DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, the preferred steamer attachment 10 constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated attached to a steamer 12. Referring also to FIG. 2 the attachment 10 broadly comprises a body 14, a first and second steam distributor 16,18 located in a head 20 of the body 14, and a valve 22 located in a handle 24 of the body 14.

[0020] The steamer 12 is preferably conventional and preferably includes a hose 26 and an internal steam generator. For example, the steamer 12 may be similar to that disclosed in “GARMENT STEAMING DEVICE WITH SAFETY NOZZLE”, U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,047, hereby incorporated into the present application by reference. The steamer 12 also preferably includes a telescoping clothes support 28 with a clothes hanging bracket 30. Thus, clothes may be hung from the bracket 30 while a user steams them using the attachment 10. Additionally, the clothes may remain hanging from the bracket 30 until the user wishes to wear them. Furthermore, the steamer 12 preferably includes two front wheels 32 and two rear casters 34, thereby allowing the user to easily maneuver the steamer 12 without having to lift the steamer 12. The wheels 32 and casters 34 become especially important when the steamer 12 has been filled with water and is especially heavy.

[0021] The body 14 is preferably made of plastic with the head 20 aligned perpendicularly to the handle 24. The head 20 is preferably approximately two inches tall and approximately six inches wide. The head 20 preferably includes a flange 36 substantially centered along a top arcuate surface 38 of a substantially flat face 40. The flange 36 is preferably rounded and houses the first distributor 16. The face 40 preferably includes the top arcuate surface 38 which meets a bottom arcuate surface 42 at opposing ends 44 and houses the second distributor 18. Thus, the head 20 preferably forms an oblong shape with no sharp corners, thereby making the head 20 easy to manage and guide over the clothes being steamed.

[0022] The handle 24 is preferably approximately six inches long and approximately one and one half inches in diameter. The handle 24 preferably includes knurled surfaces 46 on either side and a contoured front surface 48, thereby providing a secure and comfortable grip. The valve 22 is preferably located near a top end 50 of the front surface 48, thereby allowing the user to operate the valve 22 without releasing the handle 24. The handle 24 may be either permanently joined to the hose 26 of the steamer 12, threaded onto a threaded fitting of the hose 26, or secured to the hose using another commonly used attachment mechanism.

[0023] The first distributor 16 preferably comprises a nozzle 52 substantially centered within the flange 36 and able to dispense steam generated by the steam generator of the steamer 12. The nozzle 52 preferably comprises an approximately one quarter inch internal diameter which is operable to accept a brush 54. The brush 54 is preferably made of plastic and includes bristles that extend outwardly approximately one inch. Thus, the nozzle 52 concentrates the steam and is useful for lifting dirt from the clothes, especially with the assistance of the brush 54. The nozzle 52 and the brush 54 have been found to be highly effective for removing spots from the clothes.

[0024] The second distributor 18 preferably comprises approximately eleven evenly spaced holes 56 which are preferably linearly arranged horizontally across the face 40. Thus, the holes 56 disperse the steam rather than concentrate the steam like the nozzle 52. The second distributor 18 may also include a detachable diffusor 58 to further disperse and actually diffuse the steam. The diffusor 58 preferably comprises a cloth screen supported by a plastic frame which preferably includes three legs that fit into mounting indentations 60 in the face 40, thereby detachably securing the diffusor 58 to the face 40. The holes 56 and the diffusor 58 have been found to be highly effective for general steaming, such as wrinkle removal.

[0025] The valve 22 preferably directs the steam from the steam generator toward the first distributor 16, the second distributor 18, or both. More specifically, the valve 22 preferably opens a first path toward the first distributor 16 before closing a second path toward the second distributor 18. Additionally, with the valve 22 in a mid-position, the steam may be directed to both distributors 16,18 through both paths simultaneously. Thus, the steam always has at least one available path, in order to prevent pressure buildup within the steamer 12.

[0026] While the present invention has been described above, it is understood that other materials and/or dimensions can be substituted. For example, the head 20 may be between one three inches tall and between four and eight inches wide. These and other minor modifications are within the scope of the present invention.

[0027] In use, the userfills the steamer 12 with water, secures the attachment to the hose 26, turns the steamer 12 on, and hangs the clothes on the bracket 30. The user may select which distributor 16,18 to use by operation of the valve 22. For example, the user may select the first distributor 16 to concentrate the steam on a spot on the clothes. The user may also secure the brush 54 to the nozzle 52 and use the brush 54 to scrub the spot.

[0028] Alternatively, the user may select the second distributor 18 to disperse the steam over the clothes, for general steaming. The user may secure the diffusor 58 over the holes 56 to further disperse the steam. In either case, the user may switch between distributors 16,18 without turning the steamer 12 off or risking pressure buildup.

[0029] Having thus described a preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following: