Electric heating – Heating devices – Combined with container – enclosure – or support for material...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-17
2001-05-01
Pelham, Joseph (Department: 3742)
Electric heating
Heating devices
Combined with container, enclosure, or support for material...
C219S436000, C219S541000, C219S435000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06225605
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an electrical cooking appliance having a removable bowl comprising a shielded heating element fixed under the lower face of said bowl.
PRIOR ART
It is known from the document EP 0 587 300 to provide a fryer with a removable bowl composed of a case forming a housing provided to receive a removable bowl. The removable bowl includes a heating element fixed under the base of said bowl, the terminals of said heating element being capable of being connected to an electric connecting device disposed in the housing when the bowl is introduced into said housing. This construction is intended to provide an appliance which is simple and reliable to use, presenting a bowl that is easily cleanable and whose heating performance is good.
The heating elements produced in the form of shielded heating elements have significant geometric variations, connected with the centering of the connecting terminals, the length of the heating element, or the manufacture of the heating element. These variations require the provision of a certain play of the bowl in the housing, in order to maintain on the electric connecting device openings provided for the introduction of the terminals of the heating element which are compatible with electrical safety standards. For a heating element having extreme geometric tolerances, there is a risk that the user will deform the terminals of the heating element or weaken the connector, by inserting the bowl into the housing while the terminals of the heating element are not opposite the connector openings. The consequence of a deformation of the terminals of the heating element can be destruction of the water tightness of the resistance. There will flow therefrom an entry of moisture into the electrical insulation of the heating element and thus an insulation failure. The consequence of a weakening of the connector can be the accessibility to the electrical parts capable of being at a voltage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to remedy the problems cited above and to furnish an electrical cooking appliance with a removable bowl under which is fixed a shielded heating element, which is reliable and simple to use.
Another object of the invention aims to provide an electrical cooking appliance with a removable bowl to which is fixed a shielded heating element, which has a reduced bulk.
The objects assigned to the invention are achieved with an electrical cooking appliance, notably a fryer, having a case forming a housing provided to receive a removable bowl, said bowl comprising lateral walls and a base under which is affixed a shielded heating element having two ends each terminating in a connection terminal, an electrical connector mounted in the case, said connector having electrical contacts disposed opposite openings provided to receive the terminals of the shielded heating element, during introduction of the bowl into the housing, characterized in that the connector is mounted to be movable in lateral translation relative to the base of the case and that the openings present bevel edges provided to guide the terminals of the heating element toward the electrical contacts.
Thus, during the introduction of the bowl into the housing, the terminal of the heating element arriving in contact with the bevel edge is guided into the openings by said bevel edge. If the bowl arrives in lateral abutment in the housing, the movably mounted connector is pushed by the terminal of the heating element cooperating with the bevel edge and said terminal can be inserted into the opening in a manner to establish the electrical connection.
Advantageously, the connector is movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the planes defined by the direction of introduction of the bowl into the housing on the one hand and each of the extremities of the heating element on the other hand.
This arrangement permits in particular compensating for variations concerning the centering of the terminals of the heating element.
Preferably, the extremities of the heating element and the direction of introduction of the bowl into the housing are disposed substantially in the same plane.
This arrangement permits in particular correction for the variations concerning the length of the heating element.
Advantageously, the extremities of the heating element are inclined with respect to the direction of introduction of the bowl into the housing, by an angle greater than 30°.
This arrangement limits the opening angle formed by one of the terminals on the one hand and the base of the bowl on which the heating element is fixed on the other hand, and thus contributes to limiting the geometric variations of the terminals. This arrangement equally simplifies the construction of the shielded heating element since it avoids right-angle bends. In addition, the height necessary for the connection is limited which reduces the overall size of the device and correspondingly the dimensions of the appliance.
Advantageously, the connector has an upper face and a lateral perimeter, each opening being formed by an upper cutout arranged in the upper face and extended by a lateral cutout arranged in the lateral perimeter.
This arrangement permits an improvement in overall size since it allows for a lower position of the bowl in the case when the terminals of the heating element are inserted into the openings of the connector, than for a connector not having lateral cutouts.
In an advantageous manner, the bowl comprises a lug capable of being introduced into an opening of the connector and of cooperating with a connection tongue of the connector.
This lug can particularly extend directly from the bowl when the latter is fabricated by molding, or can even be added.
In a preferred manner, the connection tongues, the terminals of the heating element and the lug are arranged in a manner so that the lug is capable of entering into contact with the corresponding tongue before the terminals of the heating element enter into contact with their corresponding respective tongues.
This arrangement permits particularly grounding of the bowl before the heating element is supplied with electric power.
According to a preferred form of construction, the connector has lugs, preferably three in number, capable of sliding in oblong holes formed in a frame fixed to the case.
This simple construction permits assurance of guiding in a reliable manner.
According to another form of construction, the connector is coupled to the case by return travel means.
This arrangement permitting the connector to occupy a stable reference position improves the performance of the device. In effect, the width of the bevel edges can be reduced with respect to a construction not having return travel means, the stable position of the connector being able to be for example the median position with respect to the extreme positions capable of being occupied by the connector.
Advantageously, the connector is mounted to be mobile in two directions.
The connector can for example be maintained by three springs disposed in a star arrangement. This arrangement is particularly desirable when the terminals are not disposed in the same plane. In effect, the connector can effectuate a rotational movement, of small amplitude, during docking of the terminals of the heating element on the bevel edges of said connector.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2269689 (1942-01-01), Reichold
patent: 2543052 (1951-02-01), Park
patent: 4713522 (1987-12-01), Kimura
patent: 197 14 038 (1998-10-01), None
patent: 587 300 (1994-03-01), None
patent: 80 01535 (1980-08-01), None
Beugnot Bernard
Federico Dominique
Sestier Laurent
Browdy and Neimark
Pelham Joseph
Seb S.A.
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