Removable gripping device and kitchen set including such a gripping device

Abstract

Removable Gripping Device and Kitchen Set Comprising Such a Gripping Device. The present invention relates to a removable gripping device (6) for a cooking utensil, comprising a gripping body (62) between a front (622) of the body and a rear (624) of the body, a fork (64) forming a clamp (66) with the front (622) of the gripping body (62) and being movable in translation between an open position and a closed position in which the clamp is able to grip an edge of the cooking utensil. The removable gripping device also comprises movement means (68, 70, 72) adapted to move the fork relative to the gripping body and a locking means (80) adapted to immobilize the fork in its closed position. When the fork is in the closed position without a load, a minimum distance (D66), measured, between an internal surface (646) of the fork and a front surface (629) of the front of the body is non-zero.Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 2.

Description

Title of the invention: Removable gripping device and kitchen set comprising such a gripping device

[0001] The present invention relates to a removable gripping device and a kitchen set comprising such a removable gripping device.

[0002] EP2007260B1 is known to use removable gripping devices comprising a gripping body and a fork that is movable in translation relative to the gripping body. The fork and the gripping body together form a gripper. The fork is movable between an open position and a closed position in which the gripper is able to grasp the edge of a kitchen utensil. These removable gripping devices are also provided with movement means comprising a trigger and a knee joint. The trigger is mounted on the gripping body and is movable in rotation between a deployed position, in which the fork is open, and a retracted position, in which the fork is closed. The knee joint is able to move the fork when the trigger is pivoted.It is shaped so that the trigger is in a stable equilibrium position, both in the retracted and deployed positions, and so that the trigger passes through an intermediate position of unstable equilibrium when pivoting from one of the two stable equilibrium positions to the other. These devices also include a locking means suitable for immobilizing the fork in its closed position. These devices are generally satisfactory.

[0003] However, when the removable gripping device is kept in the closed, empty position and the humidity of the environment in which the removable gripping device is stored changes, the gripping body expands and swells, and the removable gripping device becomes under tension. This can occur when the gripping device is washed in a dishwasher, despite the manufacturer's recommendations. The removable gripping device then becomes stuck, and the fork can no longer move from its closed to its open position.

[0004] The aim of the invention is then to propose a removable gripping device preventing the device from being energized when it is closed under vacuum and subjected to variable humidity conditions.

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to a removable gripping device for a culinary article, comprising:

[0006] - a gripping body extending along a longitudinal axis between a front of the body and the rear of the body

[0007] - a fork mounted on the gripping body, forming a gripper with the front of the gripping body and being movable in translation relative to the gripping body, in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, between an open position and a closed position in which the gripper is able to pinch an edge of the cooking article,

[0008] - means of movement adapted to move the fork relative to the body of grasping and comprising: • a trigger mounted on the gripping body and rotatable between a deployed position in which the fork is open and a retracted position in which the fork is closed, and • a knee joint comprising at least a first connecting rod and a central connecting rod, the knee joint being capable of moving the fork when the trigger is pivoted, and being shaped so that the trigger is in a stable equilibrium position, both in the retracted and deployed positions, and such that the trigger passes through an intermediate unstable equilibrium position when the trigger pivots from one to the other of the two stable equilibrium positions, and

[0009] - a locking means capable of immobilizing the fork in its closed position,

[0010] When the fork is in the closed position when empty, without the interposition of an edge of the culinary article between the fork and the gripping body, a minimum distance, measured parallel to the longitudinal axis, between an internal surface of the fork and a front surface of the front of the body is different from zero.

[0011] Thanks to the invention, and in particular thanks to the non-zero minimum distance between the fork and the front of the body when the fork is in the closed position when empty, the stresses generated by the inflation of the body are minimized. Indeed, the minimum distance prevents contact, and therefore contact forces, between the front of the body and the fork when the body inflates. Thus, the removable gripping device does not become tense or jam, even if the body inflates.

[0012] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the removable gripping device comprises one or more of the following features, taken individually or in any technically possible combination:

[0013] - the minimum distance is between 0.5 millimeters and 1.5 millimeters;

[0014] - the minimum distance is equal to approximately 1 millimeter;

[0015] - the gripping body includes a stop extending perpendicularly to the axis longitudinal, and the fork includes a shoulder, configured to come to a rear stop against the stop, when the fork is in the closed position unloaded, so that the movement of the fork towards the rear of the body is limited;

[0016] - the stop is positioned at a distance from the locking means less than 10 millimeters;

[0017] - the gripping device includes an elastically deformable element, deformed and compressed when the trigger is in the retracted position and applying a restoring force on one of the moving elements, so as to push the trigger back towards the deployed position;

[0018] - the trigger includes a first hook, and the removable gripping device includes a push button mounted on the gripping body and movable in translation relative to the gripping body, in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, between a locking position and an unlocking position, the push button including a second hook, suitable for being hooked to the first hook when the push button is in the locking position and when the trigger is in the retracted position so as to prevent any pivoting of the trigger from the retracted position to the unstable equilibrium position, the second hook being suitable for being disengaged from the first hook by the translation of the push button to the unlocking position.

[0019] The invention also relates to a kitchen set comprising at least one cooking item and a removable gripping device as defined above.

[0020] The invention will become clearer upon reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the drawings in which:

[0021] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] is a perspective view of a kitchen set comprising an item culinary and a removable gripping device, the gripping device being in a closed configuration;

[0022] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a section along plane II of the removable gripping device of [Fig.1], the gripping device being in the closed configuration; and

[0023] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a section along plane III of the removable gripping device of [Fig.1], the gripping device being in the closed configuration;

[0024] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a section along plane IV of the removable gripping device of [Fig.1], the gripping device being in the closed configuration;

[0025] [Fig.5] the [Fig.5] a larger scale section, in frame II of the [Fig.1] of a means for locking the removable gripping device of the [Fig.1].

[0026] A kitchen set 2 according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in [Fig.1].

[0027] The kitchen set 2 includes a cooking item 4 and a removable gripping device 6.

[0028] The cooking article 4 comprises a base 42, a rim 44, and a curved portion 48, which forms the upper end of the rim 44, opposite the base 42. The base 42 is circular and flat. The rim 44 rises from the base 42 so as to define an internal volume V4 intended to hold food. The curved portion 48 is curved outwards from the kitchen item 4 and extends the rim 44.

[0029] The removable gripping device 6 comprises a gripping body 62, a fork 64 and means for moving the fork 64. The gripping body 62 is advantageously made of bakelite material or any other material resistant to a temperature greater than or equal to 100°C.

[0030] The gripping body 62 extends, along a longitudinal axis X6, between a front 622 of the body and a rear 624 of the body. The front of the body, or any part mounted on it, faces the cooking article when the gripping device is mounted on such an article. Under the same conditions, the rear of the body, or any part mounted on it, faces away from the cooking article.

[0031] The front 622 of the body includes a front surface 629 which extends globally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis X6.

[0032] Advantageously, the gripping body 62 includes a stop 621 which extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis X6.

[0033] The fork 64 extends, along the longitudinal axis X6, between a front end 642 and a rear end 644.

[0034] The front end 642 is curved and extends with a component perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X6. The front end 642 has an internal surface 646, turned towards the front surface 629 and globally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X6.

[0035] Advantageously, the fork 64 includes a shoulder 648, the shape of the shoulder 648 being complementary to the shape of the stop 621 of the gripping body 62.

[0036] The fork 64 is mounted on the gripping body 62 so that the front 622 of the body and the front end 642 of the fork 64 together form a clamp 66 capable of pinching the rim 44.

[0037] The fork 64 is movable in translation relative to the gripping body 62 along a direction D64, directed from the front 622 of the body towards the rear 624 of the body 62, substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X6. The fork 64 is movable between an open position and a closed position in which the clamp 66 is able to clamp the edge 44 of the cooking article 4.

[0038] More specifically, a distance D66 measured parallel to the longitudinal axis X6 between the internal surface 646 of the front end 642 of the fork 64 and the front surface 629 of the front 622 of the body, decreases when the fork 64 is moved from the open position to the closed position.

[0039] The minimum distance D66 measured when the fork 64 is in the closed position empty, i.e. in the closed position without a cooking article 4 interposed between the fork 64 and the gripping body 62, is different from zero.

[0040] Advantageously the minimum distance D66 is between 0.5 millimeters and 1.5 millimeters and is preferably equal to about 1 millimeter.

[0041] When the fork 64 is moved from its open position to its closed position along the direction D64, without being engaged on the cooking article 4, the shoulder 648 comes to a rear stop against the stop 621 as seen in [Fig.3], so that the movement of the fork 64 towards the rear 624 of the body is limited, which makes it possible to ensure the non-zero minimum distance D66 when the fork 64 is in the closed position empty.

[0042] The fork 64 is held in its open position by an opening spring 94 of the removable gripping device 6. In this example, the opening spring 94 is a torsion spring. The opening spring 94 bears, at one end, on the gripping body 62, and, at the other end, on the fork 64.

[0043] The means for moving the fork 64 include a trigger 68 and a knee joint 75.

[0044] The trigger 68 includes, at a front end 683, advantageously, a first hook 687 and has a groove 689.

[0045] The trigger 68 includes, at a rear end 685 opposite the front end 683, a cam 684. The cam 684 extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis X6 in the direction of the fork 64.

[0046] The trigger 68 includes a ramp 682, shown in [Fig. 3]. The ramp 682 approaches the fork 64 along the direction D64. More precisely, as shown in [Fig. 3], when the trigger 68 is in the retracted configuration and when the ramp 682 is traversed along the direction D64, a distance d682, measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X6 between a point on the ramp and the longitudinal axis X6, increases.

[0047] The trigger 68 is mounted on the gripping body 62 and is rotatable about a main shaft 79 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X6, between a deployed position and a retracted position. When the trigger 68 is in the deployed position, the fork 64 is in the open position, and when the trigger 68 is in the retracted position, the fork 64 is in the closed position.

[0048] Advantageously, when the trigger 68 is in the retracted position, the surface at the foot of the ramp 682 extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X6 and the surface at the top of the ramp has an inclination greater than 45°.

[0049] The trigger 68 is adapted to be operated manually. More specifically, the user must apply pressure to the trigger 68 to move it from its deployed position to its retracted position.

[0050] The knee joint 75 includes a first connecting rod 70, a central connecting rod 72 and a slider 74.

[0051] The first connecting rod 70 comprises a first end 702 and a second end 704. The first end 702 is movable in rotation around a first shaft 69 fixed relative to the gripping body 62 and parallel to the main shaft 79.

[0052] The first shaft 69 is positioned longitudinally between the front 622 of the body and the main shaft 79.

[0053] The central connecting rod 72 comprises a first end 726 and a second end 728. The central connecting rod 72 has a housing 722 and a guide pin 724. The housing 722 has a circular cross-section and the guide pin 724 projects into the housing 722 and is centered on the housing 722.

[0054] The second end 728 of the central connecting rod 72 is movable in rotation around a second shaft 73 movable in translation along the longitudinal axis X6 relative to the gripping body 62, the second shaft 73 being parallel to the first shaft 69. The second shaft 73 is positioned longitudinally between the first shaft 69 and the main shaft 79.

[0055] The first end 726 of the central connecting rod 72 is mounted to slide in the groove 689 of the trigger 68.

[0056] The second end 704 of the first connecting rod 70 and the first end 726 of the central connecting rod 72 are assembled by a linkage allowing rotation between the first connecting rod 70 and the central connecting rod 72 around a third shaft 71 parallel to the first shaft 69 and movable in translation perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X6 relative to the gripping body 62. The third shaft 71 is positioned between the first shaft 69 and the second shaft 73 in the direction D64.

[0057] The slider 74 is assembled with the fork 64, moving along the longitudinal axis X6. The slider 74 and the central link 72 are assembled by a connection allowing rotation between the slider 74 and the central link 72, around the second shaft 73.

[0058] Activating the trigger 68 causes the first end 726 of the central connecting rod 72 to slide in the groove 689. The sliding of the first end 726 of the central connecting rod 72 causes the first connecting rod 70 to rotate around the first shaft 69, the central connecting rod 72 to rotate around the second shaft 73, and the slider 74 to translate along the longitudinal axis X6. The translation of the slider 74 causes the fork 64 to move in translation. means of movement thus allow the movement of the fork 64 to be controlled manually.

[0059] The knee joint 75 is shaped so that the trigger 68 is in a stable equilibrium position, both in the retracted and deployed positions. The knee joint 75 is also shaped so that the trigger 68 passes through an intermediate unstable equilibrium position when the trigger 68 pivots from one of the two stable equilibrium positions to the other.

[0060] The intermediate unstable equilibrium position is defined as the position of the third shaft 71 in which the third shaft 71 is aligned with the first shaft 69 and the second shaft 73.

[0061] Furthermore, the knee joint 75 is shaped so that, when the trigger 68 is in its retracted position and therefore when the fork 64 is in its closed position, the clamp 66 grips the rim 44 when it is present between the surfaces 629 and 646.

[0062] The gripping device 6 comprises a safety shuttle 76 and a spring 78. The spring 78 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis X6 and bears on one side on the slider 74 and on the other side on the fork 64. The safety shuttle 76 is housed in the spring and limits the relative movement of the slider 74 and the fork 64 so that the fork 64 is locked in the closed position when the trigger 68 is in the retracted position and the knee joint 75 is in a stable equilibrium position.

[0063] The gripping device 6 advantageously includes an elastically deformable element 90. The elastically deformable element 90 is compressed when the trigger 68 is in the retracted position.

[0064] More specifically, when the trigger 68 is in the retracted position, the elastically deformable element 90 is compressed between, on the one hand, one of the means of movement and, on the other hand, either the fork 64 or the gripping body 62.

[0065] In the example in the figures, the elastically elastic element 90 is compressed between the fork 64 and the central connecting rod 72.

[0066] The elastically deformable element 90 is housed in the housing 722 and centered on the guide pin 724 so as to minimize the bulk of the elastically deformable element 90 within the removable gripping device 6.

[0067] The elastically deformable element 90, when compressed, applies a restoring force F90 on one of the means of displacement, in the example the central connecting rod 72, so as to push the trigger 68 back towards its deployed position.

[0068] The gripping device advantageously includes a push button 92. The push button 92 includes a cap 926 projecting from the gripping body 62 and a base 928 housed in the gripping body 62 and including a protrusion 924.

[0069] The protuberance 924 extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis X6, in the plane of [Fig.3], and advantageously presents a second hook 922.

[0070] The push button 92 passes through the gripping body 62 via an opening 062 in the gripping body 62. The opening 062 extends parallel, or almost parallel, to the longitudinal axis X6.

[0071] The push button is mounted to move in translation relative to the gripping body 62 along a direction D92 substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X6 between a locking position and an unlocking position.

[0072] The removable gripping device 6 includes a return means 88 housed in the gripping body 62 and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis X6, bearing on the base 928 of the push button 92 and on the gripping body 62 so as to move the push button 92 towards its locking position.

[0073] When the push button 92 is in the locking position and when the trigger 68 is in the retracted position, the second hook 922 hooks the first hook 687, so as to prevent any pivoting of the trigger 68 from the retracted position to the unstable equilibrium position.

[0074] When the push button 92 is moved by the user from its locked position to its unlocked position, in the direction D92, the second hook 922 disengages from the first hook 687, releasing the trigger 68 and allowing its pivoting from the retracted position to the unstable equilibrium position.

[0075] The restoring force F90 exerted by the elastically deformable element 90 is such that the trigger 68 is then automatically pushed back to its deployed position when the second hook 922 is disengaged from the first hook 687.

[0076] However, if the trigger 68 remains locked in the retracted position, the movement of the push button 92 can be continued by the user towards its unlocking position in the direction D92, so that the protrusion 924 comes into contact with the ramp 682 and pushes the trigger 68 back towards its deployed position.

[0077] Furthermore, in order to secure the locking of the fork 64 in the closed position, the gripping device 6 includes a locking means 80, visible in [Fig. 5]. The locking means 80 is housed in the gripping body 62. The locking means 80 is capable of immobilizing the fork 64 in the closed position by pinching a rear end 644 of the fork 64. The locking means 80 comprises a movable part 805, a pinching ring 806, and a locking spring 808.

[0078] The moving part 805 includes a cage 802 and pinching members 804.

[0079] The cage 802 extends on either side of the rear end 644 of the fork 64 and is movable in translation on the gripping body 62 along the longitudinal axis X6 between a pinching position and a release position. The cage 802 passes from the pinch position to release position by being moved along the D64 direction.

[0080] The locking spring 808 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis X6 and bears on one side against the cage 802 and on the other side against the gripping body 62 so as to push the cage 802 towards the pinching position.

[0081] When the trigger 68 pivots from its retracted position to its deployed position, the cam 684 comes into contact with an inclined rear surface S802 of the cage 802 pushing the cage 802 from the pinch position to the release position.

[0082] The clamping elements 804 are mounted, on either side of the fork 64, in the cage 802 in a manner fixed to the movement of the cage 802 along the longitudinal axis X6. In other words, the movement of the cage 802 causes the translation along the longitudinal axis X6 of the clamping elements 804 so that the clamping elements 804 are in a clamping position when the cage 802 is in the clamping position and the clamping elements 804 are in a release position when the cage 802 is in the release position.

[0083] The pinch ring 806 is mounted around the fork 64. It is fixed relative to the gripping body 62. The pinch ring 806 includes an inclined internal surface S806 such that an internal diameter of the pinch ring 806 increases along the direction D64.

[0084] The internal surface S806 receives the pinching members 804. When the cage 802 is moved to the pinching position, the pinching members 804 are moved to the pinching position and pressed by the inclined surface S806 against the fork 64 so that the pinching members 804 pinch the fork 64 and block the translation of the fork 64 along the axis X6.

[0085] The locking means 80 is advantageously positioned at a distance D621 from the stop 621, as shown in [Fig. 4]. The distance D621 is measured parallel to the longitudinal axis X6 between, on the one hand, a radial surface S'806 of the forward-facing gripping ring 806 622 of the body 62 and, on the other hand, the stop 621. The distance D621 is advantageously less than 10 millimeters, so that this distance is only slightly affected by the expansion of the gripping body 62 due to humidity. Thus, the tensile force exerted along the direction D64 on the gripping members 804 due to swelling of the gripping body 62 is low.The blocking forces generated by the blocking means 80 therefore remain minimal, which ensures that the action of the cam 684 on the inclined rear surface S802 of the cage 802, when the trigger 68 is pivoted towards its deployed position, allows the cage 802 to be pushed from the pinch position to the release position.

[0086] Any feature described above for one embodiment or variant is applicable to the other embodiments and variants described above, insofar as this is technically possible.

Claims

1. Demands Removable gripping device (6) for cooking article (4), comprising: - a gripping body (62) extending along a longitudinal axis (X6) between a front (622) of the body and a rear (624) of the body, - a fork (64) mounted on the gripping body, forming a clamp (66) with the front (622) of the gripping body (62) and being movable in translation relative to the gripping body, along a direction (D64) substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, between an open position and a closed position in which the clamp is able to pinch an edge (44) of the cooking article (4), - means of movement (68, 70, 72) adapted to move the fork relative to the gripping body and comprising: • a trigger (68) mounted on the gripping body (62) and rotatably movable between a deployed position in which the fork (64) is in the open position and a retracted position in which the fork is in the closed position, and • a knee joint (75) comprising at least a first connecting rod (70) and a central connecting rod (72), the knee joint being capable of moving the fork (64) when the trigger is pivoted, and being shaped so that the trigger (68) is in a stable equilibrium position, both in the retracted and deployed positions, and so that the trigger passes through an intermediate unstable equilibrium position when the trigger pivots from one of the two stable equilibrium positions to the other, and - a locking means (80) suitable for immobilizing the fork in its closed position, characterized in that, when the fork (64) is in the closed position when empty, without interposition of a rim (44) of the cooking article (4) between the fork and the gripping body (62), a minimum distance (D66), measured parallel to the longitudinal axis (X6), between an internal surface (646) of the fork and a front surface (629) of the front of the body is different from zero.

2. Removable gripping device according to the preceding claim, wherein the minimum distance (D66) is between 0.5 millimeter and 1.5 millimeters.

3. Removable gripping device according to the preceding claim, wherein the minimum distance (D66) is equal to approximately 1 millimeter.

4. Removable gripping device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: - the gripping body (62) includes a stop (621) extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis (X6), and - the fork (64) includes a shoulder (648), configured to come rearward against the stop (621), when the fork (64) is in the closed position when empty, so that the rearward movement of the fork of the body (624) is limited.

5. Removable gripping device according to the preceding claim, in which the stop (621) is positioned at a distance (D621) from the locking means (80) of less than 10 millimeters.

6. Removable gripping device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an elastically deformable element (90), deformed and compressed when the trigger (68) is in the retracted position and applying a restoring force (F90) on one of the displacement elements (72), so as to push the trigger back to the deployed position.

7. A removable gripping device according to any one of the preceding claims: - wherein the trigger (68) comprises a first hook (687), and - the removable gripping device (6) comprises a push button (92) mounted on the gripping body (62) and movable in translation relative to the gripping body, in a direction (D92) substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (X6), between a locked position and an unlocked position, the push button comprising a second hook (922), capable of being hooked to the first hook (687) when the push button (92) is in

8. locking position and when the trigger (68) is in the retracted position so as to prevent any pivoting of the trigger from the retracted position to the unstable equilibrium position, the second hook (922) being able to be disengaged from the first hook (687) by the translation of the push button (92) to the unlocking position. Kitchen set (2) comprising at least one cooking item (4) and a removable gripping device (6) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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