Kitchen appliance with video display

• US 6,853,399 B1
• Filed: 05/26/2000
• Issued: 02/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Keith E. Gilman, Robert A. Gilman
• Original Assignee: Keith E. Gilman, Robert A. Gilman
• Inventors: Gilman, Robert A., Gilman, Keith E.
• Primary Examiner(s): DIEP, NHON THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/579,030
• Time in Patent Office: 1,719 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N00.9/47, 348/61, 348/552, 345/158, 725/110
• US Class Current: 348/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06

Abstract

A kitchen appliance such as a cooking or cleaning apparatus includes video or other electronic image display built within the door of the appliance or a side or other surface of an appliance. Controls for the display and the video or still-frame generating apparatus associated therewith are either built directly within the appliance and/or are associated via remote control, including an infrared receiving port. The display could be fed from a television tuner, microprocessor or any other video or still frame generating apparatus.

Claims

1. A kitchen appliance comprising:

a. a housing having an interior and a door, said door being movable between an open position at which said interior can be accessed and a closed position;

b. appliance controls;

c. a kitchen appliance apparatus for effecting the environment of said interior, as controlled by said appliance controls;

d. a display integrally and non-portably built within said door for displaying electronic images on said door; and

e. at least one hinge, said hinge being modified from that which would be required to support the door without said display and associated components in order to support said door and said associated components.

2. The kitchen appliance in claim 1, further including a television tuner.

3. The kitchen appliance in claim 2, wherein the television tuner is within the said housing.

4. The kitchen appliance in claim 1, further comprising a microprocessor.

5. The kitchen appliance in claim 4, further including a keyboard for controlling said microprocessor.

6. The kitchen appliance in claim 4, wherein said microprocessor is within said housing.

7. The kitchen appliance in claim 1, further including video generating apparatus.

8. The kitchen appliance in claim 7, wherein said video generating apparatus is a camera.

9. The kitchen appliance in claim 7, wherein said video generating apparatus is at least partially in said housing.

10. The kitchen appliance in claim 1, wherein said housing has a planar surface and said door is part of the planar surface, and said display covers about one-third of said planar surface.

11. The kitchen appliance in claim 1, wherein said housing has a planar surface and said door is part of the planar surface, and the display covers about one-half of said planar surface.

12. The kitchen appliance in claim 1, wherein said kitchen appliance is a refrigerator.

13. The kitchen appliance in claim 1, further including a display cover for selective covering and uncovering of said display.

14. The kitchen appliance in claim 1, wherein the appliance controls are part of said housing and the appliance apparatus are in said housing.

15. The kitchen appliance in claim 1, wherein the kitchen appliance is a refrigerator, a dishwasher, a conventional oven, a freezer, or a wine storage unit.

16. The kitchen appliance in claim 1, further comprising a shield protecting the display and associated components from the effected environment in the interior.