GB2286331A

GB2286331A - An insulated kettle

Info

Publication number: GB2286331A
Application number: GB9400723A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harold Raymond Maylan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-01-15
Filing date: 1994-01-15
Publication date: 1995-08-16
Also published as: GB9400723D0

Abstract

A kettle comprises a container (10) having an opening in its top closed by a removable lid (11). The container (10) comprises inner and outer walls (17, 18) separated by a gap (19). Air inside the gap (19) is evacuated to form a vacuum. The vacuum layer insulates water inside the kettle from the surrounding air, so that the kettle boils more quickly, and once boiled looses less heat. <IMAGE>

Description

Energy Efficient Kettle This invention relates to an energy efficient kettle.

It is expensive to boil a kettle full of water as a large amount of energy is needed. A significant proportion of this energy is wasted in heat loss from the kettle. Once the required amount of boiled water has been poured from the kettle the remaining water is allowed to cool. Often this remaining water is re-boiled later in the day at further expense to the consumer.

I have now devised an energy efficient kettle which requires less energy to boil and reboil water.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a kettle comprising a container having an opening in its top for filling the kettle with water, a lid for closing the opening, and an electric heating element mounted inside the container, the container having inner and outer walls separated by a gap which serves to insulate water in the kettle from the surrounding air.

Thus, the water in the kettle looses substantially less of its heat than from conventional kettles owing to the water being insulated from the surrounding air.

Preferably the lid comprises an insulating layer which further reduces heat loss from the kettle.

Preferably insulating means are also provided for closing the spout of the kettle. The lid may comprise an insulated portion which covers the spout when the kettle is unattended.

The electric element is preferably mounted adjacent the bottom of the container.

The inner and/or outer walls may be formed from a thermally insulating material such as plastics.

Preferably the gap between the inner and outer walls of the kettle is evacuated. The inner and outer walls are therefore preferably formed from a rigid material, so as to prevent the walls from flexing together under the applied vacuum.

Alternatively the gap may be filled with a thermally insulating material such as foamed plastics.

An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of an example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a perspective view of an energy efficient kettle in accordance with this invention, with some parts shown in section.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown an energy efficient kettle comprising a container 10 having an opening in its top closed by a removable lid 11. A portion 12 of the opening extends forwardly to form a spout for the kettle. A C-shaped handle 13 is attached to the rear sidewall of the container 10, and an electrical socket 14 and ON/OFF switch 15 are disposed on the container 10 below the handle 13. An electric element 16 having terminals connected to the socket 14 via the switch is mounted adjacent the base of the container 10.

The container 10 comprises inner and outer walls 17, 18 separated by a gap 19. The air inside the gap 19 is evacuated during manufacture, to form a vacuum between the inner and outer walls 17, 18. The lid 11 may also comprise inner and outer walls (not shown) which contain a vacuum.

The corners and edges of the container may be rounded or otherwise shaped to reduce flexing or stresses induced by the applied vacuum.

In use, the kettle is filled with water and subsequently connected to the electrical supply and then switched on, so as to supply electrical current to the heating element 16. The switch 15 automatically disconnects the electrical supply to the element once the water has boiled.

It will be appreciated that the water will boil more quickly than it would in a conventional kettle, owing to the insulation provided by the vacuum between the inner and outer walls. One of the walls of the container comprises a reflective material to minimise heat loss due to radiation.

The kettle thus uses less electricity to boil water than conventional kettles. Furthermore the water remaining inside the kettle looses less of its heat, and thus less electricity is required to re-boil the kettle.

Claims

1) A kettle comprising a container having an opening in its top for filling the kettle with water, a lid for closing the opening, and an electric heating element mounted inside the container, the container having inner and outer walls separated by a gap which serves to insulate water in the kettle from the surrounding air.

2) A kettle as claimed in claim 1, in which the lid comprises an insulating layer.

3) A kettle as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising insulating means for closing a spout of the kettle.

4) A kettle as claimed in claim 3, in which the lid comprises an insulated portion which covers the spout when the kettle is unattended.

5) A kettle as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the electric element is mounted adjacent the bottom of the container.

6) A kettle as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the inner and/or outer walls of the container are formed from a thermally insulating material.

7) A kettle as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a gap formed between the inner and outer walls of the container is evacuated.

8) A kettle as claimed in claim 7, in which the inner and outer walls of the container are formed from a rigid material.

9) A kettle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, in which a gap formed between the inner and outer walls of the container is filled with a thermally insulating material.

10) A kettle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.