초록 ▼

A portable, handheld iron (10) is provided having a pair of opposing soleplates (25, 35) with a lip (26, 36) for reaching hard to reach areas on a garment. The soleplates (25, 35) are disposed on respective upper and lower portions (20, 30) pivotally connected by a hinge (40). The upper and lower po

A portable, handheld iron (10) is provided having a pair of opposing soleplates (25, 35) with a lip (26, 36) for reaching hard to reach areas on a garment. The soleplates (25, 35) are disposed on respective upper and lower portions (20, 30) pivotally connected by a hinge (40). The upper and lower portions (20, 30) are moveable between open and closed positions. The longitudinal axes B of the upper and lower portions (20, 30) are offset from the plane of the soleplates (25, 35) by an offset angle α when in the closed position. The offset angle α provides the iron (10) with an ergonomic advantage in reaching hard to reach areas. In an embodiment, at least one of the soleplates (25, 35) is provided with a plurality of vents (27) for delivering wrinkle releasing steam.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An iron for pressing a garment, comprising: an upper portion having a first soleplate disposed thereon;a lower portion having a second soleplate disposed thereon;a hinge pivotally connecting the upper and lower portions, wherein the upper portion and lower portions are moveable relative to one an

1. An iron for pressing a garment, comprising: an upper portion having a first soleplate disposed thereon;a lower portion having a second soleplate disposed thereon;a hinge pivotally connecting the upper and lower portions, wherein the upper portion and lower portions are moveable relative to one another about said hinge such that in a first position the garment is insertable between the first and second soleplates, and a second position where the garment is pressed between the respective first and second soleplates;a plurality of vents formed in at least one of the first and second soleplates configured to deliver steam to the garment in the second position;a steam chamber disposed adjacent to the plurality of vents where steam is generated for delivery to the garment through the plurality of vents;a water tank in the respective upper or lower portions where the steam chamber is disposed for providing water to the steam chamber via a first conduit; anda plunger in the hinge which depresses a bladder disposed in the hinge when the upper and lower portions are moved to the second position which provides pressurized air via a second conduit to the water tank to pump water from the water tank to the steam chamber. 2. The iron of claim 1, further comprising: a first housing portion forming the upper portion where the first soleplate is attached;wherein an outer periphery of the first soleplate does not extend completely to an edge of the first housing portion and a space is formed between the outer periphery of the first soleplate and the first housing portion. 3. The iron of claim 1, further comprising: a second housing portion forming the lower portion where the second soleplate is attached;wherein an outer periphery of the second soleplate does not extend completely to an edge of the second housing portion and a space is formed between the outer periphery of the second soleplate and the second housing portion. 4. The iron of claim 1, further comprising: a first housing portion forming the upper portion where the first soleplate is attached; anda second housing portion forming the lower portion where the second soleplate is attached;wherein in a first configuration the lower portion is attached to the upper portion, and alternately, in a second configuration the lower portion is detached from the upper portion. 5. The iron of claim 4, wherein an outer periphery of the first soleplate does not extend completely to an edge of the first housing portion and a space is formed between the outer periphery of the first soleplate and the first housing portion, and an outer periphery of the second soleplate does not extend completely to an edge of the second housing portion and another space is formed between the outer periphery of the second soleplate and the second housing portion. 6. The iron of claim 1, wherein both the first and second soleplates are heated. 7. The iron of claim 1, further comprising: a slot formed between the upper and lower portions that extends from the first and second soleplates to the hinge, said slot configured to receive a portion of the garment being pressed to enable the soleplates to reach hard to reach areas without grasping the portion of the garment. 8. The iron of claim 1, wherein said upper and lower portions respectively include angled portions having longitudinal axes that are offset from a plane of the first and second soleplates when in the second position by an angle α. 9. The iron of claim 8, wherein the angle α is 10°. 10. A method of pressing a garment, comprising: inserting the garment into a space on an iron between a pair of opposing first and second soleplates disposed on respective upper and lower portions hingedly connected together, the upper and lower portions normally in a first position;moving the upper and lower portions from the first position to a second position wherein the space between the first and second soleplates is minimized thereby pressing the garment between the first and second soleplates;directing steam from a plurality of vents in at least one of the soleplates onto the garment in the second position; andpumping water from a tank to a chamber disposed adjacent to at the at least one of the soleplates and generating steam therein;wherein the water is pumped to the chamber when the upper and lower portions are moved from the first position to the second position. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the water is pumped to the chamber by a bellows disposed in a hinge connecting the upper and lower portions. 12. The method of claim 10, further comprising: providing a first housing portion forming the upper portion where the first soleplate is disposed;providing a second housing portion forming the lower portion where the second soleplate is disposed;forming a space between an outer periphery of the first soleplate and the first housing portion, wherein the outer periphery of the first soleplate does not extend completely to an edge of the first housing portion; andforming another space between an outer periphery of the second soleplate and the second housing portion, wherein the outer periphery of the second soleplate does not extend completely to an edge of the second housing portion. 13. The method of claim 10, further comprising: moving the upper and lower portions from the second position to the first position wherein the space between the first and second soleplates is maximized thereby allowing the garment between the first and second soleplates to be released. 14. A convertible appliance, comprising: a housing having an upper and lower portion;a first soleplate portion including a first heating element attached to the upper housing portion; anda second soleplate portion including a second heating element attached to the lower housing portion;wherein in a first configuration the lower housing portion is attached to the upper housing portion, and alternately, in a second configuration the lower housing portion is detached from the upper housing portion. 15. The convertible appliance of claim 14, further comprising a fastening means configured to removably secure the lower housing portion to the upper housing portion. 16. The convertible appliance of claim 15, wherein the fastening means includes prongs on the lower housing portion that are inserted into recesses in the upper housing portion. 17. The convertible appliance of 16, wherein the fastening means includes at least one of a catch, lock, or interference-type fit. 18. The convertible appliance of claim 14, further comprising: a hinge pivotally connecting the upper and lower housing portions, wherein the upper housing and the lower housing portions are moveable relative to one another about said hinge such that in a first position the garment is insertable between the first and second soleplates, and a second position where the garment is pressed between the respective first and second soleplates;a plurality of vents formed in at least one of the first and second soleplates configured to deliver steam to the garment in the second position;a steam chamber disposed adjacent to the plurality of vents where steam is generated for delivery to the garment through the plurality of vents;a water tank in the respective upper or lower housing portions where the steam chamber is disposed for providing water to the steam chamber via a first conduit; anda plunger in the hinge which depresses a bladder disposed in the hinge when the upper and lower housing portions are moved to the second position which provides pressurized air via a second conduit to the water tank to pump water from the water tank to the steam chamber.