FR2710828A1 - Electric kettle fitted with a filter. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric kettle comprising a container (3) for liquid, an electric heater (4) for heating the liquid placed in the container (3), a spout (15) for the liquid placed in the upper part. of the container (3), a filter (25) placed inside the container (3) so as to be crossed by the liquid when the latter is poured out of the container (3) by the pouring spout (15). According to the invention, the filter (25) is located above the maximum permitted liquid level N in the container (3) when the kettle is in its normal heating position. It consists of a thin rigid plate comprising perforations and arranged in the spout (15) transversely to the flow of the liquid. The perforated plate is mounted in a non-sealed manner on the internal wall of the spout (15) thanks to the presence of emerging perforations.

Description

ELECTRIC KETTLE EQUIPPED WITH A FILTER

  The present invention relates to an electric kettle comprising a container for liquid, an electric heating device for heating the liquid placed in the container, a pouring spout for liquid discharge, a filter placed inside the container so as to be traversed by the liquid

flowing through the spout.

  Electric kettles are generally used to boil water to prepare hot drinks such as tea or coffee. Depending on the hardness of the water, scale particles appear, some of which can be deposited on different parts of the kettle, and in particular on the parts of the kettle in contact with water during the heating period. The water, once heated, is poured out of the container and carries with it the limestone particles which are in suspension therein as well as those which can form a

  sort of scum on the surface of heated water.

  In existing types of electric kettles, it is known to place a filter inside the container so as to intercept the various particles of tartar which could escape therefrom. In particular, it has been proposed to place a removable fine mesh filter inside the container in order to

can be cleaned.

  This filter is generally formed by a filter cloth supported by a frame which achieves a perfect seal with the internal wall of the container.

  when the filter is put in the operating position.

  In this type of electric kettle, the permanent immersion of the filter during heating has the major drawback of exposing said filter to a rapid deposit of scale. It is therefore essential to be able to clean it very regularly which implies making it removable, especially when the mesh of the filter cloth is fine and it intercepts

  also very small lime particles.

  In addition, immersing the filter during heating does not allow the use of a metal filter, given the propensity of the tartar to be fixed on any submerged metal element, without running the risk of plugging the passage holes very quickly. Making fairly large through holes (with a diameter of the order of a few millimeters) would in this case reduce the risk of obstruction, but would then make the filter unable to stop even the particles of

  larger lime or scale.

  In addition, the use of a fine mesh filter cloth does not generally make it possible to obtain a flow rate of exit of the liquid out of the container in accordance with that expected by the user who, as a result, can show

then some impatience.

  In addition, the need for the user to have to regularly remove the filter from the container to clean it may seem too restrictive. It cannot however abstain from doing so, otherwise the mesh will become blocked, the faster the mesh is fine, making the output flow even more

weaker.

  The object of the invention is to produce an electric kettle fitted with a filter which can remedy the drawbacks mentioned above. The object of the invention is in particular to avoid the presence of the filter having harmful consequences for the user such as, for example, the need to have to clean it very often. According to the invention, the filter is located inside the container so that it is located above the maximum level of liquid authorized in the container when the kettle is in its normal heating position. The different features of the invention have many advantages. It is thus possible to use a filter permanently attached to the container and therefore avoid having to dismantle it to clean it, thus saving appreciable time and

increased user comfort.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the filter is formed from a rigid perforated plate. It is thus much less fragile than conventional filter cloths and does not require a frame around its periphery or any rib to support or stiffen it. The filter is simple to manufacture and

inexpensive.

  In addition, since the plate does not immerse in the liquid during the heating phase, it is very little subject to the deposit of scale. This then makes it possible to use a perforated metal plate to

the filter.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the filter is arranged in the spout transversely to the flow of the liquid and its peripheral region adjacent to the internal wall of the spout is mounted in leaktight manner on said internal wall. This non-sealing of the mounting of the plate on the internal wall of the pouring spout allows the liquid to flow through through perforations of the plate without having to bypass a full space (welding, frame surrounding a filter cloth, etc.). This reduces, in the filter / inner wall contact area of the spout, the component of the liquid flow parallel to the face of the filter. This component interferes with a good general flow of the liquid in this zone and promotes the rapid formation of a deposit of scale which reduces the active surface of the filter and therefore the output flow. It is therefore understood that such a characteristic of the invention is particularly advantageous when the filter is permanently fixed to the kettle. Furthermore, the position of the filter in the upper part of the container allows, if necessary, easy access to clean it and also makes it easier to assemble during manufacture. According to another characteristic of the invention, the perforated plate which forms the filter can be covered with an anticorrosion coating. This allows, in the case where the plate is itself metallic, to make it, if desired, in a rigid and economical material capable of corroding since it is then protected by an anticorrosion coating or

  stainless such as gold.

  The various characteristics as well as the advantages of the invention will also emerge from the

  description which follows and which is given with reference

  in the appended drawings illustrating by way of nonlimiting example how the invention can be implemented and in which: FIG. 1 represents a view in vertical section of a possible embodiment of an electric kettle fitted with a following filter the invention; FIG. 2 represents an enlargement of the pouring spout of the electric kettle of FIG. 1, without the filter; FIG 3 shows a sectional view along line A-A of Figure 2; FIG. 4 represents a top view of the pouring spout according to FIG. 2; FIG. 5 shows in elevation a front view of the filter;

2710828

  FIG. 6 represents an enlargement of part of the filter in its peripheral region showing the

arrangement of perforations.

  According to Figure 1, the electric kettle comprises a housing 1 closed by a cover 2. The housing provides a container 3 which is intended to contain water capable of being brought to a boil by an electric heating resistor 4 and comprises a handle hollow 5 which comprises a gripping part 6 and a base 7 secured to an outer wall 8 of the reservoir 3. The elements 1, 2, 3 and 5 can advantageously be made of plastic. The resistance 4 is electrically controlled by a thermosensitive switch 9 which is arranged outside the container 3 in the lower region of the housing 1. The switch 9 is sensitive to the temperature of the vapor conveyed by a conduit 10 which extends parallel to the outer wall 8 of the container 3 from the upper region of the housing 1 to the switch 9 and the mouth 11 of which is located above the maximum authorized water level N

in container 3.

  The electric kettle has an electric power supply unit 12 comprising an operating member 13 which can be moved between an "on" position and an "off" position by manually actuating a button 14, and arranged so as to be brought into its "off" position when the steam directed into the duct 10 heats the thermosensitive switch 9 sufficiently to activate it. The key 14 is arranged in an opening formed in

  the lower part of the handle 5.

  According to the invention, a filter 25 is located above the maximum authorized liquid level N in the container 3 when the kettle is in its position.

normal heating.

  The container 3 flares at a place in its upper part so as to form a pouring spout 15. Bosses 16, 16 ', 17, 17', 18, 18 ', 19, 19' and 20 protrude from the wall internal of the spout 15 in order to hold the filter 25 in place by alternately contacting the faces A and B (see Figures 2, 3 and 4) The two upper bosses 16 and 16 'are provided with holes 21, 21' provided to receive permanently two corresponding male parts (not shown in the figures) located at the ends (22a) and (22b) of the bar 22 fixed on the upper edge of the filter

(see figure 5).

  The filter 25 is formed from a thin rigid and perforated plate 23 with a thickness of the order of 0.2 mm, conforming to the lanceolate profile of the internal wall of the spout and on the upper edge of which extends a strip plastic curve 22. The bar 22 is fixed to the plate 23 in a manner known per se and not shown, for example, by overmolding or snap-fastening. During assembly, the plate 23 fitted with its bar 22 is inserted from above into the pouring spout of the electric kettle until the lower edge 24 of the plate 23 abuts on the lower internal wall of the spout 15 at the level of the boss 20. The male parts mentioned above and which project perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 5 are then engaged in the corresponding holes 21, 21 '. It would also be possible to fix the bar 22 on the internal wall of the spout 15 by other

means, for example by welding.

  The plate 23 comprises multiple perforations 30 (see FIG. 6) with a diameter of the order of 0.5 mm which are arranged in a staggered manner so that their centers are separated by a distance of the order of 1, 0 mm. Given the size and distribution of the perforations, the plate can intercept a large part of the limestone particles present in

  heated water without significantly reducing the flow rate.

  The plate 23 is preferably flat and metallic but can also be made of molded plastic. It is covered with an anticorrosion food coating of golden or silver appearance. Such a coating makes the plate 23 stainless and guarantees hygiene

perfect for the user.

  It is clearly visible in FIG. 6 that the plate 23 has through perforations 31 in its peripheral region. These through perforations are advantageously produced when the plate 23 is cut from a larger perforated plate. These through perforations 31 allow the water to flow under good conditions in this peripheral region by greatly reducing the component of the flow of water parallel to the face B of the filter 25. These good flow conditions fight effectively against the formation of a rapid deposit of tartar in this region. Thanks to the invention, the filter 25, once fixed in the container 3, is always located above the maximum authorized water level N when the kettle

  electric is in its normal heating position.

  This arrangement allows the plate 23 to never be immersed in water during the heating period and in particular during the boiling phase, thus preventing tartar or other sediment from being able to

  place it there and let the perforations in the mouth.

Claims (10)

Claims   1. Electric kettle comprising a container (3) for liquid, an electric heating device (4) for heating the liquid placed in the container (3), a pouring spout (15) for discharging the liquid, a filter (25) placed inside the container (3) so as to be traversed by the liquid flowing through the spout (15), characterized in that the filter (25) is situated above the maximum authorized liquid level (N ) in the container (3) when the   kettle is in its normal heating position.   2. Electric kettle according to claim 1 characterized in that the filter (25) is fixed so   permanent inside the container (3).   3. Electric kettle according to claim 2 characterized in that the filter (25) is formed of a thin rigid plate (23) having perforations (30) and disposed in the spout (15) transversely to the flow of the liquid and whose peripheral region adjacent to the internal wall of said spout (15) is mounted in leaktight manner on said inner wall.   4. Electric kettle according to claim 3 characterized in that the plate (23) is retained inside the spout by bosses (16 to 19, 16 'to 19', 20) projecting from the internal wall of the spout pourer and alternately contacting sides A and B of the plate (23).   5. An electric kettle according to claim 3 or claim 4 characterized in that the perforations (30) have a diameter of the order of 0.5 mm and are arranged practically in staggered rows so that their centers are separated from one another. 'a distance of about 1.0 mm.   6. Electric kettle according to any one of   claims 3 to 5 characterized in that the   perforations (30) located in the peripheral region   of said plate (23) open outwards.   7. Electric kettle according to any one of   claims 3 to 6 characterized in that the edge   upper of the plate (23) is provided with a bar (22) whose ends (22a), (22b) are fixed to the inner wall of the spout (15).   8. Electric kettle according to any one of   claims 3 to 7 characterized in that the plate (23) is metallic.   9. Electric kettle according to any one of   claims 3 to 8 characterized in that the plate (23) is flat.   10. Electric kettle according to any one of   claims 3 to 9 characterized in that the plate   (23) is covered with an anticorrosion metallic coating.