GB2116154A

GB2116154A - Seals in covers for mixing vessels or liquidisers

Info

Publication number: GB2116154A
Application number: GB08303715A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dietmar Becker
Original assignee: Vorwerk and Co Interholding GmbH
Current assignee: Vorwerk and Co Interholding GmbH
Priority date: 1982-03-05
Filing date: 1983-02-10
Publication date: 1983-09-21
Also published as: GB2116154B; IT8335653V0; DE8206168U1; ES270662U; FR2522767A1; IT8347849A0; ES270662Y; IT1197597B; GB8303715D0

Abstract

A seal in a cover (1) for a food mixing vessel or liquidiser, the seal being arranged in an encircling groove (5) in the cover and consisting of a first part that is an elastic insert (6) fitted in the base (7) of the groove (5) and a second part (8) that is an elastic synthetic plastics material that is arranged beyond the first part in a direction away from the base of the groove. The second part (8) is such that it has been poured whilst molten into the groove so as to seal with the walls of the groove, the first part (6) enabling the second part (8) to be deformed inwardly when the cover (1) is fitted on a mixing vessel or liquidiser. The elastic insert (6) may be a moulded part of foam plastics material or it may be in the form of an air-filled tube (Fig. 3). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Seals in covers for mixing vessels or liquidisers This invention relates to seals in covers for food mixing vessels or liquidisers.

Generally speaking, loose sealing rings are fitted into grooves in covers for food mixers and liquidisers. These rings are made of rubber or synthetic plastics material and consequently a sealing action can only be produced by the elastic deformability of the materials.

Since the pressuring or closing force in respect of such a seal is small, if only simply for manipulation reasons, the surface pressure between the seal and the bearing surface of known glass or metal mixers or liquidisers is also very small. Therefore, a sealing effect can only be achieved by using a material having a high elasticity. Consequently, since it is necessary to allow space for the elastic deformation of the sealing ring, cavities are formed in the groove of the cover, in which food residues can accumulate. The sealing ring therefore has to be removed from the groove in the cover and both sealing ring and groove have to be cleaned. This leads, after a certain time, to the sealing ring becoming increasingly stretched as a result of cleaning and it eventually no longer fits into the groove of the cover.

It has been attempted to avoid this disadvantage by the sealing material being introduced as a foam into the groove. If the foam material is of an open-pore character, then it does in fact have a sufficient elasticity, but this causes the sealing ring to become very dirty. However, if a closed-pore material is used, its surface will break up after being used several times and likewise becomes dirty.

If a non-porous material is used, this has to be poured whilst molten into the groove of the cover. It is true that this material cannot cause any dirtying effect, but the sealing ring so formed does not have available any space into which it is able to spread in order to be formed elastically to a sufficient degree. As a consequence, the sealing action is not sufficiently great.

According to the present invention, there is provided a seal in a cover for a mixing vessel or liquidiser, the seal being arranged in an encircling groove in the cover and consisting of a first part that is an elastic insert fitted in the base of the groove and a second part that is an elastic synthetic plastics material that has been poured whilst molten into said groove, said second part being arranged beyond said first part in a direction way from said base.

For a better understanding of the inention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a section through part of a cover for a mixer or liquidiser, Figure 2 is an enlarged detail of Fig. 1, and Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and shows an alternative embodiment.

Fig. 1 shows a cover 1 for a food mixer or liquiser 2. The cover 1 carries on its underside a packing or seal 3, which is intended to seal against a lip 4 at the top of the wall of the mixer or liquiser 2. The seal 3 is arranged in a groove 5 in the cover 1.

The seal 3 comprises a first part, which is an elastic insert 6 of synthetic plastics material fitted in the base 7 of the groove 5, and a second part 8, which consists of an elastic synthetic plastics material that has been simply poured into the groove 5 onto the insert 6 so that it solidifies beyond the insert 6 in a direction away from the base 7 of the groove 5. The pourable synthetic plastics material becomes united with the cover 1 in the groove 5 and adheres tightly thereto, so that no gaps of spaces are formed which can become soiled.

It is important, as regards the sealing function, that the synthetic plastics is able to be deformed. This is made possible by the insert 6, which may consist of a foam plastics material and is capable of being compressed, so that the part 8 is able to be deformed inwardly.

As Fig. 2 shows, the insert 6 can consist of a solid moulded synthetic plastics element, for example, of a foam plastics material.

Fig. 3 shows a modification in which the insert 6 is in the form of an air-filled tube arranged in the base 7 of the groove 5, which tube assumes the same function as the insert 6 of Fig. 2. In this case also, the air-filled tube makes it possible for the part 8 to be deformed inwardly.

It will be appreciated that the insert 6 may consist of a wide variety of deformable materials and of different forms. It is likewise possible for a wide variety of pourable elastic synthetic plastics to be used for the part 8.

However, it is preferred for this purpose to use silicone rubber, on account of the compatability thereof with foodstuffs.

It will be appreciated that the present invention combines the advantages of the porous material, namely, high elasticity, and of the non-porous material, namely no tendency to dirtying or soiling.

1. A seal in a cover for a mixing vessel or liquidiser, the seal being arranged in an en circling groove in the cover and consisting of a first part that is an elastic insert fitted in the base of the groove and a second part that is an elastic synthetic plastics material that has been poured whilst molten into said grooves, said second part being arranged beyond said

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Seals in covers for mixing vessels or liquidisers This invention relates to seals in covers for food mixing vessels or liquidisers. Generally speaking, loose sealing rings are fitted into grooves in covers for food mixers and liquidisers. These rings are made of rubber or synthetic plastics material and consequently a sealing action can only be produced by the elastic deformability of the materials. Since the pressuring or closing force in respect of such a seal is small, if only simply for manipulation reasons, the surface pressure between the seal and the bearing surface of known glass or metal mixers or liquidisers is also very small. Therefore, a sealing effect can only be achieved by using a material having a high elasticity. Consequently, since it is necessary to allow space for the elastic deformation of the sealing ring, cavities are formed in the groove of the cover, in which food residues can accumulate. The sealing ring therefore has to be removed from the groove in the cover and both sealing ring and groove have to be cleaned. This leads, after a certain time, to the sealing ring becoming increasingly stretched as a result of cleaning and it eventually no longer fits into the groove of the cover. It has been attempted to avoid this disadvantage by the sealing material being introduced as a foam into the groove. If the foam material is of an open-pore character, then it does in fact have a sufficient elasticity, but this causes the sealing ring to become very dirty. However, if a closed-pore material is used, its surface will break up after being used several times and likewise becomes dirty. If a non-porous material is used, this has to be poured whilst molten into the groove of the cover. It is true that this material cannot cause any dirtying effect, but the sealing ring so formed does not have available any space into which it is able to spread in order to be formed elastically to a sufficient degree. As a consequence, the sealing action is not sufficiently great. According to the present invention, there is provided a seal in a cover for a mixing vessel or liquidiser, the seal being arranged in an encircling groove in the cover and consisting of a first part that is an elastic insert fitted in the base of the groove and a second part that is an elastic synthetic plastics material that has been poured whilst molten into said groove, said second part being arranged beyond said first part in a direction way from said base. For a better understanding of the inention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a section through part of a cover for a mixer or liquidiser, Figure 2 is an enlarged detail of Fig. 1, and Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and shows an alternative embodiment. Fig. 1 shows a cover 1 for a food mixer or liquiser 2. The cover 1 carries on its underside a packing or seal 3, which is intended to seal against a lip 4 at the top of the wall of the mixer or liquiser 2. The seal 3 is arranged in a groove 5 in the cover 1. The seal 3 comprises a first part, which is an elastic insert 6 of synthetic plastics material fitted in the base 7 of the groove 5, and a second part 8, which consists of an elastic synthetic plastics material that has been simply poured into the groove 5 onto the insert 6 so that it solidifies beyond the insert 6 in a direction away from the base 7 of the groove 5. The pourable synthetic plastics material becomes united with the cover 1 in the groove 5 and adheres tightly thereto, so that no gaps of spaces are formed which can become soiled. It is important, as regards the sealing function, that the synthetic plastics is able to be deformed. This is made possible by the insert 6, which may consist of a foam plastics material and is capable of being compressed, so that the part 8 is able to be deformed inwardly. As Fig. 2 shows, the insert 6 can consist of a solid moulded synthetic plastics element, for example, of a foam plastics material. Fig. 3 shows a modification in which the insert 6 is in the form of an air-filled tube arranged in the base 7 of the groove 5, which tube assumes the same function as the insert 6 of Fig. 2. In this case also, the air-filled tube makes it possible for the part 8 to be deformed inwardly. It will be appreciated that the insert 6 may consist of a wide variety of deformable materials and of different forms. It is likewise possible for a wide variety of pourable elastic synthetic plastics to be used for the part 8. However, it is preferred for this purpose to use silicone rubber, on account of the compatability thereof with foodstuffs. It will be appreciated that the present invention combines the advantages of the porous material, namely, high elasticity, and of the non-porous material, namely no tendency to dirtying or soiling. CLAIMS

1. A seal in a cover for a mixing vessel or liquidiser, the seal being arranged in an en circling groove in the cover and consisting of a first part that is an elastic insert fitted in the base of the groove and a second part that is an elastic synthetic plastics material that has been poured whilst molten into said grooves, said second part being arranged beyond said first part in a direction away from said base.

2. A seal as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first part comprises a moulded part of foam plastics material.

3. A seal as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first part comprises an air-filled tube.

4. A seal as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said second part is formed of silicone rubber.

5. A seal in a cover for a mixing vessel or liquidiser, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, with or without the modification of Fig. 3, of the accompanying drawing.