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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
TEA KETTLE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2015/137935
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A tea kettle having an integrated and automated trigger mechanism for automatically and variably opening the whistling spout cover (20, 90) during a pouring action of the kettle. The trigger mechanism is integrated into the handles (16, 86) and is biased to maintain the whistling cover closed when not in use. The shift in weight of the tea kettle resulting from the pouring action automatically causes the trigger mechanism to be engaged such that the whistling spout cover is opened and allows smooth pouring of the liquid contents. As the weight of the tea kettle is shifted back to the horizontal state, the trigger mechanism returns to its biased closed whistling spout cover position.

Inventors:
CHEN SHIH YUAN (TW)
CHAIWATANACHAI KANJANA (TH)
Application Number:
PCT/US2014/024020
Publication Date:
September 17, 2015
Filing Date:
March 12, 2014
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
LIFETIME BRANDS INC (US)
International Classes:
A47J27/21
Foreign References:
US20080135585A12008-06-12
US7048144B12006-05-23
US20090065534A12009-03-12
US20060043124A12006-03-02
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
TUTUNJIAN, John, G. (P.C.425 Broadhollow Road,Suite 30, Melville NY, US)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS

What is claimed is:

1. A tea kettle comprising:

a kettle (12, 82) having a spout (14, 84) and a whistling spout cover (20, 90);

a handle (16, 86); and

a trigger mechanism integrated into the handle and configured to automatically open the whistling spout cover during a pouring action of the tea kettle and without requiring any further manual user intervention.

2. The tea kettle of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises an upper hand receiving portion (18, 88) and side handle members (17, 87) connecting the upper hand receiving portion to a top portion (58, 98) of the kettle.

3. The tea kettle of claim 2, wherein the trigger mechanism comprises:

a sliding mechanism (32, 33, 34) integrated into the upper hand receiving portion(18) of the handle;

a device (26) connecting the sliding mechanism to the whistling spout cover;

wherein a tilting movement of the tea kettle resulting from the pouring action causes said sliding mechanism to slide away from the spout, thereby causing the device to open the whistling spout cover.

4. The tea kettle of claim 3, wherein the device comprises a sling (26) having one end connected to the sliding mechanism and an opposite end connected to the whistling spout cover.

5. The tea kettle of claim 3, wherein said trigger mechanism further comprises a biasing means (40) for biasing the sliding mechanism such that whistling spout cover (20) remains in a closed position when the tea kettle is not in use.

6. The tea kettle of claim 2, wherein the trigger mechanism comprises:

a top handle receiving portion (98) of the kettle;

a sliding connection (87, 89) between the handle side support members and the top handle receiving portion of the kettle; and

wherein a tilting movement of the tea kettle resulting from the pouring action causes said sliding connection to cause a predetermined displacement of the handle within the top receiving portion, said displacement opening the whistling spout cover (90).

7. The tea kettle of claim 6, wherein the whistling cover further comprises an arm (92) having a surface (95) and wherein the top handle receiving portion (98) of the kettle further comprises a post (96) positioned adjacent said surface of said arm, the tilting movement of the tea kettle resulting from the pouring action causes the surface 95 to abut post 96 and urge whistling cover 90 open.

8. The tea kettle of claim 6, wherein said trigger mechanism further comprises a biasing means (94) for biasing the sliding connection such that the whistling spout cover (90) remains in a closed position when the tea kettle is not in use.

9. The tea kettle of claim 2, wherein the trigger mechanism comprises: a mechanical linkage (60) integrated into the upper hand receiving portion (18) of the handle and having a predetermined displacement distance;

a device (26) connecting the mechanical linkage to the whistling spout cover;

wherein a tilting movement of the tea kettle resulting from the pouring action causes said mechanical linkage to be displaced in a direction away from the spout, said displacement causing the device (26) to open the whistling spout cover.

10. The tea kettle of claim 9, wherein the device (26) comprises a sling, having one end connected to the mechanical linkage, and an opposite end connected to the whistling spout cover.

Description:
TEA KETTLE

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to tea kettles. More particularly, it relates to mechanisms for automatically opening and closing the whistling cover of a tea kettle.

Description of the prior art

[0002] Tea Kettles are well known and are generally used to boil water for use when making tea. Most tea kettles have a whistling cover or flapper that provides several functions. During the boiling process, the whistling cover or flapper whistles when the water has reached the boiling point. It also is used to maintain the boiling water covered. When dispensing the boiling water, a manual trigger or control is used to lift the whistling cover or flapper and allow the boiling water to be dispensed. When finished pouring the water, the manual trigger is released and the whistling cover or flapper closes the pouring spout.

SUMMARY

[0003] The present principles address the shortfalls of the prior art by providing automatic trigger mechanisms for opening the whistling cover during the pouring of the liquid contained in the kettle.

[0004] This and other aspects of the present principles are achieved by a tea kettle including a kettle portion having a spout and a whistling spout cover. A handle is connected to a kettle, and a trigger mechanism is integrated into the handle. The trigger mechanism is configured to automatically open the whistling spout cover during a pouring action of the tea kettle without requiring any manual user intervention. [0005] In accordance with one implementation, the trigger mechanism includes a sliding mechanism integrated into an upper hand receiving portion of the handle. A device connects the sliding mechanism to the whistling spout cover. The tilting movement of the tea kettle resulting from the pouring action causes a shift in the weight (e.g., center of gravity) of the tea kettle such that this shift in weight is translated into a horizontal motion, thus causing the sliding mechanism to slide away from the spout (i.e., in a direction opposite the spout), and thereby further causing the device to open the whistling spout cover during pouring. Depending on the tilt angle of the tea kettle, the user

[0006] According to another implementation, the trigger mechanism includes a top handle receiving portion of the kettle, and a sliding connection between the handle side support members and the top handle receiving portion of the kettle. The above described shifting in weight of the tea kettle during the pouring actions causes said sliding connection to cause a predetermined displacement of the handle within the top receiving portion. This displacement opening the whistling spout cover.

[0007] Other aspects and features of the present principles will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the present principles, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] In the drawings wherein like reference numerals denote similar components throughout the views: [0009] FIG. 1 is a side view of a tea kettle with the whistling cover closed, according to an implementation of the present principles;

[00010] FIG. 2 is a side view of the tea kettle with the whistling cover manually opened according to an implementation of the present principles;

[0001 1] FIGS. 3A and 3B show enlarged views of the sections A and B show in FIGS 1 and 2, respective, according to an implementation of the present principles;

[00012] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the tea kettle show in FIG 1, taken along a center line of the same, according to an implementation of the present principles;

[00013] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the tea kettle in a pouring position, according to an implementation of the present principles;

[00014] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the tea kettle with automatic trigger mechanism, according to the implementations shown in FIGS 1-5;

[00015] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the automatic trigger mechanism integrated into the handle of the tea kettle shown in FIGS 1-6, according to a preferred implementation of the present principles;

[00016] FIGS. 8A-9B are schematic views of an alternative automatic trigger mechanism integrated into the handle of the tea kettle, according to an implementation of the present principles;

[00017] FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the alternative trigger mechanism described in

FIGS. 8A-9B, according to an implementation of the present principles;

[00018] FIG. 1 1 is a side view of a tea kettle with the whistling cover closed, according to another implementation of the present principles;

[00019] FIG. 12 is a side view of the tea kettle of FIG. 11 with the whistling cover manually opened, according to an implementation of the present principles; [00020] FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view of the tea kettle show in FIG 11 , taken along a center line of the same, according to another implementation of the present principles;

[00021] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the tea kettle in a pouring position, according to an implementation of the present principles;

[00022] FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view of the handle of the tea kettle of FIG 1 1 showing the automatic trigger mechanism for the whistling cover, with the cover closed, according to an implementation of the present principles;

[00023] FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view of the handle of the tea kettle of FIG 8 showing the automatic trigger mechanism for the whistling cover, with the cover open, according to an implementation of the present principles;

[00024] FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of a portion of the whistling cover trigger mechanism, according to an implementation of the present principles; and

[00025] FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the tea kettle with automatic trigger mechanism, according to the implementations shown in FIGS 1 1-18.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[00026] In accordance with the fundamental principles of the present disclosure, the following embodiments all operate by shifting or translating the forces due to gravity into a horizontal movement of the tea kettle handle. Contrary to existing and conventional designs that use gravity for a vertical movement. One benefit to the translation of the gravity forces to the horizontal movement of the handle is to put control of gravity activating the whistling spout cover in the consumer's hand (physically), so that as the user controls the tilt angle of the tea kettle, they also control the opening and closing of the whistling spout cover. As will be appreciated by the following disclosures, this horizontal movement is smooth and natural, as opposed to the current and conventional trigger mechanisms which are abrupt and less natural. [00027] Referring to FIGS. 1 -3B, there is shown a tea kettle 10 according to one implementation of the present principles. Tea kettle 10 has a kettle portion 12 configured to receive the liquid being boiled and dispensed. The kettle portion includes a spout 14, a handle 16 and a whistling cover or flapper 20. In accordance with this implementation, the handle 16 includes a slidable portion made up of several parts discussed below and which is enclosed by an external sleeve 18 and which is configured such that rearward displacement of the same results in the opening of the whistling cover 20. FIG. 1 shows the tea kettle 10 with the slidable handle in the default closed position with the whistling cover 20 closed. As will be described below, slidable handle is spring biased such that the whistling cover remains in the closed position when the tea kettle is not in the pouring mode. FIG. 2 shows the slidable handle 18 displaced such that whistling cover 20 is open. FIGS. 3A and 3B show the identified sections A and B in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. Here is will be seen that slidable handle 18 is displaced a distance d in order to open the whistling cover 20.

[00028] As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, and according to this implementation, when the water or other fluid in the kettle portion is to be dispensed (i.e., poured via spout 14), a user simply holds slidable handle 18 and begins the pouring action. As the weight of the liquid in the kettle portion 12 shifts toward the spout, so does the over center of gravity (COG) of the entire tea kettle. This shift in the weight automatically causes the slidable handle to slide rearwardly (i.e., opposite the spout 14), thereby opening the whistling cover 20 as the liquid is dispensed via spout 14. This automatic opening action also works when the tea kettle is empty, but only based on the mass of the tea kettle itself. In addition, a user could manually slide the handle 18 (not during a pouring action) in order to open the whistling cover 20, for any reason.

[00029] FIGS. 4-7 show the details of the trigger mechanism used to enable slidable handle to automatically open and close the whistling cover 20. Initially, whistling cover 20 includes an arm 22 that extends into the handle 16 and includes a slot or hole 24 configured to receive a cable 26. Cable 26 is guided through the handle 16 upward and into a slot 42 in the stationary and substantially centrally disposed handle part 36 (See FIG. 7). The handle part 36 extends across couples to opposing corner pieces that make up the handle 16. The trigger mechanism is made up of several parts including the slidable handle which is made up of several parts. On the exterior, the slidable handle includes a sleeve 18 made of a comfortable material and configured to enclose all the internal parts that enable the sliding action. Internally, the slidable handle includes an upper slider 32A and a lower slider 34A, a spring 40 positioned in a slot 38 within the stationary handle part 36. As can be seen in FIG. 7, the upper slider 32A and lower slider 34 A snap together around the stationary handle part 36. The upper slider 32 includes a slot or hole 28 for receiving the end of cable 26. A bearing bed 33 is sandwiched between lower slider 34A and the stationary handle part 36. The bearing bed includes multiple holes for receiving and supporting a bearing. The bearings within the bearing part 33 operate to reduce friction in the sliding action of the handle.

[00030] Thus, it will be evident from the above and the figures that the slidable movement of the trigger mechanism, via handle the external sleeve 18, pulls on cable 26 and causes the opening of whistling cover 20. As mentioned earlier, the spring 40 urges the internal sliding members 32, 34 (and therefore the entire handle enclosed by sleeve 18) forward toward the spout, thus biasing the whistling cover close. As shown in FIG. 5, when the tea kettle is tilted while holding slidable handle 18, the shift in weight will cause the handle to be displaced rearwardly such that whistling cover 20 is automatically opened for the pouring action.

[00031] Although the above embodiments have been described where a cable 26 connects the sliding handle to the arm 22 of the whistling cover 20, those of skill in the art will appreciate that other mechanisms and devices may be used to translate the sliding motion of the handle 18 into the pulling action on the arm 22 of the whistling cover 20. By way of example, a mechanical linkage, can be used as shown in FIGS. 8-10.

[00032] As shown in FIGS 8-10, mechanical linkage 60 on each side of the movable handle determines the throw distance of the same to open and close the connected whistling cover. The upper handle part 32B and lower handle part 34B snap together around the handle axis 36. The linkages 60 positioned on both sides of the assembled upper and lower handle parts allows for just enough displacement between the desired open and closed positions of the whistling spout cover. FIGS. 9 A and 9B show the variation in distance y from the closed position (FIG. 9B) to the open position (y + td) shown in FIG. 9A. Referring to FIG. 10, the linkage 60 is made up of links 62 and corresponding pins 64, with the upper end of the links being pivotally connected to the upper handle part 32B and the lower end of the links being pivotally connected to the handle axis 36. The size/length of the links 62 determines the throw distance of the handle.

[00033] FIGS. 11 -18 show tea kettle 80 according to another implementation of the present principles. Referring to FIGS 11 and 12, the tea kettle 80 includes a kettle portion 82, a spout 84, a handle 86 with an upper hand receiving portion 88, side handle supports 87, and a whistling spout cover 90. In this implementation, hand receiving portion 88 of the handle 86 is stationary and does not move relative the side supports 87 of the rest of the handle 86. The trigger mechanism consists of sliding mechanism integrated into the points of connection of the side handle supports 87 to the top (handle receiving) portion 98 of the kettle portion 82 (See FIG. 18).

[00034] Referring to FIGS 13-17, the handle 86 is slidable a fixed distance x in a rearward direction from the spout 90. The whistling cover 90 has an arm 92 pivotally connected to an interior portion of the side handle supports 87. A post 96 is positioned in the sliding path of the handle 86 adjacent the spout 84. As best shown in FIGS 16-18, when the handle 86 is slid in a rearward direction (away from or opposite spout 84), a surface 95 of the arm 92 of whistling cover 90 engages the stationary post 96 causing the whistling cover 90 to open. The sliding distance x of handle 86 is defined by the sliding portions 85 of the handle that engage corresponding slots 89. One or more springs 94 are configured to be positioned within the sliding interface between portions 85 of the handle and the slots 89 of the upper portion 98 of the kettle 82, and operate to bias the overall handle 86 forward such that whistling cover 20 remains in a closed position.

[00035] According to this implementation, the trigger mechanism operates such that during the pouring action, handle 86 slides rearwardly against the bias of the springs 94 and causes whistling cover 90 to open and allow the smooth pouring from spout 84.

[00036] In accordance with all embodiments shown, the tea kettles introduce a middle section (58 and 98) which is not only provide a higher visual impact of the overall tea kettle design, based on the materials used for this middle section it also functions to further protect the handle from heat radiated from the vessel during boiling. From a visual perspective, the middle sections 58, 98 can be made of different colors and/or shapes to provide for more aesthetically pleasing appearances. From a functional perspective, the middle sections 58, 98 can be fabricated from materials, such as, for example, thermal elastomers, silicon, nylon or any combination of these materials that are low conductors of heat, and therefore reduce the heat radiated from the vessel, and thereby protect the handle from the same.

[00037] While there have been shown, described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the present principles, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details of the methods described and devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the same. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the present principles. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or implementation of the present principles may be incorporated in any other disclosed, described or suggested form or implementation as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.