The following detailed description, given by way of example and not intended to limit the present invention solely thereto, will best be appreciated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and parts, in which:
a is a drawing showing the particular angles of the whisk's clip in accordance with the present invention;
As shown in
As shown in
As an optional feature of the present invention, the free end 29 of handle 2 has the design of a spatula or a scraper. As a scraper, the handle's free end may be used to scrape the bottom of containers. As shown in
In accordance with the present invention, the whisk includes an attachment clip 4 as particularly shown in
Attachment clip 4 has a spatula-shaped end part at its free end 42, which is designed to urge against (rest on) the active part of the whisk 3. When the whisk is fixed on container 6, the clip is curved inward to grasp the edge of the container 6 between the active part 3 of the whisk and the attachment clip 4. The other end of the attachment clip 4 is fixed or mounted on the handle 2.
As shown in
Referring again to
The attachment clip 4 of the whisk of the present invention advantageously is shaped to produce an elastic return force between its free end 42 and the active part 3 of the whisk. In particular, the attachment clip 4 preferably is sufficiently elastic and flexible to allow its insertion into the rim of a container. Also, a stable and balanced attachment of the whisk on the container is provided by taking into account the material and thickness of the whisk's shafts.
The elasticity of the attachment clip 4 enables the placement of the whisk on any type of container, such as a salad bowl, sauce pan, round bottom mixing bowl, etc. The elastic return force exerted between the clip 4 and the active part 3 is adjusted in consideration of the thickness of these types of containers. The elasticity of the attachment is also adjusted in consideration of the respective shapes and materials of these containers as well as the angles formed by the clip from the side of its attachment (θ1) where the element of the active part of the whisk and/or comes in contact with the elements thereof (θ2).
In the exemplary whisk shown, the length of the clip is approximately 40 mm, or around one third of the length of the bundle of shafts. It is preferable that the length of the clip should not rise too much above ⅖ of the total length of the active part 3 and should not descend too far below one fourth of this length.
When the user attaches the whisk 1 onto the container 6, the clip 4 first separates slightly from the active part 3, and then elastically returns against the outer wall of the rim of the container 6 in such a manner to clasp it tightly.
The attachment clip 2 comes in the shape of a short shaft folded to form a loop in the area of the free end 42. The loop of the attachment clip 4 is curved towards the inside of the whisk 1 in a manner to define the spatula-shaped end part in the area of the free end 42.
In the particular embodiment shown in
The attachment clip 4 has a general shape similar to that of the shafts 30 of the bundle 3 on which it comes to rest. The invention further calls for forming the attachment clip 4 in a manner similar to the shafts 30 of the active part using the same materials and manner of connection to the handle 2.
The shafts of the active part of the whisk here are composed of molded steel wire molded, for example, by extrusion, coated with “silicone” (a silicone material such as silicone rubber used for culinary utensils). It has been observed that culinary containers made of steel coated with silicone offers a better hold (“grip”) than steel on steel contact.
The free end 42 of the attachment clip 4 can be slightly curved back towards the outside of the whisk for easier insertion onto the rim of the container 6 between the clip 4 and the active part 3 of the whisk.
The elastic return force produced by the attachment clip 4 ensures a stable balance of the whisk on the rim of the container 6. This occurs even if the contact points between the spatula-shaped end part of the attachment clip 4 and the active part 3 of the whisk are located below the center of gravity of the whisk, which often occurs considering the lightness of the shafts when compared to the handle. As shown in
In the kitchen, an instrument such as the whisk is used to mix or serve: ingredients in a sauce pan being heated on a burner; a hot composition in a baking dish in an oven and/or coming out of the oven; hot or cold substances likely to splatter and dirty clothes, tablecloths or the likes; and a hot or cold substance in a container held in the person's hand, while he or she is moving, while needing to carry other items (in particular another dish, table settings, drinks).
Mixing ingredients is often a repetitive action. In certain instances, the whisk must be removed from a mixture while keeping it ready for future use, by either cleaning it, or bringing it into contact with other materials likely to contaminate the mixture. Currently, there is no satisfactory solution. Placing the whisk on a clean plate clutters the workspace, and tends to cool the whisk. Fitting the whisk with an open hook like certain jam spoons is not suitable. Such hooks are not designed to be used with different types or sizes of rims. The hook also must be placed high on the handle in order to stabilize the whisk that is hooked on the edge and hanging towards the inside of the container. For most containers, the active part of the instrument will remain submerged in the mixture which is undesirable or even harmful to the desired results. For shallow containers, the hook cannot be used. One idea is to mount a mini clothespin that is glued to the kitchen instrument. The mini clothespin is unsuitable because the spring, which is susceptible to oxidation when washed, could be a source of dirt and contamination of the mixture, especially in the case of very sensitive emulsions. A clothespin also cannot be mounted close enough to the end of the whisk's active part sufficiently to maintain the necessary stability as mentioned above.
Before the present invention, there was no satisfactory solution suitable for nearly all the cases of domestic applications. With the present invention, it becomes possible to support the culinary instrument on the rim of the container, hanging towards the inside, without the whisk resting in contact with the mixture where it may be undesirable and harmful. This applies to many types of containers.
In the diagrams shown on the
In a variation of the present invention, the shafts 30 from the active part 3 of the whisk are distributed in a predominately vertical plane passing in the area of the axis Δ of the handle, and parallel to each other as shown in
In the second variation, the free ends of the shafts 30 of the active part 3 are slightly curved in a given direction relative to the axis of the handle 2. The spatula-shaped part located at the free end 42 of the attachment clip 4 is curved in the opposite direction. This is displayed in
Here, the handle 2 comprises a metal tube 71 forming a core on which a sheath 75 is molded over. The sheath defines the profile of the gripping zone of the handle 2. As shown in
From the other side, the tube 71 contains openings (710) which houses the tabs (such as the detail 750) stamped on the axial crown of a U-shaped base 75. The base 75 has a concavity that is turned towards the active part 3. The end 740 of the tube and that of the sheath 72 define a ring-shaped alveolar recess 745 which serves for gluing a silicone insert 76. This insert 76 forms a sealed cover cap for the attachment assembly.
The structure 61 and 62 of this shaft is described above. The metallic base 75 is adjusted to the inside diameter of the handle 2. Its radial part is reinforced by a disk 759 that is welded to it. The radial insert for the base 75 and its disk 759 are pre-drilled in order to receive the free end of the shaft, stripped of its silicone sheath. The silicone 76 is pre-drilled in a similar manner for receiving and housing the shaft with its silicone sheath. The cores of the shafts are welded to the disk 759 from the inner side of the handle. The following describes the sequence of the mounting: pre-drilling of the base 75 and 76, mounted on each other; for all the housings of the shafts; insertion to a little past the base of the previously stripped shafts then welding the shafts on the base; mounting this assembly on the annular recess 745 until clicking into 710, and then gluing it. The assembly is then sealed by gluing the silicone parts (handle and base) together.
The mounting is solid and can't be unmounted. In addition, it produces an excellent seal towards the inside of the handle. This is particularly advantageous in various categories from culinary applications of the tool to maintaining it and washing it in a dishwasher. However, the mounting could be made removable in applications where the seal may not be necessary. The manufacturing cost and time of the whisk from the invention remains analogous to that of a conventional whisk.
The whisk of the present invention has a simple structure and is easy to use. To attach it to a container, the user slides the whisk from top to bottom on the rim of the container such that the rim comes to lodge between the attachment clip 4 and the active part 3 of the whisk. The clip comes to grasp the container using its elastic return force. In the attached position, the clip 4 is outside the container and the active part of the whisk remains inside the container, without touching the mixture. Thus, the residual mixture which adheres to the whisk 1 during a previous use can flow directly into the container 6. Therefore, there is neither loss of the prepared mixture nor soiling on the support surface of the container. The whisk is effectively retained and avoids falling into the container 6. This applies, with the same whisk, for many types of mixtures and many shapes of containers.
For removing the whisk 1 from the container, the user simply pulls the whisk upward by the handle 2. The user can reuse the whisk at will.
The attachment clip 4 from the invention has a small bulk with fewer hidden surfaces, which makes it easier to clean. Because of its short length, the attachment clip does interfere with the shafts of the active part and therefore does not reduce the performance of the whisk. Further, the attachment clip 4 extends only in the area of the active part of the whisk and does not disturb the whisk handle when in use.
The whisk 1 of the present invention appears as a single block in which attachment clip 4's shape integrates harmoniously with that of the active part 3. It can therefore be stored and used in the same manner as a conventional whisk.
The whisk 1 of the present invention is not limited to culinary applications. Additional applications could include, for example, mixing paint or glue in a can. However, in this case, the constraints for use are not all the same. The invention is not limited to the variants described for purposes of non-limiting examples.
Thus, the active part can have a different general shape, symmetric or not, and comprise any number of shafts 30. In addition, looped shafts, half shafts, straight or not, provided with small weights at their free end, may be used.
The attachment clip 4 can be made up of different materials suited for the production of the elastic return force between the free end 42 of the clip 4 and the active part 3 of the whisk. Currently, a steel and/or culinary polymer, or the silicone material described above, are preferred.
The handle may be made up of different suitable materials. In particular, the handle 2 may be at least partially made up of silicone material such as silicone rubber. As a variant, other materials such as synthetic materials and/or polymers for culinary use, an organic elastomer material called TPR (Thermoplastic Rubber), or metal could be considered.
Two other implementation variants of the clip 4 are presented in reference to the group of
In
In
Of course, the present invention is not limited to the different variants described for the culinary instrument involved. It could be applied to culinary instruments, in particular for mixing or serving (in kitchen or at the table), other than the whisk described above.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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06/07387 | Aug 2006 | FR | national |