DEVICE FOR STEAMING A TEXTILE

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a device for steaming a textile. Steaming is to be understood as refreshing and/or smoothing a textile by means of steam. I.e., the textile is treated by means of steam, in particular water vapour. In this way, smells and/or folds and/or creases in the textile can be removed to freshen up the textile and/or to smooth the textile.

BACKGROUND

A device for steaming a textile that has a housing having a housing opening, on which a telescopic rod is arranged that has a clothes hanger which can be folded open and folded closed is known from CN104294569A. The housing is arranged on a base plate on which a water tank having a water inlet is also arranged. To fill the water tank, however, the user must bend down, which is awkward. A water pump and a steam generating means are arranged in the interior of the housing and a hand steaming apparatus including a steam hose can be attached via a steam interface on the housing. Functional parts such as the hand steaming apparatus including the steam hose must be dismantled and stored or lie around freely and therefore they have to be awkwardly cleared away or attached. They are not available quickly.

Furthermore, CN104060451A describes a device for steaming a textile that has a housing having a housing opening from which a retaining element having a clothes hanger protrudes. A water tank is integrated into the housing and is connected via a steam hose to one end of a hand steaming apparatus, the other end of which can be detachably fastened to the housing or the retaining element. The device is relatively wobbly due to the rod-shaped retaining element that protrudes from the housing. In addition, transporting the device is complex and awkward. The functional parts such as the hand steaming apparatus, the retaining element and the clothes hanger also collect dust.

SUMMARY

The problem addressed by the invention is therefore that of providing a device for steaming a textile, of which the functional parts are quickly available, but do not bother the user and are not located away from the device when not in use.

The advantages which can be achieved using the invention consist, in addition to the quick storability of functional parts when not in use, in the functional parts being quickly available because they do not have to be awkwardly cleared away but can be stored in the device without having to be dismantled. As a result, the functional parts collect relatively little dust, which leads to an increased service life of the device. In addition, when not in use, the device behaves like an object in the living room, so that it does not bother the user. Due to the structure, it can be guaranteed that the user maintains an upright posture during use.

The invention relates to a device for steaming a textile, comprising

a housing having a plurality of housing openings,

a retaining element, which can be vertically extended from the housing, is accommodated in the housing when retracted, and at least partially protrudes from the housing through one of the housing openings when extended,

a clothes hanger, which can be folded open and folded closed and is arranged on the retaining element,

a water tank, which is arranged on, against and/or in the housing, in the normal set-up position of the device,

a hand steaming apparatus, which is detachably fastened in another of the housing openings, against and/or in the housing, in such a way that the hand steaming apparatus forms a cylindrical body together with the housing, and

a steam hose, which connects the water tank to the hand steaming apparatus.

The device is devised as a cylindrical body which is designed to make the functional parts disappear when not in use, so that the device behaves like an object in the living room and does not bother the user. At first glance, it is not recognisable as a technical device. It does not have to be put away and can be used quickly if necessary. Its construction makes it a stable device and its appearance when not in use is very tidy thanks to the integration of the functional parts. The device is ergonomically designed.

When not in use, the hand steaming apparatus is detachably fastened in the further housing opening, against and/or in the housing, while it is removed from the housing opening when in use. For example, an operating element, such as a button, is arranged on the hand steaming apparatus and, when it is actuated, the hand steaming apparatus can be detached from the housing. Alternatively, the device can have an control panel. The device user can use the control panel to give a command to detach the hand steaming apparatus from the housing. Alternatively, the hand steaming apparatus can have a handle and/or a recess, by means of which the hand steaming apparatus can be pulled out of the housing.

The steam hose, which connects the water tank and the hand steaming apparatus, is accommodated in a first variant in the housing. This means it is safely stored in the housing. Alternatively, the steam hose can also be arranged outside the housing. This makes it easier to replace if necessary. Within the meaning of the invention, the expression “steam hose” is to be understood as meaning a hose that is impermeable to steam or substantially impermeable to steam. The steam hose is a hose that is suitable for carrying steam from the water tank or a steam generating apparatus to the hand steaming apparatus.

The retaining element is designed to be adjustable in height. The clothes hanger is located on said retaining element and can be folded open and folded closed. Therefore, when not in use, these elements can be collapsed or folded up and retracted into the housing. If necessary, they can be extended or folded out again. They can be used quickly when required, but do not bother the user when not in use or during transport.

In a preferred embodiment, the retaining element is designed to be able to be manually or automatically extended from the housing and/or to be able to be manually or automatically retracted into the housing.

In a preferred variant, the retaining element is designed to be able to be manually extended from the housing and to be able to be manually retracted into the housing. For example, the retaining element can be designed in such a way that it can be pulled out of the housing and pressed or pushed into the housing; for example, the retaining element can have a handle at its upper end, in the normal set-up position of the device. The device user can use the handle to manually move the retaining element into and out of the device. This variant is energy-saving in comparison with the variant below.

In a different preferred variant, the retaining element is designed to be able to be automatically extended from the housing and to be able to be automatically retracted into the housing. In this variant, a motor, which can drive the retaining element, is arranged in the housing. The device then has, for example, a control panel or a button/key, by means of which the motor can be activated and, if necessary, deactivated. In comparison with the above variant, this is more convenient because the device user does not have to use physical force to move the retaining element.

In a further preferred variant, the two above variants can be combined in order to leave the device user to decide by means of which variant they want to move the retaining element. This is particularly advantageous if several people use the device.

The retaining element is preferably designed as a rod which can be extended from the housing and retracted into the housing. The rod is preferably cylindrical, more preferably circular-cylindrical. The rod can be a telescopic rod. However, the rod is preferably designed in one piece, i.e. as a single rod.

The clothes hanger preferably surrounds part of the retaining element in a cylindrical shape when folded closed. As a result, the clothes hanger can be stored in a space-saving manner and can easily be retracted into the housing together with the retaining element. In a first variant, the clothes hanger can be automatically folded open and folded closed. For example, the device can be designed in such a way that the clothes hanger is automatically folded open and folded closed when the retaining element is extended and retracted to or from a predetermined height. Alternatively, in a further variant, the clothes hanger is designed so that it can be manually folded open and folded closed. The clothes hanger is preferably designed as a clothes hanger for a clothing top such as a blouse, shirt, jacket or the like.

In a preferred embodiment, the clothes hanger has clips which are designed for attaching an item of clothing. As a result, the device is not only suitable for holding clothing tops, but also items of clothing such as trousers, skirts or even bed linen or the like for steaming.

The water tank is preferably arranged form-fittingly on the cylindrical body, in the normal set-up position of the device. This is advantageous because the device user does not have to bend down in order to to fill the water tank. The water tank preferably has a handle and/or a recess. The device user can easily remove the water tank from the housing by means of the handle and/or the recess. Alternatively or additionally, the water tank can also have a removable cover and/or a coverable opening. By means of the removable cover and/or the coverable opening, the device user can easily fill the water tank without removing it from the housing. The water tank is preferably cylindrical. In this embodiment, the water tank preferably has the same or substantially the same diameter as the cylindrical body, the water tank then preferably having an opening through which the retaining element is guided separately from the water in the water tank.

In a further preferred embodiment, the water tank is detachably arranged on the housing in another of the housing openings in such a way that the water tank, the hand steaming apparatus and the housing form the cylindrical body. Here, too, the water tank is preferably arranged such that the user does not have to bend down in order to fill the tank. The water tank preferably has a handle and/or a recess. By means of the handle and/or the recess, the device user can easily pull the water tank partially or completely out of the housing, fill the water tank and, after filling it up, push it back into the housing.

The device preferably also has one or more wheels, which are arranged and designed in such a way that the cylindrical body can be rolled by means of them. This allows the device to be easily transported when needed, for example when the device is to be put away. The wheel or wheels are preferably arranged and designed in such a way that the device can be moved and can be stationary. For example, the device has one wheel or two wheels which are connected by means of an axle and are arranged in such a way that the device can be moved when the housing is tilted, while the housing is stationary when the housing is not tilted.

In a preferred embodiment, the device also has a base plate on which the cylindrical body is arranged, in the normal set-up position of the device. This can further increase the stability of the device. The base plate is preferably circular.

The cylindrical body is preferably circular-cylindrical. The cylindrical body is preferably designed as a column.

The device preferably has a cable drum which is arranged in the housing. The cable drum is preferably designed to automatically roll up a power cable of the device inwards, for example when a user gives the device a command to do so, for example via the control panel, the button/key or the like. The integrated cable drum therefore quickly clears the power cable away when required so that the cable is safely stored in the housing.

A steam generator, which is accommodated in the interior of the housing, is preferably arranged between the water tank and the steam hose. Furthermore, a water pump is preferably arranged between the water tank and the steam generator in the interior of the housing.

One embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings purely schematically and is described in more detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, schematically and not to scale,

FIG. 1a, 1 b each show a perspective view of a device according to the invention when retracted and when extended;

FIG. 2a, 2b each show a perspective view of a further device according to the invention when retracted and when extended; and

FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d each show a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 2a, 2b when retracted, when partially extended and when fully extended.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a, 1 b each show a perspective view of a device according to the invention when retracted and when extended. FIG. 1a shows a perspective view of the device when retracted. The device comprises a housing 1 having a plurality of housing openings (not shown) and a retaining element 2, which can be vertically extended from the housing and is accommodated in the housing 1 when retracted. The retaining element 2 is arranged in one of the housing openings. Furthermore, the device has a water tank 5, which is arranged on the housing 1, in the normal set-up position of the device. Furthermore, the device has a hand steaming apparatus 7, which is detachably fastened in another of the housing openings against and in the housing 1 in such a way that the hand steaming apparatus forms a cylindrical body together with the housing 1. The hand steaming apparatus is connected to the water tank 5 via a steam hose 4.

The water tank 5 is in particular arranged form-fittingly on the cylindrical body, in the normal set-up position of the device. The water tank 5 is also cylindrical in such a way that the water tank forms a cylindrical body together with the housing 1 and the hand steaming apparatus 7. The cylindrical body is circular-cylindrical. The water tank 5 has an opening in which the retaining element 2 is arranged in such a way that the element can be retracted and extended separately from any water in the water tank 5. The water tank 5 is detachably arranged on the housing 1 so that it can be removed from the housing 1 in order to fill the tank with water. The water tank 5 can optionally have a recess 51 which is designed in such a way that a device user can easily grip the water tank 5 with their hand to detach the water tank 5 from the housing 1. The device also has a base plate 8 on which the cylindrical body is arranged, in the normal set-up position of the device. Two wheels 6 are arranged on an axle A and are arranged and designed in such a way that the cylindrical body can be rolled by means of them when the body is tilted. When it is not tilted, the cylindrical body is stationary.

FIG. 1b shows a perspective view of the device when extended. When extended, the retaining element 2 protrudes from the housing 1 through the housing opening (not shown) and through the opening (not shown) of the water tank 5. A clothes hanger 3, which can be folded open and folded closed, is arranged on the retaining element 2. The clothes hanger 3 is shown folded open. The clothes hanger 3 has clips 31 which are designed for attaching an item of clothing.

FIG. 2a, 2b each show a perspective view of a further device according to the invention when retracted and when extended. FIG. 2a shows a perspective view of the device when retracted, while FIG. 2b shows a perspective view of the device when extended. The device shown in FIG. 2a, 2b corresponds to the device shown in FIG. 1a, 1b with the difference that the water tank 5 is not arranged on the housing 1, but rather is detachably arranged against the housing 1 in another of the housing openings (not shown) in such a way that the water tank 5, the hand steaming apparatus 7 and the housing 1 form the cylindrical body and the water tank 5 does not necessarily have to be cylindrical.

FIG. 3a-3d each show a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 2a, 2b when retracted, when partially extended and when fully extended. FIG. 3a shows a front view of the device when retracted, in which state the retaining element 2 is fully accommodated in the housing 1 and is therefore not visible in this view. FIG. 3b shows a front view of the device when partially extended, in which state the retaining element 2 partially protrudes from the housing 1 and the clothes hanger 3 is folded closed such that the clothes hanger surrounds part of the retaining element 2 in a cylindrical manner. FIG. 3c shows a front view of the device when further partially extended, in which state the retaining element 2 protrudes fully from the housing 1 and the clothes hanger 3 is folded closed. FIG. 3d shows a front view of the device when fully extended, in which state the retaining element 2 protrudes fully from the housing 1 and the clothes hanger 3 is folded open such that the clothes hanger has assumed a conventional clothes hanger shape.