Hot air fryer type cooking equipment with optimized cooking capabilities

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hot air fryer, which includes a main body, a tray (2) that can be removed from the main body, and a basket (1) that can be removed from the tray. The fryer includes an operating system (3), and the operating system (3) includes a configuration changing device. The configuration changing device allows simultaneous operation of the tray loaded with the basket, or operation of the separate basket released and detached from the tray, or operation of the separate tray released and detached from the basket, so as to allow a first food cooking mode in the basket loaded into the tray and a second food cooking mode directly in the tray, with the basket removed from the tray. The present invention allows an increase in the cooking capacity of the hot air fryer.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hot air fryer type cooking device. The present invention particularly aims to allow adaptation of the cooking capacity according to the quantity of food to be cooked. Background Art

[0002] Hot air fryer type cooking devices are known to those skilled in the art. These devices allow a significant reduction or even complete elimination of the amount of fat during the cooking of foods that may be of plant or animal origin, such as French fries, vegetables, meat or fish. In fact, cooking is carried out with little or no oil using hot air that circulates in a chamber, which allows the consumption of more nutritious foods that are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Given the reduction or elimination of the oil used for cooking, these devices release less odor and grease; their cleaning is further simplified.

[0003] Hot air fryer type cooking devices generally include a chamber configured to receive a basket in which the food to be cooked is placed. Once the basket is located in the chamber and contains the food, the cooking device can be closed to form a cavity that integrates the chamber, which in turn integrates the basket with the food. Then, hot air is delivered into this cavity by means of a hot air blowing system incorporated in the said device. The hot air delivered circulates in the cavity and in the chamber that integrates the basket containing the food, thus ensuring the cooking of the food. Once the cooking is finished, the cooking device can be opened to remove the basket containing the cooked food; an operating handle is fastened to the basket so that the basket can be removed from the chamber, and the cooked food can be taken out without burning the hands.

[0004] In certain models of hot air fryer type cooking devices, the chamber can be removed from the body of the cooking device. For example, the following models are cited: HD9220 / 20 Russell 20810-56; AHF001. Inserting the chamber into the body and removing the chamber from the body are carried out in the manner of a drawer. Inserting the chamber into the body allows the device to be closed and forms a cavity that integrates the said chamber with the basket, which is placed in the chamber and contains the food to be cooked. The basket is operated by means of an operating handle; when the basket is placed in the chamber, the operating handle is located outside the chamber. Additionally, an assembly device allows the chamber with the basket placed therein to be fastened; thus, the user can operate the chamber with the basket placed therein by grasping the operating handle in order to insert them into the body of the cooking device or remove them from the body of the cooking device. At the end of the cooking, the user pulls the operating handle to remove the chamber and the basket from the body, and then the user actuates a control button that allows deactivation of the assembly device, which allows removal of the basket containing the cooked food from the chamber. This operation is carried out without risk of burning the user's hands.

[0005] Among these various models of hot air fryer-type cooking devices, the basket has a defined capacity that allows it to hold a certain amount of food. When a larger quantity is needed, a second cooking session that can last 30 minutes or more is required, even if adding a small amount of extra food would be sufficient. Additionally, compared to the capacity of the basket, some foods may be a bit too large, such as chicken, which requires different cooking, such as in an oven. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention implements a hot air fryer-type cooking device that allows for an improvement in the cooking capacity of the device.

[0007] To this end, the present invention relates to a hot air fryer-type cooking device that includes a main body, a tray that can be removed from the main body, and a basket that can be removed from the tray. According to the present invention, the cooking device includes an operating system that includes a configuration-changing device that allows for the simultaneous operation of the tray loaded with the basket, or the operation of the separate basket released and detached from the tray, or the operation of the separate tray released and detached from the basket, in order to allow for a first cooking mode for the food in the basket loaded into the tray, and a second cooking mode directly for the food in the tray, with the basket removed from the tray. In other words, the operating system allows for the modification of the configuration of the cooking device to be used as a traditional cooking device (first cooking mode), where the cooking capacity is defined by the volume of the basket in which the food to be cooked is placed, operating the basket fastened or not fastened to the tray using the operating system without the risk of burns, or for increasing the cooking capacity (second cooking mode), placing the food to be cooked directly into the tray, which can be easily operated without the basket using the operating system in order to insert it into the main body of the device and remove it from the main body once the food has been cooked without the risk of burns.

[0008] Of course, the cooking device according to the present invention includes other features similar to those of traditional cooking devices that allow for the insertion of the tray into the main body and its removal from the main body in a drawer-like manner.

[0009] Inserting the tray into the main body with or without the basket in this way using the operating system allows for the closing of the device and the formation of a chamber that integrates the tray with or without the basket. The hot air blowing system installed in the device allows for the delivery of hot air into this chamber; the hot air delivered circulates in the chamber and in the tray with or without the basket, thus ensuring the cooking of the food placed in the tray or the basket.

[0010] According to a first design of the cooking device according to the subject matter of the present invention, the operating system includes a first operating handle arranged on the trough and a second operating handle arranged on the basket. The operating system further includes a removable assembly device arranged between the basket and the trough for fixing the basket to the trough or detaching the basket from the trough. Additionally, the first operating handle includes an embedding area configured to at least partially receive the second operating handle when the basket is fixed to the trough and to allow simultaneous grasping of the first and second operating handles. Thus, when the basket is placed in the trough, the assembly device ensures their fastening and the first and second operating handles are combined to form only one operating handle, which is grasped by the user to engage the trough with the basket containing food into the body of the cooking device and to remove them from the body at the end of cooking. Once removed, the user only grasps the second operating handle and deactivates the assembly device to separate the basket from the trough.

[0011] According to an embodiment of this first design of the cooking device, the assembly device includes a body, a receiving area, and a locking device. The body is arranged at the rear of the second operating handle, the receiving area is arranged at the rear of the first operating handle for receiving the body when the basket is placed in the trough, and the locking device allows connection with the body received in the receiving area. Preferably, the locking device includes an opening, a latch, and an actuating mechanism for the latch. The opening is arranged on the receiving area, and the latch is arranged on the body for engaging into the opening.

[0012] The front and rear are defined on the cooking device by its facade, which constitutes the front side. Thus, inserting the trough into the body of the cooking device with or without the basket is performed by pushing it from the front to the back through the facade. Conversely, removing the trough from the body with or without the basket is performed by pulling the trough with a movement from the back to the front.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the first design of the cooking device, the second operating handle is pivotally connected and mounted on the body so as to move the second operating handle to a folded position in the embedding area or a disengaged position disengaged from the embedding area. This pivoting of the second operating handle facilitates grasping the handle in its disengaged position to place the basket into the trough and remove it from the trough. However, other embodiments can be envisaged, such as fixing the second operating handle relative to the body, while the second operating handle is equipped with a grasping device that facilitates grasping it independently of the first operating handle, and the second operating handle is at least partially embedded in the first operating handle.

[0014] Preferably, according to the above-described embodiment, the blocking mechanism allows the second operating handle to be held in the disengaged position. This blocking allows for ensuring the use of the basket. Additionally, this blocking facilitates shaking the basket to stir the food and flipping the basket to pour the cooked food onto a plate.

[0015] Preferably, according to the above-described embodiment, the second operating handle is disposed in the disengaged position substantially parallel to the bottom of the basket. This allows for easy operation of the basket, especially when shaking the basket to mix the food.

[0016] Preferably, according to the above-described embodiment, the locking device is configured to be actuated by the second operating handle in the disengaged position, and this actuation enables the body to be separated from the receiving area. Thus, when the second operating handle is moved to its disengaged position where it is disengaged from the insertion area, the assembly device is automatically deactivated. This thereby facilitates the operation of the cooking device. Of course, it is conceivable to actuate the locking device, for example, by means of a control button, in a manner independent of the disengaged position of the second operating handle, which control button is attached to the second operating handle or to the body disposed at the rear of the second operating handle.

[0017] According to a second design of the cooking device according to the subject matter of the present invention, the operating system includes an operating handle, a removable first assembly device, and a removable second assembly device. The removable first assembly device is disposed between the basket and the operating handle for placing the operating handle on the basket or removing the operating handle from the basket. The removable second assembly device is disposed between the slot and the operating handle for placing the operating handle on the slot or removing it from the slot. The operating handle is assembled with the basket or not assembled with the basket. Thus, the processing system includes a single operating handle that can be fixed only to the basket, only to the slot, or both to the basket and to the slot.

[0018] According to an embodiment of the second design of the cooking device, the removable first assembly device includes a support lug, a cavity, and a first locking device. The support lug is disposed on the basket, the cavity is disposed on the body connected to the operating handle for receiving the lug, and the first locking device allows connection with the lug received in the body, and the body is connected to the operating handle. Preferably, the first locking device includes a locking hook, a locking tongue, and an actuating mechanism for the locking tongue. The locking hook is disposed on the lug, and the locking tongue is disposed on the body connected to the operating handle.

[0019] According to an embodiment of the second design of the cooking device, the removable second assembly device includes a body, a storage area, and a second locking device. The body is connected to the operating handle. The storage area is arranged on the groove for storing the body. The second locking device allows connection with the body accommodated in the storage area. Preferably, the second locking device includes an opening, a latch, and an actuating mechanism for the latch. The opening is arranged on the storage area, and the latch is arranged on the body.

[0020] According to the design of the cooking device according to the subject matter of the present invention, converting the first cooking mode in the basket to the second cooking mode in the groove allows the cooking capacity to be increased by approximately 30% to 60%. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The following description highlights the features and advantages of the present invention. The description is based on the drawings, in which:

[0022] Figures 1 to 6 A first embodiment of the operating system on a hot air fryer type cooking device according to the subject matter of the present invention is shown;

[0023] Figures 7 to 14 A second embodiment of the operating system on a hot air fryer type cooking device according to the subject matter of the present invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In the following description, according to various design variants of the hot air fryer type cooking device, the same reference numerals are used to describe the same or similar features.

[0025] The following description and drawings aim to highlight the main features of the present invention. The present invention relates to an operating system for operating a basket and a groove, which can be adopted separately or in combination, allowing the implementation of two food cooking modes with different capabilities, one in a separate groove and the other in a basket inserted into the groove. Other features of such a cooking device (hot air blowing system; a body with a chamber in which a groove and a basket are inserted...) are known, and therefore they will not be described in detail below. Those skilled in the art can refer to the hot air fryers already existing on the market, such as those previously specified.

[0026] Figures 1 to 6 A first design of the basket 1, the groove 2, and the operating system 3 between the basket 1 and the groove 2 is shown.

[0027] In Figure 1Slot 2 is shown separately. The slot 2 includes a facade 4 which is arranged at the front of the first container 5. A first operating handle 6 is configured on the facade 4, and the first operating handle 6 includes an embedding area 7. The upper part 6a of the first operating handle 6 extends backward in the thickness of the facade 4 through a storage area 8. The second operating handle 9 is fixed to the front side part 10a of the second container 10 by means of a main body 11 and a support lug 12, as Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 6 shown. When the basket 1 is placed in the slot 2, the main body 11 is received in the storage area 8 and the support lug 12 abuts against a notch 13 which is arranged on the upper edge 14 of the first container 5, opposite to the storage area 8.

[0028] As Figures 1 to 6 shown, the second operating handle 9 can be pivotally connected 15 to the main body 11 to pivot to a folded position in the embedding area 7 (see Figure 2 and Figure 4 ) or a disengaged position disengaged from the embedding area 7 (see Figure 3 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 ). In this disengaged position, the second operating handle 9 is located in a structure similar to the structure of a long-handled frying pan substantially parallel to the bottom 16 of the second container 10, so as to facilitate shaking the food contained in the basket 1. In the folded position, the second operating handle 9 is almost completely integrated in the embedding area 7, which allows the first operating handle 6 and the second operating handle 9 to be combined to form only the same operating handle, and the same operating handle can be grasped with one hand to operate the slot 2, and the basket 1 is integrated and assembled with the slot 2.

[0029] The assembly between the basket 1 and the slot 2 is implemented by means of a removable assembly device 17, as Figures 4 to 6 shown in more detail. The storage area 8 on the slot 2 includes an opening 18 in its lower part 8a. The main body 11 includes a latch 19 which is pivotally connected 20 and installed inside the main body 11. The latch 19 includes a formed head 21 at its lower end part, and the head 21 forms a hook, and the head 21 projects from the lower surface 11a of the main body 11. Similarly, the latch 19 includes a bent finger 22 at its upper end part, and the bent finger 22 forms a support, and the bent finger 22 projects from the front surface 11b of the main body 11. The latch 19 is reset-mounted by a spring 23 so as to automatically return to Figure 4The normal position shown. When the main body 11 is located in the storage area 8, the head 21 of the latch 19 enters into the opening 18 and is received below the rear contour 18a of the opening 18, which allows the main body 11 to be locked in the storage area 8. The right-angled reinforcing lug 24 is placed below the rear contour 18a, and the head 21 is supported below this reinforcing lug 24 during the locking. When the second operating handle 9 is pivoted to its disengaged position where it is disengaged from the insertion area 7, the edge 9a of the second operating handle 9 abuts against the curved finger 22, as Figure 5 and Figure 6 shown, which pivots the latch 19 and realigns the head 21 on the axis of the opening 18, thus allowing the main body 11 to be disengaged from the storage area 8. Accordingly, the basket 1 can be removed from the slot 2, as Figure 6 shown.

[0030] As Figures 4 to 6 shown, the blocking mechanism 25 allows the second operating handle 9 to be held in the disengaged position where it is disengaged from the insertion area 7. The second operating handle 9 includes a window 26, and the control button 27 is slidably mounted in the window 26. The control button 27 is mounted in a reset manner by a spring 28 in the Figure 5 and Figure 6 shown working position. The control button 27 includes a stop finger 29, and this stop finger 29 is supported on the edge 30 of the main body 11, thus preventing the second operating handle 9 from pivoting relative to the main body 11. The translation of the control button 27 in the direction of the arrow 31 enables the stop finger 29 to disengage from the edge 30, which enables the second operating handle 9 to pivot to the folded position in the insertion area 7. The pivoting of the second operating handle 9 to the folded position enables the head 21 of the latch 19 to be locked below the rear contour 18a of the opening 18, ensuring the assembly of the basket 1 and the slot 2.

[0031] As Figure 1 and Figure 6 shown, when the basket 1 is removed from the slot 2, the first operating handle 6 can still be grasped with one hand, which allows the slot to be operated alone without any risk of being scalded at the end of cooking. Accordingly, the user can choose to put the food into the second container 10 of the basket 1, then put the basket 1 into the slot 2, and then insert it into the cooking device together with the slot 2. On the contrary, the user can choose to put the food into the first container 5 of the slot 2 and then directly insert the slot 2 into the cooking device without the basket 1.

[0032] Figures 7 to 14 Shows a second design variant of the operating system 3 between the basket 1 and the slot 2, and this second design variant provides the same effect as the above-mentioned first design variant, that is, provides two cooking modes, one in the slot and the other in the basket, to adapt to the cooking capacity of the cooking device. In Figures 7 to 14 this second variant, it can be seen that compared withFigures 1 to 6 A large number of identical features of the first variant example.

[0033] As Figure 7 , Figure 8 and Figure 14 shown, the slot 2 includes a first container 5, a facade 4, a storage area 8 equipped with an opening 18, and a notch 13 arranged on the upper edge 14 of the first container 5.

[0034] As Figure 7 , Figure 9 and Figure 10 shown, the basket 1 includes a second container 10, a main body 11, and a support lug 12, and the support lug 12 is fixed on the front side portion 1a of the second container 10.

[0035] In Figures 7 to 14 this second variant example of, the operating system 3 implemented is different from Figures 1 to 6 the first variant example of in that it provides a single operating handle 32 instead of the first operating handle 6 and the second operating handle 9. As Figures 7 to 9 and Figures 11 to 13 shown, the operating handle 32 is fixed on the front surface 11b of the main body 11, and the elements form Figure 11 the same component 33 shown. The component 33 integrated with the operating handle 32 can be assembled with the basket 1 and the slot 2 simultaneously, as Figure 7 and Figure 12 shown, or only assembled with the basket 1, as Figure 9 and Figure 13 shown, or assembled with the slot 2, as Figure 8 shown.

[0036] As in the case of the first variant example of Figures 1 to 6 preceding, according to Figures 7 to 14 this second variant example of, the main body 11 integrates a latch 19 pivotally connected 20 and includes a head 21 at its lower end portion, and the head 21 forms a hook. The upper end portion 19a of the latch 19 is fixed to a control button 34 accessible on the front surface 11b of the main body 11, as Figures 7 to 9 , Figure 12 and Figure 13 shown. Actuation of the control button 34 allows the latch 19 to pivot, causing the head 21 to move along the axis of the opening 18, thus allowing the main body 11 to be removed outside the storage area 8. Once the main body 11 is placed into the storage area 8 and the control button 34 is released, the spring 35 ensures that the latch 19 is reset to the locked position, and the head 21 is disposed below the rear contour 18a of the opening 18, as Figure 12 shown. Two fingers 36, 37 are arranged on the lateral side portions 11c, 11d of the main body 11, as Figure 9 and Figure 11As shown, these fingers 36, 37 are located in guiding notches 38, 39 disposed on the lateral sides 8b, 8c of the receiving area 8; when the fingers 36, 37 are received in the notches 38, 39, the main body 11 is wedged into the receiving area 8 in a translational manner from front to back.

[0037] As Figure 9 and Figure 10 shown, the component 33 including the main body 11 and the operating handle 32 can be detached from the support lug 12 fixed to the second container 10. For this purpose, as Figures 11 to 13 shown, the main body 11 includes two triggers 40, 41 on its lateral sides 11c, 11d, the two triggers 40, 41 are protruding and formed by the same actuating member 42, and the actuating member 42 is pivotally connected 43 to be mounted on the main body 11. The actuating member 42 includes a locking tongue 44. The support lug 12 includes a locking hook 45, and the locking hook 45 is formed through a hole 46 on a bent portion 12a provided at the front of the support lug 12, as Figure 10 shown. The main body 11 includes a cavity 47 on its upper surface 11e, as Figure 11 shown, and the bent portion 12a of the support lug 12 can extend into the cavity 47. When the bent portion 12a of the support lug 12 is inserted into the cavity 7, the locking tongue 44 of the actuating member 42 engages into the locking hook 45, which locks the component 33 with the support lug 12 and the second container 10, thus forming the basket 1 equipped with the operating handle 32. Activation of one or the other of the triggers 40, 41 allows the locking tongue 44 to disengage from the locking hook 45, as Figure 13 shown, thus allowing the bent portion 12a of the support lug 12 to be removed from the component 33. The reset of the locking tongue 44 to the Figure 12 shown working position is ensured by a spring 35.

[0038] Therefore, the component 33 can be assembled with the second container 10 of the basket 1 by means of a removable first assembling device 48, and the removable first assembling device 48 is implemented by means of an actuating member 42 in the main body 11 including a locking tongue 44 and a bent portion 12a of the support lug 12 including a locking hook 45. The locking tongue 44 is mounted in a reset manner by a spring 35, and the locking hook 45 ensures locking of the main body 11 with the support lug 12. Similarly, the component 33 can be assembled with the first container 5 of the slot 2 by using a removable second assembling device 49, and the removable second assembling device 49 is implemented by means of the main body 11 loaded with a latch 19 and a receiving area 8 including an opening. The head 21 of the latch 19 and the rear contour 18a of the opening 18 ensure locking of the main body 11 in the receiving area 8. By using these two assembling devices 48, 49, the component 33 can be assembled only with the basket 1, only with the slot 2, and simultaneously with the basket 1 and the slot 2.

[0039] The above description highlights the subject matter of the present invention. The present invention has no limiting features, and variations can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0040] For example, another variation can be provided, according to which Figures 7 to 14 the control button 34 shown in the second variation of Figures 1 to 6 is arranged in the same way in the first variation of

[0041] Preferably, the first container 5 on the slot has a capacity of 4.5 liters and allows cooking of 1.2 kg of food, and the second container 10 on the basket 1 has a capacity of 2.2 liters and allows cooking of 800 grams of food, which enables the cooking capacity to be increased by 50%. These capacities can be changed to increase the cooking capacity by approximately 30% to 60%.

Claims

1. A hot air fryer type cooking device, comprising a base body, a trough (2) removable from the base body, and a basket (1) removable from the trough, characterized in that, The cooking device includes an operating system (3), and the operating system (3) includes a configuration changing device which allows simultaneous operation of the baskets loaded into the slots, or operation of the individual baskets released and detached from the slots, or operation of the individual slots released and detached from the baskets, so as to allow a first cooking mode for the food in the baskets loaded into the slots and a second cooking mode directly for the food in the slots, with the baskets removed from the slots. The operating system (3) includes a first operating handle (6) arranged on the slot (2), a second operating handle (9) arranged on the basket (1), and a removable assembly device (17). The removable assembly device (17) is arranged between the basket and the slot for fixing the basket on the slot or detaching the basket from the slot. The first operating handle (6) includes an embedding area (7) which is configured to at least partially receive the second operating handle (9) when the basket is fixed on the slot and allow simultaneous gripping of the first and second operating handles (6, 9). The assembly device (17) includes a body (11), a receiving area (8), and a locking device. The body (11) is arranged at the rear of the second operating handle (9), and the receiving area (8) is arranged at the rear of the first operating handle (6) for receiving the body when the basket (1) is placed in the slot (2). The locking device allows connection with the body received in the receiving area.

2. The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein, The locking device includes an opening (18), a latch (19), and an actuating mechanism (9a, 20, 22, 23) of the latch. The opening (18) is arranged on the receiving area (8), and the latch (19) is arranged on the body (11) for engaging into the opening.

3. The cooking device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The second operating handle (9) is pivotally connected (15) to the body (11) so as to move the second operating handle (9) to a folded position in the embedding area (7) or a detached position disengaged from the embedding area.

4. The cooking device according to claim 3, wherein, A blocking mechanism (25) enables the second operating handle (9) to be held at the detached position.

5. The cooking device according to claim 3, wherein, The second operating handle (9) is arranged at the detached position substantially parallel to the bottom (16) of the basket (1).

6. The cooking device according to claim 3, wherein, The locking device is configured to be actuated by the second operating handle (9) at the detached position, and such actuation enables the body (11) to be separated from the receiving area (8).

7. The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein, The operating system (3) includes an operating handle (32), a removable first assembly device (48), and a removable second assembly device (49). The removable first assembly device (48) is arranged between the basket (1) and the operating handle for placing the operating handle on the basket or removing it from the basket. The removable second assembly device (49) is arranged between the slot (2) and the operating handle for placing the operating handle on the slot or removing it from the slot. The operating handle is assembled with the basket or not assembled with the basket.

8. The cooking device according to claim 7, wherein, The removable first assembly device (48) includes a support lug (12), a cavity (47), and a first locking device. The support lug (12) is arranged on the basket (1), and the cavity (47) is arranged on the body connected to the operating handle (32) for receiving the lug. The first locking device allows connection with the lug received in the body, and the body is connected to the operating handle.

9. The cooking device according to claim 8, wherein, The first locking device includes a locking hook (45), a locking tongue (44), and an actuating mechanism (42, 35) of the locking tongue. The locking hook (45) is arranged on the lug (12), and the locking tongue (44) is arranged on the body (11) connected to the operating handle (32).

10. The cooking device according to claim 7, wherein, The removable second assembly device (49) includes a body (11), a receiving area (8), and a second locking device. The body (11) is connected to the operating handle (32), and the receiving area (8) is arranged on the slot (2) for receiving the body. The second locking device can connect with the body received in the receiving area.

11. The cooking device according to claim 10, wherein, The second locking device includes an opening (18), a latch (19), and an actuating mechanism (34, 20, 35) of the latch. The opening (18) is arranged on the receiving area (8), and the latch (19) is arranged on the body (11).

12. The cooking device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, Converting the first cooking mode in the basket (1) to the second cooking mode in the slot (2) allows the cooking capacity to be increased by 30% to 60%.

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