Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a grilling grate supported directly above at least one heating element and situated adjacent to a downdraft grill. The grilling grate includes structure to effectively shield the heating element(s) from an air flow generated during operation of the downdraft system. More specifically, the grilling grate includes a grilling surface on an upper side, and a plurality of conductive heat members on a lower side. The conductive heat members have side portions which extend about the heating element in order to cloak the heating element from the effects of the airflow produced by the downdraft system thereby providing a more efficient means of energy transfer to the grilling surface.

Abstract: An electric grill comprising a primary cooking unit that is defined as a ribbed grilling surface adjoined by a planar cooking surface with four shallow walls around the unit and an adjustable food divider used to separate food from liquids, when positioned on the primary unit. The ribbed surface is for grilling foods and the flat surface is suitable for cooking foods. The ribbed surface has channels between the ribs that carry away liquids and grease while cooking. A reservoir at the end of the ribbed surface collects the runoff. The parallel ribs slope downwardly to the reservoir area. Placement of the food divider within the primary unit, will yield two or three cooking compartments. Liquids from food, are contained in different areas on the primary unit, when the food divider is in use. A thermostat with an on-off control is used to select any desired temperature for cooking. The primary cooking unit sits on a platform base structure that is not attached or encumbered to the primary unit.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a grilling grate supported directly above at least one heating element and situated adjacent to a downdraft grill. The grilling grate includes structure to effectively shield the heating element(s) from an air flow generated during operation of the downdraft system. More specifically, the grilling grate includes a grilling surface on an upper side, and a plurality of conductive heat members on a lower side. The conductive heat members have side portions which extend about the heating element in order to cloak the heating element from the effects of the airflow produced by the downdraft system thereby providing a more efficient means of energy transfer to the grilling surface.

Abstract: An electric cooking appliance with reversible cooking elements. A base carries two pivoted contact boxes. Each contact box includes a support surface for receiving a cooking element including a sleeve for supporting the cooking element on the contact box. Each cooking element is molded with an integral, internal heating element and desired cooking surfaces. Reversal of cooking surfaces is accomplished by removing, flipping and reversing the cooking element with its internal heating element on its contact box.

Abstract: The present invention provides a modular heating unit for a grill. The grill has a grill plate supported on a support base. The grill plate has a bottom surface and a top surface. The modular heating unit is mounted to the bottom surface of the grill plate and has at least four side edges. The modular heating unit has a pan, an insulation layer and a heating element. The pan has a generally flat base and a circumferential sidewall. The insulation layer has an insulation base and a circumferential sidewall. The heating element is supported on the insulation base to heat the grill plate and is positioned in a spaced apart relationship to the bottom surface of the grill plate. The modular heating unit is divided into a center section and two side sections. The side sections are adjacent to two side edges of the modular heating unit. The heating element is contoured to provide more heat to at least one of the side sections than the center section of the heating unit.

Abstract: A grill device includes a horizontal upper grill which is superposed on a lower grill unit and which has an upper cooking member and an insulated terminal-mounting seat. The terminal-mounting seat has first and second terminals electrically coupled with the upper cooking member and a ground terminal hole. A spring-biased blocking plate is mounted on the terminal-mounting seat in such a manner to deny access into the ground terminal hole in the terminal-mounting seat when the upper grill unit is separated from the lower grill unit. A push plate with a through hole is fixed on the lower grill unit, and pushes the blocking plate away from the ground terminal hole when the upper grill unit is superposed on the lower grill unit, thereby establishing spatial communication between the through hole in the push plate and the ground terminal hole in the terminal-mounting seat.

Abstract: An electric cooking appliance with reversible cooking elements. A base carries two pivoted contact boxes. Each contact box includes a support surface for receiving a cooking element including a sleeve for supporting the cooking element on the contact box. Each cooking element is molded with an integral, internal heating element and desired cooking surfaces. Reversal of cooking surfaces is accomplished by removing, flipping and reversing the cooking element with its internal heating element on its contact box.

Abstract: A removable platen for a sandwich maker is heated by an electric heating element embedded in a supporting platform. The platform has an upstanding channel that surrounds the electric heating element and the platen has an integrally formed footprint that fits snugly against the upstanding channel. This provides a good heat exchanging contact surfaces for conducting heat from the heating element to the platen in use, even though the platen can he removed for cleaning and washing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a portable battery-powered cooking device using improved heating units, with recharging capabilities, optionally with refrigeration capabilities.

Abstract: A removable platen for a sandwich maker is heated by an electric heating element embedded in a supporting platform. The platform has an upstanding channel that surrounds the electric heating element and the platen has an integrally formed footprint that fits snugly against the upstanding channel. This provides a good heat exchanging contact surfaces for conducting heat from the heating element to the platen in use, even though the platen can be removed for cleaning and washing.

Abstract: A combination electric cooking apparatus capable of being selectively operated by either a D.C. or A.C. electrical power source for cooking a variety of foods. The apparatus includes a pair of hinged pan-shaped housing members which can be pivoted between a closed position superposed one above the other in opposed facing relation and an open position laterally adjacent one another. A heating plate is carried by each housing member and each plate has a central recessed flat surface surrounded by a raised side wall and a D.C. and an A.C. heating element secured to its underside, each heating element individually controlled by a separate thermostat. In the closed position, the recessed flat surfaces and raised side walls form a central cavity. In the open position, the recessed flat surface and side wall of each plate serve as a mounting surface to receive cooking vessels having mating bottoms. D.C. power may be supplied by an auxiliary battery, a vehicle battery, or a battery charger.

Abstract: An electrically heated cooking apparatus which can be used for on-table cooking is provided. It has a base which sits on the table and a hat-shaped metal cooking grill with an integral electric heating element.

Abstract: A heating element assembly in the form of a heating tray and a method of manufacturing heating tray assemblies. The heating tray may be used for defrosting and heating pans such as so-called “half-pans” of frozen food products. The preferred heating tray is configured to fit precisely around a standard thin foil half-pan container, thus optimizing heat transfer between the heating tray and the food product. The varied surface watt density of the heating tray allows for accurate heat placement such that the food product can be evenly warmed while avoiding over warming or burning, particularly at the corners and edges. A preferred embodiment of the heating tray includes two resistance heating elements. The first heating element is a temperature booster used for defrosting and heating, while the second heating element is a maintenance heater to maintain heated food at a serving temperature.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrically heated cooking device having an electrically heated surface for cooking or heating food and a disposable insert of metal foil substrate coated with a nonstick polymer resin. The insert is replaceably affixed to the electrically heated surface so that the nonstick polymer coating on the metal foil substrate is in intimate contact with food being cooked or heated. The invention further provides a method for cooking a meat patty using the cooking device to produce a product with aesthetic appeal and desirable taste in an economic system.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A cooking appliance having a bowl portion and a hotplate portion whereby differing cooking modes can be simultaneously effected by the appliance.

Abstract: An appliance for cooking fajitas and other tortilla cuisine includes an electric grill plate having a plate component with a cooking surface, an electrical heating element component adapted to heat the plate component for purposes of cooking foodstuffs placed on the cooking surface, a portion of the plate component that defines a compartment adapted to hold a stack of tortillas for purposes of warming the tortillas with heat derived from the electric grill plate, and a cover for the compartment. One embodiment includes a removable tortilla tray within the tortilla warming compartment for holding the tortillas while they warm so that the cook can lift the tortilla tray from the tortilla warming compartment for purposes of transporting the tortillas to the table. Ribs on the plate component facilitate drainage of grease, oil, and other runoff liquids from the fajitas and other foodstuffs through a hole in the plate component to a removable collection drawer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electric cooking grill which provides a cooking surface for grilling and an alternate cooking surface for pan flying. The grill incorporates a temperature controlling element and a temperature measuring probe which allows the user to adjust the temperature according to the level of cooking desired. The temperature controlling element and the temperature measuring probe allow a user to effectively control the cooking temperature which is essential to food safety. The grill also incorporates a number of safety features so that unless all essential features are fully assembled, it is disabled to ensure safety.

Abstract: The invention relates to a safety device, particularly a locking mechanism for safe operation of an electric grill. The preferred embodiment is an electric cooking apparatus comprising a molded plastic base, a removable metal drip pan adapted to rest within the base and be supported by the base, a grill plate for cooking foods placed above the pan, where the grill plate contains bars and slots which, respectively, cook the food placed on the grill plate and allow drippings to pass through the grill plate to be captured on the drip pan without contacting the plastic base, an electric, resistance-type heater preferably disposed beneath the grill plate for heating the grill plate, and sheathed or case within the grill plate, and a combination thermo-probe and temperature detector with thermostat for supplying power to the electric heater, and for engaging a safety lock actuator lever and pin hook which allow the unit to operate.

Abstract: A grill (100) includes a hot plate (102) on one side of which is a cooking surface (104) upon which food to be cooked is set. A heating unit (106) installed on the underside (108) of the hot plate is used to heat the grill so the cooking surface temperature is a desired temperature. The unit includes a radiant heating element (110) and a pan (114) in which the heating element is installed. A cavity (C) defined by the underside of the grill, a sidewall (118) of the pan, and a top surface (122) of an insulation material (120) in which the heating element is supported, is heated to a uniform temperature across the cavity, and the grill is heated to this temperature. This uniformity of temperature results in food placed anywhere on the grill rapidly heating to a desired temperature and the food being cooked uniformly throughout.

Abstract: A griller having a substantially horizontally extending grill member to support food while being grilled, the grill member consisting of alternating bars and slots the bars being made of aluminium, aluminium alloy or a substance having similar heat transmitting properties there being arranged under the grill member an elongated electric heating element that is accommodated within a groove formed on the underside of the grill member, whereby fats and liquids emerging from food being cooked on the grill member are prevented from coming into contact with the electric heating element, an electric plug socket connected to the electric heating element directly and without intervention of a thermostat, the heating element and the grill member being constructed and arranged so that heat from the heating element is distributed more or less evenly over the surface of the grill member, the grill member being removeably supported on a container that in use underlies the grill member and acts to catch fat and liquids from