Abstract:
There is provided a garment steamer for domestic use that cooperates with a variety of different attachments to provide a variety of different steam or vapor emitting effects. The garment steamer also has an ionic and/or ozone generating/emitting feature to facilitate neutralizing odor and removing undesirable particulate from a garment. The garment steamer may also have a hanger and rod assembly in which a collapsible hanger selectively cooperates with a telescopic rod, which is connected to a base, such that the hanger can be selectively positioned at any location along the height of the rod and/or disengaged from the rod. The garment steamer also includes a fluid heating assembly enclosed in the base, a separable fluid container in separable fluid communication with the fluid heating assembly, and a separable hose in separable fluid communication with the fluid heating assembly, as well as with the variety of different attachments.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a garment steamer. More particularly, the present invention relates to a transportable garment steamer providing improved efficiency, effectiveness and convenience in use. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Garment steamers for use in the home are well known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,047, U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,266, U.S. Pat. No. 4,426,857 and EP 0 079 866 each disclose a different variation on such a device. 
   None of the above, provide for a garment steamer that cooperates with a variety of different attachments to create a variety of different steam or vapor emitting effects, generates/emits a concentration of ions and/or ozone, and has a variety of other advantageous features. Such features include a collapsible/telescopic hanger/rod assembly, a separable fluid container, a separable insulated hose, as well as various safety features for improving safety in use. Thus, there is a need for a portable home garment steamer having the aforementioned features to provide greater flexibility, convenience, and efficiency in use. Also, preferably the steamer has a body that is sleek, compact, lightweight, and easily transportable. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a garment steamer for use in a home. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide such a garment steamer that is sleek, compact and lightweight. 
   It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a garment steamer that improves flexibility and efficiency in use. 
   It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a garment steamer that cooperates with a variety of different attachments for producing a variety of different steam or vapor emitting effects. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a garment steamer that has a selectively adjustable and collapsible telescopic hanger/rod assembly. 
   It is still a further object of the present invention to provide such a garment steamer that has an ion and/or ozone generating/emitting feature. 
   These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by a garment steamer having a housing or base, a separable fluid container in separable fluid communication with a fluid heating assembly, a fluid heating assembly, a separable hose in separable fluid communication with the fluid heating assembly as well as with a variety of attachments, an adjustable and collapsible telescopic hanger/rod assembly, and at least one ion/ozone generator/emitter assembly. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention is more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment in combination with the drawings identified below. 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of the garment steamer in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side partially sectional view of the garment steamer of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the garment steamer of  FIG. 1 , showing the fluid container separated from the base; 
       FIG. 4  is a side section view of an illustrative adapter-hose connection; 
       FIG. 5  is a first view of a collapsible hanger for cooperating with the garment steamer of  FIG. 1 , showing the hanger in an extended or open position; 
       FIG. 6  is a second view of the collapsible hanger of  FIG. 5 , showing the hanger in a collapsed or closed position; 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of a straightening attachment for cooperating with the garment steamer of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a top view of the straightening attachment of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  is an end view of the straightening attachment of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a side view of a concentrating attachment for cooperating with the garment steamer of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a top view of the concentrating attachment of  FIG. 10 ; 
       FIG. 12  is an end view of the concentrating attachment of  FIG. 10 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a side view of a wand attachment for cooperating with the garment steamer of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 14  is a side view of a nozzle attachment for cooperating with the garment steamer of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 15  is a top view of the nozzle attachment of  FIG. 14 ; 
       FIG. 16  is an end view of the nozzle attachment of  FIG. 14 ; 
       FIG. 17  is a side view of a brush accessory for cooperating with the nozzle attachment of  FIG. 14 ; 
       FIG. 18  is a top view of the brush accessory of  FIG. 17 ; 
       FIG. 19  is an end view of the brush accessory of  FIG. 17 ; 
       FIG. 20  is a side view of a fluff accessory for cooperating with the nozzle attachment of  FIG. 14 ; and 
       FIG. 21  is an end view of the fluff accessory of FIG.  20 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to the drawings and in particular,  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown a garment steamer in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention generally represented by reference numeral  1 . Garment steamer  1  has a housing or base  10 , a fluid container  20 , a fluid heating assembly  30 , a hose  40 , a hanger/rod assembly  50 , and at least one ion/ozone generator/emitter assembly  70 . Preferably, garment steamer  1  cooperates with a variety of different attachments  80  to provide a variety of different steaming or vaporizing effects. 
   Preferably, base  10  has a wide relatively flat lower portion  12  and a tall relatively cylindrical upper portion  14  configured to distribute the weight of steamer  1  such that the center of gravity thereof is lowered closer to the ground thereby improving the overall stability of the device. Also preferably, lower portion  12  and upper portion  14  each enclose a portion of fluid heating assembly  30 . 
   Lower portion  12  preferably has a number of transport structures  16  mounted to a bottom surface thereof. Preferably, transport structures  16  have at least four lightweight wheels made preferably of a durable plastic material. However, transport structures  16  can be of any type known to facilitate easy transport of steamer  1 . Lower portion  12  preferably also has a cord reel (not shown) for selectively retaining or storing a power chord (not shown). Alternatively, lower portion  12  can have a cord wrap  18  that allows a user to wrap and store a power cord (also not shown). In addition, lower portion  12  preferably has a control  19  disposed thereon for controlling one or more operative functions, including powering the device. Control  19  can be of any type known and sufficient to provide the user with effective access and easy use. 
   Upper portion  14  preferably is centrally disposed above lower portion  12 . Upper portion  14  preferably has a recess  11  with a first connector  13  for receiving fluid container  20  and connecting fluid container  20  to fluid heating assembly  30 , a second connector  15  for connecting fluid heating assembly  30  to hose  40 , and a third connector  17  for connecting hanger/rod assembly  50 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , fluid container  20  preferably can be removed or separated from recess  11 . Fluid container  20  preferably has a handle  22  and a cap  24 . Handle  22  preferably enables the user to easily manage or cope with fluid container  20  as he/she selectively connects and/or separates the fluid container to and from recess  11 . In the illustrative embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , cap  24  preferably is removable to allow the user to add fluid into fluid container  20  when the container is separated from recess  11 . Cap  24  preferably also has a spring valve  26  and an air vent  28 . Spring valve  26  can release when fluid container  20  has a volume of fluid therein and is placed into recess  11  such that cap  24  is in fluid communication with fluid heating assembly  30  via first connector  13 . The release of spring valve  26  allows gravity to force the fluid in fluid container  20  into fluid heating assembly  30 . Air vent  28  preferably prevents a vacuum from being created to ensure that the fluid can flow until an equilibrium point is reached with respect to the fluid position between fluid container  20  and fluid heating assembly  30 . Once the equilibrium point is reached, the fluid stops flowing. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , fluid heating assembly  30  preferably is centrally disposed in base  10  and has a fluid inlet  32  located in lower portion  12  of base  10 , a boiler  34 , and a fluid outlet  36  located in upper portion  14  of base  10 . Fluid inlet  32  preferably has a first tube  33  connecting boiler  34  and first connector  13  so that the first connector is in separable or releasable fluid communication with fluid container  20 . Boiler  34  preferably is die-cast and produces steam or vapor within a relatively short period of time (i.e. about 1 to about 2 minutes). Fluid outlet  36  preferably has a second tube  37  connecting boiler  34  to second connector  15  so that the second connector is in separable or releasable fluid communication with hose  40 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , hose  40  is preferably an insulated hose that can be removably or separably connected to second connector  15  shown in FIG.  1 . Preferably hose  40  is flexible and has at least an inner tube  42  and an outer tube  44  surrounding inner tube  42 . Inner tube  42  preferably facilitates thermal retention as well as fluid flow. Inner tube  42  can also preferably be formed of any suitable material for conducting heated steam or vapor. Outer tube  44  preferably provides a layer of insulation that improves thermal efficiency and increases safety in user handling. Preferably, hose  40  has an adapter  45  at each end thereof for selectively cooperating with second connector  15  and/or the variety of different attachments  80 . Preferably, adapter  45  has a tubular hollow shaft  46  with a number of annular ribs or barbs  47  and an abutment  48  disposed thereon. Barbs  47  and abutment  48  cooperate with the ends of hose  40  and a fastener  49  to frictionally connect adapter  45 , inner tube  42 , and outer tube  44 . It is noted that various other known connector assemblies may also be employed to accomplish the purpose of securely sealing and connecting hose  40  with the variety of different attachments  80  and second connector  15 , thereby providing fluid communication between heating assembly  30  and the variety of attachments. Thus, preferably when fluid container  20  is filled with fluid and placed in recess  11  such that cap  24  engages first connector  13 , fluid can flow through fluid inlet  32  and into boiler  34  to be rapidly heated or vaporized, which vapor is conveyed through fluid outlet  36  into hose  40  and out one of the variety of attachments  80 . Accordingly, the user is able to direct, manipulate or control the intensity and/or emission of the vapor to provide a variety of different steaming or vaporizing effects. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , in one embodiment of the present invention, garment steamer  1  preferably cooperates with hanger/rod assembly  50  to support or hold garments during the steaming process. Hanger/rod assembly  50  is preferably selectively telescopically adjustable and collapsible. Preferably, assembly  50  has a rod  51  telescopically connected to base  10  and a hanger  52 , connected, preferably integrally to rod  51  to collapsibly cooperate therewith. Preferably, rod  51  is telescopically received and retained in base  10  and can have a number of locks  53  to allow the rod  51  to be securely fixed at a variety of different vertical positions. Also, rod  51  can cooperate with a hose retaining mechanism  41  for storing hose  40  when not in use. Further, rod  51  can be separably connected to base  10  and can have a selectively collapsible tripod or stand (not shown) connected or integral therewith. The collapsible stand preferably cooperates with rod  51  to allow the rod to both stand alone, separate from base  10 , and to be selectively received, supported and/or retained by the base. Thus, base  10  can serve as a holder and/or as a storage container for rod  51  when not in use. 
   Preferably, hanger  52  has an upper support or hub  54 , shown clearly in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , having one or more hanging supports  55 . Hanger  52  also preferably has at least two arms  56  pivotally connected to hub  54 . Each arm  56  has at least one hinge  57  pivotally connecting at least two beams  58 . Further, hanger  52  preferably has a lock/release button  59  for selectively positioning and securing arms  56  in a number of different positions to accommodate different types of garments. Still further, hanger  52  has at least two ribs  60  for cooperating with a slider  61 , which is slidable along rod  51 , to facilitate accomplishing the selective positioning of arms  56 . Also, hanger  52 , in addition to being connected, and preferably integral with rod  51 , can be selectively separable therefrom. This creates a greater flexibility in use, enabling the user to separably hang or support a garment on a wall or door. Also preferably, hanger  52  can be slidable along rod  51  such that the hanger can be selectively and securely positioned at any point along the rod. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , in another embodiment of the present invention, garment steamer  1  preferably cooperates with an ion and/or ozone assembly  70  to infuse a garment with odor-neutralizing ions and/or ozone. Preferably, assembly  70  has one or more ion and/or ozone generator(s)  71  and one or more ion and/or ozone emitter(s)  72  operatively connected with the one ion and/or ozone generator(s). However, it is noted that ion and/or ozone assembly  70  can be any device or system capable of generating and/or emitting ions and/or ozone, such as for example, an ultraviolet (UV) light source (not shown). Preferably, the ion and/or ozone generator  71  and the ion and/or ozone emitter  72  can be positioned at any location in relation to garment steamer  1 , suitable to optimize the effective operation thereof. The ion and/or ozone generator  71  can be any device suitable for adjustably generating voltage outputs of varying intensity and/or polarity as well as different combinations thereof. The ion and/or ozone emitter  72  can have any configuration suitable to conform to the arrangement and operation of garment steamer  1 . For example, the ion and/or ozone emitter  72  can be a conductive needle, a conductive plate or any other like structure. Further, the ion and/or ozone emitter  72  can be formed of any material suitable to effectively emit ions and/or ozone as well as to conform to the constraints associated the arrangement and/or operation of the garment steamer  1 . Examples of materials that might be used include, for example, conductive metal, conductive polymer, carbon material, or silicon based material. It is noted that the ion and/or ozone generator  71  and the ion and/or ozone emitter  72  are preferably configured for safety, as well as protection from damage caused by extensive and prolonged use. 
   It is noted that the variety of different attachments  80 , which cooperate with garment steamer  1 , to provide a variety of different steaming or vaporizing effects, can preferably be of any type suitable for effective use with heated vapor. For example, these attachments  80  may be a straightening attachment, as shown in  FIGS. 7 through 9 , a concentrator attachment, as shown in  FIGS. 10 through 12 , a wand attachment, as shown in  FIG. 13 , and a nozzle attachment, as shown in  FIGS. 14 through 16 . It is further noted that each of the variety of different attachments  80  can be configured to selectively cooperate with a variety of different accessory parts. For example, a brush accessory, as shown in  FIGS. 17 through 19 , or a fluff accessory, as shown in  FIGS. 20 and 21 . Thus, the accessory parts provide greater flexibility and efficiency in use. 
   Having identified and described the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is appreciated that details may be modified in a variety of ways and that alternative embodiments are also within the scope of the present invention. For example, it is possible to provide at least one of the variety of different attachments  80 , shown in  FIGS. 7 through 16  and/or accessory parts shown in  FIGS. 17 through 21 , with an ion and/or ozone generator and a corresponding ion and/or ozone emitter (not shown), having at least each of the attributes previously preferably described with respect to each. In this alternative embodiment, the ion and/or ozone emitter is preferably situated to effectively infuse or introduce ions and/or ozone into a garment. This introduction of ions and/or ozone into a garment has an odor-neutralizing effect and thus facilitates in the removal of lingering odors from various garments and fabrics. It is noted that the ion and/or ozone emitter can preferably be located in a selectively removable protective casing (not shown) thus preserving the integrity of the ion and/or ozone emitter and allowing selective access thereto, for cleaning and/or replacement thereof. 
   In another example, it is preferably possible to situate an ion and/or ozone generator and a corresponding ion and/or ozone emitter (not shown), having at least the attributes previously preferably described with respect to each, in base  10  proximate fluid outlet  36 . In this embodiment, the ion and/or ozone emitter is preferably situated to effectively infuse or introduce ions and/or ozone into the vaporized fluid exiting fluid outlet  36 . It is noted that infusing the vaporized fluid with ions and/or ozone can have a beneficial cleansing effect thereon to reduce the build up of dust and other debris, thereby improving efficiency and effectiveness of garment steamer  1  as well as extending the useful life thereof. 
   The present invention having been thus described with particular reference to the illustrated embodiments thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the present invention as defined herein.