Flexible textile steamer

Abstract

An appliance (10) for treating a textile, the appliance (10) comprising a textile contact surface (8) adapted to interact with the textile to be treated. The appliance (10) comprises both a boiler (5) for generating steam and a fan (1) for blowing air via an air outlet (7).

Description

FLEXIBLE TEXTILE STEAMERTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an appliance for treating a textile, in particular an appliance using steam, suction and in some instances also fragrance to treat a textile.BACKGROUND

[0002] Textiles, such as garments and home textiles, may be wrinkled. Wrinkles may be removed by ironing with an iron. A different approach for removing wrinkles from textiles is by means of a garment steamer. A steamer may be used for touching up garments prior to use of the garments. In a garment steamer, steam is produced and the steam is emitted from the garment steamer onto a textile. A user directs the steamer, or a part thereof, along a textile to be treated.

[0003] Another problem related to textiles is the odour retained after use for just a few hours, for example, in a restaurant or during home office hours. This odour can be removed using steam, which is enhanced by the suction produced because the steam penetrates the textile faster. Alternatively, or in combination with both technologies mentioned, deodorant fragrances can be added to the appliance to remove bad smells. This kind of cleaning can be called “refresh” and can substitute for a few washing and drying cycles. This process can increase the lifespan of textiles because the appliance does not damage the clothes through friction with the washing machine and other clothes. The steaming is applied only for a few minutes without the movement of the textiles, unlike a tumble dryer, where the temperature is applied for more than an hour, causing well-known damage to the colours and surface appearance, thereby decreasing the lifespan of clothes.

[0004] A steamer for treating textiles is described in WO2013 / 164275. The steamer described in WO2013 / 164275 is configured to direct an airflow in a direction being directed away from a normal of thetextile contact surface. In other words, air is blown in a direction along the textile to be treated such that the airflow direction has a vector component being parallel to a textile contact surface of the steamer.

[0005] In the field of textile care, there is a constant desire to provide improved and or alternative appliances for treating a textile.SUMMARY

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide an appliance for treating a textile which facilitates reduction of wrinkles in a textile.

[0007] Other objects of the invention can include removing bad smell and / or refresh a garment and / or more efficiently refresh a textile by the combined effect of steam plus air flow and / or to provide an appliance with a high degree of flexibility, in that it can provide both steam and air flow, or one at the time

[0008] One or many objects above and / or others is obtained by the present invention by the appliance as set out in the appended claims.

[0009] In accordance with the invention, a handheld appliance for treating a textile is provided. The appliance comprises a textile contact surface adapted to interact with the textile to be treated. The appliance further comprising a fan, a pump, a water reservoir and a boiler configured to generate steam from water pumped by the pump from the water reservoir. The appliance has an air inlet, and an air outlet. In the appliance the air outlet is arranged adjacent to or at the textile contact surface, and wherein the air outlet is arranged to direct an airflow in an airflow direction directed away from a normal of the textile contact surface such that a vacuum force is generated that draws a textile towards the textile contact surface (8) when the textile contact surface (8) contacts a textile. Further, the fan is configured to draw air from the air inlet towards the air outlet, and the boiler is configured to generate steam from water in the water reservoir. Hereby a handheld appliance comprising both a boiler for generating steam and a fan forgenerating a stretching vacuum can be provided. Because both the boiler for generating steam and the fan are located inside the appliance, there is no need for hoses to be connected to the appliance and a very easy to use appliance for treating a textile without the use of an iron can be provided.

[0010] In accordance with one embodiment, the appliance comprises a scent module. Hereby it is possible to add perfume to the garments, which can have deodorant properties and / or softener properties.

[0011] In accordance with one embodiment, the appliance comprises a handle and the air inlet is located in the handle. Hereby an efficient implementation of the air flow inside the appliance can be obtained.

[0012] In accordance with some embodiments, the air outlet is configured to direct the airflow in a direction with an angle to the textile contact surface within the range of 20° forward, away from the appliance, and 30° backward, towards the appliance. Hereby a good stretching force can be provided in that the textile is drawn towards the textile contact surface with a high vacuum force provided by the air flow. In an advantageous embodiment, the air outlet is configured to direct the airflow in a direction with an angle to the textile contact surface within the range of parallel to the textile contact surface at 0° and 10° backward towards the appliance. In particular, the air outlet is configured to direct the airflow in a direction parallel to the textile contact surface.

[0013] In accordance with some embodiments, the air outlet is arranged along the entire perimeter of the textile contact surface or at least 70% thereof. Hereby an efficient vacuum force can be obtained that draws a treated textile towards the textile contact surface to stretch the textile to be treated. Advantageously, the air outlet is about 0.1 - 2 mm wide. In particular, the air outlet can be about 0.5 mm.

[0014] In accordance with some embodiments, the appliance further comprises an initial steam outlet such that a chamber is formed between theinitial steam outlet and the textile contact surface. Hereby a more efficient steam distribution can be obtained.

[0015] The appliance forms a hand-held device that can combine steam and air blowing where both steam and an air flow is produced inside the hand-held appliance, thereby producing an improved effect of combination steam and blown air when treating a textile that is easy to use. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The various aspects of the invention, including its particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:Fig. 1 illustrates an appliance in accordance with a first embodiment,Fig. 2 illustrates an appliance in accordance with a second embodiment,Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a cross section of an appliance according to a first design, and,Fig. 4 schematically illustrates a cross section of an appliance according to a second design.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments are shown. However, this invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Disclosed features of example embodiments may be combined as readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Well-known functions or constructions will not necessarily be described in detail for brevity and / or clarity.

[0018] Below a handheld appliance that can be used as a steamer is described. Instead of using a hose to carry the airflow, as for example inWO2013 / 164275, a small air-blowing motor without a hose, reducing the pressure drop caused by the use of hose is employed. This smaller motor produces less noise, and the developed structure helps to decrease the noise as well by reducing air flow turbulence. Additionally, the hose, which is not used in the handheld appliance, is also responsible for increasing the noise.

[0019] The steam is produced using a boiler inside the appliance that generates steam. The steam is directly in contact with the clothes, eliminating the need for a hose and significantly reducing heat loss. This increases the appliance’s performance to the same level as traditional ironing for almost all fabrics, reduces energy consumption up to 50% compared to a traditional iron and can decrease the weight significantly. Thus, it is possible to achieve a garment steamer that is portable, and that effortlessly can reduce ironing time. At the same time, it can offer the same performance in removing wrinkles as a traditional iron.

[0020] The device can advantageously be used to treat a textile / garment hanging in a vertical direction. Accordingly, the surface facing a treated textile / garment is in use in a vertical direction as opposed to an iron where the surface of the iron treats the garment normally being in a horizontal direction. When ironing the textile to be treated also needs to be supported by for example an ironing board, table or similar horizontal surface. Such a supporting surface is not needed using a hand-held appliance as described herein.

[0021] In Fig. 1, an appliance 10 for treating textiles in accordance with a first embodiment is depicted. The appliance 10 may be used for treating a textile, such as a garment, in particular for stretching the textile, e.g. to remove wrinkles from the textile. The appliance 10 comprises a textile contact surface 8 that a user can apply to a textile in order to remove wrinkles.

[0022] The appliance 10 in accordance with the embodiment depicted in Fig. 1 is powered via a cord 13. A user can hold the appliance 10 in ahandle 14, such that the appliance can be hand-held.

[0023] In Fig. 2, an appliance 10 for treating textiles in accordance with a second embodiment is depicted. The appliance 10 is similar to the appliance 10 in accordance with Fig.l however the appliance 10 in accordance with the embodiment of Fig. 2 has the air flowing through the handle 14. The appliance depicted in Fig. 2 comprises a textile contact surface 8. The textile contact surface 8 can be substantially circular by may alternatively have a different shape, such as oval, elongated, square, or triangular. The textile contact surface 8 is provided with an air outlet 7. The airflow in the airflow direction from the air outlet 7 is away from a normal of the textile contact surface 8. The airflow direction forms an angle to the textile contact surface 8. The angle can typically be around 0°, in other words parallel to the treated textile. In accordance with some embodiments the angle can be about 10° in a backward angle, i.e. towards the appliance 10. In accordance with some embodiments the angle is from a 10° backward angle to a 10° forward angle (away from the appliance 10) or in the range 20° forward and 30° backward.

[0024] The air outlet 7 can be located at the rim of the textile contact surface 8. The air outlet 7 can be provided at any location(s) at the rim of the textile contact surface 8. In accordance with one embodiment the air outlet 7 is arranged along the entire perimeter of the textile contact surface 8. For example, the air outlet can be arranged with an air outlet of about 0.5mm (0.1 - 2 mm or advantageously 0.3 - 0.7 mm) all around the perimeter of the textile contact surface 8. In accordance with one embodiment a section of the perimeter is closed with an air outlet. The section can be a small fraction of the perimeter such as 30% or less of the perimeter such that the air outlet covers at least 70% or the perimeter. In accordance with some embodiments, multiple air outlets 7 are provided. The air outlet 7 can be configured such that a vacuum force is generated that draws a textile towards the textilecontact surface 8 when a textile is placed in contact with the textile contact surface (8). Typically, the air outlet can then be formed such that the air flow from the air outlet is directed in (at least) two opposite directions from the normal of the textile contact surface 8. The textile can then be stretched by this vacuum force.

[0025] Further, the handle 14 in the embodiment of Fig. 2 is provided with an air inlet 6. Fig. 2 also depicts steam outlets 12 that can be provided on the textile contact surface 8. The steam outlets 12 can be located along a straight line.

[0026] Fig. 3 illustrates schematically a cross section of an appliance 10 according to an exemplary embodiment. As set out above, the appliance 10 may be used for treating a textile, such as a garment, in particular to remove wrinkles from the textile.

[0027] The appliance 10 also comprises a pump 2. The pump 2 can be externally powered by a cord as in the embodiment in Fig. 1 or the pump 2 can be internally powered by a battery 11 or similar as in the embodiment in Fig. 2. The appliance 10 further comprises a water reservoir 4 and a boiler (heater) 5. Water can be filled into the water reservoir 4 by a user and heated by the boiler 5 to produce steam. The steam produced by the boiler 5 is pumped towards the textile contact surface 8 such that steam can exit via the textile contact surface 8. Thus, steam produced by the boiler 5 is moved from the boiler 5 to the textile contact surface 8 by the pump 2. At the textile contact surface 8 steam can exit via the steam outlets 12.

[0028] In accordance with some embodiments, an initial steam outlet 9 can be provided. The initial steam outlet 9 can output steam into a chamber located between the initial steam outlet 9 and the textile contact surface 8. The chamber can be used to avoid condensation because it can have holes in a conical shape inclined downward, allowing gravity to help the water that is not yet steam to return to the boiler, ensuring that only steam comes intocontact with the clothes. The material of the steam outlet and chamber is preferably ceramic or metal to better maintain the temperature and avoid condensation, as all components will be at almost the same temperature when the steam is produced.

[0029] Thus, steam can be produced internally inside the appliance 10 and pumped towards the textile contact surface 8 where the steam can exit the appliance 10 to come into contact with a textile being treated.

[0030] The steam can be applied together with an airstream generated inside the appliance 10 by the fan 1 that is directed through the air outlet 7 in an airflow direction away from a normal of the textile contact surface 8. Thus, the airflow is directed having a component along the textile to be treated. The airflow from the outlet 7 draws air between the textile and the textile contact surface with it in an airflow direction towards the textile contact surface 8 forming a kind of vacuum effect that draws the textile towards the textile contact surface 8. Put differently, the airflow from the air outlet 7 causes the textile to abut against the textile contact surface 8. Simultaneously, the textile is stretched by the airflow from the air outlet 7 being directed in different directions. The steam emitted from the textile contact surface 8 is emitted towards the textile as it is being stretched by the airflow from the air outlet 7. In this manner, wrinkles may be removed, at least to a large extent, from a textile.

[0031] In order to produce the airflow from the air outlet 7, the appliance 10 comprises a fan 1 driven by a motor. The motor of the fan 1 can be externally powered by a cord as in the embodiment in Fig. 1 or the fan motor 1 can be internally powered by a battery or similar as in the embodiment in Fig. 2. The fan is configured to draw air from an air inlet 6. The air drawn from the air inlet is then directed to the air outlet 7 in the manner described above.

[0032] In accordance with some embodiments a scent module can bepresent in the appliance 10. The scent module 3 can be configured to add ascent to the air blown out via the air outlet 7. The scent module 3 can be configured to add the scent at any location from the air inlet 6 to the air outlet 7. For example, a scent can be added to the air inlet 6, the air outlet 7, after the fan 1 or at the water reservoir 4, or somewhere else inside the appliance 10. Hereby the appliance 10 can be used to refresh the clothes, removing odour, adding perfume, and eliminating microorganisms.

[0033] In Fig. 4, another design of the appliance is depicted. In the embodiment of Fig. 4, the fan 1 is located in the handle as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2. The battery 11 can then be located in the handle.

[0034] The positions of the fan 1, the pump 2, the water reservoir 4, the air inlet 6, and the air outlet 7 can vary. In Figures 3 and 4 two different configurations are depicted in exemplary embodiments be different from the drawings. For example, the water reservoir can be placed in the handle, above the heating system, or in other positions.

[0035] The appliance described herein can provide a portable steamer with suction to treat textiles. The portability can typically be achieved through the use of a small air-blowing motor (a fan), and a boiler for producing steam from a water reservoir located inside the appliance. Thus, the appliance comprises inside a casing both a fan for blowing air and also a steam generating arrangement formed by a boiler and a water reservoir. The steam and the airflow generated inside the appliance can then be directed to a textile at a textile contact surface of the appliance to treat a textile. This design reduces energy consumption by eliminating hoses, which decreases heat loss and pressure drop. The design also enables smaller components which also reduce energy consumption compared to stationary solutions. In use, the air flow will stretch the fabric. When steam is added the treatment of the fabric / textile can be sped-up. Also, the stretching of the fabric / textile will be improved.

[0036] Therefore, this appliance delivers better performance in treating textiles, reducing energy consumption, and doing so effortlessly. Further, the fact that the appliance is portable makes it more user-friendly and the appliance can be used in additional locations.

[0037] The appliance is also versatile, since the air flow function and the steamer function can be used separately- For example, a user can use only the airflow to dry textiles. This function can be used horizontally or vertically. Further, it is possible to use only the steam and it can be used vertically or horizontally. Regardless of mode of operation it is in case a scent module is present, possible to add perfume to the garments, which can have deodorant properties and / or softener properties.

[0038] Although the invention has been described with reference to example embodiments, many different alterations, modifications and the like will become apparent for those skilled in the art. The appliance may be used for treating a relevant textile after the textile has been treated with steam in a preceding steam treatment step.

Claims

REIVINDICACOES1. A handheld appliance (10) for treating a textile, the appliance (2) comprising a textile contact surface (8) adapted to interact with the textile to be treated, the appliance (10) further comprising- a fan (1)- a pump (2)- a water reservoir (4)- a boiler(5) configured to generate steam from water pumped by the pump (2) from the water reservoir (4) to the boiler,- an air inlet (6), and- an air outlet (7)whereinthe air outlet (7) is arranged adjacent to or at the textile contact surface (8), and wherein the air outlet (7) is arranged to direct an airflow in an airflow direction directed away from a normal of the textile contact surface (8) such that a vacuum force is generated that draws a textile towards the textile contact surface (8) when the textile contact surface (8) contacts a textile, and whereinthe fan is configured to draw air from the air inlet (6) towards the air outlet (7), and wherein the boiler is configured to generate steam from water in the water reservoir.

2. The appliance (10) according to claim 1, wherein the appliance comprises a scent module (3).

3. The appliance (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the appliance comprises a handle (14) and wherein the air inlet (6) is located in the handle.

4. The appliance (10) according to any one of claims 1 - 3, wherein air outlet (7) is configured to direct the airflow in a direction with an angle to the textile contact surface (8) within the range of 20° forward awayfrom the appliance (10) and 30° backward towards the appliance (10).

5. The appliance (10) according to claim 4, wherein air outlet (7) is configured to direct the airflow in a direction with an angle to the textile contact surface (8) within the range of parallel to the textile contact surface (8) at 0° and 10° backward towards the appliance (10).

6. The appliance (10) according to claim 5, wherein air outlet (7) is configured to direct the airflow in a direction parallel to the textile contact surface (8).

7. The appliance (10) according to any one of claims 1 - 6, wherein the air outlet (7) is arranged along the entire perimeter or at least 70 % of the textile contact surface (8).

8. The appliance (10) according to claim 7, wherein air outlet (7) is about 0.1 - 2 mm wide.

9. The appliance (10) according to claim 8, wherein air outlet (7) is about 0.5 mm wide.

10. The appliance (10) according to any one of claims 1 - 9, further comprising an initial steam outlet (9) such that a chamber is formed between the initial steam outlet (9) and the textile contact surface (8).

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