Thermal measuring and testing – Temperature measurement – Combined with diverse art device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-25
2001-03-27
Bennett, G. Bradley (Department: 2859)
Thermal measuring and testing
Temperature measurement
Combined with diverse art device
C099S342000, C099S343000, C099S344000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206564
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a cooking utensil such as a saucepan or skillet having a bottom and a side wall.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,344 describes a cooking utensil having a temperature sensor such as a thermocouple integrated into the bottom of the utensil.
The thermocouple delivers a temperature-dependent voltage.
This voltage is processed by an electronic circuit that converts it into temperature units displayed on the handle of the utensil.
Integrating the temperature sensor into the bottom of the utensil is a complicated operation which increases the manufacturing cost and gives rise to a moisture sealing problem, in particular with regard to washing up water, given that, the sensor and the electrical conductors connected to it must be protected from all risk of contact with moisture.
The aim of the present invention is to solve the above problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly the invention is directed to a cooking utensil having a bottom, a side wall and a temperature sensor integrated into the bottom connected to an electronic circuit to process a parameter measured by the sensor and to display the temperature, wherein the temperature sensor and electrical conductors connecting the sensor to the electronic circuit extend between the wall that constitutes the bottom of the utensil and a perforated plate fixed to that wall by cold pressing.
The bottom and side walls of the utensil are made from an aluminum disk and the perforated plate fixed by cold pressing is preferably made of stainless steel.
The method of fixing the perforated plate to the bottom of the utensil by cold pressing is described in French patents Nos. 2 693 894 and 2 711 051, for example.
During application of the above process the metal of the bottom of the utensil enters the perforations in the plate which assures excellent anchoring of the perforated plate relative to the metal of the bottom of the utensil.
In accordance with the invention the perforated plate fixed by cold pressing to the bottom of the utensil performs the following two functions simultaneously:
it makes the bottom of the utensil more resistant to deformation caused by sudden variations in thermal expansion of said bottom; and
it protects the temperature sensor and the electrical conductors connected to it from moisture, from mechanical impact and from direct contact with the burner of a gas hob.
The temperature sensor can be a thermocouple, a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) resistor, a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor, a PT100, a thermistor, etc.
In the case of a thermocouple the electronic circuit associated with the sensor detects a variation in the voltage when the temperature varies.
In the other cases the electronic circuit detects a variation in the ohmic value of the resistance.
In a preferred version of the invention the sensor is on the outside surface of the bottom near the center thereof, the perforated plate having a part that covers the sensor and a central part of the outside surface of the bottom and an elongate part that covers the electrical conductors and extends radially over the outside surface of the bottom and at least partly onto the side wall of the utensil.
The sensor and the conductors are preferably also housed in a groove.
The groove is advantageously formed on the outside surface of the wall that constitutes the bottom of the utensil.
In a preferred version of the invention the electronic circuit and the temperature display means are housed in a unit fixed to the handle of the utensil.
The unit is preferably removably attached to the handle so that it can be removed before the utensil is placed in a washing up bowl or a dishwashing machine.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent in the following description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2750916 (1956-06-01), Hanington
patent: 3736861 (1973-06-01), Kroyer et al.
patent: 3742178 (1973-06-01), Harnden, Jr.
patent: 4541733 (1985-09-01), Andre
patent: 5441344 (1995-08-01), Cook, III
patent: 2 014 411 (1971-11-01), None
patent: 2 664 148 (1992-01-01), None
patent: 63-311130 (1988-12-01), None
Bennett G. Bradley
SEB SA
Verbitsky Gail
Young & Thompson
LandOfFree
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