Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a wall mounted clothes steamer for steaming an
item of clothing or the like.
United States Patent No 5,123,266 discloses a clothes steamer which
comprises a housing including means for mounting the housing on a vertical
surface such as a wall, a closeable Eiller opening through which the housing
may be filled with water, an electrical heating element in a lower part of
the housing, and a flexible hose, one end of which is in communication with
the interior of the housing, whereby steam generated in the housing enters
the hose, there being a nozzle at the other end of the hose thsough which
the steam generate(l in the housing emerges. The clothes steamer may
inclu~le additional features such as a steam operated au(lible warning
device, the housing being formed with means for supporting the nozzle in
an inoperative position, a mouth of the nozzle coming into register with a
flow path leading to the audible warning device as the nozzle is placed on
the supporting means; a rheostat for controlling the current to the heating
element and a thermostat for interrupting the electrical supply to the
element in the event that the housing has insufficient water therein; and a
sight glass which visually indicates the water level in the housing.
Although the clothes steamer of US Patent No 5,123,266 is effective for the
steaming oE an item of clothing or the like, there is always a need for an
improved clothes steamer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a wall mounted clothes
steamer comprising a housing, mounting means for mounting the housing
on a wall or the like, a liquid reservoir in the housing having a liquid inlet
and a steam outlet, an electrical heating element in the liquid reservoir for
heating the liquid to produce steam, a flexible hose, one end of the hose
being in fluid communication with the steam outlet of the liquid reservoir,
a no~zle attached to the other end of the hose, whereby steam generated
in the liquid reservoir enters the hose and emerges through the nozzle, the
steamer being characterized hI that it includes:
an arm moveable from a first position in which it is located in close
proximity to the housing and a second position in which it is at an angle to
the housing and adapted to support an item of clothing or a hanger holding
an item of clothing for steaming, and
a first switching mechanism for switching the heating element on and off,
the arm being connected to the first switching mechanism so that when the
arm is in its first position, the heating element is switched off and when the
arm is in its second position, the heating element is switched on provided
that the liquid in the liquid reservoir is above a predetermined level.
The arm may be located adjacent to the housing or may be located in a
complementarily shaped groove in the housing.
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The first switching mechanism preferably includes a cut-out switch which
only permits the heating element to be switched on when the liquid in the
liqui(l reservoir is above the predetermined level and which switches the
heating element off when the liqui(l in the liquid reservoir drops below the
predetermined level.
The housing preferably includes a compartment for storage of the nozzlewhen the nozzle is not in use.
In this case, the housing preferably includes a steam chamber in fluid
communication with the compartment, and a second switching mechanism
in fluid communication with the steam chamber and connected to the first
switching mechanism, the second switching mechanism being adapted to be
switched on manually and to be switched off by steam pressure when the
pressure of steam in the steam chamber excee(3s a predetermined level,
such that when the second switching mechanism is switched on and the arm
is in its second position and the liquid level in the liquid reservoir is above
the predetermined level, the heating element is switched on, and when the
heating element is on and the nozzle is left in its compartment, steam exits
the nozzle, enters the compartment and thence the steam chamber and
causes the second switching mechanism to switch off and thus to switch off
the heating element.
Preferably, the nozzle includes one or more holes though which the steam
exits and the compartment includes one or more holes adapted to be in
register with the holes in the nozzle when the nozzle is in the compartrnent,
the holes in the compartment leading into the steam chamber.
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The housing preferably includes a first light connected to the first switchingmechanism and the secon(i switching mechanism such that the first light is
switched on when the heating element is switched on and the first light is
switched off when the heating element is switched off -
The housing preferably includes a second light connected to the cut-out
switch, indicating when the liquid in the liquid reservoir has dropped below
lhe predelermille(l Icvel.
The housing may also include a sight glass in the housing for visually
indicating the level of li(luid in the liquid reservoir.
The steam outlet preferably comprises a pipe, a first end of the pipe being
located in the liquid reservoir above the maximum liquid level and a
second end of the pipe being connected to the flexible hose.
The flexible hose preferably includes a liquid trap intermediate its first end
and its second end to tn~p any liquid exiting the liquid reservoir.
The liquid trap preferably includes a tap for draining the liquid from the
trap. - - - -
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The mounting means for mounting the steamer on the wall or the like may ~ -comprise a hole or holes in the housing or in a flange on the housing by -- -
means of which the steamer may be attached to the wall with a suitable
fastening mechanism such as a screw or the like. Alternatively, the
mounting means may comprise a bracket adapted to be attached to the wall
and into which the housing fits, or to which the housing is attached.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWlNGS
Figure I is a perspective view of a first steamer according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the steamer of Figure 1 in a different
posltion;
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Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the steamer of l~igure 1 in a first
position;
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the steamer of Figure I in a second
position;
Figure 5 is a perspective front view of a second steamer according to the
invention; and
Figure 6 is a perspective rear view of the steamer of Figure 5.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS - - -
Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings there is shown a wall mounted
clothes steamer 10 which comprises a housing 12 with a liquid reservoir 14 - - -
in the housing 12. The liquid reservoir 14 usually holds water, and the
functioning of the steamer 10 will be described with reference to the use -
of water. The liquid reservoir 14 has a water inlet 16 and a steam outlet
comprising a pipe 18 having a first end 20 located above the maximum - -~
liquid level in the liquid reservoir 14 and a second end 22 for leading steam
out of the liquid reservoir 14. ~ -
-
The steamer also includes a nozzle 24 which is connected by a flexible hose
26 to the second end 22 of the steam pipe 18. The nozzle 24 includes a
plurality of holes 28 from which steam is emitted for the steaming of an
item of clothing or the like. The nozzle 24 is located in a suitably shaped
compartment 30 in the housing 12. The compartment 30 also includes a
plurality of holes 32 in register with the holes 28 in the nozzle 24, the holes
32 being connected to a whistle 34 I~ the nozzle 24 is in position in its
compartment 30 with steam flowing, the steam will exit the holes 28, enter
the holes 32 and activate the whistle 34 to alert a user.
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The steamer 10 also includes an arm 36 moveable between a first position,
shown in Figure 1, where it is located in a complementarily-shape(l groove
38 in the housing 12 and a second position, shown in Figure 2, where the
arm is at right angles to the housing 12. nle arm 36 is designed to hold a
hanger 40 on wllich is located an item of clothing, or to support an item of
clothing itself.
The housing 12 may also include a sight glass or water level indicator 42.
Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, there is located in the liquid reservoir
14 a heating element 44 and a first switching mechanism for switching the
heating element 44 on and off. The switching mechanism consists of a float
46 attached to a first lever 48, a second lever 50 connected to the first lever
48 by means of a rigi(3 element 52 and a switching device 54 adapted to be
contacted by an end 56 of the second lever 50. The switching device 54
includes a first switch 58 connected to a warning light 60 and a second
switch 62 attached to the heating element 44. The rigid element 52
includes a stop 64 to prevent the levers 48, 50 from moving to a position
where the float 46 might contact the heating element 44.
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The switching mechanism also includes a mechanical stop 66 connected by
means not shown to the arm 36. ~-
The functioning of the steamer 10 will now be described.
When the water level in the liquid reservoir 14 rises above a predetermined
level (as illustrated in Figure 3) the float 46 floats and causes the first lever
48 to move towards the right which, through the rigid element 52 causes
the second lever 50 also to move to the right so tllat the end 56 of the
second lever 50 contacts the two switches 58, 62. In this position, the
heating element 44 is turned on and the warning light 60 is turned off.
When the heating element 44 is turned on, it causes the water in the liquid
reservoir 14 tv boil to create steam, The steam passes to the top of the
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liquid reservoir 14 and into the first end 20 of the steam outlet 18 and then
through the pipe 18 into the flexible hose 26 to the nozzle 24 for use.
When tl1e water level in the liquid reservoir 14 drops to below the
pre(letermined level (shown in Figure 4) the float 46 drops and pulls the
first lever 48 and, through the rigid element 52 the second lever 50, to the
left. Wllen this happens, firstly the switch 58 is activated and causes the
warning light 60 to activate to indicate to a user that the water level is
dropping to below the predetermined level. When the water level drops
further, the second switch 62 is activated thus turning off the heating
element 44, preventing the heating element 44 from burning out.
As stated above, the switching mechanism includes a mechanical stop 66
attached to the arm 36. This is designed so that when the arm 36 is
located in its groove 38 in the housing 12 of the steamer 10, as illustrated
in Figure 1, the mechanical stop 66 is in the position shown in Figure 4
In this position, even if the water level in the reservoir 14 rises above the
predetermined level, the levers 48, 50 are prevented from moving to the
right by the mechanical stop 66 and thus prevent contact with the switches
58, 62. Thus, the heating element 44 cannot be turned on and no steam is
generated. When the arm 36 is moved to its second position, as illustrated
in Figure 2, the mechanical stop 66 is moved out of contact with the lever
50, thus permitting the levers 48, 50 to move to the right to contact the
switches 58, 62, provided that the water level in the liquid reservoir 14 is
above the predetermined level. If the water level in the liquid reservoir 14
is not above the predetermined level, then the switch means will remain in
the position shown in Figure 4 because of the action of the float 46. The
steamer 10 is thus (lesigned so that it will only operate when the arm 36 is
moved ~o its second position indicating that a user is ready to steam an
item of clothing
The use of the steamer 10 to steam an item of clothing will now be
describe(l. Firstly, the arm 36 is pulled from its first position to its second
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position. Secondly, an item of clothing on a hanger 40 or by itself, is hung
on the arm 36. Thirdly, the nozzle 24 is moved from its compartment 30
in the housing 12 of the steamer 10 and is ready for use. The steam
emitted from the holes 28 in the nozzle 24 may be used to steam the item
of clothing to remove any crumples or wrinkles. When a user is finished
steaming tlle item of clothing, the nozzle 24 snay be replaced in its
compartment 30 in the housing 12 of the steamer lQ the item of clothing
may be removed from the arm 36 and the arm 36 will, through a spring
loading mechanism, return to its first position in its groove 38 in the
housing 12. This will automatically switch off the heating element 44.
~eferring to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings there is shown a wall mounted
clothes steamer 80 which comprises a housing 82 mounted on a mounting
plate 84. The mounting plate 84 is designed to be attached to a vertical
surface such as a wall by means of screws 86. The housing 82 may be
mounted on the mounting plate 84 by any suitable means, such as for
example by means of screws.
The housing 82 includes a liquid reservoir 88 which has a water inlet 90
and a steam outlet comprising a pipe having a first end located above the
maximumi liquid level in the liquid reservoir 88 and a second end 92 for
leading steam out of the liquid reservoir 88. The pipe in the liquid
reservoir 88 is the same as the pipe 18 of the steamer 10 of Figures 1 to 4.
The steamer 80 also includes a f1exible hose 94, one end of the flexible
hose 94 being connected to the second end 92 of the pipe in the liquid
reservoir 88 and the other end of the flexible hose 94 being attached to a
nozzle 96 The nozzle 96 includes a plurality of holes (not shown but
equivalent to the holes 28 in the nozzle 24 of the steamer 10) from which
steam is emitted for the steaming of an item of clothing or the like. The
nuzzle 96 is located in a suitably shaped compartment 98 in the housing 82.
The compartment 98 also includes a plurality of holes in register with the
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holes in the nozzle 96, the holes being connected to a steam chamber IOQ
The flexible hose 94 includes a liquid trap 102 between its first end and its
second enu. The liquid trap 102 includes a tap 104 for draining liquid from
the liquid trap 102. The l;qu;d trap 102 is designed to trap liquid exiting
the l;quid reservoir 88 via the pipe and the flexible nozzle 94, to prevent
that l;qu;d from ex;t;llg the no~zle 96~
The steamer 80 also ;ncludes an arm 106 carrying a hook 108, which arm
106 is moveable between a first position shown in Figure 5, where it is
located adjacent the housing 82, and a second position, shown in dotted
lines in F;gure 6, where the arm 106 is at an angle to the housing 82. The
arm 106 is designed to hold a hanger on its hook 108 on which may be
located an item of clothing to be steamed. The arm 106 may also support
an item of clothing itself.
The housing 82 also includes a s;ght glass 110 for visually indicating the
level of liquid in the liquid reservoir 88.
There is located in the l;quid reservoir 88 and a housing 82 a heating
element unit (not shown but which may be a conventional kettle heating
element unit). An end 112 of the heating element unit extends through the
wall of the liquid reservoir 88 into the housing 82. A first switching
mechanism for switching the heating element on and off is connected to the
end 112 of the heating element unit.
The first switching mechanism includes a first lever 114 attached to the arm
106 and a second lever 116, the first lever 114 being located in and being
moveable in a slot 118 in the second lever 116. An end 120 of the second
lever 116 is connected to an arm 122 which may be moved to contact a
switch to switch the heating element on and off.
When the arm 106 i5 in its first position, the first lever 114 is located at thebottom of the slot 118 so that the end 120 of the second lever 116 and the
arm 122 are pulled away from the switch. When the arm 106 is moved
from its first position to its second position, the first lever 114 moves
upwards in the slot It8, against the action of a restraining spring 124, which
in turn moves the second lever 116so that its end 120 and connected arm
122 moveto contact the switch to turn the heating element on. The spring
124 is designed to ensure that the arm 106 will always return to its first
position unless it is held down by àn item of clothing to be steamed.
The first switching mechanism includes a cut-out switch which is formed as
part of the heating element unit, which only permits the heating element
to be switched on when the liquid in the liquid reservoir is above a
predetermined level and which switches the heating element off when the
Iiquid in the liquid reservoir drops below the predetermined level.
The heating element unit is a conventional heating element unit used in a
kettle.
The steamer 80 includes a second switching mechanism associated with the
steam chamber 100. The second switching mechanism includes a button
126 which may be manually depressed to contact a switch 128 which is also
connected to the heating element.
As stated above, when the button 126 is depressed, the switch 128 is turned
on and thus the heating element is turned on, provided that the arm 106
is in its second position and the liquid level in the liquid reservoir 88 is
above the predetermined level. While the button 126 may be retracted
manually to turn the switch 128 off, it is primarily designed to be retracted
as follows. When the heating element is turned on so that steam is
generated in the liquid reservoir 88, and the nozzle 96 is left in position in
i~s compartment 98 as illustrated in Figure 5, any steam which exits the
nozzle 96 through the holes therein, passes through the holes in the
compartment 98 and into the steam chamber 100. When the pressure of -
steam in the steam chamber 100 exceeds a predetermined level, the steam
pressure forces the button 126 to retract to turn off the switch 128 and thus
to turn o~f the heating element. This ensures that if the steamer 80 is
turned on by a user who then forgets to use the steamer 80, after a period
of time the heating element will be turned off to prevent burn-out of the
steamer 80.
Various wires connecting the first and second switching mechanisms and - -
other electrical components of the steamer 80 are illustrated in Figure 6. ~
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The steamer 80 includes a first light 130 connected to the first and second -
switching mechanisms such that the light 130 is switched on when the i - -
heating element is switched on and the light 130 is switched off the heating
element is switched off. -
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The steamer 80 also includes a second light 132, connected to the cut-out
switch in the heating element unit, indicating when the liquid level in the
liquid reservoir 88 has dropped below the predetermined level.
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The steamer 80 also includes a first electrical connection unit 134 which is ~ - -
~esigned to receive a conventional kettle plug for supplying electrical power
to the steamer 80, and a second electrical connection unit 136 which is --
designed to be directly wired to an electrical wiring system to supply --
electrical power to the steamer 80. Either one or other of the connections
134, 136 may be utilized. In addition, the connection 134 may be sealed off
with a sliding plate 138, if it is not in use, to prevent a person from
receiving an electrical shock. The functioning of the steamer 80 will now
be described.
When the water level in the liquid reservoir 88 is above the predetermined
level and it is desired to switch the steamer 80 on, the arm 106 is moved
from its first position to its second position as illustrated in Figure 6, which
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switches on the first switching mechanism, and the button 126 is depressed,
which switches on the second switching mechanism. This in turn switches
on the heating element. The first light 130 is also switched on. When the
heating element in the liquid reservoir 88 is switched on, it causes the
water in the liquid reservoir 88 to boil to create steam. The steam passes
to the top of the liquid reservoir 88 and into the first end of the pipe and
then through the second end 92 of the pipe into the flexible hose 94 to the
nozzle 96 for use. When the ste~m begins to flow through the nozzle 96,
it may be removed from its compartment 98 and used to steam an article
of clothing hanging on the arm 106.
1f the nozzle 96 is left in its compartment 98 while steam is being
generated, the heating element will be switched off by means of the second
switching mechanism as described above.
If the water level in the liquid reservoir 88 drops below the predetermined
level, the cut-out switcll in the heating element unit will come into
operation and turn the heating element off. This prevents the heating
element from burning out.
When steaming of the article of clothing is complete, it is removed from
the arm 106, which will then automatically return to its first position under
the action of the spring 124. This will cause the first lever 114 and thus the
second lever 116 to move downwardly and thus to retract the ensl 120 of
the second lever 116 and the attached arm 122 to switch the first switching
mechanism off and thus the heating element off. Alternatively, the button
126 may be manually retracted to switch off the second switching
mechanism and thus the heating element.
The steamer of the invention has the advantage that it includes several
safety features to prevent the steamer frorn accidentally being left on and
bùrning out, In addition, the steamer is very effective for the steaming of
clothes
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