Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Plural-contact coupling part
Patent
1996-07-15
1999-10-26
Paumen, Gary F.
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Plural-contact coupling part
H01R 1704
Patent
active
059718102
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to cordless electrical appliances and electrical connectors therefor, and in particular to cordless hot water containers such as jugs or kettles.
BACKGROUND
A cordless hot water jug comprises a jug containing an electrical immersion heater and which is placeable, in use, on a free-standing base unit which is connected to a power supply. An electrical connector is provided between the jug and the base unit such that when the jug is placed on the base unit, electrical connection is made between the immersion heater and the power supply. In most known cordless jug arrangements, the immersion heater and its associated control unit (usually including a "switch-on-dry" protector switch means and a steam sensitive switch means respectively operable to disable the heater in an overheat condition and on boiling) are mounted in a side wall of the jug adjacent the bottom of the vessel, as is also the case in traditional corded kettles. The electrical connection between the jug and the base unit is provided adjacent the control unit, to the rear of the vessel. In certain arrangements, terminal pins of the control unit extending horizontally from the control unit engage directly with a socket connector provided in an upstand at a peripheral part of the base unit. An example of such an arrangement is shown in WO 92/05604. In other arrangements, such as shown in GB 2221104, vertically extending pins mounted to the terminal pins of the control unit engage in a socket connector, again provided at a peripheral part of the base unit.
In other configurations, however, such as disclosed in GB 2178910 the immersion heater and control unit are mounted in the base wall of the jug, with terminal pins of the control unit engaging in a socket connector provided generally centrally of the base unit. Such arrangements have the advantage of giving a better engagement of the jug with the base unit since the connector is arranged closer to the centre of gravity of the jug but they do have certain disadvantages. Firstly it is no longer possible to use a standard heating element, which adds to the cost of the jug. Further, the control unit used in such an arrangement is not capable of being used in traditional corded kettles and jugs. Finally, because both a control unit and a connector are arranged in a compartment under a false jug base, the capacity of the jug relative to its height is significantly reduced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a cordless hot water jug having an electric immersion heater and an associated control unit mounted to a side wall of the jug, adjacent the bottom of the jug, and a base unit for receiving said jug, said jug having a first connector arranged on the underside its base for engagement with a complementary second connector provided on the base unit, and electrical connection means connecting the first connector and the control unit of the heater.
Thus in accordance with this aspect of the invention, a connector is provided in the base of the jug for engagement with a connector in the base unit, and which is connected, for example by wires running along the base of the jug, to an immersion heater and control unit mounted in the traditional position in the side wall of the vessel. This arrangement gives the advantage of a base-located connector while avoiding largely the previously described disadvantages in that it is possible to use a standard control and heater, which keeps the cost of the jug down, and also minimises the room taken up beneath the base of the jug.
Conveniently the first connector is arranged within a shallow chamber formed beneath the floor of the vessel, the second connector extending upwardly from the base unit, to engage therewith.
Preferably the connector provided on the jug is arranged generally centrally of the jug base, and the base unit connector is arranged generally centrally on the base unit. This not only gives the best `feel` when engaging the jug with the bas
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Paumen Gary F.
Strix Limited
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