Abstract:
A steam nozzle attachment for a steam cleaner having a substantially rectangular frame with a steam outlet positioned between the front and rear walls of the frame is provided. A plurality of baffles to distribute steam are disposed substantially perpendicular to the steam nozzle between the side walls of the frame. A replaceable fabric pocket that fits snugly over the frame is provided to distribute cleaning steam to the surface to be cleaned.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/884,192, filed Jul. 2, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,600,401. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates generally to a nozzle for use with a fabric steam pocket, and more particularly to a steam nozzle attachment with a fabric steam pocket cover for use with a steam cleaner. 
   Steaming devices used to apply steam to household objects are well known. The uses of the devices vary widely, and may include the application of steam to drapes or other fabrics to ease wrinkles, and the application of steam to objects to assist in cleaning the objects. 
   Typical steam devices have a reservoir for storing water with a heating element to heat the water. The heated water generates steam, which may be directed towards its intended destination through a nozzle which controls the application of the steam. Variation of the shape and size of the nozzle allows for preferred distribution of generated steam to an object to be cleaned. The nozzles may be disconnectable from the steam generator to allow different nozzles to be utilized, based on the object to be steamed. The nozzle may be either closely coupled to the steam generator, or located at a distance from the steam generator, requiring tubing or other steam transfer structures to be interconnected between the steam generator and the discharge nozzle. Typically, it is beneficial to provide suitable connectors between the steam generator and the nozzle to allow either the nozzle to be connected to the steam generator, or to allow the interpositioning of transfer tubes or hoses between the steam generator and the nozzle. 
   In general, the nozzles used with the steam cleaners do not have large surface areas and a cloth to absorb the liquid condensate of the steam. In order to increase the cleaning surface area, a flat fabric piece is folded around a flat brush or nozzle. The folded fabric on top of the brush or nozzle is secured by a clip on top of the piece. Often steam injected behind the cloth passes through the cloth at the points the bristles contact on the cloth. This tends to wet the cloth and reduce the cleaning effectiveness of the steam. In addition, the cloth covers must be carefully attached not to cover the front or back of the brush attachment. 
   Notwithstanding the wide variety of steam generating appliances available, there exists the need to provide an easy to install attachment for use with a steam cleaner. That will effectively improve the effective steaming surface area of the steam cleaners. It is desirable to provide this device with the ability for a user to clean a larger surface area easily without worrying about wiping up the liquid condensate of the steam when cleaning flooring, furniture and other household items. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, a steam nozzle attachment to clean large surface areas with a steam cleaner is provided. The steam nozzle attachment includes a frame pivotally connected to a steamer pipe connected to a steam source. The frame is substantially rectangular in shape with baffles disposed substantially perpendicular to the steam nozzle on both upper and lower surfaces of the frame. The baffles are separated by a plane that is parallel to the nozzle. The steam nozzle also has a passageway perpendicular to the baffles that has openings to direct steam into the baffles and up the upper surface of the frame. In one embodiment, there are channels between the baffles so that the baffle on the upper surface and the lower surface of the frame are connected. A fabric steam pocket is two layers of fabric joined at three edges with fasteners at the open edge for fastening the pocket over the rear wall of the frame and is easily installed over the frame. 
   A steam nozzle is mounted to the lower surface of the attachment and is operatively connected to the steam cleaner outlet pipe. When steam is injected into the pocket, the entire surface area of the fabric may be used to steam clean a surface. 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a steam nozzle attachment to provide increased steam cleaning surface area. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a fabric steam pocket that is easily mounted on an attachment for a steam cleaner. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide a steam nozzle attachment with a fabric cover that does not allow steam to escape at points of contact with brush bristles. 
   Yet another object of the invention is a fabric steam pocket that can be used for dual side cleaning. 
   Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification. 
   The invention accordingly comprises a product possessing the features, properties, and the relation of components which will be exemplified in the product hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing(s), in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a user cleaning a floor with a portable steam cleaning device including a steam nozzle attachment with a fabric cover constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention; 
       FIG. 2A  is a top plan view of the steam nozzle attachment for use with a steam cleaner of the type shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view of the steam nozzle attachment of  FIG. 2A  taken along line  2 B- 2 B; 
       FIG. 3A  is a top plan view of a steam nozzle attachment for use with a steam cleaner in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view of steam nozzle attachment of  FIG. 3A  taken along line  3 B- 3 B; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a steam pocket fabric cover for use with the steam nozzle attachment of  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B,  3 A and  3 B; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a rigid pipe suitable for use with the steam cleaner of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view showing how a fabric steam pocket is mounted onto the attachment of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view showing how a fabric steam pocket is mounted onto the attachment of  FIG. 3 ; and 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a steam pocket being attached to the steam nozzle attachment constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a user  10  using a steam cleaning device  11  including a main body  12  and a steam release hand grip  13  coupled to main body  12  by a flexible hose  14  and a steam outlet  15 . A rigid pipe  16  is mounted on the distal nozzle end of hand grip  13 . A steam nozzle attachment  17  constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention is mounted on the distal end of the rigid pipe  16 . Steam nozzle attachment  17  is rectangular in shape and includes a pivotable hole steam inlet coupling or steam inlet  18  at the back edge or proximal end. A steam outlet  19  shown in  FIG. 2A  dispenses steam into a steam pocket fabric  22  which covers a steam pocket frame  31  on the front or distal side of steam nozzle attachment  17 . 
   Steam inlet  18  has the same configuration as outlet  15  to rigid pipe  16 . This allows for installation of the different attachments to steam release hand grip  13  of steam cleaner  11 , such as brushes and nozzles. 
   Main body  12  of steam cleaning device  11  includes a water inlet  23  and an internal water reservoir  24  with heating elements connected to a power source by a power cord  20 . Steam generated in reservoir  24  exits by steam outlet  15  through flexible hose  14  coupled thereto. Main body  12  is outfitted with a handle  25  and a strap  26  to allow user  10  to lift and carry main body  12 . Conveniently, main body  12  also includes an on/off switch  27  and an indicator light  28  to indicate when steam temperature is appropriate for use. 
   Once water has been heated sufficiently to generate steam within main body  12 , user  10  may selectively release steam by operation of hand grip  13 . Hand grip  13  has a distal outlet end  30  for securing rigid pipe, or additional attachments, such as brushes or nozzles. 
     FIG. 2A  is a top plan view of rectangular frame  31  of steam nozzle attachment  17 . Rectangular frame  31  includes a front wall  43 , a rear wall  46 , a right side wall  47  and a left side wall  48 . Frame  31  also includes an upper surface  41  and a lower surface  42  (shown in  FIG. 2B ). A plurality of baffles  49  extends from left side wall  48  to steam outlet  19  and from right side wall  47  to steam outlet  19  within frame  31 . Baffles  49  are planar in shape and extend perpendicular to the sides of frame  31 . Frame  31  has rear wall  46  with steam inlet  18  connected thereto. In this embodiment, baffles  49  on both upper surface  41  and lower surface  42  are separated from each other by a rectangular plane  52  that connects front wall  43 , rear wall  46 , right side wall  47  and left side wall  48  of frame  31  together. Steam outlet  19  has a passageway  56  that extends to front wall  43  perpendicular to baffles  49 . Passageway  56  has a plurality of vents or openings  53  that surrounds passageway  56 . Baffles  49  help direct the steam in the steam nozzle attachment  17  to upper surface  41  of frame  31 . An advantage of steam nozzle attachment  17  is that steam rises out of upper surface of frame  31  to provide a dry surface with the benefits of steam when cleaning. 
     FIG. 2B  shows a cross-sectional view of steam nozzle attachment  17 . Here, rectangular plane  52  is shown with baffles  49   a  on upper surface  41  and baffles  49   b  on lower surface  42 . Passageway  56  (shown in  FIG. 2A ) has vents  53  on both upper surface  41  and lower surface  42  between each baffle to help direct steam into baffles  49   a  and  49   b.    
     FIG. 3A  is a top plan view of a steam nozzle attachment  117  for use with a steam cleaner, respectively, constructed and arranged in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. All elements in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  are present and identified by the same reference numerals plus  100 . Here, a rectangular frame  131  includes a front wall  143 , a rear wall  146 , a right side wall  147  and a left side wall  148 . Frame  131  also includes an upper surface  141  and a lower surface  142  (shown in  FIG. 3B ). A plurality of baffles  149  extends from left side wall  148  to steam outlet  119  and from right side wall  147  to steam outlet  119  within frame  131 . Baffles  149  are substantially planar, with openings  151  in the plane  152  between baffles  149 . Frame  131  has rear wall  146  with steam inlet  118  connected thereto. Baffles  149  on both upper surface  141  and lower surface  142  are separated from each other by a rectangular plane  152  that connects front wall  143 , rear wall  146 , right side wall  147  and left side wall  148  of frame  131  together. However, in this embodiment, there are channels  151  between baffles  149  so that baffles  149  on the upper surface  141  and baffles  149  on the lower surface  142  of frame  131  are connected. 
     FIG. 3B  shows a cross-sectional view of steam nozzle attachment  117 . Here, rectangular frame  131  is shown with baffles  149  on both upper surface  141  and lower surface  142 . As stated above, baffles  149  on the upper surface  141  and on the lower surface  142  of frame  131  have channels  151  between them are connected. Passageway  156  (shown in  FIG. 3A ) has vents or openings  153  on both upper surface  141  and lower surface  142  between each baffle to help direct steam into baffles  149 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the construction of steam pocket  22  for use with nozzles  17  and  117  is shown in detail. In the illustrated embodiment, steam pocket  22  is a cloth or towel. It may be formed of any suitable fabric such as cotton or a synthetic fabric, such as polyester or polyolefin fiber. Preferably, the fabric of pocket  22  is a microfiber. Most preferably, the microfiber is a synthetic polyester microfiber. 
   Steam pocket  22  is configured to slip over frame  31 . In this respect, it is formed of a first layer  22   a  and an opposed second layer  22   b , each having a rectangular shape with two opposed long edges  22   c  and  22   d  and two opposed short sides  22   e  and  22   f  as shown in  FIG. 2   b . Short edges  22   e  and  22   f  and one long side  22   c  are stitched to form pocket  22 . 
   A pair of straps  36  and  37  is mounted on open side of the steam pocket  22 . In the preferred embodiment, fasteners  36  and  37  are fabric hook-and-loop fasteners, such as VELCRO-type fasteners. Alternatively, straps  36  and  37  may include buttons or snaps. In each case, straps  36  and  37  are placed over steam pocket frame  31  or  131  and secured to hold pocket  22  in place when used to clean a floor or other surface as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
   The rigid pipe suitable for use with the steam cleaner is shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     FIGS. 6 and 7  show how a fabric steam pocket is mounted onto the attachment of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , respectively.  FIG. 8  illustrates a fabric steam pocket mounted onto the steam nozzle attachment. 
   Inlet coupling  18  attached to steam nozzle attachment  17  may be rotated so user  10  may use both sides of steam pocket fabric  22  without having to reinstall steam pocket  22 . This extends the time steam pocket  22  may be used without having to rinse and reinstall it. 
   A steam nozzle attachment  17  with a steamed pocket fabric cover  22  in accordance with the invention provides a vast improvement over placing a towel onto a bristle attachment for a steam cleaner. It avoids puncture of the cloth by the bristles and provides twice the cleaning surface. Moreover, the fabric cover is easily installed and replaced. 
   It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above product without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
   It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. 
   The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes of the invention. Accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention. A steam nozzle attachment with a fabric pocket cover in accordance with the invention provides a vast improvement over placing a towel onto a bristle attachment for a steam cleaned. It avoids puncture of the cloth by the bristles and provide twice the cleaning surface. Moreover, the fabric cover is easily installed and replaced.