COMPACT MICROWAVE OVEN

• US 20130186888A1
• Filed: 01/22/2013
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert W. Connors
• Original Assignee: Robert W. Connors
• Inventors: Connors, Robert W.
• Granted Patent: US 11,716,793 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/756
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6402 Aspects relating to the microwave cavity
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/80 Apparatus for specific applications stoves or ranges F24C7/02

Abstract

In an embodiment a microwave oven includes (i) a housing including two surfaces upon which the microwave oven can be set for operation; (ii) a magnetron located inside the housing; a door hinged along a hinged surface of the housing; and (iii) a user interface located on a surface of the housing opposing the hinged surface.

Claims

1. A microwave oven comprising:

a housing including two surfaces upon which the microwave oven can be set for operation;

a magnetron located inside the housing;

a door hinged along a hinged surface of the housing; and

a user interface located on a surface of the housing opposing the hinged surface.

2. The microwave oven of claim 1, which includes an x-y horizontal position caused by setting the microwave on a first one of the surfaces and a z-direction position caused by setting the microwave on second one of the surfaces.

3. The microwave oven of claim 1, wherein at least one of (i) the hinged surface of the housing is different than the two surfaces upon which the microwave oven can be set for operation or (ii) the user interface surface of the housing is different than the two surfaces upon which the microwave oven can be set for operation.

4. The microwave oven of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes at least one button or display oriented forty-five degrees relative to the two surfaces.

5. A microwave oven comprising:

a housing including two surfaces upon which the microwave oven can be set for operation;

electronic components located inside the housing; and

wherein at least one relatively heavy electronic component is positioned such that the component rests near a bottom of the housing regardless of which of the two surfaces the microwave oven is set for operation.

6. The microwave oven of claim 5, wherein the at least one relatively heavy electronic component includes a transformer.

7. The microwave oven of claim 5, wherein the at least one relatively heavy electronic component includes a magnetron.

8. A microwave oven comprising:

a housing;

a magnetron located inside the housing;

a microwavable space located inside the housing; and

at least one microwave reflecting obstruction placed between the magnetron and the microwavable space to more evenly heat a food item placed in the microwavable space.

9. The microwave oven of claim 8, wherein the housing includes two surfaces upon which the microwave oven can be set for operation.

10. The microwave oven of claim 8, which includes a faraday cage surrounding the microwavable space and at least part of the at least one microwave reflecting obstruction.

11. The microwave oven of claim 8, wherein the microwave reflecting obstruction includes a reflecting rod or a perforated wall or layer.

12. A microwave oven comprising:

a housing including two surfaces upon which the microwave oven can be set for operation;

a magnetron located inside the housing; and

a user interface positioned along a surface of the housing, at least a portion of the user interface rotatable to display information right-side-up regardless of which of the two surfaces the microwave oven is set for operation.

13. The microwave oven of claim 12, wherein the information includes a countdown of remaining time for heating.

14. The microwave oven of claim 12, wherein the user interface includes a display device, the information displayed by the display device, and at least one electromechanical button for entering a value displayed by the display device.

15. The microwave oven of claim 12, wherein the user interface includes a touch screen, the information provided in a time entry display area of the touch screen and on at least one touch screen button.

16. The microwave oven of claim 12, wherein the information is rotated in response to an output of a gravity switch.

17. The microwave oven of claim 12, wherein the information is rotated in response to at least one output of at least one electrical contact switch associated with at least one of the two surfaces upon which the microwave oven can be set for operation.

18. The microwave oven of claim 17, wherein the at least one electrical contact switch is provided with at least one foot along at least one of the two surfaces.

19. A microwave oven comprising:

a housing;

a heat generating microwave component located inside the housing;

a temperature sensor associated with the heat generating microwave component; and

a control unit located inside the housing, the control unit receiving an output from the temperature sensor and configured to use the output to determine whether the heat generating microwave component can be currently operated.

20. The microwave oven of claim 19, wherein the housing includes two surfaces upon which the microwave oven can be set for operation.

21. The microwave oven of claim 19, wherein the heat generating microwave component is a magnetron.

22. The microwave oven of claim 19, wherein the output is used by the control unit to be compared to a threshold temperature or to a threshold change in temperature.

23. The microwave oven of claim 19, wherein the temperature sensor is placed on or near the heat generating microwave component.

24. The microwave oven of claim 19, which includes a plurality of temperature sensors producing a combined output used by the control unit.

25. The microwave oven of claim 24, wherein the combined output is formed by the control unit.

26. A microwave oven comprising:

a housing including dimensions a×

b×

c, wherein a and b are larger than c, and wherein the housing can be set for operation on a surface in which one of the dimensions is c; and

a user interface including at least one pressable button, the user interface located on a surface of the housing defined by the dimensions a×

c or b×

c.

27. The microwave oven of claim 26, wherein the surface is a first surface upon which the housing can be set for operation, and which includes a second surface upon which the housing can be set for operation.

28. The microwave oven of claim 27, wherein the second surface includes dimensions a×

b.

29. A microwave oven comprising:

a housing;

an electrically operated microwave component located inside the housing;

an alternating current (“

AC”

) power input supported by the input;

a battery rechargeable via the AC power input; and

a control unit located inside the housing and configured to selectively power the electrically operated microwave component via the AC power input or the battery.

30. The microwave oven of claim 29, wherein the AC power input is a plug or a socket.

31. The microwave oven of claim 29, wherein the control unit is configured to power the electrically operated microwave component via the AC power input if connected to an external AC source or via the battery if the AC power input is not connected to the external AC source.

32. The microwave oven of claim 29, wherein the control unit is configured to automatically recharge the rechargeable battery if needed and if the AC power input is connected to an external AC source.

33. The microwave oven of claim 29, which includes a user interface, and wherein the AC power input is located on a surface of the housing that opposes a surface on which the user interface is located.

34. The microwave oven of claim 29, wherein the housing includes two surfaces upon which the microwave oven can be set for operation, and wherein the AC power input is located on a surface of the housing different from the two surfaces upon which the microwave oven can be set for operation.

35. A microwave oven comprising:

a housing including two surfaces upon which the microwave oven can be set for operation;

a magnetron located inside the housing;

a first plurality of impact-absorbing feet placed on a first of the two surfaces; and

a second plurality of impact-absorbing feet placed on a second of the two surfaces.

36. The microwave oven of claim 35, wherein the impact-absorbing feet are rubber feet.