GB2445026A

GB2445026A - A lid through which a domestic appliance can be filled

Info

Publication number: GB2445026A
Application number: GB0625569A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Luke Bradshaw
Original assignee: Salton Europe Ltd
Current assignee: Russell Hobbs Ltd
Priority date: 2006-12-22
Filing date: 2006-12-22
Publication date: 2008-06-25
Anticipated expiration: 2026-12-22
Also published as: GB2445026B; GB0625569D0

Abstract

A lid 100 for a domestic appliance comprises two relatively movable parts 102, 104 each having at least one hole therethrough, the parts having relative positions which respectively allow and prevent flow of water through the lid. The appliance can thus be filled through the lid when the holes are aligned. The holes may be arrays of radial slots. Relative movements of the lid parts may be rotary. The lid may be downwardly concave. Its parts may be biased towards the flow-preventing position. The lid parts may be visually distinguished from one another such as by colour, and may be translucent. The appliance may be a kettle or filter kettle 10, a liquidizer or an iron.

Description

ThROVEMENTS IN ND RELATING TO LIDS FOR DOSTIC

APPLIMCES

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to lids for domestic appliances and to domestic appliances comprising such lids.

Background to the Invention

Some of the domestic appliances that can have lids are kettles, liquidizers, irons, etc. Most current kettles are filled either through the spout or by opening the lid by removing it from the top of the kettle via a hinge mechanism. Filling through the spout can cause significant difficulty for users with limited manual dexterity. Filling through a hinged opened lid can require significant physical strength depending on the arrangement of the lid and can be cumbersome.

It is an aim of preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide an alternative lid construction for a domestic appliance and a domestic appliance incorporating the same.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention in a first aspect, there is provided a lid for a domestic appliance, the lid comprising a first part and a second part the first part comprising at least one hole and the second part comprising at least one hole whereby one of the parts can move relative to the other part between a first position in which water can flow through the lid and a second position in which water substantially cannot flow through the lid.

Suitably, one of the parts can move relative to the other part to at least partly align the holes so that water can pass through the lid through the aligned holes.

Suitably, the first part comprises a plurality of holes.

The parts may include a plurality of holes, in which case not all of the holes need align when the lid is in its open (i.e. water can pass through) configuration, though it is preferable for them to do so to ensure the maximum flow of water through the lid.

Suitably, the holes are radially disposed. Suitably, the holes are slots. Suitably, the slots are straight.

Alternatively, the slots may be curved.

Suitably, the first part comprises at least one hole, the second part comprises at least one hole and at least one protrusion for closing of at least one hole of the first part. Suitably, there are the same number of holes in the first part as protrusion on the second part. Suitably, the appliance is configured to include an actuator for separating the first and second parts away from and/or towards each other to move between a closed and open configuration.

Suitably, the perforated area of the lid is circular.

Suitably, the first and second parts move rotatably relative to each other.

Suitably, the lid is concave. The concave shape of the lid helps to minimise splash back when the domestic appliance is being filled.

Suitably, the lid comprises an opening mechanism operable by a user.

Suitably, the opening mechanism is biased towards the closed position.

Suitably, the opening mechanism comprises a finger extending radially from one of the first or second parts.

Suitably, the opening mechanism comprises a lug upstanding from one of the first or second parts. Suitably, the lug is located on the second part and the lug projects through a hole in the first part.

Suitably, the opening mechanism comprises an angled plate on one of the first part or the second part and further comprises a button with a corresponding angled head, whereby as the buLton is moved towards the angled head the lid is opened.

Suitably, the first part is visually distinguished from the second part. In this way it is more apparent when the lid is in the closed configuration because a user can see the visually distinguished second part through the holes of the first part.

Suitably, the first part is visually distinguished from the second part by being a different colour. Suitably, the first part and the second part comprise translucent materials.

Suitably, the first part is the upper part.

According to the present invention in a second aspect, there is provided a domestic appliance comprising a lid according to the first aspect of the present invention.

Suitably, one of the first and second parts is fixed relative to the kettle.

Suitably, the domestic appliance is a kettle.

Suitably, the domestic appliance is a filter kettle.

Suitably, the domestic appliance is an iron.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings that following; in which: Figure 1 is a exploded view of a kettle comprising a lid according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side view of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a rear view of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged isometric view of the first part of the lid shown in Figures 1-4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged isometric view of the second part of the lid shown in Figures 1-4 with the upper part of the kettle.

Figure 6A is an enlarged isometric view of the lid shown in Figures 1-4 in a kettle.

Figure 7 is a plan view of a lid according to the present invention with a first alternative opening mechanism.

Figure 8 is a side view of the lid shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is an isometric view of the lid shown in Figures 7and8.

Figure 10 is an underside view of a lid according to the present invention with a second alternative opening mechani sm.

Figure 11 is a partial isometric view showing a kettle lid and part of a handle according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 12A and 123 are isometric view of the two lid parts of the lid shown in Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a partial isometric view showing an upper part of a kettle lid and part of a handle according to a yet further embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring to Figures 1-6A of the accompanying drawings, there is shown a filter kettle 10 comprising a lid 100, filter unit 200, spout section 300, main body 400, handle 500, outer casing 600 and base 700.

The lid 100 comprises a first part 102 and a second part 104.

In use, the first part 102 is an upper layer and the second part 104 is a lower layer.

The first part 102 comprises an outer ring 106 enclosing an inner concave bowl 108 including radially extending holes in the form of slots 110. In the middle of the bowl 108 is a perforated central region 112. The ring 106 includes a cut-out portion 114 shaped to fit the filter and an opening mechanism 116.

The second part 104 comprises a concave bowl 118 including radially extending holes in the form of slots 120. The bowl 118 corresponds to the bowl 108 of the first part.

The slots 120 correspond to the slots 110 of the first part so that they can be mutually aligned.

The perforated central region 112 appears on the first part 102 only and is an aesthetic feature.

For both the first part 102 and the second part 104, the lands 122, 124 respectively between the slots 110, 120 are larger than the slots 110, 120.

Opening mechanism 116 comprises a first finger 126 on the first part 102 extending radially from the first part 102 and a second finger (not shown) approximately located by arrow 127. The second finger is obscured in Figure 5.

The filter unit 200 comprises a water container 202, an outlet 204 and a filtration unit 206. The filter 200 also comprises a lid receiving shoulder 208 with a cut-out portion (not shown) to allow for movement of the actuator finger 126. The filter unit 200 will not be described

further as it is well known in the field.

The spout section 300 receives the filter unit 200 and includes a spout 302.

The remaining elements will not be described further as they are well known in the art.

The first part 102 and the second part 104 are in a face to face relationship whereby the second part 104 is fixed in place in the water container 202 and the first part 102 is rotatably disposed above it. The first part 102 can only rotate a limited amount as the opening mechanism 116 is limited in its travel by the cut-out portion in the water container 202. In a first configuration the lid is closed when the slots 110, 120 are not aligned at all, i.e. there is no path for water through the lid. The opening mechanism 116 can be moved circumferentially by a user's hand to turn the first part 102 relative to the fixed second part 104 to a second configuration in which the slots 110, 120 are aligned so that water can pass through the lid. In use, a user can then fill the filter unit 200 with water and close the lid by the reverse action. The concave shape of the lid helps avoid undue splashing as the kettle is filled by deflecting water generally towards the perforated (i.e. slotted) area of the lid. As the lands are larger than the slots, the closed configuration ensures there are no slots aligned keeping dust, insects, etc out of the filter when the lid is closed.

The opening mechanism 116 can be biased to the closed position by a spring (not shown) The first part 102 is made from a translucent plastic material of a first colour and the second part 104 is made of a translucent material of a second colour different to the first colour. That way when the lid is closed the first and second colours will be visible. When the lid is open, a third colour based on light travelling through both the first and second parts will be predominantly visible. Thus there is provided a visible indication of the open/closed state of the lid. Alternatively, one or both of the first and second parts 102, 104 can be opaque, patterned or some combination of any of these options to provide a visible indication of the open/closed state of the lid.

Referring in particular to Figures 6 and 6A of the accompanying drawings, the handle 500 includes an on/off switch 130 and a lid locking switch 132. The lid locking switch 132 can be moved forward and backward relative to the second part 104 to engage and disengage, respectively, a locking lug 134 with a corresponding cut-out portion (not shown) on the underside of the second part 104.

Figures 7 to 10 of the accompanying drawings show alternative opening mechanisms. In these Figures, like parts are referenced with the same numerals as in Figures l-6A. The lids shown in Figures 7-10 illustrate an alternative shape, in this case circular, for the circumference of the lid for a suitably modified kettle.

In Figures 7-9 the first part 102 is fixed relative to the kettle and the second part 104 rotates. The opening mechanism 116 comprises an upstanding projection 128 on the second part 104 that projects through a hole 130 that limits the travel of the second part.

In Figure 10 the opening mechanism 116 comprises an angled plate 132 fixed to (which includes the option of being formed as part of) the first part 102. The angled plate 132 is biased to the closed configuration of the lid by a spring 134. A button 136 comprises an angled head 138 so that when the button 136 is pushed inward toward the centre of the lid the angled head 138 acts against the angled plate 132 to move the first part 102 rotatably in the direction to compress spring 134.

In the further embodiments of Figures 11 and 12 of the accompanying drawings a lid 20 comprises a first part 202 and a second part 204, being an upper part and a lower part respectively. First part 202 includes a multiplicity of holes 206 therethrough.

The holes 206 are circular in cross-section and approximately evenly spaced, though this need not be the case. The second part 204 comprises a multiplicity of holes 208 and a multiplicity of protrusion 210. The protrusion 210 correspond in size with the holes 206 of first part 202 so that all of the holes 206 can be closed off by protrusion 210. The protrusion 210 are sized to prevent a substantially flush upper surface to the lid 200 when in the closed configuration with the protrusion 210 in the holes 206.

The lid 200 is moved to an open configuration by one of the first part 202 or second part 204 being moved vertically away from the other part by an actuating mechanism (not shown). Water can then flow through holes 206 and 208 into the kettle.

Figure 13 of the accompanying drawings is a yet further embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is similar to that of figures 1-6A except that there are slots 300 which are curved rather than straight.

Optionally, the opening mechanism can be on the other part than that shown.

The lid described can be used for a variety of domestic appliances such as kettles, liquidizers, irons, etc. The lid described above can be used for all kettles, not just filter kettles, but it is more advantageous in relation to a filter kettle because in that case there is normally a filter unit preventing steam from rising out of the lid on to a user's hand as they are filling the filter unit if the kettle has recently boiled. It. will be appreciated that the shape of the lid can be varied to suit the particular appliance concerned.

Although it is preferred to have a lot of slots this need not be the case. Also the slots need not be equidistant from each other.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s) . The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features

disclosed in this specification (including any

accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A lid for a domestic appliance, the lid comprising a first

part and a second part the first part comprising at least one hole and the second part comprising at least one hole whereby one of the parts can move relative to the other part between a first position in which water can flow through the lid and a second position in which water substantially cannot flow through the lid.
2. A lid for a domestic appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the parts can move relative to the other part to at least partly align the holes so that water can pass through the lid through the aligned holes.
3. A lid for a domestic appliance as claimed in claim 1 :.:: or claim 2, wherein the first part comprises a *...

plurality of holes.

S

S..... * .
4. A lid for a domestic appliance as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the holes are radially S.....

* disposed.

*5S*SS * * 25
5. A lid for a domestic appliance as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the holes are slots.
6. A lid for a domestic appliance as claimed in claim 5, wherein the slots are straight.
7. A lid for a domestic appliance as claimed in claim 5, wherein the slots are curved.
8. A lid for a domestic appliance as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first part comprises at least one hole, the second part comprises at least one hole and at least one protrusion for closing of at least one hole of the first part.
9. A lid for a domestic appliance as claimed in claim 8, wherein there are the same number of holes in the first part as protrusions on the second part.
10. A lid for a domestic appliance as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the appliance is configured to include an actuator for separating the first and second parts away from and/or towards each other to move between a closed and open configuration.
11. A lid for a domestic appliance as claimed in any * ** preceding claim, wherein the perforated area of the ** * :.:: lid is circular. ****
12. A lid for a domestic appliance as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first and second parts move rotatably relative to each other.

****** * * :m: 25
13. A lid for a domestic appliance as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the lid is concave.
14. A lid for a domestic appliance as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the lid comprises an opening mechanism operable by a user.
15. A lid for a domestic appliance as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the opening mechanism is biased towards the closed position.
16. A lid for a domestic appliance as claimed in claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the opening mechanism comprises a finger extending radially from one of the first or second parts.
17. A lid for a domestic appliance as claimed in claim 14 wherein, the opening mechanism comprises a lug upstanding from one of the first or second parts.
18. A lid for a domestic appliance as claimed in claim 17, wherein the lug is located on the second part and the lug projects through a hole in the first part. * **
19. A lid for a domestic appliance as claimed in claim 14, wherein the opening mechanism comprises an angled plate on one of the first part or the second part and further comprises a button with a corresponding angled head, whereby as the button is moved towards the * **.* * * angled head the lid is opened.

S **S** * S
20. A lid for a domestic appliance as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first part is visually distinguished from the second part.
21. A lid for a domestic appliance as claimed in claim 20, wherein the first part is visually distinguished from the second part by being a different colour.
22. A lid for a domestic appliance as claimed in claim 20 or claim 21, wherein the first part and the second part comprise translucent materials.
23. A lid for domestic appliance as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first part is the upper part.
24. A domestic appliance comprising a lid according to any one of claims 1 to 23.
25. A domestic appliance as claimed in claim 24, wherein one of the first and second parts is fixed relative to the domestic appliance.
26. A domestic appliance as claimed in claim 24 or claim 25, wherein the domestic appliance is a kettle.

20
27. A domestic appliance as claimed in claim 26, wherein the domestic appliance is a filter kettle.
28. A domestic appliance as claimed in claim 24, wherein the domestic appliance is an iron.

S.....
29. A domestic appliance substantially as described herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings.