Garment Steamer Head With Suction-Assisted Fabric Tension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional irons and garment steamers face issues with mobility due to their size and weight, require two-handed operation to hold the garment in place, and often cause scorching or burning as they rely on heated sole plates, while also being inefficient in steam distribution which pushes the fabric away from the treatment area.
Innovation Solution
A steamer head with a main body featuring a steam outlet and air inlet, where air suction draws the fabric against the air inlet surface and steam is applied through a separate surface, allowing for one-handed operation and improved crease removal without a heated sole plate, using a handle to orientate the steamer head and a suction mechanism to keep the fabric in place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a heated sole plate is used to remove creases, then crease removal effectiveness is improved, but the risk of scorching and burning the fabric increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the heated sole plate component from the iron, extracting the harmful heating function while retaining the steam generation capability. The steam is generated in a separate chamber and delivered through steam holes without requiring a heated surface, thus eliminating the risk of scorching and burning fabric while maintaining crease removal effectiveness through moisture and steam pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful direct contact heating into a beneficial steam-based moisture treatment. The steam provides the necessary moisture to relax fabric fibers without the damaging effects of direct high-temperature contact, turning a harmful thermal effect into a beneficial moisture-based crease removal process.
2Reliability
If the heated sole plate, heating means and steam generating means are enclosed in the main body, then the iron can function effectively, but the mobility and ease of manoeuvre deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the iron into distinct functional components: a water tank for water storage, a separate steam generation chamber, and a sole plate with steam holes. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and makes the overall structure more manageable and easier to manoeuvre while maintaining full functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent redistributes components along different spatial dimensions within the iron body. The water tank is positioned in the upper portion, the steam generation chamber in the middle, and the steam holes in the sole plate at the bottom. This dimensional arrangement optimizes weight distribution and ease of handling while ensuring proper functional operation.
3Reliability
If air vent holes are formed around steam outlet holes with vacuum pump means, then fabric is drawn against the sole plate, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex vacuum pump means and air vent hole system from the iron. Instead of using active suction to hold fabric against the sole plate, the design relies on the natural weight of the fabric and the steam pressure to maintain contact, greatly simplifying the overall device structure while achieving the same fabric contact objective.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances the effectiveness of crease removal by maintaining fabric tension and preventing steam from being directed at the user, reducing the risk of scorching and improving mobility with a lightweight design that doesn't require a heated surface.
Implementation Method 1
a suction force is applied to draw air through the air inlet
Implementation Method 2
steam is applied to the fabric of a garment through the steam outlet
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a steamer head for a garment steamer comprising a main body (2) with a front end (8), a steam outlet (11) and an air inlet (25) formed in the front end (8). A suction force is applied to draw air through the air inlet (25) so that a fabric of a garment disposed proximate the front end (8) is drawn against the front end (8) by the suction force. Further, steam is applied to the fabric of a garment through the steam outlet (11). The front end (8) of the main body (2) comprises first and second surfaces (10, 2). The steam outlet (11) is formed in the first surface (10) and the air inlet (25) is formed in the second surface (12), so that the fabric is drawn against the second surface (12) and steam is applied to the fabric at the first surface (10). The first and second surfaces (10, 12) together forma convex surface. The present invention also relates to a garment steamer comprising a 10 steamer head and a method of removing creases from a garment using a garment steamer.