Food preparation appliance

Abstract

A food preparation apparatus comprising: - a first structure (10), - a second structure (20), movable relative to the first structure (10) between a cooking position and an open position, - a grilling area (EG), defined between the first structure (10) and the second structure (20) in the cooking position, and arranged to receive the first food to be grilled, - heating means (51, 52, 53) for heating and / or grilling the first food received in the grilling area (EG), - a cooking chamber (EC) arranged to receive the second food to be cooked, characterized in that said heating means (51, 52, 53) are also arranged, at least in part, for heating and / or cooking the second food received in the cooking chamber (EC). Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: Food preparation device Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates generally to grilling appliances and their use. In particular, the invention relates to domestic grilling appliances, and more particularly to domestic grilling appliances that can be used inside the home, commonly referred to as meat grills. State of the art

[0002] In the prior art of food preparation appliances, grill appliances are known, such as the one disclosed in document EP2861110B1. However, these appliances are often dedicated to this type of cooking only, which can hinder their use, because it is necessary to plan to prepare an accompaniment with another appliance, which can complicate the task and / or clutter up the kitchen space. Statement of the invention

[0003] An aim of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art mentioned above and in particular, first of all, to propose a grilling appliance which can be used to prepare a complete dish, that is to say grilled meat and its accompaniment.

[0004] For this purpose, a first aspect of the invention relates to a culinary preparation appliance comprising: - a first structure, - a second structure, movable relative to the first structure between a cooking position and an open position, - a grilling space, defined between the first structure and the second structure in the cooking position, and arranged to receive first food to be grilled, - heating means, arranged to heat and / or grill the first food received in the grilling space, - a cooking chamber, arranged to receive second foods to be cooked, characterized in that said heating means are also arranged at least in part to heat and / or cook the second foods received in the cooking chamber.

[0005] The food preparation appliance according to the above implementation comprises, in addition to the grilling space, a cooking chamber which allows an accompaniment to be prepared. It may be noted that the food preparation appliance is intended to cook and / or heat the accompaniment with the same heating means (at least in part) as those used to heat and / or grill meat in the cooking space. grilling. We can consider that the cooking chamber forms an oven that can receive all kinds of accompaniments (vegetables, potatoes, a gratin, etc.) and that this oven is at least partially heated by dedicated heating means to also grill the first foods in the grilling space.

[0006] According to one embodiment, the heating means are arranged to simultaneously: - heat and / or grill the first food received in the grilling space - heating the second food received in the cooking chamber. It can be noted that the food preparation appliance is designed to simultaneously cook and / or heat the accompaniment with the same heating means (at least in part) as those used to heat and / or grill meat in the grilling space. Thus, part of the heat generated by the heating means dedicated to the grilling space is used to keep warm or cook the second food: heat losses are reduced. In other words, at least part of said heating means is arranged to simultaneously: - heat and / or grill the first food received in the grilling space - heat and / or cook the second food received in the cooking chamber.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the heating means may be arranged at least in part between the grilling space and the cooking chamber. Instead of providing insulation between the grilling space and the cooking chamber, provision is made to be able to allow at least part of the heat from the heating means dedicated to the grilling space to pass into the cooking chamber. Typically, the part of the heat from the heating means dedicated to the grilling space that passes into the cooking chamber is heat emitted by radiation. In particular, provision may be made for at least part of the heating means dedicated to the grilling space to be directly opposite the cooking chamber.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the grilling space and the cooking chamber can be superimposed. Such a structure is easy to manufacture and offers good compactness, with a reduced footprint on the work surface and optimization of the height of the product due to the sharing of heating means between the grilling space and the cooking chamber.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the first structure may comprise at least one cooking plate, preferably removable, for heating and / or grilling the first food, and the heating means may be arranged at least in part between the cooking plate and the cooking chamber. According to one embodiment, the cooking chamber is delimited at least in part by the cooking plate. In other words, at least one cooking plate of the grilling space forms a wall of the cooking chamber, which simplifies the overall structure.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the heating means can be arranged at least partly in the cooking chamber. Thus, part of the heat generated by the heating means dedicated to the grilling space is directly used to keep warm or cook the second food: heat losses are even more reduced.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the heating means may comprise: - at least one first heating element arranged in the first structure for heating and / or grilling the first foods received in the grilling space and for heating the second foods received in the cooking chamber, and at least one heating element chosen from, and preferably all the heating elements chosen from: - at least one lid heating element, arranged in the second structure for heating and / or grilling the first food, - at least one base heating element, arranged under the cooking chamber to heat the second food.

[0012] According to one embodiment: - said at least one first heating element may be an electrical resistor, - said at least one cover heating element may be an electrical resistor, - said at least one base heating element may be an electrical resistor.

[0013] Alternatively, one or more of the above heating elements may be (or may be supplemented with) a convection heating source. A blower fan may be provided.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the grilling space may be arranged between the at least one first heating element and the at least one lid heating element. In other words, the grilling space is heated by two separate heating elements. According to this embodiment, of the first heating element and the lid heating element, only the first heating element is arranged to heat (primarily) the grilling space and (incidentally) the cooking chamber.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the cooking chamber can be arranged between the at least one first heating element and the at least one base heating element. In other words, the cooking chamber can be heated by two separate heating elements.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the second structure can form a cover hinged on the first structure.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the food preparation appliance may comprise a cooking tray designed to be received in a removable manner in the cooking chamber and to receive the second food to be cooked.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the cooking tray may comprise a retention tank, and the food preparation appliance may comprise a juice discharge channel, arranged between the grilling space and the retention tank of the cooking tray received in the cooking enclosure. Such a juice discharge channel may be provided to guide excess cooking juices from the grilling space to the retention tank.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the first structure may comprise: - a first tray coupling interface for receiving the cooking tray between the first structure and the second structure, - a second tray coupling interface for receiving the cooking tray in the cooking chamber. According to this implementation, the cooking tray can be used initially on the first coupling interface to cook the second food with the full electrical power of the grilling space, and in a second step, the cooking tray can be placed on the second coupling interface to keep the second food warm, while the first food can be grilled in the grilling space.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the second structure can be movable between the open position and: - an intermediate cooking position, in which the second structure is provided to cover the cooking tank received by the first coupling interface, and - the cooking position, in which the second structure defines the grilling space in cooperation with the first structure, the cooking tray being received by the second coupling interface or removed from the food preparation appliance.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the food preparation appliance may comprise support means, arranged between the grilling space and the cooking enclosure, and provided to support at least in part the heating means provided for heating and / or grilling the first food received in the grilling space and for heating the second food received in the cooking enclosure, and the support means are perforated to allow heat emitted by the heating means to pass into the cooking chamber and / or into the grilling space.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the food preparation appliance may comprise means for measuring a thickness to be cooked of the first foods, and / or means for measuring a temperature in the grilling space and / or in the cooking enclosure, and / or a human-machine interface and / or control means arranged to control the heating means, and / or storage means arranged to store instructions for controlling the heating means.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the food preparation appliance may comprise: - one or more removable cooking plates for receiving, heating and / or grilling the first foods in the grilling space, and / or, - one or more removable cooking trays to receive, heat the second foods in the cooking chamber.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the food preparation appliance may comprise a housing with a wall provided to confine and / or conceal the heating means.

[0025] Preferably, the food preparation appliance is a meat grill. Description of figures

[0026] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention given by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the appended drawings, in which:

[0027] [Fig.l] represents a general perspective view of a food preparation appliance defining a grilling space and a cooking chamber;

[0028] [Fig.2] represents a schematic sectional view of a first implementation of the food preparation apparatus of [Fig.l];

[0029] [Fig.3] represents a schematic sectional view of a second implementation of the food preparation apparatus of [Fig.l];

[0030] [Fig.4] represents a schematic sectional view of a variant of the food preparation appliance of [Fig.3].

[0031] Detailed description of embodiment(s)

[0032] [Fig.l] represents a general perspective view of a food preparation appliance comprising: - a first structure 10 forming a base with feet 11, - a second structure 20 forming a cover of the culinary preparation appliance and movable relative to the first structure 10 between a cooking position ([Fig.l]) and an opening position (as shown by the arrow [Fig.l]), - a hinge C forming an articulation to allow rotation of axis Ax between the first structure 10 and the second structure 20, - a handle 21 secured to the second structure 20 for opening and closing the cover formed by the second structure, - a human-machine interface 30 provided for controlling the food preparation appliance, comprising for example a screen and control buttons and arranged on the front of the food preparation appliance, - a grilling space EG, defined between the first structure 10 and the second structure 20 in the cooking position of [Fig.l], and arranged to receive first foods to be grilled such as for example a piece of meat, - an EC cooking chamber formed here by a drawer 12 sliding in the first structure 10, and arranged to receive second foods to be cooked such as for example an accompaniment to the first foods (vegetables, a gratin, potatoes, etc.) - a juice tray formed in this example by a side drawer 13 arranged under the grilling space EG.

[0033] The food preparation appliance of [Fig. 1] is designed to simultaneously heat and / cook first foods in the grilling space EG and second foods in the cooking chamber EC. A single appliance can therefore be used to prepare a complete dish (grilled meat and its accompaniment), which simplifies the user's task with a single appliance to use. It can also be noted that the grilling space EG and the cooking chamber EC are superimposed, which provides a compact construction and easy access to both the grilling space EG and the cooking chamber EC, from the same front of the food preparation appliance. However, other implementations could be envisaged with the grilling space EG and the cooking chamber EC offset, or reversed compared to the construction of [Fig. 1].

[0034] The grilling space EG is defined between the first structure 10 and the second structure 20. As shown in [Fig.l], it is sufficient to open the cover (the second structure 20) to access the grilling space EG and place the first food to be cooked there. The food preparation appliance of [Fig.l] comprises a hinge C to allow rotation between the first structure 10 and the second structure 20, but any other type of kinematics (translation, combination of rotation and translation, movement, etc.) can be provided with slides, connecting rods or articulated levers...

[0035] The food preparation appliance comprises a side drawer 13 located under the grilling space EG for collecting cooking juices. Typically, the side drawer 13 is placed under a cooking plate of the grilling space EG, opposite a drain hole which can allow cooking juices from the grill to flow into the side drawer 13. Alternatively, a retention tray can be provided in the drawer 12 of the cooking chamber EC, placed under a juice drain channel, which allows cooking juices from the grilling space EG to flow from a cooking plate of the grilling space EG to the retention tray in the drawer 12. The side drawer 13 can be located rather in the rear part of the food preparation appliance, as in [Fig.l], or towards the front, that is to say just behind or below the human-machine interface 30.This juice collection drawer can even be provided on the front, above or next to drawer 12 of the EC cooking chamber.

[0036] The cooking enclosure EC is typically an enclosed space provided in the first structure 10. The drawer 12 (forming a cooking tray) allows second foods to be quickly introduced therein to heat and / or cook them as in an oven by example. The drawer 12 is intended to slide, but other types of structure could be provided, such as a vertical axis pivot with drum opening / closing, or a system combining translational and rotational movements, or even a first structure 10 in several pieces which opens like a wallet...

[0037] The food preparation appliance of [Fig.l] typically comprises an electronic control unit designed to control the operation. The human-machine interface 30 allows a user to choose a type of operation (the user may be asked to select a recipe, a type of cooking, a type of food, etc.). Depending on the user's choice, the first foods in the grilling space EG and the second foods in the cooking chamber EC, the control unit controls the food preparation appliance to carry out appropriate heating and / or cooking. The food preparation appliance may comprise means for measuring the temperature in the grilling space EG, and / or in the cooking chamber EC to modulate the control of the food preparation appliance.It is also possible to provide means for measuring the cooking thickness of the first foods in the grilling space EG in order to specifically modulate the heating and / or cooking there.

[0038] [Fig. 2] represents a schematic sectional view of a first implementation of the food preparation appliance of [Fig. 1]. The first structure 10 comprises the drawer 12 placed in the cooking chamber EC, and a first cooking plate 41 placed above the cooking chamber EC, to define a lower face of the grilling space EG. The second structure 20 comprises a second cooking plate 42 to define an upper face of the grilling space EG.

[0039] As explained above, the food preparation appliance is intended to heat and / or cook food. For this purpose, the food preparation appliance comprises heating means. [Fig.2] shows a first implementation, with the heating means comprising: - a first heating element 51 arranged in the first structure 10 for heating and / or grilling the first food received in the grilling space EG and for heating the second food received in the cooking chamber EC, - a lid heating element 52, arranged in the second structure 20 for heating and / or grilling the first food received in the grilling space EG, - a base heating element 53, arranged under the cooking chamber EC for heating the second food received in the cooking chamber EC.

[0040] The heating means may be electrical resistors as shown here, but convection heating means may also be provided, which may be remote and / or include a heating fan. Alternatively or additionally, radiant heating means may also be provided, such as infrared or halogen lamps.

[0041] It may be noted that the first heating element 51 is provided to heat both the grilling space EG and the cooking chamber EC. In particular, the first heating element 51 is positioned in the first structure 10 between the grilling space EG and the cooking chamber EC, so that the first cooking plate 41 is heated by radiation / conduction or even convection to cook the first food in the grilling space EG, and the drawer 12 and its contents, opposite the first heating element 51, are also heated by the latter, at least by radiation.

[0042] Thus, the heating means, in particular the first heating element 51, are provided for simultaneously: - heating and / or cooking the first food received in the grilling space EG, - heating and / or cooking the second food received in the cooking chamber EC. The proposed structure is simple, and heat losses are minimal.

[0043] Regarding: - the cover heating element 52 provided in the second structure 20, it can be noted that it is provided for heating and / or cooking the first food received in the grilling space EG, - the base heating element 53 provided in the first structure 10 under the cooking chamber EC, it can be noted that it is provided for heating and / or cooking the second food received in the cooking chamber EC. According to the implementation of [Fig.l]: - the lid heating element 52 is intended exclusively to heat and / or cook the first food received in the grilling space EG, - the base heating element 53 is intended exclusively to heat and / or cook the second food received in the cooking chamber EC.

[0044] The food preparation appliance, and in particular its control unit, may be provided to independently control the components of the heating means, i.e. the first heating element 51, the lid heating element 52 and the base heating element 53 may be independently controlled to implement common or separate heating phases of each heating element. These common or separate heating phases may be implemented depending on the cooking program, the recipe or the food selected by the user.

[0045] In any event, the control of the first heating element 51 leads to simultaneously heating the grilling space EG and the cooking enclosure EC, which provides a simplified structure and energy savings, while offering the possibility of simultaneously cooking / heating the first foods and the second foods.

[0046] [Fig. 3] represents a schematic sectional view of a second implementation of the food preparation apparatus of [Fig. 1]. In this second implementation work, it can be noted that the heating means only comprise: - a first heating element 51 arranged in the first structure 10 for heating and / or grilling the first food received in the grilling space EG and for heating the second food received in the cooking chamber EC, - a cover heating element 52, arranged in the second structure 20 for heating and / or grilling the first food received in the grilling space EG. The rest of the food preparation appliance is similar and will not be specifically described.

[0047] Thus, the cooking chamber EC is heated only by the first heating element 51. Compared to the food preparation appliance of [Fig. 2], different heating powers can be provided to compensate for this difference, or different cooking programs. However, as for the food preparation appliance of [Fig. 2], the control of the first heating element 51 leads to the simultaneous heating of the grilling space EG and the cooking chamber EC, which provides a simplified structure and energy savings, while offering the possibility of simultaneously cooking / heating the first foods and the second foods.

[0048] [Fig. 4] represents a schematic sectional view of a variant of the food preparation appliance of [Fig. 3], in which provision can be made to place the drawer 12 between the first structure 10 and the second structure 20 to heat the drawer 12 and the second food contained by the first heating element 51 and the cover heating element 52.

[0049] The second structure 20 and the articulation mechanism relative to the first structure 10 are adapted (by the addition of a connecting rod for example) to allow the second structure 20 to be placed in an intermediate cooking position, in which the second structure 20 is provided to cover the drawer 12 as shown in [Fig. 4]. Thus, in the configuration of [Fig. 4], the second foods can be for example cooked with the full power of the first heating element 51 and the cover heating element 52. Once this operation has been carried out, the food preparation appliance can be put in the configuration of [Fig. 3] to cook first foods in the grilling space and keep warm or finish cooking the second foods with the drawer 12 placed in the cooking chamber.

[0050] In the configuration of [Fig.4], the cooking chamber EC is unoccupied, but once back in the configuration of [Fig.3], the first heating element 51 serves to heat the grilling space EG and the cooking chamber EC.

[0051] To receive: - the drawer 12 in the position shown [Fig.4], a first coupling interface can be provided on the food preparation appliance, - the drawer 12 in the position shown [Fig.2] or 3, a second coupling interface can be provided on the food preparation appliance.

[0052] The first coupling interface may typically be a mounting intended to receive the drawer 12 on its lower periphery to allow the first heating element 51 to directly heat the bottom of the drawer 12. The first coupling interface may also be provided to couple with the first cooking plate 41, or at the very least allow the first cooking plate 41 to be mounted on the first structure 10.

[0053] The second coupling interface may typically be a pair of slides for receiving the drawer 12 on its side edges to allow the base heating element 53 to directly heat the bottom of the drawer 12 and / or allow the first heating element 51 to directly heat the drawer 12 from above.

[0054] It can be noted that the use according to [Fig.4] is also possible for the appliance of [Fig.2], to benefit from a higher cooking power, with deactivation of the base heating element 53.

[0055] Generally speaking, it can be noted that the cooking plates 41 and 42 as well as the drawer 12 are removable, and that the food preparation appliance can comprise means for detecting the presence of each of these elements to authorize or prohibit the general operation of the food preparation appliance, or even authorize or prohibit the operation of a particular heating element, depending on the presence or absence of one or other of the cooking plates 41 and 42 as well as the drawer 12. Industrial application

[0056] A food preparation appliance according to the present invention, and its manufacture, are capable of industrial application.

[0057] It will be understood that various modifications and / or improvements obvious to those skilled in the art can be made to the various embodiments of the invention described in the present description without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0058] Generally speaking, it can be noted that the food preparation appliance can comprise an external casing (for example made of plastic) and thermal insulation means to prevent any risk of burning the user.

[0059] A grid or any other openwork support may be provided between the first heating element 51 and the cooking chamber EC, for example to provide mechanical support for the first heating element 51. Such a grid or openwork support will have the advantage of allowing at least part of the heat generated by the first heating element 51 to pass into the cooking chamber EC. The opening rate of the grid may be adjusted to modulate the heat that can be transmitted to the cooking chamber EC. It may also be provided that solid parts of the grid serve to radiate heat into the cooking chamber EC.

[0060] It is possible to provide, between the first heating element 51 and the cooking chamber EC, a movable flap which: - in a first position, at least partially conceals the first heating element 51 of the cooking chamber EC (no direct radiation, therefore moderate heating) and - in a second position, leaves open a direct passage between the first heating element 51 and the cooking chamber EC (direct radiation can therefore pass and heat more strongly, cook or grill the second food in the drawer 12). The movable flap can be mounted in sliding connection with the aforementioned grid.

[0061] It can be noted that the cooking chamber EC is delimited at the top by the first cooking plate 41, at the bottom by the bottom of the drawer 12 or a support of the base heating element 53, the lateral and front / rear parts of the cooking chamber EC being able to be defined and / or delimited by the drawer 12. Alternatively or in addition, the lateral and front / rear parts of the cooking chamber EC can also be delimited by the housing of the first structure 10.

[0062] The human-machine interface 30 provided for controlling the food preparation appliance is arranged on the front of the food preparation appliance, but it is possible to envisage placing it in other locations and / or in other forms.

Claims

Claims

1. Food preparation appliance comprising: - a first structure (10), - a second structure (20), movable relative to the first structure (10) between a cooking position and an open position, - a grilling space (EG), defined between the first structure (10) and the second structure (20) in the cooking position, and arranged to receive first food to be grilled, - heating means (51, 52, 53), arranged to heat and / or grill the first food received in the grilling space (EG), - a cooking chamber (EC), arranged to receive second food to be cooked, said heating means (51, 52, 53) also being arranged at least in part to heat and / or cook the second food received in the cooking chamber (EC), - a cooking tray intended to be removably received in the cooking chamber (EC) and to receive the second food to be cooked,characterized in that the first structure (10) comprises: - a first tray coupling interface for receiving the cooking tray between the first structure (10) and the second structure (20), - a second tray coupling interface for receiving the cooking tray in the cooking chamber (EC).,

2. Food preparation appliance according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said heating means (51, 52, 53) is arranged to simultaneously: - heat and / or grill the first food received in the grilling space (EG), - heat and / or cook the second food received in the cooking chamber (EC).

3. Food preparation appliance according to one of claims 1 to 2, in which the heating means (51, 52, 53) are arranged at least partly between the grilling space (EG) and the cooking chamber (EC).

4. Food preparation appliance according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which the grilling space (EG) and the cooking chamber (EC) are superimposed.

5. Food preparation appliance according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the first structure (10) comprises at least one cooking plate, preferably removable, for heating and / or grilling the first foods, and in which the heating means (51, 52, 53) are arranged at least partly between the cooking plate and the cooking chamber (EC).

6. Food preparation appliance according to one of claims 1 to 5, in which the heating means (51, 52, 53) are arranged at least partly in the cooking chamber (EC).

7. Food preparation appliance according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the heating means (51, 52, 53) comprise: - at least one first heating element (51) arranged in the first structure (10) for heating and / or grilling the first food received in the grilling space (EG) and for heating the second food received in the cooking chamber (EC), and at least one heating element chosen from, and preferably all the heating elements chosen from: - at least one lid heating element (52), arranged in the second structure (20) for heating and / or grilling the first food, - at least one base heating element (53), arranged under the cooking chamber (EC) for heating the second food.

8. Food preparation appliance according to claim 7, wherein the grilling space (EG) is arranged between the at least one first heating element (51) and the at least one lid heating element (52).

9. Food preparation appliance according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the cooking chamber (EC) is arranged between the at least one first heating element (51) and the at least one base heating element (53).

10. Food preparation appliance according to one of claims 1 to 9, in which the second structure (20) forms a cover hinged on the first structure (10).

11. Food preparation appliance according to one of claims 1 to 10, in which the second structure (20) is movable between the open position and: - an intermediate cooking position, in which the second structure (20) is provided to cover the cooking tray received by the first coupling interface, and - the cooking position, in which the second structure (20) defines the grilling space (EG) in cooperation with the first structure (10), the cooking tray being received by the second coupling interface or removed from the food preparation appliance.

12. Food preparation appliance according to one of claims 1 to 11, comprising support means, arranged between the grilling space (EG) and the cooking chamber (EC), and provided to support at least in part the heating means (51, 52, 53) provided to heat and / or grill the first foods received in the grilling space (EG) and to heat the second foods received in the cooking chamber (EC), in which the support means are perforated to allow heat emitted by the heating means (51, 52, 53) to pass towards the cooking chamber (EC) and / or towards the grilling space (EG).

13. Food preparation appliance according to one of claims 1 to 12, comprising: - one or more removable cooking plates for receiving, heating and / or grilling the first food in the grilling space (EG), and / or, - one or more removable cooking trays for receiving, heating the second food in the cooking chamber (EC).

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