Cooking device

Abstract

The present invention discloses an electric cooking device, which comprises a lower frame (2) and an upper frame (3) hinged around a pivot axis. The lower frame and the upper frame each comprise: - a detachable cooking plate (5, 6); - a heating resistor (7); - a peripheral heat reflector (8, 9); - a heat reflector (10, 11) for the heating resistor; The upper frame (3) comprises at least one insulating plate (14), and the lower frame (2) comprises a main drainage hole (12) in the lower peripheral heat reflector (8). The main drainage hole allows the liquid generated during use to be discharged into a collecting member (4) located below the lower frame (2), and the cooking plates (5, 6) are retracted relative to the peripheral reflectors (8, 9).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric cooking device, such as a waffle iron or a grill, in which food is cooked by contact with two heating plates, a lower one and an upper one. The invention particularly relates to a cooking device provided with a specific outlet in the case of liquid or dough overflow. Background Art

[0002] Cooking devices of the waffle iron or grill type are well known to those skilled in the art. These devices generally include two hinged parts, each hinged part including a cooking plate and a heating resistor in contact with the cooking plate. During cooking, the two hinged parts are closed relative to each other, and the food is placed between the two hinged parts and in contact with the two heating plates.

[0003] For example, such a device is described in document EP1400194Al. The cooking plate in this document has a cavity suitable for receiving food. The resistors are arranged against each cooking plate on the side opposite to the side including the cavity. A heat reflecting plate surrounds each resistor so as to form a housing for receiving the resistor and allows the heat emitted by the resistor to be reflected towards the cooking plate.

[0004] Currently, the approval conditions for this type of device are becoming increasingly stringent. The outer wall of the device must not exceed a certain temperature threshold to prevent burns to the user. The improved insulation of the device allows for a more uniform cooking temperature and avoids local temperature peaks. In addition, a new regulation also requires that these devices must pass a temperature test in addition to the existing overflow test. The overflow test consists of filling the cavity of the cooking plate to 115% of its capacity and analyzing whether the device is able to drain the excess liquid / dough without uncontrolled overflow between the two hinged parts of the device.

[0005] There are already cooking juice collection devices in the case of grills, but there are no such devices in cooking utensils of the waffle iron or grilled sandwich type.

[0006] Document US20040217109 describes an electric cooking device including two hinged parts. Each hinged part is formed by a hollow shell, and the cooking plate is removably fixed to the hollow shell. The heating element is housed in the space formed between the shell and the cooking plate. Below the heating element, i.e., between the heating element and the bottom of the shell, a heat reflecting plate is provided to reduce heat loss to the outside of the device. What is special about this cooking device is that the cooking plate of one of the hinged parts has a central hole, which allows the cooking juice to be discharged through the hole and fall on the reflecting plate. The reflecting plate also includes outlet holes for draining the juice in the device into a removable collecting member provided in the shell.

[0007] Cooking devices of the prior art are not equipped with an overflow device that allows the management of large amounts of liquid. In fact, currently, the collection device allows the collection of cooking juices under theoretical operating conditions, but does not guarantee satisfactory protection according to the new standards. These devices cannot prevent the juice from flowing out of the device between the two cooking plates.

[0008] Document WO2014 / 076511 discloses a toaster or toasted sandwich maker on which a heating element, a baking tray, and an outer cover are assembled. The outer cover is mounted on a basic component in the low-temperature area of the outer reflector. Therefore, when the heating element radiates, the temperature peak on the outer cover is low. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art. The present invention particularly aims to provide an electric cooking device having a device for collecting liquid during overflow in order to avoid damaging the device.

[0010] The present invention also allows the improvement of the thermal performance of the device by improving the insulation performance of the housing.

[0011] The present invention discloses an electric cooking device, which includes a lower frame and an upper frame hinged around a pivot axis. The lower frame and the upper frame each include:

[0012] - A detachable cooking plate;

[0013] - A heating resistor;

[0014] - A peripheral heat reflector;

[0015] - A heat reflector for the heating resistor;

[0016] The upper frame includes at least one insulating plate. The lower frame includes main drainage holes in the lower peripheral heat reflector. The main drainage holes allow the liquid generated during use to be discharged into a collecting member located below the lower frame. The cooking plate of the cooking device is retracted relative to the peripheral reflector.

[0017] The present invention includes at least one of the following features or at least one suitable combination of the following features:

[0018] - The heat reflector for the heating resistor of the lower frame includes secondary drainage holes, and the secondary drainage holes allow the liquid generated during use to be discharged into the main drainage holes;

[0019] - The main drainage outlet is located in a depression generated at a low position in the lower peripheral heat reflector;

[0020] - The secondary drainage holes are located above the main drainage outlet;

[0021] - The lower cooking plate includes grooves allowing the discharge of cooking juices outside the electric cooking device; and, a collecting member projects from the lower frame so as to collect the cooking juices discharged through said grooves;

[0022] - The collecting member is detachable;

[0023] - Except for the grooves, the cooking plate is retracted relative to the peripheral reflector

[0024] - The collecting member is located at the rear of the device, below the lower frame;

[0025] - The holding structure allows supporting the collecting member below the lower frame;

[0026] - The cooking plate includes a cavity suitable for receiving food. Description of the Drawings

[0027] Figure 1 An embodiment of an electric cooking device according to the present invention is shown in the open position and includes a cavity-type cooking plate of the "grill" type.

[0028] Figure 2 An embodiment of an electric cooking device according to the present invention is shown in the open position and includes a cavity-type cooking plate of the "toast sandwich / waffle" type.

[0029] Figure 3 A cross-section of an embodiment of a cooking device according to the present invention is shown in the closed position. The cooking plate in this figure is of the "toast sandwich / waffle" type.

[0030] Figure 4 A cross-section of an embodiment of a cooking device according to the present invention is shown in the closed position. The cooking plate here is of the "baking tray" type.

[0031] Figure 5 An embodiment of an electric cooking device according to the present invention is shown in the open position and has no detachable cooking plate.

[0032] Figure 6 The first heat reflector of a cooking device according to the present invention is shown.

[0033] Figure 7 The second heat reflector of a cooking device according to the present invention is shown.

[0034] Figure 8 The second heat reflector of a cooking device according to the present invention is shown, with a heating resistor.

[0035] Figure 9 and 10Shows two perspective views of an embodiment of a cooking device according to the present invention, the device being in the closed position.

[0036] Reference numerals

[0037] 1: Electric cooking device;

[0038] 2: Hollow frame of the lower part of the cooking device

[0039] 3: Hollow frame of the upper part of the cooking device

[0040] 4: Collector for collecting liquid

[0041] 5: Removable cooking plate of the lower part

[0042] 6: Removable cooking plate of the upper part

[0043] 7: Heating resistor

[0044] 8: Peripheral heat reflector of the lower part

[0045] 9: Peripheral heat reflector of the upper part

[0046] 10: Heat reflector for the heating resistor of the lower part

[0047] 11: Heat reflector for the heating resistor of the upper part

[0048] 12: Main drain outlet

[0049] 13: Secondary drain outlet

[0050] 14: Insulating plate

[0051] 15: Mold cavity part of the cooking plate

[0052] 16: Outer edge of the cooking plate

[0053] 17: Groove in the peripheral heat reflector of the lower part

[0054] 18: Handle

[0055] 19: Groove Detailed description

[0056] The present invention discloses an electric cooking device 1, of the waffle iron or grill type, which includes two articulated outer frames 2 and 3, as Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown. These two frames are hollow in order to form the housing of the device. As Figure 7 shown, each frame cooperates with a removable cooking plate 5 and 6 and houses a heating resistor 7. During cooking, the two articulated parts close against each other, and the food is placed between the two articulated parts to come into contact with the two heated cooking plates.

[0057] In the present description, the terms "lower" and "upper" describe elements related to the lower and upper parts of the device respectively, relative to the position of the device on the working plane.

[0058] As Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown, peripheral heat reflectors 8 and 9 are provided within each outer frame. This allows for a reduction in the loss of thermal energy outside the device and reflects the heat emitted by the heating resistors towards the cooking plate.

[0059] A main drain hole 12 is provided in the lower peripheral heat reflector 8. The main drain hole is preferably located in a depression 17 that creates a low position in the lower peripheral reflector. When liquid spills over from the cooking plate, the spilled liquid seeps between the lower cooking plate and the lower peripheral reflector, as Figure 3 shown. The spilled liquid then flows by gravity towards the main drain hole. A collecting member 4 is located below the frame, below a discharge hole, in order to collect the spilled liquid. The collecting member is detachable for emptying.

[0060] Inside each outer frame, between the peripheral heat reflector and the detachable cooking plate, heat reflectors 10 and 11 for the heating resistors are also provided. The purpose is to protect the electrical components from the liquid flow in the lower peripheral reflector by being raised relative to the lower peripheral reflector. In addition, the outer edge of the heat reflector for the heating resistors preferably retracts relative to the outer edge of the cooking plate, allowing the liquid to preferably reach directly the bottom of the peripheral heat reflector. When liquid spills over from the cooking plate, the spilled liquid seeps between the cooking plate and the outer frame and falls into the peripheral heat reflector 10. Since the heat reflector for the thermal resistor is retracted, the risk of the liquid falling into the heat reflector is reduced, and the heating resistor as well as the connection system and other wires are protected from this liquid flow. However, as Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown, if the liquid reaches the heat reflector 10 of the heating resistor, the heat reflector includes secondary drain holes 13 for draining the liquid to the collecting member 4 via the main drain hole 12. Preferably, the secondary drain holes are vertically aligned with the main drain hole.

[0061] Preferably, the lower cooking plate 5 includes grooves 19 that allow the cooking juices to also be drained outside the device (see Figure 1 and Figure 4) When the cooking plate is of the "grill" type, it is preferred that the lower cooking plate includes grooves. The cooking juices are drained outside the device and collected in the collecting member 4. In this case, the collecting member projects beyond the lower frame 2 in order to collect the juices drained through the grooves. In this exemplary embodiment, the cooking juices can flow along three different paths before being collected in the collecting member. Thus, the cooking plates 5 and 6 of the cooking device are retracted relative to the peripheral reflectors 8 and 9, and the grooves are not retracted to allow the cooking juices to drain.

[0062] Preferably, the outer edge of the heat reflector 10 for the heating resistor is raised to form a side wall surrounding the electrical components, like a basin, to more effectively protect the electrical components from the liquid present in the lower peripheral reflector.

[0063] The cooking device of the present invention further includes a heat insulation system to reduce heat loss to the outside of the device and to make the heating temperature inside the device uniform. The outer wall of the cooking device, once closed and in use, shall not exceed 90 °C for low-conductivity surfaces such as plastic and 70 °C for metal, which is for a maximum heating temperature of the cooking plate of 220 to 240 °C. This allows avoiding burns to the user. As Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown, the upper frame of the cooking device includes at least one insulating plate 14.

[0064] In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the cooking plate has cavities 15 suitable for receiving food. These cavities can be of the "grill" type as Figure 1 shown, of the "grilled sandwich" type as Figure 2 shown, or of any other type of shape.

[0065] Furthermore, the heating resistors of each articulated part 2 and 3 can be heated independently of each other.

Claims

1. An electric cooking device (1), comprising a lower frame (2) and an upper frame (3) hinged around a pivot axis, wherein the lower frame (2) and the upper frame (3) each comprise: - Removable cooking plates (5, 6); - Heating resistors (7); - Peripheral heat reflecting plates (8, 9); - Heat reflecting plates (10, 11) for the heating resistors; The upper frame (3) comprises at least one insulating plate (14), and the lower frame (2) comprises main drainage holes (12) in the lower peripheral heat reflecting plate (8), and the main drainage holes allow the liquid generated during use to be discharged into a collecting member (4) located below the lower frame (2). It is characterized in that the cooking plates (5, 6) of the electric cooking device (1) are retracted relative to the peripheral heat reflecting plates (8, 9).

2. The electric cooking device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat reflecting plate for the heating resistor of the lower frame (2) comprises secondary drainage holes (13), and the secondary drainage holes allow the liquid generated during use to be discharged into the main drainage holes (12).

3. The electric cooking device (1) according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that, The main drainage holes (12) are located in a depression (17) formed in the lower peripheral heat reflecting plate (8) to create a low position.

4. The electric cooking device (1) according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that, The lower cooking plate (5) comprises grooves (19) that allow the cooking juice to be discharged outside the electric cooking device (1); and the collecting member (4) extends beyond the lower frame (2) to collect the cooking juice discharged through the grooves (19).

5. The electric cooking device (1) according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that, The collecting member (4) is removable.

6. The electric cooking device (1) according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that, The collecting member (4) is located at the rear of the electric cooking device (1), below the lower frame (2).

7. The electric cooking device (1) according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that, The holding structure allows the collecting member (4) below the lower frame (2) to be supported.

8. The electric cooking device (1) according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that, The cooking plates (5, 6) comprise cavities (15) suitable for accommodating food.

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