A cooking appliance

Abstract

The application discloses a cooking utensil, which comprises an outer pot and an inner liner. The outer pot comprises a shell, a reflecting cover and a heat insulation ring. The inner liner is provided with a protruding part protruding outward. The heat insulation ring is provided with a recessed platform recessed downward to accommodate the protruding part. The reflecting cover is provided with a first positioning wall and a second positioning wall connected along the circumference thereof. The first positioning wall is located below the recessed platform. The heat insulation ring is provided with a first limiting convex rib connected with the bottom of the recessed platform and extending downward. The first limiting convex rib is located on the inner side of the first positioning wall to limit the inward movement of the reflecting cover. The top end of the reflecting cover is provided with an outward turning edge connected with the second positioning wall. The heat insulation part is located on the outer side of the outward turning edge to limit the outward movement of the reflecting cover. The first limiting convex rib and the heat insulation part clamp the reflecting cover from the inner side and the outer side respectively, and the bidirectional limiting in the inner-outer direction realizes the bidirectional constraint of the reflecting cover.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of household appliance technology, specifically relating to a cooking appliance. Background Technology

[0002] Cooking utensils, taking a stew pot as an example, mainly consist of an outer cover, an aluminum pot inside the outer cover, and a heat insulation ring on top of the outer cover. In existing stew pots, the aluminum pot and the heat insulation ring are generally connected as one piece by screws, and then the aluminum pot is fastened to the outer cover by screws. This method of assembling the pot body with multiple screws is not only inefficient, but also exposes the screws on the outer surface of the outer cover and the outer surface of the aluminum pot, which destroys the consistency of the appearance. In addition, the exposed screws are prone to rust, resulting in a reduction in service life.

[0003] In addition, to achieve precise temperature control during cooking, existing technology discloses an electric slow cooker, which includes a pot body, a ceramic inner pot built into the pot body, and an anti-overflow electrode penetrating the side wall of the ceramic inner pot. The detection end of the anti-overflow electrode extends into the interior of the ceramic inner pot, while the output end of the anti-overflow electrode is exposed outside the ceramic inner pot. When the food in the ceramic inner pot boils, it forms steam and foam. The detection end of the anti-overflow electrode can come into contact with the rising liquid or foam. Once liquid or foam is detected, it can immediately send a signal, and the control unit located in the pot body controls the heating device to stop heating, thereby quickly responding to the risk of overflow and effectively preventing liquid from spilling. Specifically, the electrical connection between the output end of the anti-overflow electrode on the inner liner and the control unit inside the pot can be achieved as follows: A detection box is provided on the outer wall of the ceramic inner liner, covering the outside of the anti-overflow electrode. The heat insulation ring of the pot body has a recessed platform to accommodate the detection box. A conductive component is provided inside the outer cover of the pot body, which can extend and retract along the through-hole on the platform to connect electrically with the output end of the anti-overflow electrode. When the ceramic inner liner is placed on the pot body, the conductive component connects electrically with the output end of the anti-overflow electrode, thus achieving the electrical connection between the anti-overflow electrode and the control unit. To facilitate the arrangement of the conductive component, an extension extending towards the inside of the heat insulation ring is provided at the recessed platform to provide a mounting position for the conductive component. The presence of this extension increases the difficulty of assembling the aluminum pot and the heat insulation ring. To avoid interference between the aluminum pot and the extension during assembly, a hollowing-out process is usually performed at the corresponding positions of the aluminum pot and the extension, i.e., an avoidance notch is provided at the corresponding positions of the aluminum pot and the extension. This avoidance notch causes the conductive component to extend along the radial direction of the heat insulation ring after assembly. Complete exposure increases the risk of water ingress. Therefore, during assembly, an additional shielding component is required to cover the clearance notch. This shielding component is fixed to the outer cover with screws. Thus, for this type of electric slow cooker, the assembly process is as follows: first, the aluminum pot and heat insulation ring are fixed with screws; then, the shielding component is installed at the clearance notch of the aluminum pot to cover it; finally, screws are used to fix the shielding component to the outer cover, thus clamping and fixing the aluminum pot and heat insulation ring between the shielding component and the outer cover. This assembly method is not only inefficient, but the additional shielding component significantly increases costs and reduces the uniformity of the inner wall of the pot. The difference in height between the shielding component and the inner wall of the aluminum pot can easily trap dirt and grime, affecting the user experience. Furthermore, the seams between the shielding component, the aluminum pot, and the outer cover are prone to developing tiny gaps due to thermal expansion and contraction or vibration, which may lead to water leakage after long-term use. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application provides a cooking appliance to solve the technical problems of existing cooking appliances where the heat insulation ring has a concave platform structure. In order to balance easy assembly and the integrity of the appearance after assembly, additional structural components need to be introduced during the assembly process, which leads to increased assembly steps, reduced assembly efficiency, and increased outer cover temperature caused by the direct connection between the additional structural components and the outer cover during cooking.

[0005] The technical solution adopted in this application is as follows:

[0006] A cooking appliance includes an outer pot and an inner pot built into the outer pot. The outer pot includes a shell, a reflector, and a heat insulation ring. The heat insulation ring has a heat-insulating portion located between the upper part of the shell and the upper part of the reflector. The inner pot has an outwardly protruding protrusion. The heat insulation ring has a recessed platform to accommodate the protrusion. The reflector has a first positioning wall and a second positioning wall connected circumferentially thereto. The first positioning wall is located below the recessed platform. The heat insulation ring has a first limiting rib connected to the bottom of the recessed platform and extending downward. The first limiting rib is located inside the first positioning wall to restrict inward movement of the reflector. The top of the reflector has an outwardly flange connected to the second positioning wall. The heat insulation portion is located outside the outwardly flange to restrict outward movement of the reflector.

[0007] The protrusions on the outer side of the inner liner and the recesses on the heat insulation ring that accommodate the protrusions in this application not only provide a clear indication of the placement of the inner liner in the outer pot, but also offer more possibilities for the functional expansion of the inner liner and the heat insulation ring.

[0008] Unlike existing designs that create clearance notches in aluminum pots to avoid recessed platforms, the reflector in this application has a first positioning wall and a second positioning wall connected circumferentially. The reflector is clamped from the inside and outside by a first limiting rib below the recessed platform of the heat insulation ring and the heat insulation portion on the heat insulation ring, respectively. This bidirectional constraint on the reflector, achieved through bidirectional internal and external positioning, results in better stability after assembly. During frequent heating and cooling of cooking appliances, the assembly method of the reflector and heat insulation ring in this application effectively prevents radial displacement of the reflector due to thermal expansion and contraction. Assembly of the reflector and heat insulation ring can be achieved without the use of screws, thereby significantly improving the assembly efficiency of the reflector and heat insulation ring. Furthermore, the first limiting rib is connected to the bottom of the recessed platform and extends downwards. After the reflector and the heat insulation ring are assembled, the reflector and the first limiting rib work together to shield the area between the outer side of the reflector and the inner side of the outer cover, preventing this area from being exposed. This eliminates the need for additional shielding components, reducing manufacturing costs and assembly steps, and avoiding technical problems such as poor appearance consistency and obvious segment differences caused by the addition of structural components. In addition, the heat insulation ring in this application has a heat insulation part located between the upper part of the outer shell and the upper part of the reflector. The setting of the heat insulation part avoids direct contact heat transfer from the reflector to the outer shell, thereby reducing the temperature rise of the outer shell.

[0009] The area of ​​the heat insulation ring without the recessed platform has a second limiting rib that is connected to the heat insulation part and extends downward. The second limiting rib is located outside the second positioning wall to restrict the outward movement of the reflector.

[0010] After the reflector is fitted into the heat insulation ring from top to bottom, the first positioning wall needs to be pushed downwards and outwards to pass over the first limiting rib and enter the outer side of the first limiting rib. During the pushing process, a part of the second positioning wall adjacent to the first positioning wall will be directly pulled and tend to move outwards. This technical solution further sets a second limiting rib extending downwards to the outer side of the second positioning wall on the heat insulation ring. The second limiting rib further restricts the outward movement of the second positioning wall. It can work together with the restriction on the outward movement of the heat insulation part's outward flange to increase the contact area between the second positioning wall and the heat insulation ring during the pushing process of the first positioning wall, thereby reducing stress concentration and the probability of deformation of the second positioning wall. At the same time, it improves the assembly efficiency of the reflector and the heat insulation ring by preventing large displacement of the reflector during the pushing process of the first positioning wall.

[0011] The heat insulation ring is provided with a third limiting rib that is connected to the bottom of the recess and extends downward. The third limiting rib is located outside the first limiting rib. The third limiting rib and the first limiting rib cooperate to form a first limiting groove with an opening facing downward. The top of the first positioning wall is located inside the first limiting groove.

[0012] Before achieving precise positioning of the heat insulation ring and the reflector, they first need to be roughly positioned. This involves fitting them together vertically. Due to the continuity of the first and second positioning walls of the reflector in the circumferential direction, during the initial rough fitting of the heat insulation ring and the reflector, both the first and second positioning walls are located on the innermost ring side of the heat insulation ring. The first positioning wall then needs to be pushed up to the outer ring side of the first limiting rib to restrict the inward movement of the reflector. In this technical solution, the third limiting rib is located outside the first limiting rib. The presence of the third limiting rib provides radial restraint to the first positioning wall, preventing it from being excessively pushed or pulled during the pushing process. This would cause excessive deformation of the first positioning wall, pulling on the second positioning wall and resulting in inward deformation and bulging at the connection between the first and second positioning walls. This not only affects the appearance quality of the inner wall of the reflector but also the smoothness of removing and placing the inner liner from the reflector.

[0013] In addition, the third limiting rib and the first limiting rib work together to form a first limiting groove with an opening facing downwards, which further strengthens the limiting effect on the first positioning wall. This makes the reflector more stable not only in the horizontal direction after assembly, but also in the vertical direction. It effectively prevents the reflector from moving upwards or shifting due to force or thermal expansion and contraction during use, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the assembly between the reflector and the heat insulation ring.

[0014] At least one of the third limiting rib and the first limiting rib abuts against the upper side of the first positioning wall.

[0015] Unlike existing technologies that use screws to fasten the reflector and heat insulation ring, this application uses a two-way constraint on the reflector via a first and second limiting rib on the heat insulation ring. Compared to screw fastening, this method allows for some movement during actual use; under external force, the reflector may experience slight radial displacement along the heat insulation ring. This technical solution further strengthens the radial constraint of the first positioning wall on the heat insulation ring by having at least one of the first and third limiting ribs abut against the side of the upper part of the first positioning wall. Combined with the second limiting rib's outward displacement restriction on the reflector, this further reduces the probability of radial displacement of the reflector after assembly, ensuring the stability of the entire assembly structure. Moreover, during reflector assembly, the abutment between the third and / or first limiting ribs and the reflector provides excellent guidance and positioning, as well as a clear indication of proper installation, preventing excessive pressure or pushing on the reflector.

[0016] The third limiting rib extends downward to a greater height than the first limiting rib extends downward.

[0017] If the downward extension height of the third limiting rib is small, it will be unable to effectively block the first positioning wall during the process of pushing it outward from the inside. This will cause the first positioning wall to be excessively pushed and squeezed, resulting in the installation exceeding the preset position and deformation at the connection between the first and second positioning walls. In this technical solution, compared to the third limiting rib, the downward extension height of the first limiting rib is smaller. When the first positioning wall is squeezed and deformed from the inside of the heat insulation ring to pass over the first limiting rib and enter the first limiting groove, the amount of compression deformation of the first positioning wall is relatively small due to the lower height of the first limiting rib. The required installation force is also smaller, which facilitates the installation operation of the first positioning wall, reduces the installation difficulty, and improves the installation efficiency. The downward extension height of the third limiting rib is larger. After the first positioning wall enters the first limiting groove, the third limiting rib can provide more reliable support and stop and limit the first positioning wall, further preventing excessive outward squeezing of the first positioning wall and thus avoiding deformation of the reflector.

[0018] The thickness of the first limiting rib decreases from top to bottom.

[0019] Before achieving precise positioning of the heat insulation ring and reflector, a rough positioning is first required. This involves fitting them together vertically. Due to the continuous circumferential connection between the first and second positioning walls of the reflector, during the initial rough fitting, both the first and second positioning walls are located on the inner ring side of the second limiting rib. Subsequently, the first positioning wall needs to be pushed to the outer ring side of the first limiting rib to restrict the inward movement of the reflector. The heat insulation ring is generally made of high-temperature resistant plastic. During the outward pushing of the first positioning wall, the first limiting rib will inevitably undergo some elastic deformation. Therefore, by compressing the first positioning wall to pass over the first limiting rib and enter the path outside the first limiting rib, the thickness of the first limiting rib is appropriately reduced from top to bottom. This reduces the resistance that the first positioning wall needs to overcome during compression, facilitating the assembly of the reflector. Moreover, the wider top of the first limiting rib ensures that the narrowed first limiting rib still has sufficient strength to limit the first positioning wall.

[0020] The first limiting rib has a first guide surface facing away from the first positioning wall and a second guide surface facing the first positioning wall. The first guide surface extends from top to bottom in a direction away from the axis of the heat insulation ring, and the second guide surface extends from top to bottom in a direction close to the axis of the heat insulation ring.

[0021] During the process of pushing the first positioning wall from the inside out to the outside of the first limiting rib, if both radial sides of the first positioning wall are vertical surfaces, the lack of inclined force guidance on the vertical surfaces will cause the first positioning wall to rely entirely on vertical pressure to forcibly pass over the first limiting rib. This will result in a sudden increase in assembly force during the pushing process, and the first positioning wall and the first limiting rib may undergo permanent deformation or even breakage due to overload. In this technical solution, the first guide surface extends from top to bottom in a direction away from the axis of the heat insulation ring. During the assembly process, when pressing down and squeezing the first positioning wall from the inside out, the inclined setting of the first guide surface can decompose the vertical pressure into a radially outward component, allowing the first positioning wall to naturally expand outward along the first guide surface. This reduces the vertical force required to squeeze the first limiting rib, avoids deformation caused by hard impact, and makes it easier for the first positioning wall to pass over the first limiting rib, reducing assembly difficulty. The second guide surface extends from top to bottom toward the axis close to the heat insulation ring, which can help the first positioning wall smoothly enter the outer side of the first limiting rib, and the inward inclination angle of the second guide surface can guide the first positioning wall to spring back and automatically reset to the preset installation position, ensuring the radial constraint accuracy of the first positioning wall.

[0022] The first limiting rib has a transition portion connecting the first guide surface and the second guide surface, and the transition portion is rounded.

[0023] During assembly, sharp edges may scratch or abrade the surface of the workpiece, causing scratches or damage. In this technical solution, the transition between the first and second guide surfaces is rounded, which significantly reduces the frictional resistance when the first positioning wall contacts the first limiting rib during assembly. When the first positioning wall passes over the first limiting rib by pressing, the rounded corner provides a smoother contact surface, making it easier for the first positioning wall to slide over the first limiting rib, thereby reducing assembly difficulty and improving assembly efficiency. Moreover, during assembly, the rounded transition naturally guides the positioning wall to move along the correct path, allowing the first positioning wall to accurately enter the predetermined position, reducing assembly errors and ensuring a more precise fit between the reflector and the heat insulation ring.

[0024] The heat insulation ring also has a fourth limiting rib extending upward and located inside the heat insulation part. The fourth limiting rib cooperates with the heat insulation part to form a second limiting groove with the opening facing upward. The outer flange includes a flange part connected to the second positioning wall and an extension part connected to the flange part and bent downward. The fourth limiting rib abuts against the flange part to restrict the downward movement of the reflector. The extension part extends into the second limiting groove.

[0025] The first and second limiting ribs provide bidirectional constraint on the reflector, limiting its displacement along the radial direction of the heat insulation ring. Displacement in other directions still requires reinforcement to prevent risks such as vertical movement between the reflector and the heat insulation ring. In this technical solution, the fourth limiting rib abuts against the flange, effectively preventing the reflector from moving downwards due to external forces or its own weight, ensuring the stability of the assembly between the reflector and the heat insulation ring. The extension extends into the second limiting groove, further limiting the reflector's radial inward movement along the heat insulation ring. This multi-directional limiting design achieves screw-free assembly between the reflector and the heat insulation ring, enabling a stable fit between them through the limiting design and reducing the risk of loosening due to external forces or vibrations.

[0026] The recessed platform has a limiting portion extending toward the interior of the heat insulation ring, the limiting portion abutting against the second positioning wall in the circumferential direction of the heat insulation ring to restrict the circumferential rotation of the reflector.

[0027] In this technical solution, the limiting part abuts against the second positioning wall along the circumferential direction of the heat insulation ring. On the one hand, it can play a role in coarse positioning of the reflector during the assembly process of the reflector and the heat insulation ring. On the other hand, after assembly, it can effectively prevent the reflector from rotating in the circumferential direction, ensuring that the relative position between the reflector and the heat insulation ring is fixed and avoiding misalignment due to rotation.

[0028] One of the heat insulation ring and the outer shell is provided with a number of buckles, and the other of the two is provided with a number of fastening positions adapted to the buckles. The heat insulation ring and the outer shell are fixedly connected by the buckles and the fastening positions.

[0029] If screws, bolts, or other fasteners are used to connect the heat insulation ring and the outer shell, the assembly process requires not only the use of appropriate assembly tools but also precise alignment, significantly reducing assembly efficiency. In this technical solution, the heat insulation ring and the outer shell are assembled using snap-fit ​​and locking mechanisms. The assembly process requires no tools; simply align the heat insulation ring and the outer shell and apply a certain amount of pressure to engage the snap-fit ​​and locking mechanism, greatly improving assembly efficiency and saving assembly time. Attached Figure Description

[0030] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of this application and form part of this application, illustrate exemplary embodiments and are used to explain this application, but do not constitute an undue limitation of this application. In the drawings:

[0031] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a cooking utensil according to one embodiment of this application;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the outer pot according to one embodiment of this application;

[0033] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the outer pot according to one embodiment of this application;

[0034] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the outer pot according to one embodiment of this application;

[0035] Figure 5 for Figure 4 Enlarged view of part A;

[0036] Figure 6 for Figure 4 Enlarged view of part B;

[0037] Figure 7 This is a perspective view of the assembly of the heat insulation ring and the reflector according to one embodiment of this application;

[0038] Figure 8 This is a perspective view of the reflector according to one embodiment of this application;

[0039] Figure 9 This is a perspective view of the heat insulation ring according to one embodiment of this application;

[0040] Figure 10 This is a perspective view of the outer casing according to one embodiment of this application.

[0041] in:

[0042] 1. Heat insulation ring; 11. Recessed platform; 12. First limiting rib; 121. First guide surface; 122. Second guide surface; 123. Transition part; 13. Second limiting rib; 14. Third limiting rib; 15. Heat insulation part; 16. Fourth limiting rib; 17. Second limiting groove; 18. Limiting part; 19. Buckle;

[0043] 2. Reflector; 21. First positioning wall; 22. Second positioning wall; 23. Flanged edge; 24. Extension;

[0044] 3. Outer shell; 31. Positioning flange; 32. Fastener;

[0045] 4. Anti-overflow electrode;

[0046] 5. Inner liner; 51. Protrusion. Detailed Implementation

[0047] To more clearly illustrate the overall concept of this application, a detailed explanation is provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0048] Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application may also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments of this application and the features thereof can be combined with each other.

[0049] Furthermore, it should be understood in the description of this application that the terms "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0050] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a communication connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0051] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the "above" or "below" of the second feature can mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. In the description of this specification, references to terms such as "an embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0052] like Figures 1 to 6 As shown, a cooking appliance includes an outer pot and an inner pot 5 built into the outer pot. The outer pot includes a shell 3, a reflector 2, and a heat insulation ring 1. The heat insulation ring 1 has a heat insulation portion 15 located between the upper part of the shell 3 and the upper part of the reflector 2. The inner pot 5 has an outwardly protruding protrusion 51. The heat insulation ring 1 has a recessed platform 11 that is recessed downward to accommodate the protrusion 51. The reflector 2 has a first positioning wall 21 and a second positioning wall 22 connected circumferentially thereto. The first positioning wall 21 is located below the recessed platform 11. The heat insulation ring 1 has a first limiting rib 12 that is connected to the bottom of the recessed platform 11 and extends downward. The first limiting rib 12 is located inside the first positioning wall 21 to restrict the inward movement of the reflector 2. The top of the reflector 2 has an outward flange connected to the second positioning wall 22. The heat insulation portion 15 is located outside the outward flange to restrict the outward movement of the reflector 2.

[0053] This application does not limit the structural form and specific function of the protrusion on the outer side of the inner pot. In one embodiment (not shown), the protrusion is a handle that protrudes laterally from the outer wall of the inner pot. Preferably, protrusions are provided on two opposite sides of the outer wall of the inner pot to facilitate the removal and placement of the inner pot. Correspondingly, the heat insulation ring has two recesses so that when the inner pot is placed on the outer pot, the two handles can be respectively placed into the recesses of the heat insulation ring to accommodate the handles. The user holds the handles to remove or place the inner pot. In another embodiment, such as... Figures 2 to 5As shown, an anti-overflow electrode 4 is provided on the outer wall of the inner pot 5. The detection end of the anti-overflow electrode 4 extends into the interior of the inner pot 5, while the output end of the anti-overflow electrode 4 protrudes from the inner pot 5. When the food in the inner pot 5 boils, it forms steam and foam. The detection end of the anti-overflow electrode 4 can contact the rising liquid or foam. Once liquid or foam is detected, a signal can be sent to the control unit located inside the outer pot through the output end of the anti-overflow electrode 4. The control unit controls the heating device to stop heating, thereby quickly responding to the risk of overflow and effectively preventing liquid from spilling. In this embodiment, the protrusion 51 is a detection box covering the outside of the anti-overflow electrode 4. When the inner pot 5 is placed on the outer pot, the detection box is inserted into the recess 11 of the heat insulation ring 1. The outer shell 3 is provided with a conductive element that can extend and retract along the through hole on the recess 11 to be electrically connected to the output end of the anti-overflow electrode 4. When the inner pot 5 is placed on the pot body, the conductive element is electrically connected to the output end of the anti-overflow electrode 4, thereby realizing the electrical connection between the anti-overflow electrode 4 and the control unit. In this embodiment, preferably, the detection box is provided only on one side of the outer wall of the inner pot 5, that is, the protrusion 51 is provided only on one side of the outer wall of the inner pot 5, so that the corresponding anti-overflow detection can be realized. Correspondingly, only one recess 11 is provided on the heat insulation ring 1.

[0054] The protrusion 51 on the outer side of the inner liner 5 and the recess 11 on the heat insulation ring 1 that accommodates the protrusion 51 in this application not only provide a clear indication of the placement position of the inner liner 5 in the outer pot, but also provide more possibilities for the functional expansion of the inner liner 5 and the heat insulation ring 1.

[0055] Unlike existing designs that create clearance notches in aluminum pots to avoid recessed platforms, the reflector 2 in this application has a first positioning wall 21 and a second positioning wall 22 connected circumferentially. The reflector 2 is clamped from the inside and outside by means of the first limiting rib 12 below the recessed platform 11 of the heat insulation ring 1 and the heat insulation part on the heat insulation ring 1, respectively. Through bidirectional limiting in the inside and outside directions, bidirectional constraint on the reflector 2 is achieved. The entire structure has better stability after assembly. During the frequent heating and cooling of cooking utensils, the assembly method of the reflector 2 and the heat insulation ring 1 in this application can effectively prevent radial displacement of the reflector 2 due to thermal expansion and contraction. The assembly of the reflector 2 and the heat insulation ring 1 can be achieved without the use of screws, thereby greatly improving the assembly efficiency of the reflector 2 and the heat insulation ring 1. Furthermore, the first limiting rib 12 is connected to the bottom of the recess 11 and extends downwards. After the reflector 2 and the heat insulation ring 1 are assembled, the reflector 2 and the first limiting rib 12 work together to shield the area between the outer side of the reflector 2 and the inner side of the outer cover, preventing the area from being exposed. This eliminates the need for additional shielding components, reducing manufacturing costs and assembly steps, and avoiding technical problems such as poor appearance consistency and obvious segment differences caused by the increase of structural components. In addition, the heat insulation ring 1 in this application has a heat insulation part 15 located between the upper part of the outer shell 3 and the upper part of the reflector 2. The heat insulation part 15 prevents direct contact heat transfer from the reflector 2 to the outer shell 3, thereby reducing the temperature rise of the outer shell 3.

[0056] As a preferred embodiment of this application, such as Figure 4 and Figure 6 As shown, the area of ​​the heat insulation ring 1 without the recess 11 has a second limiting rib 13 that is connected to the heat insulation part 15 and extends downward. The second limiting rib 13 is located outside the second positioning wall 22 to restrict the reflector 2 from moving outward. After the reflector 2 is inserted into the heat insulation ring 1 from top to bottom, the first positioning wall 21 needs to be pushed downward and outward to pass the first limiting rib 12 and enter the outer side of the first limiting rib 12. During the pushing process, a part of the second positioning wall 22 adjacent to the first positioning wall 21 will be directly pulled and tend to move outward. In this embodiment, a second limiting rib 13 extending downward to the outer side of the second positioning wall 22 is further provided on the heat insulation ring 1. The second limiting rib 13 further restricts the outward movement of the second positioning wall 22. It can cooperate with the restriction on the outward movement of the heat insulation part 15 to the outward flange, increase the contact area between the second positioning wall 22 and the heat insulation ring 1 during the pushing process of the first positioning wall 21, thereby reducing the stress concentration phenomenon and reducing the probability of deformation of the second positioning wall 22. At the same time, the assembly efficiency of the reflector 2 and the heat insulation ring 1 is improved by preventing the reflector 2 from shifting significantly during the pushing process of the first positioning wall 21.

[0057] The reflector 2 is typically made of metal, such as stainless steel or aluminum, which have excellent reflective properties. During the cooking process, the reflector 2 reflects some of the heat generated by the heating element back to the inner pot 5, allowing the inner pot 5 to absorb heat more fully and thus improving heating efficiency. After cooking, the reflector 2 provides some insulation, slowing down the rate at which heat is lost from the inner pot 5 to the external environment. This keeps the food inside the inner pot 5 at a relatively high temperature after cooking, extending the food's heat retention time and allowing users to enjoy hot food for a period of time after cooking. In this application, the first positioning wall 21 and the second positioning wall 22 extend continuously along the circumference of the reflector 2 to form the peripheral sidewalls of the reflector 2. Compared to the second positioning wall 22, the top of the first positioning wall 21 is at a lower position, so that the first positioning wall 21 can be located below the recess 11 and stopped by the first limiting rib 12 extending downward along the bottom of the recess 11. The top of the second positioning wall 22 continues to extend upward so that it can be stopped by the second limiting rib 13 connected to the heat insulation part 15 and extending downward. The bidirectional constraint of the first limiting rib 12 and the second limiting rib 13 on the inner and outer sides of the reflector 2 can limit the radial displacement of the reflector 2, realize the rapid assembly of the reflector 2 and the heat insulation ring 1, and greatly improve the assembly efficiency of the two.

[0058] Before the heat insulation ring 1 and the reflector 2 are finally precisely positioned, they need to be roughly positioned first, that is, they are put together in the vertical direction. Due to the continuity of the first positioning wall 21 and the second positioning wall 22 of the reflector 2 in the circumferential direction, when the heat insulation ring 1 and the reflector 2 are initially roughly put together, the first positioning wall 21 and the second positioning wall 22 are both located on the inner ring side of the second limiting rib 13. Then the first positioning wall 21 needs to be pushed to the outer ring side of the first limiting rib 12 so that the inward movement of the reflector 2 can be restricted by the first limiting rib 12. During the process of pushing the first positioning wall 21 downward and outward, in order to prevent the first positioning wall 21 from being excessively pushed and pulled during the pushing process, causing the first positioning wall 21 to be excessively deformed and pulling on the second positioning wall 22, thereby causing inward deformation and bulging at the connection between the first positioning wall 21 and the second positioning wall 22, affecting the appearance quality of the inner wall surface of the reflector 2, and affecting the smoothness of the inner liner 5 being taken out and placed from the reflector 2, as a preferred embodiment, this application can adopt the following implementation method to limit the outward pushing of the first positioning wall 21.

[0059] Implementation method one: such as Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, the heat insulation ring 1 is provided with a third limiting rib 14 that is connected to the bottom of the recess 11 and extends downward. The third limiting rib 14 is located outside the first limiting rib 12. The third limiting rib 14 and the first limiting rib 12 cooperate to form a first limiting groove with an opening facing downward. The top of the first positioning wall 21 is located inside the first limiting groove.

[0060] In this first embodiment, the third limiting rib 14 is located outside the first limiting rib 12. The presence of the third limiting rib 14 can radially limit the first positioning wall 21 during installation, preventing it from being pushed outwards excessively. The third limiting rib 14 and the first limiting rib 12 cooperate to form a downward-opening first limiting groove, further strengthening the limiting effect on the first positioning wall 21. This makes the reflector 2 more stable not only in the horizontal direction after assembly, but also in the vertical direction. It effectively prevents the reflector 2 from moving upwards or shifting due to force or thermal expansion and contraction during use, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the assembly between the reflector 2 and the heat insulation ring 1.

[0061] Unlike existing technologies that use screws to fasten the reflector and the heat insulation ring, in this application, the radial restraint between the reflector 2 and the heat insulation ring 1 relies on the bidirectional constraint of the reflector 2 by the first restraining rib 12 and the second restraining rib 13 on the heat insulation ring 1. Compared to screw fastening, this restraint method actually has a certain amount of leeway in actual use, meaning that under external force, the reflector 2 may have a slight displacement along the radial direction of the heat insulation ring 1. Therefore, as a preferred embodiment of this invention, at least one of the third restraining rib 14 and the first restraining rib 12 abuts against the upper side of the first positioning wall 21. By abutting at least one of the first limiting rib 12 and the third limiting rib 14 against the upper side of the first positioning wall 21, the limiting effect of the first positioning wall 21 in the radial direction of the heat insulation ring 1 can be further strengthened. Combined with the second limiting rib 13's restriction on the outward displacement of the reflector 2, the probability of the reflector 2 shifting radially after assembly can be further reduced, ensuring the stability of the entire assembly structure. Furthermore, during the assembly of the reflector 2, the abutting action of the third limiting rib 14 and / or the first limiting rib 12 against the reflector 2 in this embodiment can provide excellent guidance and positioning, as well as a clear indication of proper installation, avoiding excessive pressure or pushing on the reflector 2.

[0062] If the downward extension height of the third limiting rib 14 is small, during the process of pushing the first positioning wall 21 from the inside out, the third limiting rib 14 cannot effectively block the first positioning wall 21, which will cause the first positioning wall 21 to be excessively pushed and squeezed, resulting in the installation exceeding the preset position, and thus causing deformation at the connection position between the first positioning wall 21 and the second positioning wall 22. Therefore, as a preferred embodiment of this invention, such as Figure 5 As shown, the downward extension height of the third limiting rib 14 is greater than that of the first limiting rib 12. In this embodiment, compared to the third limiting rib 14, the downward extension height of the first limiting rib 12 is smaller. When the first positioning wall 21 is squeezed and deformed outward from the inside of the heat insulation ring 1, passing the first limiting rib 12 and entering the first limiting groove, the amount of compression deformation of the first positioning wall 21 is relatively small due to the lower height of the first limiting rib 12. The required installation force is also smaller, which facilitates the installation operation of the first positioning wall 21, reduces the installation difficulty, and improves the installation efficiency. The downward extension height of the third limiting rib 14 is larger. When the first positioning wall 21 enters the first limiting groove, the third limiting rib 14 can provide more reliable support and stop and limit the first positioning wall 21, further preventing the first positioning wall 21 from excessively squeezing outward, thereby avoiding the deformation of the reflector 2.

[0063] Implementation Method Two: This implementation method is not illustrated. In this method, a limiting ring is provided on the outer side of the first positioning wall near the top. The outer diameter of the limiting ring is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the second limiting rib to ensure that the reflector and the heat insulation ring can pass smoothly during initial fitting. A limiting groove is provided on the outer side of the first limiting rib on the heat insulation ring, and the depth and width of the limiting groove match the limiting ring. When the first positioning wall is pushed to the outside of the first limiting rib, the limiting ring engages in the limiting groove to prevent the first positioning wall from moving further outward.

[0064] The heat insulation ring 1 is generally made of high-temperature resistant plastic. During the installation of the reflector 2, it needs to overcome the resistance of the first limiting rib 12 to be pushed from the inside out to the preset installation position. Therefore, the first limiting rib 12 needs to have a certain elasticity to facilitate the pushing of the first positioning wall 21, and also needs to have a certain hardness to restrict the inward movement of the first positioning wall 21 after its installation. Therefore, as a preferred embodiment of this application, such as Figure 5 As shown, the thickness of the first limiting rib 12 decreases from top to bottom. Appropriately reducing the thickness of the first limiting rib 12 from top to bottom can reduce the resistance that the first positioning wall 21 needs to overcome during compression, facilitating the assembly of the reflector 2. Furthermore, the wider top of the first limiting rib 12 ensures that the narrowed first limiting rib 12 still has sufficient strength to limit the first positioning wall 21.

[0065] During the process of pushing the first positioning wall 21 from the inside out to the outside of the first limiting rib 12, if the inner wall surface of the first positioning wall 21 is a straight vertical surface, then when pushing the first positioning wall 21, because the vertical surface lacks the force guidance of the inclined surface, the first positioning wall 21 relies entirely on vertical pressure to forcibly pass over the first limiting rib 12. This will cause a sudden increase in assembly force during the pushing process, and the first positioning wall 21 and the first limiting rib 12 will undergo permanent deformation or even break due to overload. Therefore, as a preferred embodiment of this method, if... Figure 5 As shown, the first limiting rib 12 has a first guide surface 121 facing away from the first positioning wall 21. The first guide surface 121 extends from top to bottom in a direction away from the axis of the heat insulation ring 1. In this embodiment, the first guide surface 121 extends from top to bottom in a direction away from the axis of the heat insulation ring 1. During the assembly process, when the first positioning wall 21 is pressed down and squeezed from the inside out, the inclined setting of the first guide surface 121 can decompose the vertical pressure into a radially outward component force, so that the first positioning wall 21 naturally expands outward along the first guide surface 121, reducing the vertical force required to squeeze the first limiting rib 12, avoiding deformation caused by hard collision, and making it easier for the first positioning wall 21 to pass over the first limiting rib 12, reducing the assembly difficulty. In this embodiment, "facing away" refers to the relative positional relationship between the first limiting rib 12 and the first positioning wall 21 after the reflector 2 and the heat insulation ring 1 are installed, that is, after the first positioning wall 21 has been installed in the preset position.

[0066] Furthermore, such as Figure 5 As shown, the first limiting rib 12 also has a second guide surface 122 facing the first positioning wall 21. The second guide surface 122 extends from top to bottom toward the axis close to the heat insulation ring 1. The inclined design of the second guide surface 122 helps the first positioning wall 21 to smoothly enter the outer side of the first limiting rib 12, and the inward inclination angle of the second guide surface 122 can guide the first positioning wall 21 to spring back and automatically reset to the preset installation position, ensuring the radial constraint accuracy of the first positioning wall 21. In this example, "facing" refers to the relative positional relationship between the first limiting rib 12 and the first positioning wall 21 after the reflector 2 and the heat insulation ring 1 are installed, that is, after the first positioning wall 21 has been installed in the preset position.

[0067] Furthermore, such as Figure 5As shown, the first limiting rib 12 has a transition portion 123 connecting the first guide surface 121 and the second guide surface 122, and the transition portion 123 is rounded. This design can significantly reduce the frictional resistance when the first positioning wall 21 contacts the first limiting rib 12 during assembly. When the first positioning wall 21 passes over the first limiting rib 12 by compression, the rounded corner provides a smoother contact surface, making it easier for the first positioning wall 21 to slide over the first limiting rib 12, thereby reducing assembly difficulty and improving assembly efficiency. Moreover, during assembly, the rounded transition portion 123 can naturally guide the positioning wall to move along the correct path, allowing the first positioning wall 21 to accurately enter the predetermined position, reducing assembly errors and ensuring a more precise fit between the reflector 2 and the heat insulation ring 1.

[0068] In this application, the first limiting rib 12 and the second limiting rib 13 clamp the reflector 2 from the inside and outside, respectively. Through bidirectional limiting in the inside and outside directions, bidirectional constraint is achieved on the radial direction of the reflector 2. The recess 11 of the heat insulation ring 1 is located above the first positioning wall 21, thus limiting the upward displacement of the reflector 2. To further limit the downward displacement of the reflector 2 and ensure the stability of the relative position of the reflector 2 and the heat insulation ring 1 after installation, this application can adopt any of the following embodiments:

[0069] Embodiment Three: This embodiment three is not illustrated. In this embodiment three, the outer flange only includes a flange portion that is connected to the second positioning wall and bends outward. The heat insulation ring has a support portion that is connected to the heat insulation portion and extends upward. The flange portion of the reflector is mounted on top of the support portion. In one example, the top surface of the flange portion is flush with the top surface of the heat insulation portion to prevent a step difference between their top surfaces, and the outer periphery of the flange portion abuts against the heat insulation portion in the radial direction to limit the outward displacement of the reflector. In another example, there is a step difference between the top surface of the flange portion and the top surface of the heat insulation portion, and the outer periphery of the flange portion abuts against the heat insulation portion in the radial direction to limit the outward displacement of the reflector.

[0070] Implementation Method Four: (e.g.) Figure 6 , Figure 7 and Figure 8As shown, the heat insulation ring 1 also has a fourth limiting rib 16 extending upward and located inside the heat insulation part 15. The fourth limiting rib 16 and the heat insulation part 15 cooperate to form a second limiting groove 17 with the opening facing upward. The outer flange includes a flange part 23 connected to the second positioning wall 22 and an extension part 24 connected to the flange part 23 and bent downward. The fourth limiting rib 16 and the flange part 23 abut against each other to restrict the downward movement of the reflector 2. The extension part 24 extends into the second limiting groove 17. In this fourth embodiment, the fourth limiting rib 16 abuts against the flange 23, which can effectively prevent the reflector 2 from moving downward due to external force or its own weight, thus ensuring the stability of the assembly between the reflector 2 and the heat insulation ring 1. The extension 24 extends into the second limiting groove 17, which can further limit the radial inward movement of the reflector 2 along the heat insulation ring 1. This multi-directional limiting design realizes the screw-free assembly between the reflector 2 and the heat insulation ring 1, so that the limiting design can achieve a stable fit between the reflector 2 and the heat insulation ring 1, reducing the risk of loosening caused by external force or vibration.

[0071] To further restrict the displacement of the reflector 2 along the circumferential direction of the heat insulation ring 1, as a preferred embodiment, such as... Figure 7 As shown, the recessed platform 11 has a limiting portion 18 extending toward the interior of the heat insulation ring 1. The limiting portion 18 abuts against the second positioning wall 22 along the circumferential direction of the heat insulation ring 1 to restrict the circumferential rotation of the reflector 2. The limiting portion 18 abuts against the second positioning wall 22 along the circumferential direction of the heat insulation ring 1, which can provide coarse positioning for the reflector 2 during the assembly process of the reflector 2 and the heat insulation ring 1, and effectively prevent the reflector 2 from rotating in the circumferential direction after assembly, ensuring that the relative position between the reflector 2 and the heat insulation ring 1 is fixed and avoiding misalignment due to rotation.

[0072] This application does not limit the connection method between the heat insulation ring and the outer shell, and it can adopt any of the following embodiments:

[0073] Implementation Method 5: This implementation method 5 is not illustrated. In this implementation method 5, the heat insulation ring is provided with a plurality of first mounting holes along its circumference, and the outer shell is provided with a plurality of second mounting holes accordingly. The heat insulation ring and the outer shell are fixed together by screws passing through the first mounting holes and the second mounting holes.

[0074] Implementation Method Six: One of the heat insulation ring and the outer shell has several snap-fits, and the other has several snap-fit ​​positions that match the snap-fits. The heat insulation ring and the outer shell are fixed together by snap-fits and snap-fit ​​positions. Assembly of the heat insulation ring and the outer shell via snap-fits and snap-fit ​​positions requires no tools; simply align the heat insulation ring 1 and the outer shell 3, and apply a certain pressure to engage the snap-fits and snap-fit ​​positions, greatly improving assembly efficiency and saving assembly time. In a specific implementation method, such as... Figure 9 and Figure 10As shown, the heat insulation part 15 has several buckles 19 arranged around its circumference below it, and the upper part of the outer shell 3 has an inwardly extending positioning protrusion 31. Several fasteners 32 are spaced apart on the positioning protrusion 31. After the reflector 2 and the heat insulation ring 1 are assembled into a component, the buckles 19 on the heat insulation ring 1 are aligned with the fasteners 32 on the outer shell 3 and pressed down, thereby assembling the outer shell 3, the heat insulation ring 1 and the reflector 2 into a whole.

[0075] For any parts not mentioned in this application, existing technologies may be used or referenced.

[0076] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner. The same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referred to each other. Each embodiment focuses on describing the differences from other embodiments.

[0077] The above descriptions are merely embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. The technical features or structures in the foregoing different embodiments can be arbitrarily combined to form other specific technical solutions as needed. For those skilled in the art, this application can have various modifications and variations. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principle of this application should be included within the scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A cooking appliance, comprising an outer pot and an inner pot built into the outer pot, characterized in that, The outer pot includes an outer shell, a reflector, and a heat insulation ring. The heat insulation ring has a heat insulation portion located between the upper part of the outer shell and the upper part of the reflector. The inner liner has an outwardly protruding protrusion. The heat insulation ring has a recessed platform that is recessed downward to accommodate the protrusion. The reflector has a first positioning wall and a second positioning wall connected circumferentially thereto. The first positioning wall is located below the recessed platform. The heat insulation ring has a first limiting rib that is connected to the bottom of the recessed platform and extends downward. The first limiting rib is located inside the first positioning wall to restrict the inward movement of the reflector. The top of the reflector has an outwardly flanged edge connected to the second positioning wall. The heat insulation portion is located outside the outwardly flanged edge to restrict the outward movement of the reflector.

2. A cooking utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that, The area of ​​the heat insulation ring without the recessed platform has a second limiting rib that is connected to the heat insulation part and extends downward. The second limiting rib is located outside the second positioning wall to restrict the outward movement of the reflector.

3. A cooking utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat insulation ring is provided with a third limiting rib that is connected to the bottom of the recess and extends downward. The third limiting rib is located outside the first limiting rib. The third limiting rib and the first limiting rib cooperate to form a first limiting groove with an opening facing downward. The top of the first positioning wall is located inside the first limiting groove.

4. A cooking utensil according to claim 3, characterized in that, At least one of the third limiting rib and the first limiting rib abuts against the upper side of the first positioning wall.

5. A cooking utensil according to claim 3, characterized in that, The third limiting rib extends downward to a greater height than the first limiting rib extends downward.

6. A cooking utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thickness of the first limiting rib decreases from top to bottom.

7. A cooking utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first limiting rib has a first guide surface facing away from the first positioning wall and a second guide surface facing the first positioning wall. The first guide surface extends from top to bottom in a direction away from the axis of the heat insulation ring, and the second guide surface extends from top to bottom in a direction close to the axis of the heat insulation ring.

8. A cooking utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat insulation ring also has a fourth limiting rib extending upward and located inside the heat insulation part. The fourth limiting rib cooperates with the heat insulation part to form a second limiting groove with the opening facing upward. The outer flange includes a flange part connected to the second positioning wall and an extension part connected to the flange part and bent downward. The fourth limiting rib abuts against the flange part to restrict the downward movement of the reflector. The extension part extends into the second limiting groove.

9. A cooking utensil according to claim 8, characterized in that, The recessed platform has a limiting portion extending toward the interior of the heat insulation ring, the limiting portion abutting against the second positioning wall in the circumferential direction of the heat insulation ring to restrict the circumferential rotation of the reflector.

10. A cooking utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that, One of the heat insulation ring and the outer shell is provided with a number of buckles, and the other of the two is provided with a number of fastening positions adapted to the buckles. The heat insulation ring and the outer shell are fixedly connected by the buckles and the fastening positions.

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