System and Method for a Programmable Counter-top Electric Oven and Dehydrator

• US 20140021191A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 01/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NuWave LLC
• Original Assignee: Hearthware, Inc.
• Inventors: Moon, Jung S., Cha, Eung Yub, Choi, Byung G., Kwon, Mikale K., Huh, Eunjung
• Application Number:
  US13/832,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20140021191A1
• 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: A23L 3/40 by drying or kilning; Subsequent reconstitution
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/54 using irradiation or electrical treatment, e.g. ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0629 with electric heating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/081 on stoves
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/088 on stoves
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 9/003 Small self-contained devices, e.g. portable
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0263 Ovens

Abstract

A system and method directed to a countertop oven comprising a powerhead or power unit, a dome, and a base, which may include a stainless steel pan, and/or a plastic base, adaptable to receive a dehydrating adapter, base, and/or one or more dehydrator trays. According to exemplary embodiment, the powerhead may include a sensor to detect when the powerhead has been inserted in the dehydrator adapter, according to an exemplary embodiment. The power unit may be detachably connectable to the dehydrating enclosure and a cooking enclosure dome. 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 heating element coupled to the power unit; and

a controller operable to control said heating element;

wherein said power unit comprises a programmable controller adapted to store a plurality of multi-stage recipes; and

wherein said power unit being detachably connectable to one of both;

a cooking enclosure; and

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 said power unit comprises at least one of:

a thermistor operable to measure the internal temperature of said enclosure;

or

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

4. 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.

5. The power unit according to claim 1, 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.

6. The dehydrating device according to claim 1, wherein said dehydrating tray comprises:

a substantially radial raised outer wall,

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

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

7. The dehydrating device according to claim 1, 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.

8. The dehydrating device according to claim 7, 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.

9. The dehydrating device according to claim 1, 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.

10. The dehydrating device according to claim 1, 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.

11. The power unit according to claim 1, wherein said dehydrating enclosure comprises:

a top cover dome adapter;

a bottom comprising at least one water pool;

a plurality of trays,

wherein each dehydrator tray comprises;

at least one hook; and

at least one hole for receiving said at least one hook of another of said plurality of trays.

12. The power unit according to claim 1, wherein said cooking enclosure comprises:

a polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) dome;

a removable stainless steel pan comprising;

a lip, and

at least one raised rib in bottom;

a removable rack comprising at least one of;

a 3 inch high rack;

or

a 4 inch high;

a base for receiving said stainless steel pan,

wherein said base comprises;

a plurality of handles,

at least one opening for cooling,

at least one protective band guard,

on a top surface, a plurality of silicone locators and at least one center post, and

on a bottom surface a plurality of feet; and

at least one optional stainless steel extender ring.

13. The power unit according to claim 1, wherein said programmable controller comprises:

storage memory for receiving a plurality of recipes,

wherein each recipe comprises a multi-stage recipe, and

wherein each stage comprises a temperature and a time period.

14. The power unit according to claim 13, wherein said programmable controller comprises:

storage memory for receiving said plurality of recipes comprises storage for up to 99 recipes, and

wherein said each recipe comprising said multi-stage recipe comprises up to a 5 stage recipe.

15. The power unit according to claim 1, wherein said dehydrating enclosure comprises:

an adapter for coupling to the power unit;

a bottom;

a plurality of trays,

wherein each said tray comprises;

at least one first portion of a coupler; and

at least one second portion of a coupler adapted to couple to said first portion of another of said plurality of trays.

16. The power unit according to claim 15, wherein said first portion comprises a hook, and said second portion comprises a hole.

17. The power unit according to claim 1, wherein said cooking enclosure comprises at least one of:

a dome enclosure;

a removable pan;

or

a base for receiving said pan.

18. The power unit according to claim 17, comprising said dome enclosure and wherein said dome enclosure comprises:

polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) material.

19. The power unit according to claim 17, wherein said pan comprises a stainless steel pan comprising at least one of:

a lip, or

at least one raised rib in a bottom.

20. The power unit according to claim 17, further comprising at least one of:

a) at least one extender ring comprising at least one of;

a polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) ring;

a ceramic ring;

a glass ring;

a stainless steel ring;

a metal ring;

or

a ring adapted to stack atop at least one of;

said pan, or

another ring;

b) a removable rack comprising at least one of;

a 3 inch high rack;

or

a 4 inch high;

or

c) said base, wherein said base comprises at least one of;

at least one handle;

at least one opening for cooling;

at least one band guard;

at least one locator or post for supporting said pan;

or

at least one foot for supporting said base.