Cooking appliance

Abstract

Cooking appliance (1) with a plate (2) having several recesses (3) of a predetermined depth on the top of the plate (2), with a stone (4) which can be inserted into and held by a receptacle (5), the receptacle being made of metal, the intake (5) can be inserted into at least one recess (3), characterized by that the receptacle (5) has several supports (6) which are suitable and designed to be inserted into and held in at least one recess (3), and that the supports (6) are chosen to be higher than the depth of the recess (3).

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The invention relates to a cooking appliance comprising a plate with several recesses of a predetermined depth on the upper surface of the plate and a stone that is heated to approximately 300 °C and placed in a recess of the cooking appliance. There, it is used as a so-called hot stone for cooking food. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] German patent applications DE 10 2009 038 621 A1 and DE 10 2010 024 787 A1 disclose table objects and insert elements for a tabletop, in which three recesses are arranged in the tabletop, each containing a cassette-shaped insert element. The base of the cassette element has depressions into which heat sources, in particular tea lights or similar items, can be placed. The heat generated by the flames can heat or keep warm the contents of a container located above the heat source. This arrangement proves to be very complex to handle and manufacture, and is also very difficult to clean.

[0003] Furthermore, European patent application EP 1 031 307 A2 discloses a cooking appliance comprising a frame and a plate-shaped holding element attached to the frame, which accommodates a heated cooking unit. This cooking appliance proves to be very cumbersome to use and is very fragile in its construction.

[0004] Furthermore, a cooking device known under the name Beefstone® and the website www.beefstone.de is available, featuring a flat bamboo board. The board's surface has several recesses for inserting cookware and a so-called hot stone. A metal tray is positioned between the hot stone and the bamboo board. The tray's recesses hold the metal tray, which in turn holds the hot stone, heated to approximately 300°C. This arrangement repeatedly damages the wood of the board due to the stone's temperature. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The invention is based on the objective of providing a cooking appliance that is improved compared to the prior art.

[0006] The problem is solved according to the invention with a cooking appliance which has the features specified in claim 1.

[0007] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0008] The cooking device according to the invention comprises a plate with several recesses of a predetermined depth on its upper surface, a stone, and a metal receptacle for the stone. The stone is securely held in the receptacle, preventing it from slipping or falling out and potentially causing injury. The receptacle can be inserted into at least one recess, thereby guiding the stone and receptacle within the plate. According to the invention, the receptacle has several supports designed to be inserted into and held in at least one recess of the plate. These supports are designed to be taller than the depth of the recess into which they are inserted.This design of the support structure and the corresponding recess ensures both a secure fit for the support within the recess and a sufficient and defined distance between the plate and the hot stone, which reaches a temperature of approximately 300°C during use. Furthermore, this special support design allows for lateral airflow through the space between the hot stone and the plate. Especially at high stone temperatures, this creates a chimney effect that enhances airflow, significantly reducing the risk of damage to the plate. Moreover, this cooking appliance proves to be very easy and intuitive to use.In particular, this design of the cooking device reduces the risk of improper handling of the hot stone and thus the risk of burns to the user.

[0009] In addition to holding a stone, other elements of a dish or cutlery set can also be inserted into the recesses. For this purpose, the recesses are preferably adapted to the external shape of the dish or cutlery elements to be inserted.

[0010] Furthermore, the cooking appliance according to the invention is characterized by a simple design and high reliability.

[0011] It has proven particularly advantageous to design the device according to the invention such that the plate is made of HPL (High Pressure Laminate). These plates typically consist of several layers of paper impregnated with synthetic resin and pressed together under pressure and heat. Such HPL plates are known, for example, from German utility model DE 20 2010 008 189 U1. These HPL plates prove to be mechanically and chemically quite robust and resistant, but they are sensitive to temperature, which is why they are not suitable for direct contact with a hot stone of approximately 300 °C. This further development of the cooking device according to the invention, using an HPL plate, allows the advantages of this material to be utilized for such cooking devices as well. In particular, the printability and the design versatility of HPL plates have proven to be additional advantages for such a cooking device.

[0012] Furthermore, it has proven particularly effective to equip the cooking device with supports that are at least 0.25 cm higher than the depth of the recess corresponding to the stone's holder. A height that is 0.5 cm to 1 cm greater than the depth has proven especially advantageous. This greater height ensures a sufficient gap between the surface of the plate and the stone in the holder, thus reliably guaranteeing airflow through the area between the stone and the plate, or rather, through the recess in the plate where the stone is held and is therefore particularly vulnerable to heat from the stone. This largely prevents damage to the plate.The pronounced lateral gaps also allow for a secure grip on the receptacle with the stone during removal and insertion from or into the recess, which on the one hand facilitates handling and on the other hand improves safety against damage or injury to the user.

[0013] Alternatively or additionally, it has proven particularly effective to select a ratio greater than 1.25 between the height of the supports and the depth of the recess associated with the receptacle, especially in the range between 2 and 3. These preferred ratios between the height of the supports and the depth of the receptacle ensure, with sufficient safety against slippage of the receptacle within the recess, a sufficiently wide and pronounced gap between the stone in the receptacle and the slab, thereby guaranteeing the aforementioned lateral airflow to prevent damage to the slab.

[0014] In addition, a further development of the cooking device according to the invention has proven successful, in which a recess and the supports of a receptacle are designed and arranged so that the supports are inserted into and held in the single, common recess. This further development is characterized by the fact that the number of recesses on the top of the plate is reduced, thereby making handling, and in particular cleaning, of the plate and thus of the cooking device especially advantageous, simple, and safe. Furthermore, the single large, recessed opening for the receptacle with supports allows for a particularly effective design of the area for airflow from the side, especially with a pronounced height extending over the entire height of the supports and across the entire surface of the recess between the supports, which significantly reduces the risk of damage to the plate from the hot stone.

[0015] A particularly preferred alternative embodiment of the invention shows the possibility that several recesses and supports of a receptacle are suitable and designed so that the supports are inserted into and held in different recesses. This embodiment is characterized by the fact that the recesses provided for the supports can be selected to be small in area, and thus the plate can be designed to be particularly stable.

[0016] Alternatively or additionally, it has also proven advantageous to further develop the cooking appliance according to the invention such that the holder is made of stainless steel, in particular in one piece. By using stainless steel as the material for the holder, it is possible to optimize the thermal conductivity and stability of the holder, a central element of the cooking appliance, and also to improve the durability of the cooking appliance. Furthermore, the thermal conductivity allows for a very efficient heat exchange with the airflow over a large area of ​​the holder, which flows through the gap or gaps under the holder, thereby making the protection against damage to the plate particularly effective.This is particularly true for a one-piece stainless steel housing, as the single-piece design ensures optimal thermal conductivity for the entire housing. Furthermore, it improves durability, since multi-part housings always use different materials for their various components, which are subject to significant corrosion due to high thermal stress and / or mechanical stress due to differing coefficients of thermal expansion.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the receptacle of this cooking appliance has a bowl-shaped receiving element for a stone with a base plate without holes. By designing the receptacle with a bowl-shaped receiving element and a base plate without holes, the heat transfer from the stone to the base plate is made very efficient, and the heat dissipation from the flat base plate without holes to the airflow along the base plate is made very efficient, thereby significantly improving the effectiveness of the embodiment with regard to durability and sustainability.

[0018] Furthermore, it has proven particularly advantageous to further develop the cooking appliance by incorporating stiffening elements in the form of indentations and / or reinforcements into the base plate. These stiffening elements allow for a reduction in the amount of material required to create the base without compromising its mechanical stability for the hot stone. Conversely, increasing the surface area of ​​the base plate, and thus the area for heat transfer, is especially beneficial when stiffening elements in the form of indentations or reinforcements are used. It is also possible for the stiffened base plate to include additional holes.

[0019] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the cooking device according to the invention, at least one of the supports is integrally connected to a side stop of the receptacle for an inserted stone. Preferably, each support is integrally connected to a side stop of the receptacle. This integral connection of the supports to the side stop of the receptacle enables very efficient heat transfer between the side stop of the receptacle and the support, so that this unit, as a single piece, exhibits a very even temperature distribution and, as such, provides a particularly large surface area for heat transfer to the ambient air. This is especially true when, as in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the entire receptacle is realized as a single piece. This can be achieved, for example, by a folded or bent stainless steel sheet.Starting from the base plate, individual lateral strips of stainless steel sheet are bent upwards by approximately 90°. These upward-bent strips are then folded outwards and downwards by 180° at a predetermined height, so that the downward-folded strips extend below the base plate and form one or more supports. Preferably, the ends of the strips are cut out in the middle section, so that two supports are formed from one strip. These supports brace the stone receptacle on each side, i.e., at a total of eight positions, thus providing effective, efficient, and secure support. The one-piece construction of the side supports with the base plate, and therefore with the entire receptacle, results in a very robust, cost-effective, and thermally efficient design for the receptacle.This is characterized by sustainability and particular efficiency with regard to preventing damage to the plate.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the cooking device according to the invention, the bowl-shaped receiving element has an annular side wall that completely encloses the base plate and is integrally connected to several supports, particularly by folding. The receiving element is preferably manufactured by deep drawing and forming, or by brazing and / or welding the supports to the annular side wall. This embodiment is characterized by exceptional stability of the receiving element and thus enables particularly secure fixation of the hot stone within it. The annular side wall of the bowl-shaped receiving element, in conjunction with the supports, provides a very large surface area for the stone with good thermal conductivity, resulting in highly effective heat exchange with the surrounding atmosphere. This leads to a very successful cooking device.

[0021] Furthermore, it has proven particularly advantageous to further develop the cooking device by incorporating several recesses on the surface of the plate, specifically designed and intended for the insertion of the stone holder. This advantageous development allows the holder to be firmly and securely positioned at various locations on the plate via the recesses, ensuring the desired reliable operation of the cooking device. This significantly increases both the ease of use and the range of applications. Moreover, the stress on the plate caused by the hot stone is distributed across multiple points within the plate's recess, thus extending its lifespan without significant negative thermal impact.

[0022] Furthermore, it has proven particularly advantageous to further develop the device according to the invention such that the recess for inserting the hot stone has one or more holes penetrating the plate and support elements arranged on the underside of the plate. By providing support elements on the underside of the plate, the underside is lifted from the surface on which the plate, and thus the cooking appliance, is positioned, allowing ambient air to flow through the space between the surface and the underside of the plate. The additional holes provided in the recess for the hot stone allow air from the space between the underside and the surface to flow upwards into the recess, in addition to the air flowing in laterally through the lateral gaps, thus stimulating cooling of the space.The additional airflow from the gap between the underside and the substrate is enhanced by a chimney effect, resulting in highly effective protection of the panel due to the improved cooling effect, the airflow direction, and the distance. This is particularly important when using HPL as the panel material.

[0023] A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention shows a cooking appliance in which the bowl-shaped receiving element for a stone and the stone itself are matched in shape and size such that the stone placed in the bowl-shaped receiving element has only a few millimeters of lateral play. This choice of shape and size ensures a very secure position for the stone within the bowl-shaped receiving element, preventing any significant lateral movement. This guarantees a secure and reliable position in which the airflow under the bowl-shaped receiving element is particularly effective, and also ensures simple and very safe handling when removing or inserting the receiving element with the stone into the corresponding recess in the plate.

[0024] Furthermore, it has proven advantageous to alternatively or additionally develop the cooking device according to the invention such that the shape and size of the one or more recesses for inserting the receptacle are coordinated in such a way that the receptacle inserted into the one or more recesses exhibits a lateral play of only a few millimeters. This ensures a secure and reliable position of the receptacle, in which the airflow between the receptacle and the recess is particularly effective, and also allows for simple and very safe handling when removing or inserting the receptacle with the stone into the corresponding recess in the plate.

[0025] The invention is explained below by way of example with reference to preferred embodiments and the illustrations. The invention is not limited to these preferred embodiments. Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a plate of an exemplary cooking appliance in a view from above and from below. Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a photograph of an exemplary cooking appliance in an oblique view, Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of the recording of an exemplary cooking appliance from Fig. 2 in a side view and Fig. Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of a section of an exemplary cooking appliance in a longitudinal section.

[0026] The illustrated exemplary cooking appliance 1 is designed with a plate 2, which has several recesses 3 of a predetermined depth on its upper surface, a stone 4, and a stainless steel receptacle 5 for the stone 4. The stone 4 is securely held in the receptacle 3, preventing it from sliding or falling out and potentially causing injury. The receptacle 5 can be inserted into at least one recess 3, thereby guiding the stone 4 within the recess 3 on the plate 2. The receptacle 5 has several supports 6 designed to be inserted into and held in at least one recess 3 of the plate 2. These supports 6 are designed to be taller than the depth of the recess 3 into which they are inserted.This design of the receptacle 5 with the supports 6 and the associated recess 3 ensures, on the one hand, that the receptacle 5 is securely positioned within the recess 3, and on the other hand, that a sufficient and defined distance is maintained between the plate 2 and the stone 4, which reaches a temperature of approximately 300 °C when the cooking appliance 1 is in use. This special design of the supports 6 also allows ambient air to flow laterally through the space between the receptacle 5 with the hot stone 4 and the plate 2. Especially at high temperatures of the stone 4, a kind of chimney effect is created, which enhances this airflow in the space and thus significantly reduces the risk of damage to or impairment of the plate 2. Furthermore, the operation of this cooking appliance 1 proves to be very simple and intuitive.In particular, the risk of improper handling of the hot stone 4 and thus the risk of burns to the user is reduced by this design of the cooking device 1.

[0027] In Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows a plate 2 of an exemplary cooking appliance 1 in a view from above and from below.

[0028] Plate 2 has a cuboid structure. Three circular recesses 3 and four rectangular recesses 3 are arranged on its upper surface. The three circular recesses 3 and two rectangular recesses 3 are designed to have a depth of 6 mm. Additionally, for improved handling, all edges of plate 2 are chamfered with a small bevel at an angle of 45° and a length of 1.5 mm.

[0029] One of the rectangular recesses 3 has in its central area two additional rectangular holes 7 which completely pierce the plate 2, so that a passage from the top to the bottom of the plate 2 is given.

[0030] The underside of plate 2 is provided with four support elements 8, which function as a foot for plate 2. These support elements 8 ensure that plate 2 is raised above the base 10, i.e., that it rests at a height equal to the support elements 8 above the base 10. This allows ambient air to flow under plate 2 along its underside and partially through the holes 7 in the rectangular recess 3. This enables ventilation and cooling of a receptacle 5 containing a hot stone 4, which is inserted into this recess 3.

[0031] Panel 2 is made of HPL (High Pressure Laminate). Panel 2 typically consists of several layers of paper impregnated with synthetic resin and pressed together under pressure and heat. These HPL panels prove to be mechanically and chemically quite robust and resistant, although they are sensitive to high temperatures of approximately 300 °C. Therefore, they are not suitable for direct contact with a hot stone and require the structural protection of a mounting 5, which is provided with appropriate supports 6.

[0032] For easier handling of the cooking appliance 1, recesses are provided on the underside and narrow sides of the plate 2. These serve as grips 9 and allow for a secure grip on the plate 2 with or without cookware or holders 5 inserted into the recesses 3, with or without a stone 4. These grips 9, in conjunction with the special design of the remaining surface of the plate 2, ensure safe and easy handling of the cooking appliance 1.

[0033] In Fig. Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a photograph 5 of an exemplary cooking appliance 1 shown in an oblique view from a slant above.

[0034] In Fig. Figure 3 is a schematic representation of recording 5 from Fig. 2 of an exemplary cooking appliance 1 shown in a side view.

[0035] Mounting element 5 is formed in one piece from a sheet of stainless steel. The stainless steel sheet has a material thickness of approximately 1 mm.

[0036] Figure 5 shows a shell-shaped receiving element 5a, which has a base plate 5b and several side stops 5c. Figure 5 also shows four supports 6, which are designed to hold the shell-shaped receiving element 5a raised from the support surface of the supports 6 of the receiving element 5, thereby allowing an airflow to pass laterally through the space beneath the receiving element 5a and above the support surface. This airflow enables highly efficient ventilation and cooling of the receiving element 5, particularly the shell-shaped receiving element 5a and the hot stone 4 placed within it.

[0037] The base plate 5a of the recording 5 is realized as a continuous surface without holes.

[0038] The cooking appliance 1 is integrally connected, via its supports 6, to a side stop 5c of the receptacle 5 for an inserted stone 4. This integral connection of the supports 6 to the side stop 5c of the receptacle 5 enables highly efficient heat transfer between the side stop 5c of the receptacle 5 and the support 6. As a result, this single unit exhibits a very even temperature distribution and provides a particularly large surface area for heat transfer to the surrounding air. This is especially true when the entire receptacle 5 is realized as a single unit. This can be achieved, for example, by a folded or bent stainless steel plate or sheet. Starting from the base plate 5a, individual lateral strips of the stainless steel sheet are bent upwards by approximately 90°.The upwardly curved strips are then folded 180° outwards and downwards at a predetermined height, creating a fold 5d in the upper area of ​​the side stops 5c. The downwardly folded strips, which extend below the base plate 5a, each form two supports 6. The ends of the strips are cut out in the middle, so that one strip forms two supports 6, which support the receptacle 5 for the stone 4 on two of the four sides, i.e., at a total of four positions, thus providing effective, efficient, and secure support.

[0039] The one-piece construction of the side stops with the supports, in particular with the base plate 5a and thus the entire mounting 5, results in a very robust, cost-effective, and thermally efficient realization of the mounting 5 with supports 6. This design is characterized by its sustainability and exceptional efficiency in preventing damage to the plate 2.

[0040] In Fig. Figure 4 is a schematic section of an exemplary cooking appliance 1 with plate 2, recess 3, receptacle 5 and stone 4 shown in a longitudinal section.

[0041] The depicted stone 4 is cuboid in shape with a length of 20 cm, a width of 10 cm and a thickness of 3 cm, and is made of granite or lava rock.

[0042] The receptacle 5, which holds the stone 4 in its cup-shaped receiving element 5a, is made in one piece from stainless steel sheet with a material thickness of 1 mm. The receptacle 5 has a length of 21 cm, a width of 11 cm, and a height of 2.4 cm. The clear internal dimensions of the cup-shaped receiving element 5a are approximately 20.5 cm long, 10.5 cm wide, and 0.8 cm high. The cup-shaped receiving element 5a includes a base plate 5 and four side stops 5c.

[0043] This means that the lateral play of stone 4, when inserted into the receptacle 5, is only a few millimeters. Therefore, stone 4 is held very securely and in a precise position within the receptacle 5. This minimizes the risk of stone 4 accidentally falling or sliding out, thus largely eliminating the risk of injury to the user(s).

[0044] At two of the side stops 5c, two supports 6 are integrally connected via a fold 5d. The supports 6 project downwards from the underside of the shell-shaped receiving element 5a by a free height of approximately 1.5 cm in the direction of the plate 2.

[0045] The partially depicted plate 2 has a recess 3 with a depth of 6 mm. Plate 2 has a cuboid structure with a material thickness of 4 cm, so that the material thickness in the area of ​​the recess 3 is 3.4 cm. Two rectangular holes 8 are arranged in the recess 3, which allow a passage between the volume in the area between the receiving element 5a of the receptacle 5 and the base of the recess 3 for receiving the receptacle 5, and the area below plate 2. The height of the air space below plate 2 is determined by the height of the support elements 8, which hold plate 2 at a distance from the base of plate 2.

[0046] By selecting the depth of the recess 3 and the height of the supports 6, an airflow is permitted to flow laterally through the gap between the surface of the plate 2 and the receiving element 5a of the receptacle 5, and across the space between the underside of the receiving element 5a and the base of the recess 3, which serves as the mounting surface for the receptacle 5, to the opposite gap. The lateral gaps are approximately 1 cm high. An additional airflow is facilitated by connecting the airspace below the plate 2 to the recess 3 via the holes 8. These airflows overlap and thus reinforce each other, preventing overheating of the plate 2 in the area of ​​the stone 4 located in the receptacle 5. Consequently, damage to the plate 5 by the hot stone 4 is largely and permanently prevented.

[0047] Furthermore, the pronounced lateral gaps also enable a secure grip on the receptacle 5 with the stone 4 during removal and insertion from or into the recess 3, which on the one hand facilitates handling and on the other hand improves safety against damage or injury to the user. Reference symbol list 1 cooking appliance 2 plates 3 Exclusion 4 stone 5 recording 5a cup-shaped receiving element 5b Base plate 5c Side stop 5D folding 6 supports 7 holes 8 support elements 9 Recessed handles 10 Subsurface QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2009 038 621 A1

[0002] DE 10 2010 024 787 A1

[0002] EP 1 031 307 A2

[0003] DE 20 2010 008 189 U1

[0011]

Claims

[1] Cooking appliance (1) with a plate (2) having several recesses (3) of a predetermined depth on the top of the plate (2), with a stone (4) which can be inserted into and held by a receptacle (5), the receptacle being made of metal, the intake (5) can be inserted into at least one recess (3), characterized by , that the receptacle (5) has several supports (6) which are suitable and designed to be inserted into and held in at least one recess (3), and that the supports (6) are chosen to be higher than the depth of the recess (3). [2] Cooking appliance (1) according to claim 1, wherein the plate (2) is made of HPL. [3] Cooking appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the supports (6) are selected to be at least 0.25 cm higher than the depth of the recess (3) associated with the receiving (5). [4] Cooking appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ratio of the height of the supports (6) to the depth of the recess (3) associated with the receiving (5) is greater than 1.

25. [5] Cooking appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a recess (3) and the supports (6) of a receptacle (5) are suitable and designed to ensure that the supports (6) are inserted into and held in the one, common recess (3). [6] Cooking appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein several recesses (3) and the supports (6) of a receptacle (5) are suitable and designed to ensure that the supports (6) are inserted into and held in different recesses (3). [7] Cooking appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the receptacle (5) is made of stainless steel, in particular in one piece of stainless steel. [8] Cooking appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the receptacle (5) has a bowl-shaped receiving element (5a) for a stone (4) with a base plate (5b) without holes. [9] Cooking appliance (1) according to claim 7, wherein the base plate (5b) has stiffening elements in the form of indentations and / or reinforcements. [10] Cooking appliance (1) according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein at least one of the supports (6) is integrally connected to a side stop (5c) of the receptacle (5) for an inserted stone (4), in particular by a fold (5d). [11] Cooking appliance (1) according to claims 10 and 8, wherein the bowl-shaped receiving element (5a) has an annular side wall (5d) which completely encloses the base plate (5b) and which is integrally connected to several supports (6) in particular by a fold (5d). [12] Cooking appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the plate (2) has several recesses (3) on its surface which are designed and provided for the insertion of the one receptacle (5). [13] Cooking appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the recess (3) for inserting the one receptacle (5) has one or more holes (7) penetrating the plate (2) and support elements (8) arranged on the underside of the plate (2). [14] Cooking appliance (1) according to one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the bowl-shaped receiving element (5a) for a stone (4) and the stone (4) are matched in their shape and size so that the stone (4) placed in the bowl-shaped receiving element has a lateral play of only a few millimeters. [15] Cooking appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the one or more recesses (3) for inserting the receptacle (5) are matched in their shape and size so that the receptacle (5) inserted into the one or more recesses (3) exhibits a lateral play of only a few millimeters.

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