Retractable Or Detachable (from Heated Enclosure) Patents (Class 219/403)
-
Patent number: 6843245Abstract: A high-level built-in oven unit including a bottom opening in the oven unit. A removable trap-door including lifting elements to open and close the bottom opening of the oven unit. The trap door has a baking tray mounting arrangement detachably mounted thereon.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2003Date of Patent: January 18, 2005Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbHInventors: Klemens Roch, Christian Zimmermann, Peter Mallinger, Wolfgang Schneii, Klaus Rabenstein, Josef Gerl, Michael Wagner, Reinhard Fleissner, Christian Unterreiner, Johann Herbst, Bernd Hopfenmuller, Edmund Kuttalek
-
Publication number: 20040182849Abstract: A cooking apparatus to improve heating efficiency and to quickly cook food. The cooking apparatus includes a heater provided at a tray receiving food to be cooked and having a pair of terminals to supply power to the heater, and a plurality of sockets provided at a rear wall of a cooking cavity. When the tray is placed on a pair of support rails of the cooking cavity and the terminals of the heater are inserted into one of the sockets, the tray is directly heated by the heater to cook the food. The heater includes a conductive film coated on a lower surface of the tray, and first and second electrodes connected to the conductive film to be opposed to each other and connected to the terminals. The conductive film and the tray are heated by current flowing through the conductive film between the first and second electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2003Publication date: September 23, 2004Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kobayashi Shozo, Jung-Eui Hoh, Yun-Ic Hwang, Pung-Yeun Cho, Dong-Wok Ko, Kwang-Keun Kim
-
Patent number: 6782194Abstract: A device for evaporating a liquid such as an air freshener or insecticide. The device comprises a housing, and a container disposed in the housing for receiving a liquid. A wick is immersed in the container and there is a heating element disposed in the housing in a fixed manner wherein this heating element is associated with the wick. To adjust the evaporation rate, the container, with the wick, is retained on the sliding part which can be displaced in relation to the housing and is guided with torsional strength. This sliding part is connected via non-linear transmission with an actuation element that can be manually adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2003Date of Patent: August 24, 2004Assignee: Jeyes Deutschland GmbHInventor: Ludwig Schneiderbauer
-
Patent number: 6603099Abstract: The appliance comprises a heater base, at least two removable cooking receptacles capable of being centered and held on said heater base, one of them being constituted by a leakproof pan and the other by a grill plate, and also a removable lid adapted to close the top portion of said pan so as to make up a cooking enclosure. The grill plate is provided with at least one through orifice and has means enabling it to be positioned above said pan in order to perform steam cooking in said cooking enclosure. The appliance is applicable to cooking.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2001Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Assignee: SEB S.A.Inventor: Christophe Gouthiere
-
Patent number: 6576874Abstract: A modular heater for a conveyor oven has a flange that is removably attachable to the conveyor oven. The flange has an interior surface and an exterior surface. A heating element is attached to the interior surface of the flange. At least one contact is attached to the exterior surface of the flange. The contact is electrically connected to the heating element.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2001Date of Patent: June 10, 2003Assignee: Bakers PrideInventors: David Zapata, Charles Kingdon, John Gilleland
-
Publication number: 20030042244Abstract: A modular heater for a conveyor oven has a flange that is removably attachable to the conveyor oven. The flange has an interior surface and an exterior surface. A heating element is attached to the interior surface of the flange. At least one contact is attached to the exterior surface of the flange. The contact is electrically connected to the heating element.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2001Publication date: March 6, 2003Inventors: David Zapata, Charles Kingdon, John Gilleland
-
Patent number: 6437291Abstract: A convertible rotisserie and grill which includes a housing having a first mechanical interface for removably receiving a grill plate and second mechanical interface for removably receiving a spit. The convertible rotisserie and grill also includes a first heating element for heating the grill plate for grill-style cooking and a second heating element for heating an area in close proximity to the spit for rotisserie-style cooking. A probe activates and controls the temperature of one of the heating elements depending upon the desired cooking style.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2000Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: Uni-Splendor Corp.Inventor: James L. Hopponen
-
Publication number: 20020066723Abstract: A heater unit mounted on a tray comprises a PTC heater 100 having a positive temperature coefficient (PTC), and a sheet heater 200 superposed thereto. The PTC heater 100 includes PTC members 150 buried within an insulating substrate 130, and on both sides of the PTC members are placed copper foils 120, 122 functioning as electrodes. When the PTC heater 100 is heated up to a preset temperature, the electric resistance of the heater is increased greatly, and the heating is stopped, maintaining the preset temperature. The sheet heater 200 contributes to reduce the time the heater needs to rise to the preset temperature during initial startup.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2001Publication date: June 6, 2002Applicant: Jamco CorporationInventors: Toru Kasai, Shuntaro Kuriyama
-
Patent number: 6376803Abstract: A serving and transport receptacle (1) for food dishes (2) filled with portioned meals, including a base part (16) which is made to be heat-insulating and provided with recesses (22) as well as means for heating the food dishes (2), and at least one hood-shaped cover part (36) which is made to be heat-insulating and capable of being positioned and coupled with the base part (16). An accommodation surface of the base part (16) includes at least one positioning means (18) rising above the accommodation surface and engaging in a positioning seat (13) provided in a surface (8) of a tray (3) containing the base part (16).Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2001Date of Patent: April 23, 2002Assignee: THERMO VISION ENIWICKLINGS-UND HANDELS GmbHInventor: Gerald Klinger
-
Patent number: 6373029Abstract: An enclosed cooking system including a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, opposed side walls, and an open front. The bottom wall has a stove burner element positioned thereon. The stove burner element has a corresponding heating element. A ventilation fan is disposed within the top wall of the housing. The ventilation fan includes a replaceable filter slidably disposed within the top wall of the housing. A control panel is secured within the open front of the housing. The control panel is in communication with the heating element and the ventilation fan.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2001Date of Patent: April 16, 2002Inventor: Guylaine R Aragona
-
Patent number: 6355909Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for thermal processing of semiconductor wafers. The apparatus and method provide the temperature stability and uniformity of a conventional batch furnace as well as the processing speed and reduced time-at-temperature of a lamp-heated rapid thermal processor (RTP). Individual wafers are rapidly inserted into and withdrawn from a furnace cavity held at a nearly constant and isothermal temperature. The speeds of insertion and withdrawal are sufficiently large to limit thermal stresses and thereby reduce or prevent plastic deformation of the wafer as it enters and leaves the furnace. By processing the semiconductor wafer in a substantially isothermal cavity, the wafer temperature and spatial uniformity of the wafer temperature can be ensured by measuring and controlling only temperatures of the cavity walls.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2000Date of Patent: March 12, 2002Assignees: Sandia Corporation, Mattson Technology Inc.Inventors: Stewart K. Griffiths, Robert H. Nilson, Brad S. Mattson, Stephen E. Savas
-
Patent number: 6225603Abstract: An electric oven having an open fronted self-supporting removable box-like liner that can be completely removed for cleaning. The liner has a slot to receive a heating element mounted inside the oven at a rear wall. When the liner is inserted or removed, the heating element slides through the slot without being electrically disconnected. The front end of the heater is supported by a dome integral with a base of the liner. The liner covers or obscures the whole of the inside of the oven so that no cleaning of the oven surface is required. The liner may be removed for washing in a dishwasher.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 1999Date of Patent: May 1, 2001Assignee: Electrinic Enterprise Ltd.Inventor: Darren Murray Wai
-
Patent number: 6133550Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for thermal processing of semiconductor wafers. The apparatus and method provide the temperature stability and uniformity of a conventional batch furnace as well as the processing speed and reduced time-at-temperature of a lamp-heated rapid thermal processor (RTP). Individual wafers are rapidly inserted into and withdrawn from a furnace cavity held at a nearly constant and isothermal temperature. The speeds of insertion and withdrawal are sufficiently large to limit thermal stresses and thereby reduce or prevent plastic deformation of the wafer as it enters and leaves the furnace. By processing the semiconductor wafer in a substantially isothermal cavity, the wafer temperature and spatial uniformity of the wafer temperature can be ensured by measuring and controlling only temperatures of the cavity walls.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 1998Date of Patent: October 17, 2000Assignees: Sandia Corporation, Mattson Technology, Inc.Inventors: Stewart K. Griffiths, Robert H. Nilson, Brad S. Mattson, Stephen E. Savas
-
Patent number: 6114665Abstract: An electric oven with an oven muffle which can be closed by a door and in which a cooking-product support can be held on a holder element. The cooking-product support has its own cooking-product support heater element, and via a power supply element, the cooking-product support heater element can be fed with an electric voltage of the oven, is known. In order to keep the outlay for providing electrical contact for the cooking-product support heater element low, the holder element for the cooking-product support at the same time serves as the power supply conduit or element.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 1999Date of Patent: September 5, 2000Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbHInventors: Jose Andres Garcia, Joachim Reichard, Felicitas Ziegler, Manfred Plankl, Hans Lappat, Armin Sigmund, Bernd Stitzl, Michael Wagner, Kurt Knebel, Klaus Erdmann, Hans Linde, Uwe Neumann, Andreas Rehklau
-
Patent number: 6073624Abstract: A swing-out supporting arrangement (7) primarily intended for a wall-mounted oven (1) of domestic type comprises a bottom plate (6) supported by link arms (9, 10), said bottom plate (6) and an insert (8), possibly associated with said bottom plate, being retractable from the oven (1) by a swing-out movement without the use of any front door. The bottom plate (6) with the insert (8) can be moved between a first position inside the oven and a second swing-out position below and in front of the over front wall (2). Preferably, the swing-out movement is performed by means of an electric motor which is rotatable between two end positions. The principle of invention can also be used for a ceiling plate (4) supported by link arms, said plate being swingingly displaced in a corresponding lifting movement from an oven positioned at a low level.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 1999Date of Patent: June 13, 2000Assignee: Aktiebolaget ElectroluxInventor: Ulf Laurent
-
Patent number: 6072159Abstract: A heater for the middle, bus bar compartment of a switchgear cabinet is inserted from the rear compartment through an opening in a vertical panel at the rear of the middle compartment and is supported within the middle compartment by a bracket cantilevered from the panel. The bracket is U-shaped with a horizontal base and a pair of upstanding side walls forming rails on which the heater slides. The heater includes an inverted U-shaped guard over the heater element forming downwardly facing slots which engage the bracket rails. The guard and the bracket are perforated for convective circulation of air induced by the heater.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1998Date of Patent: June 6, 2000Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: William Edward Wilkie, II, Steven Dale Walker
-
Patent number: 6054681Abstract: A domestic electric stand alone cooking apparatus has a lower part and upper part that hingably close together in use to provide a cylindrical cooking chamber. Each part has a separate heating element and that can be separately turned ON and OFF. A stirrer is mechanically coupled to an electric motor (not shown) so that, where required, the foodstuff can be stirrer continuously or intermittently. Different forms of stirrer are normally provided. This leads to a single cooking apparatus that can be used to cook a wide range of foodstuff satisfactorily.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 1999Date of Patent: April 25, 2000Inventor: Chong Fu Siu
-
Patent number: 6008478Abstract: An oven having a tray forming a heating element enclosure beneath an oven liner. The heating element compartment has a rear access opening. A heating element is removably supported by the tray beneath a bottom wall of the oven liner. An access panel is provided for closing the rear access opening of the heating element enclosure. The access panel is secured to the oven liner and the rear edge of the tray is fastened to the access panel. An inner chassis is disposed about the oven liner. The inner chassis includes a rear chassis panel and a chassis bottom panel having a rear edge removably attached to the rear chassis panel. A cabinet enclosure surrounds the inner chassis and includes a removable back wall. Access to the access panel is accomplished by removing the back wall and disconnecting the chassis bottom panel from the rear chassis panel such that the chassis bottom panel may be flexed to expose the access panel.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 1997Date of Patent: December 28, 1999Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Connie Rae Crone, Gregory J. Paul, George A. Mikalauskas, Corinne M. Troiano, Kevin Cheesebrough
-
Patent number: 5994673Abstract: A variable volume oven that can be modified to adjust its volume according to the cooking load. The volume of the oven is able to be adjusted by providing a heating element that is vertically adjustable within the oven to a position that provides better convective and radiative heating to the cooking load.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 1997Date of Patent: November 30, 1999Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Youssef El-Shoubary, James Aaron White, Paul Alfred Siemers, Mark Edward Dausch, Bang Mo Kim, Norman Zethward Shilling
-
Patent number: 5961866Abstract: A food warming and holding receptacle lowered by a source of electrical energy comprises a well supported on a planar surface , and at least one tray containing food disposed in the well. A sheath is fixed to the well and at one-piece, flattened, looped heating element is slidably mounted in the she the and connected with the source of electrical energy for conveying heat to the food in the tray. A temperature sensor is slidably mounted in the sheath for monitoring the temperature of the heating element.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 1998Date of Patent: October 5, 1999Assignee: Alto-Shaam, Inc.Inventor: William J. Hansen
-
Patent number: 5938959Abstract: A domestic oven includes a housing defining a cooking chamber, at least one stationary first heating element in the chamber, a shelf movably disposed in the chamber, a second heating element mounted to the shelf, and a drive operatively connected to the shelf for translating the shelf, together with the second heating element, in the housing. The shelf is made of heat conductive metal. A temperature sensor in heat conductive contact with the shelf senses the temperature of the shelf and of a metal tray or pan placed on the shelf in heat conductive contact therewith. The temperature sensor is operatively connected to an energization circuit for the second heating element for de-energizing the second heating element upon detecting a sudden rise in temperature. The second heating element is mounted to the shelf via insulating spacers. The oven is used to perform a hybrid steaming and baking method.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 1998Date of Patent: August 17, 1999Assignee: Testrite Baparoma International LLCInventor: Ping Wang
-
Patent number: 5934180Abstract: A dual-use roaster includes a housing having a receiving space and a peripheral rim, a first heater disposed inside the receiving space, a rotatable spit assembly mounted on the housing for supporting food items inside the receiving space, and a tray assembly including a tray panel for supporting food items, a peripheral downward flange mounted detachably on the peripheral rim of the housing, and a second heater disposed beneath the tray panel.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 1999Date of Patent: August 10, 1999Inventor: Yu-Yuan Lin
-
Patent number: 5898727Abstract: The present invention provides a processing apparatus for eliminating pores in via holes of a silicon semiconductor. The apparatus includes a high-pressure vessel divided into at least two vessel component members in the axial direction thereof, at least one of which has a cooling unit, a frame for holding a load acting in the axial direction of the high-pressure vessel in processing a workpiece to be processed in the high-pressure vessel, an actuator for moving the vessel component members of the high-pressure vessel in the axial direction thereof so as to load and unload the workpiece, a sealing unit fitted to a portion for loading and unloading the workpiece, which is formed when the vessel component members are moved in the axial direction of the vessel, and a retractable cotter unit for transmitting a load acting in the axial direction of the high-pressure vessel to the frame.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1997Date of Patent: April 27, 1999Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho, Nihon Shinku Gijutsu Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takao Fujikawa, Takahiko Ishii, Tomomitsu Nakai, Yoshihiko Sakashita
-
Patent number: 5801357Abstract: An electric barbecue with rotisserie comprises a frame, a kettle placed on the frame, a resistive electric heater element and a rotary spit. A motor driving the spit is housed in a unit fixed to the frame. A drive arrangement connects the motor to the spit. The unit includes electrical connections to supply power to the element. A single cable is connected to an external power supply to supply power to the connection system and the motor.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 1996Date of Patent: September 1, 1998Assignee: SEB S.A.Inventor: Marc Danen
-
Patent number: 5801363Abstract: A microwave oven with built-in food covering mechanism, the microwave having a body defined by a top, bottom, sides and rear. A door is hingedly connected to the body and is opened to reveal an open interior of the body. A covering member is suspended within the oven interior and is operably connected to an electric motor built into the microwave body. The motor includes a rotating gear head which rotates in one of two directions to either wind or unwind the cord to either elevate or lower the covering member within the interior. A microprocessor energizes and deenergizes the motor and is operated by any of a selection of spring loaded, pressure actuated or sensing switch assemblies within the microwave interior.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 1997Date of Patent: September 1, 1998Inventor: Mitchell Michaluk, III
-
Patent number: 5727654Abstract: A conveyor system for transporting menu boxes (14) in an aircraft is equipped with at least one heater element (17) or groups of such elements (17/17A . . . ) which tilt automatically into spaces (16) between neighboring boxes (14) or pairs of boxes within the conveyor which is stopped during heating. When the heating is completed the elements (17) are again tilted into a rest position (17') outside the conveyor. Induction heating is preferably used.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 1996Date of Patent: March 17, 1998Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aerospace Airbus GmbHInventors: Bernd Roessner, Wilfried Sprenger, Hinnerk Kleinwort
-
Patent number: 5674421Abstract: An apparatus for automatically handling food cooked in an oven comprises a tray which is positioned inside an oven and which is automatically slidable into a position in which it extends partially out of the oven. During its outward travel, the tray pushes against an oven door to open the door. The tray has an automatic pulley assembly which, when the tray is positioned inside the oven, engages with a motor assembly located in the oven. When the pulley assembly and motor assembly are engaged, the pulley assembly rotates a grill positioned on the tray.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: October 7, 1997Assignee: Quadlux, Inc.Inventors: Robert I. Beaver, II, William H. Sehestedt
-
Patent number: 5660755Abstract: A microwave oven with built-in food covering mechanism, the microwave having a body defined by a top, bottom, sides and rear. A door is hingedly connected to the body and is opened to reveal an open interior of the body. A covering member is suspended within the oven interior by a length of cord which extends through the top of the oven and is connected to an electric motor built into the microwave body. The motor includes a rotating gear head which rotates in one of two directions to either wind or unwind the cord to either elevate or lower the covering member within the interior. A microprocessor energizes and deenergizes the motor and is operated by either a key entry and a program memory or by a lever arm switch and limit switch assembly within the microwave interior.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 1996Date of Patent: August 26, 1997Inventor: Mitchell Michaluk, III
-
Patent number: 5618458Abstract: A cooking appliance is disclosed which comprises an oven intended to be built into a space of predetermined volume in a kitchen unit. Controls for the oven are mounted externally of the space in order to maximise the volume available for the oven cavity. In preferred embodiments, the oven has a partition to divide its cavity into a plurality of cooking spaces. In a further preferred embodiment, the oven has a door assembly having a plurality of leaves which can be opened individually or together to give access to the whole cavity.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 1995Date of Patent: April 8, 1997Inventor: Peris W. Thomas
-
Patent number: 5550356Abstract: A food covering device for use with a microwave oven. The microwave oven has a door hingedly attached thereto and an interior which is defined by a top, sides and a bottom. The device includes a cover having a top and side wall which defines an open interior. The cover is suspended within the oven enclosure by a cord which attaches to the cover at one end and to the door of the oven at the other end. The cover is actuated from a first suspended position within the oven enclosure to a second position overlaying the bottom of the oven enclosure when the door is closed. A height adjuster is provided for adjusting the extent which the cover is actuated from the first to the second position. The cover overlays an item of food placed upon the bottom of the microwave interior when it is desirable to heat the item. The cover may also be adjusted solely at the height adjuster without the opening and closing motion of the door.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 1994Date of Patent: August 27, 1996Inventors: Gregory A. Tripp, Mitchell W. Michaluk, III
-
Patent number: 5530222Abstract: Performance of a high temperature diffusion furnace is enhanced by an improved multi-furnace module design. The furnace is constructed of materials suitable for clean room environments with an adjustable leveling frame assembly. A slide out assembly and heating element alignment mechanism of individual furnace tube modules with a heating element hoist mechanism allows for enhanced maintainability. Heat treatment performance is improved by a sealed heating element with individual furnace module cooling system. Improved thermocouple positioning and composition has also enhanced heat treatment process control and heating element maintainability.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 1994Date of Patent: June 25, 1996Assignee: Thermtec, Inc.Inventors: Kevin B. Peck, Ronald E. Erickson, Stephen H. Matthews
-
Patent number: 5514852Abstract: A heat treatment device comprises a table of a thermal conductor located in a housing carrying an object of treatment thereon, and a treatment heat source located in the housing and by the table so that a bottom face of the table is opposite to a top face of the heat source, whereby the object of treatment in heat-treated through the table. An annular groove is formed in the top face of the heat source and evacuated so that the substrate and heat source are securely attached thereby increasing the heat conduction between them.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 1994Date of Patent: May 7, 1996Assignees: Tokyo Electron Limited, Tokyo Electron Kyushu LimitedInventors: Hideyuki Takamori, Takami Satoh
-
Patent number: 5477028Abstract: An electric barbecue grill including a grill body having a half-round cooking chamber at the top and an electric heating coil horizontally disposed within the cooking chamber at the bottom, a motor mounted outside the cooking chamber and having a sprocket gear on the motor shaft thereof, a rotary cooking grid supported on pulleys within the cooking chamber at the set elevation and rotated horizontally by the sprocket gear along a track on the set elevation.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 1994Date of Patent: December 19, 1995Inventor: Kwei T. Chang
-
Patent number: 5272317Abstract: A cooking oven includes a cooking compartment with removable shelves. Each shelf includes a frame and a removable electrical resistance heater. The heater plugs into an electrical socket formed in a back wall of the compartment.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 1992Date of Patent: December 21, 1993Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Wook R. Ryu
-
Patent number: 5132519Abstract: The heater is primarily intended for infra-red drying of travelling sheet material such as printed or lacquered paper. Parallel elongate heating elements are contained in a housing having a front window and a rear openable cover carrying a ceramic reflector behind the heating elements, which reflector also serves to insulate the cover against heat from the elements. End portions of the elements are supported in rearwardly directed clips whereby elements removal and replacement can be readily effected at the rear of the housing. The clips are carried by opposed support bars which with adjacent side walls of the housing define cooling air ducts, the bars having openings for directing cooling air onto the end portions of the elements or to enable the latter to extend into the ducts for direct cooling. The front window is provided with air venting slots parallel with the heating elements and positioned opposite spaces between the latter.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 1991Date of Patent: July 21, 1992Assignee: Techni Dry LimitedInventors: Brian C. Jackson, Benjamin G. Forty
-
Patent number: 4780597Abstract: An electrical baking and roasting oven defining a cooking chamber which can be closed by a door, the oven having side walls bounding the cooking chamber and the oven being composed of an upper heating element and a lower heating element for heating upper and lower regions, respectively, of the chamber, an insertable partitioning member carraying the lower heating element and equipped with a plug-in connection, for partitioning off a lower part of the volume of the cooking chamber, and guide elements mounted on the side walls for supporting the partitioning member, wherein the partitioning member includes a heat insulating body disposed below the lower heating element for thermally shielding the lower part of the cooking chamber, and the oven side walls are provided with breaks at the height of the guide elements for reducing thermal conduction through the side walls to the lower part of the cooking chamber.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 1987Date of Patent: October 25, 1988Assignee: Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs GmbHInventors: Gudrun Linhart, Richard Turek, Werner Kufner, Roland Kelchner
-
Patent number: 4285391Abstract: A food service device including a food-carrying cart which can be stored inside a refrigerator is provided with elements for heating the food before meals are served. The electrical system is comprised of switching devices which actuate the heating elements depending upon the presence and orientation of food trays on the shelf of the cart; a self-aligning coupling which can supply electrical power to the cart's heaters when the cart is placed in the refrigerator; and a timer which controls the duration of time the electrical heaters are energized to warm the food prior to service, and provide a keep-warm timing sequence for holding the heated food within a refrigerated environment.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 1979Date of Patent: August 25, 1981Assignee: Aladdin Industries, IncorporatedInventor: Howard Bourner
-
Patent number: 4264804Abstract: The invention relates to support legs for bake elements used in microwave ovens of the dual-purpose cavity oven type. The improved support leg comprises a threaded stud welded to the sheath of a conventional electric heating element, the stud having a threaded portion projecting from the sheath and adapted to receive an interiorly threaded ceramic sleeve. Ceramic cement is preferably used to insure against disassembly of the sleeve from the stud. The support leg may also be designated as a support standoff since the ceramic sleeve provides electrical clearance between the metal stud and the oven liner bottom to isolate and prevent any metal-to-metal contact.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 1979Date of Patent: April 28, 1981Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.Inventor: Thomas R. Markum
-
Patent number: 4192991Abstract: An oven with a fixed-elevation single-shelf for uniformly cooking three or more meat roasts to substantially equal, even, and uniform levels of doneness, centering them within an average 10.degree. F. parameter temperature zone under 212.degree.. Apparatus and procedures subject all of the roasts to substantially equal, even, uniform, and low density heat from naturally ambient (non-mechanically-induced movement) air.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 1978Date of Patent: March 11, 1980Inventors: Leo Peters, Richard O. Klemm
-
Patent number: 4131789Abstract: An electrical heater construction having a frame carrying electrical heaters and a movable drawer-like unit that is adapted to interconnect power source leads to the heaters when the unit is in one position thereof relative to the frame, the frame carrying a movable latch member that is operatively associated with the unit to latch the unit in an out position thereof when the unit is moved out of the one position thereof to the out position to disconnect the power source leads from the heaters whereby the unit cannot be moved in any direction from the out position thereof until the unit is unlatched from the latch member by the latch member being manually moved to an unlatching position thereof.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 1977Date of Patent: December 26, 1978Assignee: Robertshaw Controls CompanyInventor: Hugh J. Tyler
-
Patent number: 4131787Abstract: Electrical heater construction having a substantially closed housing containing controls therein and having a bracket unit carrying electrical heaters externally thereof, the housing having connectors detachably interconnected to the heaters externally to the housing and electrically interconnecting the heaters to the controls within the housing to be operated thereby. The housing has an externally accessible detachable arrangement and the bracket unit has a detachable arrangement detachably interconnected to the detachable arrangement of the housing in a manner that is accessible externally to the housing whereby the detachable arrangement of the bracket unit can be detached from the detachable arrangement of the housing without access to the interior of the housing so that the heaters can be detached from and/or attached to the housing without requiring the opening of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 1977Date of Patent: December 26, 1978Assignee: Robertshaw Controls CompanyInventor: Hugh J. Tyler
-
Patent number: 4049948Abstract: A hinged or pivoted support for an oven heating element having one bracket attached to an oven surface and a second bracket, holding the heating element, pivotally supported by the first bracket. The first bracket includes resilient clips, which cooperate with the second bracket to retain the second bracket and heating element in a tilted position.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 1976Date of Patent: September 20, 1977Assignee: Still-Man Mfg. CompanyInventor: Robert V. Gilreath
-
Patent number: 4041277Abstract: A portable tray warming unit comprising a casing having at least one tray supporting rack, trays to be supported and received upon said rack, and electrical terminal means for interconnecting the tray warming unit with an external electrical source of energy. The casing of this tray warming unit has dimensions and weight small enough so that the unit may be easily carried about or lifted. The upper and lower surfaces of the casing lie in planes parallel to each other so that one unit may be stacked on top of another. To further facilitate such stacking the bottom surface of a unit has protrusions extending downwardly from the bottom and these protrusions correspond to indentations in the top surface of the casing. This correspondence allows the protrusions of one unit to fit into the indentations of the unit on which it is stacked thereby assuring a non-slidable connection between the two units.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 1976Date of Patent: August 9, 1977Assignee: Sweetheart Plastics, Inc.Inventors: George Shumrak, Anthony Mack
-
Patent number: 4019022Abstract: A storage system for a plurality of food trays includes one or more storage modules each having multiple pairs of horizontal rails for supporting a plurality of trays with the hot food positioned along one side wall of the module and the cool food along the other side wall. Forced air inlet means in the rear wall and adjacent the side wall on the hot food side of the tray produces a forced air stream flowing forwardly through the module over the hot food on the trays. A door covers the front of each module and forms air outlet means adjacent the module side wall on the hot food side of the trays so that the forwardly flowing air stream exits through the door. This system is particularly suitable for use with trays which have electrical heating elements embedded in one side of the tray for heating the hot foods thereon.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 1975Date of Patent: April 19, 1977Assignee: Gould Inc.Inventors: Gene J. Seider, Michael C. Freund, James R. Duffy
-
Patent number: 3985946Abstract: The roof of the heating chamber in a refractory furnace is made of refractory or brick with vertical holes therein and a number of hooks or holding means are suspended in these holes. The hooks project into the heating chamber and an electrical heating element means is suspended on the hooks. In order to remove the heating elements, a plastic bag is used which has its open edge fastened to the top surface of the furnace to enclose an opening in the furnace through which the heating element and the bricks or holding means to which the heating element is attached can be withdrawn. The bag is of sufficient size to enclose the entire assembly when withdrawn from the furnace. The parts are arranged so that another element can be placed in the furnace by another bag so that gaseous contents of the furnace are kept in the furnace.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 1975Date of Patent: October 12, 1976Assignee: Sola Basic Industries, Inc.Inventor: Ewald R. Werych
-
Patent number: 3982096Abstract: An electric baking and broiling oven with an upper broiling element adjacent the top wall and a lower baking element adjacent the bottom wall. The baking element is of unique design having vertically arranged terminal ends supporting a plug connector. A mating plug receptacle is located in the rear wall of the oven liner slightly below the mid-height to receive the plug connector of the baking element.The baking element is reversible, in that its plug connector may be inserted in the plug receptacle upside down, so the baking element can be inverted and arranged closely spaced from and parallel to the upper broiling element. Both heating elements are to be energized during broiling. A shelf is positioned between the two heating elements so food placed thereon may be broiled on both top and bottom sides simultaneously.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 1976Date of Patent: September 21, 1976Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Raymond L. Dills