Device for closing an opening at the bottom of a container of a household appliance for culinary preparation

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of household food preparation appliances and more specifically relates to a device for closing an opening on a bottom of a container of a household food preparation appliance. The invention also relates to a container of a household food preparation appliance equipped with such a closing device, as well as a household food preparation appliance equipped with such a container.

[0002] The main objective of the invention is to optimize the design of the closure device. State of the art

[0003] Food preparation appliances are widely used today, with some of them capable of handling food preparation from start to finish. This allows households to continue eating freshly prepared meals rather than frozen meals, while also managing other family or professional tasks.

[0004] Since culinary preparations are numerous and varied, the development of household appliances for culinary preparation that can be used for multiple culinary preparations proves advantageous in order to limit the number of household appliances within the household.

[0005] Various household food preparation appliances are known which comprise a container having a bottom provided with an opening and a rotating spindle for receiving at least one food processing tool. This rotating spindle is mounted on the bottom and also allows the opening on the bottom to be closed. The container is removably mounted on a base of the appliance, this base comprising a motorized shaft configured to couple with the rotating spindle when the container is engaged on the base. The rotating spindle is held assembled with the bottom of the container by means of a quarter-turn or bayonet type locking member. The Chinese utility model CN204600260U presents such a design.

[0006] This document describes a device for closing an opening on the bottom of a container of a household food preparation appliance. This closing device comprises a plug passing through an opening in the bottom of the container, a locking ring, a spring ring and a clamping sleeve. The clamping sleeve has elastic tabs designed to engage with the locking ring by gripping the spring ring.

[0007] However, the locking ring is not provided with an internal shoulder, and the body of the plug does not include a flexible tab extending longitudinally, which would have an external face provided with a lug.

[0008] It is also known to be possible to replace this rotating spindle for receiving at least one culinary processing tool with a plug for closing the opening on the bottom of the container. This makes it possible to produce simmered recipes or browned recipes, which do not require the use of a culinary processing tool. International patent application WO2017144907A1 describes such features. According to WO2017144907A1, the attachment of the rotating spindle for receiving at least one culinary processing tool or, as a replacement, the plug with the bottom of the container is obtained by means of a quarter-turn or bayonet-type locking member. The plug comprises a body and a head, the body comprising lugs complementary to the locking member and allowing said quarter-turn or bayonet-type locking.

[0009] The fixing of the rotating spit or the cap by means of the quarter-turn or bayonet type locking member is robust. This is necessary in order to firmly hold the rotating spit while it is being rotated by the motorized shaft of the base during culinary processing using a culinary processing tool. This robustness of the fixing can prove restrictive when removing the rotating spit or the cap after use, for cleaning the container. Indeed, it is not always easy to properly hold the rotating spit or the cap with the hand while removing the locking member. Summary of the invention

[0010] The present invention overcomes this drawback when using the cap on the container, for the preparation of simmered or browned culinary preparations, that is to say, only carrying out a heat treatment. Indeed, during use, the cap has the sole function of closing the opening of the bottom of the container; the latter is not subjected to rotation as a rotating spit can be, which advantageously allows the implementation of a locking system facilitating the removal of the cap when cleaning the container.

[0011] To this end, the invention relates to a device for closing an opening on a bottom of a container of a household appliance for preparing food according to claim 1.

[0012] Thus, when placing the closure device on the container, the user grasps the cap with one hand and inserts the body into the opening on the bottom on the inside of the container until the head of the cap rests on the inside of the bottom. Then the user places the locking ring on the outside of the bottom and engages it around the body by simply pushing it in, which causes the at least one flexible tab to flex until the lug on said flexible tab reaches the inside shoulder where said at least one flexible tab can then return to its normal position under the effect of its flexibility, in which normal position the lug is placed under the inside shoulder and blocks the release of the locking ring. In this position, the bottom is pinched between the head and the locking ring, a seal being placed between said bottom and said head.When removing the closure device, the user grasps the end portion of the at least one flexible tab and flexes it, which releases the lug from the internal shoulder and allows the locking ring to be released from the body, to then extract the stopper from the bottom of the container.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the closure device, the body comprises two diametrically opposed flexible legs, the lugs on these two flexible legs being arranged in opposition to snap onto the internal shoulder when the locking ring is placed around the body. This facilitates manipulation of the two flexible legs with the thumb and index finger of one hand, in order to flex them and thus disengage the lugs from the internal shoulder of the locking ring. This also ensures better distribution of forces during assembly of the closure device with the bottom of the container.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the closure device, the seal is removable from the cap and arranged to be placed around the body under the head so as to be pinched between the internal face of the bottom and the head once the cap and the locking ring are placed on the bottom. Alternatively, the seal could be secured to a lower face of the head, said lower face being juxtaposed with the internal face of the bottom when the head is resting on said internal face.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the closure device, the locking ring has an external contour provided with a peripheral seal. This peripheral seal can participate in the sealing of the cap in addition to the seal under the head; this essentially makes it possible to properly immobilize the ring and the cap by resting on a contour wall of the bottom, this contour wall matching the opening on said bottom. This prevents possible vibrations of the cap and the locking ring during cooking and thus preserves a perfect seal at the level of the seal under the head of the cap.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the closure device, the head includes first grooves. This makes it easier to grip the head during positioning and removal of the stopper. A variant without such first grooves on the head remains, however, conceivable. .

[0017] According to one embodiment of the closure device, the locking ring includes a collar. This makes it easier to grip the ring during its positioning around the body of the stopper and during its removal from said body. A variant without such a collar remains, however, conceivable.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the closure device, the locking ring may comprise an upper edge arranged on the side opposite the collar and an internal chamfer at the upper edge.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the closure device, the lug of the at least one flexible tab may have a beveled face on the side of the free end of the at least one flexible tab.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the closure device, the at least one flexible tab comprises on its outer face, at its end, second grooves. This makes it easier to hold the flexible tab with a finger of one hand during the release of the lug on said flexible tab from the internal shoulder on the ring. A variant without such second grooves on the flexible tab remains, however, conceivable.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the closure device, the cap, the seal and the locking ring are made of materials ensuring resistance to cooking temperatures of around 150°C, corresponding to browned culinary preparations. The use of other types of material remains possible, however.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the closure device, the stopper may be devoid of a longitudinal transmission axis passing through the body and the head.

[0023] The invention also relates to a container for a household appliance for preparing food according to claim 12.

[0024] The sealing device is configured to seal the opening as a replacement for the rotating spit, for the production of culinary preparations by heat treatment only, in particular simmered or browned culinary preparations.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the container, the base comprises a tubular-shaped guide piece defining the opening, said guide piece comprising an internal shoulder on which the locking ring engaged in said guide piece rests and protruding from the lower side thereof, when the base is pinched between said locking ring and the head of the cap. This guide piece participates in the centering of the locking ring and the cap when the closure device is put in place.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the container, the bottom comprises an upper plate and a lower plate spaced from each other and on which the guide piece is mounted, the locking ring and one end of the at least one flexible tab being accessible below the lower plate. Other designs remain conceivable for the bottom of the container, in particular with only one plate.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the container, the locking ring is configured to bear on an internal contour of the guide piece when the closure device is placed on the bottom. This allows the guide ring and the cap to be properly centered, avoiding possible vibrations during cooking.

[0028] According to one embodiment of the container, the latter comprises a sole provided on its lower face with a cavity in which the locking ring and one end of the at least one flexible tab are accessible when the closure device is mounted on the bottom of the container.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the container, the latter comprises a heating member, which allows cooking to be carried out. Alternatively, this heating member could be implemented on a base of the household food preparation appliance. This heating member could then be configured in particular to come into contact with the bottom of the container when this container is engaged on the base, or to heat said container by induction.

[0030] The invention also relates to a household appliance for food preparation according to claim 18. Brief description of the figures

[0031] The following description highlights the features and advantages of the present invention. This description is based on figures, among which: There figure 1 illustrates an overview of a household food preparation appliance on which the closure device according to the present invention can be implemented. The figure 2 illustrates a sectional view of the container without the closure device and without a rotating pin on the bottom; The figure 3 illustrates a sectional view of the container with the closure device in place on the bottom; The figure 4 illustrates a container on which the closure device is mounted, from a first viewing angle; The Figure 5 illustrates the container on which the closure device is mounted, from a second viewing angle; The figure 6 illustrates the locking ring from a first viewing angle; The figure 7illustrates the locking ring from a second angle of view with the peripheral seal removed from the locking ring; The figure 8 illustrates said peripheral seal of the locking ring; The figure 9 illustrates the plug of the closure device from a first viewing angle; The figure 10 illustrates the plug of the closure device from a second viewing angle, with a head cover removed therefrom; The figure 11 illustrates the said hood present on the head of the cap; The figure 12 illustrates the seal on the closure device; The figure 13 illustrates a sectional view of the closure device alone. Detailed description

[0032] In the remainder of the description, the term appliance is used to designate a household appliance for food preparation according to the invention, unless otherwise indicated.

[0033] In addition, the same references are used to define the same characteristics on the various parts.

[0034] In view of the figure 1 , the household food preparation appliance 100 comprises a container 101 and a base 104 on which the container 101 is engaged. The base 104 comprises a front face 106 provided with a programming keyboard 107. The container 101 comprises a sole 130. The container 101 comprises a rotating spindle 102 which allows the reception and rotational driving of a food processing tool 103. On the figure 1, this culinary processing tool 103 is a knife tool, but the container 101 may comprise other culinary processing tools, for example a mixer. The culinary preparation household appliance 100 comprises a cover 105 allowing the container 101 to be closed. The base 104 incorporates a motorized shaft (not illustrated) which couples with the rotating spindle 102 when the sole 130 of the container 101 is engaged on the base 104, to rotate said rotating spindle 102 in order to carry out culinary processing by means of the culinary processing tool 103 during culinary preparation.

[0035] In view of the figure 2, the container 101 comprises a bottom 110 which comprises an upper plate 115, a lower plate 116 and a guide piece 120 which is tubular, said guide piece 120 defining an opening 111 on the bottom 110. The upper plate 115 is spaced from the lower plate 116. The guide piece 120 comprises an internal contour 122 delimited by an internal shoulder 121. The sole 130 of the container 101 has a cavity 132 opening onto a lower face 131 of this sole 130. The cavity 132 opens onto an external face 114 of the bottom 110, thus allowing access to the guide piece 120 and to the opening 111 via the external face 114. The container 101 also comprises a resistive type heating member 117 which is placed under the upper plate 115, so as to heat the bottom 110.The rotating spit 102 is positioned on the bottom 110 at the opening 111, the latter being fixed by means of a bayonet locking ring (not illustrated) as is already known from traditional household food preparation appliances.

[0036] THE figures 3 to 5 show that a sealing device 1 can be placed on the bottom 110 of the container 101 as a replacement for the rotating spit 102. This sealing device 1 is used when making simmered or browned culinary preparations which do not require the use of a culinary processing tool 103. In other words, only heat treatment is carried out. The sealing device 1 comprises a cap 2 illustrated in more detail in the figures 9 to 11 , a seal 3 illustrated in more detail on the figures 12 and 13 and a locking ring 4 shown in more detail on the figures 6 to 8 .

[0037] In view of the figures 9 to 11, the stopper 2 comprises a body 20 having a generally cylindrical shape which extends longitudinally along an axis X1 and which has two flexible tabs 21 arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis X1 and extending longitudinally, parallel to this axis X1. The dimensions of the body 20 allow its introduction into the opening 111 on the bottom 110 of the container 101. Each of the two flexible tabs 21 comprises on its outer face 22 a lug 23 which extends radially with respect to the axis X1. The two lugs 23 are arranged opposite each other and each have a flat face 26 on the upper side of the lug 23 and a beveled face 27. The plug 2 comprises a head 30 which extends the body 20 upwards and has first grooves 31 on its upper face 32. This head 30 comprises a core 33 forming a single piece with the body 20 and a cover 34 covering the core 33 and comprising said first grooves 31.Second grooves 25 are implemented on the outer face 22 of the flexible tab 21, near its end 24.

[0038] As clearly visible on the figures 3 , 5 , 9, 10 And 13 , the stopper 2 is devoid of a longitudinal transmission axis. Neither the body 20 nor the head 30 are crossed by such a longitudinal transmission axis. The absence of such a transmission axis makes it possible to reduce the forces exerted on the stopper, in comparison with the forces exerted on the rotating spindle 102 intended to receive a culinary processing tool 103.

[0039] In view of the figures 6 to 8, the locking ring 4 comprises an external contour 41 and a collar 43 at its lower end. The external contour 41 comprises a groove 44 which receives a peripheral seal 42. The locking ring 4 comprises an internal contour 46 delimited by an internal shoulder 40. The locking ring 4 comprises an upper edge 45 arranged on the side opposite the collar 43 and an internal chamfer 47 at this upper edge 45. With regard to the figures 3 to 5 , the locking ring 4 is positioned in the internal contour 122 of the guide piece 120 and the peripheral seal 42 bears on said internal contour 122. In addition, the upper edge 45 of the locking ring 4 bears on the internal shoulder 121 of said guide piece 120, while the collar 43 protrudes from the internal contour 122 and remains manually accessible in the cavity 132 from the lower face 131 of the sole 130, which also appears on the figure 4 .

[0040] As clearly visible on the figures 3 , 9 , 10 And 13 , the beveled faces 27 of the lugs 23 are arranged on the side of the free end of said flexible legs 21.

[0041] In view of the figures 6,7 , 9,10 And 13, the locking ring 4 engages around the body 20. During the insertion of the body 20 into the locking ring 4, the beveled faces 27 of the lugs 23 bear on the internal chamfer 47 of the locking ring 4, which forces the flexible legs 21 to flex towards each other and allows the lugs 23 to pass below the internal shoulder 40 and to be placed at the level of the internal contour 46 of said locking ring 4. In this position, the flexible legs 21 can return to their normal position and snap onto the locking ring 4, which allows the lugs 23 to be placed in abutment against the internal contour 46, with their flat faces 26 arranged under the internal shoulder 40 of said locking ring 4, thus keeping the locking ring 4 locked on the body 20 of cap 2.In this locked position, the end portions of the flexible legs 21 comprising the second grooves 25 protrude below the collar 43 of the locking ring 4. The removal of the locking ring 4 is obtained by pressing on the flexible legs 21 at the level of the second grooves 25, which allows said flexible legs 21 to flex while moving towards each other until the lugs 23 are released from the internal shoulder 40, thus allowing the release of the body 20 from the locking ring 4.

[0042] In view of the figures 2 , 3 And 13 , when the closure device 1 is placed on the bottom 110 of the container 101 and the locking ring 4 is blocked on the body 20 of the stopper 2, said bottom 110 is pinched between the upper edge 45 of the locking ring 4 which is supported on the internal shoulder 121 of the guide part 120 and the head 30 of the stopper 2, the sealing gasket 3 ( figure 12) being placed between the head 30 and an internal face 113 of the bottom 110, at the level of a periphery 112 of the opening 111. Thus, as shown in particular by the figures 3 And 5 , the head 30 of the stopper 2 which is of a diameter greater than that of the opening 111, seals said opening 111 by means of the sealing gasket 3 which itself remains pinched between said head 30 and the internal face 113 of the bottom 110, thanks to the locking ring 4 which is snapped with the body 20 below the bottom 110 of the container 101.

[0043] The cap 2, the sealing gasket 3 and the locking ring 4, as well as the guide piece 120 are made of materials ensuring resistance to cooking temperatures of the order of 150°C. The cap 2, the locking ring 4 and the guide piece 120 are preferably made of plastic and the sealing gasket 3 is preferably made of silicone material. The upper 115 and lower 116 plates are preferably made of stainless steel.

[0044] Alternative embodiments are conceivable within the scope of the invention, as defined by the claims. The body 20 of the stopper 2 could comprise a single flexible tab 21, or even three flexible tabs 21 so that the flexible tab(s) remain easily manipulated with one hand when removing the locking ring 4 from the body 20 from the cavity 132 under the sole 130 of the container 101. The heating member 117 could be arranged on the base 104, instead of being carried by the container 101. The heating member 117 could for example then come into contact with the upper plate 115 of the bottom 110 when the container 101 is engaged on this base 104.The heating member 117 could also be configured to heat the container 101 by induction, the container 101 then being made at least partially of a material compatible with induction heating, the container 101 or the base 110 being able in particular to be made of ferromagnetic stainless steel or to comprise at least one element made of ferromagnetic stainless steel. The first grooves 31 on the head 30 of the cap 2 could be implemented on the contour 35 of the cover 34.

Claims

1. Device (1) for plugging an opening (111) in a bottom (110) of a container (101) of a household appliance for food preparation (100), the plugging device (1) comprising a cap (2) that has a body (20) of elongate shape, arranged to pass through the bottom (110) through the opening (111), and a head (30) extending the body (20) and arranged to plug the opening (111) by bearing on a perimeter (112) of the opening (111) defined on an internal face (113) of said bottom (110) via a seal (3), once the body (20) is introduced into said opening (111), on the side of said internal face (113), said plugging device (1) further comprising a locking ring (4) that is provided with an internal shoulder (40) and arranged to receive the body (20), the locking ring (4) and the head (30) being configured to grasp the bottom (110), characterised in that the body (20) comprises at least one flexible tab (21) extending longitudinally and comprising an outer face (22) provided with a lug (23), the locking ring (4) being arranged to receive the body (20) and snap-fasten the lug (23) of the at least one flexible tab (21) onto said internal shoulder (40) when the locking ring (4) engages around said body (20) on the side of an external face (114) of said bottom (110), the locking ring (4) and the head being configured to grasp the bottom (110) when the lug (23) is snap-fastened onto the internal shoulder (40), said at least one flexible tab (21) being of a suitable length, such that at least one flexible tab (21) protrudes beyond the locking ring (4), when the locking ring (4) is snap-fastened onto the body (20).

2. Plugging device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the body (20) comprises two diametrically opposite flexible tabs (21), the lugs (23) on these two flexible tabs (21) being disposed opposite one another to be snap-fastened onto the internal shoulder (40) during the placing of the locking ring (4) around the body (20).

3. Plugging device (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the seal (3) is removable from the cap (2) and arranged to be placed around the body (20) under the head (30), so as to be grasped between the internal face (113) of the bottom (110) and the head (30) once the cap (2) and the locking ring (4) are placed on the bottom (110).

4. Plugging device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the locking ring (4) comprises an external contour (41) provided with a peripheral seal (42).

5. Plugging device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the head (30) comprises first corrugations (31).

6. Plugging device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the locking ring (4) comprises a collar (43).

7. Plugging device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the locking ring (4) comprises an upper edge (45) disposed on the side opposite the collar (43) and an internal bevel (47) at the upper edge (45).

8. Plugging device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the lug (23) of the at least one flexible tab (21) has a beveled face (27) on the side of the free end of the at least one flexible tab (21).

9. Plugging device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the at least one flexible tab (21) comprises second corrugations (25) on its outer face (22), at its end (24).

10. Plugging device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the cap (2), the seal (3) and the locking ring (4) are designed from materials ensuring a resistance to cooking temperatures of around 150°C.

11. Plugging device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the cap (2) has no longitudinal transmission shaft passing through the body (20) and the head (30).

12. Container (101) of a household appliance for food preparation (100), comprising a bottom (110) provided with an opening (111), a rotating spindle (102) for receiving at least one cooking treatment tool (103), said rotating spindle (102) being configured to be mounted on the bottom (110) by plugging said opening (111), and a plugging device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, the plugging device (1) being configured to plug the opening (111), replacing the rotating spindle (102), to prepare food by heat treatment only.

13. Container (101) according to claim 12, wherein the bottom (110) comprises a tubular-shaped guiding part (120) defining the opening (111), said guiding part (120) comprising an internal shoulder (121) on which the locking ring (4) bears, engaged in said guiding part (120) and protruding beyond the lower side of it, during the grasping of the bottom (110) between said locking ring (4) and the head (30) of the cap (2).

14. Container (101) according to claim 13, wherein the bottom (110) comprises an upper plate (115) and a lower place (116) spaced apart from one another, and on which the guiding part (120) is mounted, the locking ring (4) and an end (24) of the at least one flexible tab (21) being accessible below the lower plate (116).

15. Container (101) according to any one of claims 13 or 14, wherein the locking ring (4) is configured to bear on an internal contour (122) of the guiding part (120) during the placing of the plugging device (1) on the bottom (110).

16. Container (101) according to any one of claims 12 to 15, which comprises a baseplate (130) provided on its lower face (131) of a cavity (132), in which the locking ring (4) and an end (24) of the at least one flexible tab (21) are accessible, when the plugging device (1) is mounted on the bottom (110) of the container (101).

17. Container (101) according to any one of claims 12 to 16, which comprises a heating member (117).

18. Household appliance for food preparation (100) comprising a container (101) having the features of any one of claims 12 to 17, and a base (104) configured to receive the container (101) during food preparation.