clothes iron
Enable an AI agent to recognise a clothes iron, assess its readiness and condition, and determine whether and how it may be used on a particular textile.
Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled
6 bundles · 11 layers · 18 findings · 30 questions
Iron identity and configuration Establishes what kind of clothes iron is present and which operating arrangement it requires.
Textile-contact identity
Identifies the device through its intended fabric-contact mechanism.
Heated soleplate role
Record evidence that the device is intended to finish textiles through direct heated-soleplate contact.
- What intended use and contact mechanism identify this device as a clothes iron? definition
- Does it function as a hand-guided iron, or does its operating mechanism place it in a steamer, press or roller model? boundary
Configuration and dependencies
Captures variant identity and the equipment needed to supply heat or steam.
Documented operating arrangement
Record identifying marks, applicable instructions and links to required cords, bases or steam stations.
- Which markings or instructions establish the model and its dry, self-contained steam or externally supplied configuration? provenance
- Which external supplies or components are required, and what establishes their compatibility? boundary
Soleplate and textile contact Describes the contact surface and its suitability for the intended textile operation.
Contact surface geometry
Records the soleplate features relevant to controlled movement across fabric.
Soleplate reach and surface
Record soleplate dimensions, tip form, steam openings and documented surface material or coating.
- What soleplate dimensions and tip shape determine access around seams, buttons and narrow fabric areas? measurement
- What evidence identifies the contact-surface material or coating rather than inferring it from appearance? provenance
Contact suitability
Connects observed soleplate condition and available settings to a particular textile task.
Fabric contact decision
Record visible contact-surface defects and the textile requirements governing the proposed use.
- What residue, roughness, coating damage or distortion is visible on the soleplate? measurement
- Do the textile's recorded care requirements and the iron's documented capabilities permit the proposed contact treatment? action
Heat control and readiness Separates heat-source compatibility, selected settings and evidence of actual thermal condition.
Heat input and selection
Records how the iron receives heat and how its intended operating condition is selected.
Supported heating control
Record supply requirements, control markings and documented interpretations of selectable or automatic modes.
- What heat-source or electrical ratings must the available supply satisfy? provenance
- Which setting or automatic mode is selected, and what do the applicable instructions say it controls? definition
Thermal state evidence
Records heating, cycling and cooling observations without equating control position with soleplate temperature.
Readiness and residual heat
Record indicator meanings, available temperature measurements and evidence needed before contact or storage.
- What do current indicators establish about heating or readiness, according to this model's instructions? provenance
- If temperature was measured, where, when and by what method was the soleplate assessed? measurement
- What evidence supports beginning the intended treatment or handling the iron after cooling? action
Water and steam behaviour Captures optional water handling and the observed delivery of steam or spray.
Water supply and filling
Identifies where water is held or supplied and the applicable filling constraints.
Water system applicability
Record whether a water system exists, its supply arrangement and the instructions governing its contents and filling.
- Does this iron hold water internally, receive steam externally or have no moisture system? definition
- What water types, additives, fill limits and filling procedure are specified for this model? provenance
Moisture delivery condition
Distinguishes supported moisture functions from their currently observed performance.
Steam and spray readiness
Record enabled modes, their operating prerequisites and observations of delivery, dripping or deposits.
- Which steam or spray functions are supported, and what documented settings or orientations do they require? action
- What steam, spray, dripping, leakage or expelled residue has been observed, and under which settings? measurement
Handling, protection and upkeep Records whether the iron can be handled, rested, maintained and returned to use in its observed condition.
Handling and resting
Captures grip condition, supply routing, resting arrangements and protective-function evidence.
Controlled use and rest
Record handle and connection condition, intended resting positions and the documented scope of protective functions.
- Are the handle, cord or hose and intended heel rest or base visibly fit for the proposed movement and placement? measurement
- Which resting positions and protective functions are documented, and what evidence establishes their current status? provenance
- Given its thermal state and support, what handling or resting action is currently permitted? action
Maintenance and return to use
Connects observed ironing faults to applicable cleaning, inspection or service instructions.
Condition-led maintenance
Record maintenance history, unresolved faults and the evidence needed to consider the iron ready again.
- Which documented cleaning, descaling or service procedure applies to the observed soleplate or steam-system condition? action
- What maintenance was performed, and what subsequent observations establish whether marking, leaking or heating faults remain? provenance
Evidence and external alignment What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.
Reported evidence
Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.
Kinds and varieties
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of clothes iron this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Identifiers and schemes
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these identifiers and schemes hold for the sense of clothes iron this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Standards and regulation
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these standards and regulation hold for the sense of clothes iron this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Real-world use
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of clothes iron this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Typical measurements
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of clothes iron this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Failure modes and hazards
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of clothes iron this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Regional variation
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these regional variation hold for the sense of clothes iron this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of clothes iron this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Classifiers Filled
- Family
- Thing Registry
- Category
- Physical world and living systems
- Entry kind
- thing
- Plane
- PHY
- Domain
- PHY.OBJ
- Other names and narrower kinds
- electric iron, tailor's iron, electric steam iron, ironing center, flatiron, sadiron, Grossag 1777
What it is Filled
A clothes iron is a portable textile-pressing appliance that delivers controlled heat, and commonly steam, through a smooth soleplate under operator-applied contact pressure so that moisture and temperature temporarily plasticize fibers and creases can be removed or set.
In scope
- Identity and configuration of the iron, including dry, steam and externally supplied variants
- Soleplate geometry, surface condition and suitability for contact with textiles
- Heat generation, temperature selection and evidence of thermal state
- Water storage, steam delivery and spray functions where fitted
- Handling, resting, protective functions and readiness for use
- Maintenance needs and observed faults affecting ironing
Out of scope
- Garment construction, fibre composition and care requirements owned by textile or garment models
- Ironing-board construction, stability and padding
- Internal operation of a separate steam-generator station
- Building electrical installations and power-source infrastructure
- Standalone garment steamers, pressing machines and heated rollers
- Laundry washing, drying and stain-removal processes
Why it exists Filled
Enable an AI agent to recognise a clothes iron, assess its readiness and condition, and determine whether and how it may be used on a particular textile.
Distinguishing features Filled
- Has a heated soleplate intended for direct contact and movement across supported textile, distinguishing it from a steam-only garment steamer.
- Normally applies pressure through a user-held body rather than closing opposing platens, distinguishing it from a garment press.
- Finishes fabric through a soleplate rather than feeding it through heated rollers, distinguishing it from a rotary iron.
- Is intended for smoothing or pressing textiles rather than joining materials or transferring a decorative image; a heated flat surface alone is insufficient identification.
What robots and AI may and may not do Filled
Must not
- Leave a hot or plugged-in iron unattended, face down or within reach of children.
- Iron clothes while a person is wearing them.
- Use an iron with a damaged cord or plug.
- Fill a steam iron with liquids other than those the maker allows.
Only with a human decision
- Human oversight is required for using an iron near a person who cannot move away from it, such as an infant or a bedridden person.
May
- Assess compatibility between the iron's documented capabilities and the fabric's care requirements.
- Identify safe-use constraints from the manufacturer's guidance.
Moral aspects Filled
- Irons cause burns to children and house fires when left on.
Who is affected
- Children
- Users
- Household members
Owners Filled
Steward
The person who owns and uses it.
Links to other meta-models Filled
parent
- Q125492307 - registry parent class
- Q1327701 - registry parent class
- Q212920 - registry parent class
- Q3558289 - registry parent class
What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled
Identity and identifiers required Filled
- Vercy registry: vr.tr.clothes-iron
- Wikidata: Q483634 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q483634)
Direct properties required Filled
- Iron configuration: dry iron | self-contained steam iron | externally supplied steam iron | other documented configuration | unknown
- Heat source and supply requirements: documented heat source; for electrical models, rated voltage in V, frequency in Hz and power in W where specified
- Selected heat setting: observed dial label, fabric label, care-symbol dots, numeric setting or automatic mode
- Soleplate temperature: °C, with measurement location, time and method
- Thermal readiness: heating | indicated ready | cooling | measured condition recorded | unknown
- Soleplate contact condition: observed residue, scratches, corrosion, coating damage, distortion or no visible defect; inspection time
- Available moisture functions: none | continuous steam | steam burst | water spray | documented combination | unknown
- Water-system state: not applicable | empty | level observed | leaking | obstructed | unknown
- Supply and base connections: links to power source, detachable cord, heating base or external steam station, with compatibility evidence
- Protective-function evidence: per function: documented presence, observed indication, test evidence and unresolved status
- Current placement and support: soleplate contacting textile | on documented resting surface | on compatible base | other observed placement | unknown
Recognition required Filled
- A handled appliance with a flat, pointed metal soleplate.
- A temperature dial and often a water tank with steam vents.
Capabilities and actions required Filled
- Identify the iron's configuration and match it to operating instructions and compatible supplies.
- Assess whether its heat and moisture capabilities suit a specified textile treatment.
- Select supported settings and monitor evidence of heating, readiness and cooling.
- Apply supported dry ironing, steam or spray actions within documented constraints.
- Inspect and perform documented soleplate or water-system maintenance.
- Determine whether to rest, disconnect, store or withdraw the iron from use based on observed condition.
Hazards and failure modes required Filled
- Burns from the soleplate or steam.
- Fire when left on against fabric.
- Electric shock from damaged cords.
Standards and interfaces required Filled
- IEC 60335-2-3, Household and similar electrical appliances, Safety, Particular requirements for electric irons, International Electrotechnical Commission.
Context of use required Filled
- Clothes irons are used in homes, laundries and garment workshops to remove wrinkles or set folds in textiles.
- They also support sewing and tailoring by pressing seams and shaping fabric during garment construction.
- Their suitability depends on the textile's care instructions and its tolerance of heat, moisture and pressure.
Sources Filled
- IEC 60335-2-3: Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Part 2-3: Particular requirements for electric irons - Defines the electric iron as a household appliance with a heated soleplate for ironing, and sets the safety requirements that distinguish dry irons, steam irons and steam-generator irons, including temperature control, steam systems and thermal cut-outs.
- ISO 3758: Textiles - Care labelling code using symbols - Standardizes the ironing care symbol and the one-, two- and three-dot temperature bands used on garment labels worldwide, which map onto practical soleplate settings.
- Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, heading 8516.40 Electric smoothing irons - The World Customs Organization heading that names and classifies electric smoothing irons as a distinct product for trade statistics and tariffs.
- Clothes iron - Overview of types (dry, steam, steam generator, travel, cordless, historical charcoal and box irons), typical construction, and how the appliance is used in households and trades.
- Wikidata item Q483634: clothes iron - identity and sense of the item
Open questions
- Does the registry intend this entry to include externally heated historical irons as well as electrically heated irons?
- For steam-generator products, where should the catalogue place the boundary between the handheld iron and the complete station?
- Which manufacturer instructions establish setting meanings, steam prerequisites, permitted water and maintenance procedures for the variants represented?
- What measurement methods and acceptance criteria adequately establish soleplate temperature, temperature variation and readiness for a specified textile task?
- Which observable faults require withdrawal from use, and what evidence is sufficient to establish readiness after maintenance or repair?
Machine files
Provenance
thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed
Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q483634/spec.json