Background Art These days, a pressure pot had been disclosed in the art, comprising a pot body in which a food item to be cooked is accommodated and a lid employed for closing an opened upper end of the pot body. The pressure pot is constructed in such a way as to prevent the lid from being unintentionally opened even when a high pressure is developed in the pot body in the course of cooking the food item, thereby shortening a cooking time and improving a taste of the food item. In such a pressure pot, a locker for locking the lid to the pot body is provided to a grip. The locker is configured to be rotated upward and downward from the grip. When the locker is positioned on an upper surface of the lid, the lid is locked with respect to the pot body by a stopper.

However, the conventional grip structure for a pressure pot suffers from defects in that the grip structure is likely to be erroneously manipulated, and, since a contact area between the locker and the lid is small, locking force cannot but be inferior.

To cope with these problems, another conventional grip structure for a pressure pot has been disclosed in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 200990 corresponding to Korean Utility Model Application No. 2000-9936. As shown in FIG. 1, the grip structure comprises a fixed body 10 and a locker 20. The fixed body 10 is mounted to a bracket 30 which is fastened to a pot body, and is defined, on an upper surface thereof, with a depression 14 and an opening 16. The locker 20 is coupled to the fixed body 10 to be moved forward and rearward ; and is formed, on a lower surface thereof, with a projection 24 and a leg portion 26. A guide plate 28 is affixed to a free end of the leg portion 26.

A lid is locked to and unlocked from the pot body by moving the locker 20 forward and rearward in a horizontal direction. Therefore, manipulation can be quickly performed, and superior locking force can be obtained.

Nevertheless, the conventional grip structure for a pressure pot, constructed as just described above, encounters a problem in that, since the guide plate 28 is affixed to the free end of the leg portion 26 to be integrally moved forward and rearward along with the locker 20, sufficient external force cannot be applied to the locker 20, and inconvenience is caused upon manipulating the locker 20. Also, in the course of applying external force, a finger is apt to be inserted into the opening 16 defined in the fixed body 10 and squeezed by the locker 20, thereby causing a user to feel pain. Further, due to inflow of foreign substances through the opening 16, a sanitary condition cannot be guaranteed.

Moreover, because it is difficult for the user to properly perceive starting and ending points upon moving the locker 20 forward and rearward, operational preciseness cannot be ensured. Due to this fact, as excessive external force is applied to the locker 20, the locker 20 can be damaged or broken.

Disclosure of the Invention Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the problems occurring in the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a grip structure for a pressure pot, which ensures precise forward and rearward movement of a locker to prevent the locker from being damaged or broken and, at the same time, improves user convenience, its operational reliability and safety.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a grip structure for a pressure pot, including a fixed body mounted to a bracket which is fastened to a pot body and a locker coupled to the fixed body to be moved forward and rearward thereby to selectively lock and unlock a lid to and from the pot body, the grip structure comprising: a position guiding projection formed on a lower surface of the locker; a first slot defined through the fixed body for allowing the position guiding projection to be inserted therein and moved forward and rearward therealong; and an elastic member fitted into the first slot and fixedly seated on a shoulder which is formed on an inner edge of the fixed body, which inner edge defines the first slot, the elastic member having substantially a s-shaped contour and possessing front and rear enlarged portions

which are formed at front and rear ends of the elastic member and in which the position guiding projection is placed when the locker is completely moved forward and rearward, respectively; whereby a locking position in which the locker is completely moved forward and an unlocking position in which the locker is completely moved rearward can be perceived by a user.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the locker has a locker body which is formed on an upper surface thereof with a pressing portion, a pair of guide rods are projectedly formed on a lower surface of the locker body to be respectively positioned at both sides of the position guiding projection, and a pair of first guide grooves are defined on the lower surface of the locker body outward of the guide rods to extend along a moving direction of the locker; the fixed body comprises an insertion part formed with an insertion hole into which the bracket is inserted and a locker coupling part to which the locker is coupled to move forward and rearward, the locker coupling part is defined with a pair of second slots each of which has a rectangular contour and through which the guide rods are respectively inserted, and a pair of first guide ribs are projectedly formed on an upper surface of the locker coupling part outward of the second slots to be slidably engaged into the first guide grooves ; and the grip structure further comprises a cover member which is fastened to and closes a lower surface of the fixed body, the cover member has a cover body which possesses an inclined pressing surface, and a first groove and a pair of second grooves which are associated with the first slot and the pair of second slots, respectively, are defined on an upper surface of the cover body.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a pair of second guide ribs are projectedly formed on the lower surface of the locker outward of the first guide grooves, and a pair of second guide grooves are defined on an upper surface of the fixed body outward of the first guide ribs to allow the second guide ribs to be slidably engaged thereinto, whereby, while the pressing portion of the locker is pressed by the user, the locker is prevented from being fluctuated leftward and rightward, and thereby, stability is ensured upon manipulating the locker.

By the features of the present invention, the grip structure for a pressure pot provides advantages in that, since a lower surface of a fixed body is closed by a cover member, a finger of a user is prevented from being inserted into slots defined in the fixed body and squeezed by a locker, and inflow of foreign substances is avoided and thereby a sanitary condition can be ensured. Also, because the user can properly perceive starting and ending points of movement of the locker,

operational preciseness can be accomplished, and the locker is prevented from being damaged or broken. Moreover, due to the presence of several provisions for guiding movement of the locker, forward and rearward movement of the locker is stabilized. Further, as the locker is prevented from being fluctuated leftward and rightward, stability is ensured upon manipulating the locker.

Brief Description of the Drawings The above objects, and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent after a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a conventional grip structure for a pressure pot; FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating an assembled status of a grip structure for a pressure pot, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3a is an exploded plan perspective view for the A part of FIG. 2; and FIG. 3b is an exploded bottom perspective view for the A part of FIG. 2.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

As shown in FIG. 2, a grip structure for a pressure port, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, includes a fixed body 110 mounted to a bracket 60 which is fastened adjacent to an upper end of a pot body 50, a locker 120 coupled to the fixed body 110 to be moved forward and rearward thereby to selectively lock and unlock a lid 70 to and from the pot body 50, and a cover member 130 fastened to a lower end of the fixed body 110. The part A'in FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view for the part A of the same drawing.

As can be readily seen from FIGs. 3a and 3b, the grip structure for a pressure pot according to the present invention enables a user to perceive completion of forward and rearward movement of the locker 120, which movement is caused thorough application of force by a user. To this end, the grip structure further includes a position guiding projection 128 formed on a lower surface of the locker

120 and having a round bar-shaped contour ; a first slot 118 defined through the fixed body 110 for allowing the position guiding projection 128 to be inserted therein and moved forward and rearward therealong, and having substantially a rectangular contour; and an elastic member 140 fitted into the first slot 118 and fixedly seated on a shoulder which is formed on an inner edge of the fixed body 110, which inner edge defines the first slot 118, the elastic member 140 having substantially a s-shaped contour and possessing front and rear enlarged portions 141 and 142 which are formed at front and rear ends of the elastic member 140 and in which the position guiding projection 128 is placed when the locker 120 is completely moved forward and rearward, respectively. Both free portions of the elastic member 140, which are positioned at the front end of the elastic member 140, are bent outward at a right angle.

The elastic member 140 further possesses a pair of leg portions 144 which are formed between the front and rear enlarged portions 141 and 142 and extend parallel to each other. The pair of leg portions 144 have a distance measured therebetween, which is less than a diameter of the position guiding projection 128.

Therefore, in a state wherein the position guiding projection 128 is initially placed in the front enlarged portion 141, if rearward pressing force which is larger than elastic force exerted by the leg portions 144 of the elastic member 140 is applied to the locker 120, the position guiding projection 128 is moved rearward while overcoming the elastic force of the leg portions 144, and then placed in the rear enlarged portion 142. At this time, as the position guiding projection 128 is freed from exertion of the elastic force by the leg portions 144, a user can perceive an unlocked status in which the locker 120is completely moved rearward, by a sound generated when the leg portions 144 are returned to their original positions. In the same manner, the user can perceive a locked status in which the locker 120 is completely moved forward.

As shown in FIGs. 3a and 3b, the locker 120 has a locker body 121 which is formed on an upper surface thereof with a pressing portion 122. A pair of guide rods 123 are projectedly formed on a lower surface of the locker body 121 to be respectively positioned at both sides of the position guiding projection 128. Each guide rod 123 has a round bar-shaped contour. A pair of first guide grooves 124 are defined on the lower surface of the locker body 121 outward of the guide rods 123 to extend along a moving direction of the locker 120. The reference numeral 125 designates cavities defined for the purpose of lightening the locker 120 and

saving material.

As best shown in FIG. 3a, the fixed body 110 comprises an insertion part 111 and a locker coupling part 112. The insertion part 111 is defined with an insertion hole 11 la into which the bracket 60 fastened to the pot body 50 is inserted.

The locker 120 is coupled to the locker coupling part 112 to be moved forward and rearward. The locker coupling part 112 is defined with a pair of second slots 113 each of which has a rectangular contour and through which the guide rods 123 are respectively inserted. A pair of first guide ribs 114 are projectedly formed on an upper surface of the locker coupling part 112 outward of the second slots 113 to be slidably engaged into the first guide grooves 124 as shown in FIG. 3b.

Further, as best shown in FIG. 3b, insert elements (not shown) each in the form of a washer are fitted around lower ends of the guide rods 123, to ensure that the locker 120 is prevented from being released from the fixed body 110 in a state wherein the guide rods 123 of the locker 120 are inserted into the second slots 113 to be moved forward and rearward. The lower ends of the guide rods 123, around which the insert elements are fitted, are defined with annular fitting grooves 123a.

Furthermore, as can be readily seen from FIG. 3b, the cover member 130 is fastened to and closes a lower surface of the fixed body 110. The cover member 130 has a cover body 131 which possesses at a front portion thereof an inclined pressing surface 132. As best shown in FIG. 3a, a first groove 134 and a pair of second grooves 133 which are associated with the first slot 118 and the pair of second slots 113, respectively, are defined on an upper surface of the cover body 131. Skid-resistant protrusions are formed on the inclined pressing surface 132.

A pair of fastening portions 135 which are respectively defined with a pair of fastening holes are formed at both sides of the cover body 131 in a manner such that the cover member 130 can be fastened to the fixed body 110 by fasteners 150 such as screws threaded through the pair of fastening holes.

In order to ensure that the locker 120 is prevented from being fluctuated leftward and rightward while the pressing portion 122 of the locker 120 is pressed by the user and thereby, stability is rendered upon manipulating the locker 120, a pair of second guide ribs 126 are projectedly formed on the lower surface of the locker 120 outward of the first guide grooves 124, as shown in FIG. 3b, and a pair of second guide grooves 116 are defined on an upper surface of the fixed body 110 outward of the first guide ribs 114 to allow the second guide ribs 126 to be slidably engaged thereinto, as shown in FIG. 3a.

In the meanwhile, since the pot body 50, bracket 60 and the lid 70 are the same as in the conventional art, detailed explanation thereof shall be omitted.

Hereinafter, operation of the grip structure for a pressure pot, according to the present invention, constructed as mentioned above, will be described.

As shown in FIGs. 2,3a and 3b, as the locker 120 is placed on the locker coupling part 112 of the fixed body 110, the guide rods 123 of the locker 120 are respectively inserted into the second slots 113. Then, by fitting the insert elements around the lower ends of the guide rods 123, the locker 120 is firmly coupled to the fixed body 110 in a manner such that it is prevented from being released therefrom.

At this time, the elastic member 140 is fitted into the first slot 118, and the position guiding projection 128 of the locker 120 is inserted into the elastic member 140.

Further, the first guide ribs 114 are respectively inserted into the first guide grooves 124, and the second guide ribs 126 are respectively inserted into the second guide grooves 116. As a result, the position guiding projection 128 can be moved forward and rearward in a state wherein it is inserted into the first slot 118.

Also, as the cover member 130 is fastened to the lower end of the fixed body 110 by fasteners 150, assembly of the grip structure is completed. In this state, the bracket 60 fastened to the pot body 50 is inserted into the insertion part 111 of the fixed body 110, and, by rigidly connecting the fixed body 110 and the bracket 60 with each other using screws, the grip structure for a pressure pot according to the present invention is mounted to the pot body 50. However, a person skilled in the art will readily recognize that the present invention is not limited by any assembling or mounting procedure.

In an initial state wherein the grip structure is assembled as described above and thereby the locker 120 is positioned at a rear end of the locker coupling part 112, if external force is applied to the locker 120 to move it forward toward the lid 70 of the pressure pot, the guide rods 123 are moved in the second slots 113. At the same time, the movement of the locker 120 is guided through sliding engagement between the first guide ribs 114 and the first guide grooves 124, whereby stable movement of the locker 120 is guaranteed. As a consequence, as a front lower surface of the locker 120 presses the lid 70 against the pot body 50, the lid 70 is held locked to the pot body 50.

When the locker 120 is completely moved forward, the position guiding projection 128 is placed in the front enlarged portion 141 of the elastic member 140.

In this state, if external force larger than elastic force exerted by the leg portions 144

is applied to the locker 120 to move it rearward, the position guiding projection 128 is introduced between the leg portions 144. At this time, due to the fact that the distance measured between the two leg portions 144 is less than the diameter of the position guiding projection 128, the leg portions 144 are expanded or widened outward. In this state, after the position guiding projection 128 is moved through a space defined between the leg portions 144, it is finally inserted into the rear enlarged portion 142 of the elastic member 140. At the same time, as the expanded or widened leg portions 144 are returned to their original positions, a snap sound of a predetermined magnitude is generated, and removal of tension force exerted by the leg portions 144 of the elastic member 140 to the position guiding projection 128 which is moved rearward is perceived by the hand of the user. In other words, the user can perceive the unlocking status in which the locker 120 is completely moved rearward to unlock the lid 70 from the pot body 50. In this way, as application of excessive external force can be avoided, various components can be protected from being damaged or broken.

Moreover, since the cover member 130 is fastened to the lower end of the fixed body 110, a finger of the user is prevented from being inserted into the slots 113 and 118 defined in the fixed body 110 and squeezed by the locker 120.

Besides, because the pressing surface 132 of the cover member 130 is projectedly formed, user convenience is guaranteed.

Meanwhile, in a state wherein the locker 120 unlocks the lid 70 from the pot body 50, if it is necessary to lock the lid 70 to the pot body 50, by applying external force to the locker 120 again in a reverse direction, operation of the grip structure is executed in a reverse order.

Industrial Applicability As apparent from the above description, the grip structure for a pressure pot according to the present invention provides advantages in that, since a lower surface of a fixed body is closed by a cover member, a finger of a user is prevented from being inserted into slots defmed in the fixed body and squeezed by a locker, and inflow of foreign substances is avoided and thereby a sanitary condition can be ensured. In addition, application of external force to the locker can be easily conducted.

Also, because the user can properly perceive starting and ending points of movement of the locker, operational preciseness can be accomplished, and the

locker is prevented from being damaged or broken due to excessive external force application. Moreover, due to the presence of several provisions for guiding movement of the locker, forward and rearward movement of the locker is stabilized.

Further, as the locker is prevented from being fluctuated leftward and rightward, stability is ensured upon manipulating the locker, and a quality of the pressure pot can be improved.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed typical preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.