BACKGROUND
The present invention relates generally to tea kettles and, more particularly, to a tea kettle featuring a cap that opens automatically when the tea kettle is lifted.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the tea kettle of the present invention with the cap in the closed configuration;
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the cap, a leading portion of the handle and related hardware of the tea kettle of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged bottom perspective view of the assembled cap assembly of the tea kettle of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of-the tea kettle of FIG. 1 with the cap partially open; and
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tea kettle of FIG. 1 with the cap in the fully open configuration.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
An embodiment of the tea-kettle of the present invention is indicated in general at 10 in FIG. 1. The kettle that features a body 12 that is hollow so as to define a chamber for receiving liquids. The top of the body features an opening 14 which receives a lid 16. Lid 16 features a knob or handle 18 so that the lid may be removed and water, or some other liquid to be heated, may be poured into the interior chamber of the body. Body 12 is preferably constructed of steel coated with porcelain enamel which permits exposure of the body to a source of heat, such as the burner of a stove.
A pour spout 20 is attached to the kettle body and communicates with the interior chamber of the kettle body as is known in the art. A front handle and cap bracket 24 is attached to the spout 20 and, as will be explained in greater detail below, pivotally supports a cap 26. As will also be explained in greater detail below, a generally C-shaped handle, indicated in general at 28 in FIG. 1, includes a leading end 32 that is connected to cap assembly 26 and a trailing end 34 which is pivotally attached to the kettle body 12 via rear handle bracket 36 and screws (not shown). The handle preferably is constructed from steel with a gripping portion 38 formed of rubber, plastic or another heat-resistant material. Front handle and cap bracket 24 and rear handle bracket 36 are both preferably of metal and may be secured to the kettle body by adhesive or other fastening arrangements known in the art.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the leading end of handle 28 features a cylindrical portion 42 that features a bore 43 and is received between a pair of wings 44a and 44b positioned on a middle portion 45 of the cap, indicated in general at 20. Wings 44a and 44b are provided with elongated slots 46a and 46b. After cylindrical portion 42 is positioned between wings 44a and 44b, a pin 48 is positioned through the bore 43. The pin 48 features a length so that its ends 52a and 52 traverse elongated slots 46a and 46b.
The front handle and cap bracket; indicated in general at 24 in FIG. 2, features a pair of ears 54a and 54b that feature openings 56a and 56b, respectively. A bridge portion 62 is positioned between the ears and features a notch 64 having a screw hole 66. A leaf spring 68 having an upper end 72 is secured within the notch 64 via screw 74.
Cap 26, which is preferably constructed of metal, features a disk-shaped portion 76. On the end of middle portion 45 opposite disk-shaped portion 76 is a cylindrical portion 82 featuring a threaded bore 84. The cylindrical portion 82 is sized to fit between the ears 54a and 54b of the front handle and cap bracket 24 and is pivotally secured thereto by screws 84a and 84b. As a result, cap 26 is pivotally connected to bracket 24 while the leading end of handle 28 is attached to cap 26 is a pivoting and sliding fashion.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the disk-shaped portion 76 of the cap serves as a housing for a whistle 86, as is known in the art. The whistle is secured with the cap by screw 88 and makes a pleasing sound when steam travels through openings 92 and 94 (FIG. 2). Also illustrated in FIG. 3, cylindrical portion 82 features a flat portion 96, the function of which will be explained below.
The operation of the tea kettle of FIGS. 1-3 will now be explained. When the kettle is sitting on a generally flat surface, such as on the burner of a stove, with the cap in the closed configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the ends 52a and 52b of pin 48 (FIG. 2) are positioned at the distal ends 102a and 102b (FIG. 3) of elongated slots 46a and 46b.
When the kettle is lifted by the handle 28, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the handle pivots in a counter-clockwise direction around rear handle bracket 36, and thus axis 103, as indicated by arrow 105. Furthermore, the ends of the pin (48 in FIGS. 1 and 2) travel in elongated slots 46a and 46b in the direction of arrow 104. This motion continues until the cap reaches the position illustrated in FIG. 4. As the kettle is tilted for pouring, and the cap continues to pivot in the counter-clockwise direction with respect to the rim of the spout 106, as indicated by arrow 108 in FIG. 4, the ends of the pin reverse direction in elongated slots 46a and 46b and travel back to the distal ends 102a and 102b (FIG. 3) as the cap reaches the fully open position where it is approximately 90 degrees with respect to the plane of spout rim 106. This cap position is illustrated in FIG. 5. As the cap reaches this configuration, the flat portion 96 (FIG. 3) of the cylindrical portion 82 of the cap is engaged by the upper end 72 (FIG. 2) of the leaf spring 68. As a result, the cap is secured in the open configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 5, when the kettle is returned to a generally level surface. A gentle push down on handle 28 in the direction of arrow 110 in FIG. 5 causes the cap to close to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1.
While embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Patent Application
20070215651
