Kitchen stove for preparing food, and an oven for preparing food

• US 20020079306A1
• Filed: 11/21/2001
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schott AG (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: SCHOTT Glass
• Inventors: Nass, Peter, Gros, Oliver
• Granted Patent: US 6,570,135 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/396
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 14/02 pyrolytic type
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/04 with transparent panels

Abstract

There is now provided a kitchen stove for preparing food, and an oven for preparing food. The stove or oven has a heating arrangement to make the cleaning of the stove or oven easier for a user particularly at the viewing window of the oven.

Claims

1. A kitchen stove for preparing food, such as, cooking, roasting, boiling, grilling, broiling, and baking food, said stove comprising:

a stove body;

said stove body being configured with a support to support said stove body;

at least one heating arrangement to cook food;

said at least one heating arrangement being disposed atop said stove body;

said at least one heating arrangement comprising (i.), (ii.), and (iii.);

(i.) an arrangement to receive a bottom of a cooking utensil;

(ii.) at least one first heating element means to cook food; and

(iii.) a first apparatus to select and set a heat setting of said at least one first heating element means;

said at least one first heating element means being disposed under said receiving arrangement and being configured to pass heat through said receiving arrangement to a bottom of a cooking utensil;

said first heat setting apparatus being configured to select and set a heat setting of said at least one first heating element means at a heat sufficient to cook food;

said stove body being configured with a cooking oven;

said cooking oven being configured to cook, roast, boil, grill, broil, and bake food;

said cooking oven being configured with an interior confined by walls comprising top and bottom walls, side walls, a rear wall, and a front;

a second heating arrangement comprising (i.) and (ii.);

(i.) at least one second heating element means to cook food; and

(ii.) a second apparatus to select and set a heat setting of said at least one second heating element means;

said at least one second heating element means being disposed to heat said interior of said cooking oven and being configured to cook, roast, boil, grill, broil, and bake food;

said second heat setting apparatus being configured to select and set a heat setting of said second heating element means to a heat sufficient to cook, roast, boil, grill, broil and bake food;

a third heating arrangement comprising (i.) and (ii.);

(i.) a third heating element means; and

(ii.) a third apparatus to set a heat setting of said third heating element means;

said third heating element means being disposed to heat said interior of said cooking oven and being configured to heat said interior of said cooking oven to transform cooking residue, deposited in said interior of said cooking oven upon preparing food in said cooking oven, into ash;

said third heat setting apparatus being configured to set a heat setting of said third heating element means at a sufficient heat for a time sufficient to transform cooking residue, deposited in said interior of said cooking oven upon preparing food in said cooking oven, into ash;

said front comprising an oven door;

said oven door being configured to permit access to said interior of said cooking oven;

said oven door comprising a window arrangement configured with a viewing area to view food being prepared in said cooking oven;

said window arrangement comprising (i.) and (ii.);

(i.) a first door window pane; and

(ii.) a second door window pane disposed at a distance from said first door window pane;

an arrangement to maintain said first door window pane disposed at a distance from said second door window pane;

said first door window pane becoming an inner door window pane upon closing of said oven door;

said first door window pane having a first, inner, surface disposed towards said interior of said cooking oven upon closing of said oven door;

said second door window pane becoming an outer pane upon closing of said oven door; and

a fourth heating arrangement comprising (i.) and (ii.);

(i.) a fourth heating element means; and

(ii.) a fourth apparatus to set a heat setting of said fourth heating element means;

said heating element means being disposed on or in said first door window pane and being configured to assist in heating by said third heating element means of said first window pane;

said fourth heating element means further being disposed and configured to assist said third heating element means to transform cooking residue, deposited on said first, inner, surface of said first door window pane upon preparing food in said cooking oven, into ash;

said fourth heat setting apparatus being configured to set a heat setting of said fourth heating element means at a sufficient heat for a time sufficient to transform cooking residue, deposited on said first, inner, surface of said first door window pane (30) upon preparing food in said cooking oven, into ash, thus at least to assist said third heating element means to transform cooking residue on said first door window pane, into ash.

2. The kitchen stove according to claim 1, wherein:

said first door window pane comprises a second surface opposite said first surface of said first door window pane; and

said fourth heating element means comprises a layer;

said layer being configured of a material having portions through which said interior of said cooking oven can be viewed;

said layer being disposed on said second surface of said first door window pane.

3. The kitchen stove according to claim 2, comprising one of (A.) and (B.):

(A.) said second surface of said first door window pane comprises a central region and a peripheral region; and

said layer being disposed substantially solely adjacent to said peripheral region of said second surface of said first door window pane; and

(B.) said layer being disposed substantially fully over the entire second surface of said first door window pane.

4. The kitchen stove according to claim 3, wherein:

said layer comprises a transparent material.

5. An oven for preparing food, said oven comprising:

an oven body;

said oven body being configured with an interior confined by walls comprising top and bottom walls, side walls, a rear wall, and a front;

said front comprising an oven door;

said oven door being configured to permit access to said interior of said oven;

said oven door comprising a window arrangement configured with a viewing area to view food being prepared in said oven;

said window arrangement comprising at least one door window pane;

said at least one door window pane comprising a first door window pane;

said first door window pane becoming an inner door window pane upon closing of said oven door;

said first door window pane having a first, inner, surface disposed towards said interior of said oven upon closing of said oven door;

a first heating arrangement comprising (i.) and (ii.);

(i.) at least one first heating element means to prepare food; and

(ii.) a first apparatus to select and set a heat setting of said first heating element means;

said at least one first heating element means being configured to prepare food by being disposed to heat said interior of said oven;

said first setting apparatus being configured to select and set a heat setting of said first heating element means to a temperature sufficient to prepare food;

a second heating arrangement comprising (i.) and (ii.);

(i.) a second heating element means; and

(ii.) a second apparatus to set a heat setting of said second heating element means;

said second heating element means being disposed to heat said interior of said oven and being configured to heat said interior of said oven to transform cooking residue, deposited in said interior of said oven upon preparing food in said oven, into ash;

said second heat setting apparatus being configured to set a heat setting of said second heating element means at a sufficient heat for a time sufficient to transform cooking residue, deposited in said interior of said oven upon preparing food in said oven, into ash; and

a third heating arrangement comprising (i.) and (ii.);

(i.) a third heating element means; and

(ii.) a third apparatus to set a heat setting of said third heating element means;

said third heating element means being disposed on, in, or substantially adjacent to said first door window pane and being configured to assist in heating by said second heating element means of said first door window pane;

said third heating element means further being disposed and configured to assist said second heating element means to transform cooking residue, deposited on said first, inner, surface of said first door window pane upon preparing food in said oven, into ash;

said third heat setting apparatus being configured to set a heat setting of said third heating element means at a sufficient heat for a time sufficient to transform cooking residue, deposited on said first, inner, surface of said first door window pane upon preparing food in said oven, into ash, thus at least to assist said second heating element means to transform cooking residue ash on said first door window pane, into ash.

6. The oven according to claim 5, wherein:

said first door window pane comprises a second surface opposite said first, inner, surface of said first door window pane; and

said third heating element comprises a layer;

said layer being configured of a material having portions through which the interior of said oven can be viewed;

said layer being disposed on said second surface of said first door window pane.

7. The oven according to claim 6, comprising one of (A.) and (B.):

(A.) said second surface of said first door window pane comprises a central region and a peripheral region; and

said layer being disposed substantially solely adjacent to said peripheral region of said second surface of said first door window pane; and

(B.) said layer being disposed substantially fully over the entire second surface of said first door window pane.

8. The oven according to claim 7, wherein:

said layer comprises a transparent material.

9. The oven according to claim 5, comprising at least one of (A.), (B.), (C.), (D.), (E.), and (F.):

(A.) said first door window pane comprises a second surface opposite said first, inner, surface of said first door window pane; and

said third heating element means comprises a layer;

said layer being configured of a material having portions through which said interior of said oven can be viewed;

said layer being disposed on said second surface of said first door window pane;

(B.) said second surface of said first door window pane comprises a central region and a peripheral region; and

said layer being disposed substantially solely adjacent to said peripheral region of said second surface of said first door window pane;

(C.) said layer being disposed substantially fully over the entire second surface of said first door window pane;

(D.) said layer comprises a transparent material;

(E.) one of;

(i.), (ii.), (iii.),(iv.), (v.), (vi.), and (vii.);

(i.) said first door window pane comprises one of (a.) and

(a.) a transparent pane; and

(b.) a pane comprising one of (1.) and (2.);

(1.) temperature-resistant glass; and

(2.) temperature-resistant glass ceramic;

(ii.) said layer comprising an electric heating arrangement;

(iii.) said layer comprising a resistive layer being configured to be heated by a source of power;

(iv.) strip conductors being configured to connect said layer to a source of power;

said strip conductors of (iv.) being disposed at said peripheral region of said second surface of said first door window pane;

said strip conductors of (iv.) comprising one of (a.), (b.), and (c.);

(a.) contact strips to connect said layer to a source of power;

(b.) contacts to connect said layer to a source of power;

said contacts comprising resilient contacts pressed onto said first door window pane;

(c.) cables to connect said layer to a source of power;

said cables comprising cables soldered onto said first door window pane;

(v.) said layer being disposed away from said peripheral region of said second surface to provide a space through which said interior of said oven can be viewed;

(vi.) said layer comprising a patterned layer to provide a decoration on said first door window pane; and

(vi.) said layer comprising a conductive, resistive enamel layer being configured to be heated as electric heating arrangement;

(F.) said third heating element means comprises one of (a.) and (b.);

(a.) a resilient metallic heating element configured to be pressed-on to said first door window pane; and

(b.) a ceramic heating element configured to be pressed-on to said first door window pane.

10. The oven according to claim 5, comprising all of (A.), (B.), and (C.):

(A.) one of (i.), (ii.), (iii.), and (iv.);

(i.) said first door window pane comprises a second surface opposite said first, inner, surface of said first door window pane; and

said third heating element means comprises a layer;

said layer being configured of a material having portions through which said interior of said oven can be viewed;

said layer being disposed on said second surface of said first door window pane;

(ii.) said third heating element means comprises one of (a.) and (b.);

(a.) a resilient metallic heating element configured to be pressed-on to said first door window pane; and

(b.) a ceramic heating element configured to be pressed-on to said first door window pane;

(iii.) said second surface of said first door window pane comprises a central region and a peripheral region; and

said layer being disposed substantially solely adjacent to said peripheral region of said second surface of said first door window pane; and

(iv.) said layer being disposed substantially fully over the entire second surface of said first door window pane;

(B.) said layer comprises a transparent material; and

(C.) one of;

(i.), (ii.), (iii.), (iv.), (v.), (vi.), and (vii.);

(i.) said first door window pane comprises one of;

(a.) and (b.);

(a.) a transparent pane; and

(b.) a pane comprising one of (1.) and (2.);

(1.) temperature-resistant glass; and

(2.) temperature-resistant glass ceramic;

(ii.) said layer comprising an electric heating arrangement;

(iii.) said layer comprising a resistive layer being configured to be heated by a source of power;

(iv.) strip conductors being configured to connect said layer to a source of power;

said strip conductors of (iv.) being disposed at said peripheral region of said second surface of said first door window pane;

said strip conductors of (iv.) comprising one of (a.), (b.), and (c.);

(a.) contact strips to connect said layer to a source of power;

(b.) contacts to connect said layer to a source of power;

said contacts comprising resilient contacts pressed onto said first door window pane;

(c.) cables to connect said layer to a source of power;

said cables comprising cables soldered onto said first door window pane;

(v.) said layer being disposed away from said peripheral region of said second surface to provide a space through which said interior of said oven can be viewed;

(vi.) said layer comprising a patterned layer to provide a decoration on said first door window pane; and

(vii.) said layer comprising a conductive, resistive enamel layer being configured to be heated as electric heating arrangement.

11. A method of cleaning an oven for preparing food, said oven comprising:

an oven body;

said oven body being configured with an interior confined by walls comprising top and bottom walls, side walls, a rear wall, and a front;

said front comprising an oven door;

said oven door being configured to permit access to said interior of said oven;

said oven door comprising a window arrangement configured with a viewing area to view food being prepared in said oven;

said window arrangement comprising at least one door window pane;

said at least one door window pane comprising a first door window pane;

said first door window pane becoming an inner door window pane upon closing of said oven door;

said first door window pane having a first, inner, surface disposed towards said interior of said oven upon closing of said oven door;

at least one first heating arrangement comprising (i.) and (ii .) ;

(i.) at least one first heating element means; and

(ii.) a first apparatus to select and set at least two heat settings of said at least one first heating element means;

said at least one first heating element means being disposed to heat said interior of said oven;

said at least one first heating element means being configured to prepare food, and being configured to heat said interior of said oven to transform cooking residue, deposited in said interior of said oven upon preparing food in said oven, into ash;

said first heat setting apparatus means being configured to select and set a heat setting of said first heating element means to a temperature sufficient to prepare food, and further being configured to set a heat setting of said first heating element means at a sufficient temperature for a time sufficient to transform cooking residue, deposited in said interior of said oven upon preparing food in said oven, into ash; and

a second heating arrangement comprising (i.) and (ii.);

(i.) a second heating element means; and

(ii.) a second apparatus means to set a heat setting of said second heating element means;

said second heating element means being disposed on, in, or sufficiently adjacent to said inner door window pane and being configured to assist in heating by said first heating element means to transform cooking residue, deposited on said first, inner, surface of said first door window pane;

said second heating element means being configured to assist said first heating element means in the heating of said first door window pane to transform cooking residue, deposited on said first, inner, surface of said first door window pane upon preparing food in said oven, into ash;

said second heat setting apparatus means being configured to set a heat setting of said first heating element means at a sufficient temperature for a time sufficient to transform cooking residue, deposited on said first, inner, surface of said first door window pane upon preparing food in said oven, into ash, to thus assist said first heating element means in the heating of said first door window pane to transform cooking residue into ash on said first door window pane;

said method comprising the steps of;

disposing food in said interior of said oven;

preparing food in said oven;

removing prepared food from said oven;

depositing a first, cooking, residue on said walls of said Dooven and on said first, inner, surface of said first door window pane;

setting said first heat setting apparatus means to a temperature sufficient to transform said first, cooking, residue, deposited in said interior of said oven upon the cooking of food, into a second, converted, residue more readily removable from said interior of said oven than said first, cooking, residue;

setting said second heat setting apparatus means to a temperature sufficient to assist said first heating element means to transform said first, cooking, residue, deposited on said first, inner, surface of said first door window pane upon the cooking of food, into a second, converted, residue more readily removable from said first, inner, surface of said first door window pane than said first, cooking, residue; and

removing the second, converted, residue from said first, inner, surface of said first door window pane.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein:

said first door window pane comprises a second surface opposite said first, inner, surface of said first door window pane; and

said heating element means comprises a layer;

said layer being configured of a material having portions through which said interior of said oven can be viewed;

said layer being disposed on said second surface of said first door window pane.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein:

said second surface of said first door window pane comprises a central region and a peripheral region; and

said layer being disposed substantially solely adjacent to said peripheral region of said second surface of said first door window pane.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein:

said layer being disposed substantially fully over the entire second surface of said first door window pane.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein:

said layer comprises a transparent material.

17. The method according to claim 16, comprising one of:

(i.), (ii.), (iii.), (iv.), (v.), (vi.), and (vii.);

(i.) said first door window pane comprises one of;

(a.) and (b.) ;

(a.) a transparent pane; and

(b.) a pane comprising one of (1.) and (2.);

(1.) temperature-resistant glass; and

(2.) temperature-resistant glass ceramic;

(ii.) said layer comprising an electric heating arrangement;

(iii.) said layer comprising a resistive layer being configured to be heated by a source of power;

(iv.) strip conductors being configured to connect said layer to a source of power;

said strip conductors of (iv.) being disposed at said peripheral region of said second surface of said first door window pane;

said strip conductors of (iv.) comprising one of (a.), (b.), and (c.);

(a.) contact strips to connect said layer to a source of power;

(b.) contacts to connect said layer to a source of power;

said contacts comprising resilient contacts pressed onto said first door window pane;

(c.) cables to connect said layer to a source of power;

said cables comprising cables soldered onto said first door window pane;

(v.) said layer being disposed away from said peripheral region of said second surface to provide a space through which said interior of said oven can be viewed;

(vi.) said layer comprising a patterned layer to provide a decoration on said first door window pane; and

(vii.) said layer comprising a conductive, resistive enamel layer being configured to be heated as electric heating arrangement.

18. The method according to claim 12, wherein:

said heating element means comprises one of (a.) and (b.);

(a.) a resilient metallic heating element configured to be pressed-on to said first door window pane; and

(b.) a ceramic heating element configured to be pressed-on to said first door window pane.

19. The method according to claim 12, comprising at least one of (A.), (B.), (C.), (D.), (E.), and (F.):

(A. said first door window pane comprises a second surface opposite said first, inner, surface of said first door window pane; and

said heating element means comprises a layer;

said layer being configured of a material having portions through which said interior of said oven can be viewed;

said layer being disposed on said second surface of said first door window pane;

(B.) said second surface of said first door window pane comprises a central region and a peripheral region; and

said layer being disposed substantially solely adjacent to said peripheral region of said second surface of said first door window pane;

(C.) said layer being disposed substantially fully over the entire second surface of said first door window pane;

(D.) said layer comprises a transparent material;

(E.) one of;

(i.), (ii.), (iii.), (iv.), (v.), (vi.), and (vii.);

(i.) said first door window pane comprises one of (a.) and (b.);

(a.) a transparent pane; and

(b.) a pane comprising one of (1.) and (2.);

(1.) temperature-resistant glass; and

(2.) temperature-resistant glass ceramic;

(ii.) said layer comprising an electric heating arrangement;

(iii.) said layer comprising a resistive layer being configured to be heated by a source of power;

(iv.) strip conductors being configured to connect said layer to a source of power;

said strip conductors of (iv.) being disposed at said peripheral region of said second surface of said first door window pane;

said strip conductors of (iv.) comprising one of (a.), (b.), and (c.);

(a.) contact strips to connect said layer to a source of power;

(b.) contacts to connect said layer to a source of power;

said contacts comprising resilient contacts pressed onto said first door window pane;

(c.) cables to connect said layer to a source of power;

said cables comprising cables soldered onto said first door window pane;

(v.) said layer being disposed away from said peripheral region of said second surface to provide a space through which said interior of said oven can be viewed;

(vi.) said layer comprising a patterned layer to provide a decoration on said first door window pane; and

(vii.) said layer comprising a conductive, resistive enamel layer being configured to be heated as electric heating arrangement;

(F.) said heating element means comprises one of (a.) and (b.);

(a.) a resilient metallic heating element configured to be pressed-on to said first door window pane; and

(b.) a ceramic heating element configured to be pressed-on to said first door window pane.

20. The method according to claim 12, comprising all of (A.), (B.), and (C.):

(A.) one of (i.), (ii.), (iii.), and (iv.);

(i.) said first door window pane comprises a second surface opposite said first, inner, surface of said first door window pane; and

said heating element means comprises a layer;

said layer being configured of a material having portions through which said interior of said oven can be viewed;

said layer being disposed on said second surface of said first door window pane;

(ii.) said heating element means comprises one of (a.) and (b.);

(a.) a resilient metallic heating element configured to be pressed-on to said first door window pane; and

(b.) a ceramic heating element configured to be pressed-on to said first door window pane;

(iii.) said second surface of said first door window pane comprises a central region and a peripheral region; and

said layer being disposed substantially solely adjacent to said peripheral region of said second surface of said first door window pane; and

(iv.) said layer being disposed substantially fully over the entire second surface of said first door window pane;

(B.) said layer comprises a transparent material; and

(C.) one of;

(i.), (ii.), (iii.), (iv.), (v.), (vi.), and (vii.);

(i.) said first door window pane comprises one of (a.) and (b.);

(a.) a transparent pane; and

(b.) a pane comprising one of (1.) and (2.);

(1.) temperature-resistant glass; and

(2.) temperature-resistant glass ceramic;

(ii.) said layer comprising an electric heating arrangement;

(iii.) said layer comprising a resistive layer being configured to be heated by a source of power;

(iv.) strip conductors being configured to connect said layer to a source of power;

said strip conductors of (iv.) being disposed at said peripheral region of said second surface of said first door window pane;

said strip conductors of (iv.) comprising one of (a.), (b.), and (c.);

(a.) contact strips to connect said layer to a source of power;

(b.) contacts to connect said layer to a source of power;

said contacts comprising resilient contacts pressed onto said first door window pane;

(c.) cables to connect said layer to a source of power;

said cables comprising cables soldered onto said first door window pane;

(v.) said layer being disposed away from said peripheral region of said second surface to provide a space through which said interior of said oven can be viewed;

(vi.) said layer comprising a patterned layer to provide a go decoration on said first door window pane; and

(vii.) said layer comprising a conductive, resistive enamel layer being configured to be heated as electric heating arrangement.

12. A method of cleaning an oven for preparing food, said oven comprising:

an oven structure;

said oven structure being configured to prepare food;

said oven structure comprising an oven body being configured with an interior confined by walls comprising top and bottom walls, side walls, a rear wall, and a front;

said front comprising an oven door;

said oven door being configured to permit access to said interior of said oven;

said oven door comprising a window arrangement configured with a viewing area to view food being prepared in said oven;

said window arrangement comprising at least one door window pane;

said at least one door window pane comprising a first door window pane;

said first door window pane having a first, inner, surface disposed towards and in said interior of said oven upon closing of said oven door; and

a heating arrangement comprising (i.) and (ii.);

(i.) a heating element means; and

(ii.) an apparatus means to set a heat setting of said heating element means;

said heating element means being disposed on, in, or sufficiently adjacent to said first door window pane to heat said first door window pane;

said heating element means being configured to heat said first door window pane to transform a first, cooking, residue, deposited on said first, inner, surface of said first door window pane upon preparing food in said oven, into a second, converted, residue;

said heat setting apparatus means being configured to set a heat setting of said heating element means at a sufficient heat for a time sufficient to transform the first, cooking, residue, deposited on said first, inner, surface of said first door window pane upon preparing food in said oven, into the second, converted, residue;

said method comprising the steps of;

disposing food in said interior of said oven;

preparing food in said oven;

depositing a first, cooking, residue from cooked food on said first, inner, surface of said first door window pane;

removing prepared food from said oven;

setting said heat setting apparatus means to a heat sufficient to transform the first, cooking, residue, deposited on said first, inner, surface of said first door window pane upon preparing food, into a second, converted, cooking residue more readily removable from said interior of said oven than the first, cooking, residue;

setting said heat setting apparatus means to a heat sufficient to transform the first, cooking, residue, deposited on said first, inner, surface of said first door window pane upon preparing food, into a second, converted, cooking residue more readily removable from said first, inner, surface of said first door window pane than the first, cooking, residue; and

removing the second, converted, cooking residue from said first, inner, surface of said first door window pane.