EP3365490A1

EP3365490A1 - Steam-smoothing apparatus including a base connected to a smoothing head via a pipe

Info

Publication number: EP3365490A1
Application number: EP16809115.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Maxime JAVIT; Fang SYLOR; Li WADE
Original assignee: SEB SA
Current assignee: SEB SA
Priority date: 2015-10-23
Filing date: 2016-10-19
Publication date: 2018-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 2036-10-19
Also published as: US20180305855A1; US10280556B2; CA2997496A1; WO2017068279A1; EP3365490B1; CA2997496C

Abstract

The invention relates to a steam-smoothing apparatus comprising a base intended for producing a steam flow and connected to a smoothing head (1; 101) via a flexible pipe (2; 102) in which the steam produced by the base freely escapes to the smoothing head (1; 101). The smoothing head (1; 101) comprises a rear portion, forming a grasping handle (3, 103), and a widened front portion (4; 104) comprising a surface (5; 105) provided with a plurality of steam outlet holes (51, 52; 151, 152) through which the flow of steam from the base is distributed. Said steam-smoothing apparatus is characterized in that the widened front portion (4; 104) contains a first steam-dispensing chamber (71; 171) which supplies steam to a first group of steam outlet holes (51; 151), and a second steam-dispensing chamber (72; 172) which supplies steam to a second group of steam outlet holes (52; 152). Said steam-smoothing apparatus is also characterized in that the smoothing head (1; 101) comprises means (80; 109) for blocking or reducing the steam flow towards the second group of steam outlet holes (52; 152) that can be actuated from outside the smoothing head (1; 101).

Description

STEAM DEFROSTING APPARATUS COMPRISING A BASE CONNECTED TO A DEFROSTING HEAD BY A CONDUIT

The present invention relates to a steam straightening apparatus having a base for producing a vapor stream connected to a steaming head by a conduit in which the steam produced by the base freely escapes to the head of the steamer. crease. The invention relates more particularly to a steaming machine in which the steaming head comprises a rear portion forming a gripping handle and a flared front portion having a surface provided with a plurality of steam outlet holes through which the flow of steam from the base is broadcast.

It is known from the patent FR2912429, a steam straightening apparatus comprising a base for the production of a steam flow connected by a conduit to a steaming head in which the steam produced by the base freely escapes to the peeling head. In this document, the scrubbing head has a rear portion forming a gripping handle and a flared front portion having a surface provided with a plurality of steam outlet holes through which the flow of vapor from the base is diffused. Such a steaming device has the advantage of being inexpensive to manufacture and quickly produce a saturation vapor stream that allows to quickly wrinkle hairs or clothes hanging vertically on a hanger.

However, such a steaming device has a boiling chamber which provides steam at atmospheric pressure so that the velocity of the steam flow at the outlet of the steaming head is low, which is detrimental to good penetration steam in the thick tissues. In addition, the low speed of the steam at the outlet of the scrubbing brush does not provide a good directivity of the jet of steam to precisely treat areas of the garment to be straightened.

Also, an object of the present invention is to provide a degreasing apparatus which overcomes these drawbacks which is of great simplicity. construction.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a steam-freeing apparatus comprising a base for the production of a vapor flow connected to a steaming head by a pipe in which the vapor produced by the base escapes freely. to the scrubbing head, the scrubbing head having a rear portion, preferably cylindrical, forming a gripping handle and a flared front portion having a surface provided with a plurality of steam outlet holes through which the flow of steam from the base is diffused, characterized in that the flared front portion encloses a first steam distribution chamber which supplies a first group of steam outlet holes with steam and a second steam distribution chamber which supplies a second group of holes with steam. steam outlet and in that the steaming head comprises means for blocking or reducing the flow of steam towards the two xth group of steam outlet holes operable from outside the steamer head.

Such a steam stripping apparatus has the advantage of being simple and economical to achieve and to have a steaming head having a very good ergonomics of use, the steaming head for quickly treating thin textiles, strongly permeable to steam, thanks to the gentle diffusion of steam on all the steam outlet holes of the steaming head. Such an apparatus also has the advantage of allowing the zone treatment to be more precise and / or more difficult to unwind by concentrating the flow of steam on a small number of steam holes of the steaming head so as to have a greater flow of steam. powerful.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the conduit comprises an end connected to the base which freely communicates with a boiling chamber and an end connected to the wrinkling head which freely communicates with the first distribution chamber. Such a characteristic makes it possible to obtain an apparatus having a simple construction, not using any means for controlling the emission of steam between the base and the steaming head. According to another characteristic of the invention, the anti-crease head comprises a valve which is brought back by return means in an open position allowing the flow of steam to pass to the second steam distribution chamber, the valve being able to be moved manually to a closed position to reduce or block the flow of steam to the second group of steam outlet holes.

Such a characteristic makes it possible, by a simple and economical device to implement, to obtain a steaming head in which the vapor is diffused by default over all the steam outlet holes of the steaming head and is, on command, concentrated on only certain steam outlet holes when the user presses a button.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the valve is actuable by a trigger disposed under the handle or by a circular wheel disposed around the handle. Such a characteristic makes it possible to obtain good ergonomics of use.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the steaming head comprises a flexible tube feeding the second steam distribution chamber and a device for gripping the tube.

Such a feature represents an alternative to obtain, by a simple and economical to implement, to concentrate the steam flow on the only steam outlet holes of the first group when the user presses a button.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the device for clamping the tube comprises a button pivotally mounted on the steaming head, the button being secured to an element which grips the tube when the button is moved to a depressed position, the button being returned to a rest position by elastic return means.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the surface receiving the steam outlet holes is flat and has a generally triangular shape outline. According to another characteristic of the invention, the steam outlet holes are distributed in a V on the surface of the steaming head, the outlet holes of vapor at the pointed end of the V being supplied with steam by the first distribution chamber, the other steam outlet holes being fed by the second distribution chamber.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the total number of steam outlet holes is greater than or equal to five holes.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to obtain a vapor diffusion on a number of steam outlet holes sufficient to ensure the diffusion of the vapor over a large surface so as to rapidly treat the textiles sufficiently permeable to vapor. According to another characteristic of the According to the invention, the first group of steam outlet holes has less than five steam outlet holes and preferably three steam outlet holes.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to obtain a concentration of the steam on only a few holes, for a better accuracy of the vapor flow. According to another characteristic of the invention, the gripping handle comprises a longitudinal end at which the duct engages in the wrinkling head and an opposite end at which the gripping handle is extended by the flared front part. .

Such a characteristic makes it possible to provide great maneuverability and good ergonomics of use to the degreasing head.

The aims, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, presented by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawings. in which: - Figure 1 is a front view of a steaming head according to a first embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the steaming head of Figure 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the steaming head of FIG. 1; - Figures 4 and 5 are longitudinal sectional views of the steaming head, along the line IV-IV of Figure 1, when the button is respectively in a relaxed position and a depressed position;

- Figure 6 is a perspective view of a wrinkle head according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the steaming head of FIG. 6;

- Figures 8 and 9 are longitudinal sectional views of the wrinkling head of Figure 6 when the button is respectively in a relaxed position and a depressed position.

Only the elements necessary for the understanding of the invention have been represented. To facilitate the reading of the drawings, the same elements bear the same references from one figure to another.

Figures 1 to 5 show a steaming head 1 according to a first embodiment.

The steaming head 1 is connected by a flexible conduit 2 to a base, not shown in the figures and similar to that described in more detail in the patent application FR 2 912 429, the base comprising a water tank and a chamber boiling water equipped with a steam outlet connected directly to the duct of the steaming head.

The steaming head 1 comprises a body comprising a cylindrical rear part forming a gripping handle 3 and a flared front part 4 coming in the longitudinal extension of the gripping handle 3. The flared front part 4 comprises a planar surface 5 having a contour of triangular general shape, with curved edges, having a front tip 50 coming in the longitudinal extension of the gripping handle 3, the flat surface forming an angle of the order 25 ° with the longitudinal direction of the gripping handle 3 .

Preferably, the gripping handle 3 and the flared front portion 4 of the steaming head 1 are constituted by the assembly of two half-shells 1 1, 12 made of plastic, visible in FIG. 3, and the flat surface 5 is carried by a sole 13, also made of plastic, which is attached by clipping on the two half-shells 1 1, 12.

In accordance with FIG. 1, the planar surface is provided with a first group of steam outlet holes 51, surrounded by dashed lines in FIG. 1, comprising three V-shaped holes near the front 50 point of the surface. 5 and a second group of steam outlet holes 52 comprising two times three holes disposed in the continuation of the holes arranged in V of the first group of steam outlet holes 51.

In accordance with FIGS. 3 and 4, the flexible conduit 2 engages in the crease head 1 through the rear end of the gripping handle 3 and extends longitudinally inside the gripping handle to a coupling 6 distributing the flow of vapor from the flexible conduit 2 into two streams of steam respectively supplying the first group of steam outlet holes 51 and the second group of steam outlet holes 52. For this purpose, the connector 6 has an orifice input 60 on which the flexible conduit 2 is connected and comprises a first outlet port 61 to which is connected a first flexible tube 63 connected to a first distribution chamber 71 supplying only the first group of steam outlet holes 51. The connector 6 also comprises a second outlet orifice 62 on which is connected a second flexible tube 64 connected to a second distribution chamber 72 supplying only the second group of steam outlet holes 52.

Preferably, the first and second distribution chambers 71, 72 are formed in a manifold 7, disposed in the uncreasing head 1, comprising a partition wall 70 extending between the first distribution chamber 71 and the second chamber. distribution 72, the manifold 7 being advantageously constituted by a piece of plastic material attached to the rear face of the sole 13 being sealingly connected thereto. More particularly according to the invention, the steaming head 1 comprises a button 8 making it possible to reduce, or even to block, the flow of vapor transmitted toward the second group of steam outlet holes 52, so that a greater part of the vapor stream produced by the base, or even all of this vapor stream, is sent through the first group of steam outlet holes 51.

According to the first embodiment of the invention, the button 8 is pivotally mounted on the body of the steaming head 1 and comprises a cross member 80 gripping the second tube 64 when manual pressure is exerted on the button 8, and that is illustrated in Figure 5, the button 8 comprising an opening 81 above the cross member 80 allowing the free passage of the first tube 63. The button 8 is preferably disposed near the front end of the handle 3, on the upper face of the latter, and is returned to a rest position, illustrated in Figure 4, by the elastic return made by the second tube 64 when the latter returns to its original shape when no pressure is exerted on the button 8. The steaming head 1 thus produced makes it possible to obtain a concentration of the vapor flow on the only steam outlet holes 51 belonging to the first group, that is to say those arranged prox. imitated from the front tip of surface 5 when the user presses button 8.

Such a concentration of steam flow on a small number of holes has the advantage of allowing to obtain a powerful and accurate steam flow able to better target a particular area to unwind.

Figures 6 to 9 illustrate a wrinkle head 101 according to a second embodiment, the wrinkle head 101 being connected by a flexible conduit 102 to a base for the steam generation in accordance with that described for the first embodiment.

In this second embodiment, the uncreasing head 101 comprises a body, similar to that described for the first embodiment, comprising a cylindrical rear portion forming a gripping handle 103 in which the flexible conduit 102 engages, and a flared front portion 104 extending longitudinally from the handle 103 comprising a planar surface 105 provided with steam outlet holes. In this embodiment, the freezing head 101 comprises a device for protecting the flexible conduit 102, constituted by a deformable sleeve 120 coming to envelop the flexible conduit 102, at the rear end of the handle 103, the latter advantageously presenting a notch 130 on its underside in which the deformable sleeve 120 can engage to facilitate the bending of the duct downwards.

According to FIG. 7, the gripping handle 103 and the flared front portion 104 of the steaming head are constituted by the assembly of two half-shells 1 1 1, 1 12 of plastic material on which is clipped a sole 13 , also of plastic, supporting the surface 105, the sole 13 having a generally triangular shape contour with curved edges, comprising a nose 150 coming in the longitudinal extension of the handle 103.

In a similar manner to the first embodiment, the surface 105 is provided with a first group of steam outlet holes 151 comprising three V-shaped holes near the front tip 150 of the surface 105 and a second group of holes. steam outlet 152 comprising two times three holes disposed in the continuation of the holes arranged in V of the first group of steam outlet holes 151. In accordance with FIGS. 7 and 8, the flexible duct 102 extends longitudinally inside the gripping handle 103 to a distributor 106 distributing the stream of vapor coming from the flexible duct 102 into two streams of steam respectively supplying the first group of steam outlet holes 151 and the second group of steam outlet holes 152. The distributor 106 comprises, on one side, a connector provided with an inlet port 160 on which the flexible conduit 102 is connected and has, on the other side, a face provided with two outlet orifices 161, 162 on which is coupled a manifold 107 made of plastic material.

The collector 107 comprises a first distribution chamber 171 extending facing the first group of steam outlet holes 151, which is supplied with steam by one of the two outlet orifices 161, 162, said first outlet orifice 161 , and has a second chamber of distribution 172 supplied with steam by the other of the two outlet orifices, said second outlet orifice 162, which extends opposite the second group of steam outlet holes 152.

More particularly according to this second embodiment, the distributor 106 comprises a main channel 163 which directly connects the first outlet orifice 161 with the inlet orifice 160 and comprises a bypass channel 164 which connects the second outlet orifice 162 with an opening 165 opening into the main channel 163.

The opening 165 is provided with a valve 109 slidably mounted between an open position, illustrated in Figure 8, to which it is automatically returned by a return spring 190 and a closed position, illustrated in Figure 9, to which it is manually brought by pressing a button 108 advantageously disposed on the underside of the handle 103, near the front end thereof. The valve 109 comprises a disc provided with a peripheral seal 191 which rests on the edge of the opening 165 to seal the latter when the valve 109 occupies the closed position and comprises a central rod 192 integral with the disc, which is mounted sliding in the distributor 106, the rod 192 comprising an end 192A projecting outside the distributor 106.

The button 108, of the trigger type, is pivotally mounted on the body of the uncreasing head 101 and has a cam 108A bearing on the end 192A of the rod 192, a pressure on the button 108 to bring the valve 109 in the closed position, illustrated in Figure 9. The uncurling head 101 thus produced allows, as for the first embodiment, obtaining a stream of concentrated steam on the only steam outlet holes 151 belonging to in the first group, that is to say those arranged near the front tip 150 of the surface 105 when the user presses the button 108. Such a concentration of steam flow on a limited number of exit holes of steam, near the front tip of the flat surface, present the advantage of allowing to obtain a powerful and accurate steam flow able to better target a particular area to unwind.

Such a construction therefore makes it possible, by a simple and economical solution to implement, to improve the performance of an apparatus for vertical steaming using a steam flow.

Indeed, the apparatus thus produced allows a fast and efficient treatment of clothing highly vapor permeable fabric when the button is not actuated, through the diffusion of steam by a large number of steam outlet holes covering a wide surface treatment. Conversely, when the user wishes to unwind a garment made in a low vapor permeable textile, requiring a greater speed of the steam flow, or when he wishes to precisely treat an area of the garment, it suffices to squeeze on the button to get more powerful steam jets on a small number of steam outlet holes. We thus obtain a device whose versatility and efficiency in the treatment of clothing is improved.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and illustrated which has been given by way of example. Modifications are possible, particularly from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Thus, in a variant embodiment not shown, the closing of the steam flow towards the second group of steam outlet holes can be achieved by means of a pivotally mounted flap. Thus, in another variant embodiment not shown, the surface receiving the steam outlet holes may be curved.

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

Claims

1) Steam stripping apparatus having a base for producing a vapor stream connected to a steaming head (1; 101) through a flexible conduit (2; 102) in which the steam produced by the base freely escapes to the steaming head (1; 101), the steaming head (1; 101) having a rear portion forming a gripping handle (3; 103) and a flared front portion (4; 104) having a surface ( 5; 105) provided with a plurality of steam outlet holes (51, 52; 151, 152) through which the vapor stream from the base is diffused, characterized in that the flared front portion (4; 104) encloses a first steam distribution chamber (71; 171) which supplies a first group of steam outlet holes (51; 151) with steam and a second steam distribution chamber (72; 172) which supplies a second group with steam; of steam outlet holes (52; 152) and that the head of the Crease (1; 101) comprises means for blocking or reducing the vapor stream (80; 109) to the second group of steam outlet holes (52; 152) operable from outside the steaming head (1; 101).

2) steam stripping apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible conduit (2; 102) comprises an end connected to the base which freely communicates with a boiling chamber and an end connected to the steaming head (1; 101) which freely communicates with the first distribution chamber (71; 171).

3) Steam stripping apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the smoothing head (1; 101) comprises a valve (109) which is returned by return means (190) in an open position permitting passage of the vapor stream to the second steam distribution chamber (172), said valve (109) being manually movable to a closed position to reduce or block the flow of steam to the second group of holes steam outlet (152).

4) steam stripping apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that said valve (109) is actuable by a trigger (108) arranged under the handle (103) or by a circular wheel arranged around the handle (103).

5) steam stripping apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the steaming head (1) comprises a flexible tube (64) feeding the second steam distribution chamber (72) and a device (80) for clamping the tube (64).

6) steam stripping apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the device for clamping the tube (64) comprises a button (8) pivotally mounted on the steaming head (1), said button (8) being secured an element (80) gripping the tube (64) when the button (8) is moved to a depressed position, the button (8) being returned to a rest position by elastic return means.

7) Steam stripping apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the surface (5; 105) receiving the steam outlet holes (51, 52; 151, 152) is flat and comprises an outline of triangular general shape.

8) steam stripping apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the steam outlet holes (51, 52; 151, 152) are distributed in a V on the surface of the steaming head (1; 101) and in that the steam outlet holes (51; 151) disposed at the pointed end of the V are supplied with steam by the first distribution chamber (71; 171), the other outlet holes of steam (52; 152) being fed by the second distribution chamber (72; 172).

9) steam degreasing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the total number of steam outlet holes (51,

52; 151, 152) is greater than or equal to five holes.

10) steam stripping apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the first group of steam outlet holes (51; 151) comprises less than five steam outlet holes and preferably three holes steam outlet.