Background of the Invention: Electric kettles and hot water jugs and the like have conventionally incorporated electric immersion heating elements in the form of a wire wound, mineral insulated, metal sheathed heating element proper affixed to an element head plate serving for the attachment of the heating element to the vessel, commonly at an aperture in a side wall thereof.

Recently, however, planar heating elements have been proposed which comprise a substrate on one side of which there is provided a resistance heating element in the form of a printed or otherwise formed resistive track or layer. The substrate might for example comprise a thin sheet of stainless steel on one side of which there is formed an electrically insulating dielectric layer, of glass for example, and the resistance heating element might be formed on the

dielectric layer with another protective electrically insulating dielectric layer, also of glass for example, formed on top of the resistance heating element.

It has been common to provide electric kettles and hot water jugs and the like with an element protector control adapted and arranged to switch off the power to the heating element in a sensed element overtemperature situation, and it has been common also to provide a steam sensor adapted and arranged to switch off the power to the heating element in response to the generation of steam when water is boiled in the vessel. Element protector controls have commonly comprised one or more bimetallic elements arranged in close heat transfer relationship with the heating element and arranged to operate an electric switch in the control in response to the element temperature rising above a predetermined normal operating range, and steam sensors have commonly comprised a bimetallic or other thermally sensitive element, a shape memory effect (SME) device for example, arranged at a location of the vessel whereat steam will impinge upon the thermally sensitive element when water boils in the vessel. With conventional electric immersion heating elements as abovementioned, the element protector control has

conventionally been coupled to the heating element head plate on the side thereof opposite to the heating element proper, namely the dry side of the head plate, and the steam sensor has commonly been accommodated at an upper location of the vessel, commonly in a handle structure, adjacent to an aperture in the vessel wall permitting steam generated within the vessel to access the thermal sensor of the steam control.

Integrated element protector and steam sensor controls are also known which associate in a unitary structure an element protector control as aforesaid and a steam sensor control as aforesaid. Also known is the X-type element protector control manufactured and marketed by us which is described in GB 2 194 099 with reference particularly to Figures 3A, 3B and 3C of the drawings thereof and the J-type steam sensor manufactured and marketed by us which is described in GB 2 212 664. The X-type element protector control and the J-type steam sensor can be utilized in stand alone manner, or the J-type steam sensor can be plugged into the top of the X-type element protector to form an integrated combination.

With the advent of the new planar heating elements aforementioned, proposals have been made for the association of element protector and steam sensor controls with the heating element and with the

associated vessel. Problems have arisen with these proposals as can readily be seen by reference to GB 2 222 025 or W095/34187 which, at least in our opinion, exhibit poor segregation between the steam control and the element protector control which could lead to premature failure due to water vapour contaminating the element protector control.

Objects and Summary of the Invention: It is accordingly the principal object of the present invention to overcome or at least substantially reduce the aforementioned problem.

According to the present invention, the base of an electrically heated water boiling vessel incorporating a planar electric heating element is compartmentalized to provide segregation between steam sensor and element protector controls associated with the heating element and a steam tube is provided for admitting to the steam sensor location steam that is generated when water is boiled in the vessel.

Exemplary embodiments will hereinafter be described in which the vessel includes a bottom or base moulding providing for the attachment of the planar heating element to a vessel body part so as to constitute the bottom of the vessel or at least part thereof, the said moulding including a compartment for

locating the steam sensor segregated from the element protector control and provision being made for admitting steam to the said compartment from the vessel interior.

The above and further features of the present invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims and will be made clear in the following description given with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings : Figures 1A to 1F show a first exemplary embodiment of the invention, Figure 1A being an underside plan view of the base of an exemplary water boiling vessel, Figures 1B and 1C being sectional side elevation views on the lines A... A and B... B of Figure 1A respectively, Figure 1D being an enlarged view of part of Figure 1B showing in more detail a steam sensor compartment, and Figures 1E and 1F being perspective views from opposite sides of the embodiment; Figures 2A to 2F show a second exemplary embodiment of the invention in views respectively similar to the corresponding views in Figures 1A to 1F ; Figures 3A to 3F show similar views of a third

exemplary embodiment of the invention; and Figures 4A to 4F show similar views of a fourth exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments: Referring first to Figures 1A to 1F, these illustrate the form of the base or bottom of an electrically heated water boiling vessel configured according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Only part of a base or bottom wall 1 of the vessel is shown and it will be appreciated that the remainder of the vessel will be designed by the appliance manufacturer.

A planar electric heating element 2 is secured within an aperture formed in the bottom 1 of the vessel by means of a moulded plastics material chassis ring 3 which is formed of two parts, namely a top or upper chassis ring 4 and a bottom or lower chassis ring 5, which are adapted to be secured together by means of self-tapping screws introduced into registering bores 6 and 6'formed in the two parts, the bores in the top part 4 being closed at their innermost ends as shown in Figure 1C. As shown most clearly in the enlarged detail view of Figure 1D, the top and bottom chassis rings 4 and 5 are formed with opposed surfaces which serve to clamp therebetween the

edges of the planar heating element 2 and the surrounding edges of the aperture that is formed in the bottom 1 of the vessel, the respective opposed surfaces being spaced apart from each other by a distance appropriate to the thickness of the heating element 2 and of the vessel wall 1. A seal 7 is provided between the opposed surfaces of the top and bottom chassis rings 4 and 5.

As shown most clearly in Figures 1A, 1B, 1D and 1E, the bottom chassis ring 5 is formed with an integral extension 8 defining an enclosure for accommodating a steam sensor with positive segregation from an element protector control mounted on the heating element 2. Figures 1A and 1E show an exemplary form of element protector control 9 mounted to the underside of the heating element 2 and further show an exemplary form of steam control 10 accommodated in the enclosure 8. The illustrated element protector control is the X2 control manufactured and sold by us and this control is substantially as described in GB 2 283 156. The illustrated sensor 10 is a J-type steam sensor manufactured and sold by us and this steam sensor is substantially as described in GB 2 212 664.

Alternative forms of element protector and steam sensor controls are available and could be employed in

the practice of the present invention.

The extension part 8 which defines the enclosure for the steam sensor has an integrally formed steam pipe 11 which extends outwardly of the enclosure through an aperture 12 provided in the vessel bottom 1. A grommet seal 13 of suitable heat resistant material ensures that the passage of the steam pipe 11 through the aperture 12 does not result in leakage from the vessel. Within the vessel, the steam pipe 11 will extend to above the operating full water level of the vessel and may be provided with a flotation type valve to protect against water flooding into the steam pipe if the vessel is overfilled. The steam pipe serves to deliver to the steam sensor enclosure 8 steam which is generated when water boils within the vessel, so as to cause the steam sensor to operate.

The enclosure 8, as moulded integrally with the bottom chassis ring 5, is open on its underside to enable installation of the steam sensor 10. A moulded plastics cover 14 is however provided which fits into the open underside of the enclosure as best shown in Figure 1D. The cover 14 is apertured at 15 to allow steam condensing in the enclosure 8 to drain therefrom and furthermore includes a hollow spigot 16 which is adapted to fit into the open lower end of the steam pipe 11. A vent 17 is formed in that side of the

conjoined spigot and steam pipe which faces the interior of the enclosure 8 for allowing steam in the steam pipe to access the steam sensor 10. The cover 14 could be part of an appliance bottom moulding of the vessel, rather than a separate part as illustrated.

By virtue of the described arrangement, the steam sensor 10 and its wetted environment within the enclosure 8 is well separated and segregated from the dry environment of the element protector control 9, thereby obviating or at least minimizing any risk of premature failure occasioned by water vapour or condensate reaching the element protector control.

The precise form of the heating element 2 is not central to the present invention. As mentioned hereinbefore, the element could for example be constructed as a resistance heating track or layer formed, with appropriate electrical insulation, on a substrate such as for example a stainless steel disc.

The element could alternatively be constructed as a plate, formed of aluminium for example, having clamped or clenched to its under surface a heating element proper of the wire wound, mineral insulated, metal sheathed type, such elements being known per se.

The water boiling vessel could be of the cordless type in which the vessel is adapted to be powered via

a base unit when the vessel is set upon the base, the vessel part and the base part having co-operating electrical connector systems which come together to enable the heating element in the vessel to be powered via the base when the vessel part is set on the base part. Such electrical connector systems are known per se and include systems which enable the vessel to be set upon the base in any relative rotational orientation, one such system being described in GB 2 285 716.

Figures 2A to 2F show an embodiment which is similar to the embodiment of Figures 1A to 1F and differs principally therefrom in that the heating element 2 is mounted in the chassis moulding 3 at an inclination, with the chassis parts 4 and 5 and the seal 7 correspondingly differently shaped. The mounting of the heating element 2 at an angle in this manner, and with the element protector control 9 mounted to the element at or near to its uppermost edge, ensures that the heating element portion nearest to the control 9 begins to overheat first if, for example, the vessel lid is left off and the vessel begins to boil dry, the falling water level first exposing the upper part of the heating element whereat the control 9 is located. Note that the same reference numerals are used in Figures 2A to 2F as

were used in Figures 1A to 1F to designate like parts.

Figures 3A to 3F show yet another embodiment which is very similar to the embodiment of Figures 1A to 1F, the principal difference in this case residing in the fact that the enclosure 8 for accommodating the steam sensor 10 is open on its upper side and is adapted to be closed by juxtapositioning of the enclosure with the vessel bottom 1 during assembly.

The steam vent 17 within the enclosure 8 can be formed by use of suitable cores during the moulding operation for forming the bottom chassis part 5. Again the same reference numerals are used in Figures 3A to 3F to denote parts corresponding to like parts in the embodiment of Figures 1A to 1F.

Figures 4A to 4F show yet another embodiment having distinct similarities to the embodiments described in the foregoing. In the embodiment of Figures 4A to 4F, wherein the same reference numerals are employed as were employed in the previous figures, the enclosure 8 for the steam sensor 10 is defined as an integral part of a bottom moulding 20 of the vessel which fits over the lower chassis ring 5 and may be secured thereto. The enclosure 8 is open on its underside, as in the embodiment of Figures 1A to 1F, and a closure 14 is provided. The steam pipe 11 in this embodiment is also formed as an integral part of

the bottom moulding 20. The heating element 2 is shown mounted at an inclination, as in the second embodiment, but it could be mounted on the level as in the first embodiment. This embodiment is presently preferred, inter alia because the polypropylene material generally used for moulding of vessel body parts is very suitable for the forming of the steam pipe 11 whereas the material of the lower chassis ring 5 may not be so suitable on account of its rigidity and drinking water compatibility. A separate steam pipe, rather than one formed integrally with the lower chassis ring 5, could be used in the previously described embodiments, the separate steam pipe being appropriately supported and sealed with respect to the steam enclosure 8.

The invention having been described in the foregoing with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be appreciated that modifications and variations are possible without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Thus, for example, the inclined heating element arrangement of Figures 2A to 2F and 4A to 4F could be incorporated into the embodiments of Figures 1A to 1F and 4A to 4F. With such an inclined heating element arrangement, or indeed with the alternative level arrangement of Figures 1A to 1F, the heating

element 2 could be arranged to have a different, preferably lower, power output density in the regions thereof which is juxtaposed with the bimetallic sensor of the element protector control 9 for the purpose of achieving better compatibility between the operating temperature of the element and the temperature at which the element protector control will operate.

Other modifications that might occur to the skilled reader might be to form the seal 7 as an integral part of one or other or both of the upper and lower chassis rings 4 and 5.

The electrical connections to the heating element 2 via the element protector control 9 have not been shown and neither have the electrical connections to the steam sensor 10. These electrical connections will however cause no difficulty to the skilled reader and could be formed by means of discrete wires coupled to electrical terminals of the element protector control and of the steam sensor for example.

Alternatively, with the heating element 2 being of the kind comprising electrically resistive tracks formed on a substrate as aforementioned, the steam sensor 10 could be connected in circuit with the element protector control 9 by way of suitably formed conductor tracks provided on the heating element 2, there being an extension of the heating element

substrate into the steam sensor enclosure 8 for the purpose of enabling such conductor tracks to access the steam sensor. Furthermore, none of the figures shows the provision of an external operating knob for the steam control, it being appreciated that the described J-type steam control has to be manually reset after operation, but again no difficulties are believed to be presented to the skilled reader by these omissions which are for the avoidance of excessive detail. The skilled reader will be aware that the provision of an operating knob for the steam control externally of the vessel should desirably be without prejudice to the segregation which the invention obtains between the potentially wet environment of the steam sensor and the dry environment of the element protector control. Sealing would be desirable of any wires or other parts extending through the walls of the steam sensor enclosure. With the appliance configured as a cordless appliance, the arrangement could further be such that the steam sensor is mechanically switched into its OFF condition whenever the vessel part of the appliance is lifted from its base, thereby avoiding the undesirable scenario of an emptied vessel being set back upon its base with the steam sensor switched ON, provision being made in the design of the

appliance for the trip lever of the steam sensor 10 to mechanically interact with the electrical connector system of the cordless appliance, which provides for the supply of power to the vessel part through the base, in such a manner as to obtain this facility.