Kettle having movable spout lid and actuator
View Patent ↗A kettle for heating water or other liquid has a lid and lid actuator to move the lid between open and closed positions. The lid actuator may be connected to the container and movable relative to the opening about a pivot that is below a pivot about which the lid may move between the closed and open positions. The lid actuator may also lock the lid in position, such as in the open or closed position. The lid and lid actuator may also be arranged for movement independent of each other.
1. A kettle for heating a liquid, comprising:
a container constructed and arranged to hold an amount of liquid, the container having a substantially flat bottom portion;
a spout connected to the container, the spout having an opening and being constructed and arranged to allow liquid to be poured from the container through the opening;
a lid connected to the container and movable relative to the opening about a first pivot that is stationary relative to the container, the lid being movable between a closed position to at least partially cover the opening and an open position to at least partially uncover the opening, the lid including a contact surface;
a lid actuator connected to the container and movable relative to the opening about a second pivot that is stationary relative to the container, the lid actuator being movable between closed and open positions to cause the lid to move between the closed and open positions, respectively, the lid actuator including an engagement portion arranged, with the lid actuator in the open position, to engage with the contact surface of the lid and lock the lid in the open position;
wherein a first perpendicular distance between the substantially flat bottom and the first pivot is greater than a second perpendicular distance between the substantially flat bottom and the second pivot.
2. The kettle of claim 1 , wherein the lid is pivotally mounted to the spout and the lid actuator is pivotally mounted to the spout.
3. The kettle of claim 1 , further comprising a handle connected to the container, the handle being constructed and arranged to be gripped by a human hand and allow carrying of the container while holding the amount of liquid.
4. The kettle of claim 3 , wherein the handle generally extends above a top portion of the container.
5. The kettle of claim 3 , wherein the handle is connected to the container at only one end so as to be cantilevered.
6. The kettle of claim 3 , wherein the handle is connected to the container via the spout.
7. The kettle of claim 3 , wherein the lid actuator is positioned between the handle and a top portion of the container.
8. The kettle of claim 3 , wherein the lid actuator is arranged to be gripped and moved by a user's hand when gripping the handle.
9. The kettle of claim 1 , further comprising a resilient member that biases the lid to move toward the closed position.
10. The kettle of claim 1 , wherein a line connecting the second pivot and the engagement portion moves from one side of a pivot line connecting the first and second pivot points to another side of the pivot line as the lid actuator is moved to cause the lid to move from the closed position to the open position.
11. The kettle of claim 1 , wherein the engagement portion contacts the lid contact surface to move the lid between a closed position to an open position.
12. The kettle of claim 1 , wherein the lid and lid actuator are capable of independent movement.
13. The kettle of claim 1 , wherein the lid actuator has a finger loop to engage with a user's finger.
14. The kettle of claim 1 , further comprising a resilient member that biases the lid actuator to a position in which the lid is movable to the closed position.
15. The kettle of claim 1 , wherein the container is constructed and arranged to transmit heat from an external source to heat liquid in the container.
16. A kettle for heating a liquid, comprising:
a container constructed and arranged to hold an amount of liquid, the container having a substantially flat bottom portion;
a spout connected to the container, the spout having an opening and being constructed and arranged to allow liquid to be poured from the container through the opening;
a lid connected to the container and movable relative to the opening about a first pivot that is stationary relative to the container, the lid being movable between a closed position to at least partially cover the opening and an open position to at least partially uncover the opening, the lid including a contact surface; and
a lid actuator connected to the container and movable relative to the opening about a second pivot, that is stationary relative to the container, between closed and open positions to cause the lid to move between the closed and open positions, respectively, the lid actuator being capable of movement independent of the lid and including an engagement portion arranged, with the lid actuator in the open position, to engage with the contact surface of the lid and lock the lid in the open position.
17. The kettle of claim 16 , wherein the first pivot is a greater perpendicular distance away from the flat bottom portion than the second pivot at which the lid actuator is pivotally mounted.
18. The kettle of claim 17 , wherein a line connecting the second pivot and the engagement portion moves from one side of a pivot line connecting the first and second pivot points to another side of the pivot line as the lid actuator is moved to cause the lid to move from the closed position to the open position.
19. The kettle of claim 16 , further comprising a handle connected to the container, the handle being constructed and arranged to be gripped by a human hand and allow carrying of the container while holding the amount of liquid.
20. The kettle of claim 19 , wherein the handle generally extends above a top portion of the container.
21. The kettle of claim 19 , wherein the handle is connected to the container at only one end so as to be cantilevered.
22. The kettle of claim 19 , wherein the handle is connected to the container via the spout.
23. The kettle of claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of the lid actuator is positioned below the handle.
24. The kettle of claim 19 , wherein the lid actuator is arranged to be gripped and moved by a user's hand when gripping the handle.
25. The kettle of claim 16 , further comprising a resilient member that biases the lid to move toward the closed position.
26. The kettle of claim 16 , wherein the lid is pivotally mounted to the spout and the lid actuator is pivotally mounted to the spout.
27. The kettle of claim 16 , wherein the engagement portion contacts the lid contact surface to move the lid from a closed position to an open position.
28. The kettle of claim 16 , further comprising a resilient member that biases the lid actuator to a position in which the lid is movable to the closed position.
29. The kettle of claim 16 , wherein the container is constructed and arranged to transmit heat from an external source to heat liquid in the container.
30. A kettle for heating a liquid, comprising:
a container constructed and arranged to hold an amount of liquid, the container having a substantially flat bottom portion;
a spout connected to the container, the spout having an opening and being constructed and arranged to allow liquid to be poured from the container through the opening;
a lid connected to the container and movable relative to the opening about a first pivot that is stationary relative to the container, the lid including a cover portion to at least partially cover the opening and a contact portion, the first pivot being positioned between the cover portion and the contact portion, the lid being movable between a closed position in which the cover portion at least partially covers the opening and an open position in which the cover portion at least partially uncovers the opening; and
a lever connected to the container and movable relative to the opening about a second pivot that is stationary relative to the container, the lever having a handle portion and an engagement portion, the second pivot being positioned between the handle portion and the engagement portion,
wherein the engagement portion of the lever is uncoupled from the contact portion of the lid, and movement of the handle portion of the lever causes the engagement portion to engage with and move the contact portion, thereby causing the lid to move between the closed and open positions, the engagement portion being arranged to engage with the contact portion to lock the lid in the open position.
31. The kettle of claim 30 , wherein the engagement portion engages with the contact portion to establish an overcenter condition to lock the lid in the open position.
32. The kettle of claim 30 , further comprising a handle connected to the container, the handle being constructed and arranged to be gripped by a human hand and allow carrying of the container while holding the amount of liquid, the handle being connected to the container at only one end so as to be cantilevered.