Steam cleaner and steam iron apparatus

Abstract

A combination steam cleaner and steam iron includes a steam generator, a steam cleaner and a steam iron. The steam generator includes a control device connected to a boiler element for boiling water to produce steam. The steam iron includes an iron heating element and a thermostat. The steam generator receives a maximum amount of power except when the iron thermostat is closed and the iron heating element requires power; the amount of power delivered to the boiler element is then reduced. The control device includes a circuit configured to deliver electrical power to the boiler element with a preset duty cycle, so that the reduced amount of power is a fraction of the maximum power in accordance with the duty cycle.

1 . A steam iron, comprising:
 a steam generating unit including
 a first heating element, 
 a first thermostat coupled to the first heating element, and 
 a control device for controlling electrical power delivered to the first heating element; and 
   a steam iron unit including
 a second heating element, and 
 a second thermostat coupled to the second heating element, 
   wherein   the control device causes delivery to the first heating element of one of (1) a maximum amount of electrical power and (2) a reduced amount of electrical power less than the maximum amount, in accordance with a state of the second thermostat.   
   
   
       2 . A steam iron according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first thermostat is in one of (1) an open state in which the first heating element is not caused to generate heat and (2) a closed state in which the first heating element is caused to generate heat,   the second thermostat is in one of (1) an open state in which the second heating element is not caused to generate heat and (2) a closed state in which the second heating element is caused to generate heat,   the control device causes delivery of the maximum amount of electrical power to the first heating element in accordance with the first thermostat being in the closed state and the second thermostat being in the open state, and   the control device causes delivery of the reduced amount of electrical power to the first heating element in accordance with the first thermostat being in the closed state and the second thermostat being in the closed state.   
   
   
       3 . A steam iron according to  claim 2 , wherein the control device includes a half-wave rectifier for delivering electrical power to the first heating element with a 50% duty cycle, so that the reduced amount of electrical power is 50% of the maximum amount. 
   
   
       4 . A steam iron according to  claim 3 , wherein the control device further includes a relay energized in accordance with the second thermostat being in the closed state, the relay thereby coupling the half-wave rectifier to the first heating element. 
   
   
       5 . A steam iron according to  claim 2 , wherein the control device includes a circuit configured to deliver electrical power to the first heating element with a preset duty cycle, so that the reduced amount of power is a fraction of the maximum power in accordance with said duty cycle. 
   
   
       6 . A steam iron according to  claim 5 , wherein the control device further includes a relay energized in accordance with the second thermostat being in the closed state, the relay thereby coupling said circuit to the first heating element. 
   
   
       7 . A steam iron according to  claim 5 , wherein said circuit includes a gated conductor device. 
   
   
       8 . A steam iron according to  claim 7 , wherein said circuit further includes a timer device, the gated conductor device is configured to conduct current in accordance with a signal at the gate thereof from the timer device, and the duty cycle is preset in accordance with values of resistances coupled to the timer device. 
   
   
       9 . A steam iron according to  claim 8 , wherein said circuit further includes a DIP switch device for setting the values of the resistances. 
   
   
       10 . A steam iron according to  claim 8 , wherein the resistances include a variable resistor. 
   
   
       11 . A steam iron according to  claim 1 , wherein the steam generating unit has a single heating element. 
   
   
       12 . A steam iron according to  claim 1 , wherein the maximum amount of electrical power is approximately 1800 watts. 
   
   
       13 . A steam iron according to  claim 1 , further comprising a steam cleaner unit. 
   
   
       14 . A combination steam cleaner and steam iron, comprising:
 a steam generating unit including
 a first heating element, 
 a first thermostat coupled to the first heating element, and 
 a control device for controlling electrical power delivered to the first heating element; 
   a steam cleaner unit; and   a steam iron unit including
 a second heating element, and 
 a second thermostat coupled to the second heating element, 
   wherein   at most one of the steam cleaner unit and the steam iron unit is coupled to the steam generating unit, and   upon coupling of the steam iron unit to the steam generating unit the control device causes delivery to the first heating element of one of (1) a maximum amount of electrical power and (2) a reduced amount of electrical power less than the maximum amount, in accordance with a state of the second thermostat.   
   
   
       15 . A combination steam cleaner and steam iron according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the first thermostat is in one of (1) an open state in which the first heating element is not caused to generate heat and (2) a closed state in which the first heating element is caused to generate heat,   the second thermostat is in one of (1) an open state in which the second heating element is not caused to generate heat and (2) a closed state in which the second heating element is caused to generate heat,   the control device causes delivery of the maximum amount of electrical power to the first heating element in accordance with the first thermostat being in the closed state and the second thermostat being in the open state, and   the control device causes delivery of the reduced amount of electrical power to the first heating element in accordance with the first thermostat being in the closed state and the second thermostat being in the closed state.   
   
   
       16 . A combination steam cleaner and steam iron according to  claim 14 , wherein the steam generating unit has a single heating element. 
   
   
       17 . A combination steam cleaner and steam iron according to  claim 14 , wherein the maximum amount of power is approximately 1800 watts. 
   
   
       18 . A combination steam cleaner and steam iron according to  claim 14 , wherein the control device includes a circuit configured to deliver electrical power to the first heating element with a preset duty cycle, so that the reduced amount of power is a fraction of the maximum power in accordance with said duty cycle. 
   
   
       19 . A combination steam cleaner and steam iron according to  claim 14 , wherein the control device includes a half-wave rectifier for delivering electrical power to the first heating element with a 50% duty cycle, so that the reduced amount of electrical power is 50% of the maximum amount. 
   
   
       20 . A combination steam cleaner and steam iron according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the steam generating unit further includes a steam release valve,   the steam cleaner unit includes a first steam release switch, and   the steam iron unit includes a second steam release switch,   
     so that upon coupling of the steam cleaner unit to the steam generating unit, closing of the first steam release switch causes release of steam via the steam release valve, and 
     upon coupling of the steam iron unit to the steam generating unit, closing of the second steam release switch causes release of steam via the steam release valve.