NZ197452A - Receptacle top assembly with spout and pivoted spout cover - Google Patents

Description

Date: 17 June 1981 No.: 197452 PATENTS ACT, 1953 NEW ZEALAND COMPLETE SPECIFICATION IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO A TOP COVER ASSEMBLY FOR A RECEPTACLE t/ We, ZIP HOLDINGS LIMITED, a New Zealand company of Queens Drive, Lower Hutt, New Zealand,. hereby declare the invention for which K/ we pray that a patent may be granted to KSfe/us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - 197452 "Improvements in or relating to a top cover assembly for a receptacle".

This invention relates to a top cover assembly for a receptacle and particularly electrically heated receptacles such as an electric jug. Electrically heated jugs of conventional design have proved to be a source of some danger in the home. The jug can be knocked or sometimes pulled over and as the top lid is easily displaced the contents of the jug will be spilt and this may cause serious burning or scalding. If a safety cover or top is provided such a cover must allow the jug to be filled and the contents poured with little, if any, inconvenience.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a top cover assembly for a receptacle and particularly an electrically heated water jug which will go some way to providing a secure top assembly and at the same time retaining user convenience.

Accordingly the invention consists of a top cover assembly for a receptacle, said top cover assembly comprising a top member engageable with an opening in the top of said receptacle, a pouring outlet or spout formed in or connected with said top member, a spout cover mounted with said top member and in one position arranged to cover the spout or outlet and in another position to move free of said spout so that the contents from the receptacle can be poured, a slide member slidably mounted in said top member and hingably connected to said spout cover, a pivot about which said spout cover can rotate, said pivot being located in front of the hinge between the spout cover and the slide member, the construction and arrangement being such that a - 2 197452 forward sliding movement of the slide member will apply a moment to the spout cover causing the cover to rotate around the pivot moving the spout cover from the closed position covering the spout to the open position at an angle extending up from said spout.

One preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an elevation of an electric jug incorporating a top cover assembly according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a top view of the electrical jug as shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a sectional view showing in more detail the components employed according to the present invention, and Figure 4 is a detail of the connection between the top cover assembly and the body of the jug.

In the preferred form of the invention illustrated the top cover assembly 1 is mounted on an electrically heated water jug 2. It will be appreciated, however, the invention is not necessarily restricted to association with a water jug and it could be incorporated, for example, in an electric kettle or any other receptacle where the type of cover assembly according to the present invention would be required.

The present invention may be embodied in a number of ways with components inter-connected to achieve the desired - 3 results- In the preferred embodiment a top member 3 is made up of two plastic mouldings. The first comprises a collar and spout moulding 4. This moulding is designed to fit about the upper edge 5 of the body of ■ the'receptacle,; for example a metal body. The moulding is shaped with an insert 6 which engages on the inside of the body and the upper periphery 5 is arranged to engage within a groove or recess 7 formed in the moulding to provide a tidy and aesthetic image to the assembled jug. The moulding also incorporates a spout 8 and diametrically opposite the inside 9 of a handle grip 10. The moulding also includes connecting bars 11 with apertures therethrough and mounting brackets 12 fitted to the inside of the body of the jug have fixing screws 13 engaging through the bars 11 to hold the collar and spout member 4 in association with the body of the jug.

The top member 3 is completed by. a lid insert 14. The lid insert has a tongue 15 arranged to engage within the upstanding section 16 of the collar and spout assembly 4. ;A recess 17 extends centrally through the" lid insert from adjacent the inside handle to just past the centre. A screw 18 passes through the base of this recess and fixes the lid insert to the collar and spout moulding. An open section is formed in advance of the central section, thereby leaving a spout opening in the top member. -- The handle 10 is completed by a pivotal back 18, pivoted about a pivot 19 towards the base thereof and with a biassing spring .20 to retain the handle back part from the handle inside 9. The upper end of the.handle back 18 has a head 21 which engages with a slide as will be described herebelow.

The cover assembly is completed by a combined spout cover and slide. The spout cover 22 is of a shape such as will fit over the spout opening in the top member and, has incorporated towards the rear thereof a groove 23 which engages over a bar 24 extending across the recess in the lid insert. This construction provides a pivot about which the spout cover may rotate. The back 2 5 of the spout cover is turned down and is hingedly connected at 26 to a slide 27. The hinge connection is preferably a plastic hinged line joint, thereby enabling the spout cover and slide to be integrally moulded. The section of the slide beyond the hinged fitting 26 has sides 28 in which is formed a recess or recesses 29 designed to engage with a snap engagement over protruberances projecting in from.the side walls of the recess in the lid insert with the length of the recess 29 allowing for sliding movement of the slide. The head 21 engages with an appropriate recess at the rear part of the slide. • '..V ' .

When the component of the top assembly according to the present invention have been operatively assembled and the user by gripping the handle exerts a pressure on the back of the handle, moving the back towards the front of the handle, a force is transmitted via the head 1 to the slide causing the slide to move forward. This creates a moment at the base of the spout cover and the hinge allows the spout cover to pivot about the pivot bar 24 so that the spout cover 22 197452 is raised leaving the spout open or uncovered to pour the contents of the jug or to fill the jug.

As mentioned above the body of the jug 2 would normally be of metal and the base section 30 would preferably be a plastic moulding held in association with the base by a screw 31 engaging in a threaded boss 32. This construction which defines a recess below the base of the jug allows for a bottom end to electric element 34 and this can in turn readily enable the incorporation of the control and protective means.

The electrical cord 33 which enters the base to energise the element 34 may pass around a labyrinth moulded into the base before being connected to the elements and in this way avoids the necessity for a cord grip holder. 6 1 ^7/(.SX

Claims (14)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A top cover assembly for a receptacle, said top cover assembly comprising a top member engageable with an opening in the top of said receptacle, a pouring outlet or spout formed in or connected with said top member, a spout cover mounted with said top member and in one position arranged to cover the spout or outlet and in another position to move free of said spout so that the contents from the receptacle can be poured, a slide member slidably mounted in said top member and hingably connected to said spout cover, a pivot about which said spout cover can rotate, said pivot being located in front of the hinge between the spout cover and the slide member, the construction and arrangement being such that a forward sliding movement of the slide member will apply a moment to the spout cover causing the cover to rotate around the pivot moving the spout cover from the closed position covering the spout to the open position at an angle extending up from said spout.

2. A top cover assembly as claimed in Claim 1 including a handle or gripping means with part of the handle or gripping means movable to impart forward movement to said slide member.

3. A top cover assembly as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the handle or gripping means comprises an inside member incorporated as part of the ; top member, a pivot at or towards a lower end of the inside member, a back member connected to the inside member at the pivot and biasing means to normally separate the back member from the inside member so that the back member can be moved towards the inside member and that movement imparts the forward movement to the slide member.

4. A top cover assembly as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the top member v *•'. i- &{<&.;l°l7kS2-;conprises a collar and spout moulding to engage about an upper periphery of the body of the receptacle and a lid insert fixed to said collar and spout moulding.;

5. A top cover assembly as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the collar and spout moulding incorporates a groove to receive the upper periphery of the body of the receptacle.;

6. A top cover assembly as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the collar and spout moulding is integrally formed with an inside section of the receptacle handle and includes fixing members through which fixing screws can pass to brackets on the inside walls of the receptacle to which the assembly can be mounted.;

7. A top cover assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 6 wherein the lid insert incorporates a recess to accommodate the slide member and in line with the recess a spout opening in which the spout cover fits.;

8. A top cover assembly as claimed in Claim 7 wherein a bar extends across the recess towards the rear of the spout opening and provides the pivot about which the spout cover can rotate.;

9. A top cover assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the spout cover includes a back section angled to a forward section in front of the pivot, with the hinged connection between the slide member and the spout cover at a lower extremity of the back section, so that in use a force applied by the slide member at the hinge point pushes the back section of the spout cover forward generating a turning moment to lift the forward section of the spout cover.;

10. A top cover assembly as claimed in Claim 9 wherein said spout cover incorporates a groove which engages over said pivot.;r "I;: v1);mif-sx;

11. A top cover assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said slide member and the handle are connected to urge the sliding movement of said slide member in said top member.;

12. A top cover assembly when constructed, arranged and operable substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawi ngs.;

13. A water jug incorporating a top cover assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 12.;

14. A water jug as claimed in Claim 13 when constructed, arranged and operable substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.;DATED THIS IH*"> DAY OF Apn I 19^^" A. J. PARK & SON PER ^=2 AGENTS FOR THE APPLICANTS 9