Steamer stand, and steamer with stand

Abstract

The present invention provides a stand 1 that makes it as easy to remove the steamer 2 as with conventional stands, while also easily enhancing safety related to the heated soleplate 2a when the steamer 2 is stored inside. [Solution] The stand 1 comprises a power supply plug 6 capable of supplying power, a stand body 71 that supports the steamer 2 by covering a part of the soleplate 2a of the steamer 2 at the position where the power receiving part 2b of the steamer 2 is connected to the power supply plug 6, and a concealing part 72 that covers a part of the remaining soleplate 2a of the steamer 2 supported by the stand body 71 or the entire remaining soleplate 2a.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a stand for a steamer.

Background Art

[0002] A cordless iron including an iron body and a stand on which the iron body is placed is known. The iron body includes an ironing surface called a base that is heated by a heater, and a power receiving portion provided in a concave shape at the rear portion of the iron body. The stand includes a placement portion for placing the ironing surface in a forwardly inclined manner, a convex power supply portion that fits into the power receiving portion, and a storage portion provided below the power supply portion for storing the rear end portion of the ironing surface.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When the iron body is stored in a conventional stand, the rear end portion of the ironing surface is stored in the storage portion and hidden, while the front end portion of the ironing surface is exposed from the stand.

[0005] In such a stand that stores the iron body while exposing a part of the ironing surface, there is a risk that the user may deliberately touch or accidentally touch the exposed portion of the ironing surface in a heated state, resulting in poor safety.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a stand for a steamer that is as easy to take out the steamer as a conventional stand, and has high safety regarding the ironing surface in a heated state when the steamer is stored.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] To solve the aforementioned problems, the steamer stand according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a power supply unit capable of supplying power, a main body that supports the steamer by covering a part of the soleplate at the position where the power receiving unit of the steamer, which has a soleplate having a steam ejection hole for ejecting steam and a power receiving unit connected to the power supply unit to receive the power for heating the soleplate, is connected to the power supply unit, and a concealing unit that covers a part of the remaining soleplate of the steamer supported by the main body unit, or the entirety of the remaining soleplate.

[0008] Furthermore, in order to solve the aforementioned problems, the steamer with a stand according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises the steamer and the stand. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] A perspective view showing the steamer stored in the stand according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] A cross-sectional view showing the steamer stored in the stand according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the stand according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] A partial cross-sectional view showing the steamer being stored in a stand according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] A perspective view showing the steamer housed in the stand according to an embodiment of the present invention, with the concealed part moved to a retracted position. [Figure 6] A perspective view from the front showing the steamer stored in the stand according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The steamer stand according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 6. Note that identical or equivalent components are denoted by the same reference numerals in multiple drawings.

[0011] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the steamer housed in a stand according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the steamer housed in the stand according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the stand 1 and steamer 2 in a plane that divides them into two equal parts horizontally.

[0014] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the stand 1 according to this embodiment is a storage device for a steamer 2 that can be placed on a flat surface P such as the floor, an entryway storage area, or a table, and can hold and store the steamer 2. The stand 1 has a suitable shape that allows the steamer 2 to be easily placed on and picked up.

[0015] For convenience, the steamer 2 and stand 1 are collectively referred to as the "steamer with stand." This term is used not only when the steamer 2 and stand 1 are combined in the storage configuration shown in Figure 2, but also when they are separate and standing on their own.

[0016] The stand-mounted steamer includes, in addition to the steamer 2 and the stand 1, a plug unit 5 having a power cord 3 that can be connected to a commercial AC power outlet. The plug unit 5 can be attached to or detached from either the steamer 2 or the stand 1. In other words, the steamer 2 in this embodiment can be switched between corded and cordless modes, as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 7019079 and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2021-062312, and the stand 1 can also be compatible with a steamer 2 that can be switched between corded and cordless modes.

[0017] The plug unit 5 comprises a flexible power cord 3 and a power supply plug 6 connected to the power cord 3. The power supply plug 6 is a power supply unit capable of supplying power. The power supply plug 6 has a resin outer shell 6a. The outer shell 6a can be attached to or detached from either the steamer 2 or the stand 1.

[0018] First, a steamer 2 that can be stored in the stand 1 will be described here.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the steamer 2 according to the present embodiment heats and evaporates a liquid and ejects steam to the outside. The liquid is exclusively water.

[0020] The steamer 2 is a device used for stretching wrinkles in clothes, and is suitable for spraying the ejected steam onto the clothes from a position away from the clothes. The steamer 2 can be used in the same manner as a steam iron that applies the ejected steam to the clothes while performing ironing by pressing the flat ironing surface 2a against the clothes, and may include those called by the name of "steam iron".

[0021] The steamer 2 also includes a main body cover 8 as an outer shell, a gripping portion 9 integrated with the main body cover 8, a tank 11 as a liquid source capable of storing a liquid, a heater 12 as a heat source capable of generating heat, a vaporization chamber 13 in which the heater 12 vaporizes the liquid supplied from the tank 11 into steam, and a plurality of ejection holes 15 for ejecting the steam generated in the vaporization chamber 13, and a steam ejection portion 16 having these components, and a power receiving portion 2b that receives power for heating the heater 12.

[0022] The main body cover 8 and the gripping portion 9 are molded products of resins such as polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), and ABS resin. The main body cover 8 and the gripping portion 9 may be integrally formed, or may be an assembled product in which a plurality of members are assembled or joined.

[0023] The main body cover 8 houses various components including the tank 11 so as to cover the steam ejection portion 16. The main body cover 8 has a rounded top portion 8t at the location farthest from the steam ejection portion 16. The portion with the main body cover 8 as the outer shell is called the main body portion of the steamer 2. The main body cover 8 corresponds to the housing of the main body portion.

[0024] The gripping portion 9 faces the top 8t of the main body cover 8 across a space. The gripping portion 9 extends in an inverted U shape in a side view of the steamer 2. The gripping portion 9 has a pair of rising portions 9f and 9r that rise at two locations on the front and rear sides of the top of the main body cover 8, and a rod-shaped grip portion 9c that spans between the pair of rising portions 9f and 9r. The space separating the gripping portion 9 and the main body cover 8 is closed in an O shape in a side view of the steamer 2. The user inserts their fingers into the O-shaped space separating the gripping portion 9 and the main body cover 8 and uses the steamer 2 by gripping the grip portion 9c with their hand.

[0025] The steamer 2 has a shape that is elongated in the front-to-back direction parallel to the soleplate 2a, i.e., in the direction of the solid arrow FR2, along the cross-section of Figure 2, and shorter in the direction perpendicular to the cross-section of Figure 2, i.e., in the left-to-right direction. In other words, the steamer 2 has an elongated shape in the front-to-back direction when viewed from above. For convenience of explanation, the front-to-back direction of the steamer 2 may be called the longitudinal direction, and the left-to-right direction of the steamer 2 may be called the short direction. The direction away from the soleplate 2a, i.e., in the direction of the solid arrow H2, is called the height direction. The rod-shaped grip portion 9c extends in the longitudinal direction of the steamer 2. The main body cover 8, like the entire steamer 2, has an elongated shape in the front-to-back direction when viewed from above. The soleplate 2a, like the main body cover 8, has an elongated shape in the front-to-back direction when viewed from above.

[0026] The gripping unit 9 includes a heat quantity setting button 21 that serves both to receive on / off operations for the heater 12 and to receive operations to switch between multiple set temperatures for the steam ejection unit 16, a steam quantity setting button 22 that receives operations to switch the set flow rate of steam ejected from the ejection hole 15, and a temperature display unit 25 that displays the operating status of the steamer 2 and the temperature range of the steam ejection unit 16.

[0027] The heat setting button 21 is preferably positioned so that it can be easily operated with the fingers of the hand holding the grip portion 9c, for example, the thumb. The heat setting button 21 is preferably positioned, for example, at the front end of the grip portion 9c, the rear end of the front rising portion 9f, or at the boundary between the grip portion 9c and the front rising portion 9f.

[0028] The steam volume setting button 22 is preferably positioned so that it can be easily operated with the fingers of the hand holding the grip portion 9c, for example, the index finger. The steam volume setting button 22 is preferably positioned at the front end of the grip portion 9c so as to protrude into the space separating the grip portion 9 and the main body cover 8.

[0029] The temperature display unit 25 is located near the top of the front rising section 9f. The temperature display unit 25 has multiple light sources, for example, three, arranged in the width direction of the steamer 2. The light sources are, for example, light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The temperature display unit 25 displays the operating status of the steamer 2 by combining the lighting, blinking, and extinguishing of the multiple light sources.

[0030] Furthermore, the gripping portion 9 and the main body cover 8 are equipped with an openable and closable liquid injection port cover 26 located on the front of the steamer 2 and on the front rising portion 9f. The liquid injection port cover 26 functions as a stopper to seal the liquid injection port 27 connected to the tank 11, and also functions as a lid to cover the liquid injection port 27. The liquid injection port cover 26 can be opened by pulling it upwards toward the front of the steamer 2. When the liquid injection port cover 26 is opened, the liquid injection port 27 is exposed, and liquid can be injected into the tank 11 from the exposed liquid injection port 27, or unwanted liquid in the tank 11 can be discarded.

[0031] The tank 11 extends from the front rising portion 9f of the handle portion 9 directly below the O-shaped space separating the handle portion 9 and the main body cover 8. In other words, the tank 11 has an L-shape when viewed from the side of the steamer 2. The tank 11 comprises a tank cover 31 with an opening and a tank base 32 that closes the opening of the tank cover 31. The tank cover 31 and the tank base 32 are made of resin. The tank cover 31 and the tank base 32 are joined together, for example, by ultrasonic welding. The tank 11 is arranged such that the tank base 32 is closest to the steam outlet 16, and the tank cover 31 is further from the steam outlet 16 than the tank base 32. The tank 11 is permeable. The tank cover 31 and the tank base 32 are made of permeable resin. For the sake of explanation, the tank base 32 closest to the steam outlet 16 will be referred to as the bottom plate of the tank 11.

[0032] The heater 12 is embedded in the steam outlet 16. When viewed from a direction perpendicular to the soleplate 2a, the heater 12 has a shape that surrounds the vicinity of the vaporization chamber 13, for example, a U-shape. The heater 12 is, for example, a flexible sheathed heater.

[0033] The steam ejection section 16 has a soleplate 2a and a top portion 16t furthest from the soleplate 2a. The steam ejection section 16 comprises a base plate 35 having a soleplate 2a, a vaporization chamber compartment 37 fixed to the base plate 35 by a fastening member 36, and a vaporization chamber cover 39 fixed to the vaporization chamber compartment 37 by a fastening member 38.

[0034] The base plate 35, vaporization chamber compartment 37, and vaporization chamber cover 39 are made of metal, such as aluminum alloy. The base plate 35, vaporization chamber compartment 37, and vaporization chamber cover 39 are die-cast products. In other words, the steam outlet 16 is an assembly of aluminum die-cast components. The vaporization chamber cover 39 may be a molded product of a resin that is resistant to high temperatures. The base plate 35 and vaporization chamber compartment 37 may be integrally molded products.

[0035] The vaporization chamber compartment 37 and the base plate 35 hold the heater 12 in between. The heater 12 and the vaporization chamber compartment 37 may be pre-cast in a mold and molded together as a single unit. The heater 12, the vaporization chamber compartment 37 and the base plate 35 may be pre-cast in a mold and molded together as a single unit as a single unit.

[0036] The base plate 35 has a plurality of ejection holes 15 that open into the sole surface 2a. The ejection holes 15 penetrate through both sides of the base plate 35 (the surface corresponding to the sole surface 2a and the back surface of the sole surface 2a).

[0037] The vaporization chamber compartment 37 has a recess 37a that is closed by the vaporization chamber cover 39. The space defined by the recess 37a and the vaporization chamber cover 39 is the vaporization chamber 13. The vaporization chamber compartment 37 is in close contact with the base plate 35. The gap between the vaporization chamber compartment 37 and the base plate 35 is airtightly sealed with a silicone sealant that is heat-resistant to the heater 12.

[0038] The vaporization chamber cover 39 closes the recess 37a of the vaporization chamber compartment 37, defining the vaporization chamber 13. The vaporization chamber cover 39 has a liquid inlet 41 for introducing liquid for generating steam into the vaporization chamber 13. The gap between the vaporization chamber compartment 37 and the vaporization chamber cover 39 is airtightly sealed with a silicone sealant that is heat-resistant to the heater 12.

[0039] The vaporization chamber 13 is defined by a recess 37a provided in the vaporization chamber compartment 37, and a vaporization chamber cover 39 that closes the recess 37a of the vaporization chamber compartment 37. The vaporization chamber 13 is surrounded by a U-shaped heater 12.

[0040] The vaporization chamber 13 and the multiple outlets 15 are connected via a vapor diffusion chamber 42 partitioned between the vaporization chamber compartment 37 and the base plate 35. The vaporization chamber compartment 37 has a connecting hole 43 that discharges steam from the vaporization chamber 13 to the vapor diffusion chamber 42. The vaporization chamber compartment 37 distributes the steam flowing in from a single connecting hole 43 to the multiple outlets 15. The silicone sealant that seals the gap between the vaporization chamber compartment 37 and the base plate 35 also functions as a seal to ensure airtightness of the vapor diffusion chamber 42. If the base plate 35 and the vaporization chamber compartment 37 are integrally molded, the vaporization chamber 13 and the multiple outlets 15 may be directly connected.

[0041] The power receiving section 2b is a recess located on the back of the steamer 2 and opening towards the rear of the steamer 2. The power receiving section 2b is recessed to allow the power supply plug 6 of the plug unit 5 to be attached and detached. The power receiving section 2b is equipped with power receiving terminals 67 that can be electrically connected to the power supply terminals of the plug unit 5.

[0042] Here, the power supply plug 6 of the plug unit 5 is equipped with a cordless changeover switch that connects or disconnects the power supply plug 6 to the power receiving unit 2b of the steamer 2. The cordless changeover switch is a switch that is operated manually by the user. In one connected position, the cordless changeover switch connects and fixes the power supply plug 6 to the power receiving unit 2b of the steamer 2, and in the other disconnected position, it disconnects the power supply plug 6 from the power receiving unit 2b of the steamer 2. When the cordless changeover switch is set to the connected position with the power supply plug 6 fitted into the power receiving unit 2b of the steamer 2, the steamer 2 is used in a corded configuration with the plug unit 5 attached to the steamer 2. When the cordless changeover switch is set to the disconnected position, the power supply plug 6 can be easily removed even if it is fitted into the power receiving unit 2b of the steamer 2. Therefore, when the cordless changeover switch is set to the disconnected position, the steamer 2 is used in a cordless configuration with the plug unit 5 detached from the power receiving unit 2b.

[0043] When the power supply plug 6 is attached to and fitted into the power receiving unit 2b of the steamer 2, half of the power supply plug 6 is embedded and concealed within the power receiving unit 2b of the steamer 2, while the remaining portion of the power supply plug 6 is exposed without being embedded within the power receiving unit 2b of the steamer 2. The cordless changeover switch is located on the remaining portion of the power supply plug 6, that is, the portion that is exposed when the power supply plug 6 is attached to and fitted into the power receiving unit 2b of the steamer 2. In other words, the user can manually operate the cordless changeover switch at any time, whether it is in the connected or disconnected position. For detailed information on the configuration of the power receiving unit 2b of the steamer 2 and the power supply plug 6 of the plug unit 5, see, for example, Japanese Patent No. 7019079 and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2021-062312.

[0044] The steamer 2 also includes a pump 51 that sends liquid from the tank 11 to the vaporization chamber 13, a cylindrical DC motor 52 that operates the pump 51, an overheating prevention device 53 provided in the steam ejection section 16, a circuit board 55 housed in the gripping section 9, a temperature detection unit 56 provided in the steam ejection section 16 that detects the temperature of the vaporization chamber 13, a steam ejection section cover 57 that separates the tank 11 from the steam ejection section 16, and a water supply path 58 that sends the liquid discharged by the pump 51 to the steam ejection section 16.

[0045] The pump 51, DC motor 52, tank 11, and steam outlet cover 57 are housed in the main body cover 8.

[0046] The pump 51 can change the flow rate of the liquid sent from the tank 11 to the vaporization chamber 13. The pump 51 can be a positive displacement pump, and may be a reciprocating pump or a rotary pump.

[0047] The pump 51 and the DC motor 52 are sometimes collectively referred to as an electromagnetic pump. The steamer 2 equipped with an electromagnetic pump can send the liquid in the tank 11 into the vaporization chamber 13 against the internal pressure of the vaporization chamber 13, even when the internal pressure of the vaporization chamber 13 that generates steam is rising, and regardless of the position in which the steamer 2 is being used.

[0048] The overheating prevention device 53 has a switch that stops the power supply to the heater 12 if the steam ejection section 16 becomes abnormally overheated. It is preferable that the overheating prevention device 53 is installed near the heater 12 so that it can detect abnormal overheating of the steam ejection section 16. It is known that the temperature rises fastest near the curved portion 12c of the heater 12. Therefore, the overheating prevention device 53 is installed on the steam outlet 16 so as to cover at least a portion of the curved portion 12c of the heater 12. As a result, the overheating prevention device 53 immediately detects that the steam outlet 16 is overheating near the curved portion 12c of the heater 12, where the temperature rises fastest, and stops the power supply to the heater 12 to ensure safety. Furthermore, the overheating prevention device 53 is closer to the soleplate 2a than to the top 16t of the steam ejection section 16. Therefore, the overheating prevention device 53 immediately detects that the steam ejection section 16 is overheating in the vicinity of the curved section 12c of the heater 12, where the temperature rise is fastest, and promptly stops the power supply to the heater 12 to ensure high safety. In addition, by placing the overheating prevention device 53 closer to the soleplate 2a than to the top 16t of the steam ejection section 16, the height of the steam ejection section cover 57 (shortest distance from the soleplate 2a) is reduced, which in turn reduces the overall height of the steamer 2 and allows for miniaturization of the steamer 2.

[0049] The circuit board 55 is a printed circuit board on which electronic components are mounted, and is sometimes called a Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA). The circuit board 55 extends almost the entire length of the gripping portion 9 in the direction of extension of the rod-shaped grip portion 9c.

[0050] The temperature sensing unit 56 functions as a sensor that detects the operating status of the steamer 2. The temperature sensing unit 56 is fixed to the steam ejection unit 16.

[0051] The steam outlet cover 57 covers the base plate 35 and houses the vaporization chamber compartment 37, the vaporization chamber lid 39, and the overheating prevention device 53. The steam outlet cover 57 divides the space inside the main body cover 8 into a high-temperature section 61 where the steam outlet 16 is located and a low-temperature section 62 where the tank 11 is located. The steam outlet cover 57 functions as a heat shield that blocks the heat transferred from the high-temperature steam outlet 16 to the low-temperature section 62. The side of the steam outlet cover 57 facing the low-temperature section 62 faces the tank base 32, which is the bottom plate of the tank 11. The high-temperature section 61 is airtightly closed by a packing 63 sandwiched between the steam outlet cover 57 and the base plate 35.

[0052] With the soleplate 2a of the steamer 2 in a horizontal position, the low-temperature chamber 62 housing the tank 11, pump 51, and DC motor 52 is positioned above the steam outlet cover 57, and the gripping section 9 housing the circuit board 55 is positioned above the low-temperature chamber 62. In other words, the low-temperature chamber 62 housing the tank 11, pump 51, and DC motor 52 is closer to the steam outlet 16 than the gripping section 9 housing the circuit board 55.

[0053] The high-temperature section chamber 61 houses the steam outlet section 16, which is equipped with a vaporization chamber 13 and a heater 12. The temperature of the steam outlet section 16 becomes extremely high compared to other parts of the steamer 2 in order to vaporize the liquid that is sent into the vaporization chamber 13 heated by the heater 12. As a result, the temperature inside the high-temperature section chamber 61 is higher than the temperature inside the low-temperature section chamber 62. Therefore, the steam outlet section cover 57 that covers the high-temperature section chamber 61 shields the steam outlet section 16 from the heat it emits, preventing the temperature of components such as the pump 51, the DC motor 52, and the elements mounted on the circuit board 55 from rising.

[0054] The low-temperature section chamber 62 houses the tank 11 at the location closest to the steam outlet cover 57 that covers the high-temperature section chamber 61. The tank 11 is equipped with a tank base 32, which serves as the bottom plate closest to the steam outlet 16. The low-temperature section chamber 62 also houses the pump 51 and the DC motor 52 at a location further away from the steam outlet cover 57 than the tank 11. Furthermore, at a location further away from the steam outlet cover 57 than the tank 11, there is an O-shaped space separating the gripping section 9 and the main body cover 8. The low-temperature section chamber 62 houses the circuit board 55 at a location even further away from the O-shaped space separating the gripping section 9 and the main body cover 8 at a location further away from the steam outlet cover 57.

[0055] In other words, the pump 51 and the DC motor 52 shield the steam outlet 16 from heat generated by the liquid stored in the tank 11, and the circuit board 55 shields the steam outlet 16 from heat generated by both the liquid and the air present in the space separating the grip 9 and the main body cover 8.

[0056] There may be a set upper limit on the general operating ambient temperature for a diaphragm-type pump 51 and a DC motor 52 that are designed for water. The liquid stored in the tank 11 can protect the pump 51 and DC motor 52 from the heat emitted by the steam outlet 16, thereby ensuring that the upper limit on the operating ambient temperature is met.

[0057] The pump 51 overlaps the tank 11 when viewed in the short direction of the steamer 2, that is, in the short direction of the soaking surface 2a. In other words, the pump 51 is positioned so that it is sandwiched and embraced by the tank 11 on both sides. Therefore, the steamer 2 can increase the internal volume of the tank 11 without increasing the size of the main body part with the main body cover 8 as its outer shell. In other words, the steamer 2 can reduce the size of the main body part with the main body cover 8 as its outer shell while maintaining the internal volume of the tank 11.

[0058] Furthermore, the pump 51 is housed in the top 8t of the main body cover 8. The DC motor 52 has its cylindrical centerline oriented in the longitudinal direction of the steamer 2, that is, in the longitudinal direction of the soleplate 2a. The DC motor 52 is housed at the boundary between the main body cover 8 and the gripping part 9 in an oblique position, moving inward toward the rear rising part 9r of the gripping part 9 and away from the steam ejection part 16, continuous with the pump 51 which overlaps the tank 11. As a result, the steamer 2 can expand the internal volume of the tank 11 to near the top 8t of the main body cover 8 without increasing the size of the main body part with the main body cover 8 as its outer shell. In other words, the steamer 2 can miniaturize the main body part with the main body cover 8 as its outer shell while maintaining the internal volume of the tank 11.

[0059] Furthermore, the O-shaped space separating the gripping section 9 and the main body cover 8 cools the top 8t of the main body cover 8 and the rear rising section 9r of the gripping section 9, which cover the pump 51 and the DC motor 52. As a result, the steamer 2 can air-cool the outer casings near the pump 51 and the DC motor 52 with the atmosphere, thereby cooling the pump 51 and the DC motor 52. The DC motor 52 is shown by a dashed line in Figure 6, and may also be positioned together with the pump 51 between the tank 11 and the top 8t of the main body cover 8, as shown in Figure 7. In this case, the pump 51 and the DC motor 52 will be enclosed by the tank 11 and the main body cover 8, and the tank 11 will have a portion sandwiched between the steam outlet 16 and the DC motor 52.

[0060] Viewed in the short direction of the pouring surface 2a, the main body cover 8 has an opaque side wall portion 65 that covers the pump 51, and the tank 11 has a transparent or translucent water level window 66 that is exposed to the side wall portion 65 of the main body cover 8 and extends in a U-shape to bypass the pump 51, allowing the inside of the tank 11 to be seen.

[0061] The water level window 66 has a first portion 66a that extends away from the soleplate 2a and reaches the front upright portion 9f of the gripping portion 9, a second portion 66b that extends parallel to the soleplate 2a, that is, extending front and back of the main body cover 8, and a curved portion 66c that connects the first portion 66a and the second portion 66b. The first portion 66a and the curved portion 66c allow easy visual confirmation of the liquid level in the tank 11 when the soleplate 2a is oriented horizontally, and the second portion 66b and the curved portion 66c allow easy visual confirmation of the liquid level in the tank 11 when the soleplate 2a is oriented vertically. In other words, the water level window 66 allows the user to easily understand the amount of liquid in the tank 11, even when the steamer 2 is placed on a horizontal surface, or even when the soleplate 2a is oriented towards clothing hanging on a hanger, for example.

[0062] The first portion 66a and the curved portion 66c of the water level window 66 are preferably such that the liquid level in the tank 11 can be viewed over a wide area when the soleplate 2a is oriented horizontally. In other words, the first portion 66a is preferably such that it extends from the height of zero liquid in the tank 11 to the height of full liquid in the direction intersecting the soleplate 2a, which corresponds to the height direction when the soleplate 2a is oriented horizontally.

[0063] The second portion 66b and the curved portion 66c of the water level window 66 are preferably such that the liquid level in the tank 11 can be viewed over a wide area when the soleplate 2a is oriented vertically. In other words, the second portion 66b is preferably such that it extends from the height of zero liquid in the tank 11 to the height of full liquid in a direction parallel to the soleplate 2a, which corresponds to the height direction when the soleplate 2a is oriented vertically.

[0064] The water level windows 66 may be a pair, one on each side of the steamer 2, or they may be present on at least one side.

[0065] Viewed in the shorter direction of the soleplate, the grip portion 9 extends in an inverted U-shape, forming a ring in cooperation with the water level window 66, and has a pseudo-window 67 that conceals the interior of the grip portion 9. The ring formed by the water level window 66 and the pseudo-window 67 encloses the O-shaped space between the main body cover 8 and the grip portion 9. The ring formed by the water level window 66 and the pseudo-window 67 creates a sense of unity in the appearance of the steamer 2 between the main body, with the main body cover 8 as its outer shell, and the grip portion 9. This sense of unity enhances the design of the steamer 2. On the other hand, the opaque pseudo-window 67, which conceals the inside of the grip portion 9, covers the circuit board 55 housed in the grip portion 9, as well as the internal structure of the heat quantity setting button 21 and the steam quantity setting button 22 provided on the grip portion 9, and does not impair the design of the steamer 2 enhanced by the water level window 66 and the pseudo-window 67.

[0066] The water supply path 58 penetrates the tank 11 as seen from the pump 51, penetrates the steam outlet cover 57, and reaches the liquid inlet 41 of the vaporization chamber cover 39.

[0067] As described above, the steamer 2 according to this embodiment includes a soleplate 2a having a steam ejection hole 15, and a power receiving unit 2b connected to a power supply plug 6 of a plug unit 5 to receive power in order to heat the soleplate 2a.

[0068] Next, we will explain the stand 1 in detail. Note that the following explanation will focus specifically on the case where the steamer 2 is used in a cordless manner.

[0069] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the stand according to this embodiment.

[0070] As shown in Figure 3 in addition to Figures 1 and 2, the stand 1 according to this embodiment comprises a power supply plug 6 of a plug unit 5, a stand body 71 that supports the steamer 2 by covering a part of the soleplate 2a at the position where the power receiving part 2b of the steamer 2 is connected to the power supply plug 6, and a concealing part 72 that covers a part of the remaining soleplate 2a of the steamer 2 supported by the stand body 71 or the entire remaining soleplate 2a. The stand body 71 and the concealing part 72 are molded products of a material that is not affected by the heat of the heated soleplate 2a, for example, flame-retardant PBT (polybutylene terephthalate).

[0071] The stand 1 has a shape that is elongated in the front-to-back direction parallel to plane P, i.e., in the direction of the solid arrow FR1, along the cross-section of Figure 2, and shorter in the direction perpendicular to the cross-section of Figure 2, i.e., in the left-to-right direction. In other words, the stand 1 has an elongated shape in the front-to-back direction when viewed from above. For convenience of explanation, the front-to-back direction of the stand 1 may be called the longitudinal direction, and the left-to-right direction of the stand 1 may be called the short direction. Also, the direction away from plane P, i.e., in the direction of the solid arrow H1, is called the height direction. The rod-shaped grip portion 9c extends in the longitudinal direction of the steamer 2. The stand body portion 71, like the stand 1 as a whole, has an elongated shape in the front-to-back direction when viewed from above.

[0072] The stand 1 includes a mounting recess 75 on which the steamer 2 can be positioned in an inclined position relative to a plane P, a plug housing recess 76 adjacent to the mounting recess 75 that can accommodate the power supply plug 6 of the plug unit 5, and a cord outlet recess 77 on which the power cord 3 can be pulled out to the outside of the stand 1 with the power supply plug 6 housed in the plug housing recess 76.

[0073] The mounting recess 75 is equipped with multiple rollers 79 that support the soleplate 2a of the steamer 2 from below. The multiple rollers 79 support the steamer 2 placed in the mounting recess 75 in an inclined position relative to the plane P. At this time, the soleplate 2a is inclined, not parallel to the plane P. The mounting recess 75 accommodates the steamer 2 such that the longitudinal direction of the steamer 2, that is, the longitudinal direction of the soleplate 2a, is oriented in the direction in which the multiple rollers 79 roll. Therefore, the steamer 2 placed in the mounting recess 75 behaves as if descending toward the plane P along the inclined surface drawn by the multiple rollers 79, and reaches the part of the mounting recess 75 closest to the plane P, in other words, the deepest part of the mounting recess 75. Thus, when no external force is acting on the steamer 2 placed in the mounting recess 75, the stand 1 can accurately position and store the steamer 2 in the deepest part of the mounting recess 75 by its own weight.

[0074] Multiple rollers 79 are provided at least two locations, including the shallow portion of the mounting recess 75 and the portion midway towards the deepest part. Such an arrangement of multiple rollers 79 stably supports the steamer 2 at at least two separate locations along the longitudinal direction of the soleplate 2a.

[0075] The plug housing recess 76 is located at the end of the downward slope of the mounting recess 75. The plug housing recess 76 and the power supply plug 6 have grooves and ribs that allow them to slide into each other. These grooves and ribs guide the power supply plug 6 into the plug housing recess 76 following the downward slope of the mounting recess 75 and connect the power supply plug 6 and the plug housing recess 76 so that the power supply plug 6 does not come out of the plug housing recess 76 in the direction perpendicular to the downward slope of the mounting recess 75.

[0076] Furthermore, the plug housing recess 76 includes a fitting body 82 that can be fitted into a fitting recess 81 provided on the bottom surface of the power supply plug 6, and a spring 83 which acts as an elastic body to apply force to the fitting body 82 in a direction that causes it to protrude from the plug housing recess 76. When the rib is inserted into the groove, that is, when the power supply plug 6 is inserted into the plug housing recess 76, the spring force of the spring 83 presses the fitting body 82 of the base 1 against the power supply plug 6, and when the power supply plug 6 reaches a predetermined holding position in the plug housing recess 76, the spring force of the spring 83 fits the fitting body 82 of the base 1 into the fitting recess 81 of the power supply plug 6. The fitting body 82 that is fitted into the fitting recess 81 prevents the power supply plug 6 from easily coming out of the plug housing recess 76 in the sliding direction between the rib and the groove. On the other hand, when a force is applied to the power supply plug 6 that pulls it out of the plug housing recess 76, against the spring force of the spring 83, the engagement between the mating recess 81 and the mating body 82 is released.

[0077] Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the steamer being placed in the stand according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0078] As shown in Figure 4, when the steamer 2 is placed in the mounting recess 75 with its rear side, i.e., the power receiving unit 2b, facing the deepest part of the mounting recess 75, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the steamer 2 descends the mounting recess 75 with its rear side leading, reaching the deepest part of the mounting recess 75. At this point, the power receiving unit 2b of the steamer 2 engages with the power supply plug 6 located in the plug housing recess 76. For the sake of explanation, the position of the steamer 2 with its power receiving unit 2b engaged with the power supply plug 6 located in the plug housing recess 76 is referred to as the storage position of the steamer 2. In other words, the steamer 2 is supported in a storage position that is tilted upwards at the front and downwards at the rear by a plurality of rollers 79 that contact the soleplate 2a. When the power receiving unit 2b of the steamer 2 engages with the power supply plug 6, the steamer 2 is electrically connected to the plug unit 5 and becomes able to receive power from a commercial AC power source. Furthermore, since the steamer 2 can descend towards the deepest part of the mounting recess 75 by its own weight, when storing the steamer 2, the user can store the steamer 2 on the stand 1 simply by placing the steamer 2 in the mounting recess 75 in the appropriate position and releasing their hand from the steamer 2.

[0079] On the other hand, when removing the steamer 2 from the stand 1, the user can grasp the grip portion 9 of the steamer 2 with their hand and move the steamer 2 so that it moves up the downward slope of the mounting recess 75. By doing so, the plug housing recess 76 smoothly disengages from the power receiving portion 2b of the steamer 2, and the mechanical and electrical connection between the steamer 2 and the plug unit 5 is easily released.

[0080] By the way, when the steamer 2 is stored on the stand 1, the central and rear parts of the soleplate 2a of the steamer 2 are embedded and hidden in the mounting recess 75 of the stand 1, while the front part of the soleplate 2a of the steamer 2 does not fit completely into the mounting recess 75 of the stand 1 and is exposed. As a result, the part of the soleplate 2a that is located in front of the roller 79 positioned furthest forward, in other words, the roller 79 furthest from the power plug 6, that is, the front part of the soleplate 2a, is exposed as if floating in mid-air. The exposed soleplate 2a may compromise the safety of the steamer 2 when it is stored.

[0081] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the steamer housed in the stand according to an embodiment of the present invention, with the concealed part moved to a retracted position.

[0082] Therefore, the stand 1 according to this embodiment includes a stand body 71 that supports the steamer 2 by covering a part of the soleplate 2a at the position where the power receiving unit 2b of the steamer 2 is connected to the power plug 6, and a concealing part 72 that covers a part of the remaining soleplate 2a of the steamer 2 supported by the stand body 71, or the entire remaining soleplate 2a. The "part of the soleplate 2a" corresponds to the central and rear parts of the soleplate 2a that are embedded in the mounting recess 75, and the "remaining part of the soleplate 2a" corresponds to the front part of the soleplate 2a that is exposed and visible because it does not fit completely into the mounting recess 75.

[0083] The concealed portion 72 of the stand 1 according to this embodiment is movable between a concealed position that covers the soleplate 2a (the position shown in Figure 1) and a retracted position that exposes the soleplate 2a (the positions shown in Figures 3 and 5). When the concealed portion 72 is retracted, the stand 1 provides the same convenience as a conventional stand, while when the concealed portion 72 covers the soleplate 2a, the stand 1 prevents situations where a conventional stand might compromise safety, namely situations where a user intentionally or unintentionally touches the still-hot soleplate 2a.

[0084] The concealed portion 72 only needs to cover at least the outer peripheral edge of the front part of the soleplate 2a. The concealed portion 72 has a bottom plate portion 85 that covers the flat bottom surface of the front part of the soleplate 2a, a vertical wall portion 86 that covers the edge of the front part of the soleplate 2a at a substantially constant distance and rises from the bottom plate portion 85 at a substantially constant height, and a protrusion 87 provided on the bottom plate portion 85 that prevents direct contact between the soleplates 2a and the soleplate 2a.

[0085] The protrusion 87 is sandwiched between the base plate 85 and the soleplate 2a of the steamer 2 when the concealed portion 72 moves to the concealed position, creating a space between the base plate 85 and the soleplate 2a of the steamer 2. This space creates air convection around the soleplate 2a, preventing heat from accumulating on the concealed soleplate 2a. The protrusion 87 is made of, for example, heat-resistant silicone.

[0086] The vertical wall portion 86 protrudes from the base plate portion 85 to a height greater than at least the thickness of the metal soleplate 2a, covering and concealing the front edge of the soleplate 2a. When the steamer 2 attempts to move upward (climb) the downward slope of the mounting recess 75, the vertical wall portion 86 strikes the front edge of the soleplate 2a, restricting the movement of the steamer 2. As a result, the power supply plug 6 fixed to the base 1 cannot be dislodged from the power receiving portion 2b of the steamer 2. At this time, the vertical wall portion 86 striking the front edge of the soleplate 2a and the power supply plug 6 fitted into the power receiving portion 2b prevent the steamer 2 from detaching from the base 1. In other words, the vertical wall portion 86 of the concealed portion 72 functions as a detachment restricting portion that prevents the release of the connection between the power supply plug 6 and the power receiving portion 2b of the steamer 2, thereby limiting the relative movement between the steamer 2 and the base 1. For the sake of explanation, the state in which the steamer 2 cannot be detached from the stand 1 due to the vertical wall portion 86 that is at the front edge of the soleplate 2a and the power supply plug 6 that is fitted into the power receiving portion 2b is referred to as the "portable steamer with stand configuration." In the portable steamer with stand configuration, the user can carry the steamer 2 and the stand 1 together by gripping the handle portion 9 of the steamer 2 with their hand.

[0087] Furthermore, the stand 1 is equipped with a locking mechanism 91 that holds and restrains the concealed part 72 in a retracted position, while simultaneously releasing the holding and restraint so that the concealed part 72 can move to the concealed position. The locking mechanism 91 comprises an operating piece 95 having a first claw portion 92 provided on the concealed part 72, a second claw portion 93 that holds the concealed part 72 in a retracted position by hooking onto the first claw portion 92, and a spring 96 acting as an elastic body that applies force to the operating piece 95 so that the second claw portion 93 moves to a position where it hooks onto the first claw portion 92.

[0088] When the concealed part 72 is moved to the retracted position, the first claw part 92 catches on the second claw part 93 against the spring force of the spring 96. When the first claw part 92 catches on the second claw part 93, the spring force of the spring 96 acts on the operating piece 95 to maintain the state in which the first claw part 92 is caught on the second claw part 93. On the other hand, when the operating piece 95 moves against the spring force of the spring 83, for example, when it is pushed in, the catch between the first claw part 92 and the second claw part 93 is released and the concealed part 72 becomes able to move to the concealed position.

[0089] The operating piece 95 of the locking mechanism 91 may be positioned on the front of the base body 71 as shown in Figures 1 and 2, or on either the left or right side of the base body 71. By positioning the operating piece 95 away from the front of the soleplate 2a, it is possible to prevent the fingers operating the operating piece 95 from accidentally touching the soleplate 2a, even if the soleplate 2a is still hot.

[0090] Furthermore, the base 1 is equipped with a pivot support 98 that supports the concealed part 72 on the base body 71 so that the concealed part 72 can swing between a concealed position and a retracted position. The pivot support 98 comprises a shaft portion provided on either the concealed part 72 or the base body 71, and a bearing portion provided on the other of the concealed part 72 or the base body 71 to rotatably support the shaft portion. The pivot support 98 supports the rear end of the concealed part 72 near the center of the base body 71 in the front-rear direction and near the upper end in the vertical direction. The concealed part 72, whose pivot center is near the center of the base body 71 in the front-rear direction and near the upper end in the vertical direction, can cover or expose the mounting surface 2a by a smooth rotational movement and operation that is proportional to the angle between the downward slope of the mounting recess 75 and the horizontal plane. The base 1 may also be equipped with a sliding mechanism that supports the concealed part 72 on the base body 71 so that the concealed part 72 can move linearly back and forth between the concealed position and the retracted position. The sliding mechanism may, for example, move the concealed part 72 vertically between the concealed position and the retracted position.

[0091] The stand 1 may be equipped with a power source, such as an elastic body like a torsion spring, that generates a force to move the concealed part 72 from the retracted position to the concealed position when the holding and restraint by the locking mechanism 91 is released. The power source is convenient because it can cover the soleplate 2a of the steamer 2 with the concealed part 72 simply by releasing the locking mechanism 91.

[0092] The locking mechanism 91 may hold and restrain the concealed part 72 in the concealed position, while also being able to release the holding and restraint so that the concealed part 72 can move to the retracted position. In this case, when the holding and restraint of the locking mechanism 91 is released, the concealed part 72 moves to the retracted position by its own weight, while the locking mechanism 91 holds and restrains the concealed part 72 in the concealed position by moving the concealed part 72 from the retracted position to the concealed position. When moving the concealed part 72 to the concealed position, there is a risk of it coming into contact with the hook surface 2a, so it is preferable that the concealed part 72 has a protruding part such as a handle.

[0093] Figure 6 is a perspective view from the front showing the steamer stored in the stand according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0094] As shown in Figure 6, the bottom plate portion 85 of the stand 1 according to this embodiment has a shape that avoids the roller 79 located furthest forward among the multiple rollers 79, that is, the roller 79 furthest from the power plug 6. The shape of the bottom plate portion 85 that avoids this roller 79 prevents the concealed portion 72 from covering the entire bottom surface of the front part of the soleplate 2a, even when it is in a concealed position. In other words, the bottom plate portion 85 is at the front of the soleplate 2a, and is at the deepest part of the recessed space formed by the stored steamer 2 and the stand 1, exposing a part of the soleplate 2a. That is, the bottom plate portion 85 is recessed in the front-rear direction of the stand body portion 71 and has a portion 85a that is close to the roller 79. Therefore, unless the user intentionally inserts their fingers, their fingers will not reach the part of the soleplate 2a that is exposed and not covered by the bottom plate 85, thus ensuring sufficient safety. At the same time, the partial exposure of the soleplate 2a at that point promotes the cooling of the soleplate 2a of the stored steamer 2.

[0095] The stand 1 for the steamer 2 according to this embodiment, as described above, comprises a stand body 71 that supports the steamer 2 by covering a part of the soleplate 2a at the position where the power receiving unit 2b of the steamer 2 is connected to the power plug 6 of the stand 1, and a concealing part 72 that covers a part of the remaining soleplate 2a of the steamer 2 supported by the stand body 71, or the entire remaining soleplate 2a. Therefore, the stand 1 can conceal a part of the soleplate 2a of the steamer 2, for example, the central and rear parts, by embedding them in the mounting recess 75, while concealing the remaining part of the soleplate 2a of the steamer 2, for example, a part or the entire front part, with the concealing part 72. In other words, the stand 1 does not cause a decrease in safety due to the exposure of the soleplate 2a of the steamer 2 when it is stored, and can provide a high level of safety for the steamer 2 when it is stored. The stand 1 reliably prevents a decrease in safety caused by the user intentionally or accidentally touching the exposed portion of the heated soleplate 2a.

[0096] Furthermore, the stand 1 according to this embodiment is equipped with a concealed portion 72 that can move between a concealed position that covers the soleplate 2a and a retracted position that exposes the soleplate 2a. Therefore, when the concealed portion 72 is retracted, the stand 1 provides the same convenience as a conventional stand, while when the concealed portion 72 covers the soleplate 2a, it does not cause a decrease in safety due to the exposure of the soleplate 2a of the stored steamer 2 in situations where a conventional stand might compromise safety, thus providing a high level of safety for the stored steamer 2.

[0097] Furthermore, the stand 1 according to this embodiment is equipped with a locking mechanism 91 that holds the concealed part 72 in a retracted position, while simultaneously releasing the hold on the concealed part 72 so that the concealed part 72 can move to the concealed position. Therefore, when storing the steamer 2 in the stand body 71, the user does not need to hold the concealed part 72 in the retracted position themselves, and the steamer 2 can be stored in the stand 1 with a storage operation equivalent to that of a conventional stand. Moreover, after storing the steamer 2 in the stand body 71, the safety of the stored steamer 2 can be easily enhanced by concealing the soleplate 2a with the concealed part 72 simply by releasing the locking mechanism 91.

[0098] Furthermore, the stand 1 according to this embodiment includes a detachment restricting unit 99 that prevents the steamer 2 from detaching from the stand body 71 by preventing the connection between the power plug 6 and the power receiving unit 2b from being released, thereby restricting the relative movement between the steamer 2 and the stand body 71. As a result, the stand 1 enables easy transport of the steamer in its portable configuration with a stand. In addition, it prevents the steamer 2 from unexpectedly and easily detaching from the stand 1 when the soleplate 2a is still hot, thus preventing situations such as a child accidentally picking up the steamer 2 while the soleplate 2a is still hot and suffering burns.

[0099] Furthermore, the stand 1 according to this embodiment includes a pivot support 98 that supports the concealed part 72 on the stand body 71 so that the concealed part 72 can swing between a concealed position and a retracted position. Therefore, the stand 1 can cover or expose the soleplate 2a with the concealed part 72, which rotates smoothly according to the angle between the downward slope of the mounting recess 75 and the horizontal plane. In other words, the stand 1 can more reliably conceal the heated soleplate 2a as intended by the user.

[0100] Therefore, with the stand 1 for the steamer 2 according to this embodiment, the steamer 2 can be removed as easily as with conventional stands, while the safety of the heated soleplate 2a can be easily enhanced when the steamer 2 is stored inside.

[0101] While several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be carried out in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims of the invention and its equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0102] 1...Stand, 2...Steamer, 2a...Soleplate, 2b...Power receiving unit, 3...Power cord, 5...Plug unit, 6...Power plug, 6a...Outer shell, 8...Main body cover, 8t...Top, 9...Grip, 9f...Front riser, 9r...Rear riser, 9c...Grip, 11...Tank, 12...Heater, 12c...Bent section, 13...Vaporization chamber, 15...Steam outlet, 16...Steam outlet, 16t...Top, 2 1...Heat quantity setting button, 22...Steam quantity setting button, 25...Temperature display unit, 26...Liquid inlet cover, 27...Liquid inlet, 31...Tank cover, 32...Tank base, 35...Base plate, 35a...Center part, 35b...Outer edge part, 36...Fastening member, 37...Vaporization chamber compartment, 37a...Recess, 38...Fastening member, 39...Vaporization chamber cover, 41...Liquid inlet, 42...Steam diffusion chamber, 43...Connecting hole, 51...Pump, 52...DC motor, 53...Overheating prevention device, 55...Circuit board, 56...Temperature detection unit, 57...Steam outlet cover, 58...Water supply path, 61...High temperature section chamber, 62...Low temperature section chamber, 63...Packing, 65...Side wall section, 66...Water level window, 66a...First section, 66b...Second section, 66c...Curved section, 67...Dummy window, 71...Base main body section, 72...Concealed section, 75... Mounting recess, 76... Plug housing recess, 77... Cord outlet recess, 79... Roller, 81... Fitting recess, 82... Fitting body, 83... Spring, 85... Bottom plate, 85a... Part of the bottom plate adjacent to the roller, 86... Vertical wall, 87... Protrusion, 91... Locking mechanism, 92... First claw, 93... Second claw, 95... Operating piece, 96... Spring, 98... Pivot support, 99... Release restricting part.

Claims

1. A power supply unit capable of supplying electricity, A steamer comprising a soleplate having a steam ejection hole and a power receiving unit connected to the power supply unit to receive power for heating the soleplate, the steamer having a main body that covers a part of the soleplate at the position where the power receiving unit is connected to the power supply unit, A stand for a steamer, comprising: a concealing portion that covers a portion of the remaining soleplate of the steamer supported by the main body, or the entire remaining portion of the soleplate.

2. The stand for a steamer according to claim 1, wherein the concealed portion is movable between a concealed position that covers the soleplate and a retracted position that exposes the soleplate.

3. The steamer stand according to claim 2, comprising a locking mechanism that holds the concealed portion in the retracted position, while releasing the hold so that the concealed portion can move to the concealed position.

4. The steamer stand according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the concealed portion has a detachment restricting portion that prevents the steamer from detaching from the main body by preventing the connection between the power supply portion and the power receiving portion from being released, thereby restricting the relative movement between the steamer and the main body.

5. A stand for a steamer according to claim 2 or 3, comprising a pivot support that supports the concealed part on the main body so that the concealed part can swing between the concealed position and the retracted position.

6. A steamer stand according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A steamer with a stand, comprising the aforementioned steamer.

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