BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a steam beauty machine for treating skin surfaces
by applying steam to skin.
Description of the Background Art
[0002] There has been conventionally known a steam beauty machine for treating skin surface
by applying steam to skin.
[0003] For example,
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-349132 discloses a steam beauty machine constructed such that water supplied from a water
tank to a boiling chamber is boiled using heat from a heater opposed to the boiling
chamber to generate steam and the generated steam is discharged to the outside from
a steam discharge port formed at an upper part of a machine main body.
[0004] Since low-temperature water is supplied from the water tank to the boiling chamber
as an amount of water in the boiling chamber decreases by the steam generation in
this steam beauty machine, temperature around the boiling chamber suddenly decreases,
whereby steam pressure in the machine suddenly decreases. This causes the pulsation
of the steam discharged from the steam discharge port.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In view of the above situation, an object of the present invention is to provide
a steam beauty machine capable of stably discharging steam to improve comfort during
the use.
[0006] In a steam beauty machine according to the present invention, a preheating mechanism
for preheating water to be supplied to a boiling chamber is provided in a water supply
path from a water tank to the boiling chamber. According to this steam beauty machine,
steam can be more stably discharged from a steam discharge port to improve comfort
during the use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire construction of a steam beauty machine
according to one embodiment,
FIG. 2 is a front view of the steam beauty machine shown in FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a section along III-III of FIG. 2,
FIG. 4 is a section showing a state where a water tank is detached from a machine
main body of the steam beauty machine shown in FIG. 3,
FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a heater and a boiling chamber of the steam beauty
machine shown in FIG. 3,
FIG. 6 is an enlarged section showing the construction of the steam beauty machine
shown in FIG. 3 near a communication hole outlet,
FIG. 7 is a view when viewed in a direction of arrow A of FIG. 6,
FIG. 8 is a section partially showing the construction of a steam beauty machine according
to a first modification,
FIG. 9 is a section partially showing the construction of a steam beauty machine according
to a second modification,
FIG. 10 is a section showing the construction near a communication hole outlet in
a third modification, and
FIG. 11 is a view when viewed in a direction of arrow B of FIG. 10.
BEST MODES FOR EMBODYING THE INVENTION
[0008] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention is described with reference
to the accompanying drawings. First, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, the entire construction
of a steam beauty machine 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention is
described. In order to facilitate the description, +X direction and -X direction are
referred to as forward direction of the steam beauty machine 1 and backward direction
of the steam beauty machine 1 in FIGS. 1 to 4.
[0009] The steam beauty machine 1 of this embodiment is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, constructed
such that steam blown out from a later-described nozzle 44 projecting forward from
an upper part of a machine main body 1a is applied to user's face, hands, or a like
site to treat skin surfaces.
[0010] This steam beauty machine 1 is provided with a water supplying mechanism (water supplier)
2, a heating mechanism (heating unit) 3 and a steam discharging mechanism 4 (steam
discharger) as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0011] The water supplying mechanism 2 includes a water tank 10, a water supply storing
portion 22 and a water supply path portion 23.
[0012] The water tank 21 is detachably mounted in a rear upper part of the machine main
body 1a at a specified distance from the heating mechanism 3 and is so constructed
as to be able to store water to be supplied to the heating mechanism 3. Water of about
25°C to about 30°C is stored in the water tank 21. Water stored in the water tank
21 is not only general water (H
2O), but may also, for example, be aroma water having a healing effect or the like.
This water tank 21 is coupled to the water supply storing portion 22 when being mounted
in the machine main body 1a.
[0013] The water tank 21 includes a lid 21a, a packing 21b, a conical packing 21c, a water
stop pin 21d, and a compression coil spring 21e. The lid 21a is mounted at an opening
of the water tank 21 to open and close the water tank 21. The packing 21b is disposed
between the opening of the water tank 21 and the lid 21a to hold the water tank 21
watertight when the lid 21a is closed.
[0014] The conical packing 21c is fixed to the water stop pin 21d. The water stop pin 21d
is mounted in the lid 21a while being constantly biased in a direction to come out
of the water tank 21 by the compression coil spring 21e. Thus, with the water tank
21 detached from the machine main body 1a, the conical packing 21c is pressed against
the lid 21a, wherefore the water tank 21 can be securely held watertight.
[0015] The steam beauty machine 1 is further provided with a latch 11 disposed at a specified
position of the machine main body 1a and engageable with the water tank 21. Thus,
the water tank 21 can be mounted into and detached from the machine main body 1a through
a one-touch pushing operation in the steam beauty machine 1.
[0016] Specifically, in the case of mounting the water tank 21, a projection 21f of the
water tank 21 pushes a latch button 11a, thereby causing a latch hook 11b to project
to retain the water tank 21. On the other hand, in the case of detaching the water
tank 21, the projection 21f of the water tank 21 presses the latch button 11a again,
thereby causing the latch hook 11b to retract to free the water tank 21. Since this
enables the water 21 to be easily mounted into and detached from the machine main
body 1a, water leakage from the water tank 21 to the machine main body 1a in the case
of detachment can be suppressed.
[0017] The water supply storing portion 22 is disposed adjacent to the bottom part of the
water tank 21 mounted in the machine main body 1a. The water supply storing portion
22 has a function of introducing water supplied from the water tank 21 to the water
supply path portion 23 while temporarily storing this water. The water supply string
portion 22 is disposed at such a height position that the level of water W1 in the
water supply storing portion 22, i.e. standard water level during the use of the steam
beauty machine 1 substantially coincides with line Y in FIG. 3. In this embodiment,
the water W1 in the water supply storing portion 22, water W2 in a preheating path
portion 24 and water W4 in a condensate path 33 and water W3 in a boiling chamber
32 are balanced at the line Y.
[0018] The water supply storing portion 22 includes a projecting pin 22a projecting upward.
This projecting pin 22a is provided to push the water stop pin 21d inward of the water
tank 21, thereby canceling the watertight state of the water tank 21 by the conical
packing 21c to permit the supply of the water in the water tank 21 to the water supply
storing portion 22, in the case of mounting the water tank 21 into the machine main
body 1a.
[0019] The water supply path portion 23 is so connected as to be located below the water
supply storing portion 22 and the heating mechanism 3. Specifically, this water supply
path portion 23 is comprised of a first water supply path 23a extending vertically
downward from the bottom part of the water supply storing portion 22, a second water
supply path 23b extending obliquely downward toward the front from the bottom end
of the first water supply path 23a and a third water supply path 23c extending vertically
upward from the front end of the second water supply path 23b and connected with the
heating mechanism 3. These first to third water supply paths 23a, 23b, 23c are constructed,
for example, by cylindrical members (e.g. cylindrical pipes).
[0020] Here in this embodiment, the water supplying mechanism 2 further includes the preheating
path portion 24 capable of preheating water to be supplied to the heating mechanism
3. This preheating path portion 24 vertically extends and the bottom end thereof is
coupled to a substantially middle position of the second water supply path 23b with
respect to forward and backward directions. The preheating path portion 24 is also
constructed such that the coupled part thereof to the second water supply path 23b
is located relatively in the vicinity of the boiling chamber 32. The preheating path
portion 24 is constructed, for example, by a cylindrical member (e.g. a cylindrical
pipe). In this way, an amount of low-temperature water present in the water supply
path portion 23 between the boiling chamber 32 and the above coupled part can be reduced.
[0021] The heating mechanism 3 includes a heater 31 as a heat source, the boiling chamber
32, the condensate path 33, a communication hole 34 and a nonwoven fabric 35 (see
FIGS. 6 and 7).
[0022] The heater 31 has a heating surface 31a arranged along a vertical plane, and a heat
radiating surface 31b located behind the heating surface 31a. The heater 31 is constructed,
for example, by a plate-shaped member, one principal surface thereof serves as the
heating surface 31a and the opposite surface to this principal surface serves as the
radiating surface 31b. It should be noted that the heater 31 employs a PTC (positive
temperature coefficient) element in order to stabilize a heater temperature at a specified
saturation temperature (e.g. about 190°C) .
[0023] The boiling chamber 32 is arranged to face the heating surface 31a of the heater
31 and constructed to boil (heat and vaporize) the water W3 therein by the heat of
the heater 31 to generate steam.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 5, this boiling chamber 32 is in the form of a thin flat plate expanding
in a vertical plane so as to have a small water-surface area and a larger contact
area with the heating surface 31a of the heater 31. It should be noted that hatching
by oblique lines in FIG. 5 shows water supplied to the boiling chamber 32. In this
way, a water level drop relative to a reduction in the amount of the water W3 can
be made larger while the heating efficiency of the water W3 by the heater 31 is improved.
Thus, water can be supplied in a state where the amount of the water W3 is decreased
by a relatively small amount in the steam beauty machine 1 of this embodiment constructed
such that water is supplied from the water tank 21 according to the water level drop
in the boiling chamber 32. Since this can reduce an amount of water supplied to the
boiling chamber 32 each time, a sudden temperature drop around the boiling chamber
32 caused by the water supply can be suppressed. The boiling chamber 32 is, for example,
comprised of a first member forming a principal surface, a second member forming a
surface opposite to the principal surface, a third and a fourth members forming the
opposite side surfaces connecting the first and second members, and a fifth member
forming the bottom surface. A space having a thin flat plate shape is formed by these
first to fifth members, and the first member serves as the heater 31.
[0025] In this embodiment, the aforementioned preheating path portion 24 is arranged to
face the heat radiating surface 31b of the heater 31 while being held in contact therewith
substantially over the entire length of its path, so that the water W2 in the preheating
path portion 24 can be heated utilizing the remaining heat of the heater 31. The preheating
path portion 24 and the heat radiating surface 31b correspond to one example of a
"preheating mechanism (preheater)". In the steam beauty machine 1 of this embodiment,
the water W2 in the preheating path portion 24 can be heated without being boiled
by adjusting the heating ability of the heater 31 or disposing an interfering member
between the preheating path portion 24 and the heat radiating surface 31b, and the
temperature of the water W2 is constantly about 80°C to about 90°C. Parameters of
the preheating path portion 24 and the second water supply path 23b such as the sections
of flow channels are set such that the temperature of mixed water obtained by mixing
the water W2 in the preheating path portion 24 and the water in the second water supply
path 23b at the time of the water supply from the water tank 21 has a temperature
of about 60°C to about 70°C.
[0026] The condensate path 33 is connected to the upper end of the third water supply path
23c and the steam discharging mechanism 4 and is provided to return condensed water
produced in the steam discharging mechanism 4 and flowing down due to its own weight
to the third water supply path 23c for reutilization. In this way, steaming efficiency
(ratio of an amount of generated steam to a water supply amount) is improved. The
condensate path 33 is constructed, for example, by a cylindrical member (e.g. cylindrical
tube). It should be noted that the water W4 in the condensate path 33 has a relatively
high temperature by being constantly held in contact with high-temperature steam filling
the steam discharging mechanism 4.
[0027] The communication hole 34 is disposed to connect the third water supply path 23c
and the boiling chamber 32 and is constructed, for example, a cylindrical member (e.g.
a cylindrical pipe) having one end communicating with the third water supply path
23c and the other end communicating with the boiling chamber 32. This communication
hole 34 is formed to have a smaller section relative to the length thereof (for example,
diameter is about 2.5 mm and length is about 18.0 mm), thereby restricting an amount
of water supply from the third water supply path 23c to the boiling chamber 32. Therefore,
an amount of water suitable for the heating ability of the heater 31 can be supplied
to the boiling chamber 32.
[0028] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the communication hole 34 includes a vertical groove 34a
extending vertically downward at an end toward the boiling chamber 32. This vertical
groove 34a is formed such that the width thereof substantially coincides with the
diameter (about 2.5 mm) of the communication hole 34 and depth "d" thereof is about
1.25 mm. In this way, a force to pull the water in the communication hole 34 toward
the boiling chamber 32 acts by the capillary action, wherefore the stagnation of water
in the communication hole 34 can be prevented.
[0029] The nonwoven fabric 35 has an excellent water absorbing property and is laid over
the entire inner bottom surface of the boiling chamber 32 with a part thereof held
in contact with the heater 31 as shown in FIG. 6. Thus, condensed water in the steam
discharging mechanism 4, for example, having run down along a wall surface 32a of
the boiling chamber 32 after the use of the steam beauty machine 1 is held in contact
with the heater 31 while being absorbed in the nonwoven fabric 35, thereby gradually
evaporating in the contact part of the nonwoven fabric 35 with the heater 31. Therefore,
a sudden increase of the steam pressure resulting from the direct contact of the condensed
water with the heater 31 can be suppressed.
[0030] Since the nonwoven fabric 35 is constantly heated by the heater 31, water absorption
saturation is unlikely to occur and a state capable of water absorption can be easily
maintained. A saturated water absorption amount of such a nonwoven fabric 35 is preferably
set equal to or more than a total amount of condensed water having a possibility of
flowing down to come into contact with the heater 31.
[0031] The steam discharging mechanism 4 includes a steam generator 41, a steam path portion
42, a bent elastic member 43 and the nozzle 44.
[0032] The steam generator 41 is continuous with the upper part of the boiling chamber 32
and is so constructed as to temporarily store steam obtained by boiling the water
W3 in the boiling chamber 32. This steam generator 41 is coupled to the steam path
portion 42 via an unillustrated coupling path.
[0033] In this embodiment, the upper part of the aforementioned preheating path portion
24 is coupled to the steam generator 41 via an elbow 50. The elbow 50 is constructed,
for example, a cylindrical member having one end communicating with the upper part
of the preheating path portion 24, being bent vertically downward after horizontally
extending and having the other end communicating with the steam generator 41. It should
be noted that the steam generator 41 is one example of a "steam path". By connecting
the upper part of the preheating path portion 24 with the steam generator 41 which
is a generating source of the steam pressure and in which pressure variation caused,
for example, by steam condensation or the like is relatively unlikely to occur, inner
pressures in the preheating path portion 24 and the steam discharging mechanism 4
can be easily balanced. Further, the water W2 in the preheating path portion 24 has
a relatively high temperature by being constantly held in contact with high-temperature
steam filling the steam discharging mechanism 4.
[0034] Such a steam generator 41 is, for example, a bottomed tubular member having a short
height, fitted with a lid and having a rectangular section, wherein a slit-shaped
first opening is formed in a part of the bottom surface of the steam generator 41,
and a second and a third openings are formed in parts of the upper surface. The steam
generator 41 communicates with the boiling chamber 32 through the first opening, with
the coupling path through the second opening and with the elbow 50 through the third
opening.
[0035] The steam path portion 42 is connected to the nozzle 44 via the bent elastic member
43, and includes a sudden boiling preventing wall 45 having different levels and a
high-pressure discharger 46 for making steam microfine. The bent elastic member 43
is constructed to function as a pivot of turning movements (upward and downward movements)
of the nozzle 44. The bent elastic member 43 is constructed, for example, a cylindrical
member made of elastic material.
[0036] The nozzle 44 has a double-wall structure comprised of a nozzle inner tube 47 connected
to the bent elastic member 43 and a nozzle outer tube 48 coaxial with the nozzle inner
tube 47. The steam discharge port 49 is provided at the leading end of the nozzle
inner tube 47. The steam discharge port 49 is, for example, a round hole which is
formed in a lid member provided at the leading ends of the nozzle inner tube 47 and
the nozzle outer tube 48 and into which the nozzle tubes are inserted. This steam
discharge port 49 extends in a direction away from the machine main body 1a. With
such a construction, the steam discharge port 49 can be brought closer to a treatment
part of a user, wherefore the aimed treatment part can be steamed and the user needs
not to move toward the machine main body 1a. As a result, the user can use the steam
beauty machine 1 in a comfortable posture. By constructing the nozzle 44 to be expandable
and contractible and movable in a wide range, a steam dischargeable area widens, wherefore
usability can be further improved.
[0037] A heat insulating material H such as foam rubber having a thickness of about 5.0
mm is, for example, disposed between the nozzle inner tube 47 and the nozzle outer
tube 48 to improve the heat insulating effect of the nozzle 44. An air layer may be
provided instead of the heat insulating material H or a layered structure of the heat
insulating material H and an air layer may be provided. In the latter case, the heat
insulating effect of the nozzle 44 can be further improved.
[0038] The steam beauty machine 1 includes a control circuit 12 for controlling the operation
of the steam beauty machine 1 in a front part of the machine main body 1a. The control
circuit 12 is electrically connected with the heater 31 of the heating mechanism 3,
a changeover switch 14 coupling to a power button 13 for turning on and off the steam
beauty machine 1, the high-pressure discharger 46 of the steam discharging mechanism
4 and a power supply cord 15 for power supply.
[0039] The steam beauty machine 1 also includes a drain port 16 provided at the rear side
of the machine main body 1a. This drain port 16 is exposed to the outside by detaching
the water tank 21 from the machine main body 1a. Specifically, water remaining in
the machine main body 1a can be drained through the drain port 16 by inclining the
machine main body 1a to locate the water supply storing portion 22 at the bottom with
the water tank 21 detached from the machine main body 1a after the use of the steam
beauty machine 1.
[0040] The drain port 16 is located above the line Y as the standard water level during
the use of the steam beauty machine 1 (see FIG. 3) and below a specified height position
where sudden boiling is likely to occur by the water W3 in the boiling chamber 32.
Thus, even if water is supplied, for example, using water supply means other than
the water tank 21 for exclusive use, the water supplied beyond the specified water
level is drained to the outside of the machine main body 1a through the drain port
16, therefore preventing an occurrence of an inconvenient situation where hot water
drops jump out from the steam discharge port 49 resulting from superfluous water supply
into the machine main body 1a. Further, since an angle of inclination of the machine
main body 1a at which drainage is possible can be made smaller by arranging the drain
port 16 right above the line Y as the standard water level during the use, the steam
beauty machine 1 can be more easily handled for drainage.
[0041] The steam beauty machine 1 further includes a temperature indicating member 17 disposed
at a side of the machine main body 1a as shown in FIG. 1. This temperature indicating
member 17 is adhered to the machine main body 1a by a two-sided adhesive tape and
changes its color, for example, at about 40°C. Specifically, the color of the temperature
indicating member 17 changes, for example, from blue to pink if the temperature of
the portion of the machine main body 1a where the temperature indicating member 17
is adhered exceeds 40°C, and changes to blue again if the temperature of this portion
falls to or below 40°C. It should be noted that the temperature indicating member
17 is preferably adhered to a specified portion of the machine main body 1a having
a relation with the temperature of the heater 31.
[0042] With this construction, the color of the temperature indicating member 17 is pink
if the machine main body 1a is at a high temperature after the use of the steam beauty
machine 1, wherefore the user can securely and easily confirm by eye that the machine
main body 1a is in a high-temperature state. As a result, unexpected sudden boiling
and the like can be prevented to improve safety.
[0043] Next, how to use the steam beauty machine 1 of this embodiment is described.
[0044] First, a specified amount of water is poured into the water tank 21 detached from
the machine main body 1a and the water tank 21 is closed with the lid. The water tank
21 is coupled to the water supply storing portion 22 by being mounted into the machine
main body 1a. In this case, the water stop pin 21d is pushed into the water tank 21
by the projecting pin 22a of the water supply storing portion 22 to cancel watertightness
of the conical packing 21c, whereby water in the water tank 21 is supplied to the
water supply storing portion 22.
[0045] The water supplied to the water supply storing portion 22 is supplied to the preheating
path portion 24, the boiling chamber 32 and the condensate path 33 via the water supply
path portion 23. Here, the water is supplied to the boiling chamber 32 via the communication
hole 34. It should be noted that the water W1 in the water supply storing portion
22, the water W2 in the preheating path portion 24, the water W4 in the condensate
path 33 and the water W3 in the boiling chamber 32 are balanced at the line Y in FIG.
3.
[0046] Next, the power button 13 is pushed to turn the changeover switch 14 on, whereby
power is supplied to the heater 31 and the high-pressure discharger 46. Steam generated
from the water W3 in the boiling chamber 32 boiled by the heat of the heater 31 is
made microfine by the high-pressure discharger 46 upon passing the steam path portion
42 via the steam generator 41 disposed above the boiling chamber 32. Then, the steam
is discharged to the outside of the machine main body 1a from the steam discharge
port 49 through the nozzle 44.
[0047] Thereafter, the water W3 in the boiling chamber 32 gradually decreases as being changed
into steam, and the level thereof drops together with those of the water W2 in the
preheating path portion 24 and the water W4 in the condensate path 33. However, the
steam pressure of the steam discharging mechanism 4 is applied to the surfaces of
the water W2, the water W3 and the water W4, whereby there is a water level difference
between the water W1 in the water supply storing portion 22 exposed to atmospheric
pressure and the waters W2 to W4. If the level of the water W1 falls below the line
Y in this state, air enters the water tank 21 and a proper amount of the water in
the water tank 21 is supplied to the water supply storing portion 22.
[0048] At this time, the water supplied from the water tank 21 flows toward the boiling
chamber 32 via the water supply path portion 23. However, since this water supplied
from the water tank 21 is mixed with the water W2 in the preheating path portion 24
heated by the heat radiating surface 31b of the heater 31 in the second water supply
path 23b, it is supplied to the boiling chamber 32 while having the temperature thereof
increased. In this way, a sudden temperature drop around the boiling chamber 32 caused
by the water supply can be suppressed, wherefore a sudden drop in the steam pressure
of the steam discharging mechanism 4 caused by the water supply can also be suppressed.
[0049] The levels of the waters W1 to W4 come to be balanced at a line Z in FIG. 3 located
at the bottommost point of the communication hole 34, whereby the conversion of the
water W3 in the boiling chamber 32 into steam is stopped and no more steam is discharged
from the steam discharge port 49.
[0050] After the use of the steam beauty machine 1, the water tank 21 is detached from the
machine main body 1a and the machine main body 1a is inclined to locate the water
supply storing portion 22 at the bottom to drain the remaining water in the machine
main body 1a through the drain port 16.
[0051] In this embodiment, since the temperature of the water supplied from the water tank
21 to the boiling chamber 32 as the water amount in the boiling chamber 32 decreases
can be increased by providing the preheating path portion 24 for preheating the water
supplied from the water tank 21 to the boiling chamber 32 as described above, a sudden
drop in temperature around the boiling chamber 32 caused by the water supply can be
suppressed. This can suppress a sudden drop in the steam pressure of the steam generator
41 at the time of the water supply, wherefore the pulsation of the steam discharged
from the steam discharge port 49 resulting from a large decrease in an amount of steam
discharged from the steam discharge port 49 every time water is supplied can be suppressed.
Since the steam can be thus constantly stably discharged from the steam discharge
port 49 in this embodiment, comfort during the use can be sufficiently improved.
[0052] Further, in this embodiment, no additional heater needs to be provided to preheat
the water supplied from the water tank 21 to the boiling chamber 32 by providing the
preheating path portion 24 for heating the water utilizing the remaining heat of the
heater 31 as described above. Therefore, an increase in the number of parts and the
enlargement of the machine main body 1a can be suppressed.
[0053] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the water having a relatively high temperature in
the preheating path portion 24 can be mixed with the water having a relatively low
temperature in the second water supply path 23b at the time of the water supply from
the water tank 21 by coupling the preheating path portion 24 opposed to the heater
31 to the second water supply path 23b as described above. Therefore, the temperature
of the water supplied from the water tank 21 to the boiling chamber 32 as the water
amount in the boiling chamber 32 decreases can be increased.
[0054] Further, in this embodiment, the water can be heated utilizing only the remaining
heat of the heater 31 without reducing the heating efficiency of the heater 31 for
the boiling chamber 32 by arranging the preheating path portion 24 to face the heat
radiating surface 31b of the heater 31 as described above.
[0055] Further, in this embodiment, the preheating path portion 24 can be prevented from
becoming a closed path by coupling the upper part of the preheating path portion 24
to the steam generator 41 as described above. Thus, water can easily enter and exit
the preheating path portion 24. Since this enables the water having a relatively high
temperature in the preheating path portion 24 to be mixed with the water having a
relatively low temperature in the second water supply path 23b at the time of the
water supply from the water tank 21, the temperature of the water to be supplied to
the boiling chamber 32 can be easily increased. Further, the water in the preheating
path portion 24 can be brought into contact with the high-temperature steam since
the upper part of the preheating path portion 24 can be filled with steam. Since the
water in the preheating path portion 24 can also be heated by the steam in this way,
the heating efficiency of the preheating path portion 24 can be improved.
[0056] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the safety of the steam beauty machine 1 can be
improved since an occurrence of sudden boiling in the preheating path portion 24 can
be suppressed by providing the preheating path portion 24 constructed to heat water
without boiling it as described above.
[0057] Further, in this embodiment, operability in pouring water into and out of the water
tank 21 can be improved since water can be poured into and out of the water tank 21
detached from the machine main body 1a by constructing water tank 21 mountable into
and detachable from the machine main body 1a. In addition, since a temperature increase
of the water tank 21 by the remaining heat from the heater 31 can be suppressed by
arranging the water tank 21 at a position distant from the heater 31, safety in pouring
water into and out of the water tank 21 can be improved.
[0058] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a temperature increase of the water W1 can be suppressed
since the water W1 in the water supply storing portion 22 is unlikely to be influenced
by the temperature of the water W2 in the preheating path portion 24 by connecting
the bottom end of the preheating path portion 24 to the second water supply path 23b
as described above. Therefore, safety can be improved.
[0059] Further, in this embodiment, the reverse flow of the steam from the heating mechanism
3 can be prevented during the use since water is constantly present in the water supply
path portion 23 by arranging the water supply path portion 23 below the boiling chamber
32 as described above.
[0060] Although the preheating mechanism constructed such that the preheating path portion
24 having the bottom end thereof coupled to the second water supply path 23b is arranged
to face the heat radiating surface 31b of the heater 31 is described as an example
in the foregoing embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. A preheating
mechanism according to a first modification comprised of a preheating path portion
124 having the upper end thereof coupled to the second water supply path 23b, a preliminary
boiling chamber 132 disposed at the bottom end of the preheating path portion 124
and a preheater 131 arranged to face the preliminary boiling chamber 132 may be provided
as shown in FIG. 8. In the preheating mechanism according to this first modification,
the preliminary boiling chamber 132 is, for example, a bottomed tubular member having
a short height and fitted with a lid, a member constructing the bottom surface thereof
serves as the preheater 131, an opening is formed in a part of the upper surface thereof,
and the preheating path portion 124 in the form of a cylindrical pipe communicates
with the preliminary boiling chamber 132 through this opening. The preheating mechanism
according to this first modification can also obtain substantially the same effects
as the foregoing embodiment.
[0061] Further, as shown in FIG.9, a preheating mechanism according to a second modification
may be provided in which a heater 231 is arranged to horizontally place a heating
surface 231a, a boiling chamber 232 is defined above the heating surface 231a, and
the third water supply path 23c is connected to a communication hole 234 vertically
penetrating the heater 231 to supply water from the water supply storing portion 22
to the boiling chamber 232. The boiling chamber 232 according to this second modification
is, for example, a bottomed tubular member fitted with a lid, a member constructing
the bottom surface thereof serves as the heater 231, a first and a second openings
respectively communicating with the coupling path and the elbow 50 are formed in parts
of the upper surface thereof, and the cylindrical communication hole 234 is formed
in the heater 231. The preheating mechanism according to this second modification
can also obtain substantially the same effects as the foregoing embodiment.
[0062] Although the vertical groove 34a is formed to vertically extend downward at the end
of the communication hole 34 toward the boiling chamber 32 in the foregoing embodiment,
the present invention is not limited thereto. As shown in a third modification of
FIGS. 10 and 11, a water guiding member 34b (e.g. a metal chain) hanging down through
the outlet of the communication hole 34 may be provided in the vicinity of the end
of the communication hole 34 toward the boiling chamber 32. Such a construction can
also obtain substantially the same effects as the foregoing embodiment.
[0063] Further, although the preheating path portion 24 is arranged in contact with the
heat radiating surface 31b of the heater 31 in the foregoing embodiment, the present
invention is not limited thereto and the preheating path portion 24 may be arranged
in contact with the heating surface 31a of the heater 31. In this case, a reduction
in the amount of steam generation is preferably prevented by enlarging a heater area
by as much as to heat the preheating path portion 24.
[0064] Although the upper part of the preheating path portion 24 is coupled to the steam
generator 41 via the elbow 50 in the foregoing embodiment, the present invention is
not limited thereto and the upper part of the preheating path portion 24 may be, for
example, coupled to the vicinity of the bottom part of the sudden boiling preventing
wall 45 of the steam path portion 42.
[0065] Although being applied to the steam beauty machine 1 including the water tank 21
detachably mountable into the machine main body 1a in the foregoing embodiment, the
present invention is not limited thereto and is also applicable to steam beauty machines
having water tanks integral to machine main body.
[0066] This specification discloses various inventions as described above, out of which
main inventions are summarized as follows.
[0067] A steam beauty machine for treating skin surfaces by applying steam to skin according
to a first mode comprises a water tank capable of storing water; a boiling chamber
in which water supplied from the water tank is boiled using the heat of a heater to
generate steam; a steam discharge port for discharging the steam generated in the
boiling chamber to the outside of a machine main body; and a preheating mechanism
disposed in a water supply path extending from the water tank to the boiling chamber
for preheating the water to be supplied to the boiling chamber.
[0068] With this construction, a sudden temperature drop around the boiling chamber caused
by the water supply can be suppressed since the temperature of the water to be supplied
from the water tank to the boiling chamber as a water amount in the boiling chamber
decreases can be increased by disposing the preheating mechanism for preheating the
water to be supplied from the water tank to the boiling chamber. Thus, a sudden drop
in the steam pressure in the machine at the time of the water supply can be suppressed,
wherefore the pulsation of the steam discharged from the steam discharge port resulting
from a large decrease in an amount of steam discharged from the steam discharge port
every time water is supplied can be suppressed. Since the steam can be thus stably
discharged from the steam discharge port, comfort during the use can be more improved.
[0069] A steam beauty machine according to a second mode is such that the preheating mechanism
heats water utilizing the remaining heat of the heater in the steam beauty machine
according to the first mode. With this construction, an increase in the number of
parts and the enlargement of the machine main body can be suppressed.
[0070] A steam beauty machine according to a third mode is such that the heater has a heating
surface arranged along a substantially vertical plane; the boiling chamber is arranged
to face the heating surface; the water supply path includes a first water supply path
extending substantially vertically to be connected to a bottom part of the water tank,
a second water supply path extending substantially horizontally from the bottom end
of the first water supply path and a third water supply path extending substantially
vertically upward from an end of the second water supply path to be connected to the
boiling chamber; and the preheating mechanism includes a preheating path extending
substantially vertically, having a bottom part thereof coupled to the second water
supply path, and the preheating path being arranged to face a heat radiating surface
of the heater at a side opposite to the heating surface in the steam beauty machine
according to the first or second mode. With this construction, the temperature of
the water to be supplied from the water tank to the boiling chamber can be increased
utilizing only the remaining heat of the heater.
[0071] A steam beauty machine according to a fourth mode is such that an upper part of the
preheating path is coupled to a steam path downstream with respect to the boiling
chamber in a steam flow direction in the steam beauty machine according to the third
mode. With this construction, the temperature of the water to be supplied to the boiling
chamber can be easily increased while the heating efficiency of the preheating path
is improved.
[0072] A steam beauty machine according to a fifth mode is such that the preheating mechanism
heats water without boiling it in the steam beauty machine according to any one of
the first to fourth modes. With this construction, an occurrence of sudden boiling
in the preheating mechanism can be suppressed to improve safety.
[0073] A steam beauty machine according to a sixth mode is such that the water tank is detachably
mountable into the machine main body in the steam beauty machine according to any
one of the first to fifth modes. With this construction, operability in pouring water
into and out of the water tank can be improved.
[0074] While the invention is properly and sufficiently described by way of the embodiment
with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that a person skilled in the
art can easily modify and improve the described embodiment. It is therefore to be
understood that such modifications or improvements are embraced by the spirit and
scope as set out in the appended claims unless departing from the sprit and scope
of the appended claims.