Smoothing head comprising an inner chamber provided with steam discharge ducts

Abstract

A smoothing head includes a steam distribution circuit containing an inlet duct including an inlet opening connected to a steam pipe; and a front wall equipped with a treatment face including at least one steam outlet hole and intended to face a garment to be smoothed. The inlet duct includes an outlet opening leading to an inner chamber belonging to the steam distribution circuit, the inner chamber including a condensate evacuation opening communicating with a condensate return circuit leading to the steam pipe or to the inlet duct.

Claims

1. A smoothing head comprising a steam distribution circuit and a front wall equipped with a treatment face intended to face a garment to be smoothed, the treatment face comprising at least one steam outlet hole, the steam distribution circuit comprising an inlet duct including an inlet opening intended to be connected to a steam pipe, the steam distribution circuit also comprising an inner chamber, the inlet duct comprising an outlet opening leading to the inner chamber, the inner chamber comprising a condensate evacuation opening communicating with a condensate return circuit, wherein the condensate return circuit is configured to lead to the steam pipe or to the inlet duct, and wherein the smoothing head further comprises a partition wall extending parallel to the front wall configured so as to direct steam emitting from the outlet opening of the inlet duct along the front wall prior to entering the at least one steam outlet hole, wherein the inlet duct has a 90° elbow upstream of the outlet opening, and wherein the elbow has an inner bend radius of between 3.5 and 4.5 mm and an outer bend radius of between 9 and 11 mm.

2. The smoothing head according to claim 1, wherein the outlet opening leads to an upper part of the inner chamber.

3. The smoothing head according to claim 1, wherein the inner chamber comprises a first diffusion chamber arranged between an inner face of the front wall and a first face of the partition wall extending inside the inner chamber, and a second diffusion chamber partially defined by a second face of the partition wall opposite the first face of the partition wall, the second diffusion chamber being in communication with the first diffusion chamber.

4. The smoothing head according to claim 3, wherein the first diffusion chamber has a flow cross section gradually diminishing according to the direction of circulation of the steam in the first diffusion chamber.

5. The smoothing head according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of steam discharge ducts extend transversely to the front wall and communicate with the at least one steam outlet hole such that the steam in the inner chamber escapes through the plurality of steam discharge ducts and towards the at least one steam outlet hole.

6. The smoothing head according to claim 5, wherein the inner chamber comprises a first diffusion chamber arranged between an inner face of the front wall and a first face of the partition wall extending inside the inner chamber, and a second diffusion chamber partially defined by a second face of the partition wall opposite the first face of the partition wall, the second diffusion chamber being in communication with the first diffusion chamber, and wherein the first diffusion chamber is crossed by the plurality of steam discharge ducts, the plurality of steam discharge ducts projecting from the inner face of the front wall and leading to the second diffusion chamber.

7. The smoothing head according to claim 5, wherein the treatment face comprises several steam outlet holes, and each steam discharge duct coincides with a respective steam outlet hole.

8. The smoothing head according to claim 5, wherein the steam discharge ducts have a total cross section area corresponding to a cross section area of the inlet duct.

9. The smoothing head according to claim 5, wherein each steam discharge duct comprises a barrier rib which projects inside said steam discharge duct and forms a barrier against a flow of water drops along said steam discharge duct towards the at least one steam outlet hole.

10. The smoothing head according to claim 1, wherein the inner chamber includes a lower wall comprising the condensate evacuation opening.

11. The smoothing head according to claim 10, wherein the lower wall is curved.

12. The smoothing head according to claim 1, wherein the condensate return circuit comprises a condensate storage cavity arranged in the smoothing head.

13. The smoothing head according to claim 1, wherein the condensate return circuit comprises a return duct including a first extremity portion connected fluidically to the condensate evacuation opening, and a second extremity portion opposite the first extremity portion and configured to project into the steam pipe or into the inlet duct.

14. The smoothing head according to claim 1, further comprising a main body at least partially defining the inner chamber, and a soleplate connected to the main body and including the front wall.

15. A smoothing apparatus comprising a base unit provided with a steam generator and a smoothing head according to claim 1.

16. A smoothing head comprising a steam distribution circuit and a front wall equipped with a treatment face intended to face a garment to be smoothed, the treatment face comprising at least one steam outlet hole, the steam distribution circuit comprising an inlet duct including an inlet opening intended to be connected to a steam pipe, the steam distribution circuit also comprising an inner chamber, the inlet duct comprising an outlet opening leading to the inner chamber, the inner chamber comprising a condensate evacuation opening communicating with a condensate return circuit, wherein the condensate return circuit is configured to lead to the steam pipe or to the inlet duct, wherein the smoothing head further comprises a partition wall extending parallel to the front wall configured so as to direct steam emitting from the outlet of the inlet duct along the front wall prior to entering the at least one steam outlet hole, and wherein the outlet opening leads to the inner chamber tangentially to the front wall, such that the steam exiting the outlet opening flows along the front wall.

17. The smoothing head according to claim 16, wherein a plurality of steam discharge ducts extend transversely to the front wall and communicate with the at least one steam outlet hole such that the steam in the inner chamber escapes through the plurality of steam discharge ducts and towards the at least one steam outlet hole.

18. The smoothing head according to claim 16, wherein the inner chamber includes a lower wall comprising the condensate evacuation opening.

19. The smoothing head according to claim 16, wherein the condensate return circuit comprises a condensate storage cavity arranged in the smoothing head.

20. A smoothing head comprising a steam distribution circuit and a front wall equipped with a treatment face intended to face a garment to be smoothed, the treatment face comprising at least one steam outlet hole, the steam distribution circuit comprising an inlet duct including an inlet opening intended to be connected to a steam pipe, the steam distribution circuit also comprising an inner chamber, the inlet duct comprising an outlet opening leading to the inner chamber, the inner chamber comprising a condensate evacuation opening communicating with a condensate return circuit, wherein the condensate return circuit is configured to lead to the steam pipe or to the inlet duct, and wherein the smoothing head further comprises a partition wall extending parallel to the front wall configured so as to direct steam emitting from the outlet opening of the inlet duct along the front wall prior to entering the at least one steam outlet hole, wherein a plurality of steam discharge ducts extend transversely to the front wall and communicate with the at least one steam outlet hole such that the steam in the inner chamber escapes through the plurality of steam discharge ducts and towards the at least one steam outlet hole, and wherein the inner chamber comprises a first diffusion chamber arranged between an inner face of the front wall and a first face of the partition wall extending inside the inner chamber, and a second diffusion chamber partially defined by a second face of the partition wall opposite the first face of the partition wall, the second diffusion chamber being in communication with the first diffusion chamber, and wherein the first diffusion chamber is crossed by the plurality of steam discharge ducts, the plurality of steam discharge ducts projecting from the inner face of the front wall and leading to the second diffusion chamber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be more fully understood with the assistance of the following description in reference to the attached schematic drawings representing, as non-restrictive examples, several forms of execution of this smoothing head.

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a steam-smoothing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a smoothing head belonging to the smoothing apparatus in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the smoothing head in FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the smoothing head in FIG. 2;

(6) FIG. 5 is a top view of a soleplate of the smoothing head in FIG. 2;

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the soleplate in FIG. 5;

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the soleplate in FIG. 5;

(9) FIG. 8 is am exploded perspective view of a smoothing head according to a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) Note that in this document, the terms “lower,” “upper,” “front” and “rear” used to describe the smoothing apparatus refer to this smoothing apparatus when a soleplate of the latter extends vertically and is in normal conditions of use.

(11) FIGS. 1 to 7 represent a smoothing apparatus 2 according to a first embodiment of the invention.

(12) The smoothing head 2 comprises a base unit 3 provided with a liquid reservoir 4 and a steam generator 5, and a smoothing head 6 connected by a steam pipe 7, for example a flexible one, to the base unit 3, such that the steam produced by the steam generator 5 escapes freely towards the smoothing head 6 via the steam pipe 7.

(13) As shown more particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the smoothing head 6 comprises a rear part 8 forming a gripping handle, and a front part 9 including a front wall 10 equipped with an inner face 11 and a treatment face 12 intended to face a garment to be smoothed and comprising at least one steam outlet hole 13. According to the embodiment represented in FIGS. 1 to 7, the treatment face 12 is equipped with a plurality of steam outlet holes 13, and has a generally triangular contour, with curved edges. Beneficially, the treatment face 12 is flat.

(14) According to the embodiment represented in FIGS. 1 to 7, the rear part 8 and the front part 9 of the smoothing head 6 are formed by the assembly of a main body 14 made of plastic material, and of a soleplate 15, also made of plastic material, which comprises the front wall 10 and which is connected to the main body 14 by screwing, for example, or by any other fixing system.

(15) The smoothing head 6 also comprises a steam distribution circuit 16 containing an inlet duct 17 comprising an inlet opening 18 connected to the steam pipe 7 and an outlet opening 19. The steam distribution circuit 16 also comprises an inner chamber 21 to which the outlet opening 19 leads. Beneficially, the outlet opening 19 leads to the inner chamber 21 tangentially to the front wall 10, and, for example, in the vicinity of the top of the inner chamber 21, such that the steam coming from the steam pipe 7 and exiting the outlet opening 19 flows along the front wall 10. The inlet duct 17 beneficially has a constant flow cross section, which may be circular, for example, at the inlet opening 18 and which may, for example be flattened at the outlet opening 19.

(16) According to the embodiment represented in FIGS. 1 to 7, the inlet duct 17 has a 90° elbow 22 which is situated upstream of the outlet opening 19. The elbow 22 may, for example, have an inner bend radius of about 4 mm and an outer bend radius of about 10 mm.

(17) As shown more particularly in FIG. 3, the inner chamber 21 comprises a first diffusion chamber 23 arranged between the inner face 11 of the front wall 10 and a first face 24.1 of a partition wall 24 extending inside the inner chamber 21, and a second diffusion chamber 25 in communication with the first diffusion chamber 23 and partially defined by a second face 24.2 of the partition wall 24 opposite the first face 24.1 of the partition wall 24. According to the embodiment represented in FIGS. 1 to 7, the outlet opening 19 leads to the first diffusion chamber 23, and the first diffusion chamber 23 has a flow cross section gradually diminishing according to the direction of circulation of the steam in the first diffusion chamber 23. Beneficially, the main body 14 comprises a stop surface 26 (see FIG. 4) against which the partition wall 24 rests, and the partition wall 24 extends substantially parallel to the front wall 10.

(18) According to the embodiment represented in FIGS. 1 to 7, the inner chamber 21 is defined by the inner walls of an inner cavity 27, arranged in the main body 14 and by the inner face of the front wall 10. The main body 14 may possibly comprise an access opening 28 which leads to the inner cavity 27 and which is closed, for example in a releasable manner, by the front wall 10.

(19) As shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, the inner chamber 21 comprises steam discharge ducts 29 extending transversely to the front wall 10, and beneficially perpendicularly to the front wall and communicating with the steam discharge holes 13, such that the steam in the inner chamber 21 escapes through the steam discharge ducts 29 and towards the steam outlet holes 13. Beneficially, the first diffusion chamber 23 is crossed by the steam discharge ducts 29, and the steam discharge ducts 29 project from the inner face of the front wall 10 and lead to the second diffusion chamber 25. Beneficially, the steam discharge ducts 29 have a total flow cross section substantially corresponding to the flow cross section of the inlet duct 17.

(20) According to the embodiment represented in FIGS. 1 to 7, each steam discharge duct 29 coincides with a respective steam outlet hole 13, and the soleplate 15 comprises the steam discharge ducts 29 and the partition wall 24.

(21) Each steam discharge duct 29 has, in an embodiment, an oblong flow cross section which presents a diminishing width opposite the outlet opening 19, and more particularly downwards. These arrangements favor redirection of some water droplets that may have condensed on the inner walls of each steam discharge duct 29 towards a lower part of the latter.

(22) According to the embodiment represented in FIGS. 1 to 7, each steam discharge duct 29 comprises a barrier rib 31 which projects inside the respective steam discharge duct 29, being beneficially tilted towards the inside of the inner chamber 21, and which forms a barrier against the flow of water droplets along the respective steam discharge duct 29 towards the steam outlet holes 13, and more particularly towards the respective steam outlet hole 13.

(23) As shown in FIG. 6, each steam discharge duct 29 comprises a lower opening 32 leading to the inner chamber 21, and, in an embodiment, to the first diffusion chamber 23. In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, the outer surface of each steam discharge duct 29 beneficially comprises ribs, for example longitudinal ones, so as to increase the heat exchange surface area between the steam circulating in the first diffusion chamber 23 and the steam discharge duct 29. The outer surface of each steam discharge duct 29 may, for example, be crenelated.

(24) As shown more particularly in FIG. 3, the inner chamber 21 also comprises a condensate evacuation opening 33 communicating with a condensate return circuit 34. Beneficially, the inner chamber 21 includes a lower wall 35, for example a curved one, in which the condensate evacuation opening 33 is arranged.

(25) The condensate return circuit 34 beneficially comprises a condensate storage cavity 36 arranged in the smoothing head 6 and, for example, in the main body 14. The condensate storage cavity 36 is more particularly arranged under the curved lower wall 35 of the inner chamber 21, and the condensate evacuation opening 33 leads to the condensate storage cavity 36. Beneficially, the smoothing head 6 comprises a cleaning opening 37 (see FIG. 4) leading to the condensate storage cavity 36, and the front wall 10 releasably closes and seals the cleaning opening 37.

(26) According to the embodiment represented in FIGS. 1 to 7, the condensate return circuit 34 also comprises a return duct 38 including a first extremity portion 38.1 leading to the condensate storage cavity 36, and a second extremity portion 38.2 opposite the first extremity portion 38.1 and leading to the inlet duct 17, for example, close to the inlet opening 18 of the inlet duct 17. The second extremity portion 38.2 of the return duct 38 may, for example, be beveled and project by a few millimeters into the inlet duct 17. However, according to an embodiment variant of the invention not shown in the figures, the second extremity portion 38.2 could lead to the steam pipe 7.

(27) As shown more particularly in FIG. 3, the return duct 38 is configured to be tilted relative to the horizontal when the front wall 10 extends substantially vertically. The return duct 38 may beneficially have a substantially constant flow cross section.

(28) The operation of the smoothing apparatus 2 thus realized will now be described.

(29) When a user wishes to smooth a garment, he fills the liquid reservoir 4 of the base unit 3 with water, for example, and then pushes on a start button of the smoothing apparatus 2. The steam generator 5 is then electrically powered so as to generate the steam that escapes from the steam generator 5 towards the inlet opening 18 of the inlet duct 17. The steam coming from the steam generator 5 then flows along the inlet duct 17, enters the inner chamber 21 via the outlet opening 19 and is distributed over a significant portion of the width of the inner face of the front wall 10, because the inlet duct 17 has a flattened flow cross section at the outlet opening 19. Then, the steam having entered the inner chamber 21 flows towards the base of the inner chamber 21 and around the steam discharge ducts 29, so as to heat the latter, before being redirected towards the second diffusion chamber 25 by the lower wall 35 of the inner chamber 21. Finally, the steam flows through the steam discharge ducts 29 and is distributed to the outside of the smoothing head 6, through the steam outlet holes 13.

(30) The presence of the elbow 22 upstream of the outlet opening 19 causes an acceleration of the steam flow flowing into the inlet duct 17, and thus favors the separation of the water drops which are carried by the steam flow, from the steam flow, while the configuration of the outlet opening 19 ensures blowing, by the steam flow, of the separated water drops along the front wall 10 and towards the condensate evacuation opening 33, where the latter are evacuated into the condensate storage cavity 36.

(31) In addition, the shape of the steam discharge ducts 29 and the fact that the latter include lower openings 32 allow the condensates that may have formed in the steam discharge ducts 29 (such formation being limited because of the prior heating of the steam discharge ducts 29 by the steam flowing into the first diffusion chamber 23) to fall by gravity into the inner chamber 21 and to be evacuated out of the latter via the condensate evacuation opening 33.

(32) The condensates contained in the condensate storage cavity 36 are then redirected toward the steam pipe 7, via the return duct 38, so that the condensates slide by gravity along the steam pipe 7, and fall back into the steam generator 5 of the base unit 3 where they will then be revaporized.

(33) FIG. 8 represents a smoothing head 6 according to a second embodiment of the invention, in which the condensate return circuit 34 comprises a connection 39 provided on the smoothing head 6 and connected to the condensate storage cavity 36, the connection 39 being intended to be connected to a return pipe connected to the base unit 3, and for example to the steam generator 5, and in which the inlet duct 17 comprises at least one guiding rib 41 extending along the inlet duct 17 and configured to guide the steam flowing into the inlet duct 17. Beneficially, the inlet duct 17 comprises a plurality of guiding ribs 41 extending along the inlet duct 17.

(34) It will be appreciated that the invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and illustrated, which have been provided only as examples. Modifications are still possible, in particular from the point of view of composition of the various components or by substitution of equivalent techniques, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.