JP5933136B2 - Handheld device - Google Patents

Description

  In the present invention, a water tank is mounted in a case held by hand, and the case supplies fluid or steam to a surface of clothes, cloth products such as furniture covered with curtains or cloth, and the like. The present invention relates to a hand-held device having an outlet or a nozzle. The handheld device of the present invention may be used to clean solid surfaces such as floors or counter table surfaces by applying steam and / or fluid to the surface.

  A conventional handheld clothing steamer 1 is shown in FIG. 1 and has a housing 2 including a water tank or tub 3 and a heating chamber 4. Water is sent from the tub 3 to the heating chamber 4 via a water supply system, which has a pump 5 and a tube 6, which has a portion 7 extending into the tub 3, The part 7 has an inlet 8 at the free end for the flow of water to the part 7 of the tube 6 and to the heating chamber 4 along the tube 6. The water sent to the heating chamber 4 is converted into steam for delivery to the surface to be steamed through the outlet 9. In FIG. 1, the housing 2 is oriented in the intended use position so that the vapor is discharged through the outlet 9 in a substantially horizontal direction indicated by the arrow A.

  The portion 7 of the tube 6 is used when the handheld steamer is held in an orientation intended to draw almost all of the water in the tank 3 into the heating chamber 4 during use, i. 1 extends into the tank 3 such that the inlet 8 is located at the lowest point of the tank 3 when held in the vertical orientation shown in FIG. . However, it is also possible to use the handheld steamer 1 in other orientations, such as when steaming clothing or fabric products placed on an ironing board or steaming furniture covered with cloth. Is desirable. In these situations, the handheld steamer 1 will be held in a non-vertical orientation and may even be held in the horizontal direction so that the vapor exits through the outlet 9 in a generally vertical direction. However, when a conventional handheld steamer is held in this way, the inlet 8 is always immersed in the water in the tub 3, especially when the tub 3 is only partially filled. It will not be. This results in air rather than water being drawn into the heating chamber 4 and hinders efficient steam generation.

  It is an object of the present invention to overcome or significantly alleviate the problems in conventional handheld devices as described above and to maintain an optimal supply of fluid or vapor to the surface regardless of the device orientation. To provide equipment.

  Although reference is primarily made to hand-held steamers for steaming clothing or fabric products, the device of the present invention can be used for a variety of different purposes, e.g., hard such as floors or windows. It will be appreciated that it can be used to clean surfaces and for steam ironing of fabric products or clothing. Furthermore, the device need not be capable of producing steam, in which case a fluid such as water contained in a bath may be supplied directly to the surface to be cleaned. However, it is preferred that the device comprises a heating chamber and that the water contained in the tank is sent to the heating chamber and converted into steam before being supplied to the surface. It is also conceivable that the device comprises a switch that gives the user the option of supplying liquid or vapor to the surface. For example, it may be possible to use the device with the heating chamber switched off.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a handheld device having a housing including a tank for containing water and a tube for carrying water from the tank for supply to a surface. The tube extends into the tank and has a portion having a plurality of pipe inlets spaced apart from each other in the tank, and the housing contains water when the tank contains water. Regardless of the orientation, one of the tube inlets is adapted to be immersed in the water, the tube inlet having a separate valve assembly associated with each of the tube inlets, The associated valve assembly is open to allow water flow through the tube inlet and the valve assembly associated with the unsoaked tube inlet is closed to prevent air flow through the unsoaked tube inlet A handheld device is provided.

  Because the tube portion includes multiple inlets, at least one tube inlet will always be in a immersed position regardless of the orientation of the instrument. The handheld device will therefore continue to emit fluids or vapors consistently regardless of the position or orientation in which the device is held. Since the tube inlet located above the water level is closed by a valve associated with the unsoaked tube inlet, air is not drawn into the heating chamber through the tube inlet.

  Preferably, each of the valve assemblies has a housing and a single valve member that opens the tube inlet and allows water to flow through the valve member into the tube inlet. Between the first position and the second position where the tube inlet closes and prevents the passage of air to the tube inlet.

  The valve member may fall to a first position in a direction away from the associated tube inlet due to the weight of the valve member itself.

  In a preferred embodiment, each valve assembly is removably attached to the end of the tube at the tube inlet.

  The features described above provide a handheld device that is independent for each tube inlet but uses the same valve design. Since a separate valve assembly is removably mounted at each end of the tube over the inlet, the assembly is more flexible and easier to manufacture and assemble. This also means that more than two inlets can be used without having to redesign the valve assembly, since only a separate but identical valve assembly is provided for each inlet. . Since the valve assembly can be attached to the end of any length of tube, the length of the tube portion in the vessel is not critical. Therefore, it can be applied to handheld devices having various size and shape tanks. Each valve assembly may be removable so that it can be easily replaced in the event of wear or failure without replacing other valve assemblies.

  In a preferred embodiment, the portion of the tube has a main tube portion extending into the tank, and a sub-tube portion attached to the free end of the main tube portion at the joint, A separate valve assembly is mounted at each end of the secondary tube portion that is separate from the section. The main pipe portion may extend into the vessel so that the free end of the portion is approximately at the center point of the vessel. The secondary tube portion then extends to the opposite end of the vessel so that at least one inlet is always immersed in any water in the vessel, regardless of the orientation of the device. Also good.

  The secondary tube portion has two inlets and is integral with a connector for attachment to the free end of the primary tube portion so as to affect the fluid connection between the secondary tube portion and the main tube portion. It may be formed. The connector may have a connection formed integrally with the sub-tube portion for fluidly connecting the sub-tube portion to the free end of the main tube portion. Ideally, the secondary tube portion may be a straight portion of the tube, and the connection extends perpendicularly from the secondary tube portion at a midpoint between each end of the secondary tube portion, The tube inlet may be located at substantially the same distance from the free end of the main tube portion. The connection is simply a tube with a short hollow length that is pushed into the free end of the main tube portion and affects the fluid connection between the main tube portion and the sub tube portion. Also good.

  In an alternative embodiment, the secondary tube portion may be formed from a plurality of independent portions. In this case, each said independent part may be mounted on the free end of said main pipe part via a connecting element so as to influence the fluid connection between each said independent part and said main pipe part. . The secondary tube part may have two independent parts, so that the connecting element is T-shaped and each end of the "T" is pushed into the end of each tube to be connected It may be one that forms a connector to be fitted. If the connecting element is substantially T-shaped, each independent part may extend in the opposite direction away from each other, and the main pipe part extends substantially perpendicular to each independent part. May be.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a handheld device having a housing including a tank for containing water and a tube for carrying water from the tank for supply to a surface. The tube has a portion having two pipe inlets extending into the tank and spaced apart from each other in the tank, and the housing when the tank contains water. Regardless of the orientation, at least one of the tube inlets is submerged in the water, the portion of the tube having a valve assembly, the valve assembly including an outlet and first and second An opening in the assembly that prevents water from flowing through the valve assembly through the second opening while allowing water to flow through the valve assembly through the first opening. One valve member, and the valve member has a direction of the device. In response to the change, it fell by weight of the valve member itself to one of two positions, while allowing said second through opening water flows, the air passing through the first opening A handheld device configured to prevent flow is provided.

  The device according to this aspect of the invention has a simple valve configuration since only one valve member is required to control the flow through each of the first and second openings.

  Preferably, the tube has a main tube portion, a free end of the main tube portion is fluidly connected to an outlet of the valve assembly, and the portion of the tube further includes the first and second of the valve assembly. A sub-tube portion extending from each of the openings, the sub-tube portion depending on the orientation of the handheld device, the direction of the sub-tube portion having an upper inlet extending toward the opening. And the valve member falls to prevent air flow through the opening from the secondary pipe portion.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a handheld device having a housing including a tank for containing water and a tube for carrying water from the tank for supply to a surface. The tube has a tube portion that extends into the tank and has a portion having a main tube portion and a sub-tube portion connected to a free end of the main tube portion, the sub-tube portion comprising the tank An inlet spaced from each other at each end, and a valve member received in the secondary tube portion, the valve member in response to a change in the orientation of the valve. Depending on the orientation of the device, the upper inlet is closed to prevent the inflow of air into the secondary pipe part and the lower inlet is opened to the secondary pipe part. A handheld device is provided that allows inflow of water.

  Preferably, a handheld device according to any aspect of the present invention includes a heating chamber, and a tube is configured to carry water from the bath to the heating chamber to generate steam prior to supply to the surface.

1 shows a cross-sectional side view of a conventional handheld device in the form of a steamer. Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional side view of a part of a handheld device in the form of a steamer according to a first embodiment of the invention in a first orientation. Fig. 2b shows the handheld steamer of Fig. 2a in a second orientation. Fig. 3 shows a slightly modified version of the handheld device shown in Figs. 2a and 2b. FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a handheld steamer according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a first orientation. Fig. 4b shows the handheld steamer of Fig. 4a in a second orientation. FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a handheld steamer according to a third embodiment of the present invention in a first orientation. Fig. 5b shows the handheld steamer of Fig. 5a in a second orientation.

  Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to FIGS. 2-5 of the accompanying drawings.

  2a and 2b, a hand-held device 10 capable of generating steam and having a housing 2 and a tub 3 similar to the conventional hand-held steamer 1 described above with reference to FIG. A partial view of the first embodiment is shown. Here, however, the portion 7 (see FIG. 1) of the tube 6 extending into the tank 3 has two tube inlets 11, 12 arranged at both ends of the tank 3. A valve assembly 13, 14 is disposed at each inlet 11, 12. When the handheld steamer 10 is arranged in the orientation shown in FIG. 2a, that is, in the same orientation as the handheld steamer 1 shown in FIG. It will be immersed in. At this time, the valve assembly 13 associated with the inlet 11 is in the open position, allowing water to flow from the tub 3 to the portion 7 of the tube 6 while the other inlet 12 located above the inlet 11. The valve assembly 14 associated with is closed and prevents air from entering the portion 7 of the tube 6.

  Each valve assembly 13, 14 is mounted on a portion 7 of the tube 6 on each inlet 11, 12. Each valve assembly 13, 14 is preferably detachably attached to the portion 7 to allow independent removal and replacement of each valve assembly 13, 14, although one or both valve assemblies 13, 14 may be It is also conceivable that the part 7 is permanently attached or molded integrally with the part 7. Each valve assembly 13, 14 includes a valve member in the form of a weighted member or ball 15 that falls off due to gravity and does not float. As shown in FIG. 2 a, both members 15 fall under gravity and the member 15 of the valve assembly 14 associated with the upper inlet 12 contacts the valve seat 16 at the end of the portion 7. Closes the upper inlet 12 and prevents the passage of air to the part 7. However, the member 15 of the valve assembly 13 associated with the lower inlet 11 is in a position remote from the corresponding valve seat 16 and thus allows water to flow through the member 15 into the portion 7. The member 15 is held by the cage 17 in order to restrict the movement of the member and prevent it from falling. The cage 17 has an opening or passage in the cage to allow water to flow around the member 15 and into the inlet 11 when the member 15 is spaced from the valve seat 16. .

  2b is the same handheld steamer 10 as shown in FIG. 2a, but steam is directed from the outlet 9 (see FIG. 1) in the housing 2 to the garment being steamed vertically downwards. A handheld steamer 10 with such an orientation is shown. The housing 2 can be held in this orientation when, for example, a fabric product placed on an ironing board or table is steamed, or when furniture items are steamed. As can be seen from FIG. 2 b, in this direction, the inlet 12 is located below the inlet 11 and is immersed in water contained in the tank 3, but depending on the amount of water in the tank 3, the inlet 11 Will be located above the water level. Therefore, the valve assembly 13 associated with the inlet 11 is closed to prevent ingress of air, while the valve assembly 14 associated with the inlet 12 is opened, allowing water flow to the heating chamber 4 (see FIG. 1). maintain.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, the part 7 of the tube 6 in the tank 3 has a main pipe part 18 that extends from the flow control valve 19 in the wall of the tank 3, connected to the secondary pipe part 20. May be. The inlet 11 is at one end of the secondary tube portion 20 and the other inlet 12 is at the opposite end of the secondary tube portion 20. The secondary tube portion 20 has a built-in connector 21 located midway between the inlets 11, 12 that fluidly connects the portion to the free end of the main tube portion 18. The secondary pipe portion 20 may extend diagonally inside the tank 3, so that the inlet 12 may be below the inlet 11 when the housing 2 is in the position shown in FIG. The main tube portion 18 and / or the sub tube portion 20 may be formed from a rigid part or may be formed from a flexible part, or a combination thereof.

  A modified version of the steamer 10 shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b is shown in FIG. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the secondary tube portion 20 is formed into two portions 20a, 20b that are fluidly connected to each other by separate T-shaped connectors 22, which connect the two portions 20a, 20b to the main tube. A fluid connection is made to the free end of portion 18. Each sub-tube portion 20a, 20b may be formed from a flexible tube or may be formed from a rigid tube.

  The embodiments of FIGS. 2 a, 2 b and 3 each have a secondary pipe part 20, 20 a, 20 b with two inlets, but the secondary pipe parts 20 a, 20 b are each arranged at different positions in the tank 3. It will be appreciated that more than two inlets may be provided. Depending on the shape of the tank 3 and regardless of the orientation of the steamer, further inlets may be required to ensure that at least one inlet is immersed in the water remaining in the tank 3.

  Another embodiment will now be described with reference to FIGS. 4a and 4b. In the present embodiment, the main pipe portion 18 is directly connected to a single fluid flow control valve 23 disposed approximately in the center of the tank 3. The secondary pipe portions 24a, 24b are fluidly attached to the fluid flow control valve 23 and extend in the opposite direction from the fluid flow control valve 23. Inlets 25 and 26 are provided at the ends of the sub pipe portions 24a and 24b. In the present embodiment, the fluid flow control valve 23 has a valve housing 27 including a weight member 30, and the weight member 30 includes a first valve seat portion 28 as shown in FIG. 4A. In a first position at one end of the valve housing 27 to close the secondary pipe portion 24a and prevent air from entering the inlet 25, as shown in FIG. A second position in which the member is arranged to be pushed by the second valve seat 29 at the other end of the valve housing 27, closes the secondary pipe portion 24b, and prevents air from entering the inlet 26; Toggle between. The weight member 30 moves between the first position and the second position under the influence of gravity in response to a change in the orientation of the housing 2. When the housing 2 is in the direction in which steam is emitted from the outlet 9 in a substantially horizontal direction as shown in FIG. 4a, the member 30 is pushed by the valve seat portion 28 and disposed, and the sub-tube portion 24a. When the casing 2 is in a direction in which steam is emitted from the outlet 9 in a substantially vertical direction as shown in FIG. 4b, the member 30 is pushed by the valve seat 29 and arranged. The tube portion 24b is closed. As shown in FIG. 4b, when the casing 2 is in the orientation shown in FIG. 4b, the inlet 25 is lower than the inlet 26 at the end of the other auxiliary pipe portion 24b. When 2 is in the position, the inlet 25 is always soaked in water contained in the tank 3.

  A further embodiment is shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b. In this embodiment, the portion 7 of the tube 6 has a secondary tube portion 31 connected to the free end of the main tube portion 18 as in the embodiment of FIGS. 2a and 2b. However, in this embodiment, the valve assembly is formed by a rod 32 slidably received in the secondary tube portion 31, which protrudes from the inlets 33, 34 at each end of the secondary tube portion 31. Enlarged head portions 35a, 35b are provided at each end of the bar 32 and carry sealing disks 36a, 36b facing the corresponding inlet ends 33, 34 of the secondary pipe portion 31.

  When the housing 2 is in the position shown in FIG. 5a such that the outlet 9 (see FIG. 1) is arranged to emit steam in a substantially horizontal direction, the rod 32 is within the sub-tube portion 31 itself. The sealing disk 36a in the upper head portion 35a contacts the inlet 33 to seal the inlet 33 and prevent air from flowing into the sub pipe portion 31. At the same time, the sealing disk 36b in the lower head portion 35b is spaced from the corresponding inlet 34 and, when the lower inlet 34 is submerged, is defined by the rod 32 and the inner surface of the secondary pipe portion 31. The water in the tank 3 is allowed to pass to the sub pipe portion 31 and along the sub pipe portion 31 through the passage. When the housing 2 is directed to the position shown in FIG. 5b where the outlet 9 is disposed so that steam is emitted in a substantially vertical direction, the rod 32 slides in the sub-tube portion 31 and the sealing member 36a is In this case, when the lower inlet 33 is separated from the lower inlet 33 and the upper inlet 34 is closed by the other sealing member 36b. It is possible to flow into the sub pipe portion 31 via an annular passage defined by the inner surface of the sub pipe portion 31.

  It will be understood that the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. . The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the claim.

  In this application, the claims are directed to a specific combination of features, but the scope of the disclosure of this invention may be related to the same invention as claimed in any claim. Whether or not it alleviates any or all of the same technical problems that the present invention alleviates, the novel features or characteristics novelty disclosed herein either explicitly or implicitly It should be understood that any combination or generalization thereof is also included. The applicant may now create new claims for such features and / or combinations of such features during the procedure of this application or any further application derived from this application. Note that.

Claims (12)

  A handheld device having a housing including a tank for containing water and a pipe for carrying water from the tank for supply to a surface, the pipe going into the tank One of the tube inlets having a portion having a plurality of tube inlets extending and spaced apart from each other in the tub, regardless of the orientation of the housing when the tub contains water The tube inlet has a separate valve assembly associated with each of the tube inlets, and the valve assembly associated with the submerged tube inlet is open and the tube inlet A hand-held device that permits water flow through the valve assembly and the valve assembly associated with the unsoaked tube inlet is closed to prevent air flow through the unsoaked tube inlet.   Each of the valve assemblies includes a housing and a single valve member, the valve member opening the tube inlet and allowing water to flow through the valve member and into the tube inlet. The hand-held device of claim 1, wherein the hand-held device is movable within the housing between a second position and a second position where the tube inlet closes and prevents passage of air to the tube inlet.   3. The handheld device of claim 2, wherein the valve member falls to a first position in a direction away from the associated tube inlet due to the weight of the valve member itself.   4. The handheld device according to claim 1, wherein each of the valve assemblies is detachably attached to an end of the tube at the tube inlet. 5.   The portion of the pipe has a main pipe portion extending into the tank, and a sub pipe portion attached to a free end of the main pipe portion at a joint portion, and the sub pipe portion separated from the joint portion. 5. A handheld device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a separate valve assembly is mounted at each end of the tube portion.   The secondary tube portion has two inlets and is integral with a connector for attachment to the free end of the primary tube portion so as to affect the fluid connection between the secondary tube portion and the main tube portion. The handheld device according to claim 5 formed.   The sub-tube portion is formed from a plurality of independent portions, and each of the independent portions is connected to the main tube via a connecting element so as to affect the fluid connection between the independent portion and the main tube portion. 6. A handheld device according to claim 5, mounted on the free end of the part.   The sub-tube portion has two independent portions, the connecting element is generally T-shaped, each of the independent portions extending away from each other, and the main tube portion is The handheld device of claim 7, wherein the handheld device extends substantially perpendicular to each independent portion. A handheld device having a housing including a tank for containing water and a pipe for carrying water from the tank for supply to a surface, the pipe going into the tank A portion having two pipe inlets extending and spaced apart from each other in the tank, and when the tank contains water, at least of the pipe inlets regardless of the orientation of the housing One of which is adapted to be submerged in the water, the portion of the tube having a valve assembly, the valve assembly through an outlet, first and second openings, and the first opening; A single valve member within the assembly that prevents water from flowing through the valve assembly through the second opening while allowing water to flow through the valve assembly. The member is in two positions in response to a change in the orientation of the device. In any of out fell by weight of the valve member itself, while allowing said second through opening water flows, configured to prevent the flow of air through said first opening, handheld Mold equipment.   The portion of the tube has a main tube portion, a free end of the main tube portion is fluidly connected to an outlet of the valve assembly, and the portion of the tube is further configured to the first and second of the valve assembly. A secondary tube portion extending from each of the openings, the secondary tube portion depending on the orientation of the handheld device in a direction toward the opening from which the secondary tube portion having an upper inlet extends. The handheld device of claim 9, wherein the valve member is configured to fall and prevent air flow from the secondary tube portion through the opening.   A handheld device having a housing including a tank for containing water and a pipe for carrying water from the tank for supply to a surface, the pipe going into the tank A tube portion having a portion extending and having a main tube portion and a sub-tube portion connected to a free end of the main tube portion, the sub-tube portions being spaced apart from each other at each end in the tank; An inlet and a valve member received in the secondary pipe portion, the valve member being slidable by the weight of the valve member itself in response to a change in the orientation of the valve, Depending on the orientation of the handheld device, the upper inlet is closed to prevent inflow of air into the secondary pipe portion and the lower inlet is opened to allow water to flow into the secondary pipe portion.   12. A heating chamber, wherein the tube is configured to carry water from the vessel to the heating chamber to generate steam prior to supply to a surface. Handheld device.

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