GB2408954A

GB2408954A - Stirring assembly comprising a hotplate

Info

Publication number: GB2408954A
Application number: GB0328579A
Authority: GB
Inventors: R H Cornelius; R E J Cornelius
Original assignee: CORVETTE DOMESTIC APPLIANCES L; CORVETTE PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: CORVETTE DOMESTIC APPLIANCES L; CORVETTE PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 2003-12-10
Filing date: 2003-12-10
Publication date: 2005-06-15
Also published as: GB0328579D0

Abstract

A stirring assembly for domestic use comprising an electrical hot-plate 12 on which to stand a pan P, the contents of which are to be stirred. The assembly further comprising a stirring unit 20 which comprises a drive motor M, mounted to a pivoted arm 21, and a rotary stirrer 22 for extending downwardly into the pan. The arm 21 of the stirring unit 20 may be arranged to be pivoted form a lowered, in-use position to a raised position, in order for the stirrer to be lifted out of the pan. A switch may be actuated when the arm is moved into its raised position acting as a cut-out for the drive motor and/or electrical hot-plate. The arm may be pivotally mounted to the upper end of an upright support. The stirrer may be coupled to the drive motor by a coupling which slips should the drive torque exceed a predetermined limit.

Description

STIRRING_ ASSEMBLY

The present invention relates to a stirring assembly, particularly but not solely for domestic use.

A number of powered stirring assemblies have been proposed hitherto, for stirring foodstuffs in the domestic kitchen. These generally have suffered from various drawbacks, such as being of complicated construction or difficult to use or relatively ineffective in use.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a stirring assembly which comprises an electrical hot plate on which to stand a pan the contents of which are to be stirred, and a stirring unit which comprises a drive motor, mounted to a pivoted arm, and a rotary stirrer for extending downwardly into the pan.

Preferably the arm of the stirring unit may be pivoted from a lowered, inuse position to a raised (e.g. generally vertical) position, in order for the stirrer to be lifted out of the pan. Preferably a switch is provided which is actuated by the arm when moved to this position, the switch acting as a cut-out for the drive motor and preferably also the hot plate.

Preferably the assembly includes an upright support having the arm of the stirring unit pivotally mounted to it at or adjacent its upper end.

Preferably the stirrer comprises a shaft one end of which is removably coupled to the drive motor, for example by means of a coupling which slips should the drive torque exceed a predetermined limit. Instead of this coupling being arranged to slip, the motor may be provided with an overload protection circuit.

Preferably the stirrer further comprises a number of radially-extending stirring blades which, in use, either rest on the inside-bottom of the pan, or are positioned closely adjacent the inside-bottom of the pan. Preferably the bottom end of the stirrer shaft is formed with a recess which engages a projection (preferably of domed profile) on the insidebottom of the pan, to serve as a locating means.

Preferably means are provided for locating the pan centrally on the hotplate. For example, the hot-plate may be provided with a peripheral ring (of either continuous or discontinuous form) projecting above its top surface, on which the pan rests.

Preferably means are provided for preventing the pan turning around on the hot-plate, in use of the assembly. For example, the pan may be provided with a pin or other radially projecting element adjacent its bottom, for engaging an upstanding stop, for example a cut-out in the top edge of the centring ring. Preferably this pin or other element is positioned under the handle of the pan.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single Figure of which is a schematic sectional view through a stirring assembly in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a stirring assembly which comprises a base 10 for standing on a work surface: an electrical hotplate 12 rests on the base 10 and, in use, receives a pan P the contents of which are to be stirred. The hot-plate 12 is provided with a ring 14 which extends around its periphery and projects upwardly from its top surface, for locating the pan P centrally on the hot-plate 12.

The pan P has a pin L projecting radially from it, adjacent its bottom and below its handle H. for locating into a cut-out formed in the top edge of the ring 14 in order to prevent the pan P turning around on the hot-plate 12, in use of the assembly.

A tubular support 16, for a stirring unit 20 of the assembly, is mounted to the base 10 and projects vertically upwards from the base 10, to one side or to the rear of the hot-plate 12. The stirring unit 20 comprises a drive motor M mounted in a housing or head 20a at the outer end of an arm 21, and a stirrer 22 having a shaft 23 engaged at its upper end, in removable manner, to a coupling 24 on the output shaft of the drive motor M: the lower end of the stirrer shaft 23 is provided with a series of three radially-projecting stirring blades 23a. The bottom of the stirrer shaft 23 is formed with a recess 25 for receiving a domed locating projection D on the inside-bottom of the pan P. At least the bottom surfaces of the stirrer 22 are coated with PTFE or other stick-resisting material.

The arm 21 of the stirring unit 20 is pivotally mounted to the upright support 16, for movement between generally horizontal and vertical positions. In its horizontal position as shown, the arm 21 supports the head of the stirring unit centrally over the pan P. with the stirrer 22 projecting downwardly and into the pan P so that its stirring blades 23a rest on, or are closely-spaced from, the inside-bottom surface of the pan, the recessed bottom of the stirrer shaft 23 resting on the domed projection D of the pan.

A control unit 30 for the assembly is mounted on the base, alongside the upright support 16, and includes an ON/OFF switch 31, a speed control 32 for the stirrer drive motor M, and a control 33 for the electric hotplate 12. When the stirrer is in position as shown, actuation of the switch 31 energises the drive motor M to rotate the stirrer and so stir the contents of the pan P. The coupling 24, which transmits drive from the motor M to the stirrer 22, is arranged to slip should the torque exceed a predetermined limit.

As the stirring unit 20 is pivoted upwards, to the position shown by dotted lines in the Figure, firstly the shaft 23 of the stirrer becomes detached from the coupling 24, and subsequently the end of the arm 21 depresses the actuator of a microswitch 17 mounted in the support 16, the microswitch 17 acting as an electrical cut-out for the stirrer motor M and for the electrical element of the hot-plate 12. When the arm 21 of the stirring unit 20 is in its upright position, the stirrer 22 may be lifted out of the pan P. The upright support 16 provides a stop 16a against which arm 21 rests in its lowered, generally horizontal position, and also a stop 16b against which it rests in its raised position. The head of the stirring unit 20 is counterbalanced so that, when in the raised position, the arm 21 is urged against its stop 16b.

It will be appreciated that the assembly which has been described is of simple and compact construction, yet provides for the easy and effective stirring of the contents of the pan P.

Claims

Claims 1) A stirring assembly which comprises an electrical hot- plate on

which to stand a pan the contents of which are to be stirred, and a stirring unit which comprises a drive motor, mounted to a pivoted arm, and a rotary stirrer for extending downwardly into the pan.
2) A stirring assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the arm of the stirring unit is arranged to be pivoted from a lowered, in-use position to a raised position, in order for the stirrer to be lifted out of the pan.
3) A stirring assembly as claimed in claim 2, including a switch arranged to be actuated when said arm is moved into its raised position, said switch acting as a cut-out for the drive motor and/or said electrical hotplate.
4) A stirring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, including an upright support having said arm pivotally mounted to it at or adjacent its upper end.
5) A stirring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said stirrer comprises a shaft one end of which is removably coupled to said drive motor.
6) A stirring assembly as claimed in claim 5, in which said stirrer is coupled to said drive motor by means of a coupling which slips should the drive torque exceed a predetermined limit.
7) A stirring assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, in which said drive motor is provided with an overload protection circuit.
8) A stirring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said stirrer comprises a plurality of radially- extending stirring blades 9) A stirring assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.