Patent Description:
Automatic frying machines are smart cooking appliances that achieve automatic cooking. In comparison with the conventional cooking pot, automatic frying machines have the functions of automatic oil heating, automatic frying and automatic heat control, and are widely popular. An automatic frying machine includes a pot body and a pot lid assembly. The pot lid assembly includes a pot lid, an electric motor fitted to the pot lid, and a stirrer assembly connected to the electric motor. The electric motor causes the stirrer assembly to rotate in order to fry the food ingredients in the pot body. When partway through the cooking process, and addition of ingredients is required, it is necessary to open the pot lid assembly, at which time the stirrer assembly is removed from the pot body together with the pot lid assembly. However, when the pot lid assembly is refitted, the stirrer assembly will press down on the food ingredients in the pot body, which is not conducive to the refitting of the pot lid assembly, and is otherwise inconvenient. Frying machines and lids hereto are known in the art. Two examples of such are disclosed in <CIT> and <CIT>. The first document disclosing a cooking utensil with interior pot including a pot body, a lid and a stirring unit in the pot body. The lid can set up on the pot body with opening and shutting to provide a cooking space between lid and pot. The other document discloses a cooking container lid having a stirring function, which, when various food materials are fried or boiled in a container, allows a stirring blade to stir the food materials.

The present invention provides a pot lid assembly and cooking utensil that is convenient to use.

The present disclosure aims to provide a pot lid assembly configured to cover a pot body. The pot lid assembly comprises a pot lid and a mixing machine. The mixing machines includes an electric motor and a mixing apparatus. The mixing apparatus includes a stirring rod and a plurality of stirring vanes positioned on the stirring rod. The electric motor includes a rotary shaft operatively connected with the stirring rod so that the electric motor can cause the stirring rod to rotate. The pot lid is configured to cover the pot body to form a closed cooking space. When the pot lid is removed from the pot body, the mixing apparatus remains located in the cooking space of the pot body.

Further, the pot lid is provided with a passageway. The stirring rod and the rotary shaft are fixedly connected. A portion of the mixing machine is located in the passageway. When the pot lid moves upwards to be disengaged from the pot body, a portion of the mixing machine exits from the passageway. The rotary shaft of the electric motor is connected to the stirring rod of the mixing apparatus. When the pot lid moves downwards to cover the pot body, a portion of the mixing machine passes through the passageway.

Further, the pot lid assembly includes a sealing piece sheathed on the mixing machine to prevent air leakage from the passageway.

Further, the mixing machine includes a positioning piece and an electric motor assembly fitted to the positioning piece. The electric motor assembly includes a housing. The electric motor is positioned within the housing, and the housing is detachably fitted to the positioning piece.

Further, the housing includes a first holding section. The positioning piece includes a housing, a pusher, and an elastic piece fitted to the housing. The pusher is provided with a second holding section. One end of the elastic piece is abutted against the housing, and the other end of the elastic piece is abutted against the pusher. The first holding section and the second holding section are engaged such that the electric motor assembly is positioned on the positioning piece, and the first holding section and the second holding section can be disengaged by pushing the pusher.

Further, the housing includes a pair of arms, and the arms are configured to clamp to the pot body.

Further, the end of each of the arms is provided with a concaved slot into which a portion of the pot body is received.

Further, the electric motor is fixed to the pot lid. The stirring rod and the rotary shaft are detachably connected. When the pot lid is removed from the pot body, the rotary shaft of the electric motor is disengaged from the stirring rod, and the mixing apparatus remains standing in the cooking space of the pot body. The mixing apparatus also includes a plurality of stirring vanes. The bottoms of the plurality of stirring vanes are coplanar, so that the mixing apparatus can stand in the cooking space of the pot body with the stirring vanes serving as a support. The stirring rod is provided with a magnet disposed at the bottom thereof. The magnet and the pot body are magnetically attracted to each other so that the mixing apparatus can stand in the cooking space of the pot body.

Further, the pot lid includes a top plate section, handles, a fastening piece positioned on the top plate section, and an abutment piece positioned on the fastening piece. The fastening piece wraps around the edges of the top plate section. The abutment piece is configured to clamp to the pot body.

The present invention further provides a frying machine comprising a pot body and the pot lid assembly as defined above.

When the pot lid assembly of the present application is in use, the mixing apparatus remains in the cooking space of the pot body after the removal of the pot lid. Compared to the problem associated with uneasy reassembly of the pot lid due to the presence of food ingredients after the removal of the mixing apparatus together with the pot lid, the pot lid assembly of the present application enables convenient reassembly of the pot lid.

Here the exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise stated in the description of the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that same numerals represent the same or similar elements. The exemplary embodiments described below do not represent all embodiments consistent with the present invention. On the contrary, they are merely examples of devices consistent with some aspects of the present invention described in detail in the appended claims.

The terms used in the present application are merely intended to describe specific embodiments instead of limiting the present application. Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in the present application shall have ordinary meanings commonly understood by persons of ordinary skills in the art. The terms "first", "second" and the like used in the description and claims of the present application do NOT indicate any sequence, quantity or importance, but are intended to identity different constituent parts. Similarly, words such as "one" or "a" also do NOT indicate quantity limits, but indicates the presence of at least one. "A plurality of" or "several" indicate two or more. Unless otherwise indicated, the terms "front section", "rear section", "lower section" and/or "upper section" and the like are merely intended for facilitating illustration, instead of limiting to a location or spatial orientation. The terms "comprises" or "includes" and the like are intended to refer to the components or items appearing before the words "comprises" or "includes", including the components or items appearing after the words "comprises" or "includes" and their equivalence, and do NOT exclude other components or items. The terms "connect" or "link" and the like are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, and may include electrical connections, be they direct or indirect. Unless otherwise clearly defined by context, the singular forms "a", "the" and "that" used in the description and claims of the present application are intended to include the plurals. It must also be understood that the words "and/or" used herein refer to and include any and all possible combinations of one or a plural number of associated listed items.

As shown in <FIG>, an electric pressure cooker of the present application comprises a pot body <NUM> and a pot lid assembly <NUM>. The pot body <NUM> includes a cooking space, a bottom slab <NUM> and a side wall <NUM> enclosing the cooking space, a curved section <NUM> extended from the side wall <NUM>, and an edge section <NUM> extended from the curved section <NUM>. Food ingredients are placed in the cooking space for cooking. The pot lid assembly <NUM> comprises a pot lid <NUM> and a mixing apparatus <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the pot body <NUM> includes a plastic housing <NUM>, a thermal insulation casing <NUM> located in the plastic housing <NUM>, and an inner pot <NUM> placed in the thermal insulation casing <NUM>. The inner pot <NUM> can be taken out from the thermal insulation casing <NUM> for cleaning. The thermal insulation casing <NUM> is made of metal. The inner pot <NUM> is configured to contain food. The inner pot <NUM> includes a bottom slab <NUM>, a side wall <NUM>, a curved section <NUM> and an edge section <NUM>. In some embodiments, the inner pot <NUM> and the plastic housing <NUM> are integrated into one and not detachable.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the mixing machine <NUM> includes a positioning piece <NUM>, an electric motor assembly <NUM> fitted to the positioning piece <NUM>, and a mixing apparatus <NUM> fitted to the electric motor assembly <NUM>. The electric motor assembly <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> and an electric motor <NUM> positioned within the housing <NUM>. The housing <NUM> includes a first holding section <NUM>. The electric motor <NUM> includes a rotary shaft <NUM> extended from the housing <NUM>.

The positioning piece <NUM> includes a housing <NUM>, a pusher <NUM>, and an elastic piece <NUM> fitted to the housing <NUM>. The housing <NUM> includes a base section <NUM>, a positioning section <NUM> extended upwardly from the base section <NUM>, and a pair of arms <NUM> extended outwardly from the section <NUM>. The base section <NUM> has a diameter greater than the diameter of the positioning section <NUM>. The mixing machine <NUM> includes a sealing piece <NUM> sheathed on the positioning section <NUM>. The pusher <NUM> is provided with a second holding section <NUM>. One end of the elastic piece <NUM> is abutted against the housing <NUM>, and the other end of the elastic piece <NUM> is abutted against the pusher <NUM>.

The end of each of the arms <NUM> is provided with a concaved slot <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the slot <NUM> and the curved section <NUM> of the pot body <NUM> are shape-adapted. When the electric motor assembly <NUM> is placed in the pot body <NUM>, the curved section <NUM> of the pot body <NUM> is located in the slot <NUM> so that the stability of the electric motor assembly <NUM> is increased after its being placed in the pot body <NUM>.

When the electric motor assembly <NUM> is fitted to the positioning piece <NUM>, the first holding section <NUM> and the second holding section <NUM> are engaged, and the elastic force of the elastic piece <NUM> acts against the pusher <NUM> and causes the first holding section <NUM> and the second holding section <NUM> to be effectively engaged. When the electric motor assembly <NUM> needs to be removed, the pusher <NUM> is pushed, causing the second holding section <NUM> to move in a direction away from the first holding section <NUM> so that the second holding section <NUM> is disengaged from the first holding section <NUM> for the electric motor assembly <NUM> to be removed. This design effectively ensures the fastening effects on the electric motor assembly <NUM> and the positioning piece <NUM>, and facilitates fixation of the electric motor assembly <NUM> to the positioning piece <NUM>.

The mixing apparatus <NUM> includes a stirring rod <NUM> and a plurality of stirring vanes <NUM> positioned on the stirring rod <NUM>. The stirring rod <NUM> is fitted to the rotary shaft <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM> such that the electric motor <NUM> in operation causes rotation of the rotary shaft <NUM> which in turn causes the stirring vanes <NUM> to rotate for mixing food ingredients. The inner pot wall <NUM> is provided with a bottom slab <NUM> located beneath the stirring rod <NUM>.

In the embodiment shown, the stirring rod <NUM> is provided with a reception slot <NUM> disposed at the top thereof. The end section of the rotary shaft <NUM> is received in the reception slot <NUM>. The reception slot <NUM> is adapted to the end section of the rotary shaft 21110such that rotation of the rotary shaft <NUM> can cause the stirring rod <NUM> to rotate. The reception slot <NUM> may also be arranged on the rotary shaft <NUM>, with the top of the stirring rod <NUM> received in the reception slot <NUM>. The reception slot <NUM> and the rotary shaft <NUM> may be shape-adapted. For example, the reception slot <NUM> and the rotary shaft <NUM> are not circular, but generally square, triangular, semicircular or hexagonal. The reception slot <NUM> and the rotary shaft <NUM> may also be fixed using fasteners such as dowel pins or a combination of moveable stop balls and positioning slot. The reception slot <NUM> and the rotary shaft <NUM> may also be fixed by a tight fit.

As shown in <FIG>, the pot lid <NUM> is configured to cover the pot body <NUM> so that a closed cooking space is formed by the pot body <NUM> and the pot lid <NUM>. The pot lid <NUM> includes a top plate section <NUM>, handles <NUM> positioned on the top plate section <NUM>, a fastening piece <NUM>, and an abutment piece <NUM> positioned on the fastening piece <NUM>. The top plate section <NUM> is made of glass that allows the cooking in the pot body <NUM> to be observed. The fastening piece <NUM> is made of metal, circular in shape, and wraps around the edges of the top plate section <NUM>. The top plate section <NUM> includes a passageway <NUM>. The protective piece <NUM> is made of metal, circular and partially located in the passageway <NUM>. The protective piece <NUM> has a smooth finish that prevents the top plate section <NUM> from scratching the sealing piece <NUM>.

The pot lid <NUM> moves upwards when being removed, and a portion of the electric motor assembly <NUM> passes through the passageway <NUM> during the removal of the pot lid <NUM>, at which time the mixing machine <NUM> still remains in the cooking space of the pot body <NUM>. During its reassembly, the pot lid <NUM> moves downwards to clamp to the pot body <NUM> and a portion of the electric motor assembly <NUM> passes through the passageway <NUM>. The sealing piece <NUM> and the protective piece <NUM> are tightly fitted to prevent air leakage from the passageway <NUM>. It may be chosen that no protective piece <NUM> be provided to the pot lid <NUM>, in which case the sealing piece <NUM> and the top plate section <NUM> need to be tightly fitted.

Once the pot lid assembly <NUM> is fitted to the pot body <NUM>, the stirring vanes <NUM> of the mixing apparatus <NUM> are located in the cooking space of the pot body <NUM> to mix food ingredients. The pot lid <NUM> is located above the arms <NUM>, a portion of the electric motor assembly <NUM> passes through the passageway <NUM>, and the abutment piece <NUM> is clamped to the edge section <NUM> of the pot body <NUM> so that the pot lid <NUM> is supported on the pot body <NUM>. When partway through the cooking process, and addition of ingredients is needed, and the pot lid <NUM> is removed. Since there is no fastening force between the pot lid <NUM> and the mixing machine <NUM>, the mixing machine <NUM> does not get taken out and the mixing apparatus <NUM> remains in the cooking space of the pot body after the removal of the pot lid <NUM>. After addition of ingredients is completed, the pot lid <NUM> is made to cover the pot body. Compared to the problem associated with uneasy reassembly of the pot lid <NUM> due to the presence of food ingredients after the removal of the mixing apparatus <NUM> together with the pot lid <NUM>, the cooking utensil of the present application enables convenient reassembly of the pot lid <NUM>. Furthermore, the retention of the mixing apparatus <NUM> in the cooking space of the pot body <NUM> prevents the problem of uneven frying due to some food ingredients being pressed under the stirring rod <NUM> when the mixing apparatus <NUM> is placed into the cooking space of the pot body <NUM> again, thereby ensuring desirable taste of the processed food.

When the cooking utensil of the present application is in use, the mixing apparatus <NUM> is first placed in the pot body <NUM> before food ingredients, after which the pot lid <NUM> is fitted. This effectively prevents the problem of uneven frying due to some food ingredients being located under the stirring rod <NUM>, thereby ensuring desirable taste of the processed food.

In a second embodiment shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the electric motor assembly <NUM> and the pot lid <NUM> are fixed together. One among the rotary shaft <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM> and the stirring rod <NUM> is provided with a reception slot <NUM>, and the end section of the other among the rotary shaft <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM> and the stirring rod <NUM> is received in the reception slot <NUM>, so that the rotation of the rotary shaft <NUM> causes the stirring rod <NUM> to rotate. There is no fastening force present between the rotary shaft <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM> and the stirring rod <NUM>. When the pot lid <NUM> is removed, causing the rotary shaft <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM> to be disengaged from the stirring rod <NUM>, the mixing apparatus <NUM> is made to remain in the cooking space of the pot body <NUM>. The positioning piece <NUM> and the top plate section <NUM> of the pot lid <NUM> are fixed together, causing the electric motor assembly <NUM> and the top plate section <NUM> of the pot lid <NUM> to be fixed together. The electric motor assembly <NUM> and the positioning piece <NUM> are detachable from each other, and the structure of which can be found in the electric motor assembly <NUM> and the positioning piece <NUM> of the first embodiment, which is not repeatedly described here.

The mixing apparatus <NUM> can stand on the bottom slab <NUM> so as to prevent it from slanting or collapsing after the removal of the pot lid <NUM>, which would affect the reassembly of the pot lid <NUM>. Specifically, the mixing apparatus <NUM> includes a plurality of stirring vanes <NUM>. The bottoms of the plurality of stirring vanes <NUM> are coplanar, so that the mixing apparatus <NUM> can stand in the cooking space of the pot body <NUM> with the stirring vanes <NUM> serving as a support. Preferably, the number of stirring vanes <NUM> is three.

In a third embodiment shown in <FIG>, the stirring rod <NUM> is provided with a magnet <NUM> disposed at the bottom thereof. The magnet <NUM> and the bottom slab <NUM> of the inner pot wall <NUM> are magnetically attracted to each other such that the mixing apparatus <NUM> can stand on the bottom slab <NUM> of the inner pot <NUM>. The bottom slab <NUM> is made of a material magnetically attractable by the magnet <NUM>, such as stainless steel. The magnet <NUM> is a heat resistant magnet that prevents high temperature of the inner pot <NUM> from damaging it.

When the pot lid assembly <NUM> of the present application is in use, the mixing apparatus <NUM> remains in the cooking space of the pot body <NUM> after the removal of the pot lid <NUM>. Compared to the problem associated with uneasy reassembly of the pot lid <NUM> due to the presence of food ingredients after the removal of the mixing apparatus <NUM> together with the pot lid <NUM>, the pot lid assembly <NUM> of the present application enables convenient reassembly of the pot lid <NUM>. Furthermore, the retention of the mixing apparatus <NUM> in the cooking space of the pot body <NUM> prevents the problem of uneven frying due to some food ingredients being pressed under the stirring rod <NUM> when the mixing apparatus <NUM> is placed into the cooking space of the pot body <NUM> again, thereby ensuring desirable taste of the processed food.

Claim 1:
A pot lid assembly (<NUM>) configured to cover a pot body (<NUM>), the pot lid assembly (<NUM>) comprising:
a pot lid (<NUM>) and a mixing machine (<NUM>);
wherein the mixing machine (<NUM>) comprises an electric motor (<NUM>) and a mixing apparatus (<NUM>), the mixing apparatus (<NUM>) having a stirring rod (<NUM>) and a plurality of stirring vanes (<NUM>) positioned on the stirring rod (<NUM>), and the electric motor (<NUM>) having a rotary shaft (<NUM>) operatively connected with the stirring rod (<NUM>) so that the electric motor (<NUM>) can cause the stirring rod (<NUM>) to rotate;
wherein the pot lid (<NUM>) is configured to cover the pot body (<NUM>) to form a closed cooking space; and,
wherein when the pot lid (<NUM>) is removed from the pot body (<NUM>), the mixing apparatus (<NUM>) remains located in the cooking space of the pot body (<NUM>);
characterized in that:
the pot lid (<NUM>) includes a passageway (<NUM>);
the stirring rod (<NUM>) and the rotary shaft (<NUM>) are fixedly connected;
a portion of the mixing machine (<NUM>) is located in the passageway (<NUM>); and,
wherein when the pot lid (<NUM>) moves upwards to be disengaged from the pot body (<NUM>), a portion of the mixing machine (<NUM>) exits from the passageway (<NUM>), while the rotary shaft (<NUM>) of the electric motor (<NUM>) remains connected to the stirring rod (<NUM>) of the mixing apparatus (<NUM>); and,
wherein when the pot lid (<NUM>) moves downwards to cover the pot body (<NUM>), a portion of the mixing machine (<NUM>) passes through the passageway (<NUM>).