Patent Publication Number: US-2020291567-A1

Title: Clothes steamer for an aircraft cabin

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/057,118 which was filed on Aug. 7, 2018, entitled “CLOTHES STEAMER FOR AN AIRCRAFT CABIN,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a clothes steam cleaning device, more particularly to a clothes steam cleaner for an aircraft cabin. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Today&#39;s business schedules often require long air travels between locations, followed immediately by business meetings. Due to the confinement caused by seatbelts and cramped spaces within an aircraft&#39;s cabin, wrinkles are often formed in the clothing of aircraft passengers. These wrinkles are undesirable for airline passengers attempting to make an elevated professional impression. 
     Traditionally, wrinkles in clothing can be removed from clothing using a steam iron and an ironing board. Unfortunately, it is impractical to use a steam iron on a plane as it represents a fire hazard. Further, due to changes in air pressure and temperatures within the aircraft cabin caused by changes in elevation in the aircraft, steam formed by the iron can act as a source of water which may adversely condense on windows and windshields of the aircraft. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     As specified in the background of the invention section above, there is a need for improved devices and methods for removing wrinkles and refreshing clothing for an air traveler. According to the present teachings, various non-limiting embodiments of a clothes steamer system for an aircraft cabin is provided. 
     In a first non-limiting embodiment, the clothes steamer includes, but is not limited to, a case having a closable door, that the case and closable door define a clothes holding cavity. The clothes steamer further includes, but is not limited to, a steam generator fluidly coupled to the clothes holding cavity. The steam generator is configured to produce steam to increase the water content of the air within the clothes holding cavity. The clothes steamer further includes but is not limited to. a humidity sensor configured to provide a humidity signal indicative of the humidity within the clothes holding cavity. The clothes steamer further includes but is not limited to a temperature sensor configured to produce a temperature signal indicative of the temperature within the clothes holding cavity. The clothes steamer further includes, but is not limited to, a pressure sensor configured to provide a pressure signal indicative of an atmospheric pressure within the aircraft cabin. The clothes steamer further includes, but is not limited to, a controller that is electrically coupled to the steam generator, the humidity sensor, the temperature sensor, and the pressure sensor. The controller is configured to produce a steamer control signal. The steam generator is configured to receive the steamer control signal and change the amount of water in air within the clothes holding cavity. 
     According to the present teachings, another non-limiting embodiment of a clothes steamer for an aircraft cabin is provided. The clothes steamer includes, but is not limited to, a case fixed to an internal surface of the aircraft cabin. The case has a closable door. The case and the closable door together define a clothes holding cavity. The clothes steamer further includes, but is not limited to, a steam generator fluidly coupled to the clothes holding cavity. The steam generator is configured to selectively increase the humidity of air within the clothes holding cavity. The clothes steamer further includes, but is not limited to, a first temperature sensor configured to produce a first signal indicative of a temperature within the clothes holding cavity. The clothes steamer further includes, but is not limited to, a first humidity sensor configured to produce a first signal indicative of a humidity within the clothes holding cavity. The clothes steamer further includes, but is not limited to, a cold finger configured to remove water from the air within the clothes holding cavity. The clothes steamer further includes, but is not limited to, a controller that is configured to receive the first signal indicative of a temperature and the first signal indicative of humidity to selectively produce at least one of a steam generator control signal and a cold finger control signal to selectively operate the steam generator and the cold finger. 
     According to an alternate another non-limiting embodiment of a clothes steamer for an aircraft cabin is provided. The clothes steamer includes, but is not limited to, a case having a closable door. The case and the closable door together define a clothes holding cavity. The clothes steamer further includes, but is not limited to, a steam generator fluidly coupled to the clothes holding cavity and is configured to selectively increase the humidity of air within the clothes holding cavity. The clothes steamer further includes, but is not limited to, a first temperature sensor configured to produce a first signal indicative of a temperature within the clothes holding cavity. The clothes steamer further includes, but is not limited to, a first humidity sensor configured to produce a first signal indicative of a humidity within the clothes holding cavity. The clothes steamer further includes, but is not limited to, a pressure sensor configured to produce a signal indicative of air pressure within the aircraft cabin. The clothes steamer further includes, but is not limited to, a controller configured to receive at least one of the first signal indicative of a temperature, the first signal indicative of humidity, and a signal indicative of air pressure within the aircraft cabin, and to produce a steam generator control signal to operate the steam generator. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  represents a perspective view of an aircraft having a non-limiting embodiment of a clothes steamer for an aircraft cabin according to the present teachings; 
         FIG. 2  represents a front view of the non-limiting embodiment of the clothes steamer for an aircraft according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  represents a side view of the clothes steamer of  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 4  represents a system&#39;s view of the clothes steamer shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     In the following, reference is made to embodiments of the disclosure. However, the disclosure is not limited to specific described embodiments. Instead, any combination of the following features and elements, whether related to different embodiments or not, is contemplated to implement and practice the disclosure. Furthermore, although embodiments of the disclosure may achieve advantages over other possible solutions and/or over the prior art, whether a particular advantage is achieved by a given embodiment is not limiting of the disclosure. Thus, the following aspects, features, embodiments and advantages are merely illustrative and are not considered elements or limitations of the appended claims except where explicitly recited in a claim(s). Likewise, reference to “the invention” shall not be construed as a generalization of any inventive subject matter disclosed herein and shall not be an element or limitation of the appended claims except where explicitly recited in a claim(s). 
       FIG. 1  represents an aircraft  10  having a clothes steamer  12  for an aircraft cabin  14  according to the present teachings. The clothes steamer  12  can be fixed to an internal surface of the aircraft cabin  14  such as a wall or bulkhead. The aircraft cabin  14  has a dew point based on the temperature, humidity, and pressure of the air within the cabin. As described below, a controller  26  is configured to control the humidity within the steam cleaner  12  and selectively disengage a steam generator  20  when release of humid air from the clothes holding cavity into the aircraft cabin  14  will bring the air within the aircraft cabin  14  above the dew point. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  represent a front and side view, respectively, of the clothes steamer  12  for the aircraft  10  according to the present invention. The clothes steamer  12  includes a case  16  and a closable door  18  and a fluid seal  19  therebetween, that defines a clothes holding cavity or chamber  17 . The clothes steamer  12  includes a steam generator  20  fluidly coupled to the clothes holding cavity  17 . The steam generator  20  has a heater  22  configured to produce steam to increase the water content of the air within the clothes holding cavity  17  and thus remove wrinkles in the clothing. A humidity sensor  28  configured to provide a humidity signal indicative of the humidity and a temperature sensor  30  configured to produce a temperature signal indicative of the temperature are both operably coupled to the clothes holding cavity  17  are provided. The clothes steamer  12  includes a pressure sensor  32  configured to provide a pressure signal indicative of an atmospheric pressure within the aircraft cabin  14 . 
     A controller  26  is provided that is electrically coupled to the steam generator  20 , the humidity sensor  28 , the temperature sensor  30 , and the pressure sensor  32 . This controller  26  is configured to produce a steamer generator control signal and is further configured to transmit the steamer generator control signal to steam generator  20 . The steam generator  20  is configured to receive the steamer control signal and change the amount of water in air within the clothes holding cavity  17  in response to the steam generator control signal. 
     The controller  26  is configured to receive the signal indicative of humidity, the signal indicative of temperature, the signal indicative of pressure and produce the steamer controller signal based on the values of these signals. The clothes steamer  12  can have a second temperature sensor  28 ′ configured to provide a second temperature signal indicative of a temperature of air within the aircraft cabin  14 . A second humidity sensor  30 ′ is configured to provide a second humidity signal indicative of a humidity of air within the aircraft cabin  14 . 
     The controller  26  is configured to receive the second humidity signal and the second temperature signal, is further configured to produce the steamer controller signal in response to changes in the second temperature and second humidity sensors. Differences in the signals from the sensors inside and outside of the cavity are used by the controller  26  to determine how long the steam generator should be engaged. The steam generator  20  is fluidly coupled to a water supply  24  and an electric power supply  25 . The controller  26  can further have a timer  34  which can affect the actuation of the different components in the system. The controller  26  can provide a steam control signal in responses to changes in an output signal from the timer  34 . 
     Optionally, the clothes steamer  12  can further have a dehumidifier component or cold finger  36  and a water collection cavity to remove water from the air within the cavity  17 . A cold finger  36  has an exterior surface configured to induce the condensation of gasses, such as water, found in the atmosphere around the cold finger  36 . The Cold finger  36  is intentionally cooled to a temperature lower than the atmospheric temperature around the cold finger  36  to bring the dew point of the atmosphere around the cold finger below a temperature needed to induce condensation. It is envisioned that the cold finer can be cooled using a Peltier device. This water collection cavity is fluidly coupled to the steam generator  20  to reuse the water in a next steam cycle. A fluid coupling  38  can be provided which allows for the recycling of fluid from the cold finger  36  and the steam generator  20 . The controller  12  is configured to receive the second humidity signal and the second temperature signal. The controller is configured to revise the steamer controller signal in response to changes in the second temperature and second humidity sensors. 
     With continuing reference to  FIGS. 1-3 ,  FIG. 4  represents a system schematic of the clothes steamer  12  show in  FIGS. 1-3 . The clothes steamer  12  for an aircraft cabin  14 , has a closable case  16  having a seal  19  and door  18  fixed to an internal surface of the aircraft cabin  14 . A steam generator  20  having a heater  22  is fluidly coupled to the clothes holding cavity  17  configured to selectively increase the humidity of air within the clothes holding cavity  17 . A temperature and humidity sensors  28 ,  28 ′,  30 ,  30 ′ are configured to produce a first signal indicative of a humidity and temperature within (and outside) of the clothes holding cavity  17 . 
     A pressure sensor  32  is configured to produce a signal indicative of pressure within the aircraft cabin  14 . A cold finger  36  is configured to remove water from the air within the clothes holding cavity  17 . As is shown, optionally, fluid from the cold finger is passed to the steam generator for recycling. A controller  26  is provided which is configured to receive temperature, humidity, and pressure sensor signals and to selectively produce at least one of a steam generator control signal and a cold finger control signal to selectively operate the steam generator  20  and the cold finger  36 . 
     The controller described above can be used in a circuit board which can be a specific circuit, or a microprocessor utilizing a computer program. These computer programs (also known as programs, software, software applications, scripts, or program code) include machine instructions, for a programmable processor, and can be implemented in a high-level procedural and/or object-oriented programming language, and/or in assembly/machine language. As used herein, the terms “machine-readable medium” and “computer-readable medium” refer to any computer program product, non-transitory computer readable medium, apparatus and/or device (e.g., magnetic discs, optical disks, memory, Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs)) used to provide machine instructions and/or data to a programmable processor, including a machine-readable medium that receives machine instructions as a machine-readable signal. The term “machine-readable signal” refers to any signal used to provide machine instructions and/or data to a programmable processor. 
     Implementations of the subject matter and the functional operations described in this specification can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer software, firmware, or hardware, including the structures disclosed in this specification and their structural equivalents, or in combinations of one or more of them. Moreover, subject matter described in this specification can be implemented as one or more computer program products, i.e., one or more computer program instructions encoded on a computer readable medium for execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus. The computer readable medium can be a machine-readable storage device, a machine-readable storage substrate, a memory device, a composition of matter affecting a machine-readable propagated signal, or a combination of one or more of them. The terms “data processing apparatus”, “computing device” and “computing processor” encompass all apparatus, devices, and machines for processing data, including by way of example a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple processors or computers. The apparatus can include, in addition to hardware, code that creates an execution environment for the computer program in question, e.g., code that constitutes processor firmware, a protocol stack, a database management system, an operating system, or a combination of one or more of them. A propagated signal is an artificially generated signal, e.g., a machine-generated electrical, optical, or electromagnetic signal that is generated to encode information for transmission to suitable receiver apparatus. 
     A computer program can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program does not necessarily correspond to a file in a file system. A program can be stored in a portion of a file that holds other programs or data (e.g., one or more scripts stored in a markup language document), in a single file dedicated to the program in question, or in multiple coordinated files (e.g., files that store one or more, sub programs, or portions of code). A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers that are located at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network. 
     The processes and logic flows described in this specification can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing one or more computer programs to perform functions by operating on input data and generating output. The processes and logic flows can also be performed by, and apparatus can also be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit). 
     Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read only memory or a random-access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer are a processor for performing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer will also include, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g., magnetic, magneto optical disks, or optical disks. However, a computer need not have such devices. Moreover, a computer can be embedded in another device, e.g., a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile audio player, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, to name just a few. Computer readable media suitable for storing computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, media and memory devices, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto optical disks; and CD ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry. 
     To provide for interaction with a user, one or more aspects of the disclosure can be implemented on a computer having a display device, e.g., a CRT (cathode ray tube), LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, or touch screen for displaying information to the user and optionally a keyboard and a pointing device, e.g., a mouse or a trackball, by which the user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide interaction with a user as well; for example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input. In addition, a computer can interact with a user by sending documents to and receiving documents from a device that is used by the user; for example, by sending web pages to a web browser on a user&#39;s client device in response to requests received from the web browser. 
     One or more aspects of the disclosure can be implemented in a computing system that includes a backend component, e.g., as a data server, or that includes a middleware component, e.g., an application server, or that includes a frontend component, e.g., a client computer having a graphical user interface or a Web browser through which a user can interact with an implementation of the subject matter described in this specification, or any combination of one or more such backend, middleware, or frontend components. The components of the system can be interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication, e.g., a communication network. Examples of communication networks include an aircraft hosted local area network (“LAN”) and a wide area network (“WAN”), an inter-network (e.g., the Internet), and peer-to-peer networks (e.g., ad hoc peer-to-peer networks). 
     The computing system can include clients and servers. A client and server are generally remote from each other and typically interact through a communication network. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other. In some implementations, a server transmits data (e.g., an HTML page) to a client device (e.g., for purposes of displaying data to and receiving user input from a user interacting with the client device). Data generated at the client device (e.g., a result of the user interaction) can be received from the client device at the server. 
     While this specification contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the disclosure or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to implementations of the disclosure. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate implementations can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination. 
     Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. For instance, the steam generator would typically be used before the cold finger was used to remove humidity within the cavity. 
     A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims. For example, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. 
     Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail. 
     The terminology used herein is for describing example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed. 
     When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments. 
     Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. 
     Upon reading this disclosure, those of skill in the art will appreciate still additional alternative structural and functional designs for a system and a process for deep search in computing environments through the disclosed principles herein. Thus, while particular embodiments and applications have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are not limited to the precise construction and components disclosed herein. Various modifications, changes and variations, which will be apparent to those, skilled in the art, may be made in the arrangement, operation and details of the method and apparatus disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope defined in the appended claims.