Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
PRESSURE COOKER
Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of small kitchen
appliances, and
more particularly to a pressure cooker.
Background of the Invention
Pressure cookers are commonly found household appliances. A conventional
electric
pressure cooker typically has an open-prevention sliding plate cooperating
mechanism. When the pressure inside the cooker body reaches a certain level, a
float
valve is pushed upwardly into a position so as to inhibit the operation of the
open-
prevention sliding plate, thereby preventing the opening operation of the
cooker lid
and ensuring safe use of the electric pressure cooker. However, upon forced
opening
of the cooker lid, either by error or accident, the sliding plate can be
easily deformed
or damaged, and the protective coating on the cooker rim can be stripped off
or
destroyed, causing failures in lid opening operations.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention provides a pressure cooker that facilitates safe lid
opening
operations.
In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a
pressure
cooker comprising: a main body having a cooking chamber; a lid assembly for
covering an opening of the main body and sealingly closing the cooking
chamber;
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Date Recue/Received Dated 2020-04-08
and an open-prevention assembly disposed on the lid assembly; wherein the main
body comprises a substantially annular cooker rim disposed near a top portion
of the
main body, and at least one cooker tooth extending from the cooker rim;
wherein the
lid assembly comprises a lid rim operable to substantially enclose an exterior
portion
of the cooker rim, and at least one lid tooth extending from the lid rim;
wherein the
open-prevention assembly comprises an open-prevention sliding block and an
open-
prevention float device disposed on the lid assembly; wherein in the absence
of
pressure in the cooking chamber, a rotational operation of the lid assembly
will cause
a sliding movement of the open-prevention sliding block; wherein a presence of
sufficient pressure in the cooking chamber will cause the open-prevention
float
device to rise to a position so as to prevent the sliding movement of the open-
prevention sliding block, thereby preventing the rotational operation of the
lid
assembly; wherein the open-prevention assembly further comprises a locking
sliding
block coupled to the open-prevention sliding block, the locking sliding block
being
constructed and arrange such that upon a forced opening of the lid assembly
causing
a deformation of or damage to the open-prevention sliding block, the locking
sliding
block is operable to lockingly engage or cooperate with the at least one
cooker tooth
or a portion thereof so as to prevent the rotational operation of the lid
assembly.
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, the open-
prevention
assembly comprises a push rod connected to the open-prevention sliding block;
the at
least one cooker tooth comprises a tooth body comprising an exterior sidewall
having
at least one tapered portion; wherein during the rotational operation of the
lid
assembly, the open-prevention sliding block slides with the push rod in
response to a
sliding engagement between the push rod and the exterior sidewall of the tooth
body.
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least
one
cooker tooth comprises a stopper block downwardly extending from the tooth
body;
the open-prevention assembly comprises a latch rod connected to the locking
sliding
block and disposed at a lower position relative to the push rod, wherein upon
a
forced opening of the lid assembly causing a deformation of or damage to the
open-
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Date Recue/Received Dated 2020-04-08
prevention sliding block, the locking sliding block is operable, by way of
engagement between the latch rod and the stopper block, to prevent further
opening
operation of the lid assembly.
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, the open-
prevention
assembly further comprises an elastic member operable to bias the open-
prevention
sliding assembly so as to maintain a tendency of moving toward a center of the
lid
assembly; wherein during the rotational operation of the lid assembly, the
open-
prevention sliding block slides toward an exterior side of the lid assembly in
response to the sliding engagement between the push rod and the exterior
sidewall of
the tooth body, and slides toward the center of the lid assembly in response
to the
biasing by the elastic member after the push rod slides beyond the exterior
sidewall
of the tooth body.
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, the locking
sliding
block is disposed behind the open-prevention sliding block along a direction
of lid
opening operation and spaced apart from the open-prevention sliding block at a
predetermined distance; wherein when the lid assembly is rotated to an opening
position, the latch rod is positioned at a predetermined clearance distance
relative to
the cooker tooth so as to allow unobstructed opening and closing of the lid
assembly
relative to the main body.
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least
one
cooker tooth comprises a receptacle portion, the open-prevention assembly
comprises a latch rod connected to the locking sliding block and operable to
engage
at least a portion of the exterior sidewall of the cooker tooth; wherein upon
a forced
opening of the lid assembly causing a deformation of or damage to the open-
prevention sliding block, the locking sliding block is operable to prevent
further
opening operation of the lid assembly by way of engagement between the cooker
tooth and the latch rod received in the receptacle portion.
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Date Recue/Received Dated 2020-04-08
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a distance
between
the push rod and the latch rod, and a width of the receptacle portion are
properly
arranged or configured so that during a normal opening or closing operation of
the
lid assembly, when the push rod slides to reach the receptacle portion, the
latch rod is
positioned to engage the at least one cooker tooth or a portion thereof.
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least
one
cooker tooth comprises at least one side portion substantially enclosing the
receptacle portion for reinforcing the strength of the cooker tooth.
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, the push rod
comprises a push rod top portion and a first assembled portion disposed at two
opposing sides of the open-prevention sliding block, respectively; wherein the
push
rod top portion is operable to press against or engage the at least one cooker
tooth or
a portion thereof; and wherein the elastic member comprises a first elastic
member
disposed to substantially enclose the first assembled portion.
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, the latch rod
comprises a latch rod top portion and a second assembled portion disposed at
two
opposing sides of the locking sliding block, respectively; wherein the elastic
member
comprises a second elastic member disposed to substantially enclose the second
assembled portion.
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, the lid
assembly
comprises a handle; wherein the first elastic member is disposed between the
handle
and the open-prevention sliding block; and wherein the second elastic member
is
disposed between the handle and the locking sliding block.
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, the open-
prevention
assembly comprises a connecting portion connecting the locking sliding block
and
the open-prevention sliding block, and a guide aperture disposed on the
connecting
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Date Recue/Received Dated 2020-04-08
portion proximal to the locking sliding block; wherein the connecting portion
comprises a narrowed portion disposed substantially at a center of the
connecting
portion; wherein the open-prevention float device is operable to rise to
engage the
guide aperture so as to prevent the open-prevention sliding block from sliding
movement; and wherein upon a forced opening of the lid assembly causing a
rupture
of the narrowed portion, the locking sliding block is prevented from moving
out of
the receptacle portion.
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, the open-
prevention
assembly comprises an elastic connecting portion connecting the locking
sliding
block and the open-prevention sliding block; wherein the open-prevention float
device is operable to rise to engage the guide aperture so as to prevent the
open-
prevention sliding block from sliding movement; and wherein a forced opening
of
the lid assembly will cause an elastic deformation of the connecting portion
so as to
prevent the connecting portion from rupture.
An open-prevention assembly of a pressure cooker in accordance with example
embodiments of the present disclosure comprises an open-prevention sliding
block
and a locking sliding block coupled to the open-prevention sliding block;
wherein
upon a deformation and/or malfunction of the open-prevention sliding block,
the
locking sliding block remains operable to lockingly press against, abut or
otherwise
engage at least one cooker tooth or a portion thereof so as to prevent an
opening
operation of the lid assembly, thereby effectively ensuring the safe use of
the
pressure cooker.
Brief Description of the Drawings
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a pressure cooker in accordance with
an
example embodiment of the present disclosure.
Date Recue/Received Dated 2020-04-08
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an example embodiment of an open-prevention
sliding
assembly of the pressure cooker of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a lid assembly of the pressure
cooker of
FIG. 1, illustrating an embodiment of the open-prevention sliding assembly.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example abutting and/or pressing
engagement between a push rod of the open-prevention sliding assembly and a
cooker tooth.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example abutting and/or pressing
engagement between a latch rod of the open-prevention sliding assembly and a
cooker tooth.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example engagement between an open-
prevention sliding assembly and a cooker tooth in accordance with another
example
embodiment of a pressure cooker of the present disclosure.
FIG. 7 is a magnified view of the circled area of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 taken along a
circumferential
direction of the cooker rim illustrated therein, showing a top view of the
cross
section.
FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, showing an example embodiment of a latch
rod
sliding out of a receptacle portion of a cooker tooth.
FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 8, showing an example embodiment wherein the
open-prevention sliding block undergoes deformation, while the latch rod
lockingly
engages the cooker tooth or a portion thereof.
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Date Recue/Received Dated 2020-04-08
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example engagement between an open-
prevention sliding assembly and a cooker tooth in accordance with another
example
embodiment of a pressure cooker of the present disclosure.
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the open-prevention
sliding assembly in accordance with another example embodiment of a pressure
cooker of the present disclosure.
Detailed Description
Exemplary embodiments will be described in detail herein, examples of which
are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description
refers to
the accompanying drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in
different drawings represent the same or similar elements. The embodiments
described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all
embodiments
consistent with the present invention. Instead, they are merely examples of
devices
consistent with some aspects of the present disclosure as detailed in the
appended
claims.
The terms used in the present application are for the purpose of describing
particular
embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the present application.
Unless
otherwise defined, technical terms or scientific terms used herein should have
the
ordinary meanings as understood by those having ordinary skilled in the art to
which
the invention pertains. The words "first", "second" and similar terms used in
the
specification and claims of the present application do not denote any order,
quantity,
or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components.
Similarly,
the words "a" or "an" and the like do not denote a quantity limitation, but
mean that
there is at least one. "Multiple" or "several" means two or more. Unless
otherwise
indicated, the terms "front", "rear", "lower" and/or "upper" and the like are
used for
convenience of description and are not limited to one location or one spatial
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Date Recue/Received Dated 2020-04-08
orientation. "Including" or "comprising" and similar words mean that the
elements or
objects that appear before "including" or "comprising" encompass the elements
or
objects listed after "including" or "comprising" and their equivalents, and do
not
exclude other elements or objects. The words "connection" or "connected" and
the
like are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but may include
electrical
connections, whether direct or indirect. As used herein and in the appended
claims,
the singular forms "a", "said", and "the" are intended to include the plural
forms
unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It should also be understood
that, as
used herein, the term "and/or" refers to and includes any or all possible
combinations
of one or more of the associated listed items.
Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a pressure cooker according to an example embodiment
of
the present disclosure comprises a main body 1 having a cooking chamber 10
disposed therein; and a lid assembly 2 for covering an opening 12 of the main
body 1
and sealingly closing the cooking chamber 10. The main body 1 comprises a
substantially annular cooker rim 13 disposed near a top portion of the main
body 1,
and at least one cooker tooth 14 outwardly projecting and extending from the
cooker
rim 13. In some embodiments, the cooker tooth 14 comprises a tooth body 140
and a
stopper block 141 downwardly extending from the tooth body 140. The tooth body
140 comprises an exterior sidewall 1400 having at least one tapered end
portion. In
some embodiments, the lid assembly 2 is constructed and arranged in accordance
with relevant international standards for rotational operations, i.e.,
clockwise rotation
for closure operation, and counterclockwise rotation for open operation.
In some embodiments, the lid assembly 2 comprises a lower lid 21, an open-
prevention assembly 22, an open-prevention float device 23 coupled to the
lower lid
21, and a handle 24. The lower lid 21 comprises a top portion 210, a lid rim
211
extending from the top portion 210, and a plurality of lid teeth 212 inwardly
projecting and extending from a bottom portion of the lid rim 211. The lid rim
211 is
operable to substantially surround or enclose the cooker rim 13. The top
portion 210
comprises a through-aperture 2100 disposed thereon for allowing the open-
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Date Recue/Received Dated 2020-04-08
prevention float device 23 or a portion thereof to extend through. The lid rim
211
comprises a first fitting through-aperture 2110 disposed thereon. The handle
24
comprises a second fitting through-aperture 240 that corresponds with the
first fitting
through-aperture 2110.
In some embodiments, the open-prevention assembly 22 comprises an open-
prevention sliding block 220, a locking sliding block 221, a connecting
portion 226
connected to the open-prevention sliding block 220 and the locking sliding
block
221, a push rod 222 connected to the open-prevention sliding block 220, and a
latch
rod 223 connected to the locking sliding block 221. In some embodiments, the
latch
rod 223 is disposed at a position that is lower than the position of the push
rod 222.
During a rotational opening operation of the lid assembly, if there is no
pressure
within the cooking chamber 10, the push rod 222 is operable to slidingly
engage the
exterior sidewall 1400 to cause a sliding movement of the open-prevention
sliding
block 220; if there is sufficient pressure within the cooking chamber 10, the
open-
prevention float device 23 will rise to a position so as to prevent the
sliding
movement of the open-prevention sliding block 220, thereby preventing the
rotational opening operation of the lid assembly 2. In some embodiments, the
locking
sliding block 221 is disposed behind the open-prevention sliding block 220
along a
direction of lid opening operation, and is spaced apart from the open-
prevention
sliding block 220 at a predetermined distance, wherein when the lid assembly 2
is
rotated to a lid opening position, the latch rod 223 is positioned at a
predetermined
clearance distance from an end of the cooker tooth 14 so as to allow
unobstructed
opening and closing of the lid assembly 2 relative to the main body.
In some embodiments, the open-prevention assembly 22 further comprises an
elastic
member; wherein the elastic member is operable to bias the open-prevention
assembly 22 so as to maintain a tendency of sliding movement toward a center
of the
lid assembly 2; wherein during the rotational opening operation of the lid
assembly,
the open-prevention sliding block 220 slides toward an exterior side of the
lid
assembly 2 in response to the sliding engagement between the push rod 222 and
the
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Date Recue/Received Dated 2020-04-08
exterior sidewall 1400 of the tooth body 140 of the cooker tooth 14, and
slides
toward a center of the lid assembly 2 in response to the biasing by the
elastic member
after the push rod 222 slides beyond a length of the exterior sidewall 1400 of
the
tooth body 140 of the cooker tooth 14; and wherein the locking sliding block
221 is
disposed behind the open-prevention sliding block 220 along a direction of lid
opening operation, and is spaced apart from the open-prevention sliding block
220 at
a predetermined distance, wherein when the lid assembly 2 is rotated to a lid
opening
position, the latch rod 223 is positioned at a predetermined clearance
distance from
an end of the cooker tooth 14 so as to allow unobstructed opening and closing
of the
lid assembly 2 relative to the main body.
In some embodiments, the elastic member comprises a first elastic member 224
disposed to substantially enclose the push rod 222, and a second elastic
member 225
disposed to substantially enclose the latch rod 223. The push rod 222 is
disposed to
extend through the first fitting through-aperture 2110 of the lid rim 211 and
the
second fitting through-aperture 240 of the handle 24. The first elastic member
224 is
disposed between the handle 24 and the open-prevention sliding block 220. The
second elastic member 225 is disposed between the handle 24 and the locking
sliding
block 221. The open-prevention sliding block 220 is operable to move relative
to the
first elastic member 224 and exert a pressure thereon, whereas the first
elastic
member 224 is operable to apply an elastic force to the open-prevention
sliding block
220 for restoring the open-prevention sliding block 220 to a balanced position
thereof. The locking sliding block 221 is operable to move relative to the
second
elastic member 225 and exert a pressure thereon, whereas the second elastic
member
225 is operable to apply an elastic force to the locking sliding block 221 for
restoring
the locking sliding block 221 to a balanced position thereof. Along a vertical
direction, the latch rod 223 is disposed at a position that is lower than a
position of
the push rod 222. The latch rod 223 and the push rod 222 are disposed to be
substantially equidistant from a center of the lid rim 211.
Date Recue/Received Dated 2020-04-08
In some embodiments, as shown in the Figures, the open-prevention sliding
block
220 is disposed to be in front of the locking sliding block 221, and leads the
locking
sliding block 221 during a lid opening rotation, and as such the open-
prevention
sliding block 220 will engage or press against the cooker tooth 14 before the
locking
sliding block 221. The cooker tooth 14 in such embodiments is constructed and
arranged to be slightly shorter than a regular or conventional cooker tooth
known in
the art, so that interference between the latch rod 223 and the cooker tooth
14 or a
part thereof is avoided when the cooker tooth 14 is in a staggered position
relative to
the lid tooth 212, i.e., when the lid assembly is in an open position.
In some embodiments, as shown in the Figures, the push rod 222 is assembled to
the
open-prevention sliding block 220, wherein the open-prevention sliding block
220
comprises a through-orifice 2200 for coupling the push rod 222 therethrough.
In
some embodiments, the push rod 222 can be integrally constructed with the open-
prevention sliding block 220 to form a single piece. The connection
configurations
between the latch rod 223 and the locking sliding block 221 are similar to
those
between the push rod 222 and the open-prevention sliding block 220 described
herein, and will not be further discussed in detail.
In some embodiments, the push rod 222 comprises a push rod top portion 2220
and a
first assembled portion 2221 disposed at two opposing sides of the open-
prevention
sliding block 220, respectively, wherein the first elastic member 224 is
disposed to
substantially enclose the first assembled portion 2221. The push rod top
portion 2220
has a smooth contacting surface facing the cooker tooth 14 so as to allow the
push
rod top portion 2220 to slide along the cooker tooth 14. The latch rod 223
comprises
a latch rod top portion 2230 and a second assembled portion 2231 disposed at
two
opposing sides of the locking sliding block 221, respectively, wherein the
second
elastic member 225 is disposed to substantially enclose the second assembled
portion
2231. The latch rod top portion 2230 can be of any shape suitable for its
purpose.
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Date Recue/Received Dated 2020-04-08
In some embodiments, the open-prevention sliding block 220 comprises a guide
aperture 2201 corresponding to the through-aperture 2100. When a sufficiently
high
pressure is generated within the cooking chamber, the open-prevention float
device
23 will be elevated or raised to pass through the guide aperture 2201 of the
open-
prevention sliding block 220, so as to inhibit the open-prevention sliding
block 220
from movements, and prevent the push rod top portion 2220 of the push rod 222
from sliding movements along the cooker tooth 14, thereby preventing the
rotational
movements of the lid assembly 2 when the push rod 222 is pressed against the
cooker tooth 14. As the cooker tooth 14 and the lid tooth 212 are vertically
aligned
and pressed against each other in this situation, the lid assembly 2 will be
locked
down and cannot be opened, thereby effectively ensuring the safe use of the
pressure
cooker.
Referring to FIG. 5, in some embodiments, when the lid assembly 2 is subject
to a
forced opening operation causing a deformation of or damage to the open-
prevention
sliding block 220, the latch rod 223 connected to the locking sliding block
221 is
operable to lockingly engage or press against the stopper block 141 to prevent
rotational movements of the lid assembly 2, thereby preventing the lid
assembly 2
from being opened.
To open the lid assembly 2, the pressure in the cooking chamber needs to be
released. When there is substantially no pressure within the cooking chamber
10, the
open-prevention float device 23 will undertake a downward movement under the
force of gravity so as to disengage from the open-prevention sliding block
220. As
the open-prevention sliding block 220 is free from constraints of the open-
prevention
float device 23, if the lid assembly 2 is now rotated, the push rod 222 can
slide along
the cooker tooth 14 causing the open-prevention sliding block 220 and the
locking
sliding block 221 to move outwardly relative to a center of the lid assembly
2, so that
the locking sliding block 221 is disengaged or unlocked from the stopper block
141
of the cooker tooth 14, thereby allowing the rotational movements of the lid
assembly 2 for lid opening operation.
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Date Recue/Received Dated 2020-04-08
When there is sufficiently high pressure within the cooking chamber 10, the
open-
prevention float device 23 will be raised or elevated to pass through the
guide
aperture 2201 of the open-prevention sliding block 220 to inhibit the open-
prevention sliding block 220 from movements so that the push rod 222 is
pressed or
held against the cooker tooth 14, thereby preventing the rotational movements
of the
lid assembly 2 so that the lid assembly 2 cannot be opened, and ensuring the
safe use
of the pressure cooker.
Referring to FIGS. 6-9, in accordance with some other example embodiments, the
cooker tooth 14 comprises a receptacle portion 142 and at least one side
portion 143
substantially enclosing the receptacle portion 142. A width of the receptacle
portion
142 and a distance between the push rod 222 and the latch rod 223 are properly
arranged and/or selected, so that during a normal opening or closing operation
of the
lid assembly 2 (the arrows in the Figures indicate a lid opening direction),
as the
push rod 222 commences sliding engagement or cooperation with the exterior
sidewall 1400 of the cooker tooth 14, the latch rod 223 commences a movement
out
of the receptacle portion 142; and when the push rod 222 slides to reach the
receptacle portion 142, the latch rod 223 is positioned and operable to
slidingly
engage the exterior sidewall 1400 of the cooker tooth 14 so as to guide the
open-
prevention assembly 22 to smoothly slide across the cooker tooth 14 without
interference.
In some embodiments, as shown in the Figures, the receptacle portion 142 is
constructed and arranged as a recess. However, the present disclosure is not
limited
as such, and in some embodiments, the receptacle portion 142 is formed as an
aperture, for example, or other similar structures suitable for its purpose.
The side portion 143 advantageously enhances and/or reinforces the strength of
the
cooker tooth 14. When the open-prevention float device 23 is elevated, the
latch rod
223 will be received within the receptacle portion 142, and is pressed against
or
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Date Recue/Received Dated 2020-04-08
otherwise lockingly engaged with the cooker tooth 14 or a portion thereof.
Referring
now to FIG. 10, the open-prevention sliding block 220 in this situation has
been
deformed or damaged as a result of attempts at forced opening of the lid
assembly,
causing a failure or inability of the push rod 222 in pressing or holding
against the
cooker tooth 14 or a portion thereof. However, by virtue of the latch rod 223
being in
position to press or hold against the cooker tooth 14 or a portion thereof,
the lid
assembly 2 still cannot be rotated and as such cannot be opened. In use, upon
releasing the pressure within the pressure cooker, to open the lid assembly, a
user can
rotate the lid assembly 2, causing the push rod 222 to slide along the cooker
tooth 14,
and causing the open-prevention sliding block 220 and the locking sliding
block 221
to move outwardly relative to a center of the lid assembly 2, so that the
locking
sliding block 221 moves out of the receptacle portion 142, thereby allowing
the
rotational movements of the lid assembly 2 for lid opening operation.
Referring to FIG. 11, in some example embodiments, the connecting portion 226
comprises a narrowed portion 2261 disposed substantially at a center of the
connecting portion 226; wherein the guide aperture 2201 is disposed in
proximity to
the locking sliding block 221; wherein upon a forced opening of the lid
assembly 2
causing a rupture of the narrowed portion 2261, the locking sliding block 221
is
broken off or detached from the open-prevention sliding block 220, and as a
result
the locking sliding block 221 can no longer be guided by or slidingly engage
the
cooker tooth 14, so that the locking sliding block 221 is prevented from
moving out
of the receptacle portion 142, thereby effectively ensuring the safety of lid
opening
operation.
Referring to FIG. 12, in some example embodiments, the connecting portion 226
is
elastic. Advantageously, upon a forced opening of the lid assembly 2, an
elastic
connecting portion 226 can avoid being ruptured or broken off so as to render
the lid
assembly 2 completely unopenable. In some embodiments, the connecting portion
226 is connected to a respective end portion of the open-prevention sliding
block 220
and the locking sliding block 221. The connecting portion 226 can be fastened
or
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Date Recue/Received Dated 2020-04-08
secured to the open-prevention sliding block 220 and the locking sliding block
221
by way of welding, rivets, or other similar means. In some embodiments, the
connecting portion 226 comprises a first connecting portion 2260 coupled to
the
locking sliding block 221, a second connecting portion 2262 coupled to the
open-
prevention sliding block 220, and a third connecting portion 2263 connecting
the
first connecting portion 2260 and the second connecting portion 2262. The
first
connecting portion 2260 is disposed to cover or enclose a portion of an upper
surface
(not numbered) of the locking sliding block 221 and a portion of a side
surface
thereof (not numbered) that is substantially perpendicular to the upper
surface. The
second connecting portion 2262 is disposed to cover or enclose a portion of an
upper
surface (not numbered) of the open-prevention sliding block 220 and a portion
of a
side surface thereof (not numbered) that is substantially perpendicular to the
upper
surface. The third connecting portion 2263 is substantially circular or
annular in
shape, and extends from the first connecting portion 2260 and the second
connecting
portion 2262, respectively, and extending away from the open-prevention
sliding
block 220 and the locking sliding block 221. The third connecting portion 2263
defines an opening 2264, the opening 2264 being disposed to open toward or
face a
gap between the open-prevention sliding block 220 and the locking sliding
block
221. Preferably, the third connecting portion 2263 is constructed and arranged
to
have good or excellent elasticity so as to effectively prevent the connecting
portion
226 from rupture caused by external force.
An open-prevention assembly 22 of a pressure cooker in accordance with example
embodiments of the present disclosure comprises an open-prevention sliding
block
220 and a locking sliding block 221 coupled to the open-prevention sliding
block
220; wherein upon a deformation and/or malfunction of the open-prevention
sliding
block 220, the locking sliding block 221 remains operable to lockingly press
against,
abut or otherwise engage at least one cooker tooth 14 or a portion thereof so
as to
prevent an opening operation of the lid assembly 2, thereby effectively
ensuring the
safe use of the pressure cooker.
Date Recue/Received Dated 2020-04-08
The foregoing description is of preferred embodiments of the present
application
only, and is not intended to limit the present application in any way. Without
departing from the technical scope of the present application, a person of
ordinary
skills in the art may make certain modifications or equivalent substitutions
to the
disclosed technical contents. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes or
equivalent substitutions made to the above embodiments in accordance with the
technical principle of the present application are still within the scope of
the
technical solutions of the present application.
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Date Recue/Received Dated 2020-04-08