CLEAR KETTLE WITH DISPLAY

A kettle is provided having a fluid chamber having a transparent or translucent wall and a display panel located in or on the transparent or translucent wall, wherein the display panel is surrounded on at least three sides by the translucent or transparent wall.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to clear kettle with a display applied to or incorporated into a side of the kettle. In particular, the invention relates to a kettle having transparent or translucent walls and a display panel surrounded on at least three sides by the wall.

BACKGROUND

A wide variety of electric kettles exist for heating a fluid, such as water. Such kettles often provide a control interface, so that a user can activate the kettle to heat the fluid contained therein. Such control interfaces may include a display, such as a digital display, which may be used to present various information to a user. Such information may include a target temperature, an actual temperature, a current or target mode for the kettle, or various other information requested by a user.

Traditionally, such kettles are provided with a base containing electronics for powering and/or controlling the kettle. The kettle may then be placed on the base during a heating process and then removed from the base in order to dispense the fluid contained therein. As such, when removed from the base, the kettle is no longer constrained to a vertical orientation, and fluid can be poured out of the kettle.

Because heating a fluid, such as liquid water, using electricity is very power intensive, the base may be plugged into a wall outlet or the like, and when the kettle is placed on the base, the kettle may draw power from the base to heat the fluid contained therein. This may be through electrical contains through which electricity may be provided to the kettle and passed through resistors or some other heating element integrated into the kettle itself.

Power electronics may be provided in the base, but control electronics can be provided either in the base or in the kettle itself. Because heating is power intensive but operating control electronics is considerably less so, the control electronics may be provided in the base and may be supported by a battery rechargeable by the power electronics when the kettle is placed on the base.

Traditionally, the location of a control interface on such kettles is limited. Where kettles are generally opaque and formed, for example, of plastic, the control panel may be located somewhere on the housing thick enough to protect such control electronics from heat generated by the kettle. Where kettles are clear, such as those formed from clear plastic or glass, the control electronics are generally located either on the base or in a limited set of locations on the kettle that have thickened opaque housings that can be easily electrically connected to the base. Accordingly, such control panels, which may include a control interface having buttons, dials, and the like, as well as a display, have been limited to a bottom housing of the kettle adjacent the base or a handle artificially thickened to allow for such a control interface.

There is a need for an electronic kettle that is not limited aesthetically and functionally to providing a control interface in a base, a handle, or a lower housing of a kettle.

SUMMARY

A kettle is provided having a fluid chamber having a transparent or translucent wall and a display panel located in or on the transparent or translucent wall, wherein the display panel is surrounded on at least three sides by the translucent or transparent wall.

Typically, the display panel comprises an opaque material, such that the display panel is not transparent or translucent and the remainder of the wall is transparent or translucent.

In some embodiments, the kettle has a fluid chamber with a substantially circular cross section, and the transparent or translucent wall encloses the fluid chamber.

In some embodiments, the kettle further comprises a fluid chamber base. The fluid chamber base has a housing comprising an opaque material, and the housing encloses electronics associated with the kettle. A base of the transparent or translucent wall then mates with the fluid chamber base to define an interior space of the fluid chamber.

In some embodiments, the kettle includes a fixed base for mating with the fluid chamber base. The fixed base includes electrical components and at least one electrical contact. The fluid chamber base then comprises at least one electrical contact for interfacing with the fixed base, and the fixed base provides power to the fluid chamber base.

In some such embodiments the display panel is adjacent the fluid chamber base and has a connecting edge between the display panel and the fluid chamber base. Electrical wiring associated with the display panel then passes through the connecting edge from the fluid chamber base to the display panel.

In some embodiments, the kettle includes a handle segment comprising an opaque material. The handle segment may be adjacent the fluid chamber base and may have a connecting edge between the handle segment and the fluid chamber base. The electrical wiring associated with the display panel may then pass through the connecting edge from the fluid chamber base to the handle segment.

In some embodiments, the display panel is adjacent the handle segment and has a secondary connecting edge between the display panel and the handle segment. The electrical wiring associated with the display panel may then pass through the secondary connecting edge from the handle segment to the display panel.

In some embodiments, the kettle further comprises an upper trim comprising an opaque material, the upper trim having a secondary connecting edge between the upper trim and the handle segment. The display panel may then be adjacent the upper trim and have a tertiary connecting edge between the upper trim and the display panel. Electrical wiring associated with the display panel may then pass through the secondary connecting edge into the upper trim and through the tertiary connecting edge from the upper trim to the display panel.

In some such embodiments, the upper trim may be integrated into a lid of the kettle, and the tertiary connecting edge comprises electrical contacts for connecting the upper trim to the display panel.

In some embodiments, wherein the display panel is an opaque plastic.

In some embodiments, the transparent or translucent wall is a clear glass or plastic.

In some embodiments, the display panel comprises a user interface including controls and a display, and the display provides information associated with an actual status of the kettle or a user selection associated with the kettle.

In some such embodiments, the user interface includes capacitive touch controls. In some such embodiments, controls of the user interface are backlit

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This disclosure describes the best mode or modes of practicing the invention as presently contemplated. This description is not intended to be understood in a limiting sense, but provides an example of the invention presented solely for illustrative purposes by reference to the accompanying drawings to advise one of ordinary skill in the art of the advantages and construction of the invention. In the various views of the drawings, like reference characters designate like or similar parts.

FIG.1is a perspective view of an embodiment of a kettle100in accordance with this disclosure.FIG.2is a side view of the kettle100ofFIG.1.FIG.3is a back view of the kettle100ofFIG.1.FIGS.4A and4Bare sectioned views of the kettle100ofFIG.1taken along line4A-4A and4B-4B ofFIG.2respectively.

As shown, the kettle100generally comprises a fluid chamber110for holding a fluid. Generally, the fluid chamber110would hold a liquid, such as water, and the kettle100would be used to boil the water. The fluid chamber110has a transparent or translucent wall120and a display panel130located in or on the transparent or translucent wall. As shown, the display panel130is surrounded on at least three sides140a, b, cby the translucent or transparent wall120.

The display panel130generally comprises an opaque material. Accordingly, the wall120is transparent or translucent, but the display panel is not. The wall120may be made of a clear plastic or glass, for example, while the display panel may be made of an opaque plastic or a metal material.

The kettle100also may have a fluid chamber base150. The fluid chamber based150generally has a housing160comprising an opaque material, and the housing encloses electronics associated with the kettle100. The fluid chamber base150may house, for example, control electronics and/or heating elements associated with the kettle. A base of the transparent or translucent wall120may then mate with the fluid chamber base150in order to define an interior space of the fluid chamber110.

The kettle100may further comprise a fixed base170for mating with the fluid chamber base150. The fixed base170typically comprises electrical components and at least one electrical contact. The fluid chamber base150the comprises at least one electrical contact for interfacing with the fixed base170when the fluid chamber base is placed on the fixed base. In this way, the fixed base170provides power to the fluid chamber base150.

In some embodiments, the fixed base170contains only power electronics, while all control electronics are confined to the fluid chamber110portion of the kettle100. In such embodiments, control electronics may be provided in the fluid chamber base150, and a battery may be similarly provided therein. The battery may then be charged using power drawn from the fixed base170by way of the at least one electrical contact.

Because the fixed base170generally contains power electronics for providing power for any heating elements contained within the fluid chamber base150, the kettle100may only be used to heat the fluid contained within the fluid chamber110when the fluid chamber base150is positioned on the fixed base170.

In the embodiment shown, the display panel130is located adjacent the fluid chamber base150and may then have a connecting edge180between the display panel130and the fluid chamber base150. In some such embodiments, electrical wiring190associated with the display panel130may then pass through the connecting edge180from the fluid chamber base150to the display panel130.

As shown inFIG.4B, in some embodiments, the fluid chamber110has a substantially circular cross section. In such embodiments, the transparent or translucent wall120encloses the fluid chamber110.

As shown, the display panel130typically comprises a user interface, including controls200and a display210. The display210provides information associated with an actual status of the kettle100or a user selection associated with the kettle, such as a selected mode or the like. The user interface controls200may include capacitive touch controls, and such controls of the user interface may be backlit.

FIG.5is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a kettle500in accordance with this disclosure.FIG.6is a side view of the kettle500ofFIG.5.FIG.7is a back view of the kettle500ofFIG.5.

FIG.8is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a kettle800in accordance with this disclosure.FIG.9is a side view of the kettle800ofFIG.8.FIG.10is a rear view of the kettle800ofFIG.8.FIG.11is a sectioned view of the kettle800ofFIG.8taken along line11-11ofFIG.10.

Both the kettle500shown inFIG.5and the kettle800ofFIG.8are similar to the kettle100shown inFIG.1. As such, components that are similar are provide with the same reference numerals, and only the differences between the embodiments are discussed herein. Accordingly, all three embodiments of the kettle100,500,800, are provided with a fluid chamber110having a transparent or translucent wall120and a display panel130surrounded on at least three sides140a, b, cby that wall.

As shown, the kettles100,500,800may be provided with corresponding handle segments510. The handle segments may be formed from an opaque material, such as plastic, and may comprise a handle base segment520and a handle grip segment530.

The handle segment510may be provided adjacent the fluid chamber base150and may then have a connecting edge540between the handle segment and the fluid chamber base. In such an embodiment, and as discussed above with respect to the connecting edge180between the display panel130and the fluid chamber base150in the kettle100ofFIG.1, electrical wiring190associated with the display panel130may pass through the connecting edge540from the fluid chamber base150to the handle segment510.

In some such embodiments, such as the kettle500ofFIG.5, the display panel130is adjacent the handle segment510and has a secondary connecting edge550between the display panel130and the handle segment510. The electrical wiring190associated with the display panel130may then pass through the secondary connecting edge550from the handle segment510to the display panel130.

In some such embodiments, the electrical wiring may pass through the handle base segment520, and as such, the secondary connecting edge550may be between the handle base segment and the display panel130.

In some alternative embodiments, such as the kettle800ofFIG.8, the kettle is further provided with an upper trim810also comprising an opaque material. The upper trim810may then have a secondary connecting edge820between the upper trim and the handle segment510.

In such an embodiment, the display panel130may be provided adjacent the upper trim810. The kettle800may then have a tertiary connecting edge830between the upper trim810and the display panel130. Electrical wiring190associated with the display panel130may then pass from the fluid chamber base150into the handle segment510by way of the connecting edge540. The electrical wiring190may then pass through the secondary connecting edge820from the handle segment510to the upper trim810. The wiring190may then further pass through the tertiary connecting edge830from the upper trim810into the display panel130.

In such embodiments, wiring190associated with the display panel130passes from the fluid chamber base150into the handle segment510and from the handle segment into the upper trim810, and finally, from the upper trim into the display panel130. Each of the fluid chamber base150, handle segment510, upper trim810and display panel130may be opaque and may be provided, for example, as an opaque plastic or as a metal component, and as such, the wiring190remains hidden at all times. Further, the opaque materials may be provided with insulation, so as to protect the wiring190from the heat of the fluid in the fluid chamber110or the heating electronics in the fluid chamber base150.

In the kettle800ofFIG.8, the wiring190may pass through either the handle base segment520or the handle grip segment530, and then passes through the secondary connecting edge820adjacent the upper trim810.

In the embodiments shown, the kettle100,500,800is provided with a lid840. Such a lid840may be used to enclose the fluid chamber110in order to prevent steam from escaping during use and in order to increase the speed at which fluid, such as water, may be heated. Such a lid840may be opened in order to provide access to an interior of the fluid chamber110such that the kettle100,500,800may be easily filled. In some embodiments, the upper trim810may be integrated into the lid of the kettle100,500,800, such that the trim is lifted away from the top of the transparent or translucent wall120when the lid840is opened. In some, alternative, embodiments, the trim810is fixed to the wall120such that the trim frames the lid840and remains stationary when the lid is opened. In embodiments where the trim810is integrated into the lid840, the trim may be provided with electrical contacts for connecting the upper trim to the display panel130at the tertiary connecting edge830.