TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a home appliance including a spout providing laminar flow in a V- shaped liquid buffer chamber on a liquid container.

BACKGROUND OF THE TECHNOLOGY

During the filling process of water and/or tea-water mixture from the teapot and/or body chambers of tea machines, water heaters, or teapots into a cup, liquid may flow over the body. In this situation, liquid overflow from the spout occurs when the liquid is filled into the cup at low flow rates or when the filling process is finished and the chamber is tilted back to an upright position. Moreover, it is a common situation that the overflowing liquid from the spout drips into the cup after flowing over the chemically additive-painted surface of the chamber. The dripping of the liquid flowing from the chemically additive-painted surface of the chamber into the cup and subsequently being consumed by a user, particularly when filling tea, may have negative effects on human health. Therefore, there is a need for solutions including a filling spout providing laminar flow in the teapot and/or body chambers of a home appliance such as a tea machine, a water heater, or a teapot.

EP1115313 invention relates to a spout and lip for pouring liquid. The invention includes a spout and lip that improve the flow and provide minimum dripping during filling. Additionally, the inner surface of the spout comprises an internal projection arranged to terminate the flow of the liquid on the inner surface earlier when the pouring of the liquid ends and the spout is tilted back.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to develop a home appliance that includes a spout and a peripheral wall in a liquid buffer chamber that provides laminar flow and prevents liquid overflow during liquid filling.

To achieve the aforementioned goals, the invention describes a home appliance comprising a liquid container; a barrier part provided on a side wall delimiting the liquid container and having multiple outlet holes; a groove extending outward from the side wall and forming a liquid buffer chamber with the outer wall of the barrier part. The invention includes a curvilinearly formed V-shaped spout at the lower end of the groove and a peripheral wall curving inwardly convex from the spout. Thanks to the beak-like structure of the liquid buffer chamber, no drops escape from the spout during liquid filling from the liquid container. Additionally, due to the V-shaped form of the liquid buffer chamber, inclined volume narrowing is provided towards the spout during the filling process, causing the liquid flow to accelerate, preventing liquid droplets from escaping even at low filling rates. Here, the home appliance can be a product similar to a tea machine or a kettle.

A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a separator wall formed between the peripheral wall and the barrier part of the liquid buffer chamber. This ensures that the liquid buffer chamber has a two-compartment structure due to the separator wall. The purpose of the separator wall structure is to increase the liquid flow rate in the liquid buffer chamber and direct the liquid flow to the spout.

A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a curvilinearly formed connection area for mounting the liquid buffer chamber on the side wall. This enables the liquid buffer chamber to be mounted to the home appliance with a unique connection area structure.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lower end is configured to have a width that provides liquid flow at a predetermined volume. This ensures that when the liquid container is tilted, the spout narrows in a curved manner towards its front, allowing the liquid to be filled into a container without dripping, that is, without overflowing onto the side wall.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, before mounting the liquid buffer chamber on the side wall, master optimization is carried out to ensure minimal air gaps are eliminated. This ensures that after mounting with the connection areas, the liquid buffer chamber has a leakproof structure along its edges.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the liquid container includes a lid that is placed on top of the container's liquid filling opening. This prevents liquid overflow from the top opening during the liquid filling process from the liquid container into another container.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the liquid container includes a circular base mounted on a lower wall with predetermined dimensions. This reduces the potential heat damage that could occur when the liquid container is placed on a surface with high heat conductivity, thanks to the base with lower heat conductivity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of a home appliance according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a side perspective view of the home appliance according to the invention shown in Figure 1 .

Figure 3 shows a front perspective view of a home appliance according to the invention before the liquid buffer chamber assembly.

Figure 4 shows a front perspective view of the liquid buffer chamber.

Figure 5 shows a side perspective view of the liquid buffer chamber shown in Figure 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the subject matter of the invention has been explained without any restrictions and with reference to examples for better understanding.

In Figure 1 and Figure 2, a home appliance according to the invention is shown in front and side perspectives. The home appliance (10) shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 can be, for example, a teapot, a tea maker, or a water heater. The appliance (10) includes a liquid container (12) made of metal material for heating water or a mixture of tea and water. A side wall (16) surrounds the liquid container (12) and defines the container (12). There are multiple outlet holes (182) in a barrier portion (18) on the side wall (16). Here, for example, liquid flow to a glass starts from these outlet holes (182). The barrier portion (18) has an outer wall (184) on which a liquid buffer chamber (20) including a groove (202) is mounted. Here, the groove (202) is an outwardly extending structure in the space between the outer wall (184) and the liquid buffer chamber (20). In one configuration of the invention, before mounting the liquid buffer chamber (20) on the side wall (16), master optimization is performed to eliminate minimal air gaps. This prevents liquid leakage from the lower edges of the liquid buffer chamber (20) during liquid filling after mounting. In addition, there is an upper opening in the form of an upper mouth (14) for filling water or a mixture of tea and water into the liquid container (12). There is a lid (22) that can be inserted and removed from the top of the upper mouth (14) and is held at the rear end. The liquid container (12) of the home appliance according to the invention has a circular base (26) with predetermined dimensions, such as predetermined thickness and width, mounted on a lower wall (24). Thus, when the container is moved and placed somewhere, the heat damage that could be caused to the area where it is placed is reduced due to the filled and thick structure of the base (26). Furthermore, thanks to the base (26) structure, for example, a teapot can be placed on top of a water-heating liquid container (12).

Figure 3 shows a front perspective view of a home appliance according to the invention before the assembly of the liquid buffer chamber. Figure 4 and Figure 5 show front and side perspectives of the liquid buffer chamber (20). In Figure 3, a separator wall (209) is shown connected to the barrier portion of the liquid buffer chamber (20). Figure 4 and Figure 5 show the structure of the liquid buffer chamber (20) before being mounted on the liquid container (12). In one configuration of the invention, the lower end (204) of the groove (202) has a curved "V" shaped mouth portion (206) that provides laminar flow. Connected to the mouth portion (206) is a peripheral wall (208) that ensures the liquid buffer chamber (20) is designed as intended. The peripheral wall (208) is designed to curve inwardly from the mouth portion (206). The lower end (204) has a width that allows for a predetermined volume of liquid flow. The separator wall (209) is also formed between the peripheral wall (208) of the liquid buffer chamber (20) and the barrier portion (18). Thus, the liquid buffer chamber (20) is provided with a two-compartment structure with the separator wall (209). Here, the upper end of the separator wall (209) has a curved structure. The separator wall (209) directs the liquid flow to the mouth portion (206). The liquid buffer chamber (20) is mounted on the side wall (16) with a connection area (207). The connection area (207) at the edges of the liquid buffer chamber (20) is curved. This provides a beak-like structure for the liquid buffer chamber (20), preventing any water droplets from escaping or overflowing from the mouth (206) during liquid filling, thus ensuring laminar flow. For example, when filling a glass with low flow rates or when the container (12) is brought back to an upright position after filling, there is no liquid dripping from the mouth (206) due to the beak structure provided by the mouth portion (206) and the peripheral wall (208). Here, the "V" shaped cross-sectional narrowing of the mouth portion (206) creates a flow profile that accelerates the liquid at the bottom of the outlet and transfers the return liquid to the liquid buffer chamber (20) by accelerating it with the concave structure.

The advantages provided by the home appliance according to the invention are as follows: • During the use of the appliance (10), an intelligent beak-like structure with a non-drip feature is achieved through the laminar flow design by preventing dripping of water and teawater mixture along and around the beak-shaped liquid buffer chamber (20).

• Considering the volume of the liquid container (12), the flow rate [mL/s] value in terms of ergonomic use allows the user to use the appliance quickly and easily without tiring their hand, according to the amount they need.

• After optimizing the number of holes (182), hole diameters (182), and the position of the beak holes (182) with the appropriate beak shape, it ensures no dripping even in the most critical and challenging conditions during use.

• Even under conditions that could cause dripping along the beak shape (20), for example, at the lowest flow rate [mL/s] or when the liquid is quickly added and removed, there is no dripping from the mouth portion (206).

• The optimization of the beak structure provided by the mouth portion (206) and the peripheral wall (208) of the liquid buffer chamber (20) is ensured to be suitable for flows with temperatures ranging from 60 °C to 100 °C and without leakage according to user needs.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 Home appliance 204 Lower end

12 Liquid container 206 Mouth portion

14 Upper mouth 207 Connection area

16 Side wall 208 Peripheral wall

18 Barrier portion 209 Separator wall

182 Outlet hole 22 Lid

184 Outer wall 24 Bottom wall

20 Liquid buffer chamber 26 Base

202 Groove