GB2220131A

GB2220131A - A safety base for an electrically heated cooking utensil

Info

Publication number: GB2220131A
Application number: GB8914959A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eric Jaeger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-06-29
Filing date: 1989-06-29
Publication date: 1990-01-04
Also published as: GB8914959D0; GB8815506D0

Abstract

A safety base for an electrically heated cooking utensil such as a kettle has an upper plate 1 for locating a utensil thereon and a lower plate 2 which is preferably rotatably connected to the upper plate. A pair of wings 10, 11 upwardly extend from the upper plate on each side of an electrical power connection 12 of the utensil, the wings having a height and peripheral extent about the utensil to prevent the utensil overturning when pulled by the power connection. A securing means such as adhesive pads 30 or screws are provided for securing the safety base to a worktop. The invention has the object of preventing a cooking utensil from overturning when the mains power connection is inadvertently pulled to thereby prevent scalding. <IMAGE>

Description

A SAFETY BASE FOR AN ELECTRICALLY HEATED COOKING UTENSIL This invention relates to a safety base for an electrically heated cooking utensil, such as a kettle, although the invention is not intended to be limited to use with kettles.

Electrically heated cooking untensils have a plug normally located at the rear thereof into which an electrical socket is attached, the socket being connected to a lead for connection to a mains power supply. The use of a conventional linear power lead has the severe disadvantage that if it is pulled by, for example, young children then the utensil may be pulled off a work surface and the heated contents of the utensil scold the child. It has been proposed that this disadvantage may be overcome by the use of a coiled power lead but it is not thought that the use of such a power lead will provide the degree of sercurity required.

The present invention seeks to provide a safety base which will at least partially mitigate the foregoing disadvantages.

According to this invention there is provided a safety base for an electrically heated cooking utensil including a base means for locating said utensil thereon, a pair of wing means upwardly extending from said base means arranged one on each side of an electrical power connection to said utensil, said wing means having a height and peripheral extent about said utensil to prevent said utensil overturning when pulled by said power connection, and securing means for securing the base means to a worktop.

Preferably said base means comprises an upper plate for locating said utensil and a lower plate rotatably connected to said upper plate.

Advantageously, the securing means is selected from one or more of a plurality of circumferentially located adhesive pads located on an underside of said base means, screw means extending through said base means for securement to the worktop, and/or anchoring tether means attached at one end to the base means with the remote end thereof adapted for connection to the worktop.

In one embodiment, a locking means is provided between the upper and lower plates which may comprise a screw and/or teeth on one of said plates which engage with one or more cooperating slots in an adjacent surface of the other of said plates.

Preferably, a member is secured to said base means arranged to closely underlie the electrical power connection and, advantageously, said member is provided with means for adjusting the height thereof.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows a rear view of a safety base in accordance with this invention in which a kettle-has been partially shown, and Figure 2 is a cross-section along double arrow-headed line A-A of Figure 1.

In the Figures like reference numerals denote like parts.

The safety base shown in the Figures has an upper plate 1 and a lower plate 2 rotatably connected to the upper plate 1 by a fixing and locking screw 3 recessed into an upper and recessed surface 4 of the upper plate 1. Both the plates 1 and 2 are circular in cross-section and the lower plate 2 has an outer peripheral portion which has a reduced depth to accommodate an increased depth portion 5 of the upper plate. In an alternative embodiment, if relative rotation between plates 1 and 2 is not desired then there may be provided intermediate the portion 5 and the axial centre of the plates 1, 2 a plurality of circunferentially disposed slots 6 in the lower plate which are arranged to cooperate with teeth (not shown) provided on the underside of the upper plate 1.

The upper surface 4 is overlaid with a heat resisting and non slip surface 7, such as a cork which has a central aperture to allow access to the screw 3. The upper plate 1 has two wing members 10, 11 which are arranged one on each side of a power connection 12 of a kettle 13, the power connection comprising a socket 14 and a plug 15 attached to a power lead 16. The wind members 10, 11 have a height and peripheral extent about the kettle to prevent the kettle from overturning when pulled by the lead 16. Instead of being solid as shown, it is envisged that the wing members could be clip-on wire guard members secured into plate 1.

On some kettles, particularly the taller jug-type kettles, it has been found preferable to additionally include a plate 20 having the form of an inverted L-shape so as to provide a leg 21 and a foot 22. The leg 21 is provided with a pair of vertical,peripherally spaced slots 23 through each of which are disposed a screw 24 extending into the upper plate 1 so that the plate 21 may be adjusted in height to closely underlie the power connection 12. The provision of such a plate 20 has been found to further stabilise the kettle on the safety base.

The safety base is provided with means for securement to a worktop and such means comprise one or a combination of the following: 1. Adhesive pads 30 circumferentially disposed on the underside of plate 2, 2. Countersunk holes 31 circumferentially arranged through the plate 2 for permitting a fixing screw therethrough into a worktop and, 3. A tether such as a cord or chain 32 having one end secured to a peripheral edge of the lower plate 2 by any suitable means such as a fixing screw 33 and the other end thereof being adapted for connection to a worktop.

In use, it is envisaged that a user will position the safety base near to a mains power supply socket and secure the base to a worktop.

The utensil may then be located in the upper plate 1 and the base rotated until the utensil handle and power connection are in a convenient position. So as to prevent breakage of the plug and socket, if the mains lead is violently pulled and the direction of pull is not in line with the plug socket, it is preferred that plates 1 and 2 remain rotatable with respect to one another. In the alternatively envisaged embodiment once the rotational position of the utensil is decided upon then the screw 3 may be tightened to lock plate 1 to plate 2 and additional securement between the two plates is accomplished by the teeth locating in slots 6.

The applicant believes that the present invention provides a safety base which will securely hold a kettle in position, prevent the kettle from being overturned when the mains supply lead is pulled upon and when the base is secured to a worktop so the base cannot be pulled off the worktop so that should an individual mistakenly pull on the power lead the risk of the kettle emptying its contents upon the individual is substantially reduced.

Claims

CLAIMS;

1. A safety base for an electrically heated cooking utensil including a base means for locating said utensil thereon, a pair of wing means upwardly extending from said base means arranged one on each side of an electrical power connection to said utensil, said wing means having a height and peripheral extent about said utensil to prevent said utensil overturning when pulled by said power connection, and securing means for securing the base means to a worktop.

2. A safety base as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base means comprises an upper plate for locating said utensil and a lower plate rotatably connected to said upper plate.

3. A safety base as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the securing means is selected from one or more of a plurality of circumferentially located adhesive pads located on an underside of said base means, screw means extending through said base means for securement to the worktop, and/or anchoring tether means attached at one end to the base means with the remote end thereof adapted for connection to the worktop.

4. A safety base as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a locking means is provided between the upper and lower plates which may comprise a screw and/or teeth on one of said plates which engage with one or more cooperating slots in an adjacent surface of the other said plates.

5. A safety base as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a member is secured to said base means arranged to closely underlie the electrical power connection.

6. A safety base as claimed in claim 5 wherein said member is provided with means for adjusting the height thereof.

7. A safety base substantially as herein describes with reference to and as shown in the acconpanying drawings.