Liquid heaters and vaporizers – Cleaning
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-22
2003-03-25
Wilson, Gregory (Department: 3749)
Liquid heaters and vaporizers
Cleaning
C015S320000, C015S322000, C068S00500D
Reexamination Certificate
active
06536379
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a steam cleaning device, more particularly to a handheld steam cleaning device in which water scales formed therein can be removed without the need to disassemble two housing walls thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, a conventional steam cleaning device is shown to include a housing
10
which has two complementary housing walls mating with each other to confine an accommodation chamber therein. A steam generating member
20
is received in the accommodation chamber, and has a heating tube
203
with a water inlet
201
that is in fluid communication with a tube
303
of a water supplying member
30
. The water supplying member
30
further includes a reservoir
301
, and a pump
302
which pumps water in the reservoir
301
to the water inlet
201
. The heating tube
203
further has a steam outlet
202
in which steam is generated. A steam delivering member
40
has a passageway
405
with two ends
4012
,
4021
, and includes a connecting portion
401
which is held in the accommodation chamber by an engaging portion
4011
that engages a positioning portion
101
of the housing
10
, and a nozzle
402
which extends outwardly of the housing
10
. The end
4012
is in fluid communication with the steam outlet
202
such that the steam can be directed out of the end
4021
for spraying and removal of dirt on a surface. A regulator
404
is secured to a receiving groove
403
defined between the connecting portion
401
and the nozzle
402
. In assembly, after engagement of the connecting and positioning portions
401
,
101
, a plurality of fasteners (not shown) are used to fasten the housing walls together.
Since the heating tube
203
and the passageway
405
must be cleaned to remove water scales formed thereon after long term use, the fasteners must be removed from the housing
10
to separate the housing walls from each other. Then, the steam delivering member
40
is detached from the accommodation chamber so that a brush (not shown) can reach the heating tube
203
and the passageway
405
for cleaning. Therefore, the cleaning operation is inconvenient to conduct.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a steam cleaning device which permits removal of water scales formed therein without the need to disassemble a housing thereof.
According to this invention, the steam cleaning device includes a housing which has front and rear portions opposite to each other in a lengthwise direction, and an intermediate portion interposed therebetween. The housing confines an accommodation chamber which extends through the front, intermediate and rear portions. The front portion has a surrounding abutment wall which extends in a transverse direction relative to the lengthwise direction and which defines an opening that is communicated with the accommodation chamber. A steam generating member is disposed in the accommodation chamber at the rear portion, and includes a first inner tubular wall which extends in the lengthwise direction. The first inner tubular wall confines a duct, and includes a post-heating zone segment proximate to the intermediate portion. A conduit is disposed in the lengthwise direction, and includes a second inner tubular wall which confines a passageway. The conduit includes a proximate end which engages the post-heating zone segment such that the passageway is aligned and is in fluid communication with the duct, and a distal end which is disposed in the accommodation chamber at the intermediate portion. A steam delivering head has a channel which extends therethrough in the lengthwise direction, and includes an insert end which is insertable into the passageway and which is in sealing contact with the second inner tubular wall while bringing the channel into alignment and fluid communication with the passageway, a barrel body which extends from the insert end and outwardly and forwardly of the distal end to terminate at a surrounding edge wall, and a barrier wall which extends from the surrounding edge wall in the transverse direction to cooperate with the barrel body to form a shoulder wall. When the insert end is inserted into the passageway, the shoulder wall abuts against the surrounding abutment wall, thereby guarding against further movement of the insert end in the lengthwise direction. A tightening member is disposed to bring the shoulder wall in the lengthwise direction to abut firmly against the surrounding abutment wall.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3702616 (1972-11-01), Mercer
patent: 5224237 (1993-07-01), Ambrosiano
patent: 6112367 (2000-09-01), Burr et al.
patent: 6314972 (2001-11-01), Sin
patent: 6321037 (2001-11-01), Reid et al.
Harness & Dickey & Pierce P.L.C.
Wilson Gregory
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