System for steam treatment of textiles

Abstract

A steam treatment system ( 10 ) for textiles can include a detachable hanger ( 14 ) which is removably attachable to a steam unit ( 12 ). The steam unit ( 12 ) can include a vaporizing element ( 16 ) which is operatively connectable to a water source ( 18 ) and is designed to produce steam. A steam outlet ( 20 ) with a shut-off valve ( 22 ) can also be part of the steam unit ( 12 ). The detachable hanger ( 14 ) can be configured to support an article of textile such as a shirt, suit, dress, slacks, towel or the like. More particularly, the hanger ( 14 ) can include a support body enclosing a steam chamber ( 24 ) and a steam inlet ( 26 ) which is removably attachable to the steam outlet ( 20 ) of the steam unit ( 12 ). In this manner the detachable hanger ( 14 ) can be removably coupled to the steam unit ( 12 ) to allow steam to fill the hanger ( 14 ). The support body can also include a plurality of steam vents or apertures ( 30 ) which are oriented to transmit steam from the steam chamber ( 24 ) to the article of textile supported thereon. Such a steam treatment system ( 10 ) can find effective application in homes and service oriented businesses such as hotels and gyms.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A steam treatment system for textiles, comprising:
 a steam unit including a vaporizing element operatively connectable to a water source to produce steam, a steam outlet, said steam outlet including a shut-off valve, wherein the steam unit is a rod configured to mount in opposing side walls of a closet at opposing ends of the rod and including a water inlet, and a length adjustment mechanism such that the rod is adjustable in length without loss of steam seal.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vaporizing element is oriented within the rod. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the steam unit further comprises flexible steam channels within the rod to direct the steam to the steam outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the length adjustment mechanism is a threaded joint between at least two rod segments. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the length adjustment mechanism is a compression washer oriented between at least two rod segments. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the length adjustment mechanism comprises a detent, threaded clutch, split collar lock, snap collar lock, internal cam lock, or set screw. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rod is resiliently flexible to allow extension and contraction of the length. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the steam contained in the rod is contained in a non-adjustable length portion, and an adjustable length portion is not configured to contain steam. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a detachable hanger configured to support an article of textile, said hanger including a support body enclosing a steam chamber and a steam inlet removably attachable to the steam outlet, the support body including a plurality of steam vents oriented to transmit steam from the steam chamber to the article of textile. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the support body includes the steam inlet oriented in a hooked support extending from an upper portion of the support body. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the steam inlet is oriented within an upper-most point of an inner surface of the hooked support and wherein the steam inlet is oriented facing downward. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the steam inlet and the steam outlet are removably attachable via a quick connect mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the quick connect mechanism is at least one of poppet style, drybreak, gravity-weighted, and magnetic seal. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the steam chamber further includes a length adjustment mechanism configured to extend a length of the support body and steam chamber to length-wise adjust positioning of at least a portion of the steam vents. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the support body further includes a plurality of steam channels configured to direct steam to different zones of the steam chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the support body further includes a vacuum line having a suction end oriented in a lower region of the steam chamber to collect and remove condensed water and/or excess steam vapor from the steam chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the steam unit is shaped to slide over a planar fixture. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the steam unit further includes a steam chambered rod including the steam outlet, wherein the steam unit further comprises a chambered rod fluidly connected to the water source to allow the steam to flow into the chambered rod. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the steam unit includes an upper member coupled to a lower member via a front bridge member such that a gap is formed between the upper member and the lower member such that the steam unit is configured to slide onto the planar fixture. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the front bridge member includes a gap adjustment mechanism configured to allow variable adjustment of a width of the gap. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the steam unit includes a water reservoir wherein the vaporizing element is oriented within the water reservoir. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vaporizing element is fluidly connected downstream of a water reservoir. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the steam unit further includes multiple steam outlets each including a corresponding shut-off valve. 
     
     
         24 . The system of claim  35 , wherein the multiple outlets each have a dedicated steam line.