Wallpaper steamer

Abstract: The steamer for use in wallpaper stripping comprises a housing (1) of two-part clam shell construction (18, 19), a base portion (4) with a floor and a peripheral wall (5) to form a chamber (6) open at one face. The clam shells (18, 19) are contoured to receive the base portion (4) at the open end of the housing to close that end. The clam shells (18, 19) are shaped to form a handle (13) spaced from the base portion (4) and extending in a direction generally parallel to the base portion (4). The clam shells (18, 19) are also shaped to accommodate a removable water tank (2).

Description: This invention relates to a hand-held wallpaper steamer for use in stripping wallpaper and other surface coverings secured to a surface by a heat and/or moisture softenable adhesive. US Patent No. 1,518,454 describes and claims a wall paper removing machine comprising a steam generator, a frame supported by the steam generator provided with a back wall having an opening through which steam from the generator may pass, radial perforate pipes in the frame secured to the back wall and communicating with the opening therein so that steam from the generator will be distributed to the radial pipes and be discharged into all parts of the frame at the same pressure, and a packing around the edge of the frame to contact with the wallpaper so that the steam issuing from the pipes will be confined within the area bounded by the packing. Handheld steam apparatus are also known from UK Patent No. 2,150,160 and US Patent No. 3,620,055, which are directed to fabric steamers rather than wallpaper strippers. The invention relates particularly to a steamer intended for use by a handyman and must, therefore, be comfortable to hold when being used. The steamer must also be of a construction that enables it to be manufactured economically. The steamer must also be effective and reliable and be easy to operate. Generated steam must be capable of being applied without waste to a desired area of wall covering. According to the present invention, a hand-held, wallpaper steamer for use in a wallpaper stripping comprises a housing accommodating a base open at one face to form a chamber with a peripheral wall which is placed against wallpaper to be stripped, the housing having, between its ends, a column extending away from the base, being contoured on one face to receive a removable water tank and on another face to form a handle that is spaced from the base and extends in a direction generally parallel thereto. The hand-held wallpaper steamer according to the invention preferably comprises a housing of two-part clam shell construction, the clam shells being contoured to receive the base portion and to form a handle spaced from the base and extending in a direction generally parallel to the base portion. The hand-held wallpaper steamer embodying the invention preferably further comprises a steam generator located in the housing and having a series of spaced steam outlets, the floor having a surface that faces inwardly of the housing and which carries a series of spaced apertured bosses that provide communication from the steam outlets into the chamber. An embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from the front, one side and above of the embodiment, Figure 2 is a perspective view similar to that of Figure 1 but with one part shown separated from the remainder of the embodiment, Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view from one side with a part removed to reveal the position of certain internal components, Figure 4 is a general assembly sectional view of the embodiment, Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 are, respectively, a view from one side, a view from the opposite side, a rear view and a front view of a part of the housing of the embodiment, Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 are, respectively, a view from one side, a view from the opposite side, a front view and a rear view of another part of the housing of the embodiment. The embodiment now to be described is suitable for steaming wallpaper prior to stripping the paper with a conventional stripping knife. However, the embodiment may also be used when stripping other surface coverings secured to the surface by heat and/or moisture softenable adhesives. The embodiment comprises a hand-held steamer with an "on-board" water supply that is replenishable by a user as necessary. As can be seen from Figures 1, 2 and 3, the embodiment includes a housing 1 contoured to accommodate a detachable water tank 2, a steam generator 3 and a base portion 4 with a peripheral wall 5, thereby forming a downwardly-open (as viewed in Figures 1, 2 and 3) chamber 6, hereinafter referred to as a steam chamber. Water from water tank 2 is pumped into a water chamber in the steam generator by an electrically powered pump shown diagrammatically at 7. Energisation of pump 7 is controlled by an electric switch 8 operated by a rocker arm 9. Steam from the steam generator 3 leaves the latter via exit holes in its lower face and emerges into the steam chamber via connectors described below. The housing 1 includes a central column portion 10 which extends away from the base portion 4 and has a forward projection 11 beneath which the water tank 2 is located on a flat part 12 of the housing 1. Extending rearwardly from the uppermost part of portion 10 is a handle 13 of generally cylindrical shape and which terminates in a flat end 14 of triangular shape and which is part of the housing 1 thereby forming a handle of a closed loop configuration. The cross-sectional size of the handle 13 in a plane transverse to its length is much smaller than that rear face of portion 10 from which the handle 13 extends. As can be seen, the upper surface (as seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3) of projection 11 is contoured as at 15 to accommodate the rocker arm 9 that operates the switch 8. Located in the forward projection 11 of the housing 1 is a catch 16 for retaining the water tank 2 in the position in which it is shown in Figure 1. As will be explained in more detail below, catch 16 can be actuated by a user to release the water tank 2 prior to detaching the tank from the housing. The catch 16 is so contoured that it is displaced by the tank 2 on initial movement of the latter into the position shown in Figure 1. On final movement of the tank 2, the catch 16 automatically returns to a tank retaining position. The housing 1 has, on both sides, air holes 17 which allow air to circulate within it so limiting heat transfer from the steam generator 3 to the housing 1. The water tank 2 is of generally cubic form but is contoured to blend in with the contours of the housing 1 when in position thereon. The upper wall 21 of the water tank 2 has a filler hole 22 normally closed by a removable stopper 23. The upper wall 21 also has a rectangular recess 24 which cooperates with catch 16 to retain the water tank in position on the housing 1. The rear wall 25 is recessed as at 26 to accommodate a connector 27 forming part of a water inlet tube 28 inside the water tank 2 and described in more detail below. The connector 27 automatically engages with a short nozzle 29 of pump 7 in the portion 10 of the housing 1 as the water tank 2 reaches its fully home position on the housing. The nozzle 29 is the output nozzle of pump 7 and is joined by a connector tube 30 to an inlet 31 of the steam generator 3. The housing 1 is of clam shell construction and is formed by two clam shells 18 and 19 which abut along a vertical fore and aft plane through the middle of the steamer. The line is indicated at 20 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The clam shells 18, 19 are moulded from a suitable plastics material for example talc filled polypropylene and are contoured on one face - the inner face - to support the components mounted inside the housing formed when the clam shells are placed together. The clam shells 18, 19 are generally similar as regards their external faces, each providing one half of the following parts of the housing 1 - central portion 10, the forward projection 11, the flat part 12, the handle 13 and the flat end 14. In Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8, which show the left-hand clam shell 18, the portions thereof that make up the parts just listed are indexed 10A, 11A, 12A, 13A and 14A. A similar system in identification is used in Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 which show the right hand clam shell 19, except that the letter B is used instead of the letter A. The clam shells 18, 19 are contoured in such manner that, when placed together in mating relationship, they provide the generally "wedge" shape of the housing 1 when seen from the front or rear, i.e. the gradual inwardly tapering from the lower and widest part to the upper and narrowest part. That configuration can be seen in Figs. 7, 8 and 11, 12. Clam shell 18 (Fig. 6) has a groove 32 round the major part of its periphery. The inner face (that visible in Fig. 6) of clam shell 18 has a number of ribs projecting from it of which ribs 33, together with correspondingly numbered ribs on clam shell 19, support switch 8 and rocker arm 9, semi-circular recesses 34 in those ribs providing bearing surfaces for the rocker arm 9 as will be described below. The switch 8 is supported in a recessed portion 33A of one of the ribs 33 and is held in position, as will be described below, by the engagement of resilient fingers on the switch 8 in channels 33B above and below (as viewed in Fig. 6) the recessed portion 33A. Adjacent the recesses 34, the clam shell is cut away as at 35 to give access to the upper surface of the rocker arm 9. Further ribs 36, 37, together with corresponding ribs on clam shell 19, together define the location of pump 7. An additional small rib 37A helps to support the pump 7. In the portion 11A of clam shell 18 is a transverse rib 38 which, together with a corresponding rib 38 in clam shell 19, forms one wall of a compartment in which the catch 16 is housed. A support stub 39 formed in the compartment forms with a corresponding stub in clam shell 19, a mounting for the water tank retaining catch 16. Ribs 40 extend radially from the stub 39 to strengthen portion 11 and to support the catch 16. Adjacent the stub 39 the clam shell is cut away as at 41 to receive part of the catch 16. As can be seen from Fig. 5, the edge of the clam shell 18 beneath the portion 11A is bevelled as indicated at 32A, the bevel extending down the edge of the portion 10A and along the edge of the portion 12A. The bevel is continued outwards for a short distance by a narrow flange 32B. Within the handle portion 13A of clam shell 18 is one half of a cable entry 42 adjacent which is a moulding 43 for the reception of a jaw (not shown) and which, together with moulding 43, forms a cable clamp. Gaps 44 in a transverse rib 45 allow passage of electric cables as will be described below. Round its lower edge, the clam shell 18 is stepped as at 46 to receive a corresponding stepped edge of the base portion 4 as will be described in more detail below. Beneath rib 37, one edge of the clam shell 18 has a semi-circular recess 47, the adjacent face of the clam shell also being recessed as indicated at 48. The step 46 is extended upwardly for a short distance at the lower rear of downturn 14A as indicated at 46A. The internal face of clam shell 18 also has bosses 49 with downwardly open blind bores (not shown) and further sets of ribs 50 to 56 which assist in the support and location of the steam generator 3. The rear face of the downturn 14A is formed with a semi-circular recess at 57 to receive a neon indicating lamp as will be described below. To enable the clam shells 18, 19 to be secured together, a screw boss 59 is provided through the wall of the shell 18. In addition, stub 39 also has a bore to receive a securing screw. Referring now to Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 which show the right hand clam shell 19, it will be observed that the external face (that shown in Fig. 9) is generally similar to that of the left-hand clam shell 18 as shown in Fig. 5. The inner face of clam shell 19 is shown in Fig. 10. Round the major part of the periphery of that face is a rib 60 that locates in the groove 32 on clam shell 18 when the clam shells are mated. As can be seen from Fig. 9, the edge of clam shell 19 beneath the portion 11B is bevelled as indicated at 60A, the bevel extending down the edge of the portion 10B and along the edge of the portion 12B. The bevel continues outwardly for a short distance as a narrow flange 60B. As with the inner face of clam shell 18, that of clam shell 19 has a number of ribs projecting from it in positions corresponding with those of clam shell 18 and the same reference numbers have been used to denote corresponding ribs. Thus, in Fig. 10, ribs 33 assist in supporting switch 8 and rocker arm 9, the semi-circular recesses 34 on those ribs completing the bearing surfaces for the rocker arm. Adjacent the recesses 34, clam shell 19 is cut away as at 35 to complete the access to the upper surface of the rocker arm 9. Ribs 36, 37, corresponding with the similarly numbered ribs on clam shell 18, complete the definition of the location of the water pump 7 and a further small rib 37A provides support for the pump. Transverse rib 38 on clam shell 19 co-operates with rib 38 on clam shell 18 to form the wall of the compartment in which catch 16 is housed. Support stub 39 on clam shell 19 completes the support for the catch 16. Support stub 39 on clam shell 19 is contoured to engage the end of the corresponding stub 39 on clam shell 18 and has a stepped external configuration to engage and locate a part of the tank catch 16 as will be described below. Clam shell 19 also has ribs 40 corresponding with those on clam shell 18 and is also cut away in a corresponding manner at 41. Clam shell 19 also has ribs 52 to 56 which provide support and location for the steam generator 3 and corresponds with the correspondingly numbered ribs on clam shell 18. Clam shell 19 has the other half of the cable entry 42 and also has an adjacent rib 61 which bridges the gaps 44 in the rib 45 of clam shell 18. The contour of the lower edge of clam shell 19 corresponds with that of claim shell 18 being stepped at 46. Step 46 on clam shell 19 is also extended upwardly for a short distance at the lower rear of downturn 14A as indicated at 46A. There is a recess 47 in the edge of clam shell 19 and the adjacent face of the clam shell is also recessed as indicated at 48. As with clam shell 18, the rear face of the downturn 14B has a semi-circular recess 57 to complete the space provided to receive the neon indicator. A screw hole 59A in clam shell 19 permits the passage through the wall of the shell of one of the screws that holds the clam shells together. Support boss 39 is also apertured to receive a securing screw. The base portion 4 of the embodiment is of generally rectangular form when seen in plan. The base portion 4 which is of a plastics material, for example a glass fibre reinforced thermosetting polyester, or a thermoplastic polyester which is preferably glass fibre reinforced, has the peripheral wall 5 whose external shape is contoured to merge smoothly with the lower surface of the clam shells 18 and 19 when those parts are assembled together. To assemble the components described above in the housing 1, the rocker arm 9 is located in the cut away 35 in clam shell 18, the bosses 134 being positioned in the semi-circular recess 34. The inclined surfaces of the rocker arm 9 are accessible to a user through the cut away 35, and pivotal movement is limited by the flanges which locate within the clam shells. The switch 8 is then seated in the recessed portion 33A of the rib 33 with the switch terminals pointing towards the cable outlet 42 and the rocker lying in the path of the extension 135 of the rocker arm 9. The pump 7 is located in the compartment above the rib 37 with the nozzle 191 pointing downward (as viewed in Figure 4) and the outlet 29 extending through the adjacent wall of the clam shell 18 via recess 47. In this orientation, the electrical connectors 173 are positioned just below the horizontal part of rib 33. Tank catch 16 is secured in place by inserting the tubular support 153 over the bearing stub 39 so that the serrated surface 164 is accessible through cut away 41 and the hooked end 163 engages the nose of the clam shell 18 adjacent the cut away, i.e. the catch 16 is in the position shown in Figure 4. The assembled steam generator 3 is then mounted upon the base portion 4. With the base portion in position a gasket seal/connector 118 is placed over each of nozzles 70 and 76, the interconnections 120 being pressed over the nozzles 70 and 76, and the gasket portion 121 seating on the boss 68. The steam generator 7 is then placed in position with the ears 86 seated upon the bosses 68. In so doing, the nozzles 111 of the steam generator engage into the interconnections 120. Screws are then entered through the ears 86 and screwed into the bores in the bosses 68 to secure the steam generator to the base portion 4. The base portion is then engaged with clam shell 18, the stepped edge 65 engaging with the correspondingly stepped edge 46 of the clam shell. These parts are secured together by screws passed upwardly through the bores of two of the bosses 24 and screwed into the bores of bosses 49 in the clam shell. After the base portion 4 has been secured to clam shell 18, the connector 30 (Figure 4) is pushed on to the outlet nozzle 191 of the pump 7. A neon indicator lamp 197 is located in the recesses 57 in the clam shells 18, 19 and electrical connections are completed between the terminals of the switch 8, terminals of the neon lamp 197, the terminals of the heating element and the conductors of the power lead 198 (Figures 3 and 4) so that when the latter is connected to a power source, the element is energised and the neon lamp lights to indicate energisation, and so that movement to its 'ON' position of the rocker 9 operates switch 8 to its 'ON' position and the coil of the pump is energised. Connected in series with the power supply to the pump is a half wave rectifier, for example a diode (not shown). The second clam shell 19 is then placed in position on clam shell 18 and the base portion 4 and secured in place by screws passed upwardly through the bores in the remaining two bosses 74 in the base portion, and other screws passed through apertures 59A in clam shell 19 and into bores in bosses 59 in the other clam shell 18. The water tank 2 is now assembled by securing the filter in the recess of fitment 144 and the latter is attached to the water outlet tube 28. The fitment 144 and the tube 28 are inserted through hole 150 in the rear wall 25 of the water tank 2 and connector 27 is pressed firmly into the hole. The inset top and rear wall 21, 25 of the water tank 2 allow the edges of the front wall and side walls to locate closely adjacent to the flanges 32B and those edges to blend with the bevels 32A can be seen, for example, in Figure 1. To use the appliance, tank 2 is filled with water via the hole 22 in the upper wall 21 of the tank 2 and the hole closed by the removable stopper 23. The tank 2 is next placed in position on the housing, care being taken to ensure that the projecting extension 29 of the pump 7 passes through the lip and into the connector. As the tank 2 is placed in position, the upper wall 21 of the tank comes into contact with the bevelled face 160 of the projection 159 and displaces it by flexing the lower part of the wall. As the tank reaches its final position, projection 159 snaps into recess 24 to hold the tank 2 in position in the housing 1. The power lead is then connected to a source of power and the neon lamp glows indicating that element 87 is energised. The user allows a short time for the steam generator to reach a working temperature and then rocker arm 9 is actuated to its 'ON' position so operating switch 8 and energising the pump. The rounded contour of the extension 135 facilitates operation of the rocker of the switch 8 as the rocker arm 9 pivots on the bosses 134. Water is pumped via connector 30 into chamber 95 where it is flashed into steam by the heat of the body 85. The generated steam flows along passages 96 and 97 to intermediate areas 98, 99 and thence to the outlet nozzles 70 where it emerges into the steam chamber 6 and rapidly fills the latter. The serpentine passages between the water chamber 95 and the nozzles 70 allow the steam to be dried so that by the time it exits from the nozzles, the moisture content is very low. At this stage, the base portion is placed against an area of wallpaper to be stripped, the edge of the peripheral wall 62 being pressed against the wallpaper. Steam confined in the chamber permeates through the wallpaper and rapidly softens the adhesive holding the wallpaper in position. The steamer is then moved to an adjoining area of wallpaper while the user scrapes off the wallpaper covering the area. It is not necessary to maintain the pump energised continuously, the user may return the rocker arm to its 'OFF' position during movement of the steamer from one area of wallpaper to another. The water capacity of the tank 2 in conjunction with the rating of the heating element 85 and the pumping rate of pump 7 is such that the steamer can be used for about 20 minutes before the tank 2 needs refilling. The pumping rate is about 25ccm/min. A water tank capacity of about 400 ccm in conjunction with a heating element rated at 1.2 kilowatts provides the time just referred to. The mass of the steam generated in conjunction with a heater of the rating mentioned vaporises water feed into chamber 95 and heats the vapour to a temperature of 120°C nominal measured in the chamber 6. Steam from the nozzles 70 enters the chamber at a pressure sufficiently high to ensure that the chamber 6 is quickly filled with steam and kept filled. This action is assisted by the recessed areas 82 and 83. The parameters just referred to allow the steamer to be of a size and weight that can be conveniently hand-held and used without excessive strain on the user. In addition, for an average wallpaper, the time that the user takes to strip an area that has just been steam treated is about equal to the time that the steamer takes to soften the adhesive in that area. The rating of the heater also means that the steamer is suitable for use in domestic premises. It will be appreciated that the bulk of the steam generator 3 is spaced from the floor 64 of the base portion 4. The ears 86 by which the generator is mounted upon the bosses 68 are thermally insulated by the parts 121 of the gasket seal/connector while the connectors 120 are interposed between the nozzles 111 of the steam generator and nozzles 70 and 76 in the floor 64 of the base portion. This ensures that the base portion which is accessible to a user always remains at a relatively low and safe temperature whilst it is in use. The steamer is normally used with the water tank 2 uppermost and in that position, it will be observed, for example from Fig. 4, that the steam generator 3 is located towards the lower end of the steam chamber 6 and that is a greater distance between the upper side of the steam chamber and the upper of the nozzles 70 and 76 than between the lower edge of the steam chamber and the lower of the nozzles 70 and 76. This siting of the generator relative to the steam chamber improves the distribution of steam in the chamber. The steamer can also be used in the removal of paper from ceilings. In that case, the chamber 6 is uppermost. Any condensation that forms on wallpaper during the steaming of an area of wallpaper on a ceiling tends to fall into the steam chamber where it collects in the gutter 66. The condensation may be discharged from the gutter 66 by simply returning the steamer to an upright position and allowing the condensation to run away.

Claims: A hand-held wallpaper steamer for use in wallpaper stripping comprising a housing (1) accommodating a base (4) open at one face to form a chamber (6) with a peripheral wall (5) which is placed against wallpaper to be stripped, a removable water tank (2), the housing (1) having, between its ends, a column (10) extending away from the base (4) and being contoured on one face to receive the water tank (2) and on another face to form a handle (13) that is spaced from the base (4) and extends in a direction generally parallel thereto. A hand-held wallpaper steamer according to claim 1 for use in stripping wallpaper, characterised in that the housing is of two-part clam shell construction, a base portion (4) open at one face to form a chamber (6) of generally rectangular shape with a peripheral wall (5) which is placed against wallpaper to be stripped, the clam shells (18, 19) also being contoured to receive the base portion (4) and to form a handle (13) spaced from the base (4) and extending in a direction generally parallel to the base portion (4). A steamer as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the one face is contoured to form a projection which extends over the water tank (2) when in position and houses means (16) for holding the water tank (2) in position. A steamer as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which the normally upper surface of the column (10) that projects from the base (4) is contoured to accommodate one or more controls for the steamer (1). A steamer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the handle (13) forms, with the housing, a closed loop. A steamer as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 in which the clam shells (18, 19) together form a hollow column (10) extending away from the open end of the housing (1), and in which the column (10) is shaped internally to receive a water pump (7) for pumping water to the steam generator. A hand-held, wallpaper steamer as claimed in claim 1 comprising a housing (1) of two-part construction and providing a base portion (4) forming a steam chamber (6) with a peripheral wall (5) and an open face which is placed against wallpaper to be stripped, a water tank (2) accommodated in the housing (1) in a manner permitting removal of the tank (2) from the housing (1), the housing (2) being adapted internally to support an electrically heated steam generator with steam outlets and an electric water pump (7) for supplying water from the tank (2) to the steam generator, and to provide communication from the steam outlets to the steam chamber. A steamer as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 in which the water tank (2) has walls that are transparent at least in part, and in which the steamer further comprises a water pump (7) and a steam generator, a feed tube in the water tank releasably connected to the inlet of the pump, the outlet of the pump being connected to the steam generator which supplied steam to the steam chamber. A steamer as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 in which the water tank and the housing have upwardly and inwardly sloping side walls, and the tank also has an upwardly and inwardly sloping front wall, there being air vents in the housing communicating with a space between the base and the steam generator.

Inventors: WILKINS PETER RAVENSCROFT, WILKINS, PETER RAVENSCROFT
Applicants: BLACK & DECKER INC, BLACK & DECKER INC.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B44C7
IPC codes: F22B1, B44C7, D06F75