Patent Publication Number: US-2004055913-A1

Title: Casing for an electric appliance and an electric appliance with such a casing

Description:
[0001] A This invention relates to a casing for an electric appliance and an electric appliance with such a casing and, in particular, a casing for an electric coffee maker, e.g. an espresso and/or cappuccino maker, and an electric coffee maker with such a casing.  
       [0002] There are in existence a large variety of electric appliances for making beverages and drinks, e.g. electric coffee makers. However, most such electric appliances are, whether in use or not, exposed to the outside environment. In addition, such conventional electric appliances do not provide space allowing cups and saucers to be placed nearby. If a fixed space is provided, the electric appliance may then be considered not compact enough.  
       [0003] It is thus an object to provide a casing for an electric appliance, and an electric appliance with such a casing, in which the aforesaid shortcomings are mitigated, or at least to provide a useful alternative to the trade and public.  
       [0004] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a casing adapted to contain an electric appliance, wherein said casing includes at least a door member and a platform member with an upper surface, wherein said door member is movable between a closed position in which access to said appliance is denied and an open position in which access to said appliance is allowed, and wherein said platform member is movable between a retracted position in which said upper surface of said platform member is substantially wholly enclosed by said door member, and an extended position in which at least part of said upper surface of said platform member is exposed to the outside environment.  
       [0005] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric appliance housed within a casing, wherein said casing includes at least a door member and a platform member with an upper surface, wherein said door member is movable between a closed position in which access to said appliance is denied and an open position in which access to said appliance is allowed, and wherein said platform member is movable between a retracted position in which said upper surface of said platform member is substantially wholly enclosed by said door member, and an extended position in which at least part of said upper surface of said platform member is exposed to the outside environment.  
     
    
    
     [0006] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, and with reference to the accompany drawings, in which:  
     [0007]FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a casing according to the present invention in a door-closed configuration;  
     [0008]FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the casing shown in FIG. 1A in a door-open configuration;  
     [0009]FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the casing shown in FIG. 1A;  
     [0010]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the casing shown in FIG. 1A;  
     [0011]FIG. 4A is an exploded view of the movement mechanism of the casing shown in FIG. 1A;  
     [0012]FIG. 4B is an assembled view of the movement mechanism shown in FIG. 5A;  
     [0013]FIG. 5A is a partially exposed view of the casing shown in FIG. 1A;  
     [0014]FIG. 5B is another partially exposed view of the casing shown in FIG. 1A;  
     [0015]FIG. 6A is a plan view of the movement mechanism shown in FIG. 4B in the door-open configuration;  
     [0016]FIG. 6B is a plan view of the movement mechanism shown in FIG. 4B in the door-closed configuration;  
     [0017]FIG. 6C is a partial sectional view of a first arrangement whereby the door and the respective rack shown in FIG. 5A is engaged with each other;  
     [0018]FIG. 6D is a partial sectional view of a second arrangement whereby the door and the respective rack shown in FIG. 5A is engaged with each other in which the doors are open;  
     [0019]FIG. 6E is a partial sectional view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 5D in which the doors are closed;  
     [0020]FIG. 7A is an enlarged view of the encircled part marked as “A” in FIG. 2 in which the locking part is in a locked position;  
     [0021]FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of the encircled part marked as “A” in FIG. 2 in which the locking part is in an unlocked position;  
     [0022]FIG. 8 is a plan view of a movement mechanism of a second embodiment of a casing according to the present invention;  
     [0023]FIG. 9A is a perspective view of an electric coffee maker housed in a casing according to the present invention in which the doors are closed; and  
     [0024]FIG. 9B is a perspective of the electric coffee maker shown in FIG. 9A in which the doors are fully open.  
    
    
     [0025]FIGS. 1A and 1B show a casing according to the present invention generally designated as  10 . The casing  10  is generally cylindrical in shape, and includes a main body  12  coupled with a pair of movable doors  14 . The main body  12  is joined on its upper end with a top  16 . Positioned at the centre of the top  16  is a button  18  which may be operated by a finger of a user. The main body  12  is joined on its lower end with a base  20 , relative to which a platform  22  having an upper surface  24  is movable.  
     [0026] While the main body  12 , the top  16  and the base  20  are fixedly secured with one another, the doors  14  and the platform  22  are both movable relative to the main body  12 , the top  16  and the base  20  in a manner to be discussed below. As can be seen in FIG. 1B, the top  16 , the main body  12 , the doors  14  and the base  20  combine to define an interval cavity  26  which may be accessed when the doors  14  are open. It can also be seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B that, when the doors  14  are closed, the upper surface  24  of the platform  22  is wholly enclosed by the doors  14  and within the cavity  26 , and that when the doors  14  are open, the upper surface  24  is exposed to the outside environment and accessible by a user. It should also be noted that, when the doors  24  are closed, part of the doors  24  sit on the upper surface  24  of the platform  22 .  
     [0027] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the button  18  is connected to an end of a bar  28  via a rivet  30 , so that the pivot bar  28  and the button  18  are movable relative to each other about the rivet  30 . The bar  28  is connected around its mid-point to the top  16  via a rivet  32 , so that the bar  28  is swivellable relative to the top  16  about the rivet  32 . Another end of the bar  28  is connected to a vertical disposed rod  34  via a rivet  36 , so that the bar  28  and the rod  34  are movable relative to each other about the rivet  36 . The button  18  is provided with a spring  38  which urges the button  18  to occupy its position as shown in FIG. 2. At a lower end of the rod  34  is provided with a spring  40  which urges the rod  34  to occupy its position as shown in FIG. 2.  
     [0028] In the configuration as shown in FIG. 2, the platform  22  will be retained in the position as shown therein by the rod  34 , which forms part of a locking mechanism. By way of the arrangement discussed above, when the button  18  is pressed downwardly, and against the biasing force of the spring  38 , in the direction indicated by the arrow B, the bar  28  will pivot relative to the rivet  32  in the direction indicated by the arrow C. In this way, the rod  34  will move upwardly, and against the biasing force of the spring  40 , in the direction indicated by the arrow E. When the downward pressing force on the button  18  is released, the spring  38  will act to return the button  18  upwardly to the position as shown in FIG. 2, in which case the rod  34  will also move downwardly upon the action of the biasing force of the spring  40 .  
     [0029] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the doors  14  are coupled to the body  12  via a boss  42 , so that the doors  14  can swivel around the body  12  about a longitudinal axis L-L of the body  12 . It can also be seen that the base  20  includes a gear system (details of which will be discussed below) which is operable to move the platform  22  between a retracted position, as shown in FIG. 1A, and an extended position, as shown in FIG. 1B. The platform  22  includes a lower part  22   a  engaged with the gear system for movement, a middle part  22   b , and an upper part  22   c  which provides the upper surface  24 . The upper part  22   c  includes a number of parallel slots  44  which allows liquid falling onto the surface to drip into a cavity  46  of the middle part  22   b . The upper part  22   c , the middle part  22   b  and the lower part  22   a  are engaged with one another, e.g. in a snap-fit manner, to allow such parts to move as a unit.  
     [0030] As can be seen in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the lower part  22   a  of the platform  22  includes a curved front part  22   d  and a rear portion  22   e . The rear part  22   e  is generally planar in shape and has a pair of parallel geared portions  48  arranged on each of its two lateral sides. The lower part  22   a  also has a channel  50  for receiving a spring  52 , which urges the lower part  22   a  outwardly away from the base  20 . Along each of two lateral sides of the front part  22   d  of the lower part  22   a  is provided a stepped portion  54  (of which only one is shown in FIG. 4A) which is received within a respective recess  56 , for guiding the reciprocating movement of the lower part  22   a  relative to the base  20  in the directions indicated by the arrow G.  
     [0031] Provided on the base  20  are two gear members  58  with an upper smaller gear  58   a  and a lower larger gear  58   b . Each of the gear members  58  is secured to the base  20  by a respective screw  60  which allows free rotation of the respective gear member  58 . Each of the geared portions  48  of the rear part  22   e  of the lower part  22   a  of the platform  22  meshes with a respective upper smaller gear  58   a  for relative movement. The rear part  22   e  is also provided with an aperture  62 , the function of which will be discussed below. In this way, movement of the lower part  22   a  in the directions of the arrow G will cause simultaneous rotational movement of the gear members  58 , and vice versa. In the space between the screw  60  and the respective gear member  58 , there is provided a damping grease which dampens the rotational movement of the gear members  58 .  
     [0032] The lower larger gear  58   b  of each gear member  58  meshes with an inner gear portion  64   a  of a respective curved rack  64 . By way of such an arrangement, movement of the gear members  58  will bring about simultaneous sliding movement of the racks  64  relative to the base  20 . An upper track  66  and a lower track  68  are provided on the base  20 , each for guiding the sliding movement of a respective track  64  relative to the base  20 . It can be seen that, in this way, movement of the lower part  22   a  in the directions indicated by the arrow G will cause the racks  64  to slide relative to the base  20 .  
     [0033] As shown in FIGS. 4A to  5 B, the outer end of each rack  64  is provided with an engagement part  66  for engagement with a downwardly extending portion  67  (see FIG. 3) of a respective door  14 , so that the rack  64  and the door  14  with which it is secured move as a unit. Thus, movement of the lower part  22   a  in the directions indicated by the arrow G (see FIG. 4A) will cause the doors  14  to swivel relative to the base  20  in the directions indicated by the arrows H (see FIG. 5B), and about the longitudinal axis L-L of the body  12 , as discussed above.  
     [0034] Turning now to FIG. 6A, in which the lower part  22   a  of the platform  22  is in the extended position, it can be seen that, in this position, the spring  52  is also in an expanded position. In this same position, the two racks  64  are at a rear part  70  of the base  20 . If the lower part  22   a  of the platform  22  is pushed towards the base  20 , against the outward biasing force of the spring  52 , and in the direction indicated by the arrow J, the two gear members  58  will be caused to rotate respectively in the direction indicated by a respective arrow K 1 , K 2 . Because of the rotational movement of the gear members  58 , the racks  64  will also be caused to move respectively in the direction indicated by a respective arrow M 1 , M 2 . The lower part  22   a  and the racks  64  will then assume the positions as shown in FIG. 6B.  
     [0035] Turning now to FIG. 6B, in which the lower part  22   a  of the platform  22  is in the retracted position, it can be seen that the spring  52  is in a contracted position. If the lower part  22   a  is allowed to move, it will move in the direction indicated by the arrow P, which is opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow J in FIG. 6A, under the biasing force of the spring  52 . The two gear members  58  will be caused to rotate respectively in the direction indicated by a respective arrow R 1 , R 2 , which is opposite to the direction indicated by the arrows K 1 , K 2  respectively. Because of the rotational movement of the gear members  58 , the racks  64  will also be caused to move respectively in the direction indicated by a respective arrow S 1 , S 2 , which is opposite to the direction indicated by the arrows M 1 , M 2  respectively. The lower part  22   a  and the racks  64  will then assume the positions as shown in FIG. 6A.  
     [0036] It can be seen that, by way of such an arrangement, as the racks  64  are fixedly engaged with the doors  14 , when the platform  22  is moved to the position shown in FIG. 6A, the doors  14  will be open, whereas when the platform  22  is moved to the position shown in FIG. 6B, the doors  14  will be closed, and that the doors  14  and the platform  22  will move simultaneously. It can also be seen that the two doors  14  always move in opposite directions.  
     [0037] As shown in FIG. 6C, in a first arrangement, the downwardly extending portion  67  of the door  14  is received within the engagement part  66  of the rack  64  for simultaneous movement. In a second arrangement, and as shown in FIGS. 6D and 6E, while the downwardly extending portion  67  is also received within the engagement part  66 , a spring  71  is disposed between the downwardly extending portion  67  and the engagement part  66 . Except in the door-closed position, the spring  71  will urge the downwardly extending portion  67  to occupy a position relative to the engagement part  66  as that shown in FIG. 6D. The rack  64  and the respective door  14  may move in the direction indicated by the arrow W in FIG. 6E to close the two doors  14 . In the door-closed position as shown in FIG. 6E, the spring  71  will be in a contracted configuration and will exert a biasing force on the downwardly extending portion  67  of the door  14  in the direction indicated by the arrow W. By way of this arrangement, in the door-closed position, the two doors  14  will be urged towards each other, so as to ensure that the doors are properly closed.  
     [0038]FIG. 7A shows how the rear part  22   a  of the platform  22 , and thus the platform  22 , is retained in the retracted position. As shown here, a tip  72  of the rod  34  is received within the aperture  62  of the rear part  22   e  of the lower part  22   a  of the platform  22 . In this position, the platform  22  is locked against movement relative to the rod  34 . When the rod  34  is moved upward against the biasing force of the spring  40 , in the direction indicated by the arrow T in FIG. 7B, the tip  72  of the rod  34  will be disengaged from the aperture  62 , so that the platform  22  will move in the direction indicated by the arrow V in FIG. 7B, upon the biasing force of the spring  52 . When the platform  22  is moved in the direction opposite to the arrow V until the aperture  62  is directly below the tip  72  of the rod  34 , the rod  34  will move upon the urging force of the spring  40  downwardly to enter the aperture  62 , so as to lock the platform  22  against movement relative to the rod  34 .  
     [0039] In an alternative arrangement, the button  18  may be arranged to control both the opening and closing of the doors  14 . In this arrangement, and as shown in FIG. 8, an electronic switch  76  is provided below the button  18 . When the button  18  is pressed, the switch  76  will be activated to transmit signals to an electronic control device  78 , which will cause an electric motor  80  to move in a clockwise or an anti-clockwise direction. While a gear  82  of the electric motor  80  meshes with an inner geared portion  84  the rear part  22   e  of the lower part  22   a  of the platform  22 , the rear part  22   e  also meshes with the two gear members  58  in the manner discussed above. In this way, the platform  22  may be moved backward or forward, which will also cause the racks  64  to slide relative to the base  20 .  
     [0040] The casing  10  according to the present invention may be used as a container for an electric appliance, e.g. an electric coffee maker  86  for preparing cappuccino and/or espresso, and as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B. It can be seen that the coffee maker  86  can be fully enclosed within the casing  10 , as shown in FIG. 9A, when such is not in use. On the other hand, when desired, the button  18  may be pressed down to cause the platform  22  to move outwardly from the casing  10 , and to open the doors  14 , as shown in FIG. 9B so as to enable the coffee maker  86  to be accessed. A cup (not shown) may then be placed on the upper surface  24  directly under an exit of the coffee maker from which coffee may be provided.  
     [0041] It can thus be seen that a compact, neat and tidy arrangement is provided for housing an electric appliance, in particular an electric appliance for preparing drinks and beverages.  
     [0042] It should be understood that the above only illustrates examples whereby the present invention may be carried out, and that various modifications and/or alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.  
     [0043] It should also be understood that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any appropriate sub-combinations.