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 needed, the pot lid assembly is opened, at which time the stirrer assembly is taken out of 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. Pot lids and frying machines are known in the art. Three of such disclosures are <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>. <CIT> 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. <CIT> disclosed a stirring assembly and cooking utensil having an interior pot, whereas <CIT> discloses a lid for a cooking container performing a stirring function by a stirring wing rotated by receiving a rotary force of a motor provided in the lid when various kinds of food ingredients are roasted or boiled in a container.

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

The present application aims to provide a pot lid assembly configured to be fitted to a pot body. The pot lid assembly comprises a pot lid, an electric motor assembly and a mixing apparatus. The electric motor assembly is fixed to the pot lid. The mixing apparatus includes a stirring rod and a plurality of stirring vanes connected to the stirring rod. The electric motor assembly includes an electric motor. 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 lid is removed from the pot body, the rotary shaft of the electric motor is disengaged from the stirring rod, and the mixing apparatus can stand in the cooking space of the pot body.

Further, the mixing apparatus includes a plurality of stirring vanes whose bottoms 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.

Preferred embodiments are described in the following paragraphs and are defined in the dependent claims. According to one preferred embodiment, the pot body includes a side wall enclosing the cooking space, with the distance between the ends of the stirring vanes and the side wall greater than or equal to <NUM> and smaller than or equal to <NUM> (i.e. <NUM>. <NUM> ≤ distance ≤ <NUM>).

Further, the plurality of stirring vanes are uniformly distributed circumferentially around the stirring rod.

Further, the stirring rod is provided with a magnet disposed at the bottom thereof. The pot body includes a bottom slab located beneath the stirring rod. The bottom slab includes a magnetic attraction layer to which the magnet is attracted so that the mixing apparatus can stand more steadily in the cooking space of the pot body.

Further, one among the rotary shaft and the stirring rod is provided with a reception slot. The end section of the other among the rotary shaft and the stirring rod is received in the reception slot.

Further, the pot lid assembly includes a positioning piece fixed to the pot lid, with the electric motor assembly detachably fitted to the positioning piece.

Further, the electric motor assembly includes a housing, the housing including a first holding section. The pot lid assembly includes a pusher and an elastic piece fitted to the positioning piece. The pusher is provided with a second holding section. One end of the elastic piece is abutted against the positioning piece, 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. The first holding section and the second holding section can be disengaged by pushing the pusher.

Further, the pot lid includes a top plate section, a fastening piece positioned on the top plate section, and an elastic silicone gel clamping member positioned on the fastening piece. The positioning piece is fixed to the top plate section. The fastening piece wraps around the edges of the top plate section. When the pot lid assembly covers the pot body, the clamping member is pressed against the pot body.

The present application further provides a cooking utensil comprising a pot body and the pot lid assembly as defined above as another preferred embodiment.

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. Furthermore, the mixing apparatus standing in the cooking space of the pot body 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 application. On the contrary, they are merely examples of devices consistent with some aspects of the present application 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> and <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>, an electric motor assembly <NUM> and a mixing apparatus <NUM>.

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>, a fastening piece <NUM> positioned on the top plate section <NUM>, and an elastic silicone gel clamping member <NUM> positioned on the fastening piece <NUM>. The top plate section <NUM> is made of glass that allows the cooking in the cooking space 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>.

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.

The elastic silicone gel clamping member <NUM> includes a first clamping section <NUM> and a second clamping section <NUM> extended from the first clamping section <NUM>. The second clamping section <NUM> is curved. The second clamping section <NUM> is clamped to the curved section <NUM> of the pot body <NUM>, while the first clamping section <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>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the pot lid assembly <NUM> includes a positioning piece <NUM> fixed to the top plate section <NUM>, an elastic piece <NUM> and a pusher <NUM> fitted to the positioning piece <NUM>. The electric motor assembly <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> and an electric motor <NUM> positioned within the housing <NUM>. The housing <NUM> is provided with a first holding section <NUM>. The electric motor <NUM> includes a rotary shaft <NUM> extended from the housing <NUM>.

The pusher <NUM> is provided with a second holding section <NUM>. One end of the elastic piece <NUM> is abutted against the positioning piece <NUM>, and the other end of the elastic piece <NUM> is abutted against the pusher <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>.

As shown in <FIG>, the mixing apparatus <NUM> includes a stirring rod <NUM> and a plurality of stirring vanes <NUM> connected to the stirring rod <NUM>. The stirring rod <NUM> is operatively connected 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. As shown in <FIG>, the bottom slab <NUM> is 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 <NUM> such 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.

There is no fastening force 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 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 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. Specifically, the mixing apparatus <NUM> includes a plurality of stirring vanes <NUM>. The plurality of stirring vanes <NUM> are uniformly distributed circumferentially around the stirring rod <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.

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. When partway through the cooking process, and addition of ingredients is needed, the pot lid <NUM> is removed. Since there is no fastening force between the rotary shaft <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM> and the stirring rod <NUM>, when the pot lid <NUM> is removed, the rotary shaft <NUM> is disengaged from the stirring rod <NUM> and the mixing apparatus <NUM> does not get taken out and remains in the cooking space of the pot body <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 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.

As shown in <FIG>, when the mixing apparatus <NUM> is placed in the pot body <NUM>, the distance between the ends of the stirring vanes <NUM> and the side wall <NUM> of the pot body <NUM> is greater than or equal to <NUM> and smaller than or equal to <NUM> (i.e. <NUM> ≤ distance ≤ <NUM>). This prevents scratching of the inner pot <NUM> during the rotation of the stirring vanes <NUM> and ensures that the stirring vanes <NUM> can mix all food ingredients thoroughly.

In a second embodiment shown in <FIG>, the stirring rod <NUM> is provided with a magnet <NUM> disposed at the bottom thereof. The bottom slab <NUM> includes a magnetic attraction layer to which the magnet <NUM> is attracted so that the mixing apparatus <NUM> can stand more steadily in the cooking space of the pot body <NUM>. The magnetic attraction layer may be made of a material attractable by the magnet <NUM>, such as stainless steel. The magnet <NUM> is a heat resistant magnet that prevents high temperature of the bottom slab <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 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. After the removal of the pot lid <NUM>, the mixing apparatus <NUM> stands in the cooking space of the pot body <NUM> and this enables convenient reassembly of the pot lid <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A pot lid assembly (<NUM>) configured to be fitted to a pot body (<NUM>), the pot lid assembly (<NUM>) comprising:
a pot lid (<NUM>), an electric motor assembly (<NUM>), and a mixing apparatus (<NUM>), the electric motor assembly (<NUM>) being fixed to the pot lid (<NUM>);
wherein the mixing apparatus (<NUM>) comprises a stirring rod (<NUM>) and a plurality of stirring vanes (<NUM>) connected to the stirring rod (<NUM>);
wherein the electric motor assembly (<NUM>) comprises an electric motor (<NUM>), 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 rotary shaft (<NUM>) of the electric motor (<NUM>) is disengaged from the stirring rod (<NUM>), and the mixing apparatus (<NUM>) can stand in the cooking space of the pot body (<NUM>),
characterized in that:
the stirring rod (<NUM>) comprises a magnet (<NUM>) disposed at the bottom thereof;
the pot body (<NUM>) includes a bottom slab (<NUM>) located beneath the stirring rod (<NUM>); and,
the bottom slab (<NUM>) includes a magnetic attraction layer to which the magnet (<NUM>) is attracted so that the mixing apparatus (<NUM>) can stand steadily in the cooking space of the pot body (<NUM>).