TEMPERATURE SENSING SYSTEM FOR A COOKING APPLIANCE

• US 20150037472A1
• Filed: 08/02/2013
• Published: 02/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conair LLC (Conair Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Conair Corporation
• Inventors: FUNG, KAM FAI, LAI, KIN MAN
• Granted Patent: US 10,130,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/231
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 5/10 General methods of cooking foods, e.g. by roasting or frying
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/32 Time-controlled igniting mechanisms or alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0611 the food being cooked between two heating plates, e.g. waffle-irons

Abstract

A temperature sensing system for a cooking appliance having an upper housing having a first heating surface and a lower housing having a second heating surface includes a temperature sensing probe, a control panel and a control unit in electrical communication with the temperature sensing probe and the control panel. The temperature sensing probe is removably received by the upper housing and extends through said first heating surface. The control panel has one or more input buttons for allowing a user to select at least one input parameter including a desired internal temperature of a food item.

Claims

1. A temperature sensing system for a cooking appliance having an upper housing having a first heating surface and a lower housing having a second heating surface, said temperature sensing system comprising:

a temperature sensing probe, said temperature sensing probe being removably received by said upper housing and selectively extending through said first heating surface;

a control panel having one or more input means for allowing a user to select at least one input parameter, said at least one input parameter including a desired internal temperature of a food item; and

a control unit in electrical communication with said temperature sensing probe and said control panel, said control unit selectively operating said cooking appliance in dependence upon data from said temperature sensing probe.

2. The temperature sensing system of claim 1, wherein:

said control unit is configured to control operation of at least one of said first and said second heating surfaces in dependence upon said at least one input parameter and an internal temperature of said food item detected by said temperature sensing probe.

3. The temperature sensing system of claim 1, further comprising:

a locking mechanism for selectively locking said temperature sensing probe to said upper housing.

4. The temperature sensing system of claim 3, wherein:

said locking mechanism includes a lock button, a substantially U-shaped actuating member and a pair of opposed sliders, said sliders being configured to selectively engage said temperature sensing probe to lock said probe to said upper housing.

5. The temperature sensing system of claim 1, wherein:

said temperature sensing probe includes a rotatable knob and a piercing shaft having a temperature sensor, said piercing shaft being extendable from a first position, in which said piercing shaft is substantially contained within said upper housing, to a second position, in which said piercing shaft protrudes from said upper housing to pierce said food item.

6. The temperature sensing system of claim 1, wherein:

said temperature sensing probe includes a rotatable knob, a guide cylinder and a probe housing having a piercing shaft and at least one protrusion extending from said housing;

wherein said at least one protrusion is received in an angled slot formed in said guide cylinder and a substantially vertical groove formed in said rotatable knob; and

wherein said guide cylinder is housed within said rotatable knob.

7. The temperature sensing system of claim 1, further comprising:

an electrical pathway connecting said control unit and said temperature sensing probe when said temperature sensing probe is received by said upper housing.

8. The temperature sensing system of claim 1, wherein:

said control unit is configured to deactivate said first and second heating surfaces when said desired internal temperature is detected by said temperature sensing probe.

9. The temperature sensing system of claim 1, wherein:

said control unit is configured to generate an audible alert when said desired internal temperature is detected by said temperature sensing probe.

10. A cooking appliance, comprising:

an upper housing having an upper heating surface and a lower housing having a lower heating surface;

a temperature sensing probe received by said upper housing and selectively extending through said upper heating surface;

a control panel having one or more input means for allowing a user to select at least one input parameter, said at least one input parameter including a desired internal temperature or doneness of a food item; and

a control unit in electrical communication with said temperature sensing probe and said control panel.

11. The cooking appliance of claim 10, wherein:

said temperature sensing probe is selectively removable from said upper housing.

12. The cooking appliance of claim 10, wherein:

said temperature sensing probe is selectively movable between a first position, in which said temperature probe extends through said upper heating surface, and a second position, in which said temperature sensing probe is retracted and does not extend through said second heating surface.

13. The cooking appliance of claim 12, wherein:

said temperature sensing probe includes a rotatable knob, a guide cylinder and a probe housing having a piercing shaft and at least one protrusion extending from said housing;

wherein said at least one protrusion is received in an angled slot formed in said guide cylinder and a substantially vertical groove formed in said rotatable knob; and

wherein said guide cylinder is housed within said rotatable knob.

14. The cooking appliance of claim 10, further comprising:

a locking mechanism for selectively locking said temperature sensing probe to said upper housing.

15. The cooking appliance of claim 14, wherein:

said locking mechanism includes a lock button, a substantially U-shaped actuating member and a pair of opposed sliders, said sliders being configured to selectively engage said temperature sensing probe to lock said probe to said upper housing.

16. The cooking appliance of claim 10, further comprising:

an electrical pathway connecting said control unit and said temperature sensing probe when said temperature sensing probe is received by said upper housing.

17. The cooking appliance of claim 10, wherein:

said control unit is configured to control operation of at least one of said first and said second heating surfaces in dependence upon said at least one input parameter and an internal temperature of said food item detected by said temperature sensing probe.

18. The cooking appliance of claim 17, wherein:

said control unit is configured to deactivate said first and second heating surfaces when said desired internal temperature or doneness is detected by said temperature sensing probe.

19. A method of operating a cooking appliance having an upper heating surface and a lower heating surface, said method comprising the steps of:

equipping said cooking appliance with a control unit and a temperature sensing probe, said temperature sensing probe being in electrical communication with said control unit; and

operating said upper heating surface and said lower heating surface in dependence upon data from said temperature sensing probe.