Automatic power interrupting apparatus for an electric appliance

摘要

An automatic switching apparatus for a hand held electrically operated appliance, such as a pressing iron, is provided within a circuit board located within the housing of the iron. The automatic switching apparatus includes a first timing circuit and a touch sensitive switch which function in conjunction with one another such that when the user breaks contact with the touch sensitive switch, located on the handle portion of the iron, the first timing circuit is enabled to de-energize the heating element of the iron after contact has been broken with the touch sensitive switch for a predetermined period of time. A second timing circuit is provided to disable the first timing circuit for a second predetermined period of time when the iron is initially plugged into the wall outlet so as to permit the heating element to reach a temperature level suitable for ironing without necessitating the user to contact the touch sensitive switch when the heating element is initially energized. A temperature sensitive circuit is further provided to de-energize the heating element at a predetermined temperature.