Plate for steam ironing device and corresponding manufacturing method

Abstract

A plate for an iron comprises a rectilinear vaporization chamber (14) integrated in a base body (21) made in one piece, and a heating element (20). The invention also relates to a plate assembly and a corresponding method for manufacturing the plate and the plate assembly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments described herein relate to a steam heating plate for an ironing appliance, a plate assembly and corresponding methods of manufacture.

[0002] In particular, the plate according to the invention is integrally formed and comprises a flow-through boiler of tubular configuration, which makes the plate particularly efficient in producing steam and at the same time easy to clean. The plate according to the invention can be used for different types of irons, such as exhaust irons, or irons with forced water or steam inlet (also called "hot" or "cold" ironing devices). Background Art

[0003] Irons are known for domestic and industrial use, which operate with the aid of steam to iron different types of clothing, garments or fabrics in general.

[0004] In particular, these irons are provided with a plate assembly comprising a heating block, which can usually be heated by means of an electrical resistance, and an associated ironing soleplate beneath the heating block.

[0005] In particular, these irons have a first vaporization chamber inside the plate assembly, closed at the top by a cover, serving as a boiler and generating steam therein, and a second steam distribution chamber defined between the body and the ironing soleplate and connected to the vaporization chamber, from which the steam is discharged through delivery holes provided in the soleplate.

[0006] One disadvantage of the known iron is that it is difficult to carry out cleaning operations inside the plate assembly of the iron itself, and in particular inside the vaporisation chamber or boiler inside the plate assembly, which are likely to be most susceptible to scale encrustation.

[0007] In fact, since the internal parts of the iron, and in particular the interior of the vaporization chamber, are not easily accessible to the user, any residues of matter may remain on these places and, when they are deposited, may cause premature wear thereof.

[0008] In fact, these vaporization chambers generally have a plurality of labyrinths and channels for the passage of water and steam, which makes them very difficult to clean, even with possible maintenance and cleaning cycles of known type.

[0009] Furthermore, plate assemblies for irons of known type generally have a plurality of parts which must be connected and welded together, which requires complex assembly during the manufacturing step and is therefore more expensive, as well as more expensive to maintain during use.

[0010] Another disadvantage of plate assemblies of known type for irons is that they are not very reactive and they require a certain amount of time to sufficiently heat the vaporization chamber or boiler and produce steam when the ironing appliance is switched on or restarted after a pause during the ironing operation.

[0011] Document US 3,165,844 A describes an iron in which a V-shaped heating element and a V-shaped tubular element with two arms extending inside and outside the heating element are combined on the ironing soleplate. The arms located on the outside each comprise a plurality of steam outlet holes which communicate directly with the holes in the ironing soleplate. The two-arm V-shape of the tubular element does not allow access to the interior of the tubular element to effectively remove the scale therein by mechanical means, but only allows a cleaning cycle using water or chemical agents, which can be less efficient and more laborious.

[0012] Document CN106012466B describes a plate for an iron comprising a U-shaped water pipe welded to a heating element. This solution also has the disadvantage that it is not possible to mechanically remove the scale that may have accumulated in the water pipe.

[0013] US 2,019,954 A describes a plate for an iron having a preheating tube wound in a spiral shape and a V-shaped steam generating chamber connected thereto.

[0014] Although documents CN2670750Y, US2008 / 047172A1, US4747222A and WO2018 / 216046A1 describe other known solutions, they all have the above-mentioned disadvantages.

[0015]

[0006] Therefore, there is a need for improved plates and plate assemblies for ironing devices that overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0016] An object of the present invention is to provide a plate which is compact and can be used with different types of irons.

[0017] Another object is to provide a plate which has a high reactivity and allows obtaining a substantially instantaneous heating and vaporization of the water inside it.

[0018] Another object is to provide a plate for an iron which allows simple and easy cleaning even inside the steam chamber.

[0019] In particular, an object is to provide a plate for an iron which allows to mechanically remove scale which may have accumulated in the steam chamber.

[0020] Another object is to provide a plate for an iron that is cheap to manufacture and requires a limited number of mounting and assembly operations.

[0021] Another object of the present invention is to provide a plate assembly for an ironing device which is efficient and easy to use.

[0022] Another object of the present invention is to provide a plate assembly for an ironing device that is easy to manufacture and industrialize in batches and at a low cost, thereby reducing the time and costs associated with its manufacture.

[0023] Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a panel which makes it possible to significantly reduce the number of operations and thus the manufacturing time.

[0024] Another object is to improve a method for manufacturing a plate assembly that makes it possible to reduce the number of operations, in particular welding and sealing operations of the steam chamber, while ensuring high reliability and durability.

[0025] The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages. Summary of the invention

[0026] The invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

[0027] Some embodiments described herein relate to a vaporizing hotplate for an iron.

[0028] According to an aspect of the invention, the plate is made in one piece and comprises a vaporization chamber integrated inside its base, the vaporization chamber being configured to generate and / or superheat steam, and a heating element configured to heat the vaporization chamber to allow vaporization of water in the vaporization chamber and the base.

[0029] According to the invention, the vaporization chamber is rectilinear and tubular and therefore extends linearly between the respective inlet and outlet.

[0030] The straight-line construction of the vaporisation chamber makes it very easy to clean, as possible points for scale accumulation are reduced to a minimum.

[0031] According to some embodiments, the vaporization chamber is preferably cylindrical.

[0032] According to some embodiments, the base body is made of aluminum die casting.

[0033] Since the plate is made in one piece, it is highly efficient and reactive, as it can be heated to operating temperature in a shorter time at the same temperature as conventional solutions, thus significantly reducing the time required by known solutions by almost half.

[0034] According to some embodiments, the vaporization chamber is defined by a rectilinear tubular element incorporated into the base body.

[0035] Advantageously, the tubular element and the heating element define a flow-through boiler that is more compact and efficient than known solutions.

[0036] Furthermore, according to the invention, the plate has a modular character, which makes it adaptable to substantially any type of iron, at least domestic type.

[0037] According to some embodiments, in a top view, a front portion of the plate is pointed and a rear portion opposite the front portion is flat.

[0038] According to some embodiments, the plate further comprises at least one cavity provided in the lower part, the at least one cavity being closed by the ironing soleplate during use and defining together with it a steam distribution chamber.

[0039] According to some embodiments, the tubular element is arranged along the longitudinal axis of the heating plate and extends over a majority of the heating plate.

[0040] According to some embodiments, the tubular element includes opposing open ends defining an inlet and an outlet, respectively, that are substantially coaxial with each other.

[0041] According to some embodiments, the heating element consists of a resistor disposed at least partially around the vaporization chamber.

[0042] According to some embodiments, the resistor is U-shaped with its free end arranged towards the rear, the free end corresponding to the outlet, the arms arranged along diametrically opposite sides of the vaporization chamber, and the middle part of the U arranged corresponding to the inlet.

[0043] According to some embodiments, the heating element is positioned below the vaporization chamber in correspondence with or close to the inlet in order to heat the inlet area more. This is particularly useful in the case of exhaust irons or cold ironing devices, since water at ambient temperature (and therefore at a temperature much lower than that of the steam) is fed into the vaporization chamber, i.e. into the tubular body.

[0044] Advantageously, the heating element consists of a single resistor which heats both the vaporization chamber and the substrate and therefore the soleplate to which it is coupled during use by conduction, thus reducing the number of components and simplifying their management.

[0045] According to some embodiments, the tubular element comprises during use in the portion of the wall facing downwards a protrusion extending towards the interior of the tubular element and configured to act as a water drop breaker, thereby preventing water droplets from flowing in the vaporization chamber and thus facilitating vaporization thereof.

[0046] The embodiments described herein also relate to a plate assembly suitable for use with different types of irons, the plate assembly comprising:

[0047] - a plate according to the invention;

[0048] - an ironing soleplate arranged below the plate and connected to the plate so as to define a steam distribution chamber;

[0049] - an inlet manifold connected to the vaporization chamber corresponding to the inlet;

[0050] - a steam distribution manifold connected to the vaporization chamber and the distribution chamber and configured to introduce steam into the distribution chamber.

[0051] The distribution manifold is provided with an inlet configured to allow a user to access the plate assembly and the iron from the outside during use, so as to allow cleaning of the vaporization chamber.

[0052] Advantageously, the vaporization chamber is easily accessible and easy to clean due to its substantially cylindrical geometry.

[0053] The invention also relates to an ironing device comprising a plate assembly as described above.

[0054] According to the invention, the method for manufacturing a plate assembly as described above consists in manufacturing the plate by die-casting in a mold having a suitable matching shape and containing a tubular vaporizing element. In this way, the plate is made in one piece, so that fewer parts are required for its production than in known solutions, thus reducing assembly time and thus increasing service life. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] These and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments given as non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0056] - Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a plate assembly for an ironing device according to the present invention;

[0057] - Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A top view of a plate assembly;

[0058] - Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A bottom view of the plate;

[0059] - Figure 4 is along Figure 2 A perspective view of the panel assembly taken along section line IV-IV;

[0060] - Figure 5 is along Figure 2 A perspective view of the panel assembly taken along section line VV;

[0061] - Figure 6 It is used in an ironing device. Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the panel assembly taken along section line VV;

[0062] - Figure 7 Is applied to another ironing device Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the panel assembly taken along section line VV;

[0063] - Figure 8It is applied to another ironing equipment Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the panel assembly taken along section line VV;

[0064] To facilitate understanding, the same reference numerals are used, where possible, to identify the same common elements in the drawings. It should be understood that elements and features of one embodiment may be conveniently incorporated into other embodiments without further explanation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0065] We will now refer in detail to various embodiments of the present invention, one or more examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided for the purpose of illustrating the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. For example, because the features shown or described are part of one embodiment, they may be adopted on other embodiments or combined with other embodiments to produce another embodiment. It should be understood that the present invention shall include all such modifications and variations.

[0066] With reference to the drawings, the embodiments described herein relate to a heating plate 11 and a plate assembly 10 including the heating plate 11 for use in a steam-driven ironing appliance for domestic and industrial use.

[0067] According to here Figure 1 In some of the embodiments described, the plate assembly 10 comprises: an integrally formed plate 11 for vaporizing and / or heating steam, and an ironing soleplate 12 disposed below the plate 11 and selectively connected thereto.

[0068] According to some embodiments, the board 11 may include a base 21 , and the base 21 may have a lower portion 22 b having a planar shape substantially matching the bottom plate 12 and configured to be connected to the bottom plate.

[0069] Furthermore, the plate 11 may comprise an upper portion or vaporising portion 22 a protruding from a side of the lower portion 22 b opposite to the side on which the ironing soleplate 12 is connected.

[0070] According to some embodiments, plate 11 includes a vaporization chamber 14 integrated and / or bonded inside a substrate 21 to generate and / or heat steam, and also includes a heating element 20 configured to heat vaporization chamber 14 and thereby heat water or steam within vaporization chamber 14 and substrate 21 .

[0071] Depending on the type of iron on which the plate 11 is applied, water may be introduced into the vaporizing chamber 14 to generate steam, or steam may be introduced directly to superheat it.

[0072] According to some embodiments, the vaporization chamber 14 is arranged along the longitudinal axis X of the plate 11 and extends over a large part of the plate 11 .

[0073] The vaporization chamber 14 has a first inlet 15 corresponding to the front of the plate 11 and a second outlet 16 corresponding to the rear of the plate 11 .

[0074] According to some embodiments, vaporization chamber 14 is substantially linear, with respective inlet 15 and outlet 16 being substantially coaxial with each other.

[0075] That is, the vaporization chamber 14 extends straight and linearly between the inlet 15 and the outlet 16 .

[0076] In particular, vaporization chamber 14 has only two ports, namely inlet 15 and outlet 16 , and no intermediate holes and / or ports.

[0077] According to some embodiments, vaporization chamber 14 is cylindrical in shape, with a substantially circular cross section.

[0078] According to a possible variant, the vaporization chamber 14 may also have a different cross-section with rounded edges, for example an oval or a prism, in order to minimize possible scale accumulation areas and to facilitate the removal of scale.

[0079] Thus, the vaporizer chamber 14 is more compact and performs better than currently known vaporizer chambers. In addition, the rectilinear shape allows for more accurate cleaning of the vaporizer chamber 14 itself.

[0080] According to some embodiments, vaporization chamber 14 is defined by a tubular element 13 integrated or bonded in base body 21 .

[0081] The tubular element 13 has a rectilinear extension along a longitudinal axis and comprises a solid side wall 13 c and two corresponding holes 13 a , 13 b opposite each other, which respectively define an inlet 15 and an outlet 16 of the vaporization chamber 14 .

[0082] According to this embodiment, the vaporization chamber 14 extends along the entire length of the tubular element 13. By way of example, the vaporization chamber 14 or the tubular element 13 may have a substantially constant diameter developing in the longitudinal direction, for example between 7 mm and 25 mm, preferably between 10 mm and 20 mm.

[0083] By way of example, the vaporization chamber 14 or the tubular element 13 may extend over a length of about 12-20 cm, preferably about 15-18 cm.

[0084] According to an embodiment, the tubular element 13 may be arranged in the upper portion 22a.

[0085] The heating element 20 may be disposed internally in a through seat of the plate 11 .

[0086] According to an embodiment, the heating element 20 is integrated in the plate 11 .

[0087] According to an embodiment, the base body 21 is made of aluminum die casting, and the tubular element 13 and the heating element 20 are integrated or embedded in the base body 21, ensuring a high thermal conductivity gradient.

[0088] According to some embodiments, the tubular element 13 may be made of steel.

[0089] According to a possible variant, the plate 11 may be configured such that the tubular element 13 is defined by a longitudinal through seat 17 in the upper portion 22 a or such that the tubular element 13 is housed in said longitudinal through seat 17 .

[0090] The tubular element 13 and the heating element 20 essentially define a flow-through boiler in which water is heated and vaporized by flowing along the tubular element 13, thereby allowing steam to be generated almost instantly and therefore much faster than known boilers or vaporization chambers.

[0091] According to an embodiment, the heating element 20 is arranged in substantial contact with the tubular element 13 so as to heat the water and / or steam therein by conduction.

[0092] According to some embodiments, a single heating element 20 is provided that is configured to heat the vaporization chamber 14 and heat the soleplate 12 by conduction, which soleplate 12 is coupled to the base 21 during use, thereby making the plate assembly more efficient than the prior art.

[0093] Advantageously, the solution also has fewer components than conventional solutions, with corresponding reductions in manufacturing, assembly and maintenance times.

[0094] According to an embodiment, the heating element 20 may be U-shaped.

[0095] In particular, the heating element 20 may have longitudinal portions 31 configured to surround the tubular element 13 on diametrically opposite sides, and at least one intermediate portion 32 connecting the longitudinal portions 31 , the intermediate portion 32 being located at a position corresponding to the inlet 15 .

[0096] Advantageously, in this way, the heating element 20 is also arranged below the water inlet area where the first vaporization occurs, thereby ensuring that the water inlet area, which is more cooled due to the introduction of new water, is heated more specifically and always maintained at an appropriate temperature.

[0097] According to e.g. Figure 5 In some of the embodiments shown, the base 21 of the plate 11 has an at least partially hollow configuration, including one or more cavities 23 corresponding to its lower portion 22 b.

[0098] The one or more cavities 23 are configured to define, during use, together with the soleplate 12 , a compartment which can be filled with steam, the compartment forming the steam distribution chamber 18 .

[0099] The vaporization chamber 14 thus extends above the distribution chamber 18 .

[0100] According to some embodiments, the plate 11 comprises at least one connection channel 24 which at least partially passes through the base 21 and is configured to put the upper side of the plate 11 in communication with the at least one cavity 23 .

[0101] According to, for example, Figure 3 In some of the embodiments described, two connecting passages 24 may be provided, which are located on opposite sides of the vaporization chamber 14 .

[0102] According to some embodiments, the connecting channel 24 delivers the steam to the lateral edge 46 that bounds the dispensing chamber 18, which during use helps to move the steam in the cavity 23 along the Figure 3-5 The path P shown is turned and distributed to the front and rear of the plate 11.

[0103] According to some embodiments, the connecting channel 24 is arranged parallel to and adjacent to the heating device 20. In this way, the steam is kept at a high temperature along the passage in the connecting channel 24, substantially all the way to the holes 19 to deliver the steam provided in the bottom sole plate 12.

[0104] According to some embodiments, the lower portion 22 b of the plate 11 may have a plurality of partition walls 48 configured to define passages for steam to pass therethrough so as to uniformly deliver the steam to the steam delivery holes 19 .

[0105] The base plate 12 may be connected to the plate 11 by mechanical connection means 33, such as but not limited to screws, snap-in or interlocking attachment means or other similar or comparable means.

[0106] A plurality of delivery holes 19 are formed on the bottom plate 12, and the delivery holes 19 are configured to limit the delivery of the steam present in the distribution chamber 18 toward the outside.

[0107] The ironing soleplate 12 may be made of one or more conductive materials, such as one or more metal materials or other suitable materials, such as steel, aluminum or steel-aluminum, and is heated by conduction through contact with the base 21 .

[0108] The ironing soleplate 12 may advantageously have a shape matching the planar shape of the plate 11, with a pointed front end, suitable for supporting the ironing of parts of clothes, garments or fabrics in general having complex and three-dimensional cut shapes.

[0109] According to an embodiment, the plate assembly 10 is provided with at least one manifold 25 for introducing water, which is connected to the plates 11 in correspondence with the inlet 15 of the vaporization chamber 14 .

[0110] According to some embodiments, the intake manifold 25 is provided with at least one feed pipe 43 configured to direct water from the outside towards the tubular elements 13 .

[0111] According to some embodiments, the inlet manifold 25 may be selectively connected to the plate 11 and the tubular element 13 by means of coupling members of the same shape, screw-engaging members or attachment members of known type, for example.

[0112] There may also be a packing suitable for ensuring a hydraulic seal.

[0113] According to an embodiment, the plate assembly 10 is further provided with at least one manifold 26 for distributing steam, which is connected to the plate 11 corresponding to the outlets 16 and the connecting channels 24 and is configured to communicate the vaporization chamber 14 with the distribution chamber 18 .

[0114] According to some embodiments, a hydraulic circuit is thus defined including the inlet manifold 25 , the vaporizer chamber 14 , the distribution manifold 26 and the distribution chamber 18 .

[0115] During use, water and / or steam enters the inlet manifold 25 and is directed toward the vaporization chamber 14 , where the water and / or steam are vaporized or superheated, respectively, and the resulting steam is delivered to the distribution chamber 18 through the distribution manifold 26 , from which the steam is discharged through the steam delivery holes 19 .

[0116] Distribution manifold 26 also includes an inlet 26 a configured to allow a user to access vaporizer chamber 14 .

[0117] According to some embodiments, the distribution manifold 26 comprises a central duct 27 connectable to the outlet 16 and at least one transverse distribution duct 28 extending transversely from the central duct 27 and connected to the connecting channel 24 during use.

[0118] The central duct 27 may be continuously connected to the tubular element 13, which also defines a portion of the vaporization chamber 14. Advantageously, the central duct 27 and the tubular element 13 may coincide so as to define a vaporization chamber 14 which is rectilinear and substantially cylindrical without interruption.

[0119] The inlet 26 a is provided at an end opposite to the end connected to the plate 11 .

[0120] According to some embodiments, the distribution manifold 26 comprises two distribution ducts 28 opposite each other relative to the central duct 27 , each distribution duct 28 being connectable to a respective connecting channel 24 in order to achieve a homogenous and uniform distribution of the steam in the one or more cavities 23 and therefore in the distribution chamber 18 .

[0121] According to some embodiments, the central duct 27 is provided, on its end facing the outside during use, in correspondence with the inlet 26 a , with coupling means 29 by which a cover 34 can be attached which can be removed by the user to allow access to the vaporization chamber 14 .

[0122] According to some embodiments, during use, the connection member 47 may be disposed between the central duct 27 and the cover 34 and configured to couple one with the other through, for example, a coupler of the same shape and ensure the sealing of the vaporization chamber 14 .

[0123] The central duct 27 and the distribution ducts 28 may be connected to the plate 11 by means of couplers of the same shape or with attachment members of known type.

[0124] According to some embodiments, the inlet openings 28a of the distribution ducts 28 are arranged at an elevated height relative to the bottom of the central duct 27. In this way, only steam is conveyed through the inlet openings 28a, while any remaining unvaporized water remains in the vaporization chamber 14.

[0125] This solution allows to confine the scale-laden water inside the evaporation chamber 14, or possibly inside the central duct 27, preventing it from filtering into other parts of the plate assembly 10, such as the distribution ducts 28 and / or the connecting channels 24. In this way, the only element of the plate assembly 10 to be cleaned of scale incrustations or general fouling is the tubular element 13 defining the evaporation chamber 14.

[0126] According to a possible embodiment, the central pipe 27 may be slightly inclined so that its outer end is higher than the end connected to the vaporization chamber 14 to block the passage of water from the tubular element 13 .

[0127] According to one embodiment, the inlet manifold 25 and the distribution manifold 26 may be made of a thermoplastic material.

[0128] For example, the inlet manifold 25 and the distribution manifold 26 may be made of plastic or silicone to withstand the operating temperature of the plate 11 .

[0129] Advantageously, the tubular element 13 is easy to clean due to its cylindrical shape. Furthermore, the inlet manifold 25 and the distribution manifold 26 may be configured to be detachable from the plate 11 to further simplify the cleaning operation.

[0130] According to an embodiment, tubular element 13 may include one or more projections 30 extending from a downwardly facing surface towards the interior of vaporization chamber 14 during use.

[0131] These protrusions 30 may be formed as ridges spaced apart from one another along the entire length of the vaporizer 14 and thus along the path of the liquid water within the vaporizer 14 .

[0132] The projection 30 advantageously performs an anti-thermal contamination function, interrupting the linear flow of water within the vaporization chamber 14 and redistributing it so as to facilitate proper vaporization of the water.

[0133] According to some embodiments, the protrusion 30 can be made by stamping or drawing before the tubular element 13 is positioned in the mold for aluminum die casting, so that aluminum enters the outer hollow part of the protrusion 30, thereby effectively bonding and stabilizing the tubular element 13 in the matrix 21.

[0134] According to some embodiments, the plate assembly 10 comprises at least one disturbance and accumulation element 35, which is arranged inside the tubular element 13, i.e. in the vaporization chamber 14, and is configured to disturb the water entering from the inlet 15 and act as a water drop breaker, thereby promoting the vaporization of water while increasing the probability of accumulation of scale thereon.

[0135] The water drop breaking element 35 is preferably made of metal.

[0136] According to some embodiments, the disturbance and accumulation element 35 , also called a drop breaker in the iron field, can be made as a brush comprising a plurality of bristles arranged radially with respect to the longitudinal axis X.

[0137] According to a variant, the droplet-breaking element 35 may be made as a brush comprising a plurality of foils extending radially with respect to the central axis, possibly at least partially arranged in a helical manner.

[0138] According to some variants, the water droplet-breaking element 35 may be made of steel wool, formed from filaments and wood shavings twisted together.

[0139] The embodiments described herein also relate to a cleaning device 36 that is configured to be removably inserted into the vaporization chamber 14 and to exert a mechanical descaling action on the inner surface of the vaporization chamber 14 during the removal / insertion step.

[0140] According to some embodiments, the cleaning device 36 may include a cleaning portion 37 disposed corresponding to the inlet 15 during use.

[0141] According to some embodiments, the cleaning device 36 further includes a gripping portion 38 disposed outside the plate assembly 10 during use and configured to be gripped by a user, and a connecting portion 39 connecting the gripping portion 38 with the cleaning portion 37 .

[0142] According to some embodiments, the connection portion 39 may include a shaft or rod made of a shape memory material, such as but not limited to harmonic steel, which is straight in the withdrawn state ( Figure 1 ), while in the inserted state it is at least partially bent or curved ( Figure 5 ).

[0143] The cleaning device 36 may extend within the tubular element 13 over a length at least equal to the length of the tubular element 13 itself.

[0144] The cleaning portion 37 may be configured to be at least partially positioned in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the tubular element 13 .

[0145] In particular, the cleaning portion 37 may include a brush or a small brush or a disc made of a deformable abrasive material, or a similar or comparable component.

[0146] For example, the cleaning portion 37 may include a plurality of scrapers or bristles arranged radially or spirally around the connecting portion 39 .

[0147] The cleaning section 37 may comprise a water droplet disrupting element 35 of the type described above, for example.

[0148] According to some embodiments, cleaning portion 37 is made of a deformable material to follow the development of vaporization chamber 14 and clean it, even corresponding to protrusion 30, thereby allowing easy transition from a non-inserted state to an inserted state and vice versa.

[0149] Advantageously, the cleaning section 37 can perform a triple function: a droplet breaker, a scale collector and a device for mechanical descaling. In particular, the cleaning section 37 acts as a droplet breaker and a scale collector because the cleaning section 37 is arranged near the feed pipe 43, i.e. at the entry point of the liquid water, and therefore where the scale concentration is high and where the liquid begins to vaporize.

[0150] During the transition of the cleaning device 36 from the inserted state to the non-inserted state, the cleaning portion 37 cleans the tubular element 13 and scrapes the inner wall of the tubular element 13 to eliminate possible scale deposits in the vaporization chamber 14. Therefore, the mechanical action of withdrawing the cleaning device 36 determines the removal of residual scale in the vaporization chamber 14.

[0151] Advantageously, these cleaning operations can be easily performed due to the shape of the vaporization chamber 14 , ie cylindrical or in section with rounded edges and substantially straight.

[0152] According to one embodiment, the cleaning device 36 may provide a plurality of cleaning portions 37 disposed along the connecting portion 39 to enhance the cleaning and thermal contamination prevention effects along the entire tubular vaporization element.

[0153] According to an embodiment, the cleaning device 36 may include a plurality of cleaning parts 37 sequentially combined with the connecting part 39 .

[0154] These cleaning portions 37 may provide cleaning discs whose diameter varies with the development of the vaporization chamber 14 , these cleaning discs being configured to be deformable, thereby allowing them to slide inside the vaporization chamber despite the presence of the protrusions 30 .

[0155] According to some embodiments, grip 38 may be provided with cover 34 and configured to be screwed onto distribution manifold 26 , or onto connection member 47 , so as to provide easy access to the user and seal vaporization chamber 14 .

[0156] Advantageously, since the plate 11 is made in one piece, the number of operations required to manufacture it is relatively small.

[0157] Furthermore, since the plate 11 is manufactured by integrating the tubular vaporization chamber 14 into the base 21, the entire plate assembly 10 also requires fewer sealing operations compared to the prior art.

[0158] In fact, in order to assemble the plate assembly 10, it is sufficient to connect the intake manifold 25 to the inlet 15 and the distribution manifold 26 to the outlet 16, thereby connecting the corresponding distribution ducts to the connecting channel 24, and in order to seal the vaporization chamber 14, it is sufficient to close the central duct 27 of the distribution manifold 26 with the cover 34.

[0159] Furthermore, in order to seal the dispensing chamber 18 , it is sufficient to attach the bottom plate 12 to the plate 11 .

[0160] According to some embodiments, the grip 38 or the cover 34 , if present, may include a coupling member 40 that mates with a coupling device 29 provided on the distribution manifold 26 or on the connecting member 47 .

[0161] According to an embodiment, the plate assembly 10 may be applied to a conventional iron, and is generally applied to known ironing devices 41 and steam cleaning devices.

[0162] As non-limiting examples, the plate assembly 10 may be applied to an exhaust iron or an iron with forced water supply.

[0163] According to reference Figure 6 The embodiment described here describes an ironing device 41A with an exhaust iron, comprising a plate assembly 10 and at least one water tank 42 configured to contain water to be fluidly connected to the intake manifold 25 .

[0164] According to some embodiments, upon activation of the valve or pumping device 44 , the water tank 42 may deliver water into the intake manifold 25 through a feed pipe 43 disposed substantially in a direction orthogonal to the inlet 15 by gravity drop of the water.

[0165] according to Figure 6 In the embodiment of the present invention, water can be introduced by continuous seepage through the feed pipe 43, or by means of a pumping device 44 which adds an additional amount of water through an auxiliary pipe 49, thereby generating additional steam jets to iron out the most difficult folds.

[0166] According to a variant, a "cold" type ironing device 41B with a separate water tank 42 is provided. Figure 7 , it includes a feed pump 45 that can be selectively activated to deliver water from the water tank 42 to the intake manifold 25.

[0167] According to another variant, for example Figure 8 As shown, a "hot" type ironing device 41C is shown, which is provided with a separate boiler 50, which is configured to generate steam supplied to the inlet manifold 25. In this case, steam, rather than water, is supplied directly into the vaporization chamber 14, and the steam is superheated as it passes along to reach the distribution chamber.

[0168] Obviously, as previously described, modifications and / or additions of parts or steps may be made to the plate 11 , the plate assembly 10 and the ironing device 41 , without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

[0169] It is also clear that, although the invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person skilled in the art will of course be able to realize many other equivalent forms of the plate 11, the plate assembly 10 and the ironing device 41 having the features as described in the claims, and therefore all fall within the scope of protection defined thereby.

Claims

1. A plate for a steam iron, characterized in that The invention comprises a tubular element (13) integrated in a base body (21) made in one piece, the tubular element (13) defining a rectilinear tubular vaporization chamber (14), the vaporization chamber (14) extending straight and rectilinearly between an inlet (15) and an outlet (16) for water and / or steam, respectively, which are opposite to each other and coaxial with each other, and a U-shaped heating element (20), the heating element (20) matching the vaporization chamber (14) in shape and partially surrounding the vaporization chamber (14), wherein the base body (21) has a cavity (23) in the lower part, the cavity (23) being configured to define a steam distribution chamber (18) during use and comprising at least one connecting channel (24), the at least one connecting channel (24) at least partially passing through the base body (21) and being configured to connect the outlet (16) located in the upper part (22a) of the plate with the cavity (23).

2. The plate according to claim 1, characterized in that The base body (21) is made of aluminum die casting, and the vaporization chamber (14) is defined by a substantially cylindrical, straight tubular element (13) incorporated in the base body (21).

3. The plate according to claim 2, characterized in that The tubular element (13) comprises, on the surface facing downwards during use, a projection (30) having a water droplet breaking function, the projection (30) extending towards the inside of the vaporisation chamber (14).

4. The plate according to claim 1, characterized in that The heating element (20) is positioned below the vaporization chamber (14) near the inlet (15).

5. The plate according to claim 1, characterized in that The heating element (20) comprises a U-shaped resistor having longitudinal portions (31) arranged on diametrically opposite sides of the vaporization chamber (14) and an intermediate portion (32) connecting the longitudinal portions (31) and arranged close to the inlet (15).

6. The plate according to claim 1, characterized in that The invention comprises at least one interference and accumulation element (35) having a water droplet breaking function, wherein the interference and accumulation element (35) is arranged in the vaporization chamber (14) near the inlet (15) and is configured to perform a water droplet breaking function to facilitate the vaporization of water and the accumulation of scale thereon.

7. A plate assembly for a steam iron, characterized in that: include: A plate according to any one of claims 1 to 6; An ironing soleplate (12) provided with a steam delivery hole (19), arranged below the soleplate and connected to the base (21), defining a steam distribution chamber (18) with the base (21); an introduction manifold (25) connected to the inlet (15) and configured to introduce water and / or steam into the vaporization chamber (14); A steam distribution manifold (26) is connected to the outlet (16) and the distribution chamber (18) and is configured to transport the steam from the vaporization chamber (14) to the distribution chamber (18).

8. The plate assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that include: A cleaning device (36) is removably insertable into the vaporization chamber (14) and comprises a cleaning portion (37) having a size consistent with a lateral size of the vaporization chamber (14); a holding portion (38) opposite to the cleaning portion (37) and configured to seal the vaporization chamber (14) from the outside; and a connecting portion (39) connecting the holding portion (38) and the cleaning portion (37).

9. The plate assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that The cleaning portion (37) comprises an interference and accumulation element (35) made of a deformable material in the shape of a brush having bristles, or foils, or one or more discs spaced apart from one another along the connecting portion (39), configured to act as a water drop breaker and to facilitate the vaporization of water, wherein the cleaning portion (37) has a cross-section having a shape and size corresponding to the internal cross-section of the vaporization chamber (14).

10. The plate assembly according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that The connecting portion (39) is made of shape memory material.

11. An ironing device, comprising an iron, having a plate assembly according to any one of claims 7 to 10.

12. A method for manufacturing an ironing board, characterized in that: The invention comprises positioning a straight tubular element (13) and a U-shaped heating element (20) partially wrapped around the straight tubular element in a mold, and manufacturing an integral base body (21) by aluminum die casting, wherein the base body (21) combines the straight tubular vaporization chamber (14) and the heating element (20) therein. The vaporization chamber (14) extends straight and linearly between respective inlet (15) and outlet (16) opposite and coaxial to each other, and the base (21) has a cavity (23) in the lower part, the cavity (23) being configured to define a steam distribution chamber (18) during use and comprising at least one connecting channel (24), the at least one connecting channel (24) at least partially passing through the base (21) and being configured to connect the outlet (16) located in the upper part (22a) of the plate with the cavity (23).

13. The method for manufacturing an ironing board according to claim 12, characterized in that: The invention comprises manufacturing a protrusion (30), wherein the protrusion (30) protrudes toward the inside of the tubular element (13) by stamping or drawing before the tubular element (13) is positioned in the mold for aluminum die casting, so that molten aluminum enters the outer hollow part of the protrusion (30), thereby effectively combining and stabilizing the tubular element (13) in the matrix (21).

14. A method for manufacturing a panel assembly, characterized in that include: Use of a plate according to any one of claims 1 to 6; Connecting an ironing soleplate (12) provided with steam delivery holes (19) to the base body (21) to define a steam distribution chamber (18); Connecting an inlet manifold (25) to the inlet (15); A distribution manifold (26) is connected to the outlet (16) and places the vaporization chamber (14) in communication with the vapor distribution chamber (18).

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