Lighting device for a pot of a food processor

Abstract

Lighting device (1) for a pot (3) covered with a lid (2), wherein the lid (2) has a central feed opening (4) which is surrounded by a lid section (5) arranged concentrically to the feed opening (4), wherein the lighting device (1) can be fastened to the lid section (5) so that a pot interior (6) can be illuminated with the lighting device (1).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a lighting device for a pot covered with a lid, wherein the lid has a central feed opening.

[0002] Kitchen appliances, particularly heatable multifunctional kitchen appliances, typically have a pot for preparing and processing food. Such kitchen appliances are marketed, for example, under the Thermomix brand by the company Vorwerk. A mixing blade may be located in the pot, which can be used to stir, chop, mix, knead, or similarly process food. The pot may be heatable so that food inside can be heated. The pot can be covered with a lid, which may have a central opening through which ingredients can be added to the pot. The lid is typically made of a non-transparent or translucent material, meaning it is opaque.

[0003] Lids designed in this way can also be used in pots that are not used in conjunction with a food processor, but rather placed on a heat source. A blender blade is not necessarily required in a pot.

[0004] The problem is that when a pot is covered with a lid with a central opening, and the lid is opaque, users have limited visual control over the cooking process. While the central opening allows for a view of the pot's interior, very little ambient light penetrates the pot.

[0005] The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing a possibility with which preparation processes in a pot covered with a lid (having a central feed opening) can be better visually observed by a user.

[0006] This object is achieved with a lighting device according to claim 1 and a food processor according to claim 13.

[0007] Thus, the present invention relates to a lighting device for a pot covered with a lid, wherein the lid has a central feed opening which is surrounded by a lid section arranged concentrically to the feed opening, wherein the lighting device can be fastened to the lid section so that a pot interior can be illuminated with the lighting device.

[0008] The lighting device can have a lighting unit, which can be arranged inside or outside the pot. An arrangement inside the pot means that the lighting unit is arranged inside the pot (i.e., below the lid). An arrangement outside the pot means that the lighting unit is arranged outside the pot interior, i.e., above the lid. An arrangement outside the pot can, for example, be designed such that the lighting unit is arranged above the central supply opening. A lighting unit comprises a light source, e.g., an LED (light-emitting diode).

[0009] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the lighting device can be detachably fastened to the cover section.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the lighting device has a lighting section with a lighting unit, in particular an LED, wherein the interior of the pot can be illuminated with the lighting unit when the lighting device is fastened to the lid section.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the lid section has an inner surface facing the pot interior and an outer surface opposite the inner surface and facing away from the pot interior and towards the outside of the pot, wherein when the lighting device is fastened to the lid section, an actuating section of the lighting device is arranged on the outer surface and the luminous section is arranged on the inner surface.

[0013] The actuating section and the luminous section can be opposite one another, whereby either the actuating section and / or the luminous section can have a magnetic element, so that the actuating section and the luminous section attract each other for attachment (through the cover section). It can also be provided that only the actuating section or only the luminous section has a magnetic element, and the respective opposite section (actuating section or luminous section) comprises a material (e.g., metal) that can be attracted by the magnetic element.

[0014] The luminous section and / or the magnetic section can be ring-shaped. The luminous section can comprise several luminous units, in particular several LEDs.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, the lighting device can have a receiving bracket arranged between the actuating section and the luminous section, which can be slipped over the cover section in such a way that the cover section is received, in particular in a form-fitting manner, in a receiving opening of the receiving bracket, and that the actuating section of the lighting device is supported on the outer surface and the luminous section of the lighting device is supported on the inner surface. This can provide a clamping or press fit of the lighting device on the cover.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the receiving opening can be L-shaped in longitudinal section. The receiving opening can be open transversely to a longitudinal axis running along the longitudinal section, i.e., in the direction of a transverse axis, preferably arranged perpendicular to it. The receiving opening can be delimited only by the receiving bracket and preferably has no side walls.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, the receiving bracket can be flexible. In particular, the receiving bracket is flexible enough to allow it to be slipped over the lid section.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, the support bracket can be made of a flexible plastic. This can be, for example, an elastomer, a thermoplastic, or a thermoset. It can also be rubber or silicone.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the invention, the support bracket can comprise a flexible metal spring. The metal spring can be embedded in a non-metallic casing, particularly made of plastic. The non-metallic casing can be, for example, an elastomer, a thermoplastic, or a thermoset. It can also be rubber or silicone.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, the actuating section can have an actuating element for actuating the lighting unit. An actuating element can be a button or a switch. For example, it can be a pushbutton or a toggle or rotary switch. It can also be a proximity switch. The actuating element can also be actuated acoustically, e.g., by voice input. The actuating element can also be actuated contactlessly, e.g., via a mobile device, e.g., via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, a mobile data connection, etc. For this purpose, the actuating element can have a corresponding transmitter and / or receiver.

[0021] By operating the control element, the lighting unit can be switched on and off. It can also be used to set a specific lighting mode (e.g., a lighting color, a brightness level, or the like, a flashing interval, a lighting program coordinated with external music, etc.). The lighting mode can be selected manually, which is why one or more lighting modes can be stored in a memory unit of the lighting device. When selected by a user, a lighting mode can be selected and triggered (by operating the control element).

[0022] It can also be provided that the lighting device has a temperature sensor or is connected to one. A specific lighting mode can be triggered depending on the temperature inside the pot detected by the temperature sensor. For example, if the temperature sensor measures a temperature inside the pot that is below a predetermined temperature, a different light color or light intensity can be selected than if the measured temperature is equal to or above the predetermined temperature.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the invention, a power supply unit, in particular a battery or rechargeable battery, for supplying the lighting unit with electrical energy can be arranged in the lighting section or the actuating section. The power supply unit is embedded in the lighting section or the actuating section, i.e., surrounded in particular by a plastic, silicone, or rubber. This prevents contact with moisture. The power supply unit can also be rechargeable, e.g., inductively or via a USB port, which can also be part of the lighting device.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the invention, the actuating element, the power supply unit, and the lighting unit can be interconnected in such a way that the lighting unit can be actuated by actuating the actuating element. "Interconnected" refers to an electrical supply line on the one hand and a signal transmission line on the other. The electrical supply line and / or the signal transmission line can be routed through the mounting bracket.

[0025] Furthermore, the object mentioned at the outset is achieved by a kitchen appliance, in particular a heatable multifunctional kitchen appliance, comprising a pot covered with a lid, wherein the lid has a central feed opening which is surrounded by a lid section arranged concentrically to the feed opening, and further comprising a lighting device which can be fastened to the lid section so that a pot interior can be illuminated with the lighting device.

[0026] The food processor may have a base station with a pot holder, wherein the pot can be arranged in the pot holder.

[0027] A rotating mixing blade can be arranged in the bottom area of the pot.

[0028] The food processor may comprise a lighting device according to the invention.

[0029] Further embodiments of the invention are shown in the figures. These show: Fig. 1: a perspective view of the lighting device according to the invention; Fig. 2: a sectional view of the lighting device according to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the lighting device according to the invention, wherein a cover portion of the cover is received in a receiving opening of the lighting device; Fig. 4 a perspective view of a food processor with pot, lid and lighting device according to the invention; Fig. 5 another view of a kitchen appliance with pot, lid and lighting device according to the invention.

[0030] The figures show in Fig. 1 to Fig. 3 a lighting device 1 for a pot 3 covered with a lid 2 (cf. Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 in relation to a food processor), wherein the lid 2 has a central feed opening 4 which is surrounded by a lid section 5 arranged concentrically to the feed opening 4, wherein the lighting device 1 can be fastened to the lid section 5 so that a pot interior 6 can be illuminated with the lighting device 1.

[0031] The lighting device 1 can be detachably fastened to the lid section 5. The lighting device 1 has a lighting section 7 with a lighting unit 8, in particular an LED, wherein the pot interior 6 can be illuminated with the lighting unit 8 when the lighting device 1 is fastened to the lid section 5. The lid section 5 has an inner surface 9 facing the pot interior 6 and an outer surface 11 opposite the inner surface 9 and facing away from the pot interior 6 and towards the outside 10 of the pot, wherein when the lighting device 1 is fastened to the lid section 5, an actuating section 12 of the lighting device 1 is arranged on the outer surface 11 and the lighting section 7 is arranged on the inner surface 9.

[0032] The lighting device 1 has a receiving bracket 13 arranged between the actuating section 12 and the luminous section 7, which can be slipped over the cover section 5 in such a way that the cover section 5 is received in a receiving opening 14 of the receiving bracket 13, in particular in a form-fitting manner, and that the actuating section 12 of the lighting device 1 is supported on the outer surface 11 and the luminous section 7 of the lighting device 1 is supported on the inner surface 9.

[0033] The receiving opening 14 has an L-shape in longitudinal section and is flexible. The actuating section 12 has an actuating element 15 for actuating the lighting unit 8.

[0034] A power supply unit 16, in particular a battery or rechargeable battery, is arranged in the lighting section 7 or the actuating section 12 to supply the lighting unit 8 with electrical energy. The actuating element 15, the power supply unit 16, and the lighting unit 8 are interconnected in such a way that the lighting unit 8 can be actuated by actuating the actuating element 15.

[0035] Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 show a food processor, in particular a heatable multifunctional food processor, comprising a pot 3 covered with a lid 2, wherein the lid 2 has a central feed opening 4 which is surrounded by a lid section 5 arranged concentrically to the feed opening 4, and further comprising a lighting device 1 which can be fastened to the lid section 5 so that a pot interior 6 can be illuminated with the lighting device 1.

[0036] The food processor has a base station 17 with a pot holder 18, wherein the pot 3 can be arranged in the pot holder 18. A rotatable mixing blade 19 is arranged in the base area of the pot 3. List of reference symbols 1 lighting device 2 lids 3 pot 4 Feed opening 5 Lid section 6 Pot interior 7 luminous sections 8 lighting units 9 Interior surface 10 pot outside 11 Exterior surface 12 Operating section 13 mounting brackets 14 Receiving opening 15 Actuating element 16 Power supply unit 17 Base station 18 Pot holder 19 mixing knives

Claims

[1] Lighting device (1) for a pot (3) covered with a lid (2), wherein the lid (2) has a central feed opening (4) which is surrounded by a lid section (5) arranged concentrically to the feed opening (4), wherein the lighting device (1) can be fastened to the lid section (5) so that a pot interior (6) can be illuminated with the lighting device (1). [2] Lighting device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device (1) is detachably attachable to the cover portion (5). [3] Lighting device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lighting device (1) has a lighting section (7) with a lighting unit (8), in particular an LED, wherein the pot interior (6) can be illuminated with the lighting unit (8) when the lighting device (1) is fastened to the lid section (5). [4] Lighting device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the cover section (5) has an inner surface (9) facing the pot interior (6) and an outer surface (11) opposite the inner surface (9) and facing away from the pot interior (6) and facing towards the outside (10) of the pot, wherein when the lighting device (1) is fastened to the cover section (5), an actuating section (12) of the lighting device (1) is arranged on the outer surface (11) and the luminous section (7) is arranged on the inner surface (9). [5] Lighting device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the lighting device (1) has a receiving bracket (13) arranged between the actuating section (12) and the luminous section (7), which can be slipped over the cover section (5) in such a way that the cover section (5) is received in a receiving opening (14) of the receiving bracket (13), in particular in a form-fitting manner, and that the actuating section (12) of the lighting device (1) is supported on the outer surface (11) and the luminous section (7) of the lighting device (1) is supported on the inner surface (9). [6] Lighting device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the receiving opening (14) has an L-shape in longitudinal section. [7] Lighting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving bracket (13) is flexible. [8] Lighting device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the receiving bracket (13) comprises a flexible plastic. [9] Lighting device (1) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the receiving bracket (13) comprises a flexible metal spring. [10] Lighting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuating section (12) has an actuating element (15) for actuating the lighting unit (8). [11] Lighting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a power supply unit (16), in particular a battery or a rechargeable battery, is arranged in the lighting section (7) or the actuating section (12) for supplying the lighting unit (8) with electrical energy. [12] Lighting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuating element (15), the power supply unit (16) and the lighting unit (8) are connected in such a way that the lighting unit (8) can be actuated by actuating the actuating element (15). [13] Food processor, in particular a heatable multifunctional food processor, comprising a pot (3) covered with a lid (2), wherein the lid (2) has a central feed opening (4) which is surrounded by a lid section (5) arranged concentrically to the feed opening (4), and further comprising a lighting device (1) which can be fastened to the lid section (5) so that a pot interior (6) can be illuminated with the lighting device (1). [14] Food processor according to claim 13, wherein the food processor has a base station (17) with a pot holder (18), wherein the pot (3) can be arranged in the pot holder (18). [15] Food processor according to claim 13 or 14, wherein a rotatable mixing blade (19) is arranged in the pot (3) in the bottom region thereof. [16] Food processor according to one of claims 13 to 15, further comprising a lighting device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12.

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