Household appliance comprising improved can closure element

Abstract

The invention relates to a household appliance (1) for preparing and / or cooking food, comprising:-a bowl (4) intended to receive food, and-a steam generating device (15) intended to generate steam in the direction of the bowl (4), the steam generating device (15) comprising a pot having an opening (20), the opening (20) enables an amount of fluid to be supplied to the canister. The electrical appliance (1) comprises a closure element (30) removable from the opening (20), the closure element (30) being intended to magnetically lock or unlock the closure of the opening (20).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of household appliances for preparing and / or cooking food. In particular, it is directed to small baby-raising appliances, but not limited thereto. Background Art

[0002] Various types of electrical appliances are known for preparing and / or cooking food, which may or may not be steamed. These appliances also include a bowl that can be used for food preparation and / or cooking. Bowls of this type usually include a blade arranged at the bottom thereof and configured to be driven in rotation to chop or cut the food.

[0003] The appliance allowing steam cooking comprises a cooking basket in which the food to be cooked is placed and which is designed to be removably mounted in a preparation bowl. The cooking basket has a perforated bottom to allow steam to pass through. The steam is generated by a steam generator separate from the preparation bowl. Means are provided to allow the steam to circulate towards the cooking basket located in the preparation bowl.

[0004] Generally speaking, a steam generator comprises a tank into which a certain amount of water is introduced which, once heated, will produce steam. The tank is closed by a removable lid which allows the user to access the tank to fill it and avoids steam leaks. Examples of these appliances are described in the documents GB-A-2387768 and FR-B1-3081694.

[0005] However, some of these lids include external threads that work in conjunction with internal threads on the can to provide a connection between the lid and the can. This fastening style requires that the lid be properly positioned and turned at least a quarter turn to lock and unlock the lid. Proper installation can be long and tedious, and if the lid is not installed correctly, steam leaks may result. In addition, these fastening styles can create quality, assembly, and cost issues.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a household appliance which remedies the above-mentioned disadvantages.The object of the household appliance is to provide a simple and economical closing element for a can. Summary of the invention

[0007] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a household appliance for preparing and / or cooking food, the appliance comprising: a bowl intended to receive food, and a steam generating device intended to generate steam in the direction of the bowl, the steam generating device comprising a pot having an opening enabling a quantity of fluid to be supplied to the pot, the appliance comprising a closure element removable from the opening, the closure element being intended to magnetically lock or unlock the closure of the opening.

[0008] The solution thus achieves the above-mentioned objectives. In particular, the closing element and its magnetic attachment are easy to manufacture and enable effective and reliable locking. The magnetic fasteners are easily adapted to humid environments, where steam is generated and where temperatures are high. This type of magnetic fastening also improves the aesthetics of the appliance.

[0009] The household appliance also includes one or more of the following features, used alone or in combination:

[0010] The closing element comprises first magnetic means intended to cooperate with second magnetic means arranged in or close to the can, the first magnetic means comprising at least one magnet.

[0011] A plurality of magnets are arranged in the interior space of the closure element.

[0012] The closing element comprises a base plate and a cover element fixed to the base plate in order to form the inner space.

[0013] The cover and the base are fixed by ultrasonic welding.

[0014] - The cover comprises clamping elements.

[0015] - The second magnetic means comprises a metal plate arranged on the outside of the can and around the side wall of the can.

[0016] - Each metal plate is arranged at a predetermined distance from the corresponding magnet.

[0017] - Each magnet has a Curie point between 120°C and 450°C.

[0018] - Each magnet is configured to exert a magnetic force between 200g and 800g.

[0019] - The predetermined distance is between 4 mm and 15 mm.

[0020] - the second magnetic means comprises one or more magnets having a magnetic force between 200 g and 800 g. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The invention will be better understood and other objects, details, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent on reading the following detailed description of the method for making the invention, given by way of purely illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying exemplary drawings, in which:

[0022] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an example of a household appliance for preparing and / or cooking food according to the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a household appliance according to the present invention, wherein food is placed in a cooking basket;

[0024] Figure 3 an exploded view showing certain elements of a closing element cooperating with the steam generating device of a household appliance according to the invention;

[0025] Figure 4 shows the installation of a closing element in a canister of a steam generating device according to the invention; and

[0026] Figure 5 is a partial top view of a component of a closure element according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Figure 1 An example of a household appliance 1 for preparing and / or cooking food is shown. Such a household appliance is intended to cook food (particularly steaming food for children, but not limited thereto), as well as to mix the food after cooking.

[0028] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the embodiment, the household appliance 1 comprises a housing 2 having a base 3 and a bowl 4 intended to receive food, which bowl is removably arranged on the base 3 of the housing 2. The household appliance 1 also comprises a removable lid 5 for closing the preparation and / or cooking bowl. The bowl has an axis of rotation A. The bowl 4 comprises a bottom 6 and a side wall 7 rising from the bottom 6 parallel to the axis of rotation. The side wall 7 and the bottom 6 define an internal cooking and / or preparation volume. The bowl 4 comprises an opening through which food is introduced into the bowl 4, in particular into the internal volume. The opening opposite the bottom 6 of the bowl 4 is delimited by a peripheral edge 8 of the side wall 7. Advantageously, but not exclusively, the bowl 4 is equipped with a handle 9 facilitating handling of the bowl 4. The handle 9 is mounted on the side wall 7 and has a generally elongated shape in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation A. Advantageously, the lid 5 is required at the opening of the bowl.

[0029] refer to Figure 2 , the household appliance 1 may be equipped with a cooking basket 10 for steaming food. The cooking basket 10 is removably mounted in the bowl 4. The cooking basket 10 has an axis of rotation, which, when mounted, is coaxial with the axis of rotation A of the bowl.

[0030] Advantageously, the cooking basket 10 comprises a perforated bottom 11 allowing steam to circulate between the food and the bowl 4 , and a side wall 12 rising from the perforated bottom 11 .

[0031] Also like Figure 2As shown, the household appliance 1 comprises a steam generating device 15, which is intended to generate steam for cooking food in a cooking and / or preparation bowl 4. The steam generating device 15 comprises a pot 16. The pot has an axis of rotation B. Advantageously, the pot 16 is mounted in the housing 2. The pot 16 is separated from the bowl 4 by a separation wall 17. The separation wall advantageously forms part of the housing 2. The pot 16 is intended to be supplied with a certain amount of fluid. The fluid here is water. In particular, the pot 16 comprises a bottom 18 and a side wall 19 rising from the bottom 18. The pot 16 comprises an opening 20 defined by a free edge 27 of the side wall 19. The opening 20 can be circular, oblong or rectangular.

[0032] Advantageously, but not limited to, the steam generating device 15 comprises a resistor 21 which allows a certain amount of water in the tank 16 to be heated and converted into steam. The resistor 21 is located below the bottom of the tank. Alternatively, the resistor 21 forms the bottom of the tank. The resistor 21 is connected to a power source (not shown). Other heating elements which allow the water to be heated and converted into steam may be installed in the housing 2.

[0033] The steam generating means 15 (steam generator) are connected to the cooking basket 10 (or the internal volume) via fluid communication means 22. In this example, the fluid communication means 22 comprises a duct 23 which leads into the pot 16. The duct 23 also passes through the separating wall 17 of the housing 2 rising from the base 3 of the housing 2. The duct 23 has an outlet 23b which advantageously opens on the outer surface 17a of the separating wall 17. The duct 23 also has an inlet 23a which opens on the inner surface of the pot 16.

[0034] Advantageously, the lid 5 of the bowl 4 also comprises an inlet opening 24 (see Figure 2 ), the inlet hole passing through the wall of the lid on one side of the lid and intended to be in fluid communication with the duct 23. In particular in the position where the inlet hole 24 faces the duct 23, the lid 5 comprises a lock (not shown) allowing the lid 5 to be locked to the bowl 4.

[0035] Preferably, the sealing joint 26 is arranged at the outlet 23b of the duct 23 and is intended to abut against the outer surface portion 25 of the lid 5. The sealing joint 26 surrounds the inlet hole 24 of the lid 5. This allows to avoid leakage of steam between the duct 23 and the inlet hole 24. In this way, the duct 23 and the inlet hole 24 allow the steam to circulate from the pot 16 to the cooking basket 10 mounted in the bowl 4. The steam also circulates in the cooking basket 10 towards the perforated bottom 11 of the cooking basket 10, then under the basket 10 and finally along the space between the side walls 7, 12 of the cooking basket 10 and the preparation bowl 4. Advantageously, but not limitingly, the lid 5 comprises an outlet (not shown) allowing the steam to escape.

[0036] refer to Figures 3 to 5, the household appliance 1 comprises a closure element 30 intended to cover the tank 16. The closure element 30 is removable. The closure element 30 is intended to magnetically lock or unlock the closure of the opening. The magnetic attachment makes it easy to cover the opening without wasting time and removably lock the closure element 30 on the tank 16 or in the housing 2. The closure element 30 has an axis of rotation C. In particular, the closure element 30 preferably comprises a first magnetic device 31, which is intended to cooperate with a second magnetic device 32 arranged in the tank 16 or near the tank (for example in the housing). Alternatively, the first magnetic device 31 is arranged in the tank 16 or near the tank, and the second magnetic device 32 is carried by the closure element 30.

[0037] In the present example, the first magnetic device 31 is arranged inside the closure element 30, in particular, in the internal space 33 of the closure element. This construction protects the first magnetic device from the influence of steam. In the present example, the closure element 30 includes a bottom plate 34 having a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the opening in the can 16. The bottom plate 34 includes a bottom wall 35 and a peripheral partition 36 extending from the bottom wall 35. The bottom wall 35 and the peripheral partition 36 define a part of the internal space 33. The bottom plate 34 is intended to be inserted into the interior of the can 16 (in particular, the top of the can), and a part of the side wall 19 of the can 16 surrounds the peripheral partition 36 of the bottom plate 34.

[0038] Advantageously, the first magnetic device 31 comprises at least one element 37. In this example, the first magnetic device 31 comprises a plurality of magnets 37. Advantageously, but not exclusively, there are four magnets. The magnets 37 are positioned on the bottom wall 35 of the bottom plate 34. To this end, for this purpose, the bottom plate 34 comprises as follows Figure 5 The cavities 38 shown. The cavities 38 are each designed to receive a magnet 37. The cavities 38 have a shape complementary to the shape of each magnet 37. Advantageously, but not limited to this, the magnets 37 each have a parallelepiped shape.

[0039] Advantageously, the closing element 30 also comprises a cover 39 which is intended to cooperate with the bottom plate 34 to form the inner space 33. The cover 39 is positioned relative to the bottom wall 35 of the bottom plate 34. The cover 39 is fixed to the bottom plate 34 by fastening means. The fastening means may be a weld or glue or a screw. The welding may be performed by an ultrasonic welding method. In this example, the cover 39 is mounted with a clamping element 40 to facilitate the handling of the closing element 30.

[0040] The second magnetic device 32 includes at least one metal plate 41. Here, the second magnetic device 32 includes a plurality of metal plates 41 capable of undergoing magnetic attraction. Advantageously, but not limited to, the number of metal plates 41 is as many as the number of magnets 34. Here, there are four metal plates 41. In this way, when the closure covers the can 16, the locking of the closure element is effective. Multiple magnets and metal plates make the locking more reliable.

[0041] The metal plate 41 advantageously comprises iron, cobalt, nickel, gadolinium or a mixture thereof.

[0042] Alternatively, the second magnetic device 32 comprises one or more magnets having a magnetic force between 200 g and 800 g.

[0043] refer to Figure 5 The housing 2 includes housings 42, each of which is designed to receive a metal plate 41. The housing 42 may also be formed on the side wall 19 of the tank 16. The metal plates 41 are positioned outside the tank 16 and around the side wall 19 of the tank. The metal plates 41 are evenly distributed around the side wall 19. Figure 5 In the example shown, each housing 42 is advantageously formed by two lugs 43a, 43b extending, on the one hand, from the inner wall of the casing 2 in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation B of the tank 16 and, on the other hand, opposite each other. Each lug 43a, 43b has a groove 44 receiving an edge of a metal plate 41. In this way, each magnet 37 is positioned opposite a magnet, here separated by a side wall 19, so as to facilitate the path of the magnetic flux from each magnet to the corresponding metal plate 41. Advantageously, the metal plates 41 are fixed in their respective housings.

[0044] Advantageously, each metal plate 41 is arranged at a predetermined distance D from the corresponding magnet 37. The predetermined distance D provides an attractive force and effective reception of the magnetic field for locking the closing element 30 to the can 16. The predetermined distance D is between 4 mm and 15 mm. The magnetic force is between 200 g and 800 g.

[0045] The magnet 37 has a Curie point between 120° C. and 450° C. In this way, the tank 16 is optimally locked, in particular during operation of the appliance, when the temperature inside the tank 16 and its surroundings is close to a minimum of 100° C. For example, the steam generating device 15 is heated to a temperature of 120° C.

[0046] We will now describe the various stages involved in installing the closing element 30 in the household appliance 1. In a first step, the tank 16 is filled with a certain amount of fluid, in this case water. In a second step, the tank 16 is closed with the removable closing element 30. The attractive force between each magnet 37 and each corresponding metal plate 41 allows proper positioning and effective locking of the closing element 30 on the tank 16.

[0047] Then, in order to steam the food, the cooking basket 10 is inserted into the preparation bowl 4. The cooking basket is first mounted on the base 3 of the housing 2.

[0048] The chopped food M is placed in the cooking basket 10. The lid 5 is then placed on the preparation bowl 4 to close the inner volume and form a cooking zone. When the appliance 1 is switched on, the steam generated by the steam generating device 15 in the pot 16 flows from the pot 16 to the cooking zone. In particular, the steam passes through the duct 23 arranged between the pot and the lid (partially defining the cooking zone).

Claims

1. A household appliance (1) for preparing and / or cooking food, the household appliance comprising: - a bowl (4) intended to receive food, and - a steam generating device (15) intended to generate steam in the direction of the bowl (4), the steam generating device (15) comprising a tank (16) having an opening (20) enabling a quantity of fluid to be supplied to the tank (16), characterised in that the appliance (1) comprises a closure element (30) removable from the opening (20), the closure element (30) being intended to magnetically lock or unlock the closure of the opening (20), and the closure element (30) comprising a bottom plate (34) and a cover (39) fixed to the bottom plate (34) so ​​as to form an internal space (33) in which a plurality of magnets (37) are arranged.

2. The electrical appliance (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that The closing element (30) comprises first magnetic means (31) intended to cooperate with second magnetic means (32) arranged in or close to the can (16), the first magnetic means (31) comprising the magnet (37).

3. The electrical appliance (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The bottom plate (34) comprises a plurality of cavities (38) each intended to receive a magnet (37).

4. The electrical appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The cover (39) and the bottom plate (34) are fixed by ultrasonic welding.

5. The electrical appliance (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The cover (39) comprises a clamping element (40).

6. The electrical appliance (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that: The second magnetic device (32) comprises a metal plate (41) arranged outside the can (16) and around the side wall (19) of the can (16).

7. The electrical appliance (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that Each metal plate (41) is disposed at a predetermined distance (D) from a corresponding magnet (37).

8. The electrical appliance (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that: The appliance comprises a housing (2) provided with a base (3) and a bowl (4) removably arranged on the base (3) of the housing (2), the housing comprising a casing (42) intended to receive a metal plate (41) for each casing.

9. The electrical appliance (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that: Each magnet (37) has a Curie point between 120°C and 450°C.

10. The electrical appliance (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that Each magnet (37) is configured to exert a magnetic force between 200g and 800g.

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