AN OVEN COMPRISING A WARMER COMPARTMENT

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an oven comprising a warmer compartment.

[0002] In the state of the art, the foods cooked in an oven are placed into the warmer compartment situated generally below the cooking chamber for keeping them warm after the cooking process. The warmer compartment provides the foods placed therein to be kept warm and to be served hot without continuing the cooking process. The warmer compartments are generally heated by additional electrical heaters other than the heaters used in the oven, and these additional heaters used cause energy consumption to increase.

[0003] In the European Patent No EP0499801, an oven is explained that comprises a heat keeping compartment positioned under the oven muffle. The heat keeping compartment is heated by means of a fan and a heater.

[0004] In the United States Patent No US6414278, a pizza warmer oven is explained. The pizza warmers comprise phase change material and the pizza warmers placed in the oven can be charged with thermal energy by the resistance heaters positioned in shelves above and below each pizza warmer.

[0005] In the United States Patent No US6124572, a food warmer cabinet is explained that is heated by the convection heater and that provides the prepared food to be kept warm.

[0006] In the United States Patent Application No US2006196497, a heat retentive food server is explained that contains phase change material and that maintains food at a high temperature.

[0007] In the European Patent Application No EP1806538, a warming drawer is explained wherein a resistive heating element is located beneath.

[0008] In the United States Patents No US6191391 and US7304270, warmer drawers are explained that are used in ovens and that have heaters placed at their lower parts.

[0009] Documents CH-473363 and DE-10 2006 007 379 A1 disclose further relevant state of the art.

[0010] The aim of the present invention is the realization of an oven that comprises a warmer compartment and wherein energy saving is provided.

[0011] The oven realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a casing that surrounds the cavity which is wrapped around by insulation material and a warmer compartment disposed below the casing, and a heat retention unit containing phase changing material (PCM) is disposed between the casing and the warmer compartment.

[0012] The heat retention unit contacts the outer surface of the casing and/or the insulation material wrapping the casing and also forms the ceiling of the warmer compartment, and heats the warmer compartment by being charged with the residual heat left in the casing and the insulation material at the end of the cooking process.

[0013] The heat retention unit is in form of a flat box with dimensions to almost entirely cover the warmer compartment, having an upper surface contacting the casing and/or the insulation material and a lower surface facing the warmer compartment.

[0014] In an embodiment of the present invention, the insulation material wraps the side, the top and rear walls of the casing except the bottom wall and the middle portion of the upper surface of the heat retention unit contacts the bottom wall of the casing, the edges of the upper surface contact the insulation material wrapping the side walls of the casing.

[0015] In another embodiment of the present invention, the insulation material wraps the casing all around including the bottom wall and the upper surface of the heat retention unit contacts the insulation material entirely.

[0016] In another embodiment of the present invention, the heat retention unit is disposed into the portion of the insulation material wrapping the bottom wall of the casing by being at least partially embedded therein.

[0017] In another embodiment of the present invention, a drawer is disposed in the warmer compartment of the oven. In this embodiment, the heat retention unit is fixed to the bottom wall of the casing and does not move together with the drawer that can be mounted/dismounted to/from the warmer compartment.

[0018] In another embodiment of the present invention, the oven comprises the drawer disposed in the warmer compartment and the heat retention unit mounted on the drawer. In this embodiment, the heat retention unit can be mounted/dismounted together with the drawer to/from the warmer compartment.

[0019] In another embodiment of the present invention, an opening that provides access into the drawer is arranged in the heat retention unit disposed on the drawer.

[0020] In another embodiment of the present invention, the heat retention unit is disposed on the drawer without being fixed to the drawer and is lifted by the user for accessing into the drawer.

[0021] In another embodiment of the present invention, the heat retention unit is fastened to the drawer from one side with a hinge and is opened upwards by rotating around the hinged side.

[0022] In the oven of the present invention, the warmer compartment is heated without using additional heaters and energy saving is provided.

[0023] The oven realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the schematic view of an oven having a warmer compartment and a heat retention unit.

Figure 2 - is the schematic view of an oven wherein the heat retention unit contacts the insulation material wrapping the casing.

Figure 3 - is the schematic view of an oven wherein the heat retention unit is embedded in the insulation material wrapping the casing.

Figure 4 - is the schematic view of an oven comprising a drawer disposed into the warmer compartment.

Figure 5 - is the schematic view of an oven wherein an opening is arranged between the heat retention unit and the drawer.

Figure 6 - is the schematic view of an oven wherein the heat retention unit is removable from over the drawer.

Figure 7 - is the schematic view of an oven wherein the heat retention unit is fastened to the drawer with a hinge.

[0024] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1.

Oven

2.

Cavity

3.

Casing

4.

Heater

5.

Insulation material

6.

Warmer compartment

7.

Heat retention unit

8.

Upper surface

9.

Lower surface

10.

Drawer

11.

Opening

[0025] The oven (1) comprises a body, a cavity (2) disposed within the body, wherein the foodstuffs to be cooked are placed, a casing (3) surrounding the cavity (2), at least one heater (4) disposed in the cavity (2), an insulation material (5) wrapped around the casing (3) and insulating the cavity (2) and a warmer compartment (6) disposed outside the cavity (2) and wherein the precooked foodstuffs are placed to be kept warm.

[0026] The oven (1) of the present invention comprises a heat retention unit (7) disposed between the casing (3) and the warmer compartment (6), contacting the outer surface of the casing (3) and/or the insulation material (5), wherein the phase changing material (PCM) is placed, and heating the warmer compartment (6) by being charged with the residual heat remaining in the casing (3) and the insulation material (5) at the end of the cooking process.

[0027] In the oven (1), the process of keeping the foodstuffs warm is generally realized after the cooking process, when the heaters (4) are closed. The casing (3) and the insulation material (5) absorb a substantial amount of residual heat during the cooking process and this stored thermal energy is transferred by heat transfer to the heat retention unit (7) that contacts the casing (3) and/or the insulation material (5) wrapping the casing (3), and that comprises phase changing material (PCM). The phase changing material (PCM) in the heat retention unit (7) is charged by the said residual heat, dissipates the stored latent heat by changing phase after the cooking process is completed and heats the warmer compartment (6) with this released latent heat.

[0028] In the heat retention unit (7), phase changing material (PCM) is placed that changes phase at the temperature value a little above the temperature that the foodstuffs are desired to be stored. For example, if the foodstuffs are desired to be kept warm around 75 - 80 °C, then the phase changing temperature is selected around 80 - 100 °C.

[0029] In an embodiment of the present invention, the warmer compartment (6) is disposed below the casing (3) and the heat retention unit (7) forms the ceiling of the warmer compartment (6).

[0030] In another embodiment of the present invention, the heat retention unit (7) is in form of a flat box with dimensions to almost entirely cover over the warmer compartment (6) and has an upper surface (8) contacting the casing (3) and/or the insulation material (5) and a lower surface (9) facing the warmer compartment (6).

[0031] In another embodiment of the present invention, the insulation material (5) wraps the side, top and rear walls of the casing (3) except the bottom wall. The middle portion of the upper surface (8) of the heat retention unit (7) contacts the bottom wall of the casing (3) and the edges of the upper surface (8) thereof contact the insulation material (5) wrapping the side walls of the casing (3) (Figure 1).

[0032] In another embodiment of the present invention, the insulation material (5) wraps the casing (3) all around, including the bottom wall of the casing (3) and the entire upper surface (8) of the heat retention unit (7) contacts the insulation material (5) wrapping the bottom wall of the casing (3) (Figure 2).

[0033] In another embodiment of the present invention, the heat retention unit (7) is disposed into the portion of the insulation material (5) wrapping the bottom wall of the casing (3) by being at least partially embedded therein (Figure 3).

[0034] In another embodiment of the present invention, the oven (1) comprises a drawer (10) disposed into the warmer compartment (6) and the heat retention unit (7) fixed to the bottom wall of the casing (3) and that does not move together with the drawer (10).

[0035] In another embodiment of the present invention, the oven (1) comprises the drawer (10) disposed in the warmer compartment (6) and the heat retention unit (7) disposed on the drawer (10), forming the ceiling of the drawer (10) and that can be mounted/dismounted to/from the warmer compartment (6) together with the drawer (10) (Figure 4). In this embodiment, the heat retention unit (7), when taken out of the warmer compartment (6) together with the drawer (10), loses contact with the casing (3) and/or the insulation material (5). The heat retention unit (7), when placed into the warmer compartment (6) together with the drawer (10), establishes contact with the casing (3) and/or the insulation material (5) again.

[0036] In another embodiment of the present invention, the oven (1) comprises an opening (11) disposed between the heat retention unit (7) and the drawer (10) and which provides access into the drawer (10) from above when the drawer (10) is pulled out (Figure 5). When the user pulls the drawer (10) out for taking or placing foods, he/she places the food containers into the drawer (10) or takes out of the drawer (10) by passing them through the opening (11).

[0037] In another embodiment of the present invention, the heat retention unit (7) is placed by being seated on the drawer (10) without being fixed on the drawer (10) (Figure 6). In this embodiment, the user accesses inside the drawer (10) by lifting the heat retention unit (7) from over the drawer (10).

[0038] In another embodiment of the present invention, the heat retention unit (7) is fastened to the drawer (10) from one side with the hinge (M) and is opened upwards by being rotated around the hinged side (Figure 7).

[0039] In the oven (1) of the present invention, the heat retention unit (7) heats the warmer compartment (6) by storing and dissipating the residual heat remaining on the casing (3) and the insulation material (5) with the effect of thermal inertia after the cooking process. Additional heating elements are not required to be used in order to heat the warmer compartment (6), and thus energy saving is provided.

[0040] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited by the embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. An oven (1) comprising a body, a cavity (2) disposed within the body, wherein the foodstuffs to be cooked are placed, a casing (3) surrounding the cavity (2), at least one heater (4) disposed in the cavity (2), an insulation material (5) wrapped around the casing (3) and insulating the cavity (2) and a warmer compartment (6) disposed outside the cavity (2) and wherein the precooked foodstuffs are placed to be kept warm,
a heat retention unit (7) disposed between the casing (3) and the warmer compartment (6), contacting the outer surface of the casing (3) and/or the insulation material (5), characterized by phase changing material (PCM) being placed in the heat retention unit (7) and heating the warmer compartment (6) by being charged with the residual heat from the casing (3) and the insulation material (5).

2. An oven (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the warmer compartment (6) disposed below the casing (3) and the heat retention unit (7) forming the ceiling of the warmer compartment (6).

3. An oven (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the heat retention unit (7) that is in form of a flat box with dimensions to almost entirely cover over the warmer compartment (6) and having an upper surface (8) contacting the casing (3) and/or the insulation material (5) and a lower surface (9) facing the warmer compartment (6).

4. An oven (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the insulation material (5) wrapping the side, top and rear walls of the casing (3) except the bottom wall and the heat retention unit (7) the middle portion of the upper surface (8) of which contacts the bottom wall of the casing (3) and the edges of the upper surface (8) of which contact the insulation material (5) wrapping the side walls of the casing (3).

5. An oven (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 3, characterized by the insulation material (5) wrapping the casing (3) all around and the heat retention unit (7) the entire upper surface (8) of which contacts the portion of the insulation material (5) wrapping the bottom wall of the casing (3)

6. An oven (1) as in Claim 5, characterized by the heat retention unit (7) disposed into the portion of the insulation material (5) wrapping the bottom wall of the casing (3) by being at least partially embedded therein.

7. An oven (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by a drawer (10) disposed into the warmer compartment (6) and the heat retention unit (7) fixed to the bottom wall of the casing (3) and that does not move together with the drawer (10).

8. An oven (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 6, characterized by the heat retention unit (7) disposed on a drawer (10), forming the ceiling of the drawer (10) and that can be mounted/dismounted to/from the warmer compartment (6) together with the drawer (10)

9. An oven (1) as in Claim 7, characterized by an opening (11) arranged between the heat retention unit (7) and the drawer (10).

10. An oven (1) as in Claim 8 or 9, characterized by the heat retention unit (7) that is placed by being seated on the drawer (10) without being fixed on the drawer (10).

11. An oven (1) as in Claim 8 or 9, characterized by the heat retention unit (7) being fastened to the drawer (10) from one side with the hinge (M).

Ansprüche

1. Ofen (1), umfassend einen Gehäusekörper, einen Hohlraum (2), der im Gehäusekörper angeordnet ist und in den zu garende Lebensmittel gegeben werden, ein Gehäuse (3), das den Hohlraum (2) umgibt, wenigstens eine Heizeinrichtung (4), die im Hohlraum (2) angeordnet ist, ein Isolationsmaterial (5), das um das Gehäuse (3) gewickelt ist und den Hohlraum (2) isoliert, und ein Erwärmungsfach (6), das außerhalb des Hohlraums (2) angeordnet ist und in das vorgekochte Lebensmittel zum Warmhalten gegeben werden,
eine Wärmehalteeinheit (7), die zwischen dem Gehäuse (3) und dem Erwärmungsfach (6) angeordnet ist und in Kontakt mit der Außenfläche des Gehäuses (3) und/oder des Isolationsmaterials (5) steht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass Phasenänderungsmaterial (PCM) in der Wärmehalteeinheit (7) angeordnet ist und das Erwärmungsfach (6) erwärmt, indem es mit Restwärme von dem Gehäuse (3) und dem Isolationsmaterial (5) aufgeladen wird.

2. Ofen (1) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Erwärmungsfach (6) unter dem Gehäuse (3) und der Wärmehalteeinheit (7) angeordnet ist, die eine Decke des Erwärmungsfachs (6) bildet.

3. Ofen (1) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Wärmehalteeinheit (7) die Form eines flachen Kastens und Abmessungen aufweist, um das Erwärmungsfach (6) nahezu vollständig abzudecken, und eine obere Fläche (8) aufweist, die in Kontakt mit dem Gehäuse (3) und/oder dem Isolationsmaterial (5) steht, und untere Fläche (9) aufweist, die dem Erwärmungsfach (6) zugewandt ist.

4. Ofen (1) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass da Isolationsmaterial (5) die Seiten-, Oberseiten- und Rückseitenwand des Gehäuses (3) mit Ausnahme der Bodenwand umwickelt, und dass der mittlere Abschnitt der oberen Fläche (8) der Wärmehalteeinheit (7) in Kontakt mit der Bodenwand des Gehäuses (3) steht und die Kanten der oberen Fläche (8) derselben in Kontakt mit dem Isolationsmaterial (5) steht, das die Seitenwände des Gehäuses (3) umwickelt.

5. Ofen (1) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Isolationsmaterial (5) das Gehäuse (3) vollständig umwickelt und die obere Fläche (8) der Wärmehalteeinheit (7) in Kontakt mit dem Abschnitt des Isolationsmaterials (5) steht, der die Bodenwand des Gehäuses (3) umwickelt.

6. Ofen (1) nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Wärmehalteeinheit (7) in dem Abschnitt des Isolationsmaterials (5) angeordnet ist, der die Bodenwand des Gehäuses (3) umwickelt, indem sie wenigstens teilweise darin eingebettet ist.

7. Ofen (1) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, gekennzeichnet durch ein Schubfach (10), das im Erwärmungsfach (6) angeordnet ist, und dadurch, dass die Wärmehalteeinheit (7) an der Bodenwand des Gehäuses (3) fixiert ist und sich nicht zusammen mit dem Schubfach (10) bewegt.

8. Ofen (1) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Wärmehalteeinheit (7) an einem Schubfach (10) angeordnet ist und die Decke des Schubfachs (10) bildet und zusammen mit dem Schubfach (10) am Erwärmungsfach (6) angebracht/davon gelöst werden kann.

9. Ofen (1) nach Anspruch 7, gekennzeichnet durch eine Öffnung (11), die zwischen der Wärmehalteeinheit (7) und dem Schubfach (10) angeordnet ist.

10. Ofen (1) nach Anspruch 8 oder 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Wärmehalteeinheit (7) derart angeordnet ist, dass sie auf dem Schubfach (10) sitzt, ohne am Schubfach (10) fixiert zu sein.

11. Ofen (1) nach Anspruch 8 oder 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Wärmehalteeinheit (7) von einer Seite mittels des Scharniers (M) am Schubfach (10) befestigt ist.

Revendications

1. Un four (1) comprenant un corps, une cavité (2) qui est disposée dans le corps, dans laquelle les aliments à cuire sont placés, une enveloppe (3) qui entoure la cavité (2), au moins un dispositif de chauffage (4) qui est disposé dans la cavité (2), un matériau isolant (5) qui est enroulé autour de l'enveloppe (3) et qui isole la cavité (2) et un compartiment plus chaud (6) qui est disposé à l'extérieur de la cavité (2) et où les aliments précuits sont placés à être maintenus chauds,
une unité de rétention de chaleur (7) qui est disposée entre l'enveloppe (3) et le compartiment plus chaud (6) et qui touche la surface extérieure de l'enveloppe (3) et/ou le matériaux isolant (5), caractérisé par un matériau à changement de phase (PCM) qui est placé dans l'unité de rétention de chaleur (7) et qui chauffe le compartiment plus chaud (6) en étant chargé de la chaleur résiduelle de l'enveloppe (3) et le matériau isolant (5).

2. Un four (1) selon la Revendication 1, caractérisé par le compartiment plus chaud (6) qui est disposé au-dessous de l'enveloppe (3) et l'unité de rétention de chaleur (7) qui forme le plafond du compartiment plus chaud (6).

3. Un four (1) selon la Revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé par l'unité de rétention de chaleur (7) qui est en forme d'une boîte plate avec des dimensions pour recouvrir à peu près complètement le compartiment plus chaud (6) et qui présente une surface supérieure (8) en contact avec l'enveloppe (3) et/ou le matériau isolant (5) et une surface inférieure (9) faisant face au compartiment plus chaud (6).

4. Un four (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par le matériau isolant (5) qui enveloppe les parois latérales, supérieure et arrière de l'enveloppe (3) sauf la paroi inférieure et l'unité de rétention de chaleur (7) la partie intermédiaire de la surface supérieure (8) de laquelle touche la paroi inférieure de l'enveloppe (3) et les bords de la surface supérieure (8) de laquelle touchent le matériau isolant (5) enveloppant les parois latérales de l'enveloppe (3).

5. Un four (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications de 1 à 3, caractérisé par le matériau isolant (5) qui enveloppe complètement l'enveloppe (3) et l'unité de rétention de chaleur (7) dont la toute surface supérieure (8) touche la partie du matériau isolant (5) enveloppant la paroi inférieure de l'enveloppe (3).

6. Un four (1) selon la Revendication 5, caractérisé par l'unité de rétention de chaleur (7) qui est disposée dans la partie du matériau isolant (5) enveloppant la paroi inférieure de l'enveloppe (3) en y étant enfoncé au moins partiellement.

7. Un four (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par un tiroir (10) qui est disposé dans le compartiment plus chaud (6) et l'unité de rétention de chaleur (7) qui est fixée à la paroi inférieure de l'enveloppe (3) et qui ne se déplace pas avec le tiroir (10).

8. Un four (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications de 1 à 6, caractérisé par l'unité de rétention de chaleur (7) qui est disposée sur un tiroir (10), qui forme le plafond du tiroir (10) et qui peut être montée/démontée au/du compartiment plus chaud (6) avec le tiroir (10).

9. Un four (1) selon la Revendication 7, caractérisé par une ouverture (11) qui est arrangée entre l'unité de rétention de chaleur (7) et le tiroir (10).

10. Un four (1) selon la Revendication 8 ou 9, caractérisé par l'unité de rétention de chaleur (7) qui est placée en étant assise sur le tiroir (10) sans étant fixée sur le tiroir (10).

11. Un four (1) selon la Revendication 8 ou 9, caractérisé par l'unité de rétention de chaleur (7) qui est fixée au tiroir (10) à partir d'un côté avec la charnière (M).

Drawing