Technical Field

The present invention relates to cooking devices, such as ovens, with a steam cooking function.

Background of the Invention

Oven-type cooking devices usually have a body and a cooking compartment in which the cooking process is carried out. The user positions the food to be cooked in the cooking compartment and initiates a desired cooking process through a control panel provided in the cooking device.

Said cooking devices heat the cooking compartment by means of a heater to carry out the cooking process. In this case, as the cooking compartment heats up, this heat penetrates the food positioned in the cooking compartment such that the temperature of the food increases, allowing the food to be cooked. In these cooking devices, in order to increase the cooking efficiency, steam transmission to the cooking compartment can also be realized, besides the heating of the cooking compartment. Cooking devices with steam function are more preferred by the users, since foods can be cooked much more deliciously and in a much healthier way with the effect of both heat and steam.

Cooking devices with a cooking function have a water tank and a steam generator in order to obtain the steam for supplying into the cooking compartment. The water in the water tank is transmitted to the steam generator by means of a transmission element such as a hose, and the steam generator converts the water into steam and ensures that the steam obtained is transmitted to the cooking compartment. In order for the steam cooking process to be carried out effectively, the water in the water tank must be transmitted to the steam generator uninterruptedly. However, the transmission element between the water tank and the steam generator can be positioned in any position after its assembly in the water tank. For this reason, the transmission element can sometimes remain in a position that prevents the uninterrupted transfer of water to the steam generator (for example, a portion of it extending upwards from the outlet of the water compartment). This prevents the continuous production of steam and reduces the efficiency of steam cooking.

Brief Description of the Invention

The cooking device according to the present invention comprises at least one body; at least one cooking compartment located in the body, in which the cooking process is carried out; at least one water tank located on the body, which is filled with water for a steam cooking process; at least one water outlet located in the water tank, in the form of a tube extending outwardly from the water tank; at least one steam generator for the water in the water tank to be converted into steam and transmitted to the cooking compartment; at least a first transmission element with a circular cross-section, which is connected to the water outlet on one side and connected to the steam generator on the other side, wherein the water in the water tank exits through the water outlet, passes through the first transmission element so that it is transmitted to the steam generator; at least one fixing member in the form of a protrusion located on the water outlet; and at least one opening located at a lateral edge of the transmission element, on the side of the first transmission element connecting to the water outlet, so as to extend between the water outlet and the steam generator to have an angle with an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis passing through the centre of the transmission element, wherein the fixing member is inserted in the opening, wherein when the fixing member is inserted in the opening, the opening allows the first transmission element to be positioned to provide an uninterrupted water transmission from the water tank to the steam generator.

Thanks to the cooking device according to the present invention, water can be transmitted uninterruptedly from the water tank to the steam generator that produces the steam required for the steam cooking function. Thus, the decrease in steam cooking efficiency can be prevented in a simple, easy and inexpensive way, and an easy-to-use, practical and reliable cooking device can be achieved.

Object of the Invention An object of the present invention is to provide a cooking device with a steam cooking function.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cooking device for uninterrupted transmission of the water used in steam production to the steam generator.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a cooking device that prevents a decrease in steam cooking efficiency.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cooking device for uninterrupted transmission of water to the steam generator in a simple, easy and inexpensive way to manufacture.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-use, practical and reliable cooking device.

Description of the Drawinqs

Exemplary embodiments of the cooking device according to the present invention are illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cooking device according to the invention, in a semi- assembled state.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a transmission element and a steam generator provided in the cooking device according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the water outlet section of a water tank provided in the cooking device according to the invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the water outlet section of a water tank provided in the cooking device according to the invention, with the transmission element connected.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the transmission element provided in the cooking device according to the invention.

Figure 6 is a front view of an area of the cooking device according to the invention, where the water tank is located. Figure 7 is a front view of an area of the prior art cooking device, where the water tank is located.

All the parts illustrated in figures are individually assigned a reference numeral and the corresponding terms of these numbers are listed below:

Body (G)

Cooking compartment (P) Water tank (H) Water outlet (H1) Fixing member (H2) Steam generator (S) Valve (V)

First transmission element (B1) Second transmission element (B2)

Third transmission element (B3)

Opening (A)

Longitudinal axis (E)

Description of the Invention

In order to perform steam function, cooking devices with a steam cooking function have at least one water tank filled with water and a steam generator converting the water in the water tank into steam, wherein water transmission from the water tank to the steam generator is carried out by means of a circular cross-sectional transmission element, such as a hose. In order for the steam cooking process to be carried out effectively in these cooking devices, the steam generator is required to produce steam continuously, for which there must be an uninterrupted water transmission from the water tank to the steam generator. Especially due to its circular cross-sectional structure, such a transmission element, which is connected to the water tank on one side and the steam generator on the other side, can come to different positions after being connected to the water tank, preventing uninterrupted water transmission from the water tank to the steam generator. For example, the transmission element can be positioned in a curved manner (as seen in figure 7), with this curved part remaining above the part where it is connected to the water tank. In this case, the water supply to the steam generator becomes intermittent, the steam generator cannot produce continuous steam, and therefore the cooking efficiency of the cooking device decreases. Therefore, the present invention provides a cooking device for solving said problems.

The cooking device according to the present invention (e.g. an oven), as illustrated in Figure 1-6, comprises at least one body (G); at least one cooking compartment (P) located in the body (G), in which the cooking process is carried out; at least one water tank (H) located on the body (G), which is filled with water for a steam cooking process; at least one water outlet (H1) located in the water tank (H), in the form of a tube extending outwardly from the water tank (H); at least one steam generator (S) for the water in the water tank (H) to be converted into steam and transmitted to the cooking compartment (P); and at least a first transmission element (B1) (e.g. a hose) with a circular cross- section, which is connected to the water outlet (H1) on one side and connected to the steam generator (S) on the other side, wherein the water in the water tank (H) exits through the water outlet (H1), passes through the first transmission element (B1) so that it is transmitted to the steam generator (S). The cooking device according to the invention also comprises at least one fixing member (H2), preferably in the form of a rectangular protrusion located on the water outlet (H1); and at least one opening (A) located at a lateral edge of the transmission element (B1), on the side of the first transmission element (B1) connecting to the water outlet (B1), so as to extend between the water outlet (B1) and the steam generator (S) to have an angle with an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis (E) passing through the centre of the transmission element (B1) (i.e. not parallel to the longitudinal axis (E) of the transmission element (B1)), wherein the fixing member (H2) is inserted in the opening (A), wherein when the fixing member (H2) is inserted in the opening (A), the opening (A) allows the first transmission element (B1) to be positioned to provide an uninterrupted water transmission from the water tank (H) to the steam generator (S).

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the cooking device according to the invention has a steam cooking function, thus comprising at least one water tank (H) and at least one steam generator (S). In the cooking device, the connection of the water tank (H) and the steam generator (S) is provided by the first transmission element (B1) in the form of a cylindrical tube. In prior art, when the first transmission element (B1) is connected to the water outlet (H1) in the water tank (H), the first transmission element (B1), as illustrated in Figure 7, can be positioned to prevent uninterrupted water transmission from the water tank (H) to the steam generator (S). This negatively affects the steam cooking efficiency of the cooking device. In the cooking device according to the invention, the first transmission element (B1) is connected to the water outlet (H1) by placing the fixing member (H2) at the water outlet into the opening (A) located on the lateral edge of the cylindrical first transmission element (B1), extending not parallel to the longitudinal axis (E) of the first transmission element (B1). Thus, the first transmission element (B1) can be positioned in such a way that water transmission from the water tank (H) to the steam generator (S) takes place uninterrupted, as shown in figure 6 (in other words, the positioning of the first transmission element (B1) so as to prevent uninterrupted water transmission to the steam generator (S) can be prevented). Thus, the decrease in the efficiency of the steam cooking process of the cooking device can be prevented in a simple, easy and inexpensive way, and an easy-to-use, practical and reliable cooking device can be achieved.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the opening (A) is provided at the lateral edge of the first transmission element (B1) in the range of 28-32° (in particular preferably 30°) radially. In other words, the angle between the opening (A) and said axis parallel to the longitudinal axis (E) of the transmission element (B1) is in the range of 28-32° (in particular preferably 30°).

In another alternative embodiment, the opening (A) is positioned to extend from one end portion of the first transmission element (B1) connected to the water outlet (H1) towards the other end portion thereof. In this way, the insertion of the fixing member (H2) in the opening (A) and the connection of the first transmission element (B1) to the water outlet (H1) can be performed much more easily and practically.

In another preferred embodiment, the cooking device comprises at least a second transmission element (B2), preferably in the form of a cylindrical tube (e.g. a hose), which is connected to the steam generator (S) on one side and to the cooking compartment (P) on the other side for the transmission of the steam from the steam generator (S) to the cooking compartment (P). Thus, it is possible to position the steam generator (S) in a desired area in the cooking device. In a further preferred embodiment, the cooking device comprises at least one valve (V) which is connected to the first transmission element (B1) on one side, and connected to the steam generator (S) on the other side by means of at least a third transmission element (B3) (e.g. a hose) preferably in the form of a cylindrical tube, wherein the valve (V) is opened or closed preferably in accordance with the related cooking process, so that the water in the water tank (H) is transmitted to the steam generator (S) through the first transmission element (B1) and the third transmission element (B3). Thus, the water transmission to the steam generator (S) can be effectively controlled.

Thanks to the cooking device according to the present invention, water can be transmitted uninterruptedly from the water tank (H) to the steam generator (S) that produces the steam required for the steam cooking function. Thus, the decrease in steam cooking efficiency can be prevented in a simple, easy and inexpensive way, and an easy-to-use, practical and reliable cooking device can be achieved.