Cooking utensil comprising a sensor for measuring the temperature of this utensil

• US 5,934,181 A
• Filed: 01/22/1999
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SEB SA
• Original Assignee: SEB SA
• Inventors: Adamczewski, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Simone, Timothy F.
• Application Number:
  US09/236,269
• Time in Patent Office: 200 Days
• Field of Search: 99/342-344, 99/422-425, 99/493, 374/141, 374/149, 374/157, 374/179, 374/180, 374/208, 219/624, 219/627, 219/441, 219/442, 219/494, 219/523, 426/523, 426/231
• US Class Current: 99/342
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 45/068 Handles having indicating means, e.g. for temperature A47J45/07 takes precedence

Abstract

A sensor for measuring the temperature of the utensil is an infrared sensor arranged at a location of the utensil such that it can receive the infrared radiation emitted by the heating surface, the sensor being connected to an electronic circuit capable of converting the variation in the infrared radiation caused by the heating of the utensil into an electrical signal.

Claims

1. A cooking utensil comprising a heating surface, a sensor for measuring the temperature of this surface and means for displaying this temperature, wherein said sensor for measuring the temperature is an infrared sensor arranged at a location of the utensil such that it can receive the infrared radiation emitted by said heating surface, said sensor being connected to an electronic circuit capable of converting the variation in the infrared radiation caused by the heating of the utensil into an electrical signal.

2. A utensil as claimed in claim 1, wherein said infrared sensor is fixed to the handle of the utensil.

3. A utensil as claimed in claim 2, wherein the infrared sensor is placed in a closed housing projecting above the upward-oriented face of the handle.

4. A utensil as claimed in claim 3, wherein said housing includes a face oriented toward the cooking surface and comprising a window transparent to the infrared radiation, and an elliptical reflective surface situated in the path of the infrared radiation that has passed through said window, the latter being situated on one of the foci of said elliptical reflective surface and the entrance face of the infrared sensor being situated on the other focus of said elliptical reflective surface.

5. A utensil as claimed in claim 3, wherein said housing includes a face oriented toward the cooking surface and comprising a window transparent to the infrared radiation, and a parabolic reflective surface situated in the path of the infrared radiation that has passed through the windowthe entrance face of the infrared sensor being situated on the focus of said parabolic surface.

6. A utensil as claimed in claim 4, wherein housing includes, on the opposite side from said face oriented toward the cooking surface, a transparent face behind which is a screen for displaying the temperature.

7. A utensil as claimed in claim 6, wherein the housing contains the support that carries the infrared sensor, the reflective surface, -the electronic circuit for converting the variation in the infrared radiation, the temperature display screen and an electric battery for powering said electronic circuit.

8. A utensil as claimed in claim 3, wherein said housing is fixed detachably to the handle of the utensil.

9. A utensil as claimed in claim 1, comprising an electrical resistor for heating the heating surface, wherein said sensor is connected to means for regulating the heating power of the resistor and the temperature of the heating surface.