Patent · US Expired

Cooking utensil with improved heat retention

US5643485A · kind A · utility

146Cited by
56References
58Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 21, 1994
Grant dateJul 1, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 21, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S99/14
  • WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A cooking utensil with improved heat retention includes an inner pot received within an outer pot and separated in a closely spaced-apart relationship to form a volume or chamber therebetween. The chamber is evacuated and sealed with foil leaves at the upper edges of the inner and outer pot. The vacuum created between the inner and outer pot, along with the minimum of thermal contact between the inner and outer pot, and the reduced radiative heat transfer due to low emissivity coatings on the inner and outer pot, provide for a highly insulated cooking utensil. Any combination of a plurality of mechanisms for selectively disabling and re-enabling the insulating properties of the pot are provided within the chamber. These mechanisms may include: a hydrogen gas producing and reabsorbing device such as a metal hydride, a plurality of metal contacts which can be adjusted to bridge the gap between the inner and outer pot, and a plurality of bimetallic switches which can selectively bridge the gap between the inner and outer pot. In addition, phase change materials with superior heat retention characteristics may be provided within the cooking utensil. Further, automatic and programmable …

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