Raclette machine equipped with a cooking plate

Abstract

The raclette grill (1) comprises a base (3) configured to hold cooking cups; an electric heating element (5) positioned above and at a distance from the base (3); and a cooking plate (6) configured to at least partially cover the electric heating element (5), the cooking plate (6) having a lower face oriented towards the base (3) and an upper face comprising a cooking surface (7). The lower face of the cooking plate (6) has a reflective surface (12) having an emissivity between 0.60 and 0.80, the reflective surface (12) being configured to reflect a portion of the thermal radiation emitted by the electric heating element (5) towards the base (3). Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Raclette appliance equipped with a cooking plate technical field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to an electric cooking appliance for cooking food products, and more particularly to a raclette grill. Prior art

[0002] As is known, a raclette machine comprises:

[0003] - a base configured to rest on a work surface,

[0004] - a sole fixed to the base and configured to receive cooking cups each designed to hold at least one food item to be cooked,

[0005] - an electric heating element which is disposed above and at a distance from the sole and which is configured to be located at least partially above the baking cups when the baking cups are resting on the sole, and

[0006] - a cooking plate configured to at least partially cover the heating element electric heating, the cooking plate comprising a lower face which is oriented towards the sole and an upper face comprising a cooking surface configured to receive and heat food to be cooked.

[0007] In order to ensure on the one hand optimal cooking of food placed on the cooking surface and on the other hand the melting of the cheese contained in the different cooking cups, a raclette appliance of the aforementioned type has a high electrical power, and generally greater than 800W, or even greater than 1000W for raclette appliances whose base is able to receive eight cooking cups simultaneously.

[0008] Thus, the electrical consumption of such a raclette appliance is relatively high due to the need to heat and / or cook food placed in the cooking cups and on the cooking plate mainly from the thermal radiation emitted by the electric heating element. Summary of the invention

[0009] The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks.

[0010] The technical problem underlying the invention consists in particular of providing a raclette appliance which is of simple and economical structure and which has improved energy efficiency, while maintaining satisfactory heating and cooking performance.

[0011] To this end, the present invention relates to a raclette appliance comprising:

[0012] - a base configured to receive cooking cups, also called pans, each designed to hold at least one food item to be cooked, for example a a piece of cheese to melt, or even other foods to cook (bacon, pieces of onion or mushrooms...),

[0013] - an electric heating element which is disposed above and at a distance from the sole and which is configured to be located at least partially above the baking cups when the baking cups are resting on the sole, and

[0014] - a cooking plate configured to at least partially cover the heating element electric heating, the cooking plate comprising a lower face which is oriented towards the base and an upper face comprising a cooking surface configured to receive and heat food to be cooked, such as vegetables, pancakes or meat, such as bacon,

[0015] the lower face of the cooking plate has a reflective surface having an emissivity between 0.60 and 0.80, advantageously between 0.65 and 0.80, even more advantageously between 0.70 and 0.75 and for example of about 0.73, the reflective surface being configured to reflect part of a thermal radiation emitted by the electric heating element towards the base and therefore towards cooking cups arranged on the base.

[0016] Such a configuration of the lower face of the cooking plate makes it possible to reflect back to the base, and therefore to the cooking cups placed on the latter, a part of the calories emitted by the electric heating element and thus to maintain optimal cooking of the food contained in the cooking cups, and in particular to ensure melting of the cheese contained in the cooking cups, while reducing the electrical power of the electric heating element, and therefore reducing the electrical consumption of the raclette appliance.

[0017] Moreover, such an emissivity value for the reflecting surface allows the latter to absorb calories emitted by the heating electrical resistance, and thus to store heat, and thus ensure satisfactory heating and cooking of food, such as bacon or vegetables, placed on the cooking surface provided on the hob.

[0018] Consequently, the raclette appliance according to the present invention ensures optimal cooking of food placed in the different cooking cups and on the cooking plate, while exhibiting improved energy efficiency.

[0019] The raclette machine may also have one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, the reflective surface is gray, and advantageously light gray. Such a color ensures reflection of a significant portion of the thermal radiation emitted by the heating element towards the base, while ensuring sufficient absorption of this thermal radiation by the cooking plate so as to allow heating and / or satisfactory cooking of the food placed on the cooking surface.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the invention, the reflective surface has a color located in the color range from S 5500-N to S 5502-Y in the NCS System® color chart.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the invention, the reflective surface extends over substantially the entire underside of the cooking plate.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the invention, the underside of the cooking plate is at least partially coated, and for example entirely coated, with a surface coating, the surface coating forming the reflective surface. Advantageously, the surface coating is gray, and for example light gray.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cooking plate comprises a cooking part which is substantially flat and which includes the cooking surface, and a peripheral rim which is configured to extend downwards from a peripheral edge of the cooking part, the reflective surface extending at least in part over an underside of the cooking part.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the invention, the reflective surface extends at least in part over an inner face of the peripheral rim.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the invention, the raclette appliance includes a support structure configured to support the cooking plate and keep the cooking plate away from the base.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the invention, the support structure is further configured to support the heating electrical resistance.

[0028] According to one embodiment of the invention, the support structure comprises several support members, such as metal spacers, extending at least partially between the base and the cooking plate and arranged at a distance from each other. Advantageously, the support members project from an upper face of the base.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the invention, the support members, and for example the upper portions of the support members, are configured to support a peripheral portion of the cooking plate.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the invention, the electric heating element is arranged under the lower face of the cooking plate.

[0031] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cooking plate is metallic, and for example made of aluminum.

[0032] According to one embodiment of the invention, the raclette appliance comprises a cooking chamber in which the cooking cups are intended to be housed, the cooking chamber being delimited below, that is to say towards the bottom, by the sole, and being delimited above, that is to say towards the top, by the cooking plate. Advantageously, the electric heating element is located in an upper part of the cooking chamber.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the invention, the raclette machine comprises a base configured to rest on a work surface, the sole being fixed to the base.

[0034] According to one embodiment of the invention, the support structure is configured to fix the sole to the base.

[0035] According to one embodiment of the invention, the base comprises a plurality of receiving indentations, also called receiving cavities, each receiving indentation being configured to receive a cooking cup. The base may, for example, comprise six or eight receiving indentations.

[0036] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cooking plate is removable.

[0037] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cooking plate is configured to wrap the electric heating element in such a way as to prevent access by a user.

[0038] According to one embodiment of the invention, the electric heating element comprises a connection portion configured to be electrically connected to a power supply, and a heating portion extending substantially parallel to the cooking plate. Advantageously, the support structure is configured to keep the heating portion at a distance from the cooking surface.

[0039] According to one embodiment of the invention, the heating part extends along an extension plane which is substantially horizontal when the base rests on a horizontal surface.

[0040] According to one embodiment of the invention, the electrical power of the heating electric resistance is between 700W and 800W, and for example about 765W.

[0041] According to another embodiment of the invention, the electrical power of the heating electric resistance is between 900W and 1000W, and for example about 945W. Brief description of the figures

[0042] The present invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description with reference to the accompanying figures, in which identical reference signs correspond to structurally and / or functionally identical or similar elements.

[0043] [Fig-1] is a top perspective view of a raclette machine according to the present invention;

[0044] [Fig.2] is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the raclette grill of the [Fig.l];

[0045] [Fig.3] is an exploded perspective view of a heating system belonging to the raclette machine of [Fig.1];

[0046] [Fig.4] is a top perspective view of the cooking plate of the appliance raclette of the [Fig.l];

[0047] [Fig.5] is a perspective view from below the cooking plate of [Fig.4]. Detailed description

[0048] It should be noted that in this document, the terms "horizontal", "lower", "upper", "above" and "under" used to describe the raclette machine refer to the raclette machine in use when it is resting on a flat, horizontal surface, such as a work surface.

[0049] Unless otherwise stipulated, the term "substantially" means, in this document, "exactly or to within 10% or to within 10°".

[0050] Figures 1 to 5 show a raclette grill 1 comprising a base 2 configured to rest on a work surface, and a cooking plate 3, for example made of metal, fixed to an upper part of the base 2. The cooking plate 3 is more particularly configured to receive cooking pans 4, also called raclette pans, each intended to hold at least one food item to be cooked, for example a piece of cheese to be melted, or even other foods to be cooked (bacon, pieces of onion or mushrooms, etc.). The cooking plate 3 advantageously has several receiving indentations 3.1, for example six or eight, each configured to receive a cooking pan 4.

[0051] The raclette appliance 1 further includes an electric heating element 5 which is disposed above and at a distance from the sole 3, and which is configured to be located at least partly above the cooking cups 4 when the cooking cups 4 are resting on the sole 3.

[0052] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the electric heating resistance 5 comprises a connection part 5.1 configured to be electrically connected to an electrical power supply, and a heating part 5.2 extending along an extension plane which is configured to be substantially horizontal when the base 2 rests on a horizontal surface.

[0053] The electrical power of the heating electric resistance 5 can for example be between 700W and 800W, and be approximately equal to 765W, or can for example be between 900W and 1000W, and be approximately equal to 945W, depending on the model of raclette appliance.

[0054] The raclette appliance 1 further comprises a cooking plate 6, for example metallic, configured to cover the electric heating element 5. In a way Advantageously, the cooking plate 6 is removable, and is configured to enclose the electric heating element 5 in such a way as to prevent access by a user.

[0055] As shown in [Fig.2], the cooking plate 6 comprises a lower face which is oriented towards the sole 3 and an upper face comprising a cooking surface 7 configured to receive and heat food to be cooked.

[0056] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the cooking plate 6 has a cooking part 6.1 which is substantially flat and which includes the cooking surface 7, and a peripheral rim 6.2 which is configured to extend downwards from a peripheral edge of the cooking part 6.1. Advantageously, the heating part 5.2 of the electric heating element 5 extends substantially parallel to the cooking plate 6, and more particularly to the cooking part 6.1.

[0057] As shown in [Fig.2], the raclette appliance 1 has a cooking chamber 8 in which the cooking cups 4 are intended to be housed, the cooking chamber 8 being delimited below, i.e. towards the bottom, by the base 3, and being delimited above, i.e. towards the top, by the cooking plate 6. Advantageously, the electric heating element 5 is arranged in an upper part of the cooking chamber 8, and for example near the lower face of the cooking plate 6.

[0058] The raclette appliance 1 also includes a support structure 9 configured to support the cooking plate 6 and to keep the cooking plate 6 away from the sole 3. Advantageously, the support structure 9 is further configured to support the electric heating element 5 and to keep the heating part 5.2 away from the sole 3.

[0059] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the support structure 9 comprises several support members 11, such as metal spacers, extending at least partially between the base 3 and the cooking plate 6 and arranged at a distance from one another. The support members 11 are more particularly configured to support a peripheral portion of the cooking plate 6. Advantageously, the support members 11 project from an upper face of the base 3 and are also configured to fix the base 3 to the plinth 2.

[0060] According to the present invention, the lower face of the cooking plate 6 has a reflective surface 12 having an emissivity of between 0.60 and 0.80, advantageously between 0.65 and 0.80, even more advantageously between 0.70 and 0.75 and for example of about 0.73. Thus, the reflective surface 12 is more particularly configured to reflect a part of a thermal radiation emitted by the electric heating element 5 towards the base 3, and therefore towards cooking cups 4 arranged on the base 3.

[0061] According to one embodiment of the invention, the underside of the cooking plate 6 is at least partially coated, and for example entirely coated, with a surface coating forming the aforementioned reflective surface 12. The surface coating, and therefore the reflective surface 12, may, for example, extend over the entire underside of the cooking plate 6, and thus over the entire underside of the cooking portion 6.1 and over the entire inner face of the peripheral rim 6.2.

[0062] Advantageously, the surface coating, and therefore the reflective surface 12, is gray, and preferably light gray, reference color S 5500-N in the NCS System® color chart. According to one embodiment of the invention, the surface coating, and therefore the reflective surface 12, has a color within the color range from S 5500-N to S 5502-Y in the NCS System® color chart.

[0063] Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and illustrated, which has been given only by way of example. Modifications remain possible, particularly with regard to the composition of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Raclette appliance (1) comprising: - a base (3) configured to receive cooking cups (4), each intended to receive at least one food item to be cooked, - an electric heating element (5) which is disposed above and at a distance from the base (3) and which is configured to be located at least partially above the cooking cups (4) when the cooking cups (4) are resting on the base (3), and - a cooking plate (6) configured to cover at least partially the electric heating element (5), the cooking plate (6) comprising a lower face which is oriented towards the base (3) and an upper face comprising a cooking surface (7) configured to receive and heat a food item to be cooked, characterized in that the lower face of the cooking plate (6) has a reflective surface (12) having an emissivity between 0.60 and 0.80,the reflecting surface (12) being configured to reflect part of the thermal radiation emitted by the electric heating element (5) towards cooking cups (4) arranged on the base (3).

2. Raclette apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the reflective surface (12) is grey in color.

3. Raclette appliance (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the underside of the cooking plate (6) is at least partly coated with a surface coating, the surface coating forming the reflective surface (12).

4. Raclette appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cooking plate (6) comprises a cooking part (6.1) which is substantially flat and which includes the cooking surface (7), and a peripheral rim (6.2) which is configured to extend downwards from a peripheral edge of the cooking part (6.1), the reflecting surface (12) extending at least in part over an underside face of the cooking part (6.1).

5. Raclette apparatus (1) according to claim 4, wherein the reflecting surface (12) extends at least partly over an inner face of the peripheral rim (6.2).

6. A raclette apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the reflecting surface (12) extends over substantially the entire underside of the cooking plate (6).

7. Raclette appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which includes a support structure (9) configured to support the cooking plate (6) and keep the cooking plate (6) away from the base (3).

8. Raclette apparatus (1) according to claim 7, wherein the support structure (9) is further configured to support the electric heating element (5).

9. Raclette appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the cooking plate (6) is removable.

Images