Electric food preparation appliance

Abstract

To provide a food preparation appliance designed to provide at least one pressure cooking mode and at least one convection cooking mode and that does not present any risk of discomfort and / or burns during its operation and / or use.SOLUTION: A food preparation appliance includes: a main lid (20) that can be moved between an open position and a closed position; and a removable inner lid (23) designed to be coupled to the main lid (20). The food preparation appliance is designed to provide at least one first cooking mode, in which the inner lid (23) is coupled to the main lid (20), and at least one second cooking mode, in which the inner lid (23) is removed from the main lid (20). The food preparation appliance comprises closure means (22), where the closure means (22) can be moved between a retracted position, which is used in the first cooking mode, and a deployed position, which is used in the second cooking mode. In the deployed position, the closure means (22) is designed to close off a gap left open when the inner lid (23) is removed from the main lid (20).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to food cooking appliances, and in particular, the present invention relates to a food cooking appliance designed to provide at least one pressure cooking mode and at least one convection cooking mode.

Background Art

[0002] State of the Art In the prior art of food cooking appliances, it is known that the appliance provides a plurality of cooking modes, in particular at least one pressure cooking mode and at least one convection cooking mode. Providing these two cooking modes in the same appliance generally requires the use of a removable inner lid in the pressure cooking mode to prevent leakage from the cooking space (cooking container) of the food cooking appliance, and removing this inner lid enables the use of the convection cooking mode to allow the necessary hot air flow to circulate. On the other hand, when the inner lid is removed, a gap is formed between the main lid and the container or housing. Therefore, such a cooking appliance can leak steam or hot air between the main lid and the housing or container, particularly around the handle of the cooking container. Such leakage can make the handle too hot during or shortly after cooking, making it uncomfortable and / or unsafe for the user to grip.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] One object of the present invention is to address the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art, and in particular, first, to provide a food cooking appliance designed to provide at least one pressure cooking mode and at least one convection cooking mode, and having no discomfort and / or any risk of burns during its operation and / or use.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] For this purpose, a first aspect of the present invention relates to a food cooking appliance, the food cooking appliance comprising - A housing that houses a cooking container and has a partition for defining a cooking space, - A main lid that can be moved between an open position that enables access to the cooking space and a closed position that prevents access to the cooking space, - A removable inner lid designed to be coupled to the main lid and that abuts against the edge of the housing and / or the edge of the cooking container in a leak - free manner when the main lid is in the closed position, The food cooking appliance is designed to provide at least one first cooking mode in which the inner lid is coupled to the main lid and at least one second cooking mode in which the inner lid is removed from the main lid, The food cooking appliance is, - A storage position used in the first cooking mode and that enables the inner lid to be attached, - It comprises a closing means that can be moved between a storage position used in the first cooking mode and a deployed position used in the second cooking mode. In the second cooking mode, the closing means is designed to at least partially close the gap between the cooking space and the outside of the food cooking appliance that remains vacant when the inner lid is removed from the main lid.

[0005] According to the above - described embodiment, the food cooking appliance comprises a closing means that can occupy a deployed position (or a closed position) when the inner lid is absent. In this way, by enabling the closing means to at least partially replace the inner lid, the closing means forms a screen or barrier against the flow of hot air or steam in the gap formed between the main lid and the container or the housing after the inner lid is removed, preventing leakage between the main lid and the cooking container or the housing. That is, the closing means locally limits the fluid exchange between the outside and the cooking space through the gap formed between the main lid and the container or the housing, regardless of the presence of the inner lid. As a result, even in the convection cooking mode, the outer edge of the main lid (typically, all handles on the housing or the cooking container) is not exposed to any hot air or steam leakage, and as a result, the user can handle the appliance and / or the handles comfortably and safely.

[0006] The food cooking appliance may also have one or more of the following features, either alone or in combination.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the gap is, on the one hand, arranged between the main lid and, on the other hand, the housing and / or the cooking container. The gap in question opens around the edge of the main lid in most food cooking appliances and is thus a gap that opens into the handle of the housing of the appliance and / or into the handle of the container. Accordingly, the closing means closes the surface around the edge of the main lid between the main lid and the cooking container or the housing, protecting against steam discharging from the cooking container towards the handle of the housing and / or the handle of the container. Therefore, the temperature of the handle remains moderate as compared to a temperature at which there is a risk of burns by contact.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the main lid comprises ventilation means and heating means, and the second cooking mode comprises at least one convection cooking step. This second cooking mode typically generates a flow of hot gas (hot air and steam from the food being cooked) by generating a heat flow directed towards the food by heating means coupled to the ventilation means. In a second cooking mode using a recirculation and / or ventilation system for the flow of hot gas (hot air and steam), the heating means and the ventilation means need to be able to communicate with the cooking container. Accordingly, the inner lid is not suitable for this second cooking mode and needs to be removed from the food cooking appliance. Deploying the closing means before the start of this convection cooking mode provides a screen for limiting leakage of the hot gas flow from the aforementioned air and steam flows towards the handle. Also, the closing means can protect the main lid, its internal structure (typically defined by walls interconnected with each other), and, for example, the ventilation means (typically comprising a drive motor) and the heating means from the ingress of the gas flow.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the food cooking appliance comprises at least one vent arranged to vent the gas flow generated in the cooking space in the second cooking mode. Accordingly, the gap closed by the closing means does not prevent the exhaust of the gas flow in the cooking container, and the gas flow is directed towards a vent that is specially designed, arranged, and dedicated to exhausting the hot cooking gas (steam, hot air).

[0010] According to one embodiment, at least one vent is disposed in the main lid and is rendered inoperable by the inner lid in the first cooking mode. In the first cooking mode, the cooking space is leak-proof and the vent is not used to directly exhaust high-temperature gas from the cooking space. On the other hand, the vent can be occupied and / or used by pressure control means (such as a pressure control valve) normally attached to the inner lid.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the first cooking mode includes at least one pressure cooking step. Pressure cooking is made possible by there being no leak in the cooking space, which is a restriction generally incompatible with other cooking modes such as convection cooking and / or steam cooking. For this reason, in the pressure cooking mode, the inner lid is (removably) added to the main lid to sufficiently seal the cooking space from the external environment for pressure cooking. The inner lid that forms a screen above the cooking space can also be used to protect the main lid, the heating means and / or the ventilation means in certain, particularly complex cooking modes.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the food cooking appliance comprises automatic gravity return means arranged to move the closing means by gravity at least from a storage position to a deployed position in order to facilitate the automation of the movement of the closing means. The operations performed on the inner lid automatically adapt the position of the closing means, and the user does not need to operate the closing means when changing the cooking mode. In particular, in order to move the opening / closing means from the deployed position to the storage position, the user simply presses the opening / closing means with the inner lid (when attaching the inner lid), and as a result, the inner lid substitutes for the closing means around the edge of the main lid. In the second cooking mode (with the inner lid removed), when the main lid is closed, the closing means moves from the storage position to the deployed position under its own weight.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the automatic return means comprises elastic return means designed to move the closing means at least from the retracted position to the deployed position. These can be one or more springs designed to be compressed between the main lid and the closing means when the closing means is in the retracted position and to drive or press the closing means to the deployed position by relaxing in the absence of the inner lid.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the food cooking appliance comprises manual return means designed to enable the user to move the closing means. This can be a lever and / or a knob and / or a handle with a control interface connected to the sealing ring and arranged on the outside of the main lid, such that the user can thereby cause the closing means to move at least towards the deployed position.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the automatic return means is gravity return means. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the closing means simply moves under the force of its own weight to move from its retracted position to its deployed position.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the closing means comprises a sealing ring. Such a ring can extend around the entire edge (i.e., 360°) of the cooking space and / or of the cooking container and / or of the housing and / or of the main lid.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the deployed closing means touches or contacts the cooking container and / or the housing. According to one embodiment, when deployed, the closing means leaves a gap or clearance of less than 1 mm, preferably less than 0.5 mm, between the cooking container and / or the housing and the closing means. Of course, according to these features, the main lid is in the closed position.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the sealing ring comprises a deformable gasket to ensure at least a partial seal against the outside of the cooking container. A deformable lip, a sealing gasket or a hollow gasket can be provided.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the sealing ring is designed to fit snugly around the housing and / or the cooking container, especially in the second cooking mode, minimizing the size and / or number of openings between the main lid and the cooking container that could cause leakage during cooking.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the closing means comprises guiding means on the main lid. The guiding means ensures that the movable closing means follows a specific trajectory when it moves. Also, the guiding means ensures the free movement of the closing means in the absence of obstacles or friction against the main lid frame that could impede the movement of the closing means.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the guiding means comprises a plurality of slides, preferably three slides. Accordingly, the closing means moves along a linear track relative to the main lid.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the food cooking appliance comprises means for detecting the deployed position of the closing means in order to enable the second cooking mode. Accordingly, the risk of burns caused by leakage of high-temperature gas is minimized.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the food cooking appliance comprises a control unit connected to the detecting means and designed to control the first cooking mode and / or the second cooking mode.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the inner lid comprises safety means regarding opening / closing, and / or a safety valve, characterized by a pressure control valve and / or a pressure gauge system such as an aroma pin.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the food cooking appliance is electric.

[0026] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments of the present invention, provided by way of non-limiting example and shown in the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0027]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

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Figure 9

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] Detailed Description of the Embodiment FIG. 1 shows an electric food cooking appliance comprising a housing 10 and a main lid 20 designed to close the housing 10. The food cooking appliance is designed to operate in a plurality of cooking modes including at least one pressure cooking mode and at least one convection cooking mode.

[0029] For this purpose, the food cooking appliance comprises a selection interface 11 that enables the user to select a preferred cooking mode. The selection interface 11 can be one or more buttons, and / or a tactile interface, and / or a thumb wheel.

[0030] Two handles 30 (visible between the housing 10 and the main lid 20) are housed within a compartment of the housing 10 and are attached to a cooking container 12 (visible from FIG. 3), which is intended to contain the food to be cooked and to create a cooking space by being placed within the housing 10 during cooking. The vent 21 of the main lid 20 enables the cooking steam and / or hot air generated during certain cooking operations to be exhausted.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a view from the lower surface of the main lid 20, in particular from the lower surface of the frame 20A of the main lid 20. Closing means 22 are arranged on the main lid 20 and can be moved between a storage position (shown in FIGS. 4 and 6) and a deployed position (shown in FIGS. 3 and 7). The closing means 22 are designed to automatically change position and move relative to the frame 20A according to a slide connection. In this embodiment, the closing means 22 are in the form of a sealing ring attached around the edge of the main lid 20 and are designed to fit snugly around or in contact with the cooking container and / or the housing 10 in certain situations such as in a convection cooking mode. It should be noted that the sealing ring attached around the edge extends 360°.

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of the food cooking appliance at one location of the slide connection of the closing means 22. For example, in the case of a steam cooking mode or a convection cooking mode, heating means 24A and ventilation means 24B are arranged directly opposite the cooking container 12 and the food to be cooked in order to enable cooking that requires the generation and circulation of a high-temperature gas flow.

[0033] The closing means 22 is in its deployed position, closing the gap that allows this hot gas to flow outward, particularly towards the handle 30 and / or towards the interior region of the main lid 20 where there are control elements sensitive to potential steam leaks such as the circuit board or the drive motor of the ventilation means.

[0034] In the configuration shown in FIG. 3, i.e., in the convection cooking mode, the gas flow is directed towards the vent 21 (shown in FIG. 1) to exit the cooking space, and there is no hot gas flow between the main lid 20 on the one hand and the cooking container 12 or the housing 10 on the other hand. Thus, the temperature of the handle during or immediately after cooking does not pose a burn risk to the user. In this preferred embodiment, the closing means 22 moves from its storage position to its deployed position by its own weight. Guide means in the form of slide bearings 22B guide the closing means 22 to form the aforementioned slide connection. A slight gap between the closing means 22 and the cooking container 12 is shown in FIG. 3, but contact can be expected due to the weight of the closing means.

[0035] FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of the food cooking appliance at one location of the slide connection of the closing means 22. The closing means 22 is in its storage position. The inner lid 23 is coupled to the main lid 20 and is disposed between the closing means 22 on the one hand and the cooking container 12 on the other hand. As a result, the inner lid 23 fits snugly against the edge of the cooking container 12, adapts to its shape, and can ensure a sealed cooking space separated by the inner lid 23 and the cooking container 12 when the cooking container 12 is closed by the main lid 20. This embodiment ensures sufficient pressure accumulation within the cooking container 12 as the temperature rises for pressure cooking.

[0036] When the inner lid 23 is attached to the main lid 20, the closing means 22 is pushed into this storage position and received in the recess of the frame 20A. It is understood that the recess is deep enough to protect the closing means 22 from having one end protruding from the recess and interfering with the attachment of the inner lid 23 or the sealing of the cooking space.

[0037] The inner lid 23 is removable and is designed to be handled by the user, and its presence or absence corresponds to different positions of the closing means 22. And the inner lid 23 is temporarily attached during pressure adjustment and holds the closing means 22 in its storage position.

[0038] Figure 5 shows the frame 20A of the main lid 20, which is viewed from above and forms the internal structure of the main lid 20. The main lid 20 has the same configuration as in Figure 4, and the closing means 22 is in its storage position. The rod of the closing means 22 is pushed in and protrudes from the upper surface of the frame 20A (in this storage position), leaving a space for the inner lid 23 below the frame 20A.

[0039] Figure 6 shows an embodiment according to a first alternative in the same plane as in Figure 4, where the closing means 22 is in its storage position and the food cooking appliance is provided with elastic return means 22A as an alternative to gravity return. In fact, alternative elastic return means 22A such as a spring (shown in Figures 6 and 7) cause the closing means 22 to automatically move from its storage position to its deployed position.

[0040] Figure 7 shows a cross-section of Figure 6 with the closing means in its deployed position.

[0041] Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view of a food cooking appliance with an alternative embodiment of the closing means shown in Figure 3 or Figure 4. In the alternative embodiment of Figure 8, the closing means 22' is formed by a frustoconical sealing ring. The frustoconical sealing ring can be formed by a metal strip curved at both ends as shown in Figure 8.

[0042] The frustoconical sealing ring is slidably attached to the cylindrical inner wall 20B' of the lid frame 20A', and a return assembly comprising return means 22A (a compression spring) and a pin 22C presses the frustoconical sealing ring against the side wall of the cooking container 12, particularly at its upper edge, at the joining radius with the side wall of the cooking container 12.

[0043] The secondary gasket 221' is attached between the frame 20A' and the frustum-shaped seal ring, and can improve the sealing performance against high-temperature gas or cooking steam. Such a secondary gasket 221' prevents the internal structure of the lid 20 from being exposed to high-temperature gas or cooking steam, thereby improving the durability of the food cooking appliance. Such a secondary gasket can also be assumed in the embodiments of FIGS. 3, 4, 6, or 7.

[0044] Therefore, in the configuration of FIG. 8, the convection and / or direct radiation cooking modes are possible due to the involvement of the heating means 24A and / or the ventilation means 24B attached to the frame 20A' of the lid 20. In the deployed position, the frustum-shaped seal ring restricts the flow of high-temperature gas between the housing and the lid.

[0045] FIG. 9 shows the frustum-shaped seal ring in its storage position, with the inner lid 23 installed, which is connected to the main lid 20 and is arranged between the closing means 22' on one side and the cooking container 12 on the other side. Therefore, the pressure cooking mode is possible. When the inner lid is attached, the frustum-shaped seal ring is pressed against the frame 20A', occupies the storage position shown in FIG. 9, thereby pushing back the pin 22C and compressing the return means 22A.

[0046] It should be noted that when the inner lid 23 is then removed, the force applied by the return means 22A to the frustum-shaped seal ring (and thus the inner lid 23) facilitates the removal of the inner lid 23. Industrial Application The food cooking appliance and its manufacturing according to the present invention are suitable for industrial applications.

[0047] It will be understood that various changes and / or improvements can be made to the different embodiments of the present invention described herein without departing from the scope of the present invention, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0048] In particular, it should be noted that the closing means can be a simple screen, i.e., a movable wall in the main lid. The closing means can be removed and / or disassembled without using tools to enable cleaning. The closing means can be a plurality of separate parts, interconnected parts, or parts temporarily interconnected. Instead of the translational movement described, any type of movement such as rotation, tilting, movement by a lever, etc. can be foreseen. It should be noted that there are a plurality of return means for the closing means, and there can be a plurality of combinations of these return means for returning the closing means.

[0049] As an alternative to the closing means that can be moved relative to the rest of the lid, a closing means involving lowering all elements of the lid to seal the cooking container can also be provided. In other words, when the inner lid is removed, the closing means (the remaining part of the main lid) descends to contact the cooking container (e.g., the upper edge thereof), blocks the high-temperature gas, and restricts or prevents the flow of high-temperature gas between the main lid and the housing.

[0050] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and illustrated, and is provided only by way of example. Without departing from the protection scope of the present invention, changes can still be made, especially with regard to the configuration of various elements or by replacing with technical equivalents.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0051] 10 ··· Housing 12 ··· Cooking Container 20 ··· Main Lid 21 ··· Vent 22 ··· Closing Means 22A ··· Elastic Return Means 22B ··· Guide Means 23 ··· Inner Lid 24A ··· Heating Means 24B ··· Ventilation Means

Claims

1. A food preparation device, the food preparation device comprising at least a housing (10) for receiving a cooking vessel (12) and having a compartment defining a cooking space; a main lid (20) that can be moved between an open position that allows access to the cooking space and a closed position that prevents access to the cooking space; a removable inner lid (23) designed to be coupled with the main lid (20), such that when the main lid (20) is in the closed position, the inner lid (23) abuts in a leak-tight manner against an edge of the housing (10) and / or the cooking vessel (12); The food preparation appliance is designed to provide at least one first cooking mode in which the inner lid (23) is coupled to the main lid (20) and at least one second cooking mode in which the inner lid (23) is detached from the main lid (20); The food preparation appliance comprises a closure means (22), the closure means (22) comprising: a storage position, which is used in the first cooking mode and allows the inner lid (23) to be attached; a second cooking mode, the second cooking mode being operable to move between a deployed position and a The food preparation appliance is characterized in that in the deployed position, the closing means (22) is designed to at least partially close a gap between the cooking space and the outside of the food preparation appliance that is left open when the inner lid (23) is removed from the main lid (20).

2. 2. The food preparation appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the gap is located between the main lid (20) on the one hand and the housing (10) and / or the cooking vessel (12) on the other hand.

3. 3. The food preparation appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the main lid (20) comprises ventilation means (24B) and heating means (24A), and the second cooking mode comprises at least one convection cooking step.

4. 4. The food preparation appliance according to claim 1, further comprising at least one vent (21) arranged to exhaust a gas flow generated in the cooking space in the second cooking mode.

5. 5. The food preparation appliance of claim 4, wherein the at least one vent (21) is disposed on the main lid (20) and is disabled by the inner lid (23) in the first cooking mode.

6. 6. The food preparation appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first cooking mode comprises at least one pressure cooking step.

7. 7. The food preparation appliance according to claim 1, further comprising an automatic gravity return means configured to move the closure means (22) by gravity at least from the stored position to the deployed position.

8. 7. The food preparation appliance according to claim 1, further comprising elastic return means (22A) designed to move the closing means (22) at least from the stored position to the deployed position.

9. 9. Food preparation appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises manual return means designed to enable a user to move the closure means (22).

10. 10. Food preparation appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure means (22) comprises a sealing ring.

11. 11. The food preparation appliance of claim 10, wherein the sealing ring comprises a deformable gasket.

12. 12. Food preparation appliance according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the sealing ring is designed to fit snugly around the housing (10) and / or the cooking vessel (12).

13. 13. Food preparation appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure means (22) comprises guide means on the main lid (20).

14. 14. Food preparation appliance according to claim 13, characterized in that the guiding means comprises a number of slides, preferably three slides.

15. 15. Food preparation appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for detecting the deployed position of the closure means (22) in order to enable the second cooking mode.

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