Back to results
US 6,686,564 B2Granted
Food preparation device with smart spring
AssigneeThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University
InventorLi Min Zhou
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A food preparation device such as toaster includes a chassis, a heating element, and a carriage for directly or indirectly supporting a food item. The carriage is movable with respect to the chassis to move the food item to or from a cooking position adjacent to the heating element. A Shape Memory Alloy resistance member is connected between the carriage and the chassis. Electric circuitry controls voltage/current to the Shape Memory Alloy resistance member to selectively heat the resistance member and alter its shape to move the carriage to or from the cooking position.
Claims7
A food preparation device comprising:
- a chassis,
- a heating element supported by the chassis,
- a carriage for supporting a food item, the carriage being movable with respect to the chassis to move the food item to/from a cooking position adjacent to the heating element,
- an SMA resistance member connected to the carriage and the chassis, and
- circuitry controlling voltage and/or current to the SMA resistance member to selectively heat the resistance member and alter its shape to move the carriage to/from the cooking position.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.