Iron with overtemperature protection means

In an electric flatiron with a soleplate and associated electric heater circuit of sufficient wattage to achieve abnormally high soleplate temperatures upon continuous heater operation, a thermostat limiting the soleplate temperature to a normal maximum selected operating temperature by switching of the electric power supply to the electric heater, that improvement comprising, an overtemperature protection assembly to disconnect the heater from electric power before abnormally high soleplate temperatures occur on thermostat failure, said assembly including:

• first and second circuit members in said heater circuit electrically connecting in said heater circuit and electrically isolated from said soleplate and each other,
• a third circuit member electrically connected by its ends between said first and second members and completing a series circuit therethrough,
• said third member formed to bias one end away from electrical connection to one of said first and second members,
• an alloy sensor having essentially eutectic composition and a melting point at least as high as said normal maximum temperature and less than any abnormally high temperature formed as a slug of alloy and disposed between said ends and opposing said bias to secure said one end in said electrical connection to said one of said first and second members, said slug of eutectic alloy directly bonding said third member to one of said first and second members without being part of the electrical circuit through said members,
• said assembly being mounted on the flat iron so that said alloy sensor is subject to soleplate heat and, on melting under abnormal heat, breaks said securement between the third member and said one of said first and second members to open the circuit and shut off the iron before soleplate overheat.

In an electric flatiron with a soleplate and associated electric heater circuit of sufficient wattage to achieve abnormally high soleplate temperatures upon continuous heater operation, a thermostat limiting the soleplate temperature to a normal maximum selected operating temperature by switching of the electric power supply to the electric heater, that improvement comprising, an overtemperature protection assembly to disconnect the heater from electric power before abnormally high soleplate temperatures occur on thermostat failure, said assembly including:

• first and second circuit members in said heater circuit electrically connected in said heater circuit and electrically isolated from said soleplate and each other,
• a third circuit member electrically connected by its ends between said first and second members and completing a series circuit therethrough,
• said third member formed to bias one end away from electrical connection to one of said first and second members,
• an alloy sensor having essentially eutectic composition and a melting point at least as high as said normal maximum temperature and less than any abnormally high temperature formed as a slug of alloy and disposed between said ends and opposing said bias to secure said one end in said electrical connection to said one of said first and second members,
• said assembly being mounted on the flatiron so that said alloy sensor is subject to soleplate heat without being part of the electrical circuit through said members and, on melting under abnormal heat, breaks said securement between the third member and said one of said first and second member to open the circuit and shut off the iron before soleplate overheat, said members being elongated metallic blades and said third member extending parallel and adjacent at least one of the other members and secured thereto between its ends by said eutectic.