Factory preset temperature warming appliance

• US 20050274712A1
• Filed: 06/08/2005
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: Western Industries Incorporated (B-G Western Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jonovic, Scott A., Gagas, John M., Stair, Daniel E. II
• Granted Patent: US 7,235,762 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/494
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/18 Arrangement of compartments additional to cooking compartments, e.g. for warming or for storing utensils or fuel containers; Arrangement of additional heating or cooking apparatus, e.g. grills
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/087 of electric circuits regulating heat

Abstract

A warming appliance having factory preset temperature modes. The warming appliance comprises an enclosure having a wall. The enclosure defines an interior space having an opening. A drawer is configured to be reciprocally moved within the interior space. The drawer having a wall configured to close the opening. The heating apparatus is configured to change the temperature inside the drawer. The user interface is associated with the drawer and configured to control the heating apparatus. The temperature control apparatus is coupled to the heating apparatus and user interface. The temperature control apparatus is associated with the enclosure, wherein food stuff and objects contained in the drawer are maintained at a predetermined temperature.

Claims

1. A warming appliance having factory pre-set temperature modes, the warming appliance comprising:

an enclosure defining an interior space and having an opening;

a drawer configured to be reciprocally moved within the interior space, the drawer having a member configured to close the opening;

a heating apparatus configured to change the temperature inside the drawer;

a user interface associated with the drawer and configured to control the heating apparatus; and

a temperature control apparatus coupled to the heating apparatus and user interface, and associated with the enclosure, wherein food stuff contained in the drawer is maintained at a factory pre-determined temperature.

2. The warming appliance of claim 1, wherein the heating apparatus is mounted in the interior space proximate the drawer.

3. The warming appliance of claim 1, wherein the heating apparatus is mounted external to the drawer and is in communication with the interior space.

4. The warming appliance of claim 1, where the opening is front facing.

5. The warming appliance of claim 1, wherein the temperature control apparatus includes:

a detector configured to sense the temperature in the drawer;

a power circuit electrically connected to the detector, heating apparatus, user interface and an energy source; and

an electronic control device coupled to the detector and power circuit to control the temperature in the drawer within a predetermined range.

6. The warming appliance of claim 5, wherein the detector is mounted in the enclosure.

7. The warming appliance of claim 5, wherein the electronic control device is configured to function in a mode selected from a mode group including boiling, broiling, oven, baking, steam, microwave oven, and a combination of at least any two of such modes.

8. The warming appliance of claim 1, wherein the user interface only provides an on/off function.

9. The warming appliance of claim 5, wherein the electronic control device includes a microprocessor.

10. The warming appliance of claim 9, wherein the user interface includes a plurality of designators, with each designator assigned a predetermined temperature stored in the electronic control device.

11. The warming appliance of claim 9, including a sensor mounted in the drawer to sense the temperature of food stuff contained in the drawer and provide a signal to the electronic control device proportionate to the temperature of the food stuff, wherein the electronic control device will maintain the temperature of the drawer at one of the sensed temperature of the food stuff and factory preset temperature.

12. The warming appliance of claim 5, wherein the enclosure is one of free-standing and cabinet mounted.

13. The warming appliance of claim 12, wherein the free-standing enclosure is configured to be moved.

14. The warming appliance of claim 1, including a venting apparatus configured to control the temperature and humidity of space defined by the drawer.

15. The warming appliance of claim 14, wherein the venting apparatus is coupled to a humidity sensor in the cavity.

16. The warming appliance of claim 14, wherein the venting apparatus includes an actuator configured to selectively open and close the venting apparatus.

17. The warming appliance of claim 14, including a blower associated with the enclosure and in fluid communication with the venting apparatus to move air in the drawer.

18. The warming appliance of claim 1, including a depository for fragrant substances in gaseous communication with the drawer.

19. The warming appliance of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a timing device.

20. The warming appliance of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a light switch coupled to a light fixture mounted in the enclosure.

21. The warming appliance of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is configured for use outdoors.

22. The warming appliance of claim 1 is configured as a warming drawer.

23. The warming appliance of claim 1 is configured as an independent modular unit for integration with another appliance.

24. The warming appliance of claim 1, including an information output device.

25. The warming appliance of claim 24, wherein the information output device includes a digital display.

26. The warming appliance of claim 1, wherein the user interface is remote from the warming appliance.

27. The warming appliance of claim 1, wherein the heating apparatus is coupled to a fan for air movement in the enclosure.

28. A warming appliance of claim 1, wherein the drawer includes transparent material providing visual access to the enclosure.

29. A warming drawer associated with a cooking appliance, wherein the cooking appliance is one of a free-standing unit and a built-in unit, the warming drawer comprising:

an enclosure defining an interior space and having an opening;

a drawer configured to be reciprocally moved within the interior space, the drawer having a member configured to close the opening;

a heating apparatus configured to change the temperature inside the drawer;

a user interface associated with the drawer and configured to control the heating apparatus; and

a temperature control apparatus coupled to the heating element and user interface, and associated with the enclosure, wherein food stuff contained in the drawer is maintained at a factory pre-determined temperature.

30. The warming drawer of claim 29, wherein the heating apparatus is mounted in the interior space proximate the drawer.

31. The warming drawer of claim 29, wherein the heating apparatus is mounted external to the drawer and is in communication with the interior space.

32. The warming drawer of claim 29, where the opening is front facing.

33. The warming drawer of claim 29, wherein the temperature control apparatus includes:

a detector configured to sense the temperature in the drawer;

a power circuit electrically connected to the detector, heating apparatus, user interface and an energy source; and

an electronic control device coupled to the detector and power circuit to control the temperature in the drawer within a predetermined range.

34. The warming drawer of claim 33, wherein the electronic control device is configured to function in a mode selected from a mode group including boiling, broiling, oven, baking, steam, microwave oven, and a combination of at least any two of such modes.

35. The warming drawer of claim 29, wherein the detector is mounted in the enclosure.

36. The warming drawer of claim 29, wherein the user interface only provides an on/off function.

37. The warming drawer of claim 33, wherein the electronic control device includes a microprocessor.

38. The warming drawer of claim 33, wherein the user interface includes a plurality of food type designators, with each designator assigned a predetermined temperature stored in the electronic control device.

39. The warming drawer of claim 33, including a sensor mounted in the drawer to sense the temperature of food stuff contained in the drawer and provide a signal to the electronic control device proportionate to the temperature of the food stuff, wherein the electronic control device will maintain the temperature of the drawer at one of the sensed temperature of the food stuff and a factory preset temperature.

40. The warming drawer of claim 29, wherein the enclosure is mounted in a position, wherein the position is one of above the associated cooking appliance, left of the associated cooking appliance, right of the associated cooking appliance and under the associated cooking appliance.

41. The warming drawer of claim 29, including a venting apparatus configured to control the temperature and humidity of space defined by the drawer.

42. The warming drawer of claim 41, wherein the venting apparatus is coupled to a humidity sensor in the cavity.

43. The warming drawer of claim 41, wherein the venting apparatus includes an actuator configured to selectively open and close the venting apparatus.

44. The warming drawer of claim 41, including a blower associated with the enclosure and in fluid communication with the venting apparatus to move air in the drawer.

45. The warming drawer of claim 29, including a depository for fragrant substances in gaseous communication with the drawer.

46. The warming drawer of claim 29, wherein the user interface includes a timing device.

47. The warming drawer of claim 29, wherein the user interface includes a light switch coupled to a light fixture mounted in the enclosure.

48. The warming drawer of claim 29, wherein the enclosure is configured for use outdoors.

49. The warming drawer of claim 29, wherein the enclosure is one of free-standing and cabinet mounted.

50. The warming drawer of claim 49, wherein the free-standing enclosure is configured to be moved.

51. The warming drawer of claim 29 is configured as an independent modular unit for integration with the cooking appliance.

52. The warming drawer of claim 29, including an information output device.

53. The warming drawer of claim 52, wherein the information output device includes a digital display

54. The warming drawer of claim 29, wherein the user interface is remote from the warming drawer.

55. The warming drawer of claim 29, wherein the heating apparatus is coupled to a fan for air movement in the enclosure.

56. A warming drawer of claim 29, wherein the drawer includes transparent material providing visual access to the enclosure.