Induction cook-top apparatus

• US 8,766,147 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2009
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kenyon International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kenyon International, Inc.
• Inventors: Reischmann, Michael, Williams, Phillip
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuen, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung D
• Application Number:
  US12/468,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20090289054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,869 Days
• Field of Search: 219/620, 219/622, 219/624, 219/626, 219/665, 219/676, 219/452.11, 219/460.1, 219/443.1, 219/452.12, 219/647, 219/656, 126/37.A, 126/39.H, 126/39.J, 126/39.K, 126/51, 126/18, 126/22, 126/212, 126/220, 126/27, 99D/IG.14
• US Class Current: 219/620
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/1209 induction cooking plates or the like and devices to be used in combination with them
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5313 Means to assemble electrical device

Abstract

An induction stove assembly that utilizes pads between the cook-top of the stove and cooking vessels placed on the stove for heating. The pads are easily removable and interchangeable with other similar pads. The pads help protect the cook-top from damage, make clean-up more efficient, and insulate the cook-top from excessive heating.

Claims

1. An induction stove assembly, comprising:

a cook-top, comprising;

a top plate, comprising a first opening and a second opening;

a bottom plate, comprising an upper surface that is fixed to a lower surface of the top plate and substantially covers both the first opening and the second opening;

a first coil for creating a first oscillating magnetic field that interacts with and generates an amount of heat in a cooking vessel located in a first induction cooking zone of the cook-top;

a second coil for creating a second oscillating magnetic field that interacts with and generates an amount of heat in a cooking vessel located in a second induction cooking zone of the cook-top;

wherein a first recess is defined by the space bound by the upper surface of the bottom plate and the first opening in the top plate and is associated with the first induction cooking zone; and

wherein a second recess is defined by the space bound by the upper surface of the bottom plate and the second opening in the top plate and is associated with the second induction cooking zone

a first pad comprising a thermally insulating silicone rubber and sized to substantially correspond to the first induction cooking zone;

a second pad comprising a thermally insulating silicone rubber and sized to substantially correspond to the second induction cooking zone;

wherein the first pad is adapted to be placed on the cook-top such that removal of the first pad from the cook-top is not impeded and with at least a portion of the pad disposed in the first recess to prevent horizontal movement of the first pad relative to the cook-top but does not impede removal of the first pad from the cook-top;

wherein the first pad includes at least one circular recess for gripping the bottom of a cooking vessel and a plurality of protrusions on its underside which contact the upper surface of the bottom plate, one of said protrusions being disposed against an edge of the first recess;

wherein the second pad is adapted to be placed on the cook-top such that removal of the second pad from the cook-top is not impeded and with at least a portion of the pad disposed in the second recess to prevent horizontal movement of the second pad relative to the cook-top but does not impede removal of the second pad from the cook-top; and

wherein the second pad includes at least one circular recess for gripping the bottom of a cooking vessel and a plurality of protrusions on its underside which contact the upper surface of the bottom plate, one of said protrusions being disposed against an edge of the second recess.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first pad and the second pad cause no more than about a 40% reduction in the amount of heat generated in the cooking vessel by the first and second oscillating magnetic fields, respectively.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first pad and the second pad cause no more than about a 20% reduction in the amount of heat generated in the cooking vessel by the first and second oscillating magnetic fields, respectively.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first pad and the second pad cause substantially no reduction in the amount of heat generated in the cooking vessel by the first and second oscillating magnetic fields, respectively.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first pad and the second pad exhibits substantially no deformation of shape when exposed to temperatures between 150 degrees F. and 500 degrees F.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the magnetic permeability of the first pad and the second pad is less than 5.times.10.sup.-6 .mu.H/m.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first pad and the second pad are each formed of a flexible, shock-absorbing silicone rubber.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first induction cooking zone is of a different size than the second induction cooking zone.