DEVICE FOR INDICATING A LEVEL OF FLUID COMPRISING A MOVABLE ARRANGED LIGHTING MEMBER WHICH IS PRESENT INSIDE A CONTAINER OF THE DEVICE

• US 20100000317A1
• Filed: 09/10/2007
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Movold, Cathrine, Dijkstra, Jacob, Bron, Andries
• Application Number:
  US12/440,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20100000317A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/313
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/2105 of the cordless type, i.e. whereby the water vessel can be plugged into an electrically-powered base element
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/2115 using a float
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/212 with signaling means, e.g. whistling kettles
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/02 by gauge glasses or other apparatus involving a window or transparent tube for directly observing the level to be measured or the level of a liquid column in free communication with the main body of the liquid
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/64 of the free float type without mechanical transmission elements

Abstract

An electric hot water kettle comprises a container (2) for containing water to be heated. In order to provide a user of the kettle with information regarding a level of water that is present inside the container (2), the kettle comprises water level indication means (10). These means (10) comprise a lighting member (20) having at least one light (21) and a float (30) which is capable of floating on water, and which is arranged in the container (2). The lighting member (20) is arranged in the float (30), so that the at least one light (21) moves along with the water surface by means of the float (30), as a result of which a most accurate indication of the water level is obtained. The at least one light (21) of the lighting member (20) is powered by a pickup coil (57) arranged in the float (30), wherein an inductive coupling between the pickup coil (57) and a coil (55) connected to the mains (52) exists.

Claims

1. Device (1) having a container (2) for containing fluid, and means (10) for indicating a level of fluid which is present inside the container (2), wherein the fluid level indicating means (10) comprise a movably arranged lighting member (20) having at least one light (21) for emitting light, and linking means for establishing a direct link between a position of the lighting member (20) and a level of the fluid that is present inside the container (2).

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the linking means comprise a float (30), which is adapted to float on the fluid.

3. Device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the lighting member (20) is arranged in the float (30).

4. Device (1) according to claim 3, having means (50) for supplying power to the lighting member (20), wherein the power supplying means (50) comprise a combination of a member (51, 55) for transmitting power and a member (54, 57) for receiving power transmitted by the power transmitter (51, 55), wherein the power transmitter (51, 55) is arranged in a wall of the container (2), and wherein the power receiver (54, 57) is arranged in the float (30) and coupled to the lighting member (20).

5. Device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the power transmitter (51, 55) and the power receiver (54, 57) are coupled through an inductive link, and wherein both the power transmitter (51, 55) and the power receiver (54, 57) comprise a coil (55, 57).

6. Device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the power receiver (54, 57) is arranged on a ferrite rod (58).

7. Device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the power supplying means (50) comprise energy storing means such as a battery or a capacitor, wherein the lighting member (20) is coupled to the energy storing means, and wherein the energy storing means are coupled to the power receiver (54, 57).

8. Device (1) according to claim 3, having a member (58) for guiding the float (30), wherein the float (30) has a hole (33) for letting through the guiding member (58), wherein the float (30) is slidably arranged with respect to the guiding member (58), and wherein the float (30) is also pivotally arranged with respect to the guiding member (58).

9. Device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the lighting member (20) is arranged outside of the float (30).

10. Fluid level indicating means (10) for a device (1) having a container (2) for containing fluid, comprising a float (30) which is adapted to floating on the fluid, and a lighting member (20) having at least one light (21) for emitting light, wherein the lighting member (20) is arranged in the float (30).

11. Assembly of a float (30) which is adapted to floating on fluid and a lighting member (20) having at least one light (21) for emitting light, wherein the lighting member (20) is arranged inside the float (30).