CN112912562A

CN112912562A - Garment care device with cord storage

Info

Publication number: CN112912562A
Application number: CN202080005567.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 许智翔; R·P·O·拉米瑞兹; 苏文光
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips NV
Current assignee: Fansongni Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2019-08-29
Filing date: 2020-08-28
Publication date: 2021-06-04
Anticipated expiration: 2040-08-28
Also published as: PL3847307T3; WO2021038077A1; EP3847307A1; CN112912562B; RU2761242C1; EP3847307B1; EP3786347A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a laundry care appliance (100) comprising a base (101), a mobile unit (102) and a cord (103) for connecting the base (101) and the mobile unit (102). A groove (104) is arranged along the base (101) for storing the cord (103). The garment care device (100) further comprises at least one elastic member (105) arranged in the groove (104) for creating a partially enclosed area (106) in the groove (104), the partially enclosed area (106) being adapted to retain the cord (103) when the cord (103) is stored in the groove (104) and inserted into the partially enclosed area (106).

Description

Garment care device with cord storage

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of garment care.

Background

Published utility model CN205171226(U) discloses a storage solution for a hose cord connecting a base of a laundry care appliance and a steam iron. This storage solution consists in arranging a relatively large cavity in the base, providing a large opening for the user to insert the hose cord inside for storage. However, this solution has various technical limitations. In particular, the user must first fold the hose cord into a plurality of loops to ensure that the volume of the folded hose cord will fit into the volume of the cavity. This also means that if the user does not fold the hose line sufficiently into multiple loops, a portion of the hose line may protrude from the base housing, which may result in the hose line being bulky and loosely stored. Furthermore, even if the hose cord has been sufficiently inserted into the cavity, the hose cord may easily fall out of the cavity when the device is moved, for example when the user transports the device to another location after use.

CN203429469U discloses a garment steamer, which comprises a base, a storage box, a power line, a water pipe, an electric wire and a ironing head. One end of the water pipe wire is connected with the base, the other end of the water pipe wire is connected with the ironing head, the hook is arranged on the storage box, and a wire slot is formed in the base. When the clothes are needed to be stored after being ironed by the clothes steamer, the ironing head is placed on the ironing head base, and the water pipe and the wire are folded in half and then wound in the wire slot. And hanging the folded end on a line buckle to fix, closing the storage box, winding the power line in the wire slot, and then hanging the power line on a hook of the storage box.

FR 2948131 discloses a device having a base in which there is the following assembly: a steam generating system, a safety element, a water tank, a pump and power supply, an alarm control unit, a safety unit and a processing unit. The processing unit processes information provided by the user. The iron is connected to the base by a cable. The conduit is assembled under the jacket forming a rope, wherein the rope is stored in a cavity disposed in the base. An opening (i.e., an exit hole) is formed in the flexible sheet and is calibrated to grip the cord exiting the cavity to support the weight of the iron.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to propose a garment care device with an improved cord storage solution, which avoids or alleviates the above mentioned problems.

The invention is defined by the independent claims. The dependent claims define advantageous embodiments.

To this end, the laundry care appliance according to the invention comprises a base; a mobile unit; a rope for connecting the base and the moving unit; and a groove disposed along the base for storing the cord.

The garment care device according to the invention further comprises at least one elastic member arranged in the groove for creating a partially enclosed area in the groove, the partially enclosed area being adapted to retain the cord when stored in the groove and inserted into the partially enclosed area.

By using a resilient member (i.e. a flexible clip), the width of the storage channel entrance/exit point can be varied. This means that if the rope diameter is larger, the elastic member will bend (flex) more to let the (hose) rope in. After entry, the elastic member returns to its neutral position to secure the cord, preventing it from falling out. Similarly, for smaller cord diameters, the elastic member will bend less to allow the cord to enter the storage groove and then return to the neutral position of the elastic member to prevent the cord from falling out.

Furthermore, the use of the elastic member ensures that the cord is held securely in the groove and does not easily fall out. This will also give the user tactile feedback when the cord is inserted into or removed from the groove.

The use of a groove ensures that the cord does not protrude from the device after storage.

In addition, this storage solution only requires the user to fold the cord once to form a single loop to be inserted into the groove.

A detailed description and other aspects of the present invention will be given below.

Drawings

Certain aspects of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the embodiments described below, and considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like parts or sub-steps are designated in a like manner:

fig. 1A depicts a first side of a garment care device according to the present invention;

fig. 1B depicts a second side of a garment care device according to the present invention;

fig. 2 depicts a partial three-dimensional view of a first side of a garment care device according to the invention;

figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a cord for a garment care device according to the invention;

4A, 4B and 4C depict various embodiments of garment care devices according to the present invention employing at least one elastic member comprising at least one substantially vertical portion;

5A, 5B and 5C depict various embodiments of garment care devices according to the present invention employing at least one elastic member including at least one inclined portion;

6A, 6B and 6C depict various embodiments of a garment care device according to the present invention employing at least one elastic member including an introduction element;

figures 7A, 7B and 7C depict various embodiments of a garment care device according to the present invention employing at least one elastic member comprising a front element;

8A, 8B and 8C depict various embodiments of a garment care device according to the present invention employing at least one elastic member including an introduction element and a leading element;

fig. 9 depicts an embodiment of a garment care device according to the invention employing at least one resilient member protruding;

figure 10 depicts a cross-sectional view of a garment care device according to the invention when the cord is stored;

fig. 11A depicts a partially exploded view showing the assembly of the resilient member in the base of the garment care device according to the invention;

fig. 11B depicts a three-dimensional view showing the assembly of the elastic member in the base of the garment care device according to the invention;

fig. 12 depicts a three-dimensional view showing the resilient member molded with the groove of a garment care device according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1A depicts a first side S1 of a laundry care device 100 according to the present invention, while fig. 1B depicts a second side S2 of a laundry care device 100 according to the present invention.

The laundry care device 100 comprises a base 101, a moving unit 102 and a cord 103, the cord 103 being used to connect the base 101 and the moving unit 102.

For example, S1 and S2 are opposite sides of the susceptor 101.

It should be noted that the cord 103 may also be referred to as a hose cord.

The garment care device 100 comprises a groove 104, the groove 104 being arranged along the base 101 for storing the cord 103.

The garment care device 100 further comprises at least one elastic member 105 arranged in the groove 104 for creating a partially enclosed area 106 in the groove 104. The partially enclosed area 106 is adapted to hold the string 103 when the string 103 is stored in the groove 104 and inserted into the partially enclosed area 106.

Preferably, the base comprises a plurality of feet 107 for contacting a horizontal support such as a table.

Fig. 2 depicts a partial three-dimensional view of a first side of a garment care device according to the invention.

Preferably, the groove 104 is arranged and extends along the periphery of the base 101.

Preferably, the groove 104 is arranged and extends along at least one side surface or face of the base 101. Preferably, the recess comprises a channel extending concavely into the base, for example indented to one side of the base, and extending longitudinally along the base.

The elastic member 105 is adapted to bend when the rope enters the partially enclosed area 106 and then return to its original position after the rope enters the partially enclosed area 106. This corresponds to the case where the user stores the cord in the groove.

Similarly, the elastic member 105 is adapted to bend when the rope leaves the partially enclosed area 106 and then return to its original position after the rope leaves the partially enclosed area 106. This corresponds to the situation where the user removes the cord from the recess.

The elastic member 105 allows the cord to easily enter the groove 104 while providing sufficient resistance to prevent the cord from falling out.

Preferably, the stiffness of the elastic member 105 is in the range of [ 1; 20] kg/cm.

Preferably, the elastic member 105 is made of a plastic material or metal.

Viewed in cross-section AA, the partially enclosed area forms a pocket area inside the groove 104, which includes an entrance/exit for the string.

The elastic member 105 extends along the groove 104, seen radially from the sides S1 and S2, for a distance corresponding to the width of the elastic member 105, typically a few centimeters.

The resilient member 105 is adapted to partially close the opening of the recess 104 for forming a partially enclosed area 106, which will be described in further detail below.

The interior of the recess may have different shapes such as rectangular, square, part circular, part oval.

Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a cord 103 for a garment care device 100 according to the invention.

For example, the string 103 includes:

at least one electric wire 110 between the base 101 and the mobile unit 102;

a duct 111 for conveying steam from the base 101 to the mobile unit 102; and/or

At least one conduit 112 for transporting water from the base 101 to the mobile unit 102.

The at least one wire 110 is intended to transmit the power supply to the mobile unit 102 and/or to transmit information in the form of signals from the base 101 to the mobile unit 102 or from the mobile unit 102 to the base 101.

The cords 103 may have different cross-sectional shapes, such as circular or slightly triangular as shown.

For example, in fig. 3, the minimum cross-section Smin of the cord 103 is 12.7mm and the maximum cross-section Smax of the cord 103 is, for example, 16.6 mm.

Fig. 4A, 4B and 4C depict various embodiments of a garment care device 100 according to the present invention employing at least one elastic member 105 comprising at least one substantially vertical portion.

These embodiments are schematically illustrated from cross-section AA of fig. 1A and 1B.

The opening of the groove 104 corresponds to the distance between the bottom point O1 and the top point O2 of the groove entrance.

Preferably, the partially enclosed area 106 has an opening with a width (w) that is less than the minimum cross-section Smin of the cord 103. This results in a situation where the cord is held firmly in the partially enclosed area 106, but requires a greater force, which is important for the user to remove the cord from the groove.

Alternatively, the opening of partially enclosed area 106 is greater than the minimum cross-section Smin of tether 103, while being less than the maximum cross-section Smax of tether 103. This results in a situation where the cord is held securely in the partially enclosed area 106, but the user needs relatively less force to remove the cord from the groove.

In the two preceding paragraphs, the expressions "less than …" and "greater than …" refer to a size difference of at least 5%.

Preferably, as shown in fig. 4A, 4B and 4C, the at least one resilient member 105 comprises at least one substantially vertical portion arranged in the groove 104 near the opening of the groove 104.

Preferably, the vicinity of the opening of the groove 104 refers to the front half of the groove.

Fig. 4A shows that one elastic member 105 extends vertically upward in the groove 104.

Fig. 4B shows that one elastic member 105 extends vertically downward in the groove 104.

Fig. 4C shows one resilient member extending vertically upward in the groove 104 and one resilient member extending vertically downward within the groove 104.

"substantially vertical" means deviating from vertical by an angle of [ 0; 5] degree.

Fig. 5A, 5B and 5C depict various embodiments of a garment care device 100 according to the present invention employing at least one elastic member 105 comprising at least one inclined portion.

By oblique is meant that a portion of the resilient member 105 is directed within the groove at an oblique angle, whether straight or concave.

Fig. 5A shows an elastic member 105 extending downward in the groove 104 at an oblique angle, for example, at an angle of 25 degrees from horizontal.

Fig. 5B shows that one resilient member 105 extends upwardly in the recess 104 at an oblique angle, for example, at an angle of 25 degrees from horizontal.

Fig. 5C shows one elastic member extending downward in the groove 104 at an oblique angle, such as at an angle of 15 degrees to the horizontal, and one elastic member extending upward in the groove 104 at an oblique angle, such as at an angle of 25 degrees to the horizontal.

It should be noted that although one elastic member 105 shown in fig. 5A, 5B, and 5C has a straight shape, the elastic member 105 may be slightly concave as will be described later in detail in connection with fig. 10.

Fig. 6A, 6B and 6C depict various embodiments of a garment care device 100 according to the present invention, employing at least one elastic member 105 comprising an introduction element 108.

Fig. 6A, 6B and 6C differ from fig. 5A, 5B and 5C in that at least one elastic member 105 further includes a lead-in element 108 at a front end thereof.

The lead-in elements correspond to any rounded (as shown) or chamfered elements that facilitate entry of the cord 103 into the partially enclosed region 106.

Fig. 7A, 7B and 7C depict various embodiments of a garment care device according to the present invention employing at least one elastic member comprising a front element.

Fig. 7A, 7B and 7C differ from fig. 5A, 5B and 5C in that at least one resilient member 105 further comprises a front element FE extending over a region 109 of the base 101 adjacent to the recess 104.

The front element FE is intended to close the gap between the resilient member 105 and the inner lower portion of the groove 104 and/or to close the gap between the resilient member 105 and the inner upper portion of the groove 104.

By closing the above gap or gaps, the front element FE prevents the user from trying to place a rope in this area instead of partially closing the area 106.

Fig. 7A shows that one elastic member 105 includes a front element FE closing a gap between the elastic member 105 and the inner lower portion of the groove 104.

Fig. 7B shows that one resilient member 105 comprises a front element FE closing the gap between the resilient member 105 and the inner upper part of the groove 104.

Fig. 7C shows that one elastic member includes a leading element that closes the gap between the elastic member and the inner lower portion of the slot 104 and one elastic member that includes a leading element that closes the gap between the elastic member and the inner upper portion of the slot 104.

Fig. 8A, 8B and 8C depict various embodiments of a garment care device according to the present invention employing at least one elastic member comprising an introduction element and a leading element.

As described above, fig. 8A, 8B and 8C differ from fig. 7A, 7B and 7C in that at least one elastic member 105 further includes a lead-in element 108 at a front end thereof.

Fig. 9 depicts an embodiment of a garment care device according to the invention employing a protruding at least one elastic member 105.

Fig. 9 differs from fig. 7A in that at least one resilient member 105 protrudes from the inlet O1-O2 of the groove 104.

Similarly (not shown), the at least one resilient member 105 may also be arranged as described above in any of the other embodiments.

The at least one elastic member 105 protrudes from the entrance O1-O2 of the groove 104 such that the elastic member 105 is more easily visible to a user and facilitates entry of the cord 103 into the partially enclosed area 106.

For example, the elastic member 105 protrudes a distance (d) between [ 1; 20] mm.

Fig. 10 depicts a cross-sectional view of a garment care device 100 according to the invention when the cord 103 is stored in the partially enclosed area 106.

In this illustration, one single loop of rope 103 as shown in fig. 3 is stored in partially enclosed area 106.

The elastic member 105 is inclined and forms a concave shape extending downward in the groove 104. The concave shape also helps to keep the rope inside the partially enclosed area 106.

The elastic member 105 includes a rounded portion that forms the introduction element 108 at its front end.

The resilient member 105 comprises a front element FE extending over a bottom area 109 of the base 101 to close the gap between the resilient member 105 and the inner lower portion of the recess 104.

The elastic member 105 is dimensioned to form a partially enclosed area 106 having an opening with a width (w) that is less than the minimum cross-section Smin of the cord 103.

Fig. 11A depicts a partially exploded view showing the assembly of the resilient member 105 in the base of the garment care device 100 according to the present invention.

Preferably, in this embodiment, the at least one resilient member 105 is mounted to the base 101 as a separate element.

The mounting of the at least one resilient member 105 as a separate element to the base 101 may facilitate assembly and manufacture of the garment care device 100.

The at least one resilient member 105 is then secured to the base, such as by using screws and/or a clamping mechanism.

Fig. 11B depicts a three-dimensional view showing the elastic member 105 of fig. 11A assembled into the base 101.

Fig. 12 depicts a three-dimensional view showing the elastic member 105 molded with the groove 104 of the garment care device 100 according to the present invention.

Molding the at least one resilient member 105 with the groove 104 may reduce the amount of raw material (such as plastic) required.

Preferably (not shown), in the laundry care appliance 100 according to the present invention:

the base 101 comprises a water tank and a water pump for transporting water from the water tank to the mobile unit 102 via a rope 103;

the mobile unit 102 is a steam iron.

Preferably (not shown), the base 101 further comprises a pressurized steam generator supplied with water from the water tank for generating steam which is transported from the base 101 to the moving unit 102 via the string 103.

Preferably (not shown), the base 101 comprises a water tank and a steam generator supplied with water from the water tank for generating steam which is transported from the base 101 to the mobile unit 102 via a cord 103, and wherein the mobile unit 102 is a steamer head.

The examples described above are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the process of the present invention. While the invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. Any reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

1. A laundry care appliance (100) comprising:

-a base (101);

-a mobile unit (102);

-a string (103) for connecting the base (101) and the mobile unit (102);

-a groove (104) arranged along the base (101) for storing the cord (103);

-at least one elastic member (105) arranged in the groove (104) for creating a partially enclosed area (106) in the groove (104), the partially enclosed area (106) being adapted to hold the string (103) when the string (103) is stored in the groove (104) and inserted into the partially enclosed area (106).

2. Laundry care appliance according to claim 1, wherein the resilient member (105) is adapted to partially close the opening (O1, O2) of the groove (104) for forming the partially closed area (106).

3. A garment care device according to claim 2, wherein the partially enclosed region (106) comprises an opening having a width (w):

-less than the minimum cross section (Smin) of the rope (103), or

-greater than the minimum section (Smin) of said cord (103) and simultaneously less than the maximum section (Smax) of said cord (103).

4. A garment care device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one elastic member (105) comprises at least one substantially vertical portion arranged in the groove (104) in the vicinity of the opening of the groove (104).

5. A garment care device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one resilient member (105) comprises at least one inclined portion which is arranged in the groove (104) and extends towards the opening of the groove (104).

6. A garment care device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one elastic member (105) further comprises an introduction element (108) at a front end of the at least one elastic member (105).

7. A garment care device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the resilient member (105) further comprises a Front Element (FE) extending over a region (109) of the base (101) adjacent to the recess (104).

8. A garment care device according to claim 7, wherein the resilient member (105) protrudes from an entrance of the recess (104).

9. A garment care device according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one resilient member (105) is mounted to the base (101) as a separate element.

10. A garment care device according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one resilient member (105) is moulded with the recess (104).

11. A garment care device according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one resilient member (105) comprises a first resilient member arranged on a first side (S1) of the base (101) and a second resilient member arranged on a second side (S2) of the base (101).

12. A garment care device according to any preceding claim, wherein:

-the base (101) comprises a water tank and a water pump for transporting water from the water tank to the mobile unit (102) via the string (103),

-the mobile unit (102) is a steam iron.

13. Laundry care appliance according to claim 12, wherein the base (101) further comprises a pressurized steam generator supplied with water by the water tank for generating steam which is transported from the base (101) to the mobile unit (102) via the cord (103).

14. A laundry care device according to any of claims 1-11, wherein said base (101) comprises a water tank and a steam generator supplied with water by said water tank for generating steam which is transported from said base (101) to said mobile unit (102) via said cord (103), and wherein said mobile unit (102) is a steamer head.

15. A garment care device according to any preceding claim, wherein the cord (103) comprises any of the following elements:

-at least one electric wire (110) between said base (101) and said mobile unit (102);

-a duct (111) for transporting steam from the base (101) to the mobile unit (102); and/or

-at least one conduit (112) for transporting water from the base (101) to the mobile unit (102).