U.S. patent application number 09/852023 was filed with the patent office on 2001-12-20 for method of securing articles and an electric kettle made by such a method.
Invention is credited to Chan, Tat.
Application Number | 20010052516 09/852023 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 9892698 |
Filed Date | 2001-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010052516 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chan, Tat |
December 20, 2001 |
Method of securing articles and an electric kettle made by such a
method
Abstract
A Method of Securing Articles and an Electric Kettle Made by
Such a Method There is disclosed a method of securing a stainless
steel housing (12) for a kettle (10), a polypropylene or
polycarbonate water gauge (14), and a polypropylele or
polycarbonate backing element (16A, 16B, 16C, 16D, 16E), including
the steps of (a) welding the water gauge (14) with the backing
element (16A, 16B, 16C, 16D, 16E); (b) contacting and fixedly
securing the housing (12) with the water gauge (14); and (c)
positioning a silicon rubber sealing ring (18A, 18B, 18C, 18D, 18E,
18F) between and in contact with the housing (12) and the backing
element (16A, 16B, 16C, 16D, 16E) to thereby form a water-tight
seal therebetween.
Inventors: |
Chan, Tat; (Shatin,
HK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
James A. LaBarre
BURNS, DOANE, SWECKER & MATHIS, L.L.P.
P.O. Box 1404
Alexandria
VA
22313-1404
US
|
Family ID: |
9892698 |
Appl. No.: |
09/852023 |
Filed: |
May 10, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
219/438 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 31/4457 20130101;
A47J 27/21 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
219/438 |
International
Class: |
H05B 003/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 31, 2000 |
GB |
0013205.0 |
Claims
1. A method of securing at least a first, a second, and a third
article, wherein said first article is made of a metal, and said
second and third articles are made of a plastics material, wherein
said method includes the steps of: (a) fixedly securing said second
article with said third article; (b) contacting and fixedly
securing said first article with said second article; characterized
in including a step of (c) positioning a sealing member between and
in contact with said first, second and third articles to thereby
form a water-tight seal therebetween.
2. A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that said
sealing member includes an endless silicon rubber sealing ring.
3. A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that said
metal is stainless steel.
4. A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that said
plastics material is polypropylene.
5. A method according to claim 4 further characterized in that said
second and third articles are fixedly secured to each other by high
frequency welding or hot-plate welding.
6. A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that said
plastics material is polycarbonate.
7. A method according to claim 6 further characterized in that said
second and third articles are fixedly secured to each other by high
frequency welding, hot-plate welding or ultra-sonic welding.
8. A method according to claim 1 further characterized in including
the steps of: (d) forming at least a channel member on said second
article; (e) forming at least a ridge member on said third article;
and (f) placing said ridge member of said third article in said
channel member of said second article.
9. A method according to claim 1 further characterized in including
the steps of: (g) forming at least a bent portion on said first
article; and (h) placing said bent portion of said first article
within a cavity formed between said second and third articles.
10. A method according to claim 1 further characterized in
including the steps of: (i) forming at least a stepped portion on
said first article; and (j) placing said stepped portion of said
first article within a cavity formed between said second and third
articles.
11. A method according to claim 2 further characterized in that
said sealing ring is substantially circular in cross section.
12. A method according to any claim 2 further characterized in that
said sealing ring is substantially rectangular in cross
section.
13. A method according to claim 2 further characterized in that
said sealing ring is substantially U-shaped in cross section with
two arm members.
14. A method according to claim 13 further characterized in
including the steps of: (k) forming at least a bent portion on said
first article; and (l) placing said bent portion of said first
article in a space between the arm members of said sealing
ring.
15. A method according to claim 13 further characterized in
including the steps of: (m) forming at least a stepped portion on
said first article; and (n) placing said stepped portion of said
first article in a space between the arm members of said sealing
ring.
16. An electric kettle including a metal housing member for
containing water, a non-opaque water gauge and a backing member
made of a plastics material, wherein said water gauge and said
backing member are fixedly secured with each other, wherein said
housing member contacts and is fixedly secured with said water
gauge, characterized in that a sealing member is positioned between
and in contact with said housing member, said backing member and
said water gauge to thereby form a water-tight seal
therebetween.
17. A kettle according to claim 16 wherein said sealing member
further characterized in including an endless silicon rubber
sealing ring.
18. A kettle according to claim 16 further characterized in that
said metal is stainless steel.
19. A kettle according to claim 16 further characterized in that
said plastics material is polypropylene.
20. A kettle according to claim 19 further characterized in that
said water gauge and backing member are fixedly secured to each
other by high frequency welding or hotplate welding.
21. A kettle according to claim 16 further characterized in that
said plastics material is polycarbonate.
22. A kettle according to claim 21 further characterized in that
said water gauge and backing member are fixedly secured to each
other by high frequency welding, hot-plate welding or ultra-sonic
welding.
23. A kettle according to claim 16 further characterized in that
said water gauge includes at least a channel member for receiving
at least a ridge member of said backing member.
24. A kettle according to claim 16 further characterized in that
said housing member includes at least a bent portion received
within a cavity formed between said water gauge and said backing
member.
25. A kettle according to claim 17 further characterized in that
said housing member includes at least a stepped portion received
within a cavity formed between said water gauge and said backing
member.
26. A kettle according to claim 16 further characterized in that
said sealing ring is substantially circular in cross section.
27. A kettle according to claim 16 further characterized in that
said sealing ring is substantially rectangular in cross
section.
28. A kettle according to claim 16 further characterized in that
said sealing ring is substantially U-shaped in cross section with
two arm members.
29. A kettle according to claim 28 further characterized in that
said housing member includes at least a bent portion received in a
space between the arm members of said sealing ring.
30. A kettle according to claim 29 further characterized in that
said housing member includes at least a stepped portion received in
a space between the arm members of said sealing ring.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a method of securing a plurality
of articles, and an electric kettle made by such a method. Such an
invention relates more particularly to the provision of an electric
kettle with a water gauge.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There are in existence a larger variety of electric kettles.
Most such electric kettles do not include any water gauge whereby a
user may inspect the amount of water in the kettles. In particular,
in electric kettles having a metal housing, it has not thus far
been technically feasible to incorporate a water gauge which, in
order to be non-opaque to allow inspection of the interior of the
housing, has to be made of a plastics material. However, given the
repeated heating up and cooling down of the electric kettle, there
exists the problem of ensuring that the engagement between the
water gauge and the metal housing is water-tight.
[0003] It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a
method of securing a plurality of articles, and an electric kettle
made by such a method, in which the above shortcomings are
mitigated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a method of securing at least a first, a second, and a
third article, wherein said first article is made of a metal, and
said second and third articles are made of a plastics material,
wherein said method includes the steps of (a) fixedly securing said
second article with said third article; (b) contacting and fixedly
securing said first article with said second article; characterized
in including a step of (c) positioning a sealing member between and
in contact with said first, second and third articles to thereby
form a water-tight seal therebetween.
[0005] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there
is provided an electric kettle including a metal housing member for
containing water, a non-opaque water gauge and a backing member
made of a plastics material, wherein said water gauge and said
backing member are fixedly secured with each other, wherein said
housing member contacts and is fixedly secured with said water
gauge, characterized in that a sealing member is positioned between
and in contact with said housing member, said backing member and
said water gauge to thereby form a water-tight seal
therebetween.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be
described, by way of examples, and with reference to the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0007] FIG. 1 shows a side view of an electric kettle according to
the present invention;
[0008] FIG. 2A shows a cross-sectional view of a first type of
securing arrangement according to the present invention, taken
along the line A-A of FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 2B shows an enlarged view of the encircled portion
shown in FIG. 2A;
[0010] FIG. 2C shows an exploded view of the parts shown in FIG.
2B;
[0011] FIG. 3A shows a cross-sectional view of a second type of
securing arrangement according to the present invention, taken
along the line A-A of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3B shows an enlarged view of the encircled portion
shown in FIG. 3A;
[0013] FIG. 3C shows an exploded view of the parts shown in FIG.
3B;
[0014] FIG. 4A shows a cross-sectional view of a third type of
securing arrangement according to the present invention, taken
along the line A-A of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 4B shows an enlarged view of the encircled portion
shown in FIG. 4A;
[0016] FIG. 4C shows an exploded view of the parts shown in FIG.
4B;
[0017] FIG. 5A shows a cross-sectional view of a fourth type of
securing arrangement according to the present invention, taken
along the line A-A of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 5B shows an enlarged view of the encircled portion
shown in FIG. 5A;
[0019] FIG. 5C shows an exploded view of the parts shown in FIG.
5B;
[0020] FIG. 6A shows a cross-sectional view of a fifth type of
securing arrangement according to the present invention, taken
along the line A-A of FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 6B shows an enlarged view of the encircled portion
shown in FIG. 6A;
[0022] FIG. 6C shows an exploded view of the parts shown in FIG.
6B;
[0023] FIG. 7A shows a cross-sectional view of a sixth type of
securing arrangement according to the present invention, taken
along the line A-A of FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 7B shows an enlarged view of the encircled portion
shown in FIG. 7A;
[0025] FIG. 7C shows an exploded view of the parts shown in FIG.
7B;
[0026] FIG. 8A shows a cross-sectional view of a seventh type of
securing arrangement according to the present invention, taken
along the line A-A of FIG. 1;
[0027] FIG. 8B shows an enlarged view of the encircled portion
shown in FIG. 8A;
[0028] FIG. 8C shows an exploded view of the parts shown in FIG.
8B; and
[0029] FIG. 9 shows an enlarged view of an eighth type of securing
arrangement according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0030] An electric kettle made in accordance with the present
invention is shown in FIG. 1 as generally designated as 10. The
kettle 10 includes a lid releasably engageable with a stainless
steel body 12 for containing liquid (e.g. water) to be boiled.
Provided on the body 12 is a non-opaque (e.g. transparent) plastics
water gauge 14 through which a user may inspect the level, and thus
the amount, of water in the body 12. The water gauge 14 may include
an index or scale for indicating the amount of water in the body 12
of the kettle 10. The water gauge 14 may be made of polypropylene
or polycarbonate. In order to ensure that the engagement between
the water gauge 14 and the body 12 is water-tight, eight different
arrangements are provided.
[0031] According to the first arrangement, and as shown in FIGS. 2A
to 2C, the stainless steel body 12 is secured with both a first
type of water gauge 14A, a first type of backing element 16A, and a
first type of sealing ring 18A to form a water-tight seal. The
backing element 16A may be made of polypropylene or polycarbonate.
If both the water gauge 14A and the backing element 16A are made of
polypropylene, they may be fixedly secured with each other by
high-frequency welding or hot-plate welding. If both of them are
made of polycarbonate, they may be fixedly secured with each other
by high-frequency welding, hotplate welding or ultra-sonic welding.
The endless silicon rubber sealing ring 18A is positioned among and
in contact with the housing 12, the water gauge 14A and the backing
element 16A. The silicon rubber sealing ring 18A is circular in
cross section. It can be seen that the backing element 16A includes
a ridge 20A which is received within a channel 22A of the water
gauge 14A.
[0032] FIGS. 3A to 3C show a second arrangement whereby the
stainless steel body 12 is fixedly secured with both the first type
of water gauge 14A and the first type of backing element 16A, to
form a water-tight seal. The main difference in this arrangement is
a sealing ring 18B. This sealing ring 18B is elongate in cross
section with two flat surfaces. It can be seen in FIG. 3B that one
flat surface abuts an inner surface of the steel body 12, while
another flat surface abuts the backing element 16A.
[0033] FIGS. 4A to 4C show a third arrangement whereby the
stainless steel body 12 is fixedly secured with the first type of
water gauge 14A, a second type of backing element 16B and a third
type of sealing ring 18C, to form a water-tight seal. In this
arrangement, the portion of the body 12 to be engaged with the
backing element 16B is bent. This bent portion 12A is received
within a cavity between the water gauge 14A, the backing element
16A and the sealing ring 18C. As can be seen, the sealing ring 18C
is substantially rectangular in cross-section, and is in contact
with the water gauge 14A, the backing element 16A and the bent
portion 12A of the body 12.
[0034] FIGS. 5A to 5C show a fourth arrangement whereby the
stainless steel body 12 is fixedly secured with the first type of
water gauge 14A, the second type of backing element 16B and the
sealing ring 18C, to form a water-tight seal. In the arrangement
shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, the sealing ring 18C is in contact with
the outer surface of the body 12, the water gauge 14A and the
backing element 16B, whereas in the arrangement shown in FIGS. 5A
to 5C, the sealing ring 18C is in contact with the inner surface of
the body 12 and the backing element 16B, but is out of contact with
the water gauge 14A.
[0035] FIGS. 6A to 6C show a fifth arrangement whereby the
stainless steel body 12 is fixedly secured with a second type of
water gauge 14B, a third type of backing element 16C and a fourth
type of sealing ring 18D, to form a water-tight seal. It can be
seen in particular that the body 12 includes a stepped portion 12B,
which is engaged with, and is received within a cavity among, the
water gauge 14B, the backing element 16C and the sealing ring 18D.
To enhance the aesthetic appearance of the water gauge 14B, a
recess 24 is formed on the outer surface of the water gauge
14B.
[0036] Turning to FIGS. 7A to 7C, such show a sixth arrangement
whereby the housing 12 is fixedly secured with the first type of
water gauge 14A, a fourth type of backing element 16D and a fifth
type of sealing ring 18E, to form a water-tight seal. In this
arrangement, the sealing ring 18E includes two arms and is of a
substantially U-shaped cross section. The bent portion 12A of the
housing 12 is received within the cavity between the arms of the
sealing ring 18E.
[0037] FIGS. 8A to 8C show a seventh arrangement whereby the
housing 12 is fixedly secured with the second type of water gauge
14B, the fourth type of backing element 16D, and the fifth type of
sealing ring 18E, to form a water-tight seal. In this arrangement,
the housing 12 includes a stepped portion 12B, which is received
within the cavity between the arms of the sealing ring 18E.
[0038] Turning now to FIG. 9, such shows an eighth arrangement
whereby the housing 12 is fixedly secured with a third type of
water gauge 14C, a fifth type of backing element 16E, and a sixth
type of sealing ring 18F, to form a water-tight seal. In this
arrangement, the sealing ring 18F is also substantially U-shaped in
cross-section, and receives a bent portion of the housing 12
sidewardly. In addition, an iron wire ring 28 is positioned between
the water gauge 14C and the backing element 16E.
* * * * *