Integrated cooling, heating food preparation system

• US 6,244,165 B1
• Filed: 08/16/1999
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Viking Range Corporation (Middleby Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Joseph S. Trombley
• Inventors: Rudy, Christopher John, Trombley, Joseph S.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US09/374,683
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 993/25, 993/31, 994/70, 994/86, 994/84, 219/501, 219/506, 219/508, 219/494, 219/448, 219/452, 219/453, 219/679, 219/714, 340/825.06, 340/825.16, 340/825.17, 340/870.17, 340/870.21
• US Class Current: 99/331
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/07 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/12 Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 31/005 Combined cooling and heating devices

Abstract

Integrated cooling, heating food preparation system has a food containing volume; a device to refrigerate food in that volume; a device to cook the refrigerated food in the same volume; and, optionally, a device to keep warm and/or refrigerate the cooked food in the same volume. The system is suitably controlled, preferably by remote control activation, for a few examples, through a public exchange computer communications system or by radio. The system can be embodied in a form in which the food containing/heating unit is placed in a pre-existing or modified refrigeration cabinet.

Claims

1. An integrated cooling, heating food preparation system useful for preparing a masticatable, solid food and being remotely activated through a public exchange computer communications system, which comprises a food-containing volume;

a means to refrigerate food in said volume; and

a means to cook the refrigerated food in the same volume, wherein the food is capable of being the masticatable, solid food, and means for activation from a remote location of the means to cook said food is provided by employing a connection through the public exchange computer communications system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a means to keep warm and/or refrigerate the cooked food in the same volume is provided.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the means to cook said food is provided by microwave.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein a means to keep warm and/or refrigerate the cooked food in the same volume is provided.

5. In combination, an integrated cooling, heating food preparation system, which comprises a food-containing volume;

a means to refrigerate food in said volume; and

a means to cook the refrigerated food in the same volume, wherein means for activation from a remote location of the means to cook said food is provided; and

a larger refrigeration cabinet in which at least a part of said system resides.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein said system resides fully inside the larger refrigeration cabinet, and the means to cook said food is provided by microwave.

7. The combination of claim 5, wherein the means for activation from a remote location is through use of a telephone system.

8. The combination of claim 6, wherein the means for activation from a remote location is through use of a telephone system.

9. The combination of claim 5, wherein the means for activation from a remote location employs a connection through a public exchange computer communications system.

10. The combination of claim 6, wherein the means for activation from a remote location employs a connection through a public exchange computer communications system.

11. The combination of claim 5, wherein the means for activation from a remote location is provided by a wireless system.

12. The combination of claim 11, wherein the wireless system is provided by radio control.

13. The combination of claim 5, wherein a means to keep warm and/or refrigerate the cooked food in the same volume is provided.

14. The combination of claim 6, wherein a means to keep warm and/or refrigerate the cooked food in the same volume is provided.

15. The combination of claim 9, wherein a means to keep warm and/or refrigerate the cooked food in the same volume is provided.

16. The combination of claim 10, wherein a means to keep warm and/or refrigerate the cooked food in the same volume is provided.

17. A home-scale integrated cooling, heating food preparation system useful for handling food in a kitchen of a home and being remotely activated through a public exchange computer communications system, which comprises a home-scale food-containing volume suitable for handling food in the kitchen of the home;

a means to refrigerate the food in said volume; and

a means to cook the refrigerated food in the same volume, wherein means for activation from a remote location of the means to cook said food is provided by employing a connection through the public exchange computer communications system.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein a means to keep warm and/or refrigerate the cooked food in the same volume is provided.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the means to cook said food is provided by microwave.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein a means to keep warm and/or refrigerate the cooked food in the same volume is provided.