Microwaveable cooking container and microwave oven

• US 7,067,778 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2004
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Tae Jung
• Primary Examiner(s): Leung, Philip H.
• Application Number:
  US10/978,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20050173421A1
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 219725-735, 219681-685, 219762-763, 426/241, 426/243, 99D/IG.14, 994/51
• US Class Current: 219/682
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6494 for cooking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 99/14 Induction heating

Abstract

A microwave oven provided with a cooking container arranged in a cooking compartment for both steaming and grilling food. The cooking container includes a main body and a lid heated by high-frequency waves, a supporting member for selectively supporting the lid so as to rest on the upper surface of the main body, a rack selectively arrangable in the main body for supporting food so as to be steamed, and first and second heating members respectively covered on an outer surface of the bottom of the main body and an upper surface of the lid for generating heat by using the high-frequency waves. An inner surface of the bottom of the main body forms a first grill plane and a lower surface of the lid forms a second grill plane so that the food is grilled by the first and second grill planes when disposed so as to contact food.

Claims

1. A microwave oven comprising:

an electric element compartment provided with a magnetron installed therein;

a cooking compartment accepting high-frequency waves generated from the magnetron; and

a cooking container, installed in the cooking compartment and adapted to be heated by the high-frequency waves, for selectively performing a steaming or grilling function,

wherein the cooking container includes;

a main body for accepting food to be cooked and comprising a member for generating heat by using the high-frequency waves;

a lid comprising a member for generating heat by using the high-frequency waves and the lid arranged to cooperate with the main body;

a supporting member for selectively supporting the lid such that the lid rests on the upper surface of the main body; and

a rack adapted to selectively be arranged in the main body for supporting the food so that the food may be steamed.

2. The microwave oven according to claim 1, wherein the rack includes:

a surface, with a plurality of steam holes, for holding the food to be steamed; and

a plurality of legs extended downwardly from the surface,

wherein the legs dispose the surface at a predetermined height from the bottom of the main body.

3. The microwave oven according to claim 1, wherein the main body and the lid are made of a material having an excellent heat conductivity.

4. The microwave oven according to claim 3, wherein an electric heater for supplying heat to the cooking container is installed in the cooking compartment.

5. A microwave oven comprising:

an electric element compartment provided with a magnetron installed therein;

a cooking compartment accepting high-frequency waves generated from the magnetron; and

a cooking container, installed in the cooking compartment and adapted to be heated by the high-frequency waves, for selectively performing a steaming or grilling function,

wherein the cooking container includes;

a main body for accepting food to be cooked and adapted to be heated by the high-frequency waves;

a lid adapted to be heated by the high-frequency waves and arranged to cooperate with the main body;

a supporting member for selectively supporting the lid such that the lid rests on the upper surface of the main body;

a rack adapted to selectively be arranged in the main body for supporting the food so that the food may be steamed;

a first heating member covered on an outer surface of the bottom of the main body for generating heat by using the high-frequency waves; and

a second heating member covered on an upper surface of the lid for generating heat by using the high-frequency waves.

6. The Microwave oven according to claim 5, wherein the first and second heating members are made of a material containing a predetermined amount of perlite particles so that they may be heated by the high-frequency waves.

7. A microwave oven comprising:

an electric element compartment provided with a magnetron installed therein;

a cooking compartment accepting high-frequency waves generated from the magnetron; and

a cooking container, installed in the cooking compartment and adapted to be heated by the high-frequency waves, for selectively performing a steaming or grilling function,

wherein the cooking container includes;

a main body for accepting food to be cooked and adapted to be heated by the high-frequency waves;

a lid adapted to be heated by the high-frequency waves and arranged to cooperate with the main body;

a supporting member for selectively supporting the lid such that the lid rests on the upper surface of the main body; and

a rack adapted to selectively be arranged in the main body for supporting the food so that the food may be steamed, and

wherein an inner surface of the bottom of the main body forms a first grill plane and a lower surface of the lid forms a second grill plane so that food may be grilled by the first and second grill planes.

8. A microwave oven comprising:

an electric element compartment provided with a magnetron installed therein;

a cooking compartment accepting high-frequency waves generated from the magnetron; and

a cooking container, installed in the cooking compartment and adapted to be heated by the high-frequency waves, for selectively performing a steaming or grilling function,

wherein the cooking container includes;

a main body for accepting food to be cooked and adapted to be heated by the high-frequency waves;

a lid adapted to be heated by the high-frequency waves and arranged to cooperate with the main body;

a supporting member for selectively supporting the lid such that the lid rests on the upper surface of the main body; and

a rack adapted to selectively be arranged in the main body for supporting the food so that the food may be steamed, and

wherein the supporting member includes;

a vertical frame selectively insertable into the main body;

a hanging frame outwardly extending from an upper end of the vertical frame for selectively resting on an edge of the upper end of the main body; and

a supporting frame inwardly extending from a lower end of the vertical frame for selectively supporting the lid.

9. A microwave oven comprising:

an electric element compartment provided with a magnetron installed therein;

a cooking compartment accepting high-frequency waves generated from the magnetron; and

a cooking container, installed in the cooking compartment for cooking food contained in the cooking compartment, that includes a main body comprising a member for generating heat by using the high-frequency waves and a lid comprising a member for generating heat by using the high-frequency waves,

wherein the lid is configured to be selectively insertable into the main body so that the food may be grilled, or rested on the upper end of the main body so that the food may be steamed.

10. The microwave oven according to claim 9, wherein the cooking container further includes:

a supporting member for supporting the lid such that the lid selectively is rested on the upper surface of the main body; and

a rack arranged in the main body for supporting the food at a predetermined height above a bottom of the main body so that the food may be steamed by water contained in the main body.

11. The microwave oven according to claim 10, wherein the rack includes:

a surface, with a plurality of steam holes, for holding the food to be steamed; and

a plurality of legs extended downwardly from the surface,

wherein the legs are configured to dispose the surface at a predetermined height from the bottom of the main body.

12. A microwave oven comprising:

an electric element compartment provided with a magnetron installed therein;

a cooking compartment accepting high-frequency waves generated from the magnetron; and

a cooking container, installed in the cooking compartment for cooking food contained in the cooking compartment, that includes a main body and a lid adapted to be heated by the high-frequency waves,

wherein the lid is configured to be selectively insertable into the main body so that the food may be grilled, or rested on the upper end of the main body so that the food may be steamed,

wherein the cooking container further includes;

a supporting member for supporting the lid such that the lid selectively is rested on the upper surface of the main body;

a rack arranged in the main body for supporting the food at a predetermined height above a bottom of the main body so that the food may be steamed by water contained in the main body;

a first heating member covered on an outer surface of the bottom of the main body for generating heat by using the high-frequency waves; and

a second heating member covered on an upper surface of the lid for generating heat by using the high-frequency waves.

13. The microwave oven according to claim 12, wherein an inner surface of the bottom of the main body forms a first grill plane and a lower surface of the lid forms a second grill plane so that the food may be grilled by the first and second grill planes.

14. A microwave oven comprising:

an electric element compartment provided with a magnetron installed therein;

a cooking compartment accepting high-frequency waves generated from the magnetron; and

a cooking container, installed in the cooking compartment for cooking food contained in the cooking compartment, that includes a main body and a lid adapted to be heated by the high-frequency waves,

wherein the lid is configured to be selectively insertable into the main body so that the food may be grilled, or rested on the upper end of the main body so that the food may be steamed,

wherein the cooking container further includes;

a supporting member for supporting the lid such that the lid selectively is rested on the upper surface of the main body; and

a rack arranged in the main body for supporting the food at a predetermined height above a bottom of the main body so that the food may be steamed by water contained in the main body; and

wherein the supporting member includes;

a vertical frame selectively insertable into the main body;

a hanging frame outwardly extending from an upper end of the vertical frame for selectively resting on an edge of the upper end of the main body; and

a supporting frame inwardly extending from a lower end of the vertical frame for selectively supporting the lid.

15. A microwaveable cooking container comprising:

a main body for accepting food to be cooked and comprising a member for generating heat by using high-frequency waves;

a lid comprising a member for generating heat by using the high-frequency waves and the lid arranged to cooperate with the main body;

a supporting member for selectively supporting the lid such that the lid rests on the upper surface of the main body; and

a rack adapted to selectively be arranged in the main body for supporting the food so that the food may be steamed.

16. The microwaveable cooking container according to claim 15, wherein the rack includes:

a surface, with a plurality of steam holes, for holding the food to be steamed; and

a plurality of legs extended downwardly from the surface,

wherein the legs dispose the surface at a predetermined height from the bottom of the main body.

17. The microwaveable cooking container according to claim 15, wherein the main body and the lid are made of a material having an excellent heat conductivity.

18. A microwaveable cooking container comprising:

a main body for accepting food to be cooked and adapted to be heated by high-frequency waves;

a lid adapted to be heated by the high-frequency waves and arranged to cooperate with the main body;

a supporting member for selectively supporting the lid such that the lid rests on the upper surface of the main body;

a rack adapted to selectively be arranged in the main body for supporting the food so that the food may be steamed;

a first heating member covered on an outer surface of a bottom of the main body for generating heat by using the high-frequency waves; and

a second heating member covered on an upper surface of the lid for generating heat by using the high-frequency waves.

19. The microwaveable cooking container according to claim 18, wherein the first and second heating members are made of a material containing a predetermined amount of perlite particles so that they may be heated by the high-frequency waves.

20. A microwaveable cooking container comprising:

a main body for accepting food to be cooked and adapted to be heated by high-frequency waves;

a lid adapted to be heated by the high-frequency waves and arranged to cooperate with the main body;

a supporting member for selectively supporting the lid such that the lid rests on the upper surface of the main body; and

a rack adapted to selectively be arranged in the main body for supporting the food so that the food may be steamed,

wherein an inner surface of the bottom of the main body forms a first grill plane and a lower surface of the lid forms a second grill plane so that food may be grilled by the first and second grill planes.

21. A microwaveable cooking container comprising:

a main body for accepting food to be cooked and adapted to be heated by high-frequency waves;

a lid adapted to be heated by the high-frequency waves and arranged to cooperate with the main body;

a supporting member for selectively supporting the lid such that the lid rests on the upper surface of the main body; and

a rack adapted to selectively be arranged in the main body for supporting the food so that the food may be steamed,

wherein the supporting member includes;

a vertical frame selectively insertable into the main body;

a hanging frame outwardly extending from an upper end of the vertical frame for selectively resting on an edge of the upper end of the main body; and

a supporting frame inwardly extending from a lower end of the vertical frame for selectively supporting the lid.

22. A microwave oven comprising:

an electric element compartment provided with a magnetron installed therein;

a cooking compartment accepting high-frequency waves generated from the magnetron; and

a cooking container, installed in the cooking compartment and adapted to be heated by the high-frequency waves, for selectively performing a steaming or grilling function,

wherein the cooking container includes;

a main body for accepting food to be cooked and adapted to be heated by the high-frequency waves;

a lid adapted to be heated by the high-frequency waves and arranged to cooperate with the main body;

a supporting member for selectively supporting the lid such that the lid rests on the upper surface of the main body; and

a rack adapted to selectively be arranged in the main body for supporting the food so that the food may be steamed, and

wherein the main body is adapted such that the lid is insertable into the main body when the supporting member is not supporting the lid.

23. A microwaveable cooking container comprising:

a main body for accepting food to be cooked and adapted to be heated by high-frequency waves;

a lid adapted to be heated by the high-frequency waves and arranged to cooperate with the main body;

a supporting member for selectively supporting the lid such that the lid rests on the upper surface of the main body; and

a rack adapted to selectively be arranged in the main body for supporting the food so that the food may be steamed,

wherein the main body is adapted such that the lid is insertable into the main body when the supporting member is not supporting the lid.