GB2321387A

GB2321387A - Kettle adapted to support and warm a cup

Info

Publication number: GB2321387A
Application number: GB9705250A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hassan Paddy Abdel Salam
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-01-22
Filing date: 1997-03-12
Publication date: 1998-07-29
Anticipated expiration: 2017-03-12
Also published as: GB9705250D0; GB9701234D0; GB2321387B

Abstract

A kettle 1 is adapted to warm a cup 18 supported on top of the kettle by means such as wall members 17. As the kettle boils, steam is directed past a baffle 15 into the cup 18 where it condenses and can run back down into the kettle. The wall members 17 and baffle 15 may be parts of the lid 13 of the kettle. On boiling, steam also passes through hole 11, channel 9 and hole 12 to heat a bimetallic strip 10 and trip switch 8, cutting off power to electric element 5. The kettle may support and warm a teapot instead of the cup.

Description

KETTLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to portable domestic kettles for boiling water for tea, coffee and the like.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to provide a kettle having a convenient arrangement for heating a cup into which boiled water from the kettle is to be poured. It is desirable that the beverage being prepared in the cup be as hot as possible, to compensate for cooling of the final beverage caused by addition of cold ingredients to the cup, such as a tea bag, milk, or sugar, and to compensate for the cooling occurring during the interval between preparation of the beverage and its consumption.

According to the invention there is provided a portable kettle having a spout and including means for supporting a cup on the kettle and means for directing steam from the kettle into the cup so as to heat it. The arrangement is preferably such that the condensation of steam in the cup that occurs while the cup is being heated drips into the kettle and not onto the object upon which the kettle stands.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of a kettle according to the the invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the kettle taken along section X-X of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a plan view, in partly cut-away form, of an alternative arrangement for the top of the kettle.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, jug kettle 1 for boiling water 2 is provided with a handle 3, a spout 4, and a heating element 5. Heating element 5 is energised via a power control unit 6 which delivers power from an electrical connector 7 to heating element 5 when a switch, 8, is manually pressed. Switch 8 is automatically switched off by steam from water 2 when it boils. The steam is channelled via steam channel 9 onto a bimetallic strip 10 which on being heated by the steam trips switch 8 off. Steam enters channel 9 by hole 11 and leaves it by hole 12. The time lag between the water starting to boil and switch 8 going off is dependent on the sizes of holes 11 and 12, since they affect the rate at which bimetallic element 10 is heated. Details of power control unit 6 are not shown here, as power control units for kettles that turn off a switch, such as 8, by steam are well known.

Kettle 1 includes a lid 13 having a handle 14 by which it can be lifted off the kettle body. Lid 13 includes a baffle member 15 having a hole 16 in it. Lid 13 also includes vertically extending wall members 17 arranged for supporting inverted cup 18 having a handle 19, shown dotted in Fig.2 . Fig 1 shows the position that rim 20 of cup 18 takes on the top of lid 13. Rim 20 lies in a plane inclined to the horizontal and falling in the direction towards the spout. When the water boils, steam 24 rising near the concave surface of baffle 15 enters cup 18 and condenses on inner surfaces of the cup, heating the cup. The condensation results in wetting of inner surfaces of the cup and in drops of water, 21, forming and falling into the kettle. There is no dripping of water onto support 22 of the kettle, which may be a kitchen work top. Though cup 18 is steam heated its handle, 19, is not. After the kettle has switched off the cup is removed, loaded with the required ingredients, such as coffee powder and sugar, and then filled with water from the kettle. The kettle can be used to heat a teapot instead of a cup, mounting the teapot either upright or inverted. If the teapot is mounted upright it can be loaded with tea leaves while it is on the kettle and being heated.

China cups vary in weight from about 100 to about 200 grams; so an average weight may be taken to be about 150 grams. The kettle is arranged to apply to a 150 gram china cup that is at room temperature of 20 degrees centigrade at least 200 calories , and preferably 500 to 2000 calories. The amount of heat applied to the cup is dependent on the ratio of the amount of steam that condenses in the cup to the amount of steam that escapes from the spout. This ratio can be increased or decreased by appropriate design of baffle 15. Hole 16 augments the amount of steam entering cup 18. It can if desired be replaced with a vent in position 23 within rim boundary 20 on the top of the kettle, or it it can be dispensed with altogether.

The amount of heat applied to the cup is also dependent on the time for which the water boils. This time can be altered by altering the size of one or both of holes 11 and 12. Wall members 17 can serve to guide any condensation that forms on top of lid 13, under cup 18, into spout 4.

Fig. 3 illustrates another arrangement for the top of the kettle. Lid 13 overhangs the the main body of the kettle, protruding from the body on either side of spout 4. Each protrusion includes a vertical side wall 17 and a floor portion 26. Floor portions 26 are inclined to the horizontal to cause condensation to flow into the spout, as illustrated by the arrows.

Claims

I claim:

1. A kettle arranged for boiling water and for heating a cup, said kettle having a spout out of which water can be poured when the kettle is tilted and including support means for supporting a cup on top of the kettle and means for directing steam from the kettle onto a surface of the cup so as to heat the cup.

2. A kettle according to claim 1 arranged for supporting a cup such that steam is directed at the inner surface of the cup.

3. A kettle according to claim 1 including a lid, said kettle including cup support means arranged for supporting a cup in a position above said lid.

4. A kettle according to claim 1 including a lid comprising said support means.

5. A kettle according to claim 2 wherein for a china cup of 150 grams weight that is initially at 20 degrees centigrade the quantity of steam directed at the inner surface of the cup is sufficient to cause condensation that wets said inner surface of the cup and causes water to drop from the cup.

6. A kettle according to claim 2 arranged such that condensation of steam in the cup that occurs while the cup is being heated leaves the article on which the kettle stands still dry.

7. A kettle according to claim 2 arranged such that condensation of steam in the cup that occurs while the cup is being heated drips into the kettle.

8. A kettle according to claim 2 arranged as a jug kettle and including a heating element arranged for receiving electrical power and further including steam operated switch means for switching off the power to said heating element after water in the kettle has come to the boil 8. A kettle according to claim 2 arranged for supporting a cup having an open rim by contact between the kettle and the cup at said open rim.

10. A kettle according to claim 2 arranged for automatically applying to a china cup of 150 gram weight that is initially at 20 degrees centigrade more than 200 calories when the kettle boils.

11. A kettle according to claim 2 arranged for automatically applying to a china cup of 150 gram weight that is initially at 20 degrees centigrade more than 500 calories when the kettle boils.

12. An electric kettle arranged for boiling water and for heating a cup, said kettle having a spout out of which water can be poured when the kettle is tilted and including support means for supporting a cup on top of the kettle and means for directing steam from the kettle onto an inner surface of the cup so as to heat the cup, said kettle including a heating element arranged for receiving electrical power and further including steam operated switch means for switching off the power to said heating element after water in the kettle has come to the boil, said kettle being arranged such that condensation of steam in the cup that occurs while the kettle boils drips into the kettle.