AU2009100881A4 - Cooking device - Google Patents

Description

1 COMMONWEALTH OFAUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COM PLETE SPECI FI CATI ON INNOVATION PATENT COONNG DEVICE The following statement isa full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 2 COOKING DEVICE The present invention relates to the field of cooking and food preparation and more particularly relates to appliances and apparatuses for cooking. The invention further relates to an apparatusfor enabling flexibility in the positioning, use and removal of benchtop mounted cooking appliances via a "plug-in" 5 connection device. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use and is applicable to other applications. Existing Gasand/or Bectric Cooktops are surface mounted cooking appliances installed in benchtopsin fixed locations, with fixed positionsfor the gas burner 10 and/or the electric cooking device (here on referred to as "heating device") within the cooking appliance assembly. This existing approach to a cooking appliance limitsthe use of available bench space and also limits the flexibility of where consumable substances can be prepared using heat. 15 The invention herein described, enables flexibility in the placement of heating devices, whether they are a gasor an electrically powered device, and hasthe added benefit of removal of the heating device when not in use therefore increasing the available bench space. 20 Another advantage of this invention isthe ability to vary the number of heating devices in-place or in-use to suit the user'sor users' varying needs The invention is the result of the combination and or configuration of the following items (not all of which are unique); 25 A. A flexible gasor electric supply line (or multiples thereof) or "energy source", which includes a pre-existing device that controls the amount of gas or electricity that can flow to the heating device, therefore controlling the energy out-put of the heating device. 30 B. A gasor electric plug-in connection device that is mounted, in any desired location, through a horizontal surface. This device provides a point of connection to the energy source and also conceals the edge of the hole through the horizontal surface. 35 Incorporated in this plug-in connection device isa self-closing cover to reduce the ingressof debrisinto the connector aswell asimproving the appearance of the connector. This plug-in connection device also includes a mechanism to shut off the flow of the energy source when the heating device isnot connected.

3 40 This plug-in connection device could be made of stainless steel (but not limited to such) and is of low profile. Both shape and material selection facilitate durability and ease of cleaning. C. The location of the energyoutput control device isvariable; however it 45 could be for example a knob operated valve (in the case of gas) singular or multiplesthereof, and depending on choice of installation arrangement it could be mounted on a vertical panel below the benchtop. The energy output control device could also be adjusted remotely with a hand-held device (similar to that used for electronic appliances)that 50 transmits a controlling signal to an electronic solenoid (for example) that in turn operatesavalve in the case of gas. Alternatively, the energy output control device could be integrated into the heating device. 55 D. The heating device can be inserted into the horizontal surface mounted plug-in connection device (displacing itsself-closing cover), activating the device to allow the energy source to flow (subject to the setting of the energy output control device) and subsequently engaging the connection to the energy source. 60 The heating device incorporates a spigot (not necessarily permanently fixed in place) that displaces the self-closing cover and provides the energy conduit between the plug-in connection and the heating device. A sub-assembly (utilizing componentswhich are not necessarily unique) of 65 energy supply lines, energy output control devices and plug-in connection devices (singular or multiples) can be installed in n umerous benchtop locations within interior, exterior and/or undercover environments (for instance), and therefore increasing flexibility in locationsto connect and operate a heating device in the preparation of food and consumables using heat. 70 It isalso understood that various additions and/or modificationsto the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. These additionsand/or modifications are therefore considered to fall within the scope of the invention. 75

Claims (5)

1. A cooking device with a connection device(s) installed into a benchtop(s) that allows an sing ular heating device (or multiple clusters of heating 5 devices) to be connected to an energy source.

2. A cooking device as claimed in Oaim 1, with multiple connections-points that enablessingular heating devices (or multiple clusters of heating devices) to be connected to a connection device (s) installed in various 10 positionswithin a benchtop or benchtops, thus providing flexibility in the positioning of individual heating devices (or multiple clusters of heating devices) when in use.

3. A cooking device as claimed in Oaims1 and 2, that enables the 15 disconnection and removal of singular heating devices (or multiple clusters of heating devices) from the benchtop or benchtops installed connection device(s)when the heating device(s) are not in use, thus leaving the benchtop(s) available for other uses and for ease of cleaning. 20

4. A cooking device according to any one of the Oaims 1-3 wherein the connection device(s) are made from metal.

5. A cooking device substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawing. 25 Dated this2nd day of September 2009 Bryan Marshall by 30 Bang Design Pty Ltd