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 for a kitchen item, comprising a gripping body, a fork (64) movable in translation relative to the gripping body, means adapted to move the fork, and a locking means (80) suitable for immobilizing the fork (64). The locking means comprises a cage (802) extending on either side of the fork, clamping members (804) mounted on either side of the fork and suitable for clamping the fork and blocking its movement, and a clamping ring (806) comprising an internal surface (S806) inclined so as to receive and press the clamping members against the fork.At least one passage (810, 812) for liquid circulation and dust removal is provided between the inner surface (S806) of the pinch ring (806) and the pinching elements (804). Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 4.

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 grip the edge of a kitchen utensil. These removable gripping devices are also provided with means for moving the fork relative to the gripping body. These removable gripping devices are also provided with a locking means for immobilizing the fork in the closed position. The locking means comprises a cage and gripping members extending on either side of the fork and movable in translation on the gripping body between a gripping position and a release position.The clamping devices grip the frog and block its movement when in the clamping position. The locking mechanism also includes a clamping ring, fixed relative to the gripping body, mounted around the cage and the clamping devices, and whose inner surface is inclined so that the inner surface receives the clamping devices and presses them against the frog when the clamping devices are in the clamping position. These gripping devices are generally satisfactory.

[0003] However, liquid or dust may accumulate between the inner surface of the clamping ring and the clamping elements, potentially fouling the locking mechanism. This fouling leads to malfunction. In particular, the fouling prevents the cage and clamping elements from moving into their clamping position. Consequently, the locking mechanism no longer maintains the fork in the closed position. User safety is then compromised when using the removable gripping device.

[0004] The aim of the invention is then to propose a removable gripping device preventing the fouling of the locking means.

[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

[0009] - a locking means suitable for immobilizing the fork in the closed position, the blocking method comprising: • a cage extending on either side of the fork and movable in translation on the grasping body along the longitudinal axis between a pinching position and a release position, • clamping elements mounted on either side of the fork, within the cage, fixedly preventing the cage from moving along its longitudinal axis; the clamping elements clamping the fork and blocking its movement when the cage is in the clamped position, and allowing its movement when the cage is in the released position; the clamping elements and the cage forming a movable part of the locking means, and • a pinching ring, fixed relative to the gripping body, mounted around the cage and the pinching members and having an internal surface inclined so that the internal surface receives the pinching members and presses them against the fork when the cage is in the pinching position,

[0010] At least one passage for the circulation of liquid and the evacuation of dust is provided between the internal surface of the pinching ring and the pinching members.

[0011] Thanks to the invention, and in particular thanks to the passages provided between the inclined surface of the clamping ring and the clamping elements, dust and liquids can circulate between the inclined surface of the clamping ring and the clamping elements. Thus, dust and liquids no longer accumulate between the inclined surface of the clamping ring and the clamping elements and are no longer likely to clog the locking mechanism and impair its operation.

[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 inner surface of the pinch ring is provided with at least one groove parallel to the longitudinal axis forming said passage;

[0014] - the pinching elements are monobloc cylinders provided with at least one groove, forming said passage;

[0015] - the pinching elements define a maximum diameter and a minimum diameter and include at least one decrease in diameter from the maximum diameter down to the minimum diameter followed by an increase in diameter from the minimum diameter up to the maximum diameter so as to form the groove;

[0016] - the pinching elements are rows of several balls aligned along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

[0017] - contact areas between the pinching elements and the internal surface are made on portions of the internal surface devoid of striations;

[0018] - several passages are distributed over a width of the pinch ring;

[0019] - the gripping device comprises at least three passages;

[0020] - the cage is moved from the pinching position to the release position by the movement of the means of movement and secured in the pinching position by a locking spring;

[0021] - the means of locomotion are configured so as to be in a stable state as well in a deployed position as in a retracted position, and to pass from one to the other of the two positions via an intermediate position of unstable equilibrium, and the blocking means and the means of movement are arranged with respect to each other so that the cage passes into the pinching position when the means of movement are between the unstable equilibrium position and the retracted position;

[0022] - the means of movement include a trigger adapted to be controlled manually and to move the cage between the pinching position and the release position;

[0023] - the trigger includes a cam, the cam being capable of being in contact with the cage of in order to force the movement of the moving part from the pinching position to the release position.

[0024] The invention also relates to a kitchen set comprising at least one cooking item and a removable gripping device as defined above.

[0025] 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:

[0026] [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;

[0027] [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;

[0028] [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;

[0029] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a larger-scale section, in frame III of [Fig.2], of a locking means for the removable gripping device of [Fig.1]; and

[0030] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a section along plane IV of the blocking means of [Fig.4].

[0031] A kitchen set 2 according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in the [Fig.l].

[0032] The kitchen set 2 includes a cooking item 4 and a removable gripping device 6.

[0033] 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 extends from the base 42 to define an interior volume V4 for holding food. The curved portion 48 is curved outwards from the cooking article 4 and extends from the rim 44.

[0034] The removable gripping device 6 includes a gripping body 62, a fork 64 and means for moving the fork 64.

[0035] The gripping body 62 extends, along a longitudinal axis X6 of the removable gripping device 6, 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.

[0036] The front 622 of the body includes a front surface 629 which extends globally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis X6.

[0037] The fork 64 extends, along the longitudinal axis X6, between a front end 642 and a rear end 644.

[0038] 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.

[0039] 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.

[0040] 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.

[0041] More precisely, 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 surface before 629 of the front 622 of the body, decreases when the fork 64 is moved from the open position to the closed position.

[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, a first hook 687 and has a groove 689.

[0045] The trigger 68 includes, at a rear end 685, 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. 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 of the ramp 682 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] 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.

[0049] The knee joint 75 includes a first connecting rod 70, a central connecting rod 72 and a slider 74.

[0050] 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 with respect to the gripping body 62 and parallel to the main shaft 79.

[0051] The first shaft 69 is positioned longitudinally between the front 622 of the body and the main shaft 79.

[0052] 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.

[0053] 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.

[0054] The first end 726 of the central connecting rod 72 is mounted to slide in the groove 689 of the trigger 68.

[0055] 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.

[0056] 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.

[0057] 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 a linear fashion. The movement means thus allow the movement of the fork 64 to be manually controlled.

[0058] 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.

[0059] 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.

[0060] 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.

[0061] 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 fork 64. The safety shuttle 76 is housed in the spring 78 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.

[0062] The gripping device 6 also includes an elastically deformable element 90. The elastically deformable element 90 is compressed when the trigger 68 is in the retracted position.

[0063] 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.

[0064] In the example in the figures, the elastically elastic element 90 is compressed between the fork 64 and the central connecting rod 72.

[0065] 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 gripping device 6.

[0066] 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.

[0067] The gripping device 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.

[0068] The protrusion 924 of the base 928 extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis X6, and has a second hook 922.

[0069] 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.

[0070] The push button is mounted to move in translation relative to the gripping body 62 in a direction D92 substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X6 between a locking position and an unlocking position.

[0071] 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.

[0072] When the push button 92 is in the locked 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.

[0073] When the push button 92 is moved by the user over a first range of the push button 92's travel, 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.

[0074] 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.

[0075] However, if necessary, the movement of the push button 92 can be continued by the user over a second range of the push button 92's travel towards its unlocked 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.

[0076] Furthermore, in order to secure the locking of the fork 64 in the closed position, the gripping device 6 includes a locking means 80, clearly visible in Figures 4 and 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 the rear end 644 of the fork 64. The locking means 80 comprises a movable part 805 and a pinching ring 806.

[0077] The moving part 805 includes a cage 802 and pinching members 804.

[0078] 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 clamping position and a release position. The cage 802 moves from the clamping position to the release position by being displaced along the direction D64.

[0079] Advantageously, 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 and pushes the cage 802 back towards its release position.

[0080] Advantageously, the locking means 80 comprises a locking spring 808 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis X6 and bearing on one side against the cage 802 and on the other against the gripping body 62 so as to push the cage 802 towards the pinching position. Advantageously, the locking means 80 moves from the release position to the pinching position, under the action of the locking spring 808, when the knee brace 75 moves from the intermediate unstable equilibrium position to the stable equilibrium position in which the trigger 68 is in the retracted position.

[0081] The clamping elements 804 are mounted, on either side of the fork 64, in the cage 802 in a manner that is 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 such 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

[0082] As clearly seen in [Fig.5], the pinching members 804 are advantageously one-piece cylinders provided with at least one groove 812. In the example each pinching member 804 comprises three grooves 812.

[0083] Each pinching member 804 has rotational symmetry about its longitudinal axis A804. Each pinching member 804 advantageously defines a maximum diameter DI and a minimum diameter D2 and includes at least one diameter reduction, from the maximum diameter DI to the minimum diameter D2, followed by a diameter increase, from the minimum diameter D2 to the maximum diameter D1, so as to form a groove 812. In the example, each pinching member 804 has three diameter reductions followed by three diameter increases, which form the three grooves 812.

[0084] In an alternative, not shown, the pinching members 804 are rows of several balls aligned along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X4. The absence of material between two adjacent balls can be considered as a groove.

[0085] 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 internal surface S806 inclined such that an internal diameter of the pinch ring 806 increases along the direction D64.

[0086] Advantageously, the internal surface S806 has grooves 810. Advantageously, the grooves 810 are at least three in number and are distributed over an internal width 1806, measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X6, of the pinch ring 806. In the example, as clearly seen in [Fig. 5], the internal surface has ten grooves 810 with five grooves 810 on each side of the fork 64.

[0087] The internal surface S806 receives the pinching members 804. When the cage 802 is moved to the pinching position, the pinching members 804 are pressed by the internal 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.

[0088] The grooves 810 and the grooves 812 form passages allowing the circulation of liquid and the evacuation of dust between the internal surface S806 and the pinching members 804 and prevent fouling of the locking means 80.

[0089] Advantageously, the contact areas between the clamping members 804 and the internal surface S806 are formed on portions 814 of the internal surface S806 that are free of grooves 810. In other words, each groove 812 of the members pinch 804 is opposite a groove 810 and the internal surface S806 is devoid of groove between two successive grooves 810 opposite grooves 812.

[0090] The maximum diameter zones DI of a clamping member 804 are denoted 816. In the example of the figures, each clamping member has four zones 816 and each groove 812 is defined, in the direction of the internal width 1806, between two zones 816.

[0091] The external peripheral surface of a zone 816 is denoted by 818. Each peripheral surface 818 is cylindrical with a circular cross-section and a straight generatrix, which forms a tread on the internal surface S806 of the ring 806. Thus, a support between a peripheral surface 818 and a portion 814 is a linear support, along a straight line parallel to the internal width 1806, which facilitates the positioning of the pinching elements in the ring 806.

[0092] 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 - a locking means (80) suitable for immobilizing the fork (64) in the closed position, the locking means comprising: • a cage (802) extending on either side of the fork (64) and movable in translation on the grasping body (62) along the longitudinal axis (X6) between a pinching position and a release position, • clamping members (804) mounted on either side of the fork in the cage (802) in a manner fixed to the movement of the cage along the longitudinal axis, the clamping members clamping the fork and blocking the movement of the fork when the cage is in the clamping position and allowing the movement of the fork when the cage is in the release position, the clamping members (804) and the cage (802) forming a movable part (805) of the locking means, and • a pinching ring (806), fixed relative to the gripping body (62), mounted around the cage (802) and the pinching members (804) and having an internal surface (S806) inclined so that the internal surface receives the pinching members (804) and presses them against the fork (64) when the cage (802) is in the pinching position, characterized in that at least one passage (810, 812) for the circulation of liquid and the evacuation of dust is provided between the internal surface (S806) of the pinching ring (806) and the pinching members (804).

2. Removable gripping device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the internal surface (S806) of the pinch ring (806) is provided with at least one groove (810) parallel to the longitudinal axis (X6) forming said passage.

3. Removable gripping device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pinching members (804) are one-piece cylinders provided with at least one groove (812), forming said passage.

4. Removable gripping device according to the preceding claim, wherein the pinching members (804) define a maximum diameter (Dl) and a minimum diameter (D2) and include at least a decrease in diameter from the maximum diameter (Dl) to the minimum diameter (D2) followed by an increase in diameter from the minimum diameter (D2) to the maximum diameter (Dl) so as to form the groove (812).

5. Removable gripping device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the pinching members are rows of several balls aligned along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

6. Removable gripping device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein contact areas between the pinching members (804) and the internal surface (S806) are made on portions (814) of the internal surface (S806) devoid of grooves (810).

7. Removable gripping device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising several passages (810, 812) distributed over a width (1806) of the pinching ring (806).

8. Removable gripping device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least three passages (810, 812).

9. A removable gripping device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cage (802) is moved from the pinching position to the release position by the displacement of the means of displacement (68, 70, 72) and stressed in the pinching position by a locking spring (808).

10. Removable gripping device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: - the means of movement (68, 70, 72) are configured so as to be in a stable state in both a deployed position and a retracted position, and to pass from one to the other of the two positions via an intermediate unstable equilibrium position, and - the locking means and the means of movement (68, 70, 72) are arranged relative to each other so that the cage (802) passes into the pinching position when the means of movement (68, 70, 72) are between the unstable equilibrium position and the retracted position.

11. Removable gripping device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the movement means include a trigger (68) adapted to be manually operated and to move the cage (802) between the pinching position and the release position.

12. Removable gripping device according to the preceding claim, in which the trigger includes a cam (684), the cam being able to be in contact with the cage (802) so as to force the movement of the moving part from the pinching position to the release position.

13. Kitchen set (2) comprising at least one cooking article (4) and a removable gripping device (6) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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