# US 5,345,059 A · Temperature self-regulating, electrically-heated spoon > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,345,059 A - Document ID: US5345059A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/101,542 - Filed: 1993-08-02 - Granted: 1994-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 1993-08-02 - Inventors: Shih-Hsien Wen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5345059A ## CPC - A47J 43/281: {Cooking spoons; Ladles (table spoons A47G21/02, A47G21/04)} - H05B 3/141: {Conductive ceramics, e.g. metal oxides, metal carbides, barium titanate, ferrites, zirconia, vitrous compounds} - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract An electrically-heated spoon including a flat heating device made of a plate-like positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor having a periphery side wall of the spoon mounted to the periphery and a handle of the spoon extending from the side wall. A pair of conductive wires in electrical connection with the heating device are embedded in the handle and extend out of a remote end of the handle to define an external connector for connection to an external power source. The plate-like positive temperature coefficient resistor is sandwiched between two insulating plates and then encased by two opposite metal casing members with the conductive wires, which are connected to the resistor, extending through openings formed on the casing members for connection to a power source. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrically-heated spoon comprising: a generally flat electrical heating device forming a flat bottom of a bowl of a spoon, said heating device comprising a positive temperature coefficient resistor assembly, said assembly including a positive temperature coefficient flat resistor plate, a pair of insulating plates between which said flat resistor plate is sandwiched, and heat conductive casing members encasing said insulating plates, said casing members having at least one casing member opening; a sidewall mounted to a periphery of said heating device and forming a bowl sidewall of the bowl; a handle attached to said sidewall and forming a spoon handle of the spoon, said handle having a remote handle end; and conductive wiring electrically connected to said flat resistor plate, passing out said at least one casing member opening, through said handle and out said remote handle end for connection to an external power source. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrically-heated spoon of claim 1 wherein said sidewall and handle comprise a unitarily formed unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electrically-heated spoon of claim 1 further comprising a connecting plug to which said wiring passing out of said handle remote end is connected. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electrically-heated spoon of claim 3 further comprising an electrical power socket to which said connecting plug is electrically engageable. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electrically-heated spoon of claim 1 wherein the flat bottom has a lowermost surface and said sidewall extends a distance below the lowermost surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electrically-heated spoon of claim 1 wherein said sidewall includes a C-shaped section around and abut the periphery of the flat bottom. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electrically-heated spoon of claim 1 wherein said sidewall and said handle are injection molded. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electrically-heated spoon of claim 1 wherein said casing members are constructed of metal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electrically-heated spoon of claim 1 wherein said resistor plate is made of BaT103. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electrically-heated spoon of claim 1 wherein said wiring includes a first wire mounted to a top of said resistor plate and a second wire mounted to a bottom of said resistor plate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The electrically-heated spoon of claim 10 wherein said first wire is soldered to said resistor plate top and said second wire is soldered to said resistor plate bottom. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The electrically-heated spoon of claim 1 wherein said wiring in said handle is generally rigid and said generally rigid wiring is embedded in said handle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The electrically-heated spoon of claim 1 wherein said sidewall and said handle are formed of a temperature resistive and electrical insulating material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electrically-heated spoon of claim 13 wherein the material is a temperature resistive plastic. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The electrically-heated spoon of claim 1 wherein said plate includes an outer contact plate and said wiring includes a wire electrically secured to said contact plate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electrically-heated spoon of claim 15 wherein said contact plate comprises a round top plate and said wire is soldered thereto to provide the electrical securement.