Microwave grilling appliance
OwnerNeal Patrick Barnesinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A microwave grilling appliance comprising grill elements that include heat conducting elements and microwave absorbent material. Troughs are formed in the periphery of the grill elements to contain the liquids produced from grilling a grillable food. A microwave transparent cover and base support the grill elements and provide a void space between the microwave transparent cover and base and the respective grill element. A lip and seal provide a liquid-tight seal between the grill elements and the supporting microwave transparent cover and base. The seal prevents liquids from grilling or washing from entering behind the grill elements. A hinge assembly provides multiple stop positions for the microwave transparent cover relative to the microwave transparent base.
Claims18
An appliance for converting microwave energy to heat and applying said heat to a grillable food or other grillable substance, said appliance comprising:
- a first grill element including a microwave absorbent material and a heat conducting element, said heat conducting element having a first surface in contact with said microwave absorbent material and a second surface adapted to contact said grillable food or other grillable substance;
- a microwave transparent base adapted to support said grill element with said absorbent material spaced from said base, said base and heat conducting element enclosing said absorbent element;
- and
- a liquid-tight seal between said grill element and said base.
An appliance for converting microwave energy to heat and applying said heat to a grillable food or other grillable substance, said appliance comprising:
- a first grill element including a first microwave absorbent material and a first heat conducting element, said first heat conducting element having a first surface in contact with said microwave absorbent material and a second surface adapted to contact said grillable food or other grillable substance;
- a microwave transparent base adapted to support said grill element, said base and first heat conducting element enclosing said first absorbent element;
- a second grill element including a second microwave absorbent material and a second heat conducting element, said second heat conducting element having a third surface in contact with said microwave absorbent material and a fourth surface adapted to contact said grillable food or other grillable substance;
- a microwave transparent cover adapted to support said grill element, said cover and said second heat conducting element enclosing said second absorbent element;
- and
- a hinge assembly adapted to:
- permit movement of said fourth surface relative to said second surface with said fourth and second surfaces remaining substantially parallel;
- permit rotational movement of said cover about said hinge;
- and support said cover in first stop position located at a point corresponding to a rotation about said hinge of between 90 degrees and 180 degrees.
A method of manufacturing an appliance for converting microwave energy to heat and applying said heat to a grillable food or other grillable substance, said method comprising:
- providing a first grill element including a microwave absorbent material and a heat conducting element, said heat conducting element having a first surface in contact with said microwave absorbent material and a second surface adapted to contact said grillable food or other grillable substance;
- forming a first lip on said heat conducting element;
- providing a microwave transparent base adapted to support said grill element with said absorbent material spaced from said base, said base and heat conducting element enclosing said absorbent material;
- forming a second lip on said base;
- applying an epoxy glue between said first and second lips;
- placing said grill element in said base so that no portion of said microwave absorbent material contacts said base;
- and
- forming a liquid-tight seal between said grill element and said base.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.