U.S. patent application number 11/607485 was filed with the patent office on 2007-04-05 for container lid for preventing overbrimming.
This patent application is currently assigned to Tae-Soon Son. Invention is credited to Sung-Gon Kim.
Application Number | 20070075078 11/607485 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35463241 |
Filed Date | 2007-04-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070075078 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Sung-Gon |
April 5, 2007 |
Container lid for preventing overbrimming
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a container lid for preventing overbrimming,
which can prevent accidents by heating means and uncleanness or
damage of the heating means by preventing overbrimming of the
contents. The container lid for preventing overbrimming includes a
steam outlet formed on a grip fixed on the lid and a cover plate
formed on the inner surface of the lid and elevated by elevation
means for opening and closing the steam outlet so as to smoothly
discharge steam, thereby preventing uncleanness or damage of
heating means and preventing accidents by preventing overbrimming
of contents contained in a container.
Inventors: |
Kim; Sung-Gon; (Busanjin-Gu,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HYUN JONG PARK
41 WHITE BIRCH ROAD
REDDING
CT
06896-2209
US
|
Assignee: |
Tae-Soon Son
|
Family ID: |
35463241 |
Appl. No.: |
11/607485 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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PCT/KR05/01258 |
Jun 1, 2005 |
|
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11607485 |
Nov 30, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/203.29 ;
220/203.27; 220/367.1; 220/912 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 27/56 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/203.29 ;
220/367.1; 220/912; 220/203.27 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/16 20060101
B65D051/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 1, 2004 |
KR |
20-2004-0015280 |
Jul 8, 2004 |
KR |
20-2004-0019840 |
Aug 12, 2004 |
KR |
20-2004-0023514 |
Aug 19, 2004 |
KR |
20-2004-0024116 |
Claims
1. A container lid for preventing overbrimming, comprising: a lid
body (2) of a heating container, the lid body having through-holes
(2a) formed therein; a grip (3) disposed on the lid body (2) and
having an elevation hole (7) formed centrally therein and steam
outlets (6) formed at opposite sides thereof; a fixing plate (4)
disposed beneath the lid body (2) and having through-holes drilled
therein to communicate with the through-holes (2a); fixing means
(5) for fixing the grip (3) and the fixing plate (4) to the lid
body (2); an automatically opening and closing member (9) disposed
between the grip and the lid body and formed integrally with a
cover plate (11) having an annular packing (11a) formed at the
outer rim of the cover plate, for sealing the through holes (2a) of
the lid body (2); the automatically opening closing member (9)
being elevated in the elevation hole (7) of the grip (3), and
elevation means (12) mounted beneath the fixing plate (4) in such a
manner as to be connected to the lid body (2) or the fixing plate
(4) and the automatically opening and closing member (9), for
opening the through-holes (2a) of the lid body (2) by elevating the
automatically opening and closing member (9) according to a
temperature change.
2. The container lid according to claim 1, wherein the
automatically opening and closing member (9) has a slide groove
(9b), and a slide protrusion (7a) is formed on the inner wall of
the elevation hole (7) of the grip (3) to correspond to the slide
groove (9b).
3. The container lid according to claim 1, wherein the
automatically opening and closing member (9) has an insertion
portion (9a), the fixing plate (4) has a hollow bar (8) formed
integrally with the center thereof, to fit into the insertion
portion (9a) while passing through the center of the lid body
(2).
4. The container lid according to claim 3, further comprising an
auxiliary spring (10) disposed on the upper portion of the hollow
bar (8) for elastically supporting the automatically opening and
closing member (9).
5. The container lid according to claim 1, wherein the grip (3) has
a slide stopper (17) mounted in a slide groove (18) formed on the
upper portion thereof, and the automatically opening and closing
member (9) has a slot groove (19) formed on the upper portion
thereof to fit the stopper (17) therein.
6. The container lid according to claim 1, further comprising: a
supporting portion (23) formed on the lower end of the elevation
hole (7) of the grip (3); an auxiliary spring (10) seated on the
supporting portion (23); and a spring adjustor (25) mounted on the
automatically opening and closing member (9) to which an adjustment
screw (24) is fastened for compressing the auxiliary spring
(10).
7. The container lid according to claim 1, further comprising: a
supporting portion (23) formed on the lower end of the elevation
hole (7) of the grip (3); an auxiliary spring (10) seated on the
supporting portion (23); a spring adjustor (25) screwed to a
threaded portion (29) formed on the outer circumference of the
upper end of the automatically opening and closing member (9) in an
elevated manner; a fixing cover (31) disposed on the upper portion
of the grip (3) and having an indicating portion 32 formed on the
upper circumference thereof for allowing the user to check a
spring-compressed level with naked eyes; a holding protrusion (33)
formed on the lower end of the spring adjustor (25); and a fixing
protrusion (30) formed on the fixing cover (31) in such a way as to
correspond to the holding protrusion (33) of the spring adjustor
(25).
8. The container lid according to claim 1, wherein the elevation
means (12) has a sensing piece (14) made with plate spring bimetal
which is bended upwardly according to temperature change, the
sensing piece (14) having an end rotatably fixed to the lower
portion of the cover plate (11) by a pin (16) and the other end
fixed to the lid body (2) by the fixing plate (4).
9. The container lid according to claim 1, wherein the elevation
means (12) for elevating the automatically opening and closing
member (9) includes: an actuating shaft (15) having the upper end
fixed to the automatically opening and closing member (9) by a
connection pin (13) in a state where it is inserted into the
automatically opening and closing member (9); a sensing piece (14)
fixed to the lower portion of the lid body (2) by the fixing plate
(4); and a pin (16) rotatably connecting the lower end of the
actuating shaft (15) and the sensing piece (14).
10. The container lid according to claim 8, wherein the sensing
piece (14) is made with bimetal in which upper and lower thin
sheets (14a)(14b) of different thermal expansive coefficients are
bonded to each other, and wherein the upper thin sheet (14a) is low
in thermal expansive coefficient and the lower thin sheet (14b) is
high in thermal expansive coefficient, so that the sensing piece
914) is bended upwardly when temperature rises.
11. The container lid according to claim 1, wherein the elevation
means (12) for elevating the automatically opening and closing
member (9) includes: a sensing piece (14) fixed to the fixing plate
(4) disposed on the lower portion of the lid body (2), the sensing
piece (14) being bended downwardly when temperature rises; a lever
(20) rotatably mounted at a side of the lower portion of the fixing
plate (4) and compressed by the sensing piece (14); a pressure
lever (21) downwardly protruding from the lower portion of the
lever (20); a stopper (22) axially mounted on the lower portion of
the fixing plate (4), operated by the pressure lever (21) and
angularly moved; and an actuating shaft (15) having a holding jaw
(15a) formed on the lower end portion thereof for holding the
stopper (22).
12. The container lid according to claim 11, wherein the sensing
piece (14) is made with bimetal in which upper and lower thin
sheets (14a)(14b) of different thermal expansive coefficients are
bonded to each other, and wherein the upper thin sheet (14a) is
high in thermal expansive coefficient and the lower thin sheet
(14b) is low in thermal expansive coefficient, so that the sensing
piece 914) is bended downwardly when temperature rises.
13. The container lid according to claim 1, further comprising: a
supporting portion (23) formed on the lower end of the elevation
hole (7) of the grip (3); an auxiliary spring (10) seated on the
supporting portion (23); and a spring adjustor (25) mounted on the
upper end of the automatically opening and closing member (9) by an
adjustment screw (24) for compressing the auxiliary spring (10),
wherein the elevation means (12) for elevating the automatically
opening and closing member (9) includes a permanent magnet (26)
mounted on the lower portion of the cover plate (11) of the
automatically opening and closing member (9) for sensing
temperature, and a magnetic substance (27) mounted on the fixing
plate (4) and corresponding to the permanent magnet (26).
14. The container lid according to claim 13, further comprising: a
fixing cover (31) disposed on the upper portion of the grip (3) and
having an indicating portion 32 formed on the upper circumference
thereof for allowing the user to check a spring-compressed level
with naked eyes; a holding protrusion (33) formed on the lower end
of the spring adjustor (25); and a fixing protrusion (30) formed on
the fixing cover (31) in such a way as to correspond to the holding
protrusion (33) of the spring adjustor (25), wherein the spring
adjustor (25) is screwed to a threaded portion (29) formed on the
outer circumference of the upper end of the automatically opening
and closing member (9) in an elevated manner.
15. The container lid according to claim 13, wherein a number of
the permanent magnets (26) and the magnetic substances (27) are
provided.
16. The container lid according to claim 13, wherein the magnetic
substance (27) is mounted on the lid body (2).
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This a continuation of pending International Patent
Application PCT/KR2005/001258 filed on Jun. 1, 2005, which
designates the United States and claims priorities of Korean Patent
Application No. 20-2004-0015280 filed on Jun. 1, 2004; No.
20-2004-0019840 filed on Jul. 8, 2004; No. 20-2004-0023514 filed on
Aug. 12, 2004; No. 20-2004-0024116 filed on Aug. 19, 2004.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a lid of a cooking
container or a heating container for preventing overbrimming, and
more particularly, to a container lid for preventing overbrimming,
which includes overbrimming preventing means disposed on a handle
of the container lid in order to prevent contents from overbrimming
out of a container when the container is heated, thereby preventing
accidents by heating means such as a gas range, and preventing
uncleanness or damage of the heating means due to the overbrimming
of the contents.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In general, when foods are cooked or the laundry or nursing
bottles are sterilized and disinfected, the contents (foods,
laundry, nursing bottles or others) are inserted into a container,
a lid of the container is closed, and then the contents are heated
by heating means such as a gas range or an electric range. At this
time, when temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, the
contents is overbrimmed out of the container by steam generated
inside the container, so that the heating means is damaged, gets
dirty or causes accidents. So, to overcome the above problems, a
steam outlet for discharging steam is formed on a lid of the
container.
[0004] However, the conventional container lid cannot smoothly
discharge steam when the contents are boiled since the steam outlet
formed on the conventional container lid is small. Furthermore, the
conventional container lid generates noise or causes overbrimming
of the contents, since the lid is vibrated by steam. As a result, a
user has to separate the lid from the container to prevent
overbrimming. However, at this time, the heating time period is
lengthened since the inside steam of the container is suddenly
discharged to the outside. Lots of means to solve the above
problems have been disclosed, but most of them are not practically
used. So, development of new means for solving the above problems
is required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of
the above problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object
of the present invention to provide a container lid for preventing
overbrimming, which includes a steam outlet formed on a grip fixed
on the lid and a cover plate formed on the inner surface of the lid
and elevated by elevation means for opening and closing the steam
outlet so as to smoothly discharge steam, thereby preventing
uncleanness or damage of heating means and preventing accidents by
preventing overbrimming of contents contained in a container.
[0006] The elevation means which is the main technical subject of
the present invention may one of the following means.
[0007] First, a sensing piece made with bimetal which is
transformed according to temperature change is mounted on the lower
portion of the cover plate so that the cover plate is automatically
elevated according to the temperature change.
[0008] Second, considering that magnetic force of a permanent
magnet is gradually reduced when heat is applied to the magnet and
restored in normal temperature (when heat is cooled down), a magnet
is mounted on the cover plate and a magnetic substance is mounted
on the container lid in correspondence with the magnet so that the
cover plate is automatically elevated according to the temperature
change.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container lid for
preventing overbrimming according to the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the first preferred
embodiment, showing a state before an automatic opening and closing
unit is operated.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the first preferred
embodiment, showing a state after the automatic opening and closing
unit is operated.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a second preferred embodiment,
showing a state before the automatic opening and closing unit is
operated.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the second preferred
embodiment, showing a state after the automatic opening and closing
unit is operated.
[0015] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a third preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the third preferred
embodiment, showing a state before the automatic opening and
closing unit is operated.
[0017] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the third preferred
embodiment, showing a state after the automatic opening and closing
unit is operated.
[0018] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a fourth
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the fourth preferred
embodiment, showing a state before the automatic opening and
closing unit is operated.
[0020] FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the fourth preferred
embodiment, showing a state after the automatic opening and closing
unit is operated.
[0021] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a modification of the
fourth preferred embodiment.
[0022] FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing another modification
of the fourth preferred embodiment.
[0023] FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of a fifth preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the fifth preferred
embodiment, showing a state before the automatic opening and
closing unit is operated.
[0025] FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the fifth preferred
embodiment, showing a state after the automatic opening and closing
unit is operated.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container lid for
preventing overbrimming according to the present invention, FIG. 2
is an exploded perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of
the present invention, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the first
preferred embodiment showing a state before an automatic opening
and closing unit is operated, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the
first preferred embodiment showing a state after the automatic
opening and closing unit is operated.
[0028] The container lid 1 for preventing overbrimming according to
the present invention, as shown in the drawings, includes a lid
body 2 having semicircular through-holes 2a formed on right and
left side of the center thereof and opposed to each other, a grip 3
disposed on the lid body 2 and having steam outlets 6 formed on
opposite sides thereof and an elevation hole 7 pierced in the grip
3, a fixing plate 4 disposed beneath the lid body 2 and having
through-holes drilled therein to communicate with the through-holes
2a of the lid body 2, and fixing means 5 for fixing the grip 3 and
the fixing plate 4 to the lid body 2.
[0029] An automatically opening and closing member 9 is mounted
between the grip 3 and the lid body 2 and inserted into the
elevation hole 7 in an elevated manner. The automatically opening
and closing member 9 is formed integrally with a cover plate 11
having an annular packing 11a formed at the outer rim of the cover
plate, for sealing the through-holes 2a of the lid body 2.
[0030] To guarantee a more safe operation of the automatically
opening and closing member 9, the fixing plate 4 has a hollow bar 8
formed integrally with the center thereof and passing through the
center of the lid body 2 in such a way as to be fit into an
insertion portion 9a formed inside the automatically opening and
closing member 9, and the hollow bar 8 has an auxiliary spring 10
seated therein for elastically supporting the automatically opening
and closing member 9.
[0031] As elevation means 12 for lifting the cover plate 11 of the
automatically opening and closing member 9 by vapor pressure and
temperature change generated when the vapor pressure is generated
inside a container, a sensing piece 14 which is made with plate
spring bimetal bended to a side according to the temperature change
is used. That is, the lower end of an actuating shaft 15 of the
elevation means 12 combined by a connection pin 13 fixed to the
upper portion of the automatically opening and closing member 9
passes through a hollow portion 8a of the hollow bar 8 and is
exposed to the outside from the lower portion of the fixing plate
4. The elevation means 12 is rotatably mounted to the sensing piece
14, which is closely fixed on the lower portion of the lid body 2
by the fixing plate 4, by a pin 16.
[0032] The sensing piece 14 is made with the plate spring bimetal
manufactured in such a way that upper and lower thin sheets 14a and
14b of different thermal expansive coefficients are bonded to each
other. The sensing piece 14 is bended toward the thin sheet 14a of
low thermal expansive coefficient since the two thin sheets 14a and
14b have different lengths from each other due to a difference of
the thermal expansive coefficients when temperature rises. In case
of the thin sheets 14a and 14b applied to the sensing piece 14, the
upper thin sheet 14a is low in thermal expansive coefficient and
the lower thin sheet 14b is high in thermal expansive coefficient,
so that the sensing piece 14 is bended upwardly when the
temperature rises so that the actuating shaft 15 is ascended.
Particularly, the sensing piece 14 is embossing-processed in such a
way as to protrude upwardly in the normal temperature (when heat is
cooled) so as to be minutely bounced when the temperature
rises.
[0033] At this time, the actuating shaft 15 is slidably elevated
inside the hollow portion 8a of the hollow bar 8.
[0034] If a user does not want that the automatically opening and
closing member 9 is automatically elevated by the elevation means
12, for example, in case of rice, chestnuts, potatoes, sweet
potatoes and so on which must be boiled for a long time, a slide
stopper 17 is pushed inwardly along a slide groove 18 formed on the
upper portion of the grip 3 for fixing the automatically opening
closing member 9 so as to prevent discharge of steam, and is
slidably fit into a slot groove 19 formed on the upper portion of
the automatically opening and closing member 9, so that the
automatically opening and closing member 9 is firmly fixed.
[0035] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a second preferred embodiment
showing a state before the automatic opening and closing unit is
operated, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the second preferred
embodiment showing a state after the automatic opening and closing
unit is operated. The second preferred embodiment is to supplement
shortcomings in elevation of the actuating shaft 15 by the sensing
piece 14 made with the plate spring bimetal when the elevation
distance of the automatically opening and closing member 9 is
long.
[0036] That is, the auxiliary spring 10 is made of highly elastic
material to elevate the automatically opening and closing member 9.
The sensing piece 14 has the upper thin sheet 14a of high thermal
expensive coefficient and the lower thin sheet 14b of low thermal
expensive coefficient, the center of the sensing piece 14 is bended
upwardly, and both ends of the sensing piece 14 are fixed on the
fixing plate 4. The elevation means 12 for upwardly elevating the
automatically opening and closing member 9 includes: an
approximately rectangular lever 20 operated by the sensing piece
14, rotatably mounted on the fixing plate 4 opposed to the sensing
piece 14 and being empty at the center thereof; a pressure lever 21
downwardly mounted on the lower portion of the lever 20; and a
stopper 22 mounted on the fixing plate 4 and rotated by the
operation of the lever 20.
[0037] The actuating shaft 15 is stopped by the stopper 22 mounted
on the lower portion of the fixing plate 4 in such a way as to be
moved angularly, and has a holding jaw 15a formed on the lower
portion thereof so as to hold the stopper 22, so that the stopper
22 is relieved from the holding jaw 15a of the actuating shaft 15
when the sensing piece 4 is thermally expanded and the lever 20 is
compressed.
[0038] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a third preferred
embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a sectional view of
the third preferred embodiment showing a state before the automatic
opening and closing unit is operated, and FIG. 9 is a sectional
view of the third preferred embodiment showing a state after the
automatic opening and closing unit is operated.
[0039] The third preferred embodiment of the present invention is
to simplify the structure of the container lid 1 for preventing
overbrimming.
[0040] That is, the automatically opening and closing member 9
formed integrally with the cover plate 11 having the annular
packing 11a for sealing the through-holes 2a of the lid body 2 is
fit into the elevation hole 7. At this time, a slide protrusion 7a
of the elevation hole 7 is slidably fit into the slide groove 9b of
the automatically opening and closing member 9 for accomplishing a
safe elevation motion.
[0041] The auxiliary spring 10 seated on a supporting portion 23
formed on the lower end of the elevation hole 7 is located outside
the automatically opening and closing member 9, and compressed by a
spring adjustor 25 fastened to the upper end of the automatically
opening and closing member 9 by adjustment screw 24.
[0042] As the elevation means 12 for elevating the automatically
opening and closing member 9, the elevation means 12 includes a
bracket 11b is formed on the lower portion of the cover plate 11,
and the sensing piece 14 closely fixed to the lower portion of the
lid body 2 by the fixing plate 4 and made with plate spring bimetal
in which upper and lower thin sheets 14a and 14b of different
thermal expensive coefficients are bonded with each other. The
bracket 11b is rotatably mounted to an end portion of the sensing
piece 14 by a pin 16 for elevating the automatically opening and
closing member 9.
[0043] The slide stopper 17 for fixing the automatically opening
and closing member 9 is pushed inwardly along the slide groove 18
formed on the upper portion of the grip 3, and slidably fit into a
slot groove 25a formed on the upper portion of the spring adjustor
25.
[0044] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a fourth
preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 11 is a
sectional view of the fourth preferred embodiment showing a state
before the automatic opening and closing unit is operated, and FIG.
12 is a sectional view of the fourth preferred embodiment showing a
state after the automatic opening and closing unit is operated.
[0045] In the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention,
considering that magnetic force of a permanent magnet 26 is
gradually reduced when heat is applied to the magnet 26 and
restored in normal temperature (when heat is cooled down), as the
elevation means 12 of the automatically opening and closing member
9, the permanent magnet 26 is mounted on the cover plate 11 and a
magnetic substance 27 is mounted on the lid body 2 or the lower
portion of the lid body 2 in correspondence with the permanent
magnet 26, so that the elevation means 12 is operated according to
the temperature change.
[0046] That is, in the container lid 1 in which the grip 3 having
the steam outlets 6 formed at the sides thereof is fixed on the
through-holes 2a of the lid body 2 by the fixing means 5, the
automatically opening and closing member 9 formed integrally with
the cover plate 11 having the annular packing 11a for sealing the
through-holes 2a of the lid body 2 is fit into the elevation hole 7
of the grip 3. At this time, the slide protrusion 7a of the
elevation hole 7 is slidably fit into the slide groove 9b of the
automatically opening and closing member 9 for accomplishing a safe
elevation motion.
[0047] The auxiliary spring 10 seated on a supporting portion 23
formed on the lower end of the elevation hole 7 is located outside
the automatically opening and closing member 9, and compressed by a
spring adjustor 25 fastened to the upper end of the automatically
opening and closing member 9 by an adjustment screw 24.
[0048] The elevation means 12 for elevating the automatically
opening and closing member 9 includes the permanent magnet 26
mounted on the lower portion of the cover plate 11 for sensing
temperature and the magnetic substance 27 mounted on the lid body 2
corresponding to the permanent magnet 26.
[0049] Of course, the grip 3 has the slide stopper 17, and the
spring adjustor 25 has the slot groove 25a for firmly fixing the
automatically opening and closing member 9.
[0050] It is preferable that the permanent magnet 26 for sensing
temperature has a thin coated layer (not shown), or a soft cover 28
is covered on the permanent magnet 26 for the purpose of protecting
magnetic force and prevent damage of the permanent magnet 26.
[0051] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a modification of the
fourth preferred embodiment. In FIG. 13, the cover plate 11 has at
least two permanent magnets 26 mounted on the edge portion thereof
for sensing temperature, and the lid body 2 has at least two
magnetic substances 27 corresponding to the permanent magnets
26.
[0052] The permanent magnets 26 for sensing temperature may be
mounted on the lid body 2, and the magnetic substances 27 may be
mounted on the cover plate 11 on the contrary to the above.
[0053] FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing another modification
of the fourth preferred embodiment. In the fourth preferred
embodiment, the fixing plate 4 is fixed on the lower portion of the
lid body 2 by the fixing means 5, and has the magnetic substance 27
corresponding to the permanent magnet 26 mounted on the
automatically opening and closing member 9 for sensing
temperature.
[0054] If the fixing plate 4 in itself is made of magnetic
material, the magnetic substance 27 may not be mounted on the
fixing plate (not shown).
[0055] FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of a fifth preferred
embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 16 is a sectional view of
the fifth preferred embodiment showing a state before the automatic
opening and closing unit is operated, and FIG. 17 is a sectional
view of the fifth preferred embodiment showing a state after the
automatic opening and closing unit is operated.
[0056] The automatically opening and closing member 9 formed
integrally with the cover plate 11 having the annular packing 11a
for sealing the through-holes 2a of the lid body 2 is fit into the
elevation hole 7 of the grip 3. At this time, the slide protrusion
7a of the elevation hole 7 is slidably fit into the slide groove 9b
of the automatically opening and closing member 9 for accomplishing
a safe elevation motion, and the auxiliary spring 10 seated on a
supporting portion 23 formed on the lower end of the elevation hole
7 is located outside the automatically opening and closing member
9. The automatically opening and closing member 9 has a threaded
portion 29 formed on the outer circumference of the upper end
portion thereof, and the threaded portion 29 is screwed with the
spring adjustor 25. A fixing cover 31 includes a fixing protrusion
30 corresponding to a holding protrusion 33 of the spring adjustor
25 and an indicating portion 32 formed on the upper surface thereof
for allowing the user to check a spring-compressed level with naked
eyes. The fixing cover 31 is connected to the lower end of the
spring adjustor 25, so as to control the rotation of the spring
adjustor 25.
[0057] In the drawings, the unexplained reference numeral 34
designates a container, and the reference numeral 35 designates a
lid body 34 of the container 34.
[0058] As shown in FIG. 1, the container lid 1 for preventing
overbrimming according to the present invention discharges steam
through the grip 3 fixed on the upper portion of the lid body 2 as
temperature rises when heating means such as a gas range or an
electric range heats the container after foods, the laundry or
nursing bottles are contained in the container and the container
lid 1 covers the container body 35 of the container 34.
Hereinafter, the operation of the present invention will be
described.
[0059] First, according to the first preferred embodiment, after
the foods are inserted into the container 34, the user covers the
container lid 1 on the container 34, presses the automatically
opening and closing member 9 connected to the elevation hole 7 of
the grip 3, and then, heats the container 34 by the heating
means.
[0060] When the user presses the automatically opening and closing
member 9, the automatically opening and closing member 9
elastically mounted on the auxiliary spring 10 seated on the hollow
bar 8 is moved downwardly and moves the sensing piece 14 made with
the plate spring bimetal downwardly in a bended state. At this
time, the sensing piece 14 pulls the automatically opening closing
member 9 with greater power than elasticity of the auxiliary spring
10, so that the automatically opening and closing member 9 is moved
downwardly and the cover plate 11 seals the through-holes 2a of the
lid body 2 (see FIG. 3).
[0061] At this time the sensing piece 14 is in a state before
thermal expansion. The sensing piece 14 has the two thin sheets 14a
and 14b: the upper thin sheet 14a being expanded a little due to
the low thermal expansive coefficient; and the lower thin sheet 14b
being expanded greatly due to the high thermal expansive
coefficient.
[0062] In the above state, when vapor pressure is generated inside
the container 34 and temperature rises while the foods contained in
the container 34 is gradually heated, the sensing piece 14
gradually causes thermal expansion.
[0063] When the sensing piece 14 is heated, as described above, the
lower thin sheet 14b of the sensing piece 14 causes the greater
thermal expansion than the upper thin sheet 14a, so that the
sensing piece 14 is fixed to the automatically opening and closing
member 9 by the connection pin 13 and power for upwardly pushing
the actuating shaft 15 rotatably connected with the end portion of
the sensing piece 14 by the pin 16 is generated.
[0064] When the sensing piece 14 is thermally expanded and the
power for upwardly moving the actuating shaft 15 gradually reaches
a limit point, the elasticity of the auxiliary spring 10 for
upwardly moving the automatically opening and closing member 9
becomes greater than the power of the sensing piece 14 for pulling
the automatically opening and closing member 9.
[0065] When the elasticity of the auxiliary spring 10 becomes
greater than the power for pulling the sensing piece 14, the
auxiliary spring 10 seated on the hollow bar 8 is returned to the
original position, and the automatically opening and closing member
is moved upwardly. At this time, the through-holes 2a of the lid
body 2 sealed by the cover plate 11 is opened, so that steam inside
the container 34 can be rapidly discharged to the outside through
the steam outlet 6 formed in the grip 3 so as to prevent
overbrimming of the foods contained in the container (see FIG.
4).
[0066] Meanwhile, when the foods such as chestnuts, rice, sweet
potatoes and so on are cooked, if the user does not want the
automatic operation of the automatically opening closing member 9,
the user can cook the foods in a state where the automatically
opening and closing member 9 is fixed.
[0067] That is, to fix the automatically opening and closing member
9, the user pushes the slide stopper 17 mounted on the slide groove
18 of the grip 3 toward the slot groove 19 (or the slot groove 25a
formed on the spring adjustor 25) formed on the upper portion of
the automatically opening and closing member 9 in a state where the
automatically opening and closing member 9 is elevated, so that the
automatically opening and closing member 9 is firmly fix to the
grip 3.
[0068] According to the second preferred embodiment, when the user
presses the automatically opening and closing member 9 fit into the
elevation hole 7 of the grip 3 with his or her finger, the
actuating shaft 15 fixed to the automatically opening and closing
member 9 by the connection pin 13 is moved downwardly.
[0069] When the actuating shaft 15 is moved downwardly, the sensing
piece 14 is relieved from the lever 20 since it is in a state
before the thermal expansion. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, an
end portion of the stopper 22 rotatably mounted on the lower
portion of the fixing plate 4 is caught to the holding jaw 15a
formed on the lower end portion of the actuating shaft 15.
[0070] In the above state where the end portion of the stopper 22
is caught to the holding jaw 15a formed on the lower end portion of
the actuating shaft 15, when the foods contained inside the
container 34 is heated and the vapor pressure and temperature rise,
the sensing piece 14 compresses the lever 20.
[0071] That is, when the sensing piece 14 having the upper thin
sheet 14a of the high thermal expansive coefficient and the lower
thin sheet 14b of the low thermal expansive coefficient is
thermally expanded, power of the upper thin sheet 14a of the high
thermal expansive coefficient is applied to the lower thin sheet
14b of the lower thermal expansive coefficient, so that the
upwardly bended portion of the sensing piece 14 compresses the end
of the lever 20.
[0072] When the lever 20 is compressed, the pressure lever 21
downwardly protruding from the lower portion of the lever 20
presses the rear end of the stopper 22 and rotates the stopper 22
caught to the holding jaw 15a of the actuating shaft 15, so that
the stopper 22 is relieved from the holding jaw 15a. When the
stopper 22 is relieved from the holding jaw 15a, the automatically
opening and closing member 9 is moved upwardly by tension force of
the auxiliary spring 10 and the cover plate 11 sealing the
through-holes 2a is opened, so that steam inside the container 34
is rapidly discharged to the outside through the steam outlet 6 so
as to prevent overbrimming of the foods (see FIG. 6).
[0073] According to the third preferred embodiment, the present
invention guarantees safety in operation of the automatically
opening and closing member 9 and simplifies its structure.
[0074] That is, the elevation hole 7 has the slide protrusion 7a
and the automatically opening and closing member 9 has the slide
groove 9b, thereby guaranteeing safety in operation without
rotation of the automatically opening and closing member 9 during
the vertical movement of the automatically opening and closing
member 9.
[0075] The auxiliary spring 10 seated on the supporting portion 23
formed on the lower end of the elevation hole 7 is seated on the
upper end of the automatically opening and closing member 9 and
compressed by the spring adjustor 25 mounted by the adjustment
screw 24. The tension force of the auxiliary spring 10 can be
simply controlled by a simple manipulation that the user tightens
or releases the adjustment screw 24.
[0076] In the fourth and fifth preferred embodiments, the elevation
means 12 has the permanent magnet 26 which loses about 20% of
magnetic force when heat is applied but recovers the magnetic force
when heat is cooled down. Hereinafter, the operation of the
elevation means 12 will be described.
[0077] According to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present
invention, when the user presses the automatically opening and
closing member 9 connected to the grip 3 with his or her finger, as
shown in FIG. 11, the automatically opening and closing member 9
provided with the elasticity of the auxiliary spring 10 is moved
downwardly, and the permanent magnet 26 fixed on the automatically
opening and closing member 9 is attached and fixed to the magnetic
substance 27 mounted on the fixing plate 4 fixed on the lid body 2
(FIGS. 10, 11 and 12) or on the lower portion of the lid body 2
(FIG. 13). At this time, since the magnetic force of the permanent
magnet 26 is greater than the elasticity of the auxiliary spring
10, the cover plate 11 of the automatically opening and closing
member 9 can keep the state where the through-holes 2a of the lid
body 2 is sealed (see FIG. 11).
[0078] In the above state, the foods inside the container 34 is
heated and the vapor pressure and temperature rise, and at this
time, the permanent magnet 26 gradually loses its magnetic force
(about 20% of the magnetic force).
[0079] When the permanent magnet 26 loses some of the magnetic
force, the elasticity of the auxiliary spring 10 which is greater
than the magnetic force of the permanent magnet 26 is transferred
to the automatically opening and closing member 9, and then, the
automatically opening an closing member 9 is moved upwardly and the
cover plate 11 sealing the through-holes 2a is opened, so that
steam inside the container 34 is rapidly discharged through the
steam outlet 6 formed on the grip 3 so as to prevent overbrimming
of the foods (see FIG. 12).
[0080] The technical structure applied to the fifth preferred
embodiment can be applied to the first to fourth preferred
embodiments of the present invention, and the operation time of the
automatically opening and closing member 9 can be simply controlled
according to kinds of the foods.
[0081] That is, the automatically opening and closing member 9
formed integrally with the cover plate 11 having the annular
packing 11a for sealing the through-holes 2a of the lid body 2 is
fit into the elevation hole 7 of the grip 3. At this time, the
auxiliary spring 10 seated on a supporting portion 23 formed on the
lower end of the elevation hole 7 is located outside the
automatically opening and closing member 9. The automatically
opening and closing member 9 has the threaded portion 29 formed on
the outer circumference of the upper end portion thereof, and the
threaded portion 29 is screwed with the spring adjustor 25 having
the holding protrusion 33 formed on the lower end thereof. The
fixing cover 31, which includes the fixing protrusion 30
corresponding to the holding protrusion 33 and the indicating
portion 32 formed on the upper circumference thereof for allowing
the user to check a spring-compressed level with naked eyes, is
connected to the upper portion of the grip 3. When the user rotates
the spring adjustor 25 while seeing the indicating portion 32 of
the fixing cover 31 to control the operation time of the
automatically opening and closing member 9, the spring adjustor 25
screwed with the threaded portion 29 of the automatically opening
and closing member 9 is elevated so that the elasticity of the
auxiliary spring 10 can be controlled.
[0082] As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention can be applied to
one of containers such as pots, kettles, frying pans, steamers or
other cookers.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0083] As described above, according to the container lid 2 for
preventing overbrimming of the present invention, the automatically
opening and closing member 9 is mounted inside the grip 3 fixed to
the lid body 2 in an elevation manner, and the elevation means 12
for elevating the automatically opening and closing member 9 is
fixed under the lid body 2 by the fixing plate 4. The elevation of
automatically opening and closing member 9 is automatically
controlled by the sensing piece 14 made with the plate spring
bimetal which is bended to a side according to the temperature
change, or by the permanent magnet 26 mounted on the automatically
opening and closing member 9 and the magnetic substance 27 mounted
on the lid body 2 or the fixing plate 4 when temperature rises.
Therefore, the present invention can prevent overbrimming of the
contents contained inside the container 34 by controlling discharge
of steam of the container 34, prevent uncleanness or damage of the
heating means due to the overbrimming of the contents, and prevent
accidents due to gas leakage or explosion.
[0084] Furthermore, the present invention can simply control the
operation time of the automatically opening and closing member
which is automatically operated by the elevation means 12, and be
applied to various cookers.
[0085] While the present invention has been described with
reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to
be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims.
It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or
modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit
of the present invention.
* * * * *