Portable steamer

• US 4,571,483 A
• Filed: 07/30/1984
• Issued: 02/18/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Traveltec International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Traveltec International Incorporated
• Inventors: Fathi, Saul S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Albritton, C. L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa J.
• Application Number:
  US06/635,554
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 219/271, 219/272, 219/273, 219/275, 219/276, 219/362, 219/373, 219/274, 219/366, 219/367, 219/368, 219/369, 219/370, 223/51, 239/135, 239/136, 38/77.5, 38/69, 38/77.8, 38/77.7, 38/77.82, 38/77.9, 38/85, 38/88, 38/89, 38/77.4, 4/535-537, 43/129, 43/130
• US Class Current: 392/404
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 87/00 Apparatus for moistening or otherwise conditioning the article to be ironed or pressed apparatus for smoothing or removing creases from garments or other textile articles by formers, cores, stretchers or internal frames, with the application of heat or steam D06F73/00 ; devices used in combination with a laundry dryer D06F58/203

Abstract

This portable steamer device has a central cylindrical casing open at opposite ends. A handle is rotatably mounted to a cylindrical cap attached to the rear end of the casing. A baffle is mounted to the front end of the casing, and has holes for emitting steam. In the casing is a heater assembly to heat water in a first chamber conically shaped body with a central aperature closes the chamber but permits water to pass into the chamber and steam to pass out of the chamber. A tube section inside a second chamber between the baffle and the body which passes steam to the baffle while any water which may inadvertently spill out of the first chamber is captured in the second chamber, thus, water cannot leak out of the device.

Claims

1. A steamer device comprising:

a cylindrical casing open at opposite ends;

a handle pivotally attached to said casing for holding said casing said handle moveable in either of two positions respectively perpendicular and parallel to said casing;

a baffle attachable to one end of said casing, said baffle being quickly removable for filling said casing with water to be turned into steam, said baffle having a plurality of perforations extending from a front end to an open rear end of said baffle for passing said steam from said casing, and an open ended flattened tube extending substantially across the diameter of said cylindrical casing inside said baffle and aligned with said perforations;

a cap secured to and closing the other end of said casing;

a heater assembly in said casing for generating said steam therein;

a bracket supporting said heater assembly in said casing and closing a rear end of a first chamber wherein said steam is generated; and

a funnel shaped partition defining a front end wall for closing a front end of said first chamber and for containing said water therein which is to be turned into steam by said heater assembly, said funnel shaped partition having a central opening aligned with said flattened tube for passing said steam through said partition and through said baffle while retaining said water in said first chamber, said funnel shaped partition arranged to direct any of said water which may spill out of said first chamber around the outside of said flattened tube in said baffle and thereby prevent water from spilling out of said steamer.

2. A steamer device as defined in claim 1, further comprising means pivotally mounting said handle to said cup;

and detent means arranged to hold said handle releasably and selectively in said two positions.

3. A steamer device as defined in claim 1, further comprising first sealing means between said partition and said casing to seal said first chamber at its front end;

and second sealing means between said bracket and said casing to seal said first chamber at its rear end.

4. A steamer device as defined in claim 1, wherein said baffle has at least one flat end wall inclined to the axis of said cylindrical casing and usable as an ironing surface.

5. A steamer device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a block joined to said cap;

pivot means on said block rotatably supporting said handle; and

detent means on said block and handle releasably and selectively holding said handle in said two positions.

6. A steamer device as defined in claim 5, wherein said block and said handle have passages therethrough for passing an electric cable into said cap for connection to said heater assembly.

7. A steamer device as defined in claim 6, wherein said partition has an apertured extension in said cap for passing wires from said heater assembly to said cap to connect said cable in circuit with said heater assembly.

8. A steamer device as defined in claim 7, further comprising switch means mounted in said cap and connected in circuit with said cable and said heater assembly.

9. A steamer device as defined in claim 5, wherein said handle is an elongated hollow body having spaced plate-like ends formed with cross grooves to render them slightly flexible so that said detent means can releasably engage and disengage under lateral pressure imparted by said flexed ends of said handle.

10. A steamer device as defined in claim 9, wherein said block and said handle having passages therethrough for passing an electric cable into said cap for connection to said heater.