Steamer

Abstract

To provide a steamer capable of preventing water leakage from a replacement hole even when a pump is not driven.SOLUTION: A steamer of the invention comprises: a tank assembly 10 to store liquid; a vaporization chamber 7 to generate steam from the liquid; and an electric pump 33 to flow the liquid from the tank assembly 10 to the vaporization chamber 7. The tank assembly 10 has a water injection port 14 capable of injecting the liquid into the tank assembly 10; and a water injection port lid 15 to open and close the water injection port 14. A ventilation path 22 for taking outer air into the tank assembly 10 is formed on the water injection port lid 15. The water injection port lid 15 has a valve body 26 to open and close the ventilation path 22. The ventilation path 22 is opened when the electric pump 33 is driven.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a steamer that ejects steam onto textile products such as clothing to remove wrinkles. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a steamer that ejects steam onto textile products such as clothing to remove wrinkles is known, for example, from the steamer described in Patent Document 1. The steamer (1) described in Patent Document 1 is configured to send water contained in a storage space (20) of a tank assembly (17) to a vaporization chamber (11) by an electromagnetic pump (24), generate steam in the vaporization chamber (11), and eject the steam from steam holes (12).

[0003] In order to prevent negative pressure from forming in the storage space (20) when water is pumped out of the storage space (20) by the electromagnetic pump (24), a small replacement hole (not numbered) is formed in the water inlet cover (22) to allow outside air to enter the storage space (20). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-49063 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When the electromagnetic pump (24) is driven, outside air is taken in through the replacement hole, so that the water in the storage space (20) does not leak to the outside through the replacement hole. However, when the electromagnetic pump (24) is not driven, if the steamer (1) is tilted at a predetermined angle or more, the replacement hole may become flooded and water may leak from the replacement hole.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and provides a steamer that can prevent water leakage from the substitution hole even when the pump is not driven. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The steamer of the present invention comprises a tank for storing liquid, an evaporation chamber for generating steam from the liquid, and a pump for moving the liquid from the tank to the evaporation chamber, wherein the tank has a water inlet through which the liquid can be injected into the tank, and a water inlet lid for opening and closing the water inlet, wherein the water inlet lid has an air passage formed therein for taking in outside air into the tank, and the water inlet lid has a valve body for opening and closing the air passage, and the valve body closes the air passage when the pump is stopped and opens the air passage when the pump is driven. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the steamer of the present invention, water leakage from the substitution hole can be prevented whether the pump is driven or not. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a steamer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a replacement hole provided in a water inlet cap according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged vertical cross-sectional view showing a water inlet cover and its surroundings according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 shows the back side of the water inlet spout according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged vertical cross-sectional view showing a water inlet cover and its surroundings according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a water inlet cap according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the steamer of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6. However, the present invention is not limited to the following description, and various modifications and changes are possible for those skilled in the art based on the gist of the invention described in the claims or disclosed in the description for carrying out the invention. Such modifications and changes are also included in the scope of the present invention.

[0011] 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a steamer 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The steamer 1 heats and vaporizes liquid water and ejects the steam to the outside, and is used in combination with a plug unit (not shown) that supplies commercial power to the steamer 1 from a household outlet, and a stand (not shown) that is used while placed on the floor and on which the steamer 1 is detachably placed.

[0012] Steamer 1 is provided with a metal base 3 in which heater 2 is embedded as heating means at the bottom. Base 3 is configured such that base plate 5 serving as a hanging surface member is provided on the bottom surface of base substrate 4 made of a die-cast molded product, and is fixed in close contact with base substrate 4 by fastening members 6 fixed to base plate 5. Inside base 3, a steam chamber, i.e., vaporization chamber 7, is formed near heater 2, and multiple steam holes 8 communicating with this vaporization chamber 7 are formed in base plate 5 forming the underside of base 3.

[0013] The steamer 1 is equipped with a handle 9 formed in a generally O-shape with the front and rear ends connected when viewed from the side. A tank assembly 10 corresponding to a tank for storing liquid is provided inside the handle 9 from the front to the rear. The tank assembly 10 is composed of a tank cover 11 and a tank base 12, both made of resin, and a liquid storage space 13 is formed inside the tank assembly 10 by attaching and fixing the tank base 12 so as to cover the bottom opening of the tank cover 11.

[0014] The steamer 1 is provided with a water inlet 14 that is provided at the front of the tank assembly 10 and directly communicates with the liquid storage space 13 of the tank assembly 10. A water inlet lid 15 that allows the water inlet 14 to be opened and closed manually is provided at the front of the handle 9 opposite the water inlet 14, and by lifting the water inlet lid 15 forward to open the water inlet 14, liquid water can be stored in the tank assembly 10 or unnecessary water can be discarded from within the tank assembly 10.

[0015] The water inlet cover 15 has a lid portion 16 that constitutes a part of the outer shell of the steamer 1, and a lid packing 17 that is provided on the inside of the lid portion 16. The lid packing 17 functions as a sealing member that seals the water inlet cover 15 and the water inlet 14. The lid packing 17 is fixed to the lid portion 16 with screws 18.

[0016] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, a rib 19 is provided on the inside of the lid 16, protruding in a direction perpendicular to the water inlet lid 15. When the rib 19 abuts against the inscribed surface 20, a space S is formed between the tip 21 of the water inlet lid 15 and the inscribed surface 20, and the water inlet lid 15 can be raised towards the user by inserting a finger into the space S. The water inlet lid 15 can be configured to be removable from the steamer 1.

[0017] To prevent the inside of the tank assembly 10 from being sealed and preventing steam from being ejected, an air vent passage 22 that communicates between the liquid storage space 13 and the outside air is formed in the water inlet lid 15. The air vent passage 22 has a replacement hole 23 and a valve body accommodating section 24 formed in the lid section 16, and an air hole 25 formed in the lid packing 17. The replacement hole 23 communicates with the valve body accommodating section 24, which in turn communicates with the air hole 25, and the outside air taken into the liquid storage space 13 migrates through the air vent passage 22 in the order of the replacement hole 23 → the valve body accommodating section 24 → the air hole 25.

[0018] The valve body accommodating portion 24 accommodates a spherical valve body 26 and a compression coil spring 27 as a biasing means for biasing the valve body 26. The valve body 26 is disposed on the replacement hole 23 side, and the compression coil spring 27 is disposed on the air hole 25 side. One end 27A of the compression coil spring 27 abuts against the valve body 26, and the other end 27B of the compression coil spring 27 abuts against an inner wall portion 28 of the lid packing 17 in which the air hole 25 is formed.

[0019] The valve body accommodating portion 24 has a small diameter portion 29 communicating with the replacement hole 23, a contact portion 30 whose diameter gradually increases from the small diameter portion 29, and a large diameter portion 31 communicating with the air hole 25. When an electric pump 32 described later is not driven, the valve body 26 is biased by a compression coil spring 27 and comes into close contact with the contact portion 30 formed in a cone shape, thereby blocking the air passage 22. Note that the valve body 26 in this embodiment is formed of a rubber material so as to come into close contact with the contact portion 30 by being pressed against the contact portion 30, but the valve body 26 may be formed of a metal material such as stainless steel, and a ring-shaped contact member (not shown) made of a rubber material may be provided on the contact portion 30 so that the valve body 26 comes into close contact with the contact member.

[0020] Inside the steamer 1, an electric pump 33 is disposed in the upper storage space 32 formed behind the tank cover 11 to supply water stored in the liquid storage space 13 of the tank assembly 10 to the vaporization chamber 7 heated by the heater 2. A suction pipe 34 communicating with the liquid storage space 13 of the tank assembly 10 and a discharge pipe 35 communicating with the vaporization chamber 7 are connected to the electric pump 33, and the electric pump 33 and the tank assembly 10 are connected in a liquid-tight state. This allows the water stored in the liquid storage space 13 to be sucked into the electric pump 33 through the suction pipe 34 from the liquid storage space 13 when the electric pump 33 is operating, and sent to the vaporization chamber 7 through the discharge pipe 35, regardless of the position in which the steamer 1 is used. When the electric pump 33 is driven and the water in the liquid storage space 13 flows into the vaporization chamber 7, the liquid storage space 13 becomes negative pressure. The biasing force of the compression coil spring 27 is designed to be weaker than the suction force of the electric pump 32, so that when the electric pump 33 is driven, the compression coil spring 27 contracts, the valve body 26 moves away from the abutment portion 30, and the air passage 22 opens. Therefore, outside air flows from the replacement hole 23 into the air passage 22, flows through the air passage 22, and is taken into the liquid storage space 13.

[0021] The rod-shaped grip 36 has a cavity 38 between it and the body 37 of the steamer 1, and is formed so that the hand can be inserted into this cavity 38 to grip the grip 36. The body 25 here refers to the flat portion of the handle 9 that faces the grip 36. The position of the water pouring spout 15 is not limited to the position shown in FIG. 1, and for example, the water pouring spout 15 may be provided on the upper surface of the grip 36.

[0022] On the front side of the grip 36 located at the top of the steamer 1, there are provided, as manually operable controls, a temperature set / off button 39 which is used to set the temperature of the base 3 and to turn the power on and off, and a temperature indicator lamp 40 consisting of an array of multiple LEDs which indicates the temperature set by the temperature set / off button 39 and whether the temperature of the base 3 has reached the set temperature.

[0023] The board 41 disposed inside the handle 36 is equipped with a temperature setting / off button 39, a temperature indicator lamp 40, the heater 2 and electric pump 21 which serve as loads for the steamer 1, a control device 42 which controls the operation of the temperature indicator lamp 40, a power generator 43, a power circuit 44, etc.

[0024] As described above, the steamer 1 of this embodiment comprises a tank assembly 10 for storing liquid, an evaporation chamber 7 for generating steam from the liquid, and an electric pump 33 for moving the liquid from the tank assembly 10 to the evaporation chamber 7. The tank assembly 10 has a water inlet 14 through which liquid can be injected into the tank assembly 10, and a water inlet lid 15 for opening and closing the water inlet 14. The water inlet lid 15 has an air passage 22 for taking in outside air into the tank assembly 10, and the water inlet lid 15 has a valve body 26 for opening and closing the air passage 22. The valve body 26 closes the air passage 22 when the electric pump 33 is stopped and opens the air passage 22 when the electric pump 33 is driven.

[0025] With this configuration, when the electric pump 33 is stopped, the air passage 22 is blocked by the valve body 26, and when the electric pump 33 is driven, the outside air flowing through the air passage 22 is taken into the tank assembly 10, so that water does not leak out to the outside from the replacement hole 23 whether the electric pump 33 is driven or stopped.

[0026] In addition, in the steamer 1 of this embodiment, the water inlet cover 15 has a compression coil spring 27 that biases the valve body 26, and the compression coil spring 27 biases the valve body 26 in a direction that blocks the air passage 22.

[0027] With this configuration, the valve body 26 can watertightly close the ventilation passage 22 by the biasing force of the compression coil spring 27. Therefore, no matter how the steamer 1 is tilted, water will not leak out from the replacement hole 23.

[0028] In addition, in the steamer 1 of this embodiment, the air passage 22 has a contact portion 30 formed in a mortar shape, and the valve body 26 is formed in a spherical shape from a rubber material, and the air passage 22 is blocked by the valve body 26 coming into close contact with the contact portion 30.

[0029] With this configuration, the valve body 26 can be watertightly attached to the contact portion 30, and can reliably close the air passage 22. Therefore, no matter how the steamer 1 is tilted, water will not leak out from the replacement hole 23.

[0030] 5 and 6 show a water inlet cover 46 according to another embodiment. The water inlet cover 46 has a lid portion 47, a lid packing 48, and a connection packing 49 that connects the lid portion 47 and the lid packing 48 in a watertight manner.

[0031] A rib 50 is provided on the inside of the lid portion 47, protruding in a direction perpendicular to the water inlet lid 46. When the rib 50 abuts against the inscribed surface 20, a space S is formed between the tip 51 of the water inlet lid 46 and the inscribed surface 20, and the water inlet lid 46 can be raised toward the user by inserting a finger into the space S. The water inlet lid 46 can be configured to be removable from the steamer 1.

[0032] In order to prevent the inside of the tank assembly 10 from being sealed and steam from being ejected, the water inlet lid 46 is formed with an air passage 52 that communicates the liquid storage space 13 with the outside air. The air passage 52 has a replacement hole 53 and a hollow portion 54 formed in the lid portion 47, and a valve passage 55 formed in the lid packing 48. The replacement hole 53 communicates with the hollow portion 54, and the hollow portion 54 communicates with the valve passage 55, and the outside air taken into the liquid storage space 13 moves through the air passage 52 in the order of the replacement hole 53 → the hollow portion 54 → the valve passage 55. The lid packing 48 is formed with an intake valve 56 in the shape of a check valve, and the intake valve 56 opens an opening / closing portion 57 to open the air passage 52, and the outside air is taken into the liquid storage space 13. On the other hand, the opening / closing portion 57 closes the air passage 52. In addition, although the intake valve 56 in this embodiment is a so-called duckbill valve, other check valves may be used.

[0033] The intake valve 56 is made of an elastically deformable material, and the opening / closing portion 57 is closed when no external force is applied to the intake valve 56. When the force applied to the intake valve 56 by the air flowing through the valve passage 55 reaches or exceeds a predetermined value, the opening / closing portion 57 opens.

[0034] When the electric pump 33 is driven and the water in the liquid storage space 13 flows into the vaporization chamber 7, negative pressure is created in the liquid storage space 13. When the electric pump 33 is driven, the intake valve 56 elastically deforms, the opening / closing portion 57 opens, and the ventilation passage 52 opens. Therefore, outside air flows into the ventilation passage 52 from the replacement hole 53, flows through the ventilation passage 52, and is taken into the liquid storage space 13.

[0035] As described above, the steamer 1 of this embodiment comprises a tank assembly 10 for storing liquid, an evaporation chamber 7 for generating steam from the liquid, and an electric pump 33 for moving the liquid from the tank assembly 10 to the evaporation chamber 7. The tank assembly 10 has a water inlet 14 through which liquid can be injected into the tank assembly 10, and a water inlet lid 46 for opening and closing the water inlet 14. The water inlet lid 46 has an air passage 52 formed therein for taking in outside air into the tank assembly 10. The water inlet lid 46 has an intake valve 56 for opening and closing the air passage 52. The intake valve 56 closes the air passage 52 when the electric pump 33 is stopped, and opens the air passage 52 when the electric pump 33 is driven.

[0036] With this configuration, when the electric pump 33 is stopped, the air passage 52 is closed by the intake valve 56, and when the electric pump 33 is operating, the outside air flowing through the air passage 52 is taken into the tank assembly 10, so that water does not leak out to the outside from the replacement hole 53 whether the electric pump 33 is operating or stopped.

[0037] In addition, in the steamer 1 of this embodiment, the intake valve 56 is a check valve.

[0038] With this configuration, the flow direction of air (outside air) flowing through the ventilation passage 52 can be made unidirectional. Therefore, when the ventilation passage 52 is closed by the intake valve 56, water can be prevented from leaking out from the replacement hole 53 to the outside.

[0039] As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The name "steamer" of the present invention applies to any device that ejects steam to remove wrinkles from clothes, and includes, for example, a steamer suitable for ejecting steam onto clothes from a distance as shown in the present embodiment, as well as a steam iron suitable for ejecting steam while pressing the ironing surface of the base against the clothes. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1. Steamer 7 Vaporizer 10 Tank assembly (tank) 14 Water inlet 15 Water-filled palate 22 Ventilation passage 26 Valve body 27 Compression coil spring (biasing means) 30 Contact part 33 Electric pump (pump) 46 Water inlet palate 52 Ventilation passage 56 Intake valve (valve body)

Claims

1. A tank for storing liquid; a vaporization chamber for generating steam from the liquid; a pump for moving the liquid from the tank to the vaporization chamber; The tank has a water inlet through which the liquid can be poured into the tank, and a water inlet cover for opening and closing the water inlet, The water inlet lid is formed with an air passage for taking in outside air into the tank, The water inlet cover has a valve body that opens and closes the air passage, The steamer is characterized in that the valve body closes the air passage when the pump is stopped, and opens the air passage when the pump is driven.

2. The water inlet cover has a biasing means for biasing the valve body, 2. The steamer according to claim 1, wherein the biasing means biases the valve body in a direction to close the air passage.

3. The ventilation passage has a contact portion formed in a mortar shape, The valve body is made of a rubber material and has a spherical shape.

3. The steamer according to claim 1, wherein the valve body is brought into close contact with the contact portion to close the air passage.

4. 2. The steamer according to claim 1, wherein the valve body is a check valve.

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