Steam De-Wrinkling Appliance Having a De-Wrinkling Head Connected by a Line to a Base

Abstract

A steam de-wrinkling appliance includes a de-wrinkling head connected by a line to a base for producing a steam flow. The de-wrinkling head has a rear portion forming a handle and a flared front portion having a surface with one or a plurality of steam exit holes for distributing the steam flow originating from the base. The de-wrinkling head further includes a device having a movable member capable of assuming a retracted position and a restriction position. The flared front portion encloses a single steam plenum chamber that supplies steam to the steam exit hole or holes.

Claims

1. A steam de-wrinkling appliance comprising a de-wrinkling head connected by a line to a base for producing a steam flow, the de-wrinkling head comprising a rear portion forming a handle and a flared front portion comprising a surface having one or a plurality of steam exit holes for distributing the steam flow originating from the base, the de-wrinkling head comprising a device for reducing an area of the flow toward the steam exit hole or holes, said device comprising a movable member capable of assuming a retracted position, in which the area of the flow toward the steam exit hole or holes is maximal, and a restriction position, in which the movable member reduces the area of the flow toward the steam exit hole or holes, wherein the flared front portion encloses a single steam plenum chamber that supplies steam to the steam exit hole or holes.

2. The steam de-wrinkling appliance according to claim 1, wherein the surface has at least a first group of steam exit holes and a second group of steam exit holes and the movable member is capable of assuming a retracted position, in which the plenum chamber communicates freely with the entirety of the first group of steam exit holes and second group of steam exit holes, and a restriction position, in which the movable member covers, at least partially, the second group of steam exit holes or isolates the steam plenum chamber for reducing the distribution of steam through the second group of steam exit holes.

3. The steam de-wrinkling appliance according to claim 1, wherein the movable member can be actuated from the outside of the de-wrinkling head by means of a control element, the actuation of the control element making it possible to move the movable member from the retracted position to the restriction position.

4. The steam de-wrinkling appliance according to claim 1, wherein the movable member moves in translation in order to shift from the retracted position into the restriction position.

5. The steam de-wrinkling appliance according to claim 4, wherein the movable member moves in translation in a direction that is essentially perpendicular to the axis of the steam exit holes.

6. The steam de-wrinkling appliance according to claim 5, wherein the control element is connected to the movable member by a lever that is movable in rotation.

7. The steam de-wrinkling appliance according to claim 4, wherein the movable member moves in translation in a direction that is essentially parallel to the axis of the steam exit holes.

8. The steam de-wrinkling appliance according to claim 7, wherein the control element is connected to the movable member by a part that is movable in translation.

9. The steam de-wrinkling appliance according to claim 2, wherein the device for blocking or reducing the flow comprises a spring that tends to return the movable member to the retracted position.

10. The steam de-wrinkling appliance according to claim 1, wherein the movable member is disposed in the steam plenum chamber.

11. The steam de-wrinkling appliance according to claim 10, wherein the movable member comprises at least one partition, which isolates the plenum chamber when it assumes the restriction position.

12. The steam de-wrinkling appliance according to claim 2, wherein the movable member covers the holes of the second group of steam exit holes when it is in the restriction position.

13. The steam de-wrinkling appliance according to claim 12, wherein the movable member comprises pins that engage in the holes of the second group of steam exit holes when said member assumes the restriction position.

14. The steam de-wrinkling appliance according to claim 1, wherein the line has one end connected to the base that communicates freely with a boiling chamber and one end connected to the de-wrinkling head that communicates freely with the plenum chamber.

15. The steam de-wrinkling appliance according to claim 1, wherein the surface receiving the steam exit holes is flat and has a generally triangular contour.

16. The steam de-wrinkling appliance according to claim 2, wherein the steam exit holes are distributed in a V on the surface of the de-wrinkling head and the holes of the first group of steam exit holes are disposed at the pointed end of the V.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] The objects, aspects, and advantages of this invention will be more clearly understood by studying the following description of several special embodiments of the invention that are given as non-limiting examples, and by referring to the appended drawings, wherein:

[0041] FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views of a de-wrinkling head according to a first embodiment of the invention, which is shown with the switch in a first position in which the steam is distributed via all of the holes of the sole and in a second position in which the steam is distributed via a limited number of steam exit holes, respectively;

[0042] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the de-wrinkling head of FIG. 1;

[0043] FIGS. 3A and 3B are top views of the sole of the de-wrinkling head of FIG. 1A, with the cover shown in the retracted position and in the restriction position of FIG. 1, respectively;

[0044] FIG. 3C shows a variant of embodiment of the sole equipping the de-wrinkling head of FIG. 1;

[0045] FIGS. 4A and 4B are longitudinal sectional views of the de-wrinkling head of FIG. 1A when the steam concentration switch is in the first position and in the second position, respectively;

[0046] FIGS. 5A and 5B are sectional views along the line V-V of FIG. 1A, with the steam concentration switch in the first position and in the second position, respectively;

[0047] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a de-wrinkling head according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0048] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the de-wrinkling head of FIG. 6;

[0049] FIG. 8 is a top view of the sole of the de-wrinkling head of FIG. 6;

[0050] FIGS. 9A and 9B are longitudinal sectional views of the de-wrinkling head of FIG. 6, with the steam concentration switch in a resting position and in a pressed-in position, respectively;

[0051] FIGS. 10A and 10B are sectional views along the line X-X of FIG. 6, with the steam concentration switch in the resting position and in the pressed-in position, respectively;

[0052] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a de-wrinkling head according to a third embodiment of the invention;

[0053] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the de-wrinkling head of FIG. 11;

[0054] FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of the de-wrinkling head of FIG. 11, with the steam concentration switch in the resting position;

[0055] FIGS. 14A and 14B are sectional views along the line XIV-XIV of FIG. 11, with the steam concentration switch in the resting position and in the pressed-in position, respectively.

[0056] Only the elements needed for understanding the invention have been illustrated. To make the drawings easier to interpret, the same elements have the same reference signs from figure to figure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0057] FIGS. 1A-5B show a de-wrinkling head 1 according to a first embodiment.

[0058] The de-wrinkling head 1 is connected by a flexible line 2 to a base, which is not illustrated in the figures and is similar to the one described in more detail in Patent Application FR 2 912 429, said base having, in a manner known per se, a water tank and a boiling chamber, which boiling chamber is equipped with a steam exit orifice connected directly to the de-wrinkling head by the line 2.

[0059] The de-wrinkling head 1 comprises a body having a cylindrical rear portion forming a handle 3 and a flared front portion 4 formed in the longitudinal extension of the handle 3. The flared front portion 4 has a flat surface 5 with an overall triangular contour, with curved sides and a front tip 50 formed in the longitudinal extension of the handle 3, the flat surface 5 making a ca. 25° angle with the longitudinal direction of the handle 3.

[0060] Preference is given to the handle 3 and the flared front portion 4 of the de-wrinkling head 1 being assembled from two half-shells 11, 12, which are made of plastic and visible in FIG. 2, and to the flat surface 5 being borne by a sole 13, which is likewise made of plastic and is snapped onto the half-shells 11, 12.

[0061] According to FIG. 3A, the flat surface 5 is equipped with a first group of steam exit holes 51 (surrounded by dashes) comprising three holes distributed in a V near the front tip 50 of the surface 5, and with a second group of steam exit holes 52 having two times three holes disposed in the extension of the holes disposed in a V of the first group of steam exit holes 51.

[0062] According to FIG. 4A, the line 2 engages in the de-wrinkling head 1 via the rear end of the handle 3 and extends longitudinally inside the handle 3 to a coupling 60 borne by a manifold 6 having a single plenum chamber 61 supplying the entirety of the first and second groups of steam exit holes 51, 52. The manifold 6 is advantageously assembled from a plastic part mounted on and sealingly connected to the back face of the sole 13, the coupling 60 establishing fluidic communication between the line 2 and the plenum chamber 61.

[0063] More particularly according to the invention, the de-wrinkling head 1 comprises a controllable device for reducing the flow area provided by the steam exit holes 51, 52 of the sole 13.

[0064] In this first embodiment, the device comprises a switch 7 making it possible to reduce, even block, the steam flow transmitted toward the second group of steam exit holes 52 in such a way that a greater portion of the steam flow produced by the base, even the entirety of said steam flow, is sent through the first group of steam exit holes 51.

[0065] The switch 7 is advantageously disposed near the front end of the handle 3 and is mounted for translatory movement on the body of the de-wrinkling head 1.

[0066] According to the first embodiment of the invention, the switch 7 is connected by a lever 8 to a cover 9 mounted for translatory movement on the sole such that the translatory movement of the switch 7 along the de-wrinkling head induces the translatory movement of the cover 9 along the sole 13 in an essentially opposite direction.

[0067] According to FIGS. 2 and 3B, the cover 9 is guided in translation on the sole 13 by means of two guide tracks 14, which are borne by the inside face of the sole 13 and in which two longitudinal edges 90 of the cover 9 bordering a rectangular notch formed on the rear portion of said cover 9 engage.

[0068] In the special exemplary embodiment illustrated in the figures, the lever 8 is rotatably mounted on the manifold 6 by means of a circular sector 80 disposed essentially at mid-height on the lever 8, which pivots in a circular recess 62 formed on the upper face of the manifold 6, said circular recess 62 having a slot allowing the passage of the lower portion of the lever 8, which is visible in FIG. 4A.

[0069] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the lever 8 comprises an upper end having a transversal finger 81 that engages between two arms 70 borne by the switch 7 so as to form a sliding pivot linkage between the switch 7 and the upper end of the lever 8, and further comprises a lower end equipped with a transversal finger 82 that snaps into a circular recess formed between two arms 91 born by the cover 9 so as to form a simple pivot linkage.

[0070] The mechanism thus embodied enables the switch 7 to assume a first position illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 4A and 5A, in which the switch 7 is moved toward the sole 13 and the cover 9 is in a retracted position, which is illustrated in FIG. 3A. In this retracted position, the cover 9 is offset axially from the second group of steam exit holes 52 in such a way that the steam flow prevailing in the plenum chamber 61 can pass freely through all of the holes belonging to the first and second groups of steam exit holes 51, 52.

[0071] The switch 7 can also assume a second position, namely a steam concentration position shown in FIGS. 1B, 4B and 5B, in which the switch 7 is moved back toward the handle 3 and the cover 9 then assumes a position illustrated in FIG. 3B, in which it restricts the overall flow area provided by the steam exit holes 51, 52 of the sole 13. In this restriction position, the cover 9 covers the second group 52 of steam exit holes, blocking the access to the latter in such a way that the steam flow prevailing in the plenum chamber 61 cannot pass through the steam exit holes belonging to the second group of steam exit holes 52.

[0072] When the switch 7 is in the second position, the de-wrinkling head 1 thus embodied therefore makes it possible to concentrate the steam flow on the first group of steam exit holes 51, i.e. on the holes disposed near the front tip 50 of the surface 5.

[0073] Concentrating the steam flow on a limited number of holes in this manner has the advantage of making it possible to obtain a powerful and precise steam flow for more effectively targeting a particular area to de-wrinkle.

[0074] FIG. 3C illustrates a sole 13A corresponding to a variant of embodiment of the sole 13 capable of equipping the de-wrinkling head of FIGS. 1-5B.

[0075] In this variant of embodiment, the sole 13A comprises a single steam exit hole 51A in lieu of the first and second groups of steam exit holes. According to this figure, the steam exit hole 51A advantageously has the form of a V-shaped slot that extends over the area of the sole initially having the two groups of steam exit holes.

[0076] The functioning of the de-wrinkling head 1 equipped with the sole 13A thus embodied is otherwise similar to that described above.

[0077] Indeed, when the cover 9 is in the retracted position (illustrated with a solid outline in FIG. 3C), it is offset axially from the steam exit hole 51A in such a way that the steam flow prevailing in the plenum chamber 61 can pass freely through the entire passage area provided by the steam exit hole 51A.

[0078] When the cover 9 is in the flow area restriction position (illustrated with dashes in FIG. 3C), it covers two thirds of the steam exit hole 51A, specifically the two end zones of the steam exit hole 51A, in such a way that the steam flow prevailing in the plenum chamber 61 can only pass through the central portion of the steam exit hole 51A.

[0079] Concentrating the steam flow on a limited zone of the steam exit hole 51A in this manner has the advantage of making it possible to obtain a powerful and precise steam flow for more effectively targeting a particular area to de-wrinkle.

[0080] FIGS. 6-10B illustrate a de-wrinkling head 101 according to a second embodiment, the de-wrinkling head 101 being connected by a flexible line 102 to a base for generating steam analogous to the one described for the first embodiment.

[0081] In this second embodiment, the de-wrinkling head 101 comprises a body having a cylindrical rear portion forming a handle 103 in which the line 102 engages, and further comprises a flared front portion 104 formed in the longitudinal extension of the handle 103.

[0082] According to FIG. 7, the handle 103 and the flared front portion 104 of the de-wrinkling head 101 are assembled from two half-shells 111, 112 made of plastic, onto which a sole 113 likewise made of plastic is snapped, wherein said sole 113 has a generally triangular contour with curved sides and a front tip 150 formed in the longitudinal extension of the handle 103.

[0083] In a manner similar to the first embodiment, the sole 113 comprises a flat surface 105 equipped with a first group of steam exit holes 151 having three holes distributed in a V near the front tip 150 of the surface 105 and with a second group of steam exit holes 152 comprising two times three holes disposed in the extension of the holes disposed in a V of the first group 151 of steam exit holes.

[0084] According to FIGS. 7 and 9A, the line 102 extends longitudinally inside the handle 103 to a coupling 160 borne by a manifold 106 having a single plenum chamber 161 supplying the entirety of the first and second groups of steam exit holes 151, 152. The manifold 106 is assembled from a plastic part mounted on and sealingly connected to the back face of the sole 113, said coupling establishing the communication between the line 102 and the plenum chamber 161.

[0085] The de-wrinkling head 1 comprises a switch 107 disposed near the front end of the handle 103 that makes it possible to reduce, even block, the steam flow transmitted toward the second group of steam exit holes 152 in such a way that a greater portion of the steam flow produced by the base, even the entirety of this steam flow, is sent through the first group of steam exit holes 151.

[0086] More particularly according to this second embodiment, the switch 107 is pivot-mounted on the body of the de-wrinkling head 101 and comprises a lower face abutting with a push-piece 108A disposed at the end of a rod 108 mounted on the manifold 106 for translatory movement in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the surface 105.

[0087] The lower end of the rod 108 comprises two transversal arms 108B, which are visible in FIG. 8 and which each support a cover 109 for the second group of steam exit holes 152, each cover 109 advantageously having three pins 109A designed to engage in tubes 152A disposed upstream of the holes of the second group of steam exit holes 152 for plugging the latter when the cover 109 is applied against the sole 113.

[0088] According to FIGS. 9A and 10A, the switch 107 is automatically returned to a first, or resting, position by a return spring 108C, which pushes the rod 108 toward the switch 107, the cover 109 then assuming a retracted position in which the pins 109A are out of the tubes 152A surrounding the holes of the second group of steam exit holes 152 so that the steam can flow freely through the latter.

[0089] The switch 107 can also be moved by pressing it manually into a second, so-called steam concentration position illustrated in FIGS. 9B and 10B, in which the rod 108 is pushed by the switch 107 toward the sole 113, compressing the return spring 108A such that the cover 109 assumes a position in which the overall flow area provided by the steam exit holes 151, 152 of the sole 113 is restricted. In this restriction position, the cover 109 comes to rest on the edges of the tubes 152A, with the pins 109A inserted therein, which inhibits or greatly reduces the flow of steam through the second group of steam exit holes 152.

[0090] Exactly as in the first embodiment, the de-wrinkling head 101 thus embodied makes it possible to obtain a steam flow that can be distributed over the entirety of the first and second groups of steam exit holes 151, 152 when the switch 107 is in the resting position, or concentrated only on the first group of steam exit holes 151, in other words on the holes disposed near the front tip 150 of the surface 105 when the user moves the switch 107 into the second position by pressing it.

[0091] Exactly as in the first embodiment, in a variant of embodiment not illustrated here, the de-wrinkling head could obviously likewise comprise a sole equipped with a single steam exit hole in the shape of an elongate slot, a portion of which would be covered by the cover when the user moves the switch into the second position by pressing it.

[0092] FIGS. 11-14B illustrate a de-wrinkling head 201 according to a third embodiment, said de-wrinkling head 201 being connected by a flexible line 202 to a base for generating steam like the one described for the first embodiment.

[0093] Similarly to the first and second embodiments, the de-wrinkling head 201 comprises a body having a cylindrical rear portion forming a handle 203 in which the line 202 is engaged, and a flared front portion 204 formed in the longitudinal extension of the handle 203.

[0094] According to FIG. 12, the handle 203 and the flared front portion 204 of the de-wrinkling head are assembled from two plastic half-shells 211, 212, onto which is snapped a sole 213, said sole likewise being made of plastic, having a generally triangular contour, with curved sides, and a front tip 250 formed in the longitudinal extension of the handle 203.

[0095] Similarly to the first embodiment, the sole 213 comprises a surface 205 advantageously equipped with a first group of steam exit holes 251 having three holes distributed in a V near the front tip 250 of the surface 205, and with a second group of steam exit holes 252 having two times three holes disposed in the extension of the holes disposed in a V of the first group of steam exit holes 251.

[0096] According to FIG. 13, the line 202 extends longitudinally inside the handle 203 to a coupler 260 borne by a manifold 106 having a single plenum chamber 261 supplying the entirety of the first and second groups of steam exit holes 251, 252. The manifold 206 is assembled from a plastic part mounted on and sealingly connected to the back face of the sole 213, the coupler 260 establishing fluidic communication between the line 202 and the plenum chamber 261.

[0097] The de-wrinkling head 201 comprises a switch 207 that is pivot mounted on the body of the de-wrinkling head 201 near the front end of the handle 203, the switch 207 making it possible to reduce, even block, the steam flow transmitted toward the second group of steam exit holes 252 in such a way that a greater portion of the steam flow produced by the base, even the entirety of this steam flow, is sent through the first group of steam exit holes 251.

[0098] More particularly according to the third embodiment of the invention, the switch 207 comprises a lower face abutting with a crosspiece 208 linking two partitions 209, the crosspiece 208 being mounted, for translatory movement in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the surface 205, on a rod 206A with a square cross section borne by the manifold 206.

[0099] According to FIG. 12, the two partitions 209 are movable in translation in parallel slots 255 formed on the manifold 206 on both sides of the coupler 260, the two partitions 209 extending inside the plenum chamber 261 and forming a space between themselves, into which the steam exiting from the line 202 enters.

[0100] The two partitions 209 have a flat lower end 209A facing grooves 254 formed on the sole 213, the holes of the first group of steam exit holes 251 being disposed in the space formed between the two grooves 254 and the holes of the second group of steam exit holes 252 being disposed outside this space.

[0101] According to FIGS. 13 and 14A, the crosspiece 208 and thus the switch 207 are automatically returned to a first (resting) position by a return spring 208A that pushes the crosspiece 208 toward the switch 207, the partitions 209 thus assuming a retracted position in which their lower end 209A is retracted from the grooves 254 such that a space E (identified in FIG. 13) in which the steam can flow freely arises between the bottom of the grooves 254 and the lower end 209A of the partitions 209.

[0102] By pressing it by hand, the switch 207 can also be moved into a second, or steam concentration, position shown in FIG. 14B, in which the crosspiece 208 is pushed by the switch 207 toward the sole 213, compressing the return spring 208A such that the partitions 209 assume a position for restricting the flow area, in which the lower end of the partitions 209 rests in the bottom of the grooves 254, thus preventing the steam from flowing under the partitions 209 and thus toward the holes of the second group of steam exit holes 252.

[0103] Exactly as in the preceding two embodiments, the de-wrinkling head 201 thus embodied makes it possible to obtain a steam flow that can either be distributed over the entirety of the first and second groups of steam exit holes 251, 252 when the switch 207 is in the resting position, or concentrated essentially on just the holes of the first group of steam exit holes 251, i.e. the ones disposed near the front tip 250 of the surface 205, when the user moves the switch 207 into the steam concentration position.

[0104] Such a concentration of the steam flow on a limited number of steam exit holes near the front tip of the flat surface has the advantage of making it possible to obtain a powerful and precise steam flow suitable for more effectively targeting a specific zone to de-wrinkle.

[0105] By means of an easily and cost-effectively implemented solution, such a design thus makes it possible to improve the performances of a vertical de-wrinkling appliance that utilizes a steam flow.

[0106] Indeed, the appliance thus embodied enables rapid and effective treatment of clothes made of fabrics highly permeable to steam when the switch is in the first position, owing to the distribution of steam via a large number of steam exit holes covering a large treatment surface.

[0107] Conversely, when the user wishes to de-wrinkle a garment made of a fabric that is relatively impermeable to steam and that requires a more rapid steam flow, or when said user wishes to treat a specific zone of the garment, all that is necessary is to move the switch into the second position in order to obtain more powerful steam jets via a limited number of steam exit holes.

[0108] An appliance with improved versatility and effectiveness in terms of treating garments is thus obtained.

[0109] Obviously the invention is not limited in any way to the embodiment described and illustrated here, which was only given as an example. Modifications are still possible, particularly from the standpoint of the constitution of the diverse elements or by substituting equivalent techniques, without exceeding the scope of protection of the invention in any way.

[0110] In a variant of embodiment not illustrated here, the steam flow toward the second group of steam exit holes could thus be blocked by means of a cover that is moved manually on the outer surface of the sole in such a way as to cover and block off the holes of the second group of steam exit holes.

[0111] In a variant of embodiment not illustrated here, the flat surface receiving the steam exit holes could thus make an angle of ca. 60° with the longitudinal direction of the handle.

[0112] In another variant of embodiment not illustrated here, the surface receiving the steam exit holes could thus have a curved shape.

[0113] In a variant of embodiment not illustrated here, the movable member could thus be movable in rotation for switching from the retracted position to the restriction position.

[0114] In a variant of embodiment not illustrated here, the control switch of the cover or of the partitions could thus consist of an adjustment wheel that turns about the handle.