GB2189378A

GB2189378A - Container for liquids

Info

Publication number: GB2189378A
Application number: GB08709155A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Karl Birkert
Original assignee: Rowenta Werke GmbH
Current assignee: Rowenta Werke GmbH
Priority date: 1986-04-17
Filing date: 1987-04-16
Publication date: 1987-10-28
Anticipated expiration: 2007-04-16
Also published as: AU585440B2; DE8610515U1; GB2189378B; AU7154087A; GB8709155D0

Abstract

A container 1, for example a kettle, has a spout 3 through which liquid in the container may be poured, and a pivotally mounted flap 5 which closes the spout and opens only when the container is tilted in the pouring direction. The container is arranged to resist being tilted in the pouring direction to a greater extent than if resists being tilted in other directions, so that if the container is knocked over it will not fall in the pouring direction and hence the flap 5 remains closed, thereby preventing uncontrolled outflow of liquid. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Container for liquids The invention relates to a container for liquids, for example an electric water boiler, heat retaining jug or the like.

Electric water boilers, heat retaining jugs or the like consist of a liquid container with a lid, and a spout is provided on the container in the region of the lid. In a liquid container of this type, it is known to provide a closing device in the region of the spout (German Offenlegungsschrift 3,106,736). This closing device consists of a ball which closes the container interior when the liquid container stands upright and which opens the pouring orifice in the pouring position. When this container is overturned, the contents flood out of the spout, and there is the danger that hot liquid flowing uncontrolled out of the liquid container will cause severe scalding. This danger cannot be eliminated by the known closing device.

According to the invention there is provided a container having a spout through which a liquid in the container may be poured, and a closure device for the spout arranged to open when the container is tilted in the pouring direction and to remain closed when the container is tilted in other directions, the container being arranged such that it resists being tilted in the pouring direction to a greater extent than it resists being tilted in other directions.

If such a liquid container is inadvertently overturned or upset, it will tend not to fall in the pouring direction so that the closure device will remain closed and hence liquid in the container is prevented from flowing out uncontrolled. The container may be an electric water boiler, for example a kettle, or a heat retaining jug or the like.

In a preferred embodiment, the resting surface of the liquid container is designed so that, when the container stands upright, a great amount of force has to be exerted in the pouring direction of the spout, in order to move the container out of its state of equilibrium. This means that the container, if overturned inadvertently, does not fall over in the pouring direction.

Preferably the closure device comprises a pivotally mounted flap arranged to effect closure by covering the spout cross-section, and a counterweight operatively connected to the flap offset from the pivot axis so as to ensure that the flap is in the appropriate closed or open position when the container is tilted. The flap may be articulated on a lid of the container in the region of the spout to be pivotable in the pouring direction.

The flap is pivoted into the closed and open positions by means of the counterweight connected to the flap offset from the pivot axis.

Advantageously, the counterweight, for example a ball, is arranged so as to be freely movable within a holding cage. The holding cage is preferably designed so that the ball, as a result of a change in its position, exerts on the flap a force directed in one direction or the other. As a result, when the container stands upright, the flap closes the spout cross-section, whereas in the pouring position the latter is opened.

Preferably the cage has a bottom surface inclined towards the container bottom in the closed position of the flap, and the cage having side walls arranged to permit movement of the ball which effects opening of the flap only when the container is tilted in the pouring direction. In a preferred arrangement ball holders located in the side walls of the holding cage block the ball when the tilting direction of the container differs from the pouring direction, so that the ball does not change its position. The flap thus remains closed, with the result that, if the liquid container is inadvertently overturned, hot water is prevented from flooding out.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an electric water boiler with a closure device in the closed position; Figure 2 shows a plan view, partially in section, of the electric water boiler according to Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows the electric water boiler with the closure device in the open position.

The electric water boiler 1 illustrated in Figure 1 consists of a container 2 with a spout 3 and a lid 4. A flap 5 is articulated on the lid 4 so as to be pivotable in the pouring direction of the spout 3 and covers the free spout cross-section. A counterweight in the form of a ball 7 is arranged on the flap 5 offset from the pivot axis 6. The ball 7 is mounted so as to be freely movable in a holding cage 8. The bottom surface 9 of the holding cage 8 is inclined towards the container bottom 10, and ball holders 12 are formed in the side walls 11, as shown in Figure 2.

The resting surface 13 of the container 2 is designed so that the water boiler 1 standing upright cannot fall over by itself in the pouring direction of the spout 3. When the water boiler 1 is pivoted in the pouring direction out of its position as shown in Figure 1, the ball 7 changes its position and exerts a force in the pouring direction on the flap 5, with the result that the flap 5 pivots out of its closed position into the open position shown in Figure 3. However, if the tilting movement of the water boiler 1 does not take place in the pouring direction, the ball 7 is blocked by the ball holders 12. As a result, the ball 7 cannot change its position and also cannot exert any force on the flap 5. The free spout cross-section therefore remains closed, and the content of the container 2 cannot flood out.

Modifications of the invention both in its broad or specific aspects may be apparent to a skilled person and it is intended that such modifications are within the scope of this disclosure, even if features presently described or claimed are omitted.

1. A container having a spout through which a liquid in the container may be poured, and a closure device for the spout arranged to open when the container is tilted in the pouring direction and to remain closed when the container is tilted in other directions, the container being arranged such that it resists being tilted in the pouring direction to a greater extent than it resists being tilted in other

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Container for liquids The invention relates to a container for liquids, for example an electric water boiler, heat retaining jug or the like. Electric water boilers, heat retaining jugs or the like consist of a liquid container with a lid, and a spout is provided on the container in the region of the lid. In a liquid container of this type, it is known to provide a closing device in the region of the spout (German Offenlegungsschrift 3,106,736). This closing device consists of a ball which closes the container interior when the liquid container stands upright and which opens the pouring orifice in the pouring position. When this container is overturned, the contents flood out of the spout, and there is the danger that hot liquid flowing uncontrolled out of the liquid container will cause severe scalding. This danger cannot be eliminated by the known closing device. According to the invention there is provided a container having a spout through which a liquid in the container may be poured, and a closure device for the spout arranged to open when the container is tilted in the pouring direction and to remain closed when the container is tilted in other directions, the container being arranged such that it resists being tilted in the pouring direction to a greater extent than it resists being tilted in other directions. If such a liquid container is inadvertently overturned or upset, it will tend not to fall in the pouring direction so that the closure device will remain closed and hence liquid in the container is prevented from flowing out uncontrolled. The container may be an electric water boiler, for example a kettle, or a heat retaining jug or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the resting surface of the liquid container is designed so that, when the container stands upright, a great amount of force has to be exerted in the pouring direction of the spout, in order to move the container out of its state of equilibrium. This means that the container, if overturned inadvertently, does not fall over in the pouring direction. Preferably the closure device comprises a pivotally mounted flap arranged to effect closure by covering the spout cross-section, and a counterweight operatively connected to the flap offset from the pivot axis so as to ensure that the flap is in the appropriate closed or open position when the container is tilted. The flap may be articulated on a lid of the container in the region of the spout to be pivotable in the pouring direction. The flap is pivoted into the closed and open positions by means of the counterweight connected to the flap offset from the pivot axis. Advantageously, the counterweight, for example a ball, is arranged so as to be freely movable within a holding cage. The holding cage is preferably designed so that the ball, as a result of a change in its position, exerts on the flap a force directed in one direction or the other. As a result, when the container stands upright, the flap closes the spout cross-section, whereas in the pouring position the latter is opened. Preferably the cage has a bottom surface inclined towards the container bottom in the closed position of the flap, and the cage having side walls arranged to permit movement of the ball which effects opening of the flap only when the container is tilted in the pouring direction. In a preferred arrangement ball holders located in the side walls of the holding cage block the ball when the tilting direction of the container differs from the pouring direction, so that the ball does not change its position. The flap thus remains closed, with the result that, if the liquid container is inadvertently overturned, hot water is prevented from flooding out. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an electric water boiler with a closure device in the closed position; Figure 2 shows a plan view, partially in section, of the electric water boiler according to Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows the electric water boiler with the closure device in the open position. The electric water boiler 1 illustrated in Figure 1 consists of a container 2 with a spout 3 and a lid 4. A flap 5 is articulated on the lid 4 so as to be pivotable in the pouring direction of the spout 3 and covers the free spout cross-section. A counterweight in the form of a ball 7 is arranged on the flap 5 offset from the pivot axis 6. The ball 7 is mounted so as to be freely movable in a holding cage 8. The bottom surface 9 of the holding cage 8 is inclined towards the container bottom 10, and ball holders 12 are formed in the side walls 11, as shown in Figure 2. The resting surface 13 of the container 2 is designed so that the water boiler 1 standing upright cannot fall over by itself in the pouring direction of the spout 3. When the water boiler 1 is pivoted in the pouring direction out of its position as shown in Figure 1, the ball 7 changes its position and exerts a force in the pouring direction on the flap 5, with the result that the flap 5 pivots out of its closed position into the open position shown in Figure 3. However, if the tilting movement of the water boiler 1 does not take place in the pouring direction, the ball 7 is blocked by the ball holders 12. As a result, the ball 7 cannot change its position and also cannot exert any force on the flap 5. The free spout cross-section therefore remains closed, and the content of the container 2 cannot flood out. Modifications of the invention both in its broad or specific aspects may be apparent to a skilled person and it is intended that such modifications are within the scope of this disclosure, even if features presently described or claimed are omitted. CLAIMS

1. A container having a spout through which a liquid in the container may be poured, and a closure device for the spout arranged to open when the container is tilted in the pouring direction and to remain closed when the container is tilted in other directions, the container being arranged such that it resists being tilted in the pouring direction to a greater extent than it resists being tilted in other directions.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closure device comprises a pivotally mounted flap arranged to effect closure by covering the spout cross-section, and a counterweight operatively connected to the flap offset from the pivot axis so as to ensure that the flap is in the appropriate closed or open position when the container is tilted.

3. A container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the container has a lid to which the flap is pivotally connected.

4. A container as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein a cage is secured to the flap offset from the pivot axis, the counterweight being a ball arranged inside the cage so as to be movable therein.

5. A container as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cage has a bottom surface inclined towards the container bottom in the closed position of the flap, and wherein the cage has side walls arranged to permit movement of the ball which effects opening of the flap only when the container is tilted in the pouring direction.

6. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.