US20250305681A1

US20250305681A1 - Cooking device with grease management system

Info

Publication number: US20250305681A1
Application number: US19/097,618
Authority: US
Inventors: Ryan D. Tirrell; Vivian Pham; Steve L. Puertas
Original assignee: North Atlantic Imports LLC
Current assignee: North Atlantic Imports LLC
Priority date: 2024-04-02
Filing date: 2025-04-01
Publication date: 2025-10-02
Also published as: WO2025212678A1

Abstract

An indoor cooking range is provided. The indoor cooking range includes a main body, a control panel, a flat cooking surface, one or more heating elements, and a grease container. The main body has a plurality of walls. The control panel is disposed on the main body. The flat cooking surface is supported by the main body and defines a drain opening. The drain opening is configured to drain food byproduct from the flat cooking surface. The one or more heating elements are supported by the main body. At least one of the one or more heating elements is configured to heat the flat cooking surface. The grease container is positioned below the drain opening and slidably removable from an opening defined in a front side of the main body.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/573,083, filed on Apr. 2, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to the field of cooking appliances. More specifically, the present application relates to a cooking range with a flat cook surface and a removable grease container.

SUMMARY

One embodiment of the present disclosure relates to an indoor cooking range. The indoor cooking range includes a main body having a plurality of walls, a control panel disposed on the main body, a flat cooking surface supported by the main body, one or more heating elements also supported by the main body, and a grease container. The flat cooking surface defines a drain opening configured to drain food byproduct from the flat cooking surface. At least one of the one or more heating elements is configured to heat the flat cooking surface. The grease container is positioned below the drain opening and is slidably removable from an opening in a front side of the main body.
In some embodiments, a front surface of the grease container is coplanar with a front surface of the main body when the grease container is inserted into the main body. In some embodiments, the indoor cooking range includes a locking mechanism associated with the grease container. The locking mechanism is configured to move between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locked position is configured to maintain the grease container in a fixed position below the drain opening. In some embodiments, the control panel includes a selective input configured to move the locking mechanism between the unlocked position and the locked position. In some such embodiments, the indoor cooking range further includes a controller configured to disable at least one of the one or more heating elements when the locking mechanism is moved from the locked position to the unlocked position. In some embodiments, the indoor cooking range further includes a level sensor associated with the grease container and positioned to measure a level of food byproduct disposed in the grease container. In some such embodiments, the indoor cooking range further includes a controller configured to disable at least one of the one or more heating elements when the level sensor measures a maximum level of the food byproduct disposed in the grease container. In some embodiments, the drain opening is positioned adjacent a front end of the flat cooking surface. In some embodiments, the indoor cooking range further includes a second cooking surface positioned along a side of the flat cooking surface and at least one of the one or more heating elements is configured to heat the second cooking surface. In some embodiments, the main body defines a baking chamber and at least one of the one or more heating elements is positioned to heat the baking chamber. In some embodiments, the grease container has a first rail projecting from a first side and a second rail projecting from a second side opposite the first side. The main body includes a first guide and a second guide, both disposed within the opening defined in the front side of the main body. The first guide defines a first groove configured to slidably receive the first rail and the second guide defines a second groove configured to slidably receive the second rail.
One embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a cooking appliance. The cooking appliance includes a cook surface defining an aperture therethrough, a heating element positioned to heat the cook surface, a front panel removable from a front side of the cooking appliance, and a container coupled to the front panel and positioned to collect food byproduct passed through the aperture.
In some embodiments, the front panel is coplanar with a portion of the front side of the cooking appliance when the container is inserted into the cooking appliance. In some embodiments, the cooking appliance further includes a latch configured to releasably retain the container within the cooking appliance. In some such embodiments, the cooking appliance further includes a controller configured to disable the element when the latch in an unlatched position. In some embodiments, the aperture is an elongated trough proximate a front end of the cook surface. In some embodiments, the cooking appliance further includes a second heating element positioned proximate a side of the cook surface. In some embodiments, the cooking appliance further includes a main body and a second heating element. The main body supports the cook surface thereon and defines an oven volume. The second heating element is disposed within the oven volume. In some embodiments, the cooking appliance further includes a sensor configured to output data indicative of a level of food byproduct in the container. In some such embodiments, the cooking appliance further includes a controller configured to receive data from the sensor indicative of the level of food byproduct in the container and to disable the heating element when the level of food byproduct in the container exceeds a threshold level.
This summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other aspects, inventive features, and advantages of the devices or processes described herein will become apparent in the detailed description set forth herein, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will become more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a cooking appliance configured as a gas fueled cooking appliance, the cooking appliance includes a flat cook surface and a removable grease container, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the cooking appliance of FIG. 1 showing various components of the cooking appliance, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a cooking appliance configured as an electric cooking appliance, the cooking appliance includes a flat cook surface and a removable grease container, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the cooking appliance of FIG. 3 showing various components of the cooking appliance, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a cooking appliance with a side wall removed, showing an internal volume and a heating element configured to heat the internal volume, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are partial front perspective views of a cooking appliance, showing a rail and guide system configured to guide the insertion or removal of the grease container, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7A is a partial front view of a cooking appliance, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7B is a partial front perspective view of a cooking appliance including a locking mechanism configured to releasably retain a grease container, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are top and bottom perspective views of a flat cook surface of a cooking appliance, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of a cooking appliance configured as a range, the cooking appliance includes a griddle, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the cooking appliance of FIG. 9 showing various components of the cooking appliance, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the cooking appliance of FIG. 9 showing the grease container positioned below the griddle, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a portion of the grease container and griddle taken from FIG. 11 , according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the cooking appliance of FIG. 9 with the grease container in a removed position, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 14A and 14B are top and bottom perspective views of a griddle of a cooking appliance, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 14C and 14D are top and bottom views of a griddle of a cooking appliance, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 14E and 14F are front and side views of a griddle of a cooking appliance, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the cooking appliance of FIG. 9 having a cover positioned over the griddle, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 16 is a schematic view of a display of a cooking appliance, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a controller for a cooking appliance, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before turning to the figures, which illustrate the exemplary embodiments in detail, it should be understood that the present application is not limited to the details or methodology set forth in the description or illustrated in the figures. It should also be understood that the terminology is for the purpose of description only and should not be regarded as limiting.
Griddles, flattop grills, and similar flat cooking surfaces provide a convenient platform for preparing a variety of foods according to a variety of cooking methods. However, the accumulation of excess grease and other food byproduct on a flat cooking surface during food preparation may hinder the efficiency of the flat cooking surface and create various safety hazards. By way of example, excess food byproduct may ignite if brought in contact with or inadvertently introduced to a source of high heat (e.g., a burner, a heating element, etc.). By way of another example, excess food byproduct may create a hazard of slipping if introduced to a floor or other working surface around the flat cooking surface. These and other safety hazards are exacerbated when the flat cooking surface is used indoors.
Referring generally to the FIGURES, a cooking appliance (e.g., a stove top, a cooking range, a kitchen range, etc.) suitable for indoor use is provided. The cooking appliance includes a flat cooking surface and various food byproduct management features. An aperture (e.g., a drain, a grease drain, etc.) is defined in the flat cooking surface and configured to drain food byproduct from the flat cooking surface into a container (e.g., a grease container, trap, etc.) removably positioned below the aperture. The container may be conveniently removable from a front side of the cooking appliance so that food byproduct drained therein may be disposed of and the container replaced. In some embodiments, the cooking appliance includes a controller and various sensors to disable one or more of the cooking appliance's heating elements when the container is full or removed from the cooking appliance to mitigate the likelihood that food byproduct is inadvertently brought in contact with high heat or introduced to a working surface about the flat cooking surface. Accordingly, the cooking appliance disclosed herein provides enhanced management of food byproduct and greater convenience to a user of the cooking appliance.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, and as shown in FIGS. 1-4 , a cooking appliance 10 (e.g., a stove top, a cooking range, a kitchen range, an indoor cooking range, etc.) includes a cook surface 12, a heating element 14, and a container 16. The cook surface 12 is a griddle or flattop grill having a substantially flat cooking surface on which food may be prepared. The cook surface 12 defines an aperture 18 (e.g., a drain, a drain opening, a grease drain, etc.) therethrough. The aperture 18 provides a passage through which food byproduct (e.g., grease, oils, drippings, juices, food scraps, etc.) produced during the preparation of food on the cook surface 12 may drain or be removed from the cook surface 12.
The heating element 14 is a component positioned to heat the cook surface 12. In some embodiments, and as shown in FIG. 2 , the heating element 14 is a burner that burns a gas (e.g., natural gas, propane, etc.) to produce heat. In some such embodiments, the cooking appliance 10 includes a valve or valve assembly to controllably meter a flow of gas to the heating element 14 and an igniter to initiate the combustion of gas provided to the heating element 14. In other embodiments, and as shown in FIG. 4 , the heating element 14 is an electric heating element configured to convert electrical energy into heat. In some such embodiments, the cooking appliance 10 includes one or more electrical or electronic components to controllably adjust an amount (e.g., a current) of electricity provided to the heating element 14. The heating element 14 is positioned to heat the cook surface 12. The heating element 14 may be positioned below a bottom of the cook surface 12 so that heat produced by the heating element 14 is imparted to the cook surface 12. In some embodiments, the heating element 14 is positioned in direct physical contact with the bottom of the cook surface 12. In some embodiments, the heating element 14 is integral to the cook surface such that the heating element 14 is partially or wholly encompassed by the cook surface 12.
The container 16 is a vessel configured and positioned within the cooking appliance 10 to collect food byproduct that is passed through the aperture 18 defined by the cook surface 12. The container 16 is slidably removable from the cooking appliance 10 so that food byproduct received therein may be disposed of. The cooking appliance 10 defines an opening 22 (e.g., a cavity, a compartment, etc.) into which the container may be inserted into and removed from. In some embodiments, the opening 22 is defined in a front of the cooking appliance 10. In other embodiments, the opening 22 is defined in a side of the cooking appliance 10. The opening 22 is positioned in the cooking appliance such that the container 16 is below the aperture 18 defined by the cook surface 12 when the container 16 is inserted into the opening 22. In some embodiments, the cooking appliance 10 includes a sensor (e.g., a level sensor, a volume sensor, a weight sensor, etc.) associated with the container 16 and configured to measure a level of food byproduct disposed within the container 16. The sensor may be configured to output a data signal indicative of the level of food byproduct disposed within the container 16. In some embodiments, the sensor is operatively coupled to a controller configured to take remedial action on a determination that the level of food byproduct within the container 16 exceeds a threshold or is at a maximum level.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the cooking appliance 10 includes a second cook surface 24 and a second heating element 26. The second cook surface 24 provides a cooking surface on which cookware (e.g., pots, pans, dishes, etc.) may be placed to prepare food therein or thereon. The second heating element 26 is a component positioned to heat the second cook surface 24, or a portion thereof. In some embodiments, the cooking appliance 10 also includes a third heating element 28 positioned to heat a portion of the second cook surface 24 such that a first portion of the second cook surface 24 is heated by the second heating element 26 and a second portion of the second cook surface 24 is heated by the third heating element 28. In some embodiments, and as shown in FIG. 2 , the second cook surface 24 is defined by a grate and the second heating element 26 and/or the third heating element 28 are gas burners. In other embodiments, and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the second cook surface 24 is defined by a ceramic or glass cook top and the second heating element 26 and/or the third heating element 28 are electric heating elements. The second heating element 26 and/or the third heating element 28 may be positioned below a bottom of the second cook surface 24 so that heat produced by the second heating element 26 and/or the third heating element 28 is imparted to the second cook surface. The second heating element 26 and/or the third heating element 28 may be positioned in direct contact with the second cook surface 24. The second cook surface 24 may be positioned adjacent the cook surface 12 (e.g., along a side of the cook surface 12).
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the cooking appliance 10 further includes a main body 30. The main body 30 is a component, or combination of components, configured to support various other components of the cooking appliance 10 (e.g., the cook surface 12, the second cook surface 24, the heating element 14, the second heating element 26, the third heating element 28, etc.). The main body 30 may include one or more walls that define a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a rear side extending perpendicularly between the first side and the second side. The cooking appliance 10 may include a door 32 hingedly coupled to the main body 30 and movable between an opened position and a closed position. As shown in FIG. 5 , the main body 30 and the door 32 define a volume 512 (e.g., an oven volume, an oven chamber, a cooking volume, etc.) in which food may be prepared (e.g., baked, broiled, roasted, toasted, etc.). When the door 32 is in the opened position, the volume 512 may be accessed to insert food therein or remove food therefrom. The cooking appliance 10 may further include a fourth heating clement 514 disposed within the volume 512 to heat the volume 512. In some embodiments, the fourth heating element 514 is a gas burner. In other embodiments, the fourth heating clement 514 is an electric heating element. The main body 30 may be configured to receive one or more oven or baking racks on which food may be supported within the volume 512 as it is prepared. The cooking appliance 10 may include a fan 516 disposed within the volume 512 to circulate air therein during food preparation.
Referring again to FIGS. 1-4 , the cooking appliance 10 includes a control panel 34, in some embodiments of the present disclosure. The control panel includes one or more user input devices (e.g., knobs, buttons, switches, etc.) to control various components of the cooking appliance 10. For example, the control panel 34 may include user input devices to control the heat produced by each of the heating elements (e.g., the heating element 14, the second heating element 26, the third heating element 28, the fourth heating element 514). The control panel 34 may be disposed on the main body 30 of the cooking appliance 10. For example, the control panel 34 may be disposed on a front side of the main body 30 so that the control panel 34 may be easily accessed and manipulated during food preparation. The cooking appliance 10 may further include a display 36. The display 36 is configured to display operating characteristics of the cooking appliance 10. For example, the display 36 may display a current setting or temperature of the heating elements (e.g., the heating element 14, the second heating element 26, the third heating element 28, the fourth heating element 514). In some embodiments, the display 36 is a touchscreen display. In such embodiments, the display 36 may be configured to receive user inputs to control the temperature of each of the heating elements (e.g., the heating element 14, the second heating element 26, the third heating element 28, the fourth heating element 514). As shown in FIGS. 1-4 , the display 36 may be disposed on a portion of the main body 30 extending upright and behind the cook surface 12 and/or the second cook surface 24. In other embodiments, the display 36 may be positioned proximate, or constitute a part of, the control panel 34.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, and as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the container 16 includes or is coupled with a front panel 612. The front panel 612 may be a panel coupled to a front side of the container 16 (e.g., a side of the container 16 facing a user of the cooking appliance 10 when the container 16 is inserted into the opening 22 defined in the cooking appliance 10). Alternatively, the front panel 612 may be integral to the front side of the container 16. The front panel 612 may define a handle portion 614 by which the front panel 612 can be manipulated to slidably remove the container 16 from, or slidably insert the container 16 into, the opening 22 defined in the cooking appliance 10.
In some embodiments, the cooking appliance 10 includes a rail and guide system to facilitate and guide the insertion of the container 16 into, and the removal of the container 16 from, the opening 22 defined in the cooking appliance 10. The rail and guide system includes a first rail 616, a second rail 618, a first guide 620, and a second guide (not shown). The first rail 616 projects from a first side of the container 16 and the second rail projects from a second side of the container 16 opposite the first side of the container 16. The first rail 616 extends longitudinally along a length of the first side of the container 16 (e.g., parallel an axis extending between the front panel 612 of the container and a side of the container 16 opposite the front panel 612). The second rail extends longitudinally along a length of the second side of the container 16 (e.g., parallel an axis extending between the front panel 612 of the container and a side of the container 16 opposite the front panel 612). In some embodiments, the first rail 616 and the second rail 618 may be components coupled to the first side of the container 16 and the second side of the container 16, respectively. In other embodiments, the first rail 616 and the second rail 618 are formed integrally to the container 16. For example, the first rail 616 and the second rail 618 may be lips bent from the container 16.
The first guide 620 and the second guide are disposed opposite one another within the opening 22 defined in the cooking appliance 10 and extend longitudinally along a depth of the opening 22 (e.g., parallel an axis extending between a front of the cooking appliance 10 and a rear of the cooking appliance 10). The first guide 620 and the second guide may be components coupled to surfaces within the opening 22. Alternatively, the first guide 620 and the second guide may be formed integrally to another component of the cooking appliance 10 (e.g., the main body 30, the control panel 34, etc.). The first guide 620 defines a groove 622 configured and positioned to slidably receive the first rail 616 and the second guide defines a second groove (not shown) configured and positioned to slidably receive the second rail 618. The first guide 620 and the second guide are positioned within the opening 22 to support the container 16 in a position below the aperture 18 defined by the cook surface 12 when the container 16 is inserted into the opening 22.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, and as shown in FIGS. 7A, the opening 22 defined in the cooking appliance 10 is defined in the front side of the cooking appliance 10. In some such embodiments, the front panel 612 of the container 16 is substantially coplanar with a portion of the front side of the cooking appliance 10 proximate the opening 22 when the container 16 is inserted into the opening 22 (e.g., a front surface of the front panel 612 and a front surface of the portion of the front side of the cooking appliance 10 proximate the opening 22 lie on the same plane). In some embodiments, the opening 22 defined in the cooking appliance 10 is adjacent to the control panel 34. In some such embodiments, the front panel 612 of the container 16 is substantially coplanar with the control panel 34 when the container 16 is inserted into the opening 22. In some embodiments, the opening 22 defined in the cooking appliance 10 is defined by the control panel 34. In some such embodiments, the front panel 612 of the container 16 is substantially coplanar with a portion of the control panel 34 proximate the opening 22 when the container 16 is inserted into the opening 22.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, and as shown in FIG. 7B, the cooking appliance 10 includes a locking mechanism 712 (e.g., a latch, a sliding latch, a lock, a catch, etc.) associated with the container 16. The locking mechanism 712 is movable between a locked position (e.g., a latched position) and an unlocked position (e.g., an unlatched position). The locking mechanism 712 is configured to releasably retain the container 16 within the opening 22 defined in the cooking appliance 10. When the locking mechanism 712 is in the locked position, the locking mechanism 712 maintains the container 16 in a fixed position below the aperture 18 defined by the cook surface 12. When the locking mechanism 712 is in the unlocked position, the container 16 may be manually removed from the position below the aperture 18 defined by the cook surface 12 so that the container 16 may be emptied of food byproduct and replaced.
In some embodiments, the locking mechanism 712 is a sliding lock mounted to one of the container 16 or the main body 30 of the cooking appliance 10 and having a bolt that, when the locking mechanism 712 is in the locked position, engages the other of the container 16 or the main body 30 of the cooking appliance 10 to maintain the container 16 in a fixed position within the cooking appliance 10 and below the aperture 18 defined by the cook surface 12. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism 712 is manually operable (e.g., moved between the locked position and the unlocked position by a user of the cooking appliance 10). In some embodiments, the locking mechanism includes an electric actuator (e.g., an electric motor, an electric solenoid, an electric linear actuator, etc.) to selectively operate the locking mechanism 712 (e.g., to move the locking mechanism 712 between the locked position and the unlocked position). In some such embodiments, the locking mechanism 712 is operably coupled with a controller so that the locking mechanism 712 may be moved between the locked position and the unlocked position according to a method implemented by the controller. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism 712 includes a sensor configured to output data indicative of the position of the locking mechanism 712 (e.g., data indicative of whether the locking mechanism 712 is in the locked position or the unlocked position). In some embodiments, the control panel 34 includes a selective user input configured to move the locking mechanism 712 between the unlocked position and the locked position. In some embodiments, the display 36 is configured to receive a user input to move the locking mechanism 712 between the locked position and the unlocked position.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, and as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the cook surface 12 has an upper surface 812 and a lower surface 814 opposite the upper surface 812. Heat applied to the lower surface 814 (e.g., by the heating element 14) is conducted through the cook surface 12 to the upper surface 812, where it may be imparted to food placed thereon for preparation. The upper surface 812 is substantially flat (e.g., planar) so that food placed on the upper surface 812 is evenly heated.
The cook surface 12 may include or be coupled to a splash guard 816. The splash guard 816 provides a barrier to mitigate the introduction of food byproduct (e.g., grease, oil, drippings) to other components of the cooking appliance 10 (e.g., the second heating element 26, the third heating element 28, the second cook surface 24, etc.) where it may create a hazard. The splash guard 816 may extend upward from the cook surface 12 at an angle substantially perpendicular to the upper surface 812 of the cook surface 12. In some embodiments, the splash guard 816 extends entirely around a perimeter of the cook surface 12. In other embodiments, the splash guard 816 extends around only a portion of the cook surface 12 (e.g., a portion of the cook surface 12 proximate the second cook surface 24).
The cook surface may include or be coupled to a support flange 818. The support flange 818 may be configured to rest on a portion of the main body 30 or another component of the cooking appliance 10 to removably support the cook surface 12 thereon. The support flange 818 may be configured to be received into a recess formed in the main body 30 to guide the placement of the cook surface 12 on, and removal of the cook surface 12 from, the cooking appliance 10. The support flange 818 may extend outward from the cook surface 12 at an angle substantially parallel to the upper surface 812 of the cook surface 12. The support flange 818 may extend from an upper edge of the splash guard 816 at an angle substantially perpendicular to the splash guard 816. In some embodiments, the support flange 818 extends entirely around a perimeter of the cook surface 12. In other embodiments, the support flange 818 extends around only a portion of the cook surface 12.
In some embodiments, the aperture 18 defined through the cook surface 12 is adjacent a front of the cook surface 12 (e.g., the aperture 18 is defined in a portion of the cook surface 12 proximate a front side of the cooking appliance 10). The aperture 18 may be an elongated aperture (e.g., an aperture having a length in a first direction that is greater than a length in a second direction perpendicular the first direction). The aperture may extend longitudinally in a direction parallel the front of the cook surface 12. In some embodiments, the aperture 18 may be a trough extending through the cook surface 12. In some such embodiments, the trough extends parallel a front of the cook surface 12. The upper surface 812 of the cook surface 12 may slope towards the aperture 18 to promote the flow of food byproduct from the cook surface 12 toward the aperture 18. In some embodiments, a portion of the upper surface 812 proximate the aperture 18 is contoured to promote the flow of food byproduct from the cook surface 12 toward the aperture 18. In some embodiments, the lower surface 814 of the cook surface 12 includes a lip or a projection extending around the aperture 18 to further promote the flow of food byproduct through the aperture and into the container 16 positioned below the aperture 18.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, and as shown in FIGS. 9-13 , the cooking appliance 10 is configured as an indoor cooking range 910 (e.g., a cooking appliance 10 including one or more ovens and a stove top in a stand-alone type cooking device). It should be noted that any of the features or aspects of the embodiments described above in relation to FIGS. 1-8 , may be included in the embodiments described hereinafter in relation to FIGS. 9-16 . The indoor cooking range 910 may be designed to be employed indoors and may also be referenced as a cooking device. In one embodiment, the indoor cooking range 910 may be a counter-top range insert type cooking device. The one or more ovens may include an upper oven 912 and a lower oven 914, for example. Such upper oven 912 may be smaller in size than the lower oven 914. In some embodiments, the upper oven 912 may be sized and configured with a cooking surface (not shown) that may rotate. In any of the above noted embodiments, the indoor cooking range 910 may include a stove top 916 configured to manage food byproduct generated from cooking food on a griddle 918 positioned on the stove top 916. The stove top 916 may also include a grease container 920 positioned below the griddle 918 that may include one or more safety features to assist in safely managing food byproduct, such as grease.
The stove top 916 of the indoor cooking range 910 may include a main body 922 with the griddle 918 positioned on the main body 922. The main body 922 may include walls 924 extending to define a rear side 926, a front side 928, a left side 930, a right side 932, a lower side 934 and an upper side 936. One of the walls 924 may include a panel 938 with control knobs 940 and a display 942 associated therewith. The main body 922 may be configured to support one or more heating elements 944. The one or more heating elements 944 may each be associated with a corresponding one of the control knobs 940. The one or more heating elements 944 may be gas type flame burners 946 sized and configured to be employed to burn natural gas or propane gas. In another embodiment, the one or more heating elements 944 may be electric or induction type heating elements.
With reference to FIGS. 14A-14F, the griddle 918 may be formed from cast or wrought iron, aluminum or carbon steel, or any other material or combination of materials, such as a composite or layered metallic material, as known by one of ordinary skill in the art. The griddle 918 may be configured to be positioned along the upper side 936 of the main body 922. The griddle 918 may extend to define a flat cooking surface 1448 and an underside surface 1450. The flat cooking surface 1448 may extend between a rear end 1452 and a front end 1454 as well as a left end 1456 and a right end 1458. The griddle 918 may include a splash guard 1460 extending upward from the cooking surface 1448 along each of the rear end 1452 and the front end 1454 as well as the left end 1456 and the right end 1458 of the cooking surface 1448. The griddle 918 may define a drain opening 962 therein. In one embodiment, the drain opening 962 may be defined in the cooking surface 1448. In another embodiment, the drain opening 962 may be defined in the splash guard 1460 and/or the cooking surface 1448 of the griddle 918. The drain opening 962 may be configured to drain food byproduct toward the grease container 920.
Now referring to FIGS. 9-13 , the grease container 920 may be slidably removable from the front side 928 of the main body 922 and from a position below the griddle 918. Further, the grease container 920 may be placed within a locked position and an unlocked position. In one embodiment, the grease container 920 may be associated with a sensor 964 and a locking mechanism 966, the locking mechanism 966 configured to move between a locked state and an un-locked state. Such locking mechanism 966 may include a lever 968 positioned adjacent the grease container 920, the lever 968 movable to unlock the grease container 920, as shown by arrow 970. In the locked state, the locking mechanism 966 may be configured to maintain the grease container 920 at the position below the griddle 918 so that the grease container 920 is in the locked position. The grease container 920 may be in the locked position while using the stove top 916 and the griddle 918. Upon a user desiring to empty the grease container 920, the user would need to take a positive one or two steps in order to unlock the grease container 920 so that the grease container 920 may be slidably removed from the stove top 916. Such one or two steps may be two separate buttons on the display 942 and/or panel 938 of the main body 922, and/or pulling the lever 968 adjacent a front side of the grease container 920. Further, the sensor 964 may be sized and configured to sense any given level or certain pre-determined levels of the food byproduct or when the grease container 920 is at a pre-determined maximum level or full level of the food byproduct.
Upon the sensor 964 sensing grease at a pre-determined level within the grease container 920, the stove top 916 of the indoor cooking range 910 may be shut down such that the one or more heating elements 944 of the stove top 916 may automatically be turned off or disabled. The user would then need to implement the one or two positive steps for unlocking the grease container 920 from the stove top 916 so that the grease container 920 can be emptied. The user may then re-insert the grease container 920 within the stove top 916 and below the griddle 918 so that the sensor 964 can sense the updated status of the grease container 920 and allow the one or more heating elements 944 to be useable or removed from the disabled state. The sensor 964 may also sense when the food byproduct is getting close to the pre-determined level so that a user may empty the grease container 920 without the stove top 916 going through a lock-out or disabled procedure. With this arrangement, grease or other food byproduct generated through cooking on the griddle 918 may be effectively managed so that the grease may be safely discarded from the grease container 920 as well as minimize the potential of the grease container 920 being unintentionally removed by a child, for example.
As previously set forth, upon the sensor 964 sensing a maximum level of the food byproduct disposed in the grease container 920, the one or more heating elements 944 may be turned-off or disabled. At such a stage, the locking mechanism 966 of the indoor cooking range 910 may need to be moved to the un-locked position. Such un-locked position may be implemented by a user by taking one or two positive steps on the display 942 or control panel 938. For example, there may be one or more buttons on the control panel 938 that should be activated or depressed and/or one or more display 942 actions to be implemented on the control panel 938. Further, upon moving the locking mechanism 966 from the locked position to the unlocked position, the one or more heating elements 944 may be automatically turned-off or disabled so as to minimize the potential of accidentally igniting grease in the grease container 920 or to minimize the potential of accidentally igniting grease that may spill from the grease container while the grease container is being removed.
With reference again to FIGS. 14A-14F, as previously set forth, the griddle 918 may include a drain opening 962 defined therein. In one embodiment, the drain opening 962 may be positioned adjacent one of the left end 1456 and the right end 1458 of the flat cooking surface 1448. In another embodiment, the drain opening 962 may be positioned adjacent one of the front end 1454 and the rear end 1452 of the flat cooking surface 1448. The drain opening 962 may include a slope 1472 extending from the flat cooking surface 1448 to drain grease toward the drain opening 962. The drain opening 962 may be an elongated shaped opening. In another embodiment, the drain opening 962 may be a circular shaped opening. In another embodiment, the drain opening 962 may be surrounded by the slope 1472. In another embodiment, the slope 1472 may extend toward the drain opening 962 along one side of the drain opening 962. With reference to FIG. 10 , in still another embodiment, the drain opening 962 may include a removable catch 974. Such removable catch 974 may be sized and configured to be placed in the drain opening 962 so as to be partially suspended below the drain opening 962. The removable catch 974 may include small openings sized to allow grease to drain therethrough, but to prevent larger pieces of debris to be held up in the catch 974.
As previously set forth, the griddle may include the splash guard 1460. Such splash guard 1460 may extend substantially perpendicular relative to the flat cooking surface 1448. In another embodiment, the splash guard 1460 may be upstanding from the cooking surface 1448 so as to extend upward and outward so that the splash guard 1460 extends at an angle other than perpendicular. In another embodiment, the splash guard 1460 along the front end 1454 of the cooking surface 1448 extends at an outward angle so as to extend forward and upward from the cooking surface 1448. In another embodiment, the splash guard 1460 extends upward from each of the left end 1456, right end 1458, front end 1454 and rear end 1452 at a height 1476 substantially similar to each other. In another embodiment, the splash guard 1460 adjacent the front end 1454 may be larger than the splash guard 1460 adjacent the rear end 1452 of the flat cooking surface 1448. In this arrangement, a top edge 1478 of the splash guard 1460 may appear consistent in height relative to an upper surface 980 (FIG. 9 ) of the indoor cooking range 910 or surfaces adjacent the stove top 916. Further, in this arrangement, the flat cooking surface 1448 may be slightly sloped forward so that food byproduct may flow toward the front end 1454 of the griddle 918 so that a user may readily push the food byproduct toward the drain opening 962 while cooking on the griddle 918. In another embodiment, the height 1476 of the splash guard 1460 may be at least about 1.5 inches. In another embodiment, the height 1476 of the splash guard 1460 may be at least about two inches. In another embodiment, the height 1476 of the splash guard 1460 may be at least about 1.9 inches. In another embodiment, the height 1476 of the splash guard 1460 may be at least about 1.5 inches along each of the rear, front, left and right ends 1452, 1454, 1456, 1458 of the flat cooking surface 1448. In another embodiment, the height 1476 of the splash guard 1460 may be in the range of about 1.5 inches and about 3.0 inches. In another embodiment, the height 1476 of the splash guard 1460 may extend upward from the flat cooking surface 1448 along the front end 1454 at least about two inches.
As previously set forth, the griddle 918 includes an underside surface 1450. Such underside surface 1450 of the griddle 918 may include a barrier 1482 extending therefrom. The barrier 1482 may be sized and configured to extend a barrier height 1484 so as to block the grease container 920 from the one or more heating elements 944. In this manner, the barrier 1482 may act as a safety feature to minimize the ability of heat or a flame to ignite grease or food byproduct disposed in the grease container 920. Such barrier 1482 may be implemented in any of the above-noted embodiments of the one or more heating elements 944 being any one of a gas flame burner 946 (FIG. 10 ), an electrical heating element, and an induction heating element.
With reference to FIGS. 9, 10 and 15 , the main body 922 or stove top 916 may be sized and configured to support burner grates 986. Such burner grates 986 may be positioned along one side of the griddle 918. Further, the stove top 916 may include air flow ducting 988. Such air flow ducting 988 may be employed to provide air flow below the griddle 918 so that oxygen may be fed to gas flame burners 946, for example. In another embodiment, the air flow ducting 988 may be employed for funneling heat from below the griddle 918 to exterior of the indoor cooking range 910. Further, as previously set forth, the main body 922 of the indoor cooking range 910 may include one or more baking chambers, such as the upper and lower ovens 912, 914. In one embodiment, one of the baking chambers may include a rotating cooking surface. Such rotating cooking surface may be employed for cooking pizza, for example. In another embodiment, the indoor cooking range 910 may include a removable cover 1589 positionable over the griddle 918.
With reference to FIGS. 9, 10, 13 and 16 , the indoor cooking range 910 may include a display 942, as previously set forth. The display 942 may be configured to include digital and analog functions. One of the analog functions may visually facilitate a determination of a level of heating with the one or more heating elements 944 (FIG. 10 ) by the visual representation of horizontally extending stacked spaces to indicate variations of low heat, medium heat and high heat, as depicted in FIG. 16 . As such, a user may turn one of the burner knobs 940 to a given level, which may be represented visually by filled-in horizontally extending stacked spaces 1690 that corresponds to the level of the turned burner knob 940. In this manner, the user may readily recognize the level of heat that the burner knob 940 may be turned or the level that the burner 946 has been activated.
Furthermore, with reference to FIGS. 9, 10, 13 and 16 , the display 942 may include color indicators associated with a status of the grease container 920 or grease trap. For example, upon the grease container 920 being full at a maximum level, as sensed by the sensor 964, as previously set forth, the grease container indicator 1692 may visually show a red color, for example. In one embodiment, upon the grease container 920 being full as sensed by the sensor 964, the burners 946 may automatically be disabled or turned-off. In another embodiment, upon the grease container 920 being empty as sensed by the sensor 964, the grease container indicator 992 may visually show a green color so that a user can readily recognize the grease container 920 is empty or in a state with a minimal grease level. In another embodiment, upon the grease container 920 being partially full or close to being to the maximum level as sensed by the sensor 964, the grease container indicator 1692 may visually show an orange color so that a user can readily recognize the grease container 920 may be getting close to needing to be emptied. In this manner, the display 942 may include visual indicators for a user to readily recognize a status of grease in the grease container 920 as well as a level of heat of a given burner, visually represented with the horizontally filled stacked spaces 1690. Further, such visual indicators provided in the display 942 may also be associated with actual temperatures or desired temperatures or a combination of both. The actual temperatures may be obtained with one or more temperature sensors 999 (FIG. 10 ) positioned in or adjacent the griddle 918.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, and as shown in FIG. 17 , the cooking appliance 10 includes a controller 1710 to controllably operate various features of the cooking appliance 10. The controller 1710 includes one or more processors 1712 operatively connected and configured to execute instructions stored on a memory 1714. The one or more processors 1712 can be implemented as general-purpose processors, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), a group of processing components, or other suitable processing components.
The memory 1714 (e.g., memory, memory unit, storage device, etc.) can include one or more devices (e.g., RAM, ROM, flash memory, hard disk storage, etc.) for storing data and/or computer code for completing or facilitating the various processes, layers, and modules described in the present application. The memory 1714 can be or include volatile memory or non-volatile memory. The memory 1714 can include database components, object code components, script components, or any other type of information structure for supporting the various activities and information structures described in the present application. According to some embodiments, the memory 1714 is communicably connected to the one or more processors 1712 and includes computer code for executing one or more processes described herein.
In some embodiments, the controller 1710 is configured to receive a signal from a level sensor 1716 (e.g., an optical sensor, a float sensor, a weight sensor) associated with the container 16. The level sensor 1716 is configured to measure, and output a data signal indicative of, a level or an amount of food byproduct disposed within the container 16. The controller 1710 may also be configured to receive signals from a control panel 1718 (e.g., control panel 34) including one or more user input devices (e.g., knobs, buttons, switches, etc.). The controller 1710 may also be configured to receive signals from a display 1720 (e.g., display 36) implemented as a touchscreen display. The controller 1710 may be configured to receive a signal from a temperature sensor 1726 (e.g., a thermistor, a thermocouple, an RTD, etc.). The temperature sensor 1726 may be associated with a cooking surface of the cooking appliance 10 (e.g., the cook surface 12 or the second cook surface 24). The temperature sensor 1726 is configured to output a data signal indicative of the temperature of the cook surface with which the temperature sensor 1726 is associated. In some embodiments, the temperature sensor 1726 is positioned proximate the cook surface (e.g., beneath the cook surface, in contact with the cook surface, etc.) so that the temperature sensor 1726 outputs a data signal indicative of the temperature of the cook surface.
In some embodiments, the controller 1710 is configured to receive user inputs by means of an application operating on a network connected device (e.g., a cell phone, smart phone, computer, laptop, etc.). In such embodiments, the controller 1710 includes a network component. The network component may include one or more wireless communication devices (e.g., a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi radio) configured to enable the controller to send and receive data (e.g., user inputs) from the network connected device. In some embodiments, the controller 1710 communicates directly with the network connected device. In other embodiments, the controller communicates with the network connected device through an internet or cloud-based service.
The controller 1710 may additionally be configured to control one or more heating elements 1722 (e.g., by enabling, disabling, or varying a flow of gas or electrical current to the one or more heating elements 1722). The controller 1710 may include or be operatively coupled with one or more control components (e.g., relays, contactors, electrically controllable valves, etc.) to control the one or more heating elements 1722. The one or more heating elements 1722 may include the heating element 14, the second heating element 26, the third heating element 28, and/or the fourth heating element 514. In some embodiments, the controller 1710 is configured to actuate a locking mechanism (e.g., locking mechanism 712) between a locked position and an unlocked position. The controller 1710 may include one or more control component (e.g., relays, contactors, switching devices, motor controllers, etc.) to actuate the locking mechanism 1724. In some embodiments, the controller 1710 is configured to actuate the locking mechanism 1724 based on an input received from either the control panel 1718 or the display 1720.
In some embodiments, the controller 1710 is configured to implement a method of disabling one or more of the one or more heating elements 1722 when a level of food byproduct within the container 16 exceeds a threshold or is at a maximum level. The method includes the step of receiving a data signal from the level sensor 1716 indicative of the level of food byproduct presently within the container 16. The method also includes determining whether the level of food byproduct within the container 16 exceeds a threshold or is at a maximum level based on the data signal received from the level sensor 1716. The method also includes disabling one or more of the one or more heating elements 1722 based on the determination that the level of food byproduct within the container 16 exceeds a threshold or is at a maximum level.
In some embodiments, the step of disabling one or more of the one or more heating elements 1722 based on the determination that the level of food byproduct within the container 16 exceeds a threshold or is at a maximum level includes disabling all of the one or more heating elements 1722. In other embodiments, the step of disabling one or more of the one or more heating elements 1722 based on the determination that the level of food byproduct within the container 16 exceeds a threshold or is at a maximum level includes disabling less than all of the one or more heating elements 1722. For example, the controller 1710 may be configured to disable only the heating element configured to heat the cook surface 12 (e.g., the heating element 14). By way of another example, the controller 1710 may be configured to disable the heating elements configured to heat the cook surface 12 and the second cook surface 24 (e.g., the heating element 14, the second heating element 26, and/or the third heating clement 28).
The method of disabling one or more of the one or more heating elements 1722 when a level of food byproduct within the container 16 exceeds a threshold or is at a maximum level may also include moving the locking mechanism 1724 to the unlocked position after the one or more of the one or more heating elements 1722 have been disabled. The method of disabling one or more of the one or more heating elements 1722 when a level of food byproduct within the container 16 exceeds a threshold or is at a maximum level may also include outputting to the display 1720 an indicator that the container 16 exceeds a threshold or is at a maximum level upon such a determination.
In some embodiments, the controller 1710 is configured to implement a method of disabling one or more of the one or more heating elements 1722 when the container 16 is removed from the cooking appliance 10. The method includes the step of receiving a user input indicative of a desire to remove the container 16 from the cooking appliance. In some embodiments, the step of receiving a user input indicative of a desire to remove the container 16 from the cooking appliance 10 includes receiving an input from one of the control panel 1718 or the display 1720. In some embodiments, the step of receiving a user input indicative of a desire to remove the container 16 from the cooking appliance 10 includes receiving a signal from one of a presence sensor configured to output a data signal indicative of a presence of the container 16 or a position sensor configured to output a data signal indicative of the position of the locking mechanism 1724 (e.g., a signal that indicates whether the locking mechanism 1724 is in the locked position or the unlocked position). The method also includes disabling one or more of the one or more heating elements 1722 upon receipt of a user input indicative of a desire to remove the container 16 from the cooking appliance 10.
In some embodiments, the step of disabling one or more of the one or more heating elements 1722 upon receipt of a user input indicative of a desire to remove the container 16 from the cooking appliance 10 includes disabling all of the one or more heating elements 1722. In other embodiments, the step of disabling one or more of the one or more heating elements 1722 upon receipt of a user input indicative of a desire to remove the container 16 from the cooking appliance 10 includes disabling less than all of the one or more heating elements 1722. For example, the controller 1710 may be configured to disable only the heating element configured to heat the cook surface 12 (e.g., the heating element 14). By way of another example, the controller 1710 may be configured to disable the heating elements configured to heat the cook surface 12 and the second cook surface 24 (e.g., the heating element 14, the second heating element 26, and/or the third heating element 28).
The method of disabling one or more of the one or more heating elements 1722 when the container 16 is removed from the cooking appliance 10 may further include moving the locking mechanism 1724 to the unlocked position upon receipt of a user input indicative of a desire to remove the container 16 from the cooking appliance 10. The method of disabling one or more of the one or more heating elements 1722 when the container 16 is removed from the cooking appliance 10 may further include outputting to the display 1720 an indicator that one or more of the one or more heating elements 1722 has been disabled.
In some embodiments, the controller 1710 is configured to implement a method of moving the locking mechanism 1724 to the locked position when a temperature of a cook surface (e.g., cook surface 12) exceeds a threshold temperature. The method includes the step of receiving a data signal from the temperature sensor 1726 indicative of the temperature of the cook surface. The method also includes the step of determining whether the temperature of the cook surface exceeds the threshold temperature based on the data signal from the temperature sensor 1726. The method also includes the step of moving the locking mechanism 1724 to the locked position upon a determination that the temperature of the cook surface exceeds the threshold temperature so that the container 16 cannot be removed while the temperature of the cook surface exceeds the threshold temperature.
In some embodiments, the controller 1710 is configured to implement a method of maintaining the locking mechanism 1724 in the unlocked position when a temperature of a cook surface (e.g., cook surface 12) is below a threshold temperature. Maintaining the locking mechanism 1724 in the unlocked position may include moving the locking mechanism 1724 from the locked position to the unlocked position when the temperature of the cook surface drops from a temperature above the threshold temperature to a temperature below the threshold temperature. Maintaining the locking mechanism 1724 in the unlocked position may also include taking no action if the temperature of the cook surface is already, and continues to be, at a temperature below the threshold temperature and the locking mechanism 1724 is already in the unlocked position. The method includes the step of receiving a data signal from the temperature sensor 1726 indicative of the temperature of the cook surface. The method also includes the step of determining whether the temperature of the cook surface is below the threshold temperature based on the data signal from the temperature sensor 1726. The method also includes the step of maintaining the locking mechanism 1724 in the unlocked position upon a determination that the temperature of the cook surface is below the threshold temperature so that the container 16 may be removed after the temperature of the cook surface has dropped below the threshold temperature.
In some embodiments, the controller 1710 is configured to implement a method of moving the locking mechanism 1724 to the unlocked position when a time since an operator has disabled one of the one or more heating elements 1722 associated with a cook surface (e.g., cook surface 12) exceeds a threshold time. The method includes the step of receiving an input from one of the control panel 1718 or the display 1720 indicative of a desire to disable the one of the one or more heating elements 1722. The method further includes determining how much time has elapsed since the receipt of the input indicative of a desire to disable the one of the one or more heating elements 1722. The method further includes comparing the time that has elapsed since receipt of the input indicative of a desire to disable the one of the one or more heating elements 1722 to the threshold time. The method also includes the step of moving the locking mechanism 1724 to the unlocked position when the time elapsed since receipt of the input indicative of a desire to disable the one of the one or more heating elements 1722 exceeds the threshold time so that the container 16 may be removed after the threshold time has elapsed.
In some embodiments, the controller 1710 is configured to implement a method of moving the locking mechanism 1724 to the locked position when one of the one or more heating elements 1722 is enabled. The one of the one or more heating elements 1722 may be the heating element 14 positioned to heat the cook surface 12. The method includes the step of receiving a user input (e.g., from the control panel 1718 or the display 1720) indicative of a desire to enable the one of the one or more heating elements 1722. The method also includes the step of moving the locking mechanism to the locked position upon receipt of the user input indicative of a desire to enable the one of the one or more heating elements 1722. The method may also include the step of enabling the one of the one or more heating elements 1722.
While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and have been described in detail herein. Further, the structural features of any one embodiment disclosed herein may be combined or replaced by any one of the structural features of another embodiment set forth herein. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.
It should be noted that although method steps may be described in a specific order, it is understood that the order of these steps may differ from what is described. In a non-limiting example, two or more steps may be performed concurrently or with partial concurrence. Also, some method steps that are performed as discrete steps may be combined, steps being performed as a combined step may be separated into discrete steps, the sequence of certain processes may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete processes may be altered or varied. The order or sequence of any element or apparatus may be varied or substituted according to alternative embodiments. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims. It is understood that all such variations are within the scope of the disclosure.
While this specification contains many specific embodiment details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any inventions or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments of the systems and methods described herein. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments may also be embodied in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be embodied in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination may in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.
Having now described some illustrative embodiments and embodiments, it is apparent that the foregoing is illustrative and not limiting, having been presented by way of example. In particular, although many of the examples presented herein involve specific combinations of method acts or system elements, those acts and those elements may be combined in other ways to accomplish the same objectives. Acts, elements, and features discussed only in connection with one embodiment are not intended to be excluded from a similar role in other embodiments.
The phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “characterized by,” “characterized in that,” and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter, equivalents thereof, and additional items, as well as alternate embodiments consisting of the items listed thereafter exclusively. In one embodiment, the systems and methods described herein consist of one, each combination of more than one, or all of the described elements, acts, or components.
As utilized herein with respect to numerical ranges, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially,” “essentially,” and similar terms generally mean +/−10% of the disclosed values. When the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially,” “essentially,” and similar terms are applied to a structural feature (e.g., to describe its shape, size, orientation, direction, etc.), these terms are meant to cover minor variations in structure that may result from, for example, the manufacturing or assembly process and are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within the scope of the disclosure as recited in the appended claims.
Any references to embodiments or elements or acts of the systems and methods herein referred to in the singular may also embrace embodiments including a plurality of these elements, and any references in plural to any embodiment or element or act herein may also embrace embodiments including only a single element. References in the singular or plural form are not intended to limit the presently disclosed systems or methods, their components, acts, or elements to single or plural configurations. References to any act or element being based on any information, act, or element may include embodiments where the act or element is based at least in part on any information, act, or element.
Any embodiment disclosed herein may be combined with any other embodiment, and references to “an embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “an alternate embodiment,” “various embodiments,” “one embodiment,” or the like are not necessarily mutually exclusive and are intended to indicate that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment. Such terms as used herein are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Any embodiment may be combined with any other embodiment, inclusively or exclusively, in any manner consistent with the aspects and embodiment disclosed herein.
It should be noted that the terms “exemplary” and “example” as used herein to describe various embodiments is intended to indicate that such embodiments are possible examples, representations, and/or illustrations of possible embodiments (and such term is not intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples).
The terms “coupled,” “connected,” “mounted,” and the like, as used herein, mean the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary (e.g., permanent, etc.) or moveable (e.g., removable, releasable, etc.). Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another.
References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below,” “between,” etc.) are merely used to describe the orientation of various elements in the figures. It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.
References to “or” may be construed as inclusive so that any terms described using “or” may indicate any of a single, more than one, and all of the described terms.
Where technical features in the drawings, detailed description or any claim are followed by reference signs, the reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the drawings, detailed description, and claims. Accordingly, neither the reference signs nor their absence have any limiting effect on the scope of any claim elements.
The foregoing description of embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from this disclosure. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principals of the disclosure and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and embodiment of the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as expressed in the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An indoor cooking range comprising:

a main body comprising a plurality of walls;

a control panel disposed on the main body;

a flat cooking surface supported by the main body and defining a drain opening therein, the drain opening configured to drain food byproduct from the flat cooking surface;

one or more heating elements supported by the main body, at least one of the one or more heating elements configured to heat the flat cooking surface; and

a grease container positioned below the drain opening and slidably removable from an opening defined in a front side of the main body.

2. The indoor cooking range of claim 1, wherein a front surface of the grease container is coplanar with a front surface of the main body when the grease container is inserted into the main body.

3. The indoor cooking range of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism associated with the grease container, the locking mechanism configured to move between a locked position and an unlocked position, the locked position configured to maintain the grease container in a fixed position below the drain opening.

4. The indoor cooking range of claim 3, wherein the control panel includes a selective input configured to move the locking mechanism between the unlocked position and the locked position.

5. The indoor cooking range of claim 3, further comprising a controller configured to disable at least one of the one or more heating elements when the locking mechanism is moved from the locked position to the unlocked position.

6. The indoor cooking range of claim 1, further comprising a level sensor associated with the grease container and positioned to measure a level of food byproduct disposed in the grease container.

7. The indoor cooking range of claim 6, further comprising a controller configured to disable at least one of the one or more heating elements when the level sensor measures a maximum level of the food byproduct disposed in the grease container.

8. The indoor cooking range of claim 1, wherein the drain opening is positioned adjacent a front end of the flat cooking surface.

9. The indoor cooking range of claim 1, further comprising a second cooking surface positioned along a side of the flat cooking surface, wherein one of the one or more heating elements is configured to heat the second cooking surface.

10. The indoor cooking range of claim 1, wherein the main body defines a baking chamber, and wherein at least one of the one or more heating elements is positioned to heat the baking chamber.

11. The indoor cooking range of claim 1, wherein the grease container comprises a first rail projecting from a first side, and a second rail projecting from a second side, the second side being opposite the first side; and

wherein the main body comprises a first guide disposed in the opening defined in the front side of the main body, the first guide defining a first groove configured to slidably receive the first rail, and a second guide disposed in the opening defined in the front side of the main body, the second guide defining a second groove configured to slidably receive the second rail.

12. A cooking appliance comprising:

a cook surface defining an aperture therethrough;

a heating element positioned to heat the cook surface;

a front panel removable from a front side of the cooking appliance; and

a container coupled to the front panel and positioned to collect food byproduct passed through the aperture.

13. The cooking appliance of claim 12, wherein the front panel is coplanar with a portion of the front side of the cooking appliance when the container is inserted into the cooking appliance.

14. The cooking appliance of claim 12, further comprising a latch configured to releasably retain the container within the cooking appliance.

15. The cooking appliance of claim 14, wherein the cooking appliance further comprises a controller configured to disable the heating element when the latch is in an unlatched position.

16. The cooking appliance of claim 12, wherein the aperture is an elongated trough proximate a front end of the cook surface.

17. The cooking appliance of claim 12, further comprising a second heating element positioned proximate a side of the cook surface.

18. The cooking appliance of claim 12, further comprising a main body supporting the cook surface thereon, the main body defining an oven volume, and a second heating element disposed within the oven volume.

19. The cooking appliance of claim 12, further comprising a sensor configured to output data indicative of a level of food byproduct in the container.

20. The cooking appliance of claim 19. further comprising a controller configured to:

receive data from the sensor indicative of the level of food byproduct in the container; and

disable the heating clement when the level of food byproduct in the container exceeds a threshold level.