WO2016046576A1

WO2016046576A1 - Bowl

Info

Publication number: WO2016046576A1
Application number: PCT/GB2015/052810
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Palmer; James Sealy
Original assignee: Kenwood Limited
Priority date: 2014-09-26
Filing date: 2015-09-28
Publication date: 2016-03-31
Also published as: GB2530559A; GB201417022D0; CN106714640A; CN106714640B; GB2530559B

Abstract

The invention relates to a mixing bowl (1) having a base (2) and a side wall (4) of flexible material (e g. silicon) extending up from the base, said side wall being collapsible from a first raised position (fig. l) to a second storage position (fig 2) The side wall (4) comprises two or more sidewall sections and an annular fold line (6) is provided between them so that the two sections fold relative to each other. The base may have a locking mechanism 3a-b to engage with a food mixer base. The base may be metal and may be adapted to be heated by induction from an induction heater on a food mixer base. The sidewall sections may comprise at least one annular stiffening rib (l6a-d, fig.4). A lid (18, Fig.7) may be provided to fold within the mixing bowl when the bowl is collapsed.

Description

Bowl

The present invention relates to a food mixing bowl. Food mixers or stand mixers are well known. Such mixers typically have a rigid plastic, glass or metal bowl supported on and removable from a food mixer base. Mixing tools extend down from a mixer head into the bowl, and the tools are rotated by the head to mix food in the bowl.

There are a couple of problems with this arrangement. One problem is that if the tools are made of metal, they will scratch the plastic, glass or metal bowl leaving plastic, glass or metal contaminants in the food being mixed. It is known to avoid this problem using tools each having a metal core and a plastics sleeve with flexible edges which slides over the core. In time however, the sleeve wears out and can become loose on the core. Another problem is that clearances are required between the bowl and the tool to facilitate manufacture; this is cured in one or two ways. Firstly adjustment is required in the axial direction of the tool to remove any gap between the bottom of the tool and the base of the bowl, secondly and as previously mentioned a rubber wiper blade is introduced to the radial periphery of the tool to remove any gap and hence ensure that the surfaces of the bowl is wiped.

With the growing popularity of cooking using induction heating, it is also desirable to have a mixing bowl that is induction-heatable.

It is often desirable to remove a bowl from a mixer having mixed food in it, and place the bowl in a refrigerator or oven. However such a bowls are quite large, as they have to have relatively tall sides to avoid contents splashing out during use, and occupy much space in a refrigerator or oven. Moreover such bowls ideally have smooth, continuous, relatively straight inner surfaces to avoid waste due to food becoming trapped in crevices.

European Patent Application Doc. No. EP2138074 A discloses a foldable receptacle for domestic use. However the foldable receptacle is not suitable for induction heating, and does not present a smooth, continuous flexible inner surface to facilitate mixing.

German Utility Model Publication No. DE202005012418 U discloses a multi-grinder with a telescoping hopper. However, this telescoping hopper also suffers from the problems described for the prior art, including not presenting a smooth, continuous flexible inner surface to facilitate mixing. Chinese Utility Model Publication No. CN201312678 Y discloses a foldable stirring bowl with a hard bearing part and a flexible folding part. However this foldable stirring bowl also is not suitable for induction heating, and does not present a smooth, continuous flexible inner surface to facilitate mixing. The invention seeks to provide an improved mixing bowl.

According to the present invention there is provided a mixing bowl having a base and a side wall extending up from the base, said side wall being collapsible from a first raised position to a second storage position.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a mixing bowl having a base and a side wall extending up from the base, said side wall being collapsible from a first raised position to a second storage position, wherein the side wall comprises two or more side wall sections adapted to fold relative to each other along at least one annular fold line provided in the side wall between the side wall sections when it collapses from the first raised position to a second storage position.

Preferably, the side wall sections are formed of flexible material.

Preferably, the side wall sections comprise at least one or more annular stiffening ribs, preferably wherein the stiffening ribs are integrally formed with its side wall section.

Preferably, the side wall sections taper towards the annular fold line on an exterior surface of the mixing bowl to facilitate folding whilst retaining an essentially smooth inner surface of the mixing bowl whilst in the first raised position.

Preferably, the top half of the side wall is more rigid than the bottom half. Preferably, the top half supports handles.

Preferably, the bowl base includes a locking mechanism to engage with a food mixer base.

Preferably, the base is a metal base adapted to be heated by induction from an induction heater.

Preferably, the one or more annular stiffening ribs are configured to be heated by induction from an induction heater.

Preferably, the one or more annular stiffening ribs are non-induction-heatable metal annular stiffening ribs. Preferably, the inner surface of the bowl is continuous, preferably such that the bowl is water-tight in the first and second position. Preferably, each side wall section comprises as least one annular stiffening rib.

Preferably, the annular stiffening ribs are provided above and below an annular fold line, and preferably proximate to the annular fold line. Preferably, the annular stiffening rib on a given side wall section is arranged not to contact an annular stiffening rib of another, preferably successive, fold line as the mixing bowl is folded, or when the mixing bowl is in, the second storage position.

So that the fold lines fold in sequence as the bowl is collapsed, preferably, the mixing bowl comprises at least two annular fold lines and wherein the thickness of the annular fold lines decreases with successive fold lines, preferably wherein the uppermost fold line is the thickest and the lowermost fold line is the thinnest. For the same reason, alternatively, the lowermost fold line may be the thickest and the uppermost fold line may be the thinnest. Preferably, the annular fold lines are at most 0.4 times, preferably at most 0.3 times, and more preferably 0.25 times, the thickness of the side wall section.

Preferably, the side wall sections are arranged to concertina in order to fold into the second storage position, and preferably wherein the annular ribs of successive side wall sections face opposite directions when the mixing bowl is in the second storage position.

Preferably, the side wall sections and/or the annular stiffening ribs are provided with a coupling arrangement for coupling the side wall sections to one another and/or to the base of the bowl in order to retain the bowl in the first raised position and/or the second storage position. Preferably, the coupling arrangement comprises: a tab; locking element; latch; hook and/or a loop and hook fastener.

Preferably, the bowl includes a lid configured to fold within the mixing bowl, when the mixing bowl is collapsed to the second position. The invention extends to a mixing bowl substantially as herein described and/or shown with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention also provides a computer program and a computer program product for carrying out any of the methods described herein and/or for embodying any of the apparatus features described herein, and a computer readable medium having stored thereon a program for carrying out any of the methods described herein and/or for embodying any of the apparatus features described herein.

Any apparatus feature as described herein may also be provided as a method feature, and vice versa. As used herein, means plus function features may be expressed alternatively in terms of their corresponding structure, such as a suitably programmed processor and associated memory. Any feature in one aspect of the invention may be applied to other aspects of the invention, in any appropriate combination. In particular, method aspects may be applied to apparatus aspects, and vice versa. Furthermore, any, some and/or all features in one aspect can be applied to any, some and/or all features in any other aspect, in any appropriate combination. It should also be appreciated that particular combinations of the various features described and defined in any aspects of the invention can be implemented and/or supplied and/or used independently.

Preferably the side wall is of flexible material. This may optionally be a transparent material so as to allow viewing of the contents of the bowl. Preferably the side wall is annular. Preferably at least part of the side wall is adapted to fold when it collapses from the first raised position to a second storage position. Preferably at least one an annular fold line is provided in the side wall between the top and bottom of the side wall to help the side wall concertina or fold. Preferably the top half of the side wall is more rigid than the bottom half, and may support handles. The side wall is preferably divided into one or more stiffer side wall sections configured to fold down upon each other, joined along the annular fold lines. The side wall sections may be thicker than the annular fold lines, or made of a different, less flexible material. Each concertina section may include one or more stiffening ribs to prevent the side wall sections bending during folding/unfolding of the mixing bowl. These stiffening ribs may be annular in shape to prevent folding along a horizontal axis of the bowl.

The side wall sections (or concertina sections) of the side wall are preferably arranged so that, once unfolded, an inner surface of the bowl presents a smooth, continuous, relatively straight surface. Such a surface avoids waste as food will not become trapped within crevices of the side wall. Such a smooth, continuous, relatively straight inner surface may be achieved by arranging the side wall sections such that they taper inwardly towards the annular fold lines on the outside of the bowl, thus facilitating folding whilst presenting a smooth, continuous, relatively straight- sided surface when unfolded. Depending on the desired outcome, different materials could be used in making the stiffening ribs. These annular stiffening ribs could be made of a hard plastic, or a transparent hard plastic in order to allow viewing of the contents of the bowl. Alternatively, an induction-heatable metal (e.g., stainless steel) could be used in the stiffening ribs in order to enhance induction heating of the bowl. Also alternatively, a non- induction-heatable metal (e.g., Aluminium) could be used in order to reap the advantages of using metal (e.g., durability) whilst eliminating the problems associated with induction-heating a metal rib located in contact with a more heat-sensitive material such as may be used in the side wall of the bowl, and to avoid unnecessary heating of elements other than the base.

Preferably the base includes a locking mechanism to engage with a food mixer base.

Preferably the base is a metal base, such as a metal bowl base, and a side wall of flexible material extending up from the metal base. The metal base may be adapted to be heated by induction from an induction heater on a food mixer base. An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings on which:

Figure 1 shows a side view of a bowl in a first raised position;

Figure 2 shows a side view of the bowl in a second, storage, position;

Figure 3 shows the bowl on a food mixer;

Figure 4 shows a cross section view of the bowl;

Figures 5 show a cross section of the bowl in detail;

Figures 6-8 show a lid of the mixing bowl; and

Figures 9 show various schematic views of the bowl.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown a mixing bowl 1.

Bowl 1 has a metal bowl base 2. Base 2 has opposing grooves 3A, 3B forming one component of a twist to lock bayonet type locking mechanism to lock the bowl onto a food mixer 10 (as described with reference to Figure 3). Bowl 1 has a tapered annular side wall 4 of flexible material such as silicone extending up from the metal bowl base, with side wall 4 being collapsible from a first raised position (as shown in Figure 1) to a second storage position (as shown in Figure 2).

The top of bowl 1 has a pair of diametrically-opposed handles 5A, 5B extending from the top of wall 4. The top of wall 4 may be less flexible than the bottom half of the wall in order to provide a structure to support the handles and to allow the top wall to stay in shape as the bottom half folds as it concertinas. Handles 5A, 5B may be formed (e.g. integrally formed) of the same material as the top of wall 4, and may be flexible.

Bowl side wall 4 has an annular fold line 6 between the top and bottom of the side wall to help the side wall concertina as it moves from the first to the second position.

Figure 3 show a food mixer 10 of a type know in the art having a head 11 supporting mixing tools 12 following a planetary type motion, and an induction heater 13 in the food mixer base 14. The grooves 3A, 3B (where 3B is not visible in Figure 3) of the locking mechanism of the metal bowl base 2 can engage with projections (not shown but known in the art) on the base 11 of a food mixer 10. The metal bowl base 2 is adapted to be heated by induction from the induction heater 13.

In use, and as shown in Figure 3, when the bowl 1 is in the first position, food can be mixed and optionally cooked in bowl 1 using the food mixer 10. After mixing and optional cooking, the wall 4 can concertina to the second position to make the bowl smaller to fit in a refrigerator or oven.

Because the wall of bowl 1 is of silicone, the tools 12 can be made of metal so that they last longer. Moreover, a clearance-gap between the wall of the bowl 1 and the tools 12 can be reduced or eliminated, since the soft, flexible material of the wall 1 will not cause as much abrasion on the tools 12 (nor vice- versa) as the wall 1 will bend and flex to accommodate the tools 12 reducing the damage caused by impact. Waste and unmixed material, as well as complexity of manufacture caused by the requirement for a clearance gap, may therefore be eliminated. Figure 4 shows cross section view of the mixing bowl 1. The bowl includes four concertina sections 15 A, 15B, 15C and 15D, wherein each concertina section 15A-15D includes a stiffening rib 16A-16D respectively. The stiffening ribs 16A-16D prevent the bending of concertina sections 15A-15D during folding/unfolding of the mixing bowl 1. The annular stiffening ribs 16A-16D could be made of a hard plastic, or a transparent hard plastic. Alternatively, the stiffening ribs 16A-16D could be made of an induction-heatable metal (e.g. stainless steel) or a non-induction-heatable metal (e.g. Aluminium).

Further, the mixing bowl 1 may have an external strap over the annular fold line 6 to provide support to the bowl 1 when in the first position. The external strap also provides support for users' hands when they lift the mixing bowl 1. A user may hold the top edge of the mixing bowl 1 with her hand(s) and press the top edge downwards to collapse the mixing bowl 1 to the second position. Thereafter, the user may press down the bottom of the mixing bowl 1 with one hand and pull the top edge of the mixing bowl 1 upwards with the second hand to expand the mixing bowl to the first position from the second position. Further, folds, herein also referred to as "fold lines", 17A-17D of the concertina sections 15A-15D are provided on the outer surface of the mixing bowl 1. This provides smooth continuous interior surface when the mixing bowl 1 is in the first position.

The mixing bowl 1 is made of a flexible material, preferably silicone, or preferably like silicone. This allows users to squeeze the top edge of the bowl 1 to create a spout for pouring or transferring ingredients out of the mixing bowl 1. The mixing bowl 1 is dishwasher and microwave safe.

Figures 5 show in detail a cross section of the bowl 1. Successive fold lines 17 progressively thin towards the bottom of the bowl 1. As a result, the width of the uppermost fold line 17A is the thickest fold line, and thus thicker than the second fold line 17B, immediately below the first fold line 17A, which is in turn thicker than the fold line immediately below the second fold line 17B, and so on. In more detail, external ribs 16 are provided for structural integrity and to stiffen the bowl, and in particular to stiffen the annular folding sections. The external ribs 16 are provided below and above each fold line 17, such that each concertina section 15 that is coupled to two fold lines comprises two external ribs, whereas all remaining concertina sections comprise one external rib 16. The external ribs 16 of a given concertina section 15 are arranged to snap, under applied tension (upward or downward), into a position that effectively locks the concertina section in the first or second position.

The folding action of the bowl is such that, when the bowl is arranged in the second - collapsed/folded - position, the external ribs of sequential concertina sections face alternate directions. For example, when the lowermost and penultimate lowermost concertina sections of the bowl have been transformed into the second position, the external ribs of the lowermost concertina section face inwardly (towards the base), whereas the external ribs of the penultimate lowermost concertina section, face outwardly (away from the base). The external ribs are arranged so as not to interfere with one another when the bowl is in the first or second position.

The external ribs 16 are integrally formed with the - preferably flexible - material of the bowl 1. The first fold lines are approximately 0.1 to 0.4, preferably 0.2 to 0.3, or more preferably still 0.25, times the thickness of the side wall 4 of the bowl. The side wall 4 of the bowl 1 is approximately 7mm to 3mm thick, and preferably between 5mm to 4mm thick. By having successive fold lines that are progressively thinner from the top to the bottom of the bowl 1 , it is ensured that, as downward pressure is placed on the top of the bowl 1 whilst the bowl base rests on a surface, folding first occurs along the lower-most fold line 17B so that the lowermost concertina section folds first. The fold lines, and thus concertina sections, then fold in sequence from the penultimate lowermost fold line to the uppermost fold line. By having the concertina sections fold in sequence from the lower-most to the upper-most, and not out-of-order, interference between fold lines and concertina sections is avoided, thereby facilitating smooth folding of the bowl. In addition, folding of the side walls themselves is also avoided; instead the weaker fold-lines fold instead.

In an alternative example, successive fold lines of the bowl 1 are progressively thinner from the bottom to the top of the bowl 1.

The bowl comprises a coupling arrangement for coupling concertina sections to one another and/or to the base 2 of the bowl 1 to lock and hold the bowl in the collapsed position. The coupling arrangement comprises, for example a tab, a locking element, a latch and/or a hook and loop fastener. Such a coupling arrangement is provided on the concertina sections and/or on the external ribs 16. By providing the coupling arrangement, such that the concertina sections engage with one another and/or the base, the bowl is arranged to be locked in a collapsed position and/or unfolded position.

Figures 6 show various views, including cross sections and details, of the bowl 1. In more detail Figure 6a shows a plan view from above of the bowl. The diameter of the bowl is approximately between 150mm and 350m, and preferably between 300mm and 200mm; although larger or smaller bowl diameters could be envisaged depending ultimately upon application. In Figure 6a, a line marking a cross section through the bowl is indicated by the letter "A". Figure 6b shows a side view of the bowl. The height of the bowl, including its base, is approximately between 90mm and 250mm, and preferably between 150mm and 200mm; although shallower or deeper bowls could be envisaged depending ultimately upon application. The height of the flexible portion of the bowl, by which is effectively meant the height of the bowl minus the base, is approximately between 60mm and 200m, and preferably between 100mm and 150mm. Figure 6c shows a cross section along the line "A". A detail of the wall of the bowl 20 is highlighted in Figure 6c. The bowl comprises a rounded lip on the uppermost extremity of the bowl in order to aid pouring. A detail of the lip of the bowl 22 is also highlighted in Figure 6c. Figure 6d shows in more detail the portion of the wall of the bowl highlighted in detail 20.

Figure 6e shows in more detail the portion of the lip of the bowl highlighted in detail 22.

Figure 7 shows a lid 18 of the mixing bowl 1. Figure 8 shows the lid 18 on the mixing bowl 18. Further, the lid may be removably attached to the mixing bowl 1. Yet further, the lid 18 may have an aperture for the tools 12 to pass through. Alternatively, the lid 18 may also be made of induction-heatable metal to provide heat to the food ingredients in the mixing bowl 1 from the top, that is from the lid.

The lid 18 may be made of flexible material such as silicone. As shown in Figure 9, the lid 18 may be configured to fold within, or preferably into, the mixing bowl 1, when the mixing bowl 1 is collapsed to the second position.

When not in use, the bowl 1 may conveniently be placed in the second position for storage in a cupboard or drawer.

The invention may take a form different to that specifically described above. For example the base could be of flexible material, and the bowl could be formed entirely of flexible material, e.g. integrally formed. More than one fold line may be provided so that the bowl folds or concertinas into a smaller second position. The mixing bowl could also be used with a food processor. Instead of the side wall being of flexible material, it could be designed in a different way to make it collapsible from a first raised position to a second storage position.

It will be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Each feature disclosed in the description, and (where appropriate) the claims and drawings may be provided independently or in any appropriate combination.

Reference numerals appearing in the claims are by way of illustration only and shall have no limiting effect on the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A mixing bowl having a base and a side wall extending up from the base, said side wall being collapsible from a first raised position to a second storage position, wherein the side wall comprises two or more side wall sections adapted to fold relative to each other along at least one annular fold line provided in the side wall between the side wall sections when it collapses from the first raised position to a second storage position.

2. A mixing bowl according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the side wall sections are formed of flexible material.

3. A mixing bowl according to claim 2, wherein one or more of the side wall sections comprise at least one annular stiffening rib, preferably wherein the stiffening ribs are integrally formed with the side wall section.

4. A mixing bowl according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the side wall sections taper towards the annular fold line on an exterior surface of the mixing bowl to facilitate folding whilst retaining an essentially smooth inner surface of the mixing bowl whilst in the first raised position.

5. A mixing bowl according to any preceding claim, wherein an upper portion of the side wall is more rigid than a lower portion thereof.

6. A mixing bowl according to claim 5, wherein the upper portion supports handles.

7. A mixing bowl according to any preceding claim, wherein the bowl base includes a locking mechanism to engage with a food mixer base.

8. A mixing bowl according to any preceding claim, wherein the base is a metal base adapted to be heated by induction from an induction heater of a food mixer.

9. A mixing bowl according to any of claims 3 to 8, wherein the one or more annular stiffening ribs are configured to be heated by induction from an induction heater.

10. A mixing bowl according to any of claims 3 to 8, wherein the one or more annular stiffening ribs are non-induction-heatable metal annular stiffening ribs.

11. A mixing bowl according to any of Claims 4 to 10, wherein the inner surface of the bowl is continuous, preferably such that the bowl is water-tight in the first and second position.

12. A mixing bowl according to any of claims 3 to 11, wherein each side wall section comprises as least 5 one annular stiffening rib.

13. A mixing bowl according to any of claims 3 to 12, wherein the annular stiffening ribs are provided above and below an annular fold line, and preferably proximate to the annular fold line.

10 14. A mixing bowl according to any of claims 3 to 13, wherein the annular stiffening rib on a given side wall section is arranged not to be in alignment with an annular stiffening rib of another successive section as the mixing bowl is folded, or when the mixing bowl is in the second storage position.

15. A mixing bowl according to any preceding claim, wherein the mixing bowl comprises at least two 15 annular fold lines and wherein the thickness of the annular fold lines decreases with successive fold lines, preferably wherein the uppermost fold line is the thickest and the lowermost fold line is the thinnest.

16. A mixing bowl according to any to any preceding claim, wherein the annular fold lines are at most 0.4 times, preferably at most 0.3 times, and more preferably 0.25 times, the thickness of the side wall section.

20

17. A mixing bowl according to any preceding claim, wherein the side wall sections are arranged to concertina in order to fold into the second storage position, and preferably wherein the annular ribs of successive side wall sections face opposite directions when the mixing bowl is in the second storage position.

25

18. A mixing bowl according to any preceding claim, wherein the side wall sections and/or the annular stiffening ribs are provided with a coupling arrangement for coupling the side wall section to one another and/or to the base of the bowl in order to retain the bowl in the first raised position and/or the second storage position.

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19. The mixing bowl according to any preceding claim, wherein the bowl includes a lid configured to fold within the mixing bowl, when the mixing bowl is collapsed to the second position.

20. A stand mixer having a mixing bowl according to any preceding claim.

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