Wireless temperature probe

• US 10,598,549 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2017
• Issued: 03/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vollrath Company LLC
• Original Assignee: The Vollrath Company LLC
• Inventors: Hedlund, Brian, Hundley, Jill, Schreiber-Pethan, Rebecca J., Roever, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Verbitsky, Gail Kaplan
• Application Number:
  US15/668,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20180038737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 45/068 Handles having indicating means, e.g. for temperature A47J45/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0003 for sensing the radiant heat transfer of samples, e.g. emittance meter
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0205 Mechanical elements; Supports for optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/025 Interfacing a pyrometer to an external device or network; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/024 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/00 Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 2207/04 for conservation purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 2207/06 for preparation purposes

Abstract

A probe used with food preparation, rethermalization, storage, transportation, and/or service includes a body configured to be immersed in a foodstuff, one or more sensors configured to collect data including the temperature of the foodstuff, and a wireless device configured to transmit data collected by the one or more sensors to food equipment to control the heat provided to the foodstuff.

Claims

1. A probe used with food preparation, rethermalization, storage, transportation, and/or service, the probe comprising:

a body configured to be fully immersed in a foodstuff, the body comprising a plurality of arms;

a plurality of sensors located within the body and configured to collect data including the temperature of the foodstuff, wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors is positioned within each of the plurality of arms; and

a wireless transmitter located within the body and configured to transmit data collected by the one or more sensors to food equipment to control the heat provided to the foodstuff while the body, the plurality of sensors, and the wireless transmitter are fully immersed in the foodstuff.

2. The probe of claim 1, wherein the body includes a hub and the plurality of arms extend from the hub.

3. The probe of claim 1, wherein a first arm of the plurality of arms comprises a first sensor of the plurality of sensors, the first sensor configured to measure the temperature of the foodstuff;

and

wherein a second arm of the plurality of arms comprises a second sensor of the plurality of sensors, the second sensor configured to measure a property other than temperature.

4. The probe of claim 1, further comprising memory configured to store data collected by the one or more sensors.

5. The probe of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors is further configured to measure at least one of:

an amount of time elapsed in a food preparation process, a weight of the foodstuff, a viscosity of the foodstuff, a level of foodstuff contained in the food equipment, and a humidity.

6. The probe of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors is further configured to detect at least one of:

a probe location, and a gas composition.

7. The probe of claim 1, wherein the wireless device operates using a Bluetooth protocol.

8. The probe of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is an RFID chip.

9. The probe of claim 1, wherein the food equipment is an induction cooker, a steam table, or a food storage container.

10. The probe of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is further configured to transmit data collected by the one or more sensors to a wireless control device to control the heat provided to the foodstuff.

11. The probe of claim 10, wherein the wireless control device is a smartphone or a tablet.