Hand-held shock-resistant electrolytically heated steam producing

Abstract

A hand-held electrolytically heated steam producing apparatus, e.g., steaming iron, includes a hollow housing having an interior subdivided by a partition wall into a pair of compartments communicated by a passage. A first compartment accomodates a pair of spaced electrodes that are at different electrical potentials during steam-producing operations of the apparatus, while the second compartment is penetrated by a tubular stack extending from a steam outlet in the bottom wall of the housing to a given distance from the top wall of the housing but below the level of the passage. The top wall of the second compartment is also provided with a water inlet offset from the steam stack and equipped with a removable closure. To prevent the formation of an electrically conductive path through the water between the electrodes and the user in all positions of the apparatus, the partition wall is L-shaped in vertical cross section to define a recess below the passage open to the first compartment and sized to retentively receive substantially all of the water contents of the first compartment when the housing is in an up-ended position with the first compartment above the second compartment, thereby preventing water from flowing between the compartment and forming an electrically conductive path. The apparatus includes a switch for controlling the energization of the electrodes and an interlock arrangement between the inlet closure and switch prevents removal of the closure if the electrodes are energized and the energization of the electrodes if the closure is removed to fill the apparatus.