US 6,369,366 B1 · Portable DC and AC electric cooking apparatus

Abstract

A combination electric cooking apparatus capable of being selectively operated by either a D.C. or A.C. electrical power source for cooking a variety of foods. The apparatus includes a pair of hinged pan-shaped housing members which can be pivoted between a closed position superposed one above the other in opposed facing relation and an open position laterally adjacent one another. A heating plate is carried by each housing member and each plate has a central recessed flat surface surrounded by a raised side wall and a D.C. and an A.C. heating element secured to its underside, each heating element individually controlled by a separate thermostat. In the closed position, the recessed flat surfaces and raised side walls form a central cavity. In the open position, the recessed flat surface and side wall of each plate serve as a mounting surface to receive cooking vessels having mating bottoms. D.C. power may be supplied by an auxiliary battery, a vehicle battery, or a battery charger. Another aspect of the invention is a D.C. electric cooking system for vehicles and boats which are provided with an auxiliary heavy duty D.C. electrical circuit and receptacle for powering the cooker and other high wattage D.C. appliances.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A portable D.C. electric cooking apparatus for use in cooking a variety of foods by various methods utilizing direct current and conductive heating, comprising:

a first and second pan-shaped housing member each having a bottom wall and a side wall;
a first and second heat conductive metallic heating plate each carried by a respective said first and second housing member, each having an underside disposed within a respective said housing member and an outward facing side with a central recessed flat surface on the outward facing side surrounded by a raised side wall;
a first and second D.C. electrical heating element, each secured in contact with the underside of a respective said first and second heating plate to heat said respective first and second heating plate by thermal conduction when energized, and each having a first and a second terminal;
means for connecting said first and second terminal of said first and second heating element with a D.C. electrical power source to energize said first and second heating element with polarized direct current;
a first and second D.C. thermostat control means each connected in series between a respective said first terminal of said first and second heating element and said D.C. electrical power source for controlling the temperature of said first and second heating element independently;
and
hinge means disposed between said first and second heating plates and said first and second housing members whereby said housing members and said heating plates carried thereby may be pivoted between an open position laterally adjacent one another and a closed position superposed one above the other with said recessed flat surfaces of said first and second heating plates positioned in opposite facing vertically spaced relation and their said surrounding raised side walls defining a central cavity in the closed position.

4 more elements

A combination D.C. and A.C portable electric cooking apparatus capable of being selectively operated by either a D.C. or A.C. electrical power source for cooking a variety of foods by various methods utilizing conductive heating, comprising:

at least one pan-shaped housing member having a bottom wall and a side wall;
at least one metallic heat conductive heating plate carried by a respective said housing member and having an underside disposed within said housing member and an outward facing side with a central recessed flat surface on the outward facing side surrounded by a raised side wall;
at least one D.C. electrical heating element secured in contact with the underside of said heating plate to heat said heating plate by thermal conduction when energized, and having a first and second terminal;
at least one A.C. electrical heating element secured in contact with the underside of said heating plate adjacent said D.C. heating element to heat said heating plate by thermal conduction when energized, and having a first and second terminal;
means for connecting said first and second terminal of said D.C. electrical heating element with a D.C. electrical power source to energize said D.C. electrical heating element with polarized direct current;
means for connecting said first and second terminal of said A.C. electrical heating element with an A.C. electrical power source to energize said A.C. electrical heating element with alternating electrical current;
at least one D.C. thermostat control means connected between said first terminal of said D.C. electrical heating element and said D.C. electrical power source for controlling the temperature of said D.C. electrical heating element;
and
at least one A.C. thermostat control means connected between said first terminal of said A.C. electrical heating element and said A.C. electrical power source for controlling the temperature of said A.C. electrical heating element.

6 more elements

A D.C. electric cooking system for vehicles and boats having a D.C. electrical system powered by a battery, for cooking a variety of foods by various methods utilizing direct current and conductive heating, comprising:

at least one pan-shaped housing member having a bottom wall and a side wall;
at least one heat conductive metallic heating plate carried by a respective said housing member and having an underside disposed within said housing member and an outward facing side with a central recessed flat surface on the outward facing side surrounded by a raised side wall;
at least one D.C. electrical heating element secured in contact with the underside of said heating plate to heat said heating plate by thermal conduction when energized, and having a first and second terminal;
means for connecting said first and second terminal of said D.C. electrical heating element with said vehicle D.C. electrical system to energize said D.C. electrical heating element with polarized direct current;
and
at least one D.C. thermostat control means connected between said first terminal of said D.C. electrical heating element and said vehicle D.C. electrical system for controlling the temperature of said D.C. electrical heating element.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Portable DC and AC electric cooking apparatus

Life of this patent

Portable DC and AC electric cooking apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18