Cooking appliance provided with a peripheral seal for collecting cooking residues

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooking appliance (1) comprising at least one frame (10) supporting a cooking plate (20) comprising an upper surface (22) and a periphery (21), and a heating means arranged under the cooking plate, characterized in that it further comprises at least one peripheral seal (30) made of a flexible heat-resistant material and comprising at least one peripheral lip (33) for collecting cooking residues from the upper surface (22) of the plate (20), said peripheral lip (33) for collecting residues defining a hollow chute (35) arranged below said periphery (21), in line with or slightly outside the latter. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Cooking appliance provided with a peripheral seal for collecting cooking residues Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooking appliance, in particular a portable electrical appliance such as a crepe maker, a griddle or a grill, without being limited to this type of product. Prior art

[0002] In the field of cooking, particularly in collective kitchens, hotels, cafes, restaurants or even food trucks and street food, the criteria of hygiene, speed of execution, ease of use and cleaning of the equipment used are essential. They allow cooks to prepare their food quickly, with peace of mind and in a clean kitchen, and customers not to wait long for the ordered dish without worrying about hygiene issues.

[0003] Many dishes are prepared on griddles, grills or crepe makers, that is to say outside of a container (saucepan, frying pan, Dutch oven, etc.) containing the food and retaining it (except in the event of overflow / splashes).

[0004] However, it is known that a significant amount of time is spent by cooks cleaning these cooking surfaces, which constantly produce a lot of residue. This operation, which is necessary in any activity of this type, causes wasted time (and potentially a loss of customers, who are often impatient in the case of street food) due to cleaning, significant hygiene issues and potential premature wear of the equipment used.

[0005] Indeed, the solutions for removing these residues generally consist of scraping the cooking surface with a spatula (in the case of cooking on a griddle, for example), often metallic (which causes scratches), or a metal brush (grill), which is even worse, and often inappropriately recovering potentially carbonized cooking residues, provided that the latter are not simply voluntarily or involuntarily removed to the floor or behind the cooking appliances.

[0006] However, as indicated previously, this causes hygiene problems due to the accumulation of partially or completely grilled food, wear of the cooking surfaces following cleaning using unsuitable accessories and, assuming that the recovery is done meticulously, a significant loss of time which could be devoted to something else. Presentation of the invention

[0007] The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks with a totally innovative, effective, easy-to-use approach that guarantees excellent hygiene of the cooking supports.

[0008] To this end, according to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a cooking appliance comprising at least: - a frame supporting a cooking plate comprising an upper surface and a surround, and - a heating means arranged under the cooking plate, characterized in that it further comprises at least one peripheral seal made of a flexible heat-resistant material and comprising at least one peripheral lip for collecting cooking residues from the upper surface of the plate, said peripheral lip for collecting residues defining a hollow chute arranged below said periphery, in line with or slightly outside the latter.

[0009] The invention is implemented according to the embodiments and variants set out below, which are to be considered individually or in any technically effective combination.

[0010] Advantageously, the peripheral seal comprises a structural internal core surrounding an upper part of the frame of the cooking appliance located below the cooking plate, the peripheral lip rising outwards from said structural internal core.

[0011] This solution allows for the proper recovery of residues in a reduced footprint and a sufficiently resistant structure.

[0012] According to an alternative design, the peripheral seal comprises a structural inner core directly surrounding the periphery of the cooking plate, the peripheral lip rising outwardly from said structural inner core.

[0013] This solution allows the seal to be installed as close as possible to the source of residue.

[0014] Preferably, the peripheral lip has a free end and forms a comma curved upwards and the thickness of which thins towards said free end.

[0015] This solution makes it possible to prevent residues from escaping to the outside of the chute as much as possible thanks to the peripheral shape of the raised comma seal.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the structural internal core comprises, in the upper part, a face inclined from top to bottom and directed from the inside to the outside of the peripheral seal in the direction of the hollow chute.

[0017] This solution makes it possible to effectively direct the residues towards the chute to prevent them from remaining on the edge of the cooking plate.

[0018] According to an additional characteristic, the free end of the peripheral lip is located at a level between the top and the bottom of the inclined section, and preferably substantially at the level of its middle.

[0019] This solution allows the residues to arrive simply and efficiently in the chute and to be stored there.

[0020] Preferably, the structural internal core comprises, in the upper part, a bead oriented towards the inside of the peripheral seal and resting on a receiving groove provided on the frame or at the level of the periphery of the cooking plate.

[0021] This solution allows easy installation and good retention of the seal on the device thanks to the internal bead / receiving groove cooperation.

[0022] According to a particularly interesting aspect of the present invention, the structural internal core comprises, in the upper part, a bead oriented towards the outside of the peripheral seal and overhanging the hollow chute.

[0023] This solution makes it possible to contain the residues already present in the chute and to prevent them from coming out towards the cooking plate thanks to the bead partially overhanging the chute.

[0024] Preferably, the peripheral seal is made of silicone resistant to a temperature above 350°C.

[0025] Advantageously, the peripheral seal is removable.

[0026] This solution makes it easy to wash the seal, for example in a dishwasher, or to replace it when it is damaged.

[0027] According to a particular application, the appliance is a crepe maker with a disc-shaped cooking plate and the peripheral seal is a circular ring closed by heat sealing.

[0028] According to an alternative embodiment, the appliance is a grill or a plancha with a rectangular or square cooking plate and the peripheral seal has the same shape closed by heat sealing. Brief description of the figures

[0029] Other advantages, aims and characteristics of the present invention emerge from the following description given, for explanatory and in no way limiting purposes, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0030] [Fig-1] [Fig. 1] is a perspective view of a crepe maker equipped with a peripheral seal conforming to the present invention,

[0031] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a front view of [Fig.l],

[0032] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a top view of [Fig.l],

[0033] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of the joint of Figures 1 to 3,

[0034] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a top view of [Fig.4],

[0035] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a sectional view along line AA of [Fig.5],

[0036] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is a detail view of [Fig.6],

[0037] [Fig.8] [Fig.8] is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of [Fig.l] representing a plancha equipped with a joint in accordance with the present invention,

[0038] [Fig.9] [Fig.9] is a front view of [Fig.8], and

[0039] [Fig. 10] [Fig. 10] is a top view of [Fig.9]. Description of the embodiments

[0040] The present description is given without limitation, each characteristic of an embodiment being able to be combined with any other characteristic of any other embodiment.

[0041] It should be noted, from now on, that the figures are not necessarily to scale, without this hindering their understanding.

[0042] Figures 1 to 7 represent a cooking appliance 1 according to the present invention.

[0043] In the present case, it is a portable electric crepe maker 1 comprising a chassis 10 mounted on feet 11, an operating switch 12 of the on-off type, and a rotary knob 13 for adjusting the temperature. The chassis 10 has a peripheral upper part 15 and supports a flat cooking plate 20 overhanging a heat source (not shown) such as an electric resistance. The cooking plate 20 has a perimeter 21 and has a flat upper cooking surface 22 and, in the present case, of perfectly circular shape (disc).

[0044] As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, a peripheral seal 30 according to the present invention is removably mounted all around the chassis 10 of the appliance, at its upper part 15, slightly below the perimeter 21 of the cooking plate 20.

[0045] As illustrated in more detail in relation to Figures 4 to 7, the peripheral seal 30 is made in one piece from a flexible heat-resistant material (more than 350°C), for example a silicone elastomer. The seal 30 comprises a structural inner core 31 surrounding, at a contact surface 32, the upper part 15 of the chassis 10 of the cooking appliance 1 as well as a peripheral lip 33 rising outwards from said structural inner core 31.

[0046] This peripheral lip 33 has a free end 34 and forms a sort of comma curved upwards, the thickness of which thins towards said free end 34. The peripheral lip 33 thus forms, with the structural core 31, a hollow chute 35 for recovering cooking residues from the surface upper 22 of the plate 20, said chute 35 being in this case arranged below said periphery 21, in line with or slightly outside the latter.

[0047] As can be seen in [Fig.7], the structural internal core 31 comprises, in the upper part, a face 36 inclined from top to bottom and directed from the inside to the outside of the peripheral seal 30, in the direction of the hollow chute 35. More precisely, the free end 34 of the peripheral lip 33 is located at a level between a high point 36a (in reality a first circle) and a low point 36b (in reality a circle concentric with the first circle) of the inclined face 36, and preferably substantially at the level of its middle.

[0048] The structural internal core 31 also comprises, in the upper part, a rounded internal bead 37 oriented towards the inside of the peripheral seal 30 (i.e. centripetally) and preferably resting on a receiving groove (not shown) provided on the upper part 15 of the chassis 10 or directly at the level of the periphery 21 of the cooking plate 20.

[0049] Finally, the structural internal core 31 also comprises in the upper part, a rounded external bead 38 oriented towards the outside of the peripheral seal 30 and overhanging a part of the hollow chute 35 so as to provide, in the chute 35, an annular zone 39 with radial setback (i.e. oriented towards the structural core 31) which makes it possible to keep the residues falling from the upper surface 22 of the cooking plate 20 in the direction of said recovery chute 35.

[0050] The side 36 inclined from top to bottom forms a natural radial slope oriented in a centrifugal manner which makes it possible to guide the cooking residues coming from the upper surface 22 of the cooking plate 20 towards the recovery chute 35, the free end 34 of the comma-shaped lip 33 making it possible to maintain these residues, in the manner of an annular peripheral reservoir, in order to prevent them from coming out of said recovery chute 35 towards the outside of the cooking appliance.

[0051] The peripheral seal 30 is preferably made of a linear profile obtained by die and the ends of which are heat-sealed before positioning said seal 30 in the form of a ring around the cooking appliance 1 at the intended location.

[0052] As indicated previously, this peripheral seal 30 makes it possible to very easily recover all the cooking residues that may be created during the preparation of a pancake and which are likely to harm the cooking (they may for example mix with the batter of a future new pancake). The user can thus very quickly remove the residues from the plate 20 using a spatula or another suitable utensil without said residues falling onto his work surface and / or at his feet, which could cause nests for bacteria and various other hygiene problems.

[0053] Once the groove 35 of the peripheral seal 30 is sufficiently filled with residue, the user can remove said seal 30 and empty / clean it very easily before repositioning it, or leave the seal 30 in place and use a utensil such as a small brush to gently remove the residue from the chute 35 and collect it in his hand or in a suitable receptacle.

[0054] Figures 8 to 10 represent an alternative embodiment of Figures 1 to 7 in which the cooking appliance 1 is a plancha comprising a frame 10 surrounded by a peripheral seal 30 designed in exactly the same way as the seal 30 of the first embodiment and supporting a rectangular flat cooking plate 20.

[0055] Unlike the crepe maker 1, the joint 30 is rectangular in shape so that it has four welding points (preferably invisible) at its corners.

[0056] It should be clearly understood that the detailed description of the subject of the Invention, given solely by way of illustration, does not constitute in any way a limitation, the technical equivalents also being included in the scope of the present invention.

[0057] Thus, the solution of the present invention may relate to other types of cooking appliance, in particular non-portable, and / or operating on gas or with other energy sources. These may be appliances for domestic or professional use, of more or less large dimensions.

[0058] The seal can take any conceivable shape adapted to the cooking appliance and / or the perimeter of the cooking plate.

[0059] Two superimposed peripheral seals positioned at different heights and sufficiently distant from each other can be provided, with the groove of the lower seal further radially than the chute of the first seal arranged above for a “cascade recovery” effect of the residues (and this increases the storage capacity of the residues).

Claims

Claims

1. Cooking appliance (1) comprising at least: - a frame (10) supporting a cooking plate (20) comprising an upper surface (22) and a periphery (21), and - a heating means arranged under the cooking plate, characterized in that it further comprises at least one removable peripheral seal (30) made of a flexible heat-resistant material and comprising at least one structural internal core (31) arranged all around an upper part (15) of the frame (10), below the periphery (21) of the cooking plate (20), a peripheral lip (33) for collecting cooking residues from the upper surface (22) of the plate (20) rising outwards from said structural internal core (31), said peripheral lip (33) for collecting residues defining a hollow chute (35) arranged below said periphery (21), in line with or slightly outside the latter.

2. Cooking appliance (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the peripheral lip (33) has a free end (34) and forms a comma curved upwards and the thickness of which thins towards said free end (34).

3. Cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the structural internal core (31) comprises, in the upper part, a side (36) inclined from top to bottom and directed from the inside to the outside of the peripheral seal (30) in the direction of the hollow chute (35).

4. Cooking appliance (1) according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the free end (34) of the peripheral lip (33) is located at a level between the top (36a) and the bottom (36b) of the inclined face (36), and preferably substantially at the level of its middle.

5. Cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the structural internal core (31) comprises, in the upper part, a bead oriented (37) towards the inside of the peripheral seal (30) and resting on a receiving groove provided on the (10) frame or at the level of the periphery (21) of the cooking plate (20).

6. Cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the structural internal core (31) comprises, in

7.

8.

9. upper part, a bead (38) oriented towards the outside of the peripheral seal (30) and overhanging the hollow chute (35). Cooking appliance (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the peripheral seal (30) is made of silicone resistant to a temperature above 350°C. Cooking appliance (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a crepe maker with a cooking plate (20) in the shape of a disc and the peripheral seal (30) is a circular ring closed by heat sealing. Cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is a grill with a rectangular cooking plate (20) and the peripheral seal (30) is a rectangular ring closed by heat sealing.

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