GB2308135A - Steam treating garments:water supply - Google Patents

Description

APPLIANCE FOR TREATING GARMENTS The invention relates to an appliance for treating garments.

The invention relates more particularly to treating garments with steam. It is well-known that steam is effective to remove crinkles and creases if garment material is held in front of a jet of steam or pressed flat. by the surface of an iron, while steam is applied.

In this context so-called steam irons" are well-known and incorporate a heater which heats the iron surface and internal passages filled with water or a water reservoir to provide the steam. At present steamers or steam irons are separately made and supplied even though they may often be used in close physical or time proximity. That is to say it is often required to iron and to steam (but not iron) different parts of a garment during a single treatment.

Providing separate appliances involves usage of valuable space. for storage and use. but more particularly requires making and paying for two separate appliances.

It is an object of the invention to overcome or at least reduce this problem.

According to the invention there is provided an appliance for treating garments with steam comprising a central housing, a water reservoir. an electric pump. a length of flexible tube connected between the pump and an adapter for passing water to a selected steam applicator, and extending along the tube electrical cables to supply power from the housing to a heater in the applicator.

The selected applicator may be either a steamer or a steam iron.

An electric control line may extend along the tube and the selected applicator has a manually operable switch that is arranged to control operation of the pump via the control line.

The appliance may include an isolator in the adapter that automatically inhibits supply of power out from the adapter to the applicator if the applicator is not fully fitted to the adapter.

An appliance according to the invention will now be described by wav of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an isometric view of a housing and water reservoir; Figure 2 is a schematic view of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an isometric view of the adapter and a steamer: Figure 4 is a schematic view of Figure 3: Figure 5 is an exploded top isometric view of the steamer: Figure 6 is an isometric view of the adapter and a steam iron; and Figure 7 is a schematic view of Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings, in Figures 1 and 2 the housing 10 incorporates an electric water pump 11 and two electric switches 12 and 13. A removable water reservoir 14 fits on top of the housing 10 and is connected by a passage 15 incorporating a pad 16 of filtering material to the pump 11. A flexible reinforced plastics tube 17 extends between the housing 10 and an adapter 18 to allow water to pass from the housing 10 to the adapter 1S. Electrical cables extend along the tube 17 to provide power at outlet sockets 19 and 20. An isolator 21 inhibits supply to the sockets 19 and 20 if a steamer or an iron (described below) is not fully connected to the adapter. Power is supplied to the housing via a power cable 22 and the ON/OFF switch 3. The adapter 18 has a water outlet pipe 23 and flow of water is controlled by operation of the pump 11 at a relatively high rate or at a relatively low rate according to the position of the selector switch 12. A manuallv operable button 24 is mounted on a rear of the adapter to control the pump 3.

In Figures 3 and 4 a steamer 25 is configured to fit over and against a forward end of the adapter 18. The steamer is provided with plugs 26 and 27 which fit the sockets 19 and 20 and a probe 28 that pushes against the isolator 21 when the steamer is pushed home to inhibit the isolator.

that is. to allow power to pass to the steamer. A water inlet 29 fits and seals to the water outlet 23 when the steamer is pressed fully against the forward end of the adapter.

Figure 5 shows the steamer 25 with its lid 30 removed. An electrical heater (not shown) is supplied in use via cables 31 and 32 which are connected to the plugs 26 and 27 (Figure 3), and a baffled compartment 33 is provided for water entering the steamer via the inlet 29. The heater converts the water into steam which can exhaust through an arrav of steam vents 34.

In use, by selecting the correct position of the switch 1 water is supplied at the low rate from the housing 10 and the ON/OFF operation of the pump 3 controlled by pressing the button 24 to pass a signal along a control wire that extending along the tube 17. A user then sweeps the steamer as required over clothes to be treated by providing a spray" of steam out of the vents 34.

In Figures 6 and ;. the adapter 18 is shown about to be fitted and fitted. respectively, to an electric steam iron 35. The iron can be wholly conventional except the iron 35 is configured to accommodate the adapter 18. As such, the iron receives water and power from the adapter 18 in use.

The iron has two plugs 36 and 37 which fit the sockets 19 and 20 and a probe 38 that cooperates with the isolator 21.

The probe 38 is also arranged in effect to inhibit the operation of the button 24 when the iron is fully fitted to the adapter 18. A water inlet pipe 39 is arranged to fit and seal to the water outlet 23 of the adapter.

To operate the pump 3, the iron 35 is provided with a thumb switch 40 that connects via the control wire extending along the tube 17. When the iron is used the switch 12 should be set to correspond to the high rate of water flow.

In this way, the user can have water supplied to replenish a conventional steam generator (not shown) in the iron from the water reservoir 14. Thus, the iron 35 has always an abundant water supply from the reservoir 14 that can be called upon without taking a hand off the iron. and whenever required. The steam iron itself can have a relativelv small water storage capacity and be much lighter than a conventional steam iron and yet be operated as a steam iron for long periods of time, if required. without interruption.

The described appliance is capable of steaming or steam ironing clothes in an otherwise normal way. Steamers are generally known. as are 'steam' irons. hut hitherto have always been separately made and used. Embodiments of the invention arise out of the realisation that several practical and commercial advantages come into being if a common water supply is provided for a steamer and a steam iron. It will be appreciated that the flexible tube 17 serves to allow considerable free movement of the steamer or the iron as the case may be. Also. by the provision of power cables extending along the tube 17. the steamer and iron are efficiently and conveniently powered from a common source and the power connections do not inhibit the freedom of movement in any way. The control wire. also extending along the tube 17. enables the flow of water. and hence steam generation in the steamer, to be controlled manually at the point of application of the steam, that is. at the steamer or at the iron. There is no need to hand release the steamer or the iron and no need to interrupt steam treatment of the garments.

Claims (5)

1. An appliance for treating garments with steam comprising a central housing, a water reservoir, an electric pump, a length of flexible tube connected between the pump and an adapter for passing water to a selected steam applicator. and extending along the tube electrical cables to supply power from the housing to a heater in the applicator.

2. An appliance according to claim 1. in which the selected applicator is either a steamer or a steam iron.

3. An appliance according to claim l or 2. in which an electric control line extending along the tube and the selected applicator has a manually operable switch that is arranged to control operation of the pump via the control line.

4. An appliance according to any of claims 1 to 3.

including an isolator in the adapter that automatically inhibits supply of power out from the adapter to the applicator if the applicator is not fully fitted to the adapter.

5. An appliance substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.