Automatic standby electric cloths iron

Abstract

An improved electric clothes iron comprises a water tank, chassis, handle, electrically heated soleplate, and steam chamber. The improvement, in one instance, includes heel and toe lifting pistons which are embedded in the soleplate and driven by an electric motor. A grip sensor in the handle triggers the lift piston motor to operate when the user is no longer gripping the handle. The lifting pistons are quickly retracted if the user grabs the handle again. The heated soleplate can be automatically turned off if the iron is left idle too long.

1 . An iron comprising:
 a soleplate;   a handle;   a separation mechanism including at least one lifting leg for lifting said iron, thereby lifting a bottom surface of said soleplate away from a supporting surface;   a sensor providing for control of said separation mechanism, wherein, when said sensor detects the hand of the user contacting said iron, said sensor sends a signal to said separation mechanism to lower the iron by retracting said separation mechanism, and when the user releases said iron said sensor signals said separation mechanism to raise the iron.