Patent Abstract:
A jewelry cleaning device which emits a jet of steam under manually operable control means for the cleansing of various types of small items including jewelry, coins, trinkets, or the like. The jewelry cleaning device of the present invention is lightweight and relatively compact in size thus enabling its use on virtually any conventional tabletop and is easily stored when not in use. The steam generator is powered by conventional electrical power and is controlled by means of a thermostat to maintain the water/steam mixture at a predetermined temperature while in operation. Safety mechanisms include a pressure relief valve to automatically expel steam from the generator when the internal pressure thereof exceeds a predetermined level and a thermal fuse configured in a series connection with the heating element of the steam generator. A containment device is optionally provided which is made of screen mesh and fashioned into a cup-like shape, is slidably engaged onto the sidewall of the jewelry cleaning device housing and is disposed underneath the spout in such a manner to trap gems or other small parts which are inadvertently dislodged from the jewelry piece during the cleaning operation.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to steam cleaning devices, and more particularly, to a jewelry cleaning device utilizing a jet of steam which is suitable for personal use. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Rings, bracelets, necklaces, watches, gems, earrings, and the like present a collection of various types of jewelry which many people today own and wear due to their aesthetically pleasing appearance. Nevertheless through daily wear, this jewelry can become dirty and tarnished thus diminishing their sightly appearance. Therefore, these items must be periodically cleaned in order to maintain their original beauty. Liquid jewelry cleaning formulations which have been developed for this purpose have enjoyed limited success, due mainly to the fact that several common forms of dirt and grime are unaffected thereby. Steam cleaning devices on the other hand have been known for a long time as a valid means of thoroughly cleaning most forms and dirt and grime from jewelry pieces; however, the use of these steam cleaning devices for jewelry items have largely been relegated to jewelry stores and other similar commercial establishments due to their rather large size and complicated design. 
   A number of steam cleaning devices have been developed which disclose a means of cleaning jewelry via a relatively high velocity stream of water vapor or steam and examples of such devices includes U.S. Pat. No. 2,753,212 to Aultman, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,037 to Friedheim. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,490 to Gross discloses a jewelry cleaning means utilizing a high velocity stream of air mixed with a relatively low temperature cleaning solution. Although all of these devices provide an effective method of cleaning jewelry, they suffer in that they are of complex design thus rendering them cost-prohibitive for personal use. Moreover, these complex designs which have been relegated to commercial use have further compounded the problem of complexity in that more stringent safety mechanisms are necessary due to their operation in a commercial environment, thereby further raising their costs. This is due in part to the fact that their use in a commercial environment has necessitated relatively large sized mechanisms which are able to handle high levels of usage. 
   Auxiliary mechanisms for steam cleaning devices that have been developed to provide a containment structure for jewelry items being cleaned include U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,738 to Hubbard and U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,097 to Papandrea. Each of these devices discloses a means of insuring that small gems which are inadvertently dislodged from the jewelry piece remain within a containment structure during the cleaning process. Similarly to the large steam cleaning devices to which they are attached, these devices are large bulky items and thus generally unsuitable for personal use. 
   Thus, there has been a long-felt need for a jewelry cleaning device which is sufficiently small and simple in design to enable its use in a residential environment. Moreover, the device&#39;s simple, non-complex construction should thus be inexpensive to produce as well as easy to maintain thereby enabling the personal use thereof. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND OBJECTIVES 
   The present invention provides a solution to these as well as other needs via a jewelry cleaning device which is small and inexpensive to produce thereby allowing its usage in a residential environment. The device generally comprises a steam generator in fluid communication with a spout which emits a high velocity jet of steam under manually operable control means whereby jewelry items may be effectively cleaned thereby. The jewelry cleaning device of the present invention is lightweight and relatively compact in size thus enabling its use on virtually any tabletop and is easily stored when not in use. The steam generator is commensurately small in size thus minimizing the severity of any safety hazard produced via any of the potential failure modes thereof. The steam generator is powered by conventional electrical power and is controlled by means of a thermostat to maintain the water/steam mixture at a predetermined temperature while in operation. Safety mechanisms include a pressure relief valve to automatically expel steam from the generator when the internal pressure thereof exceeds a predetermined level and a thermal fuse configured in a series connection with the heating element of the steam generator. 
   Optionally, a containment device is provided in order to trap gems or other small parts which are inadvertently dislodged from the jewelry piece during the cleaning operation. The containment device, which is made of screen mesh and fashioned into a cup-like shape, is slidably engaged onto the sidewall of the jewelry cleaning device and is disposed underneath the spout in such a manner that the entire jet of steam passes therethrough. The mesh of the screen is sufficiently fine to trap any sized gem on its upper surface yet allows the steam stream to easily pass therethrough. 
   One aspect of the present invention contemplates a jewelry device that is inexpensive to produce and maintain. The present invention utilizes a steam generation means having a design that has been approved for use in residential environments by unskilled operators though the supervisory safety regulatory agencies, yet heretofore has not been known to the art of jewelry cleaning. The present invention&#39;s design also differs from the prior known steam cleaning devices for jewelry in that the supervisory regulatory agencies do not require periodic maintenance or inspection thereof, thus further reducing costs. In addition, the relatively small size and lightweight design provides for inexpensive materials costs as well as inexpensive shipping and handling costs. 
   Another aspect of the present invention is a jewelry cleaning device that is easy to use. The jewelry cleaning device has relatively few moving parts and requires no adjustment mechanisms, thereby allowing use by an unskilled user. The temperature within the steam generator is automatically controlled in order to maintain a constant pressure thereby obviating the need for user adjustment, whereby a consistent spray pattern is always available to the user upon demand. In addition, the present invention exists as a compact space-efficient package, not having any bulky elongated flexible hoses or other cable control structures attached thereto. This compact design also provides for easy storage of the device when not in use. 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a jewelry cleaning device which is relatively inexpensive to produce as well as to maintain, thereby enabling the personal use thereof. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a jewelry cleaning device utilizing a pressurized steam generation means to deliver a relatively high velocity jet of steam requiring no external adjustment mechanisms in order to enable its use by an unskilled user. 
   A related object of the present invention is to provide a jewelry cleaning device which is relatively compact in size thereby allowing the easy storage thereof when not in use. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a jewelry cleaning device having a gem containment means for the trapping of small gems which become dislodged from the jewelry piece during the cleaning operation that is relatively small and lightweight and is releasably attachable thereto. 
   These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent to those familiar with the construction and use of steam cleaning devices and will become apparent in the following portions of the specification, wherein the detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing preferred embodiments of the invention without placing limitations thereon. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the entire device as a self-contained unit suitable for use on a conventional tabletop. 
       FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a rear elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  showing a vertically oriented, elongated depression in the rear sidewall into which tongs are releasably disposed. 
       FIG. 5  is an elevational cross-sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2  taken at  5 — 5 . 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view of the slidably removable catch basket of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of the slidably removable catch basket of  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of the valve actuator button of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 9  is a front elevational view of the valve actuator button of  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 10  is a plan view of the rocker arm of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 11  is a side elevational view of the rocker arm of  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 12  is a front elevational view of the rocker arm of  FIG. 10 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , a jewelry cleaning device embodying a preferred embodiment of the instant invention is designated generally by reference numeral  10 . The jewelry cleaning device is generally shown having a housing for enclosing a steam generator (to be described later), a pressure safety cap  85 , a valve actuator button  100 , and a steam tube  64  for directing a jet of steam downwards through a removable catch basket  30 . The steam tube  64  has a terminating end  65  which is constricted in order to emit the steam at a relatively high velocity. The valve actuator button  100  is selectively operable by a user to cause a momentary burst of steam to emanate from the terminating end  65  of the steam tube  64 . The space directly below the terminating end  65  of the steam tube  64  which includes the relatively high velocity jet of steam that is above the catch basket  30  defines a cleaning zone  17  whereby jewelry or other small items may be cleaned thereby. The catch basket is provided to trap small gems which may inadvertently become dislodged during the cleaning operation. 
   The housing shown generally comprises an upper wall  11 , and left  12 , right  13 , rear  14 , front  15 , and bottom  21  sidewalls made of any thermoplastic material, preferably polypropylene. The front sidewall  15  is generally concave in shape having an aperture  16  proximate the upper wall  11  thereof for receipt of the steam tube  64  therethrough. The front sidewall  15  is generally concave in shape in order to conform to the lateral space defined by the cleaning zone and to minimize the lateral distance which the steam tube must protrude beyond the front sidewall. The front sidewall  15  also has a catch basket retaining member  18  which extends laterally across the front wall  15  having a slot  19  formed therein to slidably receive the rim  32  of the catch basket  30 . The front edge of the upper wall  11  is integrally attached to the front sidewall  15  to define an adjoining edge  20  which is chamfered in order to create an aesthetically pleasing finish. In addition, the aesthetic appeal of the housing is further enhanced by the multi-tiered contour of the left  12  and right  13  sidewalls. The rear sidewall sidewall  14  is selectively removable in order to provide access to the contents of the housing. The rear sidewall  14  is removably attached via screws  23  which are inserted through cup-shaped depressions  22  in the rear sidewall  14  and anchored to pedestals  24  which are integrally attached to the left  12  and right  13  sidewalls as best shown in  FIG. 5 . The jewelry cleaning device  10  of the present invention also includes an elongated depression  26  disposed in the rear sidewall  14  for placement of tongs  27  therein. The tongs  27  provide a means of holding the jewelry piece during the cleaning operation. The width of the depression  26  is chosen such that the tongs  27  are removably held therein with a snug fit. A finger access depression  28  is included which is adjoined to the elongated depression  26  in order to allow easy access to the tongs  27  by a user. 
   The catch basket  30  which is shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , has a screen member  31  formed into a hemi-ellipsoid shape whose upper edge is attached to a rim  32 . The rim  32  comprises an annular ring portion  33  which extends around the entire circumference of the screen  31  and a lip portion  34  which is integrally attached to the ring portion  33  for slidable insertion into the slot  18 .  FIGS. 1 through 3  show the catch basket in the inserted position, however, the user may optionally remove the catch basket from the housing by pulling the catch basket  30  away from the housing, thereby enabling the cleaning of larger items or for the efficient storage thereof. 
   As shown in  FIG. 5 , the steam generator includes a canister portion  41  made of any metal, preferably aluminum, which has a maximum water holding capacity of up to approximately 16 ounces of fluid, and most preferably about 8 ounces of fluid. The canister portion  41  has a cup-shaped neck member  42  which is integrally attached to a generally frusto-conical shaped body member  43 , and a bottom member  44  which is removably attached to body member  43  with a heat resistant gasket  46  sandwiched therebetween to form a pressure tight chamber for the heated steam/water mixture. Removable attachment of the bottom member  44  to the body member  43  is provided by bolts  47  which extend through apertures formed in the bottom member  44  as well as apertures formed in flanges  51  which are integrally attached to body member  43 . Conical shaped depressions  54  in the walls of the body member  43  allow access to the associated nuts of the bolts  47 . A pedestal  60  is provided for support of the canister  41  within the housing. The pedestal  60  is integrally attached to the bottom member  44  and extends downward therefrom to the bottom sidewall  21  and is secured thereto with bolt  61 . 
   The bottom member  44  has an annular slot  56  for housing a ring-shaped heater element  57  therein. The heater element  57  is preferably an 800 watt calrod device. The bottom member  44  also has a thermostat  58  mounted thereto which is electrically connected to the heater element  57  via a series connection which turns on power to the heater element when the canister temperature drops below a first predetermined threshold and turn off power when the temperature goes above a second predetermined threshold. To prevent thermal runaway of the canister temperature due to a failure of the thermostat, a thermal fuse  59  which is mounted to the bottom member  44  and thus in thermal communication thereto is also configured in a series connection with the heater element  57  to create an electrically open circuit if the temperature of the canister goes above a predetermined temperature, preferably about 450 degrees Fahrenheit. The heater element  57 , thermostat  58 , and thermal fuse  59  define an electrical circuit which terminates in an electrical cord (not shown) for connection to a suitable source of electrical power. 
   The neck member  42  has a valve body  62  integrally formed therein to provide for selective communication of the steam from the canister to the steam tube  64 . The valve body  62  has an aperture  66  disposed at its lower end in order to provide fluid communication from the canister  41  into the valve body  62 . Steam flow through the aperture  66  is regulated by a valve pin assembly which is slidably received in a hollow shaped plug  67  having an o-ring  68  disposed therebetween to prevent the leakage of steam therethrough. The upper end of the inner wall of the valve body  62  is threaded to threadably receive the plug  67  wherein the head  69  thereof is hexagonally shaped in order to facilitate insertion via a conventional wrench. The valve pin assembly generally includes a pin head  71  which is screwably connected to a connecting rod  72  having a seat flange  73  attached at its lower extremity. A thermally resistant valve seat  74  which is attached to the bottom surface of the seat flange  73  using any suitable adhesive is springably biased against the aperture  66  via compression spring  75 . Thus, communication of the steam through the valve is inhibited when no external force is placed upon the pin head  71 . Conversely, when a generally upward directing force acts on the pin head  71 , the valve is opened and steam is allowed to flow freely from the canister to the steam tube  64 . A tube-shaped projection  78  is integrally attached to the neck member  42  having an aperture  79  therebetween, wherein projection  78  has threads on its inner surface to threadably receive the steam tube  64  therein. The steam tube  64  is preferably made from a thermoplastic material such as polypropylene to minimize the amount of heat conduction to the outer perimeter thereof due to hot steam passing therethrough. 
   Integrally formed with the neck member  42  is a fill tube  81  which extends vertically thereabove. The fill tube  81  extends slightly above the bottom wall of a cup-shaped depression  25  and is held in place with a snug water-tight fit with a grommet  82  therebetween. The depression  25  is integrally attached to the upper wall  11  of the housing having a predetermined diameter to accommodate the bottom edge of the pressure safety cap  85  with an air gap  83  therebetween. The fill tube  81  has internal threads to threadably receive the external threads of the safety valve portion  86  of the pressure safety cap  85 . The safety valve portion  86  generally comprises a cylindrical pressure relief housing  87  made preferably of brass, having a generally disk-shaped member  88  integrally attached thereto. An o-ring  84  which extends around the periphery of the housing  87  and abuts member  88  thereunder serves to prevent the leakage of steam past the housing  87 . The bottom end of pressure relief housing has a seat having an aperture  90  therein for receipt of a small ball valve member  89  which is springably biased to the closed position. A compression spring  91  exerts a downward force on ball member such that when the internal pressure within the canister exceeds a predetermined pressure, preferably less than 15 psi, the steam may be vented therefrom. Vent holes  93  disposed in member  88  allow the steam within housing  87  to pass through to the ambient environment. The pressure safety cap  85  also comprises a shroud portion  95  for hand screwing of the valve portion to and from the fill tube  81 . The shroud portion  95  comprises a generally inverted cup-shaped member  96  made of any material, preferably polypropylene, having an annular-shaped valve mount member  97  integrally attached thereto for securement of the safety valve portion  86  via a press fit. 
   Manual control of the jet of steam is provided by a valve actuator button  100  disposed within a rectangular shaped hole  101  in the upper wall  11  proximate the rear edge thereof in conjunction with a rocker arm  107 . The valve actuator button  100  constructed of any material, preferably plastic, comprises a body portion  102  having two arms  103  which depend downward from and are integrally attached thereto as best shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . Both of the arms  103  have holes  104  formed therein for receipt of a pintle bolt  105  therethrough. The rocker arm  107  acts to translate the vertically directing downward force of the button  100  to a generally upward directing force on the pin head  71  of the valve pin assembly via fulcrum member  116 . The rocker arm  107  is comprised of a an elongated section of sheet metal having a generally inverted U-shaped cross-section defining top  108 , and side walls  109  which terminate at proximal  112  and distal  113  ends. The top wall  108  has a circular shaped hole  115  formed therein through which the fill tube  81  extends. Two fulcrum members  116  depend from and are integrally attached to each of the side walls  109  which rest upon the surface of the neck member  42  thereby allowing the rocker arm  107  to pivot about its axis. Holes  118  exist in each side wall  109  proximate the proximal end  112  thereof for providing a rotatable connection to the arms  103  of button  100  via bolt  105 . Similarly, holes  120  exist in each side wall  109  proximate the distal end  113  thereof for providing a rotatable connection the pin head  71  via bolt  121 . Thus, when a downward force on the button  100  is applied by a user, the button consequently rotates the rocker arm  107  about fulcrum member  116  and lifts the valve pin assembly thereby opening the valve. 
   To use, the pressure safety cap  85  is temporarily unscrewed from the device  10  and a predetermined volume of water which is less than the maximum water holding capacity of the canister is poured into the canister  41  via the fill tube  81 . It is to be understood that the maximum water holding capacity is slightly less than the absolute volumetric capacity of the canister so that the water level does not extend above the aperture  66  of the valve body  62 . Next, the pressure safety cap  85  is screwed onto the fill tube  81  and the electrical cord connected to a suitable source of electrical power. As electrical power is applied to the heater element  57 , the steam generated thereby raises the pressure within the canister to a level which is maintained in equilibrium by the thermostat  58 . When equilibrium of the steam/water mixture has been achieved, the device  10  is ready to use. A jewelry piece is placed within the cleaning zone  17  using tongs  27  and the actuator button  100  pressed by a user thereby causing a jet of steam to be emitted from the tube  64  and enveloping the jewelry piece to be cleaned. Failure protection mechanisms include a pressure safety valve which automatically releases steam from the canister  41  if the internal pressure of the canister exceeds a predetermined level and a thermal fuse  59  which automatically opens the circuit to the heater element  57  if the temperature exceeds a predetermined level. 
   The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, although the present disclosure described a means of cleaning jewelry, is well known in the art that other small items may be cleaned by immersion in the jet of steam such as coins, trinkets, or the like. Therefore, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1