FIELD OF THE INVENTION
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The invention relates to a steaming device comprising a water tank for containing water for generating steam, and a water tube assembly for carrying water from the water tank.
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The invention may be used in the field of garment care.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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Various types of steaming device are known for steaming garments to remove creases through the use of heat and moisture provided by steam. Such steaming devices comprise a water tank and a water tube assembly for transporting water from the water tank. The water transported via the water tube assembly can then be used to generate steam.
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One type of steaming device is a handheld garment steamer, in which a steam generator, the water tank, and a treatment plate (also referred to as a soleplate, front plate or steaming plate) are integrated into a handheld unit.
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The handheld garment steamer is therefore portable, and is typically used to steam a garment vertically hanging from a hanger.
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When the steaming device, for example the handheld steamer, is utilized at a tilted angle, a user can encounter less or even no steam being delivered by the steaming device, despite water remaining unused in the water tank. This lack of steam can, for example, be encountered even though approximately one third of a full water tank remains unused.
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This issue can arise from a water inlet of the water tube assembly being above the water level when the water tank is tilted. This can cause air to be drawn into the water tube assembly instead of water.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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It is an object of the invention to propose a steaming device that avoids or mitigates one or more of the above-mentioned problems.
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The invention is defined by the independent claims. The dependent claims define advantageous embodiments.
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To this end, the steaming device according to the invention comprises:
- a steam generator,
- a water tank for containing water,
- a water tube assembly for carrying water from the water tank to the steam generator, the water tube assembly including a water inlet,
- a water retaining member arranged inside the water tank to separate the water tank into a first tank portion and a second tank portion, the water retaining member comprising:
- an opening to receive water by gravity from the first tank portion into the second tank portion, and
- a water retaining wall to retain water in the second tank portion after the water tank is tilted from an upright orientation to a tilted orientation,
wherein the water tube assembly extends through the first tank portion, the water inlet being arranged in the second tank portion.
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The combination of (i) the water retaining wall being arranged to retain water in the second tank portion after tilting of the water tank from the upright to the tilted orientation with (ii) the water inlet being arranged in the second tank portion, in other words where the water is trapped, assists the water inlet to be kept supplied with water while the water tank is in the tilted orientation.
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In this manner, steaming performance can be better maintained when the water tank is in the tilted orientation.
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It is noted that the upright orientation can, for example, refer to a vertical orientation of the water tank, with the tilted orientation (at which the water is trapped in the second tank portion by the water retaining wall) being at an angle of about 90 degrees compared to the vertical orientation.
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In at least some embodiments, the second tank portion is beneath the first tank portion when the water tank is in the upright orientation. Thus, water can enter the second tank portion via the opening by gravity when the water tank is in the upright orientation.
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The opening enables water to pass by gravity from the first tank portion into the second tank portion, for example when the steaming device is in the upright orientation. The opening can be at least partly delimited by the water retaining wall.
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The water inlet preferably opens proximal to a bottom of the second tank portion. This positioning of the water inlet can assist to keep the water inlet supplied with water.
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Alternatively or additionally, the water inlet can open proximal to a lateral side of the second tank portion. This can help with keeping the water inlet supplied with water while the water tank is in the tilted orientation, since the water in the second tank portion can collect proximal to the lateral side of the second tank portion when the water tank is in the tilted orientation.
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In some embodiments, the water retaining member is arranged so that the second tank portion widens from a narrower part to a wider part that holds more water than the narrower part, with the water inlet being arranged in the wider part.
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Thus, more water can be collected in the wider part of the second tank portion, where the water inlet is arranged. This can assist to keep the water inlet supplied with water, particularly when the water tank is in the tilted orientation.
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In some embodiments, the water retaining wall declines away from a side portion of the water tank towards a base portion of the water tank. In such embodiments, the water inlet is preferably arranged proximal to the side portion.
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The declining water retaining wall can assist water to collect towards the side portion of the water tank, e.g. where the water inlet is arranged. This can help to keep the water inlet supplied with water.
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The declining water retaining wall can provide a declining upper surface of the second tank portion. The declining upper surface can at least partly define the wider part and the narrower part of the second tank portion, with the wider part being closer than the narrower part to the side portion from which the declining upper surface declines.
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Alternatively or additionally, the declining water retaining wall can provide a declining bottom surface of the first tank portion. Water in the first tank portion can run down the declining bottom surface towards the opening.
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Thus, the declining water retaining wall can guide water into the second tank portion from the first tank portion via the opening.
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The water retaining wall is preferably funnel-shaped. In such embodiments, the upper surface of the funnel-shaped water retaining wall can guide water into the second tank portion from the first tank portion via the opening, while the lower surface of the funnel-shaped water retaining wall at least partly defines the wider part and the narrower part of the second tank portion. In this case, the wider part is defined beneath a periphery of the funnel-shaped water retaining wall, and the narrower part is defined beneath a more central region of the funnel-shaped water retaining wall.
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In some embodiments, the water tank comprises a first water tank housing part and a second water tank housing part, with the water retaining member being arranged in-between the first water tank housing part and the second water tank housing part. This can facilitate assembly of the steaming device, and in particular the water tank and the water retaining member thereof.
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In some embodiments, the water tube assembly comprises a tubular element including an inlet part, with the inlet part protruding from the water retaining wall into the second tank portion. In such embodiments, the inlet part includes the water inlet. The inlet part's protrusion into the second tank portion can help to keep the water inlet supplied with water.
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Alternatively or in addition to the inlet part, the tubular element can comprise a connector part that protrudes from the water retaining wall into the first tank portion, with the connector part connecting to a water tube of the water tube assembly located in the first tank portion.
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In some embodiments, the tubular element is an integral part of the water retaining member. This can facilitate manufacture of the steaming device, since the tubular element, and thus the inlet part and/or the connector part thereof, can be conveniently installed in the water tank together with the water retaining member.
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In some embodiments, the water tube assembly comprises a flexible water tube. For example, the flexible water tube connects to the connector part included in the tubular element.
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The flexible water tube can be formed from any suitable flexible material. In some embodiments, the flexible water tube is formed from rubber, for example silicone rubber.
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In at least some embodiments, the steaming device comprises a pump arranged to pump water from the water tank to the steam generator via the water tube assembly. The pump is, for example, a suction pump.
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In some embodiments, the steaming device comprises a handle and a steamer head coupled to the handle.
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In such embodiments, the water tank is preferably arranged in the handle, e.g. together with the pump.
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Alternatively or additionally, the steamer head can comprise a treatment plate delimiting at least one steam vent through which steam is deliverable from the steam generator.
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For example, the steam generator is arranged in the steamer head.
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The steaming device is preferably in the form of a handheld garment steamer, in which the steam generator, the water tank for storing water for supplying to the steam generator, the water tube assembly, and the treatment plate are integrated into a handheld unit.
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Detailed explanations and other aspects of the invention will be given below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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Particular aspects of the invention will now be explained with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter and considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which identical parts or sub-steps are designated in the same manner:
- Fig.1 provides an interior view of a steaming device according to an example, and includes an inset providing an enlarged view of the steaming device's water tank,
- Fig.2 provides a schematic view of a water tank according to an example,
- Figs.3A to 3C provide various views of a water retaining member according to an example, and
- Fig.4 provides an exploded view showing the water tank and the water retaining member shown in Figs.3A to 3C.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
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Provided is a steaming device comprising a steam generator, a water tank for containing water, and a water tube assembly for carrying water from the water tank to the steam generator. The water tube assembly includes a water inlet. A water retaining member is arranged inside the water tank to separate the water tank into a first tank portion and a second tank portion. The water retaining member comprises an opening to receive water by gravity from the first tank portion into the second tank portion, and a water retaining wall to retain water in the second tank portion after the water tank is tilted from an upright orientation to a tilted orientation. The water inlet is arranged in the second tank portion.
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Fig.1 depicts a steaming device 100 according to an example. The steaming device 100 is suitable for steaming a garment. The steaming device 100 comprises a water tank 102 for containing water and a steam generator 108 for vaporizing water transported thereto from the water tank 102. To this end, the steaming device 100 includes a water tube assembly 104, 136 for carrying water from the water tank 102 to the steam generator 108.
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In some embodiments, such as shown in Fig.1, the steaming device 100 comprises a pump 106, e.g. a suction pump, arranged to pump water from the water tank 102 to the steam generator 108 via the water tube assembly 104, 136.
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In such embodiments, delivery of steam by the steaming device 100 can be controlled (at least in part) by controlling pumping of water from the water tank 102 to the steam generator 108 by the pump 106.
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In some embodiments, such as shown in Fig.1, the steaming device 100 comprises a steamer head 110, which steamer head 110 includes a treatment plate 112 delimiting at least one steam vent through which steam is deliverable from the steam generator 108. In such embodiments, the steam generator 108 is, for example, arranged in the steamer head 110.
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The steamer head 110 can be coupled to a handle 114. A user of the steaming device 100 can grasp the handle 114 in order to move the steaming device 100 over the garment being treated using the steaming device 100.
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The water tank 102 is preferably arranged in the handle 114, for example together with the pump 106.
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For example, the steam generator 108 is included in the steamer head 110 and arranged to vaporize water supplied thereto from the water tank 102 arranged in the handle 114, for instance with the water being supplied via a pumping operation of the pump 106 also included in the handle 114.
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The steaming device 100 is preferably in the form of a handheld garment steamer, in which the steam generator 108, the water tank 102 for storing water for supplying to the steam generator 108, the water tube assembly 104, 136, and the treatment plate 112 are integrated into a handheld unit.
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The steaming device 100 can be powered in any suitable manner. In some embodiments, the steaming device 100 is battery powered/powerable. Alternatively or additionally, the steaming device is powerable via a mains supply of electricity. In the latter case, the steaming device 100 comprises a power cord for connecting the steaming device 100 to the mains supply of electricity.
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The power cord can be joined to the handle 114, e.g. at or proximal to an end of the handle 114, in any suitable manner. In some embodiments, such as that shown in Fig.1, the power cord is joined to the handle 114 via a power cord grommet 115.
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The power cord grommet 115 can be formed of any suitable material, such as thermoplastic polyurethane.
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The handle 114 can comprise a handle casing, and the steamer head 110 can comprise a steamer head casing (e.g. in addition to the treatment plate 112). The handle casing and the steamer head casing can each be formed from any suitable material, such as a plastic material.
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When the steaming device 100, for example the handheld steamer, is utilized at a tilted angle, a user may encounter less or even no steam being delivered by the steaming device 100, despite water remaining unused in the water tank 102. This lack of steam can, for example, be encountered even though approximately one third of a full water tank 102 remains unused.
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This issue can arise from a water inlet 122 of the water tube assembly 104, 136 being above the water level when the water tank is tilted. This can cause air to be drawn into the water tube assembly 104, 136 instead of water.
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The steaming device 100 according to the present disclosure correspondingly includes a water retaining member 116 arranged inside the water tank 102 to separate the water tank 102 into a first tank portion 118 and a second tank portion 120. As shown in the inset provided in Fig.1, the water retaining member 116 comprises a water retaining wall 126 arranged to retain water W2 in the second tank portion 120 after the water tank 102 is tilted from an upright orientation to a tilted orientation. Moreover, the water inlet 122 of the water tube assembly 104, 136 is arranged in the second tank portion 120.
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The combination of (i) the water retaining wall 126 being arranged to retain water W2 in the second tank portion 120 after tilting of the water tank 102 from the upright to the tilted orientation with (ii) the water inlet 122 being arranged in the second tank portion 120, in other words where the water W2 is trapped, assists the water inlet 122 to be kept supplied with water while the water tank 102 is in the tilted orientation. In this manner, steaming performance can be better maintained when the water tank 102 is in the tilted orientation.
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In other words, when the water tank 102 is in the tilted orientation, the water retaining member 116 can retain an adequate amount of water in the second tank portion 120, with the water inlet 122 being positioned below the water level of the water W2 retained in the second tank portion 120.
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This allows minimizing of the amount of unused water in the water tank 102 when the water tank 102, e.g. together with the steaming device 100 as a whole, is operated while being tilted.
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The term "adequate amount of water" can be defined in relation to the intended steaming time and steam rate. For instance, assuming that each side of a garment does not require more than 15 seconds of steaming, and a steam rate of 20 g/min is necessary for effective steaming results, at least 5 g of water is preferably retained above the water inlet 122.
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The water retaining member's 116 position can assist to guarantee that the adequate amount of water is retained in the second tank portion 120, while minimizing the remaining unused water, typically not exceeding 5% of the capacity of the water tank 102.
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The water retaining member 116, including the water retaining wall 126 thereof, can be formed from any suitable material. In some embodiments, the water retaining member 116, e.g. in common with the water retaining wall 126 thereof, comprises a plastic material.
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In some embodiments, and still referring to the inset provided in Fig.1, the water inlet 122 opens proximal to a bottom of the second tank portion 120. This positioning of the water inlet 122 can assist to keep the water inlet 122 supplied with water. It is noted that the term "bottom of the second tank portion 120" in this context refers to the bottom of the second tank portion 120 when the water tank 102 is in the upright orientation.
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Alternatively or additionally, the water inlet 122 can open proximal to a lateral side of the second tank portion 120. Such a lateral side can extend upwardly from a periphery of the bottom of the second tank portion 120, when the water tank 102 is in the upright orientation.
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This can help with keeping the water inlet 122 supplied with water while the water tank 102 is in the tilted orientation, since the water W2 in the second tank portion 120 can collect proximal to the lateral side of the second tank portion 120 when the water tank 102 is in the tilted orientation.
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It is noted that the upright orientation can, for example, refer to a vertical orientation of the water tank 102, with the tilted orientation (at which the water W2 is trapped in the second tank portion 120 by the water retaining wall 126) being at an angle of about 90 degrees compared to the vertical orientation.
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Also evident in the inset provided in Fig. 1 is an opening 124 arranged to receive water by gravity from the first tank portion 118 into the second tank portion 120, for example when the steaming device 100 is in the upright orientation. The opening 124 can be at least partly delimited by the water retaining wall 126. For example, the opening 124 can be delimited by the water retaining wall 126 and a portion of a sidewall of the water tank 102.
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In some embodiments, the second tank portion 120 is beneath the first tank portion 118 when the water tank 102 is in the upright orientation. Thus, water can enter the second tank portion 120 via the opening 124 by gravity when the water tank 102 is in the upright orientation.
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In some embodiments, and referring now to Figs.1 and 2, the water retaining member 116 is arranged so that the second tank portion 120 widens from a narrower part 120A to a wider part 120B that holds more water than the narrower part 120A. Thus, more water can be collected in the wider part 120B of the second tank portion 120 than in the narrower part 120A.
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In such embodiments, the water inlet 122 is preferably arranged in the wider part 120B of the second tank portion 120. This can assist to keep the water inlet 122 supplied with water, particularly when the water tank 102 is in the tilted orientation.
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It is noted that the wider part 120B of the second tank portion 120 is preferably arranged so that water in the second tank portion 120 moves from the narrower part 120A into the wider part 120B when the water tank 102 is in the tilted orientation.
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For example, the wider part 120B is proximal to the lateral side of the second tank portion 120.
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In some embodiments, and still referring to Figs.1 and 2, the water retaining wall 126 declines away from a side portion 128 of the water tank 102 towards a base portion 130 of the water tank 102. In such embodiments, the water inlet 122 is preferably arranged proximal to the side portion 128.
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The declining water retaining wall 126 can assist water to collect towards the side portion 128 of the water tank 102, e.g. where the water inlet 122 is arranged. This can help to keep the water inlet 122 supplied with water.
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This declining water retaining wall 126 can provide a declining upper surface 127A of the second tank portion 120. The declining upper surface 127A can at least partly define the wider part 120B and the narrower part 120A of the second tank portion 120, with the wider part 120B being closer than the narrower part 120A to the side portion 108 (away from which the declining upper surface 127A declines).
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Alternatively or additionally, the declining water retaining wall 126 can provide a declining bottom surface 127B of the first tank portion 118. Water W1 in the first tank portion 118 can run down the declining bottom surface 127B towards the opening 124.
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Thus, the declining water retaining wall 126 can guide water W1 into the second tank portion 120 from the first tank portion 118 via the opening 124.
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In some embodiments, and as best shown in Figs.3A to 3C, the water retaining member 116, and in particular the water retaining wall 126 thereof, forms a funnel-slope.
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This funnel-slope can assist to guide water W1 in the first tank portion 118 toward the second tank portion 120, e.g. by the funnel-slope guiding the water W1 in the first tank portion 118 towards the opening 124.
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Accordingly, the funnel-slope, together with the strategically placed opening 124 at a lower part of the funnel-slope, can facilitate entry of water from the first tank portion 118 into the second tank portion 120.
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The opening 124 can be at least partly defined by a cut-out portion of the funnel-slope.
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The water retaining wall 126 can, in other words, be funnel-shaped. In such embodiments, the upper surface of the funnel-shaped water retaining wall 126 can guide water W1 into the second tank portion 120 from the first tank portion 118 via the opening 124, while the lower surface of the funnel-shaped water retaining wall 126 can at least partly define the wider part 120B and the narrower part 120A of the second tank portion 120. In this case, the wider part 120B is defined beneath a periphery of the funnel-shaped water retaining wall 126, and the narrower part 120A is defined beneath a more central region of the funnel-shaped water retaining wall 126.
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In some embodiments, such as shown in Figs.3A to 3C, the opening 124 can be at least partly defined by a cut-out portion of the funnel-shaped water retaining wall 126.
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In some embodiments, and referring now to Fig.4, the water tank 102 comprises a first water tank housing part 132 and a second water tank housing part 134. The first water tank housing part 132 can be regarded as an upper water tank housing part, with the second water tank housing part 134 being a lower water tank housing part when the water tank 102 is in the upright orientation.
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In such embodiments, the water retaining member 116 is preferably arranged in-between the first, e.g. upper, water tank housing part 132 and the second, e.g. lower, water tank housing part 134. This can facilitate assembly of the steaming device 100, and in particular the water tank 102 and the water retaining member 116 thereof.
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The first and second water tank housing parts 132, 134 can be formed from any suitable material. In some embodiments, the first and second water tank housing parts 132, 134 are made of a plastic material, for example the same plastic material as included in the water retaining member 116.
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Figs.1, 2 and 4 show extension of the water tube assembly 104, 136 through the first tank portion 118. In this way, the water inlet 122 of the water tube assembly 104, 136 can be arranged in the second tank portion 120. In other words, extension of the water tube assembly 104, 136 through the first tank portion 118 can enable the water inlet 122 to receive water retained in the second tank portion 120.
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The water tube assembly 104, 136 can have any suitable design provided that the water tube assembly 104, 136 is capable of carrying water from the water tank 102 to the steam generator 108. In some embodiments, and referring to Figs.1, 2 and 4, the water tube assembly 104, 136 comprises a water tube 104 that extends in the first tank portion 118 to reach the water retaining member 116.
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For example, a downstream end of the water tube 104 is connected to a coupling joint 135 arranged between the water tank 102 and the pump 106, with an upstream end of the water tube 104 being connected to a connector part that protrudes from the water retaining wall 126 into the first tank portion 118.
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The water tube 104 can be formed from any suitable material. In some embodiments, the water tube 104 is a flexible water tube 104. For example, the water tube 104 is formed from rubber, e.g. silicone rubber.
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Such a flexible water tube 104 can be relatively straightforwardly connected to the coupling joint 135 and/or to the connector part in a watertight manner.
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In some embodiments, and referring to Figs.1 to 4, the water tube assembly 104, 136 comprises a tubular element 136 that includes an inlet part, with the inlet part protruding from the water retaining wall 126 into the second tank portion 120. In such embodiments, the inlet part includes the water inlet 122, for example the water inlet 122 that opens proximal to the bottom and/or the lateral side of the second tank portion 120.
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In such embodiments, the protruding inlet part of the tubular element 136 can assist the water inlet 122 to be immersed in the water W2 received in the second tank portion 120. Thus, the inlet part can help to keep the water inlet 122 supplied with water.
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Alternatively or in addition to the inlet part, the tubular element 136 can comprise the connector part that protrudes from the water retaining wall 126 into the first tank portion 118, with the connector part connecting to the water tube 104, e.g. the flexible water tube 104, located in the first tank portion 118, as previously described.
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In some embodiments, the tubular element 136 is an integral part of the water retaining member 116. This can facilitate manufacture of the steaming device 100, since the tubular element 136, and thus the inlet part and/or the connector part thereof, can be conveniently installed in the water tank 102 together with the water retaining member 116.
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The above embodiments as described are only illustrative, and not intended to limit the technique approaches of the present invention. Although the present invention is described in details referring to the preferable embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that the technique approaches of the present invention can be modified or equally displaced without departing from the protective scope of the claims of the present invention. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.