Patent Abstract:
The present application relates to a hand-held appliance comprising a housing including a reservoir to contain water and a tube to convey water from the reservoir for delivery to a surface. The tube extends into the reservoir and comprises multiple tube inlets spaced from each other within the reservoir so that, when the reservoir contains water, a tube inlet is submerged irrespective of the orientation of the housing. In one embodiment, the tube inlet comprises a separate valve assembly associated with each tube inlet so that a valve assembly associated with a submerged tube inlet opens to allow flow of water through that tube inlet and a valve assembly associated with a non-submerged tube inlet closes to prevent the flow of air through said non-submerged tube inlet. In an alternate embodiment, the appliance may be provided with a single valve member that allows water to flow through the valve assembly via a first opening, whilst also preventing the flow of air through the valve assembly through a second opening.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a hand-held appliance in which a water reservoir is mounted within a housing that is held in the hand and which has an outlet or nozzle to discharge fluid or steam onto a surface, such as a garment, a fabric article such as a curtain or fabric covered items of furniture. The hand-held appliance of the invention may also be used to clean solid surfaces such as floors or counter tops by the application of steam and/or fluid to the surface. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A conventional hand-held garment steamer  1  is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and comprises a housing  2  containing a water tank or reservoir  3  and a heating chamber  4 . Water is delivered from the reservoir  3  to the heating chamber  4  via a delivery system comprising a pump  5  and a tube  6  that has a portion  7  which extends into the reservoir  3  and which has an inlet  8  at its free end for the flow of water into the portion  7  of the tube  6  and along the tube  6  into the heating chamber  4 . Water delivered to the heating chamber  4  is converted into steam for delivery to the surface being steamed through an outlet  9 . In  FIG. 1 , the housing  2  is orientated in its intended position of use so that steam is ejected through the outlet  9  in a substantially horizontal direction, as indicated by arrow A. 
         [0003]    The portion  7  of the tube  6  extends into the reservoir  3  such that the inlet  8  is positioned at the lowest point in the reservoir  3  when the hand-held steamer is held in its intended orientation during use so that substantially all the water in the reservoir  3  will be drawn into the heating chamber  4 , i.e. in the vertical orientation shown in  FIG. 1 , in which steam exits the outlet  9  substantially horizontally. However, it is also desirable to be able to use the hand-held steamer  1  in other orientations such as when steaming garments or fabric articles placed on an ironing board or when steaming fabric covered items of furniture. In these circumstances, the hand-held steamer  1  will be held in a non-vertical orientation and may even be held horizontally so that steam is exits the housing through the outlet  9  in a substantially vertical direction. However, when a conventional hand-held steamer is held in this way, the inlet  8  will not always be submerged in water in the reservoir  3 , especially when the reservoir  3  is only partially full. This results in air being drawn into the heating chamber  4  rather than water, preventing efficient steam generation. 
         [0004]    The present invention seeks to provide a hand-held appliance that overcomes or substantially alleviates the problems with a conventional hand-held appliance, such as those identified above, and which maintains adequate delivery of fluid or steam to a surface irrespective of the orientation of the appliance. 
         [0005]    Although reference is primarily made to a hand-held steamer for steaming garments or fabric articles, it will be appreciated that the appliance of the invention may be used for a variety of different purposes and may, for example, be used for cleaning solid surfaces such as floors or windows as well as steam ironing of fabric articles or garments. Furthermore, the appliance need not be capable of generating steam, in which case the fluid, such as water contained in the reservoir can be delivered directly onto a surface to be cleaned. However, it is preferable that the appliance is provided with a heating chamber so that water contained in the reservoir is delivered to the heating chamber to be turned into steam prior to delivery to a surface. It is also envisaged that the appliance may be provided with a switch that provides a user with the option to deliver liquid or steam to a surface. For example, it may be possible to use the appliance with the heating chamber switched off. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hand-held appliance comprising a housing including a reservoir to contain water and a tube to convey water from the reservoir for delivery to a surface, wherein the tube has a portion that extends into the reservoir and comprises multiple inlets spaced from each other within the reservoir so that, when the reservoir contains water, an inlet is submerged irrespective of the orientation of the housing, the tube portion also comprising a separate valve assembly associated with each tube inlet so that a valve assembly associated with a submerged tube inlet opens to allow flow of water through that inlet and a valve assembly associated with a non-submerged tube inlet closes to prevent the flow of air through said non-submerged tube inlet. 
         [0007]    As the tube portion contains multiple inlets, at least one tube inlet will always be in a submerged position irrespective of the orientation of the appliance. The hand-held appliance will therefore continue to emit fluid or steam consistently in whatever position or orientation it is held in. As the tube inlets which are located above the water line are closed by the valve which is associated with the non-submerged tube inlet, no air will be drawn into the heating chamber through that, or those, tube inlet(s). 
         [0008]    Preferably, each valve assembly comprises a housing and a single valve member movable within the housing between a first position in which the inlet is open to allow water to flow past the valve into the inlet and a second position in which the inlet is closed to prevent the passage of air into the inlet. 
         [0009]    The valve member may drop under its own weight into its first position and in a direction away from its associated inlet. 
         [0010]    In a preferred embodiment, each valve assembly is removably mounted to an end of the tube over the inlet. 
         [0011]    The aforementioned features provide a hand-held appliance in which an independent, but identical valve design is used for each tube inlet. As a separate valve assembly is removably attached to each end of the tube over an inlet, the assembly becomes more flexible and easier to manufacture and assemble. It also means that more than two inlets can be used without having to re-design the valve assembly, as a separate but identical valve assembly is simply provided for each inlet. The length of the tube portion within the reservoir is also irrelevant, as the valve assembly can be attached to the end of a tube of any length. It is therefore applicable to hand-held appliances having reservoirs of various different sizes and shapes. As each valve assembly may be removable, they can be replaced easily due to wear or malfunction without replacing the other valve assembly or assemblies. 
         [0012]    In a preferred embodiment, the tube portion comprises a primary tube portion extending into the reservoir and a secondary tube portion attached to a free end of the primary tube portion at a junction, a separate valve assembly being mounted to each end of the secondary tube portion remote from said junction. The primary tube portion may extend into the reservoir so that its free end is positioned roughly at a central point within the reservoir. The secondary tube portion can then extend to opposite ends of the reservoir so that at least one inlet will always be submerged in any water in the reservoir irrespective of the orientation of the appliance. 
         [0013]    The secondary tube portion may comprise two inlets and may be integrally formed with a connector for attachment to said free end of the primary tube portion to effect fluid communication between the secondary tube portion and the primary tube portion. The connector may comprise a connection piece integrally formed with the secondary tube portion for fluidly connecting the secondary tube portion to the free end of the primary tube portion. Ideally, the secondary tube portion may be a linear or straight section of tubing, and the connection piece can extend at right angles from the secondary tube portion at a point midway between each end of the secondary tube portion so that each tube inlet is positioned at approximately the same distance away from the free end of the primary tube portion. The connection piece may simply be a short, hollow length of tube that is a push fit into the free end of the primary tube portion so as to effect fluid communication between the primary tube portion and the secondary tube portion. 
         [0014]    In an alternate embodiment, the secondary tube portion may be formed of a plurality of independent sections. In this case, each independent section may be attached to the free end of the primary tube portion via a connecting element to effect fluid communication between each independent section and the primary tube portion. The secondary tube portion may comprise two independent sections and so the connecting element may, for example, be T-shaped so that each end of the ‘T’ forms a connector that is a push fit within the end of each tube to be connected. If the connecting element is substantially T-shaped, each independent section may extend away from each other in opposite directions and the primary tube portion may extend substantially at right-angles to each independent section. 
         [0015]    According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a hand-held appliance comprising a housing including a reservoir to contain water and a tube to convey water from the reservoir for delivery to a surface, wherein the tube has a portion that extends into the reservoir and comprises two inlets spaced from each other within the reservoir so that, when the reservoir contains water, at least one of said inlets is submerged irrespective of the orientation of the housing, the tube portion comprising a valve assembly having an outlet, first and second openings and a single valve member within said valve assembly that allows water to flow through the valve assembly via the first opening, whilst also preventing the flow of air through the valve assembly through the second opening, the valve member being configured such that it drops under its own weight into an alternate position in response to a change in the orientation of the appliance to allow water to flow through said second opening whilst preventing the flow of air through said first opening. 
         [0016]    The appliance according to this aspect of the invention has a simple valve construction, as only one valve member is required to control flow through each of the first and second openings. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the tube comprises a primary tube portion that extends into the reservoir so that a free end of said primary tube portion is in fluid communication with the outlet of the valve assembly, and a secondary tube portion extends from each of the first and second openings of the valve assembly, said tube portions being configured such that the valve member drops in a direction toward the opening from which a tube portion having the uppermost inlet extends, depending upon the orientation of the hand-held appliance, to prevent the flow of air through said opening from said secondary tube portion. 
         [0018]    According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a hand-held appliance comprising a housing including a reservoir to contain water and a tube to convey water from the reservoir for delivery to a surface, wherein the tube has a portion that extends into the reservoir, said portion comprising a primary tube portion and a secondary tube portion connected to a free end of the primary tube portion, said secondary tube portion comprising an inlet at each end spaced from each other within the reservoir, and a valve element received within the secondary tube portion, said valve element being slideable under its own weight in response to a change in orientation of the valve element so that, depending upon the orientation of the steamer, an uppermost inlet is closed to prevent the flow of air into the secondary tube portion and the lowermost inlet is open to allow the flow of water into the secondary tube portion. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the hand-held appliance according to any aspect of the invention includes a heating chamber and the tube is configured to convey water from the reservoir to the heating chamber to generate steam prior to delivery to a surface. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  shows a cross-sectional side view of a conventional hand-held appliance in the form of a steamer; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2   a  shows a cross-sectional side view of part of a hand-held appliance in the form of a steamer according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a first orientation; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2   b  shows the hand-held steamer of  FIG. 2   a  but in a second orientation; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  shows a slightly modified version of the hand-held steamer shown in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b;    
           [0024]      FIG. 4   a  shows a cross-sectional side view of part of a hand-held steamer according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a first orientation; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4   b  shows the hand-held steamer of  FIG. 4   a  but in a second orientation; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5   a  shows a cross-sectional side view of part of a hand-held steamer according to a third embodiment of the present invention in a first orientation; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5   b  shows the hand-held steamer of  FIG. 5   a  but in a second orientation. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 5  of the accompanying drawings. 
         [0029]    There is shown in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  a partial view of a first embodiment of a hand-held appliance  10  that is capable of generating steam and which comprises a housing  2  and a reservoir  3 , similar to the conventional hand-held steamer  1  described with reference to  FIG. 1  above. However, the portion  7  of the tube  6  (see  FIG. 1 ) that extends into the reservoir  3  now has two tube inlets  11 ,  12  which are positioned at opposite ends of the reservoir  3 . A valve assembly  13 ,  14  is positioned at each inlet  11 ,  12 . When the hand-held steamer  10  is positioned in the orientation shown in  FIG. 2   a , i.e. in the same orientation as the hand-held steamer  1  shown in  FIG. 1 , inlet  11  is lowest and will be submerged in any water contained in the reservoir  3 . The valve assembly  13  associated with the inlet  11  will then be in an open position to allow water to flow from the reservoir  3  into the portion  7  of the tube  6 , whereas the valve assembly  14  associated with the other inlet  12 , which is positioned above inlet  11 , will be closed to prevent air from entering the portion  7  of the tube  6 . 
         [0030]    Each valve assembly  13 ,  14  is attached to the portion  7  of the tube  6  over each inlet  11 , 12 . Each valve assembly  13 , 14  is preferably releasably attached to the portion  7  to enable independent removal and replacement of each valve assembly  13 , 14 , although it is envisaged that one or both valve assemblies  13 , 14  can be permanently attached to the portion  7  or otherwise formed integrally with it. Each valve assembly  13 , 14  contains a valve member in the form of a weighted body or ball  15  that drops due to gravity and does not float. As shown in  FIG. 2   a , both bodies  15  have dropped under gravity so that the body  15  of the valve assembly  14  associated with the upper inlet  12  is in contact with a valve seat  16  at the end of the portion  7 , thereby closing the upper inlet  12  and preventing the passage of air into the portion  7 . However, the body  15  of the valve assembly  13  associated with the lower inlet  11  is in a position in which it is distanced from its corresponding valve seat  16 , thereby allowing water to flow into the portion  7  past the body  15 . The body  15  is held in a cage  17  to constrain its movement and prevent it from falling out. The cage  17  has openings or passages therein to allow water to flow around the body  15  and into the inlet  11  when the body  15  is spaced from its valve seat  16 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 2   b  illustrates the same hand-held steamer  10  as shown in  FIG. 2   a , but in an orientation in which steam is directed out of the outlet  9  (see  FIG. 1 ) in the housing  2  onto the garment being steamed in a vertically downward direction. The housing  2  may be held in this orientation when, for example, a fabric article that has been placed on an ironing board or on a table or such like is being steamed or, when steaming an item of furniture. As can be appreciated from  FIG. 2   b , in this orientation, inlet  12  is now positioned below inlet  11  and will be submerged in any water contained in the reservoir  3  whereas, depending on the amount of water in the reservoir  3 , inlet  11  will be above the water line. Therefore, valve assembly  13  associated with inlet  11  is closed to prevent the ingress of air whilst valve assembly  14  associated with inlet  12  is open to maintain a flow of water to the heating chamber  4  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , the portion  7  of the tube  6  within the reservoir  3  may comprise a primary tube portion  18  that extends from a flow control valve  19  in the wall of the reservoir  3 , which is connected to a secondary tube portion  20 . The inlet  11  is at one end of the secondary tube portion  20  and the other inlet  12  is at the opposite end of the secondary tube portion  20 . The secondary tube portion  20  has an integral connector  21  positioned midway between the inlets  11 ,  12  to fluidly connect it to a free end of the primary tube portion  18 . The secondary tube portion  20  may extend diagonally across the inside of the reservoir  3  so that, when the housing  2  is in the position shown in  FIG. 2   b , inlet  12  will be below inlet  11 . The primary tube portion  18  and/or the secondary tube portion  20  may be formed from rigid or flexible parts or a combination of both. 
         [0033]    A modified version of the steamer  10  shown in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  is shown in  FIG. 3 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the secondary tube portion  20  is formed in two parts  20   a,    20   b  fluidly connected together by a separate T-shaped connector  22 , which also fluidly connects the two parts  20   a,    20   b  to the free end of the primary tube portion  18 . Each secondary tube portion  20   a,    20   b  may be formed from flexible or rigid tubing. 
         [0034]    Although the embodiments of  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b  and  FIG. 3  each have a secondary tube portion  20 ,  20   a,    20   b  that has two inlets, it will be appreciated that the secondary tube portion  20   a,    20   b  could also be provided with more than two inlets, each inlet being positioned in a different location within the reservoir  3 . Further inlets may be required depending upon the shape of the reservoir  3  and so as to ensure that at least one inlet will be submerged in any water remaining in the reservoir  3  irrespective of the orientation of the steamer. 
         [0035]    Another embodiment will now be described, with reference to  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b . In this embodiment, the primary tube portion  18  is connected directly a single fluid flow control valve  23  which is located roughly centrally within the reservoir  3 . Secondary tube portions  24   a,    24   b  are fluidly attached to, and extend in opposite directions from, the fluid flow control valve  23 . An inlet  25 ,  26  is provided at the end of each secondary tube section  24   a,    24   b.  In this embodiment, the fluid flow control valve  23  comprises a valve housing  27  containing a weighted body  30  which toggles between a first position at one end of the valve housing  27 , as shown in  FIG. 4   a , in which it sits against a first valve seat  28  to close the secondary tube portion  24   a  and stop ingress of air into inlet  25 ; and a second position, as shown in  FIG. 4   b , in which it sits against a second valve seat  29  at the opposite end of the valve housing  27  to close the secondary tube portion  24   b  and stop ingress of air into inlet  26 . The weighted body  30  moves between its first and second positions under gravity and in response to a change in the orientation of the housing  2 . When the housing  2  is in an orientation in which steam is emitted from the outlet  9  (see  FIG. 1 ) in a substantially horizontal direction as shown in  FIG. 4   a , the body  30  sits against valve seat  28  to close the secondary tube portion  24   a  and, when the housing  2  is in an orientation in which steam is emitted from the outlet  9  in a substantially vertical direction as shown in  FIG. 4   b , the body  30  sits against valve seat  29  to close the secondary tube portion  24   b.  As shown in  FIG. 4   b , the secondary tube portion  24   a  is positioned so that the inlet  25  is lower than the inlet  26  at the end of the other secondary tube portion  24   b  when the housing  2  is in the orientation shown in  FIG. 4   b  so that the inlet  25  will always be submerged in any water contained in the reservoir  3  when the housing  2  is in this position. 
         [0036]    A further embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b . In this embodiment, the portion  7  of the tube  6  has a secondary tube portion  31  connected to the free end of the primary tube portion  18 , as in the embodiment of  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b . However, in this embodiment the valve assembly is formed by a rod  32  slideably received in the secondary tube portion  31  so that it protrudes from the inlets  33 ,  34  at each end of the secondary tube portion  31 . An enlarged head  35   a,    35   b  is provided at each end of the rod  32  and carries a sealing disc  36   a,    36   b  that faces its corresponding inlet end  33 ,  34  of the secondary tube portion  31 . 
         [0037]    When the housing  2  is in a position shown in  FIG. 5   a , in which the outlet  9  (see  FIG. 1 ) is positioned to eject steam in a substantially horizontal direction, the rod  32  slides downwardly under its own weight within the secondary tube portion  31  so that the sealing disc  36   a  on the uppermost head  35   a  contacts and seals against the inlet  33  preventing the flow of air into the secondary tube portion  31 . At the same time, the sealing disc  36   b  on the lowermost head  35   b  is spaced from its corresponding inlet  34 , thereby allowing any water in the reservoir  3  to pass into and along the secondary tube portion  31  via the annular passage defined by the rod  32  and the inner surface of the secondary tube portion  31  when the lowermost inlet  34  is submerged. When the housing  2  is orientated in the position shown in  FIG. 5   b , in which the outlet  9  is positioned so that steam is ejected in a substantially vertical direction, the rod  32  slides within the secondary tube portion  31  so that the sealing member  36   a  is now spaced from the lowermost inlet  33  and the uppermost inlet  34  is closed by the other sealing member  36   b,  thereby allowing any water in the reservoir  3  to flow into the secondary tube portion  31  via the annular passage defined by the rod  32  and the inner surface of the secondary tube portion  31  when the lowermost inlet  33  is submerged. 
         [0038]    It will be appreciated that the term “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps and that the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to an advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims. 
         [0039]    Although claims have been formulated in this application to particular combinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure of the present invention also includes any novel features or any novel combinations of features disclosed herein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalisation thereof, whether or not it relates to the same invention as presently claimed in any claim and whether or not it mitigates any or all of the same technical problems as does the parent invention. The applicants hereby give notice that new claims may be formulated to such features and/or combinations of features during the prosecution of the present application or of any further application derived therefrom.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3