COOKING HOB HAVING A VAPOR GENERATION DEVICE

The present invention relates to a cooking hob for the thermal treatment of food products, in particular a cooking hob being provided with a vapor generation device for the thermal treatment of food products by a vapor.

Cooking hobs are known for the preparation of food products by means of thermal conditioning of the food products.

A typical cooking hob comprises one or more cooking zones, each one being configured to support, in use, one respective cooking vessel and being selectively controllable so as to heat e.g. by means of an electrical resistance or induction heating, the respective cooking vessel and, accordingly, also the food product being placed within the respective cooking vessel.

A newer kind of cooking hob is also provided with a vapor generation device for preparing food products by means of a vapor.

Two example cooking hobs of this kind are known from WO-A- 2017092988 and WO-A-2018219709.

These cooking hobs comprises a water pan, which is fin able with the water and an electrical heater for heating the water pan and thereby also the water present within the water pan so as to heat the water and to generate the needed vapor.

Even though such cooking hobs work satisfyingly well, an inconvenience of such integrated vapor generation devices resides in the limited available steaming time due to the exhaustion of the water.

Thus, a need is felt in the sector to improve the known cooking hobs having vapor generation devices.

In particular, a need is felt in the sector to allow for prolonged steam cooking times.

One aim of the present invention is to provide for a cooking hob, to overcome, in a straightforward manner, at least one of the aforementioned inconveniences.

According to the present invention, there is provided a cooking hob according to the independent claim 1.

Preferred non-limiting embodiments are claimed in the dependent claims directly or indirectly depending on claim 1.

In addition, according to the present invention, there is provided a cooking hob comprising at least: - one or more cooking zones configured to support a cooking vessel and to heat the cooking vessel and/or a food product present within the cooking vessel; and

- a vapor generation device configured to thermally treat food products by means of a vapor. The vapor generation device comprises at least:

- a steam generator configured to generate the vapor;

- a water tank configured to store water; and

- a coupling assembly configured to carry and/or carrying the water tank and to direct the water to a vapor generation station at which the steam generator is configured to generate the vapor from the water.

Thereby, the water tank is releasably connected and/or releasably connectable to the coupling assembly.

By providing for the water tank, it is possible to lengthen the steaming time. Furthermore, the water tank can be easily refilled (also during the steaming itself) and, if necessary, the remaining water can be removed.

According to some possible non-limiting embodiments, the food product to be thermally treated may be a single ingredient or a mixture of ingredients. It should also be noted that the food product to be treated may vary throughout the overall thermal treatment process; i.e. it may be possible to add or remove ingredients to the food product during the thermal treatment.

According to some possible non-limiting embodiments, each one of the cooking zones may be configured to be intended as any portion of the cooking hob, which is configured to support the cooking vessel and which is provided with means for directing thermal energy in any form into and/or to the cooking vessel and/or into the product being present within the cooking vessel. E.g. the cooking zone can be defined by a surface for the support of the cooking vessel and an electronic element such as an electrical resistance or an electrical coil, being associated to (e.g. being arranged below of) the surface. Another example is a cooking zone being defined by support elements for supporting the cooking vessel and a nozzle arranged below a least portions of the support elements and configured to allow for a controlled outflow and burning of a gas.

According to some possible non-limiting embodiments, a cooking vessel can be of any type, form and material (e.g. steel, cast iron, aluminum, clay, ceramics, etc.) as long that it is suitable for being placed onto the cooking zone and for the thermal treatment of products being arranged within the cooking vessel. It is clear that the specific type of cooking vessel may differ in dependence on the specific solution on how the thermal energy is provided to the cooking vessel and/or the food product.A non-exhaustive list of cooking vessels are pans, pots and kettles.

According to some possible non-limiting embodiments, at least a portion of the water tank is transparent and/or the water tank comprises a filling level indication device for indicating the filling level of the water within the water tank.

In this manner, it is possible to control the filling level of the water within the water tank and, if necessary, to detach the water tank from the coupling assembly, to refill the water tank and to reconnect the water tank to the coupling assembly.

According to some possible non-limiting embodiments, the coupling assembly comprises a housing structure having a seat portion for housing, in particular releasably housing, at least a portion of the water tank.

In this manner, it is possible to easily couple the water tank to the coupling assembly.

According to some possible non-limiting embodiments, the water tank is angularly moveable around a rotation axis between at least a first angular position and a second angular position with respect to the rotation axis. Furthermore, the water tank is in an operative position and a rest position when being in respectively the first angular position and the second angular position.

By controlling the water tank between the operative position and the rest position, it is possible to optimize the positioning of the water tank in dependence of the operational status of the vapor generation device.

According to some possible non-limiting embodiments, the cooking hob comprises a top surface carrying the cooking zones and lying within a plane. One face of the water tank lies below or within the plane when being arranged in the second angular position.

In this manner, it is possible to obtain an even top surface when the vapor generation device is not in use. There are no disturbing portions protruding from the top surface.

Preferentially but not necessarily, the housing structure is angularly moveable around the rotation axis for moving the water tank between the first angular position and the second angular position.

This is an easy and efficient manner in order to angularly move the water tank between the first angular position and the second angular position.

According to some possible non-limiting embodiments, the water tank is transversally, in particular perpendicularly, oriented with respect to a top surface of the cooking hob, in particular when being in a respective operative position. This allows the water flow from the water tank by gravity. Additionally, it allows to easily grip and observe the water tank.

According to some possible non-limiting embodiments, the coupling assembly comprises a conduit configured to fluidically connect and/or fluidically connecting the steam generator with the water tank.

The conduit provides for a simple connection between the water tank and the steam generator.

According to some possible non-limiting embodiments, the vapor generation device and/or the steam generator further comprises a water pan, in particular for at least collecting used water.

Preferentially but not necessarily, the cooking hob also comprises a main structure carrying the one or more cooking zones and the vapor generation device. The water pan is removably coupled and/or coupleable to the main structure.

This allows to remove the water pan from the main structure and facilitates a cleaning of the water pan and the removal of any water present within the water pan after operation of the vapor generation device.

According to some possible non-limiting embodiments, the water tank is configured to be fluidically connected and/or is fluidically connected to the water pan. In particular, the steam generator can be configured to heat the water within the water pan so as to generate the vapor and/or to receive the water from the water pan and to generate the vapor. The steam generator may be formed at least in part by the water pan that is configured to be heated and/or the steam generator may comprise a heatable steam generating unit that is at least in part configured as a separate unit from the water pan.

According to some possible non-limiting embodiments, the vapor generation device further comprises a cover configured to delimit and/or delimiting at least partially a steam cooking space receiving the vapor generated by the steam generator.

According to some possible non-limiting embodiments, the vapor generation device furthermore comprises one or more trays being arranged and/or arrangeable within the steam cooking space and designed to carry the food product.

According to some possible non-limiting embodiments wherein the steam generator is configured to generate the vapor, the vapor generating device furthermore can comprise a tray adjusted for collecting used water that can be arranged, in particular removably arranged, below a tray designed for carrying food and above the water pan.

According to some possible non-limiting embodiments, the cooking hob also comprises a recess and the vapor generation device is at least partially arranged within the recess.

In this manner, one optimizes the spaces, which are occupied by the vapor generation device.

According to some possible non-limiting embodiments, the water tank comprises at least an outlet configured to allow for an outflow of the water from the water tank and a valve configured to open and close the outlet with the water tank being respectively attached to and detached from the coupling assembly.

By providing for the valve, one guarantees that the water does not unwantedly flow out of the water tank when the water tank is not connected to the coupling assembly.

One non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a cooking hob according to the present invention, with parts removed for clarity;

- Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the cooking hob of Figure 1 being in a first configuration, with parts removed for clarity; and

Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the cooking hob of Figure 1 being in a second configuration, with parts removed for clarity.

With particular reference to Figure 1, number 1 indicates as a whole a cooking hob 1 for the thermal treatment, in particular for the heating, of a food product.

Cooking hob 1 comprises at least:

- one or more cooking zones 2, each configured to support a respective cooking vessel, such as pans, pots, kettles and the like, and to heat the cooking vessel and/or a food product present within the cooking vessel; and

- a vapor generation device 3 configured to thermally treat food products by means of a vapor.

In particular, each cooking zone 2 and vapor generation device 3 may be configured to thermally treat a respective food product, which may be different from one another. In addition and/or alternatively, cooking zones 2 and vapor generation device 3 could consecutively treat the same food product.

Cooking hob 1 may comprise a main structure 4 carrying cooking zones 2 and/or vapor generation device 3.

In more detail, cooking hob 1, in particular main structure 4, may comprise a top surface 5 carrying cooking zones 2. In particular, top surface 5 extends within a(n) (horizontal) plane, in particular having a horizontal orientation.

Moreover, main structure 4, in particular top surface 5, may comprise a recess 6 within which vapor generation device 3 is at least partially arranged.

Cooking hob 1 may also comprise a control unit configured to selectively control operation of cooking zones 2 and/or vapor generation device 3. In particular, the control unit may be integrated into main structure 4.

In particular, cooking hob 1 may also comprise one or more supply units (not shown), in particular arranged within main structure 4 and, being operationally connected to the control unit, cooking zones 2 and vapor generation device 3 and configured to selectively supply, upon control by means of the control unit, energy to cooking zones 2 and/or vapor generation device 3. In particular, the energy can be in the form of electrical energy or in the form of a gas to be burned. According to the non-limiting embodiment shown, cooking zones 2 are configured to receive energy in the form of a gas to be burned.Alternatively, cooking zones 2 could be of the inductive or radiant type and the required energy would be electrical energy.

With particular reference to Figures 1 to 3, each cooking zone 2 could be of the type relying on a burning gas and the control unit could be configured to selectively control the flow rate of the gas to each cooking zone 2 for controlling the energy input.

In more detail, each cooking zone 2 could comprise a carrier 7 for supporting cooking vessel 3 and a nozzle 8 arranged below at least a portion of the respective carrier 7 and configured to allow for a controlled outflow and burning of the gas. In particular, each carrier 7 is placed on a respective portion of top surface 5.

According to an alternative embodiment not shown, cooking hob 2 may comprise a glass-ceramic surface (defining top surface 5) and each cooking zone 2 is defined and/or determined by a respective active portion of the glass-ceramic surface and at least one respective electrical resistance or a respective electrical coil is arranged below the respective active portion of the glass-ceramic surface.

With particular reference to Figures 1 to 3, cooking hob 2 also comprises a control interface 9 configured to allow for the setting and/or definition of one or more operating parameters of each cooking zone 2 and/or vapor generation device 3, in particular prior, during and/or after the thermal treatment of the food product.

According to the non-limiting embodiment shown, control interface 9 is integral to main structure 4, in particular top surface 5. In particular, control interface 9 comprises control knobs 10, but alternatively or in addition could comprise a touch display and/or control switches.

In addition or in alternative, control interface 9 could comprise a mobile device provided with a respective software program for setting and/or defining the operating parameters.

With particular reference to Figures 1 to 3, vapor generation device 3 comprises at least:

- a steam generator 15, in particular arranged within recess 6, configured to generate the vapor;

- a water tank 16 configured to store water, in particular water to be delivered to steam generator 15; and

- a coupling assembly 17 configured to releasably carry and/or realeasbly carrying water tank 16 and to direct the water to a vapor generation station at which steam generator 15 is configured to generate the vapor from the water.

Moreover, water tank 16 is releasably connected and/or releasably connectable to coupling assembly 17, in particular allowing to repeatedly connect and disconnect water tank 16 to and from coupling assembly 17. In this manner, it is possible to detach water tank 16 prior and/or during and/or after operation of vapor generation device 3 so as to fill water tank 16 with water and to connect water tank 16 again to coupling assembly 17.

Additionally, water tank 16 may extend along a longitudinal axis

A.

In particular, water tank 16 is detachable (releasable) and connectable from and to coupling assembly 17 by movement along a respective direction (substantially) parallel to longitudinal axis A.

In more detail, water tank 16 may comprise:

- an inlet configured to allow for an introduction of the water into water tank 16; and

- an outlet 19 configured to allow for an outflow of the water from water tank 16, in particular being arranged at a first axial end (with respect to longitudinal axis A) of water tank 16.

According to some possible embodiments, the inlet and outlet 19 may coincide.

According to some alternative embodiments, the inlet could be arranged at a second axial end of water tank 16 opposed to the first axial end. According to such an alternative embodiment, water tank 16 may also comprise a covering element designed to selectively cover and open the inlet.

Preferentially, water tank 16 may also comprise a valve configured to open and close outlet 19 with water tank 16 being respectively attached to and detached from coupling assembly 17. Moreover, water tank 16 may comprise a filling level indication device for indicating the filling level of the water within water tank 16. Alternatively or in addition, at least a portion, in particular a main portion (extending away from coupling assembly 17) of, water tank 16 may be transparent.

Preferentially, water tank 16 is arrangeable in at least an operative position and preferentially also in a rest position. In particular, water tank 16 is adapted to deliver the water to steam generator 15 when being in the operative position.

Preferentially, longitudinal axis A is transversal, in particular (substantially) perpendicular, to top surface 5 with water tank 16 being in the operative position. Even more preferentially, longitudinal axis A is (substantially) parallel to top surface 5 with water tank 16 being in the rest position.

Moreover, water tank 16 may be transversally, in particular (substantially) perpendicularly, oriented with respect to top surface 5, in particular when being in the operative position.

More specifically, water tank 16 may transversally, in particular (substantially) perpendicularly, extend away from top surface 5, in particular when being in the operative position.

With particular reference to Figure 3, water tank 16 may be arranged within recess 6 when being in the rest position.

In more detail, water tank 16 may comprise a first face 20 (see Figures 1 and 2) and a second face 21 (see Figure 3) opposed to first face 20. In particular, first face 20 may face a user, with water tank

16 being in the operative position.

With particular reference to Figure 3, second face 21 may lie within the plane with water tank 16 being in the operative position. In other words, second face 21 may be evenly arranged with respect to top surface 5 with water tank 16 being arranged in the operative position.

Advantageously, at least a portion of water tank 16 and/or water tank 16 as a whole is angularly moveable around a rotation axis B between at least a first angular position and a second angular position with respect to rotation axis B.

Moreover, water tank 16 may be in the operative position and the rest position when being and/or the at least one portion being in respectively the first angular position and the second angular position.

With particular reference to Figures 1 to 3, coupling assembly

17 comprises a housing structure 22 having a seat portion for (releasably) housing at least a portion, preferentially at least outlet 19, of water tank 16.

Furthermore, coupling assembly 17 may comprise a conduit configured to direct the water to and/or towards the vapor generation station and/or the conduit may be configured to fluidically connect and/or fluidically connecting steam generator 15 with water tank 16, in particular outlet 19.

Preferentially, housing structure 22 is angularly moveable around rotation axis B for moving water tank 16 between the first angular position and the second angular position (and accordingly between the operative position and the rest position).

Alternatively or in addition, water tank 16 may comprise a first tank portion and a second tank portion hinged to the first tank portion and being rotatable around a hinge axis, in particular the hinge axis coinciding with rotation axis B.

Additionally, vapor generation device 3 and/or steam generator 15 may further comprise a water pan 23, in particular for at least collecting used water (i.e. water having being vaporized by steam generator 15 and successively turning back into the liquid phase).

Moreover, water pan 23 may be removably coupled and/or coupleable to main structure 4. In particular, water pan 23 may be removably arranged and/or arrangeable within recess 6.

Furthermore, vapor generation device 3 may further comprise a cover 24 configured to at least partially delimit and/or delimiting a steam cooking space 25 receiving the vapor generated by steam generator 15. In particular, cover 24 may be removably placeable and/or is removably placed on water pan 23.

Moreover, vapor generation device 3 may comprise one or more trays 26 being arranged and/or arrangeable within steam cooking space 25 and each one designed to carry a food product. Preferentially, each tray 26 may comprise a plurality of through-holes so as to allow for the propagation of the vapor within steam cooking space 25.

Furthermore, trays 26 can be arranged one on top of the other within steam cooking space 25. In embodiments wherein the steam generator 15 is configured to generate the vapor, the vapor generating device 3 furthermore may comprise a tray (not shown) for collecting used water that can be arranged, in particular removably arranged, below a tray 26 designed for carrying food and above the water pan 23 and is adjusted for collecting used and soiled water before it drops down into the water pan 23 and soils any water that shall be heated inside the water pan 23.

In more detail, steam generator 15 may be configured to be energized by means of electrical energy. In particular, the supply unit may be configured to supply the electrical energy to steam generator 15.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present application, steam generator may operate by resistive heating or inductive heating.

Alternatively or in addition, steam generator 15 could operate by means of a gas to be burned.

According to some possible embodiments, steam generator 15 may be configured to directly receive the water from water tank 16 through the conduit of coupling assembly 17.

Alternatively or in addition, water tank 16 could be configured to be and/or being fluidically connected to water pan 23, e.g. through the conduit, and in particular steam generator 15 may be configured to heat the water within water pan 23 so as to generate the vapor and/or to receive the water from water pan 23 and to generate the vapor. The steam generator 15 may be formed at least in part by the water pan 23 that is configured to be heated and/or the steam generator 15 may comprise a heatable steam generating unit (not shown) that is at least in part configured as a separate unit from the water pan 23.

In use, cooking hob 1 allows the thermal treatment of food products either by thermally treating the food products within cooking vessels placed on one or more cooking zones 2 and/or by thermally treating the food products by means of vapor relying on vapor generation device 3.

Operation of vapor generation device 3 is controlled by the control unit and the energy needed by vapor generation device 3 is delivered to steam generator 15 by the supply unit.

In particular, steam generator 15 generates the vapor from water, which originates from water tank 16.

Either steam generator 15 may directly receive the water through the conduit and/or from water pan 23. Alternatively or in addition, steam generator 15 could heat the water present within water pan 23.

Advantageously, prior and/or during and/or after operation of vapor generation device 3, a user may detach water tank 16 from coupling assembly 17 so as to fill water tank 16 with water. Afterwards, it is possible to reconnect the filled water tank 16 to coupling assembly 17.

In particular, a user can control the filling level of the water within water tank 16 by means of the filling level detection unit and/or by a visual inspection through the transparent portion of water tank 16. Clearly, changes may be made to cooking hob 1 without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention.

Reference Signs

1 Cooking hob

2 Cooking zone

3 Vapor generation device

4 Main structure

5 Top surface

6 Recess

7 Support element

8 Nozzle

9 Control interface

10 Control knobs

15 Steam generator

16 Water tank

17 Coupling assembly

19 Outlet

20 First Face

21 Second face

22 Housing structure

23 Water pan

24 Cover

25 Cooking space

26 Tray

A Longitudinal axis

B Rotation axis