CA2279702C - Garment steamer - Google Patents

Garment steamer Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2279702C
CA2279702C CA 2279702 CA2279702A CA2279702C CA 2279702 C CA2279702 C CA 2279702C CA 2279702 CA2279702 CA 2279702 CA 2279702 A CA2279702 A CA 2279702A CA 2279702 C CA2279702 C CA 2279702C
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CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
opening
tank
generally closed
closed tank
steam
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA 2279702
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French (fr)
Other versions
CA2279702A1 (en
Inventor
James Yoshiki Imada
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Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA 2279702 priority Critical patent/CA2279702C/en
Publication of CA2279702A1 publication Critical patent/CA2279702A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2279702C publication Critical patent/CA2279702C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06FLAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F73/00Apparatus for smoothing or removing creases from garments or other textile articles by formers, cores, stretchers, or internal frames, with the application of heat or steam 

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Cookers (AREA)
  • Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)

Abstract

The invention provides a steamer for garments for removing wrinkles therefrom. The invention has a tank for holding a volume of liquid, an inlet to receive the liquid and a controllable heating element associated with the tank for heating the liquid to steam. The tank has an upper shaped section with a neck and an opening. A detachable attachment cooperates with the neck and the opening. The detachable attachment has an internal conduit, a second opening associated with the first opening, a shaped upper surface and a plurality of vents on the shaped upper surface. Steam is generated by heating the liquid. It rises through the tank, through the opening, to the attachment, through the conduit and out through the vents. Garments can be pressed against the vents to remove wrinkles therefrom.

Description

TITLE: GARMENT STEAMER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a device using steam to remove wrinkles from garments.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Clothing irons exist which use steam. Generally, they have an internal compartment for holding water. When the steam mechanism is activated, water in the compartment is heated to a boiling point, producing steam. The steam is released through vents on the bottom of the iron when activated by the user. An apparatus which operates in this manner is US patent 5,832,639 by Muncan, entitled Portable Garment Finishing Appliance.
Irons are heavy and cumbersome to use on clothing. A
person can be scalded by accidentally touching the heated iron base. Further, a specialized flat surface, such as a ironing board is typically required to ensure effective operation of the iron.
Handheld devices exist for applying steam to remove wrinkles from clothing. Generally, the devices are held near a wrinkled garment and the device is activated to steam which is directed towards the garment. See for example, US patent 3,395,469 by Gilbert entitled Pressing Iron and US patent 5,121,464 by Hanada et al entitled A Steamer with Controlled Pressure.
Handheld devices are difficult to use effectively. It is difficult to wave the devices near clothing while simultaneously holding the clothing taut near the devices.
Further, other steamer devices have chambers to store steam, which is controllably released. The stored steam builds in pressure, which can scald the user if the stored steam is inadvertently released.
There remains a need for a garment steamer which is easy to use and effective.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides garment steamer having a closed tank for holding a liquid, an opening in the closed tank, a controllable heating element associated with the tank for heating the liquid to steam and a detachable shaped attachment which fits over the opening. The detachable shaped attachment has an opening cooperable with the opening on the tank, an internal conduit associated with the opening, a shaped surface and a plurality of vents on the shaped surface associated with the internal conduit for venting the steam therethrough.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a garment steamer is provided comprising a generally closed tank for holding a volume of liquid, an inlet to receive the liquid into the tank and a controllable heating element associated with the tank for heating the volume of liquid to steam. The tank has an upper shaped section with a shaped surface and a plurality of vents on the shaped surface for venting the steam from the tank therethrough.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a side view of the invention;
Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the invention;
Figure 3 is a side view of the invention in operation;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the invention;
Figure 5 is a side view of an attachment for the invention;
Figure 5a is a top view of an attachment for the invention;
Figure 6 is a side view of another attachment for the invention;
Figure 6a is a top view of an attachment for the invention;
Figure 7 is a side view of another attachment for the invention;
Figure 7a is a top view of an attachment for the invention;
and Figure 8 is a side view of an accessory for the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Wrinkled synthetic materials such as nylons and acetates may be damaged in the ironing process. Further, rayon and cotton materials are very difficult and time consuming to iron.
Ironed woolens tend to lose their shape; however, when they are steamed first, followed by a light touch-up with an iron, very little damage is done to the material.
Rayons, cotton, acetates and woolens materials are easily finished using steam. Steaming allows clothing shrunk by laundering or by wear to be returned to their original size and shape. The present invention allows garments to be steamed quickly and easily, and prolongs the life of the garment, compared to present household steamers which only remove unset light wrinkles.
Figures 1 and 2 show features of garment steamer 1. The garment steamer comprises generally closed tank 2 which stores water (or other suitable liquids) inside it. The tank provides a sturdy base for the locating the garment steamer on a suitable flat surface, such as a table. With this design, a separate ironing board or steaming board is not required. The stability of the garment steamer can be augmented adding sufficient weight to the bottom of the tank. It can be further appreciated that mounting clips can be attached to the base to facilitate securing the garment steamer to its working surface.
Water is added to the interior of the tank through inlet 4.
It can be appreciated that a cover or door can be placed over the inlet. Window 7 provides a visual indication of the water level inside the tank.
Inside the tank, heating element 12 heats the water to produce steam 14 therefrom. In this embodiment of the invention, the heating element is powered from a regular household electrical circuit through an electrical circuit connecting to and controlling the heating element. The heating element has the wattage of typical household electric kettles, having approximately 1000 watts of power. Power cord 6 connects the garment steamer to the electrical circuit. Switch 5 selectively connects the heating element to the electrical circuit to activate the heating element. For the sake of clarity, the electrical circuit controlling the heating element is not shown. It can be appreciated that additional features can be provided by the electrical circuit including an automatic shut-off circuit which turns off the heating element when no water is in the tank or when the heating element has been left on after a pre-determined length of time or when the garment steamer is oriented on its side.
Referring to Figure 2, when the garment steamer is operational, steam 14 created from the water in the tank rises through the upper section 21 of the tank. The upper section tapers upwardly, channeling the steam to neck 22. The tapered shape of the upper section concentrates the flow of steam. This makes for a more effective steamer, providing a more concentrated steam source. From the neck, the steam leaves the tank through an opening 17 and enters the detachable attachment 3.
The detachable attachment is hollow providing conduit 23 for the transport of the steam. A second opening 24 on the detachable attachment cooperates with opening 17 of the tank and connects to conduit 23. Shaped upper surface 19 on the detachable attachment has a plurality of vents 8 on it.
Accordingly, steam from the tank leaving opening 17 enters the detachable attachment through second opening 24, rises through conduit 23 and leaves the detachable attachment through vents 8.
The upper surface is made of a relatively thin, rust resistant material, such as stainless steel or plastic. A
thinner upper surface reduces the amount of steam condensate that collects thereon. It can be appreciated that the vents can be oriented in various spaced relationships to each other. It can further be appreciated that the size of each vent may vary depending on its location on the surface.
Generally, the upper surface of the detachable attachment is larger in size to the neck. This provides a relatively large working area from which steam can flow to clothing or material.
The lower portion 25 of the conduit is concavoconvex, i.e. the interior shape of the lower portion is convex. This shape allows any steam condensate to flow back through the neck to the tank to the bottom. It can be appreciated that other shapes would also allow condensate to flow back into the neck of the tank. The shape of the transition area between the upper surface and the lower portion is rounded, thereby providing a continual, edge-free working surface. This reduces the possibility of a garment becoming snagged on the detachable attachment while being steamed.
Figure 3 shows the invention in use. Typically, garment steamer 1 is placed on a suitable flat working surface, such as table 11. Water is poured into garment steamer 1 through inlet 4, the garment steamer is plugged into an appropriate electrical outlet and the garment steamer is turned on. The internal heating element heats the water to produce steam. The steam rises through the tank, up the neck, out the opening, into the detachable attachment and to the garment through vents 8.
User 9 stands near the garment steamer and holds ends of garment 10 in his hands. Areas of the garment are steamed by holding the garment tightly against the upper surface 19 of the detachable attachment. As steam rises through vents 8 and contacts the garment, it removes wrinkles from the garment. To steam other areas of the garment, they are successively drawn across the upper surface of the garment steamer by the user drawing the garment back and forth across the upper surface.
The drawing motion is indicated by arrows 20. It can be appreciated that this invention provides a steamer which is easy _ g _ to use, can be set up and used with minimal additional equipment and does not require a separate ironing board.
Figure 4 shows the invention with the detachable attachment 3 removed from the tank 2. Tapered neck 16 extends from neck 22 and fractionally fits with neck 26 of detachable attachment 3.
It can be seen that opening 17 of the tank cooperates with second opening 24 of the detachable attachment. It can be appreciated that other mechanical arrangements are available which would provide a suitable locking arrangement between the detactable attachment and the tank. Some other arrangements include a screw and thread mating and other friction fit arrangements between the neck of the tank and the neck of the detachable attachment.
It can be appreciated that the design of the garment steamer is simple and inexpensive. There is no complex internal plumbing to channel the steam towards a steam outlet. Further, steam generated from the stored water flows directly up through the neck out the detachable attachment. There is no build-up of steam pressure in the tank, providing a safe operating system, unlike other systems where built-up pressure can cause scalding if released inadvertently.
Also, the garment steamer uses only steam to remove wrinkles from clothing. No heated surface, such as an iron surface, contacts the clothing. As such, heat-sensitive materials, such as nylon, rayon, woolens and acetates can be used on the garment steamer.

Figures 5, 5a, 6, 6a, 7 and 7a show different detachable attachments. The different detachable elements provide flexibility as to the types of garments which can be steamed by the invention. Like figure references are used where appropriate.
Figures 5 and 5a show a detachable attachment for steaming larger, generally flat garments, including the body portions of shirts. The shape is generally cuboid in shape with rounded edges. The top surface 26 is generally ovoid in shape. The bottom edge 27 of the attachment tapers upward from end 35 to end 36. Neck 26 cooperates with the neck of the tank. It can be appreciated that other sizes and shapes for this attachment can be used for larger, flat garments. The top surface of the attachment parallel to the bottom of the base.
Figures 6 and 6a show a detachable attachment for steaming columnar areas of clothing, including sleeves of shirts. The attachment is a horizontal columnoid, with end 37 being larger in width to the end 38. The top surface 30 tapers in width from end 37 to end 38. The side profile 27 does not taper. However, it can be appreciated that an attachment can be provided which does taper upwards along its bottom. Neck 26 cooperates with the neck of the tank. It can be appreciated that other sizes and shapes for this attachment can be used for sleeved garments.
The top surface of the attachment parallel to the bottom of the base.

Figures 7 and 7a show a detachable attachment for steaming relatively small, delicate areas of clothing, including ruffles and frills. The attachment is generally ellipsoid in shape.
The top surface 32 tapers in width from first end 33 to second end 34. The bottom edge 31 tapers upward from first end 33 to second end 34. The top surface of the attachment parallel to the bottom of the base.
Figure 8 shows an accessory 39 which can be used with the garment steamer. It is an expansion brace for columnar parts of garments, such as sleeves. The expansion brace has two arms 40, attached by outwardly biasing spring mechanism 41. The expansion brace is inserted into a sleeve and the spring mechanism biases the two arms apart from each other, thereby stretching a sleeve taut. The sleeve can then be drawn over the garment steamer to more effectively remove wrinkles in the sleeve.
In another embodiment of the invention, the detachable attachment is replaced by a fixed attachment. The fixed attachment has a corresponding second opening, neck, conduit, upper surface and plurality of vents like the detachable attachment, but is permanently attached to the tank.
Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail, it can be appreciated that the present invention is not restricted to what is described above and shown in the drawings, but can be changed or modified in many different ways within the scope of the invention defined in the attached claims.

Claims (11)

1. A garment steamer comprising a generally closed tank for holding a volume of liquid, an opening on said generally closed tank, a controllable heating element associated with said generally closed tank for heating said volume of liquid to steam and a detachable shaped attachment cooperable with said generally closed tank around said opening, said detachable shaped attachment having a second opening cooperable with said opening on said generally closed tank, an internal conduit associated with said second opening, a shaped upper surface and a plurality of vents on said shaped upper surface associated with said internal conduit for venting said steam therethrough.
2. A garment steamer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said opening is located on an upper portion of said generally closed tank and said generally closed tank tapers upwardly towards said opening.
3. A garment steamer as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein an inlet for receiving said volume of liquid is located on said generally closed tank.
4. A garment steamer as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said internal conduit of said detachable shaped attachment tapers outwardly from said second opening.
5. A garment steamer comprising a tank for holding a volume of liquid, an opening on said tank, a neck in said tank connecting said opening to said tank, a controllable heating element associated with said tank for heating said volume of liquid to steam and a detachable shaped attachment cooperable with said tank around said opening, said detachable shaped attachment having a second opening cooperable with said opening on said tank, an internal conduit associated with said second opening, a shaped upper surface and a plurality of vents on said shaped upper surface associated with said internal conduit for venting said steam therethrough.
6. A garment steamer system comprising a generally closed tank for holding a volume of liquid, an opening on said generally closed tank, a controllable heating element associated with said generally closed tank for heating said volume of liquid to steam and a plurality of detachable shaped attachments each of said attachments individually cooperable with said generally closed tank around said opening, said plurality of detachable shaped attachments each having a second opening cooperable with said opening on said generally closed tank, an internal conduit associated with said second opening, a shaped upper surface and a plurality of vents on said upper shaped surface associated with said internal conduit for venting said steam therethrough.
7. A garment steamer as claimed in claim 6 wherein said opening is located on an upper portion of said generally closed tank and said generally closed tank tapers upwardly towards said opening.
8. A garment steamer as claimed in claims 6 or 7 wherein an inlet for receiving said volume of liquid is associated with said generally closed tank.
9. A garment steamer as claimed in claims 6, 7 or 8 wherein said internal conduits of said detachable shaped attachments expands outwardly and upwardly from said second opening.
10. A garment steamer comprising a generally closed tank for holding a volume of liquid, an inlet to receive said volume of liquid into said tank and a controllable heating element associated with said generally closed tank for heating said volume of liquid to steam, said generally closed tank having an upper section with a shaped upper surface and a plurality of vents on said shaped upper surface for venting said steam from said generally closed tank therethrough.
11. A garment steamer as claimed in claim 10 wherein said generally closed tank tapers upwardly towards said upper surface.
CA 2279702 1999-08-05 1999-08-05 Garment steamer Expired - Fee Related CA2279702C (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2279702 CA2279702C (en) 1999-08-05 1999-08-05 Garment steamer

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2279702 CA2279702C (en) 1999-08-05 1999-08-05 Garment steamer

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2279702A1 CA2279702A1 (en) 2001-02-05
CA2279702C true CA2279702C (en) 2004-10-12

Family

ID=4163925

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2279702 Expired - Fee Related CA2279702C (en) 1999-08-05 1999-08-05 Garment steamer

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Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR3108339B1 (en) 2020-03-19 2022-04-29 Seb Sa Steamer with at least one suction port
FR3108341B1 (en) 2020-03-19 2022-04-29 Seb Sa Steam steamer with angled steamer head
FR3108340B1 (en) 2020-03-19 2022-04-29 Seb Sa Steam steamer equipped with two independent steam distribution circuits

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Publication number Publication date
CA2279702A1 (en) 2001-02-05

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