Non-food warmer appliance

• US 20060049172A1
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2004
• 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: Gagas, John M., Stair, Daniel E. II, Zeier, David J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,279,659 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/521
• 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 7/08 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices

Abstract

A non-food warmer apparatus includes an enclosure having sides, a top, and a bottom defining a chamber. A drawer structure has a support member to support objects. The drawer structure is coupled to the enclosure for movement between a retracted position to warm the objects within the chamber and an extended position external to the chamber to permit access to the objects by a user. A heating system heats the chamber and a ventilation system moves air through the chamber. A user interface includes inputs to control a temperature and a humidity within the chamber. A detection system includes sensors to detect a condition within the chamber and provide a signal. An electronic control system is coupled to the enclosure and interfaces with the heating system, the ventilation system, the user interface, and the detection system so the objects in the chamber can be maintained at a desired temperature.

Claims

1. A non-food warming appliance comprising:

an enclosure defining a chamber;

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

a support structure configured to support a non-food object inside the chamber;

a user interface associated with the enclosure and configured to control at least the heating apparatus; and

a control system interfacing with the heating apparatus and user interface, and operable to control operation of the heating apparatus in response to a signal from the user interface so that a non-food object supported by the support structure in the chamber is maintained at a pre-determined temperature.

2. The non-food warming appliance of claim 1 wherein the support structure is configured to expose the non-food object to heated air circulating around the non-food object in the chamber.

3. The non-food warming appliance of claim 1 wherein the heating apparatus is mounted in the chamber proximate the support structure.

4. The non-food warming appliance of claim 1 wherein the heating apparatus is mounted external to the enclosure and is in communication with the chamber.

5. The non-food warming appliance of claim 1 further comprising at least one of a front facing opening and a top opening in the enclosure.

6. The non-food warming appliance of claim 1 wherein the control system interfaces with at least one sensor configured to sense a temperature within the chamber.

7. The non-food warming apparatus of claim 6 wherein the sensor is further capable of detecting a presence of the non-food object in the chamber.

8. The non-food warming appliance of claim 6 wherein the sensor is mounted in the chamber.

9. The non-food warming appliance of claim 1 wherein the user interface provides only an on/off function.

10. The non-food warming appliance of claim 6 wherein the control system includes a microprocessor.

11. The non-food warming appliance of claim 10 wherein the user interface comprises a plurality of pre-programmed input elements, with each input element assigned a predetermined temperature stored in the microprocessor.

12. The non-food warming appliance of claim 10 wherein a sensor mounted in the chamber is configured to sense the temperature of the non-food object contained in the chamber and provide a signal to the microprocessor to maintain a temperature of the non-food object at one of the sensed temperature of the object and the pre-determined temperature.

13. The non-food warming appliance of claim 6 wherein the enclosure is one of free-standing and cabinet mounted.

14. The non-food warming appliance of claim 13 wherein the free-standing enclosure is configured to be moved.

15. The non-food warming appliance of claim 1 further comprising a ventilation system configured to control the temperature and humidity inside the chamber.

16. The non-food warming appliance of claim 15 wherein the ventilation system comprises a plurality of vent apertures.

17. The non-food warming appliance of claim 15 wherein the ventilation system further comprises an actuator configured to receive a signal from the control system to selectively position a damper to open and close the vent apertures.

18. The non-food warming appliance of claim 15 further comprising a fan associated with the chamber and in fluid communication with the vent apertures to move air in the chamber.

19. The non-food warming appliance of claim 1 further comprising a depository configured to receive a scent-imparting substance in gaseous communication with the chamber.

20. The non-food warming appliance of claim 1 wherein the user interface comprises a remote control device.

21. The non-food warming appliance of claim 1 wherein the heating apparatus is located near a top of the enclosure and near a vent aperture to promote exhaust of heat from the chamber.

22. The non-food warming appliance of claim 1 wherein the enclosure is configured for use outdoors

23. The non-food warming appliance of claim 22 further comprising at least one of a sealed touch pad and a sealed electronic module adapted for use outdoors.

24. A non-food warmer apparatus, comprising:

an enclosure defining a chamber and having an opening;

a drawer structure extendable from the chamber and movably coupled to the enclosure by guide members;

at least one support structure coupled to the drawer structure and configured to hold non-food objects within the chamber;

a heating element configured to provide heat to the chamber;

a ventilation system operable to move air within the chamber;

at least one sensor configured to provide a signal representative of a condition within the chamber;

a user interface capable of receiving an input from a user and generating an output; and

an electronic control system operable to receive the signal representative of a condition within the chamber and the output from the user interface and to control operation of the heating element and the ventilation system.

25. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 24 wherein the electronic control system comprises a positive temperature coefficient of resistance controller.

26. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 24 wherein the user interface comprises a touch pad device having a plurality of input elements.

27. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 26 wherein the touch pad device comprises an operating technology selected from the group consisting of a piezo electric device, a capacitance device, an inductive device, a resistance device, an infrared device, a high frequency pad-less soft touch device, a pad-less touch digital encoder, a magnetic switch, a field effect device, a charge transfer device, a hall effect device, a transistor, and a micro encoder.

28. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 26 wherein the touch pad device comprises a membrane switch.

29. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 26 wherein the input elements comprise at least one preprogrammed operating fuctions.

30. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 26 wherein the preprogrammed operating functions include at least one of a preprogrammed time and a preprogrammed temperature stored in a microprocessor of the electronic control system and selectable by a user through one of the input elements on the user interface.

31. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 24 wherein the user interface is operable remotely from the enclosure to permit a user to control operation of the warmer apparatus from a remote location.

32. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 24 wherein the at least one sensor comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensing device, a humidity sensor and an infrared temperature sensing device and the condition is at least one of a temperature and a humidity in the chamber.

33. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 32 wherein the temperature sensing device is selected from the group consisting of a thermostat, a thermal protector, a thermal cutoff, a thermal switch, a thermocouple, a PCB thermostat, a time delay relay, a bulb and capillary device, a cold control, a bimetallic device, a pressure switch, resistance temperature detector, a snap action switch, and a thermistor.

34. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 24 further comprising a display device configured to provide information to a user.

35. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 34 wherein the display device comprises a display panel having technology selected from the group consisting of light emitting diodes, liquid crystal display, plasma, dot matrix, and vacuum fluorescent display.

36. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 34 wherein the display device is integrated with the user interface.

37. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 24 wherein the ventilation system comprises a fan configured to circulate air within the chamber.

38. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 24 wherein the ventilation system comprises a plurality of vent apertures in the enclosure and a variably positionable damper to regulate a flow of air through the vent apertures.

39. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 38 further comprising a vent actuator operable to position the damper in response to a signal from the electronic control system.

40. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 39 wherein the vent actuator comprises at least one of a solenoid drive device, a screw drive device, a gear drive device, a motor driven device, a cylinder driven device, a biasing member, a bi-metal device, an electromagnetic device and an electronically actuated device.

41. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 38 wherein the vent apertures are located proximate a top of the enclosure and the fan is located proximate a bottom of the enclosure and configured to draw air into the chamber through the vent apertures.

42. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 24 wherein the enclosure comprises a door and the ventilation system comprises a plurality of vent apertures in the door.

43. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 24 wherein the door comprises an inside panel and an outside panel and the vent apertures are arranged for flow of air between the inside panel and the outside panel.

44. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 24 further comprising a drive system operable to move the drawer structure between an open position and a closed position.

45. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 24 wherein the support structure comprises an elongated member having a cross sectional shape selected from the group consisting of an inverted V, a Y, an X, and a U.

46. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 24 wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of perforations.

47. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 24 wherein the support structure comprises at least one of a pan and a rack.

48. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 24 wherein the user interface is rotatably coupled to the enclosure for movement between a use position and a concealed position.

49. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 24 wherein the user interface comprises a remote control device.

50. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 24 further comprising a door pivotally coupled to the enclosure to permit extension of the drawer structure.

51. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 24 wherein the door is further capable of sliding into the enclosure.

52. An electronically controlled non-food warmer apparatus, comprising:

an enclosure having sides and a top and a bottom defining a chamber;

a drawer structure having at least one support member to support objects thereon, the drawer structure coupled to the enclosure for movement between a retracted position to warm the objects within the chamber and an extended position at least partially external to the chamber to permit access to the objects by a user;

a heating system operable to heat the chamber;

a ventilation system operable to move air through the chamber;

a user interface having a plurality of inputs configured to control at least one of a temperature and a humidity within the chamber;

a detection system configured to detect a condition within the chamber and provide a signal representative of the condition; and

an electronic control system coupled to the enclosure and interfacing with the heating system and the ventilation system and the user interface and the display device so the objects in the chamber can be maintained at a desired temperature.

53. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 52 further comprising a drive system operable to position the drawer structure within a travel range between the retracted position and the extended position.

54. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 53 wherein the drive system comprises a screw drive system.

55. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 54 wherein the electronic control system interfaces with sensors that detect a stop point and transmit a control signal to the drive system.

56. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 52 further comprising a container communicating with the chamber and configured to receive an aromatic material capable of imparting a scent to the objects.

57. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 52 further comprising a mobile pedestal coupled to the enclosure.

58. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 52 wherein the ventilation system comprises a variable speed fan controlled by the electronic control system and operable to move air within the chamber.

59. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 52 wherein the ventilation system comprises apertures formed in at least one of the sides, the top and the bottom, and a damper device operable to increase ventilation in the chamber by uncovering the apertures and operable to decrease ventilation in the chamber by covering the apertures.

60. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 59 wherein the apertures are formed in the top and the heating system comprises at least one heating element positioned adjacent to the apertures.

61. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 52 wherein the heating system comprises a heating element integrated with the support member to promote warming of the objects.

62. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 61 wherein the heating element comprises a thermoceramic heating device.

63. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 52 wherein the electronic control system comprises at least one preprogrammed temperature set point and at least one time duration for selection on the user interface by a user.

64. The non-food warmer apparatus of claim 52 wherein the detection system comprises at least one of a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor and an infrared temperature sensor.