GARMENT STEAMER HEAD

Abstract

The present application relates to a garment steamer head (10) comprising a body (11) to serve as a handle, and a steam nozzle (12) connected to the body (11). The body (11) includes a connector (17) for coupling the garment steamer head (10) to a steam supply hose (16) of a garment steamer. The connector (17) comprises a coupling element (19) that is rotatable relative to the body (11) and steam nozzle (12) such that the body (11) and steam nozzle (12) together are rotatable relative to the steam supply hose (16) when the steam supply hose (16) is connected to the coupling element (19). The garment steamer head (10) further comprises a link pipe (21) connected between the connector (17) and the steam nozzle (12). The link pipe (21) is made of a flexible material to allow rotation of the coupling element (19) relative to the body (11).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of garments steamers and, more specifically, to a garment steamer head or a steam supply hose for use in a garment steamer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Garment steamers normally comprise a water reservoir, a steam generator, a steam supply hose and a garment steamer head. Water from the reservoir is converted into steam by the steam generator and the steam is transferred from the steam generator to the garment steamer head via a steam supply hose. The steam supply hose needs to offer low resistance to steam flow, include insulation to keep the hose surface temperature low and avoid heat loss from the steam conveyed through the hose, and be durable to withstand operating stresses during its lifetime. As a result, steam supply hoses of garment steamers are often stiff and bulky.

The garment steamer head is the main user interface for steam application, and the steam supply hose is connected directly to the garment steamer head. A user holds the garment steamer head with one hand and uses it to remove wrinkles from a garment by stretching the garment with the other free hand and sliding the garment steamer head over the garment, normally in vertical stroke.

The manual movement of the heavy garment steamer head can be tiring and generate fatigue in a user. This fatigue can be exacerbated by the stiff steam supply hose, directly connected to the garment steamer head, making the garment steamer head less maneuverable and requiring a user to exert force to deflect the stiff hose to move the steamer head as required. In addition, after use of the garment steamer, the steam supply hose and garment steamer head may have become twisted relative to the fixed steam generator and may require untwisting to return it to a required orientation for placement in a holder or stand whilst not in use.

A conventional garment steamer head is disclosed in CN201567490 and includes a handle with a rotatable steam head mounted on the handle. Although the steam head can rotate relative to the handle, the handle is fixedly secured to a steam supply hose of a garment steamer.

Chinese utility model CN 201,933,340 U discloses a garment steamer comprising a steam nozzle, a handle and a steam hose. The handle and steam nozzle are rotatable relative to the steam hose.

Chinese utility model CN 201,883,320 U discloses a garment steamer with a steam nozzle, a handle and a steam guide pipe. A spring is located in the steam guide pipe to reduce the amount of condenced water that is sprayed out of the steam nozzle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a garment steamer head, a steam supply hose, and a garment steamer, which substantially alleviates or overcomes one or more of the problems mentioned above.

The invention is defined by the independent claims; the dependent claims define advantageous embodiments.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a garment steamer head comprising a body to serve as a handle, and a steam nozzle connected to the body, the body including a connector for coupling the garment steamer head to a steam supply hose of a garment steamer, wherein the connector comprises a coupling element that is rotatable relative to the body and steam nozzle such that the body and steam nozzle together are rotatable relative to the steam supply hose when a steam supply hose is connected to the coupling element, characterised in that the garment steamer head further comprises a link pipe connected between the connector and the steam nozzle, the link pipe being made of a flexible material to allow rotation of the coupling element relative to the body.

The connector may be configured such that the body and steam nozzle are rotatable relative to the coupling element, and thereby relative to a steam supply hose connected to the coupling element, about a rotational axis and wherein the body and steam nozzle are freely rotatable about the rotational axis relative to the coupling element through 360 degrees. This advantageously allows the body and steam nozzle of the garment steamer head to be turned frequently during use relative to the steam supply hose without the steam supply hose being tangled or twisted, or increasing resistance to maneuverability of the garment steamer head.

The connector may comprise a fixed element fixed relative to the body and the coupling element may be moveably mounted to the fixed element. The fixed element may advantageously retain the coupling element within the body of the garment steamer head.

A resilient seal may be provided between the fixed element and the coupling element to prevent steam passing between the fixed element and the coupling element. This advantageously ensures no leakage of the supplied steam, optimizes steam supply to the steam nozzle, and reduces heating of the body of the garment steamer head.

The coupling element and the fixed element may each be circular tubular components which are coaxially arranged with one received at least partially within the other, and the coupling element is rotatable relative to the fixed element along the common axis of the coupling element and fixed element. This advantageously allows ease of relative rotational movement of the two elements and results in a simple connector that is relatively easy to manufacture and assemble.

The coupling element may comprise a tubular member with a peripheral flange and the fixed element may comprise an annular groove within the body within which the peripheral flange is received. This arrangement allows for rotational movement of the coupling element but also restricts axial movement of the coupling element within the body to provide a reliable moveable but also resilient connector configuration.

The coupling element and the fixed element may be configured as a ball-and-socket joint. The fixed element may comprise an at least part-spherical recess, and the coupling element may comprise an at least part-spherical member which is rotatably received in the recess of the fixed element. This advantageously allows not only rotational movement of the coupling element about an axis, but also a swiveling movement about a plane around the axis of rotation.

The fixed element may be a separate component to the body which may be fixedly secured within the body. This may allow the connector arrangement to be secured within existing garment steamer head body shapes, minimizing adaption of existing manufacturing tools and machinery. This may also advantageously make manufacturing tooling simpler as less complex body configurations may be required, and may allow pre-assembly of the connector before fitting to the body of a garment steamer head.

The fixed element may be integrally formed with the body. This may advantageously simplify assembly during manufacture be reducing the parts count of the garment steamer head, and may make assembly and manufacture quicker.

The present invention also provides a garment steamer comprising a water reservoir, a steam generator to generate steam from water supplied from the reservoir, a steam supply hose to supply steam from the steam generator, and a garment steamer head as described above, connected to the steam supply hose and configured such that the body and steam nozzle together are rotatable relative to the steam supply hose.

Alternatively, the connector is part of the steam supply hose rather than of the garment steamer head, and the above defined embodiments of the connector can alternatively be used when the connector is part of the steam supply hose.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a garment steamer including a garment steamer head of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a garment steamer head of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a garment steamer head of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of a portion of the garment steamer head of FIG. 3, with a cut-away portion showing the connector within the garment steamer head;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a garment steamer head of a third embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 shows an enlarged view of a portion of the garment steamer head of FIG. 5, with a cut-away portion showing the connector within the garment steamer head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a garment steamer 1 including a garment steamer head 10 of an embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a garment steamer head 10 of a first embodiment of the invention. The garment steamer 1 comprises a housing 2 containing a water reservoir 3 and a steam generator 4. A steam supply hose 16 is connected to the steam generator 4 and to a garment steamer head 10, 30, 50 to supply steam from the steam generator 4 to the garment steamer head 10, 30, 50.

Referring to FIG. 2, the garment steamer head 10 of the first embodiment of the invention comprises a body 11 and a steam nozzle 12 connected to the body 11. The steam nozzle 12 includes a plurality of holes 13 in an end face 14 of the steam nozzle 12, through which steam is expelled when in use. A steam duct 15 extends within body 11 to convey steam through the steamer head 10 to the steam nozzle 12. In use, a steam supply hose 16 of a garment steamer 1 is connected to the garment steamer head 10 to supply steam to the garment steamer head 10 to be expelled through the holes 13 of the steam nozzle 12.

The garment steamer head 10 includes a connector 17 for coupling a steam supply hose 16 to the garment steamer head 10. The connector 17 comprises a first, fixed element 18 and a second, rotatable coupling element 19. The fixed element 18 is a circular tubular component having an inlet end 18a and an outlet end 18b, and is fixedly secured within the body 11 of the garment steamer head 10. The coupling element 19 is also a circular tubular component with an inlet end 19a and an outlet end 19b. The coupling element 19 has a hollow bore of a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the inlet end 18a of the fixed element 18. The fixed and coupling elements 18, 19 are connected in co-axial alignment (see common axis X-X in FIG. 2) with the inlet end 18a of the fixed element received within the hollow bore of the outlet end 19b of the coupling element 19. The coupling element 19 is thereby freely rotatable relative to the fixed element 19 about their common axis X-X.

The outlet end 18b of the fixed element 18 includes a first ridged outer surface 20 to securely retain a flexible link pipe 21 which connects the fixed element 18 to the steam duct 15. The steam duct 15 similarly includes a ridged end portion 22 to securely retain the flexible link pipe 21 thereon.

In use, a steam supply hose 16 of a garment steamer 1 (refer to FIG. 1) is connected to the inlet end 19a of the coupling element 19. The inlet end 19a of the coupling element 19 includes a second ridged outer surface 23 to securely retain a steam supply hose 16 when connected thereto. Steam may then be supplied from a steam generator 4 (refer to FIG. 1) of the garment steamer 1, through the steam supply hose 16, through the coupling element 19 and fixed element 18 of the connector 17, through the flexible link pipe 21, through the steam duct 15 and out through the holes 13 in the end face 14 of the steam nozzle 12, onto the garment being steamed.

The fixed element 18 includes two spaced circumferential recessed channels 24 around the outer perimeter surface of the inlet end 18a. A sealing gasket 25 is located in each channel 24. In the embodiment shown, the sealing gasket comprises a rubber O-ring 25 although other configurations of gasket may be used within the scope of the invention. In use, the o-rings 25 prevent steam from leaking out from between the fixed element 18 and the coupling element 19. The sealing gasket 25 may be lubricated to reduce friction between the sealing gasket 25 and the rotatable coupling element 19.

Since the coupling element 19 is freely rotatable relative to the fixed element 18, the body 11 and steam nozzle 12 of the garment steamer head 10 are freely rotatable relative to the steam supply hose 16. This significantly reduces any resistance to maneuvering the garment steamer head 10 that may otherwise be provided by the stiff steam supply hose 16. It also means that the steam supply hose 16 cannot get twisted by rotation of the garment steamer head 10, meaning the steam supply hose 16 does not need to be unwound or untangled after use, before the garment steamer head 10 is replaced in a holder (not shown) of the garment steamer 1.

The rotatable coupling element 19 comprises an annular groove 26 and the body 11 comprises an internal flange 27. The internal flange 27 of the body 11 is received in the annular groove 26 of the rotatable coupling element 19 such that the rotatable coupling element 19 is rotatable relative to the body 11. If the rotatable coupling element 19 is urged in the axial direction of the body 11, the internal flange 27 of the body 11 will be urged against the periphery of the annular groove 26 in the rotatable coupling element 19 to prevent movement of the rotatable coupling element 19 relative to the body 11 in the axial direction of the body 11. Therefore, the rotatable coupling element 19, and thus the steam supply hose 16 that is attached thereto, is prevented from being pulled out of the body 11 of the steamer head 10 during use. It will be appreciated that alternative configurations to restrict axial movement of the rotatable coupling element 19 relative to the body 11 are intended to fall within the scope of the invention. For example, in one embodiment (not shown) the rotatable coupling element comprises an external flange and the body comprises an annular groove or pair of upstanding lips that receive the external flange of the rotatable coupling element.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a garment steamer head 30 of a second embodiment of the invention, with FIG. 4 showing an enlarged cut-away view of a portion of the garment steamer head 30. Like features of the garment steamer head 10 of the first embodiment retain the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

A difference between the garment steamer head 30 of the second embodiment is that it includes a different configuration of connector 37 for coupling a steam supply hose 16 of a garment steamer (not shown) to the garment steamer head 30. In the second embodiment, the connector 37 comprises a coupling element 39 in the form of a tube which is rotatably held within the body 11 of the garment steamer head 30. The coupling element 39 includes a peripheral flange 40 which is received in a fixed element 38 in the form of an annular groove 38 on the inside surface of the body 11. The annular groove 38 may be formed integrally with the body 11 of the garment steamer head 30, or may be a separate component secured within the body 11 of the garment steamer head 30, within the scope of the invention. The annular groove 38 may be defined between two annular upstanding lips 38A projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the body 11, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, or may be formed as a recess (not shown) within the thickness of the inside wall of the body 11.

The coupling element 39 is thereby rotatable relative to the body 11 and steam nozzle 12 of the garment steamer head 30 about a longitudinal axis of the coupling element 39 (shown as axis ‘Y’ in FIGS. 3 and 4).

The coupling element 39 includes an inlet end 39a having a first ridged outer surface 41 and an outlet end 39b having a second ridged outer surface 42. An elongate flexible link pipe 21 connects the outlet end 39b of the coupling element 39 to the steam duct 15 and is retained on the outlet end 39b of the coupling element 39 by the second ridged outer surface 42, and is retained on the steam duct 15 by the ridged end portion 22 of the steam duct 15. The link pipe 21 is sufficiently flexible to allow a significant degree of rotation of the coupling element 39 relative to the body 11 of the garment steamer head 30. In the current embodiment, the link pipe 21 is manufactured from a flexible material, for example, silicone rubber.

In use, a steam supply hose 16 of a garment steamer 1 (refer to FIG. 1) is connected to the inlet end 39a of the coupling element 39 and is securely retained thereon by the first ridged outer surface 41. Steam may then be supplied from a steam generator 4 (refer to FIG. 1) of the garment steamer 1 through the steam supply hose 16, through the coupling element 39, through the flexible link pipe 21, through the steam duct 15 and out through the holes 13 in the end face 14 of the steam nozzle 12, onto the garment being steamed.

Since the coupling element 39 is rotatable relative to the body 11 of the garment steamer head 30, the body 11 and steam nozzle 12 of the garment steamer head 30 are rotatable relative to the steam supply hose 16. This significantly reduces any resistance to maneuvering the garment steamer head 30 that may otherwise be provided by the stiff steam supply hose 16.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a garment steamer head 50 of a third embodiment of the invention, with FIG. 6 showing an enlarged cut-away view of a portion of the garment steamer head 50. Like features of the garment steamer head 10 of the first embodiment retain the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

A difference between the garment steamer head 50 of the third embodiment is that it includes a different configuration of connector 57 for coupling a steam supply hose 16 of a garment steamer 1 (refer to FIG. 1) to the garment steamer head 50. In the third embodiment, the connector 57 comprises a coupling element 59 in the form of a tube which is rotatably held within the body 11 of the garment steamer head 50. The coupling element 59 includes a part-spherical portion 60 mid-way along its length, which is received in a fixed element 58 in the form of a part-spherical recess 58 formed on the inside surface of the body 11. The part-spherical recess 58 may be formed integrally with the body 11 of the garment steamer head 50, or may be a separate component secured within the body 11 of the garment steamer head 50, within the scope of the invention. The coupling element 59 is thereby retained in the body 11 in a “ball-and-socket” type configuration and so is both rotatable relative to the body 11 and steam nozzle 12 of the garment steamer head 50 along a longitudinal axis body (shown as axis ‘Z’ in FIGS. 5 and 6), but can also swivel generally in the plane shown by axes A and B in FIG. 6. This gives the coupling element 59 a significant degree of rotational movement relative to the body 11 and steam nozzle 12 of the garment steamer head 50.

The coupling element 59 includes an inlet end 59a and an outlet end 59b comprising first and second ridged outer surfaces 61, 62 respectively. An elongate flexible link pipe 21 connects the outlet end 59b of the coupling element 59 to the steam duct 15 and is retained on the outlet end 59b of the coupling element 59 by the second ridged outer surface 62, and is retained on the steam duct 15 by the ridged end portion 22 of the steam duct 15. The link pipe 21 is sufficiently flexible to allow a significant degree of rotation of the coupling element 59 relative to the body 11 of the garment steamer head 50. In the current embodiment, the link pipe 21 is manufactured from a flexible material, for example, silicone rubber.

In use, a steam supply hose 16 of a garment steamer 1 (refer to FIG. 1) is connected to the inlet end 59a of the coupling element 59 and is securely retained thereon by the first ridged outer surface 61. Steam may then be supplied from a steam generator 4 (refer to FIG. 1) of the garment steamer 1, through the steam supply hose 16, through the coupling element 59, through the flexible link pipe 21, through the steam duct 15 and out through the holes 13 in the end face 14 of the steam nozzle 12, onto the garment being steamed.

Since the coupling element 59 is rotatable relative to the body 11 of the garment steamer head 50 about a significant degree of freedom, the body 11 and steam nozzle 12 of the garment steamer head 50 are rotatable relative to the steam supply hose 16. This significantly reduces any resistance to maneuvering the garment steamer head 50 that may otherwise be provided by the stiff steam supply hose 16.

An optional variant feature of the garment steamer head 50 of the third embodiment is shown in FIG. 6, comprising a securing arrangement for the ball-and-socket joint of the fixed element 58 and coupling element 59. This comprises a grub screw 63 extending though the wall of the body 11 in the region of the fixed element 58, and the part-spherical portion 60 of the coupling element 59 including a cut-out channel 64 in which the end of the grub screw 63 locates. This arrangement can thereby ensure the coupling element 59 is only capable of rotating within a pre-determined range of movement relative to the body 11 (as defined by the dimension of the channel 64), and to generally retain the coupling element 59 at the distal end portion of the body 11. As such, the part-spherical recess of the fixed element 58 may not need to extend so far around the part-spherical portion 60 of the coupling element 59, as shown in FIG. 6.

In the above described embodiments the garment steamer head 10, 30, 50 comprises a connector 17, 37, 57 having a coupling element 19, 39, 59 that is moveable relative to the body 11 to facilitate rotatable movement of the body 11 and steam nozzle 12 relative to the steam supply hose 16. However, it should be recognized that in alternative embodiments (not shown) the steamer head comprises a plurality of connectors each having a coupling element that is moveable relative to the body and steam nozzle of the steamer head. In one such embodiment (not shown), the steam duct comprises first and second steam duct portions and a second connector having a second coupling element. The first steam duct portion is fluidly communicated with the steam supply hose and the second steam duct portion is fluidly communicated with the holes in the end face of the steam nozzle. The second connector couples the first and second steam duct portions in a similar manner to how the connectors 17, 37, 57 described above in relation to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 are coupled to the steam supply hose 16 and the link pipe 21. For example, the second connector may have similar features to the connector 37 described above in relation to the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, comprising a second coupling element in the form of a tube with a peripheral flange that is received in a second fixed element disposed on the inside surface of the body of the steamer head. The second connector (not shown) further facilitates rotational movement of the body 11 and steam nozzle 12 relative to the flexible hose 16 and prevents the link pipe 21 from being urged against the inside surface of the body 11 when the steam supply hose 16 is rotated relative to the body 11.

It will be appreciated that the term “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps and that the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single processor may fulfil the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to an advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

Although claims have been formulated in this application to particular combinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure of the present invention also includes any novel features or any novel combinations of features disclosed herein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalization thereof, whether or not it relates to the same invention as presently claimed in any claim and whether or not it mitigates any or all of the same technical problems as does the parent invention. The applicants hereby give notice that new claims may be formulated to such features and/or combinations of features during the prosecution of the present application or of any further application derived therefrom.

Claims

1. A garment steamer head comprising a body to serve as a handle, and a steam nozzle connected to the body, the body including a connector for coupling the garment steamer head to a steam supply hose of a garment steamer, wherein the connector comprises a coupling element that is rotatable relative to the body and steam nozzle such that the body and steam nozzle together are rotatable relative to the steam supply hose when the steam supply hose is connected to the coupling element, wherein the garment steamer head further comprises a link pipe connected between the connector and the steam nozzle, the link pipe being made of a flexible material to allow rotation of the coupling element relative to the body.

2. A garment steamer head according to claim 1 wherein the connector is configured such that the body and steam nozzle are rotatable relative to the coupling element, and thereby relative to the steam supply hose when connected to the coupling element, about a rotational axis and wherein the body and steam nozzle are freely rotatable about the rotational axis relative to the coupling element through 360 degrees.

3. A garment steamer head according to claim 1 wherein the connector comprises a fixed element fixed relative to the body, and the coupling element is moveably mounted to the fixed element.

4. A garment steamer head according to claim 3 wherein a resilient seal is provided between the fixed element and the coupling element to prevent steam passing between the fixed element and the coupling element.

5. A garment steamer head according to claim 3 wherein the coupling element and the fixed element are each circular tubular components which are coaxially arranged with one received at least partially within the other, and wherein the coupling element is rotatable relative to the fixed element along the common axis (X-X) of the coupling element and fixed element.

6. A garment steamer head according to claim 3 wherein the coupling element comprises a tubular member with a peripheral flange, and the fixed element comprises an annular groove within the body within which the peripheral flange is received.

7. A garment steamer head according to claim 3, wherein the coupling element and the fixed element are configured as a ball-and-socket joint.

8. A garment steamer head according to claim 7, wherein the fixed element comprises an at least part-spherical recess, and the coupling element comprises an at least part-spherical member which is rotatably received in the recess of the fixed element.

9. A garment steamer head according to claim 3 wherein the fixed element is a separate component to the body and is fixedly secured within the body.

10. A garment steamer head according to claim 3 wherein the fixed element is integrally formed with the body.

11. A steam supply hose for use in a garment steamer, and comprising a connector for coupling the steam supply hose to a garment steamer head that serves as a handle of the garment steamer, wherein the connector comprises a coupling element that is rotatable relative to the steam supply hose such that the steam supply hose is rotatable relative to the garment steamer head when the garment steamer head is connected to the coupling element, wherein the steam supply hose is configured to connect to the steam nozzle of the garment steamer head via a link pipe that is connected between the connector and the steam nozzle, the link pipe being made of a flexible material to allow rotation of the coupling element relative to the steam supply hose.

12. A garment steamer comprising a water reservoir, a steam generator to generate steam from water supplied from the reservoir, a steam supply hose to supply steam from the steam generator, and a garment steamer head connected to the steam supply hose, wherein the garment steamer head or the steam supply hose is configured according to claim 1 such that the body and steam nozzle together are rotatable relative to the steam supply hose.