 - is the perspective view of an iron in the upright position. [0014] Figure 3 - is the schematic view of an iron. [0015] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Iron

2. Body

3. Soleplate

4. Handle

5. Water tank

6. Steam exhaust

7. Fan

8. Air inlet

9. Air exhaust

10. Button

11. Steam adjusting knob

12. Valve

13. Casing

[0016] The iron (1) of the present invention comprises

- a body (2),

- a soleplate (3),

- a handle (4),

- at least one water tank (5) wherein water (S) is filled and

- at least one steam exhaust (6), arranged on the soleplate (3) that allows the discharge of the steam (B) generated by heating the water (S) in the water tank (5) (Figure 1).

[0017] The iron (1) of the present invention furthermore comprises

- at least one fan (7) for activating the outside air (H),

- an air inlet (8) allowing the air aspirated by the fan (7) to be received inside the body (2) and

- at least one air exhaust (9) disposed on the body (2), that maintains the air (H) received from the air inlet (8) to be discharged such that an air curtain is formed between the hot steam (B) discharged from the steam exhaust (6) and the handle (4).

[0018] While using the iron (1) of the present invention, the user holds the handle (4) for moving the iron (1) back and forth on or in the vicinity of the fabric to be ironed. Meanwhile, the soleplate (3) is heated by the heater and the water (S) in the water tank (5) is vaporized, the generated steam (B) is ejected out from the steam exhausts (6). Simultaneously the fan (7) rotates and the activated outside air (H) is received into the body (2) from the air inlet (8). The air (H) is delivered from here to the air exhaust (9) disposed on the body (2) and is discharged from the air exhaust (9). The air (H) discharged from the air exhaust (9) forms an air curtain over the steam (B) discharged from the steam exhaust (6). Accordingly, the hot steam (B) is prevented from rising and reaching the vicinity of the handle (4) and thus harming the user. On the other hand, a more effective ironing process is provided with the formed air curtain by directing the steam (B) to the fabric to be pressed.

[0019] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the air exhaust (9) is configured in a shape and direction such that the air (H) is discharged virtually parallel to the soleplate (3). The air exhausts (9) are arranged transversely just above the soleplate (3) to form a line parallel to the soleplate (3). The air exhausts (9) can be configured to be in rectangular, ellipse etc. shapes.

[0020] In another embodiment of the present invention, the air exhausts (9) are angular such that the air is directed towards the soleplate (3). The hot steam (B) can be effectively directed on the fabric to be ironed by means of the air exhausts (9) formed, for example with an angle of 30° from the horizontal downwards.

[0021] In an embodiment of the present invention, the iron (1) comprises a cage shaped casing (13) made of wires that encloses the fan (7). Thus the fan (7) is prevented from damaging the fabric to be pressed particularly during vertical use.

[0022] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, more than one air exhausts (9) are arranged on both sides of the body (2). The air exhausts (9) are preferably positioned just above the soleplate (3) at certain intervals.

[0023] In an embodiment of the present invention, the iron (1) comprises valves (12) that partially or entirely open or close the air exhaust (9). Thus, the user can adjust the opening of the air exhaust (9) and hence the amount of air (H) is discharged or entirely closes it thereof when desired.

[0024] In an embodiment of the present invention, the iron (1) comprises at least one button (10) for the user to operate the fan (7) and/or open or close the valves (12).

[0025] In another embodiment of the present invention, the iron (1) comprises a steam adjusting knob (11) that allows the user to adjust the steam amount. In a version of this embodiment, the valves (12) are operatively connected to the steam adjusting knob (11) such that the positions thereof change when the position of the steam adjusting knob (11) is changed. When the user increases the amount of steam (B) to be ejected by using the steam adjusting knob (11), the valves (12) open in direct proportion and respectively increase the amount of air (H) discharged from the air exhaust (9). Consequently, particularly during vertical ironing process with high steam output, the amount of air (H) discharged from the air exhaust (9) is increased to the highest level, directing the steam (B) entirely to the fabric that is ironed and the ironing efficiency is enhanced.

[0026] In this embodiment, when the steam adjusting knob (11) is adjusted for

ironing without steam, the fan (7) stops automatically and the valves (12) change to the closed position. By means of the iron (1) in the present invention, a safe ironing process is provided by preventing the hot steam (B) from harming the user and ironing effectiveness is increased by directing the steam (B) on the fabric to be ironed without dissipating to the surroundings.