Patent Abstract:
The invention relates to a bowl for mixing food. At least one group of at least three knobs ( 12; 12′; 12″ ) is attached to the outside of the base ( 10 ) of said bowl. All the knobs of a group protrude outwards to a common plane so that the bowl can be placed onto an even surface ( 70 ) in an orientation that is inclined with respect to the direction of gravity in such a manner that said bowl lies on the even surface ( 70 ) with all the knobs ( 12; 12′; 12″ ) of said group.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/CH2011/000045, filed on Mar. 9, 2011, which claims priority from Swiss Patent Application No. 1943/10, filed on Nov. 19, 2010, the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a bowl for the mixing of food, for example for the mixing of dough, puddings, etc. 
     PRIOR ART 
     Bowls for the mixing of food, in a wide variety of forms, are sufficiently known in the prior art. In the mixing of food, it can be advantageous to the user to hold the bowl in an oblique position or even to tilt it back and forth during the mixing. The circulation and stirring of a food present in the bowl can thereby be aided. 
     In order to enable such holding in an oblique position or a tilting of the bowl back and forth, it is known from the prior art to configure a bowl with a curved bottom and to provide a stand on which the bowl rests with its curved bottom. Within certain limits, the bowl is here freely pivotable in relation to the stand. Such a bowl with stand is described, for instance, in EP 0 384 197. Devices of this type have the drawback, however, that they consist of at least two separate parts. 
     It is additionally known to place structures on the outer side of bowls in order to enable an obliquely held bowl to rest on a plane surface. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,023, two parallelly running ribs, for example, are attached to the outer side of the bowl in order to allow guided rolling of the bowl on a work surface. U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,452 describes a bowl which in the transition region between the bottom and the side wall is of stepped configuration, so that it is possible to hold the bowl in an oblique position. In these bowls, further tilting out of their oblique position is prevented, however, only in one motional direction. The danger exists that the bowl will nevertheless accidentally slide away or roll during mixing. 
     The bowls which are shown in GB 491,517 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,121,165 have in the region of their curved outer sides respectively one or more plane bearing surfaces. 
     The bowl is thereby prevented from accidentally sliding away or rolling when held in oblique orientation to the work surface such that it is supported with one of the plane bearing surfaces. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 1,394,540 is described a bowl which in the transition region between a flat bottom and a circumferential side wall has a circumferential thickening in the form of a bead. In an upper region of the side wall, outwardly projecting bosses are also configured. The bowl can be placed in an inclined orientation laterally onto a plane surface, in that it rests on this with respectively two adjacent bosses as well as with the circumferential thickening. Resting of the bowl with the bosses and the thickening on a plane surface is only possible, however, at a predetermined inclination relative to the surface. 
     REPRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION 
     One object of the present invention is to define a bowl for the mixing of food, which bowl is configured to rest in an inclined position on a plane surface, wherein the bowl is prevented from accidentally sliding away from this position. This bowl is designed to be able to be produced as easily and as cheaply as possible. 
     Below, location references such as at the bottom, at the top, above and below relate to a bowl which with an upward-facing removal opening, in relation to the gravitational direction, stands upright on a plane surface. The bowl has an interior which is accessible via the removal opening. 
     The present invention thus provides a bowl for the mixing of food. The bowl comprises a curved base having a convex outer surface. Preferably, this outer surface is substantially smooth. The term “smooth” should here be understood in the mathematical sense, which means that the outer surface of the base, apart from its marginal region, forms a surface which is continuously differentiable at all points and which, in particular, has no abrupt corners or edges. Preferably, the outer surface is partially spherical or forms a partial ellipsoid. 
     According to the invention, on the outer surface of the base are configured at least three knobs, which respectively all project outward as far as a common plane, so that the bowl can be placed onto a plane surface, in an orientation inclined with respect to the gravitational direction, such that it rests with all knobs of this group on the plane surface. In other words, the free ends of the knobs of this group lie all in a common plane. 
     Since the bowl, with the projecting knobs of, respectively, a group, can be placed in an inclined orientation onto a plane surface, the processing of the food received by the bowl is made considerably easier for the user. Hence the user does not necessarily have to introduce a mixer into the bowl from above, for example, but instead he can also thrust it under the content of the bowl from the side. The bowl is here prevented from sliding away or rolling out of this inclined position by the knobs which rest on the surface. 
     A knob constitutes a pronounced, local elevation of a surface. The knob here clearly stands out from the surface by which it is circumferentially surrounded at the sides. In contrast to a bar, which has substantially larger dimensions in one direction than in a direction perpendicular thereto, a knob has similar dimensions in all directions perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. A knob can have a substantially cylindrical form. However, it can also, for example, be of frustoconical, semispherical or partially semispherical configuration, or can have the form of a straight prism, preferably with a base area in the form of a regular polygon, for example a regular hexagon. The free end of the knob can form a plane surface or can be curved. 
     The knobs preferably have a diameter which corresponds to no more than the distance between respectively two adjacent knobs, preferably to no more than half the distance, frequently even to just one-tenth to one-fifth of the distance. 
     The groups of knobs are preferably respectively configured and arranged such that the bowl, when it rests with the knobs of a group on a plane surface, is movable into a different orientation with respect to the gravitational direction only when a certain tilting force is surmounted. It is here preferred that the empty bowl can be placed stably in an inclined position onto a plane surface without it having to be held by the user. 
     The bowl preferably has a multiplicity of knobs, which form a plurality of groups of respectively at least three knobs, wherein the knobs of each group respectively all project outward as far as a common plane. Sometimes these groups can mutually overlap, i.e. have common knobs, yet they can also be disjunctive, so that each group fully consists of different knobs. Advantageously, the knobs are evenly distributed over a large part of the outer surface of the base, in particular over a region of the base which is circumferential with respect to the direction of opening of the bowl. The bowl hence has a large number of options for resting in an inclined position with a group of knobs on a plane surface. At the same time, it is possible for a central bottom region having no knobs to be provided on the base. 
     The knobs can respectively have in the outward direction a rounded end. Advantageously, each of the knobs of a common group has an end, however, whose end face forms a plane, outward facing, preferably circular bearing surface. The bearing surfaces of all knobs of a group preferably respectively form a common plane. The knobs of a group can hence rest with their bearing surfaces all respectively flat on a plane surface, whereby the stability of the bowl in the inclined position is enhanced. It is also conceivable, however, that although the end faces of the knobs have plane surfaces, these surfaces do not form a common plane but form a certain angle to one another. In this case it is only important that the knobs of a group project as far as a common plane, so that they can all rest on a plane surface. The knobs can also rest only in a marginal region on the surface. Between the knobs of a group, which, by definition, all project as far as a common plane, can be disposed further knobs, which do not belong to this group and which project less far than the knobs of the group concerned. Although these knobs are unnecessary for the functionality of the present invention, they may be desirable for other reasons, for example to produce a more uniform appearance. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the knobs of each group respectively all extend parallel to one another outward from the outer surface of the base. The knobs of a group are here generally of different length. When resting on a plane surface, the knobs of a common group hence all extend in perpendicular direction relative to the surface. The result of this is that the forces acting on the knobs are optimally absorbed. 
     Advantageously, the bowl has a multiplicity of groups, which respectively all have an equal number of knobs. Preferably, the knobs within each group are similarly arranged. 
     The knobs of, respectively, a group are advantageously arranged such that they jointly form a regular polygon. The knobs can here respectively form the corner points of the polygon. Further knobs can be distributed along the sides and/or over the surface of the polygon. An embodiment in which each group respectively has precisely three knobs is, however, particularly preferred. Advantageously, the knobs are here arranged in the form of an equilateral triangle. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the knobs are arranged such that they form the grid points of a grid of equilateral triangles. 
     The bowl can be provided, in particular in the region of the base, at least partially with a plastics coating, on which the knobs are integrally configured. 
     The plastics coating can be sprayed onto the bowl in particular by injection molding or can be otherwise connected to the bowl. Where such a plastics coating of this type is present, it advantageously has a lower Shore A-hardness than the base. The plastics coating can here in particular have a Shore A-hardness of less than 70, though preferably of less than 60, and particularly preferably of around 50. Suitable materials are, for example, silicone rubber or thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) such as Santoprene™ (a TPE on an EPDM/polypropylene base). The knobs can then, when resting on the surface, better adapt thereto, so that, in particular, the forces acting on the knobs are more evenly distributed over the various knobs of a group and the outer side of the base thus becomes more slip-proof. The plastics coating can cover the entire outer surface of the bowl or be provided only in the region of the base. It can also, however, be provided only substantially in the region of the base and extend upward at a certain point, in particular in the region of a handle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings, which serve merely for illustration and should not be interpreted restrictively. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an inventive bowl according to a preferred, first embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  shows a view of the bowl of  FIG. 1  from the side; 
         FIG. 3  shows a view of the bowl of  FIG. 1  from below; 
         FIG. 4  shows a central sectional view of the plane IV-IV through the bowl of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the bowl of  FIG. 1 , resting on a surface in an oblique position; 
         FIG. 6  shows a partial sectional view of the bowl of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  shows a partial sectional view of an inventive bowl according to a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  shows a partial sectional view of an inventive bowl according to a third embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of an inventive bowl according to a fourth embodiment; and 
         FIG. 10  shows a central sectional view through an inventive bowl according to a fifth embodiment; and 
         FIG. 11  shows a view of the bowl of  FIG. 10  from the side. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An inventive bowl for the mixing of food according to a preferred, first embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 1 to 6 . 
     The bowl has a base  10  having a curved, convex, smooth outer surface, on which knobs  12  are configured. As in the present illustrative embodiment, the base  10  can be of substantially semispherical configuration. Other forms of the base  10  are also conceivable, however. Thus they could also be designed, for example, only partially semispherical or as an ellipsoid or partial ellipsoid. In its lowermost region, the base  10  has a central bottom region  13  ( FIG. 3 ) without knobs, which here is likewise curved outward. In contrast to the present embodiment, this bottom region  13  could alternatively, however, also be configured flat in order to serve as a standing surface of the bowl when this is placed upright on a surface  70 . The base  10  is adjoined in the upward direction by a circumferential, here cylindrical side wall  20 . 
     The base  10  and the side wall  20  jointly delimit with their inner surfaces an interior  30 , which serves to receive foods, such as, for example, baking products. The side wall  20  has an upper rim  21 , which delimits a removal opening of the bowl. The interior  30  is accessible through this removal opening. 
     The bowl has a multiplicity of knobs  12 , which are configured on the outer surface of the base  10 . In the present illustrative embodiment, the knobs  12  of cylindrical design and have a diameter which is smaller by a factor of about three than the distance between respectively two adjacent knobs  12 . The length of the knobs  12 , which here project radially outward, in each case perpendicular to the outer surface of the base  10 , is slightly smaller than their diameter. The knobs  12  respectively have ends which have a plane outer surface. These outer surfaces of the knobs  12  respectively point outward in a perpendicular direction in relation to the outer surface of the base  10 . 
     Each knob  12  respectively forms a part of a group. A group of knobs  12  is characterized in that it respectively has at least three knobs  12 , wherein all knobs  12  of a group respectively project outward as far as a common plane. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the bowl can thus be placed in an oblique position onto a plane surface  70  such that it rests on this with all the knobs  12  of a group. The knobs do not necessarily have to rest with the whole of their end face on the plane surface, but rather it is sufficient if the knobs, as in the present example, rest only with a marginal region of their free end on the plane surface. The bowl can, but does not have to, additionally rest on the surface  70  with a point located between the knobs  12 . The knobs  12  resting on the plane surface  70  prevent the bowl from accidentally sliding or tilting away when it rests in this position on a surface  70 . 
     In the present case, precisely three knobs  12  respectively form a common group. The knobs  12  of a group are here respectively arranged such that they form the corner points of an equilateral triangle. Other arrangements of the knobs  12  of a common group are also conceivable, however. Thus the knobs  12  of a group could be arranged in the form of a polygon of choice, in particular a regular polygon. The knobs  12  do not here necessarily have to be positioned only at the corner points of the triangle or polygon, but could also, for example, be arranged along the sides or regularly distributed over the surfaces of the triangle or polygon. The bowl can also, of course, have any chosen combination of differently configured groups of knobs. 
     In the present case, the knobs  12  are distributed circumferentially and regularly over almost the entire outer surface of the base  10 . The knobs  12  here form a multiplicity of groups of respectively three knobs  12 , which are arranged in the form of an equilateral triangle. Only in the uppermost region of the base  10  and in the central bottom region  13  are there no knobs present. The knobs  12  arranged around the bottom region  13 , which in the present case jointly form a pentagon, can serve, in particular, to hold the bowl stable in its position when it is resting in an upright position on a plane surface  70 . Between the central bottom region  13  and the uppermost region of the base  10 , the knobs  12  are preferably distributed, as here, regularly over the entire outer surface of the base  10 . In the present embodiment, not only are the knobs  12  arranged in groups in the form of equilateral triangles, but they also, moreover, form the grid points of a grid of equilateral triangles. Due to this regular arrangement of the knobs  12 , an individual knob  12  can respectively form a part of several, here from four to six groups. The various groups of knobs can thus, as is here the case, also overlap. 
     The knobs  12  can jointly be configured integrally with the base  10 . Preferably, however, the knobs  12 , as can be seen for example in  FIG. 4 , are configured integrally on a plastics coating  11 . This plastics coating  11  can cover a part or even the whole of the outer surface of the base  10 . Advantageously, the plastics coating  11  is here applied to the base  10  in such a way that its outer side, as is shown in  FIG. 4 , is arranged flush with the rest of the outer side of the bowl. In the present illustrative embodiment, the outer side of the plastics coating  11  is arranged flush with the outer side of the side wall  20 . The plastics coating  11  can here, in particular, be sprayed onto the base  10 , which is made, preferably integrally with the side wall  20 , of a plastic. Advantageously, the plastics coating  11  is made, in comparison to the base  10 , of a softer material, i.e. of a material having a lower Shore A-value, for example of silicone rubber. Due to this softness of the plastics coating  11 , the knobs  12 , when resting on a surface, can better adapt thereto, so that the forces are better distributed amongst the various knobs  12  of the corresponding group. Moreover, the outer side of the base becomes in this way more slip-proof. 
     According to the embodiment represented in  FIG. 7 , the knobs  12 ′ do not necessarily have to have plane end faces, but can also be of rounded configuration on their outward facing free ends. 
     A particularly advantageous embodiment is shown in  FIG. 8 . The knobs  12 ″ of a common group here respectively all extend outward parallel to one another. A group here respectively has five knobs  12 ″, wherein more or less than five, yet at least three, knobs  12 ″ per group could naturally also be provided. In the present illustrative embodiment, the knobs  12 ″ of a common group are respectively configured with different length such that they end with their here preferably plane outer surfaces on a common plane. Due to this particular design of the knobs  12 ″ within a group, the bowl can rest in an oblique position with all knobs  12 ″ of respectively a group on a plane surface  70  such that all knobs  12 ″ stand perpendicularly on the surface  70  and the outer surfaces of the knobs  12 ″ rest flat on the surface  70 . 
     A further embodiment of an inventive bowl is represented in  FIG. 9 . The bowl here additionally has in the region of its side wall  20  a spout  40  for pouring out of the bowl content. The spout  40  can be disposed, as here, within the side wall. It is also conceivable, however, to arrange the spout in the region of the upper rim  21  of the side wall  20 . Moreover, in the present illustrative embodiment, the interior  30  of the bowl is closed off to the top by a lid  60 . The lid  60  has a handle  61 . In order that the lid  60 , in an inclined position of the bowl, does not slip away from this, it can have, in particular, a downwardly extending casing, which, adjacent to the side wall  20 , juts into the interior  30 . Furthermore, in this illustrative embodiment, a handle  50  is attached to the bowl, which handle makes the bowl easier to handle for the user. Of course, it is also possible, however, to dispense with the spout, the handle and the lid. Even the side wall  20  can be fully dispensed with in order to obtain a flat bowl. 
     Yet another embodiment of an inventive bowl is shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . The bowl here has a spout  40 ′ on the upper rim  21  of the side wall  20 , and a diametrically opposing handle  50 ′. As can be seen, in particular, in  FIG. 11 , the plastics coating  11  here extends upward in the region of the handle  50 ′ and both over the bottom side and over the top side of the handle  50 ′. It can here cover the handle fully or else only partially. In a central region, the base  10  is of flattened design. Moreover, the plastics coating  11 , as here, can have in this flattened region a circular opening, into which the base  10  can extend with a downwardly jutting region. In the region around this central opening, the plastics coating  11  is configured slightly thickened in order to form a bearing region for improved stability of the bowl in its upright position. The knobs  12 ′ are here attached to the plastics coating  11  only in the region where the base  10  is curved, and not in the region where it is flattened. 
     REFERENCE SYMBOL LIST 
     
         
           10  base 
           11  plastics coating 
           12 ,  12 ′,  12 ″ knobs 
           13  central bottom region 
           20  side wall 
           21  upper rim 
           30  interior 
           40 ,  40 ′ spout 
           50 ,  50 ′ handle 
           60  lid 
           61  handle 
           70  surface

Technology Classification (CPC): 0