Cooking equipment
The cooking utensil addresses the issue of reduced service life in existing designs by permanently attaching the transparent opening to the closure wall, reducing mechanical stress and enhancing durability and practicality.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024167964
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-09-29
- Filing Date
- 2024-09-27
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-10
AI Technical Summary
Existing cooking utensils with transparent surfaces for food visualization often suffer from reduced service life due to mechanical stresses during removal and installation, leading to breakage and faster degradation.
A cooking utensil design featuring a permanently attached transparent opening on the closure wall, which reduces mechanical stress on seals and transparent components, thereby extending their service life and maintaining equipment quality over time.
The design enhances the durability and longevity of transparent components by protecting them from scratches, impacts, and cracks, while also simplifying the cooking utensil's structure and making it more practical for use.
Smart Images

Figure 2025060465000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present invention generally relates to a cooking device comprising a cooking vessel for introduction into a cooking space and arranged to allow visualization of food being cooked in the cooking vessel. [Background technology]
[0002] In the prior art, cookware that allows the visualization of food is known, such as from CN 114515112 and WO 2022 / 011809. On the other hand, such removable systems may lead to a reduction in the service life of the transparent surface and the elements that ensure the seal between the transparent surface and the interior of the container. In fact, removing and installing the transparent surfaces from the support requires subjecting them to mechanical stresses (friction, twisting, bending, impacts, etc.), which exposes them to a greater risk of breakage and / or more rapid deterioration. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0003] The object of the present invention is to address the drawbacks of the prior art mentioned above and, in particular, to firstly propose a cooking utensil arranged to allow the visualization of food whilst ensuring an extended service life and the maintenance over time of the initial quality of the utensil. [Means for solving the problem]
[0004] Thus, a first aspect of the invention relates to a cooking utensil comprising at least: a casing defining, in particular, an outer wall of the cooker, an internal cooking space and an opening leading to the internal cooking space; - a cooking vessel provided for receiving food to be cooked and arranged to be introduced into an interior cooking space through an opening in a casing, at least one wall having a transparent window arranged facing the opening of the casing; a closing wall arranged to close the opening of the casing when the cooking vessel is in the internal cooking space and comprising at least one transparent opening arranged facing the transparent window; cooking means for cooking food received in the cooking vessel; The cooking vessel is characterized in that the closure wall is removably provided with respect to the cooking vessel and the transparent opening is permanently attached to the closure wall. The transparent window and / or the transparent opening may be made of glass, polycarbonate, transparent synthetic materials (e.g. polymers), transparent mineral materials (glass, borosilicate glass, crystal, quartz, etc.). The permanent, in other words fixed and immovable, attachment of the transparent opening to the closure wall allows to extend the service life of the sealing means (e.g. seal or seals) present between the transparent opening and the closure wall and / or the cooking vessel interior. Such seals are delicate members of the assembly and are therefore likely to be stressed and damaged during the continuous installation and removal of the removable transparent window as well as the forces applied to the parts (twisting, bending, impact, drop, etc.). The permanent fixation of the transparent opening to the closure wall allows to protect the transparent opening from scratches and / or impacts and / or cracks. These assemblies also contribute to making cooking vessels simple and practical. A permanent attachment therefore means that the opening is fixed and immovable. The opening cannot be removed by a user without a special tool, and its purpose is to prevent a user from removing the opening.
[0005] The cookware may further have one or more of the following features, either alone or in combination:
[0006] According to one embodiment, the closure wall forms the front surface of the cooking utensil and is removable from the cooking vessel.
[0007] According to one embodiment, the cookware comprises fastening means arranged to allow a reversible fastening between the closure wall and the cooking vessel. In other words, the closure wall and the cooking vessel can be separated, as a result of which their cleaning is facilitated, in particular with regard to the cooking vessel which receives the food to be cooked during cooking and is therefore exposed to the presence of fatty substances even in recesses of the vessel which are difficult to access. The cooking vessel alone has a more compact shape and is more practical to install alone in the dishwasher and occupies less space than if it were fixed to the closure wall. The closure wall can be attached to the casing without being fixed to the vessel, resulting in a compact cookware adapted to the needs of the user. Also, since resistance to dishwashers and high washing temperatures does not have to be guaranteed (for the closure wall and the transparent opening), it is also possible to provide a specific material for the transparent opening which is less resistant and / or cheaper.
[0008] According to one embodiment, the cooking appliance will not start if no container is present in the casing. In particular, the cooking appliance comprises a control unit and detection means provided for checking the presence of a cooking container, independently of the presence of a closure wall, so as to inhibit starting and / or operation of the cooking appliance if an absence or incorrect installation of a cooking container is detected.
[0009] According to one embodiment, the coupling means comprises: at least one positioning index on one of the cooking vessel and the closure wall and a positioning imprint on the other of the cooking vessel and the closure wall, the positioning imprint being arranged for reversible coupling; - at least one mounting index provided on one side of the cooking vessel and the closing wall, and a movable mounting counterform provided on the other side of the cooking vessel and the closing wall, arranged for reversible mounting. The separation of the guiding / positioning function and the fixing function ensures a good retention of the coupling mechanism. The positioning index also makes the coupling of the front and the vessel easier and more intuitive for the user.
[0010] According to one embodiment, when the cooking vessel is coupled to the closure wall, at least one of the at least one positioning index and the at least one mounting index is arranged to simultaneously contact the transparent window (e.g., at least one edge of the transparent window) and the transparent opening (e.g., at least one edge of the transparent opening). In this way, contacting the transparent window and the transparent opening with the same member (positioning index or mounting index) ensures direct relative positioning and achieves accurate alignment between these parts that are separable from each other.
[0011] According to one embodiment, the coupling means comprises: at least one positioning index, preferably two positioning indexes, - at least one mounting index; and a supporting frame having the mounting index.
[0012] According to one embodiment, a frame supports the transparent window in the cooking vessel. The frame is separate from the body of the cooking vessel. Thus, the frame directly positions the transparent window, and the relative position of the transparent window and the transparent opening is improved and / or more accurate.
[0013] According to one embodiment, the cookware comprises: a locked state in which the closure wall is locked to the cooking vessel; - a locking means arranged to occupy a cooking vessel having an unlocked state in which the closure wall is freely removable from the cooking vessel. In the locked state, the front is securely maintained relative to the vessel. It is easy to couple the closure wall with the cooking vessel in order to operate the cooking vessel and then release it, for example to place the cooking vessel in a dishwasher or refrigerator, and close the opening of the casing with the closure wall alone.
[0014] According to one embodiment, the locking means comprises a lock control interface located on the outside of the outer wall, so that the control interface is readily accessible.
[0015] According to one embodiment, the locking control interface consists of a trigger actuated by a user, the locking means comprising a resilient return means arranged to return the trigger to a locked position, a movable lock arranged to reversibly lock the closure wall on the cooking vessel, and a transmission mechanism arranged between the trigger and the movable lock. The resilient return means ensures a stable retention on the closure wall of the vessel and is a safety means such that the locking means is in a locked state with respect to the vessel by default, preventing an unintended or inadvertent unlocking state from occurring.
[0016] According to one embodiment, the locking means is arranged to lock the mounting index to the movable mounting counterform.
[0017] According to one embodiment, the movable mounting counterform forms a movable lock or a movable bolt.
[0018] According to one embodiment, the mounting index is comprised or formed of a receiving form and / or a striker and / or a female form arranged to receive a movable mounting counterform formed by a lock or bolt.
[0019] According to one embodiment, a movable mounting counterform forms the movable lock.
[0020] According to one embodiment, the cookware comprises means for gripping the cooking vessel arranged on the outside of the outer wall when the cooking vessel is in the interior cooking space. The gripping means should in particular allow manipulation of the cooking vessel during or after cooking and be easily accessible.
[0021] According to one embodiment, the means for gripping the cooking vessel are embedded in the closure wall, such that the cooking vessel and the closure wall are connected and locked by the locking means, allowing the gripping means to grip the cooking vessel through the closure wall in a safe and secure manner, in particular at the end of cooking, when there is a risk of burns to the vessel and its contents.
[0022] According to one embodiment, the gripping means are formed by a handle attached to the closure wall, which is an ergonomic and intuitive means for displacing the cooking vessel.
[0023] According to one embodiment, the locking control interface is embedded in the means for gripping the cooking vessel, making operation of the locking means faster and more ergonomic. It is envisioned that a locking control interface trigger is located at one end of the gripping means handle, allowing the trigger to be quickly and intuitively actuated by a user's thumb when placing or removing the cooking vessel.
[0024] According to one embodiment, the closing wall is arranged to form an insulating space between the transparent window and the transparent opening. In other words, the closing wall is arranged to form an air gap between the transparent window and the transparent opening. Since the air present between the two transparent surfaces is particularly insulating, in this embodiment it is possible to maintain a temperature on the outer wall of the casing, in particular on the closing wall, that does not pose a risk of burns.
[0025] According to one embodiment, the cooking appliance includes a hermetic container cover that is adapted to fit over the cooking container to allow storage of food within a refrigerator.
[0026] According to one embodiment, the cooking vessel has a generally rectangular shape. Moreover, due to its simple shape, it can be easily stored on a shelf or in other parallelepiped containers. The cooking device is positioned to prevent cooking from starting when the vessel cover is on the vessel and the vessel is in the casing. It is also possible to provide a physical obstacle that would prevent the cooking vessel from being installed with the cover on. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0027] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent on reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention given as non-limiting examples and illustrated by the attached drawings, in which: [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooking vessel coupled to a closure wall of a cooking appliance. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cooking vessel separated from the closure wall of the cooking appliance. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly between the closure wall and the cooking vessel of FIG. 1 with the locking means in a locked state. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3 with the locking means in an unlocked state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] FIG. 1 shows a cookware subassembly 1 formed with a cooking vessel 10 joined to a closure wall 20 and arranged to introduce or remove food from a cooking space provided in the cookware.
[0029] Cooking vessel 10 is adapted to receive food to be cooked and to be introduced into an interior cooking space of a cookware casing (not shown) through an opening in the cookware casing.
[0030] The closure wall 20 is comprised of gripping means 23 in the form of a handle for manipulating the subassembly 1, in particular the cooking vessel 10 which contains the food to be cooked and which may have dangerously high wall temperatures during or immediately after cooking. This handle therefore provides a thermally insulated operating interface.
[0031] The closure wall 20 is also comprised of a lock control interface, here in the form of a trigger 22, which is arranged to unlock and remove the closure wall 20 from the cooking vessel 10 when actuated by a user. The trigger 22 is slidably connected to the gripping means 23 and the remainder of the closure wall 20.
[0032] Finally, the closure wall 20 is configured with a transparent opening 21 through which the food within the cooking vessel 10 can be viewed from outside the casing during cooking.
[0033] 2 shows the subassembly of FIG. 1 disassembled, with the cooking vessel 10 removed from the closure wall 20. The cooking vessel 10 comprises a transparent window 12 facing or disposed opposite a transparent opening 21 in the closure wall 20, so that the interior of the cooking vessel 10 can be viewed from the outside during cooking.
[0034] Two positioning indexes 11B and an attachment index 11A are arranged on the frame of the transparent window 12, forming a connecting means 11 which allows a reversible connection between the cooking vessel 10 and the closure wall 20.
[0035] 3 shows a cross section of the gripping means 23 of FIG. 1 and shows the mechanism for assembling / locking the closure wall 20 to the cooking vessel 10, forming a locking means 220. The locking means: a trigger 22 having a pin 22A; a resilient return means, such as a spring 222, arranged in the gripping means 23 between the trigger 22 and the wall of the gripping means 23; - a movable lock 221 having an oblique slot for receiving the pin 22A; a stopper 24 for receiving a circular counterform of the movable lock 221; The mounting index 11A of the cooking vessel 10 consists of an orifice forming a striker that receives the hook 221A of the movable lock 221.
[0036] 3, and the locking means 220 is in the locked state by default in the absence of any control action applied to the trigger 22. The movable lock 221 fixed to the closure wall 20 is locked to the mounting index 11A of the cooking vessel 10 by means of a hook 221A accommodated in a mounting counterform or striker or an orifice provided in the mounting index 11A.
[0037] The movable lock 221 is arranged in slidable connection with a pin 22A fixed to the trigger 22, and the pin 22A can move within an elongated hole 221B of the movable lock 221 that extends in an extension direction inclined with respect to the displacement direction caused by the movement of the trigger 22. Furthermore, the movable lock 221 is composed of a rounded counterform placed on the stopper 24.
[0038] As a result, as shown in Fig. 4, when the trigger 22 is actuated and pulled to the right side in Fig. 4, the spring 222 is compressed, and its linear movement drives the pin 22A in the same direction, and the latch 221 contacting the stopper 24 tilts as shown in Fig. 4. The rounded and complementary shapes of the stopper 24 and the movable latch 221 facilitate the pivoting of the latch around the stopper 24, and the slot 221B and the pin 22A perform a relative sliding movement, the hook 221A is no longer engaged with the mounting index 11A, and the cooking vessel 10 can be separated from the closure wall 20. [Industrial Applicability]
[0039] The cookware according to the invention and its manufacture have industrial applications.
[0040] It will be appreciated that various modifications and / or improvements apparent to one skilled in the art may be made to the different embodiments of the invention described herein without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, it is noted that the trigger 22 may be actuated in response to a motion other than translation caused by a pull from the user. It may be compressed, tilted, or pivoted. The location of the trigger 22 may be varied, for example, to be located below the handle or to the side, to facilitate operation by fingers other than the thumb of the user when gripping the handle.
Claims
1. A cooking utensil, a casing defining an exterior wall of the cookware, an interior cooking space, and an opening to the interior cooking space; A cooking vessel (10) provided for receiving food to be cooked and arranged to be introduced into the interior cooking space through the opening in the casing, At least one wall having a transparent window (12) arranged facing the opening of the casing; a closure wall (20) arranged to close the opening of the casing when the cooking vessel (10) is in the internal cooking space and having at least one transparent opening (21) arranged facing the transparent window (12); cooking means for cooking food received in said cooking vessel (10); A cooking vessel (10) having At least The cooking utensil is characterized in that the closing wall (20) is removably attached to the cooking vessel (10) and the transparent opening (21) is permanently attached to the closing wall (20).
2. The cooking utensil according to claim 1 , wherein the closure wall (20) forms a front of the cooking utensil that is removable from the cooking vessel (10).
3. 3. Cooking utensil according to any one of claims 1 and 2, comprising connection means (11) arranged to allow a reversible connection between the closure wall (20) and the cooking vessel (10).
4. The coupling means (11) at least one positioning index (11B) provided on one of the cooking vessel (10) and the closure wall (20), and a positioning imprint provided on the other of the cooking vessel (10) and the closure wall (20) and arranged for reversible coupling; 4. The cooking utensil according to claim 3, comprising at least one mounting index (11a) provided on one of the cooking vessel (10) and the closure wall (20), and a movable mounting counterform provided on the other of the cooking vessel (10) and the closure wall (20) and arranged for reversible mounting.
5. The coupling means (11) said at least one positioning index (11B), preferably two positioning indexes (11B); 5. The cooking utensil according to claim 4, further comprising a frame having said at least one mounting index (11A).
6. The cooking utensil of claim 5, wherein the frame supports the transparent window (12) in the cooking vessel (10).
7. a locked state in which the closing wall (20) is locked to the cooking vessel (10); and 7. Cooking utensil according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure wall (20) comprises locking means (220) arranged to occupy an unlocked state in which it is freely removable from the cooking vessel (10).
8. 8. The cooking utensil of claim 7, wherein the locking means (220) comprises a lock control interface disposed on the exterior side of the outer wall.
9. The lock control interface includes a trigger (22) that is actuated by a user; The locking means (220) is a resilient return means arranged to return said trigger (22) to a locked position; a movable lock (221) arranged to reversibly lock the closure wall (20) on the cooking vessel (10); a transmission mechanism disposed between the trigger (22) and the movable lock (221); The cooking utensil of claim 8 comprising:
10. 10. Cooking utensil according to any one of claims 7 to 9 when dependent on any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the locking means (220) is arranged to lock the mounting index (11A) to the movable mounting counterform.
11. 11. Cooking utensil according to claim 10 when dependent on claim 9, wherein the movable mounting counterform forms the movable lock (221).
12. 12. Cooking utensil according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises gripping means (23) for the cooking vessel (10) arranged outside the outer wall when the cooking vessel (10) is in the internal cooking space.
13. 13. Cooking utensil according to claim 12, wherein the gripping means (23) of the cooking vessel (10) are embedded in the closure wall (20).
14. Cooking utensil according to claim 12 or 13, wherein said gripping means (23) is formed by a handle (23) attached to said closure wall (20).
15. 15. Cooking utensil according to any one of claims 12 to 14 when dependent on any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the lock control interface is embedded in the gripping means (23) of the cooking vessel (10).
16. 16. The cooking utensil according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the closing wall (20) is arranged to form a heat insulating space between the transparent window (12) and the transparent opening (21).