HK1143269A - Food heater - Google Patents

Description

Food heater

Technical Field

The present invention relates to food heaters or cooking appliances for cooking and food preparation. In particular, the present invention relates to solar-based food heaters.

Background

According to modern eating habits, powerful kitchen appliances designed for baking are frequently used for short periods of time, such as ovens, microwaves and hot plates. In particular, these electronic appliances, such as microwave ovens, are used to reheat or thaw food products. The disadvantage of these appliances is that a large amount of energy is wasted.

Alternatively, solar-based ovens can reduce energy waste. However, cooking is often time consuming and more subject to limitations.

Another drawback of existing solar and microwave ovens is that it is difficult to obtain moderate levels of temperature, which limits the quality and fineness of cooking.

Accordingly, there is a need to provide an improved cooking appliance or food heater that overcomes some of the above-mentioned problems.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to wholly or partly overcome the above disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art and to provide an improved cooking appliance or food heater.

The present invention provides a food heater or cooking appliance capable of reducing waste of energy when cooking.

Thus, according to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a food heater. The heater includes a base configured to receive a food item and including a heating system. The food heater also includes a lid or cap that forms an enclosed chamber with the base in which food items are placed during food preparation. The cover or cap includes a photovoltaic system adapted to absorb and carry solar energy. The heating system is powered by the loaded energy received from the lid when the lid is attached to the base during food preparation.

The invention is based on the following understanding: photovoltaic systems may be included in the container or receiver to absorb and load solar energy for cooking or heating.

Although the photovoltaic system is preferably disposed within the cover, the photovoltaic system may also be disposed in the base of the food heater.

The food heater of the present invention is advantageous in that it can reduce energy waste since it can cook using solar energy. The loaded energy in the lid is transferred to the susceptor, which then heats the food product placed in the enclosure via the heating system.

The invention is particularly advantageous for short cooking times, where a large amount of energy is wasted using conventional ovens. Because the food heater of the invention is based on solar energy, it significantly reduces energy waste.

The present invention provides an ecological food heater which also makes the invention advantageous.

Another advantage of the present invention is that cooking becomes less expensive due to the use of solar energy.

According to an embodiment, the base of the food heater is arranged to receive a food container arranged within the enclosure and in thermal contact with the base, which is advantageous since the use of the food container protects the inner surface of the base. The use of an intermediate food container is also advantageous, since the size of the food container can be selected according to the amount of food to be cooked or prepared, thereby optimizing the heating process.

According to an embodiment, the heating system comprises an induction heating device, which is advantageous since a similar instantaneous heating can be obtained. The food heater is therefore very fast, enabling fast cooking that is adapted to modern cooking habits.

According to an embodiment, the food container is made of steel, suitable for cooking by induction.

According to an embodiment, the cover comprises a solar absorber coated surface. In particular, the photovoltaic system may be made of spray-coated solar cells, which are silicon nanoparticles sprayed on the surface of the lid.

According to an embodiment, the base has the shape of a container in which the food product is placed. In particular, the base and the lid form a sealed container, thus limiting heat losses during the food preparation process.

According to an embodiment, the food container has a shape matching the shape of the base.

According to an embodiment, the base has a flat bottom forming a hot plate on which the food or food container is placed. In particular, the hotplate is covered by a glass-ceramic coating which is suitable for heating systems comprising induction means. Furthermore, the glass ceramic surface has the advantages of fast heat diffusion and easy cleaning without any chemical products, thus making the food heater user-friendly and ecological.

According to an embodiment, the food heater may comprise at least one temperature sensor arranged to detect the temperature of at least one of the lid, the base and the food container, which is advantageous since such a construction allows a very precise temperature and baking level control of the preparation for the food heater.

According to an embodiment, at least one of the cover and the base comprises an indicator indicating whether the energy stored in the photovoltaic system is above a predetermined value. Optionally, the indicator comprises more than one predetermined value. The predetermined value may correspond to a value beyond which a particular type or mode of cooking would not be possible, for example if the energy loaded in the lid or cap is insufficient. The indicator is preferably, but not necessarily, provided on the base.

According to an embodiment, at least one of the lid and the base comprises a keypad or keyboard for selecting a cooking program or mode.

According to an embodiment, the cover has at least one ear arranged to grip the food heater, which is advantageous since the food heater may become very hot. The ears of the heater are preferably made of a plastic material.

According to an embodiment, the base forms a cavity, which is advantageous if the food heater is not used together with a food container. The cavity can form an enclosed cavity in which food items can be placed.

According to an embodiment, the opening of the cavity of the base or food container is oval and comprises a rim on which the lid is supported during food preparation. In particular, the edge of the base is also arranged to receive the food product container.

According to an embodiment, the photovoltaic system comprises a semi-stationary battery, which is capable of being loaded with energy.

The invention is advantageous due to the combination of a durable cooking appliance and high quality and fineness in cooking.

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when studying the following detailed disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. Those skilled in the art realize that different features of the present invention can be combined to create embodiments other than those described.

Drawings

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by the following detailed description and illustrative drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a food heater according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of a food heater according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates the use of a lid for a food warmer of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a use scenario of a food heater of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a base of a food heater according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a display of a food warmer of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a food container of an embodiment of the present invention; and

fig. 8 shows an exploded view of a food heater according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1, a first embodiment of the present invention is described.

Fig. 1 shows a food heater 100 comprising a base 110 and a lid or cap 130. The base 110 and lid 130 fit together to form an enclosed chamber 150 into which food or food preparation may be placed during food preparation. The empty volume corresponding to the interior of base 110 is shown in white and the empty volume corresponding to the interior of lid 130 is shown in black (dark). The cover 130 includes a photovoltaic system 135 adapted to absorb and carry solar energy. Base 110 includes a heating system 115 that is powered by the loaded energy received from lid 130 when lid 130 is coupled to base 110 during food preparation.

The heating system 135 is adapted to heat food items placed within the enclosed chamber 150. The heating system 135 may be a resistor that, when powered by the loaded energy in the lid 130, heats the base 110 area and thereby the food item placed on the base 110 area.

An electronic device or electronic circuit 114 is disposed on the base 110 to receive energy from the photovoltaic system 135 and to supply power to the heating system 115. Optionally, the electronics or electronics module 114 is part of a heating system 115.

According to an embodiment, the base of the food heater is arranged to receive the food container 120. In this case, the heating system is adapted to heat the food placed in the food container 120.

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the food heater 200 showing where the food container 120 is positioned, i.e., in the enclosed chamber 150 between the lid 130 and the base 110. Cover 130 is configured to receive solar energy and, when cover 130 is coupled to base 110, transmits the solar energy to heating system 115 of base 110, such as through electronics 114.

According to an embodiment, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, the heating system comprises an induction heating device 113, which, in operation, generates an electromagnetic field, which is denoted by reference numeral 112 in fig. 1 and 2. Induction technology heats food by generating an electromagnetic field between an induction heating device or coil 113 and a metal food container 120 placed in contact therewith. Once the container 120 is removed from the base 110, the heating stops, similar to a natural switch. Therefore, since the time for heating and cooling is very short, there is no or very little loss of energy, and high cooking accuracy can be obtained.

Although the photovoltaic system 135 is represented by a box in fig. 1, it should be understood that the entire cover or a portion of the cover 130 may be designed to absorb energy. For example, the block shown in fig. 1 may correspond to a battery in which absorbed solar energy is stored or loaded. In particular, the battery may be a semi-stationary battery (semi-stationary) suitable for accumulating energy during the day, for example corresponding to a power in the range of 50 to 200 watts.

According to an embodiment, the cover 130 comprises a solar energy absorbing coated surface. In particular, the surface of the cover 130 is sprayed with nanoparticles of silicon (so-called dye-sensitized solar cells DSSC), which convert the surface into an efficient photovoltaic panel. DSSC cells are sensitive to both visible and non-visible radiation (infrared radiation), which means that they can produce energy even on cloudy days.

Also, the base 110 may include a temperature sensor 111, the temperature sensor 111 enabling control of the temperature in the food heater 100.

Figure 3 shows how the cover is exposed to sunlight or other radiation to absorb and carry energy. In a first alternative embodiment, the lid 130a of the food heater is exposed to sunlight through a window. In the case of the second alternative embodiment, the lid 130b of the food heater is suspended fixed in the kitchen and is thus permanently exposed to sunlight to accumulate the maximum amount of energy. The lid may be placed in a sun-exposed position during the day, for example behind a window in a kitchen, and used for cooking at night.

Referring to fig. 4, a scenario using the food heater of the present invention is described.

In a first step 410, a user of the food heater 100 selects an appropriate container from a plurality or set of steel nested containers as described with reference to FIG. 7. Since the shape and size of the container directly affects the heating of the food preparation, the size of the container selected may be selected depending on the amount of food product to be heated or the cooking level to be obtained. The size of the flat bottom of the food container may, for example, be varied to reduce or increase the size of the hottest area of the food container. In a second step 420, the user places his/her stock or hot ingredients in food container 120. In a third step 430, the user places the lid 130 on top of the base 110 and the food container 120, thereby forming a sealed container or enclosure 150. Upon contact of the cover 130 with the base 110, the indicator 116, for example in the form of a light bar, indicates the level of energy stored in the cover 130. Therefore, in a fourth step 440, the user checks whether the level of energy is sufficient. If the level of energy is not sufficient, the user may choose to expose the cover to sunlight in a similar manner as in the example described with reference to FIG. 3. If the level of energy is sufficient, the user may select a heating mode. Different types of heating modes will be described below with reference to fig. 6.

Fig. 5 shows a base of a food heater according to an embodiment of the present invention. The base includes an indicator 116 disposed at an edge of the base 110. Depending on the level of energy stored in the lid 130 and indicated by the indicator 116, the user may use one of three different cooking modes 117a, 117b, and 117 c. The indicator 116 includes three regions defined by two predetermined values, the three regions corresponding to the three cooking modes.

Referring to fig. 6, three cooking programs or modes are defined by predetermined values of energy levels. In the first mode 117a, the food heater is set to keep the ingredients hot. The first mode 117a is suitable for cooking methods in which the temperature of the food must be precisely controlled. In this mode 117a, the food heater may be used to maintain the ingredients at a constant temperature without the need to heat the ingredients at the last moment, as with a conventional food heater. The first mode 117a operates like an automatic standby mode in which the food heater remembers the temperature of the stock material through the thermometer or temperature sensor 111 and automatically adjusts the heating system.

In the second mode 117b, which requires a higher energy level than the first mode 117a, the user can therefore use the second mode only when sufficient energy is loaded into the photovoltaic system of the cover, in which the food heater is set to heat a small amount of food. First the food heater measures the temperature of the food by means of the temperature sensor 111 and displays the measured temperature on the display 119. The user may then enter the desired temperature via a keypad or keys on the keyboard corresponding to the second mode 117 b.

In a third mode 117c, which requires a higher energy level than the first and second modes 117a and 117b, the food heater may be set to thaw, melt, dry or evaporate the ingredients. Thus, in this mode 117c, the food heater loads sufficient energy in the photovoltaic system of the lid 130 to transform the state of the food.

The heating time, which is shown on the display 119, can be controlled by a button on the side. This pattern 117c is suitable for small amounts or delicate ingredients that require special attention.

Referring to fig. 7, a set of food containers 120 is depicted. The food container 120 has an elliptical or oval opening 121 and a flat bottom 122 that mates with the bottom of the base 110. The food container 120 may also include ears 123 that enable the container to be grasped and lifted from the food warmer. The ears are preferably made of a polymer or hard plastic material. Also, the food container may include a rim 124 that supports a corresponding rim disposed on the base 110 of the food heater 100. Exemplary dimensions of the food product container shown in fig. 7 are from 250 to 390mm in length (from ear 123 to edge 124), i.e., along the y-axis shown in fig. 7, and from 55 to 280mm in width, i.e., along the x-axis shown in fig. 7.

Fig. 8 shows an exploded view of a food heater according to an embodiment of the present invention. The food heater 800 includes a lid 830 and a base 110, the lid 830 being equivalent to the lid described with reference to fig. 1-3, the base 110 being equivalent to the base described with reference to fig. 1-3, the base and lid being configured to receive a food container 820, the food container 820 being equivalent to the food container described with reference to fig. 7. The base 810 includes an indicator, a display and a keyboard for three cooking modes, which are equivalent to those described with reference to fig. 5 and 6.

Although the invention has been described above in connection with preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that several modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims (19)

1. A food heater (100) comprising:

a base (110) arranged to receive a food item and comprising a heating system (115); and

a lid (130) forming with the base an enclosed chamber (150) in which food is placed during food preparation, wherein the lid comprises a photovoltaic system (135) adapted to absorb and load solar energy;

the heating system is powered by the loaded energy received from the lid when the lid is connected to the base during food preparation.

2. The food heater as defined in claim 1, wherein the base is arranged to receive a food container (120) arranged in the closed chamber and in thermal contact with the base.

3. The food heater as defined in claim 2, wherein the heating system comprises an induction heating device (113).

4. The food heater as defined in claim 2 or 3, wherein the food container (120) is made of steel.

5. The food heater as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover comprises a solar absorber coated surface.

6. The food heater as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the photovoltaic system is constituted by a sprayed solar cell, the sprayed solar cell being a silicon nanoparticle sprayed on the surface of the lid.

7. The food heater as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base has the shape of a container.

8. The food heater as defined in claim 7, wherein the base and lid form a sealed container.

9. The food heater as defined in any one of claims 2-8, wherein the food container has a shape that matches the shape of the base.

10. The food heater as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base has a flat bottom (118) forming a hot plate on which the food or the food container is placed.

11. The food heater as defined in claim 10, wherein the hot plate is covered by a glass ceramic coating.

12. The food heater as defined in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one temperature sensor (111) detecting a temperature of at least one of the lid, base and food container.

13. The food heater as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the cover and the base comprises an indicator (116) indicating whether energy stored in the photovoltaic system is above a predetermined value.

14. The food heater as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the lid and the base includes a keypad for selecting a cooking program or a cooking mode.

15. The food heater as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover has at least one ear (132) for grasping the food heater.

16. The food heater as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base forms a cavity.

17. The food heater as defined in claim 16, wherein the opening of the cavity is oval and includes a rim on which the lid is supported during food preparation.

18. The food heater as defined in claim 17, wherein the rim is further configured to receive the food container.

19. The food heater as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the photovoltaic system comprises a semi-stationary battery.