GB2035781A - Electric kettles - Google Patents

Abstract

An electric kettle which incorporates an immersion-type heating element 13 has a bottom 12 provided with a well 14 so that the element 13 is completely covered when the kettle contains substantially half a pint of water only. Alternatively the side walls may diverge from a planar bottom. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electric kettles The present invention relates to electric kettles employing immersion heating elements.

Known electric kettles employing immersion heating elements are uneconomical and wasteful if only a relatively small quantity of boiled water, say half a pint, is required. This is because the design of known kettles is such that a relatively large amount of water, usually about a pint, is required to cover the heating element.

According to the present invention there is provided an electric kettle having an immersion heating element mounted within the liquid-containing interior of the kettle, the position of the element and the interior shape of the kettle being such that substantially all the element with the exception of the cool rods is covered when the kettle contains substantially half a pint of water.

Preferably the bottom of the kettle is stepped to provide a well within which the heating element is disposed. The well may have one of many different configurations. For example, it may be circular or annular and may be disposed at the centre of the bottom or around the edges of the bottom close to the wall of the kettle body.

In another form of the invention the walls of the body extend outwardly and upwardly from the bottom of the kettle, so that the horizontal cross-section area increases at increasing distance from the bottom.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical section through a first electric kettle embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a section on the line A-A of Fig.

1; Figure 3 is a vertical section through a second electric kettle embodying the invention; Figure 4 is a section on the line A-A in Fig.

3; Figure 5 is a vertical section through a third electric kettle embodying the invention; and Figure 6 is a section on the line A-A of Fig.

5.

Referring firstly to Figs. 1 and 2, the kettle comprises two main parts, a wall part 11 and a bottom 1 2 sealed in a water tight manner to the wall part 11. An immersion heating element 13 is mounted in the wall part 11 to extend into the interior of the kettle. The bottom 1 2 is stepped to provide a centrally disposed well 14 within which substantially all the heating element 13, with the exception of the cool rods 15, i.e. the end portions of the element that do not dissipate any substantial amount of heat, is disposed. As indicated in Fig. 1, the kettle will operate satisfactorily and safely when containing only the amount of water needed to fill the well 14.

The kettle shown in Figs. 3 and 4 comprises a one-piece body providing both wall part and bottom and having a stepped bottom 1 2 providing a central well 1 4 in which a heating element 1 3 is accommodated.

It will be appreciated that other forms of the invention may be similar to those described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 and Figs. 3 and 4, but with the well 14 adjacent the outer edge of the bottom, so that the bottom will have a substantially annular well and a central land.

In the forms of the invention in which the bottom has a well in which the heating element is accommodated, a convenient indication of the minimum quantity of liquid needed for safe operation of the kettle is provided by the top of the well. Provided that the well is full, sufficient water is present.

The size of the wells in the kettles described above is such that they will contain about half a pint of water.

Turning now to Figs. 5 and 6, the kettle shown comprises a body providing both wall part 11 and bottom 12. The wall part 11 extends outwardly at increasing distance from the bottom 12. An immersion heating element 1 3 is disposed close to the bottom 1 2. It will be appreciated that the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the kettle means that a relatively small amount of water, say about half a pint, is sufficient to cover the element.

1. An electric kettle having an immersion heating element mounted within the liquidcontaining interior of the kettle, the position of the element and the interior shape of the kettle being such that substantially all the element with the exception of the cool rods is covered when the kettle contains substantially half a pint of water only.

2. A kettle according to claim 1 wherein the bottom of the kettle is stepped to provide a well within which the heating element is disposed.

3. A kettle according to claim 2 wherein the well is circular and disposed at the centre of the bottom.

4. A kettle according to claim 2 wherein the well is annular and is disposed around the edge of the bottom close to the wall of the kettle body.

5. A kettle according the claim 1 in which the walls of the body extend outwardly and upwardly from the bottom of the kettle, so that the horizontal cross-sectional area increases at increasing distance from the bottom.

6. A kettle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 or Figs. 3 and 4, or Figs. 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Electric kettles The present invention relates to electric kettles employing immersion heating elements. Known electric kettles employing immersion heating elements are uneconomical and wasteful if only a relatively small quantity of boiled water, say half a pint, is required. This is because the design of known kettles is such that a relatively large amount of water, usually about a pint, is required to cover the heating element. According to the present invention there is provided an electric kettle having an immersion heating element mounted within the liquid-containing interior of the kettle, the position of the element and the interior shape of the kettle being such that substantially all the element with the exception of the cool rods is covered when the kettle contains substantially half a pint of water. Preferably the bottom of the kettle is stepped to provide a well within which the heating element is disposed. The well may have one of many different configurations. For example, it may be circular or annular and may be disposed at the centre of the bottom or around the edges of the bottom close to the wall of the kettle body. In another form of the invention the walls of the body extend outwardly and upwardly from the bottom of the kettle, so that the horizontal cross-section area increases at increasing distance from the bottom. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical section through a first electric kettle embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a section on the line A-A of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a vertical section through a second electric kettle embodying the invention; Figure 4 is a section on the line A-A in Fig. 3; Figure 5 is a vertical section through a third electric kettle embodying the invention; and Figure 6 is a section on the line A-A of Fig. 5. Referring firstly to Figs. 1 and 2, the kettle comprises two main parts, a wall part 11 and a bottom 1 2 sealed in a water tight manner to the wall part 11. An immersion heating element 13 is mounted in the wall part 11 to extend into the interior of the kettle. The bottom 1 2 is stepped to provide a centrally disposed well 14 within which substantially all the heating element 13, with the exception of the cool rods 15, i.e. the end portions of the element that do not dissipate any substantial amount of heat, is disposed. As indicated in Fig. 1, the kettle will operate satisfactorily and safely when containing only the amount of water needed to fill the well 14. The kettle shown in Figs. 3 and 4 comprises a one-piece body providing both wall part and bottom and having a stepped bottom 1 2 providing a central well 1 4 in which a heating element 1 3 is accommodated. It will be appreciated that other forms of the invention may be similar to those described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 and Figs. 3 and 4, but with the well 14 adjacent the outer edge of the bottom, so that the bottom will have a substantially annular well and a central land. In the forms of the invention in which the bottom has a well in which the heating element is accommodated, a convenient indication of the minimum quantity of liquid needed for safe operation of the kettle is provided by the top of the well. Provided that the well is full, sufficient water is present. The size of the wells in the kettles described above is such that they will contain about half a pint of water. Turning now to Figs. 5 and 6, the kettle shown comprises a body providing both wall part 11 and bottom 12. The wall part 11 extends outwardly at increasing distance from the bottom 12. An immersion heating element 1 3 is disposed close to the bottom 1 2. It will be appreciated that the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the kettle means that a relatively small amount of water, say about half a pint, is sufficient to cover the element. CLAIMS

1. An electric kettle having an immersion heating element mounted within the liquidcontaining interior of the kettle, the position of the element and the interior shape of the kettle being such that substantially all the element with the exception of the cool rods is covered when the kettle contains substantially half a pint of water only.

2. A kettle according to claim 1 wherein the bottom of the kettle is stepped to provide a well within which the heating element is disposed.

3. A kettle according to claim 2 wherein the well is circular and disposed at the centre of the bottom.

4. A kettle according to claim 2 wherein the well is annular and is disposed around the edge of the bottom close to the wall of the kettle body.

5. A kettle according the claim 1 in which the walls of the body extend outwardly and upwardly from the bottom of the kettle, so that the horizontal cross-sectional area increases at increasing distance from the bottom.

6. A kettle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 or Figs. 3 and 4, or Figs. 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.