GB2420692A

GB2420692A - Kettle with removable decorative element

Info

Publication number: GB2420692A
Application number: GB0524709A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christian Dupuy
Original assignee: SEB SA
Current assignee: SEB SA
Priority date: 2004-12-03
Filing date: 2005-12-02
Publication date: 2006-06-07
Anticipated expiration: 2025-12-02
Also published as: CN1788657A; FR2878718B1; GB2420692B; GB0524709D0; FR2878718A1; EP1665967A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a kettle (1) comprising a body (3) suitable for containing a liquid. According to the invention, the kettle (1) includes at least one decorative element (16) suitable for being removably fastened to the exterior surface of the peripheral wall (7) of the body (3) so as to cover at least a portion thereof, and fastening means suitable for enabling each decorative element (16) to be removably fastened to the body (3). The fastening means comprise a ring (17) bearing fasteners (20) for co-operation with complementary fasteners (19) on the body (3), in the base region of the kettle. The peripheral edges (23, 26) of each cover element (16) are engageable in respective grooves (22, 24) at the base and top of the kettle.

Description

HOT POT WITH REMOVABLE DECORATIVE ELEMENT

This invention relates to an electric household appliance suitable for heating a liquid, e.g., a hot pot.

A hot pot comprising a body suitable for

containing a liquid is known in the prior art.

However, once the hot pot is produced, it is no longer possible to alter its appearance, which can turn out to be a disadvantage for some users desiring to customize the appearance of their electric household appliances with respect to their kitchen, to the appearance of their other electric household appliances or as they desire.

This invention aims to solve this problem.

According to this invention, the hot pot includes at least one decorative element suitable for being removably fastened to the exterior surface of the peripheral wall of the body so as to cover at least a portion thereof, and fastening means suitable for enabling each decorative element to be fastened to the body.

Thus, according to this invention, the decorative element or the decorative elements of the same set, having a particular aesthetic feature (e.g., a particular colour), may cover the exterior surface of the body of the hot pot and make it possible to change the appearance thereof. Sets of decorative elements having different features may be associated with one hot pot.

Other advantages and characteristics of this invention will become apparent in the description of the embodiment given for non-limiting, illustrative purposes and shown in the appended drawings.

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a hot pot in accordance with the embodiment of this invention, Figure 2 is a side view of the hot pot, Figure 3 is a sectional view of the hot pot along the straight line 111Ill of figure 2, Figure 4 is a sectional view of area IV of figure Figure 5 is a sectional view of area V of figure 2, and Figure 6 is a sectional view of the hot pot along the straight line VI-VI of figure 2.

As can be seen in figure 1, the hot pot 1 in accordance with this embodiment runs primarily in a vertical direction along a central axis 2 and it includes a body 3 which comprises a reservoir 4 suitable for holding a liquid and a heating element 5 suitable for heating the liquid inside the reservoir 4.

Near its bottom, the reservoir 4 is delimited by a bottom wall 6, to the underside of which is fastened the heating element 5, and, at its sides, it is delimited by a side wall 7.

The body 3 also includes a top flange 8 delimiting the top opening of the reservoir 4, a pour spout 9 which facilitates pouring of the liquid from the reservoir 4, a handle 10 making it possible to handle the hot pot 1, and a lid 11 which makes it possible to close the opening of the reservoir and which rests on the top flange 8 when it is in closed position.

The heating element 5 is housed in an enclosure 12 delimited, at its top, by the bottom wall 6 of the reservoir 4 and, in a reciprocal manner, at its sides as well as its bottom, by the peripheral wall 13 and the bottom wall 14 of a bottom flange 15 attached to the body 3.

The hot pot 1 includes at least one decorative element 16 which is suitable for being removably attached to the exterior surface of the side wall 7 of the body 3, so as to cover a surface portion.

In this embodiment, the hot pot 1 includes two decorative elements 16, each decorative element 16 being suitable for covering a surface portion of the side wall 7 which is specifically associated with it and which, on the one hand, extends over substantially the entire height of the body 3 and, on the other hand, over substantially half of the periphery of the hot pot 1. The shape of each of the two decorative elements 16 corresponds substantially to that of the corresponding surface portion. In this embodiment, the hot pot 1, having an overall cylindrical revolution shape (in this case a substantially ogival shape), each decorative element 16 is a shell having an overall half- cylindrical revolution shape (in this case a half- ogival shape).

The hot pot 1 also includes fastening means suitable for enabling each decorative element 16 to be fastened to the body 3.

In this embodiment the fastening means include a locking element 17 which is suitable for being fastened in a separable manner to the body 3, for holding each decorative element 16 attached to the body 3 when it is fastened thereto, and for enabling each decorative element 16 to be released when it is separated from the body 3. In this embodiment, the locking element 17 consists of a ring 17 whose profile corresponds substantially to that of the bottom end of the bottom flange 15 to which it is suitable to be fastened. The locking element 17 includes a peripheral wall 18 which is suitable for extending the body 3 downwards.

On the one hand, the fastening means also include fasteners 19 borne by the body 3, and, on the other hand, complementary fasteners 20 suitable for cooperating with the fasteners 19 so as to enable each decorative element to be repeatedly fastened to and separated from the body. In this embodiment, the complementary fasteners 20 are borne by the locking element 17, and their cooperation with the fasteners i makes it possible to fasten the locking element 17 to the body 3.

In this embodiment the fasteners 19 and the complementary fasteners 20 cooperate by snapping together. To this end, the fasteners 19 consist of elastically deformable tabs 19 suitable for snapping into openings 20 made in the locking element 17. The openings 20 are made in an annular wall 21 which protrudes from the peripheral wall 18 towards the centre of the ring 17. In a complementary way, the tabs 19 protrude towards the bottom of the bottom wall 14 of the bottom flange 15. In order that these tabs 19 not support the hot pot 1 when it rests on a support, the peripheral wall 18 of the locking element 17 is sufficiently long to serve as a support to the hot pot 1.

On the one hand, the fastening means also include interconnecting elements 23, 26, 31, 36 borne by each decorative element 16, and, on the other hand, complementary interconnecting elements 22, 24, 27, 29, 32, 34 suitable for cooperating with the interconnecting elements 23, 26, 31, 36 so as to enable each decorative element 16 to be held against the corresponding surface portion.

In this embodiment, for each decorative element 16, the interconnecting element 23, 26, 31, 36 consists of at least a portion of its peripheral edge 23, 26, 31, 36 (in this case, of its entire peripheral edge).

Correspondingly, the complementary interconnecting element 22, 24, 27, 29, 32, 34 consists of a groove 22, 24, 27, 29, 32, 34 which is suitable for receiving the corresponding peripheral edge 23, 26, 31, 36 and which runs along at least a portion of the periphery of the surface portion covered by the decorative element 16 (in this case, along the entire periphery of the surface portion).

A first groove portion 22 is made along a first rim 18 that is borne by the locking element 17. At the bottom, this first rim 18 delimits the corresponding surface portion when the locking element 17 is fastened to the body 3, the bottom peripheral edge 23 (in this case, semi-cylindrical in shape) of the corresponding decorative element 16 being suitable for being lodged inside this first groove portion 22. The first rim 18 is formed by the peripheral surface 18 of the ring 17.

The groove that is made along the entire circumference of the locking element 17 forms the first groove portion 22 for the two decorative elements 16.

A second groove portion 24 is made along a second rim 25 that is borne by the top flange 8 and which, at the top, delimits the corresponding surface portion.

The top peripheral edge 26 (in this case, semi- cylindrical in shape) of the corresponding decorative element 16 is suitable for abutting against and for being lodged inside this second groove portion 24. The groove that is made along the entire circumference of the top flange 8 forms the second groove portion 24 for the two decorative elements 16.

A third groove portion 27 is made along a third rim 28 that is borne by the pour spout 9 and which, on a first side, delimits the corresponding surface portion. The third groove portion 27 runs axially downward from the second groove portion 24 and is extended downward by a fourth groove portion 29 that is made along a fourth rim 30 borne by the bottom flange 15. The fourth groove portion 29 runs downward so as to connect with the first groove portion 22 when the locking element 17 IS fastened to the body 3. A first axial edge 31 of the Corresponding decorative element 16 is suitable for sliding along the third and fourth groove portions 27, 29 and for being lodged therein. On each side, the pour spout 9 and the fourth rim 30 comprise a groove which forms the third and fourth groove portions 27, 29 for the two decorative elements 16.

A fifth groove portion 32 is made along a fifth rim 33 that is borne by the handle 10 and which, on the second side, delimits the Corresponding surface portion.

The fifth groove portion 32 runs axially downward from the second groove portion 24 and is extended downward by a sixth groove portion 34 that is made along a sixth rim 35 borne by the bottom flange 15. The sixth groove portion 34 runs downward so as to connect with the first groove portion 22 when the locking element 17 is fastened to the body 3. A second axial edge 36 of the corresponding decorative element 16 is suitable for sliding along the fifth and sixth groove portions 32, 34 and for being lodged therein. On each side, the handle 10 and the sixth rim 35 comprise a groove which forms the fifth and sixth groove portions 32, 34 for the two decorative elements 16.

The placement and removal of each decorative element 16 is Particularly easy. Therefore, in order to put them into place, after having removed the locking element 17, it suffices to Position them level with the bottom flange 15, their axial edges 31, 36 being opposite the corresponding fourth and sixth groove portions 29, 34, then to slide them upward along the third, fourth, fifth and sixth axial groove portions 27, 29, 32, 34 until the top edges 26 abut against the second groove portion 24. Next, it suffices to position the locking element 17 and to connect it, the first groove portion 22 receiving the bottom edge 23 and the openings 20 receiving the tabs 19, by snapping together.

Removal is carried out by the reverse process.

Obviously, it would be possible to make many modifications Therefore, the locking element might be fastened to the body by other types of simple fasteners not requiring any particular equipment so as to leave it within the capabilities of any user to change the decorative elements; instead of being a snap-on device, it might be a screw-on device (the locking element screwing on to the body) or a bolting device (screws joining together the locking element and the body). In the same way, the hot pot might not have any locking element, each decorative element holding a fastener cooperating with a complementary fastener borne by the body.

Claims

1. Hot pot (1) comprising a body (3) suitable for containing a liquid, at least one decorative element (16) suitable for being removably fastened to the exterior surface of the peripheral wall (7) of the body (3) so as to cover at least a portion thereof, and fastening means suitable for enabling each decorative element (16) to be fastened to the body (3) characterized in that the fastening means include a locking element (17) which is suitable for being fastened in a separable manner to the body (3), for holding each decorative element (16) attached to the body (3) when it is fastened thereto, and for enabling each decorative element (16) to be released when it is separated from the body (3).

2. Hot pot (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it includes two decorative elements (16), each decorative element (16) being suitable for covering a corresponding surface portion which extends over substantially the entire height of the body (3) and over substantially half of its periphery.

3. Hot pot (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the shape of each decorative element (16) corresponds substantially to that of the corresponding surface portion.

4. Hot pot (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the locking element (17) consists of a ring (17) whose profile corresponds substantially to that of the bottom end of the body (3) to which it is suitable to be fastened, and which includes a peripheral wall (18) suitable for extending the body (3) downwards.

5. Hot pot (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the fastening means include, on the one hand, fasteners (19) borne by the body (3), and, on the other hand, complementary fasteners (20) suitable for cooperating with the fasteners (19) so as to enable each decorative element (16) to be repeatedly fastened to and separated from the body (3).

6. Hot pot (1) as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the complementary fasteners (20) are borne by the locking element (17).

7. Hot pot (1) as claimed in claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the fasteners (19) and the complementary fasteners (20) cooperate by snapping together.

8. Hot pot (1) as claimed in claim 7 dependent on claim 6, characterized in that the fasteners (19) consist of elastically deformable tabs (19) suitable for snapping into openings (20) made in the locking element (17).

9. Hot pot (1) as claimed in claim 8 dependent on claim 4, characterized in that openings (20) are made in a wall (21) Protruding from the peripheral wall (18) of the ring (17) towards the centre thereof, the tabs (19) Protruding towards the bottom of the bottom end of the body (3)

10. Hot pot (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, on the one hand, the fastening means include interconnecting elements (23, 26, 31, 36) borne by each decorative element (16), and, on the other hand, complementary interconnecting elements (22, 24, 27, 29, 32, 34) suitable for cooperating with the interconnecting elements (23, 26, 31, 36) so as to enable each decorative element (16) to be held against the corresponding surface portion

11. Hot Pot (1) as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that, for each decorative element (16), the interconnecting element (23, 26, 31, 36) consists of at least a Portion (23, 26, 31, 36) of its peripheral edge suitable for being inserted into a groove (22, 24, 27, 29, 32, 34) Which forms the complementary interconnecting element (22, 24, 27, 29, 32, 34) and which runs along at least a portion of the Periphery of the surface portion covered by the decorative element (16)

12. Hot Pot (1) as claimed in claim ii, characterized in that a first Portion (22) of the groove is made along a first rim (18) that is borne by the locking element (17) and that is suitable for delimiting the corresponding surface portion when the locking element (17) is fastened to the body (3)

13. Hot pot (1) as claimed in claim 12 dependent on claim 4, characterized in that the first rim (18) borne by the locking element (17) is formed by the peripheral surface (18) of the ring (17)

14. Hot pot (1) as claimed in one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that a Portion (24, 27, 29, 32, 34) of the groove is made along a rim (25, 28, 301 33, 35) that is borne by the body (3) and which delimits the corresponding surface portion.

15. Hot pot (1) as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the rim borne by the body (3) includes a second rim (25) borne by a top flange (8) which delimits the filling opening of the hot pot (1).

16. Hot pot (1) as claimed in claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the rim borne by the body (3) includes a third (28) and a fifth (33) rim borne respectively by a pour spout (9) and by a handle (10).

17. Hot pot (1) as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the third (28) and fifth (33) rims are extended dowards by fourth (30) and sixth rims (35) borne by a bottom flange (15) which forms the bottom end of the body (3).