Steam responsive thermostatic control arrangement for electric kettles
AssigneeAlgonquin Mercantile Corporation
InventorK. N. Singh Chhatwal
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electric kettle heated by a thermostatically controlled electric heating element includes a conduit for ducting steam produced by boiling water in the kettle to a steam chamber adjacent the thermostatic switch on the kettle for cutting power to the heating element upon sensing steam temperature. A steam exit from the steam chamber is located under the kettle and is spanned by a metal cap external to the exit and supporting a porous, absorbent filter pad through which the exiting steam must pass. The filter pad acts to condense and absorb the exiting steam so that no steam is observed from the bottom of the kettle and the accumulation of condensate on the surface supporting the kettle is minimized or eliminated.
Claims11
In an electric kettle having a conduit for ducting steam produced by boiling water in the kettle to a location adjacent a thermostatic switch of the kettle adapted to cut power to the kettle upon sensing steam temperature, the improvement which comprises:
- means defining a steam exit from said location to the exterior of the kettle, a metal cap external to the kettle and spanning the exit, the metal cap supporting a porous, absorbent filter pad through which the steam exiting from said location must pass.
An electric kettle, comprising:
- a water chamber for boiling water,
- an electric heating element for heating water in said chamber,
- a thermostatic switch adapted to cut power to said element upon sensing steam temperature,
- a steam chamber in contact with said thermostatic switch,
- a conduit for ducting steam from said water chamber to said steam chamber,
- means defining a steam exit from said steam chamber to the exterior of said kettle,
- a metal cap external to the kettle and spanning the exit, and
- a porous, absorbent filter pad covering the exit and held in place by the metal cap, such that steam exiting from the steam chamber is regulated as it passes through the filter pad.
A molded plastic element for use in an electric kettle that incorporates a thermostatic switch for cutting power after water in the kettle has begun to boil, the element comprising:
- means defining a recess having a mouth opening at a step into a cylindrical bore adapted to receive a thermostatic switch, such that the mouth is closed by the thermostatic switch, whereby the recess constitutes a closed chamber,
- a first opening in a wall of the chamber for receiving a grommet adapted to surround a steam inlet tube, and
- a second opening in a wall of the chamber through which steam can exit from the chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.