A clothes iron including some or all of: a soleplate that narrows in a longitudinal direction and an at least partially enclosed aperture that extends in at least a transverse direction, for receiving at least a portion of a hand when in use; an interface configured to be connectable to and disconnectable from a fluid outlet external to the iron and a valve for enabling transfer of fluid from the fluid outlet to the iron via the interface while the interface is connected to the fluid outlet, and for inhibiting loss of fluid from the iron via the interface while the interface is disconnected from the fluid outlet; an aligning portion and an external aligning portion and one or more outlets to which the iron is connectable, wherein at least one of the outlets is configured to transfer fluid or electrical energy to the iron.

A clothes iron including some or all of: a soleplate that narrows in a longitudinal direction and an at least partially enclosed aperture that extends in at least a transverse direction, for receiving at least a portion of a hand when in use; an interface configured to be connectable to and disconnectable from a fluid outlet external to the iron and a valve for enabling transfer of fluid from the fluid outlet to the iron via the interface while the interface is connected to the fluid outlet, and for inhibiting loss of fluid from the iron via the interface while the interface is disconnected from the fluid outlet; an aligning portion and an external aligning portion and one or more outlets to which the iron is connectable, wherein at least one of the outlets is configured to transfer fluid or electrical energy to the iron.

Embodiments provide a method and device that enables automatic selection of settings for ironing one or more pieces of fabric. A digital camera on an ironing device captures an image of a fabric. A wireless communication device on the ironing device communicates the image to a remote computing system for digital image processing to determine a fabric type and to select a set of settings based on the fabric type. The wireless communication device receives the set of settings from the remote computing system. The set of settings are applied to the ironing device.

Embodiments provide a method and device that enables automatic selection of settings for ironing one or more pieces of fabric. A digital camera on an ironing device captures an image of a fabric. A wireless communication device on the ironing device communicates the image to a remote computing system for digital image processing to determine a fabric type and to select a set of settings based on the fabric type. The wireless communication device receives the set of settings from the remote computing system. The set of settings are applied to the ironing device.

A steam generator includes a pre-heat chamber configured to heat incoming water to a temperature less than the boiling point of water, where the pre-heat chamber is configured to heat the water such that if the water contains a calcium compound, the calcium compound is caused to take a particulate form. The steam generator also includes a filter assembly in fluid communication with the pre-heat chamber, the filter assembly including a removable particulate filter element, where the filter element is reusable and cleanable. The steam generator also includes a water pump in fluid communication with the filter assembly, and operative to cause water flow through the steam generator and a boiler in fluid communication with the water pump, where the water pump is configured to cause water to flow to the boiler, and where the boiler is configured to boil water such that steam is produced.

The present application relates to apparatus for generating steam. The apparatus comprises an evaporation surface (24), a heater (26) disposed adjacent to the evaporation surface to heat the evaporation surface, a water inlet (19) positioned relative to the evaporation surface so that water is fed onto the evaporation surface from the water inlet and forms a film on the evaporation surface such that the film is evaporated from the evaporation surface, and a scale collection region (23) positioned such that, during use of the apparatus, scale dislodged from the evaporation surface falls away from the evaporation surface into the scale collection region. The apparatus is configured so that the flow of water through the water inlet (19) and onto the evaporation surface (24) is controlled in dependence on the temperature of the evaporation surface (24) so that substantially all the water fed onto the evaporation surface is evaporated from the evaporation surface without flowing from the evaporation surface into the scale collection region (23).

The invention relates to a system (1) for a garment care device (20, 25) comprising a steam generator (7). The system (1) comprises a pressurization unit (2). The pressurization unit (2) comprises a chamber (3) for receiving water from a water supply system (5) and for delivering the received water towards the steam generator (7), and an actuator (8) cooperating with a retention member (9). The actuator (8) is adapted to displace and load the retention member (9) when water is received in the chamber (3). The retention member (9) is adapted to unload and apply a force to the actuator (8) after water has been received in the chamber (3) to pressurize water received in the chamber (3). The retention member (9) has a stiffness coefficient that varies as a function of displacement of the actuator (8). This invention allows that the flow of pressurized water from the chamber to the steam generator is more purposively controlled so that a given desired steam profile can be generated.

The invention relates to a system (1) for a garment care device (20, 25) comprising a steam generator (7). The system (1) comprises a pressurization unit (2). The pressurization unit (2) comprises a chamber (3) for receiving water from a water supply system (5) and for delivering the received water towards the steam generator (7), and an actuator (8) cooperating with a retention member (9). The actuator (8) is adapted to displace and load the retention member (9) when water is received in the chamber (3). The retention member (9) is adapted to unload and apply a force to the actuator (8) after water has been received in the chamber (3) to pressurize water received in the chamber (3). The retention member (9) has a stiffness coefficient that varies as a function of displacement of the actuator (8). This invention allows that the flow of pressurized water from the chamber to the steam generator is more purposively controlled so that a given desired steam profile can be generated.

A steam iron is adapted for ironing a piece of cloth with steam generated thereby. The steam iron includes a machine body unit, a sole plate unit, a water supply unit, a heating unit, and a control unit. The sole plate unit is connected to a bottom end of the machine body unit. The water supply unit is connected to the machine body unit and includes a pump that is adapted for supplying water to the sole plate unit. The heating unit is connected to the sole plate unit and heats up the sole plate unit so that the water supplied to the sole plate unit is heated to form the steam. The control unit is connected to the machine body unit, measures moving speed of the steam iron and controls water output of the pump based on the moving speed of the steam iron.

The present disclosure provides a garment steamer which includes a water tank configured to store water, an evaporator assembly communicated with the water tank and configured to generate steam, and a switching member. The evaporator assembly includes a first heating member and a second heating member, a resistance of the first heating member meets 110V power supply, a resistance of the second heating member meets 220V power supply. The switching member is configured to connect 110V power supply to the first heating member or connect 220V power supply to the second heating member automatically.