Lid for a pressure cooking pot and pressure cooking pot having a lid

Abstract

A lid for a pressure cooking pot includes a lower lid module having an edged lid fitted on a pouring edge of the pressure cooking pot, and a seal sealing the lower lid module when fitted on the pouring edge. An upper lid module includes a closure unit movable between a first position in which the upper and lower lid modules are locked to one another and a second position in which the upper module is separable from the lower module. Fixing claws are coupled to the closure unit and engages under the pouring edge of the pressure cooking pot, when the closure unit is in the first position.

Claims

1. A lid for a pressure cooking pot, comprising: a lower lid module including an edged lid fitted on a pouring edge of the pressure cooking pot, and a seal sealing the lower lid module when fitted on the pouring edge; and an upper lid module including a closure unit movable between a first position in which the upper and lower lid modules are locked to one another and a second position in which the upper module is separable from the lower module, and fixing claws coupled to the closure unit and engaging under the pouring edge of the pressure cooking pot, when the closure unit is in the first position, wherein the edged lid has a surface which forms a mechanical interface, when the upper lid module is removed, for receiving another functional part to provide a conventional cooking pot lid for a depressurized cooking pot or a low-pressure cooking pot.

2. The lid of claim 1, wherein the functional part is a standard middle button or a special vapor button.

3. A pressure cooking pot, comprising a lid comprising a lower lid module including an edged lid fitted on a pouring edge of the pressure cooking pot, and a seal sealing the lower lid module when fitted on the pouring edge, and an upper lid module including a closure unit movable between a first position in which the upper and lower lid modules are locked to one another and a second position in which the upper module is separable from the lower module, and fixing claws coupled to the closure unit and engaging under the pouring edge of the pressure cooking pot, when the closure unit is in the first position, wherein the closure unit includes a fixed pin and a slider which is resiliently received by the pin for movement in a horizontal direction, said slider having a first recess for alignment with a housing of the valve to allow a removal of the upper lid module, when the closure unit is in the second position, and a second recess adjacent to the first recess and receivable in a groove of the valve housing when the closure unit is in the first position.

4. The pressure cooking pot of claim 3, wherein the lower lid module includes a first valve for controlling a working pressure in the pressure cooking pot, said closure unit being detachably connected to a cylindrical housing of the first valve.

5. The pressure cooking pot of claim 4, wherein the first valve is positioned in midsection of the edged lid.

6. The pressure cooking pot of claim 4, wherein the housing of the first valve is formed as a hollow cylinder.

7. The pressure cooking pot of claim 3, wherein the slider is constructed to extend outwardly from the closure unit to enable actuation thereof.

8. The pressure cooking pot of claim 7, further comprising a cooking pin received in the closure unit for indicating a pressurized state of the pressure cooking pot, said closure unit having a bore for engagement by the cooking pin to prevent a movement between the closure unit and the middle plate, when the cooking pot is pressurized.

9. The pressure cooking pot of claim 3, wherein the upper lid module has an axially fixed middle plate which is operably connected to the closure unit and closes the upper lid module towards the edged lid of the lower lid module, said claws being movably connected to the middle plate by connecting webs, said closure unit being rotatably mounted centrally on an edged-lid-distal side of the middle plate and having vertical pins engaging rotatably in the connecting webs and guided in circular segment-shaped grooves in the middle plate to allow a radial movement of the claws when the closure unit is moved axially between the first and second positions.

10. The pressure cooking pot of claim 9, wherein the edged lid has a surface which forms a mechanical interface, when the upper lid module is removed, for receiving another functional part to provide a conventional cooking pot lid for a depressurized cooking pot or a low-pressure cooking pot.

11. The pressure cooking pot of claim 10, wherein the functional part is a standard middle button or a special vapor button.

12. The pressure cooking pot of claim 3, wherein the closure unit includes a cavity in the shape of a button and being formed as a grip for receiving the slider and the fixed pin, and further comprising a cooking pin received in the button-like cavity for indicating a pressurized state of the pressure cooking pot.

13. The pressure cooking pot of claim 4, further comprising a second safety valve attached on the edged lid next to the first valve for controlling overpressure via a duct-like discharge opening.

14. The pressure cooking pot of claim 5, wherein the lid includes a second safety valve attached on the edged lid next to the first valve for controlling overpressure via a duct-like discharge opening wherein the middle plate is fixed in position by the housing of the second valve and has a first recess for receiving the housing of the first valve and a second recess for receiving a housing of the second valve, with steam being able to exit via a discharge opening of the housing of the first valve and a discharge opening of the housing of the second valve and via a duct on an edged-lid-distal side of the middle plate to the atmosphere without contacting the closure unit of the upper lid module.

15. The pressure, cooking pot of claim 14, wherein the duct is formed by a doubly formed boundary to define a gap for receiving a seal.

16. A lid for a pressure cooking pot, comprising: a lower lid module including an edged lid fitted on a pouring edge of the pressure cooking pot, and a seal sealing the lower lid module when fitted on the pouring edge; and an upper lid module including a closure unit movable between a first position in which the upper and lower lid modules are locked to one another and a second position in which the upper module is separable from the lower module, and fixing claws coupled to the closure unit and engaging under the pouring edge of the pressure cooking pot, when the closure unit is in the first position, wherein the closure unit includes a fixed pin and a slider which is resiliently received by the pin for movement in a horizontal direction, said slider having a first recess for alignment with a housing of the valve to allow a removal of the upper lid module, when the closure unit is in the second position, and a second recess adiacent to the first recess and receivable in a groove of the valve housing when the closure unit is in the first position.

17. The lid of claim 16, wherein the lower lid module includes a first valve for controlling a working pressure in the pressure cooking pot, said closure unit being detachably connected to a cylindrical housing of the first valve.

18. The lid of claim 17, wherein the first valve is positioned in midsection of the edged lid.

19. The lid of claim 17, wherein the housing of the first valve is formed as a hollow cylinder.

20. The lid of claim 17, further comprising a second safety valve attached on the edged lid next to the first valve for controlling overpressure via a duct-like discharge opening.

21. The lid of claim 16, wherein the slider is constructed to extend outwardly from the closure unit to enable actuation thereof.

22. The lid of claim 16, wherein the upper lid module has an axially fixed middle plate which is operably connected to the closure unit and closes the upper lid module towards the edged lid of the lower lid module, said claws being movably connected to the middle plate by connecting webs, said closure unit being rotatably mounted centrally on an edged-lid-distal side of the middle plate and having vertical pins engaging rotatably in the connecting webs and guided in circular segment-shaped grooves in the middle plate to allow a radial movement of the claws when the closure unit is moved axially between the first and second positions.

23. The lid of claim 22, further comprising a second safety valve attached on the edged lid next to the first valve for controlling overpressure via a duct-like discharge opening wherein the middle plate is fixed in position by the housing of the second valve and has a first recess for receiving the housing of the first valve and a second recess for receiving a housing of the second valve, with steam being able to exit via a discharge opening of the housing of the first valve and a discharge opening of the housing of the second valve and via a duct on an edged-lid-distal side of the middle plate to the atmosphere without contacting the closure unit of the upper lid module.

24. The lid of claim 22, further comprising a cooking pin received in the closure unit for indicating a pressurized state of the pressure cooking pot, said closure unit having a bore for engagement by the cooking pin to prevent a movement between the closure unit and the middle plate, when the cooking pot is pressurized.

25. The lid of claim 16, wherein the closure unit includes a cavity in the shape of a button and being formed as a grip for receiving the slider and the fixed pin, and further comprising a cooking pin received in the button-like cavity for indicating a pressurized state of the pressure cooking pot.

26. The lid of claim 23, wherein the duct is formed by a doubly formed boundary to define a gap for receiving a seal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be explained hereinafter in greater detail with reference to drawings FIG. 1 to FIG. 10.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a pressure cooking pot with the lid fitted.

(4) FIG. 2 shows a detail of the sectional view illustrated in FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a lid for a pressure cooking pot.

(6) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an upper module with the latching mechanism.

(7) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the lower module of a lid.

(8) FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show details of the grip.

(9) FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a lid, which is cut along a plane lying on the centre axis of the lid.

(10) FIG. 9 shows a further sectional view of a lid.

(11) With reference to FIG. 10, details of a middle plate of the lid will be explained.

(12) FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 show the latching mechanism of a lid in greater detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(13) FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a pressure cooking pot 1 according to one embodiment of the invention.

(14) The pressure cooking pot 1 comprises a pot 3 with a pouring edge 4 and a lid 2 having an upper lid module 2a, shown in greater detail in FIG. 3, and a lower lid module 2b, shown in greater detail in FIG. 5.

(15) The pressure cooking pot 1 is formed as a pressure container. A latching mechanism can be actuated via the grip 6, with which latching mechanism the lid 2 is latched on the pouring edge 4 of the pot. The pot is sealed by the lip seal 5.

(16) The lid 2 comprises a valve 7 for fixing the working pressure and a safety valve 8.

(17) FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the lid illustrated in FIG. 1, in which the details, in particular the valve arrangement, can be better seen.

(18) The lower lid module 2b comprises an edged lid 9 which is fitted on the pot and which is provided with a seal 5, as shown in Fig. 1.

(19) A first valve 7 is attached to the edged lid 9, via which valve the working pressure of the pressure cooking pot is fixed. The valve 7 (in this case only the valve housing is illustrated) is fixed centrally on the edged lid 9 by a nut 10.

(20) Furthermore, the upper lid module 2a of the lid 2 comprises a closure unit in the form of a grip 6, which is attached rotatably on the housing of the valve 7. For this purpose, the housing of the valve 7 comprises a peripheral groove 12, in which the closure unit 6 can be fixed by means of a slider 11. For this purpose, a duct 26 for a spring (not illustrated) is preferably provided, with which the slider 11 is pressed outwardly.

(21) By pressing on the slider 11, said slider 11 can be displaced against the force of the spring into a position in which the positive connection in the groove 12 in the housing of the valve 7 is released.

(22) The closure unit 6 is further connected rotatably to a middle plate 15 which also forms part of the upper lid module 2a.

(23) By rotating the closure unit 6, the lid 2 can be latched via fixing claws 20 which form part of the upper lid module 2a, as will be illustrated in greater detail hereinafter with reference to further drawings.

(24) The edged lid 9 also comprises a further valve, which is arranged deaxially and which is formed in this embodiment as a safety valve 8. The safety valve 8 is also fixed on the edged lid 9. The valve 8 is formed as a spherical valve with a ball 18, which is pressed against a sealing face by means of a spring. A sealing ring 17 acts as the seal of the valve housing.

(25) It is understood that further sealing means may also be provided in relation to the valve 7.

(26) The upper part of the valve 8 comprises an upper part 13, by means of which a cooking pin 14 arranged in the closure unit 6 can be actuated.

(27) Using the cooking pin 14, it is possible to determine whether the pot is pressurized.

(28) The upper part 13, which engages in a recess in the closure unit 6 at pressure, prevents the closure unit 6 from being turned when the pot is pressurized, and thus prevents the latching mechanism from being actuated.

(29) Furthermore, the pressure can be released from the pressure cooking pot 1 by pressing down on the cooking pin 14 so as to then open the pressure cooking pot 1.

(30) Both the valve housing of the valve 7 and the valve housing of the valve 8 have lateral ducts 19, via which steam can escape into a duct 16 formed between the edged lid 9 and the middle plate 15.

(31) Since the middle plate 15 can be removed together with the closure unit 6, the duct 16 is particularly easy to clean. In particular, steam does not discharge at the claws of the latching mechanism as a result of this arrangement.

(32) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the lid with the upper lid module 2a and the lower lid module 2b in an assembled state. The edged lid 9, which is enclosed by three U-shaped fixing claws 20 can be seen. The fixing claws 20 are coupled to the closure unit 6 via connecting webs 22.

(33) The closure unit 6 has a button 21, via which the entire lid 2 can be removed. To actuate the latching mechanism, the closure unit 6 can be rotated at the button 21. The fixing claws 20 move inwardly when latching the pot 3 and grip beneath the pouring edge 4 of the pot 3.

(34) To remove the upper lid module 2a comprising the closure unit 6 and the latching mechanism, the slider 11 can be pressed and an upper module, which comprises the latching mechanism, can be removed.

(35) The components of the upper lid module 2a are illustrated in perspective view according to FIG. 4.

(36) The three fixing claws 20, which are coupled to closure unit 6 via connecting webs 22 can be seen.

(37) Once the upper lid module 2a has been removed, the edged lid 9, which comprises a peripheral seal 5, remains, as illustrated in the perspective view according to FIG. 5. Furthermore, the valve 7, which comprises a groove 12 for fixing of the closure unit 6, is attached to the edged lid 9. In this view, ducts 19 arranged on the housing of the valve 7 and via which the steam can escape can be seen clearly.

(38) The safety valve 8 is also arranged on the edged lid 9 and also comprises ducts 32, via which the pressure can escape.

(39) The lower lid module 2b of the lid 2 can now be provided with a new cover (not illustrated) without a latching mechanism and can thus be used as a cover for depressurized cooking.

(40) This cover preferably covers both the valve 7 and the safety valve 8. Owing to the use of the valve 7 as a retaining pin for the closure unit 6 and owing to the fact that the valve 8 is arranged in the direct vicinity, it is possible to cover both valves with one cover. The lid 2 thus does not differ visually from a conventional lid for depressurized cooking. A second lid does not have to be kept available for depressurized cooking.

(41) FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the closure unit 6 of the upper lid module 2a, which comprises the slider 11 for removing the closure unit 6, together with the latching mechanism (not illustrated). The slider 11 is fixed in the closure unit with a pin 23.

(42) FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the slider 11.

(43) The slider 11 comprises a recess 24 of greater diameter and a further recess 25 of smaller diameter intersecting this recess 24. In the basic state, that is to say if the slider 11 is not pressed in, the recess 25 of smaller diameter sits beneath a collar arranged on the valve housing and thus ensures a positive connection in the groove 12.

(44) When the slider 11 is pressed, it is moved from its idle position into a position in which the recess 24 of greater diameter coincides axially with the collar of the corresponding valve 7. The positive connection is thus released and the closure unit can be removed.

(45) The pin 23 prevents the slider 11 from being pushed out of its housing, which is formed by the closure unit 6, by the provided spring (not illustrated).

(46) FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a lid, said view being cut along a plane extending axially. The U-shaped fixing claws 20, which can grip beneath the pouring edge 4 of a pot 3 (not illustrated here) can be seen clearly. The pot 3 is sealed via the lip seal 5.

(47) FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of the upper lid module 2a, which comprises the closure unit 6 and the fixing claws 20.

(48) The middle plate 15 is provided to fix the closure unit 6 and the fixing claws 20 and, in the assembled state, lies between the edged lid 9 of the lower lid module 2b and the closure unit 6 of the upper lid module 2a.

(49) Further details will be explained with reference to FIG. 10, which shows a perspective view of the middle plate 15.

(50) The middle plate 15 comprises a central recess 27, which in the assembled state is slid over the valve 7, shown in FIG. 1 arranged centrally on the edged lid 9.

(51) Furthermore, the middle plate 15 comprises a further recess 28, which in the assembled state is slid over the second valve shown in FIG. 1.

(52) Since the housing of the safety valve 8 sits in the recess 28 arranged deaxially, the middle plate 15 is not axially rotatable in relation to the edged lid 9 in the assembled state. The middle plate 15 further comprises the duct 16, through which steam escapes between the middle plate 15 and the edged lid 9 in the assembled state. It is understood that the duct 16 may comprise edge seals, which are not illustrated in greater detail in this embodiment. For example, a groove may be formed at the edge for attachment of a seal.

(53) FIG. 11 shows further details of the middle plate 15 and of the latching mechanism. The middle plate 15 comprises an edge web 31, which is recessed in the region of the connecting webs 22 to the fixing claws 20.

(54) As already described, the middle plate 15 is fixed axially in the assembled state owing to the recess 28.

(55) The connecting webs 22 comprise recesses 33, which cooperate with the closure unit 6, as illustrated hereinafter.

(56) The middle plate 15 comprises circular segment-shaped grooves 29 for guiding the connecting webs 22 with the fixing claws 20.

(57) FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the underside of the closure unit 6 of the upper lid module 2a. The closure unit 6 comprises pins 30, which, in the assembled state, engage in the recesses 33 in the connecting webs 22 illustrated in FIG. 11. If the button 11 of the closure unit 6 of the upper lid module 2a is now turned relative to the middle plate 15, the pins 30 extend into the grooves 29 and the fixing claws 20 can thus be moved outwardly or inwardly.

(58) The pins 30 are preferably mushroom-shaped and may be used to fix the middle plate 15, connecting webs 22 and closure unit 6, since these have a greater diameter beneath the recesses 29.

(59) The recess 27 and a tubular portion 34 arranged on the closure unit 6 may also form a hinge, which holds together the middle plate 15 and the closure unit 6.

(60) The lid 6 further comprises the recess 35, in which the upper part of the safety valve (8 in FIG. 2) can engage, and thus prevents a turning of the grip when pressurized.

(61) A pressure cooking pot with simplified handling is provided by this invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(62) 1 pressure cooking pot 2 lid 3 pot 4 pouring edge 5 seal 6 grip 7 valve 8 safety valve 9 edged lid 10 nut 11 slider 12 groove 13 upper part, safety valve 14 pin 15 middle plate 16 duct 17 sealing ring 18 ball 19 duct, central valve 20 claw 21 button 22 connecting web 23 pin 24 recess 25 recess 26 duct 27 recess 28 recess 29 groove 30 pin 31 web 32 duct 33 recess 34 tubular section 35 recess