Household appliance

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of household appliance. Among them, household appliance includes utensil body and warning part connected on utensil body, warning part has phase change material, in the case where the temperature of utensil body is below first preset threshold, the phase change material of warning part has initial physical property, in the case where the temperature of utensil body is not below first preset threshold, the physical property of the phase change material of warning part reversibly changes relative to initial physical property to be used for warning. According to the household appliance provided in the utility model embodiment, compared with ink, phase change material has any one of good stability, wear resistance and corrosion resistance, and is durable and reversible, so as to improve the service life of the warning part of household appliance.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] In the home appliance industry, to provide warnings about high-temperature burns or low-temperature frostbite prevention for products (cookware, cups, spatulas, strainers, insulated boxes, refrigerators, etc.), a color-changing warning layer is typically printed on the product surface using warning ink. However, the stability, abrasion resistance, or corrosion resistance of this ink are often poor, thus affecting the lifespan of the resulting color-changing warning layer. Utility Model Content

[0003] The purpose of this utility model is to provide a household appliance to solve the problem of the short service life of the warning parts of existing household appliances.

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a household appliance is provided, wherein the household appliance includes an appliance body and a warning part connected to the appliance body, the warning part having a phase change material, wherein when the temperature of the appliance body is lower than a first preset threshold, the phase change material of the warning part has initial physical properties, and when the temperature of the appliance body is not lower than the first preset threshold, the physical properties of the phase change material of the warning part undergo a reversible change relative to the initial physical properties to serve as a warning.

[0005] According to the household appliance provided in this embodiment of the present invention, by connecting a warning part to the appliance body, the physical properties of the phase change material of the warning part can undergo a reversible change when the temperature of the appliance body is not lower than a first preset threshold, thereby forming a high-temperature warning function. Furthermore, compared to ink, the phase change material possesses any one of the following excellent properties: good stability, abrasion resistance, and corrosion resistance, allowing for long-lasting and reversible use, thus extending the service life of the warning part of the household appliance.

[0006] In some embodiments, the first preset threshold is 50°C to 70°C, and correspondingly, the phase change temperature of the phase change material is 50°C to 70°C. By setting the phase change temperature of the phase change material to correspond to the first temperature threshold, it can be ensured that when the temperature of the appliance body reaches or exceeds this range, the warning unit can accurately and timely issue a warning signal.

[0007] In some embodiments, the phase change material is pure vanadium dioxide or doped vanadium dioxide. These materials can meet the temperature requirements of high-temperature warnings for household appliances and have a relatively obvious change in color properties, which can further enhance the warning effect of the warning unit.

[0008] In some embodiments, the physical properties include at least one of appearance properties and phase properties, which are attribute changes that are easily noticed by the user and can enhance the warning effect of the warning unit.

[0009] In some embodiments, the appearance attribute is color. Changes in color can more intuitively create a visual reminder, allowing users to quickly perceive the effect and thus further enhancing the warning effect of the warning unit.

[0010] In some embodiments, the phase change material is an inorganic phase change material or an organic phase change material. The range of phase change material types is wide, which facilitates the manufacture of various types of household appliances. The phase change material corresponding to a suitable temperature threshold can be selected based on actual needs to form the warning part.

[0011] In some embodiments, the appliance body includes a pot body, a cup body, an induction cooker LCD panel, a bowl, a plate, or a handle. The types of substrates forming the warning part are diverse, making it easy to manufacture various types of household appliances.

[0012] In some embodiments, the appliance body is made of aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, or titanium alloy. These materials have excellent thermal conductivity, enabling them to quickly transfer heat to the warning unit, allowing the warning unit to respond in real time to temperature changes in the appliance body. When the temperature of the appliance body reaches or exceeds a preset first temperature threshold, the physical properties of the warning unit (such as color, transparency, or shape) will undergo a visually perceptible change, thus providing a direct indication of a high-temperature condition and achieving a safety warning function.

[0013] In some embodiments, the phase change material is a solid-solid phase change material, and the warning part is a warning layer formed by the solid-solid phase change material. When the warning layer is formed by the solid-solid phase change material, it can achieve changes in physical properties (such as color change) based on the crystal structure transformation. Since it does not involve the generation of liquid / gas, the volume change before and after the phase change is small, which can take into account both the warning functionality and the stability of the layer structure.

[0014] In some embodiments, the thickness of the warning layer is 20 nanometers to 2 micrometers. A thinner warning layer has a relatively smaller mass and requires less heat transfer under the same temperature change. This allows the warning layer to reach the phase transition temperature more quickly along with the appliance body, thereby rapidly changing its color to achieve a rapid temperature warning function. Additionally, it avoids the risk of excessive thickness affecting its adhesion to the appliance body.

[0015] In some embodiments, the warning layer is formed by magnetron sputtering deposition or pulsed laser deposition. Warning layers formed by these two methods are more uniform and dense, and have high film quality and strong adhesion, which can further improve the service life of the warning part of household appliances.

[0016] In some embodiments, the warning layer is formed on the outer surface of the appliance body, making it easy for the user to observe and ensuring that the user can obtain the temperature information of the household appliance in a timely and clear manner, thereby improving the reliability of the warning function.

[0017] In some embodiments, the solid-solid phase change material is a metal-insulator phase change material, which is capable of undergoing a reversible metal-insulator phase transition and whose reversible physical property changes can be observed by the user, making it suitable as a material for forming a warning section.

[0018] In some embodiments, the household appliance further includes a cover layer disposed outside the warning layer, and changes to the warning layer are visible through the cover layer.

[0019] In these embodiments, by providing a covering layer on the outside of the warning layer, the setting of the covering layer does not excessively affect the normal display of changes in the warning layer, and the covering layer can cover the warning layer and act as a physical isolation layer to protect the warning layer, thereby enabling the household appliance to further extend the service life of the warning part of the household appliance while ensuring the warning function.

[0020] In some embodiments, the thickness of the overlay layer is 5 micrometers to 20 micrometers. Such a thickness can form a protective mechanism for the warning layer and can prevent the display clarity of the warning layer from being affected by excessive thickness.

[0021] In some embodiments, the covering layer is made of inorganic or organic materials, and the materials used to form the covering layer are diverse, enabling the manufacture of different types of household appliances to meet the diverse needs of different users.

[0022] In some embodiments, the capping layer is formed by physical vapor deposition or spraying. The capping layer can be formed in various ways, allowing for the selection of a suitable method based on actual needs to meet the diverse requirements of different customers.

[0023] In some embodiments, the covering layer is selected from one of the following: a siloxane layer, a silica film layer, magnesium fluoride, zinc oxide, silicon nitride, aluminum oxide, titanium nitride, polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer, and polyvinyl chloride. During use, the user can clearly see changes in the warning layer through these covering layers, thereby achieving the purpose of warning while extending the service life.

[0024] In some embodiments, the warning unit includes a housing connected to the appliance body, forming a sealed cavity between the housing and the appliance body. The phase change material is disposed within the cavity, and changes in the phase change material are visible through the housing. During use, the user can visually and promptly observe changes in the phase change material through the housing to obtain temperature information about the household appliance.

[0025] In some embodiments, the phase change material is a solid-solid phase change material, and the warning part is a warning plate, which is manufactured using the solid-solid phase change material. During use, the user can directly and promptly observe changes in the warning plate to obtain temperature information about the household appliance.

[0026] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a household appliance is provided, the household appliance including an appliance body and a warning part connected to the appliance body, the warning part having a phase change material, wherein when the temperature of the appliance body is higher than a second preset threshold, the phase change material of the warning part has initial physical properties, and when the temperature of the appliance body is not higher than the second preset threshold, the physical properties of the phase change material of the warning part undergo a reversible change relative to the initial physical properties to serve as a warning.

[0027] According to the household appliance provided in this embodiment of the present invention, by connecting a warning part to the appliance body, the phase change material of the warning part can undergo a reversible change when the temperature of the appliance body does not exceed a second preset threshold, thereby forming a low-temperature warning function. At the same time, compared to ink, the phase change material possesses any one of the following excellent properties: good stability, abrasion resistance, and corrosion resistance, thereby extending the service life of the warning part of the household appliance.

[0028] In some embodiments, the second preset threshold is -20°C to -5°C, and correspondingly, the phase change temperature of the phase change material is -20°C to -5°C. By setting the phase change temperature of the phase change material to correspond to the second temperature threshold, it can be ensured that when the temperature of the appliance body reaches or falls below this range, the warning unit can accurately and promptly issue a warning signal.

[0029] In some embodiments, the phase change material is selected from paraffin wax, modified sodium sulfate decahydrate, and modified calcium chloride hexahydrate. By forming the warning part with these phase change materials, the warning function of the warning part can be realized. Attached Figure Description

[0030] The above and other aspects, features, and other advantages of the present invention will become clearer and more readily understood from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0031] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the cookware provided according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the cookware provided in the embodiment of this utility model after cross-section;

[0033] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 An enlarged structural schematic diagram of the cross-section at point I;

[0034] Figure 4 This is a structural schematic diagram of the cup provided according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0035] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 An enlarged structural schematic diagram of the cross-section at point J;

[0036] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the shovel provided according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0037] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 An enlarged structural schematic diagram of the cross-section at point K.

[0038] Symbol Explanation

[0039] 10. Appliance body; 20. Warning section; 30. Covering layer. Detailed Implementation

[0040] The following detailed descriptions are provided to aid the reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatus, and / or systems described herein. However, various changes, modifications, and equivalents of the methods, apparatus, and / or systems described herein will become apparent upon understanding this disclosure. For example, the order of operations described herein is merely illustrative and is not limited to those orders set forth herein, but may be altered as will become clear upon understanding this disclosure, except for operations that must occur in a specific order. Furthermore, for clarity and conciseness, descriptions of features known in the art may be omitted.

[0041] The features described herein may be implemented in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples described herein. Rather, the examples described herein are provided only to illustrate some of the many possible ways of implementing the methods, apparatus and / or systems described herein, many of which will become clear upon understanding the disclosure of this utility model.

[0042] As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any one of the associated listed items and any combination of any two or more.

[0043] Although terms such as “first,” “second,” and “third” may be used herein to describe various components, assemblies, regions, layers, or parts, these components, assemblies, regions, layers, or parts should not be limited by these terms. Rather, these terms are used only to distinguish one component, assembly, region, layer, or part from another. Thus, without departing from the teaching of the examples described herein, the first component, first assembly, first region, first layer, or first part referred to as the first component, first assembly, first region, first layer, or first part may also be referred to as the second component, second assembly, second region, second layer, or second part.

[0044] In the specification, when an element such as a layer, region, or substrate is described as being "on" another element, "connected to," or "mounted to" another element, the element may be directly "on" another element, directly "connected to," or "mounted to" the other element, or one or more other elements may be present in between. Conversely, when an element is described as being "directly on" another element, "directly connected to," or "directly mounted to" another element, no other elements may be present in between.

[0045] The terminology used herein is for describing various examples only and is not intended to limit the invention. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” indicate the presence of the described features, quantities, operations, components, elements, and / or combinations thereof, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, quantities, operations, components, elements, and / or combinations thereof. The term “a plurality” represents any quantity of two or more.

[0046] The directional terms "upper," "lower," "inner," and "outer" used in this utility model are all based on the reference position of the household appliance in its normal use state. This definition method will help ensure that readers or users can clearly understand the relative positional relationships of the various components and functions, and should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model.

[0047] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical and scientific terms, shall have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains after understanding the invention. Unless expressly defined herein, terms such as those defined in a general dictionary shall be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant field and in this invention, and shall not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formalistic manner.

[0048] Furthermore, in the description of the examples, detailed descriptions of well-known related components or functions will be omitted when it is believed that such detailed descriptions would lead to a vague interpretation of the present invention.

[0049] The following will combine Figures 1 to 7 This invention will introduce the household appliances provided by embodiments of the present invention.

[0050] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a household appliance has a high temperature warning function. The household appliance includes an appliance body 10 and a warning part 20 connected to the appliance body 10. The warning part 20 has a phase change material. When the temperature of the appliance body 10 is lower than a first preset threshold, the phase change material of the warning part 20 has initial physical properties. When the temperature of the appliance body 10 is not lower than the first preset threshold, the physical properties of the warning part 20 undergo a reversible change relative to the initial physical properties to provide a warning.

[0051] According to the household appliance provided in this embodiment of the present invention, by connecting a warning part 20 to the appliance body 10, when the temperature of the appliance body 10 is not lower than a first preset threshold, the physical properties of the phase change material of the warning part 20 can undergo a reversible change to form a high-temperature warning function. Furthermore, compared to ink, the phase change material possesses any one of the following excellent properties: good stability, abrasion resistance, and corrosion resistance, allowing for long-lasting and reversible use, thereby extending the service life of the warning part of the household appliance.

[0052] According to this invention, the phase change material can be either organic or inorganic, offering a wide range of choices and facilitating the manufacture of various types of household appliances. The appropriate phase change material can be selected based on actual needs and a suitable temperature threshold to form the warning element. This invention does not impose excessive limitations on the specific material type selection; those skilled in the art can choose based on actual requirements. For example, when good chemical stability or corrosion resistance is required, organic phase change materials can be selected. When high thermal stability, wear resistance, hardness, or corrosion resistance is required, inorganic phase change materials can be selected.

[0053] In this invention, "reversible change" means that the phase change material changes under the influence of a temperature not lower than a first preset threshold, and spontaneously recovers to its original state under the influence of a temperature lower than the first preset threshold. In addition, the "reversible change" can be repeated many times without performance degradation, thus ensuring the number of cycles the warning unit 20 can withstand during long-term use.

[0054] According to this invention, the appliance body 10 experiences temperature changes during use. When the temperature of the appliance body 10 is below a first preset threshold, the warning unit 20 displays a normal status. When the temperature of the appliance is not below the first preset threshold, the warning unit 20 can abruptly change its status and return to normal status display when the temperature of the appliance is below the first preset threshold, thus repeatedly providing a high-temperature warning during use.

[0055] According to this invention, the reversible change of a phase change material is a change in its physical properties at the macroscopic level. Here, the physical properties of the phase change material can include appearance properties and phase state properties. Changes in the physical properties of the phase change material include at least one change in appearance properties and phase state properties. These property changes are easily noticeable to the user and can enhance the warning effect of the warning unit. It is understood that in the judgment of property changes in this invention, one property can be judged, or multiple properties can be judged simultaneously. In this case, the user can judge the real-time temperature of the appliance body 10 based on this or these changes. It should be noted that when different phase change materials are selected, the judged physical properties may be the same or different, and this invention does not impose excessive limitations on this. Those skilled in the art can select other physical properties as judgment criteria under the guidance of this invention. For example, the reversible change of the phase change material can also include other physical properties of inorganic materials, and such physical properties have changes that are perceptible to the naked eye under the influence of a first temperature threshold. As an example, other properties can be transparency, and the reversible physical property change is a change in transparency.

[0056] In an exemplary embodiment of this utility model, the appearance attribute includes color. Changes in color can more intuitively create a visual reminder, enabling users to quickly perceive the effect and thus further enhancing the warning effect of the warning unit.

[0057] In some embodiments, the phase change material has two color states: a first color and a second color. When the temperature of the appliance body 10 is not lower than a first preset threshold, the phase change material of the warning unit 20 can change from the first color to the second color; when the temperature of the appliance body 10 is lower than the first preset threshold, the phase change material of the warning unit 20 can revert from the second color back to the first color. As a specific example, the first color and the second color are different. For example, the first color is blue, and the second color is silver-gray. As another example, the first color is transparent, and the second color is red.

[0058] In other embodiments, the phase change material has two basic forms: a first form and a second form. When the temperature of the appliance body 10 is not lower than a first preset threshold, the phase change material of the warning unit 20 can change from the first form to the second form. When the temperature of the appliance body 10 is lower than the first preset threshold, the phase change material of the warning unit 20 can revert from the second form to the first form.

[0059] In these embodiments, by connecting a warning unit 20 to the appliance body 10, when the temperature of the appliance body 10 is not lower than a first preset threshold, the phase change material of the warning unit 20 can change from a first color and / or form to a second color and / or form. When the temperature of the appliance body 10 is lower than the first preset threshold, the phase change material of the warning unit 20 can correspondingly revert from the second color and / or form to the first color and / or form. That is, during use, the phase change material of the warning unit 20 can undergo reversible color change and / or form change to form a warning effect at high temperatures.

[0060] According to a specific embodiment of this utility model, the appliance body 10 is the part of the household appliance where the temperature changes during use. As an example, the appliance body 10 may include a pot body, a cup body, an induction cooker LCD panel, a bowl, a plate, or a handle. The type of substrate forming the warning part is diverse, facilitating the manufacture of various types of household appliances. Regarding the handle, this utility model does not limit the functional head connected to the handle. Here, the functional head can be a spatula head, a slotted spoon head, or of course, the pot body.

[0061] In some embodiments, the appliance body 10 is made of a metal material and has certain thermal conductivity, so that when its own temperature changes due to use, it can transmit temperature to the warning part 20 connected to it. In this way, the temperature of the warning part 20 is comparable to that of the appliance body 10, so that it can be used as a warning part 20 to warn that the household appliance is at a high temperature.

[0062] As a specific example, the appliance body 10 is made of a high thermal conductivity metal material such as aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, or titanium alloy. These materials have excellent thermal conductivity, enabling them to quickly transfer heat to the warning unit 20, allowing the warning unit to respond in real time to temperature changes in the appliance body 10. When the appliance body temperature reaches or exceeds a preset first temperature threshold, the physical properties of the warning unit 20 (such as color, transparency, or shape) will undergo a visually perceptible change, thus intuitively indicating a high-temperature condition and achieving a safety warning function.

[0063] At the same time, the high strength of the selected metal material ensures the structural stability of the appliance body 10 and can withstand the mechanical stress in daily use; its excellent corrosion resistance effectively resists environmental corrosion (such as oxidation and acid and alkali corrosion), significantly extending the service life of household appliances.

[0064] According to this invention, the warning unit 20 uses a built-in phase change material to provide a real-time high-temperature visual warning for the appliance body 10. When the appliance body temperature exceeds a first temperature threshold, the phase change material undergoes a reversible phase change, and the significant change in its physical properties (such as state and color) directly reflects whether the temperature exceeds the limit.

[0065] In some embodiments, the phase change material includes a thermal phase change material, which includes a solid-liquid phase change material, a liquid-gas phase change material, or a solid-solid phase change material. It should be noted that when solid-liquid or liquid-gas phase change materials are selected, these materials achieve temperature regulation by absorbing or releasing latent heat. The phase change process is accompanied by state changes (such as melting / solidification, vaporization / liquefaction), which can provide intuitive warnings. Since the state changes involve the possibility of liquid / gas states, to prevent leakage of the phase change material and ensure reusability, the warning unit can be equipped with a transparent outer shell, ensuring structural integrity without affecting the visualization of physical changes. Additionally, these materials may also involve color changes, etc. When a solid-solid phase change material is selected, it can achieve changes in physical properties (such as abrupt color changes) based on crystal structure transformation. Since it does not involve the generation of liquid / gas states, the volume change before and after the phase change is minimal, making it particularly suitable for forming warning units of the warning layer type. As a specific example, solid-solid phase change materials are metal-insulator phase change materials (e.g., pure vanadium dioxide or doped vanadium dioxide), whose color can reversibly change with temperature, forming a warning layer structure that balances functionality and layer structure stability.

[0066] In some embodiments, the first temperature threshold is set to a range of 50°C to 70°C, which corresponds to a temperature threshold at which the human body can feel heat but will not typically cause severe burns in a short period of time. Correspondingly, the phase change temperature of the phase change material is between 50°C and 70°C. By setting the phase change temperature of the phase change material to correspond to the first temperature threshold, it can be ensured that when the temperature of the appliance body 10 reaches or exceeds this range, the warning unit 20 can accurately and promptly issue a warning signal. As a specific example, the household appliance is an electric kettle, and the phase change temperature of the phase change material selected for the electric kettle is 60°C. In this case, the first preset threshold is also 60°C. When the temperature of the electric kettle reaches 60°C, the phase change material of the warning unit 20 will undergo a color change (e.g., from blue to red), accompanied by a volume change. These changes will alert the user that the electric kettle is at a high temperature and requires careful use.

[0067] According to this invention, the metal-insulator phase change material is specifically a material capable of undergoing a reversible metal-insulator phase transition. This reversible change in physical properties is observable to the naked eye and is suitable as a material for forming a warning section. Metal-insulator phase change materials include pure vanadium dioxide and doped vanadium dioxide. These materials meet the temperature requirements for high-temperature warnings in household appliances and exhibit a noticeable change in color properties, further enhancing the warning effect of the warning section. It should be noted that both pure vanadium dioxide and doped vanadium dioxide are materials already in the prior art.

[0068] As a specific example, the metal-insulator phase change material is pure vanadium dioxide, and the phase transition temperature of pure vanadium dioxide (VO2) is approximately 68°C (340K), which is also the critical temperature for its transformation from a low-temperature monoclinic phase (M1 phase, semiconductor state) to a high-temperature tetragonal rutile phase (R phase, metallic state). At room temperature, pure vanadium dioxide appears blue-green or dark blue. When the temperature of the appliance body 10 changes and rises to 68°C, the warning unit 20 undergoes a reversible metal-insulator phase transition, changing from a first color (such as blue-green or dark blue) to a second color (such as silver-gray or metallic), forming a clear visual warning to alert the user to the temperature of the household appliance and avoid burns. Simultaneously, the color change of the warning unit 20 is reversible. When the temperature of the appliance body 10 drops below 68°C, the warning unit 20 reverts from the second color (such as silver-gray or metallic) back to the first color (such as blue-green or dark blue), indicating to the user that the household appliance is now within a safe temperature range and can be used with confidence.

[0069] As other specific examples, metal-insulator phase transition materials are doped vanadium dioxide. Doped vanadium dioxide also undergoes a temperature-dependent reversible phase transition, typically between 50°C and 70°C. In its low-temperature semiconductor state, the material may exhibit a single color (e.g., transparent, light-colored), but as the temperature rises above the phase transition temperature, transforming into a high-temperature metallic state, the color changes significantly (e.g., becoming darker, opaque). Specifically, the doped vanadium dioxide is selected from tungsten-doped vanadium dioxide, molybdenum-doped vanadium dioxide, fluorine-doped vanadium dioxide, aluminum-doped vanadium dioxide, and titanium-doped vanadium dioxide. The phase transition temperature of tungsten-doped vanadium dioxide is approximately 50°C-68°C, with a primary color of blue-green or grayish-blue and a secondary color of silver-gray. The phase transition temperature of molybdenum-doped vanadium dioxide is approximately 50°C-68°C, with a primary color of blue-green or grayish-blue and a secondary color of silver-gray. The phase transition temperature of fluorine-doped vanadium dioxide is approximately 50°C-68°C, with a primary color of yellowish-green or grayish-green and a secondary color of slightly darker silver-gray. The phase transition temperature of aluminum-doped vanadium dioxide is approximately 50℃-70℃, and its primary color can be grayish-blue or dark blue, with a secondary color of silver-gray. The phase transition temperature of titanium-doped vanadium dioxide is approximately 65℃-70℃, and its primary color can be blue-green or yellowish-green, with a secondary color of silver-gray.

[0070] In these embodiments, the color change of the warning section 20 allows users to intuitively understand the temperature of the appliance body 10, thereby avoiding burns and reducing safety hazards. Furthermore, this process involves a reversible metal-insulator phase transition, affecting the color of the warning section 20 but not its color properties (solid or liquid), layer structure, adhesion, etc. This prevents peeling, cracking, or performance degradation, ensuring the warning section 20 remains in place and can be used for a long time. Testing has shown that the warning layer formed from these materials possesses advantages such as high hardness (8H-9H), high temperature resistance (above 300°C), corrosion resistance (50 dishwasher cycles), and long-lasting temperature warning.

[0071] According to this utility model, the warning part 20 can be flexibly arranged on the appliance body 10. The phase change material can be filled onto the appliance body 10 to form the warning part 20. Alternatively, it can be bonded to the appliance body 10 in a layered structure to form the warning part 20. Furthermore, the phase change material can be made into a plate-like structure and bonded to the appliance body.

[0072] In some embodiments, the phase change material can be directly filled into a designated area of ​​the appliance body 10, preferably in a conspicuous location easily observable by the user. Through this localized filling design, when the appliance temperature reaches a first preset threshold, the phase change material in the filled area undergoes a physical property change (such as a change in color or shape), thereby forming an intuitive temperature warning label. As a specific example, the warning unit 20 includes an outer shell connected to the outer wall of the appliance body 10, forming a sealed cavity. The phase change material is disposed within the outer shell in the cavity, and changes in the phase change material can be displayed through the outer shell. During use, the user can intuitively and promptly observe the changes in the phase change material through the outer shell to obtain the temperature information of the household appliance.

[0073] In other embodiments, the phase change material can also be attached to the device body 10 by forming a layer. It should be noted that when the phase change material is attached to the device body 10 by forming a layer, a solid-solid phase change material must be selected. This is because solid-solid phase change materials involve color changes, thus providing a warning function, and do not involve changes in the state of matter, with minimal volume change before and after the phase change. This allows for better maintenance of the basic structure of the layered structure, preventing potential instability caused by abrupt changes in the state of matter when the warning section 20 is a warning layer. As a specific example, solid-solid phase change materials include metal-insulator phase change materials.

[0074] In some embodiments, the phase change material is a solid-solid phase change material, and the warning part 20 is a warning plate made of the solid-solid phase change material. During use, the user can visually and promptly observe changes in the warning plate to obtain temperature information about the household appliance. Here, the warning plate and the appliance body 10 can be connected using existing connection methods to ensure temperature synchronization during appliance use. This connection can be achieved through snap-fit ​​or adhesive bonding. Alternatively, a mounting groove for the warning plate can be provided on the appliance body 10, allowing the warning plate to be embedded tightly.

[0075] The following will take the warning part 20 constructed by forming a layer of phase change material as an example to give a detailed introduction to the warning part 20 of this utility model.

[0076] According to this invention, the warning part 20 is a warning layer. In this case, the phase change material is a solid-solid phase change material, and the warning part 20 is a warning layer formed of the solid-solid phase change material. The warning layer can be customized according to the specific shape and size of different parts of the device body 10. For example, for some irregularly shaped industrial equipment, the warning layer can fit tightly to its surface like "underwear," perfectly covering curved surfaces, edges, or complex structures to ensure comprehensive warning coverage. In addition, warning layers with various complex patterns, texts, and markings can also be produced through printing, etching, and other processes. For example, warning symbols and logos involve different color and pattern combinations, making the warning information more intuitive and eye-catching.

[0077] In some embodiments, the warning layer can be formed from a solid-solid phase change material via physical vapor deposition or spraying. The diverse formation methods allow for the selection of a suitable method based on actual needs, satisfying various customer requirements. For specific examples, physical vapor deposition can be achieved through magnetron sputtering or pulsed laser deposition. Warning layers formed by these two methods are more uniform and dense, exhibiting high film quality and strong adhesion, further extending the lifespan of the warning section in household appliances. More specifically, the parameters for magnetron sputtering deposition include a vacuum level of 2 x 10⁻⁶. -3 -4x10 -3 Pa, power 150W-200W, time 3h-5h, temperature 150℃-200℃.

[0078] In some embodiments, the warning layer is relatively thin, and the relatively thin warning layer (20 nanometers to 2 micrometers) has a relatively small mass, requiring less heat transfer under the same temperature change. This allows the warning layer to reach the phase transition temperature more quickly along with the appliance body 10, thereby rapidly changing its color to achieve a rapid temperature warning function. Additionally, it avoids the possibility that excessive thickness would affect its adhesion to the appliance body 10. As an example, the thickness of the warning layer is 20 nanometers to 2 micrometers.

[0079] According to this utility model, in order to ensure that users can obtain the temperature information of household appliances in a timely and clear manner, the warning part 20 is set in an area on the appliance body 10 that is easy to observe, so as to ensure its visibility and make it easy for users to notice.

[0080] In this invention, the warning layer is generally disposed on the outer surface of the household appliance, such as the outer wall of the appliance body 10, so that the user can observe it intuitively and clearly, thereby improving the reliability of the warning function. It should be noted that the warning layer can also be disposed on the inner wall of the appliance body 10. Taking a pot as an example, it can be disposed on the inner wall of the pot near the rim. This invention does not impose any further limitations on this aspect.

[0081] In some embodiments, the warning layer can be disposed in a certain area of ​​the circumferential direction of the appliance body 10. Disposing the warning layer in a specific area of ​​the circumferential direction of the appliance body 10 can play a warning role at a lower cost.

[0082] In other embodiments, the warning layer can also be positioned along the circumference of the appliance body 10, providing all-around visual coverage. With this arrangement, changes in the warning layer can be better observed regardless of the user's position, allowing for easier understanding of the appliance's current temperature. For example, with a round pot, the warning layer can be ring-shaped and positioned around the outer circumference of the pot.

[0083] It is important to emphasize that this invention does not limit the specific area where the warning layer is formed. Those skilled in the art, guided by this invention, can fully consider the actual needs of the product, such as the usage scenario, structural characteristics, cost budget, and user operating habits, and flexibly select other suitable areas to set the warning layer to achieve the best warning effect.

[0084] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the cookware provided according to an embodiment of the present utility model. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the cookware provided according to the embodiments of this utility model. Figure 3 yes Figure 2 An enlarged structural schematic diagram of the cross-section at point I. (Refer to...) Figures 1 to 3 The cookware includes a cookware body 10, a warning part 20 attached to the outer surface of the cookware body 10, and a covering layer 30 covering the outside of the warning part 20. The cookware body 10 is the pot body, and the warning part 20 is located on the pot body near the rim.

[0085] Figure 4 This is a structural schematic diagram of the cup provided according to an embodiment of the present utility model; Figure 5 yes Figure 4 An enlarged structural schematic diagram of the cross-section at point J. (Refer to...) Figure 4 and Figure 5 The cup includes a body 10, a warning part 20 attached to the outer surface of the body 10, and a covering layer 30 covering the outside of the warning part 20. The body 10 is the cup body, and the warning part 20 is arranged on the outer wall of the cup body.

[0086] Figure 6 This is a structural schematic diagram of the shovel provided according to an embodiment of the present utility model. Figure 7 yes Figure 6 An enlarged structural schematic diagram of the cross-section at point K. (Refer to...) Figure 6 and Figure 7The shovel includes a tool body 10, a warning part 20 connected to the outer surface of the tool body 10, and a covering layer 30 covering the outside of the warning part 20. The tool body 10 is a handle, and the warning part 20 is disposed on the upper surface of the handle near the functional head.

[0087] According to this utility model, the household appliance also includes a cover layer 30, which is disposed outside the warning layer, and changes in the warning layer can be displayed through the cover layer 30.

[0088] In these embodiments, by providing a covering layer 30 on the outside of the warning layer, the setting of the covering layer 30 does not excessively affect the normal display of changes in the warning layer, and the covering layer 30 can cover the warning layer and act as a physical isolation layer to protect the warning layer, thereby enabling the household appliance to further improve the service life of the warning part of the household appliance while ensuring the warning function.

[0089] Based on the foregoing description of the area where the warning layer is formed, the covering layer 30 of this invention can cover only the corresponding warning layer, or it can cover more of the outer wall surface of the household appliance. Thus, the covering layer 30 can isolate the appliance body 10 from air, preventing oxidation and discoloration of stainless steel, titanium, etc., under high-temperature environments, ensuring color consistency around the warning area, and avoiding color differences caused by oxidation and discoloration of other parts of the appliance body 10, which would affect the visual sensitivity of the warning area's color rendering effect. Simultaneously, providing a covering layer on the outer wall of the appliance body 10 can improve the appliance's wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and ease of cleaning. As a specific example, the covering layer 30 can cover the warning layer and be attached to the appliance body 10 to cover the outer edge of the warning layer.

[0090] In some embodiments, the overlay 30 has a suitable thickness. For example, the thickness of the overlay is 5 micrometers to 20 micrometers. Such a thickness can form a protective mechanism for the warning layer and can prevent the display clarity of the warning layer from being affected by excessive thickness.

[0091] In some embodiments, the cover layer 30 is made of a phase change material or an organic material. The materials used to form the cover layer 30 are diverse, enabling the manufacture of different types of household appliances to meet the diverse needs of different users.

[0092] In some embodiments, the cover layer 30 is formed by physical vapor deposition or spraying. The formation methods of the cover layer 30 are diverse, allowing for the selection of a suitable method based on actual needs to meet the various requirements of different customers. As specific examples, physical vapor deposition can be achieved through magnetron sputtering or pulsed laser deposition. Cover layers formed by these two methods are dense and uniform, with high film quality and strong adhesion, thereby improving the service life of the warning layer. As other specific examples, when the material forming the cover layer 30 is a liquid coating such as fluorine coating or ceramic coating, a liquid coating formation method can be used. For example, atomization spraying, brushing, or roller coating. After spraying, curing can be performed. For example, curing parameters can include a curing temperature of 280-300°C and a curing time of 8-15 minutes. When the material forming the cover layer 30 is a solid material such as magnesium fluoride, zinc oxide, silicon nitride, aluminum oxide, or titanium nitride, a solid material formation method can be used, such as plasma spraying, arc spraying, flame spraying, or cold spraying.

[0093] In some embodiments, the overlay 30 is a transparent layer, thereby ensuring that changes to the warning layer are clearly displayed through the overlay 30.

[0094] As a specific example, the cover layer 30 is selected from one of the following: a siloxane layer, a silica film layer, magnesium fluoride, zinc oxide, silicon nitride, aluminum oxide, titanium nitride, polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer, and polyvinyl chloride. During use, the user can clearly see changes in the warning layer through these transparent layers, thereby achieving the purpose of warning while extending the service life.

[0095] The household appliances provided according to the second aspect of the present invention differ from those of the first aspect in that the household appliances of these embodiments have a low temperature warning function. Based on this, the temperature response mechanism of the warning part and the material forming the warning part of the household appliances provided in the second aspect are different from those of the first aspect.

[0096] The differences from the first embodiment will be described in detail below, and other aspects can be referred to the relevant description of the first embodiment.

[0097] According to this utility model, a household appliance includes an appliance body 10 and a warning part 20 connected to the appliance body 10. The warning part 20 has a phase change material. When the temperature of the appliance body 10 is higher than a second preset threshold, the phase change material of the warning part 20 has initial physical properties. When the temperature of the appliance body 10 is not higher than the second preset threshold, the physical properties of the phase change material of the warning part 20 undergo a reversible change relative to the initial physical properties to serve as a warning.

[0098] According to the household appliance provided in this embodiment of the present invention, by connecting a warning part 20 to the appliance body 10, the phase change material of the warning part 20 can undergo a reversible change when the temperature of the appliance body 10 is not higher than a second preset threshold, thereby forming a low-temperature warning function. At the same time, compared to ink, the phase change material possesses any one of the following excellent properties: good stability, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance, thereby extending the service life of the warning part of the household appliance.

[0099] According to this invention, the reversible change of a phase change material is a change in its physical properties at the macroscopic level. Here, the physical properties of the phase change material can include appearance properties and phase state properties, and the change in the physical properties of the phase change material includes at least one change in appearance properties and a change in phase state properties. It is understood that in the judgment of property changes in this invention, one property or multiple properties can be judged. In this case, the user can judge the real-time temperature of the device body 10 based on this or these changes. It should be noted that when different phase change materials are selected, the judged physical properties may be the same or different, and this invention does not impose excessive limitations on this. Those skilled in the art can select other physical properties as judgment criteria under the guidance of this invention. For example, the reversible change of a phase change material can also include other physical properties of inorganic materials, and such physical properties have changes that are perceptible to the naked eye under the influence of a first temperature threshold. As an example, other properties can be transparency, and the reversible physical property change is a change in transparency.

[0100] In an exemplary embodiment of this utility model, the appearance attribute includes color. Changes in color can more intuitively create a visual reminder, which is easily and quickly perceived by the user, resulting in a good warning effect.

[0101] In some embodiments, the phase change material has two color states, a third color and a fourth color. When the temperature of the appliance body 10 is not higher than a second preset threshold, the phase change material of the warning unit 20 can change from the third color to the fourth color. When the temperature of the appliance body 10 is higher than the second preset threshold, the phase change material of the warning unit 20 can revert from the fourth color to the third color.

[0102] In other embodiments, the phase change material has two basic forms, a third form and a fourth form. When the temperature of the appliance body 10 is not higher than a second preset threshold, the phase change material of the warning unit 20 can change from the third form to the fourth form. When the temperature of the appliance body 10 is higher than the second preset threshold, the phase change material of the warning unit 20 can revert from the fourth form to the third form.

[0103] In these embodiments, by connecting a warning unit 20 to the appliance body 10, when the temperature of the appliance body 10 is not higher than a second preset threshold, the warning unit 20 can change from a third color and / or form to a fourth color and / or form, and when the temperature of the appliance body 10 is higher than the second preset threshold, the warning unit 20 can correspondingly revert from the fourth color and / or form to the third color and / or form. That is, during use, the warning unit 20 can reversibly change color and / or form to provide a warning effect.

[0104] As a specific example, the second preset threshold is -20℃ to -5℃, which corresponds to the temperature threshold at which the human body can feel heat but usually will not cause severe burns in a short period of time. Correspondingly, the phase change temperature of the phase change material is between -20℃ and -5℃. By setting the phase change temperature of the phase change material to correspond to the second temperature threshold, it can be ensured that when the temperature of the appliance body 10 reaches or falls below this range, the warning unit can accurately and promptly issue a warning signal. As a specific example, the household appliance is an ice maker, and the second preset threshold is set to -18℃. When the temperature of the ice maker is -18℃ or below -18℃, the warning unit (containing the phase change material) will undergo a phase change, changing from blue to red, and may be accompanied by slight morphological changes (such as expansion). These changes will remind the user that the ice maker is at a low temperature and that care should be taken when handling it.

[0105] As a specific example, the phase change material is selected from paraffin wax, modified sodium sulfate decahydrate, and modified calcium chloride hexahydrate. By forming the warning section using these phase change materials, the warning function of the warning section can be achieved. These materials are existing technologies. Specifically, the phase change temperature of modified sodium sulfate decahydrate (Na₂SO₄·10H₂O) is -8°C to -5°C, and the phase change temperature of modified calcium chloride hexahydrate (CaCl₂·6H₂O) is -10°C to -5°C. The phase change temperature of paraffin wax is -20°C to -5°C.

[0106] The household appliance of this invention has either a high-temperature warning or a low-temperature warning function. For the household appliance with a high-temperature warning function, the warning part has a high-temperature resistance greater than 300℃ and a reversibility cycle greater than 5000 times; for the household appliance with a low-temperature warning function, the warning part has a low-temperature resistance less than -30℃ and a reversibility cycle greater than 5000 times. Therefore, the household appliance of this invention has a long service life.

Claims

1. A household appliance characterized in that, The household appliance includes an appliance body (10) and a warning part (20) connected to the appliance body (10). The warning part (20) has a phase change material. When the temperature of the appliance body (10) is lower than a first preset threshold, the phase change material of the warning part (20) has initial physical properties. When the temperature of the appliance body (10) is not lower than the first preset threshold, the physical properties of the phase change material of the warning part (20) reversibly change relative to the initial physical properties to serve as a warning.

2. The household appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first preset threshold is 50°C to 70°C, and correspondingly, the phase change temperature of the phase change material is 50°C to 70°C; and / or, the phase change material is pure vanadium dioxide or doped vanadium dioxide.

3. The household appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that, The physical properties include at least one of appearance properties and phase properties.

4. The household appliance according to claim 3, characterized in that, The appearance attribute is color; and / or, the phase change material is an inorganic phase change material or an organic phase change material.

5. The household appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that, The appliance body (10) includes a pot body, a cup body, an induction cooker LCD panel, a bowl, a plate, or a handle; and / or, the appliance body (10) is made of aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, or titanium alloy.

6. A household appliance characterized in that, The household appliance includes an appliance body (10) and a warning part (20) connected to the appliance body (10). The warning part (20) has a phase change material. When the temperature of the appliance body (10) is higher than a second preset threshold, the phase change material of the warning part (20) has initial physical properties. When the temperature of the appliance body (10) is not higher than the second preset threshold, the physical properties of the phase change material of the warning part (20) change reversibly relative to the initial physical properties to serve as a warning.

7. The household appliance according to claim 6, characterized in that, The second preset threshold is -20℃ to -5℃, corresponding to the phase change temperature of the phase change material being -20℃ to -5℃; and / or, the phase change material is selected from paraffin wax, modified sodium sulfate decahydrate, and modified calcium chloride hexahydrate.

8. The household appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The phase change material is a solid-solid phase change material, and the warning part (20) is a warning layer formed by the solid-solid phase change material.

9. The household appliance according to claim 8, characterized in that, The thickness of the warning layer is 20 nanometers to 2 micrometers; and / or, the warning layer is formed by magnetron sputtering deposition or pulsed laser deposition; and / or, the warning layer is formed on the outer surface of the device body (10); and / or, the solid-solid phase change material is a metal-insulator phase change material.

10. The household appliance according to claim 8, characterized in that, The household appliance also includes a cover layer (30) disposed outside the warning layer, and changes to the warning layer can be displayed through the cover layer (30).

11. The household appliance according to claim 10, characterized by The thickness of the cover layer (30) is 5 micrometers to 20 micrometers; and / or, the cover layer (30) is made of inorganic or organic materials; and / or, the cover layer (30) is formed by physical vapor deposition or spraying.

12. The household appliance according to claim 10, characterized by The covering layer (30) is selected from one of the following: siloxane layer, silica film layer, magnesium fluoride, zinc oxide, silicon nitride, aluminum oxide, titanium nitride, polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer and polyvinyl chloride.

13. The household appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by, The warning unit (20) includes an outer shell, which is connected to the appliance body (10) and forms a sealed cavity between the outer shell and the appliance body (10). The phase change material is disposed in the cavity, and the change of the phase change material can be displayed through the outer shell.

14. The household appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by, The phase change material is a solid-solid phase change material, and the warning part (20) is a warning plate, which is made of solid-solid phase change material.

Images