Handheld appliance for pressing and steaming garments and other items

A handheld pressing and steaming appliance, comprising:

• an upper arm;
• a lower arm attached at one end to an end of the upper arm;
• a steam generation unit mounted on the upper arm;
• a water reservoir located in the upper arm and/or the lower arm;
• a water pump fluidly connected to the water reservoir and to the steam generation unit;
• a heating plate mounted near a free end of the upper arm, the heating plate including a plurality of first exhaust holes that are in fluid communication with the steam generation unit;
• and
• a bearing plate mounted on the lower arm at a free end thereof, the bearing plate including a plurality of second exhaust holes;
• wherein the appliance is movable between an open position, in which the heating plate and the bearing plate are separated from each other, and a closed position, in which the heating plate and the bearing plate are closely adjacent to and confront each other;
• wherein in the closed position at least one of the second exhaust holes is substantially aligned with a respective one of the first exhaust holes, such that steam exhausted from the respective one of the first exhaust holes also passes through the at least one second exhaust hole;
• and
• wherein the appliance further comprises a closing mechanism attached to at least one of the upper and lower arms, the closing mechanism configured to releasably move the appliance to the closed position, further comprising a switch positioned on one of the upper and lower arms, the switch operatively connected with the pump, wherein movement of the appliance to the closed position causes the switch to activate the pump.