Patents by Inventor Reinhard Metz

Reinhard Metz 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).

  • Patent number: 11229314
    Abstract: An induction cooking system including a first shell including a first housing, a first plate coupled to the first housing, and a first induction coil within the first housing. The induction cooking system also includes a second shell coupled to the first shell, the second shell including a second housing, a second plate coupled to the second housing, and a second induction coil within the second housing. The induction cooking system further includes a first temperature sensor for sensing a first plate temperature, a second temperature sensor for sensing a second plate temperature, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the first plate temperature, receive the second plate temperature, adjust a first current supply to the first induction coil based on the first plate temperature, and adjust a second current supply to the second induction coil based on the second plate temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: COOK TEK INDUCTION SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Reinhard Metz, James K. Pool, Warren S. Graber
  • Patent number: 11058254
    Abstract: A device, system and method for induction heating food service pans having differing depths, while maintaining the pans sufficiently closely adjacent an enclosure containing the induction heating power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: COOKTEK INDUCTION SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Reinhard Metz, Warren Graber, Kevin J. Snyder
  • Patent number: 10462852
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring the temperature of cookware to be induction-heated, using an infrared temperature sensor. An induction heater countertop may include a viewing window between the infrared temperature sensor and the cookware. Various algorithms may be applied to the sensed temperature, to adjust it to account for the presence of the viewing window, as well as variations in the cookware material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: TURBOCHEF TECHNOLOGIES, INC
    Inventors: Warren S Graber, Reinhard Metz, Robert J Visher
  • Patent number: 10356853
    Abstract: An induction cooking system. The induction cooking system includes a base, one or more side walls, an induction coil, and an infrared temperature sensor. The base includes a base surface associated therewith. The base surface includes a window. The window is disposed within the base surface. The one or more side walls define a well above the base surface. The well is configured to receive a vessel disposed above the base surface. The induction coil is disposed within the base. The induction coil defines a first surface that is disposed below the base surface. The induction coil also defines a second surface that is disposed opposite from the first surface. The induction coil further defines an aperture disposed adjacent to the window and extending from a first surface toward a second surface of the induction coil. The infrared temperature sensor is disposed adjacent to the window and within the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: COOKTEK INDUCTION SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventor: Reinhard Metz
  • Publication number: 20190008318
    Abstract: A device, system and method for induction heating food service pans having differing depths, while maintaining the pans sufficiently closely adjacent an enclosure containing the induction heating power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Reinhard Metz, Warren Graber, Kevin J. Snyder
  • Publication number: 20180063892
    Abstract: An induction cooking system. The induction cooking system includes a base, one or more side walls, an induction coil, and an infrared temperature sensor. The base includes a base surface associated therewith. The base surface includes a window. The window is disposed within the base surface. The one or more side walls define a well above the base surface. The well is configured to receive a vessel disposed above the base surface. The induction coil is disposed within the base. The induction coil defines a first surface that is disposed below the base surface. The induction coil also defines a second surface that is disposed opposite from the first surface. The induction coil further defines an aperture disposed adjacent to the window and extending from a first surface toward a second surface of the induction coil. The infrared temperature sensor is disposed adjacent to the window and within the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventor: Reinhard Metz
  • Publication number: 20170367529
    Abstract: An induction cooking system including a first shell including a first housing, a first plate coupled to the first housing, and a first induction coil within the first housing. The induction cooking system also includes a second shell coupled to the first shell, the second shell including a second housing, a second plate coupled to the second housing, and a second induction coil within the second housing. The induction cooking system further includes a first temperature sensor for sensing a first plate temperature, a second temperature sensor for sensing a second plate temperature, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the first plate temperature, receive the second plate temperature, adjust a first current supply to the first induction coil based on the first plate temperature, and adjust a second current supply to the second induction coil based on the second plate temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Reinhard Metz, James K. Pool, Warren S. Graber
  • Patent number: 9848463
    Abstract: A system for holding and warming food includes a container for holding and warming food. The container consists of 300-series stainless steel. The system further includes an induction heating unit with an induction heating circuit for induction heating the container. The induction heating circuit includes a 120 volt induction coil having 40 or more turns. The induction heating circuit operates at a frequency greater than 30 kilohertz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: COOKTEK INDUCTION SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Warren S. Graber, Reinhard Metz, Robert J. Visher
  • Publication number: 20170164428
    Abstract: A system for holding and warming food includes a container for holding and warming food. The container consists of 300-series stainless steel. The system further includes an induction heating unit with an induction heating circuit for induction heating the container. The induction heating circuit includes a 120 volt induction coil having 40 or more turns. The induction heating circuit operates at a frequency greater than 30 kilohertz.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Warren S. Graber, Reinhard Metz, Robert J. Visher
  • Publication number: 20170142781
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring the temperature of cookware to be induction-heated, using an infrared temperature sensor. An induction heater countertop may include a viewing window between the infrared temperature sensor and the cookware. Various algorithms may be applied to the sensed temperature, to adjust it to account for the presence of the viewing window, as well as variations in the cookware material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Warren S Graber, Reinhard Metz, Robert J Visher
  • Publication number: 20170071034
    Abstract: An induction-based food holding, warming, or cooking system. The system including a base having a based surface associated therewith. The system further including an induction coil disposed within the base adjacent the base surface, wherein the portion of the base surface adjacent the coil comprises a base surface. The system further including a user interface associated with the base surface, the user interface including at least one magnetic sensor for receiving a user input from a magnetic user input device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventor: Reinhard Metz
  • Patent number: 9585202
    Abstract: A system and method for holding and warming food held in pans or trays having a low relative magnetic permeability, such as 300-series stainless steel, using induction heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: COOKTEK INDUCTION SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Warren S Graber, Reinhard Metz, Robert J Visher
  • Patent number: 9568369
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring the temperature of cookware to be induction-heated, using an infrared temperature sensor. An induction heater countertop may include a viewing window between the infrared temperature sensor and the cookware. Various algorithms may be applied to the sensed temperature, to adjust it to account for the presence of the viewing window, as well as variations in the cookware material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Turbochef Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren S. Graber, Reinhard Metz, Robert J. Visher
  • Publication number: 20160206138
    Abstract: A device, system and method for induction heating food service pans having differing depths, while maintaining the pans sufficiently closely adjacent an enclosure containing the induction heating power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: CookTek Induction Systems, LLC a division of Middleby Corporation
    Inventors: Reinhard Metz, Warren Graber, Kevin J. Snyder
  • Patent number: 9320389
    Abstract: A device, system and method for induction heating food service pans having differing depths, while maintaining the pans sufficiently closely adjacent an enclosure containing the induction heating power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: CookTek Induction Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Reinhard Metz, Warren Graber, Kevin J Snyder
  • Publication number: 20150373787
    Abstract: An inductive cooking system including a non-ferromagnetic cooking surface; an induction coil disposed adjacent to the cooking surface; a contact-based temperature sensing device thermally coupled to the cooking surface; and a non-contact temperature sensing device positioned to collect heat energy from an underside of the cooking surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Robert J. Visher, Reinhard Metz, Warren S. Graber
  • Publication number: 20150334785
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus including a heating element; a user-interface mechanism having a user-input for receiving at least one input from a user and a display for presenting at least one instruction to the user; and a controller configured to perform a recipe. The recipe includes an instruction phase, the instruction phase including operating the display to present an instruction to the user until at least one event occurs, the event selected from the group of events consisting of a first predetermined time elapsing and an input being received, and an execution phase, the execution phase including operating the heating element at a predetermined temperature or power level until a second predetermined time has elapsed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Robert J. Visher, Warren S. Graber, Reinhard Metz
  • Patent number: 9066374
    Abstract: A method for holding and warming food. The method includes the steps of: using a container formed of 300-series stainless steel, wherein the container is formed by a cold working process; and applying to the container a magnetic field from an induction coil, wherein the magnetic field is sufficient to induce a current in the container to heat the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: COOKTEK INDUCTION SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Warren S. Graber, Reinhard Metz, Robert J. Visher
  • Publication number: 20140339220
    Abstract: A device, system and method for induction heating food service pans having differing depths, while maintaining the pans sufficiently closely adjacent an enclosure containing the induction heating power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: CookTek Induction Systems, LLC a division of Middleby Corporation
    Inventors: Reinhard Metz, Warren Graber, Kevin J. Snyder
  • Publication number: 20140305931
    Abstract: A system and method for holding and warming food held in pans or trays having a low relative magnetic permeability, such as 300-series stainless steel, using induction heating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Warren S. Graber, Reinhard Metz, Robert J. Visher