Abstract:
The resent invention provides a locking fondue assembly including a pot assembly, a stand assembly and a burner assembly. Each assembly securely connects during use minimizing operator risk and increasing operator convenience. A pot lids locks onto a fondue pot and minimizes the risk of hot liquids from escaping. The fondue pot removably locks into a stand assembly and includes thermally distanced legs allowing immediate positioning on available work surfaces. A weight burner base assembly lockably secures a burner and minimizes the risk associated with a top-heavy fondue assembly.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a locking fondue assembly. More specifically, the present invention relates to a locking fondue assembly that includes at least a pot assembly, a stand assembly, and a burner assembly while providing improved operator safety features. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Conventionally available fondue assemblies commonly include a fondue pot having handles and a top opening for accessing the molten fondue with fondue forks. Often there is a separate heating assembly that supplies electrical or flame heat to the bottom of the fondue pot to keep the fondue warm during use. 
     Unfortunately, conventional fondue pot assemblies have many common detriments which can cause damage to a table or other work surface, increase user risk, and make it difficult to neatly eat from fondue assembly. Often conventional fondue pots having legs, allow the legs to be heated directly by he heating element itself. Conventional legs are often as hot as the bottom of the conventional fondue pot itself. Consequently, it is impossible to remove a warm fondue pot from the heating assembly and place it on a work surface for easy access or replenishment since the legs will burn or mar the work surface. Where conventional fondue assemblies lack legs, then placing the hot pot bottom on a work surface causes similar damage. 
     Additionally, conventional fondue pots lack secure lids to retain fondue forks during transportation and use. Conventional fondue pot lids are often fall or shift off a pot top accidentally while the hot fondue is being accessed by fondue forks. As with conventional fondue pot lids, it is easy to knock a conventional fondue pot off a conventional stand and spill the hot liquid contents. Conventional fondue pots are not locked into a heating assembly and consequently increase burning risks. 
     Conventional burner assemblies often require specially formed types of burners or different types of fuels, limiting broad-spectrum distribution to a worldwide market. Additionally, conventional burners or fuel sources are easily tipped out of or away from a burner base risking fire damage to surrounding materials. Often conventional burner bases are detrimentally lightweight and provide little stability to the typically top-heavy fondue assembly. 
     In summary, the problems of conventionally available fondue assemblies Include: 
     1. Lose pots and lids that are easily displaced by accident 
     2. Loose fondue forks during use and transport. 
     3. Loose burner or heater assemblies. 
     4. Hot pot legs that can damage a work surface. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to overcome the detriments noted above and provide a safe, secure, and user-friendly locking fondue apparatus. 
     It is another object of the present invention is to provide a fondue pot assembly with a lid that locks to a pot assembly and a pot assembly which positively locks to a stand and burner assembly. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a fondue pot assembly with a secure burner assembly that locks a heat source in to position and prevents accidental separation. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a fondue pot assembly having a fondue pot with distancing legs that space the pot from a work surface and minimize work surface damage. 
     The present invention relates to a locking fondue apparatus that provides a locking fondue assembly including a pot assembly, a stand assembly and a burner assembly. Each of these assemblies securely connects together during use minimizing operator risk and increasing operator convenience. A pot lid locks onto a fondue pot and minimizes the risk of hot liquids from escaping. The fondue pot removably locks into a stand assembly and includes thermally distanced legs allowing immediate positioning on available work surfaces. A weighted burner base assembly lockably secures a burner and minimizes the risks associated with a top-heavy fondue assembly. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention there is provided a locking fondue assembly, comprising: a pot assembly, the pot assembly including a pot body and a pot lid, a snap lock means at a top of the pot body releasably securing the pot lid to the pot body, a stand assembly, the stand assembly including a stand base spaced from a stand top by a plurality of stand legs, locking means for detatachably attaching the pot assembly to the stand assembly, a burner assembly in the stand base opposite the pot assembly, and the burner assembly including means for elastically securing a burner cup in a burner receptacle positioned coaxially to a central axis of both the pot assembly and the stand assembly, whereby the locking fondue assembly prevents unintended separation and increases safety during a use by interlocking the pot assembly with both the stand assembly and the burner assembly. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a locking fondue assembly, further comprising: a plurality of pot feet extending radially away from the pot body opposite the top of the pot body, and the locking means enabling a rotational engagement between the plurality of pot feet and the stand assembly when the pot body is rotated in a locking direction and enabling a rotational disengagement of the plurality of pot feet when the pot body is rotated in an opposing unlocking direction. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a locking fondue assembly, wherein: the plurality of pot feet are spaced apart from both a bottom of the pot body and from the burner assembly, the burner assembly including a burner cover on the burner cup, the burner cover having a burner handle extending away from the central axis, and the burner cover shielding the plurality of pot feet during the use, whereby the plurality of feet remain at a temperature suitable for placement on a work surface during a disengagement of the pot assembly from the stand assembly. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a locking fondue assembly, further comprising: a burner snap lock assembly in the means for elastically securing, a burner cup edge extending from a bottom portion of the burner cup, and the burner snap lock assembly elastically engaging the burner cup edge during the use, thereby elastically retaining the burner cup In the burner assembly during the use and preventing unintended burner cup separation from the stand assembly 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a locking fondue assembly, wherein: the locking means includes a stand top and a stand cover plate, the stand top and the stand cover plate joined coaxially along the center axis, a plurality or first pot leg rotation guides on the stand cover plate, a plurality of second pot leg rotation guides on the stand top, a stop tab extending parallel to the central axis from each the first pot leg rotation guide, a stand top locking mechanism extending from each the second pot leg rotation guide, and each the pot leg respectively engaging at least one of the stand top locking mechanism and the stop tab during the use as the pot body is rotated in the locking direction, whereby the plurality of pot legs lockably engage with at least one of stand top and the stand cover plate and positively link the pot assembly with the stand assembly. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a locking fondue assembly, wherein: the stand top locking mechanisms each include at least a sloped portion, a flat portion, and an edge portion, whereby, during the use as the pot body is rotated in the locking direction respective the pot feet slidably engage respective the sloped portion and draw the pot assembly tightly to the stand assembly. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a locking fondue assembly, further comprising: at least one pot lid spring member extending from the pot lid in the snap lock means, and the at least one pot lid spring member elastically engaging the top of the pot body, whereby pot lid is elastically retained in the pot assembly during the use. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a locking fondue assembly, further comprising: a pot lid opening in the pot lid, the pot lid opening being coaxial to the central axis, a plurality of fork slots radially arrayed about the pot lid opening relative to the central axis, and during the use the locking fondue assembly enables at least one external fork member to insert through the pot lid opening and be removably retained by one of the plurality of fork slots. 
     The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conduction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is partially cut away perspective view of a locking fondue assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the pot assembly in the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of pot assembly with a partial sectional view along line I—I in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the pot assembly in the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a stand assembly with a stand cover plate according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a partial top view of the burner stand assembly cover plate indicating a locked and unlocked position. 
     FIG. 7 is a front view of a burner stand cover plate. 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the burner stand cover plate along line II—II in FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 9 is a top view of the stand assembly indicated a locked and unlocked position. 
     FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a stand top along line III—III in FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 11 is an exploded side view of the burner assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, a locking fondue assembly  100  includes a pot assembly  10 , a stand assembly  40  and a burner assembly  30 . A plurality of conventional fondue forks  101 , extend from a top of pot assembly  10  to access hot liquid contained in pot assembly  10 . 
     Pot assembly  10  includes a pot body  12  having three feet  13  opposite a pot lid  15  (alternatively snap lid  15 ). A pair of handles  11  extend outwardly from pot body  12 , as shown. A pot lid snap lock assembly  14  positively engages pot lid spring  18  (a leaf spring) extending from pot lid  15 , and secures pot lid  15  to pot body  12 . In this manner the present invention prevents pot lid  15  from sliding and protectively covers any hot liquid contained in pot body  12 . As shown, pot feet  13  extend away from a bottom surface of pot body, away from burner assembly  30 . Consequently, pot feet  13  are not directly heated during operation of locking fondue assembly  100 , and pot assembly  10  may be disengaged from stand assembly  40  and transported to a desired work surface without risk of thermal damage to the work surface. It is noted that the feet  13  aid in securing the base assembly both when the pot is engaged and when the pot is removed. 
     Stand assembly  40  includes a stand cover plate  41 , a stand top  44  supported by a set of three stand feet  47  rising from a stand base  48 . Stand base  48  may be weighted by any conventional means to increase a stability of locking fondue assembly  100 . A set of elastomeric or rigid plastic stand feet  46  extend from a bottom of stand base  48 , as shown, and provide a non-slip grip to a work surface. 
     A rolled bead  45  extends around an outer diameter of stand top  44  and eases assembly between pot assembly  10  and stand assembly  40 . Stand top  44  includes three stand top locking mechanism  51  (one shown), as will be described. A set of three stop tabs  42  (one shown) extend downward from a bottom of stand cover plate  41 . During an assembly stand cover plate  41  is centered and welded to stand top  44  as shown. When pot assembly  10  is installed in stand assembly  40 , feet  13  contact respective stop tabs  42  and are slidably guided along stand top locking mechanisms  51 , thereby locking pot body  12  to stand assembly  40  and preventing spills. 
     Burner assembly includes stand base  48  and a centered burner receptacle  32  having a bottom burner support  33 . A burner snap lock assembly  31  (leaf spring) surrounds an outer edge of burner receptacle  32 . It is clear that other methods of attachment can be used for locking the burner, all of which would be known to one skilled in the art. 
     A burner cup  36  includes a burner cover  34  (lid  34 ) having a guiding burner handle  35  that allows easy placement of burner cup  36  in burner receptacle  32 . A bottom of burner cup  36  includes an outward burner cup edge  37  that positively engages burner snap lock assembly  31  and removably locks burner cup  36  into stand base  48 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 4, pot lid  15  includes a central pot lid opening  16  having a plurality of fork slots  17 . Fondue forks  101  (shown in FIG. 1) are laterally retained in respective fork slots  17  during use or transport of pot assembly  10 . Since pot lid opening  16  is narrower than a top opening (not shown) of pot body  12  fondue forks  101  are less able to unintentionally shift and fall out during use. As can be seen, handles  11  extend beyond an outer circumference of pot body  12  and enable easy access to control pot assembly  10 . 
     Pot feet  13  extend radially from a pot foot ring  19  bounding a pot foot ring opening  20  on a bottom of pot body  12 . As shown, pot feet  13  are arrayed arranged 120 degrees apart along pot foot ring  19 . Pot fool ring opening  20  allows eat from burner cup  36  to directly contact a bottom of pot body  12  and prevents direct heating of pot feet  13 . Since pot feet  13  are not in a direct heating path, do not receive direct heating from burner cup  36 , and act as heat radiators, pot feet  13  remain substantially cooler than pot body  12 . Consequently, a user may unlock pot body  12  and place pot feet  13  directly on a work surface (not shown) without fear of thermally damaging the work surface. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5 through 8, stand legs  47  each include a decorative and weight reducing leg opening  49 . Stand assembly  40  rigidity supports stand top  44 . The top and bottom of respective stand legs  47  are spot welded to respective positions on stand top  44  and stand base  48 . As noted above, since stand base  48  may be weighted upon manufacturer desire, stand assembly  40  easily provides a rigid base to pot assembly  10 . 
     Stand cover plate  41  surrounds an irregularly shaped cut out  50 . Irregularly shaped cut out  50  includes three quadrants for receiving each of the three pot feet  13 . Cut out  50  includes three pot leg rotation guide surfaces  52  and three respective guide end receptacles  52 A separated by 120 degrees. Guide end receptacles  52 A are located at the end of each rotation guide surface  52 . Each rotation guide surface  52  follows an increasing radius from a central point cut out  50 , as shown. 
     During use, stand cover plate  41  is secured coaxial to stand top  44 . As pot feet  13  are inserted first through respective guide receptacles  52 A, each pot foot  13  is in an unlocked position (shown), as pot body  12  is prevented from rotating in an unlocked direction by stop tabs  42 . As a user cannot initially rotate pot body  12  in the unlocked direction, the user is forced to rotate pot body in a locking direction to a locked position (shown). During this insertion and rotation step, pot feet  13  encounter pot leg rotation guide surfaces  52  and maintain pot body  12  coaxial to locking fondue assembly  100 . Additionally, as each rotation guide surface  52  in cut out  50  becomes narrower in the locking direction, pot feet  13  are retained blow stand cover plate  41  lock pot assembly  10  to stand assembly  40 . 
     As an additional stabilization feature, stand top locking mechanisms  51  include respective sloped portions  51 A and flat portion  51 B. When pot body  12  is positioned in stand top  44 , pot feet  13  extend through stand cover plate  41  and stand top  44 , into respective guide end receptacles  52 A. As pot feet  13  rotate in the locking direction, feet encounter both rotation guide  52  and respective sloped portions  51 A on stand top  44 . During locking rotation, while rotation guides  52  maintain pot body  12  in a coaxial position, sloped portions  51 A act to squeeze pot assembly into stand assembly and stand top  44 . After squeezing, pot feet  13  slide along flat portions  51 B until encountering an edge  51 C of stand top locking mechanism  51  (hard edge), and coming to a rotational stop. 
     During the locking rotation, pot assembly  10  is rotated through 70 degrees from the unlocked position to a locked position. While pot feet  13  are positioned 120 degrees apart, sloped sides of pot feet  13  extend outward and encounter a maximum locked position after 70 degrees of rotation. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 9 through 10, stand top  44  includes bead  45  along an outer circumference, as shown. A generally centered cut out  55  aligns with cut out  50  in stand cover plate  41 . Cut out  55  also includes three pot fee rotation guides  56  ending in respective guide end receptacles  56 A. Here, rotation guides  56  in stand top  44  generally align with pot leg rotation guides  52  on stand cover plate  41 . Additionally, guide end receptacles  56 A in stand top  44  align with guide end receptacles  52 A. 
     Three pairs of leg slots  53  are arrayed around an outer rim of stand top  44 . During an assembly, tops of respective stand legs  47 , separated into top portions by leg openings  49 , are positioned in respective leg slots  53  and welded to stand top  44 . 
     As noted above, as pot assembly  10  is rotated through 70 degrees from the unlocked position to a locked position, pot feet encounter stand top locking mechanism  51  and slide along sloped portion  51 A to flat portion  51 B until encountering edge  51 C. In this manner, pot assembly  10  is rotationally and releaseably locked to stand assembly  40 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 11, burner assembly  30  includes stand base  48 , having burner receptacle  32 . Burner snap lock assembly  31  (leaf springs  31 ) are arrayed around an outer circumference of burner receptacle  32 , above burner support  33 . 
     During an assembly, a heating means such as Sterno®(not shown) is placed in burner cup  36 . Burner cover  34  is secured to burner cup and an operator employs burner handle  35  to position burner cup  36  in burner receptacle  32 . The operator then pushes on burner handle  35  to force burner snap locks  31  to elastically engage expanded burner cup edge  37 . In this manner, burner cup  36  is removably secured to burner assembly  30  and cannot be accidentally removed. Additionally, since burner cover  34  (burner lid) protects the heating means and is secured to burner cup  36 , even after tipping burner assembly  30 , the heating means is retained securely and safely. As mentioned above, when stand base  48  is weighted, locking fondue assembly  100  is substantially stabilized minimizing tipping and spilling hazards. 
     In the claims, means- or step-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described or suggested herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Thus, for example, although a nail, a screw, and a bolt may not be structural equivalents in that a nail relies entirely on friction between a wooden part and a cylindrical surface, a screw&#39;s helical surface positively engages the wooden part, and a bolt&#39;s head and nut compress opposite sides of at least one wooden part, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail, a screw, and a bolt may be readily understood by those skilled in the art as equivalent structures. 
     Although only a single or few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiment(s) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the following claims.