Abstract: The present application relates to apparatus for generating steam. It comprises a water inlet (19), a evaporation surface (24), and a heater (26) disposed adjacent to the evaporation surface (24) to heat the evaporation surface (24) to a predetermined temperature such that water fed onto the evaporation surface (24) via the water inlet (19) forms a film on the evaporation surface (24) and is evaporated. The apparatus is configured so that water is fed to one or more regions of the evaporation surface (24), and the temperature of the water fed onto the evaporation surface (24) is lower than the predetermined temperature, so that scale on the or each region of the evaporation surface (24) to which water is fed cools at a different rate at which water on a remainder of the evaporation surface (24) cools. This causes scale on the evaporation surface (24) to break apart and be dislodged from the evaporation surface (24).

Abstract: The present application relates to a steamer head comprising a treating face (13A, 33A) from which steam is expelled, and a steam generating surface (14A, 34A) onto which a liquid is provided to be converted into steam. The treating face (13A, 33A) is in thermal conductive communication with the steam generating surface (14A, 34A). The steam generating surface (14A, 34A) is at an angle to the treating face (13A, 33A) such that when the treating face (13A, 33A) is orientated vertically, the liquid is able to descend onto and flow along the steam generating surface (14A, 34A) to be converted into steam.

Abstract: The invention relates to a steaming device component (4, 7, 25) comprising a passageway (16, 23, 33) having an inner surface (17, 24, 34) along which steam may flow. At least a section of the inner surface (17, 24, 34) is formed by a foam material (19, 35) having a low thermal conductivity such that the foam material (19, 35) reduces the rate of condensation on the inner surface (17, 24, 34). Since the foam material requires less heat energy to attain the same temperature as the steam, the foam material heats up quickly reducing the time in which condensation can take place on the inner surface of the steam passageway.

Abstract: The invention relates to a garment steamer with inclinable ironing board, which comprises a garment steamer with inclinable ironing board (100) comprising a base (10) and a support structure (50) extending upwardly from the base (10). The support structure (50) comprises an upper part (51) and a lower part (52) and an ironing board (60) attached to the upper part (51). An inclining structure (70) comprising an inclining linkage (80) connects the upper part (51) and the lower part (52) in such a way that the upper part (51) is inclinable relative to the lower part (52) and can be fixed in a position in which the upper part (51) is inclined from the lower part (52) at an angle between horizontal and vertical.

Abstract: The present application relates to a hand-held steamer head. The steamer head (21) comprises a handle (3) and a soleplate (2) through which steam is ejected onto a surface being steamed. The soleplate is flexibly coupled to the handle or the soleplate is pivotally coupled to the handle and is biased in a direction away from the handle by a biasing member.

Abstract: The present application relates to apparatus for generating steam. It comprises a water inlet (19), a evaporation surface (24), and a heater (26) disposed adjacent to the evaporation surface (24) to heat the evaporation surface (24) to a predetermined temperature such that water fed onto the evaporation surface (24) via the water inlet (19) forms a film on the evaporation surface (24) and is evaporated. The apparatus is configured so that water is fed to one or more regions of the evaporation surface (24), and the temperature of the water fed onto the evaporation surface (24) is lower than the predetermined temperature, so that scale on the or each region of the evaporation surface (24) to which water is fed cools at a different rate at which water on a remainder of the evaporation surface (24) cools. This causes scale on the evaporation surface (24) to break apart and be dislodged from the evaporation surface (24).

Abstract: The present application relates to a stand for supporting a garment hanger. The stand comprises a supporting element (14,22,32) on which a garment hanger is hung, and a clamp (8) operable to releasably support the garment hanger in a fixed orientation after the garment hanger has been hung on said supporting element (14,22,32).

Abstract: The present application relates to a steamer which has a steam generator (11) with a steam outlet (33). A steam path extends from the steam outlet to convey steam, and a filter unit (7) is positioned in the steam path. The filter unit has a filter cartridge (24) removably mounted along the steam path having a cartridge housing, a filter medium received in the cartridge housing. The filter unit also has a cartridge inlet and a cartridge outlet which are at or towards a first end (32) of the cartridge housing (34), and a barrier (20) configured to guide the steam to flow in the cartridge housing to a second end (17). The filter unit is spaced from the steam outlet (33), to filter impurities from steam passing along the steam path. The present application also relates to a filter cartridge for a steamer.

Abstract: The present application relates to a hand-held steamer head for a fabric steamer. The hand-held steamer head has a body (2) with one or more steam vents (9) and a friction surface (23) for locating against a fabric to be steamed. The friction surface (23) is configured to act on the fabric to resist movement of the fabric relative to the body (2) as the body (2) is drawn over the fabric. The present invention also relates to a fabric steamer having a hand-held steamer head and a hand-held steamer head kit.

Abstract: Steam irons are known which provide steam to a fabric of a garment to be pressed through holes in a sole plate. The present invention relates to a steam iron comprising a main body (2), a steam generating unit (6) and a sole portion (4). The sole portion (4) comprises a steam cavity (20) and an outer rim (19) extending around the steam cavity (20), the outer rim (19) having a fabric contact surface (22) and the steam cavity (20) having a permeable element (42) disposed therein. Therefore, steam supplied into the steam cavity (20) from the steam generating unit (6) is supplied to a fabric to be pressed when the fabric contact surface (22) is located against said fabric.

Abstract: The present application relates to a hand-held steamer head (1). The steamer head (1) has a steam distribution chamber (8), a steam inlet (9) through which steam is received from a steam channel (10) and provided to the steam distribution chamber (8), and one or more steam vents (12) through which steam is expelled from the steam distribution chamber (8). The steamer head (1) also has a barrier (20) in the steam distribution chamber (8) which prevents a direct flow path from the steam inlet (9) to the or each steam vent (12). The present application also relates to a garment steamer.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating steam is disclosed. It comprises a water inlet (19), an evaporation surface (24), and a heater (26) disposed adjacent to the evaporation surface to heat the evaporation surface. The water inlet (19) is positioned relative to the evaporation surface (24) so that water is fed onto the evaporation surface from the inlet (19) and forms a film on the evaporation surface such that said film is evaporated from the evaporation surface (24). The apparatus also has a scale collection region (23). The evaporation surface (24) and the scale collection region (23) are configured such that the scale collection region (23) is positioned below the evaporation surface (24) during use of the apparatus so that scale dislodged from the evaporation surface (24) and which falls away from the evaporation surface (24), drops into the scale collection region (23).

Abstract: The present application relates to apparatus for generating steam. The apparatus comprises an evaporation surface (24), a heater (26) disposed adjacent to the evaporation surface to heat the evaporation surface, a water inlet (19) positioned relative to the evaporation surface so that water is fed onto the evaporation surface from the water inlet and forms a film on the evaporation surface such that the film is evaporated from the evaporation surface, and a scale collection region (23) positioned such that, during use of the apparatus, scale dislodged from the evaporation surface falls away from the evaporation surface into the scale collection region.

Abstract: The present application relates to a steaming device (1). The steaming device is operable in a cordless mode and has a steaming body (2) having a first water chamber (6), a second water chamber (7), a steam generator (8), a first fluid path (20) between the first water chamber (6) and the second water chamber (7), and a second fluid path (26) between the second water chamber (7) and the steam generator (8). The first fluid path (20) is configured to prevent water flow from the first water chamber (6) to the second water chamber (7) when the steaming body (2) is orientated in a normal operating position. The first fluid path (20) is also configured to allow water flow from the first water chamber (6) to the second water chamber (7) when the steaming body is orientated in a rest position in which the steaming body is inclined at an angle to the normal operating position.

Abstract: The present application relates to a hand-held steamer head. The steamer head (21) comprises a handle (3) and a soleplate (2) through which steam is ejected onto a surface being steamed. The soleplate is flexibly coupled to the handle or the soleplate is pivotally coupled to the handle and is biased in a direction away from the handle by a biasing member.

Abstract: An iron (1), comprising: a water reservoir (10), configured to hold liquid water; a heatable soleplate (20), including at least one mist outlet opening (22); water atomization means (30), configured to atomize water from the water reservoir so as to generate a mist of water droplets at a mist generation site (32) mist distribution means (40), configured to distribute the mist from the mist generation site (32) to the at least one mist outlet opening (22), comprising: a distribution channel (42), extending from an air inlet (46), along the mist generation site (32), to the at least one mist outlet opening (22); and an air flow generator (44), disposed in or adjacent said distribution channel and configured to generate an airflow that transports the water droplets, from the mist generation site (32), through the distribution channel (42), to the at least one mist outlet opening (22).

Abstract: A steam head (130) for a garment steamer, comprising a handle (132), a steam duct, extending through or otherwise connected to the handle, having an upstream portion (134) with an upstream end (134a) that is configured to be connected to a steam hose (20), and a downstream portion (150) with a downstream end (150b) that defines a steam ejection opening (157), a frontal contact surface (156) that is at least partially provided for by a circumferential edge (155) of the steam ejection opening (157), and that that is configured to be in grazing contact with a garment when, during use, steam is released from the steam ejection opening (157) onto the garment, wherein a surface area of the frontal contact surface is smaller than an area of the steam ejection opening.

Abstract: Steam irons are known which provide steam to a fabric of a garment to be pressed through holes in a sole plate. The present invention relates to a steam iron comprising a main body (2), a steam generating unit (6) and a sole portion (4). The sole portion (4) comprises a steam cavity (20) and an outer rim (19) extending around the steam cavity (20), the outer rim (19) having a fabric contact surface (22) and the steam cavity (20) having a permeable element (42) disposed therein. Therefore, steam supplied into the steam cavity (20) from the steam generating unit (6) is supplied to a fabric to be pressed when the fabric contact surface (22) is located against said fabric.

Abstract: An iron (1), comprising: a water reservoir (10), configured to hold liquid water; a heatable soleplate (20), including at least one mist outlet opening (22); water atomization means (30), configured to atomize water from the water reservoir so as to generate a mist of water droplets at a mist generation site (32) mist distribution means (40), configured to distribute the mist from the mist generation site (32) to the at least one mist outlet opening (22), comprising: a distribution channel (42), extending from an air inlet (46), along the mist generation site (32), to the at least one mist outlet opening (22); and an air flow generator (44), disposed in or adjacent said distribution channel and configured to generate an airflow that transports the water droplets, from the mist generation site (32), through the distribution channel (42), to the at least one mist outlet opening (22).