US4481405A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cooking appliance
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1983-04-27
•
Granted: 1984-11-06
•
Expires: 2003-04-27
Abstract
Abstract A cooking appliance, particularly adapted to heat boilable pouch packaged foods, employing incandescent electric lamps as a radiant heat source. Cooking is controlled without a timer by sensing expansion of the plastic pouch containing the food. Venting is employed which permits the appliance to be extremely compact while permitting the use of decorative wooden end panels which will not overheat.
Inventors
- 👤 Franklin S. Malick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 07:06
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24C; F24C7/00; F24C7/04; F24C7/046; H; H05; H05B; H05B3/00; H05B3/0033; H05B3/0071; H05B3/0076
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
Apparatus for heating food sealed within a plastic pouch which comprises an enclosure, a grid within said enclosure on which said pouch is positioned for cooking, incandescent electric lamps within said enclosure, means for supplying a source of power to said lamps, and switch means actuable by expansion of said pouch by steam generated by heat from the lamps for disconnecting the power source from said lamps, said switch means being actuable by deflation of said pouch upon condensation of the steam to again connect said power source to said lamps, whereby repeated connection and disconnection of the power source will maintain a steam atmosphere required for cooking.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus for heating food sealed within a plastic pouch which comprises an enclosure, a grid within said enclosure on which said pouch is positioned for cooking, incandescent electric lamps within said enclosure, means for supplying a source of power to said lamps, and switch means actuable by expansion of said pouch by steam generated by heat from the lamps for disconnecting the power source from said lamps, said switch means being actuable by deflation of said pouch upon condensation of the steam to again connect said power source to said lamps, whereby repeated connection and disconnection of the power source will maintain a steam atmosphere required for cooking.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said switch means includes lever means extending over said grid and said pouch, the lever means being forced upwardly by expansion of the pouch to open the switch means and disconnect said power source from the lamps.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said switch means is mounted on a wall of said enclosure, said lever means having a portion parallel to said wall and a connecting portion overlying said pouch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the lever is in the form of a cross at its forward end where it is in contact with the pouch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are four electric incandescent lamps, two above said pouch and two below.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including vent means in said enclosure for permitting air to circulate through the enclosure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said vent means comprise openings in a top and bottom of said enclosure at opposite ends thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 7 including labyrinth means for preventing light from escaping through said vent means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said enclosure has end panels formed from decorative wood, the vent means preventing overheating of the wooden panels and electrical elements within the enclosure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for supplying a source of power to said lamps includes said switch means actuable by the expansion of said pouch, a manual ON-OFF switch, and a thermostat all connected in series.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the means for supplying a source of power to said lamps is independent of any timing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said switch means and said thermostat are carried on an interior wall within said enclosure adjacent an end wall of the enclosure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said lamps are inserted into sockets carried on said interior wall.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
103 words
Apparatus for heating food sealed within a plastic pouch which comprises an enclosure, electrical means within the enclosure for generating heat within the plastic pouch to heat the food therein while generating steam which expands the pouch, means for suppling a source of electrical power to said means for generating heat, and switch means actuable by expansion of said pouch by steam generated by heat from said electrical means for disconnecting the power source from said means for generating heat and for again connecting the power source to said means for generating heat when steam condenses in the pouch and the pouch deflates.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
103 words
Apparatus for heating food sealed within a plastic pouch which comprises an enclosure, electrical means within the enclosure for generating heat within the plastic pouch to heat the food therein while generating steam which expands the pouch, means for suppling a source of electrical power to said means for generating heat, and switch means actuable by expansion of said pouch by steam generated by heat from said electrical means for disconnecting the power source from said means for generating heat and for again connecting the power source to said means for generating heat when steam condenses in the pouch and the pouch deflates.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are at least two incandescent electric lamps within said enclosure, one above said grid and one beneath said grid.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus for heating food sealed within a plastic pouch which comprises an enclosure, one incandescent electric lamp within said enclosure, means for supplying a source of power to said lamp, and switch means actuable by the expansion of said pouch by steam generated by heat from said lamp for disconnecting the power source from said lamp and for again connecting the power source to said lamp when steam condenses in the pouch and the pouch deflates.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus for heating food sealed within a plastic pouch which comprises an enclosure, one incandescent electric lamp within said enclosure, means for supplying a source of power to said lamp, and switch means actuable by the expansion of said pouch by steam generated by heat from said lamp for disconnecting the power source from said lamp and for again connecting the power source to said lamp when steam condenses in the pouch and the pouch deflates.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USRE24296E
Cited
US24296A
Cited
US1465508A
Cited
US1919050A
Cited
US2212794A
Cited
US2163816A
Cited
US2590580A
Cited
US2864932A
Cited
US3037443A
Cited
US3531300A
Cited
US3368063A
Cited
US3280720A
Cited
US3548146A
Cited
US4151791A
Cited
US4249067A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-11-06 | 1988-05-07 | 1988-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-11-06 | 1992-05-07 | 1992-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-11-06 | 1996-05-07 | 1996-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |