Steam iron

An electric steam iron comprising:

• a water reservoir;
• a soleplate, the soleplate being of unitary construction and including:
• a base;
• a heating element;
• a constant steam chamber in fluid communication with a plurality of constant steam chamber apertures passing through the base;
• a steam shot chamber including a front cavity and a steam shot channel in thermal communication with the heating element and in fluid communication with the front cavity, the front cavity including at least one steam shot chamber aperture passing through the base, the steam shot channel defining at least one flow path substantially overlying the heating element, the at least one flow path having a re-entrant shape;
• the iron further including
• a constant steam chamber water delivery means for delivering water from the water reservoir into the constant steam chamber;
• and
• a steam shot chamber water delivery means for delivering water from the water reservoir into the steam shot chamber in the soleplate.

An electric steam iron comprising:

• a water reservoir;
• a soleplate including:
• a base;
• a heating element;
• a constant steam chamber in fluid communication with a plurality of constant steam chamber apertures passing through the base;
• a steam shot chamber including a front cavity and a steam shot channel in thermal communication with the heating element and in fluid communication with the front cavity, the front cavity including at least one steam shot chamber aperture passing through the base, the steam shot channel defining at least one flow path substantially overlying the heating element, the at least one flow path having a re-entrant shape, the total length of the at least one flow path being greater than the length of the heating element;
• the iron further including
• a constant steam chamber water delivery means for delivering water from the water reservoir into the constant steam chamber;
• and
• a steam shot chamber water delivery means for delivering water from the water reservoir into the steam shot chamber in the soleplate.