Domestic electrical appliance comprising an improved tank closure element

Abstract

The invention relates to a domestic electrical appliance (1) for preparing and / or cooking food, the appliance comprising: - a bowl (4) which is intended to receive food, and - steam-generating means (15) which are intended to generate steam in the direction of the bowl (4), the steam-generating means (15) comprising a tank having an opening (20) that enables a quantity of fluid to be supplied to the tank. The appliance (1) comprises a closure element (30) that can be removed from the opening, the closure element (30) being intended to magnetically lock or unlock the closure of the opening (20).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE: HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE COMPRISING AN IMPROVED CLOSING MEANS FOR A TANK

[0003] Field of invention

[0004] The present invention relates to the field of household appliances intended for the preparation and / or cooking of food. It relates in particular to a small household appliance for childcare, but in a non-exclusive manner.

[0005] Technical background

[0006] Various types of household appliances are known that are intended for the preparation and / or cooking of food, the cooking being able to be carried out solely by steam or not. The appliances also include a bowl that can be used for the preparation of food and / or for the cooking of food. Such a bowl typically includes blades that are arranged at the bottom thereof and that are configured to be driven in rotation so as to chop or cut the food.

[0007] Appliances that allow steam cooking include a cooking basket in which the food to be cooked is placed and which is intended to be installed in the preparation bowl in a removable manner. The cooking basket includes a perforated bottom allowing the passage of steam. The steam is generated by a steam generator that is separate from the preparation bowl. Means are provided to allow the circulation of steam to the cooking basket located in the preparation bowl. Generally, the steam generator includes a tank into which a quantity of water is introduced which, once heated, will produce steam. The tank is closed by a removable cover that allows the user to access the tank for filling and to prevent steam leaks. Examples of these appliances are described in GB-A-2 387 768 and FR-B1-3 081 694.

[0008] However, some of these lids include an external thread that cooperates with an internal thread of the tank so as to achieve the attachment between them. Such attachment methods require the lid to be correctly positioned and at least a quarter turn of the lid to lock and unlock the lid. Correct installation can be time-consuming and tedious, and if the lid is not positioned correctly, it can cause steam leaks. Furthermore, these attachment methods can generate quality, assembly, and cost issues.

[0009] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a household appliance that overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks. The purpose of the household appliance is to provide a closing member for a tank in a simple and economical manner.

[0010] Summary of the invention

[0011] We achieve this objective in accordance with the invention by means of a household appliance for preparing and / or cooking food, the appliance comprising a bowl intended to receive food, and steam generating means intended to generate steam towards the bowl, the steam generating means comprising a tank having an opening allowing the tank to be supplied with a quantity of fluid, the appliance comprising a removable closing member for said opening, the closing member being intended to lock or unlock the closing of the opening magnetically.

[0012] Thus, this solution achieves the aforementioned objective. In particular, the closing member and its magnetic attachment are simple to produce and allow for effective and reliable locking. The magnetic attachment easily adapts to humid environments where steam is generated and where the temperature is high. Furthermore, such a magnetic attachment improves the aesthetics of the device.

[0013] The household appliance also includes one or more of the following features, taken alone or in combination:

[0014] - the closing member comprising first magnetic means intended to cooperate with second magnetic means arranged in the tank or near the tank, the first magnetic means comprising at least one magnet.

[0015] - several magnets are arranged in an internal space of the closing member.

[0016] - the closing member comprises a sole and a cover fixed on the sole so as to form the internal space.

[0017] - the hood and the sole are fixed by ultrasonic welding.

[0018] - the hood includes a gripping member.

[0019] - the second magnetic means comprise metal plates which are arranged outside and around the side wall of the tank. - each metal plate is arranged at a predetermined distance from a corresponding magnet.

[0020] - each magnet has a curie point between 120°C and 450°C.

[0021] - each magnet is configured to exert a magnetic force between 200g and 800g.

[0022] - the predetermined distance is between 4 mm and 15 mm.

[0023] - the second magnetic means comprise one or more magnets having a magnetic force of between 200g and 800g.

[0024] Brief description of the figures

[0025] The invention will be better understood, and other aims, details, characteristics and advantages thereof will appear more clearly on reading the detailed explanatory description which follows, of embodiments of the invention given as purely illustrative and non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended schematic drawings in which:

[0026] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an example of a household appliance allowing the preparation and / or cooking of food according to the invention;

[0027] Figure 2 is a sectional and schematic view of an example of a household appliance with food arranged in a cooking basket according to the invention;

[0028] Figure 3 represents an exploded view of certain elements of a closing member cooperating with steam generation means of a household appliance according to the invention;

[0029] Figure 4 illustrates the installation of a closing member in a tank of steam generating means according to the invention; and

[0030] Figure 5 is a partial top view of an element of a closing member according to the invention.

[0031] Detailed description of the invention

[0032] Figure 1 illustrates an example of a household appliance for preparing and / or cooking food. This household appliance is intended for cooking food, particularly steamed for children, but not exclusively, and for mixing food once cooked.

[0033] In Figures 1 and 2, the household appliance 1 comprises a housing 2 provided with a base 3 and a bowl 4, intended to receive the food, which is removably arranged on the base 3 of the housing 2. The household appliance 1 also comprises a removable cover 5 which makes it possible to close the preparation and / or cooking bowl. The latter has an axis of revolution A. The bowl 4 comprises a base 6 and a side wall 7 rising parallel to the axis of revolution from the base 6. The side wall 7 and the base 6 determine an internal cooking and / or preparation volume. The bowl 4 comprises an opening through which the food is introduced into the bowl 4 and in particular into the internal volume. The opening, opposite the bottom 6 of the bowl 4, is delimited by a peripheral edge 8 of the side wall 7. Advantageously, but not limitingly, the bowl 4 is equipped with a handle 9 which makes it easier to handle the bowl 4.The handle 9 is mounted on the side wall 7 and has an overall elongated shape in a direction parallel to the axis of revolution A. Advantageously, the cover 5 is received at the location of the opening of the bowl.

[0034] With reference to Figure 2, the household appliance 1 may be equipped with a cooking basket 10 for steaming food. The cooking basket 10 is installed inside the bowl 4 in a removable manner. The cooking basket 10 has an axis of revolution which, in the installed situation, is coaxial with the axis of revolution A of the bowl.

[0035] Advantageously, the cooking basket 10 comprises a perforated bottom 11 allowing the circulation of steam between the food towards the bowl 4 and a side wall 12 rising from the perforated bottom 11.

[0036] Still in Figure 2, the household appliance 1 comprises steam generation means 15 intended to produce steam to cook the food in the cooking and / or preparation bowl 4. The steam generation means 15 comprise a tank 16. The latter has an axis of revolution B. Advantageously, the tank 16 is installed in the housing 2. The tank 16 is separated from the bowl 4 by a separation wall 17. The latter is advantageously part of the housing 2. The tank 16 is intended to be supplied with a quantity of fluid. Here the fluid is water. In particular, the tank 16 comprises a bottom 18 and a side wall 19 which rises from the bottom 18. The tank 16 comprises an opening 20 which is delimited by a free edge 27 of the side wall 19. The opening 20 may be circular, oblong or rectangular.

[0037] Advantageously, but not limited to, the steam generation means 15 comprise an electrical resistor 21 which makes it possible to heat the quantity of water located in the tank 16 to transform it into steam. The electrical resistor 21 is arranged under the bottom of the tank. Alternatively, the electrical resistor 21 constitutes the bottom of the tank. The electrical resistor 21 is connected to an electrical power source (not shown). Other heating elements making it possible to heat the water and transform it into steam can be installed in the housing 2.

[0038] The steam generating means 15 (steam generator) are connected to the cooking basket 10 (or the internal volume) via fluid communication means 22. In the present example, the fluid communication means 22 comprise a pipe 23 which opens into the tank 16. The pipe 23 also passes through the dividing wall 17 of the housing 2 which rises from the base 3 of the housing 2. The pipe 23 is provided with an outlet 23b which advantageously opens onto an external surface 17a of the dividing wall 17. The pipe 23 is also provided with an inlet 23a which opens onto an internal surface of the tank 16.

[0039] Advantageously, the cover 5 of the bowl 4 also comprises an inlet orifice 24 (see FIG. 2) passing through its wall on either side and which is intended to communicate fluidically with the pipe 23. The cover 5 comprises a lock (not shown) which makes it possible to lock the cover 5 on the bowl 4 and in particular in a position in which the inlet orifice 24 is opposite the pipe 23. Preferably, a seal 26 is arranged at the outlet 23b of the pipe 23 and is intended to bear against a portion of the external surface 25 of the cover 5. The seal 26 surrounds the inlet orifice 24 of the cover 5. This makes it possible to prevent steam leaks between the pipe 23 and the inlet orifice 24. In this way, the pipe 23 and the inlet orifice 24 make it possible to circulate the steam from the bowl 16 to the cooking basket 10 installed in the bowl 4.The steam also circulates in the cooking basket 10, towards the perforated bottom 11 of the cooking basket 10, then below the basket 10 and finally along the space between the side walls 7, 12 of the cooking basket 10 and the preparation bowl 4. Advantageously, but not limitingly, the cover 5 comprises an outlet orifice (not shown) allowing the steam to escape.

[0040] With reference to Figures 3 to 5, the household appliance 1 comprises a closing member 30 intended to cover the tank 16. The closing member 30 is removable. The closing member 30 is intended to lock or unlock the closure of the opening magnetically. This magnetic attachment facilitates the covering of the opening and the locking of the closing member 30 removably on the tank 16 or in the housing 2 and without loss of time. The closing member 30 has an axis of revolution C. In particular, the closing member 30 preferably comprises first magnetic means 31 intended to cooperate with second magnetic means 32 arranged in the tank 16 or near the tank (for example in the housing). Alternatively, the first magnetic means 31 are arranged in or near the tank 16 and the second magnetic means 32 are carried by the closing member 30.

[0041] In the present example, the first magnetic means 31 are arranged inside the closure member 30 and in particular in an internal space 33 thereof. Such a configuration makes it possible to protect the first magnetic means from the steam. In the present example, the closure member 30 comprises a sole 34 having a cross-section of shape corresponding to that of the opening of the tank 16. The sole 34 comprises a bottom wall 35 and a peripheral partition 36 which extends from the bottom wall 35. The bottom wall 5 and the peripheral partition 36 delimit a part of the internal space 33. The sole 34 is intended to be inserted inside the tank 16 (in particular in the upper part thereof) and a portion of the side wall 19 of the tank 16 surrounds the peripheral partition 36 of the sole 34.

[0042] Advantageously, the first magnetic means 31 comprise at least one element 37. In the present example, the first magnetic means 31 comprise several magnets 37. Advantageously, but not limited to, there are four magnets. The magnets 37 are arranged on the bottom wall 35 of the sole 34. The sole 34 comprises for this purpose cavities 38 which are shown in FIG. 5. The cavities 38 are intended to each receive a magnet 37. The cavities 38 have a shape complementary to that of each magnet 37. The magnets 37 each have, advantageously, but not limited to, a parallelepiped shape.

[0043] Advantageously, the closing member 30 also comprises a cover 39 which is intended to cooperate with the sole 34 to form the internal space 33. The cover 39 is arranged opposite the bottom wall 35 of the sole 34. The cover 39 is fixed to the sole 34 using fixing elements. The fixing elements may be a weld or an adhesive or even threaded members. The welding may be carried out by an ultrasonic welding process. In the present example, the cover 39 carries a gripping member 40 allowing the closing member 30 to be handled easily. The second magnetic means 32 comprise at least one metal plate 41. Here, the second magnetic means 32 comprise several metal plates 41 capable of undergoing magnetic attraction. Advantageously but not limitingly, there are as many metal plates 41 as there are magnets 34. Here, there are four metal plates 41.In this way, the locking of the closing member is effective when it covers the tank 16. Several magnets and metal plates make the locking more reliable.

[0044] The metal plates 41 advantageously comprise iron, cobalt, nickel, gadolinium or a mixture thereof.

[0045] According to an alternative, the second magnetic means 32 comprise one or more magnets having a magnetic force of between 200g and 800g.

[0046] With reference to Figure 5, the housing 2 comprises housings 42 which are each intended to receive a metal plate 41. The housings 42 can also be formed on the side wall 19 of the tank 16. The metal plates 41 are here arranged outside and around the side wall 19 of the tank 16. The metal plates 41 are regularly distributed around the side wall 19. In the example illustrated in Figure 5, each housing 42 is advantageously formed by two tabs 43a, 43b which extend, on the one hand from an internal wall of the housing 2 in a plane perpendicular to the axis of revolution B of the tank 16, and on the other hand opposite each other. Each tab 43a, 43b has a groove 44 receiving an edge of a metal plate 41. In this way, each magnet 37 is arranged opposite the magnets (here separated by the side wall 19) to facilitate the path of the magnetic flux from each magnet to the corresponding metal plate 41.Advantageously, the metal plates 41 are fixed in their respective housing.

[0047] Advantageously, each metal plate 41 is arranged at a predetermined distance D from a corresponding magnet 37. The predetermined distance D allows an attraction force and effective reception of the magnetic field for locking the closing member 30 on the tank 16. The predetermined distance D is between 4 mm and 15 mm. The magnetic force is between 200 g and 800 g.

[0048] 37 magnets have a curie point between 120°C and 450°C. q C. In this way, the locking of the tank 16 is optimal, particularly in an operating situation of the device where the temperature inside the tank 16 and in its immediate environment is around 100°C minimum. For example, the steam generation means 15 are brought to a temperature of 120°C.

[0049] We will now describe the different steps of mounting the closing member 30 in the household appliance 1. In a first step, the tank 16 is filled with a certain quantity of fluid, here water. The tank 16 is closed in a second step with the removable closing member 30. The attractive force between each magnet 37 and each corresponding metal plate 41 allows an adequate position and effective locking of the closing member 30 on the tank 16.

[0050] Then, when cooking food with steam, the cooking basket 10 is inserted into the preparation bowl 4. The latter is previously installed on the base 3 of the housing 2.

[0051] The food M cut into pieces is introduced into the cooking basket 10. The lid 5 is then placed on the preparation bowl 4 in order to close the internal volume and form the cooking zone. When the household appliance 1 is switched on, the steam generated by the steam generation means 15 in the tank 16 circulates from the tank 16 to the cooking zone. The steam passes in particular through the pipe 23 arranged between the tank and the lid (partly delimiting the cooking zone).

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Household appliance (1) for preparing and / or cooking food, the appliance comprising: - a bowl (4) intended to receive food, and - steam generating means (15) intended to generate steam towards the bowl (4), the steam generating means (15) comprising a tank (16) having an opening (20) allowing the tank (16) to be supplied with a quantity of fluid, characterized in that the apparatus (1) comprises a closing member (30) removable from said opening (20), the closing member (30) being intended to lock or unlock the closing of the opening (20) magnetically, and in that the closing member (30) comprises a sole (34) and a cover (39) fixed on the sole (34) so ​​as to form an internal space (33) in which several magnets (37) are arranged.

2. Apparatus (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the closing member (30) comprises first magnetic means (31) intended to cooperate with second magnetic means (32) arranged in the tank (16) or near the tank (16), the first magnetic means (31) comprise the magnets (37).

3. Apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sole (34) comprises several cavities (38) each intended to receive a magnet (37).

4. Apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (39) and the sole (34) are fixed by ultrasonic welding.

5. Apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (39) comprises a gripping member (40).

6. Apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the second magnetic means (32) comprise metal plates (41) which are arranged outside and around the side wall (19) of the tank (16).

7. Apparatus (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each metal plate (41) is arranged at a predetermined distance (D) from a corresponding magnet (37).

8. Apparatus (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that it comprises a housing (2) provided with a base (3) and the bowl (4) which is removably arranged on the base (3) of the housing (2), the housing comprising housings (42) which are each intended to receive a metal plate (41).

9. Apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that each magnet (37) has a curie point between 120^0 and 450 °C.

10. Apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each magnet (37) is configured to exert a magnetic force between 200g and 800g.

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