Steam iron including double boiler portions, heaters, and thermostat

An electric steam iron comprising:

• a housing
• a water reservoir mounted in said housing;
• means comprising a boiler disposed in said housing in fluid flow communication with said water reservoir;
• a soleplate attached to said housing;
• a first electrically operated heater operatively connected to said boiler;
• a second electrically operated heater operatively connected to said soleplate;
• fluid control means for regulating a flow of fluid from said water reservoir into said boiler;
• a first thermostatic means for independently regulating an operating temperature of said boiler heater and second thermostatic means for independently regulating an operating temperature of said soleplate heater;
• said boiler comprising a first member in direct contact with said boiler heater and including a first portion for receiving water from said water reservoir and forming a boiler section for converting said water into steam, a second member spaced vertically above said first member for encompassing therebetween a longitudinally extending first flow path for said steam formed in said boiler section, a third member spaced vertically above said second member for encompassing therebetween a longitudinally extending second flow path, the end of said first flow path communicating with the beginning of said second flow path so that steam flowing through said second flow path is moving in an opposite direction to the steam flow through said first flow path, said third member including a pair of laterally extending wings to fluid flow communication with the end of said second flow path for defining lateral flow path extensions for the steam exiting the second flow path;
• and
• means in fluid flow communication with said wings and said soleplate for distributing steam from said wings through said soleplate.

A boiler for generating steam in an electric steam iron having a water reservoir and a soleplate, said boiler comprising:

• a first member for receiving water from said water reservoir and having an electrically operated heater for converting said water into steam;
• passage means in said first member for directing the steam in a first axial direction;
• a second member overlying said first member and including a first opening aligned with an end of said passage means and an axially extending inclined baffle member having a lower end aligned with said opening;
• a third member overlying said second member for defining therebetween a second flow path for said steam, said second flow path being in communication with said first opening and being vertically above said passage means for directing steam flowing therethrough in an axial direction opposite to the direction of flow of steam through said passage means;
• and
• fluid distribution means communicating with said second flow path for distributing steam flowing through said flow path to said soleplate.