GB2428692A

GB2428692A - Steaming and drying apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2428692A
Application number: GB0515563A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Claudia Newbury
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-07-28
Filing date: 2005-07-28
Publication date: 2007-02-07
Also published as: GB0515563D0

Abstract

The apparatus includes a cabinet housing 1 with access door 3, a steam generator, a heated air generator, and a controller to operate the steam generator and air generator to provide steam and heated air into the housing. The heated air generator includes one or more fans 9 and one or more heaters for providing heated air flow into the interior of the housing. Steam units 7 allow steam to enter the cabinet from the steam generator. A handheld steam outlet may also be provided to receive steam from the steam generator. The interior of the cabinet may be provided with a hanging rail 11, forward-projecting rails 13, or support rack 15. In addition, an automatic door lock 5 may be provided that may be controlled by a thermostat 17 or humidity sensor.

Description

Domestic Apparatus

Description

It is known to dry textiles using a so-called tumble drier. Some domestic washing machines can incorporate such driers. The result is dry textiles, although these typically are heavily creased. It is known domestically to remove creases from clothes and linen using a heated iron, which typically is able also to emit steam for improved results. It is also known domestically to remove creases from clothes and linen using a hand- held steamer. It is known domestically to use a steaming apparatus to clean carpets, curtains and household furnishings.

The inventor has identified downsides in the use of such separate devices, and the invention seeks to address these downsides.

According to the present invention, there is provided domestic apparatus for steaming and drying textiles, the apparatus comprising: a housing defining an interior volume, the housing being provided with a door for allowing access to the interior volume; a steam generator for providing the interior volume with steam; a heated air generator comprising: one or more fans for providing airflow into the interior volume; and one or more heaters for heating said airflow; and a controller operable in a steaming mode to operate the steam generator to provide steam to the interior volume and operable in a drying mode to operate the at least one heated air generator to provide heated air into the interior volume.

Domestic apparatus so constructed may be usable to remove creases and wrinkles in fabrics, to clean carpets and curtains, and to dry clothes. With suitable features, the apparatus may be usable also to sterihse household utensils.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 shows a first embodied cabinet for heating and drying according to the invention; and Figure 2 shows a second embodied cabinet for heating and drying according to the invention.

In the Figures, reference numerals are re-used for like elements throughout.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, a first embodied cabinet I for steaming and drying is shown. Externally the cabinet I is similar to a large domestic fridge in size and shape. The cabinet I is provided with a door 3. The door 3 allows access to the inside of the cabinet.

The cabinet I is provided with a programme selector similar to a washing machine.

The program selector is operated by a controller (not shown). A user is able to select a steaming mode and a drying mode using the program selector. The user is also able to specify the duration of the programme. In addition, the controller enables operation of the steaming mode and the drying mode only when the door 3 is closed.

An automatic door lock 5 is also provided. The automatic door lock 5 locks the door 3 during operation of the steaming mode and the drying mode. This prevents a user opening the door while hot air and hot steam are being generated by the cabinet.

The Interior of the cabinet I is provided with a plurality of steam units 7. Each steam unit 7 comprises a steam generator, housed inside the walls of the cabinet, and a vent to allow the steam to enter the cabinet. Alternatively, a steam generator can be used to provide steam to the cabinet through more than one vent. The steam can remove creases in garments, particularly but not exclusively hanging garments, that are placed inside the cabinet.

The interior of the cabinet I is provided with two hot air fans 9. Alternatively, a single hot air fan, or more than two hot air fans can be provided. Each fan 9 comprises a fan to provide airflow into the cabinet I, and a heater to heat the airflow. The heated air is then used to dry garments that are placed inside the cabinet.

The interior of the cabinet I is provided with a hanging rail 11. The hanging rail 11 is supported by an internal side wall at one end, and by the opposing internal side wall at the other end. The hanging rail 11 can be used to support garments hung on clothes hangers. The hanging rail 11 can also be used for draping garments. The cabinet I is also provided with a plurality of forward-projecting rails 13 projecting from the internal back wall of the cabinet 1. Alternatively, they may be fixed to the ceiling of the cabinet 1. The forward-projecting rails 13 are fixed to the cabinet I only at one end. The forward-projecting rails 13 can be used for draping larger items, such as sheets or curtains. The fact that they are fixed only at one end makes it relatively easy for large or heavy items to be hung in the cabinet. This is so since it is not necessary to feed around half of the Item over the top of the rails; instead forming a fold in the item and feeding the forward-projecting rail 13 through the fold results in the item being hung on the forward-projecting rail 13. The forward- projecting rails 13 are removable. This can allow easier access to items on the hanging rail 11 when the forward-projecting rails 13 are not in use.

The interior of the cabinet I is also provided with a rack 15. The rack 15 can be used to support smaller garments. The rack 15 can also be used to support utensils.

The rack 15 is formed of plural parallel slats with gaps in-between.

The interior of the cabinet I contains a thermostat 17. This is used to regulate temperature in the steaming and drying modes, and to cause the automatic lock 5 to unlock the door 3 when the cabinet I has cooled sufficiently. A threshold unlocking temperature is pre-determined, and the door 3 is unlocked only if the temperature falls below, or remains below, the threshold. This prevents a user being able to open the door 3 if the temperature inside is such that the user could be harmed by contact with air from the interior or by contact with any of the interior surfaces.

The interior of the cabinet I may also contain a humidity sensor (not shown). This is used to regulate the steam setting and to engage the unlocking of the door 3 when the humidity in the cabinet I has dropped sufficiently. An unlocking humidity threshold is pre-determined, and the door 3 is unlocked only if the temperature falls below, or remains below, the threshold. This prevents a user being able to open the door 3 if the amount of steam inside is such that the user could be harmed by contact with the steam from the interior, or such that damage could be caused to the surroundings of the cabinet by the steam.

All interior components of the cabinet I are made of heat resistant and water resistant materials. Thus, these components can withstand the conditions inside the cabinet, and will not require replacement frequently.

The cabinet 1 is connected to mains electricity, although in other embodiments (not shown) the cabinet can be connected to an alternative source of power.

The cabinet I contains a water reservoir 18. The water reservoir 18 is contained within the walls of the cabinet 1. The water reservoir 18 can be filled through an opening (not shown) on an outside wall of the cabinet. Slits 19 are provided in the bottom of the interior wall the cabinet 1. These allow condensed steam to be fed back into the water reservoir 18. The cabinet I can instead be connected to a mains water supply, from which the level of water in the water reservoir 1 8 can be increased if required. The steam generator (not shown) uses water from the water reservoir 18 to produce steam.

The cabinet may contain a condenser, which assists in extracting water from the air in the cabinet 1, and returning it to the water reservoir 18.

Referring now to Figure 2, a second embodied cabinet 21 for steaming and drying textiles is shown. The cabinet 21 includes all of the features of the first-embodied cabinet 1, although the fans 9 are omitted from the Figure for the sake of clarity.

The cabinet 21 is provided with a detachable handheld steamer 23. The handheld steamer comprises an expandable hose 25 and a head part 27. The expandable hose is removably engageable with a steam outlet 29 in the interior of the cabinet 21.

The handheld steamer 23 can be used for steaming items that are awkward to place inside the cabinet or that otherwise need special treatment, such as individual fabric items, carpets, furniture, and curtains.

The hose 25 can instead be attached to a separate sterilisation unit (not shown).

The sterilisation unit can be used to sterilise baby feeding bottles. The sterilisation unit comprises a simple box structure with a hinged lid. Clean bottles are placed inside the sterilisation unit. A valve is provided on the exterior of the sterilisation unit. In operation, the expandable hose 25 is attached to the valve, and the steam outlet 29 is switched on to allow steam to enter the stcrilisation unit.

A dedicated reservoir is used by the steam outlet 29. This allows cleaning chemicals and agents to be added to the water if required. Alternatively, the steam outlet 29 can share the same reservoir as the steam units 7 of the cabinet.

The expandable hose 25 is segmented. This allows pieces of the hose 25 to be linked together to make it as long or short as required.

Unlike the other steam outlets in the cabinet 1, 21, the steam outlet 29 is able to operate when the door 3 is open and door lock 5 is not engaged.

In both embodiments, a steaming and drying programme, a drying programme, and a sterilisation programme are selectable by a user, and the cabinet operates differently according to the programme selected.

To operate the cabinet 1, 21 in a steaming and/or drying programme, the user first hangs linen and/or clothes inside the unit, using the rails 11, 13, or the rack 15.

The user then shuts the door 3, and selects the relevant programme. The user can also select the duration of operation of the steaming mode and the drying mode, or the programme may include default durations. The automatic lock 5 then locks the door for the duration of the programme. When operating according to a steaming/drying programme, the cabinet can be said to be in a steaming/drying mode.

First, the controller operates the steam generators to provide steam. Thus, steam at C or more is generated inside the cabinet. Steam removes creases in most fabrics. After the steam mode is completed, the controller operates the heated fans to provide heated air to the cabinet thereby to dry the sheets and/or clothes.

Once the programme is complete and the thermostat 17 determines that the interior of the cabinet 1, 21 is sufficient cool, the door 3 is automatically unlocked to allow removal of the treated sheets and/or clothes.

A drying programme is selectable by a user. This programme does not apply steam to the items, so any wrinkles or creases present in the linen and/or clothes may not be removed. This programme is useful when the linen and/or clothes do not need de-wrinkling, as electrical energy is saved by not operating the steam generators of the steam unit 7.

The user places linen and/or clothes requiring drying in the cabinet 1, 21, and then shuts the door 3. The user selects the drying time. The automatic lock 5 then locks the door for the duration of the programme. On shutting and locking the door 3 and selecting a drying-only programme, the controller operates the fans 9 to dry the items for the time specified.

Once the programme is complete and the thermostat determines that the interior of the cabinet is sufficiently cool, the door is automatically unlocked to allow removal of the dried items.

The sterilisation programme allows household items to be sterilised. Any items from cotton nappies (diapers) and dishtowels to baby feeding bottles and metal instruments can be sterilised. It is known domestically to sterilise utensils, baby nappies and baby bottles using a container housing a steam generator or by immersion in boiling water. The inventor has seen advantages in providing a sterilisation programme with the cabinet 1, 21, or providing a separate sterilisation unit connected to the steam outlet 29 in the cabinet 21.

Before selection the sterilising programme, the user opens the door 3 and places items to be stcrilised on the rack 15 and/or hangs them on the rails 13, 15. The user then shuts the door 3, and selects the sterilisation programme.

When the programme begins, the door 3 is locked automatically. The controller then operates the steam generators of the steam units 7 to provide the interior of the cabinet 1, 21 with steam. The steam is heated to a high enough temperature, and the steam generators are operated for a duration sufficient to sterilise the objects within the cabinet 1, 21.

The default setting for the sterilising programme is to provide the interior of the cabinet 1, 21 with steam at 100 C for 9 minutes. If the temperature of steam is increased, the duration of the sterihsing programme can be decreased according to the following equation: t=0. 071x1O'21 1-T)/1O where t is the duration of the programme and T is the temperature of the steam.

Thus, if the steam is heated to 105 C, the sterilising programme can last only 3 minutes and yet achieve the same degree of sterihsation. If the steam is heated to 110 C, the sterilising programme can last only 1 minute to the same effect. The steam can be heated using the heaters, or pressure can be increased to increase the boiling point of the water in the water reservoir 18.

The minimum duration of the sterilising programme, when the steam is provided at 100 C, is 6 minutes. In this case, the scaling factor in the above equation is adjusted to 0.0473 (equal to 2/3 X 0.07 1) to determine the minimum duration if a higher temperature is used.

Immediately or soon after the steaming is completed, the controller optionally operates the fans 9 to provide the interior of the cabinet with hot air. This dries the items within the cabinet 1, 21.

Once the sterilisation programme is complete and the thermostat 17 determines that the interior of the cabinet is sufficient cool, the door 3 is automatically unlocked to allow removal of the sterilised items.

Although the present invention has been described with respect to the above embodiments, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. 3 -9-

Claims

Claims 1. Domestic apparatus for steaming and drying textiles, the

apparatus comprising: a housing defining an interior volume, the housing being provided with a door for allowing access to the interior volume; a steam generator for providing the interior volume with steam; a heated air generator comprising: one or more fans for providing airflow into the interior volume; and one or more heaters for heating said airflow; and a controller operable in a steaming mode to operate the steam generator to provide steam to the interior volume and operable in a drying mode to operate the at least one heated air generator to provide heated air into the interior volume.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a handheld steam outlet connected to receive steam from the or another steam generator.
3. Apparatus as claimed in either preceding claim, comprising means to lock the door automatically during operation of the steaming mode and the drying mode.
4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus provided one or more hanging rails extending from one interior wall to another interior wall; one or more rails extending from the back to the front of the interior volume; and a rack for supporting items within the interior volume.
5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the controller is further operable in a sterilisation mode to operate the steam generator to provide the interior volume with steam for at least a predetermined duration, the temperature of the steam produced being held above a minimum temperature for at least the predetermined duration.
6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the controller is responsive to a user input to enter the apparatus into the steaming mode and subsequently enter the apparatus into the drying mode.
7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a reservoir usable by the steam generator to provide steam.
8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or any of claims 3 to 7 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the source of water used by the or another steam generator to provide steam to the handheld steam outlet is different to the source of water used by the steam generator to provide the interior volume with steam.
9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the source of water for steam provided to the handheld steam outlet is a dedicated reservoir.
10. A cabinet as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a thermostat for determining a measure of the temperature in the interior volume, wherein the door is arranged to be unlocked when the apparatus is not in the drying or steaming mode only when the measure of the temperature as below a threshold.
11. A cabinet as claimed in claim 3 or claim 10, further comprising a humidity sensor for determining a measure of the humidity in the interior volume, wherein the door is arranged to be unlocked when the apparatus is not in the drying or steaming mode only when the measure of the humidity has dropped below a threshold.