Electric iron with dual automatic cutoff

#The present invention relates to electric appliances and, more specifically, to electric irons.

#An electric iron consists essentially of a heating element and a means for controlling the application of electric power to the heating element. Thermostatic controls are conventionally employed to maintain a sole-plate temperature in a selectable range.

#One of the long-felt problems of electric irons is a perceived danger of fire or injury resulting from an electric iron inadvertently being left energized for an extended period. One solution to this problem, disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 687,842 and 678,843, includes a timer and a motion sensor connected to cut off electric power to the heating element if the electric iron remains stationary for a predetermined period such as, for example, about 10 minutes.

#FIG. 1 is a side view of an electric iron to which the present invention may be applied.

#FIG. 2 is a block and schematic diagram of an electrical control system according to an embodiment of the invention.

#FIG. 3 is a partial cross section taken along III--III in FIG. 1, showing a manually actuated, electrically deactuated switch in its deactuated condition.

#Referring to FIG. 1, an electric iron is shown, generally at 10. A metallic sole plate 12 is heated by an electric heater element (not shown in FIG. 1). A heat barrier 14, preferably of a heat-resistant material such as, for example, phenolic, is disposed above metallic sole plate 12. A housing 16, preferably of a thermoplastic material such as, for example, polypropylene, is disposed atop heat barrier 14.

#Housing 16 includes a body 18 which may contain the heating element and a water reservoir (not shown) suitable for containing water whose level is discernible through a transparent sight gauge 20. A forward pedestal 22 rises near the front of housing 16 and a rear pedestal 24 rises near the rear of housing 16. A handle lower shell 26 joins facing portions of forward pedestal 22 and rear pedestal 24. A handle upper shell and control cover 28 closes the top of handle lower shell 26 and forward pedestal 22. An electric cord 30, entering through rear pedestal 24, provides electric power to interior components of electric iron 10. A conventional heel plate 32 and a heel rest 34 are disposed at the rear end of electric iron 10. As is conventional, electric iron 10 may be rested on a horizontal surface upon heel plate 32 and heel rest 34 with metallic sole plate 12 inclined at a substantial upward angle out of contact with the horizontal surface.

#Handle lower shell 26 and handle upper shell and control cover 28, as well as forward pedestal 22, are hollow whereby space is provided for mechanical actuators, control valves, electronics and electro-mechanical devices required for operation of electric iron 10. An ON pushbutton 36 is disposed above forward pedestal 22. Other conventional controls are visible in FIG. 1 but are not identified or described since they are not considered to form an inventive part of the present disclosure.