WO2023035351A1

WO2023035351A1 - A cooking utensil

Info

Publication number: WO2023035351A1
Application number: PCT/CN2021/123059
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jiong LENG
Original assignee: Zhejiang Shaoxing Supor Domestic Electrical Appliance Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2021-09-09
Filing date: 2021-10-11
Publication date: 2023-03-16

Abstract

A cooking utensil comprising a body (1), a cover (2), and an air heating assembly (3), the body (1) comprising an inner pot (10) and a baking pot (12) detachably provided in the inner pot (10), the air heating assembly (3) comprising a fan (31) assembly, a heating element (33), and a hot air outlet (34), the cover (2) comprising a flow guiding assembly (4) fixed to the inside of the cover (2), a first end of the flow guiding assembly (4) being in communication with the hot air outlet (34), a second end opposite to the first end being provided with a first air deflector (42), the flow guiding assembly (4) comprises a top plate (46) fixed to the cover (2) and a second air deflector (50) extending downward from the top plate (46), the second air deflector (50) being located upstream of the first air deflector (42), the second air deflector (50) and the first air deflector (42) having different guiding directions and guiding respectively a part of hot air to the inside of the baking pot (12). The cooking utensil allows the hot air to be distributed more uniformly in the baking pot (12) and improves baking results.

Description

A Cooking Utensil

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a cooking utensil and in particular to a cooking utensil providing a baking function.

Background of the Invention

Existing large-volume cookers providing a baking function usually comprise a body, a cover, and an air heating assembly. The body comprises an inner pot and a baking pot detachably placed inside the inner pot. Hot air heated by the air heating assembly generally flows into the inner pot from the cover. In order to guide the flow of the hot air so as to achieve better baking results, some existing covers are provided with a flow guiding assembly. Existing flow guiding assemblies are of a relatively simple structure, which can only guide the hot air to the central area of the baking pot, leaving other areas less heated. This causes a non-uniform heating of food materials in the baking pot, affecting the baking results and also making it relatively difficult for the cooking utensil to control its baking function.

Therefore, existing cooking utensils need to be improved.

Summary of the Invention

The invention provides a cooking utensil provided with a first air deflector and a second air deflector that have different guiding directions so that hot air is distributed more uniformly in a baking pot, improving baking results.

Specifically, the cooking utensil according to the invention comprises a body, a cover, and an air heating assembly, the body comprising an inner pot and a baking pot detachably provided in the inner pot, the air heating assembly comprising a fan assembly, a heating element, and a hot air outlet, the cover comprising a flow guiding assembly fixed to the inside of the cover, a first end of the flow guiding assembly being in communication with the hot air outlet, a second other end opposite to the first end being provided with a first air deflector, characterized in that: the flow guiding assembly comprises a top plate fixed to the cover and a second air deflector extending downward from the top plate, the second air deflector being located upstream of the first air deflector, the second air deflector and the first air deflector having different guiding directions and guiding respectively a part of hot air to the inside of the baking pot.

The second air deflector being located “upstream” of the first air deflector means that it is located upstream in the direction of the flow of the hot air. For example, the first air deflector may be located in the central area of the cover, while the second air deflector is located closer to the first end of the flow guiding assembly in communication with the hot air outlet and therefore closer to a side wall of the baking pot. Thus, after hot air is ejected into the flow guiding assembly, a part of it first encounters the second air deflector, the position and orientation of which are configured so that this part of the hot air is mainly guided to the upper part and the middle part of the side wall of the baking pot. Another part of the hot air continues to flow to the first air deflector and is guided by it to the middle part and a lateral lower part of the baking pot. Thus, in the cooking utensil according to the invention, hot air can be distributed inside the baking pot more uniformly so that food materials in the baking pot are heated more uniformly, therefore reducing the difficulty of controlling the baking function. Of course, the positions of the first and second air deflectors are not limited to what has been described above by way of example, but can be provided based on needs. For example, when the flow guiding assembly has a longer length along the direction of the flow of the hot air, the first air deflector may be located at a peripheral area of the cover while the second air deflector is located in the central area of the cover. The technical effects of the invention can be achieved so long as the two air deflectors have different guiding directions.

In addition, the “inside of the cover” can mean the inside space enclosed by the contour of the cover, or can also mean the inside of the cooking space defined by the cover and the inner pot together when the body is covered by the cover. By “a first end being in communication with the hot air outlet” , it can involve a direct communication or an indirect communication via another part. It can be understood that the first end of the flow guiding assembly in communication with the hot air outlet is an inlet end from which hot air enters the flow guiding assembly, and “a second end opposite to the first end” means the end opposite to the inlet end along the ejecting direction of the hot air. By extending “downward” , reference is made to the coordinates when the cover covers the body, i.e., it means extending in the direction from the cover to the inner pot.

In addition, the flow guiding assembly further comprises a top plate fixed to the cover. The top plate not only can participate in the guiding of hot air, but also can protect elements inside the cover so that their performance is not affected by direct ejection of hot air.

According to a mode of realization of the invention, the top plate is inclined downward from a top part of the cover and the flow guiding assembly further comprises an outer side plate, wherein the first air deflector and the outer side plate respectively integrally extends downward from the top plate. This arrangement has multiple advantages. First, the top plate being inclined downward contributes to guiding hot air to the inside of the baking pot. Second, the top plate and the outer side plate form an integral part with the first air deflector, which can be conveniently mounted to the top part of the cover and can also be conveniently removed from the cover and replaced when needed. The first air deflector and the outer side plate can extend downward from the top plate respectively with a certain angle with the top plate, which angle may be the same or different. It can be understood that the integral part is of the shape of an upside-down tray, the interior of which is defined as a flow guiding space inside which the second air deflector is located.

According to a mode of realization of the invention, the second air deflector is detachably fixed to the top plate. Thus, not only can the maintenance and replacement of the second air deflector be facilitated, but also hot air can be guided towards different locations of the baking pot by mounting different second air deflectors having different configurations or guiding directions, thus providing multiple heating modes for the baking function of the cooking utensil and a rich cooking experience to the user.

According to a mode of realization of the invention, the second air deflector is fixed to the top plate by means of screwing, magnetic suction, or a sliding rail. Those means of fixation can achieve easy removal, but the invention is not limited to what has been listed herein.

According to another mode of realization of the invention, the second air deflector forms an integral part with the top plate, for example, they are integrally formed by means of metal processing or plastic molding. Thus, by fixing the top plate of the flow guiding assembly to the cover, the second air deflector is also integrally fixed to the cover, thereby facilitating the assembly. When the top plate also forms an integral part with the first air deflector and the outer side plate, the top plate is further integrated with the second air deflector, so that all those parts form a whole, further facilitating the assembly.

According to a mode of realization of the invention, the flow guiding assembly comprises an air conduit at the first end in communication with the hot air outlet, an inlet of the air conduit being provided at an outer surface of a side wall of the cover, the air conduit passing through the side wall of the cover and extending to the inside of the cover. It should be understood that, in this mode of realization, the side wall of the cover is provided with an opening that connects to the hot air outlet when the cover is in a working position. The air conduit passes through the side wall of the cover from the opening and extends to the inside of the cover, so as to guide the hot air to the cooking space defined by the cover and the inner pot. Preferably, the air conduit comprises a bottom plate extending to below the top plate of the guiding flow assembly so as to guide the hot air to a location closer to the second air deflector so that the second air deflector guides hot air more precisely.

Further, according to a mode of realization of the invention, the inlet of the air conduit is connected to and sealed with the hot air outlet so that all of the hot air ejected from the hot air outlet enters the air conduit. Thus, a higher thermal efficiency and improved safety are achieved.

According to a mode of realization of the invention, the flow guiding assembly comprises at least two second air deflectors. They can be provided at the same time at appropriate positions of the top plate of the flow guiding assembly, or can be interchanged to achieve different guiding effects.

According to a mode of realization, the cooking utensil is a multi-function cooker that has another cover in addition to the cover. For example, the cooking utensil can be an electric rice cooker or an electric pressure cooker and can comprise a cover for rice cooking and/or a cover for pressure cooking. In other words, the same body can cooperate with different covers to execute different cooking functions. This can increase the utility of the cooking utensil while saving the space occupied.

According to a mode of realization of the invention, the air heating assembly is provided inside the body. Alternatively, the air heating assembly can be entirely or partially provided inside the cover.

It should be understood that the above general description and the detailed description below are merely illustrative and made by way of example and cannot limit the invention.

Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a cooking utensil according to a mode of realization of the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the cover of the cooking utensil shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view in perspective of the cover shown in Figure 2.

Description of references:

Body 1 Cover 2

Inside of the cover 20 Side wall of the cover 22

Inner pot 10 Baking pot 12

Supporting handle 121 Support assembly 14

Air heating assembly 3 Fan 31

Electric motor 32 Heating element 33

Hot air outlet 34 Flow guiding assembly 4

Air conduit 40 Flow guiding space 41

First air deflector 42 Inlet 44

Bottom plate 45 Top plate 46

Side plates

48 and 49 Second air deflector 50

Fixing part 52 Flow guiding part 54

Detailed Description of the Invention

Exemplary modes of realization are described in detail herein and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings. When the description below refers to the accompanying drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same references in different accompanying drawings represent the same or similar elements. The modes of realization described in the following exemplary modes of realization do not represent all the modes of realization consistent with the invention. To the contrary, they are merely examples of means, systems, devices, and methods consistent with some aspects of the invention.

In reference to Figure 1, the cooking utensil of the invention is a multi-function electric pressure cooker comprising a body 1 and a cover 2. Based on the functions it provides, the cooker may comprise multiple covers, each of which can separately cover the body 1 so as to execute a different cooking operation. The cover 2 shown in the figure is a baking cover. In addition to cooperating with the baking cover to perform baking operations, the body 1 can cooperate with, for example, a pressure cooking cover (not shown in the figure) to perform pressure cooking. The body 1 comprises structures such as an outer shell, a base, an intermediate plate, a temperature maintaining hood, a heating plate, and an inner pot 10. The inner pot 10 is located inside the temperature maintaining hood. The heating plate is located between the bottom of the temperature maintaining hood and the bottom of the inner pot 1 and used for providing a heat source. Those structures are similar to structures of the body of a conventional electric pressure cooker or electric rice cooker and are not described further here. The cooking utensil according to the invention can be a multi-function electric rice cooker or air fryer and can comprise only one cover 2.

The cooking utensil further comprises a baking pot 12 detachably provided in the inner pot 10, which can be supported in the inner pot 10 by a support assembly 20. Additionally, or alternatively, the baking pot 12 can be provided with a support handle 121 so as to fix it to the opening of the inner pot 10. The baking pot 12 is in the shape of a barrel that is open at the top. A plurality of vent holes are formed in the bottom wall of the baking pot 12. A gap is formed between a side wall of the baking pot 12 and a side wall of the inner pot 10. Food materials to be baked can be directly placed inside the baking pot 12.

As shown in Figure 1, an air heating assembly 3 is provided between the intermediate plate of the body 1 and the outer shell. The air heating assembly 3 comprises a fan 31, an electric motor 32 that drives the fan 31, a heating element 33, and a hot air outlet 34. A flow guiding assembly 4 is fixed inside the cover 20, a first end of which (the right end in the figure) is in communication with the hot air outlet 34 and referred to as the inlet end. When the cooking utensil is used for baking process, the electric motor 32 drives the fan 31 to rotate and thus to blow the air to the heating element 33. Then, air carrying the heat generated by the heating element 33 is blown into the flow guiding assembly 4 through the hot air outlet. The hot air is guided by the flow guiding assembly 4 towards the baking pot 12 to heat the top portion of food materials in the baking pot 12. In a mode of realization not illustrated, the air heating assembly 3 can be entirely or partially provided inside the baking cover.

In reference to Figures 2 and 3, the flow guiding assembly 4 according to the invention comprises a top plate 46 fixed to the cover 2. The top plate 46 extends from the inlet end of the flow guiding assembly 4 towards the inside 20 of the cover 2 and preferably is inclined downward (i.e., towards the direction of the cooking space) so as to participate in guiding the hot air. At a second end opposite to the inlet end, the flow guiding assembly 4 further comprises a first air deflector 42, which, in this embodiment, is integrally formed with the top plate 46 and bends downward with an angle relative to the top plate 46. In this embodiment, the first air deflector 42 is substantially located in the central area of the cover 2 so as to guide a part of the hot air towards areas such as the center and side bottom of the baking pot 12. In addition, as can be more clearly seen in Figure 3, the flow guiding assembly 4 further comprises

outer side plates

48 and 49 that are respectively located at the two sides of the first air deflector 42 and also extend downward from the top plate 46 with which they are integrally formed. Thus, it can be understood that this integral part is in the shape of an upside-down tray, the inside of which is defined as a flow guiding space 41. The shape and direction of the

outer side plates

48 and 49 can also be configured for guiding air flows, and they can guide the hot air towards directions different from those of the first and second air deflectors.

As shown in Figure 3, the flow guiding assembly 4 comprises a second air deflector 50 extending downward from the top plate 46. The second air deflector 50 is located inside the flow guiding space 41 and upstream of the first air deflector 42, i.e., between the inlet end of the flow guiding assembly 4 and the first air deflector 42. Thus, after the hot air is ejected into the flow guiding assembly 4, a part of the hot air first encounters the second air deflector 50, the position and direction of which are configured so that this part of hot air is mainly guided towards the upper part and middle part of the side wall of the baking pot 12, as shown by the arrows in Figure 1. At the same time, as shown in Figure 3, the width of the second air deflector 50 is smaller than the first air deflector 42. Therefore, a part of the hot air can continue to flow towards the first air deflector 42 by passing around its sides and then be guided by the first air deflector 42 towards the central area of the baking pot 12 and the lower part of the side wall of the baking pot 12. Of course, other combinations of position and shape of the first air deflector 42 and the second air deflector 50 can be envisioned so that the hot air is guided respectively by the two deflectors towards different areas inside the baking pot 12. By means of such provisions, the hot air can be distributed more uniformly inside the baking pot 12 so that food materials inside the baking pot 12 are heated more uniformly, thereby improving the baking results and reducing the difficulty of controlling the baking function.

In this embodiment, the second air deflector 50 comprises a fixing part 52 and a flow guiding part 54, the two being integrally formed substantially in the shape of an L with an obtuse angle. The second air deflector 50 is fixed by screwing to the top plate 46 of the flow guiding assembly 4 by means of the fixing part 52. The flow guiding part 54 is mainly used for reflecting the hot air ejected inside towards the inside of the baking pot 12. This fixation can be detachable so as to facilitate the maintenance and replacement of the second air deflector 50. Alternatively, the second air deflector 50 can be fixed to the top plate 46 by other detachable means, such as magnetic suction or cooperation between a slider and a sliding rail. According to another mode of realization, the second air deflector 50 can form an integral part with the top plate. In this mode of realization, by fixing the top plate 46 of the flow guiding assembly 4 to the cover, the second air deflector 50 is also integrally fixed to the cover 2, thereby facilitating assembly.

In reference to Figures 2 and 3, in this embodiment, the flow guiding assembly 4 further comprises an air conduit 40 at the first end in communication with the hot air outlet 34 (i.e., the inlet end) . An inlet 44 of the air conduit 40 is provided outside a side wall 22 of the cover 2. The entire air conduit 40 passes through the side wall 22 and extends into the inside of the cover 2. In other words, the side wall 22 of the cover 2 is provided with an opening 44. When the cover is in places in its working position, the opening 44 connects with the hot air outlet 34. The air conduit 40 passes through the side wall 22 of the cover and extends from the opening 44 into the inside 20 of the cover, so as to guide the hot air to the flow guiding space 41. The hot air is then guided by the second air deflector 50 and the first air deflector 42 respectively towards different areas of the inside of the baking pot 12. In this embodiment, the air conduit 40 comprises a bottom plate 45 extending to below the top plate 46 of the flow guiding assembly 4, so as to guide the hot air to a location closer to the second air deflector 50 and prevent the hot air from uncontrolled diffusing without being guided by the air deflector, making the guiding effect by the second air deflector 50 more effective. In addition, with an opening provided in the side wall of the cover, this arrangement is more aesthetic and facilities the connection between cover 2 and the body 1. Since the entire flow guiding assembly 4 is arranged inside the outer contour of the cover 2, utilization and placement of the cover 2 are facilitated.

Preferably, the inlet 44 of the air conduit 40 is connected to and sealed with the hot air outlet 34 of the air heating assembly 3, so that all of the hot air ejected from the hot air outlet 34 enters the air conduit 40, which, on one hand, improves the thermal efficiency of the cooking utensil, and on the other hand, improves its overall safety because the hot air cannot escape from the hot air outlet 34 to the outside of the cooking utensil to burn a user.

In a mode of realization of the invention not illustrated, at least two second air deflectors 50 are provided, which may have the same or different forms. They can be provided simultaneously at appropriate positions inside the flow guiding space so as to guide the hot air towards different areas of the baking pot 12 and improve the uniform distribution of the hot air inside the baking pot 12. It is also possible to use second air deflectors of different forms in different cooking programs or to provide it at different positions so as to achieve different guiding effects, thus improving the cooking utensil’s adaptability and operability.

The terms used in the application are merely for the purpose of describing specific modes of realization and not intended to limit the invention. Singular forms, such as “a” , “an” , and “the” , used in the application are also intended to include the plural form, unless the context clearly indicates another meaning. It should also be understood that the term “and/or” used herein means including any and all possible combinations of one or more associated listed items.

Terms of relative spatial position such as “top” , “bottom” , “left” , “right” , “front” , “back” , “thickness” , “radial” , and “axial” used herein describe the relationship of a feature relative to another feature as shown in the accompanying drawings for the purpose of facilitating description and are not limited to a position or a spatial orientation. It can be understood that, based on different positioning of a product, terms of relative spatial position can be intended to include different positioning other than that shown in a drawing and should not be understood to be limitative. In addition, the qualifier “horizontal” used herein does not completely equate along the direction perpendicular to the gravity and allows a certain degree of inclination.

“Comprise” , “include” , and similar terms mean the element or item appearing before “comprise” or “include” includes the element or item appearing after “comprise” or “include” and its equivalent, and does not exclude other element or item.

It should be noted that, when an element is described as “fixed” to another element, it can be directly fixed to a surface of the other element, and can also be at a distance from a surface of the other element. Terms such as “mount” , “connect” , “connected” , and “fixed” should be interpreted broadly. For example, it can be a fixed connection, or a removable connection , or being formed integrally; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection, or communication can be made between each other; it can be a direct connection, or an indirect connection through an intermediary, or a communication between the inside of two elements or an interaction relationship between two elements, unless otherwise specifically defined.

In the application, unless otherwise specifically stipulated and defined, a first feature being “above” or “below” a second feature can mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or in indirect contact through an intermediary. In addition, a first feature being “above” , “on top of” , and “over” a second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or merely mean that the level of the first feature is higher than that of the second feature. A first feature being “below” , “under” , and “beneath” the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or obliquely below the second feature or merely mean that the level of the first feature is lower than that of the second feature.

It should be understood that “first” , “second” , and similar terms used in the specification of the application do not mean any order, number, or significance and are merely used to distinguish different components. “A plurality” or “multiple layers” and similar expressions mean two or a number more than two.

What has been described are merely preferred modes of realization of the invention of the cooking utensil of the invention and are not used to limit the invention. Any modification, equivalent replacement, or improvement made within the spirit and principle of the invention shall all fall within the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

A cooking utensil comprising a body (1) , a cover (2) , and an air heating assembly (3) , the body (1) comprising an inner pot (10) and a baking pot (12) detachably provided in the inner pot (12) , the air heating assembly comprising a fan assembly, a heating element (33) , and a hot air outlet (34) , the cover (2) comprising a flow guiding assembly (4) fixed to the inside of the cover (2) , a first end of the flow guiding assembly (4) being in communication with the hot air outlet (34) , a second end opposite to the first end being provided with a first air deflector (42) , characterized in that: the flow guiding assembly (4) comprises a top plate (46) fixed to the cover (2) and a second air deflector (50) extending downward from the top plate (46) , the second air deflector (50) being located upstream of the first air deflector (42) , the second air deflector (50) and the first air deflector (42) having different guiding directions and guiding respectively a part of hot air to the inside of the baking pot (12) .
The cooking utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that, the top plate (46) is inclined downward from a top part of the cover (2) and the flow guiding assembly (4) further comprises an outer side plate (48, 49) , the first air deflector (42) and the outer side plate (48, 49) respectively integrally extending downward from the top plate (46) .
The cooking utensil according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the second air deflector (50) is detachably fixed to the top plate (46) .
The cooking utensil according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, the second air deflector (50) is fixed to the top plate (46) by means of screwing, magnetic suction, or a sliding rail.
The cooking utensil according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the second air deflector (50) forms an integral part with the top plate (46) .
The cooking utensil according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, the flow guiding assembly (4) comprises an air conduit (40) at the first end in communication with the hot air outlet (34) , an inlet (44) of the air conduit (40) being provided outside a side wall (22) of the cover (2) , the air conduit (40) passing through the side wall (22) of the cover and extending to the inside (20) of the cover.
The cooking utensil according to claim 6, characterized in that, the inlet (44) of the air conduit (40) is connected to and sealed with the hot air outlet (34) so that all of the hot air ejected from the hot air outlet (34) enters the air conduit (40) .
The cooking utensil according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, the flow guiding assembly (4) comprises at least two second air deflectors (50) .
The cooking utensil according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, the cooking utensil is a multi-function cooker that has another cover in addition to the cover (2) .
The cooking utensil according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, the air heating assembly (3) is provided inside the body (1) .