DRIP-FREE GARMENT STEAMER
A drip-free garment steamer includes a steamer body having an inlet end and an outlet end, and defining an inner cavity through which steam passes. A plate at least partially covers the outlet end of the steamer body. A plurality of nozzles extend from the plate into the inner cavity of the steamer body, the nozzles defining apertures through the plate for the passage of steam from the inner cavity.
The present invention relates generally to a device for treating fabric articles, including garments. More particularly, the present invention relates to a drip-free garment steamer.
There is a great need for portable, efficient devices to steam garments. It is well-known to use a steaming iron when ironing clothes and other garments. Non-iron devices called “steamers” have also been used to remove wrinkles and creases from clothes on a hanger or hanging from a rack by jetting steam to the clothes. These steamers do not have an ironing function because they lack the hot pressing plate found on irons. Both steam irons and steamers have been used for apply steam to remove creases and crinkles from hanging garments and other cloth materials. Steam has also been used in the cleaning of a variety of objects such as curtains, couches, furniture covers (e.g., couch covers), etc.
Many different types of steaming irons and steam devices have been employed to steam objects such as clothing. However, these devices have their limitations. More particularly, devices used to steam garments suffer from a problem with liquid water spitting and dripping from the area where steam emerges from the devices (i.e., the steamer). As seen in
While devices such as the ones described above may provide a means for steaming garments and the like, such devices can always be improved to reduce and/or eliminate the dripping and spitting of condensed liquid water onto the garment being steamed.
Accordingly, there is a need for a drip-free garment steamer. There is an additional need for a garment steamer that has improved nozzles to prevent dripping and spitting of condensed water from the steamer garment. The present invention satisfies these needs and provides other related advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention resides in an apparatus and process that provides a multi-component bat. As illustrated herein, a drip-free garment steamer includes a steamer body having an inlet end and an outlet end, and defining an inner cavity through which steam passes. A plate at least partially covers the outlet end of the steamer body. A plurality of nozzles extend from the plate into the inner cavity of the steamer body, the nozzles defining apertures through the plate for the passage of steam from the inner cavity.
Each nozzle comprises a hollow tube connected to the plate, extending into the inner cavity. The hollow tubes are configured to minimize water within the inner cavity of the steamer body which has condensed from the steam passing therethrough, from flowing through the apertures.
The plate snap-fits to the steamer body. The plate engages the steamer body in a manner that provides the garment steamer with an angled work surface ranging from forty five to ninety degrees relative to an axis extending centrally through the steamer body.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:
The present invention is useful in a variety of applications that require drip-free steaming. This device is usable in any situation where an object needs to be steamed. These situations can occur anywhere there is a need to steam an object, such as in the home, in a hotel, at the office, or the like.
As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the present invention resides in a drip-free garment steamer 40. With reference to
The garment steamer 40 includes a body 42, a tubular neck 44 and a nozzle plate 46. The body 42 comprises an inner cavity or hollow chamber 48 having a first aperture 50 providing an opening between the neck 44 and the chamber 48. The body 42 further includes a second aperture 52, generally opposite on the body 42 from the first aperture 50, within which the nozzle plate 46 is received on a circumferential groove 54 running along the internal perimeter of the second aperture 52. A raised portion 56 of the nozzle plate 46 is snugly received within the second aperture 52 to create an atmospheric/water-tight seal therebetween. The body 42 may have a symmetrical or asymmetrical shape. In the alternative, a gasket may be disposed along the groove 54 between the nozzle plate 46 and the second aperture 52 to assist in providing an atmospheric/water-tight seal therebetween
The nozzle plate 46 comprises front and rear sides 58, 60. A plurality of nozzle apertures 62 are disposed on the front side 58 in a variety of patterns (e.g., the pattern seen in
The second aperture 52 is oriented on the body 42 such that the nozzle plate 46 engages the body 42 in a manner that provides the steamer 40 with an angled work surface 67 (e.g., as seen in
A number of structural supports 70 extend away from the rear side 60 of the nozzle plate 46 to engage an interior surface of the chamber 48 when the nozzle plate 46 engages the body 42. The supports 70 are sized and shaped so as to engage the interior surface of the chamber 48. At least two pairs of fasteners 72 connect the nozzle plate 46 to the steamer 40. The fasteners 72 may be in a variety of forms including, but not limited to, male/female connecters (e.g., interlocking, press-fit, interference-fit, threaded, rod and bayonet or the like) or the like. As seen in
The neck 44 comprises a hollow tube having a mechanism 78 for connecting the steamer 40 to the steam generating device and/or a steamer hose at a first end 80 and a second end 82 that engages the body 42. The mechanism 78 may be in a variety of forms including, without limitation, male/female connection (e.g., interlocking, press-fit, interference-fit, threaded, rod and bayonet or the like, including various well-known conventional mechanisms used to secure attachments to devices (e.g., such as those used to secure a brush attachment to a vacuum cleaner). The neck 44 may be of single piece construction with the body 42 or the neck 44 and body 42 include a means for engaging each other (not shown). In the alternative, the neck 44 and body 42 may be pivotally connected so as to allow the neck 44 to swivel with respect to the body 42.
The nozzle plate 46 includes a tab 84 that allows a user to disengage the nozzle plate 46 from the body 42 when a user pulls the tab 84 which in turn disengages the fasteners 72 connecting the nozzle plate 46 to the body 42.
Although the garment steamer 40 has been described in terms of steaming garments, the steamer 40 is also able to be modified for use as a brush attachment, squeegee attachment, floor cleaning attachment, crevice tool, upholstery cleaning attachment, window cleaning attachment or the like.
The above-described embodiment of the present invention is illustrative only and not limiting. It will thus be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the appended claims encompass all such changes and modifications as falling within the true spirit and scope of this invention.
Claims
1. A drip-free garment steamer, comprising:
- a steamer body having an inlet end and an outlet end, and defining an inner cavity through which steam passes;
- a plate at least partially covering the outlet end of the steamer body; and
- a plurality of nozzles extending from the plate into the inner cavity of the steamer body, the nozzles defining apertures through the plate for the passage of steam from the inner cavity.
2. The garment steamer of claim 1, wherein each nozzle comprises a hollow tube connected to the plate, extending into the inner cavity.
3. The garment steamer of claim 2, wherein the hollow tubes are configured to minimize water within the inner cavity of the steamer body which has condensed from the steam passing therethrough, from flowing through the apertures.
4. The garment steamer of claim 1, wherein the plate snap-fits to the steamer body.
5. The garment steamer of claim 1, wherein the plate engages the steamer body in a manner that provides the garment steamer with an angled work surface ranging from forty five to ninety degrees relative to an axis extending centrally through the steamer body.
6. A drip-free garment steamer, comprising:
- a steamer body having an inlet end and an outlet end, and defining an inner cavity through which steam passes;
- a plate at least partially covering the outlet end of the steamer body; and
- a plurality of nozzles extending from the plate into the inner cavity of the steamer body, the nozzles defining apertures through the plate for the passage of steam from the inner cavity, wherein the nozzles are configured to minimize water within the inner cavity of the steamer body which has condensed from the steam passing therethrough, from flowing through the apertures.
7. The garment steamer of claim 6, wherein each nozzle comprises a hollow tube connected to the plate, extending into the inner cavity.
8. The garment steamer of claim 6, wherein the plate snap-fits to the steamer body.
9. The garment stead of claim 6, wherein the plate engages the steamer body in a manner that provides the garment steamer with an angled work surface ranging from forty five to ninety degrees relative to an axis extending centrally through the steamer body.
10. A drip-free garment steamer, comprising:
- a steamer body having an inlet end and an outlet end, and defining an inner cavity through which steam passes;
- a plate at least partially covering the outlet end of the steamer body and engaging the steamer body in a manner that provides the garment steamer with an angled work surface ranging from forty five to ninety degrees relative to an axis extending centrally through the steamer body; and
- a plurality of nozzles, each nozzle comprising a hollow tube connected to the plate, extending from the plate into the inner cavity of the steamer body, the nozzles defining apertures through the plate for the passage of steam from the inner cavity, wherein the nozzles are configured to minimize water within the inner cavity of the steamer body which has condensed from the steam passing therethrough, from flowing through the apertures.
11. The garment steamer of claim 6, wherein the plate snap-fits to the steamer body.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 9, 2006
Publication Date: Feb 14, 2008
Inventor: Andrew J. Tobias (Pacific Palisades, CA)
Application Number: 11/463,540