Abstract:
An electric liquid-heating appliance includes a housing, an upper fill hole which is defined by a rim ( 9 ), heating elements, a spout and a lid. The lid includes: a lock which can engage with a retaining element; a locking control element which is connected to the lock and which can move between a locked position and an unlocked position; and a tongue which can move between a retracted position, in which the tongue is housed in the lid, and a deployed position, in which the tongue seals the spout. The tongue is connected to the locking control element by an actuating mechanism which is designed to position the tongue either in the deployed position when the locking control element is in the locked position or in the retracted position when the locking control element is in the unlocked position, the unlocked position being stable.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an electrical apparatus for heating liquid, such as for example an electric kettle. More particularly, the invention relates to an electric apparatus for heating liquid comprising a housing which defines a chamber adapted to contain a liquid, an upper opening for chilling the chamber, which is delimited by a rim, electric heating means for the liquid, a spout communicating with said chamber and extending adjacent the opening, and a lid adapted to close said opening, said lid comprising:
         a movable lock which is adapted to come into engagement with a retaining element of the housing;   a lock control connected to the lock and movable between a locked position in which the lock is in engagement with the retaining element when the lid is in place and an unlocked position in which the lock is inoperative; and   a tongue movable between a retracted position in which it is disposed in the lid and an extended position in which it closes the spout.       

   2. Description of the Related Art 
   The document FR-A-2 756 476 describes en electric kettle of this type whose lid is removable and is provided with a tongue movable between an extended position and a retracted position in the lid. In the extended position, the tongue closes the spout. Thus, loss of heat is limited if the liquid contained in the kettle has first been heated. Moreover, if the kettle is tilted, the tongue prevents flow of liquid for an important distance and limits the flow of liquid which can flow through the spout. 
   However, the tongue disclosed in FR-A-2 756 476 is always returned to the extended position, such that when the lid is raised to fill the kettle, the latter is particularly in the way. Moreover, if the lid is lowered, the tongue which is provided by a blade of relatively thin plastic material, can be damaged or even break. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention has for its object to overcome these drawbacks by proposing an electrical apparatus for heating liquid having a lid whose size and solidity are equivalent to lids of kettles not having a tongue, whilst remaining practical to use. 
   To this end, the present invention has for its object an apparatus of the mentioned type, characterized in that the tongue is connected to the locking control by an actuating mechanism adapted to place the tongue either in an extended position when the locking control is in locked position, or in a retracted position when the locking control is in an unlocked position, said unlocked position being stable. 
   Thus, when the user raises the lid to fill the kettle, he places the locking control in unlocked position, and as a result, the tongue will automatically be in retracted position, then he raises the lid from the rim of the opening with the tongue which remains in retracted position because the unlocked position of the control is stable. 
   In preferred embodiments of the invention, use is also made to one end or the other of the following arrangements:
         the tongue is mounted slidably relative to the lid in a substantially radial direction relative to the normal direction of the opening, and in which the locking control is rotatably mounted relative to the lid about an axis substantially parallel to said normal direction, particularly for reducing the height of the lid;   the lid is removably mounted in the rim of the opening, and comprises a bottom coming into contact with said rim of the opening and in an upper surface which forms the locking control, said bottom and said rim having reliefs adapted to coact so as to prevent the rotation of the bottom relative to the housing;   the actuating mechanism comprises a pivoting lever provided with a cam, and the locking control has an internal surface comprising a cam guide which extends from a first end to a second end arranged at a distance from the pivotal axis of the locking control which is greater than the distance of the first end to said axis, said cam following said cam guide of the first end to the second end when the locking control passes from the unlocked position to the locked position, and vice versa;   the pivoting lever has a first end comprising a lug which forms the lock, which is retracted in the lid when the locking control is in the unlocked position, and which projects through a window of the lid when the locking control is in locked position, said lug being adapted to come into engagement with the retaining element arranged in the rim of the opening when the locking control passes from the unlocked position to the locked position;   the cam of the pivotal lever is urged against the cam guide of the locking control by resilient means; thus, the tongue is adapted to be retracted by spacing the cam from the pivoting lever of the cam guide, which is to say other than by the locking control;   the actuating mechanism comprises a member pivoting about an axis substantially parallel to the normal direction of the opening, and the pivoting lever has a second end provided with a tooth which engages a first toothed sector provided on the pivoting member, said pivoting member being provided with at least one second toothed sector which engages a linear rack connected to the tongue;   said lever and pivoting member are adapted to create an amplified linear movement of the tongue relative to the movement of the first end of said lever;   the assembly of the elements of the actuating mechanism is movable in a plane parallel to the mean plane of the opening, such that the lid will also be as small as possible;   the housing has an opening which opens into the spout and into which extends the tongue when the locking control is in locked position.       

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the principal elements of a kettle made according to the invention which comprises a lid provided with locking control and a handle; 
       FIG. 2  is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view in the plane of the handle of the kettle shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of an element of the lid; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the lid with the locking control in unlocked position; 
       FIG. 5  is a fragmentary perspective view of the kettle with the lid and the locking control in unlocked position; 
       FIG. 6  is a broken away and simplified top plan view of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 5 , in which the locking control is in the locked position; 
       FIG. 8  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 6 , in which the locking control is in the locked position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In the different figures, the same reference numerals are used to designate identical or similar elements. 
   The electric kettle  1  shown in  FIG. 1  comprises a housing  2  whose body  2   a  defines a substantially cylindrical chamber centered on a vertical axis Z. The housing  2  also comprises a spout  3 , a handle  4  and a bottom  5 . 
   The bottom  5  comprises a metallic plate  5   a  delimiting the bottom of the chamber which is in contact with an electrical resistance, not shown, so as to heat the water or any other liquid contained in the chamber. 
   The bottom  5  of the kettle is adapted to rest on base  6  provided at its center with an electrical connection. The bottom  5  comprises in known manner a fitting adapted to establish an electrical connection with the connection of the base  6  no matter what the orientation of the kettle resting on the base. The interior of the base  5  comprises, in addition to the electrical resistance, a switch to establish a connection between the connection and the electrical resistance. The operation of the kettle is controlled by an on/off button  7  arranged on the handle  4  and connected to the switch by a lever  8 . 
   The housing  2  has in its upper portion a rim  9  which defines an opening  10 . This opening  10  has a relatively extended surface so as to permit easy filling of the chamber. The rim  9  is formed by an annular wall of the housing which has a vertical cylindrical portion  9   b  coaxial with the axis Z and a collar  9   c  extending radially toward the central axis Z from the base of the vertical portion. The surface of the opening thus defined by the rim  9  has a normal direction co-linear to the central axis Z. However, the chamber in the opening  10  could have other configurations than cylindrical or could have other asymmetrical axes which would not be co-linear. 
   The kettle also comprises a removable grid  12  adapted to close the opening  10 , which here as the form of a cylinder of small height as is better shown in  FIG. 4 , so as to coact with the rim  9  of the opening. But the lid could have a different shape, particularly in the case in which the rim of the opening would be an overall flat surface extending essentially in a plane transverse to the central axis Z. 
   The lid  12  comprises a tongue  14  movably mounted on the latter between a retracted position, shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6 , in which it is disposed in the lid, and an extended position, visible in  FIGS. 2 ,  7  and  8 , in which it extends beyond the lid so as to close the spout  3 . The closure effected by the tongue is not completely sealed, but permits avoiding important projections of liquid in the case in which the kettle is tilted. 
   Of course, the spout  3  must extend at least in part adjacent the opening  10  such that the tongue  14  connected to the lid  12  will not extend a distance too great between the opening and the spout, and keep a relatively simple shape. However, the spout  3  could have a more projecting shape relative to the body  2   a  of the housing. 
   In the illustrated embodiment, the movement of the tongue  14  is guided within a piece in the form of a cup  15  which forms the bottom of the cover  12 . This bottom  15  has on its internal surface two ribs  15   a  ( FIGS. 6 and 8 ) which guide the tongue  14  in a radial direction relative to the central axis Z through an opening  17  ( FIG. 6 ). 
   The cover  12  is moreover provided with a locking control  18  which comprises a first element  19  forming the upper circular surface of the cover and a gripping member  20  assembled on the upper surface by snapping in. 
   The locking control  18  is rotatably mounted about an axle  21  secured to the bottom of the cover and extending along the central axis Z. The locking control  18  turns through an angle of about 30°, for example in the clockwise direction, between two positions, called respectively unlocked and locked, which are indicated by markings in the form of an arrow on the upper surface  19  of the lid and on the upper edge  2   b  of the housing, at the level of the handle  4 . 
   The cover  12  moreover comprises a lug  24  movable between a retracted position and an extended position in which it coacts with a window  25  passing through the rim  9  of the opening. The lug  24  forms a first lock which comes into engagement with a retaining element of the housing formed by the window  25 , thereby preventing the retraction of the lid  12  from the kettle. 
   The handle  4  of the kettle is in the form of a loop, but could be open. It has on its surface facing the body  2   a  an opening through which a trigger  26  is movably mounted. The trigger  26 , thus disposed below the handle, is in the form of a first mechanism  30 , called trigger mechanism, to carry out a pouring control. The pouring control permits the user to more or less retract the tongue  14  into the lid  12  so as to open the passage of the spout  3  when he wishes to pour the liquid contained in the kettle. 
   The locking control  18  is connected to the tongue  14  and to the lug  24  by a second mechanism  40 , called an actuating mechanism, which will be detailed hereafter. The locking control  18  is stable in each of its locked/unlocked positions. This stability can be obtained by friction of the upper surface  19  against the upper edge of the bottom  15 , but also thanks to the actuating mechanism  40 . It will be noted that this stability can be differently obtained, particularly if the locking control does not rotate, but slides along a cam path which could thus comprise means for blocking the control in the unlocked position. 
   The trigger mechanism  30  comprises the trigger  26  projecting through an opening of the handle and secured at a first end of the lever  32  swingably mounted about an axle  31 , as well as a piston  33  slidably mounted in a radial direction and against which bears a second end  32   b  of the swinging lever  32 . The piston  33  slides in a tubular member  36  in which is disposed a spring  35  to return the trigger  26  to inactive position. 
   The actuating mechanism  40 , which permits achieving the object of the present invention, connects the locking control  18  to the tongue  14 . The actuating mechanism  40  comprises a lever  41  pivoting about an axle  42  parallel to the central axis Z. Adjacent a first end  41   a  of the pivoting lever is arranged a lug  24  and a cam  43  in the form of a cylindrical vertical pin. The lug  24  extends in the arc of a circle in the mean plane of the opening and in an overall radial direction relative to the central axis Z. The pivoting lever  41  has at a second end teeth  44  in the arc of a circle. 
   The actuating member  40  also comprises a member  45  pivoting about an axle  46  which is also parallel to the central axis Z. The pivoting member  45  comprises a first toothed sector  47  of a relatively great radius and a second toothed sector  48  coaxial to the first, but of substantially lesser radius. The second toothed sector  48  engages the teeth  44  of the pivoting lever  41 , such that the pivoting of the lever  41  causes movement in the opposite direction of the member  45 . Because the teeth  44  of the lever  41  have a radius, measured relative to the axle  42 , greater than the radius of the second teeth  48 , the pivoting in the opposite direction of the member  45  is amplified relative to the pivoting of the lever  41 . 
   The first toothed sector  47  of the pivoting member  45  engages a straight rack  49  formed on a tongue which extends in prolongation of the rear end of the tongue  14 . In the present embodiment, the straight rack is integrally formed with the tongue  14  and thus is secured to this latter. However, it is envisageable to provide a certain play or a resilient means between the straight rack and the tongue, for example such that the tongue will come into more or less sealed contact against the internal wall of the spout  3 . 
   The engagement of the first toothed sector  47  with the straight rack  49  permits transforming the pivotal movement of the member  45  into a translatory horizontal movement of the tongue  14 , which translation is further amplified relative to the amplitude of movement of the first end  41   a  of the pivoting lever  41  by the difference of the radii existing between the first and second toothed sectors ( 47 ,  48 ). By way of example, there is obtained a movement of 27 mm of the tongue  14  for a radial movement of the end of the lug  24  of about 4 mm. 
   As is better seen in  FIG. 3 , the interior side of the upper surface  19 , which forms the locking control  18 , comprises a cam guide  50  which extends along the central axis Z from the internal side and along a chord of the upper circular surface  19  between a first end  51  and a second end  52 . The ends  51  and  52  are prolonged by tongues  53  which extend parallel to the diameter of the circular surface. The first end  51  is located at a distance from the pivotal axis that coincides with the central axis Z, which is less than the distance of the second end  52  to this pivotal axis. The angular sector formed between the first end  51 , the axis Z and the second end  52 , is about 30°. 
   The guide of the cam  50  is also present in the form of a wing with a lateral surface  54  oriented toward the central axis Z against which the cam  43  of the pivoting lever  41  comes to bear. The contact of the cam  43  is obtained thanks to a helicoidal compression spring  55  disposed between an abutment  56  secured to the bottom  15  of the lid  12  and the first end  41   a  of the pivoting lever  41 . Because of the elasticity of the bearing of the cam  43  against the cam guide  50 , it is possible to space this latter from the cam guide  50 , particularly with the help of trigger mechanism  30 , so as more or less to retract the tongue  14  in the cover, and this with the locking control  18  held in locked position. 
   But it is envisageable in a different embodiment to provide a positive guidance of the cam  43  along a cam guide which will be formed by a slot or groove in the upper surface  19 . 
   It will be noted that the lateral surface  54  of the cam guide  50  is not rectilinear, but has a projection  50   a  adjacent the first end  51 . This projection  50   a  forms a hard point when the cam  43  slides along the cam guide, which permits carrying out a certain blockage of the cam  43  when it is against the first end  51  of the guide. This arrangement requires the user to exert force to leave the unlocked position of the locking control  18 , and as a result, this unlocked position is stable. 
   As can be better seen in  FIGS. 6 and 8 , the rim  9  of the opening comprises two reliefs  59  projecting toward the central axis Z and the lid  12  comprises on the piece  15  two hollow reliefs  60  that are complementary. The reliefs ( 59 ,  60 ) coact together when the cylindrical lid  12  is placed with a correct orientation relative to the rim  9  of the opening, such that the tongue  14  will be positioned facing the spout  3 , thereby ensuring reliable operation. However, with a lid in which the tongue is not entirely retracted, this reliable operation could be realized by the tongue itself. 
   In the present embodiment, the reliefs ( 59 ,  60 ) moreover ensure an anti-rotation function of the lid relative to the rim  9  of the opening, after emplacement of the lid  12 . Thus, the couple exerted on the control member  18  from the unlocked position, in which the tongue is retracted, to carry out rotation of said member  18  toward the locked position, gives rise to no rotation of the bottom  15  of the lid  12 . 
   In the illustrated embodiment, the spout  3  is separated from the opening  10  by a partition  62  of the rim  9 . As is better seen in  FIG. 2 , the partition  62  extends in prolongation of the rim  9  from the summit of the vertical portion of the rim, but over a lesser height to provide an opening  63  which opens into the spout  3  and in which the tongue  14  can extend toward the spout  3 . When the tongue  14  is in the extended position, which is to say when the locking control  18  is in the locked position, this latter is positioned adjacent to the lower end of the partition  62 , such that the lid  12  is immobilized on the housing  2  of the kettle. The opening  63  and the tongue  14  thus form a second retention element secured to the housing and hence a second lock movable relative to the lid, in addition to that formed by the window  25  of the rim  9  and the lug  24  of the lever  41 . 
   It is envisageable to provide only the tongue  14  and the opening  63  to ensure the locking of the lid on the housing. However, the presence of two points of locking, which moreover are diametrically opposite relative to the central axis Z, ensures a particularly reliable holding of the lid on the housing even if the kettle is inverted. 
   It will be noted that the lock movable relative to the lid could be made differently. For example, the locking control  18  could have one or several radial tongues extending outwardly which would come into engagement with hooks formed on the housing  2  during movement of the control  18  from the unlocked to the locked position. 
   When the user wishes to close the kettle, he takes the cover  12  which is naturally in the configuration shown in  FIG. 4 , which is to say with the locking control  18  in the unlocked position as will be seen hereafter. In this arrangement, the tongue  14  and the lug  24  are in retracted position and the lid has minimum size. 
   Thanks to the reliefs ( 59 ,  60 ), the lid  12  can enter into the rim  9  only with the orientation shown in  FIG. 5 . In this orientation, the reference arrow of the control member  18  is disposed at an angle of about 30° from the other reference arrow located on the handle  4 , which corresponds to the unlocked position, which position can be signaled by a pictogram opposed on the upper edge  2   b  of the housing. 
   As is better shown in  FIG. 6 , the tongue  14  faces the spout  3  and the lug  24  faces the window  25  of the rim, whilst being always retracted. The retraction of the tongue  14  and of the lug  24  is obtained by pressure of the cam  43  against the first end  51  of the cam guide  50 , symbolically shown by a broken line in  FIG. 6 . Of course, in this position, the user can withdraw the lid by exerting vertical traction on the control  18 . 
   To lock the lid on the kettle, the user carries out a rotation in a clockwise direction of about 30° of the control  18  to obtain the configuration shown in  FIG. 7 , in which the reference character of the locking control  18  comes into registry with the reference character of the handle  4 . In the course of this rotation, the cam  43  of the pivoting lever  41  slides along the cam guide  50  and reaches the second end  52  of the latter. The first end  41   a  of the pivoting lever carries out a substantially outwardly radial movement and the lug projects through the corresponding window  27  of the lid to come into engagement in the window  25  of the rim  9 . This pivoting of the lever  41  also gives rise, by means of the pivoting member  45  and of the straight rack  49 , to an outward radial sliding movement of the tongue  14  through the opening  63 . There will thus be caused a closure of the spout  3  by the tongue  14  and a double locking of the lid, both by the lug  24  and by the tongue  14 . 
   In this arrangement shown in  FIG. 7 , the actuation of the trigger permits retracting more or less partially the tongue  14  into the lid to permit pouring the liquid. 
   If the user desires to open the kettle from the locked configuration, he must carry out a rotation in the counterclockwise direction of the locking control  18  to come into the configuration shown in  FIG. 5  in which the locking control  18  is in the unlocked position. This unlocked position of the control is stable, particularly thanks to the projection  50   a  of the cam guide and to the friction of the upper surface  19  against the bottom  15  which forms the lid. Then, the user withdraws the lid  12  from the rim  9  of the opening, which is in the configuration shown in  FIG. 4 , and this without supplemental operation to retract the lug and tongue. As a result, without supplemental manipulation of the locking control  18  relative to the lid  12 , the tongue  14  is always retracted into the lid when the latter is removed from the kettle. 
   It will be noted that the assembly of the elements of the actuating mechanism  40 , namely the pivoting lever  41 , the pivoting member  45  and the straight rack  49  are movable in a plane which is parallel to the mean plane of the opening whose trace P is shown in  FIG. 2 , or else perpendicular to the central axis Z. This arrangement permits providing a cover whose size in the normal direction Z of the opening  10  is particularly reduced. But of course, it is not excluded to use an actuating mechanism arranged differently to achieve the objects of the invention; similarly, the shapes of the filling opening, of the locking means and of the spout can be substantially different.