Electric cookers with warning lights
First Claim
1. An electric cooker comprising:
- a cooking surface;
at least one heater arranged on an underside of the cooking surface, said at least one heater comprising;
a housing comprising a base and an upwardly extending outer rim, the rim having an upper edge which is in contact with the underside of the cooking surface so as to form an enclosed chamber between the underside of the cooking surface and the housing;
a heating element mounted in the housing;
a thermal cut-out to protect against overheating of the cooking surface, which thermal cut-out extends through a first opening in the outer rim and passes above the heating element;
a mechanical switch co-operable with the thermal cut-out to deenergise the heating element in the event of overheating; and
a second opening formed in the housing to connect the enclosed chamber with the outside of the heater;
a temperature responsive element arranged externally of the enclosed chamber and positioned relative to said second opening such that, on energising the heating element, the temperature responsive element is heated by hot air issuing from the enclosed chamber by way of said second opening so that the temperature of the temperature responsive element is representative of the temperature of the cooking surface; and
means for indicating when the temperature responsive element is at at least a predetermined temperature.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A glass ceramic hob electric cooker is provided on each of the radiant heaters thereof with a temperature responsive element such as a bi-metallic switch or a thermistor, which element is arranged adjacent to or within an opening which communicates with an enclosed chamber formed between the heater and the underside of the glass ceramic cooking surface. When the heating element of the heater is energized, hot air issues from the opening and impinges on the temperature responsive element thus heating said element. A warning lamp is connected with the temperature responsive element to indicate when said element and thus the glass ceramic cooking surface is at or above a safe touching temperature of 50° to 60° C.
43 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An electric cooker comprising:
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a cooking surface; at least one heater arranged on an underside of the cooking surface, said at least one heater comprising; a housing comprising a base and an upwardly extending outer rim, the rim having an upper edge which is in contact with the underside of the cooking surface so as to form an enclosed chamber between the underside of the cooking surface and the housing; a heating element mounted in the housing; a thermal cut-out to protect against overheating of the cooking surface, which thermal cut-out extends through a first opening in the outer rim and passes above the heating element; a mechanical switch co-operable with the thermal cut-out to deenergise the heating element in the event of overheating; and a second opening formed in the housing to connect the enclosed chamber with the outside of the heater; a temperature responsive element arranged externally of the enclosed chamber and positioned relative to said second opening such that, on energising the heating element, the temperature responsive element is heated by hot air issuing from the enclosed chamber by way of said second opening so that the temperature of the temperature responsive element is representative of the temperature of the cooking surface; and means for indicating when the temperature responsive element is at at least a predetermined temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An electric cooker comprising:
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a glass ceramic cooking surface; at least one radiant heater arranged on an underside of the cooking surface, said at least one heater comprising; a housing comprising a thermally conductive outer cover in the form of a metal dish; a base layer of electrical and thermal insulating material arranged in the metal dish; a peripheral rim of electrical and thermal insulating material arranged in the metal dish and extending upwardly from said base layer, the peripheral rim having an upper edge which is in contact with the underside of the cooking surface so as to form an enclosed chamber between the underside of the cooking surface and the housing; a heating element mounted on said base layer; a thermal cut-out to protect against overheating of the cooking surface, which thermal cut-out extends through a first opening in the peripheral rim and passes above the heating element; a mechanical switch co-operable with the thermal cut-out to deenergise the heating element in the event of overheating; and a second opening formed in the housing to connect the enclosed chamber with the outside of the heater; a temperature responsive element arranged externally of the enclosed chamber and positioned relative to said second opening such that, on energising the heating element, the temperature responsive element is heated by hot air issuing from the enclosed chamber by way of said second opening so that the temperature of the temperature responsive element is representative of the temperature of the cooking surface; and means for indicating when the temperature responsive element is at at least a predetermined temperature.
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Specification