FR3133985A1 - Food preparation appliance including an internal lid - Google Patents

Abstract

Culinary preparation apparatus comprising: - a housing (10), - a work tank (13), defining a work space (100) arranged to receive food to be prepared, - a main cover (20), movable between a position opening and a closing position for respectively opening and closing the work space (100), - at least one internal cover (210) arranged to be reversibly mounted on the main cover (20) and comprising at least one manipulation interface for allowing a user to grasp or hold the internal cover (210), characterized in that the manipulation interface of the internal cover (210) mounted on the main cover (20) is arranged at least partially outside the workspace (100) when the main cover (20) is in the closed position. Figure for abstract: Fig. 4

Description

Food preparation appliance including an internal lid Technical field of the invention

The present invention generally relates to culinary preparation appliances (for example household appliances or household robots to be used to prepare food, that is to say mixing, cutting, grating, kneading, kneading, etc. and/or cooking). foods with or without pressure and/or with or without steam, and/or let them simmer, etc.).

State of the art

It is known in the prior art of culinary preparation appliances to provide a housing with a working tank housed in or on the housing to define a work space, and a main cover generally movable between an open position and a position closing button to open and close at least partially the workspace. In the closed position, the lid thus places the culinary preparation appliance in a working configuration which allows certain recipes or work operations to be carried out. An additional accessory can be provided such as an internal cover which can mate in or with the main cover of the culinary preparation appliance and which provides additional preparation possibilities. However, the configuration operations can be tedious and complex, especially when the user must remove the internal lid for the purposes of the recipe and it is hot. The use and/or ergonomics may be degraded by the coupling or uncoupling operations of such an internal cover which is still hot and/or soiled by cooking residue or deposits. In particular, if the appliance is used to heat and/or cook food, and a subsequent operation or recipe requires changing the internal lid, the user must handle the hot internal lid, which exposes them to risks of burns, or the user must wait for cooling to be able to carry out the operation without injury, all of which harms the user experience and/or ergonomics, and/or safety of use.

An aim of the present invention is to respond to the disadvantages of the prior art mentioned above and in particular, first of all, to propose a versatile culinary preparation appliance whose configuration is easy, secure and quick.

For this, a first aspect of the invention relates to a culinary preparation apparatus comprising:
- a housing,
- a work tank, defining a work space arranged to receive food to be prepared,
- a main cover, movable between an open position and a closed position to respectively open and close the work space,
- at least one internal cover arranged to be mounted reversibly on the main cover and comprising at least one manipulation interface to allow a user to grasp or hold the internal cover,
characterized in that the manipulation interface of the internal cover mounted on the main cover is arranged at least partially outside the working space when the main cover is in the closed position, and/or the manipulation interface of the internal cover mounted on the main cover is arranged at least partially outside a general envelope of the housing.

According to the implementation above, the manipulation interface of the internal lid is positioned outside the work space, that is to say in the ambient atmosphere around the culinary preparation appliance. Consequently, during cooking or heating, the handling interface is not subjected to heat, so that the handling interface remains “cold” or at least at a temperature close to the temperature of the room in which the food preparation appliance is located. Manipulation of the internal lid is therefore possible without risk of burns for the user, via a clean handling interface, free from cooking splashes and from the opening of the main lid after a cooking or heating cycle.

According to one embodiment, the handling interface may comprise at least one handle and preferably two handles.

According to one embodiment, the handling interface (and/or a handle) of the internal cover mounted on the main cover comprises a grip portion arranged outside at least 2 cm, preferably at least 3 cm from the work space when the main cover is in the closed position, and/or the handling interface (and/or a handle) of the internal cover mounted on the main cover comprises a grip portion arranged outside at least 2 cm, preferably at least 3 cm from a general casing envelope

According to one embodiment, the culinary preparation appliance may comprise internal lid locking means on the main lid. Maintaining the internal cover in place on the main cover is therefore ensured by the internal cover locking means on the main cover.

According to one embodiment, the internal cover locking means can be provided on the handling interface. Ergonomics is made easier, with the internal cover locking means close to or confused with the handling interface.

According to one embodiment, the internal cover locking means can be provided outside the work space, and/or outside a general envelope of the housing.

According to one embodiment, the internal cover locking means may comprise:
- two lock devices arranged on either side of said one of the internal cover and the main cover and
- two counterforms each facing each lock device on the other of the internal cover and the main cover. Each lock device may include a bolt or hook movable between a disengaged position (the internal cover can be freely removed from the main cover) and an engaged position with the counterform (the internal cover cannot be freely removed from the main cover) . Return means can be provided to return the bolt or hook to the engaged position. It is possible to provide a sliding movement, or a tilting movement of the bolt or the hook between the release position and the engaged position.

According to one embodiment, the main cover may comprise a cover frame, and the two counterforms facing each lock device may be formed by a rim of the cover frame. Such a rim or rib can also help to stiffen the part.

According to one embodiment, the culinary preparation appliance may include a device for locking the main lid on the box and/or on the work tank. Such a device for locking the main cover on the box and/or on the work tank makes it possible to guarantee the closed position, even if the work space is pressurized for pressure cooking with, for example, steam.

According to one embodiment, the internal cover may comprise at least one radial tab supporting said at least one handling interface,
and the main cover locking device can be movable between:
- a main cover unlocking position, in which the main cover can be freely moved between its open position and its closed position,
- a main cover locking position, in which the main cover can be locked in its closed position,
and the locking device of the main cover may comprise at least one passage clearance provided to allow said at least one radial tab to pass. The passage clearance makes it possible to make the handling interface located outside the work space compatible with locking of the main cover on the tank or the housing to secure the closure of the work space.

According to one embodiment, the locking device of the main cover may comprise a rotating locking ring comprising locking teeth arranged to mate with the housing and/or the working tank when the locking device may be in the position of locking, and said at least one passage clearance can be provided between two locking teeth.

According to one embodiment, in a direction of movement between the main cover locking position and the main cover unlocking position:
the passage clearance may have a passage dimension greater than or equal to a dimension of said at least one radial tab added to a movement stroke of the main cover locking device between the main cover unlocking position and the locking position of the main cover main cover.

According to one embodiment, the main cover locking device can be arranged to move between the main cover unlocking position and the main cover locking position according to a rotation around an axial direction of the working tank. We can envisage a rotation of around 40°, or around 20°.

According to one embodiment, the internal cover may comprise sealing means arranged to allow cooking under pressure in the work space closed by the main cover equipped with the internal cover. A lip seal can be provided, for example made of polymer and/or synthetic material.

According to one embodiment, the sealing means can be arranged between the working tank and the internal cover mounted on the main cover in the closed position. The seal is carried out directly between the working tank and the internal cover, and not between the working tank and the main cover: the structure is simpler.

According to one embodiment, the internal cover may comprise pressure regulating means, arranged to open an exhaust valve if a pressure in the work space is greater than or equal to a working pressure. A pressure regulating valve in the work space and a safety valve can typically be provided to prevent any overpressure in the work space.

According to one embodiment, the main cover may comprise cover heating means arranged to heat food received in the work space when the internal cover is removed from the main cover. Such heating means make it possible to offer additional options for cooking and/or heating food to the user. The modularity of use is improved.

According to one embodiment, the culinary preparation appliance may comprise a safety device arranged to inhibit the operation of the lid heating means if the internal lid is mounted on the main lid and/or if the main lid is in position d 'opening. Such a safety device can be provided to cut off an electrical supply circuit of the heating means to prevent any unintended operation, in particular if the internal cover is in place, and/or if the main cover is not correctly mounted.

According to one embodiment, the main cover in the closed position can be arranged to close the work space at least partially.

Description of figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the detailed description which follows of an embodiment of the invention given by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the appended drawings, in which:

represents a general isometric view of a culinary preparation appliance comprising a housing and a main cover;

represents an exploded perspective and bottom view of the main cover of the to show an internal cover;

represents a detail of the to show internal cover locking means on the main cover;

represents a section of the culinary preparation apparatus of the to show the main cover in a closed position on the housing and closing a work space defined by a work tank of the housing;

represents a bottom view of the culinary preparation appliance of the , without the housing but with the working tank, to show a device for locking the main cover on the box and/or on the working tank in an unlocking position;

represents the view of the , to show the locking device of the main cover on the housing and/or on the working tank in a locking position.

Detailed description of embodiment(s)

There represents a general isometric view of a culinary preparation appliance comprising a housing 10 and a main cover 20 covering the housing 10. The culinary preparation appliance comprises a working tank 13 (visible ) housed in the housing 10 to prepare and cook food.

For example, the food preparation appliance can be a pressure cooker, a rice cooking appliance, a culinary preparation appliance which can combine several cooking modes. It can be planned that the culinary preparation appliance includes heating means in the housing 10 and/or in the main cover 20 to heat and/or cook the food received in the working tank 13, it can be planned to propose a mode cooking under pressure, we can provide a cooking mode by hot air and/or convection directly in the working tank 13, and we can provide a cooking mode by heating the wall of the working tank 13. We can provide optionally working means (such as a knife, a rotating chopper, a mixing or kneading paddle, etc.) in the working tank 13.

The housing 10 comprises in particular a base 13, a man-machine interface 12 for controlling the culinary preparation appliance and a side wall 11 provided with housing handle covers 111. The main cover 20 comprises an upper wall 221 provided with lid handle covers 224. As seen , the main cover 20 includes a ventilation grille on its upper part to evacuate hot air and/or cooking vapors. Other openings can be provided in the main cover 20.

To allow the different cooking modes described above, a removable internal cover can be provided on the main cover 20. In particular, several removable internal lids can be provided, each designed to mate with the main lid 20 so as to offer a specific cooking method or configuration. As shown in the , the main cover 20 comprises in particular a cover frame 220 and an internal cover 210, removable relative to the cover frame 220. However, provision can be made to allow one or more specific cooking modes with the main cover 20 without internal cover 210 .

The lid frame 220 notably comprises the upper wall 221 provided with lid handle covers 224, lid heating means 223, a toothed locking ring 222, and a striker or counter-form 225.

In this example, the internal cover 210 is intended to put the culinary preparation appliance in configuration to offer a pressure cooking mode. The internal cover 210 comprises in particular a main wall 217, pressure regulating means 214, sealing means (a seal 213), a handling interface formed here by handles 221 connected to the main wall 217 by radial tabs 216. The handles 211 are provided with triggers 212.

As shown in the , the triggers 212 are formed in one piece with locks 215, and housed in the handles 211 in a sliding connection, with a spring 218 which pushes the locks 215 towards the inside of the culinary preparation appliance. The locks 215 are designed to face the counter shapes 225 of the cover frame 220, and sliding of the triggers 212 in the handles 211 makes it possible to easily lock or unlock the internal cover 210 on the main cover 20 (via the cover frame). cover 220).

While Figures 2 and 3 show the internal cover 210 separated from the cover frame 210, the shows the internal cover 210 docked and locked on the cover frame 210.

In fact, the shows the main cover 20 mounted on the housing 10. The sectional view of the shows the double-walled work tank 13 housed in the housing 10, capped by the main wall 217 and defining a work space 100.

We can note that the main cover 20 also comprises ventilation means 226 arranged above the cover heating means 223. In this , the internal cover 210 is coupled and locked on the main cover 20. In fact, the locks 215 are engaged in the counter shapes 225. Consequently, the internal cover 210 is integral with the main cover 20 (via the cover frame 220) . Thus, in the configuration shown, the seal 213 can fit the upper edge of the working tank 13 to ensure a good seal in order to offer a pressure cooking mode.

It can be noted that the working tank 13 includes tank handles 131 arranged under the handles 211, the whole being housed between the lid handle covers 224 and the box handle covers 111. In particular, it can be noted that the handle covers tank 131 form stops for the triggers 212, so that in the working configuration of the , it is not possible to unlock the internal cover 210 of the main cover 20. Safety of use is improved.

It can also be noted on the that the handles 211 are provided outside the work space 100 and/or even outside the general cylindrical envelope of the side wall 11 of the housing 10. In the same way, it can also be noted on there that the internal cover locking means (the triggers 212, locks 215, counter shapes 225) are provided outside the work space 100 and/or even at least partly outside the general envelope cylindrical of the side wall 11 of the housing 10.

Consequently, the handles 211 and/or the triggers 212 are located away from the work space 100 heated and/or bathed in cooking vapors, so that the manipulation interfaces of the main cover 20 and especially of the internal cover 210 (the handles 211) remain cold and/or spared from cooking vapors. The handling of the internal cover 210 is safe, the risk of burns is reduced for the user who can easily change the internal cover 210, immediately after opening the main cover 20, for example during culinary preparation to switch from a configuration of the food preparation appliance to another configuration.

Furthermore, in this pressure cooking mode, the lid heating means 223 and the ventilation means 226 are deactivated to avoid any untimely heating, and means can be provided for detecting the presence and/or type of lid internal 210 (switches, optical sensors, etc. can be provided), to inhibit or authorize the operation of the cover heating means 223 and/or the ventilation means 226 precisely depending on the presence and/or type of internal cover 210.

Figures 5 and 6 show a bottom view of the culinary preparation appliance of the , without the housing 10 but with the working tank 13, to show a device for locking the main cover 20 on the box 10 and/or on the working tank 13.

As indicated above and shown in Figures 2 and 3, the main cover 20, and the cover frame 220 in particular, comprises a toothed locking ring 222, provided in pivot connection with respect to the cover frame 220. On the side of the housing 10, the working tank 13 has a toothed or notched upper edge, and the toothed locking ring 222, when the main cover 20 is in the closed position, can pivot so that its own teeth engage with the teeth 132 of the working tank 13, so that the main cover 20 is then locked on the working tank 13.

In detail and , the locking device of the main cover 20 on the box 10 and/or on the working tank 13 is in a main cover unlocking position, in which the main cover 20 can be freely moved between its open position and its closed position. Indeed, we can see the hatched teeth of the toothed locking ring 222 released from the teeth 132 of the working tank 13. It can also be noted that the lower tooth of the toothed locking ring 222 is separated by a clearance J from the radial tab 216 of the internal cover 210. The clearance J can even be zero if it is planned that the toothed locking ring 222 abuts with the radial tab 216 of the internal cover 210.

, the locking device of the main cover 20 on the box 10 and/or on the working tank 13 is in a main cover locking position, in which the main cover 20 is locked in its closed position. Indeed, we can see that the toothed locking ring 222 has pivoted (relative to the configuration of the ) counterclockwise on a stroke C, so that the hatched teeth of the toothed locking ring 222 are engaged with the teeth 132 of the working tank 13. It can also be noted that the upper tooth of the locking ring toothed ring 222 is separated by a clearance J from the radial tab 216 of the internal cover 210. The clearance J can be zero if it is planned that the toothed locking ring 222 abuts with the radial tab 216 of the internal cover 210.

Consequently, it can be noted that the toothed locking ring 222 includes a clearance between at least two of its teeth to allow the passage of the radial tab 216. In other words, it can be noted that the space between two teeth of the locking ring locking 222 allows rotation of the locking ring 222 from stop to stop with the radial tabs 216 connecting the handles 211 with the main wall 217 of the internal cover 210.

A culinary preparation device according to the present invention, and its manufacture, are capable of industrial application.

It will be understood that various modifications and/or improvements obvious to those skilled in the art can be made to the different embodiments of the invention described in the present description without departing from the scope of the invention.

In particular, it can be noted that the triggers and locks can be provided in several pieces, and/or mounted according to other kinematics (pivoting, articulated, etc.).

Other heating means and/or other heating technologies can also be provided. Any type of articulation or mounting of the main cover on the box can be provided (articulated, pivoting, with a lever, with a deformable parallelogram, etc.). It is also possible to provide other types of locking of the main cover on the housing, such as for example a device for locking the main cover movable in rotation or in translation, in particular with jaws arranged on the main cover 20 and not hindering the passage of the manipulation interface of the at least one internal cover 210.

In the example given, the internal cover can be provided to put the culinary preparation appliance in a configuration to offer a pressure cooking mode. Other types of internal covers can be provided to offer other uses. We can provide an internal cover to direct a flow of hot air into a specific part of the work tank, we can provide an internal cover with a chute to allow food to be added during culinary preparation, etc.

In the example given, the main cover and the box are provided with handle covers, but these appendages are optional and/or can take other shapes.

In addition, the main cover, although movable between an open position and a closed position to respectively open and close the work space, is not necessarily connected to the housing 10 and could be removable opposite of the box 10.

Claims (15)

Culinary preparation appliance comprising:
- a housing (10),
- a work tank (13), defining a work space (100) arranged to receive food to be prepared,
- a main cover (20), movable between an open position and a closed position to respectively open and close the work space (100),
- at least one internal cover (210) arranged to be mounted reversibly on the main cover (20) and comprising at least one manipulation interface to allow a user to grasp or hold the internal cover (210),
characterized in that the manipulation interface of the internal cover (210) mounted on the main cover (20) is arranged at least partially outside the working space (100) when the main cover (20) is in the closed position . Culinary preparation appliance according to claim 1, in which the handling interface comprises at least one handle (211) and preferably two handles (211). Culinary preparation appliance according to one of claims 1 to 2, comprising internal cover locking means (210) on the main cover (20). Food preparation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the internal lid locking means (210) is provided on the handling interface. Culinary preparation appliance according to one of claims 3 or 4, in which the internal cover locking means (210) comprise:
- two lock devices (215) arranged on either side of said one of the internal cover (210) and the main cover (20) and
- two counter shapes (225) each facing each lock device (215) on the other of the internal cover (210) and the main cover (20). Culinary preparation appliance according to claim 5, in which the main cover (20) comprises a cover frame (220), and in which the two counter shapes (225) facing each lock device (215) are formed by a edge of the cover frame (220). Culinary preparation appliance according to one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a device for locking the main cover (20) on the box and/or on the work tank (13). Culinary preparation appliance according to claim 7, in which the internal cover (210) comprises at least one radial tab (216) supporting said at least one handling interface,
in which the locking device of the main cover (20) is movable between:
- a main cover unlocking position (20), in which the main cover (20) can be freely moved between its open position and its closed position,
- a main cover locking position (20), in which the main cover (20) can be locked in its closed position,
and in which the locking device of the main cover (20) comprises at least one passage clearance provided to allow said at least one radial tab (216) to pass. Food preparation apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the locking device of the main cover (20) comprises a rotating locking ring (222) comprising locking teeth arranged to mate with the housing (10) and/or the working tank (13) when the locking device is in the locking position, and in which said at least one passage clearance is provided between two locking teeth. Culinary preparation appliance according to one of claims 8 or 9, in which, in a direction of movement between the main lid unlocking position (20) and the main lid locking position (20):
the passage clearance has a passage dimension greater than or equal to a dimension of said at least one radial tab (216) added to a movement stroke of the main cover locking device (20) between the main cover unlocking position ( 20) and the main cover lock position (20). Food preparation apparatus according to one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the main lid locking device (20) is arranged to move between the main lid unlocking position (20) and the main lid locking position (20) according to a rotation around an axial direction of the working tank (13). Culinary preparation appliance according to one of claims 1 to 11, in which the internal cover (210) comprises sealing means arranged to allow cooking under pressure in the work space (100) closed by the main cover ( 20) equipped with the internal cover (210). Culinary preparation apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 12, in which the internal cover (210) comprises pressure regulating means (214), arranged to open an exhaust valve if pressure in the work space (100) is greater than or equal to a working pressure. Culinary preparation apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the main cover (20) comprises cover heating means (223) arranged to heat food received in the work space (100) when the cover internal (210) is removed from the main cover (20). Culinary preparation apparatus according to claim 14, comprising a safety device arranged to inhibit the operation of the lid heating means (223) if the internal lid (210) is mounted on the main lid (20) and/or if the lid main (20) is in the open position.