Electric heating – Heating devices – Combined with container – enclosure – or support for material...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-11
2001-02-27
Paik, Sang (Department: 3742)
Electric heating
Heating devices
Combined with container, enclosure, or support for material...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06194689
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to grills and hot plates used in commercial establishments and domestically, and more particularly, to a new or replacement heating unit for such grills.
Cooking grills used in high volume food outlets generally comprise a top plate on the upper surface of which food is placed to be cooked. As shown in
FIG. 1
, a tubular heating unit
12
is installed beneath a grill plate
10
. In actuality, and as shown in
FIG. 2
, a series of tubular heating units are installed in a side-by-side configuration on the underside of plate
10
. The heating units are mounted between the top plate and a bottom plate
14
. A layer
16
of a wool-type insulation material is held in place on the underside of plate
14
by yet a third plate
18
. This entire assembly is held together by a plurality of spaced bolts
20
which are sufficiently long so to extend through all of the plates. Fasteners
22
are then used to complete the assembly.
There are a number of problems with this construction. First, is the efficiency of the grill to cook food. For example, in high volume cooking, it is expected that the grill will heat a frozen hamburger patty in approximately 35 seconds from the time the patty is placed on the grill. When the grill is at temperature, this will occur. However, when the grill is first turned on, the grill takes up to eight minutes to react to the heat load represented by the patty. Second, the temperature profile across the heating area of the grill is non-uniform. As shown in
FIG. 3
in the area adjacent the location of tubular heating elements there is a hot spot. Between adjacent sections of the heating element, there is a substantial fall off in temperature. As a result, food placed on a portion of the grill over a heating element cooks faster than food placed on other parts of the grill. And, for larger items such as steaks, the food is cooked inconsistently.
In addition to the effects on cooking, if a heating element fails, there is a substantial amount of downtime required in order to replace the failed unit. The grill must be disassembled, the unit replaced, and then the grill reassembled before being used again for cooking. If this can be done during normal maintenance periods, there may be little or no impact on food service. If, however, replacement must be made during normal business hours, service will be greatly impaired.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Among the several objects of the present invention may be noted the provision of grill or hot plate used for cooking food, and in particular, cooking food quickly;
the provision of such a grill having a new heating element used therewith, either as new or replacement equipment, the heating element having demonstrable advantages over conventional heating units used with such grills;
the provision of such a grill employing a radiant heater element and a support base for the element, the radiant heating element extending across the support base so to provide more uniform heating of the portion of the grill beneath which the element is mounted;
the provision of a radiant heating element assembly which brings the hot plate portion of the grill to a desired cooking temperature in substantially less time than a conventional tubular heating element;
the provision of such an assembly in which the hot plate and heating unit together define a cavity in which the heating element is supported, the heating element heating the cavity to uniform temperature so to eliminate hot spots on the grill and produce uniform cooking of food;
the provision of such an assembly requiring fewer parts than is required by a conventional heating element thereby simplifying the design, construction, and cost of an assembly, as well as making it easier to install and replace the assembly; and,
the provision of such an assembly which enables frozen hamburger patties and the like to be rapidly cooked to a desired temperature so to cook food quickly and properly.
In accordance with the invention, generally stated, a grill includes a hot plate on one side of which is a cooking surface upon which food to be cooked is set. A heating unit installed on the underside of the hot plate heats the grill so the cooking surface temperature is a desired temperature. The assembly includes a radiant heating element and a base supporting the element. The top plate and heating unit together define a cavity which is heated to a uniform temperature across the cavity and to which the grill is heated. This uniformity of temperature results in food placed anywhere in a heated area on the grill rapidly heating to a desired temperature and the food being cooked uniformly throughout. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 3398264 (1968-08-01), Katzman et al.
patent: 3866018 (1975-02-01), Hurko
patent: 4034206 (1977-07-01), Penrod
patent: 4321857 (1982-03-01), Best
patent: 4414465 (1983-11-01), Newton et al.
patent: 4471214 (1984-09-01), Gossler et al.
patent: 4527538 (1985-07-01), Caferro
patent: 4619190 (1986-10-01), Smith
patent: 4788414 (1988-11-01), Schreder
patent: 4862795 (1989-09-01), Hawkins
patent: 5094155 (1992-03-01), Long
patent: 5094221 (1992-03-01), Ho
patent: 5190027 (1993-03-01), Miceli
patent: 5566607 (1996-10-01), Schleimer
patent: 5676049 (1997-10-01), Arnold
Griffiths Simon P.
Taylor Christopher R.
Emerson Electric Co.
Howrey Simon Arnold & White , LLP
Paik Sang
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