Programmable slow-cooker appliance

• US 6,740,855 B1
• Filed: 03/11/2003
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sunbeam Products, Inc. d/b/a Jarden Consumer Solutions (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The Holmes Group Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: DeCobert, James E., Thrasher, Charles T. Jr., Hlava, Lorens G.
• Primary Examiner(s): PASCHALL, MARK H
• Application Number:
  US10/386,276
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 219/506, 219/494, 219/497, 219/501, 219/505, 219/430-439, 219/429, 993/40
• US Class Current: 219/506
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/004 with integral electrical heating means drinking cups with integral heating means A47J36/2466
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/32 Time-controlled igniting mechanisms or alarm devices

Abstract

A programmable slow-cooker appliance, in which a user sets a time and temperature for cooking a food item. A programmable controller prevents the unit from being used solely as a “keep warm” appliance, and a unique design allows cooling of the controller during cooking.

Claims

1. A programmable slow-cooker appliance comprising:

a heating unit including a bottom and a continuous sidewall extending from said bottom, said bottom and said continuous sidewall including an outer sidewall and an interior sidewall and defining a well-like heating chamber;

a heating element mounted to said heating unit and disposed between said outer sidewall and said interior sidewall;

a cooking unit at least partially received within said well-like chamber;

a non-conductive housing fixedly mounted to and projecting outside said continuous sidewall of said heating unit, said housing having a bottom wall;

a lower vent in said bottom wall of said housing for admitting relatively cool air to said housing;

an upper vent in said housing for allowing the escape of relatively warm air from said housing;

a programmable circuit positioned within said housing such that heat is convected away therefrom as air passes through said housing and said vents and electrically connected to said heating element to electronically control and program cooking cycles and temperature; and

a control panel on said housing, said control panel being electronically connected to said programmable circuit.

2. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 1 wherein said housing is comprised of a shield and a housing portion, said shield being interposed between and adjoining said outer sidewall of said heating unit and said housing portion, said control panel being incorporated on said housing portion.

3. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 2 including a circuit board including said circuit mounted to and positioned within said housing, and a Triac electrically connected between said circuit board and said heating element.

4. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 3 further including a heat sink position within said housing between said circuit and said control panel.

5. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 4 wherein said Triac includes a heat sink tab in thermal contact with said heat sink.

6. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 1 wherein said control panel includes a user interface located on an inclined front surface of said housing spaced away from said outer sidewall of said heating unit.

7. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 6 wherein said lower and upper vents are positioned to allow air to circulate behind said control panel and assist in the dissipation of heat from said programmable circuit.

8. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 6 wherein said housing is comprised of a shield and a housing portion, said shield being interposed between and adjoining said outer sidewall of heating unit and said housing portion, said control panel being incorporated on said housing portion.

9. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 8 wherein said upper and lower vents are in said housing portion.

10. A programmable slow cooker appliance as described in claim 9 wherein said housing is comprised of a thermoplastic material.

11. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 1 wherein said cooking unit is made from a ceramic material and is removably positioned in said well-like chamber.

12. A programmable slow-cooker appliance comprising:

a heating unit including a bottom and a continuous sidewall extending from said bottom, said bottom and said continuous sidewall defining a well-like chamber;

a heating element mounted to said heating unit for providing heat to said well-like chamber;

a ceramic cooking unit removably positioned in said well-like chamber;

a non-conductive housing fixedly mounted to and projecting outside said continuous sidewall of said heating unit;

a programmable circuit positioned within said housing and electrically connected to said heating element to electronically control and program cooking cycles and temperature;

means including vents in said housing for cooling said programmable circuit by convecting heat away therefrom; and

a control panel mounted to said housing and electrically connected to said programmable circuit.

13. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 12 wherein said programmable circuit includes a microprocessor controller.

14. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 13 wherein said housing is comprised of a shield and a housing portion, said shield being interposed between and adjoining said sidewall of said heating unit and said housing portion, said control panel being incorporated on said housing portion.

15. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 12 including means for automatically switching said heating element from a cook mode to a warm mode.

16. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 15 including a Triac electrically connected between said programmable circuit and said heating element.

17. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 16 including a heat sink positioned within said housing, said Triac including a heat sink tab in thermal contact with said heat sink.

18. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 12 wherein said means for cooking includes a lower vent in said housing for admitting relatively cool air to said housing and an upper vent in said housing for allowing the escape of relatively warm air from said housing.

19. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 12 wherein said programmable circuit is configured to switch said heating element from a cooking mode to a warming mode at the expiration of a set cooking time.

20. A programmable slow-cooker appliance comprising:

a heating unit including a bottom and a continuous sidewall extending from said bottom, said bottom and said continuous sidewall defining a well-like chamber, said continuous sidewall including an outer sidewall and an interior sidewall;

a heating element mounted to said heating unit and disposed between said outer sidewall and said interior sidewall;

a housing fixedly mounted to and projecting outside said continuous sidewall of said heating unit;

a programmable circuit positioned within said housing and configured to automatically switch said heating element from a cook mode to a lower temperature warm mode at the end of a set cooking time;

a control panel mounted to said housing and including a user interface connected to said programmable circuit for selecting a cooking temperature and cooking time; and

a cooking unit removably positioned in said well-like chamber.

21. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 20 wherein said housing includes a plurality of vent openings, a thermoplastic shield and a housing portion, said shield being disposed between and adjoining said outer sidewall of said heating unit and said housing portion, said housing portion including a control panel.

22. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 21 including a heat sink positioned within said housing.

23. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 22 including a Triac positioned within said housing and electrically connected between said programmable circuit and said heating element, said Triac being in thermal contact with said heat sink.

24. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 20 wherein said housing is comprised of a thermoplastic material and said cooking unit is comprised of a ceramic material, said cooking unit being removably positioned in said well-like chamber.

25. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 21 wherein said housing is comprised of a thermoplastic material and said cooking unit is comprised of a ceramic material.

26. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 20 wherein said programmable circuit is configured such that a user cannot initially set a lower temperature warm mode.

27. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 20 including a switch operatively associated with said control panel, said programmable circuit being configured such that subsequent pushes of said switch activates different cook modes.

28. A programmable slow-cooker as described in claim 27 wherein said housing is vented.

29. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 20 wherein said housing includes a thermoplastic portion adjoining and extending into said continuous sidewall of said heating unit.

30. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 20 wherein said circuit is configured to default to cause operation of said appliance at a cooking temperature when plugged into a power source.

31. A slow-cooker appliance comprising:

a heating unit including a bottom and a sidewall defining a well-like heating chamber and a heating element for providing heat to said heating chamber;

a ceramic cooking unit including a bottom, a continuous sidewall upstanding from said bottom, and a lip extending outwardly from said sidewall, said cooking unit being dimensioned to be at least partially received within said well-like heating chamber and supported by engagement of said lip with said heating unit;

a housing assembly mounted to and projecting outwardly from said sidewall of said heating unit, said housing assembly including a thermoplastic portion adjoining said outer sidewall, an inclined front surface including a control panel having a user interface, and a vent opening; and

a programmable circuit positioned within said housing assembly, said user interface being connected to said programmable circuit for selecting cooking temperature and cooking time, said programmable circuit being configured to automatically switch said heating element from a cook mode to a lower temperature warm mode at the end of a set cooking time.

32. A slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 31 wherein said thermoplastic portion of said housing assembly extends into said sidewall of said heating unit.

33. A slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 31 wherein said housing assembly includes a bottom wall including a plurality of vent openings.

34. A slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 33 wherein said housing assembly includes a plurality of upper vent openings such that heat is convected away from said programmable circuit as air flows into said housing assembly through said vent openings in said bottom wall, through said housing assembly, and out of said housing assembly through said upper vent openings.

35. A slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 31 including a switch operatively associated with said control panel, said programmable circuit being configured such that subsequent pushes of said switch activates different cook modes.

36. A slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 31 wherein said circuit is configured to default to cause operation of said appliance at a cooking temperature when plugged into a power source.

37. A programmable slow-cooker appliance comprising:

a heating unit including a bottom and a continuous sidewall defining a well-like heating chamber and a heating element positioned for providing heat to said well-like heating chamber;

a cooking unit including a lip and adapted to fit at least partially within said heating unit such that said lip engages a top portion of said heating unit;

a housing assembly mounted to and projecting from said sidewall of said heating unit, said housing assembly including a thermoplastic portion adjoining said sidewall of said heating unit, a bottom wall adjoining said sidewall, and an inclined front surface including a control panel user interface spaced from said sidewall; and

a circuit including a programmable controller positioned within said housing assembly and operatively associated with said user interface, said circuit being configured to allow a user to set both cooking temperature and cooking time and to cause said heating element to operate in a warm mode at the expiration of a set cooking time, said control panel being electronically connected to said circuit.

38. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 37 wherein said circuit is incorporated on a printed circuit board and a heat sink is positioned in said housing assembly between said printed circuit board and said control panel user interface.

39. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 37 wherein said bottom wall of said housing assembly is vented.

40. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 37 wherein said housing assembly includes an upper vent opening positioned such that, when operated, relatively cool air enters said housing assembly through said vented bottom wall, passes over said circuit, and relatively warm air exits said housing assembly through said upper vent opening.

41. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 37 wherein said circuit is configured to default to cause operation of said appliance at a cooking temperature when plugged into a power source.

42. A programmable slow-cooker appliance as described in claim 41 including a switch operatively associated with said control panel such that subsequent pushes of said switch activates different cooking times and temperatures.