Slow cooker

• US 7,820,947 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2007
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands Incorporated (Hamilton Beach Brands Holding Co.)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands Incorporated (Hamilton Beach Brands Holding Co.)
• Inventors: Steinman, Adam, Gaynor, Jim, Olson, Yvonne
• Primary Examiner(s): FUQUA, SHAWNTINA T
• Application Number:
  US11/933,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20080053984A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,090 Days
• Field of Search: 219/386, 219390- 1, 219441- 3, 219/435, 219/492, 219/494, 219/449, 219/497, 219/506, 219/400, 219/518, 99331- 3, 994/03, 165/47, 361/678, 361/690, 361/692
• US Class Current: 219/442
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/004 with integral electrical heating means drinking cups with integral heating means A47J36/2466

Abstract

A cooking appliance for cooking a foodstuff over a period of time including a shell having a heating cavity and a heating element to heat the heating cavity. A container is removably positionable within the heating cavity and includes a food cavity for receiving the foodstuff. A temperature probe is removably insertable into the foodstuff and a controller is mounted to the shell. The controller controls operation of the cooking appliance in a probe mode wherein the temperature probe is inserted into the foodstuff and transmits foodstuff temperatures to the controller for controlling the heating of the foodstuff, a program mode wherein the controller actuates the heating element to heat the container at a temperature for a selected amount of time and subsequently at a lower temperature and a manual mode wherein the controller actuates the heating element to heat the container at a selected temperature.

Claims

1. A slow cooker for cooking a foodstuff over a period of time, the slow cooker comprising:

a shell including a base, an external wrap extending upwardly from the base, a liner spaced from and positioned within the external wrap, and a heating cavity;

a heating element positioned between the external wrap and the liner to heat the heating cavity;

a container removably positionable within the heating cavity, the container including a food cavity for receiving the foodstuff;

a temperature probe removably insertable into the foodstuff; and

a controller mounted to the shell, the controller controlling operation of the slow cooker in a probe mode wherein the temperature probe is inserted into the foodstuff and transmits foodstuff temperatures to the controller for controlling the heating of the foodstuff, a program mode wherein the controller actuates the heating element to heat the container at a temperature for a selected amount of time and subsequently at a lower temperature and a manual mode wherein the controller actuates the heating element to heat the container at a selected temperature.

2. The slow cooker of claim 1 further comprising:

a control panel for mounting the controller to the shell, the control panel including a display and a plurality of control buttons, each control button being in communication with the controller, the control buttons including at least one of a probe button, a manual button, a program button, an enter button, an on/off button and increase and decrease buttons.

3. The slow cooker of claim 1 further comprising:

a pair of U-shaped handles mounted to opposing sides of the shell; and

a lid removably mountable to a mouth of the container, the lid including a probe hole extending therethrough that removably receives a shaft of the temperature probe, the temperature probe being insertable through the probe hole for insertion of at least a tip of the temperature probe into the foodstuff.

4. The slow cooker of claim 3 wherein the lid includes a gripping knob on a top surface.

5. The slow cooker of claim 1 further comprising:

a probe storage cavity located proximate a bottom surface of the shell, the probe storage cavity being shaped and sized for removably receiving the temperature probe when the temperature probe is in a storage position.

6. The slow cooker of claim 1 further comprising:

a probe outlet exposed on a side surface of the shell, the temperature probe including a shaft, a body, a cord and a plug, the shaft extending from the body and including a tip at a distal end, the cord extending from the body and the plug mounted to a distal end of the cord, the plug being removably insertable into the probe outlet to establish communication between the controller and the temperature probe.

7. The slow cooker of claim 1 wherein the shell includes an air gap being defined by the liner, the base and the external wrap, the heating element being secured to the liner within the air gap.

8. The slow cooker of claim 7 wherein the external wrap and the liner are constructed of a metallic material and the base is constructed of a polymeric material, the liner including a fastener to secure the liner to the base.

9. The slow cooker of claim 1 wherein the temperature probe includes a body, a shaft, a cord and a plug.

11. The slow cooker of claim 1 wherein the temperature probe includes a body, a shaft, a cord and a plug, the body of the temperature probe including a cord groove for removable receipt and storage of the cord proximate the body.

12. The slow cooker of claim 1 wherein the temperature probe includes a body, a shaft, a cord and a plug, the body of the temperature probe including at least one plug storage hole therein for removable receipt and storage of the plug proximate the body.

10. A slow cooker for cooking a foodstuff to be consumed over a period of time, the slow cooker comprising:

a shell including a base, an external wrap extending upwardly from the base, a liner spaced from and positioned within the external wrap, and a heating cavity;

a heating element wrapped around a sidewall of the liner to heat the heating cavity;

a container removably positionable within the heating cavity, the container including a mouth and a food cavity for receiving the foodstuff;

a lid removably mountable to the mouth of the container;

a temperature probe removably insertable directly into the foodstuff to be consumed, the temperature probe including a shaft, a body, a cord and a plug, the shaft extending from the body and including a tip at a distal end, the cord extending from the body and the plug mounted to a distal end of the cord;

a probe outlet exposed on an exterior side surface of the shell slow cooker, the plug of the temperature probe being removably insertable into the probe outlet to establish communication between the controller and the temperature probe, wherein the cord extends from the plug on the exterior side surface of the shell through the mouth of the container to insert the tip of the temperature probe into the foodstuff; and

a controller mounted to the shell, the controller controlling operation of the slow cooker in a probe mode wherein the temperature probe is inserted into the foodstuff and transmits foodstuff temperatures to the controller for controlling the heating of the foodstuff, a program mode wherein the controller actuates the heating element to heat the container at a temperature for a selected amount of time and subsequently at a lower temperature and a manual mode wherein the controller actuates the heating element to heat the container at a selected temperature.

13. A method of cooking a foodstuff to be consumed in a slow cooker over a period of time, the slow cooker including a shell having a base, an external wrap extending upwardly from the base, a liner spaced from and positioned within the external wrap, and a heating cavity, a heating element wrapped around a sidewall of the liner to heat the heating cavity, a container removably positionable within the heating cavity, a controller to control heating of the heating cavity, a display in communication with the controller;

a lid and a temperature probe, the method including the steps of;

a) inserting a foodstuff into the container;

b) positioning the container in the heating cavity;

c) inserting at least a portion of the temperature probe directly into the foodstuff to be consumed;

d) selecting a desired probe set temperature and storing the probe set temperature in the controller;

e) actuating the controller to operate the slow cooker in a probe mode;

f) automatically heating the heating cavity at a cooking temperature using the heating element;

g) detecting an actual foodstuff temperature with the temperature probe;

h) transmitting the actual foodstuff temperature to the controller;

i) comparing the actual foodstuff temperature to the desired probe set temperature using the controller;

j) automatically directing the heating element to heat the heating cavity at a warm temperature lower than the cooking temperature when the detected foodstuff temperature is equal to or greater than the desired probe set temperature; and

k) automatically cutting power to the heating element after a maximum time elapses.

14. The method of cooking a foodstuff in a slow cooker of claim 13 comprising the further steps of:

l) cutting communication between the temperature probe and controller;

m) automatically sounding a tone indicating that the temperature probe is not in communication with the controller;

n) automatically directing the heating element to heat the heating cavity at a high temperature;

o) automatically resuming steps (g)-(j) when communication is re-established between the temperature probe and controller.

15. The method of cooking foodstuff in a slow cooker of claim 13 including the further steps of:

l) indicating the probe set temperature on the display for a first time period;

m) indicating the foodstuff temperature on the display for a second time period at the conclusion of the first time period; and

n) repeating steps (l) and (m) until step (k).

16. The method of cooking foodstuff in a slow cooker of claim 15 wherein the first and second time periods are five seconds (5 s).

17. The method of cooking foodstuff in a slow cooker of claim 13 wherein a tone is sounded at step (f), at step (j), and at step (k).