WO2022130437A1

WO2022130437A1 - Device for heating liquids

Info

Publication number: WO2022130437A1
Application number: PCT/IT2021/050414
Authority: WO
Inventors: Renzo Mazzon; Luca Gallina; Silvio VISENTIN
Original assignee: De' Longhi Appliances S.R.L. Con Unico Socio
Priority date: 2020-12-17
Filing date: 2021-12-15
Publication date: 2022-06-23
Also published as: JP2023554633A; CN116829033A; GB2617943A; AU2021404355A9; AU2021404355A1

Abstract

Device (10) for heating a liquid, comprising a container (11) and heating means (12); the device (10) also comprises a drive system (13) configured to drive a plurality of lids (14, 15) of different types which can be housed on said container (11).

Description

“DEVICE FOR HEATING LIQUIDS”

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a device for heating liquids, such as for example an electric kettle or suchlike for water or other liquid. The present invention also concerns a method to manufacture a device for heating liquids.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known that devices for heating liquids, such as electric kettles for example, can comprise a container where the liquid to be heated is contained, and heating means, normally housed at the base of the device. The heating means may comprise, for example, one or more electrical resistances housed in the base of the device, which can be connected, if necessary, to an electricity distribution source.

The container has an aperture at the top, to allow the filling of the liquid to be heated, which can be closed by means of two or more types of lids. There are generally two types of lids that are most common.

A first type provides a lid hinged on one side of the container and suitable to assume a lowered position for closing the aperture of the container and a raised position for opening the container. The container may comprise a spout through which the heated liquid exits, which normally remains always open, both in the lowered position and also in the raised position of the lid.

Normally, the lid is associated with a locking system in the lowered position and the user, for example by means of a button, can act on the locking system in such a way as to allow the lid to be released from the container and then to be raised by rotation around the hinge.

A second type of lid, in particular for electric kettles, is a hinge-free safety lid that is normally housed in a sealed manner on the upper aperture.

The lid is equipped with an opening and closing valve associated with a corresponding drive system that can be driven by means of a dedicated button. Normally, to bring the valve back to the closed condition it is necessary to act again on the dedicated button.

These safety lids are also equipped with an additional button that allows them to be disengaged from the container on which they are housed. Known devices for heating liquids, depending on the type of lid they have to house, therefore have to provide suitable housing means for the lid and suitable systems and mechanisms for unlocking and locking the lid in one case and for opening and closing the valve in the other case.

It is evident that each known heating device must have specific structural characteristics in order to be suitable to accommodate one or the other type of lid and one or the other type of locking and unlocking system or opening and closing system of the valve that delivers the liquid.

In the case of a lid provided with a delivery valve, it is possible that this valve is inadvertently left open, causing safety problems of the device, such as for example the leakage of boiling liquid from the container.

In general, therefore, devices for heating liquids of the type described above are often not very flexible in terms of possible use, they are structurally complex, and the safety aspects of the device could be improved.

Document EP2483745 describes various solutions of devices for heating liquids comprising a safety lid provided with a delivery valve, or a lid hinged in a central zone of the container for the liquid. The solutions described, however, are independent of each other and cannot be combined with each other. Furthermore, in the case of safety lids, the valve can only be opened when the device for heating liquids is inclined in a liquid-pouring position.

Documents GB2486229A and DE29902995U1 describe other devices for heating liquids of known type.

There is therefore a need to perfect a device for heating liquids which can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to provide a device for heating liquids, for example an electric kettle, which is efficient, safe and flexible in terms of use.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a device for heating liquids in which different types of lids can be associated with the same container of liquids, and which is characterized by simplicity of construction and use.

Another purpose of the present invention is a method to manufacture a device for heating liquids substantially equipped with a universal container with which different types of lids can be associated, according to the different needs of use, for example a rotatable lid, a safety lid or other.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims describe other characteristics of the present invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, a device for heating a liquid according to the present invention comprises a container for the liquid and means for heating the liquid in the container.

According to one aspect of the invention, the heating device comprises a drive system configured to drive a plurality of lids of different types which can be alternately housed on the container, wherein the drive system comprises at least one activation element outside the lid which can be driven by a user and at least one actuator inside the lid cooperating with the activation element.

The actuator is mobile, as a result of the drive of the activation element, between a first closed position and a second open position of the lid, or vice versa.

For example, in the case of a rotatable lid, the open condition is understood to be the lid rotated and raised with respect to the container. For example, in the case of a safety lid, the open condition is understood to be the possibility for the liquid to flow through a delivery valve, which is therefore at least partly open.

Preferably, the actuator is engaged with the valve in such a way as to allow it to be opened regardless of the position of the container and/or of its inclination. In other words, it is possible to open the valve even when the container is in a substantially vertical position and not necessarily inclined during the pouring of a liquid.

Advantageously, the present device for heating liquids, for example an electric kettle, substantially provides a universal container with which different types of lids can be alternately associated, which are driven by means of a drive system. The drive system can be selectively driven to interact at least with a first rotatable lid and at least a second safety lid provided with a valve. The drive system is provided partly in the lid, which is equipped with an actuator, and partly on the container, which is equipped with a mobile activation element that can be driven by the user. This activation element adapts to different types of lid and can drive the actuators of different types of lid. The present heating device proves to be extremely flexible in terms of possibilities of use, effective and safe for the user.

Driving the drive system, in the case of the rotatable lid, causes the latter to open with respect to the container and, in the case of the safety lid, causes an at least partial opening of the valve.

According to some embodiments, the activation element can be associated with elastic return means. In this way, substantially, the actuators can return to their initial position, for example in which the first rotatable lid is closed or in which the valve is closed in the case of the second safety lid, when the user releases the cursor.

The first hinged lid can be provided with a hinge for rotation from the first closed condition to the second open condition of the container, or vice versa. In this case, the actuator acts as a constraining element between the first lid and the container, it is associated with the first lid and is configured to engage with the container in order to keep the first lid in the first closed condition. The activation element is configured to act on the actuator and release the first lid from the container in the second open condition of the first container.

The rotation hinge is located on a peripheral portion, substantially in correspondence with a handle of the device for heating liquids.

According to some embodiments, the device for heating liquids can comprise a flange for housing the rotatable lid and the actuator can be configured to abut against the flange in the closed position of the lid.

The device can also comprise an articulated mechanism positioned between the actuator and the activation element and configured to allow, following the drive of the drive element, a backward movement of the actuator and therefore an opening of the rotatable lid.

The hinge of the rotatable lid can comprise elastic means configured to allow the automatic opening of the rotatable lid when the actuator is released from the container. The lid that can be housed on the container, as mentioned above, can also be a safety lid provided with at least one liquid delivery valve; the valve comprises a shutter and is put in fluidic communication with the inside of the container. In this case, the activation element is configured to thrust the actuator toward the shutter in such a way as to allow the at least partial opening of the valve.

The valve can comprise elastic return means which cause the automatic closure of the shutter when the activation element is released by the user.

The safety lid comprises a duct provided with an inlet and an outlet for the liquid, inside which the delivery valve is positioned.

The duct is substantially L-shaped, with a first substantially vertical segment and a second substantially horizontal segment, and the shutter is axially mobile along the horizontal segment.

The heating device can also be provided with fluidic seal means positioned between the container and the safety lid.

Another purpose of the invention is a method to manufacture a device for heating liquids, comprising the provision of a substantially universal container provided with means for heating the liquid in the container, and the provision of a drive system which can be selectively driven to interact with a plurality of lids of different types which can be alternately housed on the container, comprising at least a first rotatable lid and at least a second safety lid provided with a valve, wherein the drive system comprises at least one activation element outside the lid which can be driven by a user, and at least one actuator inside the lid cooperating with the cursor, and wherein driving the drive system, in the case of the rotatable lid, causes the latter to open with respect to the container and, in the case of the safety lid, causes an at least partial opening of the valve regardless of the position and/or inclination of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- fig. 1 is a partial longitudinal section view of a device for heating liquids according to the present invention, equipped with a first type of lid in the closed position;

- fig. 2 is a top view of the first type of lid of fig. 1 ;

- fig. 2a is a section view along line II-II in fig. 2;

- fig. 3 is a partial longitudinal section view of the device of fig. 1 with the lid in the partly open position, taken along line III-III of fig. 2;

- fig. 4 is a partial longitudinal section view of the device of fig. 1 with the lid in the completely open position;

- fig. 5 is a partial longitudinal section view of a device for heating liquids according to the present invention, equipped with a second type of lid in the closed position;

- fig. 6 is a partial longitudinal section view of the device of fig. 4 with the lid in the open position, that is, open for the passage of the liquid;

- fig. 7 is a partial longitudinal section view of the present heating device with the second type of lid removed from the container;

- fig. 8 is a three-dimensional view of the second type of lid.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can be conveniently combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

We will now refer in detail to the possible embodiments of the invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings, by way of a non-limiting illustration. The phraseology and terminology used here is also for the purposes of providing non-limiting examples.

With reference to the attached drawings, see for example fig. 1 and fig. 7, a device 10 for heating liquids according to the present invention comprises a container 11 for the liquid and means 12 for heating the liquid in the container 11.

The device 10 comprises a drive system 13 configured to drive a plurality of lids 14 or 15 of different types which can be alternately housed on the container 11.

The lids comprise at least a first type of rotatable lid 14, of the type known as “flip”, and a second type of safety lid 15, hermetically sealed to prevent liquid leakage.

The drive system 13 comprises at least one activation element 16 outside the lid 14 or 15 which can be driven by a user, and at least one actuator 17 or 18 inside the lid 14 or 15 cooperating with the activation element 16.

The activation element 16 can be, for example, a cursor mobile in a rectilinear direction, as shown for example in figs. 1, 3, 4 and 7, or, according to possible variants, not shown, a button or a lever, suitable to be moved from the top downward, or with a horizontally pivoting movement, or other.

The actuator 17 or 18 is mobile, following the drive of the activation element 16, between a first position in which the lid 14 or 15 is in a first closed condition to a second position in which the lid 14 or 15 is in a second open condition, or vice versa.

In the case of the lid 15 of the second type, as will be described, the open condition is represented by the at least partial opening of a valve 19 to deliver the liquid.

In other words, driving the activation element 16, in the case of the rotatable lid 14, causes the latter to open with respect to the container 11 and, in the case of the safety lid 15, causes an at least partial opening of the valve 19.

The container 11 can be provided with an upper aperture 38 on which the lid 14 or 15 is housed and which allows operations to fill or top-up the liquid.

The container 11 can also be provided with a spout 20 for the exit of the liquid by means of which, following a suitable inclination of the container 11, the liquid can be delivered.

The container 11 can also comprise a gripping handle 21, preferably positioned on the opposite side with respect to the side where the spout 20 is located.

The heating means 12 of the container can be positioned in a lower portion of the container 11, which can be made in a single piece with the container 11. For example, the heating means 12 can comprise one or more electric resistances or suchlike.

A base 22 is normally associated with the container 11, which is provided with electrical energy supply means, the base 22, in turn, being connected to the electrical network by means of a cable and plug.

According to some embodiments, the device 10 also comprises temperature control means, for example a thermostat 57, configured to deactivate the heating means 12 when the liquid comes to a boil. There can also be provided a through channel 58, through which the vapor generated in the container 11 during the boiling of the liquid can reach the proximity of the thermostat 57, causing the heating means 12 to be switched off.

According to some embodiments, the activation element 16 can be mobile in such a way as to translate away from or toward the lid 14 or 15, or it could be mobile in a rotatable way and, by means of suitable transmission elements, cooperate with the actuators 17 or 18.

The activation element 16 can be associated with elastic return means 23. The elastic means 23, by returning the activation element 16, allow the actuator 17 or 18 to pass from the second position to the first position. In this way, substantially, the lid 14 or 15 can pass from the open condition to the closed condition.

In the case of the rotatable lid 14 of the first type, this passage occurs after lowering the rotatable lid 14.

The activation element 16 can comprise a drive button 24 outside the container 11 and a shaft 25 inside the container 11 and integral with the button 24. The shaft 25 is associated with the elastic return means 23.

The activation element 16 can be guided by means of a suitable translation guide made in the container 11. For example, there can be provided a ring 26 to guide the shaft 25, a guide for the translation of the activation element 16, and therefore of the button 24, made on the external surface of the container 11, or other. The shaft 25 can at least partly exit from a seating 53 made in the container 11 or it can be recessed therein.

The rotatable lid 14 can be provided with a hinge 28 for rotation from the first closed condition of the container 11 to the second open condition of the container 11, or vice versa.

The hinge 28 can be disposed on a peripheral portion of the aperture 38, preferably in correspondence with the handle 21.

The activation element 16 is configured to cooperate with the actuator 17, acting in this case as a constraining element between the rotatable lid 14 and the container 11.

The actuator 17 is connected to the rotatable lid 14 and is configured to engage with the container 11 in order to keep the rotatable lid 14 in the first closed condition. The activation element 16 is configured to act on the actuator 17 and release the rotatable lid 14 from the container 11 in the second open condition of the container 11.

The closed condition of the rotatable lid 14 is that shown in fig. 1, in which the rotatable lid 14 is lowered, the actuator 17 is engaged with the container 11 and the liquid can exit from the spout 20 of the container 11, following a suitable inclination of the container 11.

In the open condition of fig. 3 or fig. 4, the rotatable lid 14 is instead open to allow, for example, operations to fill or top-up the liquid, or other.

In particular, on the aperture 38 of the container 11 there can be positioned a flange 29 to house the rotatable lid 14, in such a way that the rotatable lid 14 can adapt perfectly to the container 11.

According to some embodiments, for example described with reference to fig. 2a, it can be provided that the edge of the container 11 and the flange 29 are provided with reciprocal coupling means 54.

The coupling means 54 can comprise a hooking tooth 55 protruding from a lateral wall of the flange 29, suitable to be inserted into a suitable seating 56 provided on an internal surface of the container 11 in correspondence with an upper edge thereof.

According to other embodiments of the invention, the flange 29 can be attached with other means such as screws, rivets, welding and/or gluing.

A sealing gasket (not shown) can be provided in order to prevent possible leakage of the liquid.

According to these embodiments, the actuator 17 can be suitable to be positioned, in the closed condition of the rotatable lid 14, abutting against the flange 29, thus preventing the rotation of the lid 14 around the hinge 28.

For example, the actuator 17 can be positioned at least partly below the flange 29, as shown in fig. 1.

In the absence of the flange 29, in the closed condition of the rotatable lid 14 the actuator 17 could be positioned inside a hole made in the wall of the container 11, or abutting against a step or other protruding element made inside the container 11, or other.

The actuator 17 can also be housed inside a sliding guide 30 made inside the rotatable lid 14. The actuator 17 can also provide an end of travel element 31 suitable to abut against the guide 30 in the closed condition of the rotatable lid 14.

Between the actuator 17 and the activation element 16 there can be positioned an articulated mechanism 32 configured to allow, following the drive of the activation element 16, such as a pressure exerted on the activation element 16, a backward movement of the actuator 17 and therefore an opening of the rotatable lid 14.

The articulated mechanism 32 can comprise, for example, a pair of connecting rods 33 and 34 rotatably constrained on opposite sides of a disc 35 rotatably attached to the inside of the rotatable lid 14.

A first connecting rod 33 can be rotatably connected to the actuator 17 and a second connecting rod 34 can be rotatably constrained to a rod 36 suitable to cooperate with the shaft 25 of the activation element 16. In particular, the connecting rods 33 and 34 will be rotatably constrained to the disk 35 in correspondence with the periphery of the disk 35.

The hinge 28 can also be equipped with elastic means 37 configured to allow the automatic opening of the rotatable lid 14 when the actuator 17 is released from the container 11.

Considering the closed condition of the rotatable lid 14 of fig. 1, the user can press the activation element 16 in such a way as to translate it in the direction Al, against the action of the elastic means 23, if provided. The translation of the activation element 16 in the direction Al by a suitable travel causes the backward movement of the actuator 17 from the position of fig. 1 to the position of fig. 3, in which it is substantially recessed in the rotatable lid 14. The rotatable lid 14 can therefore be raised from the position of fig. 1 to the position of fig. 4. This raising can occur automatically, thanks to the elastic means 37 of the rotation hinge 28.

When the user releases the activation element 16, the activation element 16 can return to the position of fig. 1 thanks to the elastic means 23 and the actuator 17 exits, by a segment, from the rotatable lid 14, in particular from the guide 30 made in the rotatable lid 14, see fig. 4. The actuator 17, for this purpose, could be equipped with its own elastic return means that thrust it out of the guide 30 and therefore out of the rotatable lid 14.

In order to close the rotatable lid 14 again, the user will have to lower it by rotating it around the hinge 28 and once again press the activation element 16 in the direction Al, so that the actuator 17 is recessed in the rotatable lid 14, and then release the activation element 16 so that the actuator 17 once again engages with the container 11, for example below the flange 29.

Fig. 5 shows a safety lid 15 provided with the at least one liquid delivery valve 19 in fluidic communication with the inside of the container 11. The activation element 16 is configured to thrust the actuator 18 toward the shutter 39 of the valve 19 in such a way as to allow it to be opened.

In the situation of fig. 5 the safety lid 15 is in a closed condition, that is, the liquid delivery valve 19 is closed. In fig. 6, on the other hand, the safety lid 15 is in the open condition, that is, the valve 19 is open and allows the passage of liquid toward the spout 20 of the container 11, following a suitable inclination of the container 11.

The valve 19 can comprise elastic return means 40 which determine the automatic closure of the shutter 39 when the activation element 16 is released and therefore the actuator 18 returns to its initial position.

The safety lid 15 is housed on the container 11 by means of fluidic seal means 41, such as a suitably shaped gasket, or other.

The safety lid 15 can be used if the liquid contained in the container 11 is at a high temperature, therefore it could be dangerous if it accidentally exits from of the container 11.

In this case, the actuator 18 can comprise a rod provided with a first end 43 cooperating with the shaft 25 of the activation element 16, and with a second end 42 cooperating with the shutter 39 of the valve 19.

A duct 44 is made in the safety lid 15, provided with an inlet 45 and an outlet 46 for the liquid. The valve 19 is positioned between the inlet 45 and the outlet 46. The shutter 39 of the valve 19 can open or close a passage 48 made in the duct 44. The shutter 39 will be provided with fluidic seal means 47, such as at least one O-ring or suchlike.

According to some embodiments, the duct 44 is substantially L-shaped, having a substantially vertical first segment 44a in correspondence with the inlet 45 and a substantially horizontal second segment 44b in correspondence with the outlet 46.

The valve 19 is preferably disposed in the second segment 44b and the shutter 39 is axially mobile along an axis coaxial to the second segment 44b.

A through hole 59 can be provided in the first segment 44a able to allow the passage of the actuator 18.

The actuator 18 is preferably always engaged with the shutter 39, in any condition of use, that is, in any position of the container 11 , in such a way as to be suitable to open the valve 19 regardless of its inclination.

According to some embodiments, the first 44a and the second segment 44b are disposed orthogonal to each other. According to other variants, not shown, they can be inclined by an angle comprised between about 70° and about 110°.

According to some embodiments, the shaft 25 and the shutter 39 are axially mobile, following the drive of the activation element 16, along respective axes substantially parallel and/or coaxial to each other.

The valve 19 can be opened by the user by acting on the activation element 16 in the direction Al. The shaft 25 associated with the activation element 16 will abut against the first end 43 of the actuator 18 and the actuator 18 will be translated in order to displace the shutter 39 and open the passage 48, see figs. 5 and 6.

By releasing the activation element 16, the elastic return means 23 will take the activation element 16 from the position of fig. 6 to the position of fig. 5, and the shutter 39 will return to the position in which it closes the passage 48 thanks to the elastic means 40, also causing the actuator 18 to return to the position of fig. 4.

For both types of lids 14 or 15 shown, as can be seen, the activation element 16 of the drive system 13 is independent of the type of lid installed on the container 11, furthermore, the actuator 17 or 18 is inside the lid 14 or 15 and substantially independent of the activation element 16. The activation element 16 can act on the actuator 17 by means of an articulated mechanism 32, as in the case of the rotatable lid 14 of the first type, or directly on the actuator 18, as in the case of the safety lid 15 of the second type.

The safety lid 15, see figs. 7 and 8, is equipped with a lower part 49 suitable to be inserted in the container 11, and with an upper closing part 50. In the lower part 49 there can be positioned a tooth 51 for hooking the safety lid 15 into a seating 52 made in the container 11.

The tooth 51 can be configured to enter or exit from the lateral wall of the lower part 49, and it can be provided with elastic means that keep it in a position protruding from the lower part 49. By inserting the lid 15 in the container 11, the tooth 51 is first recessed in the lower part 49 and then, when it arrives in correspondence with the seating 52, it snaps out and enters the seating 52 at least by a certain segment.

The safety lid 15 can be equipped, for example in the upper part 50, with keys 27 or buttons configured to make the tooth 51 recess inside the lower part 49 and thus allow the release of the safety lid 15.

According to other embodiments, the safety lid 15 can comprise a second passage duct 57 configured to put the internal space of the container 11 in fluidic communication with the passage channel 58.

A method to manufacture a device 10 for heating liquids according to the present invention comprises the provision of a substantially universal container 11 provided with means 12 for heating the liquid in the container 11, and the provision of a drive system 13, as described above, to drive a plurality of lids 14, 15 of different types which can be alternately housed on the container 11.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the heating device as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate reading: they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection claimed in the specific claims.

Claims

1. Device (10) for heating a liquid, comprising a container (11) and means (12) for heating the liquid which are associated with the container (11), and an interchangeable lid (14, 15), characterized in that it comprises a drive system (13) which can be selectively driven in order to interact at least with a first rotatable lid (14) and at least a second safety lid (15) provided with a valve (19), both of which can be alternately housed on said container (11), wherein said drive system (13) comprises at least one activation element (16) outside the lid (14, 15) and at least one actuator (17, 18) inside the lid (14, 15) and cooperating with said activation element (16), wherein driving said activation element (16), in the case of the rotatable lid (14), causes the latter to open with respect to said container (11) and, in the case of the safety lid (15), causes an at least partial opening of said valve (19) regardless of the position or inclination of said container (11).

2. Device (10) as in claim 1, characterized in that said activation element (16) is associated with elastic return means (23).

3. Device (10) as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said activation element

(16) comprises a drive button (24) outside the container (11) and a shaft (25) inside the container (11) and integral with said button (24), and said container (11) comprises a guide ring (26) for said shaft (25).

4. Device (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said rotatable lid (14), with which said actuator (17) is associated, is rotatable around a hinge (28), and said actuator (17) is configured to engage with said container (11) in order to keep the rotatable lid (14) in a closed condition and said activation element (16) is configured to act on said actuator (17) in order to release said rotatable lid (14) from said container (11) in an open condition of said container (H).

5. Device (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said actuator

(17) is configured to engage and abut against a flange (29) in the closed position of the rotatable lid (14).

6. Device (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that it comprises an articulated mechanism (32), positioned between said actuator (17) and said activation element (16), configured to allow, following the drive of the activation element (16), a backward movement of the actuator (17) and the opening of said rotatable lid (14).

7. Device (10) as in claim 6, characterized in that said articulated mechanism (32) comprises a pair of connecting rods (33, 34) rotatably constrained on opposite sides of a disk (35) rotatably attached to the inside of said rotatable lid (14).

8. Device (10) as in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that said hinge (28) comprises elastic means (37) configured to allow the automatic opening of the rotatable lid (14) when the actuator (17) is released from the container (11).

9. Device (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said liquid delivery valve (19) comprises a shutter (39), and said activation element (16) is configured to thrust said actuator (18) toward the shutter (39) so as to allow the at least partial opening of said valve (19).

10. Device (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said actuator (18) is engaged with said shutter (39) in every condition of use.

11. Device (10) as in claims 3 and 9 or 3 and 10, characterized in that said shaft (25) and said shutter (39) are axially mobile along axes parallel and/or coaxial to each other.

12. Device (10) as in any claim from 9 to 11, characterized in that said safety lid (15) comprises a substantially L-shaped duct (44) provided with an inlet (45) in a first substantially vertical segment (44a) and an outlet (46) in a second substantially horizontal segment (44b), and said shutter (39) is axially mobile in said second segment (44b).

13. Device (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said valve (19) comprises elastic return means (40) which cause the automatic closure of the shutter (39) when said activation element (16) is released by the user.

14. Device (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that it is provided with fluidic seal means (41) positioned between said container (11) and said second lid (15).

15. Method to manufacture a device (10) for heating liquids, comprising the provision of a container (11) which is substantially universal and provided with means (12) for heating the liquid in the container (11), and the provision of a drive system (13) which can be selectively driven in order to interact with a - 16 - plurality of lids (14, 15) of different types which can be alternately housed on said container (11), comprising at least a first rotatable lid (14) and at least a second safety lid (15) provided with a valve (19), wherein said drive system

comprises at least one activation element (16) outside the lid (14, 15) which can be driven by a user and at least one actuator (17, 18) inside the lid (14, 15) and cooperating with said activation element (16), wherein driving said activation element (16), in the case of the rotatable lid (14), causes the latter to open with respect to said container (11) and, in the case of the safety lid (15), causes an at least partial opening of said valve (19) regardless of the position or inclination of said container (11).