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US 6,573,483 B1Granted
Programmable slow-cooker appliance
AssigneeThe Holmes Group, Inc.
InventorsJames E. DeCobert, Lorens G. Hlava, Charles T. Thrasher, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A programmable slow-cooker appliance, in which a user sets a time and temperature for cooking a food item. A programmable controller prevents the unit from being used solely as a “keep warm” appliance, and a unique design allows cooling of the controller during cooking.
Claims19
A programmable slow-cooker appliance, comprising:
- a heating unit;
- a cooking unit adapted to fit at least partially within the heating unit;
- a controller housing fixedly mounted to an outside of the heating unit;
- and
- a programmable controller mounted to the housing to control the heating unit, wherein said housing is configured to convect heat away from the controller.
2 more elements
A control housing for a slow cooker heating unit, said housing comprising:
- a front wall;
- a bottom wall defining at least one lower opening, the bottom wall attached to the front wall;
- a top wall defining at least one upper opening, the top wall attached to the front wall;
- and
- a circuit board mounted behind the front wall, the circuit board apart from a wall of the heating unit.
2 more elements
A method of using a programmable slow-cooker appliance, the method comprising:
- providing a food item;
- placing the food item into a cooking unit of the slow-cooker appliance;
- selecting a cooking temperature and time using a programmable controller mounted to a housing fixedly mounted to a heating unit;
- and
- changing the heating unit temperature automatically to a lower temperature after the selected time.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.