WO1998010686A1

WO1998010686A1 - Display means for time and temperature in apparatus for preparing hot or cold drinks

Info

Publication number: WO1998010686A1
Application number: PCT/DK1996/000376
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carsten Jørgensen
Original assignee: Pi-Design Ag
Priority date: 1996-09-10
Filing date: 1996-09-10
Publication date: 1998-03-19
Also published as: AU6786296A

Abstract

When using containers for preparing hot or cold drinks or food, where the containers have at least one handle, a lid with a handle for opening the lid or a lid with a centrally arranged handle on a piston for the filtration of residuals from the drink, and particularly to a clock arranged in the piston knob, it can be paramount to know the temperature or the time lapsed since infusion or boiling took effect. This is achieved in that at least one thermoelectric element is used for electrically supplying an electrical clock and a display for either temperature and/or time, and that the display is arranged on the handle, the lid, or the handle of the lid, thereby indicating the size of the physical entity measured.

Description

DISPLAY MEANS FOR TIME AND TEMPERATURE IN APPARATUS FOR PREPARING HOT OR COLD DRINKS

The invention relates to household containers for preparing hot or cold s drinks or food , where the containers have at least one handle, a l id with a handle for opening the lid or a lid with a centrally arranged handle on a piston foi the filtration of residuals from the drink, and particular!} to a clock arran - ged in the piston knob

A clock arranged in the handle of a infusion filter insert is known from 10 US Patent No 5 ,453 ,189, where in coloumn 3 , lines 40 to 46 describing an embo diment, it is mentioned , that the handle ( 10) could further contain a clock (not shown) , which appropriately could be operated by a battery or by thermo- electπcal elements driven by temperature differences This clock could hereby measui e the duration of the infusion phase , so that the correct duration of this i s phase could be secured As the clock is not shown , only the presence on a handle of such clock is known

In many appliances when cold or hot drinks or food are prepared, it is pa ramount to know the temperature or the time lapsed since infusion or boiling took effect ₂o The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing the possibility of reading the temperature and/oi the time when brewing or coo king

This object is acomplished in, that at least one thermoelectric element is used for electrically supplying an electrical clock and a display for eithei tem- i perature and/or time, and that the display is arranged on the handle, the lid, or the handle of the lid, thereby indicating the size of the physical entity measu red Such selection of the physical entity is made with control buttons , which are not shown

It is immaterial whether the display is mounted on a handle or the lid , as 30 long as the numbers can be read by the user

When the clock and the display are mounted on or in the handle, the thermoelectric element can have one sensor arranged on the inside of the lid or the container If the handle is mounted on a piston plunger, the thermo electric element can be guided in the piston shaft is Also, when the clock and the display are mounted on or in the lid , the thermoelectric element can have one sensor arranged on the inside of the lid The invention will be explained with reference to the drawings , where preferred embodiments are shown, whereby

fig 1 shows a plunger shaft fiom a coffee maker, where the

, display is mounted in the lid, and fig 2 shows another plunger shaft from a coffee maker, where the display is mounted in the handle

Fig 1 shows the display 1 mounted in the lid 2 of a container Such lid 2 lo could be the lid of a coffee maker, but it might as well be a lid for a cooking pot or the like when disregarding, what is shown below the lid The thermoelectric element is not shown, as this element is functioning independently of the ar - rangement, as long as at least one sensor is placed at the proper side , where the temperature is to be measured The thermoelectric element can detect a tempe i s rature difference, so in principle the display is also functioning when the contents of a container is colder than room temperature

Fig 2 shows the display 1 mounted in the handle 3 of a container Such handle 3 could be the handle of a lid of a coffee maker, but it might as well be a lid for a cooking pot or the like when disregarding, what is shown below the lid

20 The thermoelectric element is not shown , as this element is functioning inde pendently of the arrangement, as long as at least one sensor is placed at the proper side , where the temperature is to be measured This embodiment can preferably be used in coffee makers or in filter inserts as mentioned in US Patent No 5 ,453 ,189, as the thermoelectric element can have its sensor placed at

2 the lower tip of the piston shaft, where it will be in direct contact with the contents of the container

It is obvious, that the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the specification , and also in normal cooking utensils the invention can be used for helping the user when preparing food

^■.o

Claims

PATENT CLAIMSI Containers for preparing hot or cold drinks or food , where the containers have at least one handle, a lid with a handle for opening the lid or a lid with a centrally arranged handle on a piston for the filtration of residuals from the drink, and particularly to a clock arranged in the piston knob , c h a ra c t e r i z e d in , that at least one thermoelectric element is used for electrically supplying an electrical clock and a display for either temperature and/or time , and that the display is arranged on the handle, the lid, or the handle of the lid , thereby indicating the size of the physical entity measured. 2 Container according to claim 1 , characterized in , that the thermoelectric element, when used directly on the container, its handle, or its lid, has one sensor arranged on the inside of the lid or the container3 Container according to claim 1 , characterized in , that the thermoelec- tnc element being used in a piston plunger is guided in the piston shaft AMENDED CLAIMS[received by the International Bureau on 23 December 1997 (23.12.97) ; orig inal cl aim 1 amended ;remaining c laims unchanged ( 1 page ) ]

1 . Containers for preparing hot or cold drinks or food, where the containers have at least one handle, a lid with a handle for opening the lid or a lid with a centrally arranged handle on a piston for the filtration of residuals from the drink, and particularly to a clock arranged in the piston knob operated by a thermoelectric element for the electrical supply , characterized in, that t h e thermoelectric element is used for electrically supplying a display for either temperature and/or time, and that the display is arranged on the handle, the lid, or the handle of the lid, thereby indicating the size of the physical entity mea sured.

2. Container according to claim 1 , characterized in, that the thermoelec tric element, when used directly on the container, its handle, or its lid, has one sensor arranged on the inside of the lid or the container.

3. Container according to claim 1 , characterized in, that the thermoelec tric element being used in a piston plunger is guided in the piston shaft.