Steaming device for shaving

Abstract

A steaming device for shaving includes a base configured to rest on a counter surface and including a steam producing mechanism for producing a stream of steam, a steam outlet disposed distal the base along a longitudinal axis of the steaming device and configured to output the stream of steam, the steam outlet including at least one orifice from which the stream of steam flows, and a steam delivery conduit comprising a receiving end and a discharge end, the receiving end operably connected to the base, the discharge end operably connected to the steam outlet for delivering the stream of steam from the base to the steam outlet.

1 . A steaming device for shaving, comprising:
 a base configured to rest on a counter and including a reservoir for water and a water heating mechanism in thermal proximity to the reservoir to heat the water sufficiently to progressively transform at least some of the water into a stream of steam;   a steam outlet disposed distal the base along a longitudinal axis of the steaming device and configured to output the stream of steam, the steam outlet including a planar surface having formed thereon orifices from which the stream of steam flows; and   a steam delivery conduit comprising a receiving end and a discharge end, the receiving end operably affixed to the base, the discharge end operably affixed to the steam outlet for delivering the stream of steam from the base to the steam outlet,   the steaming device configurable to two modes:
 a put-away mode in which the steam delivery conduit is contracted towards or inside the base such that the steam outlet is compacted along the longitudinal axis with the rest of the steaming device and the planar surface is at a first angle relative to a surface of the counter, and 
 a steaming mode in which the steam delivery conduit is extended away from the base along the longitudinal axis such that the steam outlet is disposed further from the base than in the put-away mode and the planar surface is at a second angle different from the first angle relative to the surface of the counter, angled such that the orifices direct the stream of steam toward a person's face when the base is resting on the counter. 
   
     
     
         2 . The steaming device of  claim 1 , wherein in the steaming mode the steam outlet is pivotable. 
     
     
         3 . The steaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the steam outlet is pivotable such that, in the steaming mode, the planar surface is in a diagonal orientation such that the orifices direct the stream of steam partially from in front and partially from under the person's face. 
     
     
         4 . The steaming device of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a mirror pivotably attached to the steam outlet and configurable to a position in which the mirror's surface is parallel the planar surface of the steam outlet in the put-away mode to a position in which the mirror's surface is pivoted away from the planar surface of the steam outlet such that the stream of steam reaches the person's face but substantially misses the mirror's surface to prevent fogging.   
     
     
         5 . The steaming device of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a mirror pivotably attached to the steam outlet, wherein the planar surface of the steam outlet is set to a substantially diagonal position in the steaming mode and the mirror is pivotable to a position in which the mirror's surface is substantially away from the planar surface such that the stream of steam reaches the person's face but substantially misses the mirror's surface to prevent fogging.   
     
     
         6 . The steaming device of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a valve operably connected to the steam delivery conduit and operable to control flow of the stream of steam and, thereby, adjust steam output from the orifices.   
     
     
         7 . The steaming device of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a movable body element having a wall that forms a longitudinal cavity and that surrounds most of the steam delivery conduit, the movable body element configured to slide along the longitudinal axis upwards to the steaming mode and downwards to the put-away mode.   
     
     
         8 . A steaming device for shaving, comprising:
 a base configured to rest on a counter and including a reservoir for water and a water heating mechanism in thermal proximity to the reservoir to heat the water sufficiently to progressively transform at least some of the water into a stream of steam;   a steam outlet disposed distal the base along a longitudinal axis of the steaming device and configured to output the stream of steam; and   a steam delivery conduit comprising a receiving end and a discharge end, the receiving end operably affixed to the base, the discharge end operably affixed to the steam outlet for delivering the stream of steam from the base to the steam outlet,   the steaming device configurable to two modes:
 a put-away mode in which the steam delivery conduit is contracted towards or inside the base such that the steam outlet is compacted along the longitudinal axis with the rest of the steaming device, and 
 a steaming mode in which the steam delivery conduit is extended away from the base along the longitudinal axis such that the steam outlet is disposed further from the base than in the put-away mode and near a person's face when the base is resting on the counter. 
   
     
     
         9 . The steaming device of  claim 8 , comprising:
 a compartment in fluid communication with the reservoir or the steam delivery conduit and configured to receive oils for the stream of steam to diffuse oil aroma.   
     
     
         10 . The steaming device of  claim 8 , wherein the steam outlet is adjustably pivotable to a diagonal orientation such that the stream of steam flows partially from in front and partially from under the person's face. 
     
     
         11 . The steaming device of  claim 8 , comprising:
 a mirror pivotably attached, wherein
 the steam outlet is adjustably pivotable to a diagonal orientation such that the stream of steam flows partially from in front and partially from under the person's face, and 
 the mirror adjustably pivotable to a vertical or a diagonal orientation such that the stream of steam reaches the person's face but substantially misses the mirror's surface to prevent fogging. 
   
     
     
         12 . The steaming device of  claim 8 , comprising:
 a mirror adjustably pivotable to a vertical or a diagonal orientation in the steaming mode such that the stream of steam reaches the person's face but substantially misses the mirror's surface to prevent fogging.   
     
     
         13 . The steaming device of  claim 8 , comprising:
 a steam control mechanism operably connected to the steam delivery conduit and operable to control flow of the stream of steam and, thereby, adjust steam output through the steam outlet.   
     
     
         14 . The steaming device of  claim 8 , comprising:
 a movable body element that surrounds most of the steam delivery conduit, the movable body element configured to slide along the longitudinal axis upwards to the steaming mode and downwards to the put-away mode.   
     
     
         15 . A steaming device for shaving, comprising:
 a base configured to rest on a counter surface and including a steam producing mechanism for producing a stream of steam;   a steam outlet disposed distal the base along a longitudinal axis of the steaming device and configured to output the stream of steam, the steam outlet including at least one orifice from which the stream of steam flows; and   a steam delivery conduit comprising a receiving end and a discharge end, the receiving end operably connected to the base, the discharge end operably connected to the steam outlet for delivering the stream of steam from the base to the steam outlet,   the steaming device configurable to two modes, a steaming mode and a put-away mode, wherein:
 in the put-away mode the steam outlet is closer to the base along the longitudinal axis than in the steaming mode, and 
 in the steaming mode the steam outlet is disposed further from the base than in the put-away mode and the orifices are angled relative to the counter surface to direct the stream of steam toward a person's face when the base is resting on the counter surface. 
   
     
     
         16 . The steaming device of  claim 15 , comprising:
 a compartment in fluid communication with the reservoir or the steam delivery conduit and configured to receive therapeutic substances for the stream of steam to diffuse aroma.   
     
     
         17 . The steaming device of  claim 15 , wherein the steam outlet is adjustably pivotable to a diagonal orientation such that the stream of steam flows diagonally relative to the person's face. 
     
     
         18 . The steaming device of  claim 15 , comprising:
 a mirror pivotably attached, wherein
 the steam outlet is adjustably pivotable to a diagonal orientation such that the stream of steam flows diagonally relative to the person's face, and 
 the mirror adjustably pivotable to a vertical or a diagonal orientation such that the stream of steam reaches the person's face but substantially misses the mirror's surface to prevent fogging. 
   
     
     
         19 . The steaming device of  claim 15 , comprising:
 a steam control mechanism operably connected to the steam delivery conduit and operable to control flow of the stream of steam and, thereby, adjust steam output through the steam outlet.   
     
     
         20 . The steaming device of  claim 19 , comprising:
 a movable body element that surrounds at least some of the steam delivery conduit, the movable body element configured to move down along the longitudinal axis to the put-away mode and up along the longitudinal axis to the steaming mode.