Black Decker Inc.

Richard I Farrington

Richard J Carbone

George M Drizos

David W Kaiser

David B Jalbert

Glen Nielsen

Peter A Czerner

James E Chasen

Patrick B Nolan

John G Rousso

Flexible light

An electrically powered appliance includes a first housing connected to a source of electric power. A second housing is spaced from the first housing and includes means for using the electric power. In a preferred embodiment, the electricity powers a light source. A flexible mounting assembly connects the first and second housings. One of the first and second housings includes an elongated slot and the other of the housings includes a protrusion for engagement with the slot. The first housing includes an axially extending U-shaped channel. A portion of the flexible mounting assembly adjacent said second housing is supported within said U-shaped channel when the first and second housings are adjacent each other.

Light with flexible support and reduced storage length

An overtemperature protection assembly with a mount, a solder terminal and a bridging connector. The mount is a block of ceramic material with a slot extending therethrough. The solder terminal has an end that is located in the slot and forms a frictional connection therein. The bridging connector has a busing terminal and a spring contact. The busing terminal has an end that is located in the slot. The spring contact has a first end connected to the busing terminal and a second end that is deflected towards the solder terminal and soldered thereto. If the solder connecting the second end of the spring contact to the solder terminal melts from excessive heat, the spring contact deflects away from the solder terminal thereby breaking electrical connection between the solder terminal and the busing terminal.

Overtemperature protection assembly for an appliance

A water tank is connected to a skirt with a snap-lock connection and a single fastener. The tank has two spaced projections at its rear end that are snapped over a portion of the skirt. A front end of the tank has a rib with a notch that guides the front of the tank onto the skirt. The single fastener connects the front of the tank to the skirt. A steam valve is placed on the steam chamber, through a hole in the skirt, before the water tank is connected to the steam valve.

Electric steam iron with improved water tank and skirt assembly

An electrical steam iron having a soleplate, a housing, a thermostat and a temperature control knob connected to a shaft of the thermostat by an adapter. A spring is directly mounted to the adapter and has a deflectable portion between the adapter and the thermostat. The spring is a single wire that has a U-shaped center and crisscrossed L-shaped legs.

Wire spacer for a shaft in an electrical appliance

A steam iron having a thermostat, a steam valve, and a rotatable temperature control. The control has a cam member with an outwardly extending flange having a worm thread section. The cam member operably connects a temperature control knob to the thermostat. A rocker is pivotably connected to the housing of the steam iron and operably connects the cam member to the steam valve.

Steam iron with rotatable temperature control

An electric iron includes a soleplate, a soleplate cover connected to the soleplate, a housing connected to the soleplate, and a water tank associated with the housing. The soleplate and soleplate cover are spaced to form a surge chamber therebetween. The soleplate cover includes a first flow opening communicating the water tank with the surge chambers. A flow control member delivers water from the tank to the surge chamber. A seal overlies the first flow opening and includes a first portion in sealing engagement with the first flow opening. The portion of the seal includes a first leg extending through the flow opening below the lower surface of the cover. The leg includes a nozzle for directing water from the tank into the surge chamber in a tangential flow path relative to the lower surface of the cover. The nozzle directs the water towards a temperature sensing element used to control the temperature of the soleplate heater.

Steam iron seal with tangential flow for surge

A spray nozzle for an electric iron includes a nozzle cap having an outlet orifice formed in an end wall thereof. The cap includes an axially extending cylindrical wall defining an axially extending bore. A fluid delivery tube is provided in the bore. The inside surface of the end wall includes at least two circumferentially spaced raised pads. The sides of adjacent pads define slots therebetween. A substantially flat disc-like member is disposed in the bore adjacent the pads. The diameter of the member is somewhat less than the diameter of the bore to define a circumferentially extending groove. The opposed surfaces of the end wall and the member define a cavity. The pads define the radially inner circumferential border of the cavity. The slots formed between adjacent pads are disposed on lines that are tangent to the cavity. The end of the fluid delivery tube is notched to form 'V'-shaped surfaces. The ends of the legs of the 'V' are in engagement with the confronting surface of the disc-like member to move the member into engagement with the pads.

Spray nozzle for electric iron

A combination pump and spray or surge function selector valve for an electric iron comprises a valve stem having a user operated member on a first end and a valve member with an angled sealing surface on a second end. A housing is spaced circumferentially about the valve member and includes a first water inlet and a pair of water outlets in fluid flow communication with said inlet. The stem is movable in a first direction relative to the housing so that the angled sealing surface selectively connects the water inlet with a selected one of the outlets while discontinuing communication between the inlet and the other of said outlets. The stem is movable in a second direction relative to the housing to pump water from the inlet to the selected one water outlet.

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Seymour, CT, United States of America

Richard I Farrington