JP2000107497A - Bifunctional clothes-treatment device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a clothes treatment device having long life, which resolves or at least reduces problems in conventional clothes-treatment devices. SOLUTION: A clothing processing device is a bifunctional device for processing clothing or the like by a steam, wherein a central storage tank 9 and an electric water pump 11 for supplying water to a steamer 15 or a steam iron 18 are installed. Separated flexible braided cables 16 and 19 supply water and electric power to the steamer 15 and the steam iron 18, and the cables are permanently connected to the steamer 15 and the steam iron 18 respectively. Plugs 17 and 20 are attached on each end of the cables 16 and 19 and connected to a socket 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an apparatus for treating clothes, and more particularly to an apparatus for treating clothes with steam.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Water vapor is traditionally used when ironing clothes, such as clothes including curtains and furniture covers, with a so-called "steam iron" that releases water vapor under the manual control of the user. Have been done. Also, a steamer or “steam wand”
It is known that water vapor is generally applied to hanging clothes or the like to remove folds and wrinkles. Thus, curtains can be treated with steam, for example, on site or after hanging after cleaning or washing.

In the case of steam irons, it has already been proposed to supply the heated iron with water from a separate reservoir via a flexible hose. This greatly increases the amount of water available for steaming ironing. In the case of a steamer, water is more commonly supplied from a separate reservoir through a suitable hose. if necessary,
Providing a hose in the form of a cable designed to carry water and which also supplies power and / or possibly also incorporates wires for transmitting control signals between the steamer or iron and a separate central water reservoir; It is also known. Generally, the control signal is needed to activate the pump that pumps the water to the steamer or steam iron in use, if necessary, immediately.

It has been proposed to provide a plug or socket at the end of a flexible cable connected to a water reservoir for releasable connection to a steamer or steam iron. In this way, the steamer or steam iron can be fed sequentially from the same water reservoir. This device made the detachable cable connection necessary for the steamer and steam iron somewhat complicated, and the detachable cable connection was located in a more vulnerable part of the layout, where The disadvantage is that the maximum bending and operation takes place.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to overcome or at least reduce the above problems.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a central water reservoir having an electric pump and a removable connector for supplying water to a steamer or iron and making an electrical connection, to which the steamer is connected. Having a single flexible cable having a coupling adapter to said connector at the end, and a steam iron,
A dual-function garment processor for steaming or steam ironing a garment, such as a garment, having a single flexible cable coupled thereto and having a coupling adapter to the connector at an end; wherein the steamer and the steam iron comprise: A dual-function garment processing device having a respective electrical switch for controlling operation of a pump through a flexible cable during use, and wherein power is supplied to the steamer or steam iron, respectively, through the flexible cable Is provided.

[0007] The bifunctional device may optionally include a central adjustable flow controller disposed between the reservoir and the steamer or steam iron for setting a desired flow rate of water. Good.

[0008]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The two-function device according to the invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawing, which shows the device.

Referring to FIG. 1, an electrically driven pump 11
The central water storage tank 9 to which is connected is mounted on the housing 10. An electrical control circuit 12 and a manually operable power switch 13 are installed in the housing 10. A cable socket 14 is mounted on the wall of the housing for supplying water and power and receiving control signals.

[0010] The steamer 15 is permanently connected to one end of a braided flexible cable 16 containing tubing capable of supplying water and power to the steamer, respectively, and suitable electrical wires. Suitable flexible cables are generally known per se. The flexible cable is typically 2 meters in length and has a plug 17 at its distal end that can be removably and securely fitted to the socket 14. Steam iron 18
Is permanently connected to the same braided flexible cable 19 as the cable 16, which cable is provided at the end with a plug 20, the same as the plug 17.

Control switches 21 and 22, ie, push button ON / OFF switches, are generally mounted on the steamer and the steam iron, respectively. In use, when the switch 21 or 22 is turned on, the electric pump 11 is switched on and serves to supply water along the flexible cable 16 or 19. Since the electric heater in the steamer or steam iron is arranged to heat the water in the usual way, steam can be provided "on demand" to treat the garment.

A separate pump controller 23 (not shown) is provided to change the flow of water when the pump 11 is switched on. Instead of simply using the switches 21 or 22 to start and stop the pump at different time intervals to change the rate of steam generation,
This is because it is preferable to independently change the steam generation rate.

[0013] The device has cables permanently attached to the steamer and the steam iron, respectively.
By simplifying the required accessories, the physical bulk of the connection to the steamer and the steam iron is essentially reduced. Also, such permanent attachment or connection tends to have less damage or failure. At these particular connections, maximum strain is likely to occur, and if the connection is in the form of plugs and sockets, for example, as currently used in the prior art, water leakage or other faults Is more likely to occur. Also, in a similar prior art device, a flexible cable is permanently attached to the central housing 10, where
It becomes generally difficult to organize the housing for storage, for example. In fact, due to the provision of the two flexible cables 16 and 19, in terms of practicality, the bifunctional device has an essentially long life. This long service life is that flexible cables are traditionally the more susceptible components of such steam devices, and each flexible cable of the device must be in use when the device is in operation. It will be seen that this is because it is only working for a part of the time, not the whole time.

The connector 14 of the device is a socket, but may be a plug or a suitable form of removable connector. Plugs 17 and 20 are always installed as the same “adapter” for connection with a common or central connector 14.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clothing processing two-function device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 9 ... Central water storage tank 10 ... Housing 11 ... Electric drive pump 12 ... Electrical control circuit 13 ... Power switch 14 ... Cable socket 15 ... Steamer 16,19 ... Braid flexible cable 17,20 ... Plug 18 ... Steam iron 21, 22 ... Control switch 23 ... Pump controller

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission Date] October 25, 1999 (1999.10.
25)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Fig. 1

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuation of the front page (71) Applicant 599138618 2 Dai Wang Street, Tai Po Industrial Estate, Tai Po, New Territories, HONG KONG (72) Inventor Lee Chu Yun Hong, New Territory Fun Lin Center, Block E, Twenty First Floor, Flat 3

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A central water reservoir having an electric pump and a removable connector for supplying water to a steamer or iron and making an electrical connection, wherein the steamer is coupled to the steamer or iron and has a connection to the connector at a distal end. Steaming or steam ironing a garment having a single flexible cable having an adapter and having a single flexible cable coupled thereto and having a flexible adapter at the end having a mating adapter for the connector. A two-function garment processing apparatus for performing steaming and steam ironing while in use,
A two-function garment processor comprising a respective electrical switch for controlling the operation of a pump through a flexible cable, and wherein power is supplied through the flexible cable to a steamer or a steam iron, respectively. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising a central adjustable flow controller disposed between the reservoir and the steamer or steam iron for setting a desired flow rate of water. A two-function garment processing apparatus according to claim 1.