GB2023801A - Bowl - Google Patents

Abstract

A bowl comprises an upper portion 3, Figure 2, for containing food and a lower portion 2, Figure 4 defining a hot-water compartment, whereby the food is kept warm. Access to the water compartment is by means of a plug 19 which in use is seated in a recess in the upper portion (formed e.g. in a dividing wall 15 of the upper portion, Figure 1) containing an opening 18 through which the water compartment may be filled, means (e.g. a pin 20) operable from below the bowl being provided for removing the plug from said recess. In use, the pin extends through a column 7 in the water compartment to a thin-wall portion 22 of a suction pad 10 (used for holding the bowl in position e.g. on a table). Finger pressure on said portion 22 displaces the rod upwardly to remove the plug. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bowl This invention relates to a bowl for keeping food warm.

The invention provides a bowl for keeping food warm comprising: an upper portion for containing food; a lower portion, between which and the upper portion is defined a hot water compartment; the upper portion having a recess containing an opening through which the compartment may be filled; a plug member accommodatable in the recess for obturating said opening; and means extending through said compartment and operable from below said bowl for removing said plug member from said recess.

In order that the invention may be well understood an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bowl; Figure2 is a section along line ll-ll in Figure 1 of an upper portion of the bowl, showing a plug member; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a lower portion of the bowl; and Figure 4 is a section along line IV-IV in Figure 3.

The bowl generally designated 1 has a lower portion 2 and an upper portion 3. The upper portion 3 snap fits over the lower portion 2, the slightly inwardly turned edges 5 of the side wall of the upper portion co-operating with a rib 4 formed just below the upper edge of the side wall of the lower portion 2.

The lower portion 2 is provided with a base portion in the centre of which is a small circular opening 6. The opening 6 is surrounded by a cylindrical hollow column 7 which is substantially the same height as the side walls, and which is integrally formed with and upstanding from the base portion. The annular space 8 between the column 7 and the side walls and base portion of lower portion 2 and closed above by the upper portion 3, forms a hot water compartment.

The base portion of the lower portion 2 is formed with a circular recess 9 to receive a flexible suction pad 10. A circular flange 11 is formed in the recess 9 and surrounding the circular openign 6. The flange 11 has a generally 'L'-shaped cross section forming an annular groove 12 adapted to receive a cooperating flange 13 on the suction pad 10 to retain the suction pad 10 in position on the base portion of the lower portion of the bowl 1. When the bowl is in use the suction pad 10 holds the bowl steady on a table so that it cannot be lifted or easily displaced by the child using it.

The upper portion 3 has two essentially semicircular depressions 14 to receive the portions of food to be kept warm. A dividing wall 15 between the depressions 14 has an elongate recess 16 formed in the region of its centre. The recess 16 contains two openings, a small circular opening 17 at the centre of the dividing wall 15 and directly above the cylindrical hollow column 7. The top of the column 7 just touches the lower surface of the recess 16. The other, larger opening 18 is offset from the centre of the dividing wall 15 and opens into the hot water compartment or annular space 8. The opening 18 is used for emptying and filling the hot water compartment.

A plug member 19 is provided to obturate the opening 18. The plug member 19 just fits into the recess 16 and lies flush with the upper surface of the dividing wall 15. The means for removing the plug member 19 comprises a rod 20 which extends from and is connected to the underside of the plug member 19. The rod 20 fits through the opening 17 and extends downwards through the hollow column 7. An end portion of the rod 20 protrudes a short distance, less than the height of flange 11, through opening 6 in the base portion. A flange 21 is formed on the underside of plug member 19. The flange 21 just fits inside the periphery of opening 18.

With the flexible suction pad in position on the base portion a thin central portion 22 covers the end portion of the rod. The central portion 22 of the pad extends across the circular region defined within flange 11. The plug member 19 is operable from below by applying finger pressure to the central portion 22 of the flexible pad 10 to displace the end portion of the rod 20 upwardly. The plug member 19 is thus removed and raised from its seating in recess 16. With the plug member raised it may be rotated about the axis of rod 20 to expose opening 18 so that the hot water compartment 8 can be filled or emptied. The plug cannot be operated from the upper portion of the bowl and so it is virtually impossible for a child to open the plug particularly when the bowl is held to the table by means of the suction pad 10.

The upper and lower portions and the plug may be moulded from polypropylene or other heat-resistant plastics materials.

1. A bowl for keeping food warm comprising: an upper portion for containing food; a lower portion, between which and the upper portion is defined a hot water compartment; the upper portion having a recess containing an opening through which the compartment may be filled; a plug memberaccom- modatable in the recess for obturating said opening; and means extending through said compartment and operable from below said bowl for removing said plug member from said recess.

2. A bowl according to claim 1, wherein the means for removing said plug member comprises a rod which extends from the underside of the plug member through said compartment and has an end portion whch extends through an opening in a base portion of the lower portion.

3. A bowl according to claim 2, wherein the rod extends through a hollow column in said compartment, said column being formed integrally with the base portion and upstanding therefrom.

4. A bowl according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said end portion of the rod is covered by a flexible pad fitted to the exterior of the base portion.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Bowl This invention relates to a bowl for keeping food warm. The invention provides a bowl for keeping food warm comprising: an upper portion for containing food; a lower portion, between which and the upper portion is defined a hot water compartment; the upper portion having a recess containing an opening through which the compartment may be filled; a plug member accommodatable in the recess for obturating said opening; and means extending through said compartment and operable from below said bowl for removing said plug member from said recess. In order that the invention may be well understood an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bowl; Figure2 is a section along line ll-ll in Figure 1 of an upper portion of the bowl, showing a plug member; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a lower portion of the bowl; and Figure 4 is a section along line IV-IV in Figure 3. The bowl generally designated 1 has a lower portion 2 and an upper portion 3. The upper portion 3 snap fits over the lower portion 2, the slightly inwardly turned edges 5 of the side wall of the upper portion co-operating with a rib 4 formed just below the upper edge of the side wall of the lower portion 2. The lower portion 2 is provided with a base portion in the centre of which is a small circular opening 6. The opening 6 is surrounded by a cylindrical hollow column 7 which is substantially the same height as the side walls, and which is integrally formed with and upstanding from the base portion. The annular space 8 between the column 7 and the side walls and base portion of lower portion 2 and closed above by the upper portion 3, forms a hot water compartment. The base portion of the lower portion 2 is formed with a circular recess 9 to receive a flexible suction pad 10. A circular flange 11 is formed in the recess 9 and surrounding the circular openign 6. The flange 11 has a generally 'L'-shaped cross section forming an annular groove 12 adapted to receive a cooperating flange 13 on the suction pad 10 to retain the suction pad 10 in position on the base portion of the lower portion of the bowl 1. When the bowl is in use the suction pad 10 holds the bowl steady on a table so that it cannot be lifted or easily displaced by the child using it. The upper portion 3 has two essentially semicircular depressions 14 to receive the portions of food to be kept warm. A dividing wall 15 between the depressions 14 has an elongate recess 16 formed in the region of its centre. The recess 16 contains two openings, a small circular opening 17 at the centre of the dividing wall 15 and directly above the cylindrical hollow column 7. The top of the column 7 just touches the lower surface of the recess 16. The other, larger opening 18 is offset from the centre of the dividing wall 15 and opens into the hot water compartment or annular space 8. The opening 18 is used for emptying and filling the hot water compartment. A plug member 19 is provided to obturate the opening 18. The plug member 19 just fits into the recess 16 and lies flush with the upper surface of the dividing wall 15. The means for removing the plug member 19 comprises a rod 20 which extends from and is connected to the underside of the plug member 19. The rod 20 fits through the opening 17 and extends downwards through the hollow column 7. An end portion of the rod 20 protrudes a short distance, less than the height of flange 11, through opening 6 in the base portion. A flange 21 is formed on the underside of plug member 19. The flange 21 just fits inside the periphery of opening 18. With the flexible suction pad in position on the base portion a thin central portion 22 covers the end portion of the rod. The central portion 22 of the pad extends across the circular region defined within flange 11. The plug member 19 is operable from below by applying finger pressure to the central portion 22 of the flexible pad 10 to displace the end portion of the rod 20 upwardly. The plug member 19 is thus removed and raised from its seating in recess 16. With the plug member raised it may be rotated about the axis of rod 20 to expose opening 18 so that the hot water compartment 8 can be filled or emptied. The plug cannot be operated from the upper portion of the bowl and so it is virtually impossible for a child to open the plug particularly when the bowl is held to the table by means of the suction pad 10. The upper and lower portions and the plug may be moulded from polypropylene or other heat-resistant plastics materials. CLAIMS

1. A bowl for keeping food warm comprising: an upper portion for containing food; a lower portion, between which and the upper portion is defined a hot water compartment; the upper portion having a recess containing an opening through which the compartment may be filled; a plug memberaccom- modatable in the recess for obturating said opening; and means extending through said compartment and operable from below said bowl for removing said plug member from said recess.

2. A bowl according to claim 1, wherein the means for removing said plug member comprises a rod which extends from the underside of the plug member through said compartment and has an end portion whch extends through an opening in a base portion of the lower portion.

3. A bowl according to claim 2, wherein the rod extends through a hollow column in said compartment, said column being formed integrally with the base portion and upstanding therefrom.

4. A bowl according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said end portion of the rod is covered by a flexible pad fitted to the exterior of the base portion.