Description A COOKING DEVICE

[1] This invention relates to a cooking device wherein means are provided for steam cooking.

[2] Cooking devices, particularly ovens where cooking is performed by using hot air circulation, incorporate a body where foods to be cooked are placed into and a heater positioned inside the mentioned body. However, conventional cooking methods utilized in said ovens, cause the nutrient value of foods to decrease. It is observed that although the surfaces near the heater are cooked, other surfaces are not cooked yet. Losing the humidity of the food during the cooking procedure is also a negative factor. Moreover, layer formed on the surface of the food causes the fat to be trapped thereinside.

[3] For these and similar reasons, ovens capable of steam cooking are realized. In these ovens, there is provided a water tank wherein water coming out of said water tank is transformed into saturated steam as it is passing on a heater. Saturated steam is passed on a second heater so as to be transformed into superheated steam at a higher temperature. By directing the mentioned steam onto the food inside the oven, steam cooking is realized. In the current state of the art, combined cooking devices are developed wherein both hot air and steam may be used for cooking purposes.

[4] In the current state of the art, in French Patent Document no. FR2699650, a description is given of a steam generator which separates the internal volume of the oven into two and can be taken out if necessary. Inside the mentioned generator, there are provided a water tank, a heater and two outlets whereby steam generated by means of said heater is transferred to the interior of the oven. As the steam generator is placed into the oven, the heater fits into a socket located at the wall of the oven so as to establish the electrical energy connection.

[5] In the International Patent Application no. WO2004104483, a description is given of a steam module which is detachably mounted to an air cooking oven having several heaters. Using the method described, an air cooking oven may be transformed into a steam cooking oven. By means of the steam module, it is achieved to generate steam by spraying water onto the heaters.

[6] In United States Patent Document no. US4851644, a description is given of a cooking device which may be utilized as a forced-air convection oven or a steam oven circulating steam or superheated steam. Said device incorporates an integrated steamer located inside the cooking chamber.

[7] In the oven described in French Patent Document no. FR2614976, an evaporation vessel having water thereinside is positioned just above the oven heater. Thereby, the

heater which regularly is used for hot air cooking may also be utilized to generate steam if needed.

[8] However, in the state of the art cooking devices, the fact that steam generators detachably attached to the oven, incorporate both the water tank and the heaters, causes the mentioned generators to be ineffective. After water is filled into the tank, it is not easy to mount the generator to the oven. Furthermore, production cost is increased since the generator incorporates its own dedicated heater.

[9] In addition to that, because the water tank and the outlet hole are on the same structure, it is difficult to form more than one outlet hole. If steam comes out of a single hole, it cannot be homogenously distributed into the body.

[10] In the current state of the art applications, the fact that water is sprayed onto the heater so as to generate steam shortens the life-span of the heater.

[11] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooking device comprising a detachable, low-cost steam distributor which can easily be mounted.

[12] The cooking device designed to fulfill the objectives of the present invention is described in the annexed claims. Mentioned cooking device comprises at least one heater inside its body, preferably positioned at its ceiling and/or any of its lateral walls. This heater is utilized when convection cooking is performed. The cooking device also incorporates a water tank. Being positioned just below or above the heater and communicating with the afore-mentioned water tank, a steam distributor is attached to said cooking device. This steam distributor incorporates an inlet connected to the water tank and more than one outlet opening to the cooking volume and, is detachably mounted to the body by means of a locking mechanism. The steam generator is manufactured from two plates preferably mounted such that a gap is provided therebetween. By means of the heater, the plates and the gap between are heated. Water coming from the water tank passes through the inlet, expands inside the gap between the plates and eventually evaporates. Evaporation of water is accelerated as it reaches a bigger volume after a narrow inlet. Rapidly evaporated water spreads into the cooking volume via outlet holes.

[13] The steam distributor has a lower cost since it does not comprise a dedicated heater.

In addition to that, because the water tank is not located thereinside, it is easier to be transported and mounted by the user. For the same reason, it may incorporate more than one outlet hole so as to facilitate to create a more homogenous steam distribution.

[14] The cooking device designed to fulfill the objectives of the present invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings where:

[15] Fig.l - is a side schematic representation of a cooking device.

[16] Fig.2 - is a perspective view of the body and the steam distributor.

[17] Fig.3 - is an exploded perspective view of the body and the steam distributor.

[18] Fig.4 - is a perspective view of the injector, in an embodiment of the present invention.

[19] Fig.5 - is a perspective view of the injector, in another embodiment of the present invention.

[20] Fig.6 - is an exploded perspective view of the steam distributor, in another embodiment of the present invention.

[21] Elements shown on figures are numbered as follows:

[22] 1. Cooking device

[23] 2. Body

[24] 3. Heater

[25] 4. Water tank

[26] 5. Steam distributor

[27] 6. Locking mechanism

[28] 7. Injector

[29] 8. Upper plate

[30] 9. Lower plate

[31] 10. Inlet hole

[32] 11. Outlet hole

[33] 12. Channel

[34] As needed, the cooking device (1) in accordance with the present invention may either be used for hot air cooking or steam cooking. The cooking device (1) comprises,

[35] - a body (2) where foods to be cooked are placed into,

[36] - a water tank (4),

[37] - at least one heater (3) located inside the body (2) whereby heat necessary for cooking foods is generated and,

[38] - a steam distributor (5) which is positioned near the heater (3) so as to be heated by means of the heat generated by the mentioned heater (3), is connected with the water tank (4) and whereby water coming from the water tank (4) is transformed into steam as it engages with the hot internal surfaces and whereby the generated steam is distributed to the interior of the body (2) (Figure 1).

[39] The cooking device (1) in accordance with the present invention further comprises a locking mechanism (6) whereby the steam distributor (5) is detachably mounted into the body (2) by the user, if steam cooking is preferred. The locking mechanism (6) may be in the form of detent-housing, projection-recess, rail-skid pairs, one being positioned on the steam distributor (5) and the other in the body (2).

[40] In the described embodiment of the present invention, when the user prefers to perform convection cooking, he/she preserves the steam distributor (5) outside the body (2). In that case, heat generated by the heater (3) directly reaches the food to be

cooked. However, if the user prefers to perform steam cooking, he/she places the steam distributor (5) into the body (2) just near the heater (3) and easily fixes it to the defined position by means of the locking mechanism. Meanwhile, the steam distributor (5) is also connected to the water tank (4) via a transfer pipe. Cooking procedure starts as, automatically or through a button pushed by the user, it is sensed that the steam distributor (5) is attached to the body (2). Afterwards, water is transferred from the water tank (4) to the internal volume of the steam distributor (5). Water entering into the steam distributor (5) considerably heated by the heater (3), transforms into steam whilst contacting with hot surfaces and is distributed to the internal volume of the body (2) by means of the steam distributor (5).

[41] In an embodiment of the present invention, the steam distributor (5) incorporates two plates (8, 9) which are joined such that a gap is provided therebetween and are placed one on top of the other, an inlet hole (10) which is positioned on the upper plate

(8) and whereby water coming from the water tank (4) passes to the gap between two mentioned plates (8, 9) and, more than one outlet holes (11) which are positioned on the lower plate (9) and whereby steam generated between two plates (8, 9) is transferred to the interior volume of the body (2). As described, the steam distributor (5) is in form of a flat box. In front of the inlet hole (10), no outlet hole (11) is provided. Thereby, water entering from the inlet hole (10) first contacts the lower plate

(9) in front so as to form steam and then is distributed to the interior volume of the steam distributor (5). Therefore, it is achieved that steam is more homogenously distributed inside the body (2).

[42] In the described embodiment of the present invention, the upper plate (8) and lower plate (9) are fastened to each other and are attached to or detached from the body (2) as a single piece. Thereby, preserving the steam distributor (5) outside the cooking device (1) and assembling it are easy.

[43] In another embodiment of the present invention, the upper plate (8) and the lower plate (9) are separate pieces. In that embodiment, the steam distributor (5) incorporates channels (12) positioned at the opposite sides of the L-shaped lower plate (9), wherein the lower plate (9) is attached to the upper plate (8) as the channels (12) are slideably fitted to two sides of the upper plate (8). The steam distributor (5) further incorporates channels (12) positioned at the L-shaped upper plate (8), formed so as to grasp the sides of the lower plate (9). Thereby, said two plates (8, 9) can be mounted to each other as sealing is achieved. The fact that two plates (8, 9) may be separated from each other facilitates the cleaning of the steam distributor (5).

[44] In another embodiment of the present invention, the steam distributor (5) incorporates an injector (7) attached to the inlet hole (10) and connected to the water tank (4). The injector (7) is in form of a pipe having an inlet connected to the water

tank (4) and an outlet opening to the interior volume of the steam distributor (5). The outlet of the injector (7) may either be a split like shape in form of an arc or, in shape of circular holes located next to each other. Preferably, the injector (7) comprises screw like threads at its end which is either connected to the water tank (4) or to the transfer pipe connected to the water tank (4) and, is attached to the water tank (4) by being screwed. At the same time, the injector (7) facilitates the steam distributor (5) in accordance with the present invention, to be attached to the body (2).

[45] In the described embodiment, first the upper plate (8) is positioned under the heater

(3), then the injector (7) is passed through the inlet hole (10) and fixed to the body (2) by being screwed. Thereby, the upper plate (8) is also fastened to the body (2) by means of the injector (7). Afterwards, the lower plate (9) is attached to the upper plate (8), two sides of the lower plate (9) being pushed along the channels (12) at the internal wall of the upper plate (8) in such a manner that sealing is achieved. The channel (12) at the internal wall of the lower plate (9) also contributes to establish the sealing as it grasps the side of the upper plate (8). Thereby, attaching the steam distributor (5) to the body (2) is completed.

[46] In an embodiment of the present invention, the locking mechanism (6) by means of which the steam distributor (5) is attached into the body (2) incorporates housings positioned inside the body (2) and detents on the steam distributor (5), said detents being fitted into the mentioned housings. Thereby, the steam distributor (5) may easily be mounted to the body (2) by being pushed upwards from below.

[47] In another embodiment of the present invention, the locking mechanism (6) incorporates rails. The steam distributor (5) is attached to the body (2) by being pushed backwards as it is fitted to the mentioned rails.

[48] In another embodiment of the cooking device (1) in accordance with the present invention, the heater (3) is preferably located at the ceiling of the body (2) wherein the steam distributor (5) is attached just below the heater (3).

[49] By means of the cooking device (1) according to present invention, if desired, by mounting the steam distributor (5) into the body (2), an oven where cooking is performed by circulating hot air may easily be transformed into a steam cooking oven. Steam cooking is realized by transforming the water inside the water tank (4) into steam inside the steam distributor (5) and distributing it into the body (2). The fact that the water tank (4) and the steam distributor (5) are separate pieces facilitates to simplify the structure of the steam distributor (5) and thus to decrease the cost of the cooking device (1). Moreover, utilizing the heater (3) used for hot air cooking to generate steam in the steam distributor (5) further contributes to the cost reduction. Since the steam generated inside the distributor (5) does not contact with the heater (3), the usable life-span of the heater (3) is elongated.