HEATING COOKER

• US 20120118870A1
• Filed: 07/02/2010
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Shigeoka, Takehiko, Kataoka, Akira, Matsui, Eiji
• Granted Patent: US 8,772,678 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/220
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/083 on tops, hot plates
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/1218 with arrangements using lights for heating zone state indication

Abstract

A heating cooker of the present invention is structured such that, an indicator sheet 29 of a light emitting indicator unit 25 has a light transmitting portion 29a that transmits light of a light emission source 28 and a light blocking portion 29b that is provided away from a heating unit 23 than the light transmitting portion 29a is and that blocks the light of the light emission source 28, and that the light emission source 28 is disposed below the light blocking portion 29b. Thus, uneven shining of the indicator sheet 29 can be suppressed, and the effect of heat from a heating target cooking vessel to the light emission source 28 can be suppressed, whereby a further reduction in thickness of the heating cooker can be realized.

Claims

1. A heating cooker, comprising:

a box-like body having an opening at top portion of the box;

a top board that is provided to close the opening of the body;

a heating unit that is provided inside the body and that heats a heating target cooking vessel placed on the top board; and

a light emitting indicator unit that is provided beside the heating unit, wherein

the light emitting indicator unit includes;

a case that has an opening at top portion of the case facing the top board;

a light emission source that is provided in the case; and

an indicator sheet that is provided to close the opening of the case, wherein

the indicator sheet has;

a light transmitting portion that passes light of the light emission source; and

a light blocking portion that is provided at a position away from the heating unit than the light transmitting portion is, the light blocking portion blocking the light of the light emission source, wherein

the heating unit has an outer circumferential portion formed to be substantially circular,

the case has a bottom wall in a substantially isosceles triangular shape, the case being disposed such that a base side of the substantially isosceles triangular shape faces the outer circumferential portion of the hating unit,

the light emission source is disposed below the light blocking portion, and is disposed near an apex being away from the base of the bottom wall of the case, and

the base of the bottom wall of the case is formed to be arc-shaped so as to conform to the outer circumferential portion of the heating unit.

4. The heating cooker according to claim 1, wherein

the light emitting indicator unit has a light blocking wall that blocks the light of the light emission source between the light transmitting portion of the indicator sheet and the light emission source as seen from a height direction.

5. The heating cooker according to claim 4, wherein

the light blocking wall is provided in a standing manner from the bottom wall of the case, and

a clearance that passes the light of the light emission source is provided between the light blocking wall and the indicator sheet.

6. The heating cooker according to claim 5, wherein

the light blocking wall is formed such that the clearance becomes greater as a distance from the light emission source becomes greater, and that a height from the bottom wall becomes smaller as the distance from the light emission source becomes greater.

7. The heating cooker according to claim 4, wherein

the light blocking wall is provided with a bypass portion that passes the light from the light emission source.

8. The heating cooker according claim 1, wherein

the indicator sheet is removably attached to the case.

9. The heating cooker according to claim 1, wherein

the light emission source is a surface mount LED.

10. The heating cooker according to claim 1, wherein

the light emission source is a surface mount LED that emits light in a plurality of colors.

11. The heating cooker according to claim 1, wherein

the light transmitting portion of the indicator sheet is arc-shaped so as to conform to the outer circumferential portion of the heating unit,

the light emission source has a plurality of surface mount LEDs that produce colors being different from one another, and

a plurality of the LEDs are aligned in a direction that passes a midpoint of a straight line connecting between opposite ends of the light transmitting portion and that is perpendicular to the straight line.

12. The heating cooker according to claim 1, wherein

the case is formed with a light reflecting material that reflects off the light of the light emission source.

13. The heating cooker according to claim 1, wherein

a face of the light blocking portion of the indicator sheet on the light emission source side is subjected to a light refection process for reflecting off the light of the light emission source.

14. The heating cooker according to claim 13, wherein

the face of the light blocking portion of the indicator sheet on the light emission source side is provided with white color printing as the light refection process.

15. The heating cooker according to claim 1, wherein

the light transmitting portion of the indicator sheet is provided with a light diffusion process for diffusing the light of the light emission source.

2-3. -3. (canceled)