Patent Grant
6940049
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the art of cooking appliances and, more particularly, to a cooking appliance including a cooktop having at least one heating element and a controller for automatically operating the at least one heating element at multiple power levels.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
In general, establishing a selected power level for a heating element in a cooking appliance is known. However, maintaining the selected power level for the entire duration of a cooking process is not always desirable. Specifically, when cooking rice, pasta or other liquid based food items, it is often necessary to bring a liquid to a boil using an initial, high power setting and thereafter simmer at a second or lower power setting for a prescribed period. In today's fast paced society, there is seldom time to continuously monitor the contents of a pot. Often times the pot will boil over, causing the contents to run onto the heated surface(s) of a stove. Other times, the pot is left to boil for so long that the contents boil away leaving behind a charred mess.
The prior art teaches a variety of methods for providing a more convenient means of cooking food on a cooktop. One example is provided by U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,114 disclosing an intelligent cooking system. The cooking system includes various cooking implements, such as pots and pans, each having an associated temperature monitor. The system also includes a cooktop having a plurality of burners and a controller that is linked between the cooktop and the temperature monitors to maintain a desired temperature in the associated pot or pan. While effective, this system is large, complex and expensive. In the highly competitive field of cooking appliances, increased cost and complexity can be significant, disadvantageous features.
Another method disclosed in the prior art is embodied in U.S. Pat. No. 6,236,630 directed to an acoustic sensing system for detecting boiling in a particular cooking implement. As disclosed, an acoustic sensor is mounted in a cooktop range and configured to detect acoustic frequencies that are characteristic of emissions resulting from heating and boiling of water. While effective to a large extent, not all cooking processes include a boiling stage. In addition, as with the previous method, there are both high costs and reliability concerns with this system.
Based on the above, there exists a need in the art for a cooking appliance including a cooktop and a controller capable of establishing multiple power levels for at least one heating element of the cooktop, with each power level having an associated time duration of operation. More specifically, there exists a need for a cooking appliance having a controller that can establish an initial high power level for a first time period of a cooking operation and then automatically lower to a second power level for the remainder of the cooking operation.
The present invention is directed to a cooking appliance including a cooktop. The cooking appliance further includes at least one heating element arranged on the cooktop, a controller, and a control element which is linked to both the controller and the heating element. Through initial operation of the control element, the heating element is automatically sequenced through multiple power levels throughout a cooking operation.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control element includes a plurality of consecutive, numeric digits which combine to define first and second operational setting schemes. Preferably, even numbered digits are associated with the first operational setting scheme and odd numbered digits are associated with the second operational setting scheme. More specifically, selection of an even numbered power level establishes a temperature for the at least one heating element, with that temperature corresponding to the particular even number. In contrast, selection of an odd numbered power level provides a consumer the ability to further control the temperature of the at least one heating element automatically during a cooking operation.
In accordance with the most preferred form of the present invention, selection of the second operational setting scheme enables the consumer to establish an initial power level, which is greater than the selected power level, for the at least one heating element. That is, selection of an odd numbered digit enables the consumer to actually establish a second, higher power level wherein the at least one heating element is operated at the higher power level for a predetermined time period, after which the controller automatically lowers the temperature of the at least one heating element to the selected power level. Preferably, the higher power level is maintained for a time period in a range of 5-10 minutes thereby providing a faster heat-up time without requiring further manipulation of the control element.
In further accordance with the most preferred form of the present invention, the cooking appliance includes a control unit having a graphics display. The graphics display is linked to each of the controller and the control element. The display provides the consumer with a visual indication that the heating element in operating in accordance with the second setting scheme. More specifically, the display will inform the consumer when the heating element is operating at the initial or second, higher power level.
Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views.
With initial reference to
In a preferred embodiment, appliance 2 includes an oven 20 having an interior oven cavity 22. In a manner known in the art, oven 20 has associated therewith a door 24 which can be pivoted at a lower portion 26 by means of a handle 28. Door 24 preferably includes a window or transparent zone 30 for viewing the contents of oven 20 when door 24 is closed. In a manner also known in the art, appliance 2 includes a drawer or bin 35 arranged below oven 20. More specifically, drawer or bin 35 is adapted to be slid in and out of shell 4 in order to access an interior storage compartment (not shown) therein.
In the preferred embodiment as best shown in
As the present invention is particularly directed to the manner in which one or more of control elements 53-57 can be manipulated to control a respective heating element 10-14 through controller 58, reference will now be made to
Having described a preferred construction of cooking appliance 2 and, more particularly, control elements 53-57, a preferred method of operation will be set forth with reference to
In further accordance with the most preferred form of the present invention, heating elements 10-14 can also be operated according to a second setting scheme. That is, the consumer, through selection of an “odd” number power level, can operate each of heating elements 10-14 at a first power level that, at the termination of a predetermined time period, automatically switches to a second or lower power level. For example, if one of the plurality of control knobs 53-57 is set on a “7” setting, the initial power level would be that which corresponds to a “9” setting for a period of ten minutes, after which the power level automatically lowers to a “7” setting until the consumer terminates the cooking operation. In another example, if one of the plurality of control knobs 53-57 is set on a “11” setting, the initial power level would be that which corresponds to a “14” setting for a period of 15 minutes, after which the power level automatically lowers to the “11” setting. At this point, it should be understood that the above described power setting and time periods are strictly for exemplary purposes.
To activate the second setting scheme, the consumer need merely select an initial, “odd” number power level. After the control knob, e.g. control knob 53, has come to rest on the “odd” number setting for a second or so, the consumer has the option to make adjustments, preferably within about three seconds. During the three seconds, the knob can be moved to a higher setting for another rest period. A confirmation of the higher setting is provided to the consumer through flashing LED 101, preferably twice. After LED 101 has flashed, the consumer returns the knob to the initial selected power level. Confirmation that the second power setting scheme is activated will be provided to the consumer by multiple flashes of LED 101. To de-activate the second setting scheme, the consumer simply moves the control knob to the off position. In this manner, the heating element corresponding to the control knob will activate at the higher power level for a predetermined period ranging from 5-15 minutes, then automatically return to the selected lower setting. In one preferred embodiment, LED 101 is designed to flash as the consumer rotates the control knob past each odd numbered power levels.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, LED 101 will remain illuminated during operation of the initial high power level to indicate that the second setting scheme is activated and the heating element is operating at the high power level. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, controller 58 is linked to digital display 65 which provides the consumer with an alpha or alpha-numeric display indicating that the second setting scheme is active. For example, when the heating element is operating at the higher power level, the word “enhanced” would be displayed on digital display 65.
With this overall arrangement, cooking appliance 2 is provided with three operational modes for performing the cooking operation. In the first mode, cooking appliance 2 operates in a conventional manner. That is, upon selection of certain power levels, e.g., an “even” number setting, a corresponding heating element 10-14 will be activated at the selected power level. In the second mode, the consumer can select a power level, e.g., an “odd” number setting for a corresponding one of heating elements 10-14, wherein the heating element 10-14 will then operate at an initial high power level for a predetermined period, at the end of which heating element 10-14 will automatically lower to the selected power level. In the third and final mode, the consumer selects both a first power level and a second power level. In this mode, the heating element 10-14 will begin heating at the second selected power level. After a predetermined time has elapsed, the heating element 10-14 will automatically lower to the first power level for the remainder of the cooking operation. This overall versatile arrangement enables the consumer to perform other tasks without worrying about cooking at too high a level which could cause food to be burned or otherwise overcooked.
Although described with reference to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be readily understood that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. For instance, the predetermine time periods could be altered without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, while the second setting scheme is disclosed as being associated with odd numbered power levels, it should be understood that even numbers or other power level control schemes, including providing separate control buttons or the like, are equally acceptable. In general, the invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the following claims.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20050016988 A1 | Jan 2005 | US |
