Cooking appliance

Abstract

This utility model relates to a cooking utensil, comprising: a lower shell assembly with a locking engagement portion; an upper shell assembly with a handle on its side; a first elastic member and a locking member disposed on the upper shell assembly, the locking member being rotatably connected to the upper shell assembly, the locking member having a locking portion, and the locking member having a locked state where its locking portion is locked to the locking engagement portion and an unlocked state where its locking portion is disengaged from the locking engagement portion, depending on the change in its rotational position relative to the upper shell assembly; the first elastic member acting on the locking member and causing the locking member to always have a tendency to rotate from the unlocked state position to the locked state position; the handle being rotatably connected to the upper shell assembly, and during the process of the handle being lifted and rotated by an external force, the handle can act on the locking member, causing the locking member to overcome the elastic force of the first elastic member and disengage from the locking engagement portion. The advantages are: the opening and unlocking operation of the upper shell assembly of the cooking utensil is more convenient and easier to operate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of household appliance technology, and in particular to a cooking utensil. Background Technology

[0002] Kitchen appliances such as grills, electric griddles, waffle makers, and air fryers generally consist of a lower shell assembly and an upper shell assembly rotatably connected to it. The upper shell assembly usually has a handle, and the upper and lower shell assemblies are locked together by a locking mechanism. In conventional cooking appliances, the handle and locking mechanism are generally independent, with the locking mechanism unlocked by a button. A similar structure is disclosed in Chinese utility model patent CN209219022U, "Button-Type Grill Pan Locking Mechanism and Waffle Maker." Opening the upper shell assembly of such appliances is relatively cumbersome; one must first press a button to disengage the locking mechanism, and then use the handle to open the upper shell assembly.

[0003] Therefore, existing cooking utensils still need further improvement. Utility Model Content

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a cooking utensil with a convenient and easy-to-operate upper shell component opening and unlocking operation, in light of the current state of the technology.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is: a cooking utensil, comprising:

[0006] Lower shell assembly, which has a locking engagement part;

[0007] The upper housing assembly has a handle on its side;

[0008] It also includes a first elastic member and a locking member disposed on the upper shell assembly. The locking member is rotatably connected to the upper shell assembly and has a locking portion. The locking member has a locked state in which its locking portion is locked to the locking engagement portion as its rotational position relative to the upper shell assembly changes, and an unlocked state in which its locking portion is disengaged from the locking engagement portion. The first elastic member acts on the locking member and makes the locking member always have a tendency to rotate from the unlocked state position to the locked state position.

[0009] The handle is rotatably connected to the upper shell assembly. During the upward rotation of the handle under external force, the handle acts on the locking element, causing the locking element to overcome the elastic force of the first elastic element and disengage from the locking engagement portion. By linking the handle rotation with the locking element and the first elastic element on the upper shell assembly, automatic unlocking can be achieved with single-handed operation. This linked structural design effectively simplifies the opening process of the cooking appliance. During the user's single action of lifting the handle upwards, the rotation of the handle synchronously drives the locking element to overcome the elastic force of the first elastic element and disengage from the locking engagement portion, achieving simultaneous unlocking and opening actions.

[0010] Compared to the two-step operation mode in existing technologies that require pressing a button to unlock and then operating the handle, this application eliminates the additional button operation step, significantly improving ease of operation. Simultaneously, this structure innovatively utilizes the pre-tightening force of the elastic element to maintain the self-resetting characteristics of the locking element and handle, ensuring locking reliability in the closed state. Furthermore, the handle does not require an additional independent reset mechanism. In terms of overall structure, while reducing the number of operating components, functional integration optimizes the product assembly process and reduces manufacturing costs.

[0011] The locking engagement portion on the lower shell assembly can be a notch, groove, or recessed structure formed on the lower shell assembly, or it can be a protrusion or flange protruding outward from the outer wall of the lower shell assembly. The locking portion of the locking member can be a hook, elastic buckle, or other structure adapted to the above-mentioned locking engagement portion. Preferably, in order to simplify the structure of the above-mentioned locking engagement portion and locking portion, the lower shell assembly includes a lower shell, and the lower shell has a laterally protruding limiting flange as the locking engagement portion. The upper shell assembly includes an upper shell, and the locking member includes a locking body disposed in the upper shell and a limiting hook extending downward from the locking body and protruding beyond the bottom of the lower shell. The limiting hook has a hook portion extending toward the side where the locking engagement portion is located as the locking portion. The hook portion of the limiting hook can abut against the lower part of the limiting flange so that the two form a limiting position in the vertical direction. The limiting protrusion and the hook of the limiting hook form a vertical limiting mechanism, which is simple in structure and highly reliable, preventing accidental separation of the upper and lower shells and enhancing safety in use.

[0012] To accommodate the limiting hook extending from the bottom of the lower housing and prevent interference between the locking element and the lower housing, which could lead to sluggish locking action, the top of the lower housing, near its peripheral edge, has a clearance notch opposite the limiting hook. The edge of this clearance notch forms the limiting protrusion. This clearance notch provides clearance space for the limiting hook, ensuring a precise fit between the locking element and the limiting protrusion, reducing frictional wear, and extending service life.

[0013] To prevent jamming when the locking element contacts the limiting flange, a first guide slope is formed on the side edge of the limiting flange facing the limiting hook, sloping downwards towards the limiting hook. When the upper shell assembly is snapped down, the first guide slope guides the limiting hook to deflect to a certain extent, making it easier for the hook to pass over the limiting flange and abut against its bottom, thus requiring less effort.

[0014] Considering that improper installation of the elastic element can lead to low elastic force transmission efficiency or easy displacement, the locking body includes a laterally extended portion angled to the limiting hook. The first elastic element can employ various existing technologies, including compression springs, torsion springs, leaf springs, and other elastic components. However, to better cooperate with the locking body, the first elastic element is a first spring, which is located between the laterally extended portion and the inner wall of the upper housing. The first spring's lateral placement between the locking body and the inner wall of the upper housing optimizes the elastic force transmission path and ensures stable reset of the locking element.

[0015] To prevent the first spring from detaching or shifting, the lateral extension has a first positioning post for one end of the first spring to be fitted onto it, and the inner wall of the upper housing has a second positioning post for the other end of the first spring to be fitted onto it. The first and second positioning posts fix both ends of the spring, preventing spring displacement and improving structural stability.

[0016] To simplify the linkage structure between the handle and the latch body, the latch body includes a laterally extending portion angled to the limiting hook. This laterally extending portion has a protrusion that extends upwards and passes through the top wall of the upper housing. The handle includes a grip portion and a limiting pressure plate, located on opposite sides of the rotation axis of the handle relative to the upper housing assembly. When the grip portion of the handle rotates upwards under external force, the limiting pressure plate presses down on the protrusion, causing the latch to overcome the elastic force of the first elastic element and disengage from the latch engagement portion. By directly pressing down on the protrusion of the latch using the limiting pressure plate of the handle, the linkage structure is simplified, the number of parts is reduced, and costs are lowered.

[0017] To ensure the overall aesthetics of the cooking appliance and reduce costs, the top of the upper shell has a partially recessed storage area. The limiting plate of the handle is housed within this storage area. A clearance opening is correspondingly provided on the bottom wall of the storage area for the protrusion of the latch body to pass through. The storage area conceals the limiting plate, maintaining a flat and aesthetically pleasing outer shell, while the clearance opening ensures functionality. It is conceivable that the aforementioned "storage area" could not be formed by a partial recess on the top of the upper shell, but rather by forming a corresponding receiving chamber on the wall of the upper shell, making the limiting plate invisible from the top of the upper shell assembly, thus maintaining aesthetics.

[0018] Considering that an excessively large handle rotation angle could easily lead to accidental activation or affect storage, and also does not conform to the user's operating habits, the handle has a first rotation position and a second rotation position as its rotational position relative to the upper shell assembly changes. The upper shell assembly is also provided with an elastic positioning pin assembly for limiting the rotation of the handle and maintaining it in the first rotation position. The position where the handle is rotated upward from the first rotation position to its limit position by an external force is the second rotation position. The deflection angle of the handle between the first rotation position and the second rotation position is denoted as α, and the value of α is in the range of α≤10°. The handle deflection angle (α≤10°) should be limited to a relatively small range as much as possible while ensuring effective unlocking of the locking element and the locking engagement. This improves the user experience of "lifting the handle to unlock smoothly," avoids accidental operation, and maintains a compact structural design.

[0019] The aforementioned "elastic locating pin assembly" can adopt a conventional plunger mechanism with axial elastic telescopic function in the prior art, using an internal compression spring to push the plunger head (ball head or flat head) to engage with the locating hole / groove on the handle.

[0020] Considering that the handle protrudes from the outer shell when retracted, affecting appearance and cleaning, the top of the upper shell has a partially recessed storage area. The handle's limiting plate is housed within this storage recess. When the handle is in the first rotating position, the top surface of the limiting plate is flush with or lower than the top surface of the upper shell. This flush or lower alignment of the limiting plate with the top surface of the upper shell improves overall aesthetics and facilitates cleaning and maintenance.

[0021] Considering that the handle is prone to rotating due to vibration or external force when not in use, the elastic positioning pin assembly includes a positioning pin and a second elastic element. The positioning pin is movably mounted on the upper housing along its axial direction, with its end protruding through the wall of the upper housing. The handle has a positioning recess into which the end of the positioning pin is engaged. Under the action of the second elastic element, the positioning pin always tends to move outward along its axial direction from the upper housing. The elastic positioning pin assembly fixes the handle position through the positioning recess, ensuring that the handle is stable and does not wobble when not in use.

[0022] To facilitate the installation of the locating pin and the second elastic element, the elastic locating pin assembly further includes a locating seat, which is disposed on the inner wall of the upper housing. The locating seat defines an installation channel for the locating pin to move axially. The peripheral wall of the locating pin has a limiting stop that protrudes radially outward. The second elastic element is a second spring, which is sleeved on the locating pin and abuts against the limiting stop of the locating pin and the locating seat.

[0023] To simplify the rotating connection structure of the handle, the handle is rotatably connected to the wall of the upper housing via two rotating pins on opposite sides along its rotation axis. The upper housing wall has a strip-shaped groove through which the rotating pins pass, the length of the groove being perpendicular to the length of the rotating pin. The positioning seat has a first pressure block for restricting the axial movement of the end of the rotating pin towards the upper housing and a second pressure block for restricting lateral movement of the rotating pin. When the positioning seat is in its installed position on the upper housing, the second pressure block extends into the strip-shaped groove and is positioned opposite the circumference of the end of the groove, thus restricting the movement of the rotating pin along the length of the groove. The positioning seat, through the first and second pressure blocks, restricts the movement of the rotating pin, ensuring the stability of the handle's rotation axis and improving structural strength. It is conceivable that the positioning seat for restricting the movement of the rotating pin could also be a separate second positioning seat, i.e., not sharing the same positioning seat with the positioning seat for mounting the positioning pin.

[0024] To better utilize the handle's deflection characteristics and enable it to deflect to a suitable angle or posture for effective support of the upper shell assembly, the rear side of the upper shell assembly is rotatably connected to the rear side of the lower shell assembly. The locking element and handle are located on the front side of the upper shell assembly. The change in the rotational position of the upper shell assembly relative to the lower shell assembly has at least a first usage state and a second usage state: In the first usage state, the cooking surfaces of the upper shell assembly and the lower shell assembly are vertically opposite each other; In the second usage state, the upper shell assembly is horizontally unfolded relative to the lower shell assembly, that is, the cooking surfaces of both the upper shell assembly and the lower shell assembly face upwards.

[0025] The handle also has a third rotational position as its position relative to the upper shell assembly changes. In this third rotational position, the handle's limiting plate is upright relative to the upper shell assembly and rests against a placement platform for cooking utensils, providing upward support to the upper shell assembly in its second usage state. The handle in the third rotational position forms a support structure, stably supporting the upper shell assembly in its unfolded state and improving safety in various usage scenarios.

[0026] The "vertical" in the above-mentioned "the limiting pressure plate of the handle is vertical relative to the upper shell assembly" does not mean that the limiting pressure plate is in a vertically extended state. It can also be at a slight tilt angle relative to the vertical direction (such as a tilt angle of less than 30°).

[0027] Considering that the handle in the supported state is prone to accidental retraction due to external force, causing the upper shell assembly to fall off, the upper shell wall has an inwardly recessed mounting groove. The handle is rotatably connected to the two opposite side walls of the mounting groove on opposite sides along its rotation axis. The handle also has a limiting stop extending into the mounting groove from the position where the limiting pressure plate meets the grip. The locking member also has a limiting protrusion protruding outward relative to the locking body. The wall of the mounting groove also has a clearance opening for the edge of the limiting protrusion to be exposed. When the handle is in the third rotation position, the limiting stop abuts against the edge of the mounting groove or the outer wall of the upper shell to restrict the limiting pressure plate of the handle from rotating outward and opening. The edge of the limiting stop abuts against the limiting protrusion to restrict the limiting pressure plate of the handle from rotating inward and closing. The double limiting by the limiting stop and the limiting protrusion prevents the handle from rotating inward and outward in the supported state, ensuring support stability.

[0028] As an improvement, when the handle is in the third rotating position, the limiting pressure plate of the handle is tilted outward from top to bottom relative to the vertical direction, and the grip portion of the handle is tilted outward from bottom to top relative to the vertical direction, with an operating gap reserved between them and the side wall of the upper housing. This tilted design of the limiting pressure plate and grip portion ensures the reliability of the handle supporting the upper housing assembly, while also facilitating user adjustment of the upper housing assembly by gripping the handle, such as for folding the upper housing assembly, thus improving the user experience.

[0029] Compared with existing technologies, the advantages of this utility model are as follows: By linking the handle rotation with the locking buckle and the first elastic element on the upper shell assembly, automatic unlocking can be achieved with single-handed operation of the handle. This linkage structure design effectively simplifies the opening process of the cooking appliance. During the user's single action of lifting the handle upwards, the handle rotation simultaneously drives the locking buckle to overcome the elastic force of the first elastic element and disengage from the locking engagement, achieving simultaneous completion of unlocking and opening actions. Compared with the two-step operation mode of existing technologies that require pressing a button to unlock and then operating the handle, this application's solution eliminates the additional button operation step, significantly improving operational convenience. At the same time, this structure innovatively utilizes the pre-tightening force of the elastic element to maintain the self-resetting characteristics of the locking buckle and handle, ensuring the locking reliability in the closed state. Furthermore, the handle does not require an additional independent reset mechanism. In terms of overall structure, while reducing the number of operating components, the product assembly process is optimized through functional integration, reducing manufacturing costs. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present utility model, with the handle in the first rotation position;

[0031] Figure 2 This is a vertical sectional view of the cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present utility model, with the handle in the first rotation position;

[0032] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present utility model, with the handle in the second rotation position;

[0033] Figure 4 This is a vertical sectional view of the cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present utility model, with the handle in the second rotation position;

[0034] Figure 5 This is a vertical sectional view of the cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present utility model. The sectional surface passes through the axis of the positioning pin, and the handle is in the first rotation position.

[0035] Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present utility model, with the handle in a detached state;

[0036] Figure 7 This is an exploded view of the elastic positioning pin assembly of the cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0037] Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the locking component according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0038] Figure 9 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the handle according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0039] Figure 10This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present utility model. The upper shell assembly is in the unfolded state, and the handle is in the third rotation position.

[0040] Figure 11 This is a vertical sectional view of the cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present utility model. The upper shell assembly is in the unfolded state, and the handle is in the third rotation position. Detailed Implementation

[0041] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0042] In the specification and claims of this utility model, terms indicating direction, such as "front," "rear," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "side," "top," and "bottom," are used to describe various exemplary structural parts and elements of this utility model. However, the use of these terms is merely for the purpose of explanation and is based on the exemplary orientations shown in the accompanying drawings. Since the embodiments disclosed in this utility model can be arranged in different orientations, these terms indicating direction are for illustrative purposes only and should not be regarded as limitations. For example, "upper" and "lower" are not necessarily limited to directions opposite to or consistent with the direction of gravity.

[0043] Figures 1-11 This illustration shows a preferred embodiment of the cooking appliance of the present invention. The cooking appliance of the present invention can be a grill, electric griddle, waffle maker, air fryer, or other kitchen appliances. This embodiment specifically uses a grill as an example. The cooking appliance includes a lower shell assembly 1, an upper shell assembly 2, a locking element 3, a first elastic element 41, and a handle 5. The lower shell assembly 1 generally includes a lower shell 10 and a lower baking tray (i.e., cooking surface) disposed on the lower shell 10. The upper shell 20 generally includes an upper shell 20 and an upper baking tray disposed on the upper shell 20. A laterally (specifically forward-facing) protruding limiting flange is provided at the front edge of the top of the lower shell 10 as a locking engagement part 11. The rear side of the upper shell 20 is rotatably connected to the rear side of the lower shell assembly 1 via a hinge. The locking element 3 is located at the front of the upper housing 20, and is vertically opposite to the locking engagement portion 11 on the lower housing 10. Specifically, the main body of the locking element 3 is rotatably mounted inside the upper housing 20, and includes a locking body 31 and a limiting hook 32 extending downward from the locking body 31. The limiting hook 32 passes downward through the bottom wall of the upper housing 20 and is exposed. A first opening 27 is correspondingly provided on the bottom wall of the upper housing 20 for the limiting hook 32 to pass through. The size of the first opening 27 is sufficient to allow the limiting hook 32 to deflect back and forth, thereby realizing the locking and unlocking action between it and the locking engagement portion 11. The bottom of the limiting hook 32 has a hook portion 320 facing the locking engagement portion 11. The hook portion 320 can abut against the lower part of the limiting protrusion to achieve vertical limiting, thereby achieving the purpose of preventing the upper housing assembly 2 from deflecting upward relative to the lower housing assembly 1 and opening.

[0044] See Figure 11 In some embodiments, the top edge of the lower housing 10 has a relief notch 12 at a position corresponding to the limiting hook 32, and a limiting flange is formed at the edge of the relief notch 12. A first guide slope 110, sloping outwards from top to bottom, is provided on the side of the limiting flange near the limiting hook 32. When the upper housing assembly 2 is closed, the limiting hook 32 slides along the first guide slope 110 and undergoes a slight deflection, causing the hook portion 320 to eventually pass over the limiting flange and engage below it. The first guide slope 110 reduces closing resistance and improves locking reliability.

[0045] See Figure 8 The locking body 31 includes a generally horizontally extending lateral extension 311, which is angled to the aforementioned limiting hook 32. A first spring (i.e., a first elastic element 41) is installed between the lateral extension 311 of the locking body 31 and the inner wall of the upper housing 20. The two ends of the first spring are respectively sleeved on the first positioning post 3111 of the lateral extension 311 and the second positioning post 24 of the inner wall of the upper housing 20, so that the locking element 3 always has a tendency to rotate towards the locked position.

[0046] The locking hook is rotatably connected to the upper housing 20 via a left-right extending shaft or column at the position where the lateral extension 311 meets the limiting hook.

[0047] The handle 5 is rotatably connected to the front side of the upper housing 20. The handle 5 includes a grip portion 51, a limiting pressure plate 52, and a limiting stop 53. The grip portion 51 is also basically a plate structure. The limiting pressure plate 52 and the grip portion 51 are located on opposite sides of the rotation axis of the handle 5. That is, the rotatable connection position between the handle 5 and the upper housing 20 is basically close to the contact position of the limiting pressure plate 52 and the grip portion 51.

[0048] See Figure 6The upper housing 20 has a partially recessed storage recess 21 and a mounting groove 22 on its top front side. The mounting groove 22 communicates with the storage recess 21 to form a complete recessed area. The position where the limiting pressure plate 52 of the handle 5 contacts the grip portion 51 has a limiting stop 53 extending towards the side of the mounting groove 22, and two extension posts 54 extending towards the limiting stop 53. These two extension posts 54 are spaced apart in the left-right direction of the handle 5 and respectively connect to the left and right sides of the limiting stop 53. The two extension posts 54 of the handle 5 are rotatably connected to the left and right opposite sidewalls of the mounting groove 22 of the upper housing 20 via two rotating pins 55 extending in the same straight line. Specifically, for ease of installation, the two rotating pins 55 are separate components independent of the handle 5. Shaft holes 550 are provided on the two opposite sidewalls of the two extension posts 54 of the handle 5 for the ends of the rotating pins 55 to be inserted.

[0049] The handle 5 has a first rotational position, a second rotational position, and a third rotational position as its position relative to the upper shell assembly 2 changes. For example... Figure 2 This diagram shows the structure with handle 5 in the first rotation position. Figure 4 This diagram shows the structure with handle 5 in the first rotation position. Figure 11 A schematic diagram of the structure with handle 5 in the third rotation position is shown.

[0050] The upper housing assembly 2 is also provided with an elastic positioning pin 6 assembly for limiting the rotation of the handle 5 and maintaining it in the aforementioned first rotational position. When the handle 5 is in the first rotational position, the limiting pressure plate 52 of the handle 5 is housed in the receiving recess 21. Specifically, the top surface of the limiting pressure plate 52 may be flush with or lower than the top surface of the upper housing 20. Having the limiting pressure plate 52 flush with or lower than the top surface of the upper housing 20 improves the overall aesthetics and facilitates cleaning and maintenance.

[0051] See Figure 7There are two sets of elastic positioning pin 6 assemblies, respectively located on the left and right sides corresponding to the mounting groove 22. Each set of elastic positioning pin 6 assemblies includes a positioning seat 61 on the inner wall of the upper housing 20, a positioning pin 6 in the mounting channel 613 within the positioning seat 61, and a second spring (i.e., a second elastic element 42). The positioning pin 6 is axially movable along the mounting channel 613, and the second spring is sleeved on the outside of the positioning pin 6. The peripheral wall of the positioning pin 6 has a radially outwardly extending limiting stop 60 (specifically, it can be an annular protruding edge structure). A first through hole 25 is opened on the side wall of the upper housing 20, extending from the upper housing 20 into the mounting groove 22. One end of the positioning pin 6 passes through the first through hole 25 and protrudes into the mounting groove 22. This end of the positioning pin 6 is configured as an outwardly convex arc surface structure. The limiting stop 60 of the positioning pin 6 abuts against the peripheral edge of the first through hole 25 to prevent the positioning pin 6 from dislodging outward. The other end of the positioning pin 6 extends into the mounting channel of the positioning seat 61. The second spring is sleeved on the main body of the positioning pin 6, with its two ends abutting against the limiting stop 60 and the positioning seat 61 of the positioning pin 6, respectively. Under the elastic force of the second spring, the positioning pin 6 always has a tendency to move outward along the axial direction (that is, to move towards the mounting groove 22).

[0052] The ends of the two extension posts 54 on the handle 5 are each provided with a positioning recess 540 that matches the end of the positioning pin 6. The inner wall of the positioning recess 540 is a concave arc surface structure adapted to the end of the positioning pin 6. When the handle 5 is in the first rotation position, the end of the positioning pin 6 is engaged in the positioning recess 540 under the action of the second spring, preventing the handle 5 from rotating arbitrarily, thereby maintaining it in the state of the first rotation position. When the user applies force to lift the handle 5, causing the handle 5 to move along... Figure 2 When the handle 5 rotates in the S1 direction, the locating pin 6 can be pressed back, releasing the rotation limit on the handle 5. Figure 2 When the handle 5 is rotated to its limit position in the S1 direction (i.e., it can no longer rotate in the S1 direction), this position is recorded as the second rotation position of the handle 5. Specifically, the limit position can be defined by the limiting pressure plate 52 of the handle 5 abutting against the bottom wall of the receiving recess 21 of the upper housing 20. It can be understood that when the handle 5 is in the second rotation position, the limiting pressure plate 52 of the handle 5 is housed in the receiving recess 21 of the upper housing 20.

[0053] The lateral extension 311 of the latch body 31 has a protrusion 312 that extends upward through the bottom wall of the receiving recess 21. A clearance opening 210 is correspondingly provided on the bottom wall of the receiving recess for the protrusion 312 to pass through. The protrusion 312 of the latch body 31 has a columnar structure, and a silicone sealing sleeve 35 is fitted over the protrusion 312. This sealing sleeve 35 can also move with the protrusion 312 and pass through the clearance opening 210, providing a sealing and dustproof function. When the grip portion 51 of the handle 5 is lifted upward, the limiting pressure plate 52 of the handle 5 presses down on the protrusion 312 (and the sealing sleeve 35), forcing the latch 3 to rotate against the first spring force, causing the hook portion 320 of the latch 3 to disengage from the limiting protrusion of the lower housing 10, thus unlocking the latch. At this time, the user can then lift the upper housing assembly 2, opening the upper housing assembly 2 relative to the lower housing assembly 1. After the handle 5 is released, the first spring drives the locking member 3 to reset. The protrusion 312 of the locking member 3 presses against the limiting pressure plate 52 of the handle 5, thereby resetting the handle 5 to the first rotation position. At the same time, the end of the positioning pin 6 is engaged in the positioning recess 540 of the handle 5 under the action of the second spring, preventing the handle 5 from rotating arbitrarily, thus maintaining it in the state of the first rotation position.

[0054] See Figure 4 The deflection angle of handle 5 between the first rotation position and the second rotation position is denoted as α, and the value of α is in the range of α≤10°. Under the premise of ensuring that the locking element 3 and the locking engagement part 11 can be effectively unlocked, the deflection angle of handle 5 can be limited to a relatively small range (α≤10°). This can improve the user experience of "lifting handle 5 to unlock", avoid accidental operation, and maintain a compact structural design.

[0055] See also Figure 7The upper housing 20 has a strip groove 23 on its wall at the mounting groove 22 area, through which the rotating pin 55 passes. The length direction of the strip groove 23 is basically consistent with the axial direction of the positioning pin 6, that is, the length direction of the rotating pin 55 of the handle 5 is basically perpendicular to it. The positioning seat 61 has a first pressing block 611 for restricting the end of the rotating pin 55 from moving inward along the axial direction of the rotating pin 55 into the upper housing 20, and a second pressing block 612 for restricting the lateral movement of the rotating pin 55. Specifically, when the positioning seat 61 is installed in place on the upper housing 20, the first pressing block 611 is located on one side of the inner end of the rotating pin 55 to restrict the rotating pin 55 from moving inward along the axial direction of the rotating pin 55 into the upper housing 20. At the same time, the second pressing block 612 extends into the strip groove 23 and is opposite to the periphery of the end of the strip groove 23, thereby restricting the rotating pin 55 from moving along the length direction of the strip groove 23. The positioning seat 61 restricts the movement of the rotating pin 55 through the first pressure block 611 and the second pressure block 612, ensuring the stability of the rotation axis of the handle 5 and improving the structural strength. It is conceivable that the positioning seat 61 used to restrict the movement of the rotating pin 55 can also be a second positioning seat 61 that is set independently, that is, it does not share the same positioning seat 61 with the positioning seat 61 used to install the positioning pin 6.

[0056] See Figure 10 and Figure 11 In this embodiment, the change in the rotational position of the upper shell assembly 2 relative to the lower shell assembly 1 has at least a first usage state and a second usage state: in the first usage state, the cooking surface of the upper shell assembly 2 and the cooking surface of the lower shell assembly 1 are vertically opposite each other; in the second usage state, the upper shell assembly is horizontally unfolded relative to the lower shell assembly 1 (essentially unfolded at 180°), that is, the cooking surfaces of the upper shell assembly 2 and the lower shell assembly 1 are both facing upwards.

[0057] This embodiment also extends the support function of the handle 5. When the upper shell assembly 2 is unfolded to the second usage state described above, the user can place the handle 5 along... Figure 11 The handle 5 is rotated to the third rotation position in the S2 direction. At this time, the limiting pressure plate 52 is in an upright state and abuts against the placement platform (which can be a table), providing upward support for the upper shell assembly 2. To achieve stable positioning, the handle 5 also has a limiting stop 53 extending from the position where the limiting pressure plate 52 meets the grip part 51 into the mounting groove 22, and the locking member 3 also has a limiting protrusion 33 that protrudes outward relative to the locking body 31 (that is, protrudes towards the side where the limiting stop 53 of the handle 5 is located). The wall of the mounting groove 22 is also provided with a clearance opening 26 for the edge portion of the limiting protrusion 33 to be exposed. When the handle 5 is in the third rotation position, the limiting stop 53 and the edge of the mounting groove 22 (such as...) Figure 11The location shown at point A indicates the edge of the mounting groove 22 or the outer wall of the upper housing 20, which abuts against the limiting plate 52 of the handle 5 to prevent it from rotating outward and opening. Simultaneously, the edge of the limiting stop 53 abuts against the limiting protrusion 33 to prevent the limiting plate 52 of the handle 5 from rotating inward and closing. The double limiting by the limiting stop 53 and the limiting protrusion 33 prevents the handle 5 from rotating inward and outward in the supported state, ensuring support stability. Furthermore, since the limiting protrusion 33 is located on the locking member 3, and the locking member 3 has a certain angle deflection adjustment capability, when the handle 5 deflects, it can squeeze the limiting protrusion 33 to produce a certain offset and achieve flexible reset, preventing jamming.

[0058] In some embodiments, when the handle 5 is in the third rotation position, the limiting pressure plate 52 of the handle 5 is tilted outward from top to bottom relative to the vertical direction, and the grip portion 51 of the handle 5 is tilted outward from bottom to top relative to the vertical direction, with an operating gap 56 reserved between it and the side wall of the upper housing 20. The inclined arrangement of the limiting pressure plate 52 and the grip portion 51, as well as the design of the operating gap 56, ensure the reliability of the handle 5 in supporting the upper housing assembly 2, and also facilitate the user to grip the handle 5 and apply force to adjust the upper housing assembly 2, such as to fold the upper housing assembly 2, thus improving the user experience.

[0059] In this embodiment, when the user lifts the handle 5 with one hand, the limiting pressure plate 52 of the handle 5 drives the locking element 3 to unlock, simultaneously opening the upper shell assembly 2. The elastic positioning pin 6 assembly ensures the stability of the handle 5 in the non-use state, keeping the handle 5 stably in the first rotation position, while the cooperation between the locking element 3 and the guide slope makes the closing operation effortless and reliable. When the upper shell assembly 2 is in the unfolded state, the multi-level limiting design of the handle 5 provides stable support, adapting to different usage scenarios.

[0060] Based on the above embodiments, other embodiments can be obtained by replacing and improving the relevant technical features. For example, the latching engagement portion 11 on the lower housing 10 can be replaced by a groove or protrusion on the side wall of the lower housing 10. Correspondingly, the limiting hook 32 can be adjusted to an elastic latch or a wedge structure. Furthermore, the receiving recess 21 on the upper housing 20 can be replaced by an embedded cavity on the side wall of the upper housing 20, with the limiting pressure plate 52 completely hidden within the cavity. Also, the hook portion 320 of the limiting hook 32 can be provided with a second guide slope, which cooperates with the first guide slope 110 of the limiting protrusion to further reduce the closing resistance. For example, instead of using a rotating connection between the upper shell assembly 2 and the lower shell assembly 1, the upper shell assembly 2 can be detached from the lower shell assembly 1. The upper shell assembly 2 has the aforementioned deflectable handles 5 and locking fasteners 3 on both opposite sides. The lower shell assembly 1 has a corresponding locking engagement part 11. The user can simultaneously hold the handles 5 and lift them upwards, so that the two sides of the upper shell assembly 2 and the lower shell assembly 1 are unlocked at the same time, and the upper shell assembly 2 can be lifted upwards and detached from the lower shell assembly 1.

Claims

1. A cooking utensil, comprising: The lower shell assembly (1) is provided with a locking engagement part (11); The upper shell assembly (2) has a handle (5) on its side; The feature is that it further includes a first elastic member (41) and a locking member (3) disposed on the upper shell assembly (2). The locking member (3) is rotatably connected to the upper shell assembly (2) and has a locking part. The locking member (3) has a locked state in which its locking part is locked to the locking engagement part (11) and an unlocked state in which its locking part is disengaged from the locking engagement part (11) as its rotational position relative to the upper shell assembly (2) changes. The first elastic member (41) acts on the locking member (3) and makes the locking member (3) always have a tendency to rotate from the unlocked state position to the locked state position. The handle (5) is rotatably connected to the upper shell assembly (2). During the process of the handle (5) being lifted and rotated by external force, the handle (5) can act on the locking member (3) and cause the locking member (3) to overcome the elastic force of the first elastic member (41) and disengage from the locking engagement part (11).

2. The cooking appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lower shell assembly (1) includes a lower shell (10), which has a laterally protruding limiting flange as the locking engagement portion (11). The upper shell assembly (2) includes an upper shell (20). The locking member (3) includes a locking body (31) disposed in the upper shell (20) and a limiting hook (32) extending downward from the locking body (31) and protruding from the bottom of the lower shell (10). The limiting hook (32) has a hook portion (320) extending toward the side where the locking engagement portion (11) is located as the locking portion. The hook portion (320) of the limiting hook (32) can abut against the lower part of the limiting flange so that the two form a limiting in the vertical direction.

3. The cooking utensil according to claim 2, characterized in that: The area near the peripheral edge of the top of the lower housing (10) has a relief notch (12) at a position opposite to the limiting hook (32), and the limiting protrusion is formed at the edge of the relief notch (12). The limiting protrusion has a first guide slope (110) that slopes downwards toward the side of the limiting hook (32) at the side edge of the limiting protrusion.

4. The cooking utensil according to claim 2, characterized in that: The latch body (31) includes a lateral extension (311) that is angled to the limiting hook (32), and the first elastic element (41) is a first spring that is disposed between the lateral extension (311) and the inner wall of the upper housing (20).

5. The cooking utensil according to claim 4, characterized in that: The lateral extension (311) has a first positioning post (3111) on which the end of the first spring is sleeved, and the inner wall of the upper housing (20) has a second positioning post (24) on which the other end of the first spring is sleeved.

6. The cooking utensil according to claim 2, characterized in that: The locking body (31) includes a lateral extension (311) that is angled to the limiting hook (32). The lateral extension (311) has a protrusion (312) that extends upward and passes through the top wall of the upper housing (20) and is exposed. The handle (5) includes a grip (51) and a limiting pressure plate (52). The grip (51) and the limiting pressure plate (52) are located on opposite sides of the rotation axis of the handle (5) relative to the upper housing assembly (2). When the grip (51) of the handle (5) rotates upward under external force, the limiting pressure plate (52) presses down on the protrusion (312) and causes the locking member (3) to overcome the elastic force of the first elastic member (41) and disengage from the locking engagement part (11).

7. The cooking utensil according to claim 6, characterized in that: The top of the upper housing (20) has a partially recessed storage recess (21), and the limiting pressure plate (52) of the handle (5) is stored in the storage recess (21). The bottom wall of the storage recess (21) is provided with a clearance opening (210) for the protrusion (312) of the latch body (31) to pass through.

8. The cooking utensil according to claim 6, characterized in that: The handle (5) has a first rotation position and a second rotation position as its rotation position relative to the upper shell assembly (2) changes. The upper shell assembly (2) is also provided with an elastic positioning pin (6) assembly for limiting the rotation of the handle (5) and keeping it in the first rotation position. The position where the handle (5) is lifted upward from the first rotation position to the limit position by an external force is the second rotation position. The deflection angle of the handle (5) between the first rotation position and the second rotation position is denoted as α. The value range of α is: α≤10°.

9. The cooking utensil according to claim 8, characterized in that: The top of the upper housing (20) has a partially recessed storage area (21), and the limiting pressure plate (52) of the handle (5) is stored in the storage area (21). When the handle (5) is in the first rotation position, the top surface of the limiting pressure plate (52) is flush with or lower than the top surface of the upper housing (20).

10. The cooking appliance according to claim 8, characterized in that: The elastic positioning pin (6) assembly includes a positioning pin (6) and a second elastic element (42). The positioning pin (6) is movably disposed on the upper housing (20) along its axial direction. The end of the positioning pin (6) passes through the wall of the upper housing (20) and is exposed. The handle (5) has a positioning notch (540) for the end of the positioning pin (6) to be inserted into. Under the action of the second elastic element (42), the positioning pin (6) always has a tendency to move outward along the axial direction of the positioning pin (6) towards the upper housing (20).

11. The cooking appliance according to claim 10, characterized in that: The elastic positioning pin (6) assembly also includes a positioning seat (61), which is disposed on the inner wall of the upper housing (20). The positioning seat (61) defines an installation channel (613) for the axial movement of the positioning pin (6). The peripheral wall of the positioning pin (6) has a limiting stop (60) that protrudes radially outward. The second elastic element (42) is a second spring, which is sleeved on the positioning pin (6) and abuts against the limiting stop (60) of the positioning pin (6) and the positioning seat (61).

12. The cooking utensil according to claim 11, characterized in that: The handle (5) is rotatably connected to the wall of the upper housing (20) on opposite sides of its rotation axis by two rotating pins (55). The wall of the upper housing (20) has a strip groove (23) through which the rotating pin (55) passes. The length direction of the strip groove (23) is perpendicular to the length direction of the rotating pin (55). The positioning seat (61) has a first pressing block (611) for restricting the end of the rotating pin (55) from moving into the upper housing (20) along the axial direction of the rotating pin (55) and a second pressing block (612) for restricting the lateral movement of the rotating pin (55). When the positioning seat (61) is in the installed position on the upper housing (20), the second pressing block (612) extends into the strip groove (23) and is opposite to the periphery of the end of the strip groove (23), thereby restricting the rotating pin (55) from moving along the length direction of the strip groove (23).

13. The cooking utensil according to any one of claims 6 to 12, characterized in that: The rear part of the upper shell assembly (2) is rotatably connected to the rear part of the lower shell assembly (1). The locking element and handle (5) are disposed on the front part of the upper shell assembly (2). The change in the rotational position of the upper shell assembly (2) relative to the lower shell assembly (1) has at least a first use state and a second use state: in the first use state, the cooking surface of the upper shell assembly (2) and the cooking surface of the lower shell assembly (1) are vertically opposite each other; in the second use state, the upper shell assembly is horizontally unfolded relative to the lower shell assembly (1), that is, the cooking surface of the upper shell assembly (2) and the cooking surface of the lower shell assembly (1) are both facing upwards. The handle (5) also has a third rotation position as its rotation position relative to the upper shell assembly (2) changes. When the handle (5) is in the third rotation position, the limiting pressure plate (52) of the handle (5) is in an upright state relative to the upper shell assembly (2) and abuts against the placement platform for placing cooking utensils, thus providing upward support to the upper shell assembly in the second use state.

14. The cooking utensil according to claim 13, characterized in that: The upper housing (20) has an inwardly recessed mounting groove (22) on its wall. The handle (5) is rotatably connected to the two opposite side walls of the mounting groove (22) on opposite sides in the direction of its rotation axis. The handle (5) also has a limiting stop (53) extending into the mounting groove (22) from the position where the limiting pressure plate (52) is connected to the grip (51). The locking member (3) also has a limiting protrusion (33) protruding outward relative to the locking body (31). The wall of the mounting groove (22) is also provided with a clearance opening (26) for the limiting protrusion (33) to be exposed. When the handle (5) is in the third rotation position, the edge of the limiting stop (53) abuts against the limiting protrusion (33) to restrict the limiting pressure plate (52) of the handle (5) from rotating inward and closing.

15. The cooking utensil according to claim 14, characterized in that: When the handle (5) is in the third rotation position, the limiting pressure plate (52) of the handle (5) is tilted outward from the vertical direction from top to bottom, and the gripping part (51) of the handle (5) is tilted outward from the vertical direction from bottom to top, and an operating gap (56) is reserved between it and the side wall of the upper housing (20).

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