KR102590532B1 - Garment steamer with docking assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A clothing steamer has a base, a steamer head connected to the base through a hose, and a strut assembly connected to the base and extending upwardly. The docking assembly for docking the steamer head is provided with a steamer head holder and a support arm for releasably supporting the steamer head. A first pivoting coupling is provided between the support arm and the steamer head holder to enable rotational adjustment of the steamer head holder orientation without any tools. The steamer head holder can be rotated to a desired position to point the steamer head away from the user.

Description

Garment steamer with docking assembly

The present invention relates to a garment steamer.

Garment steamers are used to remove wrinkles from fabrics such as clothing and bedding using steam. The stand-type clothing steamer includes a steamer head that receives steam from a stand base unit that houses a steam generator and a water reservoir. The stand typically includes hooks or hangers on an upright support from which clothing or other fabrics are suspended to be steamed.

The user orients the steamer head relative to the fabric to be treated by holding the steamer head connected to a stand by a hose. During use, steam is discharged from the steamer head and directed towards the fabric to be treated, suspended on a support.

Stretching the fabric while performing the steaming operation is known to improve the de-wrinkling effect by applying steam to the fabric. For example, it is known to have a stand-up garment steamer with a treatment board that adsorbs the fabric being treated onto the board while allowing the user to stretch the fabric across the surface of the treatment board.

It is well known to provide a steamer head holder on a garment steamer to store or temporarily place the steamer head when the steamer head is not in use, for example when a garment is positioned on the steamer. In some known clothing steamers, a holder projecting from the rear side of the support strut is provided to support the steamer head.

One disadvantage of these clothing steamers is that the steamer head must be placed on the rear side of the clothing steamer, which obscures the location of the steamer head and makes it difficult for the user to retrieve the steamer head. Additionally, temporary placement of the steamer head may cause the steam vent to direct steam towards the user, which may cause discomfort or injury.

A holder may instead be provided on the front side. However, the position of the holder in the front causes the steam hose connected to the steamer head to get in the way of the user as he or she attempts to hang and/or position a garment on the steamer.

It is also known to provide a docking assembly having a support arm with a holder at one end and a support strut connector at the other end. The holder has an orientation such that the holder is close to the user and steam is not emitted towards him. Therefore, for example, if the holder is positioned to the right of the support strut, docking and removal is difficult for a left-handed user, and vice versa.

CN205603917U discloses a docking assembly for a steamer head comprising an arm attachable to a support strut of a clothing steamer and a holder connected to the arm. The docking assembly may be mounted on either side of the support strut and may have a holder attached to the arm in an orientation such that the steamer head is pointed away from the user and does not discharge steam toward the user. Accordingly, the docking assembly can be used by both left-handed and right-handed users and can be positioned so that the steamer head is easily accessible to any type of user while minimizing the risk of being burned by the steam.

However, constructing a docking assembly is time consuming, requiring attachment and detachment operations.

EP 3 581 700 discloses a device for steam-treatment of laundry comprising a base connected by a conduit to an ironing (and/or smoothing) tool, for example an iron. The device has insertable support posts that support the ironing board, one of the posts supporting a cross arm, and at the end of the arm there is a support device on which the iron can be placed.

Accordingly, there is a need for a garment steamer with a docking assembly that substantially alleviates or overcomes one or more of the problems described above.

The invention is limited by the claims.

According to an example according to one aspect of the present invention, a clothing steamer is provided for treating clothing, the clothing steamer comprising:

Base;

Steamer head connected to the base via a hose;

a strut assembly connected to the base and extending upwardly;

It includes a docking assembly for docking the steamer head, the docking assembly comprising:

- a support arm having a first end and a second end mounted on a strut assembly;

- a steamer head holder for releasably supporting the steamer head,

- a first pivoting coupling arranged between the first end and the steamer head holder and defining a first axis of rotation extending substantially vertically.

Note that any reference to vertical or horizontal parts refers to the orientation that occurs when the garment steamer is used on a horizontal base surface (i.e., the floor).

The first pivoting coupling can be used to enable rotational adjustment of the steamer head holder without any tools, as it only involves rotation of the steamer head holder. The steamer head holder can be rotated to a desired position to point the steamer head away from the user. Accordingly, the present invention provides a support for a steamer head that can be quickly and easily configured to support different user preferences.

The first pivoting coupling, for example, allows the steamer head to be rotated between a position with the steamer head facing generally towards the front side of the steamer stand and a position with the steamer head towards the generally opposite side of the steamer stand. The first pivoting coupling may allow full rotation, or may be limited, for example between two opposite directions (180 degrees apart).

The steamer head holder includes, for example, a cradle, the cradle having an end face for covering the steam outlet face of the steamer head. The support arm extends horizontally, for example in normal use.

The strut assembly preferably includes (at least) a first vertical strut on one side of the garment steamer and a second vertical strut on an opposite side of the garment steamer. The second end of the support arm is then detachably mountable to the first or second vertical struts.

Accordingly, the support arm may be mounted on either side of the garment steamer (on a selected one of the vertical struts) to support left and right hand operation. This can also be achieved without tools. The support arm may simply be hooked, clipped or slid onto a receiving bracket on the vertical struts.

The first and second vertical struts each include, for example, a slot arrangement for removably receiving a second end of the support arm. The support arm for the steamer head can be quickly and easily mounted on one of the vertical struts to support different user preferences.

For example, the first pivoting coupling is:

- allows 360 degrees of rotation of the steamer head holder relative to the support arm; or

- Adapted to allow rotation of the steamer head holder relative to the support arm in an angular range of 180 degrees.

The 180 degree range allows for example the steamer head holder to be rotated between forward and backward directions.

The first pivoting coupling may comprise a rotational indexing mechanism adapted to enable the steamer head holder to rotate between predefined angular positions, for example at intervals of 90 degrees. This facilitates finding a suitable rotation position.

For example, the rotational indexing arrangement includes an arrangement of elastic protrusions and an arrangement of recesses respectively disposed on or around an arc around the axis of rotation between the steamer head holder and the support arm. There may be a single protrusion and a set of multiple recesses, or a single recess and a set of multiple protrusions. The rotational indexing arrangement may instead include an elastic recess arrangement and a protrusion arrangement.

Arrays of elastic protrusions are, for example,

- a protruding member arranged on the elastically deformable portion of the support arm; or

- a protruding member arranged on a spring (or a separate elastically deformable member) mounted on the support arm.

The steamer head holder is for example detachably mounted on a support arm. The steamer head holder is installed on the arm using, for example, a clip mechanism.

The garment steamer preferably further includes a treatment board mounted on the strut assembly.

The processing board is pivotable relative to the strut assembly, for example, between a first orientation that is substantially vertical in normal use and a second orientation that is substantially horizontal in normal use. This allows the user to use the treatment board to steam hanging garments or to press garments on horizontal surfaces. Substantially horizontal/vertical is intended to mean, for example, within 10 degrees of horizontal/vertical.

The second pivoting coupling is arranged for example between the strut assembly and the second end of the support arm, wherein the second pivoting coupling defines a second axis of rotation that (in normal use) extends vertically.

The second pivoting coupling allows the support arm to rotate, for example, between an extended and a retracted position. In this way, the steamer head can be moved to different positions for different configurations of the processing board.

The second pivoting coupling may include a limiting mechanism to limit the angle of rotation of the support arm relative to the strut assembly to a range of 90 degrees. By limiting the rotation of the arm to 90 degrees, the steamer head holder and steamer head can be rotated between an extended and retracted position under the processing board in only one direction. For example, it may be rotated towards the rear face of the vertical processing board. This may be desirable because rotating to a position in front of the processing board may interfere with adjustment of the processing board between its different configurations.

The retracted position allows the support arm to be below the processing board during horizontal steaming so that the user has more room to move around the processing area.

The confinement mechanism may include an arcuate recess defining an angle of 90 degrees, and a protrusion adapted to cooperate with the arcuate recess.

The steam generator is for example in the base and the hose is a steam hose. However, an alternative to a steam generator within the handle is also possible.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and will be explained with reference to the embodiment(s) described below.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show more clearly how the invention may be practiced, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, by way of example only:
Figure 1 shows a first view of a known stand-up clothes steamer.
Figure 2 shows a second view of the known stand-up clothes steamer of Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows an example of a clothes steamer according to the invention.
Figure 4 shows one of the vertical struts with a mounting bracket in the form of a slot.
Figure 5 shows three relative rotational positions of the steamer head holder with respect to the support arm.
Figure 6 shows a clothing steamer configured for right-handed use.
Figure 7 shows a clothing steamer configured for left-handed use.
Figure 8 shows the garment steamer with the processing board in a horizontal position.
Figure 9 shows the coupling between a steamer head holder and a support arm for implementing a rotational indexing mechanism.
Figure 10 shows an enlarged view of the rotational indexing mechanism.
Figure 11 shows the design of the support arm in more detail.
12A shows a first example of a second pivoting coupling between a support arm and a strut assembly.
12B and 12C show a second example of a second pivoting coupling between a support arm and a strut assembly.
Figure 13 shows the underside of a docking assembly with support arms coupled to vertical struts.
Figure 14 shows the garment steamer in a rotated position so that the steamer head holder is below the processing board.
Figure 15 shows a locking bar for locking the processing board in a horizontal position.

The present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while representing illustrative embodiments of devices, systems and methods, are intended for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These and other features, aspects and advantages of the devices, systems and methods of the present invention will be better understood from the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the drawings are schematic only and not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to represent identical or similar parts.

The present invention provides a garment steamer having a base, a steamer head connected to the base through a hose, and a strut assembly connected to the base and extending upwardly. The docking assembly for docking the steamer head is provided with a steamer head holder and a support arm for releasably supporting the steamer head. A first pivoting coupling is provided between the support arm and the steamer head holder to enable rotational adjustment of the steamer head holder orientation without any tools. The steamer head holder can be rotated to a desired position so that the steamer head is pointed in a desired direction, for example, away from the user.

1 and 2 show a known stand-up clothes steamer 1. A stand-up clothing steamer (1) produces steam that is used to heat and moisten fabric (not shown) to help remove wrinkles from the fabric. Textiles to be treated include, but are not limited to, garments. The fabric to be treated is supported by a stand-up garment steamer (1) during treatment.

A stand-up garment steamer (1) includes a base unit (2), a processing board (14), and first and second vertical struts (19) which together form a strut assembly. Vertical struts 19 support the processing board 14 and extend between the base unit 2 and the processing board 14.

The base unit 2 has a water reservoir (not shown) and a steam generator (not shown), in particular a boiler. The base unit 2 has a housing 2a, and the water reservoir and steam generator are located within the housing 2a. The water reservoir stores water to be supplied into the steam generator and converted into steam. It will be understood that the water reservoir and steam generator may be integrated.

Note that in an alternative design, the steam generator may be within a hand-held steamer head, and then the base unit supplies water to the steamer head. This could even be two steam generators; There may be one in the base and one in the steamer head,

The base unit (2) defines the base (3) of the stand-up clothes steamer (1). The base 3 defines a planar surface positionable relative to the floor, for example to support the stand-up clothes steamer 1 . It will be understood that the base 3 can be formed by two or more planar surfaces extending in a plane, for example four foot lower surfaces (not shown). The plane of the base 3 typically defines a horizontal plane in use.

One end of the hose 11 extends from the base unit 2. In the example shown, the hose 11 is a steamer hose, which is in fluid communication with the steam generator such that the steam produced by the steam generator flows along the steamer hose 11 . A steamer head 5 is disposed at the other end of the steamer hose 11. The steamer head (5) is in fluid communication with the base unit (2) via a flexible steamer hose (11). Accordingly, steam from the steam generator is supplied to the steamer head (5).

The steamer head (5) has a handle portion (7) and a steamer plate (8). The handle portion 7 is configured to allow the user to hold the steamer head 5. The steamer plate 8 acts as a steamer surface. The steamer plate 8 is configured to be positioned against the fabric to be treated. The handle portion 7 and the steamer plate 8 are at opposite ends of the steamer head 5 .

The steamer head 5 is shown resting on a bracket mounted on one of the vertical struts 19 . For example, when the bracket is mounted on the left vertical strut 19 as shown in Figure 1, the bracket holds the steamer head so that the steamer plate 8 is pointed away from the user.

The steamer head 5 has a steam outlet 10 shown in FIG. 2 . The steam outlet 10 is formed by one or more steam openings through which steam is discharged from the steamer head 5 during use. The steam outlet (10) is in fluid communication with the steamer hose (11). Accordingly, the steam provided to the steamer head 5 is discharged from the steamer head 5 through the steam outlet 10.

Processing board 14 is pivotable about strut assembly 19. Accordingly, the orientation of the processing board 14 is movable with respect to the plane of the base 3. Processing board 14 is shown in a vertical orientation in FIGS. 1 and 2 . The treatment board 14 acts as a garment support to position and receive the fabric in a manner that improves wrinkle removal.

Processing board 14 is generally rectangular and has a processing surface 17. The treatment surface 17 is generally planar. However, it will be understood that alternative configurations are possible.

The processing board 14 is configured to be rigid to withstand the forces applied on the processing board 14 by the user during steaming, thereby reducing bending of the processing surface 17 and allowing the fabric to remain in place and stretch accurately. . The processing board 14 includes a hanging element 16 at one end. The hanging element 16 may be, for example, but not limited to a hook or a clothes hanger. A vent 18 is formed in the treatment surface 17.

Figure 3 shows an example of a clothes steamer according to the invention. The steamer head 5 is omitted in Figure 3.

The garment steamer is generally the same as the design of Figure 1 in that it includes a strut assembly comprising a base 2 and two vertical struts 19 connected to the base and extending upwardly to a processing board 14. Have a design.

The design of Figure 3 has a docking assembly 30 for docking the steamer head. The docking assembly includes a support arm (32) having a first end (34) and a second end (36). The second end 36 is mounted on the strut assembly, in particular on a selected one of the vertical struts 19.

A steamer head holder 38 is mounted on the first end 34 to releasably support the steamer head.

A first pivoting coupling 40 is arranged between the first end 34 and the steamer head holder 38, with the first axis of rotation extending vertically (in normal use).

The steamer head holder 38 forms a cradle with an end face 42 for covering the steamer plate and steam outlet of the steamer head. The support arm 32 extends horizontally (in normal use) such that when the steamer head rotates about the first pivot axis it rotates so in a horizontal plane.

The strut assembly includes a first vertical strut on one side of the garment steamer and a second vertical strut on an opposite side of the garment steamer.

Figure 4 shows one of the vertical struts with a mounting bracket in the form of a slot 50 to enable the second end 36 of the support arm 32 to be removably mounted on the vertical strut. In particular, in this example the second end 36 of the support arm has a hook 52 (shown in Figure 5) for hooking into the slot 50.

There is a slot 50 at each end of the slider bar 54. The slider bar is used as a pivot for the brace (or arm). The slider bar can slide up and down on the strut assembly to allow the processing board to pivot between a vertical and horizontal orientation. The vertical strut 19 has three sections. The part with the slot 50 is fixed to the top of the middle section of the vertical strut 19. The processing board is pivoted between vertical and horizontal orientations by retracting/extending the top section of the vertical struts 19 into the middle section.

Figure 5 shows three relative rotational positions of the steamer head holder 38 with respect to the support arm 32 by means of a first pivoting coupling. Assuming that the support arms extend laterally outwardly (i.e., laterally) from the strut assembly, the top image shows the steamer head holder oriented either toward the front or rear of the steamer, and the middle image shows the steamer head holder oriented toward either the front or rear. It shows the steamer head holder oriented, and the bottom image shows the steamer head holder oriented laterally inward. The top image shows the axis of rotation (39).

The first pivoting coupling can be used to enable rotational adjustment of the steamer head holder without any tools, as it only involves rotation of the steamer head holder. The steamer head holder can be rotated to a desired position so that the steamer head is pointed in a desired direction, for example, away from the user. Accordingly, the present invention provides a support for a steamer head that can be quickly and easily configured to support the user's preferences.

The first pivoting coupling thereby causes the steamer head held in the steamer head holder to be rotated between a position with the steamer head generally facing the front side of the steamer stand and a position with the steamer head facing generally with the opposite side of the steamer stand. The pivoting coupling may allow full rotation, or may be restricted between two opposite directions (180 degrees apart), for example as shown in the two top images of Figure 5.

Accordingly, the support arm may be mounted on either side of the garment steamer (on a selected one of the vertical struts 19) to support left and right hand operation. This can also be achieved without tools. The support arms may simply be hooked, clipped, or slid onto receiving brackets on selected vertical struts. It can then be rotated to point in a desired direction, typically pointing away from the user, allowing the user to hold the steamer head with the steamer plate (steam outlet) pointing away from it.

Figure 6 shows a clothing steamer configured for right-handed use. The user faces the processing surface of the processing board. The docking assembly 30 is on a right-handed vertical strut, with the steamer head holder 38 facing away from the user.

Figure 7 shows a clothing steamer configured for left-handed use. The user faces the processing surface of the processing board. The docking assembly is on a left-handed vertical strut, with the steamer head holder 38 facing away from the user.

There is a relative rotation of 180 degrees in the first pivoting coupling between the configuration of FIG. 6 and that of FIG. 7 .

Figure 8 shows the garment steamer with the treatment board 14 in a horizontal position. The docking assembly is just below the level of the processing board, with the steamer head holder facing inward.

The steamer head holder 38 may be freely rotatable about the support arm, or it may be rotatable within a fixed range of movement.

Moreover, the first pivoting coupling 40 may include a rotational indexing mechanism. This enables the steamer head holder to rotate between predefined angular positions. This facilitates finding a suitable rotation position.

For example, the steamer head holder can be indexed at the two end positions shown in the two top images of Figure 5. It can also be indexed at the intermediate position shown in the bottom image of Figure 5.

Figure 9 shows the coupling between the steamer head holder 38 and the support arm 32 for implementing a rotational indexing mechanism. An array of elastic projections and an array of recesses are respectively arranged on or around an arc around the axis of rotation between the steamer head holder and the support arm.

The example of FIG. 9 shows a single elastic protrusion 90 provided on the support arm and a set of plurality of recesses 92 provided on the steamer head holder 38. The steamer head holder is fixed to the support arm by a screw 94, which extends along the axis of rotation between them.

The elastic projection is, in this example, formed on the elastically deformable part of the support arm. Accordingly, it is formed integrally with the support arm, and in the present example it is pushed downwards by the steamer head holder, but returns upwards when the protrusion is aligned with the recess 92. Three recesses 92 are shown, one for each of the rotational positions in FIG. 5 .

An alternative is to provide a separate protruding member and spring between the protruding member and the support arm to bias the protruding member.

Figure 9 shows the steamer head holder connected to the support arm using screws. It can be installed by a clip mechanism so that it can be removed without tools.

Figure 10 shows an enlarged view of the rotational indexing mechanism.

Figure 11 shows the design of the support arm 32 as well as the elastic projections in more detail. It can be seen how the second end 36 includes a hook 52 for hanging over a slot 50 in a bracket on a vertical strut.

The example of Figures 3-11 uses support arms, which extend laterally outward in a fixed direction from a vertical strut to which the support arms are connected.

An alternative design provides a second pivoting coupling between the second end 36 of the support arm 32 and the strut assembly. This second pivoting coupling defines a second axis of rotation 111 which also extends vertically in normal use.

Figure 12a shows a first example of a second pivoting coupling 110.

The support arm 32 has a vertically protruding boss 120 at its second end that is received within a cylindrical slot 122 of a mounting bracket on the vertical strut 19.

The second pivoting coupling 110 allows the support arm 32 to be rotated, for example, between an extended position and a retracted position (as shown in the example above with the support arm extended laterally outwardly). do. The retracted position is shown in Figure 12 (but with the support arm and mounting bracket disconnected). This means that the steamer head holder 38 can be rotated under the processing board 14 when it is in a horizontal orientation.

The support arms are then parallel to the sides of the processing board. This requires only a 90 degree range of movement of the support arm relative to the vertical strut. In particular, it is only required to rotate the support arm towards the rear of the processing board, since in this position it will not prevent adjustment of the board from vertical to horizontal and vice versa. For this purpose, an arrangement of pins and recesses is used to function as a confinement mechanism, as illustrated in Figure 12a.

In this way, the steamer head can be moved to different positions for different configurations of the processing board. Other limiting mechanisms may of course be used.

12B and 12C show a second example (viewed from below) of a second pivoting coupling 120 between a support arm and a strut assembly. Figure 12b is an exploded view, while Figure 12c is a view after assembly.

Compared to the example of FIG. 12A , the radial protrusion 124 of FIG. 12A is replaced by a radial protrusion 124B arranged on the periphery of the boss 120 . This functions as a guide pin. The radial protrusion 124B cooperates with the arcuate recess 126 of the cylindrical slot. Radial projection 124B can simply slide within the arcuate recess over the desired angular range.

Figure 13 shows the underside of a docking assembly with support arms coupled to vertical struts.

Figure 14 shows the garment steamer in a rotated position such that the steamer head holder 38 is below the processing board 14.

This provides the user with more space around the processing board when using it in a horizontal position. This also means that the steamer head holder is out of the way when the steaming function is not being used, for example if it is being used as an ironing board.

Rotation of the steamer head holder to retract it is only of interest when operating in a horizontal configuration. When the steamer head is below the processing board, this can be inconvenient for the user when he or she folds the garment steamer back to the vertical position.

As shown in Figure 15, the garment steamer includes a locking bar 150 operable to lock the treatment board in a vertical position and in a horizontal position. Additionally, the locking bar 150 can prevent rotation of the support arm when it is accidentally not in the locked position.

Figure 15 also shows the steamer head 7 within the steamer head holder 38.

Modifications to the disclosed embodiments may be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention from a study of the drawings, disclosure, and appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the singular form (the indefinite article "a" or "an") does not exclude the plural.

The mere fact that certain means are mentioned in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these means cannot be used to advantage.

When the term “adapted to” is used in a claim or description, it is noted that the term “adapted to” is intended to be equivalent to the term “configured to”.

Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims (15)

base (2);
A steamer head (5) connected to the base (2) via a hose (11);
A strut assembly (19) connected to the base (2) and extending upwardly; and
A clothing steamer for treating clothing, comprising a docking assembly (30) for docking the steamer head, the docking assembly comprising:
- a support arm (32) having a first end (34) and a second end (36) mounted on the strut assembly (19); and
- said clothes steamer comprising a steamer head holder (38) for releasably supporting said steamer head (5),
- The docking assembly 30,
- further comprising a first pivoting coupling (40) arranged between the first end (34) and the steamer head holder (38) and defining a first axis of rotation (39) extending vertically. Characterized by a clothing steamer. 2. A garment steamer according to claim 1, wherein the strut assembly (19) comprises at least first and second vertical struts (19) respectively on one side of the garment steamer and on an opposite side of the garment steamer. 3. A garment steamer according to claim 2, wherein the second end (36) of the support arm (32) is detachably attachable to any of the first and second vertical struts (19). 4. The device of claim 3, wherein each of the first and second vertical struts (19) comprises a slot arrangement (50; 122) for removably receiving a second end (36) of the support arm (32). , clothing steamer. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first pivoting coupling (40) is
- allow 360 degrees of rotation of the steamer head holder (38) relative to the support arm (32); or
- a garment steamer adapted to allow rotation of the steamer head holder (38) relative to the support arm (32) in an angular range of 180 degrees. 5. Rotation indexing according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first pivoting coupling (40) is adapted to enable rotation of the steamer head holder (38) between predefined angular positions. A clothing steamer comprising a mechanism. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the rotational indexing mechanism comprises an array of elastic projections (90) each disposed on or about an arc around an axis of rotation (39) between the steamer head holder (38) and the support arm (32). and a recess arrangement (92). The method of claim 7, wherein the elastic protrusion arrangement comprises:
- a protruding member (90) arranged on the elastically deformable part of the support arm (32); or
- A clothes steamer comprising a protruding member arranged on a spring mounted on the support arm. A clothes steamer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the steamer head holder (38) is detachably mounted on the support arm (32). 5. A clothes steamer according to any preceding claim, further comprising a treatment board (14) mounted on the strut assembly (19). 11. A garment steamer according to claim 10, wherein the treatment board (14) is pivotable relative to the strut assembly (19) between a first vertical orientation and a second horizontal orientation. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising a second pivoting coupling (110) arranged between the strut assembly (19) and the second end (36) of the support arm (32), A garment steamer, wherein the coupling (110) defines a second axis of rotation (111) extending vertically. 13. A garment steamer according to claim 12, wherein the second pivoting coupling (110) includes a limiting mechanism (124, 126) for limiting the angle of rotation of the support arm relative to the strut assembly to a range of 90 degrees. 14. The garment of claim 13, wherein the limiting mechanism comprises an arcuate recess (126) defining an angle of 90 degrees thereby defining the 90 degree range, and a protrusion (124) adapted to cooperate with the arcuate recess. Steamer. 5. Clothing steamer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein there is a steam generator in the base (2) and the hose (11) is a steam hose.

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