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 34 off 34 position application_number US 88221486 A description referring to fig1 the steam iron of this invention has a body 1 and a separable and attachable handle 2 the main iron body 1 is hollow forming a hollow housing as hereinafter described main body 1 comprises the sole plate 3 the base peripheral cover 4 and the top cover 5 referring to fig7 and 8 the main body 1 houses a heat generating means 30 which is mounted on the sole plate 3 steam vent openings 39 and 27 are provided in the sole plate 3 at the front tip 60 and in the below described steam passage 22 respectively the base peripheral cover 4 extends around the sole plate 3 and the top cover 5 which is thermally non conductive and therefore a heat insulator resides above the peripheral cover 4.