Heating tool

[0001] The present invention generally relates to the field of tools for heating dishes and relates in particular to a lid for pots with a heating function integrated within the same lid.

[0002] EP211013B1 discloses a multiuse cooking device for a domestic setting, composed of a pot defining a cooking chamber and by a lid with a heating element and an outer insulating cover suitable to be opened to allow the use of the lid as a grill, and closed to thermally insulate the lid from the external environment, thereby allowing heating the cooking chamber of the pot.

[0003] This and other cooking devices that provide for heatable lids are to date structurally complex, in particular due to the further insulating cover hinged to the same lid, and their versatility is limited in that the various cooking functions of dishes within the pot and the grill function require different heating temperatures and times.

[0004] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a tool for heating dishes having such characteristics as to allow both a use as a lid with a heating function downwardly, and a use as a grill with a heating function upwardly, and to obviate at least some of the drawback mentioned with reference to the prior art.

[0005] These and other object are achieved by a tool for heating dishes having:

- a base body with a lower side and an upper side opposite to the lower side,

- a first electric heating element supported by the base body and having a first heating surface arranged on the lower side,

- a second electric heating element supported by the base body and having a second heating surface arranged on the upper side,

- a thermo-insulating layer formed between the first heating element and the second heating element,

- a control and supply unit supported by the base body and in electric connection with the first heating element and the second heating element, in which the control unit is suitable to adjust the power supply and the temperature of the first heating element and the second heating element independently from one another.

[0006] By virtue of the provision of two heating elements that can be heated independently and thermally insulated one from another, the heating tool does not require an additional insulating cover, allows heating downwardly (for example, heating an inner space of a pot) and heating upwardly with times and temperatures freely and independently selectable. Therefore, it is possible to use the heating tool as a :

[0007] - lid heating downwardly and cold upper heating surface, for example to cook dishes within a pot,

[0008] - lid heating downwardly and upper heating surface in grill mode to keep warm or cook dishes within a pot and at the same time to grill dishes directly on the upper heating surface,

[0009] - lid heating downwardly and upper heating surface in such a mode as to keep pre-cooked food at the proper temperature,

[0010] - lid heating downwardly and upper heating surface in a cooking plate mode for an overlaying pot,

[0011] - grill or chafing-dish heating upwardly with upper heating surface and cold lower heating surface.

[0012] In order to better understand the invention and to appreciate the advantages thereof, some embodiments thereof will be described below by way of illustrative, non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the tool for heating dishes according to an embodiment;

- Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the tool according to an embodiment;

- Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the heating tool according to an embodiment;

- Fig. 4 is a further sectional view of the heating tool according to an embodiment;

- Figs. 5, 6, and 7 illustrate several use modes of the heating tool;

- Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a detail of the tool according to an embodiment.

[0013] With reference to the figures, a tool for heating dishes in a domestic setting is generally indicated with the reference 1.

[0014] The tool comprises a base body 2 for example being substantially disc-shaped, with a lower side 3 and an upper side 4 opposite to the lower, side 3, a first electric heating element 5 supported by the base body 2 and having a first heating surface 6 arranged on the lower side 3 and facing towards such lower side 3, as well as a second electric heating element 7 supported by the base body 2 and having a second heating surface 8 arranged on the upper side 4 and facing towards such upper side 4. The tool 1 further comprises a thermo-insulating layer 9 formed between the first heating element 5 and the second heating element 7 and suitable to thermally insulate the heating elements one from another. Advantageously, both heating surface 6, 8 are directly exposed to the external environment.

[0015] The tool 1 further comprises a control unit 10 supported by the base body 2 and in electric connection with the first heating element 5 and with the second heating element 7. According to an aspect of the invention, the control unit 10 is suitable to adjust the power supply and the temperature of the first heating element 5 and the second heating element 7 independently and separated one from another .

[0016] By virtue of the provision of two heating elements independently heatable and thermally insulated one from another, the heating tool does not require an additional insulating cover, allows heating downwardly (for example heating an inner space of a pot) and heating upwardly with times and temperatures freely and independently selectable.

[0017] In accordance with an embodiment, the base body 2 forms at least one support portion 11 extended in the direction of the lower side 3 beyond the first heating surface 6 and defining a support plane 12 (Figs. 3, 4) spaced apart from the first heating surface 6 for a rest of the tool 1 on a support surface, for example a table or a top of a domestic kitchen. This allows removing the tool 1 used as a heating lid from a pot 13 and resting it directly on the support surface of a table or top without a direct contact between the first heating surface 6 and the support surface.

[0018] By way of a preferred, non-limiting example, the support portion 11 comprises a plurality of feet 14 or projections distributed externally and around an outer perimeter of the first heating surface 6 and projecting towards the lower side 3. The free spaces between the single feet 14 form, together with the free distance between the support plane 12 and the first heating surface 6, a natural ventilation system of the first heating surface 6, when the tool 1 is rested by the feet 14 on a table or on another support surface.

[0019] In accordance with an embodiment, the support portion 11 forms an annular seat 15, preferably extended along an outer circumference of the first heating surface 6, yet separated and thermally insulated therefrom, and adapted to fit an annular upper ^' edge of a pot 13 acting as a heating lid.

[0020] In this use mode, the ventilation of the inner space of the pot underlying the first heating surface 6 is turned off.

In a non-limiting implementation example, the annular seat 15 forms an annular groove facing the lower side 3 and defined by a radially inner wall 17, a radially outer wall 18, and a bottom wall 19, in which the bottom wall 19 is preferably spaced apart from the first heating surface 6 towards the lower side 3.

[0021] The first 6 and second 8 heating surfaces are preferably mutually parallel and parallel with the support plane 12 and one also with a plane defined by the bottom wall 19 of the annular seat 15.

[0022] In accordance with embodiments, the first 6 and second 8 heating surfaces may comprise thermo- resistant glass surfaces, glass-ceramic surfaces, or metal surfaces. Advantageously, the tool 1 comprises a plate or a pack of heating plates that is lower 20 preferably planar, for example, in thermo-resistant glass, glass-ceramic, or metal forming the first heating surface 6 and to which lower heating plate 20 the above-mentioned first heating element 5 is associated, for example one or more electric resistors or an infrared heating unit.

[0023] Similarly, the tool 1 comprises an upper 21, preferably planar, plate or pack of heating plates, for example in thermo-resistant glass, glass-ceramic, or metal forming the second heating surface 8 and to which upper heating plate 21 the above-mentioned second heating element 7 is associated, for example, one or more electric resistors, an infrared heating unit and/or an inductive coil unit.

[0024] In accordance with embodiments, at least one or both the heating elements 5, 7 can be received within the corresponding upper 21 and/or lower 22 heating plates.

[0025] According to an embodiment, the tool comprises a first thermal sensor 22, for example a thermocouple, in signal connection with the control unit 10 and configured so as to detect the temperature of the lower heating plate 20 or the first heating element 5, as well as a second thermal sensor 23 separated from the first thermal sensor 22, for example a thermocouple, in signal connection with the control unit 10 and configured so as to detect the temperature of the upper heating plate 21 or the second heating element 7. The control unit 10 is advantageously configured to receive and process the temperature signals of the two temperature sensors 22, 23 in a separate and independent manner.

[0026] The tool 1 comprises ^' an electric connector 24 for a connection of the control unit 10 and the first and second heating elements to the power supply network.

[0027] The control unit 10 is configured so as to allow selecting a heating program, in which:

[0028] - the first heating element 5 is activated, while the second heating element 7 is deactivated, or [0029] - the first heating element 5 is deactivated, while the second heating element 7 is activated, or [0030] the first heating element 5 and the second heating element 7 are simultaneously activated.

[0031] The control unit 10 can for example comprise a first potentiometer 25 for adjusting the power supply of the first heating element 5 and a second potentiometer 26 for adjusting the power supply of the second heating element.

[0032] Advantageously, the control unit 10 is received in a grip 30 portion or in a handle 31 portion of the tool 1 that are arranged on two diametrically opposite sides of the base body 2 and radially projecting outwardly therefrom.

[0033] The control unit 10 further comprises a user interface 27 with optical or light indicator, for example, a LED (Light Emitting Diodes) or LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and a button panel, preferably of the touch control type, or of the proximity type, capacitive or inductive, or electro-mechanical buttons with a watertight outer cover. By such user interface 27 the control unit 10 allows selecting heating program, temperatures, and heating times of the first and second heating elements, and determines the indication of heating times and/or temperatures separately for the first and second heating elements 5, 7, as well as the emission of visual and/or acoustic warnings of when selected heating times have been reached and/or anomalies, for example in the case of a power supply cut-off before reaching the selected heating time. [0034] The user interface 27 is preferably located in an upper surface of the handle 31 portion visible and accessible from the top when the tool 1 is in the use position.

[0035] In accordance with an embodiment, the lower heating plate 20 and the upper heating plate 21, and the thermo-insulating layer 9 are permanently connected together to form a sandwich structure, for example by a circumferential annular gasket 28 in synthetic material, preferably a thermo-resistant silicone rubber, engaging the outer peripheral edges of the lower heating plate 20, the upper heating plate 21, and the thermo-insulating layer 9.

[0036] Advantageously, an annular containment and protection shell 29 may be further provided, for example, in stainless steel, wrapping the gasket 28 from the outside and ensures the mechanical resistance of the tool 1 against impacts and deformations .

[0037] Advantageously, the gasket 28, which can be made by vulcanization, is interposed between the containment and protection shell 28 and the upper 21 and lower 20 heating plates so as to thermally insulate the shell 28 from the first and second heating elements 5, 7 and to compensate for relative movements of single components due to different thermal dilatations.

[0038] The second heating surface 8 defines a support plane upper 32 spaced apart by at least 1 mm from the containment shell 29 in the direction of the upper side 4, so as to promote the contact support of an overlying pot or pan 33 with a diameter greater than the diameter of the second heating surface 8.

[0039] The control unit 10 and the user interface 27 are preferably located in areas spaced apart from the upper support plane 32 towards the lower side 3.

[0040] In accordance with an embodiment, the control unit 10 comprises a electronic control circuit for the control and driving functions and a power supply, for example with a triac, for the power supply of the very heating elements 5, 7. Advantageously, the electronic control circuit and the power supply are arranged in the base body 2 in two diametrically opposite positions, and at a safety distance, for example one in the handle 31 portion and the other one in the grip 30 portion.

[0041] As it can be seen in the figures, the upper 21 and lower 20 heating plates preferably are in the shape of a circular disc.

[0042] The base body 2 can further comprise a support ring 36 in plastic material defining a seat 37 that houses the preassembled sandwich structure composed of the lower heating plate 20, the upper heating plate 21, the thermo-insulating layer 9, the annular gasket 28, and the annular containment and protection shell 29. The handle 31 and grip 30 portions are preferably formed in the support ring 36.

[0043] Advantageously, the radially outer and bottom 18 and bottom 19 walls of the annular seat 15 are formed by the support ring (36) in plastic material, and the radially inner wall 17 is formed by the gasket 28.

[0044] In accordance with a further embodiment, the base body 2, preferably the support ring 36, forms a drain channel 34 for a preset canalization of the fluids produced by grilled food on the second heating surface 8. The tool 1 can further comprise or form a collection compartment 35 for such liquids conveyed along the drain channel 34, for example a drawer removably received in the base body 2. This allows a separate washing of the dirty parts of the tool 1.

[0045] The control unit 10 is configured to allow and determine a separate turning on and off, as well as a separated and independent selection of the temperature of both heating elements 5, 7.

[0046] In accordance with an embodiment, the tool 1 comprises a safety cut-off device 39 associated to the annular seat 15 and configured to allow an activation of the first heating element 5 only when the annular seat 15 is engaged by the upper edge of the pot. In this manner, only when the tool 1 is properly supported as a heating lid on the pot 13, the first heating element 5 is actuatable to heat towards the lower side 3 and, when the tool 1 is supported on the feet 14 or it is not properly supported on the pot 13 (when the pot edge does not properly engage the annular seat 15), the first heating element 5 cannot be activated.

[0047] The safety cut-off device 39 can comprise one or more, for example at least 2, switches 40 arranged in at least two positions mutually spaced apart, for example diametrically opposite, along the annular seat 15 and having a activation portion, for example, a little piston or lever, projecting in the annular seat 15. When the pot edge properly engages the annular seat 15, it shifts the activation portion of all the switches 40 to an activation position and only when all the switches are in an activation position, the safety cut-off device 39 allows the activation of the first heating element 5.

[0048] The thermal insulation layer 9 may comprise a layer of a material with a low thermal conductivity and opaque to thermal and infrared radiations, for example, a panel in ceramic fibers, and optionally an evacuated interspace so as to interrupt the thermal conduction between the first and second heating elements .

[0049] Furthermore, in the transition (or connection) regions between the heating plates 20, 21 and the portion handle 31, and/or the portion grip 30, the base body 2, in particular, the support ring 36, may form one or more through ventilation channels 38 promoting a natural cooling of such transition regions and further reducing the thermal bridge effect between the heating plates 20, 21 and the handle 31 and grip 30 portions.

[0050] It shall be apparent that, to the heating tool 1 according to the present invention, those of ordinary skill in the art, in order to meet contingent, specific needs, will be able to make further modifications and variations, all of which are anyway falling within the protection scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.