WO2019185332A1

WO2019185332A1 - Flexible vessel for a food-preparation appliance

Info

Publication number: WO2019185332A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/055919
Authority: WO
Inventors: Laurent Blond; Nicolas Bertrand; Benjamin Piron
Original assignee: Seb S.A.
Priority date: 2018-03-28
Filing date: 2019-03-08
Publication date: 2019-10-03
Also published as: EP3773094A1; CN110313853A; FR3079401A1; CN210330375U; FR3079401B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a flexible vessel (40) designed to be arranged in a rigid working vessel (20) of a food-preparation appliance comprising a work tool that is rotated and plunged into said flexible vessel (40) arranged in the rigid working vessel (20), the flexible vessel (40) comprising a lower portion (42) forming a bowl for receiving the food to be worked, and an upper portion forming a neck, characterised in that a major portion of the neck comprises at least one thickened area.

Description

RECI PI ENT SOU PLE FOR THE PREPARATION DEVICE

CU LI NAI RE

The present invention relates generally to a flexible container of a food preparation apparatus and in particular a flexible container to be received in a rigid working container of a food preparation apparatus which comprises at least one tool for work (mixing tool, kneading tool ...) to work received food in the flexible container itself positioned in the rigid working container.

It is known in the prior art flexible containers, such as that disclosed in US2012 / 0170404, intended to be arranged in a rigid working container. However, the flexible container of this document does not have structural rigidity, and can be deformed. This can be a problem when the flexible container is disengaged or removed from the rigid working container and placed alone on a work surface, with a preparation to reserve while the device works other foods in the rigid container. Indeed, inadvertent deformation of the flexible container can lead to spilling food contained therein, or make the delicate handling with one hand, for example.

An object of the present invention is to meet the disadvantages of the prior art mentioned above and in particular, first, to provide a flexible container to be removably disposed in a rigid working container a food processor, which can however be easily handled and remains stable, even laid alone on a worktop.

For this, a first aspect of the invention relates to a flexible container arranged to be arranged in a rigid working container of a food preparation apparatus, the flexible container comprising a lower part forming a bowl for receiving food to work, and an upper part forming a neck, characterized in that a major part of the neck comprises at least one extra thickness. According to the invention, the flexible container (otherwise called on-bol) has a lower portion which conforms to the shape of the rigid working container, and whose neck of the upper portion has an extra thickness that allows to give rigidity to the whole by limiting the deformations when the flexible container is removed from the rigid working container.

In particular, the invention relates to a flexible container arranged to be arranged in a rigid working container of a food preparation apparatus comprising a working tool rotated and immersed in said flexible container disposed in the rigid container of work, the flexible container comprising a lower portion forming a bowl for receiving food to work, and an upper portion forming a neck, characterized in that a major portion of the neck comprises at least one extra thickness.

Advantageously, the extra thickness is arranged on a lower portion of the neck, at a predetermined distance from an outer surface of the lower part of the neck, preferably greater than a thickness of the rigid working container. The inner edge of the extra thickness can then bear on an outer edge of the rigid working container, to provide a centering.

Advantageously, the neck is formed by a flange, and wherein the extra thickness is arranged under the flange.

Advantageously, the extra thickness forms a gadroon. Such a godron thus has a semicircular cross section, without protruding edge that could be aggressive, nook or throat that could retain impurities or food even during washing.

Advantageously, the gadroon is arranged on a lower part of the neck, and has at least one perimeter portion arranged for come and marry a neck of the rigid working container. This implementation provides a natural centering of the flexible container on the rigid working container.

Advantageously, an inner periphery of the gadroon is arranged to fit an outer periphery of the neck of the rigid working receptacle.

Advantageously, the gadroon has a radius in a range of values ranging from 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm.

Advantageously, the flexible container comprises immobilization means for preventing said flexible container is rotated in the rigid working container during the rotation of the work tool. Such an implementation makes it possible to prevent the flexible container from rotating or sliding in the rigid working receptacle, even under the effect of the torque imposed by the rotation of the working tool.

Advantageously, the extra thickness has at least one bearing surface forming a radial abutment abutment on the rigid working container. In other words, the extra thickness is not continuous over the entire periphery of the neck, and has radial stops, to rely on the rigid working container to prevent the flexible container starts to rotate or slide in the rigid working container, even under the effect of the torque imposed by the rotation of the work tool.

Advantageously, the flexible container has an outer surface, arranged to fit at least partly the rigid working container, and the outer surface has a roughness with an arithmetic mean difference of the profile (Ra) greater than or equal to 0.8 μm ( Ra> 0.8 μm), and preferably greater than or equal to 1.6 μm (Ra> 1.6 μm). In other words, the outer surface is not glossy, smooth (or "glossy" in English), and such roughness facilitates demolding avoiding suction effects.

[0015] Advantageously, the flexible container has an internal surface, arranged to receive food to work, and the surface internal has a roughness with an arithmetic average deviation of the profile (Ra) greater than or equal to 0.8 pm (Ra> 0.8 pm), and preferably greater than or equal to 1 .6 pm (Ra> 1.6 pm). In other words, the inner surface is not glossy, smooth (or "glossy" in English), and such roughness facilitates the work of food, especially the mixture of pasty substances, avoiding sticking or adhesion of these substances on the inner surface of the flexible container.

Advantageously, the outer surface of the lower portion has at least one offset portion so as to define a free space with the rigid working container. Such an offset portion thus defines a space or clearance between the flexible container and the rigid working container, which leaves a passage of air and facilitates the removal or demolding of the flexible container.

Advantageously, said at least one offset portion is adjacent to the neck of the flexible container. In other words, the offset portion is located at the top of the bottom portion.

Advantageously, said at least one offset portion is a flat portion. It is a flat.

Advantageously, the lower portion has a reduced thickness locally to form said at least one offset portion. The inner surface of the flexible container is therefore without discontinuity.

Advantageously, the flexible container is formed of silicone.

Advantageously, the flexible container is formed in an elastic material having a hardness of 70 Shore A ± 5 Shore A.

Advantageously, the lower portion has a thickness in a range of values ranging from 2 mm to 4 mm and preferably from 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm in the areas intended to be in contact with the rigid working container. Advantageously, the lower portion comprises at least one peripheral groove in which the thickness is reduced, to facilitate folding. This groove is preferably formed on the outer surface of the lower part so that the inner surface of the flexible container is without discontinuity.

Advantageously, the thickness is reduced at said at least one peripheral groove between 40% and 60% of the thickness in the areas intended to be in contact with the rigid working container.

Advantageously, the lower portion has two peripheral grooves in which the thickness is reduced, these two grooves being preferably disposed in the lower half of the lower portion of the flexible container.

Advantageously, the flexible container comprises at least one ear.

[0027] Advantageously, the flexible container has a general shape of revolution.

[0028] A second aspect of the invention relates to a food preparation apparatus, comprising:

- a rigid working container,

a flexible container according to the first aspect of the invention, and removably disposed in the rigid working receptacle,

- A working tool, arranged to work food to work received in the flexible container.

Advantageously, the rigid working container comprises at least one ear, and the flexible container comprises at least one surface arranged to come into contact with said at least one ear.

Advantageously, the lower part forming the bowl of the flexible container has an outer shape that matches the internal shape of the rigid working container. Advantageously, the food preparation apparatus comprises a housing, and the rigid working container comprises locking means relative to the housing.

Advantageously, the food preparation apparatus comprises a trainer, arranged to mate with the work tool and drive it in rotation about an axis of rotation.

Advantageously, the trainer is arranged to drive the working tool in rotation, following an epicyclic path.

Advantageously, the working tool is arranged to scrape the flexible container. It is therefore preferable to provide abutment or anti-rotation means on the flexible container, with respect to the rigid working receptacle, which prevents rotation of the flexible container in the rigid working receptacle.

Advantageously, the food preparation apparatus comprises a drive unit with an epicyclic gear train.

[0036] A last aspect of the invention relates to a use of a flexible container according to the first aspect of the invention, in a rigid working container of a food preparation apparatus, in particular a preparation apparatus comprising a cleaning tool. rotated work.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention given by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, wherein :

Figure 1 shows an exploded overall view in perspective of a food preparation apparatus comprising a mixing tool and a rigid working container;

FIG. 2 represents an exploded portion of a flexible container according to the present invention, ready to be placed in the rigid working receptacle of FIG. 1; Figure 3 shows the food preparation apparatus of Figure 1 with the flexible container of Figure 2 received in the rigid working container;

Figures 4 to 7 show views of the flexible container of Figure 2;

FIG. 8 represents a detail of a section of the flexible container of FIG. 2.

Figure 1 shows a food preparation apparatus 30, with a rigid working receptacle 20, and a working tool consisting of a mixing tool 10. The food preparation apparatus 30 typically comprises a housing that closes an electric motor drive, connected to a drive unit 32 which has a driver 31, arranged to mate with the mixing tool 10.

The drive unit 32 may comprise an epicyclic gear train, for driving the mixing tool 10 in rotation about an axis of rotation, while following an epicyclic trajectory.

The mixing tool 10 is arranged to work working food received in the rigid working receptacle 20. For this purpose, the housing of the food preparation apparatus 30 is articulated, to allow the tool to dive. mixer 10 in the rigid working receptacle 20, or disengage therefrom.

It may be noted that the rigid working receptacle 20 comprises locking means on the housing of the food preparation apparatus 30, via studs 24 which engage in grooves 34 (to form typically a coupling type bayonet), in order to provide a locking (in rotation and in vertical translation) of the rigid working receptacle 20.

Finally, the food preparation apparatus 30 comprises a human machine interface 33 for controlling the operation (on-off, program selection ...). During a preparation program with several steps, and in particular if you have to prepare a first preparation (bechamel sauce for example) and reserve it while preparing a second preparation (eggs in snow by example), then the invention proposes to provisionally install a flexible container 40 visible in FIG 2 in the rigid working container 20, to prepare one of the culinary preparations, reserve it by removing the flexible container 40 of the rigid working container to enable the other cooking preparation to be prepared in the rigid working container 20.

To perfectly match the rigid working container 20, the flexible container 40 has a lower portion 42 in the form of a bowl, and an upper portion 41 having the shape of a flange 43, visible Figures 5 and 6.

The flexible container 40 is made of silicone with a hardness between 65 and 75 shore A, for example, and its external face has a satin appearance, that is to say a roughness with an arithmetic average deviation of the profile ( Ra) greater than or equal to 0.8 μm (Ra> 0.8 μm), and preferably greater than or equal to 1.6 μm (Ra> 1.6 μm). In other words, the outer surface is not glossy, smooth (or "glossy" in English), and such roughness facilitates demolding avoiding suction effects.

As regards the inner surface, it has a roughness with an arithmetic average deviation of the profile (Ra) greater than or equal to 0.8 pm (Ra> 0.8 pm), and preferably greater than or equal to 1.6 pm (Ra> 1.6 pm). In other words, the inner surface is not glossy, smooth (or "glossy" in English), and such roughness facilitates the work of food, especially the mixture of pasty substances, avoiding sticking or adhesion of these substances on the inner surface of the flexible container.

Figure 3 shows the food preparation apparatus of Figure 1, with the flexible container 40 installed in the rigid working container 20, and the mixing tool 10 immersed in the flexible container 40. Figures 4 to 7 show views of the flexible working container.

Visible Figure 8 (which is a detail of the sectional view of Figure 6), we see that the flange 43 has an extra thickness 47, which forms a godron, that is to say, an extra thickness with a section semi-circular.

Such an extra thickness 47 provides a good rigidity to the upper portion 41, which allows to enter the flexible container 40 with one hand, and / or prevents the latter is deformed if it is placed alone on a work plan, helping to reinforce the rigidity of the lower part 42.

In addition, visible in Figure 7 which is a view from below, the extra thickness 47 is formed on the lower major part of the flange, but not at the ears 45 of the flexible container 40 (47a areas in the figure 7). Consequently, when the flexible container 40 is placed in the rigid working receptacle 20, the ends of the extra thickness 47 can bear on the ears 25 of the rigid working receptacle 20.

Thus, even if the food to be prepared is very pasty or if the mixing tool 10 comes scraping locally and punctually the flexible container 40 (due to the epicyclic trajectory of its axis of rotation), the flexible container 40 can not not to slip or turn in the rigid working container 20, because of the radial mechanical stop provided by the support of the ends of the extra thickness 47 on the ears 25.

In addition Figure 8 shows that the extra thickness 47 is arranged at a predetermined distance d from the outer face of the vertical wall. Indeed, such a distance between the inner surface of the godron and the outer face of the vertical wall allows to receive the neck of the rigid working container 20, to ensure fast and automatic centering between the two containers. Furthermore, Figures 4, 5 and 7 show staggered portions 46 (flats) formed in the upper part of the lower part 42, to provide a space or clearance with the rigid working container 20, so to initiate an air passage during the introduction and during the removal of the flexible container 40 in the rigid working receptacle 20, and thus facilitate the insertion and demolding or removal of the flexible container 40.

Figures 4 to 6 and 8 also show grooves 44 formed in the average thickness of the lower portion 42, to facilitate folding of the flexible container 40, for easy storage. The average thickness of the flexible container 40 may be in a range of values ranging from 2 mm to 5 mm, and more preferably from 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm.

The grooves 44 are formed by a local reduction of the thickness, from the outside, of about half of the nominal thickness.

It will be understood that various modifications and / or improvements obvious to those skilled in the art can be made to the embodiment of the invention described in this description without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims

B. 1,972 REVEN DICATIONS

A flexible container (40) arranged to be disposed in a rigid working container (20) of a food preparation apparatus (30) having a working tool (10) rotatably driven into and immersed in said flexible container (40) disposed in the rigid working container (20), the flexible container (40) comprising a lower portion (42) forming a bowl for receiving food to be worked, and an upper portion (41) forming a neck, characterized in that a major part of the neck comprises at least one extra thickness (47).

2. Soft container (40) according to the preceding claim, wherein the extra thickness (47) is arranged on a lower portion of the neck, at a predetermined distance (d) from an outer surface of the lower neck, preferably greater at a thickness of the rigid working container (20).

3. flexible container (40) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the neck is formed by a flange (43), and wherein the extra thickness (47) is arranged under the flange (43).

4. Flexible container (40) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the extra thickness (47) forms a gadroon.

5. Flexible container (40) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises immobilization means to prevent said flexible container (40) is rotated in the rigid working container ( 20) during rotation of the work tool (10).

6. Flexible container (40) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the extra thickness (47) has at least one bearing surface forming a radial abutment abutment on the rigid working container.

7. flexible container (40) according to one of the preceding claims, having an inner surface, arranged to receive foodstuffs to be worked, and wherein the inner surface has roughness with an arithmetic average deviation of the profile (Ra) greater than or equal to 0.8 μm (Ra> 0.8 μm), and preferably greater than or equal to 1.6 μm (Ra> 1.6 μm) .

The flexible container (40) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer surface of the lower portion (42) has at least one offset portion (46) so as to define a free space with the rigid working container.

9. flexible container (40) according to the preceding claim, wherein said at least one offset portion (46) is adjacent to the neck of the flexible container (40).

10. Flexible container (40) according to one of claims 8 or 9, wherein the lower portion (42) has a reduced thickness locally to form said at least one offset portion (46).

11. Flexible container (40) according to one of the preceding claims, formed of silicone.

12. Flexible container (40) according to one of the preceding claims, formed in an elastic material of hardness of 70 Shore A ± 5 Shore A.

13. Flexible container (40) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower portion (42) has a thickness in a range of values from 2 mm to 4 mm and preferably from 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm in areas intended to be in contact with the rigid working container (20).

The flexible container (40) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower portion (42) comprises at least one peripheral groove (44) in which the thickness is reduced to facilitate folding.

Culinary preparation apparatus (30), comprising:

a rigid working container (20), - A flexible container (40) according to one of the preceding claims, and removably disposed in the rigid working container (20),

- A work tool (10), arranged to work working food received in the flexible container (40).