Abstract:
A detachable heat sealing apparatus in which the electric heating device and the power supplier are detachably arranged together, i.e., the electric heating device is coupled to the power supplier holding casing by means of a detachable coupling arrangement such that the electric heating device or the power supplier can be replaced when damaged or, a different model of electric heating device can be fastened to the casing to substitute the original electric heating device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to an electric heat sealing apparatus and, more particularly, to a detachable heat sealing apparatus, which allows the user to replace the electric heating device when damaged, or to change the model of the electric heating device subject to different sealing requirements.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    Electric heat sealing apparatuses are commonly used in shops and stalls to seal polybags or the like, keeping packed foods or articles from contamination.  
           [0005]    However, regular heat sealing apparatus are commonly made in integrity, i.e., the shell holding the power supplier and the shell holding the electric heating device are fixedly connected together and not detachable. When the power supplier or the electric heating device gets damaged, the whole assembly of the heat sealing apparatus becomes useless and must be thrown away. It is neither convenient nor economic to use such a kind of heat sealing apparatus.  
           [0006]    Further, a different model of a heat sealing apparatus has a different design of electric heating device. For example, a heat sealing apparatus having an electric heating device with an elongated metal heating element or a heat sealing apparatus having an electric heating device with a short metal heating element may be separately used to fit different sealing requirements. Because the electric heating devices of conventional heat sealing apparatuses are not replaceable, consumers may have to prepare various heat sealing apparatuses to fit different sealing requirements.  
           [0007]    Further, various prior art heat sealing apparatuses are known. The inventor has also invented various designs of heat sealing apparatuses, for example, the designs disclosed in Taiwan Patent Publication Nos. 370078; 370077; and 356811.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a detachable heat sealing apparatus, which allows the user to replace the electric heating device or the power supplier when damaged, or to change the model of the electric heating device subject to different sealing requirements.  
           [0009]    To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, the detachable heat sealing apparatus is comprised of an elongated casing, a power supplier, an electric heating device, and a handle. The elongated casing comprises a receiving chamber, a coupling structure, and a mounting structure, wherein the receiving chamber is adapted to accommodate the power supplier. The power supplier is mounted in the receiving chamber inside the elongated casing, having contact means disposed on the outside of the elongated casing for output of electric power. The electric heating device comprises a coupling structure, and power terminal means. The coupling structure is detachably coupled to the coupling structure of the elongated casing, the power terminals are maintained in contact with the contact means of the power supplier after connection of the electric heating device to the elongated casing. The handle has a mounting structure pivotally fastened to the mounting structure of the elongated casing for enabling the handle to be turned relative to the elongated casing.  
           [0010]    The main feature of the present invention is the detachable design of the power supplier and the electric heating device, i.e., the detachable coupling arrangement between the coupling structure of the electric heating device and the coupling structure of the elongated casing, the elongated casing holds the power supplier, the electric heating device can be detached from the elongated casing for a replacement. Therefore, the user can replace the electric heating device or the power supplier when it is damaged, or change the model of the electric heating device to fit different sealing requirements when desired.  
           [0011]    According to the first embodiment of the present invention, the coupling structure of the elongated casing is comprised of two hooks, and the coupling structure of the electric heating device is comprised of two hook holes adapted to receive the hooks of the coupling structure of the elongated casing. Alternatively, hooks can be provided at the electric heating device, and hook holes can be formed in the elongated casing to receive the hooks at the electric heating device. The power supplier comprises two power terminals extended out of the elongated casing and forming the positive and negative contacts, and at least one power source member, for example, at least one battery cell electrically connected to the power terminals.  
           [0012]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, the heat sealing apparatus is comprised of an elongated casing, a power supplier, and an electric heating device. The elongated casing comprises a receiving chamber, and a coupling structure, wherein the receiving chamber is adapted to accommodate the power supplier. The power supplier is mounted in the receiving chamber inside the elongated casing, having contact means disposed on the outside of the elongated casing for output of electric power. The electric heating device comprises a coupling structure and power terminal means, wherein the coupling structure is detachably coupled to the coupling structure of the elongated casing, and the power terminal means is maintained in contact with the contact means of the power supplier after connection of the electric heating device to the elongated casing. The coupling structure of the elongated casing can be a dovetail tongue, and the coupling structure of the electric heating device can be a dovetail groove which receives the dovetail tongue of the elongated casing. The power supplier comprises two power terminals extended out of the elongated casing and forming the positive and negative contacts, and at least one power source member, for example, at least one battery cell electrically connected to the power terminals.  
           [0013]    Therefore, by means of the coupling structure of the electric heating device and the coupling structure of the elongated casing, the electric heating device is detachably fastened to the elongated casing and maintained electrically connected to the power supplier. When desired or if the electric heating device is damaged, the user can replace the electric heating device or change the model of the electric heating device. Except the aforesaid hook joint and swivel joint, the male and female coupling structures between the electric heating device and the elongated casing may be variously embodied.  
           [0014]    Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a detachable heat sealing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the detachable heat sealing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a detachable heat sealing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a detachable heat sealing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a detachable heat sealing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a detachable heat sealing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a detachable heat sealing apparatus constructed according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the detachable heat sealing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the detachable heat sealing apparatus, referenced by  1 , is comprised of an elongated casing  2 , a power supplier  4 , an electric heating device  5 , and a handle  6 . The elongated casing  2  is comprised of a body shell  201  and a top cover shell  202 . The body shell  201  comprises a receiving open chamber  21 , a coupling structure  22  bilaterally disposed near the front side, and a mounting structure  23  in the rear side. The top cover shell  202  is mounted on the body shell  201  to close the receiving open chamber  21 . According to this embodiment, the coupling structure  22  is formed of two hooks; the mounting structure  23  is a transversely extended pivot hole.  
         [0022]    The power supplier  4  is installed in the receiving open chamber  21  inside the body shell  201  of the elongated casing  2 , and comprises two power terminals  31  and  32 , and two power source members  33  and  34  electrically and respectively connected to the power terminals  31  and  32 . The two power terminals  31  and  32  are respectively extended to the outside of the front side of the body shell  201  of the elongated casing  2 , forming positive pole and negative pole contacts  41 . The power terminals  31  and  32  have the respective other end connected to an electric conduction plate (not shown) to form an electric current loop. According to this embodiment, the power terminals  31  and  32  are conducting metal plates; the power source members  33  and  34  are battery cells.  
         [0023]    The electric heating device  5  comprises a coupling structure  51  detachably coupled to the coupling structure  22  of the elongated casing  2 . According to this embodiment, the coupling structure  51  is formed of two hook holes respectively detachably hooked up with the hooks (coupling structure)  22  of the elongated casing  2 . The electric heating device  5  further comprises two power terminals  52 , which are maintained in contact with the contacts  41  of the power terminals  31  and  32  of the power supplier  4  after connection of the hook holes (coupling structure)  51  of the electric heating device  5  to the hooks (coupling structure)  22  of the elongated casing  2 , and an elongated metal heating element  53  located on one side thereof and electrically connected to the power terminals  52  for producing heat after electric connection of the power terminals  52  to the power supplier  4 .  
         [0024]    The handle  6  has a mounting structure  61  disposed in one end and pivotally coupled to the mounting structure  23  of the elongated casing  2 . According to this embodiment, the mounting structure  61  is comprised of two pivot rods respectively pivotally inserted into the two distal ends of the transversely extended pivot hole (mounting structure)  23  of the elongated casing  2 . After installation of the handle  6 , the detachable heat sealing apparatus  1  is assembled (see FIG. 2). When sealing a polybag or the like, the workpiece is put by a user on the metal heating element  53  of the electric heating device  5  and then the free end of the handle  6  is pressed downwards toward the electric heating device  5 . During downward pivoting motion of the handle  6 , a switch  24  is driven by the handle  6  to close the circuit, enabling electric current to pass from the battery cells (power source members)  33  and  34  to the metal heating element  53  of the electric heating device  5  via the power terminals  31  and  32  of the power supplier  4  and the power terminals  52  of the electric heating device  5 , and therefore the metal heating element  53  is caused to produce heat. Because the handle  6  is coupled to the elongated casing  2  by means of inserting the pivot rods (mounting structure)  61  into the ends of the transversely extended pivot hole (mounting structure)  23 , the handle  6  can easily be detached from the elongated casing  2  for a replacement. &lt;[Does this mean replacement of the handle?] 
         [0025]    As indicated above, the electric heating device  5  and the power supplier  4  are detachable. If the electric heating device  5  or the power supplier  4  becomes damaged, the electric heating device  5  can be separated from the elongated casing  2  for a replacement or repair work by means of disengaging the hooks (coupling structure)  22  of the elongated casing  2  from the hook holes (coupling structure)  51  of the electric heating device  5 .  
         [0026]    Referring to FIG. 2 again, a power jack  25  is located on the rear side of the casing  2  for receiving a mains power supply through an external power cable, i.e., the necessary electric power for the electric heating device  5  can be obtained from the battery cells or an AC power source.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a detachable heat sealing apparatus  7  according to the second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the exception of the design of the electric heating device. The electric heating device  5  of the aforesaid first embodiment has an elongated metal heating element  53  for a wide sealing operation. According to this second embodiment, the electric heating device, referenced by  72 , has a short metal heating element  722  located on the top side for a narrow area sealing operation, and two hook holes  721  detachably coupled to respective hooks  711  at the elongated casing, referenced by  71 . Similar to the aforesaid first embodiment, the electric heating device  72  can easily be detached from the elongated casing  71  for a replacement.  
         [0028]    Referring to FIGS.  1 ˜ 3  again, the elongated casings  2  and  71  have different shapes; however the coupling structures  22  and  711  are identical. Therefore, the user can attach either electric heating device  5  or  72  to either elongated casing  2  or  71  to fit different operation requirements.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a detachable heat sealing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the detachable heat sealing apparatus eliminates the aforesaid handle; the coupling structure  811  of the elongated casing  81  is a dovetail tongue disposed in the rear side; the coupling structure  821  of the electric heating device  82  is a dovetail groove for connection to the dovetail tongue of the coupling structure  811  of the elongated casing  81 . When in use, the metal heating element  822  of the electric heating device  82  is directly pressed on the workpiece.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a detachable heat sealing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid third embodiment with the exception of the detachable arrangement between the casing and the electric heating device. According to this fourth embodiment, the coupling structure  911  of the elongated casing  91  is a coupling hole disposed in the rear side; the coupling structure  921  of the electric heating device  92  is a coupling flange, which is fastened to the elongated casing  91  when inserted into the coupling hole of the coupling structure  911  and rotated through an angle relative to the coupling hole of the coupling structure  911 . This embodiment enables the electric heating device  92  to be detachably fastened to the elongated casing  91 .  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a detachable heat sealing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid second embodiment with the exception of the detachable arrangement between the casing and the electric heating device. According to this fifth embodiment, the coupling structure  931  of the elongated casing  93  is a socket, and the coupling structure  941  of the electric heating device  94  is a plug member detachably press-fitted into the socket of the coupling structure  931  of the elongated casing  93 . This embodiment enables the electric heating device  94  to be detachably fastened to the elongated casing  93 .  
         [0032]    A prototype of the detachable heat sealing apparatus has been constructed with the features of FIGS.  1 ˜ 6 . The detachable heat sealing apparatus functions smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.  
         [0033]    Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.