US 12,727,058 B2Granted

Integrated and compartmentalized system and method for food storage and processing

AssigneePahmet LLC

InventorsPeter Hofleitner, Martin Tross

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A system is provided that offers climate control, and optionally other processing, in separated compartments that hold items in removable and/or lockable containers that may be individually climate-controlled. In addition to these basic functions, the system can integrate functions for notifying users of important events. Examples include, but are not limited to, sensor readings that indicate spoiled food, temperature changes outside a desired range, containers not opened or removed within a predetermined time period, etc. Different processing options for items stored in the compartments may be integrated into the system. Examples of advanced processing include, but are not limited to, heating (thawing, cooking), pressurizing or depressurizing containers, physical movement of items (vibrating, turning content in the container), etc.

Claims4

Dependent claims

A system for storing and/or processing perishable or non-perishable items, comprising:

a housing;
at least two compartments contained within the housing, wherein each compartment is adapted to contain perishable or non-perishable items;
a refrigeration unit associated with each compartment;
an induction heating element positioned at the bottom of at least one compartment, wherein the heating element is configured for heating the compartment;
a photoelectric sensor positioned below the induction heating element, wherein the photoelectric sensor is configured to detect the color of cookware placed on the induction heating element;
and
a processor contained within the housing in communication with the refrigeration unit and the induction heating element wherein the processor is adapted to individually control heating and refrigeration of each compartment, to initiate a predetermined cooking program based on the color of the cookware detected by the photoelectric sensor.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/340,792Filed 7 Jun 2021 · continuation
Priority: 18 Jul 2015
Published: US 2021/0345458 A14 Nov 2021
Granted: 1 Sep 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification18 codes

H05B 6/06
Induction heating: control, e.g. of temperature, of power
A47J 39/006
Heat-insulated warming chambers; Cupboards with heating arrangements for warming kitchen utensils: for either storing and preparing or for…
F24C 15/18
Details: arrangement of compartments additional to cooking compartments, e.g. for warming or for storing utensils or fuel containers; Arrangement of…
F25D 13/04
With several cooling compartments, e.g. refrigerated locker systems: the compartments being at different temperatures

Family

Application62/194,215Us provisional application · filed 18 Jul 2015
Application62/257,337Us provisional application · filed 19 Nov 2015
PCT/US2016/043215Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 Jul 2016
Application15/777,663Parent of this continuation · filed 21 Nov 2016
PCT/US2016/063201Parent of this continuation · filed 21 Nov 2016
US 2021/0345458 A1Pre-grant publication · published 4 Nov 2021
Application15/777,663Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2018/0352612 A1Published application
US 12,727,058 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.