JP2010082384A - Electric kettle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric kettle allowing a user to acoustically confirm the finish of heating. <P>SOLUTION: This electric kettle includes: a heating mechanism 16 heating water in a kettle body 3; an operation-start switch 15 starting the operation of the heating mechanism 16; a steam passage 40 guiding steam generated from boiling water generated by heating by the heating mechanism 16, to a steam detection mechanism; and a stop mechanism for stopping the heating by the heating mechanism 16 with the detection of the steam by the steam detection mechanism. This electric kettle further includes a first sound emission mechanism 91 emitting sound by the steam guided to a steam passage inlet or the steam flowing in the interior of the steam passage 40, and a second sound emission mechanism emitting sound by mechanical behavior of the steam detection mechanism 19 at a time point when the steam reaches the steam detection mechanism 19. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention comprises a heating mechanism for heating water in the main body, a start switch for starting the heating mechanism, and a steam path for guiding steam generated from boiling water generated by heating by the heating mechanism to a steam detection mechanism, The present invention relates to an electric kettle provided with a stop mechanism that stops heating by the heating mechanism along with steam detection by the steam detection mechanism.

  This type of electric kettle is currently being sold under the catchphrase of “when you want, just as much as you want”, and it receives power from the power plate and the power plate to the kettle body. A heating mechanism is provided for heating the water that has been removed. Hot water obtained by heating can be taken out from the spout by lifting the kettle body from the power supply plate and tilting the kettle body.

  The detection of the completion of heating is configured such that the steam generated from the hot water is guided to the steam detection mechanism, and the steam is detected by the steam detection mechanism, thereby detecting the completion of the heating and stopping the heating. Therefore, it is possible to accurately and surely detect the boiling state where steam is actually generated with a simple configuration, and supply hot water “as much as you want when you want”. Although this type of electric kettle is widely sold today, there are still few published examples of specific applications, and the prior art cannot be shown in the literature.

FIG. 8 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional electric kettle according to the present applicant.
The electric kettle 100 includes a heating mechanism 101 that heats the water in the main body 103, a start switch (heating operation switch 115) that starts the heating mechanism 101, and is generated from boiling water generated by heating by the heating mechanism 101. A steam path 121 that guides the steam to be steamed to the steam detection mechanism 120, and a stop mechanism 118 that detects the completion of heating and stops heating by the heating mechanism 101 when the steam is detected by the steam detection mechanism 120.
In the electric kettle 100 having this configuration, the user of the electric kettle is to know completion by heating in the return operation to the standby posture of the heating operation switch 115 or the state in which the steam is discharged from the steam port 112. However, in this type of electric kettle, it is preferable that not only the completion of heating can be visually confirmed but also visually confirmed.
The objective of this invention is obtaining the electric kettle which can confirm completion of a heating auditorily.

To achieve the above object, a heating mechanism for heating the water in the main body, a start switch for starting the heating mechanism, and a steam path for guiding steam generated from boiling water generated by heating by the heating mechanism to the steam detection mechanism The characteristic configuration of the electric kettle provided with a stop mechanism that stops heating by the heating mechanism along with the steam detection by the steam detection mechanism,
Sound is generated by the first sound generation mechanism that generates sound by the steam guided to the steam path inlet or by the steam flowing in the steam path, or by the mechanical behavior of the steam detection mechanism when the steam reaches the steam detection mechanism. A second sound generating mechanism is provided.

The electric kettle includes a first sound generation mechanism or a second sound generation mechanism.
The first sound generating mechanism generates a sound by the steam guided to the steam path inlet or the steam flowing in the steam path. Therefore, sound is generated in a state where steam generated from boiling water enters the steam path, or in a state where steam flows in the steam path toward the steam detection mechanism, and the completion of heating can be known from the sound.
The second sound generation mechanism generates sound by the mechanical behavior of the steam detection mechanism when the steam reaches the steam detection mechanism. Therefore, in a state where the steam generated from the boiling water reaches the steam detection mechanism, a sound is generated by the mechanical behavior of the steam detection mechanism, and it is possible to know the completion of heating by the sound.
As a result, the completion of heating (boiling of water) can be known not only from visual events such as the return of the heating operation switch and the release of steam from the steam outlet, but also from the auditory event of sound.

As the first sound generating mechanism, this is a sound generation mechanism in the steam path provided in the steam path, or a discharge provided in a steam discharge path that branches from the inlet portion of the steam path and connects to an external space outside the kettle. A road sounding mechanism is preferred.
The first sound generation mechanism is a sound generation mechanism in the steam path provided in the steam path, or a sound generation mechanism in the discharge path provided in the steam discharge path that branches from the entrance portion of the steam path and is connected to the external space outside the kettle. Thus, sound can be generated with the inflow of steam at an appropriate site where the steam flows. The arrangement positions of these mechanisms may be set as appropriate portions where the sound generation mechanism can be arranged in relation to other mechanisms to be provided in the electric kettle. As a result, the completion of heating can be heard audibly.

  The second sound generation mechanism is configured to change the posture from a heating maintenance posture in which heating is performed by the heating mechanism to a heating stop posture in which the heating is stopped when the steam is detected by the steam detection mechanism. In the structure in which the electric kettle is provided with the members, it is preferable that the posture changing member be a return-linked sound generation mechanism that generates sound in conjunction with a return behavior in which the posture change member returns from the heating maintenance posture to the heating stop posture.

  In the electric kettle according to the present application, in a state where water boils (a state where heating is completed), the steam is guided to the steam detection mechanism through the steam path, and heating by the heating mechanism is stopped according to the detection of the steam. At this time, the start switch returns from the heating maintenance posture (the posture in which heating is performed by the heating mechanism) to the standby posture (the posture in which the heating start operation is not performed without performing heating by the heating mechanism). In view of this, the second sound generating mechanism determines the return behavior (mechanical behavior) of the member whose posture is changed integrally with the start switch (this member is referred to as the posture changing member in the present application) in this return operation. Used for generation. As a result, it is possible to audibly know the completion of heating by generating a sound as the steam reaches the steam detection mechanism.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external view of an electric kettle 1 according to the present application, FIG. 2 is a view showing a use state thereof, and FIGS. 3 to 7 are views showing an internal structure thereof. 5, 6, and 7 are drawings corresponding to FIGS. 3 and 4. Regarding the “sound generation mechanism” in this application, examples shown in these drawings are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Are examples of different forms.

The electric kettle 1 is composed of a power supply plate 2 and a kettle body 3.
The power supply plate 2 is configured as an outer circular plate, and includes a power feeding mechanism 4 on the center side of the upper surface thereof. The lower surface serves as a housing portion for the power cable 5. At the time of use, the power cable 5 is pulled out from the lower surface of the power plate 2 and connected to an outlet (not shown), so that power can be supplied to the kettle body 3 through the power supply mechanism 4.
The power supply mechanism 4 is formed at the center side position of the power supply plate 2 so as to protrude from the upper surface thereof, and the external appearance of the power supply mechanism 4 is substantially cylindrical. The power feeding mechanism 4 includes a center hole 4 a and an annular hole 4 b provided concentrically with the center hole 4 a, an electrode portion (for power feeding) provided in the holes 4 a and 4 b, and a cylindrical outer peripheral portion of the power feeding mechanism 4. And a detection electrode 4c provided in a part in the circumferential direction. The detection electrode 4c detects that the power supply plate 2 and the kettle body 3 are in the power feeding posture.
In a power supply state (power supply posture) in which the kettle body 3 is placed on the power supply plate 2, as shown in FIG. 3, the power supply mechanism 4 is fitted into the kettle body 3 and the power receiving mechanism 17 provided in the kettle body 3. Power can be supplied via

The kettle body 3 includes a main body 7 configured in a substantially container shape with an open top and a lid body 8 that covers the opening as main members. The lid body 8 is configured to be swingable around a swing shaft 8a provided at an upper portion of the kettle body 3 and one end in the front-rear direction of the body, and the lid body 8 is swung upward to open the lid body. In this state, water can be poured into the main body body 7. On the other hand, hot water can be heated while the lid 8 closes the opening of the main body 7.
In this example, as shown in FIG. 3, the main body 7 is provided with a separate stainless steel inner container 70 separate from the resin main body 7. As shown in FIG. 3, the lid body 8 is configured in a generally cylindrical shape, and has a very complicated lid body 80, a lid cover 81 that covers the lid body 80 from above, and a lower side of the lid body 80. The lower plate 83 is provided with a container packing 82 that is coupled and seals the inner container 70 in a closed state. The lid cover 81 is provided with a steam port 12, and the lower plate 83 is provided with a hot water flow hole 83a and a steam flow hole 83b.
In the electric kettle 1 of the present application, a moving member 25 is provided between the valve mechanism 20 for the spout 9 and the hot water operation button 14, which is movable in the front-rear direction of the main body according to the position of the hot water operation button 14.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the kettle body 3 is provided with a spout 9 on the upper side and a handle 10 on the opposite side of the spout 9 in the front-rear direction of the main body. Further, a lid body opening / closing operation unit 11 for opening and closing the lid body 8 and a steam port 12 are provided between the spout 9 and the handle 10 from the side of the spout 9.

  A valve body 50 for hot water supply control is provided on the inner side of the spout 9, and the valve body 50 is controlled to move in the vertical direction in accordance with the operation state of the hot water supply operation button 14, so that the kettle body Even if 3 is tilted, hot water does not come out from the spout 9 as long as the hot water operation button 14 is not in the pushed-in position. In the protruding posture (standby position) of the hot water supply operation button 14 shown in FIG. 3, hot water does not come out. On the other hand, hot water supply is possible in the pushing posture (operation position) where the hot water operation button 14 is pushed. In the operation state of the hot water supply operation button 14, the movement of the moving member 25 in the front-rear direction is converted into the movement of the valve body 50 in the vertical direction, and whether or not hot water can be supplied is determined.

Now, the steam generated in the inner container 70 reaches the steam path 40 leading to the steam port 12 and the steam detection mechanism 19 described in detail later through the overturn stop water valve portion 28 provided in the lid body 8. It is configured as follows. The electric kettle 1 according to the present application is provided with a pair of front and rear water stop valves 28 having different capacities.
The steam that has passed through the overturn stop water valve section 28 reaches the common steam chamber 30, and a part of the steam is sent to the steam port 12 and the remaining part is sent to the steam path 40. A path connected to the steam port 12 is a steam discharge path 12a referred to in the present application.

  A heating operation switch 15 (an example of a start switch) is provided at the bottom of the kettle body 3 and below the handle 10, and heating by the heating mechanism 16 is started by pressing the heating operation switch 15 downward. can do. As shown in FIG. 3, the heating operation switch 15 waits for the heating start operation in a standby posture in which the upper position is taken. On the other hand, the heating operation switch 15 continues the heating in the heating maintenance posture that takes the lower position. 6 and 7 show a state in which the heating operation switch 15 is in the heating maintenance posture with a solid line, and shows a state in which the heating operation switch 15 is in the standby posture with a two-dot chain line.

    The heating mechanism 16 is composed of an electric heater that receives supply of electricity from the power receiving mechanism 17, and the electric heater is arranged in a circular shape at the lower portion of the kettle body 3.

As shown in FIG. 4, the power receiving mechanism 17 is formed at the center side position of the kettle main body 3 by retreating from the bottom surface, and the power receiving mechanism 17 is also substantially cylindrical in appearance. The power receiving mechanism 17 includes a center guide pin 17a, an inner diameter side annular electrode 17b provided concentrically with the center guide pin 17a, and an outer diameter side annular electrode 17c provided on the outer diameter side. These three electrodes 17a, 17b, and 17c are a pair of electrodes for power reception and an electrode for power reception posture detection.
As described above, in the power feeding state (power feeding posture) in which the kettle body 3 is placed on the power supply plate 2, the power feeding mechanism 4 is fitted into the kettle body 3 and the electrodes are electrically connected to each other. Power can be received.

    As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the power receiving mechanism 17 and the heating operation switch 15 are connected by an interlocking unit 18 widely used in the electric kettle 1. The structure of the interlocking unit 18 will be described. The power receiving mechanism 17 is provided on the kettle main body 3 side, and the unit main body 18a including a fixed arm portion 18b extending integrally with the power receiving mechanism 17 in the outer peripheral direction, and the fixed arm portion 18b. And a swing arm portion 18c that is swingable in the vertical direction with respect to the unit main body 18a. In addition, the heating operation switch 15 described above is connected to the tip of the swing arm portion 18c through a connecting portion.

The position of the oscillating fulcrum Z of the oscillating arm portion 18c is indicated by a broken line in FIGS.
As shown in these drawings, the swing arm 18c is provided with a biasing member 18d for detently biasing the swing arm 18b with respect to the unit main body 18a. The swinging arm portion 18c is maintained in a standby posture in which the heating operation switch 15 is not operated, and in a posture separated upward from the fixed arm portion 18b, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIGS. On the other hand, in a state where the heating operation switch 15 is pressed and the heating operation switch 15 takes the heating maintenance posture, the posture is close to the fixed arm portion 18b side as shown by the solid line in FIGS. That is, the biasing member 18d constitutes a detent structure. Then, the posture change of the heating operation switch 15 from the heating maintenance posture to the standby posture is generated by a slight upward biasing of the swing arm portion 18c by the steam detection mechanism 19 described below. Here, the detent mechanism is configured to be able to maintain a stable posture state in two postures (in the above example, the standby posture and the heating maintenance posture), and to change the posture between both postures. When the posture is changed from one posture to the other posture (in the above example, the posture is held in the changed posture when the standby posture is changed to the heating maintenance posture or the heating maintenance posture is changed to the standby posture). In the above example, the posture is changed from the standby posture to the heating maintenance posture by the user's operation, and the posture change from the heating maintenance posture to the standby posture is the steam detection by the steam detection mechanism 19, and a part of this mechanism swings. This is generated by upwardly biasing the arm 18c.

At the outer peripheral side end of the fixed arm portion 18b, a steam detection mechanism 19 (specifically, a steam sensitive plate led from the upper part of the kettle main body, is in a state where the steam reaches the steam sensitive plate in response to the steam. , The swinging arm portion 18c is deformed to urge upward). This steam detection mechanism 19 is also held in two postures. That is, in a state where the steam does not reach the steam detection mechanism 19 (in this state, the heating operation switch 15 is in the heating maintenance posture), the heating maintenance is performed without biasing the swinging arm portion 18c upward. Take posture. On the other hand, when the steam reaches the steam detection mechanism 19, it takes a standby posture to urge the swing arm portion 18c upward. As described above, when the steam detection mechanism 19 changes its posture from the heating maintenance posture to the standby posture, the upward biasing force acts on the swinging arm portion 18c, and the above-described detent structure is adopted. Due to the mechanical behavior of the steam detection mechanism 19 when the steam reaches the detection mechanism 19, the swing arm portion 18c moves upward away from the fixed arm portion 18b, and the heating operation switch 15 waits from the heating maintenance posture. Return to posture.
That is, when the steam is detected by the steam detection mechanism 19, the swing arm as a posture change member that returns from a heating maintenance posture in which the heating mechanism 16 performs water heating to a heating stop posture in which heating is stopped. A portion 18c is provided.

The heating operation is performed in a state where the power receiving mechanism 17 provided in the kettle body 3 is supplied with electricity from the power feeding mechanism 4 provided in the power supply plate 2 and the steam detecting mechanism 19 is not detecting steam. The switch 15 is maintained in its standby position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIGS. When the heating operation switch 15 is pushed down, the swing arm portion 18c swings downward, maintains the heating maintenance posture shown by the solid line, and supplies power to the heating mechanism 16. Therefore, heating of water is started.
When the water in the kettle body 3 boils by heating, the steam generated from the hot water reaches the steam detection mechanism 19 via the steam path 40 provided in the side part in the kettle body, and the steam detection of the steam detection mechanism 19 Along with this, the posture holding of the swinging arm portion 18c held in the downward swinging posture is released, the swinging is returned upward, and the power supply to the heating mechanism 16 is stopped. At the same time, the heating operation switch 15 returns from the heating maintenance posture to the standby posture.

  Therefore, the interlocking unit 18 operates as a stop mechanism that detects steam generated from the generated hot water in conjunction with the power receiving mechanism 17 and stops heating by the heating mechanism 16.

Although the above is the structure of the electric kettle 1 which concerns on this application, below, the characteristic structure employ | adopted as this electric kettle 1 is demonstrated.
The electric kettle 1 according to the present application has a heating mechanism in which water in the inner container 70 is boiled and steam generated from the boiling water is guided to the steam detection mechanism 19 side or when the steam reaches the steam detection mechanism 19. In the state where the heating by 16 is stopped, the sound is generated.
In the present application, four examples are shown, but the first and second ones are provided with a first sound generation mechanism 91 that generates sound by the flow of steam in a state where the steam is directed toward the steam detection mechanism 19 side. The third and fourth are examples of the second sound generation mechanism that generates sound according to the mechanical behavior of the steam detection mechanism 19 in a state where the steam is detected by the steam detection mechanism 19 described above. This is an example in which 96 is provided.

[First sound generation mechanism]
In this application, the structure is shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 5 as an example of the first sound generation mechanism 91.
The example shown in FIG. 3 is an example in which the first sound generation mechanism is configured as a sound generation mechanism in the steam path, and a steam path cross-sectional area sudden expansion portion 92 is provided in the steam path 40, and the steam expansion section 92 This is an example in which sound is generated by sudden expansion of the flow. In this example, the sudden expansion portion 92 works as a so-called whistle and generates a sound. Of course, instead of providing the sudden expansion portion in this way, a configuration may be adopted in which a narrow portion is provided and then the flow path is suddenly expanded.
The example shown in FIG. 5 is an example in which the first sound generation mechanism is configured as a sound generation mechanism in the discharge path, and a narrow portion 93 of the flow path is provided in the steam discharge path 12a, and the vibration of the steam flow in the narrow portion 93. This is an example of generating sound. In this example, the narrow portion 93 functions as a so-called whistle and generates a sound. That is, a sound generation mechanism (narrow portion 93) in the discharge path is provided in the steam discharge path 12a which branches from the common steam chamber 30 which is the entrance portion of the steam path 40 and is connected to the external space outside the kettle.

[Second sound generation mechanism]
In the present application, the configuration of the second sound generating mechanism 96 is shown in FIG. 6 or FIG.
The second sound generating mechanism 96 is a return-linked sound generation that generates a sound of hitting a sounding body such as a bell or bell in a return behavior (return operation) when the heating operation switch 15 returns from the heating posture to the standby posture. It is an example which comprises a sound generation mechanism as a mechanism.
In the example shown in FIG. 6, a striking bell 97 is attached to the inner wall surface of the kettle body 3, and a striking rod 98 provided on the bell 97 is moved in the left direction in conjunction with the return operation of the heating operation switch 15. This is an example of generating a sound by moving to.
In the example shown in FIG. 7, the hitting bell 97 is attached in the vicinity of the support of the heating mechanism 16, and the heating operation switch 15 is restored in a state where the hitting rod 98 swinging toward the top surface of the bell swings. This is an example in which sound is generated by moving upward in conjunction with each other.
In addition to those shown in these drawings, a sound generation switch that is turned on in accordance with the return operation of the heating operation switch 15 may be provided to generate sound electronically.

  As described above, it is possible to obtain an electric kettle that can be confirmed audibly by the completion of heating.

Figure showing the appearance of an electric kettle Diagram showing electric kettle in use Vertical section of the electric kettle when the hot water operation button is not pressed The figure which shows the structure of a power receiving mechanism and a power feeding mechanism Upper vertical section of an electric kettle with a narrow section in the steam discharge path Lower longitudinal sectional view of an electric kettle provided with a second sound generating mechanism for generating a sound with the return of the heating operation switch Lower longitudinal sectional view of an electric kettle provided with a second sound generating mechanism for generating a sound with the return of the heating operation switch Longitudinal sectional view of a conventional electric kettle

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electric kettle 7 Main body body 8 Lid body 9 Spout 10 Handle 12 Steam port 12a Steam discharge path 14 Hot water operation button (hot water operation part)
15 Heating operation switch (start switch)
16 Heating mechanism 18b oscillating arm (posture changing member)
19 Steam sensitive plate (steam detection mechanism)
20 Valve mechanism 40 Steam passage 91 First sound generation mechanism 92 Sudden expansion part 93 Narrow part 96 Second sound generation mechanism 97 Bell 98 Strike rod

Claims (3)

A heating mechanism for heating water in the body, a start switch for starting the heating mechanism, and a steam path for guiding steam generated from boiling water generated by heating by the heating mechanism to the steam detecting mechanism; An electric kettle provided with a stop mechanism for stopping heating by the heating mechanism with detection,
The sound is generated by the first sound generating mechanism that generates sound by the steam guided to the steam path inlet or by the steam flowing in the steam path, or by the mechanical behavior of the steam detecting mechanism when the steam reaches the steam detecting mechanism. An electric kettle provided with a second sound generating mechanism for generating sound.   The first sound generating mechanism is a sound generation mechanism in a steam path provided in the steam path, or a sound generation mechanism in a discharge path provided in a steam discharge path that branches from an inlet portion of the steam path and is connected to an external space outside the kettle. The electric kettle according to claim 1. At the time when steam is detected by the steam detection mechanism, a posture changing member that returns from a heating maintenance posture in which heating of water is performed by the heating mechanism to a heating stop posture in which the heating is stopped,
2. The electric kettle according to claim 1, wherein the second sound generation mechanism is a return-linked sound generation mechanism that generates sound in conjunction with a return behavior in which the posture change member returns from the heating maintenance posture to the heating stop posture.

Images