Cooking utensil

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a cooking appliance (1) comprising a base (10) and a lid (20) hingedly connected to the base. The base comprises a first surface (S1), a main body unit (100), a heating unit (200) and a cooking chamber (300) used for containing food to be heated. The lid (20) comprises a second surface (S2) wherein the lid (20) can be opened into at least one open position in which an angle between the second surface (S2) and the first surface (S1) exceeds 90 degrees. The base (10) further comprises at least one damping member (400). The damping member is configured to prevent the lid (20) from being turned over when in the open position. The damping member (400) is provided between the main body unit (100) and the cooking chamber (300) to increase a frictional force between the main body unit (100) and the cooking chamber (300).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to household appliances, and more particularly to a cooking appliance, especially a cooking appliance with a hinged lid. BACKGROUND

[0002] Similar to a grill, electric griddle, air fryer, steamer, etc., a multifunctional kitchen cooking appliance usually has a tray that can be used for various cooking methods such as frying, baking, grilling, frying, etc. It is easy to operate, fast and uniform heating, suitable for making pancakes, grilled meat, pizza, sandwiches and other delicious food, and is favored by more and more consumers. Such a cooking appliance usually includes an openable lid, which is usually hinged to the base of the cooking appliance. However, when the lid is opened, especially opened beyond the base of the cooking appliance, it is easy to tip over. Such tipping over, especially during use, can pose a risk to the user, thus significantly reducing the user experience, and in severe cases, even pose a great danger to safety, such as oil splashing and burning the user or igniting surrounding flammable materials.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need for a solution that can overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks, so that the risk of tipping over when opening the lid can be prevented or reduced. SUMMARY

[0004] The present disclosure provides a cooking appliance to solve the technical problem of tipping over when opening the lid in the prior art.

[0005] To solve the above technical problem, the present disclosure proposes a cooking appliance, comprising: a base comprising: a first surface; a main unit; a heating unit; and a cooking chamber for accommodating food to be heated. The cooking appliance further comprises a lid hingedly connected to the base. The lid comprises a second surface, wherein the lid can be opened to at least one open position, in which the angle between the second surface and the first surface exceeds 90 degrees. The base further comprises: at least one damping member configured to prevent the lid from tipping over when located in the open position, wherein the damping member is disposed between the main unit and the cooking chamber to increase the friction between the main unit and the cooking chamber.

[0006] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the main unit comprises a recess, and the damping member is disposed in the recess.

[0007] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the cooking chamber comprises at least one leg for supporting the cooking chamber. The damping member comprises a hollow interior and accommodates at least a portion of the leg in the hollow interior. In some embodiments, the cooking chamber comprises two legs.

[0008] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the cooking appliance comprises two damping members in a symmetrical position relative to the center of gravity of the base. The two damping members can respectively accommodate the corresponding two legs.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the disclosure, the damping member is formed of silicone rubber. The elasticity of the damping member is provided by the silicone rubber, such that the damping member is able to be accommodated in the recess and accommodate at least a portion of the leg of the cooking chamber.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the disclosure, the damping member comprises at least one annular rib arranged in a circumferential direction. The annular rib can extend along a portion or all of the circumference of the damping member. By means of such an annular rib, the damping of the damping member can be further enhanced.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the disclosure, the damping member comprises at least one strip rib arranged in an axial direction on the inner side and / or the outer side. The strip rib can extend along a portion or all of the height of the damping member. By means of such a strip rib, the damping of the damping member can be further enhanced.

[0012] The inventors of the present disclosure have noticed that the damping member should provide a suitable damping to allow the user to easily open the lid without tipping over when the lid is opened to more than 90 degrees. Otherwise, when the damping of the damping member is too large, it will hinder the user from opening the lid, thereby adversely affecting the user experience.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the disclosure, the recess is located at a side of the main body unit opposite to the hinged position of the lid. Arranging the recess for accommodating the damping member at a side away from the hinged position can allow the maximum torque of the friction force to be achieved.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the disclosure, the recess is arranged adjacent to the periphery of the main body unit. In this way, the arrangement of the recess can not affect the arrangement of other parts of the cooking appliance.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the disclosure, the lid is at least partially formed of transparent glass, thereby allowing the user to see the cooking chamber inside the cooking appliance to observe the cooking process. By means of the arrangement of the transparent glass, the user can observe the food being cooked and its changes in real time to understand the cooking process and help them cook. In this way, the user experience can be greatly improved.

[0016] According to some embodiments of the disclosure, the lid is hinged to the cooking chamber, and the cooking chamber is fixed on the main body unit.

[0017] According to some embodiments of the disclosure, the weight of the lid is greater than the weight of the cooking chamber. The material of the lid can be different from the material of the cooking chamber. For example, in some embodiments, the lid comprises transparent glass, while the cooking chamber mainly comprises aluminum, aluminum alloy or stainless steel material. Further, in order to save weight, the outer shell of the cooking chamber can comprise a plastic material.

[0018] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the main unit further comprises foot pads for supporting the main unit on a working surface and preventing sliding. In some embodiments, the main unit comprises several foot pads distributed evenly on the bottom of the main unit to achieve uniform support.

[0019] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the cooking chamber comprises a baking tray, a frying tray or a steaming tray. In this way, the cooking appliance can implement multiple cooking methods.

[0020] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the main unit further comprises control means for controlling the cooking appliance and a power module. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 A perspective view of the cooking appliance according to the present disclosure is schematically illustrated, wherein the cooking appliance is in a closed state.

[0022] Figure 2 A perspective view of the cooking appliance according to the present disclosure is schematically illustrated, wherein the cooking appliance is in an open state.

[0023] Figure 3 An exploded view of the cooking appliance according to the present disclosure is schematically illustrated.

[0024] Figure 4 A perspective view of the cooking appliance according to the present disclosure in an open state and a partial enlarged view thereof are schematically illustrated.

[0025] Figure 5 A perspective view of the damping means according to embodiments of the present disclosure is schematically illustrated.

[0026] Figure 6 A perspective view of the damping means according to embodiments of the present disclosure is schematically illustrated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating exemplary embodiments including a grill-fryer example, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. The cooking appliance can also be an air fryer, a steamer, etc. These and other features, aspects, principles, and advantages of the cooking appliance of the present disclosure can be better understood by referring to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, are merely schematic representations and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. It should also be understood that the same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings and that identical or similar components are denoted with the same reference numerals. Orientation expressions, such as "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "upper", "lower", etc., are used with reference to the orientation of the figures being described and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0028] Figures 1-2 A perspective view of the cooking appliance 1 according to the present disclosure is schematically illustrated, whereinFigure 1 This indicates that the cooking appliance is in the off position, and Figure 2 The cooking appliance 1 is shown in the open position. The cooking appliance 1 includes a base 10 and a cover 20 hinged to the base. The cover 20 can be attached to and cover the base 10 in any suitable manner. Although the base 10 and cover 20 are shown in a generally square shape in the drawings, the scope of this disclosure is not limited thereto. The base 10 and / or cover 20 can have any suitable shape, such as circular, semi-circular, elliptical, rectangular, etc. Figure 1 As shown, the base 10 of the cooking appliance 1 may also include any components suitable for cooking operations, such as control panels, knobs, or buttons.

[0029] Reference Figure 2 The base 10 includes a first surface S1 on which food to be cooked can be placed. The cover 20 may include a second surface S2 to cover the first surface S1 of the base 10. In some embodiments, the cover 20 is at least partially formed of transparent glass, allowing a user to see the cooking chamber inside the cooking appliance to observe the cooking process. With the arrangement of transparent glass, the user can observe the food being cooked and its changes in real time to understand the cooking process and assist in its preparation. In this way, the user experience can be greatly improved.

[0030] Figure 3 An exploded view of the cooking appliance 1 is shown. The base 10 also includes a main body unit 100, a heating unit 200, and a cooking chamber 300 for containing food to be heated. In some embodiments, the main body unit 100 may include a control device for controlling the cooking appliance and a power module. The control device may include a temperature regulation module. The power module may be used to connect to a power supply line. The main body unit 100 also includes feet for supporting the main body unit 100 on a work surface and preventing slippage. For example, the main body unit 100 includes four feet evenly distributed at the four corners to prevent the cooking appliance from moving on the work surface.

[0031] The heating unit 200 may be located within the main unit 100. The heating unit 200 may be electrically connected to a control device and a power module within the main unit 100. In some embodiments, the heating unit may include a resistance heater. For example, resistance wires may be uniformly distributed within the heating unit.

[0032] The cooking chamber 300 is located above the heating unit 200. In some embodiments, the cooking chamber 300 can include a baking tray, a frying tray, or a steaming tray. In some embodiments, the cooking chamber can also include a container for holding sauce to help the user simplify cooking. In some embodiments, the lid 20 is hinged to the cooking chamber 300, and the cooking chamber 300 is fixed on the main body unit 100. In further embodiments, the lid 20 can be hinged to the main body unit 100. In some embodiments, the cooking chamber mainly includes aluminum, aluminum alloy, or stainless steel material. Further, in order to save weight, the outer shell of the cooking chamber 300 can include a plastic material.

[0033] Figure 4 A cooking appliance 1 according to the present disclosure in an open state and a partial enlarged view A thereof are schematically shown. The lid 20 can be opened to at least one open position in which the angle between the second surface S2 and the first surface S1 can exceed 90 degrees. In other words, in this open position, at least a portion of the lid 20 exceeds the base 10. Especially when the lid 20 is opened such that its center of gravity is far from the base 10 or when the weight of the lid 20 is greater than the weight of the base 10, it is easy to occur that the lid 20 is tipped over. In order to prevent the occurrence of tipping over, the base 10 further includes at least one damping member 400. The damping member 400 is configured to prevent the lid 20 from being tipped over when it is in the open position, wherein the damping member 400 is disposed between the main body unit 100 and the cooking chamber 300 to increase the frictional force between the main body unit 100 and the cooking chamber 300. Although Figure 4 It is shown that the lid 20 can be opened to a position exceeding 90 degrees, but it should be understood that the lid can also be opened to any other position, for example, a position less than 90 degrees.

[0034] Referring to Figures 3-4 , the main body unit 100 includes a recess 110 in which the damping member 400 is disposed. In some embodiments, the recess 110 can be arranged adjacent to the periphery of the main body unit 100. In some embodiments, the recess 110 is located at the side of the main body unit 100 opposite to the hinged position of the lid. As Figure 3 shown, the main body unit 100 can include two recesses 110 at the periphery position of the side of the main body unit 100 opposite to the hinged position of the lid.

[0035] Further, in some embodiments, as Figures 3-4 shown, the cooking chamber 300 includes at least one leg 310 for supporting the cooking chamber 300. The leg 310 is configured to be accommodated in the damping member 400.

[0036] Figures 5-6 Different embodiments of the damping member 400 according to the present disclosure are shown. The damping member 400 includes a hollow interior 410, and the hollow interior 410 is configured to accommodate at least a portion of the leg 310 of the cooking chamber 300. Although Figures 4-5The damping member 400 is shown as a generally cylindrical shape, but the technical solution of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The damping member 400 can also be a cuboid shape, a pyramid shape, a prism shape, or a suitable shape such as a sphere shape including a hollow interior.

[0037] In some embodiments, the cooking appliance 1 includes two damping members 400 that are in a symmetrical position relative to the center of gravity of the base 10. The two damping members can respectively accommodate at least a portion of the two corresponding legs.

[0038] In some embodiments, the damping member 400 can be formed of silicone rubber. The elasticity of the damping member 400 is provided by the silicone rubber, so that the damping member can be accommodated in the groove and accommodate at least a portion of the leg of the cooking chamber. By means of the double interaction between the leg 310 of the cooking chamber 300 and the damping member 400 and between the damping member 400 and the groove 110 of the main body unit, the friction force can be increased, which provides an action opposite to the gravity of the cover to prevent the gravity of the cover 20 from causing the cooking appliance 1 to tip over.

[0039] With reference to Figure 5 , the damping member 400 can include at least one annular rib 420 arranged in the circumferential direction. The annular rib can extend along a portion or all of the periphery of the damping member. By means of such an annular rib, the damping of the damping member 400 can be further enhanced.

[0040] With reference to Figure 6 , the damping member 400 can include at least one strip-shaped rib 430 arranged in the axial direction on the inner side and / or the outer side. The strip-shaped rib 430 can extend along a portion or all of the height of the damping member 400. By means of such a strip-shaped rib, the damping of the damping member can be further enhanced.

[0041] The damping member 400 is configured to provide suitable damping to allow the user to easily open the cover 20 without tipping over when the cover 20 is opened to more than 90 degrees. Otherwise, when the damping of the damping member 400 is too large, it will hinder the user from opening the cover, thereby adversely affecting the user experience. Therefore, it is necessary to properly configure the damping member to avoid increasing the factor that is not conducive to the user opening the cover.

[0042] In implementing the claimed disclosure, those skilled in the art can understand and implement variations of the disclosed embodiments by learning the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. Features recited in different dependent claims or embodiments can be combined, if technically feasible.

[0043] The foregoing description has been described with reference to particular embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. Thus, others skilled in the art will best appreciate the scope of the disclosure in conjunction with the following claims.

[0044] While the disclosure and examples have been described with reference to the figures, it will be apparent that various changes and modifications can be made, and equivalents employed, without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as included within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A cooking appliance (1) comprising: a base (10) comprising: a first surface (SI); a main body unit (100); a heating unit (200); and a cooking chamber (300) for accommodating food to be heated; a lid (20) hingedly connected to the base (10) and comprising a second surface (S2), wherein the lid (20) is openable to at least one open position in which an angle between the second surface (S2) and the first surface (SI) exceeds 90 degrees; wherein the base (10) further comprises: at least one damper (400) configured to prevent the lid (20) from tipping over when in the open position, wherein the damper (400) is arranged between the main body unit (100) and the cooking chamber (300) to increase a friction force between the main body unit (100) and the cooking chamber (300).

2. The cooking appliance (1) according to claim 1, wherein The main body unit (100) comprises a recess (110) in which the damper (400) is arranged.

3. The cooking appliance (1) according to claim 2, wherein The cooking chamber (300) comprises at least one leg (310) for supporting the cooking chamber (300), and the damper (400) comprises a hollow interior (410) in which at least a portion of the leg (310) is accommodated.

4. The cooking appliance (1) according to claim 3, wherein The cooking appliance (1) comprises two dampers (400) which are in a symmetrical position with respect to a center of gravity of the base (10).

5. The cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein, The damper (400) is formed of silicone rubber.

6. The cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein The damper (400) comprises at least one annular rib (420) arranged in a circumferential direction.

7. The cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein, The damper (400) comprises at least one strip rib (430) arranged in an axial direction on an inner side and / or an outer side.

8. The cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claims 2-4, wherein, The recess (110) is located at a side of the main body unit (100) opposite the hinged position of the lid.

9. The cooking appliance (1) according to claim 8, wherein The recess (110) is arranged adjacent to a periphery of the main body unit (100).

10. The cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein, The lid (20) is at least partially formed of transparent glass, thereby allowing a user to see the cooking chamber inside the cooking appliance to observe a cooking progress.

11. The cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein, The lid (20) is hinged to the cooking chamber (300) which is fixed on the main body unit (100).

12. The cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein, The weight of the lid (20) is greater than the weight of the cooking chamber (300).

13. The cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein, The main body unit (100) further comprises a foot pad for supporting the main body unit (100) on a work surface and preventing sliding.

14. The cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein, The cooking chamber (300) comprises a baking tray, a frying tray or a steaming tray.

15. The cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein, The main body unit (100) further comprises a control means for controlling the cooking appliance and a power module.

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