EP2117405B1

EP2117405B1 - Nozzle for cleaner

Info

Publication number: EP2117405B1
Application number: EP07834188.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Byung-Sun Yang; Dae-Hwan Park; Sung-Guen Kim; Jong-Hyun Seo
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2007-02-07
Filing date: 2007-11-21
Publication date: 2015-06-17
Anticipated expiration: 2027-11-21
Also published as: EP2117405A1; RU2009122214A; AU2007346415A1; RU2418566C2; WO2008096955A1; EP2117405A4; AU2007346415B2

Description

Technical Field

This document relates to a nozzle for a cleaner.

Background Art

A vacuum cleaner is an appliance which cleans a room floor and the like by using a sucking force of a suction motor. Recently, various kinds of cleaners, such as a steam cleaner which removes a foreign substance of a floor by injecting steam thereon, have been introduced.
And, a nozzle of the steam cleaner is configured that a cleaning element is attached to the nozzle in order to remove the foreign substance of the floor. And, steam generated in a steam generating device is discharged out of the nozzle via a steam-discharge pipe.
KR 2006 0104731 A discloses a steam cleaner with a water outflow restricting circulation structure for saving electric energy and increasing cleaning efficiency by quickly injecting steam, the steam cleaner comprising a cover, a body, a water tub, and an electric heater.
KR 2002 0027141 A discloses a steam cleaner comprising a mop, a body, a heating chamber, a fixing plate, and a partition.
JP 05 29071 A discloses a sheathed heater and a manufacturing method thereof, the heater comprising an inside metal tube, a nichrome wire, an outside metal tube, lead glass, and MgO powders.
KR 200 387 294 Y1 discloses a sheath heater comprising an outer metal tube, an insulating material, a hot wire, an inside tube, and an electric pin.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

The present invention is derived from the above described situation, and an object thereof is to provide a nozzle for a cleaner whchi is capable of generating steam promptly.
Another object of the present invention is to provided a nozzle for a cleaner which prevents water from leaking through a steam-discharge pipe.

Technical Solution

These objects are solved by the nozzle for a cleaner according to claim 1. Further advantages refinements and embodiments of the invention are described in the respective sub-claims.
Herein, a nozzle for a cleaner according to the present invention includes a steam generating device; and a body throught which steam generated in the steam generating device is discharged to the outside, wherein the steam generating device includes a steam case in which water is stored, a heater for heating water stored in the steam case, and an absorption element for absorbing water stored in the steam case, in which at least some of the absorption element surrounds an external surface of the heater.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a nozzle for a cleaner includes a steam generating device; and a body throught which steam generated in the steam generating device is discharged to the outside, wherein the steam generating device includes a steam case in which water is stored, and a heater for heating water stored in the steam case, and wherein the heater is formed in a straight line and a hot-wire in the heater is multiply insulated.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a nozzle for a cleaner includes a steam generating device; and a body throught which steam generated in the steam generating device is discharged to the outside, wherein the steam generating device includes a steam case defining a space in which steam is generated, a heater provided in the steam case, and a steam-discharge pipe for discharging steam generated in the steam case to the outside, and wherein the steam-discharge pipe is bent at least one time.

Advantageous Effects

According to the proposed embodiments of the present invention, since water absorbed in the absorption element is heated by the heater, a steam generation time can be reduced. That is, steam can be generated, promptly.
Also, since the absorption element surrounds the heater, bubbles are prevented from forming in the process of heating water, and therefore water stored in the steam case is prevented from leaking to the outside via the steam-discharge pipe.
Also, since the steam discharge-pipe is bent and formed, water is prevented from discharging to the outside while the nozzle is inclined.
Also, since the steam discharge-pipe is disposed on a cross line where each plane dividing an inner volume of the steam case into two equal parts in back-and-forth and side-to-side directions is crossed, the nozzle prevents water stored in the nozzle from being discharged to the outside even when the nozzle is inclined in back-and-forth and side-to-side directions.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a nozzle for a cleaner according to the present embodiment.
Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the nozzle.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a nozzle where a cover element is separated therefrom.
Fig. 4 is a bottom view of a nozzle according to the present embodiment.
Figs. 5 and 6 are an exploded perspective views of a steam generating device according to the present embodiment.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a state that an absorption element is connected to a heater according to the present embodiment.
Fig. 8 is a front cross-sectional view of a heater according to the present embodiment.
Fig. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of a heater according to the present embodiment.
Fig. 10 is a partial plan view showing a direction of a horizontal portion of a steam-discharge pipe shown in Fig. 7.
Fig. 11 is a partial plan view showing a forming position of the steam-discharge pipe shown in Fig. 7.
Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a flow of steam in the nozzle.

Mode for the Invention

Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a nozzle for a cleaner according to the present embodiment, Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the nozzle, Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a nozzle where a cover element is separated therefrom, and Figure 4 shows a bottom view of the nozzle according to the present embodiment.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, a nozzle 1 for a cleaner according to the present embodiment sucks air containing dust of the floor and discharges steam. And, the nozzle 1 includes a body defining an external appearance, and a connecting pipe 30 connected to a rear of the body.
The connecting pipe 30 guides the air sucked into the nozzle 1 to a cleaner body (not shown).
The body includes a base 10 defining an external appearance of a lower surface, and a cover element 20 connected to an upper part of the base 10. And, a cleaning element connecting part 40, to which a cleaning element 50 is attached, is connected to a lower part of the base 10. For example, a floorcloth may be used as the cleaning element 50.
Particularly, an intake port 102, into which air containing foreign substances of the floor is introduced, is formed in the middle of a front end of the base 10. And, the intake port 102 and the connecting pipe 30 are connected by an air guide pipe 130. The air guide pipe 130 is roundly formed in a back-and-forth direction of the nozzle 1.
Further, the connecting pipe 30 is seated on the base 10 and it is disposed at a rear part of the air guide pipe 130. And, the connecting pipe 30 can be upwardly or downwardly rotated relative to the air guide pipe 130.
Therefore, the air suck through the intake port 102 (see Fig. 3) is introduced into the cleaner body via the air guide pipe 130 and the connecting pipe 30.
A Roller 140 for facilitating movement of the nozzle 1 is installed at a rear side of the base 10. And, a pair of auxiliary rollers 142 are installed at both sides of a front end of the base 10.
Meanwhile, a steam generating device 110, which generates steam by heating water, is installed in the base 10.
In particular, the steam generating device 110 is disposed between the base 10 and the air guide pipe 130.
Further, the steam generating device 110 includes a steam case 111 defining a space in which the water for generating steam is stored, and a heater 118 for generating steam by heating the water stored in the steam case 111.
More particularly, a connecting stage 112b is formed at a side of the steam case 111, and a connecting projection 103, which is to be connected with the connecting stage 112b, is protruded and formed on an upper surface of the base 10.
Further, the steam generating device 110 is initially connected to the base 10, as the connecting stage 112b of the steam case 111 is connected to the connecting projection 103 of the base 10. And, screws are fastened in a state that the connecting stage 112b and the connecting projection 103 are connected to each other, so that the steam generating device 110 is completely fixed thereon.
Also, the steam case 111 is composed of an upper case 112 and a lower case 113 which is to be connected to the upper case 113.
Further, a plurality of case connecting stages 112a are formed in the upper case 112, and a plurality of case connecting projections 113a which are to be connected with the plurality of case connecting stages 112a are formed in the lower case 113. And, screws are fastened in a state that the case connecting stages 112a and the case connecting projections 113a are connected.
A water inlet 115, through which water is supplied from the outside, is formed in the upper case 112. The water inlet 115 is opened or closed by an inlet valve 60 in a state that the cover element 20 is connected to the base 10.
The heater 118 generates heat by using a power source applied from the outside. And, the water stored in the steam case 111 is converted into steam by the heat given off from the heater 118. This converts the water stored in the steam case 111 to steam. And, the heater 118 is disposed in the steam case 111 in a longitudinal direction (side-to-side direction), and it is formed in the shape of a straight line.
Also, an operation of the heater 118 is controlled by a control unit 190 provided at the upper part of the steam generating device 110. That is, heating value, temperature and operating time of the heater 118 are controlled by the control unit 190.
Further, the heater 118 includes an extended part 118a in which some of the extended part is extended out of the steam case 111, and a safety device 180 which prevents the heater 118 from over-heating by detecting the temperature transmitted from the extended part 118a is provided at the outside of the steam case 111.
Particularly, the safety device 180 includes a first temperature sensor 182 which primarily controls the power supplied to the heater 118 by detecting the temperature of the extended part 118a, and a second temperature sensor 184 which secondarily controls the power supplied to the heater 118.
Further, a transmitting part 170 for transmitting the heat of the extended part 118a to the respective temperature sensor 182, 184 is contacted with an end of the extended part 118a. Here, the transmitting part 170 is preferably made of a material with high heat conductivity. In the transmitting part 170, a support part 172 which is configured to surround the second temperature sensor 184 is formed.
Meanwhile, a steam-discharge pipe 116 (see Fig. 5) for discharging steam generated in the steam case 111 to the outside is formed at the lower case 113.
Particularly, the steam-discharge pipe 116 is upwardly protruded from the lower case 113 by a predetermined height, and the steam-discharge pipe 116 is a hollow shaft in which a channel is formed. The lower end of the steam-discharge pipe 116 is downwardly protruded from the lower case 113 and penetrates the base 10.
Here, the steam-discharge pipe 116 penetrates the base 10 so that steam flowed along the the steam-discharge pipe 116 is supplied to the cleaning element 50 provided at the lower part of the base 10.
Therefore, steam generated in the steam case 111 is discharged out of the steam case 11 via the steam-discharge pipe 116.
Meanwhile, a guide hole 202, which allows the movement of the connecting pipe 30, is formed at a rear part of the cover element 20. Therefore, the connecting pipe 30 can be tilted within the guide hole 202.
Also, a valve seat portion 206, on which the inlet valve 60 is seated, is downwardly depressed in one side of the cover element 20. And, a valve perforated-hole 204, through which the bottom of the inlet valve 60 is passed, is formed at the middle of the valve seat portion 206.
Therefore, the inlet valve 60 may be connected to the water inlet 115 via the valve perforated-hole 204 in a state that the cover element 20 is connected to the base 10.
Further, the cleaning element connecting part 40 is connected to the lower part of the base 10, and the cleaning element 50 is attached to the lower part of the cleaning element connecting part 40.
Particularly, a seat portion 104 of a rectangular shape is upwardly depressed and formed in the lower part of the base 10. And, the seat portion 104 is formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the cleaning element connecting part 40.
Further, a plurality of connecting ribs 150 for connecting with the cleaning element connecting part 40 are downwardly protruded from the lower part of the base 10.
Also, a steam-discharge part 160 for discharging steam generated in the steam generating device 110 to the outside of the nozzle 1 is horizontally formed in the middle of the base 10.
Particularly, the steam-discharge part 160 guides steam which is moved to the lower part of the base via the steam-discharge pipe 116 (Fig. 5) so that the steam is diffused in a side-to-side direction.
Further, a plurality of steam-discharge holes 162 are formed in a lower surface of the steam-discharge part 160. Therefore, the steam guided by the steam-discharge part 160 is completely discharged from the nozzle 1 via the steam-discharge holes 162. And, the discharged steam is supplied to the cleaning element 50 attached to the lower part of the cleaning element connecting part 40.
Meanwhile, the cleaning element connecting part 40 is selectively seated on the seat portion 104. And, an attachment part (not shown), to which the cleaning element 50 is detachably attached, is formed on a lower surface of the cleaning element connecting part 40. For example, a velcro may be used as the attachment part.
Also, a perforated-hole 410 through which the steam-discharge part 160 is passed is perforated and formed in the middle of the cleaning element connecting part 40 in an up-and-down direction. And, the width of the perforated-hole 410 is formed to correspond to that of the steam-discharge part 160.
Therefore, the lower surface of the steam-discharge part 160 is exposed to the outside of the cleaning element connecting part 40 via the perforated-hole 410.
Further, a detachment lever 408 is backwardly protruded from one side of the rear end of the cleaning element connecting part 40.
The detachment lever 408 is used to easily detach the cleaning element connecting part 40 from the base 10. The detachment lever 408 is formed, as it is upwardly bent from the rear end of the cleaning element connecting part 40 at a right angle and then it is backwardly bent at a right angle.
A plurality of insert grooves 405, in which the plurality of connecting ribs 150 are inserted, are formed in the cleaning element connecting part 40.
Figure 5 and Figure 6 show an exploded perspective views of a steam generating device according to the present embodiment, and Figure 7 shows a perspective view showing a state that an absorption element is connected to a heater according to the present embodiment.
Referring to Figs. 5 to 7, the steam generating device 110 includes an upper case 112 and a lower case 113. And, a heater 118 is provided in the steam generating device 110.
Particularly, both ends of the heater 118 are protruded to sides of the upper and lower cases 112, 113, and an electric wire for supplying electric power is connected to the both ends of the heater 118.
Seat grooves 120, 122, on which the both ends of the heater 118 are seated, are formed in the upper and lower cases 112, 113. Also, seat grooves 124, 126, on which the extended part 118a of the heater is seated, are formed in the upper and lower cases 112, 113.
An absorption element 300 absorbing water is provided in the steam generating device 110. The absorption element 300 of a rectangular shape is installed so that at least some of the absorption element surrounds the external circumferential surface of the heater 118.
The absorption element 300 is made of a material which easily absorbs water and has a good heat resistance. That is, the absorption element 300 is made of a material absorbing water, for example a sponge, and it is formed of a material having a good heat resistance which is not combusted even when the material is contacted with the heater 118. For example, the absorption element may be made of a material, such as asbestos.
The absorption element 300 is fixed in its position by a fixing means 310 in a state that it surrounds the heater 118. The fixing means 310 includes a first fixing part 312 fixing one end of the absorption element 300, and a second fixing part 314 fixing the other end of the absorption element 300.
The first fixing part 312 is protruded from the outer circumferential surface of the heater 118. The second fixing part 314 is formed at the lower case 113. A plurality of second fixing parts 314 are provided, and they are upwardly protruded from the upper surface of the lower case 113. Further, the first and second fixing parts 312, 314 pass through the absorption element 300.
In the both ends of the absorption element 300, a hook hole 302 and a projection hole 304, through which the first fixing part 312 and the second fixing part 314 are respectively passed, are perforated and formed, respectively. Also, a perforated-hole (not shown), through which the extended part 118a of the heater is passed, is formed in the absorption element 300.
Meanwhile, a plurality of fixing ribs 316 fixing one end of the absorption element 300 are formed in the upper case 112.
The plurality of fixing ribs 316 downwardly press the absorption element 300 in a state that the upper case 112 and the lower case 113 are connected. And, a bottom end of the fixing rib 316 partially surrounds the outer side of the second fixing part 314.
Between the upper case 112 and the lower case 113, a sealing element 320 for preventing the leakage of water is disposed. For example, the sealing element 320 may be made of silicon. Here, the sealing element 320 is made of silicon, since the configuration of the silicon is freely changed and the silicon has the heat resistance.
In the sealing element 320, a perforated part 322, through which bot ends of the heater 118 is passed, is formed. The perforated part 322 is respectively formed at either side of the sealing element 320, and the perforated part 322 is seated on the seat grooves 120, 122 formed in the upper and lower cases 112, 113.
Also, a perforated part 324, through which the extended part 118a of the heater is passed, is also formed in the sealing element 320. The perforated part 324 is seated on the seat grooves 124, 126 respectively formed in the upper and lower cases 112, 113.
Figure 8 shows a front cross-sectional view of a heater according to the present embodiment, and Figure 9 shows a side cross-sectional view of a heater according to the present embodiment.
Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, a hot-wire 220 of the heater 118 is multiply insulated. Particularly, the heater 118 includes a hot-wire 220 generating heat when power is applied from the outside by the electric wire 222, an inner pipe 224 surrounding the exterior of the hot-wire 220, and an outer pipe 226 surrounding the inner pipe 224.
The inner pipe 224 and the outer pipe 226 are formed formed in a cylindrical shape with hollow interior. And, the inner pipe 224 and the outer pipe 226 are formed in the shape of a straight line (longitude direction of the nozzle).
The diameter of the outer pipe 226 is greater than the diameter of the inner pipe 224, so that a space is formed between the inner pipe 224 and the outer pipe 226.
The inner pipe 224 and the outer pipe 226 are made of a material having a good heat conductivity. For example, the inner pipe 224 and the outer pipe 226 may be made of stainless steel.
Further, an insulating material 228 is filled in an inner space of the inner pipe 224 and a space between the inner pipe 224 and the outer pipe 226. For example, the insulating material 228 is filled with MgO.
Figure 10 shows a partial plan view showing a direction of a horizontal portion of a steam-discharge pipe shown in Fig. 7, and Figure 11 shows a partial plan view showing a forming position of the steam-discharge pipe shown in Fig. 7.
Referring to Figs. 10 and 11, the steam-discharge pipe 116 is upwardly protruded from the upper surface of the lower case 113. And, the steam-discharge pipe 116 is formed at a position, which is spaced apart from the center of the lower case 113 to the left at a predetermined distance.
Further, the steam-discharge pipe 116 is upwardly bend, and therefore it has the shape of a letter '□,' seen from the side.
Particularly, the steam-discharge pipe 116 includes a vertical part 116a which is perpendicular to the lower case 113, and a horizontal part 116b which is vertically bent from the top of the vertical part 116a and extended. Therefore, the horizontal part 116b is parallel to the base 10 and the lower case 113.
A plurality of reinforcing ribs 116c for reinforcing the strength are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the steam-discharge pipe 116. The area of the reinforcing ribs 116c is gradually reduced toward the upper part.
Further, the direction B, which the horizontal part 116b of the steam-discharge pipe 116 indicates, has a predetermined angle α relative to the longitudinal direction A of the nozzle 1, as shown in Fig. 10.
Particularly, the direction B of the horizontal part 116b has an angle of around 35°relative to the longitudinal direction A of the nozzle 1. The angle α is to prevent water from discharging to the outside through the steam-discharge pipe 116 even when the nozzle 1 is inclined in all directions, and this angle is selected by a plurality of experiments.
Referring to Fig. 11, an end of the horizontal part 116b is disposed on a cross line where each plane dividing an inner volume of the steam case 111 into two equal parts in back-and-forth and side-to-side directions is crossed.
That is, the center O of the end of the horizontal part 116b is disposed on a point, where a plane X dividing the inner volume of the steam case 111 into two equal parts in a back-and-forth direction and a plane Y dividing the inner volume of the steam case 111 into two equal parts in a side-to-side direction are crossed.
Since the amount of water, which is to be input into the steam case 111, is restricted, the water stored in the steam case 111 is prevented from leaking through the steam-discharge pipe 116 even when water is input into the steam case 111.
That is, even if users stand the nozzle 1 by inclining it in all directions, the water level of water stored in the steam case 111 is not reached to the center O of the end of the horizontal part 116b.
Particularly, the water inlet 115 is relatively lower than the horizontal part 116b. Therefore, even if the users input water into the nozzle via the water inlet 115 as much as possible, there is a sufficient vacant space in the inner space of the steam case 111, and also some of the water input into the steam case 111 is absorbed into the absorption element 300.
Therefore, for example when the maximum amount of water capable of being input into the steam generating device 110 is 250 cc, since the volume of a space left to the center O of end of the horizontal part 116b of the steam-discharge pipe 116 is greater than 250cc, and therefore water is not discharged because the water level is not reached to the front end of the steam-discharge pipe 116 even if the nozzle 1 is vertically stood by rotating it to the left.
In addition, the volume of a space right to the center O of end of the horizontal part 116b of the steam-discharge pipe 116 is also greater than 250cc. Also, the volume of a front space forward to the center O of end of the horizontal part 116b of the steam-discharge pipe 116 and a rear space backward to the center O of end of the horizontal part 116b of the steam-discharge pipe 116 are also greater than 250cc, respectively.
Therefore, the leakage is prevented, since the water level is not reached to the end portion of the steam-discharge pipe 116 even if the noozle 1 vertically stood by rotating it in all directions.
Hereinafter, a function of the nozzle 1 will be described.
Figure 12 shows a flow of steam in the nozzle in a cross-sectional view.
Referring to Fig. 12, the sucking force is generated by the suction motor provided in the cleaner body when the cleaner body connected to the nozzle 1 is operated, and therefore air containing dust of the floor is sucked through the intake port 102.
Further, air sucked through the intake port 102 is flowed to a rear of the nozzle 1 along the air guide pipe 130, and the air is moved to the cleaner body (not shown) via the connecting pipe 30.
Meanwhile, users may clean up the floor by using steam depending on their needs.
To clean up the floor by using steam, water from the outside is supplied via the water inlet 115 after users open the water inlet 115 by rotating the inlet valve 60. And, if an appropriate amount of water is received in the steam case 111, the water inlet 115 is closed by the inlet valve 60.
Next, if power source is applied from the outside, the steam generating device 110 starts to operate. That is, the heater 118 generates heat as the power source from the outside is supplied thereto.
Further, if the heater 118 generates heat, water stored in the steam case 111 is heated. Here, water which is instantaneously heated by the heater 118 is not the whole water stored in the steam case 111 but the water adjacent to the heater 118.
Particularly, since the heater 118 is surrounded by the absorption element 300 absorbed with water as shown in Fig. 7, water which is directly heated by the heater 118 is not the whole water stored in the steam case 111 but the water absorbed in the absorption element 300.
Steam generated by the heater 118 is moved to the lower part via the steam-discharge pipe 116 and is introduced into the steam-discharge part 160. Here, since the steam-discharge part 160 is formed in a side to side direction, steam stored in the steam-discharge part 160 is diffused toward both lateral sides and is discharged to the lower part through the plurality of steam-discharge holes 162.
Further, steam which is outwardly discharged through the steam-discharge holes 162 is supplied into the cleaning element 50. After that, the cleaning element 50 contains high temperature steam, and therefore the particles sticked to the floor are easily separated and removed therefrom by the cleaning element 50 when the floor is cleaned.
Meanwhile, since a safety device 180 is provided at the ouside of the steam generating device 110, the safety device cuts-off the power supplied into the heater 118 when the heater 118 is overheated.
Further, as described in the above, the nozzle 1 prevents water from leaking even when the nozzle is inclined by the users during the cleaning operation or relocation.
The scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and it is obvious for a skilled person that the present invention can be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the idea and purpose of the invention.
For example, according to the present embodiment, the first fixing part 312 is formed in the heater 118 and the second fixing part 314 is formed in the lower case 113, however the opposite case is also possible. That is, it is also possible that the first fixing part 312 is formed in the lower case 113 and the second fixing part 314 is formed in the heater 118.
Also, according to the present embodiment, the absorption element 300 surround the external surface of the heater 118 as a whole, however the absorption element 300 may partially surround some of the external surface of the heater 118. That is, the absorption element 300 may surround the steam-discharge pipr 116 and some of the external surface of the adjacent heater 118.

Industrial Applicability

According to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, steam is rapidly generated and water stored in the nozzle is prevented from leaking, so that its industrial applicability is high.

Claims

A nozzle for a cleaner, comprising:
- a steam generating device (110); and

- a body discharging steam generated in the steam generating device (110) to an outside,
wherein the steam generating device (110) includes a steam case (111) in which water is stored, and a heater (118) for heating water stored in the steam case (111),
characterized in that the steam generating device further comprises an absorption element (300) for absorbing water stored in the steam case (111), in which at least some of the absorption element (300) surrounds an external surface of the heater (118).
The nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the absorption element (300) is fixed by a fixing means (310) in a state that the absorption element (300) surrounds the heater (118).
The nozzle according to claim 2, wherein the fixing means (310) includes a first fixing part (312) connected to one end of the absorption element (300), and a second fixing part (314) connected to the other end of the absorption element (300).
The nozzle according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of holes (302, 304) perforating the first fixing part (312) and the second fixing part (314) respectively are formed in the absorption element (300).
The nozzle according to claim 3, wherein the first fixing part (312) is formed in the heater (118), and the second fixing part (314) is formed in an inner circumferential surface of the steam case (111).
The nozzle according to claim 3, wherein a fixing rib (316) is formed in the steam case (111), and the fixing rib (316) presses the absorption element (300) in a state that the absorption element (300) surrounds the heater (118).
The nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the steam case (111) includes an upper case (112) and a lower case (113), wherein a sealing element (320) is disposed between the upper case (112) and the lower case (113), and wherein at least a portion of the heater (118) perforate the sealing element (320).
The nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the heater (118) includes a hot-wire (220) giving off heat; an inner pipe (224) surrounding an exterior of the hot-wire (220); and an outer pipe (226) surrounding an exterior of the inner pipe (224), and the outer pipe (226) is aparted from the inner pipe (224) in a predetermined distance.
The nozzle according to claim 8, wherein an insulating material (228) is filled in an inner space of the inner pipe (224) and a space between the inner pipe (224) and the outer pipe (226).
The nozzle according to claim 1, wherein a steam discharge pipe (116) for discharging steam to the outside is provided in the steam case (111), and the steam discharge pipe (116) is bent at least one time.
The nozzle according to claim 10, wherein the steam case (111) includes an upper case (112), and a lower case (113) connected to the upper case (112), and wherein the steam discharge pipe (116) is protruded from the lower case (113), and an upper part of the steam discharge pipe (116) is bent.
The nozzle according to claim 10, wherein the steam discharge pipe (116) includes a vertical part (116a) which is perpendicular to a lower surface of the steam case (111), and a horizontal part (116b) which is vertically bent from a top of the vertical part (116a) and extended therefrom.
The nozzle according to claim 12, wherein the direction B, which the horizontal part (116b) indicates, has a predetermined angle a relative to the longitudinal direction A of the body.
The nozzle according to claim 10, wherein the steam discharge pipe (116) is placed on a plane dividing an inner volume of the steam case (111) into two equal parts.