SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A PROGRAMMABLE COUNTER-TOP ELECTRIC DEHYDRATOR

• US 20090321410A1
• Filed: 07/21/2009
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NuWave LLC
• Original Assignee: IBC-Hearthware Incorporated (International Bancshares Corporation)
• Inventors: Moon, Jung S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,835,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/392
• CPC Class Codes: A21B 1/22 by electric radiators A21B2/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A21B 3/04 Air-treatment devices for ovens, e.g. regulating humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 9/003 Small self-contained devices, e.g. portable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53 Means to assemble or disassemble

Abstract

A system and method directed to a dehydrating device, which may include a dehydrating enclosure and an adapter. The adapter may be operable to couple the dehydrating enclosure to a power unit, which may include a power source disposed inside the power unit, and a control source operable to control the power source. The power unit may be detachably couplable to at least one of the dehydrating enclosure or a cooking enclosure. The power unit and the cooking enclosure may collectively combine into a multi-stage counter-top electric oven. The power unit and the dehydrating enclosure may also collectively combine into a dehydrator. The dehydrating enclosure may include a plurality of stackable dehydrating trays through which dehydrating air is circulated from the power unit.

Claims

1. A power unit, comprising:

a power source disposed inside the power unit; and

a control source operable to control the power source,

the power unit being detachably couplable to;

at least one of a cooking enclosure, or a dehydrating enclosure.

2. The power unit according to claim 1, wherein the power unit is a power head.

3. The power unit according to claim 1, wherein the power source comprises:

a heating unit; and

a fan unit.

4. The power unit according to claim 3, wherein the heating unit comprises:

a heating element operable to provide heat to an enclosure, said enclosure comprising any one of the cooking enclosure and the dehydrating enclosure; and

a thermostat system operable to measure an internal temperature of said enclosure and provide an input thereof to the control source.

5. The power unit according to claim 4, wherein the thermostat system comprises:

a thermister operable to measure the internal temperature of said enclosure; and

a thermostat adjustable to set a desired temperature of said enclosure.

6. The power unit according to claim 3, wherein the fan unit comprises:

a fan chamber;

a fan mounted in the fan chamber operable to create a dehydrating air flow throughout any one of;

the cooking enclosure and the dehydrating enclosure.

7. The power unit according to claim 1, wherein the control source comprises a sensor operable to determine whether the power unit is coupled to the cooking enclosure or the dehydrating enclosure.

8. The power unit according to claim 7, wherein the control source limits a maximum desired temperature of the dehydrating enclosure when the power unit is coupled with the dehydrating enclosure.

9. The power unit according to claim 7, wherein the sensor comprises a switch with a first activation status when the power unit is coupled with the heating enclosure and a second activation status when the power unit is coupled with the dehydrating enclosure.

10. The power unit according to claim 9, wherein the switch comprises:

a stand coupled to the power unit;

an actuator sensor coupled to the stand; and

an actuator coupled to the stand to trigger the actuator sensor depending on whether the cooking enclosure or the dehydrating enclosure is coupled to the power unit.

11. The power unit according to claim 10, wherein the power unit is coupled to the cooking enclosure, and wherein the control source comprises:

an input interface operable to receive a multi-stage cooking recipe;

a storage device operable to store the multi-stage cooking recipe; and

a processor operable to cause the power source to execute the multi-stage cooking recipe.

12. The power unit according to claim 1, wherein the power unit and the cooking enclosure collectively comprise a multi-stage counter-top electric oven.

13. The power unit according to claim 1, wherein the power unit and the dehydrating enclosure collectively comprise a dehydrator.

14. The power unit according to claim 13, wherein the control source comprises:

an input interface operable to receive a multi-stage dehydration process;

a storage device operable to store the multi-stage dehydration process; and

a processor operable to cause the power source to execute the multi-stage dehydration process.

15. The power unit according to claim 14, wherein the control source is operable to notify a user to change the position of at least one dehydrating tray comprising the dehydrating enclosure.

27. The power unit according to claim 1, wherein the control source sets one or more temperature settings devised for removal of bacteria without elimination of vital enzymes.

28. The power unit according to claim 27, wherein the temperature settings comprise at least one of:

106°

F., 116°

F., 150°

F., 175°

F., 225°

F., 250°

F., 275°

F., 300°

F., 325°

F., or 350°

F.

16. A dehydrating unit, comprising:

a dehydrating enclosure; and

a power unit, comprising;

a power source disposed inside the power unit; and

a control source operable to control said power source,

said power unit being detachably couplable to at least one of;

said dehydrating enclosure, or a cooking enclosure.

17. The dehydrating unit according to claim 16, further comprising an adapter operable to detachably couple the power unit and the dehydrating enclosure.

18. A dehydrating device, comprising:

a dehydrating enclosure; and

an adapter operable to removably couple said dehydrating enclosure to a power unit,

said power unit comprising;

a power source disposed inside said power unit; and

a control source operable to control said power source,

said power unit being detachably couplable to at least one of;

said dehydrating enclosure, or a cooking enclosure.

19. The dehydrating device according to claim 18, wherein the dehydrating enclosure comprises at least one dehydrating tray.

20. The dehydrating device according to claim 19, wherein said dehydrating tray comprises:

a substantially radial raised outer wall,

the wall forming a plurality of openings on the top portion thereof, and

the wall comprising a plurality of latches on the bottom portion thereof, the latches operable to couple with one or more openings on the top portion of a second dehydrating tray positioned on the bottom of said dehydrating tray.

21. The dehydrating device according to claim 19, wherein said dehydrating tray forms a substantially radial raised inner ring positioned in a center portion of the outer wall, the inner ring being fixedly and detachably mountable to a second dehydrating tray positioned on top thereof.

22. The dehydrating device according to claim 21, wherein the inner ring comprises a substantially vertical wall forming one or more spaces circulating dehydrating air between a central portion of the dehydrating tray and an orifice defined by the substantially vertical wall and through which orifice dehydrating air is blown downward from the power unit.

23. The dehydrating device according to claim 19, wherein said dehydrating tray comprises:

a substantially flat inner loop portion coupling the radial raised outer wall to the radial raised inner ring, the flat inner loop portion comprising a plurality of surfaces having openings therebetween.

24. The dehydrating device according to claim 19, wherein the dehydrating enclosure further comprises one or more additional dehydrating trays respectively stacked on top of one another and said at least one dehydrating tray.

25. A production process, comprising:

producing a dehydrating enclosure; and

combining the dehydrating enclosure with a power unit, said power unit comprising;

a power source disposed inside said power unit; and

a control source operable to control said power source,

said power unit being detachably couplable to at least one of;

the dehydrating enclosure, or a cooking enclosure.

26. A production process, comprising:

producing a power unit; and

combining the power unit with a dehydrating enclosure, said power unit comprising;

a power source disposed inside the power unit; and

a control source operable to control the power source,

said power unit being detachably couplable to at least one of;

the dehydrating enclosure, or a cooking enclosure.