Steam iron and ironing method with constant ironing temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional steam irons require users to manually set the ironing temperature, which is complex and user-unfriendly, especially for textiles with different thermal properties, increasing the risk of thermal damage, and are costly to produce due to the need for manually operable temperature setting devices.
Innovation Solution
A steam iron with an integrated automatic temperature control device that maintains a constant ironing temperature of 180°C to 190°C, eliminating the need for manual temperature setting and simplifying the production process, while optionally allowing steam usage and incorporating safety features to prevent overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a manually operable ironing temperature setting device is used, then the ironing temperature can be adjusted for different textile types, but the device complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the manually operable temperature setting device from the steam iron, extracting only the essential function of temperature control. The temperature setting mechanism is completely eliminated, leaving only the automatic temperature maintenance function with a fixed temperature range of 180°C to 190°C, thereby simplifying the device structure and reducing production costs while still providing adequate ironing capability for common textiles
Solution Approach 2:
The steam iron is designed to automatically maintain its ironing temperature within the fixed range of 180°C to 190°C without requiring manual intervention. The device serves itself by automatically regulating the heating element to keep the soleplate within the desired temperature range, eliminating the need for user interaction with temperature settings
2Manufacturing precision
If a manually operable ironing temperature setting device is used, then the ironing temperature can be precisely set, but the ease of operation decreases and user-friendly design is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The manually operable temperature setting device is completely removed from the steam iron. The complex mechanism involving rotary knobs, buttons, or other manual interface elements is extracted, leaving only the essential automatic temperature maintenance function. This eliminates the operational complexity for users while maintaining adequate temperature control precision through automatic regulation
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature control function operates autonomously without requiring user input. The device automatically maintains the ironing temperature within 180°C to 190°C through self-regulation of the heating element, making the operation extremely simple and user-friendly while still achieving precise temperature control
3Productivity
If manual temperature setting is required, then the ironing temperature can be optimized for specific textiles, but the risk of thermal damage increases due to user error
Solution Approach 1:
The manually operable temperature setting device is removed, eliminating the source of user error in temperature selection. The device now operates with a predetermined safe temperature range of 180°C to 190°C that is automatically maintained, removing the possibility of users selecting temperatures that are too high and causing thermal damage to textiles
Solution Approach 2:
The patent preemptively prevents thermal damage by fixing the ironing temperature within a safe range of 180°C to 190°C that is suitable for most common textiles. By eliminating manual temperature adjustment, the design preemptively blocks the potential harmful action of selecting excessively high temperatures that could damage synthetic fibers or mixed-material textiles
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The steam iron ensures safe and reliable ironing of various textiles without requiring knowledge of their thermal properties, providing good ironing results and preventing thermal damage, while being simpler and more cost-effective to produce.
Implementation Method 1
a heater for heating the soleplate and the steam generating chamber
Implementation Method 2
an integrated automatic temperature control device, which has an electronic temperature control element, which is coupled to the heating device and is designed to control the ironing temperature of the soleplate
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The steam-iron (2) includes an integrated automatic temperature control device (24) which is coupled to the heating unit (20) and designed to maintain the sole (6) of the iron within a preset, manually invariable, constant temperature range of 180 deg.C to 190 deg.C during operation of the iron. The automatic temperature control device has an electromechanical temperature control element, or an electronic temperature control element (26). An independent claim is included for a method for ironing textiles by means of a steam iron, in which regardless of the type of textile the ironing can be carried out with a preset temperature range of 180 deg.C to 190 deg.C.