Steam iron

Abstract

A lightweight pressing and steaming iron having a soleplate with a heating element and steam passages in communication with steam ports including a first plastic housing member mounted on the soleplate and defining the bottom wall of a water reservoir and a second plastic housing member disposed over and secured to the first plastic housing member by a suitable sealant and defining the top and side walls of the water reservoir. The second plastic housing member also defines a tower-like structure at the forward end of the iron and a handle projecting rearwardly from the upper end of the tower-like structure. A valve located between the water reservoir and the soleplate steam passages includes an orifice adapted, when the valve is open, to provide a predetermined flow of water from the reservoir to the steam passages for normal steam ironing. First and second bellows pumps are provided in the upper part of the tower-like structure in side by side relationship with their actuating portions projecting upwardly through the handle and a spray nozzle is located on the front of the tower-like structure, the outlet port of the first bellows pump being connected to the spray nozzle, the outlet port of the second bellows pump being connected to the steam passages in the soleplate, and the inlet ports of both bellows pumps having inlet tubes extending into the lower rear portion of the reservoir.