System and method for a programmable counter-top electric dehydrator
First Claim
1. A power unit, comprising:
- a power supply disposed inside the power unit adapted to be coupled to a power source; and
a controller operable to control the power supply,the power unit being alternatively detachably couplable to either one of both;
cooking enclosure, and a dehydrating enclosure,wherein the power unit comprises;
a sensor, coupled to said controller, operable to determine whether the power unit is coupled to either one of both of;
the cooking enclosure; and
the dehydrating enclosure.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method directed to a dehydrating device, which may include a dehydrating enclosure and an adapter. The adapter may be operable to couple the dehydrating enclosure to a power unit, which may include a power source disposed inside the power unit, and a control source operable to control the power source. The power unit may be detachably couplable to at least one of the dehydrating enclosure or a cooking enclosure. The power unit and the cooking enclosure may collectively combine into a multi-stage counter-top electric oven. The power unit and the dehydrating enclosure may also collectively combine into a dehydrator. The dehydrating enclosure may include a plurality of stackable dehydrating trays through which dehydrating air is circulated from the power unit.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A power unit, comprising:
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a power supply disposed inside the power unit adapted to be coupled to a power source; and a controller operable to control the power supply, the power unit being alternatively detachably couplable to either one of both;
cooking enclosure, and a dehydrating enclosure,wherein the power unit comprises; a sensor, coupled to said controller, operable to determine whether the power unit is coupled to either one of both of; the cooking enclosure; and the dehydrating enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 25)
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15. A dehydrating unit, comprising:
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a dehydrating enclosure comprising; an upper annular top surface cover portion comprising; a circular opening at a center of said upper annular top surface cover portion, and a plurality of opening vents arranged about a concentric circle in said upper annular top surface cover portion for allowing air flow through said upper annular top surface cover portion of said dehydrating enclosure; and a plurality of dehydrating trays, wherein each of said plurality of dehydrating trays are adapted to be stacked on top of one another; wherein each of said plurality of dehydrating trays comprises; an annular shaped top portion comprising an outer raised circular wall, a plurality of holes in at least one surface of each of said dehydrating trays, and a plurality of latches on each of said plurality of said dehydrating trays, wherein said plurality of latches of a first of said plurality of said dehydrating trays is adapted to interlock with said plurality of holes of a second of said plurality of said dehydrating trays; an inner raised wall concentric to said outer raised circular wall, wherein said inner raised wall comprises; plurality of openings allowing airflow from an inner opening through the inner raised wall to a tray portion of a given one of said plurality of said dehydrating trays; and a plurality of radial bottom tray portions with at least one surface to support any foodstuff to be dehydrated, and wherein between a given pair of said plurality of said radial bottom tray portions comprises an opening operative to allow vertical air flow between said given pair of said plurality of said radial bottom tray portions; a base comprising at least one opening operable to allow dehydrating airflow through said base, and at least one handle operable to lift the dehydrating unit; and a power unit, comprising; a power supply disposed inside the power unit adapted to be coupled to a power supply; and a controller operable to control said power supply, said power unit being alternatively detachably couplable to either of both;
said dehydrating enclosure, and a cooking enclosure,wherein the control source comprises a sensor operable to determine whether said power unit is coupled to the cooking enclosure or said dehydrating enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A dehydrating device, comprising:
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a dehydrating enclosure comprising; an upper annular top surface cover portion comprising a circular opening at a center of said upper annular top surface cover portion to receive the power unit, and a plurality of opening vents arranged about said upper annular top surface cover portion for allowing air flow through said upper annular top surface cover portion of said dehydrating enclosure; and a plurality of dehydrating trays, wherein each of said plurality of dehydrating trays are adapted to be stacked on top of one another; wherein each of said plurality of dehydrating trays comprises; an annular top portion comprising an outer raised double walled circular wall, wherein said outer raised double walled circular wall comprises; a plurality of holes in at least one surface, and a plurality of latches in at least one surface, wherein said plurality of latches of a first of said plurality of said dehydrating trays is adapted to interlock with said plurality of holes of a second of said plurality of said dehydrating trays; an inner raised wall concentric to said outer raised double walled circular wall, wherein said inner raised wall comprises; a plurality of openings allowing airflow from an inner opening through the inner raised wall to a tray portion of a given one of said plurality of said dehydrating trays; and a plurality of radial bottom tray portions comprising at least one surface for supporting any foodstuff to be dehydrated, and wherein a given pair of said plurality of said radial bottom tray portions having openings therebetween to allow air flow vertically therethrough; and an adapter operable to removably couple said dehydrating enclosure to a power unit, said power unit comprising; a power supply disposed inside said power unit, said power supply adapted to be coupled to a power source; and a controller operable to control said power supply, said power unit being alternatively detachably couplable by at a least a portion of said power unit to either of both;
said dehydrating enclosure, and a cooking enclosure,wherein the controller comprises a sensor operable to determine whether the power unit is coupled to the cooking enclosure or said dehydrating enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method, comprising:
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sensing, by at least one controller of a power unit, a determination of which of at least two alternatively detachably couplable enclosures are coupled to the power unit, wherein at least one of said enclosures comprises a dehydrating enclosure comprising; an upper annular top surface cover portion comprising an opening of said upper annular top surface cover portion in which to receive the power unit, and a plurality of opening vents arranged about the opening in said upper annular top surface cover portion for allowing air flow through said upper annular top surface cover portion of said dehydrating enclosure; and a plurality of dehydrating trays, wherein each of said plurality of dehydrating trays are adapted to be stacked on top of one another; wherein each of said plurality of dehydrating trays comprises; an annular top comprising an outer raised double walled circular wall, a plurality of holes in at least one surface of said dehydrating tray, and a plurality of latches in at least one surface of said dehydrating tray, wherein said plurality of latches of a first of said plurality of said dehydrating trays is adapted to interlock with said plurality of holes of a second of said plurality of said dehydrating trays; an inner raised wall concentric to said outer raised double walled circular wall, wherein said inner raised wall comprises; a plurality of openings allowing airflow vertically between respective adjacent pairs of said plurality of said dehydrating trays from an inner opening through the inner raised concentric wall to a tray portion of a given one of said plurality of said dehydrating trays; and a plurality of radial bottom tray portions having at least one surface and having at least one opening between a given pair of said radial bottom tray portions allowing vertical air movement through said bottom tray portion; and controlling a power supply of the power unit based on said sensing.
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22. A method, comprising:
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controlling, by at least one controller of a power unit, operation of the power unit; and sensing, by at least one sensor of the power unit, a state of combining the power unit with at least one of a plurality of enclosures, wherein said plurality of enclosures comprises; a dehydrating enclosure comprising; an upper annular top surface cover portion comprising a circular opening adapted to receive the power unit, and a plurality of opening vents arranged about said circular opening in said upper annular top surface cover for allowing air flow through said upper annular top surface cover portion of said dehydrating enclosure; and a plurality of dehydrating trays, wherein each of said plurality of dehydrating trays are stacked on top of one another; wherein each of said plurality of dehydrating trays comprises; an annular top comprising an outer circular wall, wherein said outer circular wall comprises; a vertical surface for directing airflow, a plurality of holes in at least one surface of said dehydrating tray, and a plurality of latches in at least one surface of said dehydrating tray, wherein said plurality of latches of a first of said plurality of said dehydrating trays is adapted to interlock with said plurality of holes of a second of said plurality of said dehydrating trays; a horizontal tray portion coupled to said outer circular wall, said horizontal tray portion comprising; a plurality of radial portions in said horizontal tray portion operable to allow airflow vertically through said horizontal tray portion with a plurality of surfaces having openings therebetween; an inner wall, coupled to an inner portion of said horizontal tray portion, said inner wall comprising; a vertical wall, and a plurality of openings in said vertical wall allowing airflow through said vertical wall to said horizontal tray portion of a given one of said plurality of said dehydrating trays.
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Specification