Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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INSULATING ~ KE FOR AN IRON
P~ O~ND OF THE lNV~. ~lON
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an insulating structure.
More particularly, this invention concerns a pressing iron
having a housing, a soleplate assembly, and an electric
term;n~l wherein the term;n~l extends through an opening in
the housing and is in a heat transfer relationship with the
soleplate assemblyO The electric terminals and housing
openings are sized and proportioned such that air heated by
the soleplate i5 substantially prevented from passing
through the openings to other areas of the pressing iron.
Descriptio~ of the Related Art
Conventional pressing irons generally comprise an
outer casing having a handle which encases the pressing
iron, a soleplate attached at the bottom of the iron, an
interior housing separating the soleplate from other
components of the iron, and at least one electric terminal
extending from the soleplate through an aperture in the
housing to the power cord for transferring heat to the
soleplate. When designing a pressing iron, it is necessary
to limit the transfer of heat from the soleplate to the
other components of the iron. Other components of the iron
may be adversely affected by the high temperatures which
result from the heat generated by the soleplate. For
instance, high temperatures may heat age and in extreme
instances melt, the plastic components of the iron.
Further, the leads or the wires which are connected to the
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electric term; n~l S may be damaged from the heat generated
by the soleplate.
Several approaches to solving this problem are known.
For example, expensive, high-temperature rated leads or
wires can be connected near the soleplate and attached to
a terminal block away from the high temperature portion of
the ironO A lower cost lead or wire with a low-temperature
rating can then be attached to the term;nAl block and used
for the r~mA;n~er of the necessary lead length. Other
conventional pressing irons provide an additional component
or component~ which ~eal the gaps defined by the housing of
the iron that the electric term;nAls pass through to
commlln;cate with the soleplate. The disadvantage to the two
above-mentioned solutions to the problem is that the cost
of the design is high~
The conventional pressing irons do not provide an
effective solution to the problem of insulating components
of an iron from the heat generated by the soleplate
assembly. Therefore, there is a need for a pressing iron
having a structure which insulates components of the iron
which are susceptible to damage from heat generated by the
soleplate.
Summary of the Invention
A preferred e-mbodiment of the present invention
provides an insulating structure of an iron housing having
an opening ~or a terminal to extend through which
substantially prevents any heated air from passing through
the opening. The opening has a width, a height, and a
depth which is sized and proportioned such that the
terminal extending therethrough completely fills the
opening and prevents the passing of air therethrough.
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The present invention provides for the insulating
structure to be utilized in an electric pressing iron and
preferably in a steam pressing iron. The insulating
structure is a housing placed between the soleplate
assembly and the other components of the pressing iron. An
electric term; n~ 1 is connected at one end to a power cord
and is in a heat transfer relationship with the soleplate
at the other end thereof such that the electric term; n~ 1
extends through an opening in the housing. The heat given
off by the soleplate is substantially prevented from
passing through the opening by convection because the
electric terminal completely seals the opening in the
housing.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention
provides for the housing having a first wall portion, a
second wall portion and side wall portions that are spaced
apart from one another to define an opening, wherein the
first wall portion is inclined, resulting in easy insertion
of the electric term; n~ 1 through the opening. The edges of
the first wall portion and the second wall portion are
sized and proportioned such that they put pressure on the
electric term; n~l providing for less chance of air gaps in
the connection between the electric terminal and the
housing.
Alternate preferred embodiments of the present
invention provide a second electric terminal and a third
electric term; n~ 1 extending through a second opening and a
third opening, respectively.
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The preferred embodiments of the present invention
also provide that a surface of the second wall portion
includes a bevel.
The electric terminal of the preferred embodiment of
the present invention may be provided with at least one
aperture resulting in the slowing of heat conduction
through the electric terminal to the other iron components.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention
provide for the housing structure to comprise a
thermoplastic material~
Other detailsl objects and advantages of the
invention will become apparent as the following description
of the preferred embodiments thereof proceeds.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~E DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a steam
pressing iron having a housing which incorporates the
insulating structure of the present invention.
Figure 2 is an enlarged cutaway rear perspective view
of the housing of the steam pressing iron of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the housing of the
steam pressing iron shown in Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the housing
taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3.
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219~216
Figure 5 is the cross-sectional view of the housing as
shown in Figure 4 with an electric term; n~l partially
inserted within the opening.
Figure 6 is the cross-sectional view of the housing of
Figure 4 with the electric terminal fully inserted within
the opening.
Figure 7 is a cutaway rear perspective view of another
preferred embodiment of the insulating structure of the
present invention.
Figure 8 is cross-sectional view of the insulating
structure of Figure 7 taken along lines 8-8 with an
electric terminal inserted within the opening.
DE~TT~n DESCRIPTION OF l~ PR~KK~v EMBODIMENTS
The insulating structure of the present invention is
described below as being utilized in an electric steam
pressing iron. The insulating structure of the present
invention, however, can be utilized in any device wherein
the prevention of heating or cooling by convection is
required.
Figure 1 illustrates an exploded view of an electric
steam pressing iron 10. The steam pressing iron 10
comprises a soleplate assembly 12, a housing 14, a tank 16,
a pump assembly 18, a power cord assembly 22, and an outer
casing having a handle portion 26, a top cover portion 28
and a heel rest 30. The housing 14 is connected to the
soleplate assembly 12 by flanges 32; however, any
conventional connection means may also be utilized. The
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soleplate assembly 12 substantially has a soleplate 34
generally comprising a metal material, and three electric
t~rm;n~ls 36, 38, and 40 which are in a heat transfer
relationship with the soleplate 34 at one end thereof. As
illustrated on electric terminal 38, holes 39 are provided
along the length of the terminals 36, 38 and 40 resulting
in a substantial reduction of heat transfer from the
soleplate through the terminals 36, 38 and 40 by
conduction. During assembly of the iron 10, the housing 14
is slid over the term; n~l S 36, 38, and 40. The electric
term;n~lc 36, 38, and 40 are inserted through the openings
48 of the housing 14 (not shown in Figure 1 and shown in
greater detail in Figure~ 2-4) and are connected to the
electrical leads 42 of the power cord assembly 22. It
should be noted that in this present preferred embodiment
only two of the electric term;n~ls 36, 38 and 40 are
connected to leads 42. One of the electric term;n~ls is
neutral.
The tank 16 rests on and is attached to the housing
14. The outer casing encases all three of the soleplate
assembly 12, the housing 14, and the tank 16. Further, the
pump assembly 18 fits between the handle portion 26 and the
top cover 28. The power cord assembly 22 is pivotably
attached to the heel rest 30 such that the electrical leads
42 extend between the heel rest 30 and the handle portion
26 of the outer casing.
The portion of the housing 14 concerning the presently
preferred insulating structure is shown in greater detail
in Figures 2 through 4. The insulating structure of the
preferred embodiment of the invention is positioned at the
distal portion of the housing 14. The housing 14 defines
openings 48. The housing further comprises a first wall
1~223041 6
219~X16
portion 44 and a second wall portion 46 which are spaced
apart from one another and a third wall portion 47. Each
opening 48 has a width 50, a depth 52, and a height 54.
Preferably, the height 54 of each of the openings 48 is
slightly less or equal to the thickness of the electric
terminals 36, 38 and 40. In the presently preferred
embodiment shown in Figures 1-8, the steam pressing iron 10
has three insulating structures 56, 58, and 60 to
accommodate the three electrical term;n~ls 36, 38, and 40.
As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, during assembly the
housing 14 is positioned over the soleplate assembly 12
such that the t~rm;n~ls 36, 38, and 40 extend through the
openings 48. The electrical term;n~l 38 is positioned
through the opening 48 of the insulating structure 58 of
the housing 14. The lead connection end 62 of the
electrical terminal 38 is positioned through the opening 48
in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 5. The
electrical term;na1 38 is rotated in the direction of the
arrow shown in Figure 6, such that the electrical terminal
38 extends entirely across the width 50, the depth 52 and
the height 54 of the opening 48 leaving no gaps for air to
pass through. Because the height 54 of the openings 48 is
smaller than or equal to the thickness 70 of the terminals
36, 38 and 40, a pressure is placed on the t~rm;nals 36,
38, and 40 which provides for a tight connection and no
gaps. By completely filling the opening 48 air which is
heated by the soleplate is prevented from passing through
the opening and harming the plastic components of the iron.
Electric terminals 36 and 40 are inserted through openings
48 of insulating structures 56 and 60, respectively, in a
similar manner.
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2190216
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In operation, the electrical current passing through
the power cord assembly 22 to the electrical term; n~ 1 S 36,
38, or 40 results in the resistance heating of the
soleplate 34. Although it is desired to heat the soleplate
34 to high temperatures, the heat given off from the
soleplate 34 can travel through electrical term;nAls 36, 38
and 40 and heat the air that passes through the opening.
The insulating structure of the present invention
significantly reduces the transfer of heat through the
openings 48 in the housing 14 by air. The height 54, width
50, and depth 52 of the opening 48 are sized and
proportioned such that the respective electrical term; n~ 1
substantially fills the entire opening 48 when it is
inserted therethroughO
~5
Figures 7 and 8 illustrate another preferred
embodiment of the insulating structure of the present
invention. This preferred embodiment of the insulating
structure comprises a housing 14 defining openings 48 and
having a first wall portion 44 and a second wall portion 46
spaced apart from one another. The opening 48 has a width
50, a depth 52, and a height 54. The second wall portion
46 is inclined and the openings 48 are separated from one
another by partitions 66 positioned therebetween. The
second wall portion 46 has a surface adjacent the opening
48 which includes a beveled portion 64. The beveled
portion 64 facilitates the assembly of the electrical
tPrm;n~ls 36, 38, and 40 through the housing 14. The
beveled portion 64 guides the terminal through the opening
48.
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021~
During assembly, the electric term; n~l 38 is inserted
through the opening 48. The lead end 62 of the electric
terminal 38 rides up the beveled portion 64 and then
extends through the opening 48 until it is fully inserted
therethrough as shown on Figure 8.
While we have described presently preferred
embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly
understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but
may be otherwise embodied and practiced within the scope of
the following claims including all equivalents thereof.
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