Patents by Inventor Philip R. McKee

Philip R. McKee has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230354826
    Abstract: A method for cooking is disclosed. In response to an oven being selected to cook a food item, a determination is made whether or not any oven is being engaged in cooking. If no oven is being engaged in cooking, then temperature-control mode is utilized to control oven temperature of the selected oven. If one oven is currently being engaged in cooking, then another determination is made whether or not the total current demand by the two ovens to cook respective food items exceeds a predetermined current limitation under temperature-control mode. If the total current demand does not exceed the predetermined current limitation, then temperature-control mode is utilized to control oven temperature of the two ovens. If the total current demand exceeds the predetermined current limitation, then time-control mode is utilized to control oven temperature of the two ovens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: PHILIP R. MCKEE, ANDREW PODEVELS, HAROLD HANSEN
  • Publication number: 20230349559
    Abstract: A modular cooking apparatus includes a first interchangeable cooking module containing an impingement oven, a second interchangeable cooking module containing a hot air oven with built-in magnetron, and a single power connection for receiving three-phase electrical power. Each oven has a base load and a boost load. A first multiplexor is configured to direct electrical power from a first phase pair of the three-phase electrical power to either the base load or the boost load of the first oven. A second multiplexor is configured to direct electrical power from the first phase pair to the boost load of the first oven or to the boost load of the second oven. The modular cooking apparatus is configured such that either the first multiplexor or the second multiplexor can direct electrical power from the first phase pair to the boost load of the first oven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, Andrew Podevels
  • Patent number: 11754294
    Abstract: A multi-zone, proximate-air oven using air delivered from the shelves provides a compact height through the use of low profile shelves. Intercavity heat leakage is managed by active insulation techniques making use of the oven feedback temperature control and controlled cavity loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Alto-Shaam, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, Lee Thomas VanLanen, Todd Coleman, Aaron Choate
  • Patent number: 11737467
    Abstract: A method for cooking is disclosed. In response to an oven being selected to cook a food item, a determination is made whether or not any oven is being engaged in cooking. If no oven is being engaged in cooking, then temperature-control mode is utilized to control oven temperature of the selected oven. If one oven is currently being engaged in cooking, then another determination is made whether or not the total current demand by the two ovens to cook respective food items exceeds a predetermined current limitation under temperature-control mode. If the total current demand does not exceed the predetermined current limitation, then temperature-control mode is utilized to control oven temperature of the two ovens. If the total current demand exceeds the predetermined current limitation, then time-control mode is utilized to control oven temperature of the two ovens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Automation Tech, LLC
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, Andrew Podevels, Harold Hansen
  • Patent number: 11739942
    Abstract: A modular cooking apparatus includes a first interchangeable cooking module containing an impingement oven, a second interchangeable cooking module containing a hot air oven with built-in magnetron, and a single power connection for receiving three-phase electrical power. Each oven has a base load and a boost load. A first multiplexor is configured to direct electrical power from a first phase pair of the three-phase electrical power to either the base load or the boost load of the first oven. A second multiplexor is configured to direct electrical power from the first phase pair to the boost load of the first oven or to the boost load of the second oven. The modular cooking apparatus is configured such that either the first multiplexor or the second multiplexor can direct electrical power from the first phase pair to the boost load of the first oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: AUTOMATION TECH, LLC
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, Andrew Podevels
  • Patent number: 11639797
    Abstract: An oven comprising a housing, a cook cavity located within the housing, wherein the housing includes an opening to the cook cavity and the cook cavity is configured to receive a food item through the opening, an oven door for covering the opening, a heating element configured to heat an air within the cook cavity, an active vent interconnecting the cook cavity and an outside of the housing, and a controller operatively coupled to the active vent and the heating element is disclosed. The controller is configured to perform the steps of (a) turning on the heating element to initiate a cooking cycle, (b) keeping the active vent closed during an initial stage of the cooking cycle, (c) after the initial stage of the cooking cycle, opening the active vent, and (d) keeping the active vent open during at least a portion of a remainder of the cooking cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: OVENTION, INC.
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, Alex Wayne Johnson
  • Publication number: 20220010968
    Abstract: A modular cooking apparatus is disclosed. The modular cooking apparatus includes a housing for containing a first and second interchangeable cooking modules. The first interchangeable cooking module contains a first oven, and the second interchangeable cooking module contains a second oven. A grease shield is located within the first oven. The second oven is different from the first oven. The modular cooking apparatus also includes a control panel for receiving cooking inputs, a controller for controlling the first and second interchangeable cooking modules, and a single power plug for receiving electrical power from a wall outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: PHILIP R. MCKEE, LEE T. VANLANEN
  • Publication number: 20220010970
    Abstract: A modular cooking apparatus is disclosed. The modular cooking apparatus includes a first interchangeable cooking module containing an impingement oven, and a second interchangeable cooking module containing a hot air oven having a cooking chamber. The hot air oven includes a cook rack having multiple air deflectors having different lengths located within said cooking chamber and a blower for directing heated air in a horizontal direction beneath said cook rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: PHILIP R. MCKEE, LEE T. VANLANEN, ANTHONY SAYAS
  • Publication number: 20210315071
    Abstract: A modular cooking apparatus is disclosed. The modular cooking apparatus includes a first interchangeable cooking module containing an impingement oven and a second interchangeable cooking module containing a microwave oven. The microwave oven includes a magnetron and a cooking chamber, an oven door for covering the cooking chamber, wherein the oven door includes an external cover and an internal cover, a motor located outside the cooking chamber, a food holding surface located inside the cooking chamber, and a crank-and-cam mechanism connected to the food holding surface via a rod. The crank-and-cam mechanism moves the food holding surface to and fro within the cooking chamber during cooking for promoting food cooking evenness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: PHILIP R. MCKEE, LEE VANLANEN, ANTHONY SAYAS, DANNY MCCAULEY
  • Publication number: 20210307336
    Abstract: A method for cooking is disclosed. In response to an oven being selected to cook a food item, a determination is made whether or not any oven is being engaged in cooking. If no oven is being engaged in cooking, then temperature-control mode is utilized to control oven temperature of the selected oven. If one oven is currently being engaged in cooking, then another determination is made whether or not the total current demand by the two ovens to cook respective food items exceeds a predetermined current limitation under temperature-control mode. If the total current demand does not exceed the predetermined current limitation, then temperature-control mode is utilized to control oven temperature of the two ovens. If the total current demand exceeds the predetermined current limitation, then time-control mode is utilized to control oven temperature of the two ovens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: PHILIP R. MCKEE, ANDREW PODEVELS, HAROLD HANSEN
  • Publication number: 20210307335
    Abstract: A modular cooking apparatus is disclosed. The modular cooking apparatus includes a housing for containing a first and second interchangeable cooking modules. The first interchangeable cooking module contains a first oven, and the second interchangeable cooking module contains a second oven. The second oven is a different oven type from the first oven. The first oven includes a cooking cavity and is configured to provide a plurality of non-laminar streams of heated air to the cooking cavity. The modular cooking apparatus also includes a single power plug for receiving electrical power from a wall outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, Lee VanLanen
  • Publication number: 20210310660
    Abstract: A modular cooking apparatus includes a first interchangeable cooking module containing an impingement oven, a second interchangeable cooking module containing a hot air oven with built-in magnetron, and a single power connection for receiving three-phase electrical power. Each oven has a base load and a boost load. A first multiplexor is configured to direct electrical power from a first phase pair of the three-phase electrical power to either the base load or the boost load of the first oven. A second multiplexor is configured to direct electrical power from the first phase pair to the boost load of the first oven or to the boost load of the second oven. The modular cooking apparatus is configured such that either the first multiplexor or the second multiplexor can direct electrical power from the first phase pair to the boost load of the first oven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, Andrew Podevels
  • Publication number: 20210307553
    Abstract: A modular cooking apparatus is disclosed. The modular cooking apparatus includes a housing for containing a first and second interchangeable cooking modules. The first interchangeable cooking module contains a first oven, and the second interchangeable cooking module contains a second oven. The second oven is different from the first oven. The modular cooking apparatus also includes a control panel for receiving cooking inputs, a controller for controlling the first and second interchangeable cooking modules, and a single power plug for receiving electrical power from a wall outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: PHILIP R. MCKEE, SCOTT SMITH, ANDREW PODEVELS, HAROLD HANSEN, LEE VANLANEN, HAROLD SACKETT
  • Publication number: 20210307560
    Abstract: A modular cooking apparatus is disclosed. The modular cooking apparatus includes a housing having a first interchangeable cooking module, a second interchangeable cooking module, and a single power connection for receiving electrical power from a wall outlet. The first interchangeable cooking module contains a first oven, and the second interchangeable cooking module contains a second oven. The second oven is a different oven type from the first oven. The modular cooking apparatus also includes a controller within the housing for controlling the first and second ovens. The controller includes a memory for storing a list of food items to be cooked within the modular cooking apparatus and a corresponding oven type for each of the food items. The modular cooking apparatus further includes a control panel on the housing for displaying only the food items for which the first oven or the second oven is a corresponding oven type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, Harold Hansen, Andrew Podevels
  • Publication number: 20210310662
    Abstract: A modular cooking apparatus includes a housing having a first interchangeable cooking module, a second interchangeable cooking module, and a single power connection for receiving electrical power from a wall outlet. The first interchangeable cooking module contains a first oven, and the second interchangeable cooking module contains a second oven. The second oven is a different oven type from the first oven. The modular cooking apparatus also includes a controller within the housing for controlling the first and second ovens. The controller includes a memory for storing a list of food items to be cooked within the modular cooking apparatus and a corresponding oven type for each of the food items. The modular cooking apparatus further includes a control panel on the housing which displays a user interface that directs an operator of the modular cooking apparatus to the oven that should be used to cook a particular food item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, James K. Pool, III
  • Publication number: 20210247075
    Abstract: A modular oven provides an outer cabinet receiving independently removable modules for steam cooking and having a self-contained water source and drain receptacle for plumbing-less installation, each module controlled by a common controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Craig Douglas Burnett, Philip R. McKee, Lee Thomas VanLanen, Jeff Maddox
  • Patent number: 10986843
    Abstract: A multi-compartment oven provides a side directed drainage system permitting moisture removal from the cavities without interference with the integrity of lower cavity volumes and permitting removability of cavity dividers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Alto-Shaam, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, Lee Thomas VanLanen, Jeff Maddox
  • Publication number: 20210102711
    Abstract: A multi-zone, proximate-air oven using air delivered from the shelves provides a compact height through the use of low profile shelves. Intercavity heat leakage is managed by active insulation techniques making use of the oven feedback temperature control and controlled cavity loading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, Lee Thomas VanLanen, Todd Coleman, Aaron Choate
  • Patent number: 10962230
    Abstract: A multi-compartment oven provides “in-place” cleaning through the use of distributed spray nozzles possibly augmented by steam, fan blowing, and heat from other components of the oven. A centralized draining system allows recycling of the water without breaching the separation between the cooking compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Alto-Shaam, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, Lee Thomas VanLanen, Jeff Maddox
  • Patent number: 10890336
    Abstract: A multi-zone, proximate-air oven using air delivered from the shelves provides a compact height through the use of low profile shelves. Intercavity heat leakage is managed by active insulation techniques making use of the oven feedback temperature control and controlled cavity loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Alto-Shaam, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, Lee Thomas VanLanen, Todd Coleman, Aaron Choate