FR3135468A1 - Accessory for iron and device equipped with such an accessory. - Google Patents

Abstract

Accessory (100) for ironing and/or steaming appliance comprising a soleplate (10) equipped with steam outlet holes (14), said accessory (100) comprising a body (101) comprising an upper face configured to match the shape of the contour of the sole (10) and comprising a peripheral wall (110) laterally delimiting a vapor diffusion chamber (104) allowing the passage of steam from the upper face to through a vapor-permeable element (112) carried by the accessory (100), characterized in that said element is a vapor-permeable textile (112), advantageously of the microfiber type, intended to come into contact with the garment to be treated and in that the peripheral wall (110) comprises exhaust openings (113) allowing the steam flow to escape laterally to the accessory (100). Figure for abstract: Fig. 4

Description

Accessory for iron and device equipped with such an accessory.

The present invention relates to the field of accessories for ironing appliances comprising a soleplate equipped with steam outlet holes and relates more particularly to an accessory comprising a body comprising an upper face configured to match the shape of the contour of the soleplate and comprising a peripheral wall laterally delimiting a steam diffusion chamber allowing the passage of steam from the upper face to through a vapor-permeable element carried by the accessory.

State of the art

It is known, from document CN205420870U, an accessory for a steaming device comprising a soleplate equipped with steam outlet holes in which the accessory comprises a body comprising an upper face configured to match the shape of the contour of the soleplate and comprises a peripheral wall laterally delimiting a steam diffusion chamber allowing the passage of steam from the upper face to through a vapor-permeable element carried by the accessory.

Such an accessory includes a vapor-permeable element which allows the garment treated using the steaming device to be perfumed.

However, such an accessory is not suitable for removing dust, particles or hair that may be attached to the surface of an item such as clothing, a curtain or a sofa.

The present invention aims to remedy this drawback.
For this purpose, the invention has for an object an accessory for an ironing and/or steaming appliance comprising a soleplate equipped with steam outlet holes, the accessory comprising a body comprising an upper face configured to match the shape of the contour of the sole and comprising a peripheral wall laterally delimiting a steam diffusion chamber allowing the passage of steam from the upper face to through a vapor-permeable element carried by the accessory, characterized in that the element is a vapor-permeable textile, advantageously of the microfiber type, intended to come into contact with the garment to be treated and in that the peripheral wall has exhaust openings allowing the flow of steam to escape laterally to the accessory.

Such an accessory makes it possible to sanitize an article by sweeping the latter using the soleplate equipped with the accessory, the friction of the textile in contact with the article making it possible to eliminate dust, particles, hair, etc. which can be deposited on the surface of the latter and the diffusion of steam towards the textile making it possible to keep the latter moist for better efficiency in capturing dust or particles.

In addition, the presence of exhaust openings on such an accessory makes it possible to limit the risk of condensate formation inside the steam diffusion chamber, the steam being able to escape freely outside the accessory. after licking the internal surface of the textile

The device may also have one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the vapor-permeable element is carried by an underside of the accessory

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the body comprises a lower lip on which the textile is removably fixed.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the peripheral wall is located back from the lower lip.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the textile has a contour provided with an elastic element allowing its attachment to the lower lip.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the upper face comprising an upper skirt whose shape is configured to match the shape of the contour of the sole.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the body comprises a fixing hook configured to deform elastically when mounting the accessory on the ironing and/or steaming appliance.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the upper skirt extends along the front and side edges of the body of the accessory, the fixing hook being located on a rear edge of the body of the accessory.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the exhaust openings are bordered by a rib.

Such a rib has the advantage of acting as a deflector which prevents the outline of the guide textile from being positioned on the exhaust openings.

The invention also relates to an ironing and/or steaming appliance comprising such an accessory and characterized in that it comprises a steam generator allowing the production of a steam flow rate greater than 20 gr/min and advantageously greater than 25 gr/min.

Such a steam flow has the advantage of providing optimized ironing or steaming performance. In addition, from such a steam flow rate, exhaust openings become particularly necessary to avoid steam condensation inside the accessory.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the steam generator comprises a tank for generating steam under pressure

Brief description of the figures

The aims, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the description given below of a particular embodiment of the invention presented by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the drawings appended in which :

There is a perspective view of an iron and an accessory according to a particular embodiment of the invention, the accessory being shown uncoupled from the iron 1 and without its microfiber;

There is a perspective view of the accessory;

There is a perspective view of the iron coupled to the accessory;

There is a side view of the iron coupled to the accessory, the accessory being shown partially in section at the lock;

There is a perspective view of the accessory and the microfiber intended to cover it;

There is a perspective view of the accessory covered in its microfiber.

Only the elements necessary for understanding the invention have been represented. To make the drawings easier to read, the same elements carry the same references from one figure to another.

There represents an iron 1 comprising a metal soleplate 10, having a pointed front end and a rounded rear end, arranged opposite an accessory 100 intended to be mounted on the soleplate 10 of the iron 1.

The iron 1 comprises a housing 11, placed above the sole 10, and comprises a gripping handle 12 arranged cantilevered relative to the sole 10, the handle 12 having a front end attached to the housing 11 and a free rear end projecting laterally from the housing 11.
The iron 1 is connected by a flexible cord 3 to a portable base, not shown in the figures, this base enclosing a tank for the production of steam under pressure comprising a steam outlet orifice equipped with a solenoid valve controlled by a trigger 13 arranged under the handle 12 of the iron 1. Preferably, the tank is dimensioned to produce steam under a pressure greater than 4 bars and to supply the iron 1 with an instantaneous steam flow rate greater than 50 gr/min.
The housing 11 conventionally contains an aluminum foundry, not visible in the figures, which is in thermal contact with the sole 10 and which includes a heating resistor, regulated by means of a thermostat. The foundry contains a steam distribution circuit ensuring the reheating of the steam and the vaporization of any condensates transported by the steam, this steam being diffused through steam outlet holes 14 provided in the sole 10.

In accordance with Figures 2 and 3, the accessory 100 comprises a body 101 made of plastic material having a contour of shape similar to the contour of the sole 10, the body 101 comprising an upper face intended to take place under the sole 10 and comprising a upper skirt 102 intended to wrap the front toe and part of the side edges of the sole 10 when the accessory 100 is coupled to the iron 1.

The upper face of the body 101 comprises steam inlet orifices 103 corresponding to the steam outlet holes 14, the body 101 comprising a plurality of reinforcement partitions extending perpendicular to the upper face of the body 101 and forming a openwork structure delimited laterally by a peripheral wall 110, advantageously extending over a height of between 5 mm and 10 mm.

This perforated zone of the body 101, delimited laterally by the peripheral wall 10, forms a steam diffusion chamber 104 fluidly connecting the steam inlet orifices 103 of the upper face and a lower opening 105 for steam outlet provided on the underside of the accessory 100.

The steam diffusion chamber 104 notably comprises a central opening 106, of generally triangular shape with rounded corners, and two rear openings 107 facing an area of the sole 10 devoid of steam outlet holes, which allow the times to lighten the structure of the body 101 and to form volumes in which the steam coming from the steam inlet ports 103 can freely diffuse.

Preferably, the upper face of the body 101 comprises a seal 108 which extends over the entire circumference of the accessory 100, being located slightly set back from the contour of the accessory 100, the seal 108 extending at the edge of the steam inlet orifices 103 and the rear openings 107. The body 101 also advantageously comprises deflector walls 109 arranged facing at least part of the steam inlet orifices 103 and which make it possible to deflect a part the flow of steam penetrating through the steam inlet orifices 103 towards the peripheral wall 110.

In accordance with Figures 5 and 6, the body 101 comprises a lower lip 111 which is an extension of the peripheral wall 110, the lower lip 111 extending divergently downwards and defining the lower opening 105 for steam outlet of accessory 100.

The lower lip 111 forms a gripping surface for a vapor-permeable textile 112, preferably of the microfiber type, having a shape adapted to cover the lower opening 105 of the accessory 100.

According to the particular embodiment illustrated in the figures, the textile 112 comprises an elastic element, extending over its entire periphery, which allows the fixation of the textile 112 on the accessory 100 by engaging by elastic deformation of the contour of the textile 112 around the lower lip 111, as shown in the .

More particularly according to the invention, the peripheral wall 110 comprises exhaust openings 113 which pass laterally through the peripheral wall 110 and establish fluid communication between the vapor diffusion chamber 104 provided inside the body 101 and the exterior of accessory 100.

These exhaust openings 113 are advantageously arranged symmetrically on both sides of the accessory 100 and are bordered by a rib 114 which projects from the peripheral wall 110. According to the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the figures , each side of the accessory 100 has two exhaust openings 113 which extend directly under the upper skirt 102, over a height of between 2 and 4 mm and over a length of around 5 cm.

In accordance with the , the body 101 also includes elastomer pads 115 on which the sole 10 is intended to rest. These pads 115 advantageously comprise a first pad 115 arranged at the front end of the accessory 100, in the area intended to receive the front tip of the sole 10, and two rear pads 115 which integrate a raised rear skirt intended to come along the rear edge of the sole 10.

The two rear pads 115 are arranged on either side of a fixing hook 116 arranged at the rear end of the accessory 100, this fixing hook 116 being advantageously carried by a lock 117 made of plastic material which is attached to the body 101 of the accessory 100 and which is mounted movable in translation along the longitudinal axis of the accessory 100.

In accordance with the , the accessory 100 comprises a cavity which is arranged under the lock 117 and which contains a return spring 118 returning the lock 117 to a rest position in which the fixing hook 116 is brought back towards the inside of the accessory 100 .

The lock 117 advantageously comprises a tongue 119 projecting from the rear face of the accessory 100 and making it possible to manually exert traction on the lock 117 in order to move the latter against the return spring 118, and allow the movement of the fixing hook 116 towards the rear to uncouple the accessory 100 from the housing 11 of the iron 1.

The use and advantages of such accessories will now be described.

When the user wishes to treat a textile with steam, for example a curtain, a sofa or a piece of clothing, in order to purify it by eliminating dust, particles, hair that may be placed on it, he sets up the accessory 100 on the sole 10 of the iron 1 by engaging the front end of the sole 10 against the front pad 115 then applying the sole 10 of the iron 1 against the rear pads 115. During this manipulation, the fixing hook 116 slides above the sole 10, after having moved in translation against the return spring 118, and ensures the immobilization of the accessory 100 on the sole 10.

The user then places the microfiber textile 112 around the lower lip 111 of the accessory 100, this textile 112 being held under tension on the accessory 100 thanks to the tension exerted by the elastic element which runs along the along the periphery of the textile 112. When placing the textile 112 on the accessory, the presence of the ribs 114 makes it possible to maintain the edge of the textile under the exhaust openings 113 and thus prevent the latter from are hidden by the textile 112.

The user can then use the iron 1, equipped with the accessory 100, to steam treat the element to be purified, this treatment being carried out by sweeping the surface to be treated with the accessory 100 while pressing the trigger 13 of the iron 1.

The steam flow emitted by the outlet holes of the sole 10 then enters the steam diffusion chamber 104 through the steam inlet orifices 103 of the accessory 100, the presence of the seal 108 in contact with the sole 10 preventing part of the steam flow from escaping laterally to the sole 10.

The steam flow passing through the accessory 100 licks the textile 112, participating in its humidification, then is evacuated outside the accessory 100 passing through the lateral exhaust openings 113 of the accessory 100 .

Such a characteristic makes it possible to prevent steam from remaining confined in the steam diffusion chamber 104. This limits the risk of steam condensation inside the accessory 100. Furthermore, the position of the openings exhaust 113, and the positioning of the handle 12 cantilevered behind the sole 10, prevents the steam emitted by the exhaust openings 113 from sweeping the area of the handle 12 with the risk of burning the 'user.

The accessory 100 thus produced therefore makes it possible to limit the risk of burns for the user by the flow of condensate through the sides of the accessory 100 when the accessory 100 is used with the iron 1 and the latter delivers a strong flow of steam.

Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and illustrated which has been given only by way of example. Modifications remain 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 exhaust openings may have a different shape and be, for example arranged, arranged at least partly on the front face of the accessory.

Claims (9)

Accessory (100) for ironing and/or steaming appliance comprising a soleplate (10) equipped with steam outlet holes (14), said accessory (100) comprising a body (101) comprising an upper face configured to match the shape of the contour of the sole (10) and comprising a peripheral wall (110) laterally delimiting a vapor diffusion chamber (104) allowing the passage of steam from the upper face to through a vapor-permeable element (112) carried by the accessory (100), characterized in that said element is a vapor-permeable textile (112), advantageously of the microfiber type, intended to come into contact with the garment to be treated and in that the peripheral wall (110) comprises exhaust openings (113) allowing the steam flow to escape laterally to the accessory (100). Accessory (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the body (101) comprises a lower lip (111) on which the textile (112) is removably fixed. Accessory (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the textile (112) has a contour provided with an elastic element allowing its attachment to the lower lip (111). Accessory (100) according to any one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that the peripheral wall (110) is located back from the lower lip (111). Accessory (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the upper face comprising an upper skirt (102) whose shape is configured to match the shape of the contour of the sole (10). Accessory (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that the body (101) comprises a fixing hook (116) configured to deform elastically when mounting the accessory (100) on the ironing appliance and/or steaming. Accessory (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that the upper skirt (102) extends along the front and side edges of the body (101) of the accessory and in that the fixing hook (116) is located on a rear edge of the body (101) of the accessory. Accessory (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the exhaust openings (113) are bordered by a rib (114). Ironing and/or steaming appliance comprising an accessory (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a steam generator allowing the production of a steam flow rate greater than 20 gr/min .