WALLPAPER STEAMER

The present invention relates to a wallpaper steamers.

In recent years wall paper steamers, having a boiler and a steam plate for concentrating the application of steam to the area of wall that the plate is held against for ease of its removal, have become well known.

British Patent Application No 2,370,101 describes a wall paper steamer having suction for holding its wall plate against a wall. Its abstract is as follows:

A wallpaper removing steamer comprises a steam applicator assembly mounted on a base for dispensing steam on receipt thereof. Suction cups are provided at each corner of the base and are adapted to secure the base to a wall papered surface, each suction cup being connected to a vacuum supply. The use of a vacuum supply enables suction cups of a less rigid construction to be employed than those which are mechanically operated. The use of more compliant cups can facilitate self-adjustment of the cups 6 to an uneven wall surface. The cups can be of concertina form and can be provided with an annular, flexible closed-cell foam pad around their mouths to assist in sealing against an irregular surface.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved wallpaper steam utilising vacuum for hold its steam plate against a wall.

According to the invention there is provided a wallpaper steamer comprising: • a boiler,

• a steam hose for leading steam from the boiler,

• a steam plate having:

• a concave shape defining a steam space when the steam plate is against a wall or ceiling and • a steam hose connection for receiving steam from the steam hose and directing it into the steam space,

• a vacuum seal for drawing the steam plate against the wall or ceiling and

• a vacuum hose connection to the vacuum seal,

• a vacuum hose from the steam plate to the vacuum seal and

• a vacuum pump for drawing a partial vacuum via the vacuum hose within the vacuum seal; wherein: • the vacuum seal is arranged substantially centrally of the steam plate and

• the vacuum pump is mounted on the boiler.

Preferably, the vacuum seal comprises a double ring extending from the steam plate within the steam space and a closed cell foam ring received within the double ring and having a resilient end ridge for abutting the wall or ceiling. Normally an open cell foam debris filter will be received centrally of the double ring.

Preferably both hose connections are substantially central of the steam plate, allowing their hoses to hang down substantially centrally from the steam plate when drawn against a ceiling. In the preferred embodiment, a hose fitting is pivoted to the steam plate for pivotally supporting the ends of the hoses, without their weight being carried by the hose connections. The hose fitting is conveniently pivoted to lie along a handle on the steam plate when not extending away from it in its hanging orientation, as in wall use, with the steam plate being vacuum drawn against a wall. In this arrangement, the steam hose can complement the shape of the handle with the vacuum hose led inside the steam hose by the hose fitting.

Preferably the steam plate is provided with a separate condensate hose connection for a hose to lead away condensate from the steam place within the steam plate, when held on a ceiling. Since it is convenient for the condensate to remain below steam temperature, this hose is led outside the steam hose. The condensate connection can be arranged to be closed for use of the steam plate on walls, where condensate is unlikely to accumulate to any significant extent within the steam plate.

For collection of the condensate, the boiler is conveniently provided with a collection tank, which can be removable for emptying.

The boiler is preferably provided with legs have locations for the hoses when wrapped around the legs. The legs can be provided also with locations for the steam plate when not in use.

To help understanding of the invention, a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view from one end of a boiler of a wallpaper of the invention; Figure 2 is a similar perspective view of the boiler from the other end;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the boiler; Figure 4 is an underneath view of the boiler;

Figure 5 is an oblique view of a vacuum pump exposed in the boiler by removal of a bottom moulding; Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1 , also showing the pump, the upper parts of the boiler having been removed;

Figure 7 is a side view of the boiler showing hoses attached; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a steam plate of the wallpaper steamer; Figure 9 is a perspective underneath view of the steam plate; Figure 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the steam plate; and

Figure 11 is a side view of the steam plate in use sucked to a ceiling.

Referring to the drawings, and in particular first to Figures 1 to 7, there is shown a steam and vacuum generator, more conveniently referred to simply as a "boiler" 1 , for a wallpaper steamer, this latter comprising the boiler and a steam plate 51 shown in Figures 8 to 11.

Externally, the boiler comprises a body 2, having secured to it two leg mouldings 3,4 which are configured with clips 5 for an electric cable and hoses (described below) and supports 6 for the wall plate. Atop the body 2, a carrying handle 7 is provided, with at one end a water filler cap 8 for a boiler 9 incorporated in the body and at the other end of the handle a steam outlet / hose connection 10. This is at the highest part of the boiler. Beside the steam outlet is a safety valve 11. The boiler occupies that part of the body from the steam outlet to the end of the body at

which the filler cap is positioned. Next to the steam outlet is a recess 12 for a removable condensate collection tank 14. Next to this is an internal void 15, in which a pair of electrical switches 16 are mounted, one for a heating element 17 and one for a vacuum pump motor 18.

Structurally the body, which is of polypropylene comprises:

• a top moulding 20, which forms both the top 201 of the boiler, the recess 12 for the condensate tank 14 and a cover 203 of the void 15, in which the switches 16 are mounted; • a bottom boiler moulding 21, which is welded at rims 22,23 and across the body at a boiler end flange 24 to the top moulding to form the boiler and receives the heating element 17;

• a bottom void moulding 26, which includes an air circulation grille 27 and an electrical cable inlet 29. A second air circulation grille 28 is provided by the moulding 21. The leg mouldings 3,4 are received on the two bottom mouldings.

Within the void, is mounted the shaded pole motor 18, driving a cooling fan 31 and a reciprocating diaphragm vacuum pump 32. At the top of the void cover, a vacuum connection 33 is provided, the inner end 34 of which receives a vacuum tube 35 from the pump. A further tube 36 discharges pumped out air (and some condensed steam) to an outlet 37 through one of the feet.

In use, a steam pipe fitting 41 is connected to the hose connection 10 with a nut 42. The fitting has an integrally moulded vacuum connection 43, which has an external nozzle 44 for a short length of tube 45 from the connection 33 and an internal connection 46 for an internal vacuum pipe 47. This is arranged within a double-wall steam hose 48 fitted to the fitting 41.

Referring on to Figures 8 to 1 1, the steam plate 51 is a generally flat, though slightly concave moulding with a rim 52, defining a concave steam space S when held against a wall W. It has an integral handle 53, to which is pivotally connected another steam pipe fitting 54. This fitting has lateral projections 55, which clip into overhung

notches 56 in the edge of the handle, which is generally channel shaped to hold resiliently the fitting 54. The fitting can pivot about the notches to extend away from the handle and the plate in general. The notches are at the centre of the steam plate, so that the fitting and the hose 48 attached to it can hang down from the steam plate.

The fitting has two nozzles 57, 58. The one 58 opens to the inside of the fitting and receives steam from the hose 48 in use. The other 57 has an inner connection 59, to which the vacuum pipe 47 is connected. Beneath the notches in the handle, the steam plate has a pair of tube connections 60,61. One 60 receives steam from the fitting 54 via a short length of tube 62. The other is connected to the vacuum nozzle 57, via another length of tube 63.

The steam nozzle 58 opens inside the steam plate to its underside. The vacuum nozzle opens inside a double ring 64 extending on the underside of the plate. An open cell foam plug 65 is received in the middle of the ring 64, to allow a vacuum to be drawn within the ring, but without debris blocking the vacuum tube. A closed cell foam ring 66 is received between the double rings and has a resilient end ridge 67 for sealing a vacuum within the ring 66 when in contact with a wall or ceiling.

Drawing of a vacuum within the ring 66, with the steam plate and the ring 65 applied to a ceiling, holds up the steam plate and the hanging down hoses. Steam fills the space between the plate and the ceiling. Some of this condenses on the inside of the steam plate and runs via its curvature to a collection point 68 adjacent the steam nozzle 57. Thence this condensate runs down a condensate tube 69 clipped outside the steam hose, to the collection tank 14.

The steam plate can be left sucked against the ceiling for sufficiently long for the wallpaper within it to be softened by the steam, without the user having to hold it up. Then it can be moved and the softened paper scrapped off.

Where the steam plate is to be used on a wall, the condensate tube will not collect condensate and can be parked in a loop 70 and the collection point 68 stopped off with an integrally moulded plug 71.

When the job is done, the hoses can be disconnected from the boiler and wound around the legs, where they are retained by the clips 5.