U.S. patent application number 15/509475 was filed with the patent office on 2017-09-21 for stain removing device and stain removing unit.
The applicant listed for this patent is HAIER ASIA INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Masahiro FUJIWARA, Masaru NORO, Masakazu YAMAMOTO.
Application Number | 20170268154 15/509475 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54934845 |
Filed Date | 2017-09-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170268154 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
FUJIWARA; Masahiro ; et
al. |
September 21, 2017 |
STAIN REMOVING DEVICE AND STAIN REMOVING UNIT
Abstract
A stain removing device that removes stains with a constant
knocking force and speed throughout and steadily supply liquid
needed to remove stains. The stain removing device includes a head
part forming a knocking surface, a vibration unit causing the head
part to vibrate in a direction substantially orthogonal to the
knocking surface by supplying power, a liquid containing part for
containing liquid, and a water supply path of its one end is
connected to the liquid containing part and the other end being
opened around the head part. The water supply path is configured to
supply the liquid to the periphery of the head part via the other
end, along with the vibration of head part caused by the vibration
unit.
Inventors: |
FUJIWARA; Masahiro; (Osaka,
JP) ; YAMAMOTO; Masakazu; (Osaka, JP) ; NORO;
Masaru; (Osaka, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HAIER ASIA INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD. |
Osaka
Qingdao, Shandong |
|
JP
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
54934845 |
Appl. No.: |
15/509475 |
Filed: |
December 30, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
December 30, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CN2014/095725 |
371 Date: |
May 18, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 35/00 20130101;
D06F 7/04 20130101; D06F 43/002 20130101 |
International
Class: |
D06F 43/00 20060101
D06F043/00; D06F 7/04 20060101 D06F007/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 9, 2014 |
JP |
2014-183681 |
Claims
1. A stain removing device, comprising: a head part provided with a
knocking surface; a vibration unit causing the head part to vibrate
in a direction substantially orthogonal with the knocking surface
by supplying power; a liquid containing part for containing liquid;
and a water supply path with one end being connected to the liquid
containing part and the other end being open to a periphery of the
head part, wherein the liquid is supplied to the periphery of the
head part from the other end of the water supply path, along with a
vibration of head part caused by a vibration of the vibration
unit.
2. A stain removing device, comprising: a head part provided with a
knocking surface; a vibration unit causing the head part to vibrate
in a direction substantially orthogonal with the knocking surface
by supplying power; a liquid containing part for containing liquid;
and a water supply path extending from the liquid containing part
through the head part to the knocking surface and having an
expending opening end facing the knocking surface, wherein the
liquid is supplied to the knocking surface from the liquid
containing part via the water supply path, along with the vibration
of head part caused by the vibration of the vibration unit.
3. The stain removing device of claim 1, further comprising: a
non-flexible waterproof cover part surrounding a side surface of
the head part, wherein the vibration unit has an elastic member
capable of extending and contracting in a direction substantially
orthogonal with the knocking surface, the head part is protruded by
an elastic force of the elastic member, and wherein an operation
end of the head part is arranged at a position slightly protruding
from a protruding end of the waterproof cover part.
4. The stain removing device of claim 3, wherein the waterproof
cover part has a heater capable of generating heat when being
supplied power.
5. The stain removing device of claim 1, further comprising: a
liquid amount adjustment part for causing the liquid to drop from
the other end of the water supply path by utilizing the vibration
caused by the vibration unit and capable of adjusting a dropping
amount of the liquid.
6. The stain removing device of claim 1, further comprising: a
detergent containing part for containing a liquid detergent, and a
detergent supply unit for supplying the detergent in the detergent
containing part to the periphery of the head part.
7. The stain removing device of claim 1, further comprising: a
vapor ejection unit capable of injecting vapor toward the head
part.
8. (canceled)
9. The stain removing device of claim 2, further comprising: a
non-flexible waterproof cover part surrounding a side surface of
the head part, wherein the vibration unit has an elastic member
capable of extending and contracting in a direction substantially
orthogonal with the knocking surface, the head part is protruded by
an elastic force of the elastic member, and wherein an operation
end of the head part is arranged at a position slightly protruding
from a protruding end of the waterproof cover part.
10. The stain removing device of claim 9, wherein the waterproof
cover part has a heater capable of generating heat when being
supplied power.
11. The stain removing device of claim 2, further comprising: a
detergent containing part for containing a liquid detergent, and a
detergent supply unit for supplying the detergent in the detergent
containing part to the periphery of the head part.
12. The stain removing device of claim 2, further comprising: a
vapor ejection unit capable of injecting vapor toward the head
part.
13. A stain removing unit, comprising: a stain removing device
having: a head part provided with a knocking surface; a vibration
unit causing the head part to vibrate in a direction substantially
orthogonal with the knocking surface by supplying power; a liquid
containing part for containing liquid; and a water supply path; and
a heating apparatus having: a heater being capable of generating
heat when being supplied power, and a heating plate provided with a
knocked surface, on which a force is exerted by the head part, and
conveying the heat generated by the heater; wherein the water
supply path: has one end being connected to the liquid containing
part and the other end being open to a periphery of the head part,
wherein the liquid is supplied to the periphery of the head part
from the other end of the water supply path, along with a vibration
of head part caused by a vibration of the vibration unit; or
extends from the liquid containing part through the head part to
the knocking surface and having an expending opening end facing the
knocking surface, wherein the liquid is supplied to the knocking
surface from the liquid containing part via the water supply path,
along with the vibration of head part caused by the vibration of
the vibration unit.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a stain removing device
and a stain removing unit, which can remove stains, such as
cosmetics or foodstuffs attached to a fabric during consumption by
means of knocking and cleaning, and make actions of knocking the
stain portion of the fabric and supplying water to the stain
portion to be automatically performed.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In the case where a part of a fabric is adhered to stains,
it is preferable to perform a cleaning treatment only on the stain
portion of the fabric rather than the entire fabric in view of
decontamination effect or efficiency. A device capable of partially
washing a fabric is exemplified by a stain removing device
disclosed in Patent Document 1. This stain removing device includes
a solvent ejection unit for ejecting a solvent for removing the
stain and an absorption unit capable of absorbing the solvent. The
solvent is ejected from solvent ejection unit toward the stain
portion of clothes or the like, and the absorption unit absorbs the
stain and the solvent from the stain portion. However, although
such stain removing device can remove the stain that is dissolved
immediately by the solvent, for the solid stain in block shape that
is attached to the fabric and is hard to be dissolved by the
solvent, its removing ability is low and the stain removing effect
is not good.
[0003] Meanwhile, as a member for removing stains, there is also
known a stain removing system including a bottle containing the
detergent and an absorption sheet (Non-Patent Document 1). The
stain removing system can knock the stain portion whose bottom
abuts against the absorption sheet at a front end of the bottle,
and supply the detergent to the stain portion via fine holes formed
at the front end of the bottle by means of the knocking action. The
detergent penetrates into the clothing under the knocking action,
and is absorbed by the absorption sheet together with the dirt
constituting the stain portion.
[0004] In the stain removing system disclosed in Non-Patent
Document 1, the solid stain in block shape adhering to the fabric
can be physically decomposed to be dissolved easily in the
detergent, since the detergent is supplied by such knocking action,
thereby improving a removing ability against solid stain.
THE PRIOR ART LITERATURE
Patent Document
[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application No.
2003-996
Non-Patent Document
[0005] [0006] Non-Patent Document 1: Internet <URL:
http://product.rakuten.co.jp/product/-/93dbf4a642737b4f28312cd6847ec47c/?-
sc2id=gmc_100647_93dbf4a642737b4f28312cd6847ec47c&scid=s_kwa_pla>
SUMMARY
Problems to be Solved by the Present Disclosure
[0007] However, in the stain removing system of Non-Patent Document
1, when the solid stain detached form the clothing by means of
stain removing action is not immediately dissolved in the
detergent, there exists a problem that the detergent supply is
reduced and the stain removing efficiency is reduce, since the
solid stain is jammed in the fine holes of the front end of the
bottle. In addition, since the action of removing the stain is
performed by quickly moving the hand holding the bottle up and
down, there is a problem that the knocking force and knocking speed
are not constant, thereby causing problems of variations in the
degree of stain removing and hands fatigue.
[0008] It is an object of the present disclosure to effectively
solve the problems, and to provide a stain removing device and a
stain removing system, which can always perform a stain removing
operation with a constant knocking force and knocking speed without
hands fatigue and stably supply a liquid for removing stain.
Solutions for Solving the Problems
[0009] In view of the above problem, the present disclosure adopts
the following technical solution.
[0010] The stain removing device of the present disclosure includes
a head part forming a knocking surface; a vibration unit causing
the head part to vibrate in a direction substantially orthogonal to
the knocking surface by supplying power; a liquid containing part
for containing liquid; and a water supply path of its one end being
connected to the liquid containing part and the other end being
opened around the head part. The liquid is supplied to a periphery
of the head part via the other end of the water supply path, along
with the vibration of head part caused by the vibration of the
vibration unit.
[0011] In addition, in another embodiment, the stain removing
device of the present disclosure includes a head part forming a
knocking surface; a vibration unit causing the head part to vibrate
in a direction substantially orthogonal to the knocking surface by
supplying power; a liquid containing part for containing liquid;
and a water supply path extending from the liquid containing part
through the head part to the knocking surface and having an
expending opening end facing the knocking surface. The liquid is
supplied to the knocking surface from the liquid containing part
via the water supply path, along with the vibration of head part
caused by the vibration of the vibration unit.
[0012] Further, the present disclosure further includes a
non-flexible waterproof cover part surrounding a side surface of
the head part. The vibration unit has an elastic member capable of
extending and contracting in a direction substantially orthogonal
to the knocking surface, and the head part is protruded by an
elastic force of the elastic member. An action end of the head part
is arranged at a position that is slightly more protruding than a
protruding end of the waterproof cover part.
[0013] The waterproof cover part of the present disclosure has a
heater capable of generating heat when being supplied power.
[0014] Further, the present disclosure includes a liquid amount
adjustment part, which can cause the liquid to drop from the other
end of the water supply path by utilizing the vibration caused by
the vibration unit and adjust a dropping amount of the liquid.
[0015] Further, the present disclosure includes a detergent
containing part for containing a liquid detergent, and a detergent
supply unit for supplying the detergent in the detergent containing
part to the periphery of the head part.
[0016] Further, the present disclosure includes a vapor ejection
unit capable of injecting vapor toward the head part.
[0017] Further, the present disclosure includes the stain removing
device and a heating apparatus. The heating apparatus at least
includes a heater that can generate heat when being supplied power
and a heating plate formed with a knocked surface, on which a force
is exerted by the head part constituting the stain removing device
and conveying a heat generated by the heater.
Effect of the Disclosure
[0018] According to the present disclosure described above, the
vibration unit causes the head part to vibrate at the time of being
supplied power and makes the action of the head part to knock a
stain removing object automatic, therefore, the knocking force
becomes uniform and the hands does not need to move quickly, the
hands are not tired even if performing the stain removing operation
for a long time. In addition, one end of the water supply path is
connected to the liquid containing part, the other end of the water
supply path has an opening rather than the knocking surface of the
head part around the head part, the liquid is supplied to the
periphery of the head part, so the water supply path will not be
blocked even if the solid stain constituting the stain portion of
the stain removing object is attached to the knocking surface, and
the stain removing effect can be stably maintained. Particularly,
for example, by appropriately designing the cross section of the
flow path of the water supply path, an appropriate amount of liquid
is continuously supplied toward the stain removing object along
with the vibration, so the stain removing effect can be enhanced.
Here, the liquid includes water, a mixture of water and detergent,
detergent exclusive for stain removing, and the like.
[0019] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
the vibration unit causes the head part to vibrate at the time of
being supplied power and makes the action of the head part to knock
a stain removing object automatic, therefore, the knocking force
becomes uniform and the hands does not need to move quickly, the
hands are not tired even if performing the stain removing operation
for a long time. In addition, the solid stain of the stain portion
decomposed by an impact from the vibration of the head part cannot
be immediately dissolved in the liquid supplied by the liquid
containing part, even if the knocking surface is immerged into the
water supply path, it is difficult for the water supply path to be
blocked by the solid stain, since the opening end of the water
supply path is expansive. In addition, it is easy to be cleaned
even if the water supply path is blocked by the solid stain, thus
the stain removing effect can be stably maintained. In
particularly, for example, by appropriately designing the cross
section of the flow path except the opening end of the water supply
path, an appropriate amount of liquid is continuously supplied
toward the stain removing object along with the vibration, so the
stain removing effect can be enhanced.
[0020] Particularly, according to the present disclosure further
including the waterproof cover part, the stain removing operation
is performed by means of pressing against the stain removing object
by a protruding end of the waterproof cover part, so that the
waterproof cover part can inhibit a scatter of the liquid caused by
the vibration of the head part, thereby further preventing the
liquid from spreading over a wide range, and thus the wetting area
of the stain removing object is reduced, and the stain removing
object can be used immediately after the stain removing operation.
In addition, during the stain removing operation, a distance
between the body of the device and the stain removing object can be
always kept constant, and the force (knocking force) of the stain
removing object applied by the head part can be made appropriate
and uniform. Further, an action end of the head part is arranged at
a position that is slightly more protruding than the protruding end
of the waterproof cover part, and an operation simulating an action
of knocking (pressing) the stain portion with hands can be
automatically realized, since the head part can clamp the stain
removing object when protruding due to an elasticity of a coil
spring.
[0021] Further, as long as the present disclosure includes the
waterproof cover part and a heater that can generate heat at the
time of being supplied power, the waterproof cover part can be
heated by the heat generated by the heater, the stain portion and
the its vicinity of the stain removing object can be always warmed
via the waterproof cover part during the stain removing operation,
thereby further improving the stain removing effect.
[0022] Particularly, according to the present disclosure including
a liquid amount adjustment part that can cause the liquid to drop
by means of vibration and can adjust the dropping amount of the
liquid, since it is a structure in which the liquid drops due to
vibration, the structure is simpler than an apparatus structure in
which for example, the liquid is sent by a liquid pump. In such a
structure, when a detergent mixed solution composed of mixture of
water and detergent is liquid, a viscosity of the liquid is higher
than water, thus the liquid may be difficult to drop, however, the
liquid does not drop toward the stain removing object excessively
or insufficiently by using the liquid amount adjustment part.
Therefore, the stain removing effect is prevented from being
reduced due to insufficient supply of the liquid, and the
occurrence of permeation caused by a large amount of liquid being
supplied to the stain portion of the stain removing object at a
time can be prevented.
[0023] Further, according to the present disclosure including a
detergent containing part and a detergent supply unit, when only
water is accommodated in the liquid containing part, the water in
the liquid containing part and the detergent in the detergent
containing part can be supplied to the stain removing object at
different times, respectively. Therefore, it is possible to remove
the stain by using the detergent supplied by the detergent supply
unit, and to rinse the stain removing object by only using the
water supplied by the water supply path.
[0024] Particularly, according to the present disclosure including
a vapor ejection unit, since a vapor can be used to warm the stain
portion of the stain removing object and perform the stain removing
operation simultaneously, the stain is easily dissolved in the
detergent and the stain removing effect can be improved.
[0025] On the other hand, according to the present disclosure
having the stain removing device and the heating apparatus as
described above, it is possible to perform the stain removing
operation while heating the stain portion of the stain removing
object with the heat from the heater, so the stain is more easily
dissolved in the detergent, and the stain removing effect can be
further improved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is longitudinal sectional view showing a stain
removing device according to a first embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the stain
removing device in FIG. 1 in a state in which the head is
protruded.
[0028] FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B) are a longitudinal sectional views
showing the stain removing device in FIG. 1 when being not in
use.
[0029] FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B) are a perspective views showing a part
of a cylinder and a head part constituting the stain removing
device according to a second embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0030] FIGS. 5(A), 5(B) and 5(C) are a schematic diagram showing
the head part and a supply hole in FIG. 4(B).
[0031] FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a stain
removing device according to a third embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0032] FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a stain
removing device according to a fourth embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0033] FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the stain
removing device in FIG. 7 in a state in which the head is
protruded.
[0034] FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a stain
removing device according to a fifth embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0035] FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a stain
removing unit according to a sixth embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0036] FIG. 11 is an exploded view showing a heating apparatus of
the stain removing unit in FIG. 10.
[0037] FIGS. 12(A) and 12(B) are various views showing a stain
removing device according to a seventh embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0038] FIGS. 13(A), 13(B) and 13(C) are various schematic circuit
diagrams showing a circuit for supplying power to a motor and a
heater of the stain removing device in FIG. 12.
[0039] FIG. 14 is a partial sectional view showing a stain removing
device according to an eighth embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0040] FIGS. 15(A), 15(B) and 15(C) are various views showing a
variant of the head part in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
First Embodiment
[0041] Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the present disclosure
will be described with reference to accompanying drawings.
[0042] FIGS. 1 and 2 are longitudinal sectional views showing a
stain removing device 100 according to the first embodiment of the
present disclosure. The stain removing device 100 of the present
disclosure shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is a handheld apparatus
capable of partially cleaning clothing 10A that is served as a
stain removing object, including a head part 1, a vibration unit 2,
a liquid containing part 3, a water supply path 4, a battery 5, a
waterproof cover part 6 and a housing body 9 in which a half of
structures of these elements are arranged.
[0043] The head part (the head part of a cylinder) 1 includes a
knocking part 11 forming a knocking surface 111 and a cylinder
insertion portion 12 extending from the knocking part 11. A
longitudinal section of the knocking part 11 is substantially
semicircular shape and is more particularly slightly closer to the
circle shape than the semicircular shape. The head part 1 is made
of a resin such as nylon, and vibrates in a direction substantially
orthogonal with the knocking surface 111 in a state in which the
head part 1 protrudes into a head accommodation part 92 recessed in
the housing body 9 from the housing body 9 via an opening 91, and
exerts a knocking force to the clothing 10A that is served as the
stain removing object disposed opposed to the knocking surface 111.
Hereinafter, the direction substantially orthogonal with the
knocking surface 111 is referred to as a vibration direction. In
addition, in the vibration direction, a direction in which the head
part 1 faces the clothing 10A is referred to as a protruding
direction Y1, and the opposite direction is referred to as a
returning direction Y2. In addition, the material of the head part
1 is not limited to resin, and may also be metal (for example,
Stainless Used steel, sus) and the like.
[0044] The vibration unit 2 includes a motor 23 rotating by using
power supplied from a battery 5 that is served as a power supply
part; first to third gears 22A to 22C for transmitting the rotation
force of the motor 23; a cylinder 21 for supporting the head part 1
by making the knocking surface 111 at a front end and moving in the
vibration direction; and a coil spring 24 served as an elastic
member accommodated inside the cylinder 21.
[0045] The first gear 22A has a large-diameter portion 122a engaged
with a drive gear 123 of the motor 23 and being rotatable around a
shaft 122ab and a small-diameter portion 122b integrally formed and
coaxially arranged with the large-diameter portion 122a. The second
gear 22B is disposed between the first gear 22A and the third gear
22C, and has a large-diameter portion 122c engaged with the
small-diameter portion 122b of the first gear 22A and being
rotatable around a shaft 122cd, and a small-diameter portion 122d
integrally formed and coaxially arranged with the large-diameter
portion 122c and engaged with the third gear 22C. The third gear
22C is configured to rotate in a clockwise direction around a shaft
122ee (see FIG. 1), and have four protrusions 22c spaced equally in
the circumferential direction and parallel to the shaft 122ee at
its edge. In addition, the number of the protrusions 22c is not
limited to four, and may be one to three, or five or more.
[0046] The cylinder 21 includes a coil spring accommodation portion
121a having a tubular shape with a bottom and receiving therein the
coil spring 24 which is in a extending/contracting state in the
vibration direction, an inserted portion 121c inserted into the
cylinder insertion portion 12 of the head part 1; and a liquid
storage portion 121b disposed between the inserted portion 121c and
the coil spring accommodation portion 121a and capable of storing
liquid therein.
[0047] A fixing portion 93 of the coil spring accommodation portion
121a extending in a boss shape from the housing body 9 toward the
protruding direction Y1 is inserted through an opening 1121a, and
accommodates the other side of the coil spring 24 supported at a
base end of the fixing portion 93. In addition, the coil spring
accommodation portion 121a includes an engaging claw 1121b which
can engage with the protrusion 22c of the third gear 22C at its
side surface. When the protrusion 22c is not engaged with the
engaging claw 1121b (see FIG. 2), the cylinder 21 exerts an elastic
force via the coil spring 24 toward the protruding direction Y1 on
a bottom surface 1121c of the coil spring accommodation portion
121a that abuts the other side of the coil spring 24, thus the head
part 1 is pushed out.
[0048] On the other hand, when the protrusion 22c is engaged with
the engaging claw 1121b (see FIG. 1), the cylinder 21 exerts a
compressive force via the bottom surface 1121c to the coil spring
24 along with the rotation of the third gear 22C, so that the head
part 1 moves toward the returning direction Y2. Thereafter, when
the protrusion 22c is disengaged from the engaging claw 1121b, the
head part 1 moves toward the protruding direction Y1 due to the
elasticity of the compressed coil spring 24. By repeating such
operations, the head part 1 vibrates (amplitude movement). In the
present embodiment, as described above, the third gear 22C has four
protrusions 22c, and the head part 1 reciprocates four times by
means of making one rotation of the third gear 22C.
[0049] The liquid storage portion 121b is composed of a wide
portion 1121d whose width is wider than the width of opening 91 of
the housing body 9 and a narrow portion 1121e whose width is
narrower than the width of the opening 91 of the housing body 9 and
which is projecting from the opening 91. The wide portion 1121d is
fixed at the edge of the opening 91 so as to restrict the moving
range of the cylinder 21 in the protruding direction Y1. The wide
portion 1121d of the liquid storage portion 121b is connected with
a liquid supply pipe 41 that will be described below, thus the
liquid storage portion 121b stores the liquid supplied from the
accommodation part through the liquid supply pipe 41, and supplies
the liquid to the inserted portion 121c via the narrow portion
1121e.
[0050] The inserted portion 121c has a water supply hole 1121f
extending from the narrow portion 1121e and an inserted segment
1121g (see FIG. 2) which is inserted into the hole of the cylinder
insertion portion 12 of the head part 1 by slightly pressing. A
water supply groove (slit groove) 12a extending in an axial
direction is formed intermittently on the outer periphery of the
cylinder insertion portion 12. The liquid in the narrow portion
1121e is supplied to the inserted segment 1121g via the water
supply hole 1121f, in a state where the head part 1 vibrates due to
the vibration of the vibration unit 2, as shown in FIG. 2, the
liquid is discharged little by little (1 to 1.5 cc/min) from a
discharge port 1121h of the water supply groove 12a at a
predetermined depth (about 0.1 to 0.3 mm in this embodiment)
located in the gap between the cylinder insertion portion 12 and
the inserted segment 1121g.
[0051] On the other hand, when the head part 1 does not vibrate,
the liquid cannot be discharged from the discharge port 1121h due
to surface tension but remains between the cylinder insertion
portion 12 and the inserted portion 121c. In this manner, the size
of the water supply groove 12a is adjusted to such a degree that a
small amount of liquid is discharged by virtue of vibration of the
head part 1, and the amount of the used liquid is smaller than that
of other cleaning methods such as spray cleaning and brush
cleaning, therefore, the liquid is difficult to scatter to any
position other than the stain portion 10a of the clothing 10A.
[0052] In addition, the cylinder inserting portion 12 is not
limited to being inserted into the inserted portion 121c by
pressing, and may be inserted by screw fixing. Further, the head
part 1 can be removed from the inserted portion 121c, and another
head part can be mounted to the inserted portion 121c. Therefore,
in the stain removing device 100, for example, when dirt is adhered
to the knocking surface 111 which directly abuts the stain portion
of the clothing 10A, the head part 1 may be removed and cleaned, or
be replaced with a new one. Further, the water supply groove 12a
may be formed in the inserted segment 1121g instead of the cylinder
insertion portion 12. Furthermore, the present disclosure is not
limited to the configuration in which the surface tension acts on
the liquid at the discharge port 1121h, the present disclosure may
adopt another configuration, in which the liquid is prevented from
dropping due to the surface tension at the opening end of the water
supply hole 1121f when the head part 1 does not vibrate, by means
of adjusting the water supply hole 1121f of the cylinder 21 to a
predetermined diameter (for example, 0.3 mm).
[0053] The liquid containing part 3 includes an accommodation part
body 31 for containing the liquid discharged from the inserted
portion 121c and supplied to the periphery of the head part 1 and a
cover member 33 clogging the liquid supply hole 32 formed in the
accommodation part body 31. An air hole (not shown) is formed in
the cover member 33. Therefore, even if the liquid supply hole 32
is clogged by the cover member 33, the inside of the liquid
containing part 3 does not become negative pressure, the liquid can
drop from the discharge port 1121h immediately after the start of
vibration since the liquid can successfully flow into the water
supply path 4.
[0054] Herein, the liquid only can be water, a detergent mixed
solution in which water and a detergent are mixed at a constant
ratio, or a detergent exclusive for stain removing and the like. In
the present embodiment, the detergent mixed liquid is used. When
the detergent mixture is used as the liquid, the detergent is
continuously supplied to the clothing 10A, so that the detergent
does not disappear from the stain portion 10a due to vaporization,
scattering or the like during the stain removing operation, thereby
maintaining a high stain removing effect. In addition, there is no
need to additionally provide a unit for supplying the detergent, so
the structure of the apparatus is simpler.
[0055] The water supply path 4 supplies the liquid in the liquid
containing part 3 to the periphery of the head part 1. The water
supply path includes a flexible liquid supply tube 41, the liquid
storage portion 121b, the water supply hole 1121f and the inserted
segment 1121g of the inserted portion 121c, and the water supply
groove 12a of the head part 1, in which one end 41a of the flexible
liquid supply tube 41 is connected to the liquid containing part 3,
the other end 41b is connected to the wide portion 1121d of the
liquid storage portion 121b. Herein, one end of the water supply
path 4 is constituted by one end 41a of the liquid supply tube 41,
and the other end is constituted by the discharge port 1121h
located at the opening end of the water supply groove 12a between
the inserted segment 1121g and the cylinder insertion portion
12
[0056] In such a stain removing device 100, an absorption pad 10B
abuts the bottom of the stain portion 10a of the clothing 10A, and
the absorption pad 10B is used when the housing body 9 is grasped
in such a manner that the knocking face 111 of the head part 1 is
configured to opposite to the stain portion 10a.
[0057] When a power switch S provided on the outside of the housing
body 9 is operated, the motor 23 is rotated when the power is
supplied from the battery 5, and the rotation is decelerated and
transmitted simultaneously to the third gear 22C by the first gear
22A and the second gear 22B. When the protrusion 22c is engaged
with the engaging claw 1121b, the cylinder 21 and the head part 1
are lifted up by a predetermined dimension .delta. (about 5 mm in
the present embodiment) (see FIG. 1). When the protrusion 22c is
disengaged from the engaging claw 1121b, the cylinder 21 is pushed
out due to the elasticity of the coil spring 24, so that the head
part 1 knocks the stain portion 10a (see FIG. 2). At this time, the
liquid supply tube 41 absorbs the vibration of the cylinder 21 by
the flexible deformation of a central portion 41c, the liquid drops
gradually from the discharge port 1121h along with the vibration
and is transmitted to the side surface of the knocking part 11 and
then is supplied to the stain portion 10a.
[0058] By making the housing body 9 move along the clothing 10A and
repeating such operation simultaneously, the liquid supplied to the
stain portion 10a dissolves the stain constituting the stain
portion 10a, and is knocked out from the clothing 10A and absorbed
by the absorption pad 10B. That is, the stain removing device 100
of the present embodiment removes the stain by transferring the
stain of the clothing 10A and the liquid together to the absorption
pad 10B. There are no particular restrictions on the absorption pad
10B, various components which has a high liquid absorption rate may
be used as the absorption pad 10B. For example, a kitchen paper can
be used as the absorption pad 10B after being folded. In addition,
when the contact position of the head part 1 with respect to the
absorption pad 10B is periodically changed in the stain removing
operation, the dropped liquid is stably absorbed by the absorption
pad 10B, so the high stain removing efficiency can be maintained.
In the present embodiment, since the detergent mixed solution in
the liquid state is used, the detergent can be easily and
continually supplied to the stain portion 10a, even if the contact
position of the head part 1 is changed.
[0059] In the above structure, the vibration unit 2 causes the head
part 1 to vibrate when the power is supplied, since the operation
of knocking the clothing 10A by the head part 1 can be automated,
the knocking force becomes uniform and the hands are not needed to
move quickly, thus the hand cannot fatigue even if the stain
removing operation is performed for a long time. Further, when one
end 41a of the water supply path 4 is connected to the liquid
containing part 3, the discharge port 1121h of its other end is
opened at the periphery of the head part 1 rather than the knocking
surface 111 of the head part 1, and the liquid is supplied to the
periphery of the head part 1, so the water supply path 4 will not
be clogged even if the solid stain constituting the stain portion
10a is attached to the knocking surface 111, thereby stably
maintaining the stain removing effect. In particular, for example,
by appropriately designing the cross section of the flow path of
the water supply path 4, an appropriate amount of liquid is
continuously supplied toward the stain removing object along with
the vibration, so the stain removing effect can be enhanced.
Furthermore, since the structure that the liquid drops by means of
vibration is used, the structure is simpler than, for example,
other structures that the liquid is sent by a pump.
[0060] Therefore, the stain removing device 100 according to the
present embodiment as described above is compact and has good
portability, and when the spill of eating or cosmetics etc. adheres
to the fabric, it can be washed immediately so that the stain is
inconspicuous. In addition, curtains, mats, etc. which are not easy
to be washed integrally, can be partially washed suitably.
[0061] As shown in FIG. 2, the waterproof cover part 6 is
detachably attached to the housing body 9 via a rib 9a at a
position of the side surface of the knocking part 11, encircling
the head part 1. In the present embodiment, the waterproof cover
part 6 is made of an acrylic, and is a non-flexible and cylindrical
transparent member. As described above, the vibration unit 2 causes
the head part 1 to protrude by the elastic force of the coil spring
24. By adjusting the stroke of the head part 1, the action end of
the head part 1 is arranged to a position which slightly protrudes
beyond the protruding end 61 of the waterproof cover part 6.
Specifically, a distance t in the vibration direction from the
knocking surface 111 of the head part 1 at the protruding position
to the protruding end 61 of the waterproof cover part 6 is set to a
predetermined distance (about 1 to 2 mm in this embodiment).
[0062] The stain removing operation is performed in such a state
that the protruding end 61 of the waterproof cover part 6 presses
against the clothing 10A, since the waterproof cover part 6
prevents the liquid scattering due to the vibration of the head
part 1 and thus prevents the liquid from spreading over a wide
range, the wetting area of the clothing 10A is reduced and the
clothing 10A can be put on immediately after the stain removing
operation. In addition, during the stain removing operation, a
distance between the body of the device and the clothing 10A can be
always kept constant, and the force (knocking force) exerted by the
head part 1 to the clothing 10A can be made appropriate and
uniform. In addition, the action end of the head part 1 is arranged
to the position that slightly protrudes beyond the protruding end
61 of the waterproof cover part 6, and an operation simulating an
action of knocking (pressing) the stain portion 10a with hands can
be automatically realized, since the head part 1 can clamp the
clothing 10A when protruding due to the elasticity of the coil
spring 24. In addition, since the waterproof cover part 6 is
transparent, the removing state of the stain portion can be
confirmed during the stain removing operation through the
waterproof cover part 6.
[0063] The shape of the waterproof cover part 6 is not limited to a
cylindrical shape, other shapes may also be used, for example, a
substantially conical shape (a shape in which the protruding end 61
expands toward the clothing 10A), as long as it can cover the
entire side surface of the knocking part 11. Further, the
waterproof cover part 6 may be fixed to the housing body 9 other
than being detachable.
[0064] FIG. 3 is longitudinal sectional view showing the stain
removing device 100 when not in use. FIG. 3(A) is a longitudinal
sectional view showing a head part 1X for preventing the liquid
from dropping. FIG. 3(B) is a longitudinal sectional view showing a
cap body (6X) for preventing the liquid from leaking. According to
the stain removing device 100 of the present embodiment, the head
part 1X for preventing the liquid from dropping as shown in FIG.
3(A) may be mounted at the inserted portion 121c from which the
head part 1 is pulled out. The head part 1X for preventing the
liquid from dropping has an insertion part 12X designed to have a
shape and size that allows to be inserted without forming a gap
such as the water supply groove 12a (see FIG. 2) between the head
part 1X and the inserted segment 1121g of the inserted portion
121c. When the insertion portion 12X is inserted into the inserted
segment 1121g, the liquid supplied through the water supply hole
1121f is blocked by the insertion portion 12X, and liquid dropping
to the outside of the device body is prevented. By using the head
part 1X for preventing the liquid from dropping at the time of
carrying the stain removing device 100, it can prevent the liquid
from leaking from the main body of the device due to shaking or
vibration, and the head part 1X can be carried comfortably.
[0065] Further, in the stain removing device 100 of the present
embodiment, the cap body 6X for preventing liquid from leaking
shown in FIG. 3 (B) can be mounted to the housing body 9 from which
the waterproof cover part 6 is detached. The cap body 6X for
preventing the liquid from leaking is composed of a tubular portion
6Xa with one end 6Xa1 engaged with the rib 9a of the housing body 9
and a bottom portion 6Xb located at two side of the other end 6Xa2
of the tubular portion 6Xa. The liquid dropped from the discharge
port 1121h is stored in a space Sp enclosed by the tubular portion
6Xa and the bottom portion 6Xb. As a result, even if the head
portion 1 is inserted into the inserted portion 121c, the liquid
leakage will not be occurred, thus the stain removing device 100
can be carried. In addition, the housing body 9 can be a structure
in which the cap body 6X for preventing liquid leakage is mounted
while keeping the waterproof cover part 6 in mounting state.
Second Embodiment
[0066] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the cylinder
155 and the head part 151 constituting the stain removing device
according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG.
4(A) shows a state before the head part 151 is inserted into the
cylinder 155. FIG. 4(B) shows a state in which the head part 151 is
inserted in the cylinder 155. The stain removing device according
to the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in
that a liquid amount adjustment part 159, which is capable of
adjusting the liquid dropping amount. Hereinafter, the
configuration is substantially the same as that of the first
embodiment, other than the configuration to be described below, so
the description will be omitted.
[0067] The liquid amount adjustment part 159 shown in FIG. 4 is
composed of the cylinder 155 and the head part 151. The cylinder
155 adjoins the inserted segment 1121g of the inserted part 158 and
a liquid storage portion 156 through a partition portion 157, and
has first to third supply regions 157a to 157c formed at equal
intervals on the edge portion of the partition portion 157. The
supply holes 157x, penetrating the partition portion 157, of these
supply regions 157a to 157c are formed in different quantity. In
the present embodiment, one supply hole 157x is formed at the first
supply region 157a, three supply holes 157x are formed at the
second supply region 157b, and five supply hole 157x are formed at
the third supply region 157c. Further, the number of the supply
holes 157x is not limited to this. Furthermore, the head part 151
is provided with a notch 1152 at an end of an insertion portion
152, and has a plurality of water supply grooves 1153 extending
from the notch 1152 to the knocking portion 11 on the side portion
of the insertion portion 152.
[0068] FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the head part 151
shown in FIG. 4(B) together with the supply hole 157x. In the FIG.
5, the notch 1152 is indicated by hatching. As shown in FIG. 5, the
notch 1152 is formed in the insertion portion 152 over a range
corresponding to one supply region 157a (157b, 157c). The liquid in
the liquid storage portion 156 shown in FIG. 4 flows into the notch
1152 from the supply holes 157x formed in any one of the supply
regions 157a (157b, 157c) opposing to the notch 1152, and drops to
the periphery of the knocking part 11 through the water supply
grooves 1153. As a result, the dropping amount of the liquid varies
according to the supply region 157a (157b, 157c) opposed to the
notch 1152. The dropping amount of the liquid is increased in the
order of the state shown below: a state shown in FIG. 5(A) in which
the notch 1152 is opposed to the first supply region 157a, a state
shown in FIG. 5(B) in which the notch 1152 is opposed to the second
supply region 157b, and a state shown in FIG. 5(C) in which the
notch 1152 is opposed to the third supply region 157c.
[0069] In this way, the stain removing device according to the
present embodiment causes the liquid to drop from the gap between
the water supply groove 1153 served as the other end of the water
supply path 158 and the insertion portion 152 of the head part 151
through using the vibration caused by the vibration unit 2, and has
the liquid amount adjustment part 159 shown in FIG. 4 which can
adjust the dropping amount of the liquid.
[0070] When only the depth of the water supply groove 12a is set,
the liquid drops too much, the result is that circle blurring may
be caused. However, the liquid does not drop to the clothing 10A in
excess or insufficiency by means of utilizing the liquid amount
adjustment part 159. Therefore, it can prevent the stain removing
effect from being decreased due to insufficiency supply of the
liquid, and prevent circle blurring caused by a large amount of
liquid being supplied to the stain portion 10a at once.
[0071] Further, the liquid amount adjustment part 159 is not
limited to the configuration described above as long as the liquid
dropping amount can be adjusted. Furthermore, the configuration of
the liquid amount adjustment part 159 may be applied to the stain
removing devices of the third to fifth and the seventh embodiments
described later. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the water
supply groove 1153 is formed on the insertion portion 152, but it
may also be formed on the inserted portion 158.
Third Embodiment
[0072] FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a stain
removing device 300 according to a third embodiment of the present
disclosure. The shape of the housing body 309 of the stain removing
device 300 of the present embodiment is substantially rectangular.
A part of the arrangement positions and configuration of the
elements in the housing body 309 is different from that of the
first embodiment. Additionally, comparing to the first embodiment
in which the housing body 9 is used while keeping it in a
substantially horizontal position, the housing body 9 of the
present embodiment is used while keeping it in a substantially
standing attitude. Hereinafter, the configuration is substantially
the same as that of the first embodiment, other than the
configuration to be described below, so the same reference numerals
are given and the description thereof will be omitted.
[0073] As shown in FIG. 6, in the stain removing device 300 of the
present embodiment, a cylinder 321, a third gear 322C, a second
gear 322B, a first gear 322A and a motor 23 forming a vibration
unit 302 are disposed in the housing body 309 in this order along
the vibration direction. Further, the cylinder 321 is composed of a
coil spring accommodation portion 321a, an inserted portion 321c,
and a hollow connecting portion 321b that connects the coil spring
accommodation portion 321a and the inserted portion 321c. The
structure of the coil spring accommodation portion 321a is same as
that of the coil spring accommodation portion 121a (see FIGS. 1 and
2) of the first embodiment except that an opening 1321ab
communicated with the connecting portion 321b is formed at a bottom
surface 1321a of the coil spring accommodation portion 321a. In
addition, the structure of the inserted portion 321c is the same as
that of the inserted portion 121c (see FIGS. 1 and 2) of the first
embodiment except that the inserted portion 321c has a hollow
connection end 1321b extending from the water supply hole 1121f to
the inside of the connecting portion 321b. Further, a through hole
393a throughout the vibration direction is formed on a fixing
portion 393 of the housing body 309 inserted into the coil spring
housing portion 321a.
[0074] The water supply path 304 is composed of a liquid supply
hose 341, the connection end 1321b of the inserted portion 321c,
the water supply hole 1121f, the inserted segment 1121g and the
water supply groove 12a provided at the cylinder insertion portion
12 of the head part 1. One end 341a of the liquid supply hose 341
is connected to the liquid containing part 3 and pass through the
through hole 393a of the fixing portion 393, an axial center
portion of the coil spring 24 and the coil spring accommodation
portion 321a, and the other end 341b is connected to the connection
end 1321b inside the connection portion 321b via the opening
1321ab. The liquid supply hose 341 has a deformation portion 341c
which is connected between the liquid containing part 3 and the
connection end 1321b with a enough length and is flexibly deformed
(absorbs vibration) along with the vibration of the vibration unit
302. In addition, the liquid supply hose 341 may be connected
between the liquid containing part 3 and the connection end 1321b
without a enough length. In this case, in order to absorb
vibration, a part of the liquid supply hose 341 is preferably snake
belly shape.
[0075] In the stain removing device 300, since the motor 23 is
rotated by power supply from the battery 5 by means of operating
the power switch S outside the housing body 309, the cylinder 321
and the head part 1 can vibrate and the liquid can drop from the
discharge port 1121h by utilizing the rotation of the third gear
22C and the elasticity of the coil spring 24, the stain removing
device 300 has same effect as the stain removing device 100 of the
first embodiment.
Fourth Embodiment
[0076] FIGS. 7 and 8 are longitudinal sectional views showing a
stain removing device 400 according to a fourth embodiment of the
present disclosure. The stain removing device 400 of this
embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that it
includes a detergent containing part 7 and a detergent supply unit
8. Hereinafter, other than the configuration to be described later,
other configurations are the same as that in the first embodiment,
so the same reference numerals are given, and the explanation is
omitted.
[0077] The detergent containing part 7 includes an accommodation
body 71 for containing a liquid detergent supplied to the periphery
of the head part 1, and a cover member 73 provided with an air hole
(not shown) and closing a liquid supply hole 72 formed on the
accommodation body 71.
[0078] The detergent supply unit 8 supplies the detergent in the
detergent containing part 7 to the periphery of the head part 1,
and is composed of a detergent dropping button 81, a detergent
supply hose 82, and a detergent supply portion 409a formed on the
housing body 409 and opening to the periphery of the head part 1.
One end 82a of the detergent supply hose 82 is connected to the
detergent containing part 7 at a position where the pressure force
is applied by the detergent dropping button 81, and the other end
82b is connected to the detergent supply portion 409a. The
detergent supply portion 409a has a shape that the liquid is
supplied from the knocking part 11 facing the head part 1 to a
direction inclined slightly downward with respect to the
horizontal, and the opening end is in a nozzle shape. The detergent
dropping button 81 is elastically in contact with a coil spring 81a
for exerting an elastic force from the pressed position to the
pushing up position.
[0079] In this embodiment as described above, only the water is
accommodated in the liquid containing part 3, when the detergent
dropping button 81 is pressed at an appropriate timing, the
detergent drops to the periphery of the head part 1. As shown in
FIG. 7, an operation of protruding the uplifted head part 1 as
shown in FIG. 8 is continuously performed, so that the liquid
drops. Therefore, the stain removing device 400 can adjust the
detergent amount according to the degree of stain of the stain
portion 10a. In addition, since the water in the liquid containing
part 3 and the detergent in the detergent containing part 7 are
supplied to the clothing 10A at different timings, respectively,
the stain can be removed by using detergent supplied by the
detergent supply unit 8, and the clothing 10A can be rinsed by only
using the water supplied from the water supply path 4.
[0080] In addition, the structure for supplying detergent by using
the detergent dropping button 81 is not limited to the above, and
it may also be a structure that will be supplied by vibration is
similar to the liquid in the liquid containing part 3, for
example.
[0081] In addition, in the present embodiment, the device body is
prevented from being enlarged by disposing the detergent containing
part 7 and the detergent supply unit 8, therefore, the constitution
of the third embodiment can be applied to the water supply path
304, the cylinder 321 and the fixing portion 393 of the housing
body 409.
Fifth Embodiment
[0082] FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a stain
removing device 500 according to a fifth embodiment of the present
disclosure. The stain removing device 500 according to the present
embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that it
includes a vapor ejection unit 508 capable of ejecting vapor toward
the knocking part 11 of the head part 1 and the motor 23 is driven
by being supplied power via a power cable C with a mandrel C1. The
stain removing device 500 is powered by the power cable C, as a
result, there is no need to be imbedded a battery inside of the
housing body 509, and thus the device body is further miniaturized.
In addition, the power cable C is not limited to the one having the
mandrel C1, and may also be a USB cable having a USB connector. In
addition, the above first to fourth embodiments may be structures
in which the power is supplied by the power cable C, but the
present embodiment may also be a structure that the power is
supplied by the battery. Hereinafter, other than the configuration
to be described later, other configurations are the same as that in
the first embodiment, so the same reference numerals are given, and
the explanation is omitted.
[0083] As shown in FIG. 9, the vapor ejection unit 508 includes a
liquid accommodation portion for vapor 507, a liquid dropping
button for vapor 581, a vapor generation portion 583 for generating
vapor, a liquid supply pipe for vapor 582 for supplying the water
in the liquid accommodation portion for vapor 507 to the vapor
generation portion 583, and a vapor ejection portion 584, in where
one end 584a of the vapor ejection portion 584 is connected to the
vapor generation portion 583 and the other end 584b is opened at
the periphery of the head part 1. The liquid dropping button for
vapor 581 is elastically in contact with a coil spring 581a for
exerting an elastic force from the pressed position to the pushing
up position.
[0084] The liquid accommodation portion for vapor 507 includes a
liquid accommodation body for vapor 571 for containing water for
vapor, and a cover member 573 for blocking a liquid supply hole for
vapor 572 formed on the liquid accommodation body for vapor 571 and
having an air hole (not shown) formed therein. The vapor generation
portion 583 is composed of a heater switch 586 capable of switching
to a power state of a heater 585, the heater 585 that generates
heat while being powered via the power cable C, a vapor generation
body 583 in which the heater 585 is disposed, and a thermostat 587
provided on the side wall of the vapor generation body 583 and
adjusting the power state of the heater 585 according to the
temperature of the heater 585. The thermostat 587 is configured to
stop supplying power to the heater 585 so as to cool the heater 585
when an upper limit temperature is reached, and to supply power to
the heater 585 again when a lower limit temperature is reached.
[0085] In the stain removing device 500 of the present embodiment,
the heater is powered by means of the operation of the heater
switch 586 to generate heat. When the liquid dropping button for
vapor 581 is pushed at an appropriate timing and then the liquid
drops from the liquid accommodation portion for vapor 507 to the
heater 585, vapor is generated and ejected to the head part 1 from
the other end of the vapor ejection portion 584. Since the stain
removing device 500 includes the vapor ejection unit 508 for
ejecting the vapor toward the head part 1, it can warm the clothing
10A by the vapor and perform the stain removing operation, thereby
improving the stain removing effect. In addition, since the vapor
has higher kinetic energy than water in the liquid state including
hot water, and the vapor is easier soaked into the solid stain and
the clothing 10A than the water in the liquid state, the solid
stain and the dirt deep inside of clothing fibers can be dissolved
and removed by the vapor, which also contributes to the improvement
of the stain removing effect. Furthermore, discoloration of the
clothing 10A can be prevented, since it is unnecessary to use a
strong bleaching agent for stain removing.
[0086] Further, in the present embodiment, the structure of the
fifth embodiment can be applied to the cylinder 321 and the fixing
portion 393 of the housing body 509, since the maximization in the
size of the device body is suppressed by providing the vapor
ejection unit 508.
Sixth Embodiment
[0087] FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a stain
removing unit 600 according to a sixth embodiment of the present
disclosure. FIG. 11 is an exploded view showing a heating apparatus
601 constituting the stain removing unit 600 shown in FIG. 10. The
stain removing unit 600 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 10
is composed of the stain removing device 100 of the first
embodiment and the heating apparatus 601.
[0088] As shown in FIG. 11, the heating apparatus 601 includes an
absorption pad combined member (cover for absorption pad combined
member) 681, a main cover 671, a decorative plate 661, a heating
plate 651, a first heat insulation material 641, a heater 631, a
second heat insulation material 621, and an apparatus body 611.
[0089] The absorption pad combined member 681 and the main cover
671 are circular in the plan view, and an opening 681a and an
opening 671a are formed at the centers of the absorption pad
combined member 681 and the main cover 671, respectively. The
absorption pad combined member 681 rotates in a state in which a
absorption pad 10B is sandwiched between one surface 681b of the
absorption pad combined member 681 and one surface 671b of the main
cover 671, and a thread portion 671c and a thread portion 681c are
mounted on the main cover 671 by being mutually engaged with each
other. The decorative plate 661 has a step between a central
portion 661a and an end portion 661b. In a state where the
decorative plate 661 is inserted within the heating apparatus 601,
a raised surface 661ab of the central portion 661a is exposed
through the opening 671a and is substantially parallel to one
surface 671b of the main cover 671, and the end portion 661b is
sandwiched between the other end 671d of the main cover 671 and the
apparatus body 611. The decorative plate 661 is made of, for
example, stainless steel. Through holes 661c and 671e passing
through a safety switch 1614 to be described later are respectively
formed in the end portion 661b of decorative plate 661 and the main
cover 671.
[0090] The heating plate 651 is insertedly disposed in the central
portion of the decorative plate 661. A knocked surface 651a, to
which an external force is exerted from the head part 1 of the
stain removing device 100, is opposite to the heating plate 651.
The heating plate 651 is made of, for example, aluminum with high
thermal conductivity. The thickness of the heating plate 651 is set
to about 1 to 2 mm. Since the heating plate 651 has high strength
and high thermal conductivity simultaneously, it can quickly and
uniformly transmit the heat from the heater 631 to the absorption
pad 10B, and the deformation of the absorption pad 10B is
suppressed by the external force exerted by the head part 1 in the
stain removing operation, thereby maintaining a high stain removing
efficiency.
[0091] The first heat insulation material 641 is a heat insulation
material disposed at a back side of the heating plate 651 and
configured for the temperature adjustment, and is made of, for
example, silicon rubber. The second heat insulation material 621 is
disposed on the apparatus body 611 and blocks the heat of the
heater 631, and is made of, for example, glass wool. For example,
the heater 631 disposed between these heat insulation materials can
use for example a ceramic heater. In addition, the heating plate
651 has a good appearance by performing coating, but it is also
possible to adopt a configuration without using the decorative
plate 661.
[0092] The apparatus body 611 includes a power cable 1613, a main
switch 1611 capable of switching the power state to the heater 631,
a thermostat 1612 capable of adjusting the power state of the
heater 631 according to the temperature of the heater 631, and the
safety switch 1614. When an upper limit temperature (for example,
70.degree. C.) of the thermostat 1612 is reached, the thermostat
1612 stops the power supply to the heater 631 to cool the heater
631. When the lower limit temperature (for example, 60.degree. C.)
of the thermostat 1612 is reached, the thermostat 1612 starts the
power supply to the heater 631 again. The safety switch 1614 is
configured to protrude from the one surface 671b of the main cover
671 via the through holes 661c and 671e, and the power can be
supplied to the heater 631 when the absorption pad 10B mounted at a
predetermined position is pressed. On the other hand, the power
supplied to the heater 631 can be stopped when the absorption pad
10B is not pressed. That is, the heating apparatus 601 can be
configured to mount the absorption pad 10B to the predetermined
position on the main cover 671 and make the absorption pad combined
member 681 to be used in the case of closure.
[0093] For such heating apparatus 601, when the main switch 1611 is
operated, the heater 631 generates heat, and the heat is
transferred to the heating plate 651 to raise the temperature of
the absorption pad 10B. Therefore, when the clothing 10A is placed
on the heating apparatus 601, in the state where the stain portion
10a is opposed to the heated absorption pad 10B, an operation of
exerting knocking force to the knocked surface 651a through the
head part 1 of the stain removing device 100 can be performed.
Therefore, the stain removing unit 600 of the present embodiment
continuously heats the stain portion 10a at about 50.degree. C.,
since the dirt is more easily dissolved in the liquid at this time,
the stain removing operation can be perform, as a result, the stain
removing effect is further improved. In addition, since it is not
necessary to use a strong bleaching agent in order to remove stain,
the color fading of the clothing 10A is prevented.
[0094] Further, in the present embodiment, the heating apparatus
601 is used in combination with the stain removing device 100 of
the first embodiment, but it is also possible to use in combination
with the stain removing devices 200 to 500 of the second to fifth
embodiments described above or in combination with the stain
removing device 700 of the seventh embodiment described below.
[0095] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the heating
apparatus 601 has a circular plane, but may have a rectangular
plane. In this case, one side of the absorption pad combined member
is connected to another component of the heating apparatus (the
main cover, the decorative plate, the heating plate, the first heat
insulation material, the heater, the second heat insulation
material, the apparatus body) via a hinge or the like. Preferably,
a foldable structure is constructed in which the absorption pad
combined member is sandwiched between other components of the
heating device 60.
Seventh Embodiment
[0096] FIG. 12 is a view showing a stain removing device 700
according to a seventh embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG.
12(A) is a longitudinal sectional view showing the stain removing
device 700 of this embodiment, FIG. 12(B) is a perspective view of
a waterproof cover part of the stain removing device 700 of this
embodiment. FIG. 12(C) is a longitudinal sectional view showing the
waterproof cover part in an exploded manner.
[0097] In addition, FIG. 13 is a schematic circuit diagram showing
a circuit for supplying power to the motor 23 and the heater 731 of
the stain removing device 700, and shows three power states
corresponding to sliding positions of an operation portion SS1 of a
switch SS. Further, in the circuit of FIG. 13, a power up part is
represented by solid lines and a non-power up part portion is
represented by dot-chain lines.
[0098] As shown in FIG. 12, the stain removing device 700 of the
present embodiment is different from the third embodiment shown in
FIG. 6 mainly in that the structure of the waterproof cover part
706 and the motor 23 is driven while being powered by a USB
connector CC1. The USB connector CC 1 is connected to an external
power source BB (see FIG. 13) via a USB cable CC2 (see FIG. 13).
Therefore, since the stain removing device 700 of the present
embodiment is configured to be powered by the external power source
BB, it is not necessary to insert the battery within the housing
body 709, and thus the device body becomes more compact.
Hereinafter, other than the configuration to be described later,
other configurations are the same as that of the third embodiment,
so the same reference numerals are given and the explanation will
be omitted. In FIG. 12, wirings connected between the USB connector
CC 1 and the motor 23 are not shown.
[0099] As shown in FIGS. 12(A) to 12(C), the waterproof cover part
706 includes a guide frame 732, a heater 731, a pressing member
733, a heat insulation packing 734, and a power connector 735. Like
the above-described embodiments, the waterproof cover part 706 of
the present embodiment is also detachable with respect to the
housing body 709 through a rib 709a at a position on a side surface
of the knocking portion 11 which encircles the head part 1.
[0100] The guide frame 732 has a bottom surface region 732c with
flat annular shape, an inner cylinder region 732a extending from an
inner periphery of the bottom surface region 732c, and an outer
cylinder region 732a which is coaxial with the inner cylinder
region 732a and extends from an outer periphery of the bottom
surface region 732c. An internal space Is is formed by these
regions 732a-732c. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12(C), an inner
surface of the bottom surface region 732c is curved based on the
shape of the heater 731. The length L1 of the inner cylinder region
732a in the extending direction is shorter than the length L2 of
the outer cylinder region 732b in the extending direction. In the
internal space Is, the heater 731, the pressing member 733 and the
heat insulation packing 734 are disposed in this order from the
bottom surface region 732c toward an opening 732d. During the stain
removing operation, an outer surface 732e of the bottom surface
region 732c is pressed by the clothing 10A. The guide frame 732 is
made of, for example, aluminum having high thermal conductivity.
Therefore, the heat from the heater 731 can be quickly transferred
to the clothing 10A, and the temperature of the heater 731 can be
rapidly decreases after use, so the stain removing device 700 can
be stored and carried immediately after use.
[0101] The heater 731 is an annular member constituted by wound
nickel-chromium heating wires, and generates heat while being
powered through the USB connector CC1 and the power connector 735.
In addition, the power supplied to the heater 731 is, for example,
about 5 W. The temperature of the heater 731 is set to be about
80.degree. C.-100.degree. C. when generating heat. In addition, the
heater 731 may be another heater such as a ceramic heater.
[0102] The pressing member 733 is an annular member having a
pressing surface 733a which is curved based on the shape of the
heater 731 having a circular cross section. Such pressing member
733 restricts the movement of the heater 731 by causing the
pressing surface 733a and the heater 731 to abut against each other
in the internal space Is, and inhibits the heat of the heater 731
from transmitting to the rib 709a.
[0103] The heat insulation packing 734 is an annular member made of
silicon and mounted along the outer cylinder region 732b, and there
is a gap between the heat insulation packing 734 and the inner
cylinder region 732a of the guide frame 732 in the inner space Is.
The heat insulation packing 734 is composed of a cylinder region
734a abutting against the outer cylinder region 732b and the
pressing member 733, and a flange region 734b extending outward
from an end portion of the cylinder region 734a.
[0104] The power connector 735 shown in FIG. 12(B) and FIG. 13 is a
member which protrudes from the internal space Is and is attached
to the opening end surface of the guide frame 732, and is engaged
with a housing body side connector (not shown) provided on a side
of the housing body 709. The heater 731 is electrically connected
to the external power source BB via the power connector 735.
[0105] The waterproof cover part 706 as described above is mounted
to the housing body 709 by inserting the rib 709a into the internal
space Is to be in contact with the inner peripheral surface 734c of
the heat insulation packing 734. At this time, an end surface of
the outer cylinder region 732b of the guide frame 732 is brought
into contact with the housing body 709 via the flange region 734b
of the heat insulation packing 734, as a result, the waterproof
cover part 706 is positioned in the vibration direction, and the
flange region 734b serves to separate the housing body 709 from the
outer cylinder region 732b. In addition, as shown in FIG. 12(C),
the length L3 of the rib 709a in the vibration direction is
configured to be shorter than the length L4 of the heat insulation
packing 734 in the vibration direction, and a front end of the rib
709a is a position separated from the pressing member 733. Then,
the heat insulation packing 734 is located between the outer
cylinder region 732b of the guide frame 732 and the rib 709a, and a
heat insulation space Gp (see FIG. 12(A)) is formed between the
inner cylinder region 732a of the guide frame 732 and the rib 709a.
Further, as described above, since the length L1 of the inner
cylinder region 732a of the guide frame 732 is shorter than the
length L2 of the outer cylinder region 732b, the flange region 734b
separates the housing body 709 from the outer cylinder region 732b
of the guide frame 732, the front end of the inner cylinder region
732a is the position separated from the housing body 709.
Therefore, when the waterproof cover part 706 is mounted to the
housing body 709 by utilizing the internal space Is in which the
heater 731 is disposed, the pressing member 733 and the guide frame
732, which become of high temperature due to the heat from the
heater 731, are configured to not in direct contact with the
housing body 709 including the rib 709a, so a damage to the body of
the stain removing device 700 caused by the heat from the
waterproof cover part 706 is suppressed.
[0106] In addition, the waterproof cover part 706 is provided with
a temperature adjustment portion such as a thermostat capable of
adjusting the power state to the heater 731 according to the
temperature of the heater 731 in order to prevent overheating of
the guide frame 732 and even the clothing 10A. Further, the
waterproof cover part 706 may be provided with a temperature
display portion such as a thermo tape for displaying the
temperature of the guide frame 732. As a result, the user can hold
the temperature of the waterproof cover part 706.
[0107] On the other hand, although the vibration unit 702, the
liquid containing part 703, and the water supply path 704 are
functionally the same as those of the stain removing device 300 of
the third embodiment, but their shapes and arrangement positions in
the housing body 709 are different from those of the stain removing
device 300 of the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12(A).
[0108] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 12(A), a third gear 722C
constituting the vibration unit 702 is provided with two
protrusions 722c protruding in a radial direction and spaced
equally in a circumferential direction, for substituting the
protrusion 22c (see FIG. 6) extending parallel to the axis 122ee.
The number of vibrations per unit time of the head part 1 can be
adjusted by the number of the protrusions 722c. In the present
embodiment, the knocking action of the head part 1 is set to be
performed 15 to 20 times per second. In addition, the number of the
protrusions 722c is not limited to two, and may be one or three or
more.
[0109] In addition, the cylinder 721 constituting the vibration
unit is formed by a part of a second member 721y integrally engaged
on an outer periphery of the first member 721x having a bottomed
cylindrical shape in the vibration direction. A coil spring
accommodation portion 721a is formed inside the first member 721x.
The liquid storage portion 721b, the inserted portion 721c and the
inserted segment 1121g are constituted by a second member 721y
having a bottomed cylindrical shape and formed from a repeating
portion of the first member 721x to the head part 1. The second
member 721y covers the first member 721x to an approximate center
in the vibration direction, and an engaging claw 1721b engaged with
the protrusions 722c of the third gear 722C is arranged on an end
portion of a side of the second member 721y closing the first
member 721x.
[0110] On the coil spring accommodation portion 721a, the other end
of the coil spring 24 and the housing body 709 are composed of
other members, and its base end side accommodates the fixing
portion 793 fixed to the housing body 709.
[0111] The liquid storage portion 721b is composed of a wide
portion 1721d whose width is wider than the width of the opening
1721g of the housing body 709 and a narrow portion 1721e whose
width is narrower than the width of the opening 1721g of the
housing body 709 and protruding from the opening 1721g. The wide
portion 1721d is arranged on a restriction member 709b by an
opening edge arranged along the housing body 709, so that the
moving range of the cylinder 721 in the protruding direction Y1 is
restricted. Further, by using an elastic material such as rubber or
urethane resin and the like as the restriction member 709b for the
cylinder, damages to the cylinder 721 and the housing body 709 are
suppressed, and the noise when driving the stain removing device
700 is suppressed. In addition, for suppressing the noise when
driving the stain removing device 700, the whole or substantially
the entirety of the housing body 709 has a double structure, and it
is effective to dispose components such as the vibration unit 702
in such a housing body 709. In addition, since the housing body has
a double structure, a fixing member such as a screw fixed at an
inner surface of the housing body are not visible from the outside
of the housing body, and the appearance design of the stain
removing device can be improved.
[0112] The inserted portion 721c has a tapered water supply hole
1721f extending from the narrow portion 1721e and an inserted
segment 1121g having the substantially same width as the narrow
portion 1721e. The cylinder insertion portion 12 of the head part 1
is inserted into the inserted segment 1121g by slightly
pressing.
[0113] A bottom surface 703a of the accommodation part body 703a of
the liquid containing part 703 is inclined towards one end 741a of
a liquid supply pipe 741. The shape of the liquid containing part
703 is different from that of the stain removing device 300 of the
third embodiment. In addition, the other end 741b of the liquid
supply pipe 741, the one end 741a of which is connected to the
liquid containing part, is connected to the wide portion 1721d of
the cylinder 721. In addition, a coil spring 741c is wound around
the other end 741b of the liquid supply pipe 741 to prevent the
flexibly deformed liquid supply pipe 741 from curving to make the
liquid from not to flow.
[0114] In the present embodiment, the switch SS is a slide type
member, and the operation portion SS1 of the switch SS is set to
three slide positions: an OFF position as shown in FIG. 12(A) and
FIG. 13(A), a first slide position as shown in FIG. 13(B), and a
second slide position as shown in FIG. 13(C). Specifically, when
the operation section SS1 is at the OFF position, it is a power off
state in which the power is not supplied to neither the motor 23 of
the vibration unit 702 nor the heater 731; when the operation
section SS1 is at the first slide position, it is a preheating
state in which only the heater 731 is powered via the power
connector 735, and when the operation section SS1 is at the second
slide position, it is a heating and knocking state in which both of
the motor 23 of the vibration unit 702 and the heater 731 are
powered simultaneously.
[0115] Therefore, in the preheating state, the waterproof cover
part 706 presses against the clothing 10A and the clothing 10A is
heated. During the clothing 10A is heated to a certain extent, by
switching the switch SS to the heating and knocking state, the
stain removing operation can be performed after the clothing 10A
has been heated.
[0116] In this way, since the stain removing device 700 of the
present embodiment is of a structure in which the waterproof cover
part 706 pressing the clothing 10A is heated by the heat from the
heater 731 during the stain removing operation, the stain portion
of the stain removing object and its periphery can always be heated
via the waterproof cover part 706 during the stain removing
operation even if the heating apparatus 601 shown in FIG. 10 is not
separately used, thus the miniaturization is realized and the stain
removing effect is further improved. Further, so long as the heater
is disposed inside the head part rather than the waterproof cover
part, the heat can be transmitted only to the clothing 10A
intermittently, and the clothing 10A cannot be efficiently
heated.
[0117] In addition, a LED, which is lit up when the heater 731 is
in the powered state, may be provided on the stain removing device
700 of the present embodiment. By doing so, the user can also hold
to heat the waterproof cover part 706.
[0118] In addition, the waterproof cover part 706 of the present
embodiment is detachable from the housing body 709. The waterproof
cover part 6, in which the heater of the stain removing device 100
of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is not provided, may be
mounted on the housing body 709 of the stain removing device 700
according to the dirty degree of the clothing 10A or available
power and the like.
[0119] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the switch SS is a
slide type, but other types of switch such as a rotary type switch
or a push button type switch may be used.
[0120] In addition, as described above, the stain removing device
700 of the present embodiment and the heating apparatus 601 shown
in FIG. 10 may be used simultaneously. By doing so, the clothing
10A can be heated more effectively, and the stain removing effect
can be further improved.
Eighth Embodiment
[0121] FIG. 14 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a stain
removing device 800 according to an eighth embodiment of the
present disclosure. In the figure, only a part of a cylinder 183
and a head part 181 are illustrated. The stain removing device 800
of the present embodiment is different from that of the first
embodiment in that the liquid flows through the inside of the head
part 181 rather than flow from the side surface of the head portion
1 (see FIG. 1 and the like). Hereinafter, the configuration other
than the configuration to be described later is the same as that of
the first embodiment, so the description of the same configuration
as that of the first embodiment will be omitted.
[0122] The cylinder 183 shown in FIG. 14 has a coil spring
accommodation portion (not shown), an inserted portion 183a, a
liquid storage portion 183b, and a cylinder water supply hole
183a1. The coil spring accommodation portion accommodates the coil
spring 24 (see FIG. 1 and the like), and the inserted portion 183a
is a member in which a cylinder inserting portion 181a of the head
part 181 which will be described later is removably inserted. The
liquid storage portion 183b is located between the inserted portion
183a and the coil spring accommodation portion, and stores the
liquid supplied from the liquid accommodation portion 3 (see FIG. 1
and the like) therein. The cylinder water supply hole 183a1 is
formed to pass through the inserted portion 183a from the liquid
storage portion 183b and is opened to a cone shaped toward a base
end 184a1 of the head part 181.
[0123] The head part 181 includes the cylinder insertion portion
181a into which the inserted portion 183a can be removably
inserted, a knocking portion 181b formed with a knocking surface
182, a head water supply hole 184' extending to the knocking
surface 182 through the head part 181. The head water supply hole
184' is composed of a water storage portion 184A, which has a
substantially rectangular longitudinal cross section, and is
opposed to the cylinder water supply hole 183a1 and opened at the
base end 184a1 of the head part 181, and passes through the
cylinder inserting portion 181a; an expanding portion 184C having a
trapezoidal longitudinal cross section and an opening end 184a2
expanding and opened toward the center of knocking surface 182, and
a small-diameter portion 184B connecting the water storage portion
184A and the small-diameter portion 184B. The flow path cross
section of the small-diameter portion 184B is smaller than that of
the water storage portion 184A and that of the expanding portion
184C. The liquid in the small-diameter portion 184B is slightly
discharged to the expanding portion 184C when the head part 181 is
vibrated by vibration unit (not shown). On the other hand, the
liquid is prevented from dropping by an action of surface tension
when the head part 181 is not vibrated. The liquid storage portion
183b, the cylinder water supply hole 183a1, and the head water
supply hole 184' together with the liquid supply pipe 41 (see FIG.
1) constitute a water supply path 184. The liquid in the liquid
storage portion 183b drops to the head part 181 from the cylinder
water supply hole 183a1, and then flows through the head water
supply hole 184' to be supplied to the knocking surface 182.
[0124] In addition, a plurality of annular protruding portions
181a' separated from each other in the vibration direction are
formed on the side surface of the cylinder inserting portion 181a
of the head part 181. When the cylinder inserting portion 181a is
inserted into the cylinder 183, the protruding portions 181a' is
stably fixed by pressing against an inner surface of the inserted
portion 183a.
[0125] The above configuration is the same as the above
embodiments, the vibration unit (not shown) vibrates the head part
181 when being powered, the action of knocking the clothing 10A
(see FIG. 1) by the head portion 181 can be automated, as a result,
the knocking force becomes uniform, and there is no need to quickly
move the hand, the hand will not feel fatigue even if the stain
removing operation is performed for a long time. In addition, the
solid stain of the stain portion 10a (referring to FIG. 1)
decomposed by the impact from the vibrating head part 181 is not
immediately dissolved in the liquid supplied by the liquid
containing part (not shown), since the opening end 184a2 is
expanded, the water supply path 184 is not easily blocked by the
solid stain even if the decomposed solid stain is soaked in the
water supply path 184 from the knocking surface. Even if the water
supply path 184 is blocked by the solid stain, it is easy to clean
the water supply path 184, so the stain removing effect can be
stably maintained.
[0126] Particularly, by appropriately designing a portion of the
water supply path 184 other than the opening end 184a2, that is,
the cross section of the flow path of the small-diameter portion
184B, since an appropriate amount of liquid is continually supplied
to the clothing 10A along with the vibration of the head part 181,
and the liquid is prevented from flowing down due to the surface
tension when the head part 181 does not vibrate, a liquid leakage
is prevented when the stain removing operation is not performed.
Since such a dropping adjustment function also works in cylinder
water supply hole 183a1, liquid exceeding the capacity of the water
storage portion 184A will not be supplied at once from the cylinder
water supply hole 183a1. Further, the water supply groove 12a
formed on the side surface of the head part 1, as in the stain
removing device 100 shown in FIG. 1, are not required. Since the
protruding portions 181a can be formed on the side surface of the
head part 181, the head part 181 can be stably mounted to the
cylinder 183 even if it is extracted from the cylinder 183
repeatedly many times.
[0127] The configurations of the head part 181 and the cylinder 183
of the present embodiment may be applied to the other embodiments
described above.
[0128] In the above, embodiments of the present disclosure have
been described, but the specific structure of each part is not
limited to the above-described embodiments.
[0129] For example, although in the stain removing devices 100 to
500 and 700 of the above-described embodiments, the knocking
surface 111 of the head part 1 is used downward, it may also be a
structure in which the knocking surface 111 is used transversely.
In this case, a structure for example in which the liquid is pump
is used.
[0130] In addition, in the above embodiments, the knocking surfaces
111, 182 of the head part 1 (see FIG. 1), the head part 151 (see
FIG. 4) and the head part 181 (see FIG. 14) are flat (plane), but
the shapes of the knocking surfaces 111 and 182 are not limited to
this, and may be, for example, a concave-convex shape as shown in
FIG. 15. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a variant of the head part 1
shown in FIG. 1. Specifically, FIG. 15(A) is a perspective view
showing the head part 171, FIG. 15(B) is a side view showing the
head part 171, and FIG. 15(C) is a bottom view showing the head
part 171. As shown in FIGS. 15(A) and 15(B), a knocking surface 172
formed on the knocking portion 171a of the head part 171 is
composed of a base 172a and a surface 172ba of a plurality of
protrusions 172b protruding from the base 172a. As shown in FIGS.
15(B) and 15(C), each of the protrusions 172b is hemispherical
shape and regularly arranged in the base 172a. The stain removing
devices 100 to 500 and 700 of the present disclosure are
appropriately replaced with those having different shapes such as
the head part 171 and the head part 1 according to the type of dirt
constituting the stain portion 10 a, thereby removing stain more
effectively.
[0131] In the above embodiments, the head parts 1, 181 can be
detached from the cylinders 21, 183 and replaced, but may also be
an undetachable structure. Furthermore, the head part 1 may be
configured to be rotatable about an axis parallel to the vibration
direction by using a stroke motion.
[0132] Still further, in the above-described embodiments, a
mechanism for heating the liquid may be arranged in the stain
removing devices 100 to 500 and 700, alternatively a structure in
which the heated liquid drops toward the clothing 10A may also be
arranged in the stain removing devices 100 to 500 and 700,
therefore, the stain removing effect is further improved.
[0133] In addition, in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the
liquid containing part 3 is fixed in the housing body 9, but it may
also be detachably mounted in the housing body 9. In this case, for
example, the liquid containing part 3 is provided at a position
where the liquid can be supplied to the head part 1 without passing
through the liquid supply pipe 41 and the cylinder 21, that is, the
liquid containing part 3 is arranged at a position directly
connected to the head part 1 or the periphery of the head part 1,
the liquid containing part 3 and the head part 1 may be an integral
structure which can be detached from the housing body 9.
[0134] With such a configuration, a plurality of liquid containing
parts 3 in which different types of liquid (for example, water,
solvent, etc.) are stored are prepared, the stain removing
operation is performed by mounting the liquid containing part 3
containing the liquid suitable for the state of the stain portion
10a to the housing body 9, thereby improving the stain removing
effect. In addition, the blocking of the water supply path 4 caused
by concentration of the water stain or calcium component at
positions which are not easy to clean, such as inside of the liquid
supply pipe 41 or the cylinder 21, can be prevented, thus it is not
necessary to disassemble the body of the stain removing device 100
for cleaning. Further, since the liquid containing part 3 is
transparent or semitransparent, a certain amount of the liquid can
be drawn out from the housing body 9 during the stain removing
operation.
[0135] Further, the liquid containing part 3 may be configured to
include an accommodation body in which a liquid accommodation space
is formed and a cover member for opening and closing the liquid
accommodation space. With such structure, the cover member can be
taken down from the accommodation body when the liquid containing
part 3 is taken down from the housing body 9, and since the liquid
accommodation space can be replenished with the liquid, and the
liquid in the liquid containing part 3 can be easily replaced with
another kind of liquid such as ethanol, the convenience is improved
and continuous use of the stain removing device 100 becomes
possible. At this moment, the replenishment and replacement and the
like of the liquid can be performed when the liquid containing part
3 is detached from the housing body 9, so the housing body 9 will
not be wetted when being replenished, and the housing body 9 is not
required to be subjected to a waterproof treatment. In addition,
the interior of the liquid containing part 3 can be cleaned by
disassembling it into the accommodation body and the cover member,
so the water stain and the calcium component can be easily removed.
Furthermore, the head part 1 is configured to be removable from the
liquid containing part 3. With such a configuration, the most
appropriate head part 1 and the liquid may be selected and used
according to the state of the stain portion 10a and the like, so
the stain removing effect can be improved. The above configuration
in which the liquid containing part 3 and the like can be detached
from the housing body 9 may also be applied to the stain removing
devices 300 to 500, 700, and 800 described above.
[0136] Further, the materials constituting the stain removing
devices 100 to 500, 700, 800, and the heating apparatus 601 are not
limited to those indicated by hatching in the respective
drawings.
[0137] Further, in the above embodiment, in the case where only
water as a liquid drops from the stain removing devices 100, 300,
500, 700, 800, it is effective to directly coat the detergent on
the stain portion 10a of the clothing 10A in advance when the stain
removing operation is performed. In this case, the stain removing
devices 100, 300, 500, 700, and 800 perform the knocking action
while supplying water so as to play the effect of removing stain,
and also play the effect of rising by continuing the operation,
since the dropped water transfers the stain and the detergent to
the absorption pad 10B.
[0138] In the above embodiment, the waterproof cover part 6 is
cylindrical, but its cross-sectional diameter may be increased
toward the protruding end 61 thereof. By doing so, the stain
removing devices 100 to 500, 800 can be stably pressed against the
clothing 10A.
[0139] Other configurations can be variously modified without
departing from the scope of the spirit of the present
disclosure.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0140] 1, 151, 171, 181 head part; [0141] 2, 302, 702 vibration
unit; [0142] 3, 703 liquid containing part; [0143] 4, 158, 704, 184
water supply path; [0144] 41a one end of the water supply path;
[0145] 1121h discharge port (the other end of the water supply
path); [0146] 6, 706 waterproof cover part; [0147] 7 detergent
containing part; [0148] 8 detergent supply unit; [0149] 24 elastic
member (coil spring); [0150] 61 protruding end of the waterproof
cover part; [0151] 100, 300, 400, 500, 700, 800 stain removing
device; [0152] 111, 172, 182 knocking surface; [0153] 159 liquid
amount adjustment part; [0154] 184a2 opening end; [0155] 508 vapor
ejection unit; [0156] 601 heating apparatus; [0157] 631, 731
heater; [0158] 651 heating plate; [0159] 651a knocked surface;
[0160] 600 stain removing unit.
* * * * *
References