GB2441628A

GB2441628A - Valve for electrical appliance

Info

Publication number: GB2441628A
Application number: GB0716323A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Brandon Fumagalli
Original assignee: Strix Ltd
Current assignee: Strix Ltd
Priority date: 2006-09-07
Filing date: 2007-08-21
Publication date: 2008-03-12
Also published as: GB0617582D0; GB0716323D0

Abstract

An electrical appliance, such as a kettle or coffee-maker, comprises a washable part 2 having valve means 10 in its base, the valve means being opened by placing the washable part 2 on a support surface 4 or against a further appliance part. When the appliance is washed the valve closes thus minimizing the entry of water into the appliance.

Description

Washable Electrical Appliances The present invention relates to

electrical appliances which can be safely washed, particularly but not exclusively liquid heating appliances such as kettles, hot water jugs, milk boilers, coffee and tea makers, mocha makers, and the like.

It is desirable to be able to wash such appliances e.g. in a dishwasher machine. One example is a milk heating appliance wherein the liquid is often burnt onto the inside of the heating chamber. However, the harsh cleaning conditions and extended cycle times in dishwasher machines can lead to the ingress of moisture into all parts of the appliance even if it is designed to be sealed. In particular, water can penetrate into the base part of a liquid heating vessel where the heater, electrical control, electrical connections and power connector etc. are located. The presence of moisture around these components can cause tracking between the contacts and may detrimentally affect operation of the overheat control.

Water boiling appliances often include a steam sensitive switch e.g. in the base of the appliance for turning off the heater when the water has boiled. A steam pipe directs steam from inside the water heating chamber of the vessel to a steam switch under the base. One or more holes are usually provided in the base of the vessel to allow the steam condensate to escape so that moisture does not collect in the vicinity of the heater control and electrical connector. Such openings in the base are necessary if a steam switch is provided in the base, but they would allow a considerable amount of water to penetrate easily into the base if the appliance were washed, especially using a dishwasher machine. This could be compounded by a tendency for the user to place the vessel upside down in the dishwasher so that the inside of the vessel is adequately cleaned. Water trapped in the base would only have an opportunity to drain out once the vessel had been placed the right way up again for use. Even so, once water is inside the base it may not readily drain out.

Furthermore users expect to be able to take washable appliances out of a dishwasher without checking whether they are dry and to use them without considering the potential effect of water being trapped inside.

The present inventions seeks to at least mitigate the problems outlined above and provides an electrical appliance comprising a washable part having valve means in its base, the valve means being arranged such that it is opened by placing the appliance part on a support surface or against a further appliance part.

Thus in accordance with the invention a valve means in the base of a washable part of the appliance is closed when the appliance part is removed for cleaning, so that the appliance part can be washed while minimising the penetration of water. Furthermore however, because the valve means is open during normal use of the appliance, any water that is trapped inside the base can be released when the washable part is positioned ready for use. This can help to remove any moisture that may have penetrated during washing from inside the base of the appliance part before the appliance is switched on.

The valve means may be opened as soon as the appliance part is set down on any surface such as a kitchen work surface. This can allow the user to set the appliance part down on a convenient surface such as a draining board to collect any water which is released and ensure that the washable part is dry inside and out before use. Additionally or alternatively the appliance could comprise a plurality of parts which can be disassembled and which are arranged so that the valve means is' opened when the washable part is placed into contact with another part of the appliance during re-assembly. This can help to ensure that any trapped water is released when the appliance is assembled ready for use. More importantly, it can ensure that the valve means is open throughout use of the appliance such that any moisture formed during use is exhausted through the valve means in the base.

Preferably the appliance is a cordless appliance comprising an appliance-proper part and a power base. Further preferably the valve means is arranged to be opened by the appliance-proper part coming into contact with the power base. At least one part of a cordless connector set can be made dishwasher-resistant and hence the appliance-proper part as a whole can simply be lifted from its power base and placed in a dishwasher machine for cleaning.

The valve means can be arranged to align with a channel or dedicated collection surface provided on the power base. This can help to keep the connector on the power base dry and allows for easier cleaning of the appliance. It might also assist in avoiding a perception, where the appliance is used with water, that it is leaking.

It will be understood that the invention can apply to corded appliances, e.g. having a detachable cord and plug. Equally the invention can apply to an appliance having an internal power source.

The above-mentioned advantages can apply to any appliance having internal electrical components which is intended to be washed e.g. in a dishwasher machine.

Preferably though the appliance comprises a liquid heating appliance. In some preferred embodiments the appliance is able to boil water and comprises a steam switch to switch off its heater on contact with steam.

The base of the appliance part may be provided with one or more openings other than the valve means to allow moisture to escape, as is conventional in water boiling appliances for example, but in order to minimise the potential for water to get into the base it is preferable that the base has no openings other than the valve opening. In preferred embodiments where the appliance is a water boiling appliance comprising a steam-sensitive switch in its base, the valve means can therefore provide the dual function of allowing any trapped water to escape whilst also allowing for the necessary escape of steam condensate during use.

The valve means could be closed manually or the appliance arranged such that the act of disassembly closes the valve means automatically. However it is preferable that the valve means is resiliently biased to a closed position. This means that it is only when the washable part comes into contact, in use, with a support surface or with another appliance part that the valve means is opened by that contact against the resilient bias. Where the washable part is provided on a cordless appliance this helps to avoid water dripping out of the appliance part and onto the base connector when the appliance part is lifted from its power stand.

In preferred embodiments the valve means comprises a spring biased member which selectively opens and closes an opening in the base of the washable part. This provides a particularly simple and effective mechanical valve arrangement.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the valve means comprises a member which is spring biased so as to project through an opening in the base of the washable appliance part. Thus when the appliance part is placed down on a surface or against another part of the appliance the member is pushed up against the spring bias to open the valve means. This helps to ensure that any trapped water has an opportunity to drain out as soon as the washable part is placed down after cleaning or having been removed from a dishwasher machine.

In other embodiments the member may be recessed into the base or it may protrude from the base but be shielded by a cover. In these embodiments it is preferred that the valve means is arranged to be opened by a suitable spigot part on another part of the appliance, e.g. on a cordless power base, contacting the member when the washable part is rejoined with the appliance. Such arrangements ensure that the valve means is selectively opened only when the washable part is positioned in the appliance for use and not, for example, on a kitchen work surface. Moreover it reduces the chance of the valve means being accidentally opened during cleaning, e.g. when the washable part is inside a dishwasher machine.

In some embodiments the base is arranged to direct water towards the valve opening, e.g. by having a tilted water collection surface or channel leading towards the valve opening. This helps to ensure that any trapped water is directed towards the opening to be released.

Although the present invention has been found to be particularly advantageous in appliances which are cleaned in a dishwasher machine, the benefits described above are equally applicable to any electrical appliance which is designed to be washed or otherwise exposed to water.

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows schematically part of the base of a cordless appliance in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 shows schematically part of the base of a cordless appliance in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

There is shown in the Figures the base of an appliance comprising a cordless liquid heating vessel 2 and a power base 4. A side wall 6 of the vessel and a base cover 8 are depicted schematically but it will be understood that the base cover 8 may be part of a shroud or other base unit depending on the nature of the liquid heating vessel. The other components which may be found inside the base cover 8 are not shown but conventionally include an electric heater mounted under the base or forming the base of a liquid heating chamber of the vessel, a thermostatic control unit for the heater and a 3600 cordless connector. Where the vessel is designed for boiling water, a steam-sensitive switch is typically provided inside the base cover and a steam pipe is provided to direct steam from inside the vessel to the switch.

The base cover 8 has an aperture 10 which is selectively opened and closed by a spring-biased ball valve 12. The valve is biased to its closed position with the ball 12 blocking the aperture 10 in the base cover 8. The valve is biased closed with a spring force sufficient to keep it closed even when the vessel is turned upside down and also to withstand water pressure typically encountered in a dishwasher.

The vessel can be placed in a dishwasher machine in any orientation and the valve will prevent water from entering the base through the aperture 10. However, small amounts of water may still be able to penetrate into the base part of the vessel e.g. where the base cover or shroud contacts the vessel walls, around the cordless adapter or where there are openings for an on/off switch, indicator, etc. which lead into the base part of the vessel.

in the embodiment shown in Figure 1 the ball valve 12 includes a stem 14 extending away from the valve spring. The stem 14 protrudes from the aperture 10 when the valve is in its closed position. When the vessel 2 is placed down on the power base 4 in normal use, the ball valve 12 is forced open against its spring bias as the stem 14 comes into contact with the power base and is pushed up through the aperture 10. This allows for any water trapped inside the base cover 8, for example because the vessel 2 has been cleaned in a dishwasher machine, to be released through the aperture 10. Furthermore, if the vessel has a steam-activated control in its base then any steam condensate can also escape through the open aperture when the vessel is on the power base. Although not shown, the power base may be provided with a collection surface or run-off channel for water coming out through the aperture 10.

As soon as the vessel 2 is lifted off the power base 4, the valve 12 automatically returns to its closed position under the spring force. This prevents any water from dripping out through the aperture 10 onto the power base 4 and also from dripping when the vessel is carried. The valve 12 is then biased dosed when the vessel 2 is removed from the power base 4 for washing.

In accordance with this embodiment the vessel 2 can also be dried after being cleaned simply by placing the vessel 2 upright on any surface. This allows for water to drain out of the base part of the vessel before the vessel is placed on the power base for use.

In the alternative embodiment shown in Figure 2 the ball valve 12 does not have any parts protruding from the base of the vessel. This helps to ensure that the valve cannot be opened accidentally so that the potential for ingress of water into the base is minimised. Instead an upstanding spigot member 16 is provided on the power base 4 and the appliance is arranged such that the spigot member 16 forces the ball valve 12 open when the vessel 2 is placed down on the power base 4. Water trapped inside the base and steam condensate can only escape through the aperture when the vessel is placed down on the power base. The power connector is of the type which means that the vessel can only be placed on the power base in a single orientation wherein the spigot member 16 and ball valve 12 are aligned.

Although the embodiments described relate to an appliance comprising a cordless vessel and a power base with the valve being provided in the base of the liquid heating vessel, the valve could instead be provided in the base of any washable part of the appliance. Furthermore the appliance may not necessarily have a power base and could instead have a removable power cord or an inbuilt power source.

Claims

Claims: 1. An electrical appliance comprising a washable part having

valve means in its base, the valve means being arranged such that it is opened by placing the washable part on a support surface or against a further appliance part.
2. An electrical appliance as claimed in claim 1 wherein said valve means is arranged to be opened as soon as the washable part is set down on a surface.
3. An electrical appliance as claimed in claim I or 2 wherein the appliance comprises a plurality of parts which can be disassembled and which are arranged so that the valve means is opened when the washable part is placed into contact with another part of the appliance during re-assembly.
4. An electrical appliance as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the appliance is a cordless appliance comprising an appliance-proper part and a power base.
5. An electrical appliance as claimed in claim 4 wherein the valve means is arranged to be opened by the appliance-proper part coming into contact with the power base.
6. An electrical appliance as claimed in claim 5 wherein the valve means can be arranged to align with a channel or dedicated collection surface provided on the power base.
7. An electrical appliance as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the appliance comprises a liquid heating appliance.
8. An electrical appliance as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the appliance is a water boiling appliance and comprises a steam switch to switch off its heater on contact with steam.
9. An electrical appliance as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the base of the washable part is provided with one or more openings, other than the valve means, to allow moisture to escape.
10. An electrical appliance as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the base has no openings, other than the valve opening.
11. An electrical appliance as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the appliance is a water boiling appliance comprising a steam-sensitive switch in its base, and wherein the valve means is configured to allow of steam condensate to escape during use.
12. An electrical appliance as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the valve means is restliently biased to a closed position.
13. An electrical appliance as claimed in claim 12 wherein it is only when the washable part comes into contact, in use, with a support surface or with another appliance part that the valve means is opened by that contact against the resilient bias.
14. An electrical appliance as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the valve means comprises a spring biased member which selectively opens and closes an opening in the base of the washable part.
15. An electrical appliance as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the valve means comprises a member which is spring biased so as to project through an opening in the base of the washable appliance part.
16. An electrical appliance as claimed in claim 14 wherein the member is recessed into the base.
17. An electrical appliance as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the member protrudes from the base and is shielded by a cover.
18. An electrical appliance as claimed in claim 16 or 17 wherein the valve means is arranged to be opened by a spigot part on another part of the appliance.
19. An electrical appliance as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the base of the appliance is angled to direct water towards the valve opening.
20. An electrical appliance substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.