claim: 1. In aii @iron, a, sole plate and a streamlined shell mounted on the sole plate and having an upper surface curved in a longitudinal direction, If a handle of streanilined configumtion having front and Year upright attaching portions disposed above the upper surface of the 8hell, said front and rear upright portions having lower surfaces complementgrily curved in conformation to the curvature of the underlying shell sur- 5 faces and arranged parallel to and spaced from the portions of the upper surface directly therebeneath and spacing means disposed between said lower surfaces and the complementary upper surface portions of the shell, each spacer 10 comprising a wall portign conforming t6 and contacting with the companion lower surface of the handle and having a marginal peripheral flange projecting downwardly -as a continuation of the adjacent side surfac6s of the handle mem- 15 ber, said flange being cut away to provide'longitudinally disposed spaced V-shaped projectio-ns each making longitudinally spaced point contacts with the shell at said longitudinally curved portions and residing in a plane conforming to the 20 curvature thereof. 2. In an 6lectric iron, a sole plate, an electric heating element cairied by the sole plate, a pair of upper and lower relatively separable resilient contact members mounted as a separate unil on 25 the sole plate and In circuit v,,ith said heating element, said members being n,)rmall@ resiliently urged into contacting relation clos'.ng said circuit, thermostatic control element -,orilprising a generally U-shaped temperature responsive element 50 having one flat portion fixedly mounted on the sole plate in engaging relation with the sole plate, one end of the teMDerature responsive element being free and In operative circuit breaking positiop- adjacent said lower contact rnember, said 35 U-shaped element having its cuxved portion adapted to decrease in radius of curvature at elevated temperatures whereby to bring said free eid, toward said fixed end to engage and separate the lower from the upper of said contact 40 members. 3. In an electric iron, a sole plate, an electric heating element carried by the sole plate, a pair of upoer and lower relatively separable contact rnembers carried by said sole plate in circuit with 45 said.heating element, a bimetallic element secured in engaging relation with said sole plate and having a reversely curved free end portion of a curvature increasing as the temp'erature of the sole plate increases to engage and separate the 50 lower of said coiitact members from the upper of said contact members when the sole plate reaches a predetermined temperature. 4. In an electric iron, a sol-e plate, an electric heating element carried by the sole plate, a pair 55 of relatively separable contact members lnsulatingly supported as a unit upon said sole plate in spaced relation thereto and in circuit with said heating element, a thermostatic control element secured In engaging relation with said sole plate. 60 beneath said contact members, means for adjusting said contact members relative to the thermostatic control element whereby to variably control the temperature of separation of the contact - s, said thermostatic control element having 65 a reversely curved substantially U-shaped free end portion overlying one of said contact members and of a curvature increasing as the temperature Gf the sole Plate increases to engage gnd separate one of said contact members from the 70 other when the sole plate reaches apredetermined temperiature. 5. In an electric iron, a sole plate, an electric heating element, a pair -of relatively separable contact members insulatingly supported as a unit 75

2,235,479 on said sole plate in spaced relatioii thereto and in circuit with said heating element, a, thermostatic control element carried by the sole plate In heat exchange relation thereto and operatively connected to said contact mernbers for separating said contact members when the sole plate reaches an elevaied temperature, means for adJusting said contact members relative to the thermostatic control element toadjustably predeter10 mine the temperature at which the contact members are separated by said thermostatic control element, a covering shell from which said adjustIng means projects for manual manipulation, terminals for said iron. connected in circuit with said 15 contact members and said heating element and extending out of said shell, and a mounting member attached to the sole plate and having In spaced relation to said sole plate portions on which are mounted said adjustirig means and 20 said terminals an integral portion engaging the inner surface of the shell and extending into engagement with the sole plate adjacent its rear end to cooperate with the shell in enclosing the heating element and contact members and pro25 viding an ' intermediate support for the sheu. 6. In an iron, a sole plate, means mounted on the sole plate for heating the sole plate, a onepiece thin metal shell of streamlined configuration extending beyond the sole plate, a mounting 3( member attached to the sole plate to which the shell Is In turn attached, said mounting member having a portion extending transverse to the sheu and sole plate and engaging the sides and top of the inner surface of the shell and the sur35 face of the sole plate to cooperate with the shell in enclosing the heating means and to intermediately support the shell against diagonal downward and forward forces exerted on the shell during use. 40 7. In an electric iron, a sole plate, heating 'means carried by the sole plate, a onepiece shell of thin metal stock disposed on the sole plate and In covering relation with respect to the heating means, said shell being of streamlined con45 tour and terminating rearwardly of the sole plate in an Integral rest portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from the surface of the shell for supporting the iron when In vertical position, a handle having front and rear foot portions, and 50 front and rear spacer members suppdrting .he front and rear foot p-ortions of the handle on the shell, the front spacer member having an interlocking connection with the shell and the rear spacer member having a marginal flange portion 55 received in the recess provided in the shell by the upward projection of the metal forming the - rest portion. 8. In an electric Iron, a sole plate, electrical heating means carried by the sole plate, a one,60 piece sheu of streamlined conflguration extending rearwardiy beyond the heei of the sole plate, terminais connected to saidelectricai heating means and adapted to receivt- a supply cord, and a member secured to the sole Plate for support6.5 Ing the sher and the terminals and providing an integral rear waH portion extending between and engaging the shell and sole plate adjacent the rear end of the sole plate to cooperate with the sher In enclosing the heating means, and said 70 member providing an intermediate support for said shell. 9. rn an electric imn, a soie plate, an electric heating element mounted on the We plate, a shell carried by the sole plate in covering relation to the heating element, terminals connected to said heating element and supported on the sole plate within the shell, a handle surmounting the shell and having an opening into which the ter- 5 minals project from the shell, a wall of the opening having an aperture to permit the passage of a supply cord therethrough, a closure member forming another wall of the opening, @,nd a separate, shiftable member held In said opening by 10 said closure member and partially overlapping said aperture to clamp the cord. 10. In an electric iron, a sole plate, an'electric heating element mounted on the sole piate, a shell of streamlined conflguration carried by the 15 sole plate in covering relation to the heating element, terminals connected -to said heating element and supported on the sole plate within the shell, a handle surmounting the shen and having an operling into which the terminals project from 20 the shell, 9, wall of the opening having an aperture to Permit the passage of a supply cord therethrough a closure member forming another wall of the opening qnd conforming to the streamlined configuration of the handle, and a separate 2,5 shiftable member held in said opening by said closure member and having a slot therein to receive the cord, the cord having an enlarged part abutting the inner surface of said meftiber and held thereby against outward movement. 30 11. In an electric Iron, a sole plate, an electric heating element carried by the sole plate, a shell carried by the sole plate in covering relation to the heating element, terminals within said shell connected to said heating elemelit and extending through the shell, a handle surmounting the sheil and having a rearwardly facing openfng into which the terminals project from the Interior of the shell, a side wall of the opening being slotted to perniit passage of a supply cord therethrough 40 for attachment to the terininals, a closure member for said opening and having a portion extending in the plane of the side wall to close thp rear portion of the slot in the side wall, and a ciamping plate in the opening in the handle and 45 having a slot to receive the supply cord and cooperating with the slotted side wall to clamp the supply cord, said clamping plate being detachably held in said opening by said closure member and the opposite wall of said opening. 50 12. In an electric iron, a sole plate, an electric heating element carried by the sole plate, a shell carried by the sole plate in covering relation to the heating element, a handle surmounting the shell, said handle having front and rear foot porfoot portion of the handle having an outwardly tions supporting the handle on the shell, said rear 55 facing opening therein, terminals within said sher and connected to said heating element, said terminals projecting through said shell into the opening in the rear foot portion of the handle, spacers between said front and rear portions of the handle and said sheu for supporting the handle in spaced relation to the sheu to permit the circulation of air between the shell and foot portions of the handle, the spacer betwe en the rear foot portion of the handle and the shell being cut 65 away to permit passage of the terminals therethrough, and a closure member for said opening and detach&biy connected to the r@ar foot portion 70 of the handle. JAMES J. GOUGH.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,235,479-. March-18, 1941. JWS J. GOUGH. It is hereby certified,that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent, requiring correction as follows: Page 5, first' column, line 39, claim 6, after "use" and before, the period insert the mrds --of th6 iron--; and that the said Letters Patent shouldbe readwith thiscorrection therein that the same may conform to ti@6 record of the case In the Patent Office. Signed and sealed this 27th day of May, A. D. 1941. Henry Van Arsdal e, (seal) Acting Con7ri lission er of Patent s.

CERTIFICATE OP CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,235,,479-. March-18, 1941. JP4ES J. GOUGH. It is hereby certified that error appear's In the printed specification of the above. numbered patexit requiring correction as follows: PPLge 5, first' column, line 39, claim 6, after "use" and before, the period insert the vio-rds. --of th6 iron--; and that the said Letters Patent shouldbe readwith this correction therein that the same m4y conf orra to ti@6 record of the case in the Patent Office. Signed and sealed this 27th da y of May, A. D. 1941. Henry Van ArsdELl e (Seal) Acting Conmissioner of Patents.

Patented Mar. 18, 1941 '29-235@479 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,235,479 ELECTRICIRON James J. Gough, Chicago, IH., assignor to Cliieago Electric Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of IDinois Application February 7, 1940, Serial No. 317,644 12 Claims. (Cl. 219-25) This invention relates to an electric iron. It is an object of this Invention to simplify the construction, decrease the heating of the handle, and iniprove the operation of an electric iron; and particularly, a thermostatically controlled temperature adjustable electric Iron. . A further object of applicant's ii@vention is to provide an iron with a one piece streamlined shell construetion in combination with extremely 10 simple means for supporting the temperature adjustment means, the terminal means, and in addition providing an intermediate support fbr the shell, cooperating with the shell'to foriri a housing chamber for the working parts of the iron. 15 Applicarit's invention.also contemplates the provision of Eimple, inexperisively produced and assembled means -lor supporting the handle in spaced relation to the shell so that air may cirewate in the space bety@een the handle and the she]J to dissipate thg heat of the shell, and maintain ihe handle in a relatively cooler condition. Another object of the invention is to provide In an iron a streamlined handle mounted on a streamlined shell and provided with a cavity 25 housing the terrninals of the iron and having an integral flat and then outwardly turned surface i@ortion 'Lbrming a rest for -the fleshy part of the hand of the user, and a relatively thin edge for supporting the iron in verticgl position, the cavity in the handle being closed by a member 30 which locks in place a member cooperating with a portion of the haidle to form a supportirig bushing for the supply conductor or cord. A further object of the invention is to provide a t h@rmostatically controlled iron, wherein the 35 thermostatic control element is mounted in direct heat conducting relgtion to and upon the sole plate of the iron and always exercises its control functions at the desired temperatures of the sole plate, and the temperature adjusting- element is 40 supported independently of the temperature controlled and adjustable contacts, so that the adjustment of the eleinent will not affect the mounting for the contacts, and the contacts may be readily and independently replaced when 45 worn. Other and further objects and advantages o f the iiivention will be apparent from the description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wher6in: 50 Fig. 1 is a @view in perspective bf an electric iron constructed in accordance with thi@ present invention; Fig. 2 Is an enlarged longitudinal view in vertical section taken substantially along the line 2-2 53 , of Flg. 1; Fig. 3 i's a view in lateral vertical section taken along the lin@ 3-3 of Mg. 2; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view showing the temperature adjusting control member; @ Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; Mg, 6 is a view in horizontal section taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3; Fig. 7 i ' s a fragmentary enlarged view in gen- 10 erally horizontal segtion taken along the line 1-7 of Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view iri longitudinal vertical section takeri along the line 8-8 of Fi@. 7; Fig. 9 is a frolgmentary view in generally hori- 15 zontal section taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8; ngs. 10 and 11 are views in perspective of the handle supporting or spacing members; Fig. 12 is a view in perspective of the enclo8ure 20 inemb er for the terminal housing cavity of the handle ; F-ig. 13 is a view in perspeetive of a,-q internal suppo rting member, and Fig. 14 is a view in perspective of an auxiliary 25 memb er cooperatiiig with the handle to support the supply cord. As shown in the drawings, an electric iron construct ed in accordance with applicant's invention embo dies a sole plate 2 having a reduced upper 50 surfac e portion 4 from which extends small pieces or lugs 6 adapted to engage the inner surface of the shell 8 at the lower edge thereof to positio i@ the shell on the sole plate in proper positio n relative thereto and tending to limit or prevei it lateral movement of the shell on the sole 35 plate. The heating element I 0 rests upon the upper surface portion 4 of the sole plate, and may be of any convenient conventional structure, but prefer ably comprises the usual resistance coil woun d on an insulating plate 12 interposed be- 40 tween upper and lower insulating plates 14 and 16. The heating element is clamped in position on the sble plate by a clamping plate 18 of a shape similar - to the sole plate and secured to the sole plate by screws 20, 22 and 24 passing 45 throug h apertured bosses or lugs 26, 28 and 30 forme d integrally with the clamping plate and projec ting upwardly therefrom. A bimetallic thermostatic control element 32 is fastened directly to the sole plate in heat con- 50 du6tin g relation thereto as by a screw 14, the bimet al element passing upwardly through elongated openings 36 and 38 in the plates of the heatin g element I 0 and in the clamping plate I 8, and being bent to engage in overlying relgtion

2 2,235,479 an insulating button 40 secured to a resilient contact strip 42. Since the thermostatic element is in direct engagement with the sole plate, the heat of the sole plb@te is directly conducted to the thermostatic element, and the element therefore is constantly maintained at the temperature of the sole plate and follows directly the variations in ;temperature of the sole plate. As the temperature of the sole plate increases the radius of 10 curvature of the fbrward end portion of the thermostatic element decreases so that the free edge of the element deflects the resilient contact strip downwardly to separate the contact 46 carried thereby from the upper contact 46 corried by a 15 supjerimposed resilient contact strip 48. As the temperature of the sole plate decreases the free end of the thermostatic element moves upwardly and'the resilience of the contact strip 42 cau,.;es its contact 44 to reengage the contact 60. 2o The contact strips 42 and 48 are carried by a support 50 which comprises a plate or bracket 52 secured to the sole plate as by screws 54 on which is supported a series of insulating blocks or piec68 56 insulatingly supporting the contact 25 strips 42 and 48 on the plate 32 and insulating the strips from each other, the insulating pieces being fastened together as by insulated rivets or pins 58. It will be seen that by Virtue of this mounting the contact strips are supported as an 30 independent unit on the sole plate so they may be readily removed independently of the other working parts of the iron, or for replacement as the contacts or strips beco me worn. The contact strip 48 carries at its outer end an insulating button 60 which by the resilience of the st.rip 48 is constantly maintained ih contact with an adjusting screw 62 for determining the setting of the contact 48 relativi@ to the contact 44. The adjusting screw 02 is mounted 40 in an internally threaded bushing 06 passing through an opening in the mounting plate 06 and peened over at its upper edge and thus clamped to the mounting plate. The mounting plate 66 in addition to suppotting the mounting bushing 45 for the adjusting screw also provides a support for thb terminal of the iron and Intermediate support for the shell and a s6le member cooperating with the shell to enclose the operating or working parts of the iron. r,o. The cover. plate- or shell 8, which Is preferably of sheet metal, is of streamlined configuration and extends from the toe of the sole plate to a point well beyond the rear or heel of the sole plate. The shell 8 rises from the toe of the sole plate to a, 55 point adjacent the rear edge of the'forward foot portion of the handle 68 and then gracefully Inclines downwardly to the point A (Plg. 2) beyond the heel of the soie plate at ,@vhich point the slightly inclined rear portion of the lower edge (10 of the shell intersects the upper surface, of the shell. From thi@ point the stock of the shell extends upwardly at an angle to the upper surface of the shell and to the lower edge of the shell to deflne a rest portion 70, the rest porti6n 70 65 being concave in transverse conflguration to pr6vide spaced feet 72 no thicker than the thickness of the stock from which the shell was @formed. The upward turning of the portion 70 provides at the point A a rounded smooth edge, which 70 will not snag or catch articles being Ironed. The upward extension of the rest member disposes the entire member so that it will not snag or catch articies being ironed., The shell is-, formed with reenforcing ribs or ridges 74 extending longitudin.,tlly of the shell and in parallel relation from. the toe to a point adjacent the forward foot of the handle 68 and then flaring outwardly or diverging to the rear end of the shell. The upper surface of the shell a@t an intermediate point, preferably centi-ally thereof, is depres.@ed as at 76 to form a part circular cavity receiving a shiftable stop finger Is splined or otherwise fastened to the upper end of the adjusting screw 62 which passes through an op--nIng 80 in the bottom of the depressed portion 76. 10 The stop flnger 78 is limited in its movement by the vertical edges 82 which constitute edges of the part eirclilar cavity formed by the depressed portion 76. The shell is secured to the mounting plate 66 as by screws 86 received in 15 counter-sunk openings in the depressed portion 76 and threaded into the portion 86 of the mounting plate 66. The depressed portion 76 and the shiftable stop finger 78 and the screws 06 in this depressed portion are covered by the disc-like 20 indicia bearing portion 88 of an adjusting member 90 pinned to the upper end of the adjusting screw 62 as by set screw 92 lying beneath a radially lirojecting operating finger 94 of the member 90. A resilient wasber 96 is interposed between the disc-like portion 88 of the member 90 and the shiftable stop finger 70 so as to maintain this stop flnger in surface engbgement with the bottom of the depressed portion 76 as the adjusting screw 62 in being adjusted moves vertically. 3,3 A reference symbol 90 for the lndicia bearing disc portion 08 of the member 90 may be - etched, stamped, or otherwise foi-mea, in or on the shell adjacent the edge of the disc-like portion 88. The portion 86 of the mounting plate 66, which portion supports the mounting bushing GQ for the adjusting screw 62, and the parts carried by this screw, and which also supports the shell 8, is inclined and extends generally parallel to the depr6ssed portion 76 of the shell in close juxtaposi- 10 tion thereto so that the bottom of the depressed portion 76, counter-sunk as at 100 for the reception of the screws 84, engages the portion 06 of the mounting plate. Hence the shell is supported directly on the mounting plate so that the screws 45 84 act merely as fastening means, and In being placed will not warp the shell or the mounting plate to thus, as in prior devices, loosen the mounting plate from its support or destroy or detrimentally aff ect the calibration or setting of 50 the thermostatic control means. On opposite ends of the portion 86 the mount-' ing plate Is off-set downwardly to provide portions 102 and 104 extending substantiall3t parallel to the plane of the clamping and sole plates 55 and secured to the clamping plate by being interposed between the head of the mounting screws 20, 22, and 24 and the associated bosses 28, 20 and 30 of the clamping plate. The off-set por@ tions 002 and 104 bf the mounting plate are pro-,Oo vided with apertures 106 and 100, respectively, for receiving the shanks of the attaching @erews. The flange I 10 connecting the portion 86 to the portion 104 of the mounting plate Js reinforced by a portion or section 112 pressed up- 65 wardly from the portion I 04 and the flange I I@ so as to strengthen the support offered for the portion SO.- The mounting plate Go rearwardly of the off-set portion 104 provides a terminal mountin portion 194 of relatively reduced cross- 7( ,9 section terminating in an enlarged downwardly extendingshell.supporting and closure member I IS. The shell. supporting and closure member, or portion II 6 of the mounting plate, Is prefetably Inclined to the plane of the sole Plate and 7c

3 2,235,479 extends sub@tantially at right angles,to the wall or waU surfaces of the shell so as to provide an efficient supporting member not liable tDdeformation as the user applies a downward and forward thrust on the handle in utiuzing the iron. The upper and outer edges of the portiorl 116 of the mounting plate engage the entire wall or wall surfaces of the sheu in the plane of this portion and at Its lower edge engages the rear 10 pieces or lugs 6 extencung outwardly from the Inwardly off -set surface portion 4 of the sole piate so that the forward and downward thrust applied to the &beH through the handle wlU be directly transmitted by the portion II 6 to the sole 15 plate. It will be extremely unlikely therefore that the forces 9,,.oplied to the sheu or the inertia of the sole plate will cause a deformation or warping of the rriounllng plate 66 and/or the shell 8. 20 '.Me terminal, @' IS and 12 0, which are pref erably 6f relatitiely thi-.i bar stock, are supdorted on the portion 114 of the mountir@g plate dby insulated pins or rivets 122 passing through openings 124 in the portion II 4 of the mounting plate, 25 the terminals being insulated from the portion 114 by suitable strips of Insulation. The terminal If 8 is connected to the contact carrying strip 48 as by a conducting strap 126 secured by screw 128 to the terminal I 18, the screw 128 30 passing through an enlarged opening 130 in the portion 114 of the mounting plate. One end of the resistance member of the heating element 10 is connected to the contact carrying strip 42 as by th@ terminal 132 and the other end of this 35 resistance rnember is connected to the terminal 120 as by a strap 134 secured to the terminal by the scr6w 136, the screw 136 passing through an enlarged opening 139 in the portion 1 14 of the mounting plate. The terniinals or bars 118 and 43 120 pass upwardly from the mounting plate at an angle through an opening 140 in the rear portion of the shell, and are received in a cavity in the handle 68. ' The handle 68 is of a streamlined configuratibn 43 and preferably formed of a suftable heat-resisting moldable material, such as Bakelite or similar substance. It comprises a forward or front foot portion 142, a backward or rear foot portion 144, and an interconnecting integral hand 50. grip portion 146. . At the juncture of the'hand grip portion 146 and the rear foot portion 144 the handle is provided with an Integral rearwardly projecting portion 148 which is formed with an iipper surface portion which merges into. 55 the ul@per surface of the rounded hand grip portion 146, but is substantially flat throughout Its larger portion. as at ISO, the surface portion 150 merging liito a slightly upturned end portion 152 which forms with the rear generauy concave sur60 face 154 a relatively thin edge 156 which cooperates with the relatively thin feet 72 of the rest portion 70 in supportlng the iron in vertical position. By reason of the substantially flat surface poition 150 and the slightly upturned sur63 face portion 152, the rest member 148 provid@s a very restful support for the fleshy part of the hand of the user as he pushes downwardly and forwardly to move the Iron over an article being ironed. To In. order to iiiaintain the handle In a much cooler condition than the shell, front and rear members or means 158 and 160 are provided wwch support the handle in spaced relation to the upper surface of the shell and co'nform in 15 shape to the front -and rear foot portions 142 and 144 of the handle at the bott I om thereof, the peripheral waus of these members 158 and 110 'conforming to the lines of the handle. The vertical wall or walls of these members are provided with a plurality of spaced openings 162 and 164, & respectivel y, separated or defined by generally triangular pieces or lugs 166 and 168, respectively, provfding substantially point-like sources of engagement with the surface of the shell, and therefore automatically aligning the members rela- 10 tive to the surface of the shell and permitting greater tolerances in the manufacture of these irons. The pointing of the lugs 166 and 166 also reduces the conduction of heat from the shell to the members to a mirlimum. The front member 15 158 at its forward toe portion is formed with a, downwardl y extending lug or lugs 110 receive7d in a substantially V-shaped opening 172 in the sheu to secure the member more rigidly against forward movement relative -to the shell. The 20 openings 164 in the rear vertical wall of the rear handle supporting member are defined or spaced by generally rectangular pieces or lugs 174 which engage the surface of the shell along the edge A defined by the rest portion 70 of the sheu so la that these pieces or lugs are in engagement with thic. rest portion, thereby preventing rearward movement 6f this member 168. It will be seen that the lugs or pieces 170 and 174 in preventing MOVeme nt of the handle supporting and spacing 30 members 158 and 160 relative to the shell also increase the rigidity of the connection of the h@.ndle to the shell. The openings 164 in these handle supporting and spacing members permit a relatively large volume of air to circulate be- '55 tween the surface of the shell and the front and rear feet of the handle, so that the handle is niaintained in a relatively cooler condition, and the heat of the shell is more effectively di&si- - pated. Also it shotud be ryoted that the handle 40 supporting and spacing members 158 and 160 provide a very convenient and simple way in which to support a moulded handle on a streamlined metal shell, it having been found difficult to so precisely form the moulded surfaces of the frolt 45 and rear feet of such a handle, and the surface of f,.qe shell, that the handle may be mounted on the shell withoiit disfiguring spaces between these surfaces. The members 158 and 160 being of relatively thin sheet metal stock can be easey 50 formed or reshaped in assembling the iron so' that the handle rests snugly upon the upper surface of these members while the lower edges of these members snligly contact and conform to the lines of the shell. The handle is fastened to the 55 shell by a screw 176 received in an internally threaded bushing or sleeve 178 in the front foot portion 142 and by screws 180 countersunk in the upper surface of the shell and threaded in the rear foot portion 144. 60 The terminals or bars I 18 and 120 paw through enlarged openings 182 and 184 in the rear handle supporting member 160 and the rear foot 144 of the handle and Into a ea-,rity ilS in this rear foot portion. A partition 188 formed in- 65 tegrally with the handle projects into the cavity 186 between the terniinals II$ and 120 and provides means insuring maintenance of the terminals in the proper s@aced relation. The supply conduct or or cord 190 passes into the cavity 186 70 throligh a slot or opening 192 formed in a side wall of the rear foot portion 144 and Is connected wlthin the cavity to the terminals II$ and The cord is provided with 9, tapered rubber bushing 194 formed at Its Inner end with an an- 75

4 2,235,479 nwar ftnge I OG engaging the inner wall of the cavity about the opening 192. Thi@ cavity 186 Is closed by a plate or closure member 198 set Into the rear surface of the handle and secured thereto as by screws 200. The plate or closure member 198 is curved outwardly adjacent its upper end to merge uniformiy into the c6neave rear surface 154 of the rest member or portion g@g of the handle. As shown best in Figure 12 the closure member 198 -'@s formed with an integral lug or flange 202 of reduced size extending into the slot or opening 192 to close the rear portion of t@is slot or opening. A member or plate 204, preferably of insulating matei,ial, is aa Atted into the cavity 136 against the slotted side wall of the cavity and is slotted as at 206 to embrace therein the end of the bushing 194. The member 204 is of a size such that when fitted into the cavity 986 and locked in place by the closure 2 C,, member, I 98, it compresses and clamps the bushing against the forward wall of t-he'slot 002 and is Interposed between the side wall of the cgvity 106 and the annular flange 903 of the bushing so as to retain tfie supply cofd against outward movement. It will be seen from the foregoing description that applicant has provided an electric iron in which the construction is simplified; the heating of the handle is decreased; the operation of an electric Iron is improved; the iron embodies a one-piece streamlined shell construction in combination with extremely simple means which supports the temperature adjustm'ent means, tlae terminal means, and in addition provides an lntermediate support for the shell, cooperating with the shell to form a housing chamber for the working parts of the Iron; means are provided so that air may circulate in the space between the handle and the shell to dissipate the heat of ,30 the shell and maintain the handle,in a relatively cooler condition; the iron cgmprises a streamlined handle mount . ed (>n a streamlined shell and provided with a bavity housing the terminal of the Iron; the handle of the Iron has an integral 45 flat and then outwardly tumed surface portion fo.rming a rest f6r the fleshy part of the hand of the user, and a relatively thin edge for supporting the iron in vertical position; the terrninal receiving cavity in the handle is closed N by a member which locks in the cavity a member supporting the supply conductor or cord against breakage due to strains upon the cord; the iron embodies a thermostatic control element mounted In direct heat conducting relation to and upon 35 the sole plate of the iron and always 6xercising its control functions at the desired temperatures of the sole plate; and in which the temperature adjusting element is support'ed independently of the temperature controlled and ad I justable conao tacts, so that the adjustment of the element will not affect the mounting for the contacts, and the contacts may be readily and ind-3pendently replaced when worn. Changes may be made in. the fgrm, arrange015 ment and cgnstruction of the invention without departing from its spirit or scope or sacrificing any of its attendaiit advantages, and the right Is hereby reaerved to make all such changes'as fairly fall. within the scope of the following TO claims. I