Electric steam vaporizer

Claim 2

An electric steam vaporizer comprising, in combination, a liquid reservoir having an upper surface and a liquid opening defined in said upper surface, a removable top mounted on said liquid reservoir, said top being rotatable relative to said upper surface, heating means depending from said top and extending downwardly through such opening into said liquid reservoir, said top defining a chamber and a side opening in communication with said chamber, electrical-switching means positioned within such chamber, electrical conduit means electrically connected between said heating means and one side of said switching means, a power cord having one end electrically connected to the other side of said switching means and its other end suitable for connection to an electrical power outlet, a vertically movable plunger member mounted in said chamber adjacent said switching means, a vertical post member mounted on such upper surface of said liquid reservoir, said vertical post member engaging and vertically moving said plunger member when said top is positioned on said liquid reservoir and said top is rotated, said vertical post member being received by such side opening, such side opening being of such dimension as to allow said vertical post member to pass therethrough into engagement with the plunger, whereby the vertical movement of said plunger actuates said switching means and closes the electrical circuit to said heating electrodes when said top is positioned on said liquid reservoIr.

Claim 3

An electric steam vaporizer according to claim 1, wherein said heating means comprises a pair of heating electrodes.

Claim 4

An electric steam vaporizer according to claim 2, wherein said upper surface of said liquid reservoir is generally horizontal and such liquid opening defined in such upper surface is circular, an integral lip extending upwardly from said liquid reservoir and surrounding such circular opening, and a generally vertical depending flange on such top which concentrically surrounds said upstanding lip on said liquid reservoir when said top is positioned on said reservoir, said lip on said liquid reservoir and said concentric depending flange on said top resisting relative lateral movement of said top and said reservoir when said top is mounted on said reservoir.

Claim 5

An electric steam vaporizer according to claim 1, wherein said top defines a pair of opposed flanges adjacent such side opening for lockingly receiving said post member when said post member is moved through such side opening, said post member having an enlarged head which is received by the upper surfaces of said flanges.

Claim 6

An electric steam vaporizer according to claim 4, wherein said plunger defines a camming groove along its lowermost surface, and whereby an upper portion of said post member engages and travels within such camming groove as said top is positioned on said liquid reservoir.

Claim 7

An electric steam vaporizer according to claim 4, wherein said switching means includes an electrical switch having two pairs of electrical contacts, a pair of overcenter switching blades, each of said overcenter switching blades being operatively connected to one pair of said electrical contacts. said overcenter switching blades biasing said switch contacts into a normally open position and wherein upward vertical movement of said plunger engages said overcenter switching blades and moves said electrical switch contacts to their closed positions, whereby the electrical circuit to the heating electrodes is closed.

Claim 8

An electrical steam vaporizer according to claim 6 wherein a removable cover plate is mounted over such chamber.

Claim 9

An electric steam vaporizer according to claim 6, including a protective sleeve assembly depending from said top, said protective sleeve assembly including a cylindrical boiling chamber in surrounding relationship to said heating means and an outer concentric wall member spaced form the boiling chamber.

Claim 10

An electric steam vaporizer comprising, in combination, a liquid reservoir having a generally horizontal upper surface and a liquid opening defined in said upper surface, said liquid reservoir having an upstanding lip surrounding said opening, a removable top mounted on said liquid reservoir, said top being rotatable relative to said upper surface, said top including a protective sleeve which extends downwardly into said liquid reservoir and a generally vertical flange which surrounds said lip when said top is positioned on said liquid reservoir, a pair of heating electrodes depending from said top and surrounded by said sleeve, said top defining a chamber and a side opening in communication with such chamber, a normally open electrical switch within such chamber, electrical conduit means electrically connected between said switch and said electrodes, a power cord having one end electrically connected to said switch and its other end suitable for connection to an electrical power outlet, a plunger member mounted for vertical movement within such chamber, said plunger member being operatively positioned adjacent said switch whereby an upward movement of said plunger closes said electrical switch, and a vertical post member having an enlarged head mounted on said horizontal upper surface of said liquid reservoir, said top having a pair of flange members adjacent said side opening for receiving and lockingly engaging said enlarged head when said post member passes through such side opening, said side opening being of such dimension as to allow saId vertical post member to pass therethrough into engagement with the plunger, whereby when said top is rotated on said liquid reservoir said post member enters said side opening and forces said plunger member upwardly closing said switch and closing the electrical circuit to said heating electrodes.

Claim 11

An electric steam vaporizer comprising, in combination, a liquid reservoir having a generally horizontal upper surface and a liquid opening defined in said upper surface, said liquid reservoir having an upstanding lip surrounding said opening, a removable top mounted on said liquid reservoir, said top being rotatable relative to said upper surface, said top including a protective sleeve which extends downwardly into said liquid reservoir and a generally vertical flange which surrounds said lip when said top is positioned on said liquid reservoir, a pair of heating electrodes depending from said top and surrounded by said sleeve, said top defining a chamber and a side opening in communication with such chamber, a normally open electrical switch within such chamber, electrical conduit means electrically connected between said switch and said electrodes, a power cord having one end electrically connected to said switch and its other end suitable for connection to an electrical power outlet, a plunger member mounted for vertical movement within such chamber, said plunger member being operatively positioned adjacent said switch whereby an upward movement of said plunger closes said electrical switch, and a vertical post member having an enlarged head mounted on said horizontal upper surface of said liquid reservoir, said top having a pair of flange members adjacent said side opening for receiving and lockingly engaging said enlarged head when said post member passes through such side opening, said side opening being of such dimension as to allow saId vertical post member to pass therethrough into engagement with the plunger, whereby when said top is rotated on said liquid reservoir said post member enters said side opening and forces said plunger member upwardly closing said switch and closing the electrical circuit to said heating electrodes.