Electric steam iron having a detachable handle

摘要

An electric steam iron housing has a sole plate with a generally flat upper surface having affixed thereto a one-piece heating assembly having a front portion and a rear portion. The front portion contains a serpentine steam generating passage with an inlet communicating with a water supply container on the housing and steam outlet leading to steam vent openings extending through the sole plate. The rear portion includes top and sidewalls defining a downwardly open chamber in which is disposed a multilayer PTC electric heating element assembly in surface-to-surface contact with the upper surface of the sole plate for heating the sole plate and the steam generating passage. An adjustable thermostat responsive to the temperature of the sole plate is connected in series with the heating element. The handle of the iron is detachable and designed to serve as a storage case for the iron and the iron can be placed in the case only when the thermostat adjustment knob is in the "Off" position.