Integrated warmer drawer & warmer zone controls

• US 20040262285A1
• Filed: 04/09/2004
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Fisher, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,304,270 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/398
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/18 Arrangement of compartments additional to cooking compartments, e.g. for warming or for storing utensils or fuel containers; Arrangement of additional heating or cooking apparatus, e.g. grills
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/087 of electric circuits regulating heat

Abstract

A range for heating foods having a body comprising a top surface, a first chamber located within the range, a second chamber located within the range, multiple heating elements arranged on the top surface for cooking food, an upper and lower heating element arranged within the first chamber, a warming element arranged within the second chamber, a control system further having a central processor for controlling the operation of the range, and an operator interface operatively connected to the central processor.

Claims

1. A range unit for heating foods for consumption, the unit including:

at least one range-top heating means;

a first range-chamber heating means for heating a first range-chamber;

a second range-chamber heating means for heating a second range-chamber; and

,

an electronic control means having a central processor operatively connected to the range-top heating means, and the first and second range-chamber heating means, for controlling the operation of the range.

2. The range unit of claim 1, wherein the electronic control means further comprises an operator interface operatively connected to the central processor.

3. The range unit of claim 2, wherein the at least first heating means further comprises:

a plurality of heating elements for cooking food; and

,

a warming element for maintaining food at a constant temperature.

4. The range unit of claim 3, wherein the plurality of heating elements further comprise:

a left rear burner,

a left front burner;

a right front burner;

a right rear burner; and

,

a bridge burner; and

,

wherein the warming element further comprises a warning zone.

5. The range unit of claim 1, wherein the first range-chamber heating means further comprises an upper and lower heating element, wherein the upper heating element is used to broil food and the lower element is used to bake or roast food.

6. The range unit of claim 1, wherein the second range-chamber heating means further comprises at least one heating element for maintaining food at a constant temperature.

7. The range unit of claim 6, wherein the heating element is a warmer drawer.

8. A range unit for preparing foods comprising:

a body comprising;

a top surface;

a first chamber located within the range;

a second different chamber located within the range;

a first heating means arranged on the top surface, wherein the first heating means provides a first type of heating;

a second heating means arranged on the top surface, wherein the second heating means provides a second type of heating;

a third heating means associated with the first chamber, wherein the third heating means provides a third type of heating;

a fourth heating means associated with the second chamber, wherein the fourth heating means provides a fourth type of heating;

an electronic control means comprising;

an operator interface;

a central processor;

means for operatively connecting the operator interface to the centralized processor for the purpose of communicating with the centralized processor; and

,

means for operatively connecting the centralized processor with the first, second, third and fourth heating means for the purpose of communicating with the heating means.

9. The range unit of claim 8, wherein the first heating means further comprises a plurality of heating elements for cooking food.

10. The range unit of claim 9, wherein the plurality of heating elements further comprise:

a left rear burner;

a left front burner;

a right front burner;

a right rear burner; and

a bridge burner.

11. The range unit of claim 8, wherein the second heating means further comprises at least one heating element for maintaining food at a constant temperature.

12. The range unit of claim 11, wherein the second heating means is a warmer zone.

13. The range unit of claim 8, wherein the third heating means further comprises an upper and lower heating element, wherein the upper heating element is used for broiling food and the lower heating element is used for baking and roasting food.

14. The range unit of claim 8, wherein the fourth heating means further comprises at least one heating element for maintaining food at a constant temperature.

15. The range unit of claim 14, wherein the heating element is a warmer drawer.

16. A range for heating foods comprising:

a body further comprising;

a top surface;

a first chamber located within the range;

a second chamber located within the range;

a plurality of heating elements arranged on the top surface for cooking food;

an upper and lower heating element arranged within the first chamber;

a warming element arranged within the second chamber;

a control system further comprising;

a central processor for controlling the operation of the range; and

,

an operator interface operatively connected to the central processor.

17. The range unit of claim 16, wherein the central processor is a microprocessor based control unit.

18. The range unit of claim 17, wherein the operator interface further comprises an electronic touch pad.

19. The range unit of claim 18, wherein the electronic touch pad is a glass capacitive type touch pad.

20. The range unit of claim 16, wherein the plurality of heating elements further comprise:

a left rear burner;

a left front burner;

a right front burner;

a right rear burner;

a bridge burner; and

,

a warming zone.

21. The range unit of claim 20, wherein the first chamber is an oven.

22. The range unit of claim 21, wherein the first chamber is a warming drawer.

23. A method of operating a range comprising the steps of

providing a body comprising a top surface, a first chamber located within the range, a second different chamber located within the range, a first heating means arranged on the top surface, wherein the first heating means provides a first type of heating, a second heating means arranged on the top surface, wherein the second heating means provides a second type of heating, a third heating means associated with the first chamber, wherein the third heating means provides a third type of heating, a fourth heating means associated with the second chamber, wherein the fourth heating means provides a fourth type of heating, an electronic control means comprising, an operator interface, a centralized processor, means for operatively connecting the operator interface to the centralized processor for the purpose of communicating with the centralized processor;

and, means for operatively connecting the centralized processor with the first, second, third and fourth heating means for the purpose of communicating with the heating means;

pressing a control button on the operator interface;

transmitting information to the central processing unit;

processing the information received from the operator interface through the central processing unit; and

,

turning on a heating means.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the heating means is the first heating means, the method further comprising the step of:

turning on at least one heating element, wherein the at least one element is a burner.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the heating means is the second heating means, the method further comprising the step of:

turning on at least one heating element, wherein the at least one element is a warming zone.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the heating means is the third heating means, the method further comprising the step of:

turning on at least one heating element, wherein the at least one element is a baking and roasting element.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the heating means is the third heating means, the method further comprising the step of:

turning on at least one heating element, wherein the at least one element is a broiling element.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the heating means is the fourth heating means, the method further comprising the step of:

turning on at least one heating element, wherein the at least one element is a warmer drawer.