WO2020155549A1

WO2020155549A1 - Cooking appliance

Info

Publication number: WO2020155549A1
Application number: PCT/CN2019/093955
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hua LYU; Qingshan QIU
Original assignee: Zhejiang Supor Electrical Appliances Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2019-02-02
Filing date: 2019-06-29
Publication date: 2020-08-06
Also published as: CN111513580A

Abstract

The invention provides a cooking appliance (200) comprising a pot body (210) and a cover body (110).The cover body (110) provided above the pot body (210) and capable of covering and closing the pot body (210) in a coveringly closed state. The cover body (110) is provided with a steam generating device (120) comprising a steam generating cavity (121) and a steam cover panel (122) that is connected to the cover body (110) and capable of opening and closing the steam generating cavity (121). The cover body (110) is further provided with a locking device (140) to lock the steam cover panel (122) in a closed position when the cover body is not in a coveringly closed position.

Description

Cooking Appliance

Field of the Invention

The invention generally relates to the technical field of electrical heating appliances, and more particularly, to a cooking appliance.

Background of the Invention

In order to achieve the objective of steam recovery or steam moistening, a cooking appliance is generally provided with a steam cup in a pot body for generating steam. In order to effectively reduce the volume of a cooking appliance, the applicant has designed a new cooking appliance with a steam cup provided in a cover body. Because a cover body needs to be opened and coveringly closed frequently, when it is opened, a steam cup lid therein may be accidentally opened, thus resulting in water inside the steam cup pouring out, creating risks.

Therefore, it is needed to provide a cooking appliance to at least partially solve the above-mentioned problem.

Summary of the Invention

To at least partially solve the above-described technical problem, according to an aspect of the invention, a cooking appliance is provided, comprising:

a pot body; and

a cover body provided above the pot body and capable of covering and closing the pot body in a coveringly closed state,

wherein, the cover body is provided with a steam generating device comprising a steam generating cavity and a steam cover panel that is connected to the cover body and capable of opening and closing the steam generating cavity, and

the cover body is further provided with a locking device to lock the steam cover panel in a closed position when the cover body is not in a coveringly closed position.

With the cooking appliance according to the invention, by providing the locking device and configuring it to lock the steam cover panel in a closed position when the cover body is not in a coveringly closed position, the solution can ensure that when the cover body is opened, the steam cover panel is in a closed position, and thus can prevent liquid inside the steam generating cavity from flowing out. This solution is cleverly designed and easy to realize.

Preferably, the locking device is movable between a locking position and an unlocking position in response to opening and coveringly closing of the cover body. The locking device is configured to lock the steam cover panel in the closed position when it is in the locking position. This solution can make the locking device lock and unlock the steam cover panel with the opening and coveringly closing of the cover body, and thus can facilitate utilization by a user.

Preferably, the cover body is capable of switching between an opened state and the coveringly closed state by pivoting.

Preferably, the locking device moves by gravity between the locking position and the unlocking position. By making the locking device move by gravity between the locking position and the unlocking position, this solution can be easier to realize and its processing is easy to design. Thus, processing efficiency can be improved.

Preferably, one of the locking device and the steam cover panel is provided with a snap-fit pin and the other is provided with a snap-fit slot, and the snap-fit pin cooperates with the snap-fit slot to realize the locking and the unlocking. This solution can facilitate the locking of the steam cover panel by the locking device, and its processing is easy to design.

Preferably, in the cover body is provided a supporting slope used for the locking device to be slidably mounted thereon. This solution can facilitate the sliding of the locking device between the locking position and the unlocking position, and its processing is easy to design.

Preferably, the locking device comprises a sliding part provided with a bevel that cooperates with the supporting slope so as to be slidable on the supporting slope. This solution can facilitate the sliding of the locking device between the locking position and the unlocking position, and its processing is easy to design. More preferably, in this case, one of the sliding part and the steam cover panel is provided with the above-mentioned snap-fit pin and the other is provided with the above-mentioned snap-fit slot.

Preferably, the supporting slope is inclined downward towards a direction facing away from the steam cover panel, and an angle between the supporting slope and the horizontal is larger than 0° and between 10° and 30°. With this solution, when the cover body is coveringly closed, the sliding part can be located by its own gravity at a lower end of the supporting slope, i.e., the snap-fit pin can be distanced away from the snap-fit slot of the steam cover panel.

Preferably, to facilitate the sliding of the sliding part, the locking device further comprises a rolling body that is rollably provided inside the sliding part.

Preferably, there is an accommodating space inside the sliding part, and the rolling body is rollably provided in the accommodating space and has a movement course along a sliding direction of the sliding part. By providing the rolling body in the sliding part, this solution can further facilitate the sliding of the sliding part.

Preferably, the rolling body can roll inside the accommodating space in response to the opening and coveringly closing of the cover body, and thus push the sliding part to slide.

Preferably, the cooking appliance further comprises limiting devices provided on both sides of the sliding part. This solution can prevent the sliding part from deviating during sliding, and thus can ensure the accuracy of locking operations of the locking device.

Preferably, the limiting devices are configured to be two limiting plates provided on the supporting slope. This solution can be easier to realize, and its processing is easy to design. Thus, processing efficiency can be improved.

Preferably, inside the accommodating space are provided flexible parts at locations corresponding to both terminals of the movement course of the rolling body. This solution can prevent the rolling body from creating noise by reason of being in contact with the sliding part.

Description of the Drawings

To make the advantages of the invention easier to understand, the invention, which has been described briefly hereinbefore, will be described further in detail in reference to specific embodiment shown in the accompanying figures. It can be understood that the accompanying figures merely depict typical embodiments of the invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting its scope of protection. The invention is described and explained by means of the accompanying figures with additional features and details.

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a cooking appliance according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of a cover body of a cooking appliance according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a cover body of a cooking appliance according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the locking device is in a locking state; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a cover body of a cooking appliance according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the locking device is in an unlocking state.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments

In the discussion below, details are given for a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, as is obvious to a person skilled in the art, the invention can be implemented without one or more of these details. In specific embodiments, to avoid confusion with the invention, some technical features known in the art are not described in detail. It should be noted that the terms “above” , “below” , “front” , “back” , “left” and “right” and similar expressions used herein are merely to describe, and not to limit.

A cooking appliance of preferred embodiments of the invention will be described below in reference to Figures 1 to 4. It can be understood that a cooking appliance according to the invention can be a rice cooker, an electrical pressure cooker or another cooking appliance. Moreover, a cooking appliance according to the invention can have, in addition to a rice cooking function, various functions such as porridge cooking.

As shown in Figure 1, a cooking appliance 200 comprises a cover body assembly 100 (which will be described in detail below) and a pot body 210. The pot body 210 is essentially in the shape of a rounded cuboid, and has an inner pot cooking cavity in the shape of a cylinder. An inner pot 220 can be freely placed into the inner pot cooking cavity or removed from the inner pot cooking cavity to facilitate cleaning of the inner pot 220. The inner pot 220 is usually made of a metal material and has a round opening at an upper surface for containing materials to be heated such as rice and soup. A heating device for heating the inner pot 220 can be comprised in the pot body 210.

The cover body assembly 100 according to the invention will be described in detail below.

As shown in Figure 1, the cover body assembly 100 is essentially in the shape of a rounded cuboid, and corresponds substantially to the shape of the pot body 210. The cover body assembly 100 can be provided above the pot body 210 for covering and closing the pot body 210 in a coveringly closed state. The cover body assembly 100 can be respectively in a coveringly closed state and an opened state relative to the pot body 210. Preferably, the cover body assembly 100 is capable of switching between the opened state and the coveringly closed state by pivoting. In an embodiment, the cover body assembly 100 can be connected to the pot body 210 via a pivotal axis device.

Further, the cover body assembly 100 comprises a cover body 110 comprising a surface cover 112 and a removable cover 113, and the removable cover 113 is located essentially below the surface cover 112 and removably connected with the surface cover 112. The removable cover 113 is essentially in a circular shape and used for coveringly closing the opening of the upper surface of the inner pot 220 to form a cooking space when the cover body assembly 100 is coveringly closed on the pot body 210.

As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the cover body assembly 100 further comprises a steam generating device 120 and a steam passage (not illustrated) which are provided in the cover body 110. The steam generating device 120 comprises a steam generating assembly and a steam cover panel 122, and the steam generating assembly forms a steam generating cavity 121 capable of storing water for generating steam. The steam cover panel 122 can be respectively in a closed position and an opened position relative to the steam generating cavity 121. Preferably, the steam cover panel 122 is capable of switching between the closed position and the opened position by pivoting. Preferably, the steam cover panel 122 is connected to the cover body 110, and an upper surface of the steam cover panel 122 forms part of an upper surface of the surface cover 112. With this preferred embodiment, the structure of the cover body 110 can become more compact, and at the same time, a user can conveniently open the steam cover panel 122 to carry out operations such as adding water or cleaning. Preferably, the steam cover panel 122 is provided with a sealing element 129 for sealing the steam generating cavity 121 when the steam cover panel 122 is in the closed position.

The steam generating assembly further comprises a heating device 125 provided around the steam generating cavity 121 for, when necessary (such as during rice cooking or maintaining temperature) , heating water contained in the steam generating cavity 121 to generate steam. In an embodiment, the heating device 125 comprises a bottom heating plate 126 and a side wall heating plate 127 extending upward from the bottom heating plate 126. An electrical heating tube 128 is provided in the bottom heating plate 126 and the side wall heating plate 127. In another embodiment, the heating device can be an electromagnetic heating device.

The steam generating device 120 and the cooking space communicate via the steam passage. The steam passage comprises a steam inlet and a steam outlet. The steam inlet can be provided on the steam cover panel 122, and the steam outlet is usually provided on the removable cover 113. Steam generated in the steam generating cavity 121 enters the steam passage via the steam inlet, and is then transported into the inner pot 220 via the steam passage and the steam outlet, to prevent rice in the inner pot 220 from being dry and affecting taste.

As shown in Figure 3 and 4, the cover body assembly 100 further comprises a locking device 140 provided on the cover body 110 for locking the steam cover panel 122 of the steam generating device 120 when the cover body 110 is not in a coveringly closed position so as to prevent the steam cover panel 122 from being accidentally opened and causing water to flow out. Further, in response to opening and coveringly closing of the cover body 110, the locking device 140 is movable between a locking position and an unlocking position. Preferably, the locking device 140 moves between the locking position and the unlocking position by gravity. Specifically, as shown in Figure 3, when the cover body 110 is opened, the locking device 140 moves to the locking position by gravity. As shown in Figure 4, when the cover body 110 is coveringly closed, the locking device 140 moves to the unlocking position by gravity. When the locking device 140 is in the locking position, it can lock the steam cover panel 122 in the closed position, and when the locking device 140 is in the unlocking position, it can unlock the locked state of the steam cover panel 122.

In a preferred embodiment, the locking device 140 is provided with a snap-fit pin 145, and at a corresponding location in the steam cover panel 122 is provided a snap-fit slot 123 that cooperates with the snap-fit pin 145. When the locking device 140 is in the locking position, the snap-fit pin 145 can be inserted into the snap-fit slot 123, which thus can lock the steam cover panel 122. When the locking device 140 is in the unlocking position, the snap-fit pin 145 can retreat from the snap-fit slot 123, which thus can unlock the locked state of the steam cover panel 122. Of course, the positions of the snap-fit pin 145 and the snap-fit slot 123 can be exchanged. That is to say, the snap-fit pin 145 can be provided on the steam cover panel 122, and the snap-fit slot 123 can be provided on the locking device 140. It can be understood that a person skilled in the art can choose an appropriate locking structure other than the above-described snap-fit pin 145 and snap-fit slot 123 according to needs.

Preferably, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, a supporting base 115 is provided in the cover body 110. The supporting base 115 has a supporting slope 111 on which the locking device 140 is slidably mounted.

In a preferred embodiment, the locking device 140 comprises a sliding part 141 that is placed on the supporting slope 111 and provided with a bevel that cooperates with the supporting slope 111 to facilitate the sliding of the sliding part 141 on the supporting slope 111. The above-described snap-fit pin 145 is provided at the end of the sliding part 141 near the steam cover panel 122, and the snap-fit pin 145 also extends obliquely towards the direction where the snap-fit slot 123 is. Correspondingly, the snap-fit slot 123 provided on the steam cover panel 122 also has an angle that is oblique towards the direction of the snap-fit pin 145. In an example, the supporting slope 111 is inclined downward towards a direction facing away from the steam cover panel 122. With this solution, when the cover body 110 is coveringly closed, the sliding part 141 can be located by its own gravity at a lower end of the supporting slope 111 (as shown in Figure 4) , i.e., the snap-fit pin 145 can be distanced away from the snap-fit slot 123 of the steam cover panel 122. In an example, as shown in Figure 4, the angle A between the supporting slope 111 and the horizontal is larger than 0°. Preferably, this angle A is between 10° and 30°. For example, in an example, this angle A can be 10°, 20° or 30°. A person skilled in the art can make adjustments based on actual needs.

To further facilitate the sliding of the sliding part 141, in a preferred embodiment, the locking device 140 further comprises a rolling body 142 that is rollably provided inside the sliding part 141 or immediately adjacent to the sliding part 141. In a particular embodiment, in the sliding part 141 is an accommodating space and the rolling body 142 is provided inside the accommodating space. In an example, the sliding part 141 can be configured to be a frame having an accommodating space. Preferably, the accommodating space is dimensioned so that the rolling body 142 can roll inside the accommodating space along the sliding direction of the sliding part 141. In an example, the rolling body 142 can roll inside the accommodating space in response to opening and coveringly closing of the cover body 110, and thus push the sliding part 141 to slide. In the illustrated embodiment, the rolling body 142 is configured to be in a spherical shape. It can be understood that in other embodiments not illustrated, the rolling body 142 can be configured to be in other shapes, such as a cylindrical or ellipsoidal shape.

During actual operations, when the cover body 110 is opened, as shown in Figure 3, the cover body 110 rotates upward. When the angle of rotation of the cover body 110 exceeds the above-described angle A, the rolling body 142 rolls inside the accommodating space toward the direction where the snap-fit slot 123 is, and when it rolls to an end of the accommodating space, it further pushes the sliding part 141 to slide, until it reaches the locking position, so as to insert the snap-fit pin 145 into the snap-fit slot 123 of the steam cover panel 122, thus lock the steam cover panel 122, and prevent the steam cover panel 122 from being opened due to incorrect operations.

When the cover body 110 is closed, the cover body 110 rotates downward. When the angle of rotation of the cover body 110 causes the supporting slope 111 to start to be inclined downward towards a direction facing away from the snap-fit slot 123 relative to the horizontal, the rolling body 142 starts to roll inside the accommodating space towards a direction away from where the snap-fit slot 123 is, and when it rolls to an end of the accommodating space, it further pushes the sliding part 141 to slide, until it reaches the unlocking position, so as to retreat the snap-fit pin 145 out of the snap-fit slot 123 of the steam cover panel 122, and thus unlock the steam cover panel 122. At this moment, a user can normally open the steam cover panel 122 to perform operations such as cleaning the steam generating cavity 121 or adding water.

With the cooking appliance 200 according to the invention, by providing the locking device 140, and configuring it to lock the steam cover panel 122 in the closed position when the locking device 140 is in the locking position, the solution can ensure that when the cover body 110 is opened, the steam cover panel 122 is in the closed position, and thus can prevent liquid inside the steam generating cavity 121 from flowing out. This solution is cleverly designed and easy to realize.

Preferably, the cooking appliance 200 further comprises limiting devices (not illustrated) for limiting lateral (i.e., along a direction perpendicular to for example the paper plan where Figure 3 is) movement of the sliding part 141 during sliding, thus preventing the sliding part 141 from deviating during sliding. As a result, the accuracy of locking operations of the locking device 140 can be ensured. In an example, the limiting devices can be configured to be two limiting plates, which can be provided respectively on both sides of the sliding part 141. This solution can be easier to realize and its processing is easy to design. Thus, processing efficiency can be improved.

Preferably, to prevent the rolling body 142 for creating noise by reason of being in contact with the sliding part 141, in the accommodating space of the sliding part 141 are provided flexible parts at locations corresponding to both terminals of the movement course of the rolling body 142. These flexible parts can be made of a flexible material such as sponge.

Unless otherwise defined, the technology and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as those generally understood by a person skilled in the art of the invention. The terms used herein are merely to describe particular objectives of implementation and not to limit the invention. Terms such as “part” , “component” , “element” and the like used herein can not only denote a single element, but also the combination of multiple elements. Terms such as “seated” , “mounted” , “located” , “provided” and the like herein can not only denote that a part is directly attached to another part, but also that a part is attached to another part via an intermediate part. Features described in one embodiment herein can be applied, separately or in combination with other features, to another embodiment, unless inapplicable or otherwise specified.

While the invention has been described through the above embodiments, it should be understood that, the above embodiments are merely used as examples and for purposes of illustration, rather than to limit the invention to the scope of the embodiments described. A person skilled in the art can understand that more variations and modifications based on the invention’s teachings, which all fall within the scope of protection claimed by the invention.

Claims

A cooking appliance, the cooking appliance (200) comprising:

a pot body (210) ; and

a cover body (110) provided above the pot body (210) and capable of covering and closing the pot body (210) in a coveringly closed state,

characterized in that:

the cover body (110) is provided with a steam generating device (120) comprising a steam generating cavity (121) and a steam cover panel (122) that is connected to the cover body (110) and capable of opening and closing the steam generating cavity (121) ; and

the cover body (110) is further provided with a locking device (140) to lock the steam cover panel (122) in a closed position when the cover body is not in a coveringly closed position.
The cooking appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that, the locking device (140) is movable between a locking position and an unlocking position in response to opening and coveringly closing of the cover body (110) , and the locking device (140) is configured to lock the steam cover panel (122) in the closed position when the locking device (140) is in the locking position.
The cooking appliance according to any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that, the cover body (110) is capable of switching between an opened state and the coveringly closed state by pivoting.
The cooking appliance according to any one of claim 2-3, characterized in that, the locking device (140) moves by gravity between the locking position and the unlocking position.
The cooking appliance according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, one of the locking device (140) and the steam cover panel (122) is provided with a snap-fit pin (145) and the other is provided with a snap-fit slot (123) , and that the snap-fit pin (145) cooperates with the snap-fit slot (123) to realize the locking and the unlocking.
The cooking appliance according to any one of claims 2-5, characterized in that, in the cover body (110) is provided a supporting slope (111) used for the locking device (140) to be slidably mounted thereon.
The cooking appliance according to claim 6, characterized in that, the locking device (140) comprises a sliding part (141) provided with a bevel (143) that cooperates with the supporting slope (111) so as to be slidable on the supporting slope (111) .
The cooking appliance according to claim 7, characterized in that, one of the sliding part (141) and the steam cover panel (122) is provided with a snap-fit pin (145) and the other is provided with a snap-fit slot (123) , and that the snap-fit pin (145) cooperates with the snap-fit slot (123) to realize the locking and the unlocking.
The cooking appliance according to any one of claims 6-8, characterized in that, the supporting slope (111) is inclined downward towards a direction facing away from the steam cover panel (122) , and an angle (A) between the supporting slope (111) and the horizontal is larger than 0° and between 10° and 30°.
The cooking appliance according to any one of claims 7-9, characterized in that, to facilitate the sliding of the sliding part (141) , the locking device (140) further comprises a rolling body (142) that is rollably provided inside the sliding part (141) or immediately adjacent to the sliding part (141) .
The cooking appliance according to claim 10, characterized in that, there is an accommodating space (144) inside the sliding part (141) , and the rolling body (142) is rollably provided in the accommodating space (144) and has a movement course along a sliding direction of the sliding part (141) .
The cooking appliance according to claim 11, characterized in that, the rolling body (142) can roll inside the accommodating space (144) in response to the opening and coveringly closing of the cover body (110) , and thus push the sliding part (141) to slide.
The cooking appliance according to any one of claims 7-12, characterized in that, the cooking appliance further comprises limiting devices provided on both sides of the sliding part (141) .
The cooking appliance according to claim 13, characterized in that, the limiting devices are configured to be two limiting plates provided on the supporting slope (111) .
The cooking appliance according to any one of claims 11-12, characterized in that, inside the accommodating space (144) are provided flexible parts at locations corresponding to both terminals of the movement course of the rolling body (142) .