GB2230149A

GB2230149A - Cooking apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2230149A
Application number: GB8902263A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frederick Alwyn Greene; Derrick Thompson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-02-02
Filing date: 1989-02-02
Publication date: 1990-10-10
Also published as: GB8902263D0

Abstract

Cooking apparatus comprises a hob area (6) having a plurality of cooking zones (8), each for supporting a cooking appliance in use and each having a dished floor with a drainage hole (9), an electric power outlet (10) in each cooking zone, an electric power inlet to the apparatus and respective switch means (13) in a connection between each power outlet and the said inlet, said power outlets each being adapted to make a push-fit connection to an electric cooking appliance in use and comprising an insulated male plug presenting a plurality of female contact members each for receiving in use a respective male contact pin provided in a socket on an appliance. The power outlets (10) present their female contact members horizontally and are height adjustable. The hob area (6) is part of a cooker, is mountable in a working surface or is portable. <IMAGE>

Description

COOKING APPARATUS The present invention relates to cooking apparatus.

It is conventional to use a hob having a plurality of electrical hot-plates and/or gas burners for cooking in saucepans and frying pans.

Electric cooking appliances such as electric kettles, electric frying pans, deep fat fryers and toasters are normally employed on a work surface separate from the cooker or hob.

Each generally has its own electric cord which may be permanently connected to the appliance or may terminate in a plug having female electrical contacts which is inserted into a socket in the apparatus to make contact with male electrical contact pins.

The electrical cords present a problem in storage when the appliances are not in use and frequently become entangled or may become mislaid.

The use of such electrical appliances on a work surface also poses a safety hazard because the electric cord may dangle over the edge of the work surface where it is vulnerable to being pulled by accident or by a pet or a child with possibily disastrous consequences. Even where the cord is properly positioned on the work surface, it can be the source of accidents.

Electrical cooking applicances such as deep fat fryers and electric frying pans are more efficient in their use of fuel than conventional pans on a conventional hob because of the greater intimacy of the contact between the electric heating source and the contents of the pan.

By replacing the electrical hot-plates of a conventional electric hob with electrical outlets designed to mate directly with electrical appliances positionable on the hob, the aforesaid disadvantages may be avoided. Accordingly, the present invention provides cooking apparatus comprising means defining a hob area having a plurality of cooking zones, each for supporting a cooking appliance in use, an electric power outlet in each cooking zone, an electric power inlet to the apparatus and respective switch means in a connection between each power outlet and the said inlet, said power outlets each being adapted to make a push-fit connection to an electric cooking appliance in use and comprising an insulated male plug presenting a plurality of female contact members each for receiving in use a respective male contact pin provided in a socket on an appliance.

In an alternative aspect, the invention provides cooking apparatus comprising means defining a hob area having a plurality of cooking zones, each for supporting a cooking appliance in use, an electric power outlet in each cooking zone, an electric power inlet to the apparatus and respective switch means in a connection between each power outlet and said inlet, said power outlets each being adapted to make a push-fit connection to an electric cooking appliance in use and at least one electric cooking pan having a power inlet adapted to make a push-fit connection to said power outlet.

Of course, electric appliances other than cooking appliances can be powered from apparatus of the kind described above. For instance, an electric food processor, potato peeler, juice extractor or liquidiser can be powered by direct connection to an outlet of such cooking apparatus provided that the electric appliance is provided with a suitable power inlet socket.

Accordingly, the present invention may more generally be regarded as providing an electric power distribution and supply-apparatus comprising means defining a work area having a plurality of working zones, each for supporting an electric appliance in use, an electric power outlet in each working zone, an electric power inlet to the apparatus and respective switch means in a connection between each power outlet and a said inlet, said power outlets each being adapted to make a push-fit connection to an electric appliance in use and comprising an insulated male plug presenting a plurality of female contact members, each for receiving in use a respective male contact pin provided in a socket of an appliance.

Each said power outlet is preferably adapted and arranged to enter horizontally into the corresponding power inlet of a said appliance.

Optionally, for each said power outlet there may be provided an associated height adjustment means for adjusting the height of the power outlet with respect to a support surface for supporting an appliance so that the height of the power outlet will match the height of the inlet to a desired appliance.

Preferably, each said zone comprises means defining a support surface on which to position a said appliance in electrical connection with a respective power outlet and drain means for draining away fluid from below said appliance in the event of spillage.

Said drain means may comprise a spillage collecting member having a drain outlet therein. A collecting pan or tray may be provided below the drain outlet. A common collecting pan or tray may be employed for all of the zones of the apparatus.

In contrast to practice in an electric hot-plate hob, the switch means required in the present apparatus are preferably on/off switches not providing any graduated control. Each may be provided with an indicator light to show when its respective outlet is powered.

The means defining the hob or working area may comprise a base having a lid which may be a fold down lid hinged to the base, preferably at the rear of the base. The fold down lid may be a convenient place to locate a control panel including said switch means, e.g.

on the inside of the lid.

The cooking apparatus described above may form the upper section of a cooker further comprising an oven which may be electric or gas powered or further comprising a grill section, or both. Alternatively, the cooking apparatus may be a separate hob unit for use on a work top or for building into a work top.

Although conventional electric appliances and cooking apparatus may be compatible with embodiments of cooking apparatus according to the invention, particularly if the power outlets thereof are made vertically adjustable, electric appliances may be freshly designed to fit apparatus as described above.

Examples of electric appliances which might be powered from such apparatus include food processors, liquidisers, kettles, deep fat fryers, electric frying pans, electric bread or meat slicers, electric mincers, electric pressure cookers, electric cooking pots, coffee makers, sandwich toasters, electric steamers, inspection lights, electric hot-plates, and electric irons.

It should be particularly noted that by providing as a separate appliance an electric hot-plate adapted to be powered from the cooking apparatus as described above, when desired one can return to a conventional mode of cooking.

The invention will be further described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first form of cooking apparatus according to the invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view of a. second form of cooking apparatus according to the invention, and Figure 3 is a cut away view from one side of one cooking zone of the apparatus of Figure 2.

In Figure 1, an electric cooker 1 has a conventional oven section 2 above a conventional warming drawer or pan storage drawer 3 and below a conventional electric grill section 4.

A common single electric connection 5 powers all of the functions of the cooker.

The hob section 6 of the cooker itself constitutes apparatus according to the invention and comprises a tray-like casing divided by upstanding walls 7 into four cooking zones 8 each of which has a downwardly dished floor in the centre of which is a drainage hole 9.

Extending horizontally from the front wall of each compartment 8 is an electric power outlet plug 10 having on its rearwardly directed face female electrical contact members.

A water collecting tray 11 is slidable through the front wall of the tray-like casing and serves to collect any liquid spilt into any of the cooking zones 8 which drains through the drainage holes 9.

A lid member 12 is hinged to the rear edge of the tray-like casing and provides a location for the control of the cooking apparatus which include a bank of four on/off switches 13 each with a respective indicator light 14, an oven temperature control 15 with an indicator light, a grill intensity control 16 with an indicator light and a clock 17.

When not in use, the lid 12 can be folded down over the tray-like casing covering the same.

In the second form of apparatus shown in Figure 2, a hob area is defined by a hollow box member 26 having a top surface marked by lines 27 to divide the top surface into four cooking areas 28. In each cooking area 28, the surface of the box member 26 is dished downwardly towards a central drainage hole 9.

Upstanding from the top surface of the box member 26 in each cooking zone is a power outlet 10 which is mounted to be variable in height and is adjustable in height by rotation of a respective control knob 30 provided on the corresponding side of the box member 26.

Four illuminating on/off switches 13 are provided on the front wall of the box member 26. Once again, a pull-out water collecting tray 11 is provided beneath the cooking zones. As shown in Figure 3, the electrical outlets 10 may each comprise a female earth contact member 31 and a pair of side-by-side live and neutral female contact members 32. An electric cooking pan 34 is shown schematically having a power inlet socket 35 containing male contact pins inserted into the female contact members 31 and 32 and having an electric heating element 36. Each power outlet plug is supported on a telescopic screw-jack column 37 which is operated via a connecting rod and suitable gears by the respective control knob 30 for adjustment of the height of the power outlet plug 10 to match the position of the-socket in the cooking pan 34.

Cooking apparatus according to the invention may comprise simply a "hob" of the kind shown in Figure 2, a similar "hob" provided with a covering lid as shown in the upper portion of the cooker shown in Figure 1, or a cooker including both such a "hob" and a grill and/or an oven.

For use in caravans and the like situations, the "hob" and its lid may form a convenient portable unit.

The apparatus may be for AC or DC operation at any suitable voltage and frequency.

The electric cooking pans for use with the apparatus will generally have their own thermostatic control.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the particular embodiments illustrated, many modifications and variations thereof are possible within the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAILS

1. An electric power distribution and supply apparatus comprising means defining a work area having a plurality of working zones, each for supporting an electric appliance in use, an electric power outlet in each working zone, an electric power inlet to the apparatus and respective switch means in connection between eac power outlet and a said inlet, said power outlets eacr.

being adapted to make a push-fit connection to an electric appliance in use and comprising an insulated male plug presenting a plurality of female contact members, each for receiving in use a respective male contact pin provided in a socket of an appliance.

2. Cooking apparatus comprising means defining a hob area having a plurality of cooking zones, each for supporting a cooking appliance in use, an electric power outlet in each cooking zone, an electric power inlet to the apparatus and respective switch means in a connection between each power outlet and the said inlet, said power outlets each being adapted to make a push-fit connection to an electric cooking appliance in use and comprising an insulated male plug presenting a plurality of female contact members each for receiving in use a respective male contact pin provided in a socket on an appliance.

3. Cooking apparatus comprising means defining a hob area having a plurality of cooking zones, each for supporting a cooking appliance in use, an electric power outlet in each cooking zone, an electric power inlet to the apparatus and respective switch means in a connection between each power outlet and said inlet, said power outlets each being adapted to make a push-fit connection to an electric cooking appliance in use and at least one electric cooking pan having a power inlet adapted to make a push-fit connection to said power outlet.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein each said power outlet is adapted and arranged to enter horizontally into the corresponding power inlet of a said appliance.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein for each said power outlet there is provided an associated height adjustment means for adjusting the height of the power outlet with respect to a support surface for supporting an appliance so that the height of the power outlet will match the height of the inlet to a desired appliance.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each said zone comprises means defining a support surface on which to position a said appliance in electrical connection with a respective power outlet and drain means for draining away fluid from below said appliance in the event of spillage.

7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said drain means comprise a spillage collecting member having a drain outlet therein.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each switch means is an on/off switch not providing graduated control.

9. Cooking apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 1 or Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawing.