U.S. patent application number 10/052124 was filed with the patent office on 2003-07-17 for energy savings circumferential base for cooking utensils.
Invention is credited to Royer, George R..
Application Number | 20030132214 10/052124 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21975623 |
Filed Date | 2003-07-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030132214 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Royer, George R. |
July 17, 2003 |
ENERGY SAVINGS CIRCUMFERENTIAL BASE FOR COOKING UTENSILS
Abstract
The subject device is an energy savings ring for cooking
utensils placed on a stove burner with the subject device being a
perimeter ring-like member or other generally perimeter member
adapted to surround all or part of the outer circumference of the
cooking utensil so that part of the outer circumference of the
cooking utensil is surrounded by the inner circumferential wall of
the perimeter member with the perimeter member being structured to
receive heat from the stove burner on its lower surface, and thence
transfer such heat upwardly into the inner circumferential surface
of the perimeter member to be transferred in turn to the outer
circumferential surface of the cooking utensil.
Inventors: |
Royer, George R.; (Toledo,
OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
George R. Royer
Suite 416
316 N. Michigan Street
Toledo
OH
43624
US
|
Family ID: |
21975623 |
Appl. No.: |
10/052124 |
Filed: |
January 16, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
219/429 ;
219/432; 219/433 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 36/34 20130101;
A47J 36/36 20130101; F24C 15/28 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
219/429 ;
219/432; 219/433 |
International
Class: |
A47J 036/00; A47J
036/30 |
Claims
1. A supplementary heating member for imparting heat from a stove
burner to a cooking utensil with extending outer walls based on the
stove burner comprising: (a) a base member having a lower surface
to be placed against the stove burner and also having an upwardly
extending portion extending from such lower surface, wherein said
upwardly extending portion has a first side surface to be placed
against a portion of the upwardly extending outer walls of the
cooking utensil and a second side surface, and wherein said base
member is comprised of heating conducting means adapted to draw
heat upwardly from the lower surface towards such first side
surface.
2. A heat savings device to help efficiently draw heat from a stove
burner to heat a pan comprising: (a) a ring member comprising a
non-radiant outer circumferential surface and a radiant inner
circumferential surface, said ring-member having a bottom
circumferential surface disposed between said first and second side
circumferential surface, said ring member having a portion thereof
that is comprised of heat conducting matter.
3. A supplementary heating member for imparting heat from a stove
burner to a cooking utensil with extending outer rings: (a) a base
member having a lower surface to be placed against the stove burner
and also having an upwardly extending portion extending from such
lower surface, wherein said upwardly extending portion has a first
side surface to be placed against a section of the upwardly
extending outer walls of the cooking utensil and a second side
surface, and wherein aid base member is comprised of heating
conducting means adapted to draw heat upwardly from the lower
surface, such front side surface
Description
D. DISCUSSION OF PRIOR ART AND BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] The subject invention pertains mainly to the process of
heating cooking utensils on ceramic or flat burner units, although
the subject invention may be applicable to other types of stove
burners. In this respect, the subject invention comprises an
improvement in the efficiency of cooking on stoves.
[0002] In conventional stove structures, particularly ceramic
covered burners, the burner units are usually flush with the upper
surface of the stove, or in other burner types may be raised
slightly above the upper surface of the stove. In the usage of
burners that are relatively level or flush with the upper surfaces
of the stove, there are several heating efficiently concerns
involved, and other problems, as more fully described below.
[0003] First, a cooking utensil disposed on top of a stove burner
is readily susceptible to being moved or pulled off the burner and
either upset or pulled off the stove. This poses a particularly
troublesome problem for young children that are playing in and
around a stove, as a heated cooking utensil may be inadvertently
moved off the stove top and cause accidental burns. A second
problem encountered is that a substantial amount of heat is wasted
in the process of heating a cooking utensil on a stove top burner.
In particular, when a pan or other type of cooking utensil is
heated on top of such a burner, only the very bottom of the pan is
heated, and in the process, the heating takes a greater period of
time since only the bottom is heated and significant amount of heat
rises up and around the sides of the cooking utensil and into the
air. This wasted heat represents a loss of energy that could be
otherwise used to help heat the cooking utensil in the process and
thus save energy. One of the causes of this heat loss in this
regard is that the bottom of the cooking pan, or other such utensil
only covers a partial part of the upper surface area of the burner.
As a result that portion of the burner not covered by the bottom of
the pan rises upwardly in the air around the pan, a substantial
amount of which is thus wasted.
[0004] It is sufficient to state at this juncture that the overall
conceptualization of the subject invention involves a device that
can be placed on top of a stove burner to surround a cooking
utensil for purposes of saving heat loss from the burner unit and
directing a larger amount of the burner heat towards the cooking
utensil. An auxiliary function of the device can be to help prevent
cooking utensils from being inadvertently moved off the burner
unit.
[0005] In view of the foregoing, the subject invention is conceived
and the following object of the subject invention are directed
accordingly.
E. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the subject invention to provide an
improved device for conserving heat from a stove during cooking
processes;
[0007] Still another object of the subject invention is to provide
an improved structure that improves safety in the usage of a stove
when cooking food;
[0008] Another object of the subject invention is to provide an
improved heat savings device to be used when cooking on a
stove;
[0009] Still another object of the subject invention is to provide
an improved heat savings device to be used when cooking on a
stove;
[0010] Still another object of the subject invention is to provide
a supplemental heat transfer member for energy conservation
purposes for use in cooking on a stove;
[0011] Yet another object of the subject invention is to provide an
improved safety apparatus for cooking stoves;
[0012] A further object of the subject invention is to provide an
improved device that provides optimal energy conservation and
safety features for a cooking utensil on a stove surface;
[0013] Another object of the subject invention is to provide a
device that will improve the efficiency of the cooking process on
stoves;
[0014] Other and further objects of the subject invention will
become apparent from a reading of the description taken in
conjunction with the claims.
F. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, in section, of the
subject invention without a cooking utensil in place;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a top elevational view of the subject
invention;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the subject invention,
in cross-sectional configuration, showing the subject invention
with a cooking utensil in place;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view showing a flat stove
burner with a conventional cooking utensil, demonstrating
schematically the heat losses up around the vertical surfaces of
the cooking utensil.
G. DESCRIPTION OF GENERAL EMBODIMENT AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0019] The subject device is an energy savings perimeter member for
cooking utensils placed on a stove burner with the subject device
being a perimeter member adapted to encircle in part or in whole
the bottom circumference of the cooking utensil so that the lower
bottom circumference of the cooking utensil is partially or wholly
surrounded by the inner circumferential wall of the perimeter
member with the perimeter member structured to receive heat from
the stove burner on its lower surface. The ring member then
transfers such heat upwardly into the inner circumferential surface
of the perimeter member to be transferred to the outer surface of
the cooking utensil.
[0020] In the preferred embodiment as discussed below, the
perimeter member may be enclosed, that is a complete surrounding
member or may have an incomplete perimeter. Moreover, as discussed
the perimeter member is preferably a ring like member adapted to
surround comformingly a circular or rounded pan outer surface.
[0021] In this latter respect, the subject invention has
application to any type of stove, including electric, gas, ceramic
type stoves and similar types of cooking stoves. In a general
perspective however, the subject invention is also applicable to
other types of stoves on which variant types of cooking utensils
are attempted to be heated in the cooking process.
[0022] In the general embodiment of the subject invention, the
subject device is a perimeter member adapted to be laid flush on
the upper surface of a stove burner with such perimeter member
being adapted to receive within the confines of such perimeter
member the bottom circumferential portion of a cooking utensil. As
stated, a ring member is preferable, and the body portion of the
ring member is comprised of a heat conducting substance such as a
ceramic or metallic or other suitable substance, however, the
exterior circumferential portion of the ring is comprised of an
insulation material. By this latter arrangement, as the bottom of
the ring member sets flush against the upper surface of the burner,
it will conduct heat upwardly through its circumferential body
upwardly to the inner circumferential interior surface that
embraces the lower circumferential portion of the cooking utensil.
In the process with the bottom of the ring member being large
enough to cover the most of the area of the burner not covered by
the utensil, heat from a significant portion of the burner not
covered by the utensil will be transferred through the inner
circumferential surface of the ring to the part of the
circumferential outer surface of the cooking utensil to supplement
the heat transferred to the very bottom surface of the utensil from
the burner unit. In the overall process, a substantial amount of
the heat emanating from the burner will be saved to render the
cooking process more efficient.
H. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0023] The following description of the subject invention covers
one preferred embodiment, and description of such a particular and
preferred embodiment shall not restrict the scope of the invention,
as set forth in the claims herein. The general embodiment of a
perimeter member of any shape is best embodied in a circular ring,
as a closed loop member or open loop member.
[0024] As can be seen in the drawings, a stove 10 is shown. Stove
10 can utilize any type of heating system for heating the burner
elements, such as electrical, gas or any other type of energy
source. Moreover, the subject invention can be adapted to stoves in
which the burner members are ceramic, glass, metallic electric
elements or gas fed, resistance coils, or any other types of burner
elements. In this respect, the invention is also made applicable to
recessed burner units or burner units that have upwardly extending
surrounding walls and a bottom surface, either fully or partially
surrounded the upwardly extending walls. However, the most
practical application of the subject device is to stoves having
flat upper surface burner units that are flush with the upper
surface of the stove.
[0025] The inventive concept herein incorporates the concept of
including additional heat transfer means to the cooking utensil to
provide additional heat input in conjunction with the heat provided
directly to the bottom of the cooking utensil from the burner,
thereby adding heat input to the cooking utensil from the burner,
and thereby maximize the heat input to the utensil. The result of
such a heating system helps additionally to minimize the heat loss
in the cooking process, and improve the efficiency of the cooking
process.
[0026] For purposes of schematically showing the inefficiency of
using stove top burners for cooking, FIG. 4 demonstrates
graphically the heat loss that occurs on a flat stove burner under
circumstances where the bottom of a cooking utensil 15 does not
cover the entire area of the burner. As can be seen in FIG. 4, heat
rises up the sides of the cooking utensil from areas of the burner
that are not covered by the utensil 15. This heat is mostly wasted
and rises in the air unused, as demonstrated graphically in FIG.
4.
[0027] More specifically, for purposes of placing the subject
invention in the perspective of the objectives herein, FIG. 4 shows
a stove 10 with a stove top 20 having a conventional fiat burner 32
that is essentially flush with the upper surface 20 of the stove 10
as seen only the very bottom surface 33 of the cooking utensil 15
is heated on such burner with attendant loss of heat up and around
the sides of the utensil, as shown schematically in FIG. 4.
[0028] For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment of the
subject invention cooking stove utilizing fiat or ceramic burner
units will be referenced and discussed as stated, however such a
reference will not be considered as limiting the subject invention
to such types of stoves.
[0029] Accordingly, FIG. 10 shows an upper cooking surface 20 that
incorporates and utilizes one or more ceramic covered heating
elements such as heating element burner 32 variantly referred to as
a burner unit. Again, while the drawings and description are mostly
directed to a ceramic burner type stove, as stated above, the
subject invention is equally applicable to the stove types using
gas or other forms of heat source, heat transfers or other means as
the heating mediums. Thus, the following description of an electric
ceramic covered burner unit for a stove 10 will be considered in
discussing the preferred embodiment and will not be construed as
limiting the scope of the subject invention.
[0030] Referring now to the drawings in which a preferred
embodiment of the subject invention is shown, and particularly
FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, a ring like member 100 is shown as incorporating
features of the subject invention. The ring like member 100 is
preferably an enclosed circular ring-like member which has an inner
circumferential surface 110 and outer circumferential surface, 120.
The ring member 100 additionally has a bottom surface and an upper
surface 140, the bottom surface 130 is preferably a flat surface
which is used as the surface of ring member 100 adapted to rest
flush against the upper surface of the burner unit 32, as seen in
FIG. 3.
[0031] Moreover, as seen in FIG. 3, there does not have to be an
upper or surface as long as there is at least a bottom surface. In
other words, if there is no upper surface the outer circumferential
surface 120 and inner circumference surface 110 merge at an apical
point. As can be seen from the drawings, the upper surface 140 in
not necessarily flat nor is it necessary to have the same width as
the bottom side surface 130. The latter described structural
attributes are not considered as limiting the scope of the subject
invention. Moreover, the ring member 100 need not be a closed
member, but can be opened at some point along the circumference
surface of the ring with appropriate hinges or other means not
shown to open or close the ring. Other embodiments may include a
means to adjust the circumference of the ring member 100.
[0032] In the preferred embodiment the ring member 100 has a
portion that is heat conducting, as opposed to being nonconducting
or insulated. As seen in the drawings, the heat conducting portion
160 or the ring member 100 preferable extends from the bottom
circumferential surface 130 to the inner circumferential surface
110. In conjunction with this latter facet, the insulation portion
extends from a portion near the bottom surface to the outer
circumferential surface 120. This enables the heat to move directly
as it rises from the bottom surface 130 through the heat conducting
portion 160 to the inner circumferential surface 110 and thence to
the outer side surface 140 of the cooking utensil 35.
[0033] For this purpose, it is preferable that the inner
circumferential surface of the ring be just slightly larger than
the outer circumferential extent of the bottom or other portions of
the cooking utensil 15. It is envisioned that rings of various
circumferential sizes may be produced to accommodate pans and
cooking utensils of different sizes.
[0034] As stated in the preferred embodiment of the subject
invention it is optional to structure the ring member with a
non-heat conducting material i.e. an insulating material, on or
near the outer circumferential surface position 120 of the ring
member 100 so that the heat is trapped and directed through the
heat conducting portion 160 near the inner circumferential surface
110 100 and does not move to the outer circumferential surface 120
of the ring member 100 and thus be dissipated through such outer
surface. The object is to have the heat transfered through the ring
move to the inner circumferential surface 110.
[0035] As can be seen in the drawings, the ring member 100 is
placed on top of the stove burner as seen in the drawings with the
bottom surface 130 flush with the surfaces of burner 32 and the
cooking utensil is then placed in a conforming circumferential
manner on the stove burner within the inner circumference surface
110 of the ring member 100 for the cooking process. In this overall
process, a substantial amount of the heat emanating from the burner
will be saved to render the cooking process efficient.
[0036] It is to be noted at this point that the member that
incorporates features of the subject invention may be shaped other
than as a ring member, and does not necessarily have to be a closed
member, in a closed loop perspective. Moreover, the member need not
be circular, and may, for example, be rectangular on its outer
surface or perimeter or any other shape. Also, the inner perimeter
of the member may be other than round. In short, there may be
various shapes utilized for the member.
* * * * *