A kettle is provided which includes a body defining a storage unit and including a spout coupled to the body and defining an opening. The kettle also includes a handle having first and second ends and coupled to the body for rotation about a second axis disposed between the first and second ends and engageably coupled to the spout lid, wherein the rotation of the handle in a first direction causes movement of the lid to its open position and rotation of the handle in a second direction causes movement of the lid to its closed position.
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14. A kettle comprising:
a body defining a storage unit,
the body including a spout defining an opening into the storage unit;
a spout lid coupled to the body for rotation about a first axis between a closed position wherein the lid covers the opening and an open position wherein the lid is spaced from the opening; and
a handle having first and second ends and coupled to the body for rotation about a second axis; and
a lid-actuating mechanism engageably coupled to the spout lid between the first and second axes so that the rotation of the handle in a first direction causes rotation of the spout lid in a second direction.
1. A kettle comprising:
a body defining a storage unit,
the body having a spout defining an opening into the storage unit;
a spout lid coupled to the body for rotation about a first axis between a closed position wherein the lid covers the opening and an open position wherein the lid is spaced from the opening; and
a handle having first and second ends and coupled to the body for rotation about a second axis disposed between the first and second ends and engageably coupled to the spout lid, wherein the rotation of the handle in a first direction causes movement of the lid to its open position and rotation of the handle in a second direction causes movement of the lid to its closed position.
0. 23. A kettle comprising:
a body defining a storage unit;
the body having a spout defining an opening into the storage unit;
a spout closure member coupled to the body for movement between a closed position wherein the closure member closes the opening and an open position wherein the closure member uncloses the opening; and
a handle having first and second ends coupled to the body for rotation about an axis disposed between the first and second ends and coupled to the spout closure member, wherein rotation of the handle in a first direction causes movement of the closure member to its open position and rotation of the handle in a second direction causes movement of the closure member to its closed position.
0. 28. A kettle comprising:
a body defining a storage unit;
the body including a spout defining an opening into the storage unit;
a spout closure member coupled to the body for movement between a closed position wherein the closure member closes the opening and an open position wherein the closure member uncloses the opening;
a handle assembly connected to the body and having first and second ends and a movable portion; and,
a closure member-actuating mechanism coupling the spout closure member to the moveable portion of the handle assembly and pivotally moveable about an axis fixed relative to the body and always disposed beyond the first and second ends,
wherein rotation of the moveable portion of the handle assembly in a first direction causes movement of the closure member to its open position and rotation of the moveable portion of the handle assembly in a second direction causes movement of the closure member to its closed position.
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to kitchen utensils, and more particularly to tea kettles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Tea kettles having spout lids to cover the spout of the kettle have previously been provided. To keep these lids open, a user was typically required to maintain his grip on the tea kettle handle, while at the same time using one of his fingers or thumb to engage a portion of the spout lid to open the same.
Other kettles include handles which open the spout lid when they are grasped and the kettle is lifted. These kettles, however, require a user to maintain his grasp on the handle and keep the kettle lifted to maintain the lid open. These kettles typically have bail type handles which are connected at both its ends to the kettle body. To be able to withstand heat, these ends are required to be formed of a heat-resistant material, such as a metal, and therefore cannot be formed of many non-heat resistant cushioning materials. Subsequently, these handle ends may burn a user's hand if accidentally grabbed thereby.
It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved tea kettle, while affording additional structural and operating advantages.
An important feature of the invention is the provision of a tea kettle which is of relatively simple and economical construction.
A further feature of the invention is the provision of a kettle of the type set forth with a spout lid which can easily be opened by simply lifting the kettle.
A still further feature of the invention is the provision of a kettle of the type set forth, which allows the spout lid of the kettle to be easily maintained in either an open or closed position.
Yet another feature of the invention is the provision of a kettle of the type set forth, which has a handle with a free cantilever end which makes grasping easy and aids in preventing the burning of a user's hand.
One or more of these features may be attained by providing a kettle includes a body defining a storage unit and having a spout defining an opening into the storage unit. The kettle includes a spout lid coupled to the body for rotation about a first axis between a closed position wherein the lid covers the opening and an open position wherein the lid is spaced from the opening. The kettle also includes a handle having first and second ends and coupled to the body for rotation about a second axis disposed between the first and second ends and engageably coupled to the spout lid, wherein the rotation of the handle in a first direction causes movement of the lid to its open position and rotation of the handle in a second direction causes movement of the lid to its closed position.
The invention consists of certain novel features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the details may be made without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.
For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the invention, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.
Referring to the drawings, a tea kettle 10 includes a substantially part-spherical body 12 preferably formed from a metal, such as stainless steel. The body 12 has a central axis “A” (
The kettle 10 also includes a cylindrical spout 18 coupled to the portion of wall 13 defining the spout aperture 14 by welding or the like.
The kettle 10 also includes a bracket 20 (
The support 22 includes a first arm 26 having a clevis end 28 with two spaced-apart extensions 30, each having an aperture 32. The support 22 also includes a second arm 34 having a clevis end 36 with two spaced-apart extensions 38, each having an aperture 40.
As discussed below, the support 22 also has an inner wall 42 (
The kettle 10 also includes a handle 44 having a first end 46 and a free cantilevered second end 48. The handle 44 has a metal body 49 formed from a metal such as zinc, and a cover 50 disposed about the second end 48 and made of elastomeric material, such as that sold by Advanced Elastomer Systems under the tradename Santoprene. The elastomeric material of the cover 50 provides a user with a good, cushioned grip and thermal insulation.
As best seen in
The handle 44 also includes a pin 56 press fit through a bore 57 and projecting from both lateral sides of the handle 44 at its first end 46.
The kettle 10 also includes a spout lid 58. The spout lid 58 includes a cover portion 60 to cover the spout opening 19 in a known manner, and an extension portion 62 coupled to the cover portion 60.
As best seen in
A fastener, such as a rivet 78, is disposed through the apertures 40 of the extension 38 of the second arm 34 and the bore 76 to rotatably couple the spout lid 58 to the support 22. Rivets 78 and 52 have axes substantially parallel to each other.
The ends of the pin 56 are respectively disposed in slots 66 to engageably couple the handle 44 to the spout lid 58.
The kettle 10 also includes a leaf spring 80 having two spaced-apart arms 82, 84. Arm 82 of leaf spring 80 sits on the wall 42 of the support 22. The leaf spring 80 is shaped and dimensioned to contact and bias the triangular-shaped projection 72. As discussed below, the triangular-shaped projection 72 and the leaf spring 80 form an over-center mechanism to bias and maintain the spout lid 58 in either an open or a closed position relative to the spout opening 19.
The kettle 10 is operated as follows. As seen in
As seen in
When the spout lid 58 first starts to rotate, the triangular-shaped projection 72, as seen in
The free cantilevered second end 48 of the handle 44 allows a user to easily grasp the cover 50 without being burned. In addition, the cantilevered second end 48 advantageously extends radially back from the central axis “A” so that a user does not have to overly flex his wrist when pouring a liquid from the kettle 10.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.
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Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Dec 27 2001 | Helen of Troy Limited | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / | |||
Jan 31 2003 | WKI HOLDING COMPANY, INC | JPMorgan Chase Bank | SECURITY INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 013828 | /0022 | |
May 28 2004 | WORLD KITCHEN GHC , LLC | Helen of Troy Limited | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 014787 | /0906 | |
Jun 01 2004 | JPMorgan Chase Bank | WKI HOLDING COMPANY, INC | RELEASE OF LIEN IN CERTAIN PATENTS | 015394 | /0235 | |
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Jun 01 2004 | JPMorgan Chase Bank | WKI LATIN AMERICA HOLDING, LLC | RELEASE OF LIEN IN CERTAIN PATENTS | 015394 | /0235 | |
Jun 01 2004 | JPMorgan Chase Bank | WORLD KITCHEN GHC , LLC | RELEASE OF LIEN IN CERTAIN PATENTS | 015394 | /0235 |
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