Beverage preparation device equipped with an improved lid

Abstract

To provide a beverage preparation appliance that ensures safety of a user while having a simple and ergonomic embodiment.SOLUTION: A preparation appliance for a beverage, especially a percolation beverage, comprises a body (3) and a lid (10), the body (3) comprising an inner wall (9) and an upper opening (4), the lid (10) comprising a flexible peripheral seal (30) cooperating with the inner wall (9), the lid (10) being movable between an open position at which the lid (10) is separated from the upper opening (4) and a closed position at which the upper opening (4) is closed by the lid. The lid (10) comprises seal deformation mechanisms (32a, 32b, 32c, 21a, 21b, 21c) for moving the seal (30) from a release position at which movement of the lid (10) from the open position to the closed position is easy to a hold position at which the seal (30) abuts on the inner wall (9) of the body (3) and deformed so that when the appliance (1) accidentally falls, the lid (10) is held at the closed position with respect to the body (3).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a beverage preparation appliance comprising an electric heating base, a body and a lid forming a tank for bringing water to boiling, particularly an electric kettle or a teapot.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a beverage preparation appliance comprising a body provided on an electric heating base and a lid, which form a tank for boiling water (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The body has an inner wall and an upper opening, and the lid has a flexible outer peripheral seal that cooperates with the inner wall. The lid is movable between an open position where the lid is separated from the upper opening and a closed position where the lid closes the upper opening.

[0003] The seal is provided with a lip that can be deformed to eliminate the gap between the lid and the inner wall of the body. However, depending on the configuration of the gap, there is a possibility that the lid becomes too tight and it becomes difficult to attach the lid to the body or remove it from the body, or that the lid is too loose with respect to the body.

[0004] Also, in any case, when the appliance accidentally falls while there is hot water in the body, the lid comes off the body and the hot water spills, posing a very dangerous situation for the user.

[0005] Also, infusion beverage preparation appliances are known (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] The present invention aims to improve upon the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0008] The fundamental technical challenge of this invention is to propose a beverage preparation device that has a simple and ergonomic form while ensuring user safety.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to propose a beverage preparation device that has a simple design and can be implemented economically. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] Therefore, the present invention relates to a beverage preparation device, particularly for leached beverages, comprising a main body and a lid provided on an electrically heated bottom forming a tank for boiling water, wherein the main body has an inner wall and an upper opening, and the lid has a flexible outer seal that cooperates with the inner wall, and the lid is movable between an open position where the lid is separated from the upper opening and a closed position where the lid closes the upper opening, wherein the lid is provided with a seal deformation mechanism that moves the seal from a release position where the lid can easily move from the closed position to the open position to a hold position where the seal contacts the inner wall of the main body and deforms so that the lid is held in the closed position relative to the main body when the device accidentally tips over.

[0011] Therefore, even if there is a large gap between the lid and the body, the user can activate the seal deformation mechanism to move the seal from the release position to the hold position, thereby securely fixing the lid to the body so that it does not come off due to the water pressure inside the body in the event of an accidental tip-over. In this way, water, especially when it is hot, will not spill out of the appliance and cause an accident.

[0012] This seal deformation mechanism allows for a smooth, easy-to-clean inner wall of the main body to be located at the level of the upper opening.

[0013] The ease of transitioning the lid from the closed position to the open position means that the user only needs to exert minimal effort to lift the lid.

[0014] Preferably, the seal deformation mechanism stretches the seal along the radial direction of the lid onto a substantially horizontal extension surface of the lid between the release position and the hold position.

[0015] As a result, the sealing deformation mechanism generates a sealing force perpendicular to the inner wall of the main body, thereby ensuring a secure hold of the lid on the main body.

[0016] Advantageously, the seal deformation mechanism comprises at least one projection provided on the inner surface of the seal and a ring having at least one cam, wherein the at least one cam is rotatable between an effective position in which the at least one cam pushes the at least one projection toward the inner wall of the main body, causing the seal to be in a held position, and an ineffective position in which the at least one cam does not act on the at least one projection, causing the seal to be in a released position.

[0017] Such a seal deformation mechanism, equipped with a protrusion and a cam, can achieve gradual deformation of the seal as the cam moves.

[0018] It is understood that when at least one cam moves from the effective position to the deactivated position, at least one projection moves due to the elastic return of the flexible seal.

[0019] It is understood that the seal has an outer surface, and that the seal has a thickness between the inner surface and the outer surface, and that this thickness deforms due to the action of the protrusion when in the holding position, allowing it to seal the gap between the lid and the body.

[0020] Preferably, the seal deformation mechanism comprises four projections regularly arranged on the inner surface of the seal and four cams provided on a ring.

[0021] Therefore, the lid's holding force to the main body is evenly distributed across the four identical parts, ensuring a very secure hold of the lid to the main body.

[0022] Advantageously, the seal has an outer surface with at least one horizontal rib extending towards the body and provided with a rib facing the at least one protrusion.

[0023] Therefore, the at least one horizontal rib can be deformed to some extent to eliminate the gap between the lid and the body in the hold position.

[0024] Preferably, the ring has a first mark, the lid has a viewing window, and when the at least one cam is in the active position and the lid is in the hold position, the first mark overlaps with the window in a straight line.

[0025] Thereby, the user can know whether the seal is in the release position or the hold position.

[0026] Advantageously, the ring also has a second mark, and the second mark overlaps with the window in a straight line when the at least one cam is in the inactive position, the seal is in the release position, and the lid is in the open position.

[0027] Advantageously, the lid comprises a lever for driving the ring and the at least one cam between the active position and the inactive position.

[0028] Thereby, the user can rotate the lever to drive the ring and the at least one cam between the active position and the inactive position or vice versa.

[0029] Preferably, the beverage preparation appliance comprises a tea strainer removably provided in the lid.

[0030] By setting the lid together with the tea strainer on the body, an infused beverage can be prepared in the beverage preparation appliance.

[0031] Advantageously, the lever is detachably mounted to the lid by a bayonet coupling system, the lid has a through-hole for receiving a tea strainer, and the lever has a cover that closes the through-hole when the lever is attached to the lid.

[0032] This allows the user to use the same lever to operate the rotating ring to move the seal from the release position to the hold position, and to attach or detach the tea strainer to the lid using the bayonet-type coupling system.

[0033] An advantage is that the main body is made of glass.

[0034] In the case of glass components, the manufacturing method can result in large dimensional variations of several millimeters in the upper opening of the main body. The sealing deformation mechanism absorbs these dimensional variations and ensures that the lid is securely held in the holding position.

[0035] Furthermore, such a seal deformation mechanism is particularly well-suited to working with glass bodies, which are difficult to adjust for the fitting of mechanical locking systems.

[0036] Advantageously, the glass body is attached to the heating base by adhesive. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0037] The object, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be understood through the following description of specific embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, as non-limiting examples. [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a beverage preparation device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the lid of a beverage preparation device, which has a lid equipped with a tea strainer. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the lid. [Figure 4] This is a partial perspective view of the lower part of the lid of the beverage preparation device shown in Figure 1, with the ring in an invalid position. [Figure 5]This is a partial perspective view of the lower part of the lid of the beverage preparation device shown in Figure 1, with the ring in the effective position.

[0038] Reference numerals are assigned only to elements necessary for understanding the present invention. To facilitate reading the drawings, the same elements are assigned the same reference numerals even when the drawings change. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0039] In this specification, the terms “horizontal,” “vertical,” “down,” “up,” “high,” “low,” “front,” “back,” “longitudinal,” and “transverse” used to describe beverage preparation equipment refer to the beverage preparation equipment in use when placed flat on the work surface.

[0040] In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 5, the beverage preparation device 1 comprises a base 2 powered by a cord (not shown) and a body 3 having a bottom 8. The body 3 forms a container for water. The body 3 has an upper water inlet 4 that is closed by a lid 10. The kettle 1 comprises a spout 5 located at the level of the upper opening 4 and a handle 6 located on the opposite side of the spout 5 with respect to the upper opening 4. The body 3 is substantially cylindrical with a vertical axis 7. The lid 10 is removable from the body 3. The lid 10 is movable between an open position where the lid is separated from the upper opening 4 and a closed position where the lid closes the upper opening 4. The lid 10 is attached to the body 3 by translational motion substantially parallel to the vertical axis 7 of the body 3. The body 3 has an inner wall 9, and the seal 30 is provided so as to face the inner wall 9 when the lid 10 is in the closed position.

[0041] The bottom 8 is equipped with a heating base consisting of a stainless steel dish on which an aluminum diffuser and a heating element (neither shown) are located beneath it. The main body 3 and lid 10, located on top of the heating base, form a tank for bringing water to a boil.

[0042] As can be seen in Figures 2 to 5, the lid 10 comprises an upper crown 11 having a flat annular portion 12 and a descending edge 13 extending perpendicularly to the flat annular portion 12 and forming an inverted L-shaped cross-section. The lid 10 comprises a flexible annular seal 30 extending vertically below the flat annular portion 12 along the direction of extension of the descending edge 13. The lid 10 comprises an annular ring 20 provided below the flat annular portion 12, and the ring 20 is positioned between the descending edge 13 and the seal 30. The ring 20 is mounted so as to be rotatable around the descending edge 13 about a vertical axis 7. The lid 10 comprises a lower crown 18 that is screwed onto the upper crown 11 and forms a receiving portion 19 (Figure 2) for the ring 20 and the seal 30. The seal 30 is mounted between the upper crown 11 and the lower crown 18 so as not to rotate about the vertical axis 7.

[0043] The seal 30 has an inner surface 31 having four protrusions 32a, 32b, 32c, and 32d evenly distributed at 90-degree intervals on the inner circumference of the seal 30. The four protrusions 32a, 32b, 32c, and 32d are each covered by rigid walls 33a, 33b, 33c, and 33d. Each rigid wall 33a, 33b, 33c, and 33d is integral with the corresponding protrusions 32a, 32b, 32c, and 32d and is made of a plastic with a low coefficient of friction, such as polyoxymethylene. Each rigid wall 33a, 33b, 33c, 33d comprises rectangular portions 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d extending vertically substantially parallel to the inner surface 31, and two inclined portions 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d; 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d that connect to the inner surface 31 of the seal 30. The seal 30 has an outer surface 37 (Figure 2) with two superimposed horizontal ribs 38, 39. The two ribs 38, 39 extend toward the main body 3 and are provided facing their respective protrusions 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d. The rotating ring 20 comprises four cams 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d provided on the outer circumference of the ring 20. Each cam 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d has an inclined surface 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d that gradually extends radially toward the outside of the lid 10, and a portion 23a, 23b, 23c, and 23d that extends substantially parallel to the inner surface 31 of the seal 30.

[0044] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the ring 20, which has four cams 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d, and the four protrusions 32a, 32b, 32c, and 32d form the deformation mechanism of the seal 30. The deformation mechanism of the seal 30 moves the seal 30 from a release position (Figure 4), in which the lid 10 can be moved from the closed position to the open position without applying force, to a hold position (Figure 5), in which the seal 30 deforms as it comes into contact with the inner wall 9 of the main body 3, and holds the lid 10 to the main body 3 with a holding force of several Newtons. Cams 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d are rotatable between an effective position (Figure 5) where cams 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d push the protrusions 32a, 32b, 32c, and 32d toward the inner wall of the main body, and an ineffective position (Figure 4) where cams 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d are detached from the protrusions, and vice versa. The protrusions 32a, 32b, 32c, and 32d, which are released when cams 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d move from the effective position to the ineffective position, move due to the elastic return of the flexible seal 30. When transitioning from an invalid position to an effective position, the inclined surfaces 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d push the rigid walls 33a, 33b, 33c, and 33d until parts 23a, 23b, 23c, and 23d slide over the rectangular parts 34a, 34b, 34c, and 34d, while being supported by the inclined parts 35a, 35b, 35c, and 35d. When transitioning from an invalid position to an effective position, or vice versa, the ring 20 and the cams 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d are rotationally driven over an angle of 25 degrees.

[0045] As can be seen in Figures 2 and 3, the upper crown 11 has a circular central through-opening 14 and a shoulder portion 15. The lid 10 has a tea strainer 50 with an upper collar 51 (Figure 2). The tea strainer 50 is removable from the lid 10 and has a handle 52. The tea strainer 50 is inserted into the through-opening 14, and the collar 51 cooperates with the shoulder portion 15 of the upper crown 11 at the end of assembly. The lid 10 has a lever 40 that drives a ring 20 between an effective position and an ineffective position. The lever 40 is provided on the upper crown 11 in a removable manner. The lever 40 has a circular cover 41 that closes the through-opening 14 when the lever 40 is attached to the lid 10. The cover 41 is inserted into the shoulder portion 15 to cover the collar 51 of the tea strainer 50. The cover 41 has two radially extending claws 42a, 42b that are positioned opposite each other in the radial direction. The upper crown 11 has two notches 16a, 16b. The two notches 16a, 16b are located in the flat annular portion 12 and the vertical wall 17 of the shoulder portion 15. The two notches 16a, 16b each have horizontal portions 29a, 29b that extend below the flat annular portion 12. The ring 20 is located below the shoulder portion 15 and has two compartments 24a, 24b that are positioned opposite the two notches 16a, 16b when the seal is in the release position. This allows the two claws 42a, 42b of the cover 41 to be inserted into the two compartments 24a, 24b through the two notches 16a, 16b. Rotating the lever 40 simultaneously drives the two claws 42a, 42b and the two sections 24a, 24b of the ring 20. This same movement causes the two claws 42a, 42b to move within the horizontal sections 29a, 29b below the flat annular section 12, thereby attaching the lever 40 with cover 41 to the lid 10 and securing the tea strainer 50. The two claws 42a, 42b, working in cooperation with the two notches 16a, 16b having the horizontal sections 29a, 29b, form a bayonet-type coupling system of the lever 40 and the tea strainer 50 to the lid 10. In this embodiment, when the seal 30 is in the release position, the lever 40 with cover 41 can be removed from the lid 10, which remains attached to the body 3.The lid 10 can be removed by the user inserting their fingers into the through-opening 14 and gripping the upper crown 11 and lower crown 18.

[0046] The flat annular portion 12 of the upper crown 11 of the lid 10 is provided with a through-visual window 28. The ring 20 is provided with a first red colored mark 26 and a second green colored mark 27. When the cams 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d are in the effective position and the lid 10 is in the held position, the first red colored mark 26 is aligned with the window 28, and when the cams 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d are in the deactivated position and the lid 10 is in the released position, the second green colored mark 27 is aligned with the window.

[0047] It goes without saying that the present invention is merely described as an example and is not in any way limited to the illustrated embodiments. Various modifications are still possible without departing from the protected domain of the present invention, from the perspective of the configuration of various elements or by substitution with technical equivalents.

[0048] Therefore, in the modified embodiment not shown, the bayonet coupling system has an intermediate position in which the seal 30 is in the release position while the lever 40 with cover 41 remains attached to the lid. The horizontal portions 29a and 29b are extended so that the claws 42a and 42b remain below the flat annular portion 12.

[0049] In additional variations not shown, the cover (10) includes a ring (20) and a mechanical drive mechanism for moving at least one cam (21a, 21b, 21c, 21d) between an effective position and an ineffective position.

Claims

1. It comprises a main body (3) and a lid (10) located on an electric heating base, which form a tank for boiling water. The main body (3) comprises an inner wall (9) and an upper opening (4), The lid (10) is provided with a flexible outer seal (30) that cooperates with the inner wall (9), The lid (10) is movable between an open position where the lid (10) is separated from the upper opening (4) and a closed position where the lid (10) closes the upper opening (4), in a beverage preparation apparatus (1) for beverages, particularly leachate beverages, In a beverage preparation device (1) equipped with a seal deformation mechanism (32a, 32b, 32c, 32d, 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d) that moves the lid (10) from a release position where the lid (10) can easily move from the closed position to the open position to a hold position where the seal (30) contacts and deforms against the inner wall (9) of the main body (3) so that the lid (10) is held in the closed position relative to the main body (3) when the device (1) is accidentally tipped over, The seal deformation mechanism is At least one protrusion (32a, 32b, 32c, 32d) is provided on the inner surface (31) of the seal (30), A ring (20) having at least one cam (21a, 21b, 21c, 21d), The beverage preparation device (1) is characterized in that the at least one cam (21a, 21b, 21c, 21d) is rotatable between an effective position in which the seal (30) is in a held position when the at least one cam (21a, 21b, 21c, 21d) pushes the at least one protrusion (32a, 32b, 32c, 32d) toward the inner wall (9) of the main body (3), and an ineffective position in which the seal (30) is in a released position when the at least one cam (21a, 21b, 21c, 21d) does not act on the at least one protrusion (32a, 32b, 32c, 32d).

2. The beverage preparation device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the seal deformation mechanism (32a, 32b, 32c, 32d, 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d) stretches the seal (30) along the radial direction of the lid (10) on a substantially horizontal extension surface of the lid (10) between the release position and the hold position.

3. The beverage preparation device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the seal deformation mechanism comprises four protrusions (32a, 32b, 32c, 32d) regularly provided on the inner surface (31) of the seal (30), and four cams (21a, 21b, 21c, 21d) provided on the ring (20).

4. The beverage preparation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the seal (30) has at least one horizontal rib (38, 39) extending toward the main body (3), and an outer surface (37) having the rib (38, 39) facing the at least one protrusion (32a, 32b, 32c, 32d).

5. The ring (20) is provided with a first mark (26), The cover (10) is equipped with a viewing window (28), The beverage preparation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that when at least one cam (21a, 21b, 21c, 21d) is in the effective position and the lid (10) is in the hold position, the first mark (26) is aligned in a straight line with the window (28).

6. The beverage preparation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the lid (10) comprises a lever (40) for driving the ring (20) and the at least one cam (21a, 21b, 21c, 21d) between the effective position and the ineffective position.

7. The beverage preparation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it includes a tea strainer (50) that is removably provided inside the lid (10).

8. The lid (10) is provided with a removable tea strainer (50), The lever (40) is detachably attached to the lid (10) by a bayonet-type coupling system (16a, 16b, 29a, 29b, 42a, 42b). The lid (10) is provided with a through-opening (14) for receiving the tea strainer (50), The beverage preparation device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the lever (40) is provided with a cover (41) that closes the through opening (14) when the lever (40) is attached to the lid.

9. The beverage preparation apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the main body (3) is made of glass.

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