Device for the closing and automatic opening of the cover of a cooking instrument, especially grills, griddles and the like

• US 5,918,588 A
• Filed: 01/29/1997
• Issued: 07/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vicente Gil Garcia
• Original Assignee: Vicente Gil Garcia
• Inventors: Gil Garcia, Vicente
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cocks, Josiah C.
• Application Number:
  US08/790,085
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 126/41 R, 126/41 D, 126/41 E, 126/220, 126/197, 126/214 D, 126/192, 126/25 R, 431/139, 431/146, 431/152, 431/134, 99/349, 99/422, 99/423, 99/424, 99/351
• US Class Current: 126/41.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/10 Lid-locking devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/06 Roasters; Grills; Sandwich grills

Abstract

Device for closing and automatically opening a cover of a cooking instrument, such as a grill and griddle, which includes a timing unit to determine the time for which the cooking instrument will function. The device includes an electromagnet for keeping the cover in closed and one or more springs for actuating opening of the cover, i.e., the springs are biased to open the cover. In operation, the closing position of the cover is detected, e.g., by a microswitch, and the electromagnet is activated in order to keep the cover closed. The electromagnet is controlled by the timing unit such that, when the cover is closed, the electromagnet is activated and the cover remains closed, and the electromagnet is deactivated after the time preset by the timing unit so that the cover is automatically opened through the bias of the springs.

Claims

1. A cooking instrument, comprising

a cover,

a device for closing and automatically opening said cover, said device comprising

an electromagnet having an activated condition in which said cover is kept closed and a deactivated condition when said cover is openable,

detecting means for detecting when said cover is closed and permitting activation of said electromagnet when the cover is closed in order to keep said cover closed, and

at least one spring biased to open said cover;

and

a timing unit arranged to determent the time for which the cooking instrument will function, said timing unit also being arranged to control said electromagnet such that, when said cover is closed, said electromagnet is activated and said cover remains closed, and said electromagnet is deactivated after the time preset by said timing unit such that said cover is automatically opened through the bias of said at least one spring.

2. The cooking instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein said detecting means comprise a microswitch.

3. The cooking instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one spring is gas-operated.

4. The cooking instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one spring comprises a plurality of springs.

5. The cooking instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover includes a metal bar, said electromagnet being positioned relative to said cover such that said metal bar of said cover comes into contact with said electromagnet when said cover is closed.

6. The cooking instrument as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a casing, said electromagnet being arranged on said casing.

7. The cooking instrument as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a casing, said timing unit being arranged on said casing.

8. The cooking instrument as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a casing, said at least one spring being articulated at one end to said casing and at an opposite end to said cover.

9. Device for closing and automatic opening a cover of a cooking instrument which includes a timing unit to determine the time for which the cooking instrument will function, comprising

an electromagnet for keeping the cover closed, said electromagnet having an activated condition in which the cover is kept closed and a deactivated condition when the cover is openable,

means for detecting the position of the cover, and

at least one spring for actuation opening of the cover, said at least one spring being biased to open the cover,

said detecting means detecting the closing position of the cover and permitting activation of said electromagnet in order to keep the cover closed,

said electromagnet being controlled by the timing unit such that, when the cover is closed, it remains closed due to the action of said electromagnet and the cover opens after the time preset by the timing unit through the action of said at least one spring and the deactivation of said electromagnet.

10. Device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said means for detecting the position of the cover is a microswitch.

11. Device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said at least one spring is articulated, by one of its ends, into a casing of the cooking instrument, while the other ends is articulated onto the cover.

12. Device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cooking instrument is a grill.

13. Device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cooking instrument is a griddle.

14. Device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said at least one spring is gas-operated.

15. Device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said at least one spring comprises a plurality of springs.

16. Device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cover includes a metal bar, said electromagnet being positioned relative to the cover such that the metal bar of the cover comes into contact with said electromagnet when the cover is closed.

17. Device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said microswitch is arranged to permit passage of electric current to said electromagnet when the cover has been closed.

18. Device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said electromagnet is arranged on the casing of the cooking instrument.

19. Device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the timing unit is arranged on the casing of the cooking instrument.

20. Device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said detecting means comprise a microswitch arranged on the casing of the cooking instrument.