COOKING APPLIANCE

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a cooking appliance with a cooking vat to be inserted into a cooking space, and arranged to allow visualization of the food being cooked in the cooking vat. State of the art

[0002] It is known in the prior art of cooking appliances designed to allow the viewing of food, such as documents CN 218 738 467 U, CN114515112, or WO202211809. However, these removable systems can reduce the lifespan of the transparent surfaces and the elements ensuring a seal between the transparent surfaces and the inside of the cooking chamber. Indeed, removing and replacing the transparent surfaces on their supports subjects them to regular mechanical stresses (friction, torsion, bending, impacts, etc.), which exposes them to a greater risk of breakage and / or more rapid deterioration. Description of the invention

[0003] One aim of the present invention is to address the disadvantages of the prior art mentioned above and in particular, first of all, to offer a cooking appliance designed to allow visualization of food while ensuring an extended lifespan and maintenance over time of the initial qualities of the appliance.

[0004] To this end, the invention relates to a cooking appliance according to claim 1. The transparent window and / or porthole can be made of glass, polycarbonate, transparent synthetic material (polymer, for example), or transparent mineral material (glass, borosilicate glass, crystal, quartz, etc.). Permanently mounting the transparent porthole on the enclosure wall increases the lifespan of the sealing elements between the transparent porthole and the enclosure wall, and possibly the interior of the cooking chamber (for example, one or more gaskets). Since such gaskets are sensitive components of the assembly, they are susceptible to stress and / or damage during the repeated mounting and dismounting of a removable transparent window, not to mention the forces applied to the parts (torsion, bending, impacts, drops, etc.) which can lead to breakage.The permanently fixed attachment of the transparent window to the enclosure protects it from scratches, impacts, and / or cracks. This attachment also contributes to making the cooking appliance simple and practical to use. A permanently fixed attachment means the window is fixed and cannot be removed. Therefore, the window cannot be detached by the user without special tools, the purpose being to prevent the user from removing it.

[0005] The cooking appliance may also have one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination.

[0006] According to one embodiment, the closing wall forms a front of the cooking appliance, detachable from the cooking tank.

[0007] In one embodiment, the cooking appliance includes coupling means arranged to allow reversible coupling between the enclosure and the cooking chamber. In other words, the enclosure and the cooking chamber can be separated, thus facilitating cleaning, particularly with regard to the cooking chamber, which receives the food during cooking and is therefore exposed to grease, even in hard-to-reach recesses. The cooking chamber alone, which has a more compact shape than when attached to the enclosure, is more convenient to place in a dishwasher and takes up less space. The enclosure can be mounted on the housing, even when it is not attached to the chamber, ensuring a compact cooking appliance that can be adapted to the user's needs.We can also use a specific material for the transparent porthole that is less resistant and / or cheaper because it is not necessary to guarantee (for the closing wall and / or for the transparent porthole) resistance to the dishwasher and to high washing temperatures.

[0008] According to one embodiment, if the cooking vessel is not present in the housing, the cooking appliance will not start. In particular, the cooking appliance includes a control unit and detection means designed to verify the presence of the cooking vessel, independently of the presence of the closing panel, so as to prevent the cooking appliance from starting and / or operating if the cooking vessel is detected as absent or incorrectly installed.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the coupling means include: at least one location index provided on one of the cooking vessel and the closing wall and a location imprint provided on the other of the cooking vessel and the closing wall and arranged to couple together reversibly, at least one attachment index provided on one of the cooking vessel and the closing wall and a movable attachment counter-form provided on the other of the cooking vessel and the closing wall and arranged to attach together reversibly. Separating the guidance / location and fixing functions ensures the coupling mechanism remains secure. The location indicator also makes coupling the front panel to the tank easier and more intuitive for the user.

[0010] In one embodiment, when the cooking vessel is coupled to the closing wall, at least one of said at least one locating index and said at least one attachment index is arranged to simultaneously contact the transparent window (for example, at least one edge of the transparent window) and the transparent viewing window (for example, at least one edge of the transparent viewing window). Thus, the same element (the locating index or the attachment index) contacts both the transparent window and the transparent viewing window to ensure direct relative positioning, thereby providing precise alignment between these removable parts.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the coupling means comprise a supporting frame: said at least one location index, and preferably two location indices, said at least one attachment index.

[0012] In one embodiment, the frame supports the transparent window on the cooking vessel. The frame is separate from the body of the cooking vessel. The frame therefore directly positions the transparent window, and the relative position between the transparent window and the transparent viewing port is improved and / or more precise.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the cooking appliance includes locking means arranged to occupy: A locking state in which the door panel is locked onto the cooking chamber, and an unlocking state in which the door panel can be freely detached from the cooking chamber. The locking state ensures that the door panel remains attached to the chamber. It is easy to attach the door panel to the cooking chamber for handling the latter, and to detach it, for example, to place the cooking chamber in the dishwasher or refrigerator, and close the opening of the housing with just the door panel.

[0014] In one embodiment, the locking means include a locking control interface arranged on the outside of the outer wall. Thus, the control interface is quickly accessible.

[0015] In one embodiment, the locking control interface includes a trigger to be actuated by a user, and the locking means include elastic return means arranged to return the trigger to a locked position, a movable latch arranged to reversibly lock the closing wall onto the cooking vessel, and a transmission mechanism arranged between the trigger and the movable latch. The elastic return means ensure stable retention of the vessel on the closing wall and provide a safety feature such that the locking means are by default in a locked state relative to the vessel, preventing an unintentional or untimely unlocking state.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the locking means are arranged to lock the attachment index with the movable attachment counterform.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the counter-form of the movable attachment forms a movable lock or a movable bolt.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the attachment index includes or forms a receiving form, and / or a strike plate, and / or a female form arranged to receive the movable attachment counter-form formed by a lock or bolt.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the counter-form of the movable attachment forms the movable lock.

[0020] In one embodiment, the cooking appliance includes means for gripping the cooking vessel arranged on the outside of the outer wall when the cooking vessel is in the inner cooking space. These means must allow the cooking vessel to be handled, particularly during or after cooking, and must be easily accessible.

[0021] In one embodiment, the means for gripping the cooking vessel are integrated into the closing wall. Thus, with the cooking vessel and the closing wall coupled and locked together by the locking means, the gripping means allow the cooking vessel to be grasped, via the closing wall, in a safe and reliable manner, particularly after cooking when the vessel and its contents may present a risk of burns.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the gripping means are formed by a handle attached to the closing wall, which is an ergonomic and intuitive way of moving the cooking vessel.

[0023] In one embodiment, the locking control interface is integrated into the cooking vessel's gripping means, making the operation of the locking means faster and more ergonomic. The locking control interface, the trigger, can be arranged on one end of the gripping means, a handle, so that the trigger can be quickly and intuitively activated by the user's thumb when placing and removing the cooking vessel.

[0024] The closing wall is designed to create a heat-insulating space between the transparent window and the transparent porthole. In other words, the closing wall is designed to create an air gap between the transparent window and the transparent porthole. Since the air between the two transparent surfaces is highly insulating, this design maintains a temperature on the outer wall of the casing, and particularly on the closing wall, that does not pose a risk of scalding.

[0025] In one embodiment, the cooking appliance includes a sealed tank lid. The tank lid is designed to fit over the cooking tank so that food can be stored in it in the refrigerator.

[0026] In one embodiment, the cooking vessel is generally rectangular. Furthermore, its simple shape allows it to fit easily on a shelf and among other rectangular containers. The cooking appliance is designed to prevent cooking from starting when the vessel lid is on the vessel and the vessel is inside the housing. A physical barrier can also be provided to prevent the cooking vessel from being mounted while still covered. Description of the figures

[0027] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention given by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which: [ fig. 1 ] represents an isometric view of a cooking vessel coupled to a closing wall of a cooking appliance; [ fig. 2 ] represents an isometric view of the cooking vessel detached from the closing wall of the cooking appliance; [ fig. 3 [ ] represents a cross-sectional view of the assembly between the closing wall and the cooking vessel of the figure 1 , at the level of locking means that are in a locked state; [ fig. 4 ] represents a cross-sectional view of the figure 3 with the locking mechanisms in an unlocked state. Detailed description of implementation method(s)

[0028] There figure 1 represents a subset 1 of a cooking appliance, formed by a cooking vessel 10 coupled to a closing wall 20, and arranged to introduce or remove food from a cooking space provided in a cooking appliance.

[0029] The cooking vessel 10 is intended to receive the food to be cooked and to be introduced into an internal cooking space of a housing of the cooking appliance (not shown) through an opening provided in the housing of the cooking appliance.

[0030] The closing wall 20 includes gripping means 23, here in the form of a handle, for manipulating the subassembly 1, particularly the cooking vessel 10 which contains the food to be cooked and whose wall temperature can be high enough to be dangerous during or shortly after cooking. The handle shown thus provides a thermally insulated handling interface.

[0031] The closing wall 20 also includes a locking control interface, here in the form of a trigger 22, which, when operated by a user, is arranged to unlock and detach the closing wall 20 from the cooking vessel 10. The trigger 22 is arranged in a sliding connection with respect to the gripping means 23 and the rest of the closing wall 20.

[0032] Finally, the closing wall 20 includes a transparent window 21 allowing the food in the cooking chamber 10 to be viewed from outside the housing during cooking.

[0033] There figure 2 represents the subset of the figure 1 disassembled, with the cooking tank 10 detached from the closing wall 20. In order to make it possible to view the inside of the cooking tank 10 during cooking from the outside, the tank 10 includes a transparent window 12 intended to be located opposite or facing the transparent porthole 21 of the closing wall 20.

[0034] Two locating indexes 11B and one attachment index 11A are arranged on a frame of the transparent window 12, forming coupling means 11 allowing reversible coupling of the working tank 10 with the closing wall 20.

[0035] There figure 3 represents a cross-section of the grasping means 23 of the figure 1 , to show an assembly / locking mechanism for the closing wall 20 to the cooking vessel 10, forming locking means 220. The locking means include: the trigger 22, comprising an axis 22A, elastic return means, such as a spring 222, arranged in the gripping means 23, between the trigger 22 and a wall of the gripping means 23, a movable lock 221 having an inclined oblong hole receiving the axis 22A, a stop 24, housing a circular counterform of the movable lock 24, an attachment index 11A of the cooking vessel 10 comprising an orifice forming a strike plate receiving a hook 221A of the movable lock 221.

[0036] Elastic return means, such as a spring 222, maintain the trigger 22 in a locked position shown figure 3 such that the locking means 220 are by default in a locked state in the absence of a control action exerted on the trigger 22. The movable lock 221 integral with the closing wall 20 is locked in the attachment index 11A of the cooking vessel 10, by means of a counter-attack form or a hook 221A housed in the strike plate or the orifice provided in the attachment index 11A.

[0037] The movable lock 221 is arranged in a sliding connection with an axis 22A integral with the trigger 22: the axis 22A can move in the oblong hole 221B of the movable lock 221, extended along a direction of extension inclined relative to the direction of movement imposed by movements of the trigger 22. In addition, the lock 221 includes a rounded counterform bearing on a stop 24.

[0038] Consequently, as illustrated on the figure 4 , when trigger 22 is activated, i.e. pulled to the right of the figure 4 It compresses the spring 222. Its rectilinear translation drives the shaft 22A in the same direction, so that the lock 221, against the stop 24, pivots as shown figure 4 The rounded and complementary shapes of the stop 24 and the movable lock 221 facilitate the pivoting of the lock around the stop 24; the oblong hole 221B and the axis 22A have a relative sliding movement; the hook 221A is no longer engaged with the attachment index 11A and the cooking vessel 10 can be separated from the closing wall 20. Industrial application

[0039] A cooking device according to the present invention, and its manufacture, are capable of industrial application.

[0040] It will be understood that various modifications and / or improvements, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made to the different embodiments of the invention described herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. In particular, it may be noted that the trigger 22 can be actuated by movements other than a translation caused by a pull from the user. Compression, tilting, and pivoting are possible. The position of the trigger 22 can vary, for example, by being placed under the handle or to the side, so that it can be easily manipulated by fingers other than the user's thumb when gripping the handle.

Claims

1. Cooking appliance comprising at least: • a casing defining an external wall of the cooking appliance, an internal cooking space, and an opening towards the internal cooking space, • a cooking bowl (10), designed to receive food to be cooked and arranged to be introduced into the internal cooking space through the opening of the casing, and comprising - at least one wall with a transparent window (12) arranged to face the opening of the casing, - a closure wall (20), arranged to close the opening of the casing when the cooking bowl (10) is within the internal cooking space, and comprising at least one transparent porthole (21) arranged to face the transparent window (12), • cooking means, provided to cook the food received in the cooking bowl (10), the closure wall (20) being detachably mounted in relation to the cooking bowl (10), characterized in that the transparent porthole (21) is permanently mounted on the closure wall (20) with a fixed assembly, and in that sealing means are present between the transparent porthole (21) and the closure wall (20).

2. Cooking appliance according to claim 1, wherein the closure wall (20) forms a facade of the cooking appliance, detachable from the cooking bowl (10).

3. Cooking appliance according to one of claims 1 to 2, comprising coupling means (11) arranged to allow reversible coupling between the closure wall (20) and the cooking bowl (10).

4. Cooking appliance according to claim 3, wherein the coupling means (11) comprise: • at least one locating index (11B) provided on one of the cooking bowl (10) and the closure wall (20) and a locating impression provided on the other of the cooking bowl (10) and closure wall (20) arranged to couple together reversibly, • at least one attachment index (11A) provided on one of the cooking bowl (10) and the closure wall (20) and a movable attachment counterpart provided on the other of the cooking bowl (10) and the closure wall (20) arranged to attach together reversibly.

5. Cooking appliance according to claim 4, wherein the coupling means (11) comprise a frame supporting: • said at least one locating index (11B), and preferably two locating indexes (11B), • said at least one attachment index (11A).

6. Cooking appliance according to claim 5, wherein the frame supports the transparent window (12) on the cooking bowl (10).

7. Cooking appliance according to one of claims 1 to 6, comprising locking means (220) arranged to occupy: • a locking state in which the closure wall (20) is locked onto the cooking bowl (10), • an unlocking state in which the closure wall (20) can be freely detached from the cooking bowl (10).

8. Cooking appliance according to claim 7, wherein the locking means (220) comprises a locking control interface arranged outside the external wall.

9. Cooking appliance according to claim 8, wherein the locking control interface comprises a trigger (22) to be activated by a user, and wherein the locking means (220) comprises elastic return means arranged to return the trigger (22) to a locking position, a movable lock (221) arranged to lock the closure wall (20) onto the cooking bowl (10) reversibly and a transmission mechanism arranged between the trigger (22) and the movable lock (221).

10. Cooking appliance according to one of claims 7 to 9, in dependency on one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the locking means (220) are arranged to lock the attachment index (11A)with the movable attachment counterpart.

11. Cooking appliance according to claim 10, in dependency on claim 9, wherein the movable attachment counterpart forms the movable lock (221).

12. Cooking appliance according to one of claims 1 to 11, comprising gripping means (23) for the cooking bowl (10) arranged outside the external wall when the cooking bowl (10) is in the internal cooking space.

13. Cooking appliance according to claim 12, wherein the gripping means (23) for the cooking bowl (10) are carried on the closure wall (20).

14. Cooking appliance according to one of claims 12 or 13, wherein the gripping means (23) are formed by a handle (23) attached to the closure wall (20).

15. Cooking appliance according to one of claims 12 to 14, in dependency on one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the locking control interface is carried on the gripping means (23) for the cooking bowl (10).

16. Cooking appliance according to one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the closure wall (20) is designed to form a heat insulating space between the transparent window (12) and the transparent porthole (21).