WO2012168717A1

WO2012168717A1 - Food heater

Info

Publication number: WO2012168717A1
Application number: PCT/GB2012/051286
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wendy Thomson
Original assignee: Wendy Thomson
Priority date: 2011-06-07
Filing date: 2012-06-07
Publication date: 2012-12-13
Also published as: GB2506071B; GB201109495D0; GB2506071A; GB201323170D0

Abstract

Food heater device (1) comprising a heater (6), a power transfer arrangement (4, 5) to transfer power the heater and a support surface (3), the support surface heatable by the heater and arranged to transfer heat to food, and the device arranged to be positionable by a user.

Description

FOOD HEATER

Technical Field The present invention relates to food heaters. Background

When cooked food is served it will cool down when it comes into contact with the (cooler) surrounding air. When the food cools, this can make the food less palatable, and the enjoyment of eating the food is diminished. To that end it is known to warm the plate on which food is to be served prior to plating up of the food. However, inevitably the plate itself will cool down on contact with the surrounding air, and so the ability of the pre-warmed plates to keep the food heated is limited over time.

Summary

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a food heater device comprising a heater, a power transfer arrangement to transfer power the heater and a support surface, the support surface heatable by the heater and arranged to transfer heat to food, and the device arranged to be positionable by a user.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention may be viewed as a plate warmer for warming food on the plate in which the temperature of the food is increased or maintained at a temperature above room temperature.

Preferably the power transfer arrangement comprises rechargeable power source.

Preferably the rechargeable power source is chargeable by way of induction.

Preferably the power transfer arrangement comprises an induction coil arranged to receive power from an external power source. Preferably the heater is provided with a through-hole arranged to receive a charger post of a charger base station, and the induction coil provided adjacent to the through- hole. The induction coil is preferably provided around the through-hole.

The heater is preferably arranged to distribute heat across the support surface.

The warmer preferably comprises a removable upper cover and a base, the removable support cover at least in part forming the upper surface, and the base accommodating the power transfer arrangement and the heater.

The food heater is preferably arranged to transfer heat to the food by way of conduction. In one embodiment, the support surface arranged to support a food plate. In another embodiment, the support surface arranged to directly support food (and so food can be eaten from the upper surface). In that latter instance, the support surface may be of dished or concave shape to receive food thereon.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided food heater apparatus comprising a food warmer of the first aspect of the invention and a charger base station, the charger base station arranged to maintain the warmers in a stacked configuration and to charge the power sources by way of induction.

The base station preferably comprises a charger post, the post comprising at least one of a primary induction coil and a magnetically permeable core.

The charger post preferably arranged to be received in a respective through-hole of the each of the warmers.

Brief description of the drawin

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a food warmer, Figure 2 is an end view of a plate warmer,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a charger base station, Figure 4 is a perspective view of a charger base station and a stack of food warmers accommodated thereby,

Figure 5 is a partial perspective view of a cover of a food warmer being removed from a base of the food warmer, and

Figure 6 is a block diagram. Detailed Description With reference to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown a food heater device 1 , which, in use, is operative to maintain plated food warm for enhanced enjoyment of consumption of the food.

The device 1 is of generally squat form and generally circular outline, and comprises a base 2 and a cover 3. The device is a stand-alone device, and in particular of generally planar flat construction, in which its lateral dimension is greater than its height. The dimensions of the device advantageously mean that it can easily be gripped, lifted and positioned (to a required position) by a user. The base 2 comprises a rechargeable power source 4, an induction coil 5, and a heater 6.

The induction coil 5 is provided adjacent to a through-hole 10, which is provided through the cover 3 and the base 2. The through-hole 10 is located eccentrically of the device 1 , and towards a circumferential margin thereof. As seen in Figure 1 , the coil 5 extends around the major portion of the circumference of the through-hole 10. The induction coil 5 is connected to a transformer 4a, which in turn supplies a current to a chargeable power cell or battery 4b. The cell 4b is capable of storing electrical charge which is available for transfer to use to power the heater 6. A potentiometer 6a is provided to regulate, at the user's requirement, the power supplied to the heater. An over heat safety switch is also provided which monitors the temperature of the heater. Should the temperature exceed a predetermined threshold, the switch is activated to cut the power supply to the heater by way of a switch 6c. It will be appreciated that a thermostat may be included which serves to regulate the temperature by way of Pulse Width Modulation (PWM).

Although the heater 6 is shown as a single component, more typically it would b e realised as multiple heater elements, spatially distributed, or at least spatially extensive, within the base so as to transfer and distribute heat by conduction to the cover 3, with which the heater 6 is in direct or indirect contact. In the case of an indirect contact, the base 2 may be provided with a thermally conductive roof, which lies between a lower surface of the cover 3 and an upper surface of the heater 4, and which is in thermal communication therewith, the heater being arranged to direct heat generally upwardly. The heater 4 is spatially arranged such that at least a major portion of the surface area of the upper surface 3a of the cover 3 is heated.

With reference to Figure 6, the base 2 further comprises a charge monitor 8 which monitors the charge level of the cell 4a, and a visual display device 9. The charge monitor 8 arranged to determine when the cell 4a has been fully charged, the visual display device 9 which will provide a predetermined visual indication (such as light of a particular colour), so that a user will know that the warmer 1 is charged and ready for use. The visual display device may comprise at least one Light Emitting Diode (LED) which is caused to display a certain colour when the cell 4a is not fully charged, and a different colour when the cell 4a is fully charged. Alternatively, the visual display device may be activated intermittently (i.e. flash) when the device is not fully charge) and display a solid, temporally unbroken display, when the cell 4a is fully charged. The visual display device 9 may be provided at the circumference of the warmer (as will be explained further below).

The cover 3 is attached to the base 2 so as to be located atop the base. The cover 3 is removably attached to the base by way a male-to-female engagement provided by diametrically disposed apertured tabs 3 a and respective laterally extending protrusions 3a of the base 2. Specifically, apertures 3b of the tabs are configured to receive the protrusions 2a. The cover 3 is made of a sheet of flexible, resilient material, such as silicone. The cover preferably includes an Aluminium centre portion which is over-moulded with Silicone (or Polypropylene). Figure 5 shows the process of the cover 3 being manually removed from the base 2 by way of a user gripping each of the tabs 3a and pulling them out of engagement with the protrusions 2a.

An upper surface 12 of the cover 3 is provided with a field of dimples 15 (omitted from Figure 1 for ease of illustration) and so enhance the ability to grip a food plate 30 supported thereon (and so reduce the risk of the plate sliding on the warmer). Reference is now made to Figures 3 and 4 which show a charger base station 40, arranged to store devices and charge the cells 4a of the devices. The charger base station 40 comprises two spaced arcuate upstanding side walls 41 which in part define an internal space 42 arranged to receive a plurality of stacked devices 1. The internal space 42 includes a charger post 43. The post 43 contains a magnetically permeable core 43a. The charger base station 40 comprises base portion 45 which houses a transformer, to transform power receive from an alternating mains power source via a cable 46, an induction coil arranged to generate magnetic flux within the core 43a. As shown in Figure 4, the warmers can be stacked in the internal space 42, wherein the each of the respective through-holes 10 receives the charging post 10. An inductive coupling is thus formed between the induction coil of each of the devices and the core 43a, such that power from the charger base station can be transferred to the cells 4a of the devices 1. As can also be seen in Figure 4, the visual display device 9 is provided at the location of the protrusion 2a of the base, and so conveniently provides a visual indication as to the charge status of each of the respective cells of the warmers. Advantageously, the base station charger 40 not only serves to recharge the devices, but also serves to conveniently store the devices when not in use.

In use, the heater of the device 1 causes heat to be conducted to the upper surface of the cover 3, and so conduct heat to the food plate 30, and in turn which keeps the food on the plate warm, preventing it from going cold whilst the food is being consumed.

Advantageously, because the cover 3 is arranged to be removable it can easily b e cleaned, or changed for a cover having a different colour/pattern to suit the user's preference. Although in the above embodiment heat is transferred indirectly to the food by way of the plate 30, in an alternative embodiment, the cover 3 is arranged to serve as the surface from which food is served and/or eaten, with food being provided directly onto the upper surface of the cover. In that instance, the cover may be of dished or concave shape (similar to that of a plate or bowl). After use, the cover can easily be removed from the base to be cleaned ready for subsequent use.

Although the above embodiments the battery is rechargeable by way of induction, in an alternative embodiment, the heater may be chargeable by way of a direct electrical connection between an electrical socket of the device and an electrical plug of the device.

Although the above embodiments refer to inclusion of a chargeable battery, in an alternative embodiment, the heaters are powered on a continual basis over an air- interface from a charger base station in which electromagnetic signals are received by the heater and are converted into electricity to power the heater.

In yet a further embodiment, the temperatures attainable by device may be high enough to cook food, either directly on the device and/or on a cooking surface which is supported by the device.

Claims

1. Food heater device comprising a heater, a power transfer arrangement to transfer power the heater and a support surface, the support surface heatable by the heater and arranged to transfer heat to food, and the device arranged to be positionable by a user.

2. Device as claimed in claim 1 in which the power transfer arrangement comprises rechargeable power source.

3. Device as claimed in claim 2 in which the rechargeable power source is chargeable by way of induction.

4. Device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the power transfer arrangement comprises an induction coil arranged to receive power from an external power source.

5. Device as claimed in claim 4 which is provided with a through-hole arranged to receive a charger post of a charger base station, and the induction coil provided adjacent to the through-hole.

6. Device as claimed in claim 5 in which the induction coil is provided around the through-hole.

7. Device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the heater arranged to distribute heat across the upper surface.

8. Device as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a removable upper cover and a base, the removable upper cover at least in part forming the support surface, and the base accommodating the power transfer arrangement and the heater.

9. Device as claimed in any preceding claim arranged to transfer heat to the food by way of conduction.

10. Device as claimed in any preceding claim, the support surface arranged to directly or indirectly support the food.

1 1. Device as claimed in claim 10 in which the support surface arranged to support a food plate.

12. Device as claimed in either claim 10 or claim 1 1 in which the support surface arranged to directly support food.

13. Device as claimed in claim 12 in which the support surface is of dished or concave shape.

14. Device as claimed in any preceding claim which is of substantially squat configuration.

15. Device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the heater is provided underneath the support surface.

16. Device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the power transfer arrangement arranged to receive power over an air interface.

17. Food warmer apparatus comprising a plurality of food devices of any of claims 1 to 16, and a charger base station, the charger base station arranged to maintain the warmers in a stacked configuration and to charge the power sources by way of induction.

18. Food warmer apparatus as claimed in claim 17 in which the base station comprises a charger post, the post comprising at least one of a primary induction coil and a magnetically permeable core.

19. Food warmer as claimed in claim 14 in which the charger post arranged to be received in a respective through-hole of the each of the devices.