Many different models of steam irons are known and have been used for some time, both for professional and for domestic use.

These irons essentially comprise an internal or external source of steam that, through channels, sends the requested volumes to the ironing apparatus proper, namely to the ironing plate, and in certain cases also to a front zone to treat a textile zone that is particularly difficult.

In certain models of iron there is provided the possibility, if necessary, of generating a noticeable and substantially instant increase in the volumes of steam.

Generally, these increases in the volumes of steam are injected through openings that can be obtained in the ironing plate or in the front zone of the iron, separately from the openings envisaged for conventional ejection.

By acting on a control located on the grip, it is possible to select the pre-chosen ejection openings in such a way as to direct the normal jets of steam in one or more of the envisaged directions, according to the user's requirements, either singly or jointly, or to actuate the steam supplements.

This control consists of a pilotable valve organ that makes the source of steam and alternatively one or more groups of ejection openings communicate with one another.

This state of the art has certain drawbacks.

A first drawback is represented by the fact that prior-art steam irons are equipped with only two series of ejection openings located, as has been said, on the bottom face of the ironing plate and in the front zone of the iron.

A second drawback is represented by the fact that the ironing plates of prior-art steam irons are substantially made of a single block which is in metal, so that it is not possible to provide it with aesthetic and chromatic customization.

A third drawback is represented by the fact that the valve organs provided to select the series of ejection openings have seal problems due to the high operating temperatures of the irons that tend to damage over time the seals with which the valve organs are usually provided, causing water losses in the form of drops that fall onto clothes through the ejection openings.

The object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned prior-art drawbacks.

One object of the present invention is to create a steam-iron apparatus that is equipped with a selection control with a substantially simple, and therefore cheap, structure that provides a secure long-term seal.

Another object of the invention is to create a steam-iron apparatus that is equipped with more than two series of steam- ejection openings.

Another object of the present invention is to make a steam iron that has an ironing apparatus that is aesthetically customisable.

These and other objects are achieved by a steam-iron apparatus as defined in the claims.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description of a steam-iron apparatus according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limitative example in the attached drawings wherein: Figure 1 is an exploded and perspective view of an ironing apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 shows, on an enlarged scale, an interrupted vertical section of the front portion of an ironing apparatus according to the invention, taken along a longitudinal symmetrical plane; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of selecting means separated from the ironing apparatus for greater clarity of representation.

With particular reference to the above figures, 1 indicates overall a steam-iron apparatus according to the invention.

Said ironing apparatus 1 usually comprises an ironing plate 2 that defines an ironing surface 3 that is located in the zone considered to be lower, and a front end 4 and a rear end 5.

On the ironing plate 2 there is obtained a series of conventional steam-ejection openings 6 that are connected directly with a labyrinth 7 obtained on said ironing plate 2 on the side opposite the ironing surface 3, inside which the steam that comes from a first supply channel 8, expands; said labyrinth 7 is hermetically closed at the top by a shaped wall 9 that also shapes a series of joints 10 for the joining of a top portion (not shown for the sake of simplicity) to constitute an iron.

Said ironing apparatus 1 furthermore comprises first steam- ejection openings 11 that emerge on said ironing surface 3, preferably near said front end 4 and second 12 and third steam ejection openings 13 that emerge on a different surface from said ironing surface 3 and as more clearly indicated below.

In the ironing apparatus 1 selecting means 14 is also provided to select one by one or in combination the steam ejection according to use requirements through said first steam- ejection openings 6 or second steam-ejection openings 12 or yet again through the third steam-ejection openings 13 and to connect the first, second and third ejection openings with a further steam supply path 15, preferably divided from the supply path 8.

Said selecting means 14 has separate chambers, in the case in point three chambers indicated respectively by 16,17, 18, communicating respectively with said first steam-ejection openings 6, with said second steam-ejection openings 12 and with said third steam-ejection openings 13.

The selecting means 14 also comprises rod means 19, that is couplable with a corresponding rod portion 20 of said ironing

plate 3 and in which said second steam-ejection openings 12 and third steam-ejection openings 13 are obtained in such a way that said second steam-ejection openings 12 point to said front end 4 and are comprised between said third steam- ejection openings 13, which are therefore turned bilaterally.

Said rod portion 20 of said ironing plate 3 forms a concave housing 21 copying the profile of the rod means 19 for coupling with the latter.

Said selecting means 14 furthermore comprises a base body 22 that is shaped as a well and inside which said separate chambers 16,17, 18 are formed.

The base body 22 is hermetically closed by cap closing means 23 and thereby defines at least one internal steam-collecting cavity 24 that is connected with the steam supply path 15, through a port obtained in the cap closing means 23.

Between the latter and the base body 22 a separating element 25 is transversely interposed to close and separate said separate chambers 16,17 and 18 from the internal collecting cavity 24; between said separating element 24 and the base body 22 a washer means 26 is interposed.

In the separating element 25 steam-passage organs are obtained that are each coincided with their separate chambers 16,17, 18, and are piloted by shutter means 27 that are normally kept closed by elastic thrust means 28.

Inside the separating element 25 a selecting organ 29 is supported rotating that is operable from the exterior and that occupies a part of said internal collecting cavity 24, between said cap closing means 23 and separating seal element 25 ; the selecting organ 29 is operable to select alternatively opened said shutter means 27 and obtain the ejection of steam through the first steam-ejection openings 16, or the second steam-ejection openings 17 or the third steam-ejection openings 18, either singly or in combination between them.

The selecting organ 29 comprises a circular plate 30 that is equipped with a first face 31 facing the base body 22 and with a second opposite face 32.

On said first face 31, in the preferred embodiment of the ironing apparatus 1, there are two raised cam profiles, indicated by 33 and 34, that protrude eccentrically from said first face 31 and have surface lengths that are different from one another, due to the alternating single or simultaneous contact with at least two of the said shutter means 27.

From said first face 31 a shank 35 protrudes centrally that is engageable in a corresponding centred receptacle 36 that protrudes from the separating element 25.

The shank 35 placed in the receptacle 36, supports the plate 30 rotating inside the internal collecting cavity 24.

From the second face 32 of the plate 30 a stem 37 protrudes integrally, substantially perpendicular, that extends up to the outside of the cap closing means 23, through an opening 38 that is deliberately provided for this purpose and is equipped with seal washers, which constitutes through means for the passage of said stem 37.

Said previously mentioned steam passage organs obtained in the separating element 25 consist of at least respective circular openings 39, each one of which is piloted by one of the shutter means 27 mentioned.

Each of the latter comprises a respective stem 40 having a first end kept in contact with said first face 31 and crossing a respective opening 39 and a second end opposite said first end with which an enlarged head 41 is integral, that is suitable for keeping the corresponding opening 39 normally closed and which faces a corresponding one of said separate chambers 16,17, 18, with the interposing of washer means 43.

The elastic thrust means 28 comprises at least respective spring means 44 loadable through compression and interposed

between said enlarged heads 41 and the bottoms of said separate chambers 16,17, 18.

Said separating seal element 25 also forms a labyrinth arrangement 45 for the forced passage of the steam, facing inside said internal collecting cavity and facing said first face 31 of said plate 30.

The ironing apparatus 1 operates in the following manner: it is usually equipped at the top with a closing body provided with a grip and constituting overall an iron.

The ironing apparatus 1 receives steam from a supply path 8 in a conventional manner.

Through this supply path 8, the steam reaches inside the labyrinth 7 obtained in the ironing plate 3 and, after travelling through its entirety, exits through the conventional openings 6.

Through the further steam supply path 15, which in the preferred embodiment of the ironing apparatus 1 is divided from the supply path 8, the steam also reaches inside the internal collecting chamber 24, defined between the cap closing means 23 and the sealed separating element 25.

By acting on the stem 37 protruding outside the internal collecting chamber 24 through the opening 38 and thus rotating the selecting organ 29, the user can select steam ejection in addition to the conventional ejection disclosed previously, through the first steam-ejection openings 11 emerging on the ironing surface 3 or through the second steam-ejection openings 12 facing the front end 4 or also through the third steam-ejection openings 13 bilaterally facing said front end 4, depending on the direction in which the steam has to be ejected ; it must be mentioned that it is possible to also obtain simultaneous ejection of steam, through, for example, the second 12 and third 13 steam-ejection openings, or through other combinations between the steam ejection-openings.

As already mentioned, the selecting organ 29 is turned to select between the first 11, the second 12 and the third steam-ejection openings 13.

In this way the raised cam profiles 33 and 34 are made to alternately press on the stems 40 of the shutter means 27 which, by descending and overcoming the force of reaction of the spring means 44, open the respective openings 39 controlled by the latter, making the steam flow from the internal collecting chamber 24 to one or more of the separate chambers 16,17, 18 and from the latter to said first 11 or second 12 or yet again third steam-ejection openings 13.

The second 12 and third 13 steam-ejection openings are all obtained in the rod means 19 that is therefore separated from the ironing plate 3 and is integral with the base body 22; in the assembly of the iron, it is precisely received in the concave housing 21 and, as it is distinct from said ironing plate 3, it can be constructed with different materials from the latter and be provided with contrasting colours to obtain clear and recognisable customisation.

The different surface area of the raised cam profiles 33 and 34 enables, by rotating the selecting organ 29, pressing with the one with a smaller surface on a single stem 40 of one of the shutter means 27, thereby obtaining an ejection of steam through just one of said ejection openings whereas with the one with a greater extension pressing on two contiguous stems is enabled, thereby obtaining the ejection of steam simultaneously through at least two of said ejection openings.

It has been confirmed that the described invention achieves the set objects.

The invention that is thus conceived is susceptible of modifications and variations that all fall within the inventive concept.

Any dimensions and materials may be used, depending on requirements, without thereby falling outside the protection of the following claims.