Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B3/00—Ohmic-resistance heating
  • H05B3/68—Heating arrangements specially adapted for cooking plates or analogous hot-plates
  • H05B3/74—Non-metallic plates, e.g. vitroceramic, ceramic or glassceramic hobs, also including power or control circuits
  • H05B3/748—Resistive heating elements, i.e. heating elements exposed to the air, e.g. coil wire heater
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
  • A47J36/00—Parts, details or accessories of cooking-vessels
  • A47J36/24—Warming devices
  • A47J36/2444—Drinking cups with heating means
  • A47J36/2461—Drinking cups with heating means with electrical heating means
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B2213/00—Aspects relating both to resistive heating and to induction heating, covered by H05B3/00 and H05B6/00
  • H05B2213/05—Heating plates with pan detection means
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B2213/00—Aspects relating both to resistive heating and to induction heating, covered by H05B3/00 and H05B6/00
  • H05B2213/07—Heating plates with temperature control means

Definitions

• This invention relates to apparatus for selectively warming a beverage and particularly to apparatus consisting essentially of a supporring heating unit and a separate container unit adapted to be seated on it and having cooperating arrangements whereby only predetermined orientation of the container unit on the heating unit energizes the heating unit.
• the patent to Moreland et al No. 3,796,850 discloses a cooking pan and heater arrangement wherein a metal or other magnetic material pan is heated by indirect heating controlled by the presence of the pan on the heater.
• the circuit to the induction coils includes a magnetic reed switch having contacts held normally closed by a pair of permanent magnets on the heater and allowed to open to energize the coils when a pan of magnetic material is placed on the heater and shunts the magnetic field.
• the invention is specifically concerned with the novel combination of an electrically energized heating unit that provides support for a special coacting beverage container unit, with the heating unit having a circuit containing a normally open control switch which may automatically close only in response to predetermined orientation of the container unit on the heating unit, and this is a major object of the invention.
• a further object of the invention is to provide an electrical heater unit having a container mounting heating surface heated by an electrically energized element in circuit with a normally open magnetic switch mounted in a fixed location on the unit.
• the invention further contemplates the heater unit in novel combination with a special container such as a cup for beverage to be warmed seated on the said surface, the container being non-magnetic and there being a magnet fixed on the container in such location that the container may be moved over said surface between one or more predetermined positions where the magnet acts to automatically close the magnet switch and other positions where the magnetic field is not effective to operate said switch.
• a special container such as a cup for beverage to be warmed seated on the said surface
• the container being non-magnetic and there being a magnet fixed on the container in such location that the container may be moved over said surface between one or more predetermined positions where the magnet acts to automatically close the magnet switch and other positions where the magnetic field is not effective to operate said switch.
• a further object of the invention is to provide a novel beverage container such as a cup of non-magnetic material such as ceramic, glass or some metals wherein a permanent magnet is fixed in a lower part of the container in a predetermin peripheral or other off-center region such as near the outer bottom of a cup below the handle or off-center in the container bottom in alignment with the handle.
• a novel beverage container such as a cup of non-magnetic material such as ceramic, glass or some metals wherein a permanent magnet is fixed in a lower part of the container in a predetermin peripheral or other off-center region such as near the outer bottom of a cup below the handle or off-center in the container bottom in alignment with the handle.
• Fig. 1 is an illustrative view showing a beverage warmer of the invention in use
• Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view showing the beverage warmer of Fig. 1 according to one embodiment
• Fig. 3 is a section showing detail of the beverage warmer of Fig. 2 with a beverage container mounted on it;
• Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing the electrical circuit and control
• Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the container or cup of Fig. 3 showing the magnet in an operative location;
• Fig. 6 is a section substantially at line 6-6 of Fig. 7 showing the invention according to a further embodiment;
• Fig. 7 is a plan view of the heating unit partly broken away to show one form of heater element and location and the orientation of the reed switch;
• Fig. 8 is a section substantially on line 8-8 of Fig. 7 showing heater unit detail
• Fig. 8 is a section showing a cup support plate with a different type of heater element attached
• Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of the plate of Fig. 9;
• Fig. 11 is a bottom view of the cup of Fig. 6 showing the off-center location of the magnet.
• Fig. 1 shows a beverage warmer heater unit 11 of the invention with a container 12 of liquid beverage such as coffee seated on it.
• the unit 11 comprises a rigid base 13 having a depending rim 14 around its outer periphery, rim 14 having a flat lower surface 15 lying in a plane whereby the unit may seat evenly on a flat topped table 16 or the like.
• a frame 17 which may be of plastic or wood extends around and is seated on the outer peripheral portion of the base, preferably projecting a small distance outwardly with respect to rim 14.
• the inner periphery of frame 17 is recessed at 18 to seat a flat plate 19 of ceramic, glass or other non-magnetic material.
• the upper surface 21 of plate 19 is smooth and planar and this is the heating surface that supports the beverage container as will appear.
• a heating element 22 is secured upon or immediately adjacent the flat bottom surface of plate 19. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the heating element is centered with plate 19 and comprises an assembly of heating resistors arranged to impart heat to plate 19 over a considerable part of its area, for example about half, and this heat is transmitted to a larger uniform area of surface 21.
• the electrical circuit essentially comprises wires 24 and 25 connected to heating element 22 through an on-off switch 26 which here Is a magnetic reed switch and (Fig. 3) is mounted in an upwardly open compartment 27 in a predetermined location on base 13. Switch 26 is normally biased to the off or open circuit position shown in Fig. 4.
• An indicator lamp 28 is mounted electrically across the circuit and is seated in an outwardly open side recess 29 in frame 17, the recess preferably being closed by a transluscent plastic or glass cover 31 usually red.
• the electrical circuit may if desired include a normally closed switch 32 connected to a temperature responsive unit 33 that is located centrally of the base in an upwardly open compartment 34.
• a layer or sheet of heat insulating or heat reflecting material indicated at 35 is provided on the base at least coextensively with and below heating element 22, this layer preferably being apertured as at 36 in alignment with the temperature sensitive unit 33, for exposing the unit to be directly heated by the heating element where such control is desired.
• the outer periphery 37 of the insulation layer or sheet is preferably bonded to the underside of plate 19 as shown to otherwise confine the heating element.
• the beverage container 12 may be an ordinary ceramic or plastic cup having a flat bottom rim 41 to be evenly seated on the planar upper surface 21 of plate 19, with the exception that the side wall in a predetermined location such as directly below and in alignment with the cup handle 42 is provided with a downwardly open recess 43 in which is mounted a permanent magnet 44.
• reed switch 26 may be such that it will lie approximately in vertical alignment with the magnet 44 on a normal size coffee cup seated on surface 21.
• the cups are usually selected or made to conform accurately to this dimension, although the invention may be applied to adapt conventional cups and heater plates to associate similarly.
• the reed switch 26 is In a predetermined location at one side of the assembly.
• the reed switch is of any known construction wherein the switching elements thereof assume closed circuit condition when subjected to a predetermined magnetic force. Equivalent normally open magnetic switches may be used.
• the foregoing parts are so constructed and arranged that switch 26 will be closed only when the cup 12 is oriented to dispose magnet 44 at that side of plate 19 below which the switch 26 is mounted so that the switch is within the range of the magnetic field of magnet 44.
• switch 26 will not respond to the magnetic field and will remain open.
• the beverage to be heated or maintained heated may be placed in the cup 12 which is oriented about its vertical axis until the magnet 44 is positioned over the left side of the plate 19 as viewed in Fig. 2.
• a colored or like visible index area 20 may be provided on the support to indicate the heat energizing position of the container handle. This closes the switch 26 and thereby energizes heating element 22 and indicator lamp 28.
• the beverage Is htereby heated. Should the heating temperature rise above a certain value, which for example would boil the beverage a control 22 may act to at least temporarily open switch 32 thereby deactivating the circuit, A balanced condition at a predetermined temperature of plate 19 can be achieved.
• Figs. 6-11 illustrate the invention in a further embodiment which differs mainly in the provision of a non-magnetic metal support plate for the cup, and locations of the magnet and reed switch.
• the heater unit base 41 has an annular cover 42 surrounding an inverted shallow cup-shaped support plate 43 for the beverage cup.
• An annular heater housing 44 below the plate 43 contains a suitable electrical heating element 45 here a so-called rope type heater element which comprises a flexible resistance wire coil sheathed in a braided sleeve.
• the reed switch 46 is mounted in a central housing compartment 47 so that it is located below the central portion of the plate and about equidistant between opposite sides of the plate.
• the heater unit 45 and reed switch 46 which is normally open, are interconnected as in the circuit of Fig. 4. In this embodiment no temperature responsive switch 32 is provided, but the warning light 28 is retained In the circuit.
• a heat shield 48 extends across teh housing interior, similarly to shield 35 of the Fig. 3 embodiment.
• the support plate 43 is of substantially unbreakable material and may be of non-magnetic metal, here an aluminum or aluminum alloy or may be of non-magnetic stainless steel. Preferably it is a metal stamping sized for fitting over and closing the heater unit housing. A stable smooth circular flat horizontal metal surface 49 thereby supports the container or cup 51.
• the reed switch 46 is preferably oriented to extend substantially radially of the plate 43, and the base may also have two indicator bands such as band 20 of Fig. 2 at diametrically opposite sides.
• Cup 51 is non-magnetic, usually of ceramic or stiff plastic, and it has a flat lower rim 53 resting on surface 49.
• the permanent magnet 54 is fixed in a downwardly open recess 55 in the cup bottom that is offset from the cup vertical axis in substantially radial alignment between the cup bottom center portion and the handle 56.
• the magnet may for example be about one-half inch off-center in the cup bottom. This arrangement is beneficial in that it provides two opposed cup positions where the magnet will operate the centered reed switch, as for example the full and dotted line magnet locations shown in Fig. 11. This arrangement is beneficial and convenient for example to both right and left handed persons.
• Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate an alternate type of heater element usable in the Figs. 6-8 embodiment.
• the cup-chaped aluminum alloy plate 43 has an annular resistance type heater element 61 of the etched metal foil type with silicon insulation attached adhesively to its bottom surface. This is a known type of heater per se and may equivalently heat the support plate.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Food Science & Technology (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
• Cookers (AREA)
• Table Equipment (AREA)
• Devices For Warming Or Keeping Food Or Tableware Hot (AREA)
• Apparatus For Making Beverages (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=23105795

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (8)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (13)

• 1982
  • 1982-07-28 GB GB08307383A patent/GB2115983B/en not_active Expired
  • 1982-07-28 WO PCT/US1982/001027 patent/WO1983000548A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 1982-07-28 CA CA000408253A patent/CA1184227A/fr not_active Expired
  • 1982-07-28 EP EP19820902629 patent/EP0084061A4/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 1982-07-28 JP JP57502620A patent/JPS58501309A/ja active Pending

Patent Citations (4)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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