[001] RELATED APPLICATIONS

[002] The present application claims priority to LT.S. Provisional Application No.

62/716,391 filed Aug. 9, 2018.

[003] FIELD OF INVENTION.

[004] The present invention is related in general to steamer apparatus and, in particular, to a collapsible steamer apparatus.

[005] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[006] Steam is often used to remove wrinkles and freshen linens. This is particularly important during travel and when clothing items are compressed or stored in confined spaces.

[007] The most common tools for steaming clothing are hand-held steamers which can be maneuvered as needed to direct steam. However, common designs for hand-held steamers are often difficult to fit into language and other convenient spaces. Further, common hand- held steamer designs are not sturdy enough for travel or rough treatment. Finally, most common designs for steamers require large amounts of water and lengthy heating times to produce steam.

[008] To overcome the limitations of the prior art, the present invention provides a collapsible steamer apparatus which is both lightweight and convenient for storage and travel.

[009] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0010] The present invention provides a collapsible steamer apparatus. According to one aspect of the present invention, the steamer apparatus of the present invention may include a heating base supporting a heating element for producing steam.

[0011] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the steamer apparatus of the present invention may preferably further include: a lower base attached to an angular middle base at a lower base hinge which allows the angular middle base to move relative to the lower base wall and the lower base.

[0012] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the steamer apparatus of the present invention may preferably further include an upper section which is attached to the top of the angular middle base with a middle base hinge which allows the upper section to partially lower within the body of the lower base. According to a further aspect of the present invention, the steamer apparatus of the present invention may preferably further include a head assembly which directs steam created by the heating element out of the steam apparatus.

[0013] Other goals and advantages of the present invention will be further appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and accompanying drawings. While the following description may contain specific details describing particular embodiments of the invention, this should not be construed as limitations to the scope of the invention but rather as an exemplification of preferable embodiments. For each aspect of the invention, many variations are possible as suggested herein that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art. A variety of changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof.

[0014] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Elements in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale in order to enhance their clarity and to improve the understanding of the various elements and embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, elements that are known to be common and well understood to those in the industry are not depicted in order to provide a clear view of the various embodiments of the invention. Thus, it should be understood that the drawings are generalized in form in the interest of clarity and conciseness.

[0016] FIG. 1 provides a side cut-away view of an exemplary steamer in an extended position in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 2 provides a side cut-away view of the exemplary steamer shown in FIG. 1 in a compressed position.

[0018] FIG.3 provides a side view of an exemplary steamer in an extended position in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 4 provides a front view of the exemplary steamer shown in FIG. 3.

[0020] FIG. 5 provides a side view of the exemplary steamer shown in FIG. 3 in a compressed position.

[0021] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. However, any single inventive feature may not address any of the problems discussed above or only address one of the problems discussed above. Further, one or more of the problems discussed above may not be fully addressed by any of the features described below. In the following discussion that addresses a number of embodiments and applications of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0023] Additionally, any examples or illustrations given herein are not to be regarded in any way as restrictions on, limits to, or express definitions of, any term or terms with which they are utilized. Instead, these examples or illustrations are to be regarded as illustrative only. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any term or terms with which these examples or illustrations are utilized will encompass other embodiments which may or may not be given therewith or elsewhere in the specification and all such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of that term or terms.

[0024] Reference is now made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. As used throughout this application, the word“may” is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning“having the potential to’), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e. meaning“must”).

[0025] With reference now to FIG. 1, a side cut-away view of an exemplary steamer 100 in an extended position, in accordance with a first preferred embodiment, is shown. As shown, the exemplary steamer 100 includes a heating base 112 connected to a lower base 136 which is preferably further connected to an angular middle base 110. As shown, the lower base 136 preferably includes a lower top surface 121 and a lower base wall 128 which extends around and encloses the lower base 136. As further shown, the angular middle base 110 preferably includes a middle top surface 117 and an angular middle wall 132 which extends around and encloses the angular middle base 110.

[0026] Preferably, the lower top surface 121 of the lower base 136 is connected to the angular middle base 110 via a lower based hinge 130 or the like. According to a preferred embodiment, the lower base hinge 130 may be any hinge element which allows the angular middle base 110 to partially lower within the body of the lower base 136. According to a further preferred embodiment, the lower base hinge 130 may preferably be formed of concatenated bellows or the like to allow the angular middle wall 132 and lower base wall 128 to move relative to one another. According to a further preferred embodiment, the lower base hinge 130 may preferably be single, compressed seam extending around shared circumference of the angular middle base 110 and lower base 136.

[0027] As further shown, an upper section 134 having an upper top surface 107 and an upper section wall 108 is preferably attached to the middle top surface 117 of the angular middle base 110 via a middle base hinge 116. The middle base hinge 116 may be any hinge element which allows the upper section 134 to partially lower within the body of the angular middle base 110. According to a further preferred embodiment, the middle base hinge 116 may preferably be formed of concatenated bellows or the like to allow the upper section wall 108 and angular middle wall 132 to move relative to one another. According to a preferred embodiment, the middle base hinge 116 may preferably be a single, compressed seam extending around the shared circumference of the angular middle base 110 and the upper section 134. The upper top surface 107 of the upper section 134 may preferably connect to a ringed neck extension 111 for receiving a head assembly 118 of the present invention as discussed further below.

[0028] As further shown, the steamer 100 of the present invention may preferably further include a head assembly 118 which encloses steam channels 126 to direct steam through a head outlet 104 where it can be directed by a user. As shown, the head assembly 118 preferably includes a handle 102 and a top ring surface 106. According to preferred embodiments, the head assembly 118 may preferably be detachably mounted on the neck extension 111 of the upper section 134 (via a bayonet mechanism or the like) to allow for refilling of water into water reservoir/storage sections which may include the lower base 136, the upper section 134 and the angular middle base 110. The head assembly 118 preferably includes a ringed flange 109 which contacts the neck extension 111 when the head assembly 118 is inserted into upper section 134.

[0029] As further shown, the heating base 112 of the steamer 100 of the present invention preferably further includes a power cord inlet 114. As further shown, the lower base 136 preferably encloses a heating element 120 which generates electrical heat from power supplied through the power cord inlet 114. In operation, stored water preferably comes into thermal contact with the heating element 120 to create steam. The created steam is then directed by air pressure up through the upper section 134, and out through the head outlet 104 via the steam channels 126 where the steam can be applied as directed by a user.

[0030] FIG. 2 provides a side view of the exemplary steamer shown in FIG. 1 in a compressed position. In the compressed position shown, the angular middle wall 132 is moved downward from the hinge point of the lower base hinge 130. Accordingly, the angular middle wall 132 is partially compressed within the body of the lower base 136. Still further, the upper section 134 as shown is moved downward from the hinge 116 to also partially lower within the body of the lower base 136. According to a further preferred embodiment, the upper section 134 may preferably be lowered down so that its upper top surface 107 is substantially below the height of the lower base hinge 130 and the lower top surface 121 of the lower base 136. As further shown, the middle top surface 117 of the angular middle base 110 is substantially below the height of the lower base hinge 130 and the lower top surface 121 of the lower base 136 as well.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, in the extended/uncompressed position, the exterior angle A between the upper wall section 108 and the angular middle wall 132 is more than 90° but less than 180°. Additionally, the exterior angle B between angular middle wall 132 and the lower base wall 128 is greater than 180° but less than 270°. As shown in FIG. 2, in the compressed position, the exterior angle A between the upper wall section 108 and the angular middle wall 132 is less than 90°. Additionally, in the compressed position, the exterior angle B between angular middle wall 132 and the lower base wall 128 is greater than 270°.

[0032] With reference now to FIGS. 3 and 4, side and front exterior views 300, 400 of an exemplary steamer in an extended position in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention are provided. As shown, the exemplary steamer 100 includes a heating base 112 connected to a lower base 136 which is preferably further connected to an angular middle base 110. As further shown, the lower base 136 is connected to the angular middle base 110 via a lower base hinge 130 or the like. As discussed above, the lower base hinge 130 may be any hinge element which allows the angular middle base 110 to partially lower within the body of the lower base 136.

[0033] As further shown, an upper section 134 is preferably attached to the top of the angular middle base 110 via a middle base hinge 116. As further shown, the steamer of the present invention may preferably include a head assembly 118, a top ring surface 106, a handle 102 and a steam outlet 104. [0034] FIG. 5 further provides a side view 500 of the exemplary steamer shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in a compressed position. As shown, in the compressed position, the angular middle wall 132 (not visible) has been moved downward from the hinge point of the lower based hinge 130 to be substantially within the body of the lower base 136. Still further, the upper section 134 as shown is moved downward from the hinge point of hinge 116 (not visible) to also partially lower within the body of the lower base 136. According to a preferred embodiment, the steamer 500 may include a locking mechanism to keep the steamer in a compressed position. Further, the steamer may further include a detector/switch which is operable to keep the power to the heating element off when the steamer is in a compressed position.

[0035] While this invention has been described and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover numerous other modifications and equivalent arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

[0036] The above descriptions of illustrated embodiments of the present invention are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed. It should be understood that various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the described embodiments as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. Further, the elements of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments without limitation. These and other changes can be made to the disclosed system and apparatus in light of the above detailed description.

[0037] In the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but instead the scope of the present invention is intended to be determined entirely by the claims.