Appliance for treating laundry with steam, having a base designed to rest on a support

Description

Domaine technique

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of devices for steaming laundry comprising a base intended to rest on a support in which the base comprises a steam generator connected by a conduit to an ironing and / or steaming tool. Etat de la technique

[0002] It is known, from patent application EP3783145 filed by the applicant, an ironing appliance comprising a base intended to rest on a support, the base containing a steam generator connected to an iron. Such an appliance, with a separate base, has the advantage of providing good ironing performance, with good autonomy, while maintaining a light and handy iron.

[0003] However, the base of such a device has the disadvantage of only being able to be arranged in a single stable operating position, in which the base extends predominantly vertically. In this position, the height of the base is relatively large so that it is suitable for positioning the base on the floor but does not provide optimal ergonomics of use when the base is arranged at a height, for example on an ironing board, the risk of the base tipping to the side when traction is exerted laterally on the flexible conduit being significant. Résumé de l'invention

[0004] The present invention aims to remedy this drawback.

[0005] For this purpose, the invention relates to an apparatus for steam treating laundry comprising a base intended to rest on a support, the base comprising a steam generator and being connected by a conduit to an ironing and / or smoothing tool, said base having a shape and / or first appendages adapted to allow the base to rest on the support in a first stable operating position in which the base has a first inclination relative to said support, characterized in that the base has a shape or second appendages adapted to allow the base to rest on the support in a second stable operating position, in which the base has an inclination relative to the support different from that which it has when it rests in the first stable operating position,and in that the steam generator comprises an instantaneous vaporization chamber having a shape adapted to vaporize the water injected into the steam generator in the first and in the second stable operating position.,

[0006] Thus, the user can choose to place the device in one of the two stable operating positions offered depending on where the base is placed in order to improve the ergonomics of use.

[0007] The device may further have one or more of the following features, taken alone or in combination.

[0008] According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the vaporization chamber has a shape adapted so that the difference in vaporization performance between the two stable operating positions is less than 20%.

[0009] Vaporization performance means the maximum steam flow rate that the steam generator is capable of providing in the stable operating position.

[0010] According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the vaporization chamber comprises a first vaporization surface onto which the water is projected in the first stable operating position and a second vaporization surface onto which the water is projected in the second stable operating position, the first vaporization surface being distinct from the second vaporization surface.

[0011] According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the steam generator comprises a body enclosing the vaporization chamber and the first vaporization surface and the second vaporization surface are arranged respectively on a first face and on a second face of the body which form between them an angle α of between 45° and 135°, and preferably of between 50° and 90°.

[0012] According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the two faces of the generator meet at a common edge.

[0013] According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the first vaporization surface and the second vaporization surface are arranged symmetrically with respect to a plane P passing through the common edge.

[0014] According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the two faces of the steam generator are heated by the same electric heating resistor which has a curved part at the common edge.

[0015] According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the first vaporization surface is equipped with a first temperature sensor and the second vaporization surface is equipped with a second temperature sensor, the first temperature sensor serving to regulate the electrical supply of the heating resistor when the base occupies the first stable operating position and the second temperature sensor serving to regulate the power supply of the heating resistor when the base occupies the second stable operating position.

[0016] According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the steam generator comprises at least one water inlet orifice allowing the introduction of water into the steam generator and at least one steam outlet orifice allowing the diffusion of steam towards the ironing and / or steaming tool, the base comprising a reservoir and a pump allowing water to be supplied to said at least one water inlet orifice.

[0017] According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the base comprises a handle to facilitate its transport and, in the first stable operating position, the handle is arranged at the top of the base, and in the second stable operating position, the handle is arranged on the side of the base.

[0018] According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the steam outlet orifice is connected by the conduit to the tool.

[0019] According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the water inlet orifice and the steam outlet orifice are arranged on the same face of the steam generator.

[0020] According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the vaporization chamber comprises two water inlet orifices provided on the same face of the steam generator.

[0021] According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the base comprises a first series of feet on which it rests when it occupies the first stable operating position and a second series of feet on which it rests when it occupies the second stable operating position. Brève description des figures

[0022] The aims, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the description given below of a particular embodiment of the invention presented by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which: There [ Fig.1 ] is a perspective view of an ironing appliance according to a particular embodiment of the invention, the appliance being shown in a first stable operating position, also called a vertical position; The [ Fig.2 ] is a sectional view of the base of the device of the [ Fig.1 ] in the first stable operating position; The [ Fig.3 ] is a sectional view of the base of the device of the [ Fig.1 ] in a second stable operating position, also called the horizontal position; The [ Fig.4 ] is another perspective view of the base of the device of the [ Fig.1 ] ; There [ Fig.5 ] is a top view of the steam generator equipping the base of the device of the [ Fig.1 ] ; There [ Fig.6 ] is a sectional view along line VI-VI of the [ Fig.5 ] ; There [ Fig.7 ] is an exploded perspective view of the steam generator equipping the base of the device of the [ Fig.1 ].

[0023] Only the elements necessary for understanding the invention have been shown. To facilitate reading the drawings, the same elements bear the same references from one figure to another. It should be noted that in this document, the terms "horizontal", "vertical", "lower", "upper", "front", "rear" used to describe the apparatus refer to this apparatus when it rests on its first series of feet as illustrated in the [ Fig.1 ].

[0024] THE figures 1 And 2represent a steam ironing device comprising a portable base 1 connected to a steam iron 2 by a flexible conduit 3, partially illustrated in the figures, the base 1 itself being electrically connected to a domestic network by a cable, not visible in the figures.

[0025] The iron 2 comprises, in a manner known per se, a flat soleplate, having a pointed front end, surmounted by a housing comprising a grip handle 20 having a free rear end projecting laterally. The housing of the iron 2 contains a casting maintained in thermal contact with the soleplate and which comprises a heating resistor 9, regulated by means of a non-adjustable thermostat, making it possible to maintain the temperature of the soleplate around a set temperature of the order of 135°C.

[0026] Preferably, the base 1 of the device comprises a housing 10 in which the iron 2 can be placed for storage, the housing 10 being advantageously formed by a cavity which is delimited laterally by a peripheral wall 10A which follows the general outline of the iron 2 and has a projecting lower end 12C. The base 1 also comprises a sheath 11 for storing the flexible conduit 3 and a handle 14 for gripping the base 1 to facilitate its transport.

[0027] In accordance with the figures 2 à 4 , the base 1 of the device is provided with a first series of feet 12A, 12B, 12C allowing the base 1 to rest on a support 100, such as a table or the floor, in a first stable operating position, illustrated in the figures 1 And 2, also called vertical position, in which the base 1 extends substantially vertically with the handle 14 located substantially at the top of the base 1. This first series of feet 12A, 12B, 12C is advantageously constituted by two pads 12A, 12B which project from a lower face of the base 1 and by the lower end 12C projecting from the receiving housing 10 which receives the front tip of the soleplate of the iron 2.

[0028] The base 1 is also provided with a second series of feet 13A, 13B, 13C allowing the base 1 to rest on the support 100 in a second stable operating position, illustrated in the [ Fig.3 ], also called horizontal position, in which base 1 extends substantially horizontally with the handle 14 located on one side of the base 1. This second series of feet 13A, 13B, 13C is advantageously constituted by three pads which project on a lateral face of the base 1, as can be seen in the [ Fig.4 ].

[0029] In accordance with the [ Fig.2 ], the base 1 contains a reservoir 4, a pump 5, shown schematically, and a steam generator 6, the pump 5 drawing water from the reservoir 4 to send it to the steam generator 6.

[0030] The steam generator 6 contains an instantaneous vaporization chamber 7 into which water from the reservoir 4 is injected by the pump 5. Preferably, the operation of the pump 5 is controlled by a trigger 21 arranged under the front end of the grip handle 20, the pump 5 being advantageously sized to provide a flow rate of the order of 40 gr / min continuously when the trigger 21 is actuated.

[0031] In accordance with the figures 5 à 7 , the vaporization chamber 7 is integrated into an aluminum body 60 having the shape of a polyhedron with an open face, the latter receiving a closing cover 8 comprising two water inlet orifices 8A, 8B and a steam outlet orifice 8C opening directly into the vaporization chamber 7. Advantageously, the steam outlet orifice 8C is arranged in a central position on the closing cover 8, the water inlet orifices 8A, 8B being arranged symmetrically on either side of the steam outlet orifice 8C.

[0032] In accordance with the [ Fig.2 ], the vaporization chamber 7 comprises a first vaporization surface 70 onto which the water is projected in the first stable operating position. This first vaporization surface 70 is arranged on a first face 60A of the body 60 which faces the closing cover 8.

[0033] In accordance with the [ Fig.3 ], the vaporization chamber 7 comprises a second vaporization surface 71 onto which the water is projected in the second stable operating position. This second vaporization surface 71 is arranged on a second face 60B of the body 60 which is arranged laterally to the closing cover 8.

[0034] The first face 60A and the second face 60B of the body 60 of the steam generator 6 are generally planar and meet at a common edge 60C forming an acute angle. For example, in the longitudinal sectional plane of the steam generator 6 illustrated in the [ Fig.2 ], the first face 60A and the second face 60B of the body 60 extend respectively along a longitudinal axis A1 and along a longitudinal axis A2 which form between them an angle α advantageously between 50° and 90° and preferably of the order of 70°, the first vaporization surface 70 and the second vaporization surface 71 being arranged symmetrically with respect to a plane P passing through the common edge 60C.

[0035] As can be seen on the [ Fig.2 ], the steam generator 6 is fixed in the base 1 so that the first vaporization surface 70, and in particular its longitudinal axis A1, is inclined by the order of 3° in the direction of the common edge 60C relative to the horizontal plane when the base 1 occupies the vertical operating position.

[0036] As can be seen on the [ Fig.3 ], the geometry of the steam generator 6 is such that the second vaporization surface 71, and in particular its longitudinal axis A2, is also inclined by the order of 3° in the direction of the common edge 60C relative to the horizontal plane when the base 1 occupies the horizontal operating position.

[0037] Thus, whatever the operating position occupied, vertical or horizontal, the first vaporization surface 70 or the second vaporization surface 71 onto which the water from the water inlet orifices 8A, 8B is projected is inclined towards the common edge 60C.

[0038] As can be seen from the figures 6 And 7, the body 60 of the steam generator 6 comprises an electrical heating resistor 9 which extends along the edges of the first vaporization surface 70 and the second vaporization surface 71. In the particular embodiment illustrated in these figures, the heating resistor 9 has two ends 90 which project from the face of the body 60 opposite the second face 60B and which allow the electrical connection of the heating resistor 9, the heating resistor 9 also comprising a bent portion at the common edge 60C, and a U-shaped portion which extends along the periphery of the second face 60B of the body 60.

[0039] The electrical power supply to the heating resistor 9 is regulated by means of a power supply circuit comprising a first temperature sensor 91 arranged on the back of the first face 60A, and a second temperature sensor 92 arranged on the back of the second face 60B, the first and second temperature sensors 91, 92 being connected to a control unit, not illustrated in the figures, which supplies the heating resistor 9 as a function of the data supplied by the two temperature sensors 91, 92. Such an arrangement of the temperature sensors 91, 92 has the advantage of allowing the temperature of each of the first and second vaporization surfaces 70, 71 to be read so that the control unit can react quickly to the drop in temperature on one or other of these vaporization surfaces 70, 71 by controlling the electrical power supply to the heating resistor 9.

[0040] Preferably, the first vaporization surface 70 and the second vaporization surface 71 have a slightly curved shape allowing the water sprayed onto the first vaporization surface 70 to flow laterally, by gravity, towards the heating resistor 9.

[0041] The device equipped with such a steam generator 6 has the advantage of being able to operate with equivalent vaporization performance whether the base 1 of the device is arranged in the vertical position or in the horizontal position.

[0042] Indeed, when base 1 is arranged in the vertical position, illustrated in the figures 1 And 2 , the water injected through the two water inlet ports 8A, 8B by means of the pump 5 is projected by gravity onto the first vaporization surface 70, as illustrated in the [ Fig.2 ], where most of the water is vaporized instantly. Any droplets that are not vaporized instantly when they touch the first vaporization surface 70 are deflected both in the direction of the heating resistor 9 by the curved shape of the first vaporization surface 70, and in the direction of the common edge 60C, due to the slight inclination of the first vaporization surface 70 in the direction of the latter, which makes it possible to finalize the vaporization of these droplets.

[0043] The steam produced then escapes through the steam outlet orifice 8C provided in the closing cover 8, then through the flexible conduit 3 to reach the iron 2, where the steam is diffused through the steam outlet holes in the soleplate of the iron 2.

[0044] When base 1 is arranged in the horizontal position, illustrated in the [ Fig.3], the water injected through the two water inlet orifices 8A, 8B by means of the pump 5 is projected by gravity onto the second vaporization surface 71 where the majority of the water is vaporized instantly. Any droplets that are not vaporized instantly when they touch the second vaporization surface 71 are deflected both in the direction of the heating resistor 9 by the curved shape of the second vaporization surface 70, and in the direction of the common edge 60C, due to the slight inclination of the second vaporization surface 71 in the direction of the latter, which makes it possible to finalize the vaporization of these droplets.

[0045] This allows the user to place the base 1 of the device in the position that suits him best, whether horizontal or vertical, without affecting the performance of the device.

[0046] The device thus produced therefore has the advantage of providing improved user ergonomics by allowing optimum operation in two different stable operating positions. The user can thus choose to place the base vertically, for example to place it on the floor, such a position having the advantage of orienting the flexible conduit upwards towards the laundry to be ironed.

[0047] The user can also choose to position the base horizontally, particularly if he prefers to position the base high up, for example on an ironing board, such a position having the advantage of providing greater stability for the base and of directing the flexible conduit horizontally towards the laundry to be ironed.

[0048] Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and illustrated, which has been given only as an example. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

[0049] Thus, in an alternative embodiment not shown, the first and second surfaces may each comprise their own heating resistor.

[0050] Thus, in another variant embodiment not shown, the device may comprise only a single temperature sensor, advantageously arranged in the vicinity of the common edge, to control the electrical supply of the heating resistor.

[0051] Thus, in another alternative embodiment not shown, the base of the apparatus may be designed to operate in even more stable operating positions and the shape of the steam generator may be adapted to provide substantially equivalent vaporization performance in each of these normally provided stable operating positions.

Claims

1. Apparatus for treating laundry with steam, comprising a base (1) intended to rest on a support member (100), the base (1) comprising a steam generator (6) and being connected by a pipe (3) to an ironing and / or smoothing tool (2), said base having a shape or first appendages (12A, 12b, 12C) suitable for allowing the base (1) to rest on the support member (100) in a first stable operating position, characterised in that the base (1) has a shape or second appendages (13A, 13B, 13C) suitable for allowing the base (1) to rest on the support member (100) in a second stable operating position in which the base (1) has an inclination with respect to the support member (100) that is different from the inclination thereof when said base is resting in the first stable operating position, and in that the steam generator (6) comprises an instantaneous vaporisation chamber (7) having a shape that is suitable for vaporising the water injected into the steam generator (6) in the first and second stable operating positions.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the vaporisation chamber (7) has a shape suitable for ensuring that the difference in vaporisation performance between the two stable operating positions is less than 20%.

3. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterised in that the vaporisation chamber (7) comprises a first vaporisation surface (70) on which the water is projected in the first stable operating position and a second vaporisation surface (71) on which the water is projected in the second stable operating position, the first vaporisation surface (70) being separate from the second vaporisation surface (71).

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterised in that the steam generator (6) comprises a body (60) enclosing the vaporisation chamber (7) and in that the first vaporisation surface (70) and the second vaporisation surface (71) are arranged respectively on a first face (60A) and on a second face (60B) of the body (60) which form between them an angle a of between 45° and 135°, and preferably of between 50° and 90°.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that the two faces of the generator meet at a common edge (60C).

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterised in that the two faces of the steam generator (6) are heated by the same heating resistor (9), which has a curved portion at the common edge (60C).

7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterised in that the first vaporisation surface (70) is equipped with a first temperature sensor (91) and in that the second vaporisation surface (71) is equipped with a second temperature sensor (92), the first temperature sensor (91) being used to regulate the power supply to the heating resistor (9) when the base (1) occupies the first stable operating position and the second temperature sensor (92) being used to regulate the power supply to the heating resistor (9) when the base (1) occupies the second stable operating position.

8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the steam generator (6) comprises at least one water inlet port (8A, 8B) allowing the introduction of water into the steam generator (6) and at least one steam outlet port (8C) allowing the diffusion of steam towards the ironing and / or smoothing tool (2) and in that the base (1) comprises a tank (4) and a pump (5) allowing the supply of water to said at least one water inlet port (8A, 8B).

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterised in that the water inlet port (8A, 8B) and the steam outlet port (8C) are arranged on the same face of the steam generator (6).

10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the base (1) comprises a handle (14) to facilitate its transport and in that, in the first stable operating position, the handle (14) is arranged at the top of the base (1) and in the second stable operating position, the handle (14) is arranged on the side of the base (1).

11. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the vaporisation chamber (7) comprises two water inlet ports (8A, 8B) provided on the same face of the steam generator (6).

12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the base (1) comprises a first set of feet (12A, 12B, 12C) on which it rests when it occupies the first stable operating position and a second set of feet (13A, 13B, 13C) on which it rests when it occupies the second stable operating position.