Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2045569
CONTAINER FOR LIOUIDS, IN PAR~ICULAR A MICROWAVE PO~
The present invention relates to a container for liquids,
more particularly a microwave container suitable for
preparing hot beverages inside a microwave oven in
5 accordance with the preamble to Patent Claim l.
Disclosed in U.S.-A-2 592 279 is a similar container for
liquids comprising a container body, a container handle
which, being attached to the container body, exhibits a
substantially constant curvature, and a lid serving to close
10 the opening of the container. The lid features a knob
embodied as a lever that is separated from the container
handle by means of a commissure. The latter runs above the
rim of the container between the container handle and the
knob wich is, for the purpose of removing the lid, attached
15 to the latter so as to be able to pivot, which enables the
lid to be removed from the opening of the container for
liquids by being lifted and then pulled.
Disclosed in GB-PS 1 027 123 is a container for liquids
comprising a container handle that is attached to the body
20 of such container as well as a lid serving to close the
opening o~ the container. The handle, which is attached to
the body of the container, has a variable curvature that
allows it to accommodate the shape of the hand of the user.
The handle extends over a commissure located near the rim of
25 the container body to become a knob that is attached to the
lid of the container. The lid is inserted into the
container opening and fits snugly into the neck of the
container body.
A number of features make the prior art container for
30 liquids difficult to use. For example, the space separating
the handle from the container body is too small for large
hands, which makes the container hard to grasp. Whenever
the lid is removed, the hand must be placed directly over
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the lid, which allows steam to make contact with the hand
during preparation or storage of hot beverages. This
increases the likelihood of scalding. For this reason, the
prior art container for liquids is suitable for storing hot
5 or cold drinks, but not for directly heating liquids.
DE-GM 19 68 008 discloses a vessel suitable for pouring
liquids featuring a flip-open lid, wherein the lid, which is
situated in an opening that begins below tha rim of the
container, features a lateral extension that is sloped at a
10 predetermined angle relative to an upper stopping surface of
the container handle. When the extension of the lid is
depressed, the latter is caused to tilt upwards, which
releases liquid through a spout located on the side of the
container opposite the handle.
15 Although use of the prior art device does not entail the
danger of scalding one's hand, since the latter is protected
by the lid itself, the lid cannot be completely withdrawn
from the opening unless lifted up from the side on which the
opening is situated, an action that would again expose the
20 hand to scalding. A further disadvantage of this prior art
device is that the lid extends beyond the rim of the fluid
container, and is thus more likely to drag on the inside of
a narrow space, an example of which is the heating cavity
located inside a microwave oven.
25 Microwave apparatuses that are used to heat and cook food
products have found increasing use in both commercial and
private kitchens. Containers, generally of plastic, have
been designed especially for use inside microwave ovens,
since the metal cooking implements that are used
30 conventionally to prepare food cannot be placed inside a
microwave oven.
Use of specially-designed containers permits food to be
prepared inside microwave ovens in a particularly effective
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and energy-saving manner and enables, in addition to food
preparation, water or beverages to be heated inside a
microwave oven.
Also known is a microwave pot produced from borosilicate
5 glass, and used to prepare hot drinks. This pot has a handle
and a body featuring an opening that can be closed by means
of a lid. Both lid and handle are made of plastic. The lid
is designed to interlock with the glass body by means of
locking tongues, while the end zones of the handle are
10 bonded to the glass body by a special technique that
eliminates the need for a metal band, which cannot be used
inside a microwave oven. A manually-operated plunger,
located in the centre of the lid, facilitates opening and
closing of the lid.
15 The retention of classic design features in a beverage
container is not progressive, in view of contemporary user-
friendly designs of other kinds of similar equipment.
Removal of the lid from the prior art microwave pot for
example is possible only if the user does not mind exposing
20 his hand to the hot steam escaping from the pot.
Employment of a lid extending far above the pot itself,
moreover, increases the overall height of the pot, which in
turn reduces considerably the usefulness of such prior art
containers inside substantially flat microwave ovens.
25 A further disadvantage of the prior art microwave pot is the
expensive bonding technique used to attach the handle to the
body of the container, in respect of which it has not been
clearly demonstrated that the bond is durable enough to
resist microwave radiation over the long term.
30 ~he ob~ect of the present invention is the creation of a
container for liquids of the kind mentioned above which,
besides being aesthetically pleasing, is easy and safe to
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use, is suitable for use inside flat microwave ovens and
permits the simple and durable attachment of the container
handle to the container itself.
This object will be satisfied by the distinguishing features
5 set out in Claim 1.
The proposed microwave pot is very easy to use, can be
handled safely, is durable and has a highly resistant handle
that permits use of the proposed container inside
practically every kind of microwave oven.
10 The lever-like design of the knob permits safe manipulation
of the lid from the side. The continuous merging of the
knob into the handle of the container prevents unintentional
operation of the knob, since such operation first requires
that the knob be swung away from the handle, whereupon the
15 lid can be lifted from the container by pulling on the
knob.
The lever-like design of the knob also permits employment of
a flat and easily-grasped knob. Due to the lever-like
design of the knob and the integration of the knob and
20 container handle near the rim of the container, an entirely
flat, easy to use container can be used.
In accordance with one advantageous improvement of the
present invention, the container handle merges into an
attachment ring that surrounds and is attached to the body
25 of the container.
The attachment ring features preferably on its inner side
gum, rubber or synthetic material elements that serve to
produce a positive frictional connection between the
attachment ring and the surface of the container body. This
30 method obviates the use of expensive bonding techniques and
ensures the durability of the connection of handle to
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container over long periods of use. Additionally, the
non-permanent method by which the container handle attaches
to the container body permits the container handle to be
removed, for example, for the purpose of cleaning.
5 Advantageously, the container handle is attached again to
the body of the container in the region of a rim of the
container. This additional attachment point, which is
spatially separated from the attachment ring, forms part of
a broad handle base that is capable of withstanding load
10 moments on the handle.
A further advantageous aspect of the present invention
comprises that the cross section of the free end of the
container handle fits over the rim of the container by means
of a locking catch. This form-fitted connection enables,
15 together with the positive and frictional connection with
which the attachment ring connects to the container, a
particu}arly easy-to-manipulate joint that simplifies
attachment of the handle to and removal from the container.
The knob features a radius of curvature throughout its
20 length that is the same as that exhibited by the container
handle that extends with a constant curvature from the
attachment ring to the lid. Both knob and container handle
in this regard feature the same cross section which is also
present in the transition zone in which knob and container
25 handle fit together. This method allows the container
handle, together with the adjoining knob, to have the
appearance of a unit which, in addition to the advantage
that the knob can be actuated only after having been slid to
the side, is visually pleasing.
30 In a further advantageous embodiment of the present
invention, a section of the commissure, which runs
horizontally and is parallel to the plane of the container
rim, is arranged in at least one plane in a transition zone
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that extends from the knob to the container handle. The
commissure is also bounded by two opposing surfaces that are
arranged parallel to each another.
This method provides for the safe handling of the container
5 lid which, due to the overlapping of the knob over the
container handle, can be held down by the thumb of the hand
of the user, which ensures even after the lid has been
repeatedly inserted and removed that the lid will sit
securely inside the container neck.
10 In accordance with a further advantageous embodiment of the
present invention, both knob and container handle exhibit a
circular cross section and feature ribs that are joined
together by means of a central web. Such ribbing, besides
enabling the user to more easily grasp the handle, reduces
15 the amount of material used in its manufacture.
Located in the transition zone between knob and container
handle is a commissure that is oriented in at least one
plane and is formed by the parallel opposing surfaces of
knob and container handle.
20 In one preferred embodiment example, the commissure is
oriented substantially in a plane that runs parallel to and
is directly adjacent to the rim of the container body. This
arrangement firstly permits the knob to be swung freely to
either side in the plane of the top edge of the container
25 body and secondly permits the alignment of the top of the
container handle on practically the same level as the rim of
the container after the lid has been removed. This permits
free access rom all sides to the container opening.
In yet another preferred embodiment example of the present
30 invention, the commissure is arranged in two planes that
meet at right angles, which enables the knob to be swung out
only in one direction parallel to the rim of the container
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body, whereby in this embodimant a vertically-oriented
counter surface of the container handle serves both as a
stop for the knob and to correctly position the knob
relative to the container handle.
5 Another embodiment example of the present invention
comprises that both parallel counter surfaces of the
commissure run vertically, whereby one of the counter
surfaces contains a hole, while the other counter surface
features a locking projection that is able to fit inside
10 such hole. In this arrangement, the locking projection
serves to advantageously position the knob relative to the
container handle.
Advantageous alternative designs and embodiments of the
present invention are claimed in the subsidiary claims.
15 The present invention will next be described in greater
detail by means of drawings of embodiment examples of the
present invention. Shown are:
Figure l is an overall view of a microwave pot;
Figure 2 is a lid together with its knob;0 Figure 3 is a container handle together with attachment
ring;
Figure 4 is a cross sectional representation in accordance
with the section along line IV - IV shown in
Figure 1:
25 Figure 5 is a view of the cross section as shown in Figure
4 in anothe~r embodiment example;
Figure 6 is a view of the cross section as shown in Figure
4 in a further embodiment example;
Figure 7 is a plan view of the attachment ring in
30accordance with Figure 3;
Figure 8 is a cross sectional view of the attachment ring
in accordance with Figure 7;
Figure 9 is an enlarged side view of adhesive elements of
the attachment ring in accordance with Figure 8;
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Figure 10 is an enlarged side view of further adhesive
elements of thé attachment ring in accordance with
Figure 8;
Figure 11 is a view from the bottom of the lid as
illustrated in Figure 2;
Figure 12 is a sectional view through the lid as illustrated
in accordance with the section running along line
XII - XII in Figure 11;
Figure 13 is a plan view of the lid;
10 Figure 14 is an accessory serving as a tea strainer;
Figure 15 is the accessory viewed as inserted inside the lid
and
Figure 16 is an attachment viewed as inserted inside an
attachment ring.
15 Figure 1 shows a container suitable for holding liquids 1,
comprising essentially a container body 2, a lid 4 serving
to close the opening 3 of container body 2, and a container
handle 6 that attaches to container body 2 via an attachment
ring 5. Lid 4, shown in Fig. 2, features a knob 8 that
20 projects essentially outwardly from cover floor 7 to the
side. Knob 8 merges continuously into container handle 6 in
a transition zone 9 that features a commissure 10 that
separates knob 8 from container handle 6.
In Figure 3, container handle 6 features in its end cross
25 section 11 a locking catch 12 which, in addition to
attachment ring 5, serves to connect container handle 6 to
container body 2. Locking catch 12 acts to connect
container rim 13 to container body 2.
Locking catch 12 can, in addition, feature on its inner side
30 an element comprising gum, rubber or synthetic material,
which serves to produce an additional frictional connection
with container rim 13.
In order to provide an interlocking connection of attachment
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2045569
ring 5, as well as lid 4, to container body 2, locking
tongues 14, 15 are provided on attachment ring 5 and locking
tongues 16 are provided on lid 4. Additionally, or
alternatively, attachment ring 5 can be attached to the
5 surface of container body 2 by means of elements comprising
gum, rubber or synthetic material that are arranged on the
inside of such ring so as to produce a frictional connection
with the surface of container body 2.
Knob 8 and container handle 6 have the same cross section
10 27, which is complemented and completed in transition zone
9 by means of suitably shaped ends 18, 19 of knob 8 and
container handle 6, respectively. Cross section 17, which
comprises, in transition zone 9, ends 18 and 19, has a
constriction only in the region of container rim 13. The
15 provision of constriction 20 enables knob 8, which extends
laterally from the lid, to extend beyond container rim 13 of
container body 2 in as flat a profile as possible, the
effect of which being that the presence of knob 8 does not
substantially increase the height of container body 2.
20 Commissure 10, which is situated in transition zone 9, is
bounded essentially by two parallel opposing surfaces 21,
22, of ends 18, 19 of knob 8 and container handle 6,
respectively. In this arrangement, counter surface 21 of
container handle 6 lies practically on the same level as rim
25 13 of container body 2. Thus, when lid 4 is removed,
opening 3 of container body 2 can be accessed freely from
all sides.
In Figure 4, a composite cross section 17, which is located
in transition zone 9, permits knob 8 to swing freely in both
30 directions parallel to container rim 13 relative to
container handle 6. After being swung in either one or the
other direction, knob 8, whose design suggests a lever,
permits easy opening of container for liquids 1, to which
end a vertically -- or upwardly -- directed force is
2045569
brought to bear in the region of end 18 upon knob 8. The
arrangement of counter surfaces, 21, 22, in which such
surfaces lie opposite each other, ensures against the
unintentional opening of the container for liquids.
5 Figures 5 and 6 illustrate further preferred embodiments of
transition zone 9.
Transition zone 9, whose cross section is shown in Figure 5,
comprises ends 23, 24 of knob 8 and container handle 6,
which are separated by means of a commissure 25 comprising
10 two planes that run perpendicularly to each other. This
embodiment of transition zone 9 comprises a stop 27, which,
being formed by one perpendicular counter surface 26 of
container handle 6, acts to limit on one side the pivoting
motion of knob 8 so that when the latter comes to rest
15 against stop 27, knob 8 is precisely positioned with respect
to container handle 6, which ensures the secure closure of
container for fluids 1.
Figure 6 shows another embodiment version of transition zone
9, in which ends 28, 29, of knob 8, and container handle 6
20 respectively, are separated from each other by means of a
vertically-running commissure 30. Arranged in a counter
surface 31 in end 29 of container handle 6, is a hole 32
that serves to accommodate a bulb-shaped locking extension
33. The latter is arranged upon a counter surface 34 in end
25 28 of knob 8, and, due to its bulbous surface 35, is able to
lock into hole 32 in order to prevent knob 8 from moving
unintentionally relative to container handle 6.
Figures 7 and 8 illustrate attachment ring 5, which
partially surrounds container body 2 so as to permit
30 attachment ring 5 to be simply slid from the side over
container body 2. The present embodiment of attachment ring
5 has a circumference that is only slightly greater than a
semicircle which, however, together with the locking tongues
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11
14, 15 that are arranged in end zones of the circumference
of attachment ring 5, constitutes a form-fitting attachment
to container body 2 that is capable of bearing loads. In
order to enhance the flexibility of attachment ring 5,
5 relief notches 38 are provided in stiffening ribs 37, which
are located horizontally on the inside 36 of attachment ring
5.
In a modified version of this embodiment, attachment ring 5
can be closed to form a complete cylindrically shaped ring
10 whereby attachment ring 5 is attached to the surface of
container body 2 by means of gum, rubber or synthetic
material elements, which serve to produce a frictional
connection with the surface of container body 2.
Figure 7 also shows the manner of construction of cross
15 section 17 of container handle 6, which has the same shape
as knob 8. Cross section 17 comprises ribs 45 that are
arranged parallel to each other and are connected together
in one piece by means of a common connecting web 46. The
length of ribs 45 decrease toward the extremities of
20 connecting web 46, and so produce the circular contour of
cross section 17.
Stiffening members 37, which run horizontally, are connected
together by means of vertically running stiffening webs 39.
In order to complete the interlocking connection of locking
25 tongues 14, 15, of attachment ring 5, to container body 2,
the latter is provided with bulbous thickenings 40 that
permit, when attachment ring 5 is slid over container body
2, locking tongues 14, 15, to lock in place behind
thickenings 40. In this position, attachment ring 5 rests
30 with its stiffening webs 37, 39, against container body 2.
Positive interlocking between attachment ring 5 and
container body 2 is also accomplished in the vertical load
direction by the design of thickenings 40, which enables
12 2045S69
such thickenings to rest against stiffening webs 37, which
limit the lateral movement of attachment ring 5.
To ensure the proper transfer of forces from container
handle 6 to attachment ring 5, which is connected in one
5 piece with the container handle, a transition zone 41 is
situated between container handle 6, and attachment rin~ 5
has a reinforced design.
In a special embodiment of lid 4, projections 43, which
extend parallel to lid floor 7, are arranged on an inner
10 wall 42 of lid 4. This arrangement permits the attachment
to lid 4 of accessories without hindering the basic function
of the lid, which is to close container 1.
Figure 14 shows an accessory that comprises slots 63 and is
embodied as a tea strainer 47 which, as indicated in Figure
15 15, can be inserted into a suitably-shaped lid.
Tea strainer 47 comprises, in its most basic configuration,
a mating section 50, comprising a mating rim 49, that
becomes a tumbler section 51, capable of holding tea or
similar substances. In order to be able to accommodate tea
20 strainer 47, lid 48 is also provided in the vicinity of lid
wall 42 with an additional inner wall 52, in which locking
openings 53 are provided.
Locking openings 53, which are located in the inner wall of
lid 4, and which mate with locking projections 49, can be
25 ~ormed from suitably-designed webs so as to permit tea
strainer 47 to be inserted into the hollow-cylindrical inner
portion of lid 4, and which when turned, causes locking
projections 49 to catch behind members 53 of lid 4. This
arrangement permits tea strainer 47 and lid 4 to form a
30 bayonet-type lock that permits tea strainer 47 to be easily
connected to and removed from lid 4. In order to permit
cleaning of tea strainer 47, the latter can, after use, be
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13
turned in the opposite direction relative to lid 4, and then
be withdrawn from the hollow cylindrical inner wall of lid
4.
After being filled with tea, tea strainer 47 can once again
5 be attached to lid 4, and the container simply sealed during
brewing of the tea.
Figure 16 illustrates a further application of tea strainer
47, which is shown inserted inside an insert ring 55, which
has itself been inserted inside container 1. Insert ring 55
10 comprises, in its most basic configuration, a ring floor 56,
from which an outer wall 57 and an inner wall 58, vertically
extend.
Outer wall 57 features locking tongues 59, by means of which
insert ring 55 can be inserted and locked inside container
15 body 2. Inner wall 58 is provided with locking openings 60
and a support surface 61. The design of the latter permits
tea strainer 47, which is inserted from the top into
insertion ring 55, to rest with its locking projection 49 on
top of support surface 61.
20 Insert ring 55 is closed from the top by means of a lid 62,
which, analogously to lids 4 and 48, is designed with a
narrowing outer diameter and so fits the shape of insert
ring 55. In this arrangement, locking tongues 16 of lid 62
catch in locking openings 60, which are located in the inner
25 wall 58 of insert ring 55.
Insert ring 55 affords the advantage that depending on use,
insert ring 55 and tea strainer 57, can, on the one hand be
manipulated as a unit excluding lid 62, while on the other
hand, tea strainer 47 can, a~ter lid 62 has been removed, be
30 inserted into container 1.
Quite independently of whether or not the attachment that is
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embodied as a tea strainer 47, is introduced into lid 48, or
into insert 55, the present invention in any case affords
the advantage that use of the insert renders superfluous the
step of pouring, into a separate teapot, water that has been
5 heated inside container 1.
In order to prevent the buildup of overpressures inside
container body 2, which may result from the heating of
water, apertures 44 are disposed in concentric rows in cover
floor 7. Alternatively, a pouring spout is arranged on
lo container body 2 so that a pouring gap and thus an opening
sufficient to allow the escape of steam, remains between lid
4 and container rim 13. This pouring gap is situated on the
side of the container opposite the container handle 6, in
order to render the container for holding fluids 1, safe to
15 use.
The present invention is not limited in its design to the
above described preferred embodiment example, but rather a
number of embodiment variations can be contemplated, which
make use of the above-disclosed solution, even in
20 substantially different embodiments.
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