An ironing apparatus includes an iron body having a heater, a base, a tank, a water receiving port and a power receiving port, and a stand having an iron rest, a water feeding port and a power feeding part. The base is heated by the heater, and it comprises a vaporizing chamber. The tank stores water to be supplied to the vaporizing chamber. When the iron body is placed on the iron rest, the water feeding port is connected with the water receiving port of the iron body, and the power feeding part is connected electrically to the power receiving part of the iron body. During this moment, connection of the water receiving port to the water feeding port is completed prior to the connection between the power receiving part and the power feeding part.

A steam iron includes a housing, a water tank and a boiler mounted in the housing, a water supply pipe for guiding water from the water tank to the boiler for boiling, a relief pipe connected between the boiler and the water tank for guiding steam from the boiler to the water tank when an internal pressure of the boiler is excessively high, a valve flap-operated one-way check valve mounted in the water supply pipe to let water pass from the water tank to the boiler and stop steam from pass through the water supply pipe to the water tank, and a piston-operated relief valve mounted in the relief pipe for enabling steam to pass to the water tank when the internal pressure of the boiler is excessively high.

A steam ironing device (1) comprises a steam generator (20) for heating water to steam, a steam outlet (25) for letting out a burst of steam (27) from the steam generator (20), a device (30) for supplying water to the steam generator (20), a hose (40) connecting the water supplying device (30) to the steam generator (20), and a controller (50) which is adapted to operating the water supplying device (30) during a period of time in a situation in which there is hardly any need or no need at all of a supply of steam in an ironing process, while keeping the steam outlet (25) closed. In this way, a reserve amount of steam is generated, which is stored in an internal space (21) of the steam generator (20), and, as the occasion arises, inside at least a portion of the hose (40). When a burst of steam (27) is required, the reserve amount of steam is released through the steam outlet (25).

The invention relates to an electric steaming device, such as a steam iron or a facial sauna, having a steam generator (5) with a heatable base (12). According to the invention, water is sprayed onto the heatable base (12) via a nozzle (10) to generate steam (22). Some of the sprayed water (23) is mixed with the steam and taken along with the steam towards the steam outlet opening (16). The advantage is a high wet steam or vapor (24) production rate.

A hand held appliance for use in applying steam to a garment or other item made of fabric includes a pump, a boiler and a switch. Power is applied through the switch to the pump. The pump pumps water from the water tank to the boiler. The water is converted to steam in the boiler and is expelled from the appliance through a set of nozzles. The appliance may include optional attachments for performing other operations on garments or fabric, for example, applying pressure, brushing, scrubbing or lint removal.