Portable electric hand-held clothes steamer

Claim 2

An electric hand-held steamer comprising a one-piece housing having means defining a water chamber and a superimposed combined steam chamber and water trap, electric heater means in said water chamber for generating steam for flow into said steam chamber, a steam-applying head opening into said steam chamber, means on said housing defining an integral laterally-offset handle, and means in the upper part of said handle defining an upwardlyopening fill aperture intermediate said water and steam chambers and opening into said water chamber, the position of said aperture on said housing defining the maximum water level in said housing.

Claim 3

The steamer of claim 1 further comprising means in said housing defining a bottom opening, a heater assembly received in said bottom opening and extending into said water chamber, said assembly including said heater, a shroud received over said heater and defining opening means for admitting water to said heater, a bottom plate having a peripheral edge extending outwardly of said opening, O-ring means between said bottom plate and said housing, and means for retaining said bottom plate in sealing relation to said O-ring.

Claim 4

A hand-held steam presser comprising housing means defining a tank for containing a quantity of water, electric heater means in said tank for vaporizing said water into steam, a steam-applying head on said housing means for applying steam to a garment, first electric indicator means connected to operate whenever said heater is connected to a source of electricity, a thermal cutout relay for interrupting power to said heater upon the depletion of said water supply, and second indicator means connected to be actuated upon the opening of said relay to provide a visual indication of lack of water.

Claim 5

A hand-held steam presser comprising housing means defining a tank for containing a quantity of water, electric heater means in said tank for vaporizing said water into steam, a steam-applying head on said housing means for applying steam to a garment, first electric indicator means connected to operate whenever said heater is connected to a source of electricity, a thermal cutout relay for interrupting power to said heater upon the depletion of said water supply, and second indicator means connected to be actuated upon the opening of said relay to provide a visual indication of lack of water.

Claim 6

The presser of claim 3 in which said indicators are neon lamps.

Claim 7

The presser of claim 4 in which said housing is formed of plastic material having integral window means, said lamps being positioned in said housing aDjacent said window means.

Claim 8

The presser of claim 3 in which said heater has a two-part heater element for operation on either 230 or 115 volts, plug means for connecting said heater for normal 115 volt operation, and a plug adapter for converting said heater to 230 volt operation.

Claim 9

In a hand-held steam presser housing a tank for containing a quantity of water, an electric heater in said tank is normally submerged in the water for vaporizing said water into steam, a steam applying head for applying steam to a garment, and a thermal cutout relay which opens and interrupts power to said heater upon the depletion of said water supply, the improvement comprising an electric lamp connected across said relay to be energized only upon the opening of said relay to provide a positive visual indication of lack of water.

Claim 10

In a hand-held steam presser housing a tank for containing a quantity of water, an electric heater in said tank is normally submerged in the water for vaporizing said water into steam, a steam applying head for applying steam to a garment, and a thermal cutout relay which opens and interrupts power to said heater upon the depletion of said water supply, the improvement comprising an electric lamp connected across said relay to be energized only upon the opening of said relay to provide a positive visual indication of lack of water.

Claim 11

An electric hand-held steamer comprising a one-piece molded housing having means defining a water chamber and a superimposed combined steam chamber and water trap, said housing defining an opening at the bottom thereof, said housing at said opening defining a generally radially, outwardly-directed heater-supporting ledge, a heater assembly for generating steam for flow into said steam chamber, said heater assembly including an electric heater received in said bottom opening and extending into said water chamber, shroud means over said heater and having therein means defining an opening for admitting water into said heater, a bottom plate having a peripheral edge proportioned to be received in overlying relation to said ledge, an O-ring received between said bottom plate and said housing at said ledge, means for retaining said bottom plate in sealing relation to said O-ring, and means in said housing defining a fill aperture for admitting water into said water chamber.

Claim 12

An electric hand-held steamer comprising a one-piece molded housing having means defining a water chamber and a superimposed combined steam chamber and water trap, said housing defining an opening at the bottom thereof, said housing at said opening defining a generally radially, outwardly-directed heater-supporting ledge, a heater assembly for generating steam for flow into said steam chamber, said heater assembly including an electric heater received in said bottom opening and extending into said water chamber, shroud means over said heater and having therein means defining an opening for admitting water into said heater, a bottom plate having a peripheral edge proportioned to be received in overlying relation to said ledge, an O-ring received between said bottom plate and said housing at said ledge, means for retaining said bottom plate in sealing relation to said O-ring, and means in said housing defining a fill aperture for admitting water into said water chamber.