Oil-free fryer, food cooker
First Claim
1. A hot air cooker comprising:
- a cooking chamber having a front, rear and top, and a first opening in the front, a second opening in the rear and a third opening in the top;
an access door in the front covering at least part of the first opening;
a food holder in the chamber behind the door and having an outside surface;
a gas flow duct extending from an inlet at said second opening to an outlet at said third opening and having an air mover therein for moving gases and cooking fumes in a path from the cooking chamber through said second opening toward said third opening;
a heater in the duct above the third opening; and
a catalytic converter in the duct between the heater and the third opening, the converter being associated with the heater to enable the converter to remove contaminants from the fumes.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A forced hot air cooker has a two-piece basket assembly rotatable in an oven cooking chamber. A hot air supply plenum in the chamber discharges hot air through the basket assembly. A blower takes air from the chamber and discharges it through a duct behind the oven to a heater chamber above the oven chamber. The hot air supply plenum has a heater assembly mounted above it and projecting into the heater chamber. A catalytic converter immediately below the heater assembly, is exposed to radiant heat from the heater. Air is moved by the blower from the oven chamber through the duct to the heater chamber, down through the heater assembly and the catalytic converter and the supply plenum to the rotating basket assembly and then to the blower inlet. Upper and lower front doors are provided, the lower door for installation and removal of the lower basket of the food basket assembly, while the upper door remains closed to conserve heat. In one embodiment, a novel handle and latch mechanism is used to move the lower basket into or from the cooking chamber.
74 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A hot air cooker comprising:
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a cooking chamber having a front, rear and top, and a first opening in the front, a second opening in the rear and a third opening in the top; an access door in the front covering at least part of the first opening; a food holder in the chamber behind the door and having an outside surface; a gas flow duct extending from an inlet at said second opening to an outlet at said third opening and having an air mover therein for moving gases and cooking fumes in a path from the cooking chamber through said second opening toward said third opening; a heater in the duct above the third opening; and a catalytic converter in the duct between the heater and the third opening, the converter being associated with the heater to enable the converter to remove contaminants from the fumes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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12. A hot air cooker comprising:
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a cooking chamber having a wall and a ceiling; a doorway in the wall with at least one door; a food holder basket assembly in the chamber behind the door and having an outside surface; a hot air supply plenum having an outlet covering an area of said basket surface; an air mover establishing air flow in a path from the cooking chamber to the supply plenum; and a heater in the air flow path; the basket assembly having two baskets connected together to rotate as a unit in the chamber while the air mover causes air flow from the outlet through the basket assembly. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A basket assembly for a hot air cooker, comprising:
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a basket for placement in the cooking chamber of a hot air cooker, wherein said basket has a front end wall; a handle receiver bracket mounted on said front end wall, said handle receiver bracket having a latch opening defined therein; a handle, said handle including an elongate member having a vertical mounting leg at one end adapted to extend between said handle receiver bracket and said basket front end wall; and
, a latch mechanism mounted on said handle adjacent said vertical flange, said latch mechanism adapted to selectively engage said latch opening. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for moving a basket into or from the cooking chamber of a hot air cooker, comprising the steps of:
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providing a basket wherein said basket has a front end wall whereon is mounted a handle receiver bracket, said handle receiver bracket having a latch opening defined therein; engaging said handle receiver bracket with a handle, wherein said handle includes an elongate member with a vertical mounting leg adapted to extend between said handle receiver bracket and said basket; latching said handle to said basket with a latch mechanism mounted to said handle, wherein said latch mechanism engages said latch opening; moving said basket to a predetermined location; unlatching said latch mechanism; and
,disengaging said handle from said handle receiver bracket. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification