GB2305353A - Safety kettle - Google Patents

Abstract

A safety kettle comprises a flap (1) which prevents the escape of water by covering the spout. The spout has a raised ridge which prevents the flap (1) from opening outwards. In order to open the flap for normal use, safety button (5) must firstly be pressed which then enables trigger 3 to be pressed thus opening the flap. This safety button and trigger must remain pressed during operation. On releasing these buttons the flap will automatically shut. One or more steam valves (Fig. 2 and 3) located on top of the kettle body allow the steam to escape. These valves are designed so that should the kettle be tilted or upturned, a sealing disc blocks off the steam valve outlets, preventing the escape of water. These valves return to the open position when the kettle is returned to the upright position.

Description

SAFETY KETTLE.

This invention relates to a safety kettle.

Conventional kettles for boiling water. traditionally have an open spout for tilling and pouring water. These spouts have no safety mechanisms to prevent large spillage's of water, should the kettle be innadvertantly overturned. Such spillage's present a serious safety hazard to personnel with the risk of severe scalding if the boiling water escapes.

According to the present invention, there is provided a means of sealing the spout (opening) by means of an interlocking flap mechanism to prevent the egress of boiling water from the kettle.

To provide an escape for the steam, a valve has also been included in the design.

This valve is designed to close off and prevent excess water escaping should the kettle be overturned.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by wav of example ith reference to the accompanying drawings in which.

Figure I shows a section through the kettle body showing the internal mechanism with the flap in the normal closed position.

Figure 2 shows a design for the steam valve.

Figure 3 shows an alternative design -for the steam valve.

Figure 4 shows a section through the kettle body showing the internal mechanism with the flap in the open position.

Referring to the drawing (fig 1) the flap 1 is connected to the kettle body by means of a pivot, this pivot is sprung in such a way that it will always return to the closed position when not in use. The spout has a raised ridge all the way around so that in the event of a full kettle being upset, the weight of the water will not force the nap upwards to open, in fact it will actually help to force the flap more tightly shut.

The flap 1 is opened by pressing trigger 3 which in turn retracts lever 2 and thus opens the flap.

Trigger 3 however, cannot be operated until the safety button 5 is depressed. On depressing this safety button 5 the spring will retract allowing the safety rod 4 to be pushed down by trigger 3. The spring connected to the safety rod 4 is placed such that the trigger 3 is returned to its upward home position which pushes the flap shut.

The spring connected to the safety button 5 is such that the safety button will always lock the safety rod into position hence rendering the trigger inoperative.

Lever 2 has built around it a waterproof seal to prevent water leaking into the handle when the kettle is overturned.

One or more of the steam valves are to be built in to the top of the kettle to allow the steam to escape. Both of these valves are designed so that in the event of the kettle being upturned, the stainless steel ball will roll to one side and raise the cap hence closing off the steam outlets to block off the valve and so greatly reduce the amount of water spillage. When the kettle is then stood upright the ball will roll back to the centre of the valve to allow the steam to escape.

The design of the steam valve shown in rigs 2 and 3 are such that when the valve is in the horizontal position (as shown) the sealing disc is allowed to tall clear of the steam outlet.

Upon tilting of the valve, the steel ball rises up due to tithe spherical valve body, thereby lifting the sealing disc. This in turn shuts off the steam outlets thus preventing escape of boiling water.

Claims (7)

CLAIMS.

1. A safety kettle having a flap which covers the spout preventing large water spillages should the kettle be overturned. This flap also remains shut during normal operation in the upright position.

2. A safety kettle as claimed in claim 1, whereby the spout has a raised ridge around the inside so that the flap cannot be opened outwards in the event of a great force of water pressure should the kettle be upturned. The force of water would thus help to seal the spout.

3. A safety kettle as claimed in claims 1 and 2 whereby the flap is pivoted and sprung so that during normal operation, the flap will allways be sprung shut.

4. A safety kettle as claimed in claims 1, 2 and 3 whereby the flap cannot be opened unless trigger 3 and safety button 5 are both depressed. Safety button 5 must firstly be depressed which in turn will free the safety rod and so enable the trigger to be pressed. This in turn will open the spout tlap to allow general use. (pouring, filling).

5. A safety kettle as claimed in any preceding claim whereby the safety rod, safety button and flap are all sprung loaded so that in normal use the flap will be sprung shut and the safety mechanism will be in operation.

6. A safety kettle as claimed in any preceding claim whereby a means of steam escape is provided by one or more steam valves situated on the top part of the kettle body. A detail of these valves can be seen in fig 1 and fig 2.

7. A safety kettle substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1-4 of the accompanying drawings.