EP1196066A1

EP1196066A1 - A kettle

Info

Publication number: EP1196066A1
Application number: EP00940556A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Robert Mark Brett Coulton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-06-30
Filing date: 2000-06-30
Publication date: 2002-04-17
Also published as: AU5547600A; GB9915279D0; WO2001001830A1

Abstract

A kettle for boiling water, said kettle comprising a vessel (2; 102) and a heating element (14, 15; 139) characterised in that said heating element (14, 15; 139) is external to said vessel (2; 102). A kettle for boiling water, said kettle comprising a vessel (2; 102) and a heating element (14, 15; 139), said vessel (2; 102) being at least partly internally coated with surface energy reducing layer and said heating element (14, 15; 139) being located so that it does not contact liquid in the vessel (2; 102). A kettle for boiling water, said kettle comprising a vessel (2), a heating element (14, 15), and a docking unit (41) wherein said docking unit (41) is provided with one of a male and female electrical (13, 44) connector and said kettle is provided with the other of said male and female electrical connector (13, 44) characterised in that said connectors are located in the centre of a surface of contact between the vessel and the docking unit (41). A kettle for boiling water, said kettle comprising a vessel (102) and a heating element (139) characterised in that said vessel (102) is detachable from said heating element. A kettle for boiling water, said kettle comprising a vessel (2; 102) and a heating element (14, 15; 139) characterised in that said heating element (14, 15; 139) comprises electrical heating means which transfers heat substantially by radiant heat.

Description

A KETTLE This invention relates a kettle for boiling water. Kettles generally comprise a vessel for containing a liquid to be boiled, a handle for lifting the kettle, an electrical heating element located in the vessel, a switch for activating the heating element, a device for deactivating the heating element when the water in the vessel has boiled and a socket for a flex to provide an electric supply. Hitherto kettles are commercially available in two general types . The more traditional type has a vessel having a diameter greater than its height and was formerly made of metal, although more recent versions are made of plastics material . Other features of the traditional type of kettle, is a lid closing an aperture in the middle of an upper surface of the vessel and a handle, which extends across the lid. The second general type or so-called "jug-type" has an open vessel with a height greater than the diameter. A lid closes the top of the vessel and a handle spaced from the body of the vessel extends from near the lid position part way or nearly fully down a sidewall of the vessel. Typically such kettles are made of a plastics material, for example pigmated polypropylene and a level indicator worked by a float is fitted into the handle.

Particular models of kettles also comprise a base plate docking unit provided with a plug hard wired to an electrical flex. The vessel part is provided with a corresponding socket in the base of the vessel part, such that when the vessel part is located on the base the plug and socket interengage to provide an electrical connection therebetween .

It has been observed that conventional kettles which are heated by a resistive heater element in convective contact with liquid suffer from lime scale build up on the element or elements . This is especially noticeable in hard water areas .

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a kettle for boiling water, said kettle comprising a vessel and a heating element characterised in that said heating element is external to said vessel . Preferably, the heating element is of the halogen lamp type which heats the liquid primarily by radiation, thereby inhibiting or preventing the problem of lime scale build-up on the heating element.

Other features of the first aspect of the invention are set out in claim 2 to 12.

* * *

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a kettle for boiling water, said kettle comprising a vessel and a heating element, said vessel being at least partly internally coated with a surface energy reducing layer for inhibiting lime scale forming on the inner surface of the vessel . Preferably, the friction reducing layer comprises a flouro carbon resin, for example PTFE .

* * *

It has been noted that with kettles provided with a docking unit, the kettle is often awkward to dock. According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a kettle for boiling water, said kettle comprising a vessel, a heating element, and a docking unit wherein said docking unit is provided with one of a male and female electrical connector and said kettle is provided with the other of said male and female electrical connector characterised in that said connectors are located in the middle of a surface of contact between the vessel and the docking unit for allowing docking of the kettle from an arbitrary angular position. Preferably, the connectors comprise interengaging substantially circular contact elements .

* * *

It has been observed that cleaning kettles is awkward and time consuming .

According to a forth aspect of the invention, there is provided a kettle for boiling water, said kettle comprising a vessel and a heating element characterised in that said vessel is detachable from said heating element.

Other features of the forth aspect of the invention are set out in claims 17 to 24.

* * *

According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a kettle for boiling water, said kettle comprising a vessel and a heating element characterised in that said heating element comprises electrical heating means which transfers heat substantially by radiant heat. Preferably, the heating means is a quartz halogen heating element.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings , in which : -

Figure 1 is a side view in plan of a first embodiment of a kettle in accordance with the present invention ;

Figure 2 is an exploded view in vertical cross- section of the kettle of Figure 1 ;

Figures 2a to 2d are perspective views of parts of the kettle of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of part of the kettle of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is an exploded side view in plan of a second embodiment of a kettle in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 5 is a side view in vertical cross-section of the kettle of Figure 4 ;

Figure 6a is an exploded view of an alternative part of the kettle of Figure 4 ; and Figure 6b is a view of the part of the kettle of Figure 6a .

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 , there is shown a kettle generally identified by reference numeral 1.

Kettle 1 comprises a vessel 2, a heating element unit 3, a handle 4 and a lid 5.

The vessel 2 is formed in a single piece from a borosilicate glass, which combines transparency with resistance to temperature gradients and thermal shock. The vessel 2 has a substantially transparent circular base 6 and a circular cylindrical projection 7 extending downwardly therefrom. A wall 8 extends upwardly from the base 6 forming a vessel suitable for holding water. The wall 8 follows a curved path towards an opening 9 , the path bulging outwardly from the circumference of the base 6 in a lower region of the vessel 2 and tapers inwardly towards the opening 9 at an upper region of the vessel 2. An outwardly extending lip 10 forms a spout in a front portion of the vessel 2 at the opening 9. The inside surface of the vessel 2 is preferably coated with a layer of PTFE. The vessel 2 is preferably capable of holding approximately 1.5 to 1.71 of fluid.

Heating element unit 3 is located beneath and attached to the vessel 2. The heating element unit 3 comprises a casing 11 enclosing insulating material 12, a recessed electrical connector 13, an outer ring quartz halogen heating element 14 and an inner ring quartz halogen heating element 15 substantially concentric therewith .

The casing 11 has a conical base 16 extending from a circular cylindrical wall 17 towards a central circular opening 18. The casing 11 comprises aluminium or an aluminium alloy, although an ABS or polypropylene may be used. Nibs 19 extend upwardly from the conical base 16 for inhibiting movement of the insulating material 12 located therein and for reinforcing the conical base. The outer and inner quartz halogen elements 14 and 15 are located in grooves 20 and 21 in the insulating material 12 , and are in contact with the base 6 of the vessel 2.

The insulating material 12 may comprise that sold under the trade name PYROTEK N14.

The recessed electrical connector 13 is located in the opening 18 in the conical base 16, with the insulating material 12 located thereabout.

The quartz halogen elements 14 and 15 preferably produce 3KW of power. The quartz halogen elements may be wired in parallel for use with a 240V power supply which will draw approximately 12.5Amps , or wired in series for use with a 110V power supply which will draw approximately 27Amps. The quartz halogen elements 14 and 15 are electrically connected to connector 13 via spades 22 and 23. A spade 24 is in electrical communication with the casing 11 to provide an earth therefor.

The handle unit 4 has a triangular arrangement, one side of which forms a curved handle portion 25 arranged with an axis approximately 30° to vertical, an upright portion 26 which conforms to the wall 8 of the vessel 2 and a portion 27 linking an end of the handle portion 25 with a bottom of the upright portion 26. The handle unit may be made from an ABS material or polypropylene.

The upright portion 25 has a lip 28 at the top thereof which is located over the top of the vessel 2. The bottom of the upright portion 26 is fixed to the base unit 3 via a pin 29. The handle portion 25 is provided with transverse ribs 28 and 29 and a cover 32. A switch 30a and a temperature sensing device 31a are located at the top of the handle portion 25.

The lid 5 is convex 33 and has an end provided with an end wall 34 and a pin 35 which is removably located in a hole 36 in the upright portion 26 of the handle unit 4.

A replaceable filter 37 is arranged across a mouth

38 formed by the lip 10 and lid 5. An end 39 of the filter 37 is snap fitted into a fitting 40 in the lid 5 for filtering liquids passing therethrough.

In use, the kettle is filled with liquid through the mouth and through ilter 37. The kettle 1 is then located on a docking unit 41. It will be noted that the size and wall defining the external surface of the docking unit 41 in this embodiment conforms to the shape of the vessel part so that when fitted together they seem to form proprotions of a single object or geometric shape. This is significant to the aesthetics of the embodiment of the invention, and generally speaking the diameter of the docking unit will not be substantially different from that of the adjoining part of the vessel. The docking unit 41 comprises a platform 42 having an upwardly extending central circular cylindrical portion 43 in which a projecting electrical connector 44 is located. A cover plate 45 locates over the platform 42 and is secured thereto by locking pins passing through holes 46 and 47. The cover plate 45 has a downwardly extending circular cylindrical portion 47 about the perimeter thereof, which locates about the platform 42. An open hole 48 is provided in the cylindrical portion 47 for the passage of a flex linking the projecting electrical connector 44 to a mains supply.

The projecting electrical connector 44 comprises concentric contact rings 49 and 50 which mates with corresponding contact rings in recessed electrical connector 18.

Referring now to Figures 4 , 5 and 6 there is shown a second embodiment of the kettle of the invention generally identified by reference numeral 101. The kettle 101 comprises a vessel 102, a handle unit 103, a hinged lid 104 and a docking station 105.

The vessel 102 is formed in a single piece from a borosilicate glass. The vessel 102 has a substantially transparent circular base 106. A wall 107 extends upwardly from the base 106 forming a vessel suitable for holding water. The wall 107 follows a curved path tapering inwardly towards an opening 108. An outwardly extending lip 109 forms a spout in a front portion of the vessel 102 at the opening 108. The inside surface of the vessel 102 is preferably coated with a layer of PTFE. The vessel 102 is preferably capable of holding approximately 1.5 to 1.71 of fluid.

The handle unit 103 has an inner portion 109, which conforms to the rear portion of the vessel 102 and is adhered thereto with a glue, such as that sold under the trade name PACTAN 6010. The top of the inner portion 109 branches into two : the first follows a tight curved path extending into an underside of a handle 110 ; the second extends upwardly to provide a rib 111 for sealing the top of the handle 110 and for providing rigidity to the handle 110. A handle cover plate 112 is arranged on top of underside portion 111 and is attached thereto by a screw (not shown) or may be provided with a clip mechanism, which is moulded integrally with the underside portion and/or the handle cover plate 112. The top end of the handle cover plate 112 terminates in an upper bulge portion (not shown) and a lower rib 113. The lower rib 113 meets with the rib 111 for providing rigidity to the handle 110. The upper bulge portion (not shown) is provided with two outwardly extending pins 114 and (not shown) about which the lid 104 can be hinged. The handle unit 103 and lid 104 may be made from an ABS material or polypropylene .

The lid 104 has a convex outer shell 115 having a rearwardly projecting portion 116 provided with holes for receiving pins 114. The lid 104 is hinged about the pins 114. The convex outer shell 115 terminates at a forwardly projecting portion provided with a substantially transversely arranged slot 116. A replaceable filter 117 is arranged across a mouth 118 formed by the lip 109 and lid 104. An end 119 of the filter 117 is snap fitted into slot 116 in the lid 117 for filtering liquids passing therethrough .

A rubber switch 120 and a temperature sensing device 121 are located at the top of the handle 110. The rubber switch 120 is located in a slot in 122 in the handle cover plate 112 and is seated on a plastic base 123 moulded integrally with the underside of the handle portion 110. The temperature sensing device 121 is removeably located in the handle 103. The temperature sensing device may be removed before washing the kettle in a dishwasher.

The lower end of the inner portion 109 extends rearwardly from the vessel 102 forming a skirt portion in which a male plug 124 is arranged. The male plug comprises copper pins 125 arranged transversely to an insulating ring 126 which is fixed in a cylindrical housing 127.

Docking station 105 comprises a cool wall plastic base 128 provided with rubber feet 129. The cool wall plastic base has two substantially concentric upwardly projecting rings 130 and 131. The outer ring 130 locates a cool wall plastic cover 132. The cool wall plastic cover 132 takes the shape of an elongate quarter section of a round cylindrical ring. The cool wall plastic cover 132 encloses a pressed aluminium housing 133 located about the inner ring 131. Insulating material 134 , such as that sold under the trade name PYROTEK N14 is arranged in the bottom of the housing 133. A internally polished aluminium dish 135 is partially sunk into the insulating material 134 and held in position about its lip 136 by sprung clips 137. The dish 135 may be made from stainless steel. The lip 136 holds a glass plate 138 in place against the housing 133 by an upwardly facing bevel about the edge of the glass plate 138 and a corresponding downwardly facing bevel on the edge of the housing. A single ring halogen lamp ring 139 abuts the glass plate 138 and is isolated from the aluminium plate. In use, the reflective surface of the dish 135 will reflect the output of the halogen lamp 139 towards the vessel 102. A silicone sealing ring 140 is provided on top of the glass plate to rest the vessel on. This helps with heat conduction. Preferably, the halogen lamp 139 consumes between 2.4 and 3kwatts of electric power . The halogen lamp 139 is wired to an electrical power supply via flex 141 .

The flex 141 enters the docking station 105 through a cable clamp 142. The positive and negative wires are connected to sprung solid copper legs 143 and (not shown) . Far ends of the copper legs 143 are located beneath an insulated female socket 144.

In use, the kettle is filled with liquid through the mouth and through filter 117. The kettle 101 is then located on a docking station 105. It will be noted that the size and wall defining the external surface of the docking station 105 in this embodiment conforms to the shape of the vessel part so that when fitted together they seem to form proportions of a single object or geometric shape. This is significant to the aesthetics of the embodiment of the invention, and generally speaking the diameter of the docking unit will not be substantially different from that of the adjoining part of the vessel .

Figures 6a and 6b show an alternative arrangement for a switch and steam switch in the handle 103. A manually operated switch 145 and steam switch 146 are located in a removable capsule 147. The capsule 147 comprises an upper part 148 and a lower part 149 both moulded in ABS plastics material. The upper part 148 has at one end a lip 150 which, when inserted in the handle 110, locates on a lip 151 on the handle cover plate 112. An opposing end of the capsule is provided with a recess 152 for receiving rib 111. The rib is further provided with a silicone seal 153. A further recess 154 is provided at the base of recess 152 to accommodate the silicone seal 153. In use, the rib 111 inserts itself into the recess 152 in a snap-fit fashion as the capsule 147 is pushed into the handle 110.

Male electrical connectors 154 for providing electrical communication with the switch 145 and steam switch 146 are fixed to the forward bottom part of the lower part 149 of the capsule 147. Corresponding female electrical connectors are fixed to the underside part of handle 110. Wires (not shown) are connected to the female connector and run through the ABS handle 103 to the male plug 125. In use, the capsule 147 retaining the switch and steam switch can be removed prior to being washed, especially before being washed in a dishwasher.

The stem switch 146 may be a bimetallic steam switch, or an electronic device which may operate with a thermocouple .

It is envisaged that certain modifications could be made to the above embodiment. In particular: a) the handle may be made detachable from the jug to which it demountably clips or locks so that the jug itself can be washed, for example in a dish washer, without risk to water sensitive components; and b) the kettle can be adapted to heat liquid foods , such as soups and stocks , modification to the device for switching the heating mechanism may be required. e) a relay may be used in the docking station so that the power used in the switch 145 and steam switch 146 may operate at a low current and possibly a low voltage, this has the advantage that the wires running up to the switch 145 and steam switch 146 need only have a very small cross-sectional area of conductor, due to the low power required by these components , the wires will not have to be able to take the full 3kw of electricity.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A kettle for boiling water, said kettle comprising a vessel (2; 102) and a heating element characterised in that said heating element (14, 15; 139) is external to said vessel (2; 102) .

2. A kettle as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein said heating element (14,15,-139) is a halogen lamp.

3. A kettle as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 , wherein said vessel (2;102) is transparent.

4. A kettle as claimed in Claim 1 , 2 , or 3 wherein said vessel (2; 102) comprises a borosilicate glass.

5. A kettle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said vessel (2; 102) is at least partly coated internally with a surface energy reducing layer.

6. A kettle as claimed in Claim 5 , wherein said surface energy reducing layer comprises PTFE .

7. A kettle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said kettle is provided with a docking unit (41; 105) .

8. A kettle as claimed in Claim 7 , wherein said docking unit (41; 105) is provided with one of a male and female electrical connector (13,44,-125,144) and said kettle is provided with the other of said male and female electrical connector (13, 44 ; 125, 144) .

9. A kettle as claimed in Claim 8 , wherein vessel (2; 102) and docking unit (41; 105) are arranged to meet at a plane and said electrical connectors (13,44) are located at or towards the middle of said plane .

10. A kettle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said vessel (2;102) is a jug having a height greater than its diameter.

11. A kettle as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a filter (37; 117) in a spout (10; 109) of said vessel (2; 102) .

12. A kettle for boiling water substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings .

* * *

13. A kettle for boiling water, said kettle comprising a vessel (2,-102) and a heating element, said vessel (2; 102) being at least partly internally coated with a surface energy reducing layer and said heating element (14, 15; 139) being located so that it does not contact liquid in the vessel (2; 102) .

14. A kettle as claimed in Claim 13, wherein said friction reducing layer comprises PTFE.

* * *

15. A kettle for boiling water, said kettle comprising a vessel (2), a heating element (14,15) , and a docking unit (41) wherein said docking unit (41) is provided with one of a male and female electrical connector and said kettle is provided with the other of said male and female electrical connector (13,44) characterised in that said connectors are located in the centre of a surface of contact between the vessel (2) and the docking unit (41) . 15. A kettle as claimed in Claim 14, wherein said electrical connectors (13,44) comprise interengaging substantially circular contact elements .

* * *

16. A kettle for boiling water, said kettle comprising a vessel (102) and a heating element (139) characterised in that said vessel (102) is detachable from said heating element (139) .

17. A kettle as claimed in Claim 16, wherein said heating element (139) is a halogen lamp.

18. A kettle as claimed in Claim 16 or 17, further comprising a transparent plate (138) covering said heating element (14, 15; 139).

19. A kettle as claimed in Claim 16, 17 or 18, wherein said heating element (139) is arranged in a docking station (105) .

20. A kettle as claimed in any of Claims 16 to 19, further comprising a handle (4; 110) for said vessel (2 ;102) .

21. A kettle as claimed in Claim 20, further comprising a switch (120,121 ; 145 , 146) located in said handle (110) .

22. A kettle as claimed in claim 21, wherein said switch (120,121,-145,146) is removable from said handle (110)

23. A kettle as claimed in Claim 22, wherein said switch (120,121,-145,146) is arranged in a capsule (147) .

24. A kettle as claimed in any of claims 21 to 23, wherein said switch (120 , 121 ;145 , 146) comprises a manual switch (120,-145) and a steam activated switch (121; 146) .

* * *

25. A kettle for boiling water, said kettle comprising a vessel (2,-102) and a heating element (14, 15; 139) characterised in that said heating element (14, 15;139) comprises electrical heating means which transfers heat substantially by radiant heat.

26. A kettle as claimed in Claim 25, wherein said heating element is a halogen heating element.