Patent · US Expired

Thermal interface device for heating elements

US4825046A · kind A · utility

4Cited by
10References
18Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 5, 1988
Grant dateApr 25, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 5, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA47J31/4453
  • WIPO fieldFurniture, games
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A thermal interface device is inserted between a heating element and a cooking vessel, such as a coffee pot for an automatic drip coffee maker, to reduce scorching and burning from non-uniform heating. The interface device has a main flat plate dimensioned correspondingly to the heating element and includes raised support structures formed as dome-shaped structures thereon. The cooking vessel rests on and is supported by the top surface of the support structures in spaced relation to the plate thus creating a convection space which reduces thermal conductive heating and allows both convection heating and infrared heating. An adhesive layer may be used to secure the interface device to the heating element, and vent holes either through the flat plate or through the dome-shaped structures vent stream and vapors from underneath the interface device when positioned on the heating element.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.