CN106609455B

CN106609455B - Steam ironing apparatus comprising a base connected to an ironing head by means of a conduit

Info

Publication number: CN106609455B
Application number: CN201510724863.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 马克西姆·雅威特; 方化; 李同
Original assignee: SEB SA
Current assignee: SEB SA
Priority date: 2015-10-23
Filing date: 2015-10-23
Publication date: 2021-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 2035-10-23
Also published as: CN106609455A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a steam ironing apparatus comprising a base for generating a flow of steam, said base being connected to an ironing head by means of a conduit, in which the steam generated by the base is freely conveyed towards the ironing head, which comprises a rear portion forming a grip handle and an enlarged front portion, the enlarged front portion comprising a surface provided with a plurality of steam output apertures through which steam flow from the base portion spreads, characterized in that said enlarged front portion comprises a first vapor diffusion chamber and a second vapor diffusion chamber, the first steam diffusion chamber supplies steam to the first group of steam output holes, the second steam diffusion chamber supplies steam to the second group of steam output holes, and the ironing head comprises a blocking or reducing mechanism actuatable from outside the ironing head to block or reduce the flow of steam towards the second set of steam output apertures.

Description

Steam ironing apparatus comprising a base connected to an ironing head by means of a conduit

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a steam ironing apparatus comprising a base for generating a flow of steam, said base being connected to an ironing head by means of a duct in which the steam generated by said base is freely conveyed towards said ironing head. The invention relates more particularly to an ironing apparatus in which the ironing head comprises a rear portion forming a gripping handle and an enlarged front portion comprising a surface equipped with a plurality of steam output apertures through which the flow of steam from the base spreads.

Background

From patent FR2912429 a steam-type ironing device is known, comprising a base for generating a flow of steam, connected to an ironing head by means of a duct in which the steam generated by said base is freely conveyed towards said ironing head. In this document, the ironing head comprises a rear portion forming a grip handle and an enlarged front portion comprising a surface equipped with a plurality of steam output holes through which the flow of steam from the base spreads.

Such ironing apparatuses have the advantage of being inexpensive to manufacture and of rapidly generating a saturated steam flow which allows very rapid ironing of tissues or garments hanging vertically on hangers.

However, such ironing devices have a boiling chamber that supplies steam at atmospheric pressure, so that the speed of the steam flow at the outlet of the ironing head is very low, which is detrimental to a good penetration of steam in thick fabrics. Furthermore, the low speed of the steam at the outlet of the ironing brush does not allow to obtain a good directionality of the steam beam for the accurate treatment of the area to be ironed of the garments.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an ironing apparatus which overcomes these drawbacks and which is substantially simplified in structure.

To this end, the invention provides a steam ironing apparatus comprising a base for generating a flow of steam, said base being connected to an ironing head by means of a duct in which the steam generated by said base is freely conveyed towards said ironing head, said ironing head comprising a rear portion forming a gripping handle, said rear portion advantageously being cylindrical, and an enlarged front portion comprising a surface equipped with a plurality of steam output apertures through which the flow of steam coming from said base is diffused, characterized in that said enlarged front portion comprises a first steam diffusion chamber supplying a first group of steam output apertures with steam and a second steam diffusion chamber supplying a second group of steam output apertures with steam, and in that said ironing head comprises a blocking or reducing block which can be actuated from the outside of said ironing head to block or reduce the flow of steam in the direction towards said second group of steam output apertures And (5) a small mechanism.

Such a steam ironing device has the advantage of being simple and economical to implement and of having a very ergonomically effective ironing head which allows to rapidly treat fabrics which are not too thick and which are well permeable to steam, by virtue of the slow diffusion of the steam over the whole of its steam output holes. Such a device also has the advantage of allowing more precise areas to be treated and/or areas that are more difficult to iron by concentrating the steam flow on a limited number of steam vents of the ironing head in order to have a more powerful steam flow.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the conduit comprises an end connected to the base, which is in free communication with the boiling chamber, and an end connected to the ironing head, which is in free communication with the first diffusion chamber.

This feature allows to obtain a device with a simple structure that does not require any steam delivery control mechanism between the base and the ironing head.

According to another feature of the invention, the ironing head comprises a valve which is brought back into an open position by a return mechanism, said open position allowing the passage of the steam flow towards the second steam diffusion chamber, said valve being manually movable towards a closed position to reduce or block the steam flow in the direction of the second set of steam output apertures.

Said feature allows to obtain, by simple and economical means of implementation, an ironing head in which steam is diffused by default over the totality of the steam output apertures of the ironing head and in which steam is concentrated under control over only some of the steam output apertures when the user presses a button.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the valve can be actuated by a pin key arranged below the grip handle or by a circular knob arranged around the grip handle.

This arrangement allows a good ergonomics of use to be obtained.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the ironing head comprises a flexible pipe supplying the second steam diffusion chamber and means for clamping the pipe.

This feature represents an alternative solution for obtaining, by means of a device that is simple and economical to implement, a concentration of the steam flow on only the first group of steam outlet holes when the user presses the push-button.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the means for gripping the tube comprise a push-button pivotally mounted on the ironing head, integral with an element which grips the tube when the push-button is moved towards a depressed position, the push-button being brought back into a rest position by means of an elastic return mechanism.

According to another feature of the invention, the surface receiving the steam outlet hole is flat and has a substantially triangular-shaped profile.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the steam output holes are distributed in a V-shape on the surface of the ironing head, the steam output holes provided at the tip of the V supplying steam through the first diffusion chamber, the other steam output holes supplying steam through the second diffusion chamber.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the total number of steam output holes is greater than or equal to 5 holes.

This feature allows obtaining a diffusion of the steam over a certain number of steam outlet holes, which is sufficient to ensure a diffusion of the steam over a large surface, in order to quickly treat the fabric sufficiently permeable to the steam.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the first set of steam outlet holes comprises less than 5 steam outlet holes, and preferably 3 steam outlet holes.

This feature allows to obtain a concentration of steam on only a few holes to obtain a better accuracy of the steam flow.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the grip handle comprises a longitudinal end, at which the conduit is engaged in the ironing head, and an opposite end, at which the grip handle is prolonged by the enlarged front portion.

This feature allows a great manoeuvrability and a good ergonomics of use of the ironing head.

Drawings

The objects, features and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the description of a particular embodiment thereof, given below by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a front view of an ironing head according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

figure 2 is a perspective view of the ironing head of figure 1;

figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the ironing head of figure 1;

figures 4 and 5 are longitudinal section views of the ironing head along the line IV-IV of figure 1, when the push-button is in the release position and in the depressed position, respectively;

figure 6 is a perspective view of an ironing head according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of an ironing head according to a second embodiment of the invention;

figures 8 and 9 are longitudinal section views of the ironing head of figure 7, when the push-button is in the release position and in the depressed position, respectively.

Detailed Description

Only the elements necessary for understanding the invention are shown. To facilitate reading of the drawings, like elements are numbered alike in the various figures.

Fig. 1 to 5 show an ironing head 1 according to a first embodiment.

The ironing head 1 is connected, by means of a flexible conduit 2, to a base, not shown in the figures, and similar to the one described in more detail in patent application FR2912429, which comprises a water container and a boiling chamber equipped with a steam outlet, the boiling chamber being directly connected to the conduit of the ironing head.

The ironing head 1 comprises a main body comprising a cylindrical rear portion forming a grip handle 3 and an enlarged front portion 4 on a longitudinal extension of the grip handle 3. The enlarged front portion 4 comprises a flat surface 5 having a generally triangular shaped profile with curved sides and having a front tip 50 which is on a longitudinal extension of the grip handle 3, the flat surface 5 forming an angle of about 25 ° with the longitudinal direction of the grip handle 3.

Preferably, the grip handle 3 and the enlarged front portion 4 of the ironing head 1 are constituted by assembling two half-

shells

11, 12 made of plastic material, as shown in figure 3, and the flat surface 5 is supported by a base plate 13, also made of plastic material, which is embedded by clipping on the two half-

shells

11, 12.

According to fig. 1, the flat surface 5 is equipped with a first set of steam outlet holes 51 (surrounded by a dashed line in fig. 1) comprising three holes distributed in a V-shape near the front tip 50 of the surface 5 and a second set of steam outlet holes 52 comprising 2 x 3 holes arranged on the extension of the V-shaped holes of the first set of steam outlet holes 51.

According to figures 3 and 4, the conduit 2 is engaged in the ironing head 1 by the rear end of the grip handle 3 and extends longitudinally inside the grip handle as far as a joint 6 which distributes the steam flow coming from the conduit 2 into two steam flows which supply the first and second groups of steam output holes, respectively.

To this end, the joint 6 comprises an inlet 60 to which the conduit 2 is connected, and a first outlet 61, which is connected by a first flexible tube 63 to a first distribution chamber 71 that supplies only the first set of steam outlet holes 51. The joint 6 further comprises a second port 62, which is connected by a second flexible pipe 64 to a second distributor chamber 72, which supplies only the second set of steam outlet holes 52.

Preferably, the first and

second distribution chambers

71, 72 are provided in a collector 7 provided in the ironing head 1, the collector comprising a separating partition 70 extending between the first and

second distribution chambers

71, 72, the collector 7 advantageously consisting of a plastic piece which is inserted against the rear face of the soleplate 13 while being sealingly connected thereto.

According to the present invention, more specifically, the ironing head 1 comprises a push-button 8 which allows to reduce or even block the steam flow transmitted towards the direction of the second group of steam outlet holes 52, so as to cause the majority of the steam flow generated by the base, and even the entirety of this steam flow, to be sent through the first group of steam outlet holes 51.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, the push-button 8 is pivotally mounted on the body of the ironing head 1 and comprises a cross arm 80 which grips the second pipe 64 when manual pressure is applied on the push-button 8, as shown in fig. 5, the push-button 8 comprising an opening 81 above the cross arm 80 which allows the free passage of the first pipe 63.

The push-button 8 is advantageously arranged near the front end of the grip handle 2, on the upper face of the grip handle, and as shown in fig. 4, the second tube resumes its original shape in the absence of any pressure exerted on the push-button 8, which is brought back into the rest position by the elastic return achieved by the second tube 64.

The thus realised ironing head 1 allows to obtain, when the user presses the button 8, a concentration of the steam flow on the steam outlet holes 51 belonging only to the first group, i.e. arranged in the proximity of the front tip of the surface 5.

This concentration of the steam flow on a limited number of holes has the advantage of allowing to obtain a powerful and accurate steam flow that can be better directed to the specific area to be ironed.

Figures 6 to 9 show an ironing head 101 according to a second embodiment, the ironing head 101 being connected to a base for generating steam according to the first embodiment by means of a flexible conduit 102.

In the second embodiment, the ironing head 101 comprises a body similar to that described for the first embodiment, comprising a cylindrical rear portion forming a grip handle 103, in which a duct 102 is engaged, and an enlarged front portion 104 on a longitudinal extension of the grip handle 3, the enlarged front portion comprising a flat surface 105 equipped with a steam outlet hole.

In this embodiment, the ironing head 101 comprises, at the rear end of the handle 103, a protection of the conduit 102, constituted by a deformable sleeve 120 surrounding the conduit 102, the handle advantageously having, on the lower face of the handle, a notch 130 in which the deformable sleeve 120 can engage to facilitate the downward deflection of the conduit.

According to figure 7, the grip handle 103 and the enlarged front portion 104 of the ironing head are constituted by assembling two half-shells 111, 112 made of plastic material, on which a base plate 113, also made of plastic material, is clipped, the base plate 113 having a substantially triangular-shaped profile with curved sides, the base plate having a front tip 150 on a longitudinal extension of the grip handle 103, supporting a surface 105.

Similarly to the first embodiment, the surface 105 is equipped with a first set of steam outlet holes 151 comprising three holes distributed in a V-shape close to the front tip 150 of the surface 105 and a second set of steam outlet holes 152 comprising 2 × 3 holes arranged on the extension of the holes of the first set of steam outlet holes 151 arranged in a V-shape.

According to fig. 7 and 8, the conduit 102 extends longitudinally inside the grip handle 103 up to a distributor 106, which distributes the steam flow from the conduit 102 into two steam flows that supply the first and second sets of

steam output apertures

151 and 152, respectively.

The distributor 106 comprises on one side a fitting equipped with an inlet 160 to which the conduit 102 is connected, and on the other side a face equipped with two

outlet openings

161, 162 to which a collector 107 made of plastic is connected.

The collector 107 comprises a first distribution chamber 171, which extends opposite the first set of steam outlet holes 151 and is supplied with steam by one of the two

outlet openings

161, 162, i.e. the first outlet opening 161, and a second distribution chamber 172, which is supplied with steam by the other of the two outlet openings, i.e. the second outlet opening 162 and extends opposite the second set of steam outlet holes 152.

According to this second embodiment, more specifically, the distributor 106 comprises a main duct 163 directly connecting the first outlet 161 and the inlet 160, and a deviating duct 164 connecting the second outlet 162 with an opening 165 opening into the main duct 163.

The opening 165 is equipped with a valve 109 mounted slidingly between an open position, as shown in fig. 8, and a closed position, as shown in fig. 9, the valve being brought automatically back to the open position by a return spring 190, the valve being brought manually towards the closed position by pressing a push button 108, advantageously arranged on the underside of the grip handle 103, near the front end of the grip handle.

The valve 109 comprises a disc equipped with a peripheral pad 191, which rests against the edge of the opening 165 to sealingly close the opening when the valve 109 occupies the closed position, and comprises a central stem 192 integral with the disc, which is slidingly mounted in the distributor 106, the stem 192 comprising an end 192A projecting outside the distributor 106.

A pin-and-key type button 108 is pivotally mounted on the body of the ironing head 101 and comprises a cam 108A which abuts against an end 192A of the rod 192, the pressure on the button 108 allowing to bring the valve 109 to the closed position, as shown in figure 9.

The thus realised ironing head 101 allows, like the first embodiment, to obtain, when the user presses the button 108, a concentration of the steam flow on the steam output holes 151 belonging only to the first group, i.e. arranged in the proximity of the front tip of the surface 105.

This concentration of the steam flow on the limited number of steam outlet apertures in the vicinity of the front tip of the flat surface has the advantage of allowing to obtain a powerful and accurate steam flow that can be better directed to the specific area to be ironed.

This structure therefore allows to improve the performance of the apparatus for vertical ironing by means of steam flow, by means of a solution that is simple and economical to implement.

In fact, the device thus realised allows to quickly and efficiently treat garments made of fabric that is well permeable to steam, by diffusing the steam through a large number of steam outlet holes covering a large treatment surface, when the push-button is not actuated.

Conversely, when the user wishes to iron a garment made of a fabric that is less permeable to steam, which requires a greater flow rate of steam, or when it is desired to treat carefully an area of the garment, it is necessary to press a button to obtain a more powerful steam jet on a limited number of steam outlet holes.

Hereby, an apparatus is obtained with improved versatility and efficiency in handling garments.

The invention is of course in no way limited to the described and illustrated embodiments, which are given by way of example only. Changes may be made, especially in matters of construction of different elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without exceeding the scope of the invention.

Thus, in one embodiment variant, not shown, the blocking of the steam flow in the direction of the second group of steam outlet openings would be achieved by means of a pivotally mounted throttle.

Thus, in a further embodiment variant, not shown, the surface receiving the steam outlet hole may be convex.

Thus, in an embodiment variant not shown, the control button of the valve may be constituted by a circular knob rotating around a gripping handle.

Claims

1. Steam ironing apparatus comprising a base for generating a flow of steam, connected to an ironing head (1; 101) by means of a duct (2; 102) in which the steam generated by the base is freely conveyed towards the ironing head (1; 101), the ironing head (1; 101) comprising a rear portion forming a grip handle (3; 103) and an enlarged front portion (4; 104) comprising a surface (5; 105) equipped with a plurality of steam output holes (51, 52; 151, 152) through which the flow of steam coming from the base is diffused, characterized in that the enlarged front portion (4; 104) comprises a first steam diffusion chamber (71; 171) supplying a first group of steam output holes (51; 151) with steam and a second steam diffusion chamber (72; 172), the second steam diffusion chamber supplies steam to a second set of steam output apertures (52; 152), and the ironing head (1; 101) comprises blocking or reducing means (80; 109) actuatable from outside the ironing head (1; 101) blocking or reducing the flow of steam towards the second set of steam output apertures (52; 152), wherein steam is supplied to the first steam diffusion chamber (71; 171) and the second steam diffusion chamber (72; 172), respectively, the ironing head (1; 101) comprising a valve (109) brought back into an open position by a return means (190), the open position allowing the flow of steam to pass towards the second steam diffusion chamber (172), the valve (109) being manually movable towards a closed position to reduce or block the flow of steam towards the second set of steam output apertures (152), which allows concentrating the flow of steam on a limited number of powerful steam apertures of the ironing head in order to have a more powerful steam aperture Steam flow, allowing more precise areas to be treated and/or areas that are more difficult to iron.

2. A steam ironing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said conduit (2; 102) comprises an end connected to said base, which is in free communication with the boiling chamber, and an end connected to said ironing head (1; 101), which is in free communication with said first steam diffusion chamber (71; 171).

3. Steam ironing apparatus according to any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that said valve (109) is actuatable by means of a pin (108) arranged under said grip handle (103) or by means of a circular knob arranged around said grip handle (103).

4. Steam ironing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the surface (5; 105) housing said steam output aperture (51, 52; 151, 152) is flat and has a substantially triangular shape profile.

5. Steam ironing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that said steam output apertures (51, 52; 151, 152) are distributed in a V-shape on said surface of said ironing head (1; 101), and in that the steam output apertures (51; 151) provided at the tip of the V-shape are supplied with steam through said first steam diffusing chamber (71; 171), the other steam output apertures (52; 152) being supplied with steam through said second steam diffusing chamber (72; 172).

6. Steam ironing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that said total number of steam output holes (51, 52; 151, 152) is greater than or equal to 5 holes.

7. Steam ironing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that said first set of steam output holes (51; 151) comprises less than 5 steam output holes.

8. Steam ironing apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that said first set of steam outlet holes (51; 151) comprises 3 steam outlet holes.

9. Steam ironing apparatus comprising a base for generating a flow of steam, connected to an ironing head (1; 101) by means of a duct (2; 102) in which the steam generated by the base is freely conveyed towards the ironing head (1; 101), the ironing head (1; 101) comprising a rear portion forming a grip handle (3; 103) and an enlarged front portion (4; 104) comprising a surface (5; 105) equipped with a plurality of steam output holes (51, 52; 151, 152) through which the flow of steam coming from the base is diffused, characterized in that the enlarged front portion (4; 104) comprises a first steam diffusion chamber (71; 171) supplying a first group of steam output holes (51; 151) with steam and a second steam diffusion chamber (72; 172), the second steam diffusion chamber supplies a second set of steam output apertures (52; 152) with steam, and the ironing head (1; 101) comprises a blocking or reducing mechanism (80; 109) actuatable from outside the ironing head (1; 101) blocking or reducing the flow of steam towards the second set of steam output apertures (52; 152), wherein steam is supplied to the first steam diffusion chamber (71; 171) and the second steam diffusion chamber (72; 172), respectively, the ironing head (1) comprising a flexible pipe (64) supplying the second steam diffusion chamber (72) and means (80) for clamping the pipe (64), this allows to concentrate the steam flow only on the first set of steam output apertures (51; 151) of the ironing head in order to have a more powerful steam flow, while allowing to treat more precise areas and/or areas that are more difficult to iron.

10. A steam ironing apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that said means for gripping the tube (64) comprise a push-button (8) pivotally mounted on the ironing head (1), said push-button (8) being integral with an element (80) which grips the tube (64) when it is moved towards a depressed position, said push-button (8) being brought back into a rest position by means of an elastic return mechanism.

11. Steam ironing apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 10, characterized in that the surface (5; 105) housing said steam output aperture (51, 52; 151, 152) is flat and has a substantially triangular shape profile.

12. Steam ironing apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 10, characterized in that said steam output apertures (51, 52; 151, 152) are distributed in a V-shape on said surface of said ironing head (1; 101), and in that the steam output apertures (51; 151) provided at the tip of the V-shape are supplied with steam through said first steam diffusing chamber (71; 171), the other steam output apertures (52; 152) being supplied with steam through said second steam diffusing chamber (72; 172).

13. Steam ironing apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 10, characterized in that said total number of steam output holes (51, 52; 151, 152) is greater than or equal to 5 holes.

14. Steam ironing apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 10, characterized in that said first set of steam output holes (51; 151) comprises less than 5 steam output holes.

15. Steam ironing apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that said first set of steam outlet holes (51; 151) comprises 3 steam outlet holes.