WO2016205863A1

WO2016205863A1 - Grill

Info

Publication number: WO2016205863A1
Application number: PCT/AU2016/000221
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adam Fransen; Vyvyan Rose; John Chul-Won LEE
Original assignee: Breville Pty Limited
Priority date: 2015-06-23
Filing date: 2016-06-23
Publication date: 2016-12-29

Abstract

A grill or sandwich press has a resting rack adapted to elevate food above the cooking surface to avoid overcooking.

Description

Grill

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to electric grills and more particularly to resting racks for such grills.

Background of the Invention

As used in this specification, a grill is understood to comprise both a kitchen appliance having a single hot surface for cooking food on or a pair of heated plates that may be brought together, the food being located between the plates for cooking purposes. Grills may be used to cook, fry or toast foods. The plates of a grill will retain heat, even after they are deactivated. The residual heat in the plate or plates will continue to cook the food until the food is removed from the grill or until all of the residual heat dissipates from the plate or plates. The present invention seeks to overcome difficulties associated with the overcooking of food caused by a failure to remove the food from the grill in a timely fashion. The term grill as used in the specification and claims refers to food grills, sandwich presses, combination devices and kitchen appliances having upper and lower cooking surfaces that pivot with respect to one another.

Summary of the Technology

A grill has an upper housing with an upper cooking plate and lower housing with a lower cooking plate. The upper cooking surface is pivotally supported by a pair of arms. Each of the arms is pivotally connected to the lower housing. A food supporting or resting rack is located in a cooking position between the plates. Means for lifting the rack are provided for elevating at least a portion of the rack from the cooking position to the resting position.

In some embodiments, the means are a spring mounted on the lower housing and the edge is a rear edge.

In selected embodiments, the means is a lifting finger carried by an arm and the edge is a front edge. In other selected embodiments, the means is a pivoting lever carried by the lower housing. The lever has one end that bears on the rack and another end of the lever is external to the lower housing.

In particular embodiments, the means are a rack gear that is driven by a motor that is controlled by a processor located in the grill.

In other embodiments an electro-mechanical latch retains the rack in the cooking position against a bias extended by a spring mounted on the lower housing. A processor in the grill releases the latch when a cooking process has terminated.

In further embodiments, the upper housing is braced into an open position and the means are a spring mounted on the lower housing. An activation rod retains the upper housing in a closed position. The rod retained by and, released by an electro-mechanical activator. The electro-mechanical activator is controlled by a processor in the grill. The rod may be attached, at one end, to one of the arms.

In one embodiment, the upper housing is biased by a spring into an open position. The upper housing is maintained in a closed position, against the bias by a latch that extends between the upper and lower housings. The latch is controlled by an electro-mechanical activator. The activator is controlled by a processor in the grill.

In some other embodiments, a processor in the device receives temperature signals from a thermal probe carried by the device. The processor controls the means in accordance with the temperature signals.

In some further embodiments the angle and distance between the upper and lower cooking plates is determined by angle sensors located in an arm, and in the lower and upper housings. A processor in the device determines the angle and distance from signals provided by the sensors and uses the angle and distance to determine cooking parameters such as a cooking time. Brief Description of the Drawing Figures

In order that the invention be better understood, reference is now made to the following drawing figures in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a grill.

Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a resting rack.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of a grill and resting rack.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of a grill and resting rack.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of a resting rack.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a grill and pivoting resting rack.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a grill and pivoting resting rack.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of a grill and pivoting resting rack.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of a grill and pivoting resting rack.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of a grill and pivoting resting rack.

Figure 11 is a side elevation of a grill and pivoting resting rack.

Figure 12 is a side elevation of a grill and pivoting resting rack.

Figure 13 is a side elevation of a grill and pivoting resting rack.

Figure 14 is a top plan view of a flexible resting rack.

Figure 15 is a schematic cross sectional view of a grill and resting rack. Figure 16 is a schematic cross sectional of a grill and resting rack.

Figure 17 is a schematic cross sectional of a grill and resting rack.

Figure 18 is a schematic cross sectional of a grill and resting rack.

Figure 19 is a schematic cross sectional of a grill and resting rack.

Figure 20 is a schematic cross sectional of a grill and resting rack.

Figure 21 is a schematic cross sectional of a grill and resting rack.

Figure 22 is a schematic cross sectional of a grill and resting rack.

Figure 23 is a schematic cross sectional of a grill and resting rack.

Figure 24 is a schematic cross sectional of a grill and resting rack Figure 25 is a schematic side elevation of a grill with resting rack and thermal probe.

Figure 26 is a schematic side elevation of a grill with resting rack and thermal probe.

Figure 27 is a side elevation of a grill having sensors for the

measurement of plate angle and separation distance. Figure 28 is a top plan view of a grill incorporating a thermometer for the top plate.

Figure 29 is a schematic cross section of a grill incorporating a thermometer for the top plate.

Figure 30 is a perspective view of a grill.

Figure 31 is a side elevation of a grill and resting rack, in the closed position.

Figure 32 is a side elevation of a grill and resting rack, in the

intermediate position.

Figure 33 is a side elevation of a grill and resting rack, in the fully opened position.

Best Mode and Other Embodiments of the Invention

As shown in Figure 1, a common form of grill 10 comprises a lower housing 11 having a lower cooking plate or surface 12 and an upper housing 13 having an upper cooking plate or surface 14. The upper cooking plate, in this example, is carried by a pair of arms 15 that are optionally interconnected by a transverse handle 16. The upper housing 13 pivots relative to the arms 15 about a pivot axis 17 located about mid-way front and rear of the upper housing. Each of the cooking plates 12, 14 has its own heating element. The operation of the grill is controlled from a user interface 18 having a display area 19 and various user controls 20. The interface 18 may display

information or alerts such as "pre heating" (when the plates are coming up to a target cooking temperature) and "resting" (as will be explained). The grill has a processor for controlling the heating elements, and features such as the user interface and for receiving user inputs from the user interface.

Figure 2 provides an example of a resting rack 20. A resting rack is defined as a rack for supporting food, the rack being moveable in any number of ways relative to a lower cooking surface resulting in an elevation of the food above the cooking surface after or when a cooking process has been

completed. By resting or elevating the food above the cooking surface, an air gap is created between the food and the lower cooking surface. This reduces the amount of heating being transferred to the food from the lower cooking surface. In this way, a cooking process may be terminated more effectively than simply turning off the heating elements and allowing the food to remain in contact with one or both cooking surfaces.

In the example of Figure 2, the resting rack 20 comprises three rigid grill panels 21, 22, 23. The rack is positioned on a lower cooking surface of a grill. In this example, each panel comprises a surrounding rigid metallic frame 24, an opening within the frame being traversed by food supporting rods 25 (or the like). The middle panel 22 supports a food for cooking. The lateral or outer panels 21, 23 are attached to the central panel by flat, flexible springs 26 or other flexible elements. In this way, the resting rack may be driven into a flattened position 27 by a force 28 that is exerted (for example) from the weight of the upper housing bearing on a food located on the central panel. When the resting rack 20 is in the flattened or cooking position 27, any food on the resting rack is essentially in intimate contact with the lower plate or cooking surface and optionally with the upper plate or cooking surface as well. When the force 28 is relieved or removed, the rack assumes the elevated or resting shape 29 in which an angle is formed between the central and outer panels, thus lifting the food off of the lower cooking surface.

As suggested by Figure 3, the spacing between the food supporting rods 25 of the resting rack may be such that the rack interdigitates with vertical ribs 30 formed on the lower cooking surface 12. In this example, the thickness of the resting rack is less than the height of the vertical ribs 30. Thus, the resting rack is essentially recessed with respect to the upper tips 31 of the various ribs 30.

As shown in Figure 4 and suggested by Figure 2, one way of elevating the resting rack 20 above the lower cooking surface 12 causes the rack 20 to be elevated above and parallel to the lower surface and particularly, above the vertical ribs 30. This creates a gap 41 between the rack 20 and the lower cooking surface, the gap being large enough to effectively halt the cooking process or at least reduce the amount of heat transferred from the lower cooking surface to the food 32.

As suggested by Figure 5, the resting rack, rather than changing shape by way of resilient elements or springs 26 may be flat 50. A flat rack 50 may be used in conjunction with or integrated into a grill as suggested by the examples of Figures 6-13. As shown in Figure 6, a resting rack 50 lies on a grill surface, either flat or ribbed. In this example, the resting rack 50 is located between the plates and is biased upward by a resilient spring 61 that is carried by the lower housing 11. The spring 61 is strong enough support and to elevate one end or the middle of the resting rack 50 (even when there is food on it) as shown in Figure 7. In the example of Figure 7, the rigid and unitary rack 50 (see Figure 5) pivots or is hinged about one edge or side 71, in this example, the edge or side 71 that is closer to the rear of the lower cooking plate 12. Thus, lifting the upper housing 13 allows the spring and the rack to assume the resting position depicted in Figure 7. Closing the upper housing 13 results in the cooking orientation depicted in Figure 6.

The examples of Figures 8 and 9 do not rely on the weight of the upper housing 13 to press the food and rack downward into engagement with the lower cooking surface 12. Thus, grills built in accordance with the teachings of Figures 8 and 9 may be provided with a moving resting rack that remains functional even when the upper cooking surface 14 is not used in a cooking process. In the example of Figures 8 and 9, a resilient spring 81 bears on and biases the rack 50 into the resting position depicted in Figure 9. However, as shown in Figure 8, the upward movement of the rack 50 is inhibited by a latch, for example, an electro-mechanical latch 82. The electro-mechanical latch 82 comprises a pivoting clasp or latch element 83 that is retained by and activated by a source of movement such as a solenoid 84. A cooking process may run in accordance with a timer or a program established by the device's microprocessor 85. Thermostats or thermal sensors 86, 87 provide

temperature information to the processor 85. The processor 85 may use the temperature information in conjunction with a stored look-up table 8a to determine the duration of a cooking process. At the end of the cooking process as determined either manually, in accordance with a timer or in accordance with the operation of the processor 85, the latch element 83 is activated or retracted by the solenoid 84, thus allowing the rack 50 to move upward in response to the bias force exerted by the spring 81. In this example, the rack itself 50 may be removable from the grill simply by disengaging the latch 83. As shown in Figures 10 and 11, a resting rack 50 is carried by the lower cooking surface 12. The rack 50 is biased upward by a spring 61 as suggested by Figure 6 and 7. The biasing action of the spring 61 is resisted by the upper housing 13. The upper housing 13 is biased upwardly and into the position depicted in Figure 11 by a compression spring 100. In this example, the spring 100 is formed about the axis of the hinge or pivot 101 that interconnected the arms of the upper cooking surface 13, 15 to the hinge elements of the lower housing 11. In this example, there is an extension 102 being a lever that extends past the pivot axis 101. The extension or lever 1021 has an elongated opening 103 at its terminal end 104. An activation rod 105 pivots and slides with respect to the extending lever 102 and extends from the lever 102 to a location within the lower housing 11. The activation rod 105 has an array of teeth 106 at one end. The teeth interact with a pawl 107. The pawl is advanced toward the teeth 106 or retracted from the teeth 106 by a source of motive power, for example, a solenoid 108. The array of teeth 106 allow the upper housing 13 to be closed to different extents and retained in a number of different positions as defined by the spacing and geometry of the array of teeth 106. Because of the pawl 107, the upper housing 13 will effectively ratchet into evermore closed positions until the pawl 107 is withdrawn.

As shown in Figure 11, retraction of the pawl 107 by the solenoid or other electro-mechanical activator 108, in response to a command from a processor timer 109 will allow the second spring 100 to lift the upper cooking plate 14 and its housing 13. As the upper housing 13 is lifted by the action of the second spring 100, the first spring 61 will act to lift the resting rack 50. It will be appreciated that the lifting action of the first spring 61 may be accomplished by two springs of the first type 61, one located along each lateral edge of the rack 50. In the alternative, a single spring 110 of the first type 61 may be located centrally along a forward edge 111 of the resting rack 50.

As shown by Figures 12 and 13 the mechanism for releasing the upper housing 13 from the bias action of the second spring 100 may comprise a retaining latch 120 that is activated by a source of motive power such as a solenoid 121. The solenoid 121 may be active by the device's timer or processor 128 or manually. The processor 128 may activate the solenoid 121 as a response to temperature information received from temperature sensors 129 associated with the plates. The temperature information can be used by the processor in conjunction with a (for example) cooking process duration obtained from a stored look-up table 130. In this example, the retaining latch 120 comprises an array of retaining teeth 122 arranged along the length of the pivoting latch element 120. The latch element 120 pivots about a pivot axis 123 that is fixed relative to the lower housing 11. As shown in Figure 13, when the solenoid 121 causes the latching element 120 to pivot and retract from a fixed pin or plate 124 carried by the upper housing 13 or upper plate 14, the upper housing 13 is freed for movement under the influence of the second spring 100. As the upper housing 13 is lifted by the spring 100, the first spring 61 lifts the resting rack 50 into the resting orientation depicted in Figure 13. In preferred embodiments, the release of the retaining latch 120 or the activation rod 105 or the retaining latch 83 (as shown in Figures 8 and 9) coincides with the turning of the device's heating elements 126 by the controller or processor 128.

As shown in Figures 14-16, a resting rack 140 has a food supporting surface 141 that may be flexible and polymeric, for example, formed from an elastomeric silicone rubber. In this example, the food supporting surface 121 is carried by a peripheral frame 142. The food supporting surface 141 may be provided with an array of through openings 143 that allow juices and liquefied fat to pass through the surface 141 on to the lower cooking surface that lies below it. As suggested by Figures 15 and 16, the surrounding frame 142 and supporting surface 141 may be maintained in contact with the grill's lower cooking surface 12 (Figure 15) then elevated into a resting position as shown in Figure 16 by any of the methods and mechanisms suggested by Figures 2- 13. This effectively represents a replacement of the rigid metallic rack 20, 50, with the trampoline style rack 140 depicted in Figure 14.

As shown in Figures 17 and 18, the elasticity associated with the food supporting surface 141 may be used as a means of elevating the food 32 from the cooking orientation depicted in Figure 17 to the resting orientation depicted in Figure 18. This is done by supporting the rack's frame 142 above the lower cooking surface 12 such that the frame 142 is fixed in its orientation relative to the lower cooking surface 12 both during and after a cooking process. This may be done using a supporting strut 143 or other means of suspending the supporting surface 141 above the lower cooking surface 12. As shown in Figure 17, the force or weight of the upper housing and upper cooking surface bearing on the food 32 cause a stretching or distortion of the supporting surface 141 allowing the lower surface of the food 32 to drive the supporting surface 141 into engagement with the lower cooking surface 12. When the upper housing 13 is lifted or elevated, the elastomeric supporting surface 141 attempts to return to its original shape and thus lifts the food 32 above the lower cooking surface 12 as shown in Figure 18. This action creates the gap 180 between the food supporting surface 141 and the lower cooking surface 12.

A variation of this embodiment is depicted in Figures 19 and 20. In these examples, the resting rack 190 comprises an elastomeric membrane 191 similar to the one described with reference to Figure 14. However, the food supporting surface 191 is joined to an enlarged peripheral rim 192 at a point that is approximately midway 193 between an upper edge 194 and a lower edge 195 of the rim 192. The peripheral rim 192 is sized to fit within the boundaries of the upper and lower cooking surfaces 12, 14. Utilising a resting rack of the kind depicted in the Figures 17-20 requires the action of the upper housing and upper cooking surface to drive the food 32 toward the lower cooking surface 12. As suggested by Figure 20, the peripheral rim 192 may extend away from the food supporting surface 190 only in one direction, that is, toward the lower cooking surface 12. This type of rim arrangement provides a resting rack that must be used in the orientation depicted in Figure 20, with the elastomeric surface 190 being spaced away from the lower cooking surface 12.

Other methods and mechanisms for elevating one edge of a resting rack (e.g. 50, 140) are depicted in Figures 21-24. As shown in Figure 21, the lower or terminal end 210 of a grill's arm 15 (or a rear edge) of the upper housing 13 may be provided with a rigid lifting finger 211. The finger is fixed with respect to the arm 15 and rotates about the upper housing's pivot axis 212 as the upper housing 13 is lifted away from the lower cooking surface. As shown in Figure 22, the lifting finger 211 engages an underside of the resting rack 213, causing the resting rack 213 to pivot about a forward edge 214. When the upper housing 13 is lowered, the finger 211 disengages from the rack as depicted in Figure 21.

As shown in Figures 23 and 24, a pivoting lever 230 may be affixed to the lower housing 11 such that it pivots relative to the housing 11. At least one end 231 of the pivoting lever is external to the lower housing 11 and may be directly activated by a user. The other 232 of the pivoting lever bears on a portion of the resting rack, in this example, lifting a forward edge of the resting rack as shown in Figure 24. The pivoting lever 230 may be activated or rotated by a source motion, or activator such as a solenoid or motor located within the lower housing 11. In preferred embodiments, the axle or axis 233 about which the lever 230 rotates, is affixed to the lower housing and stationary with respect to it.

As suggested by Figures 25 and 26, the action of the source of the motive power or electro mechanical actuator 250 that acts on a latch, linear rack gear or lifting mechanism 251 of the kind suggested by Figures 8-13 (or otherwise) may be coupled to respond to lifting or lowering actuation commands given by the device's controller or processor 252 in response to temperature data or signals received from a thermal probe 253 that may be inserted into a food 32. The thermal probe 253 comprises an elongated and pointed thermal sensor 254 having a handle 255. The sensor 254 is associated with a data carrying wire 256 (or wirelessly) and through such connection provides electrical temperature data signals to the processor 252. The rack and motorised pinion, activator, motor or solenoid 250 may be activated in response to elevate the resting rack 257 (as shown in Figure 26) when the processor 252 detects a target temperature as indicated by the temperature data or data signals received from the thermal probe 253. The processor may use a stored look-up table 260 in conjunction with temperature data from the probe and/or sensors 261 associated with the plates to determine when the resting rack should be lifted by an actuation command. It may use time or temperature information or data acquired from a source other than the removable thermal probe 253. The processor may combine data such as food thickness, measured angle between the plates, food type as input by a user or otherwise, and desired doneness with our without resort to the processor's look up table to determine when the resting rack will be lifted and to lift the rack or generate an alert for the user to do so, accordingly.

As shown in Figure 27, a grill having an upper housing 270 carried by a pair of pivoting arms 271 may have in-built sensors for measuring the distance between the plates 272 and the angle between the plates. In the example of Figure 27, three accelerometers are used. The accelerometers communicate with the grill's processor and provide signals from which angles may be calculated. Any sensor that can provide an angular measurement may be used. A first sensor 273 is located in or on one of the arms 271. Wiring for the sensor 274 may be concealed in the arm and in this way connected to the processor 277. The first sensor 273 provides the angle of the longitudinal axis of the arm 275 relative to a reference horizontal plane. A second

accelerometer or sensor 276 is located within the upper housing. Wires connect the second sensor 276 to the processor 277 by passing through the upper housing, through an arm 211 and thus into the lower housing where the processor 277 is located. A third sensor or accelerometer 280 is located in the lower housing. The angular difference between the first and the third sensors 276, 280 provides the angle between the upper and the lower cooking surfaces. That information in conjunction with the arm angle provided by the second sensor 273 provides the angular displacement of the upper cooking surface relative to the lower cooking surface as calculated or otherwise determined by the grill's processor.

As shown in Figures 28 and 29, a grill 281 may have an upper housing 282 that includes a thermometer for measuring the temperature of the upper cooking surface 283. In this example, a contact thermometer 284 may be affixed by fasteners 285 to bosses 286 located on an upper surface of the upper cooking surface 283. An especially conductive heat transfer material 286 may be interposed between the upper cooking surface 283 and the thermometer 284. The temperature indicating visual interface of the thermometer 287 protrudes through or is visible through an opening 288 formed in the metallic shell 289 associated with the upper housing. The temperature indicating mechanism may be analogue or digital. Accordingly, the visual interface to the thermometer may be analogue 290 or digital 291. As shown in Figure 30, the arms 300 that pivotally support the 'upper housing' 301 need not be interconnected by a handle. In this example, the handle 302 is affixed to the upper housing 301.

As shown in Figure 31, a grill has a lower housing 310 and an upper housing 311 that is carried by, for example, by parallel and pivoting arms 312. In this example, the lower cooking plate 313 carries a removable resting rack 314. Transverse rods of the resting rack 314, being in this example, the first

315 and last 316 of the rack's transverse rods are received in grooves or recesses 317, 318 that are formed with or are laterally adjacent or formed in the lower cooking plate 313. A portion of the last or rear most transverse rod

316 is captured by a cam slot 319 in a rotating plate 320 that is carried by at least one of the arms 312. In this way, the plate 320 rotates in unison with an arm 312. If required, each of the two parallel arms 312 may carry a plate 320 for engaging a portion of the rod 316. The plate or plates 320 may engage lateral extension stubs 340, 341 (see Fig. 34) of the rear most rod 316 or otherwise extending laterally from the resting rack 314.

In effect, the curved slot 316 and the resting rack, or a portion of, it acts as a cam and cam follower.

As shown in Figure 32, the arcuate cam slot has a cam feature 321 that assists with the lifting of the rear of the rack 314, the withdrawal of the rack 314 from the recesses 317, 318 and translating the rack 314 rearward or toward the back of the grill 322. In this orientation, depicted in Figure 32, the rack 314 is supported by the lower cooking plate 323. Once the rack 314 is elevated and stabilised in a horizontal orientation, shown in Figure 32, further rotation of the plate 320 does not cause further translation of the rack toward the rear of the grill 322 because the cam slot 320 has a section of equal radius 324 relative to the pivot 325 that governs the pivoting motion of the plate 320 and the arms 312. Effectively, the resting rack 314 does not move as the upper housing 311 is rotated from the intermediate position shown in Figure 32 to the fully opened position in Figure 33. Closing the grill returns the resting rack 314 to the position shown in Figure 31 where it is in contact with the lowest part of the lower cooking surface. The lower cooking surface may be flat or it may have ribs that fit between the rods making up the resting rack 314. The one or both cam plates 320 may be provided with removal slots 326 that allow the resting rack 314 to be disconnected from the cam slot 319.

As shown in Figure 33, each of the recesses or grooves 317, 318 may have ramped forward facing edge 330, 331 to assist in the lifting of the resting rack 314 into the elevated position shown in Figures 32 and 33.

As shown in Figure 34, the rear of the resting rack 314 may be provided with laterally extending stubs or pins 340, 341 that fit within the cam slots 319 and are thereby carried by the cam plate 320. The front edge may also be provided by laterally extending support pins 342, 343. In some embodiments, the lower cooking surface is provided an array of ribs 345. Where the ribs 345 extend the full depths of the lower cooking surface, from front to back, the resting rack will not have transverse grill rods 346. When the resting rack has transverse rods 346 and the ribs have gaps between them 347, the gaps may be configured like the recesses 317, 318 and preferably such that the forward surface 348 of each rib has a ramped surface or edge configuration similar to the ramp 330 in Figure 32.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

As used herein, unless otherwise specified, the use of the ordinal adjectives "first", "second", "third", etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" or "example" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an example" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or example, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics from the description and the various drawing figures may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments. Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Any claims following the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the specification discussions utilizing terms such as "processing," "computing," "calculating,"

"determining" or the like, refer to the action and/or processes of a

microprocessor, controller or computing system, or similar electronic computing or signal processing device, that manipulates and/or transforms data.

Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed

embodiments can be used in any combination.

Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention.

While the present invention has been disclosed with reference to particular details of construction, these should be understood as having been provided by way of example and not as limitations to the scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A kitchen appliance device having an upper housing having an upper cooking plate that is pivotally connected to a lower housing having a lower cooking plate, further comprising:

a means for lifting the rack being carried by the device;

a resting rack located between the plates;

the means being adapted to lift the rack when the upper housing is lifted.

2. The device of claim l, wherein:

the means is a spring carried by the lower housing.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the resting rack has a rear edge and pivots about the rear edge when the resting rack is lifted.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the means for lifting the rack is a rigid lifting finger that pivots about a pivot axis about which the upper housing rotates.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the means for lifting the rack is a pivoting lever that is affixed to the lower housing.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein:

the pivoting lever has at least one end external to the housing that may be directly activated by a user to lift the resting rack.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein:

the pivoting lever is rotated by an actuator.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein:

the actuator is a motor or solenoid.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the means for lifting the rack is an electromechanical actuator that responds to actuation commands from a processor in the device.

10. The device of claim 9, further comprising:

a thermal probe that is insertable into a food being cooked by the device; the probe providing a temperature data signal to the controller;

the processor providing actuation commands to the means for lifting the rack in response to a temperature data signal.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein:

the processor uses the temperature data signal and a look-up table to determine when the resting rack will be lifted.