HOME APPLIANCES PROVIDED WITH CONTROL SYSTEMS WHICH MAY BE ACTUATED FROM A REMOTE LOCATION

• US 20080087663A1
• Filed: 10/10/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Viking Range Corporation (Middleby Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TMIO LLC
• Inventors: Mansbery, David, Landry, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US11/869,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20080087663A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/679
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23297 Remote load of program with cellular, wireless, satellite connection
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23298 Remote load of program, through internet
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6402 Aspects relating to the microwave cavity

Abstract

A self-contained refrigerator and oven, for refrigerating and cooking food in the same enclosed chamber, which can be actuated by the operator from a variety of remote locations around the world via telephone or the internet. The heating element may be a microwave unit and the refrigerating means may be a thermoelectric heat pump.

Claims

1. A combination refrigerator-oven apparatus comprising:

an enclosed chamber having airflow;

a heating unit positioned in said enclosed chamber;

a refrigeration unit positioned at least partially outside said enclosed chamber;

and a controller in communication with said heating unit and said refrigeration unit for selectively activating said refrigerator-oven apparatus,

wherein when a cooling mode is selected, said controller activates said refrigeration unit to deliver cool air through said cool air duct to said enclosed chamber, and when a heating mode is selected, said controller activates said heating unit.

2. The combination refrigerator-oven apparatus of claim 1, further comprising airflow devices adapted for directing the flow of cold air and hot air.

3. The combination refrigerator-oven apparatus of claim 1, wherein said enclosed chamber has a heat exchange vent.

4. The combination refrigerator-oven apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a keyboard in communication with said controller for pre-selecting said cooling and heating modes and for pre-selecting times and temperatures in which said refrigeration unit and said heating unit are to operate in each of said cooling and heating modes.

5. The combination refrigerator-oven apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a communication router in selective communication with said controller, said communication router being configured to enable an individual at a remote location to pre-select said cooling and heating modes and to pre-select times and temperatures in which said refrigeration unit and said heating unit are to operate in each of said cooling and heating modes.

6. The combination refrigerator-oven apparatus of claim 5 wherein said communication router comprises:

a user interface configured for connection to an external link for receiving a message from said remote location;

a server in communication with said user interface, said server receiving said message and translating the message into specific commands to operate the refrigerator-oven apparatus.

7. A combination refrigerator-oven apparatus comprising:

an enclosed chamber having airflow;

a heating unit positioned in said enclosed chamber;

a refrigeration unit positioned at least partially outside said enclosed chamber, the refrigeration unit including means for removing heated air from said enclosed chamber;

and a controller in communication with said heating unit and said refrigeration unit for selectively activating said refrigerator-oven apparatus,

wherein when a cooling mode is selected, said controller activates said refrigeration unit to deliver cool air through said cool air duct to said enclosed chamber, and when a heating mode is selected, said controller activates said heating unit.

8. The combination refrigerator-oven apparatus of claim 7, further comprising airflow devices adapted for directing the flow of cold air and hot air.

9. The combination refrigerator-oven apparatus of claim 7, wherein said enclosed chamber has a heat exchange vent.

10. The combination refrigerator-oven apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a keyboard in communication with said controller for pre-selecting said cooling and heating modes and for pre-selecting times and temperatures in which said refrigeration unit and said heating unit are to operate in each of said cooling and heating modes.

11. The combination refrigerator-oven apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a communication router in selective communication with said controller, said communication router being configured to enable an individual at a remote location to pre-select said cooling and heating modes and to pre-select times and temperatures in which said refrigeration unit and said heating unit are to operate in each of said cooling and heating modes.

12. The combination refrigerator-oven apparatus of claim 11 wherein said communication router comprises:

a user interface configured for connection to an external link for receiving a message from said remote location;

a server in communication with said user interface, said server receiving said message and translating the message into specific commands to operate the refrigerator-oven apparatus.

13. A combination refrigerator-oven comprising:

an enclosed chamber having an airflow inlet opening;

a heating unit positioned in said enclosed chamber;

a refrigeration unit positioned outside of said enclosed chamber and having a cool air duct coupled to said airflow inlet opening;

and a controller in communication with said heating unit and said refrigeration unit for selectively activating said refrigerator-oven apparatus,

wherein when a cooling mode is selected, said controller activates said refrigeration unit to deliver cool air through said cool air duct to said enclosed chamber, and when a heating mode is selected, said controller activates said heating unit.

14. The combination refrigerator-oven apparatus of claim 13, further comprising airflow devices adapted for directing the flow of cold air and hot air.

15. The combination refrigerator-oven apparatus of claim 13, wherein said enclosed chamber has a heat exchange vent.

16. The combination refrigerator-oven apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a keyboard in communication with said controller for pre-selecting said cooling and heating modes and for pre-selecting times and temperatures in which said refrigeration unit and said heating unit are to operate in each of said cooling and heating modes.

17. The combination refrigerator-oven apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a communication router in selective communication with said controller, said communication router being configured to enable an individual at a remote location to pre-select said cooling and heating modes and to pre-select times and temperatures in which said refrigeration unit and said heating unit are to operate in each of said cooling and heating modes.

18. The combination refrigerator-oven apparatus of claim 17 wherein said communication router comprises:

a user interface configured for connection to an external link for receiving a message from said remote location;

a server in communication with said user interface, said server receiving said message and translating the message into specific commands to operate the refrigerator-oven apparatus.