Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
I
1 I
r ,
MULTI-PURPOSE FRYING PAN
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to the technical field
of kitchen appliances,
and more particularly to a multi-purpose frying pan.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Currently there are air fryers or frying pans with a
hot air system. They are
usually equipped with a rotating stirrer to prevent food from being over-
cooked or from
sticking to the pan. At present, there are mainly two ways to drive the
stirrer. One is to
install a drive device on the pan's base and transmit the power to a stirring
paddle through
a rotating shaft. However, such an arrangement may cause oil or water to drip
to the drive
device, which may result in damage to or reduced life of that device. The
other is to place
the drive device between the hot air system and the stirring paddle, and then
to transmit
rotational power to the stirring paddle through the rotating shaft. However,
this
arrangement affects the hot air transmission of the hot air system, which
further reduces
the already limited ventilation area, thus prejudicing cooking efficiency and
results.
Additionally, in conventional air fryers or frying pans the stirring paddle is
usually
permanently mounted on the cooker or inner pot, so cleaning the stirring
paddle is difficult
or inconvenient.
SUMMARY
[0003] According to a first aspect, there is provided a cooking apparatus
comprising a base comprising a heating plate and an inner pot located over the
heating
plate; and a lid closable over the inner pot to form a cooking chamber,
wherein the lid
comprises a hot air system configured to direct hot air into the cooking
chamber and a
stirrer drive device configured to be attached to a stirrer.
- 1 -
CA 2992697 2018-01-19
[0004] The hot air system may comprise a hot air system motor, the
stirrer drive
device may comprise a drive motor, and the hot air system motor and the drive
motor may
be laterally offset from each other within the lid.
[0005] The lid may comprise a cover portion and a handle portion
positioned above
the cover portion, the stirrer drive device and the hot air system may span
the cover and
handle portions, and the hot air system motor and the drive motor may both
located in the
handle portion.
[0006] The stirrer drive device may further comprise a drive gear
rotatable by the
drive motor, and the apparatus may further comprise the stirrer. The stirrer
may comprise
a gear assembly detachably coupled to an underside of the lid; and a stirring
paddle coupled
to the gear assembly such that rotation of the gear assembly by the drive
motor causes the
stirring paddle to rotate.
[0007] The gear assembly may comprise a ring gear mated with the
drive gear and
a gear bracket spanning an interior of the ring gear.
[0008] The gear bracket may be positioned under the hot air system and
comprise
a cylindrical side that comprises ventilation holes for venting the hot air to
the cooking
chamber.
[0009] The ring gear may comprise teeth that mate with the drive gear
and that face
away from an axis of rotation of the gear assembly.
[0010] The stirrer may further comprise a positioning rod extending through
a
center of the gear assembly and into the lid; and a stop block at one end of
the positioning
rod that retains the gear assembly to the underside of the lid.
[0011] The positioning rod and the lid may be threaded to permit
screwing and
unscrewing of the positioning rod into and out of the lid.
- 2 -
CA 2992697 2018-01-19
[0012] The hot air system may comprise a propeller for propelling the
hot air, and
an axis of rotation of the propeller may be coaxial with an axis of rotation
of the gear
assembly.
[0013] A gear assembly protrusion may extend from an underside of the
gear
assembly, a paddle protrusion may extends from a top side of the stirring
paddle, and the
protrusions may be positioned such that rotation of the gear assembly causes
the gear
assembly protrusion to interfere with the paddle protrusion and rotate the
stirring paddle.
[0014] The inner pot may comprise a groove shaped to receive a bottom
edge of
the stirring paddle, and the bottom edge of the stirring paddle may sit in the
groove during
stirring.
[0015] A bottom of the stifling paddle may slide against the inner
pot during
stirring, one of the stirring paddle and inner pot may comprise one of a
protrusion and a
groove and the other of the stirring paddle and inner pot comprises the other
of the
protrusion and groove, and the protrusion may fit into the groove during
stirring.
[0016] The base may further comprise an outer pot in which the inner pot
sits, and
the heating plate may be between the inner and outer pots.
[0017] According to another aspect, there is provided a cooking
apparatus
comprising a base comprising an inner pot; a lid closable over the inner pot
to form a
cooking chamber, wherein the lid comprises a hot air system configured to
direct hot air
into the cooking chamber and a stirrer drive device; and a stirrer attached to
the stirrer drive
device, the stirrer comprising a gear assembly detachably coupled to an
underside of the
lid; and a stifling paddle coupled to the gear assembly such that rotation of
the gear
assembly causes the stirring paddle to rotate.
[0018] The hot air system may comprise a hot air system motor, the
stirrer drive
device may comprise a drive motor, and the hot air system motor and the drive
motor may
be laterally offset from each other within the lid.
- 3 -
CA 2992697 2018-01-19
[0019] The lid may comprise a cover portion and a handle portion
positioned above
the cover portion, the stirrer drive device and the hot air system may span
the cover and
handle portions, and the hot air system motor and the drive motor may both be
located in
the handle portion.
[0020] The stirrer drive device may further comprise a drive gear rotatable
by the
drive motor, and the gear assembly may comprise a ring gear mated with the
drive gear.
[0021] The gear assembly may further comprise a gear bracket spanning
an interior
of the ring gear.
[0022] The gear bracket may be positioned under the hot air system
and comprise
a cylindrical side that comprises ventilation holes for venting the hot air to
the cooking
chamber.
[0023] The ring gear may comprise teeth that mate with the drive gear
and that face
away from an axis of rotation of the gear assembly.
[0024] The stirrer may further comprise a positioning rod extending
through a
center of the gear assembly and into the lid; and a stop block at one end of
the positioning
rod that retains the gear assembly to the underside of the lid.
[0025] The positioning rod and the lid may be threaded to permit
screwing and
unscrewing of the positioning rod into and out of the lid.
[0026] The hot air system may comprise a propeller for propelling the
hot air, and
an axis of rotation of the propeller may be coaxial with an axis of rotation
of the gear
assembly.
[0027] A gear assembly protrusion may extend from an underside of the
gear
assembly, a paddle protrusion may extend from a top side of the stirring
paddle, and the
protrusions may be positioned such that rotation of the gear assembly causes
the gear
assembly protrusion to interfere with the paddle protrusion and rotate the
stirring paddle.
- 4 -
CA 2992697 2018-01-19
[0028] The inner pot may comprise a groove shaped to receive a bottom
edge of
the stirring paddle, and the bottom edge of the stirring paddle may sit in the
groove during
stirring.
[0029] A bottom of the stirring paddle may slide against the inner
pot during
stirring, one of the stirring paddle and inner pot may comprise one of a
protrusion and a
groove and the other of the stirring paddle and inner pot may comprise the
other of the
protrusion and groove, and the protrusion may fit into the groove during
stirring.
[0030] The base may comprise a heating plate positioned under the
inner pot.
[0031] The base may further comprise an outer pot in which the inner
pot sits, and
the heating plate may be between the inner and outer pots.
[0032] According to another aspect, there is provided a
multifunctional frying pan
comprising a base, a lid with a hot air system, an inner pot, a stirrer, and a
stirrer drive
device. The inner pot is detachably affixed or placed in the base. Once
closed, the lid and
the inner pot form a cooking chamber with the stirrer placed inside. The
stirrer drive device
is mounted on the outside of the hot air system on top of the lid. The stirrer
drive device
drives the stirrer and causes it to rotate. Placing the stirrer drive device
on the lid helps to
prevent contamination of a drive motor, which comprises part of the stirrer
drive device,
by water or oil during cleaning. Placing the stirrer drive device outside of
the hot air system
may effectively prevent hot air circulation from being blocked or disrupted by
the drive
device, thus helping to ensure cooking efficiency and results. This design may
make
adapting to different shapes of the lid and consequent changing locations of
the drive motor
easier.
[0033] The stirrer may comprise a gear assembly, a stirring paddle,
and a
positioning rod. The gear assembly may comprise an annular ring gear and a
gear bracket.
The ring gear and the gear bracket can be a one-piece part, or two separate
pieces affixed
together. The stirring paddle may be detachable from the gear bracket. The
gear bracket
and stirring paddle may be easily disassembled for easy cleaning. The
positioning rod may
- 5 -
CA 2992697 2018-01-19
pass through the center of the gear bracket and be attached to the lid. The
gear bracket may
rotate around the positioning rod. Ventilation holes may be on the gear
bracket. The stirrer
drive device may comprise a drive gear, which drives the ring gear to rotate.
The stirring
paddle and gear bracket may be easily removed for cleaning.
[0034] Ventilation holes on the gear bracket can effectively allow the hot
air from
the hot air system being transmitted to the pan. The gear bracket may rotate
so that the
ventilation holes keep moving, thus redirecting air flow more evenly and, in
certain aspects
in all directions, and promoting and improving cooking efficiency and results.
[0035] The stirring paddle may be placed on the inner pot. After the
lid is closed,
the gear bracket may drive the stirring paddle to rotate and stir. The
rotating shaft of the
stirring paddle may be coaxial with the rotating shaft of the ring gear. The
stirring paddle
and gear bracket in certain aspects are not attached to each other. When the
lid is open, the
stirring paddle may be detached from the gear bracket, which makes it easier
to remove
and clean.
[0036] A round groove may be on the inner pot, and the groove may match a
protrusion at the bottom of the stirring paddle. This tongue-and-groove design
helps to line
up the stifling paddle precisely.
[0037] A round protrusion may be on the inner pot, and the groove may
match the
groove at the bottom of the stirring paddle. This tongue-and-groove design may
help to
line up the stirring paddle precisely.
[0038] The protrusions may be cylindrical, conical, or truncated
conical
protrusions. The corresponding grooves may accordingly be cylindrical,
conical, or
truncated conical grooves.
[0039] The base may comprise a housing and an outer pot. The outer
pot may be
affixed in the housing. The inner pot may be attached or simply placed in the
outer pot.
The outer pot may also play a role in insulation and supporting the inner pot.
- 6 -
CA 2992697 2018-01-19
[0040] The multi-function frying pan may comprise a heating plate,
which may be
fixed to the outer pot. The inner pot may be placed on top of the heating
plate. Use of the
heating plate may increase the heating temperature at the bottom of one or
both of the pots.
[0041] This summary does not necessarily describe the entire scope of
all aspects.
Other aspects, features and advantages will be apparent to those of ordinary
skill in the art
upon review of the following description of specific embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0042] In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one or more
example
embodiments:
[0043] FIG. 1 depicts an exploded view of a multi-purpose frying pan,
according
to one example embodiment;
[0044] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a lid, which comprises part of
the pan of FIG.
1;
[0045] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a gear assembly that comprises
part of the
pan of FIG. 1;
[0046] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the lid of FIG. 2, coupled to
gear assembly of
FIG. 3;
[0047] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the pan of FIG. 1 with
its lid open;
[0048] FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the base of the pan of
FIG. 1;
[0049] FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the lid of the pan of FIG. 1;
[0050] FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of a stirring paddle that
comprises part of the
pan of FIG. 1; and
- 7 -
CA 2992697 2018-01-19
[0051] FIG. 9 depicts an exploded view of a multi-purpose frying pan,
according
to another example embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0052] At least some example embodiments described herein are
directed at a
cooking apparatus in the form of a multi-purpose frying pan that can
effectively protect an
electrical motor and prevent it from being damaged by liquids, such as oil,
during one or
both of pan use and cleaning. In at least some example embodiments, the pan
comprises a
heat plate in its base so that food being cooked in the pan can be heated by
one or both of
convection (by hot air circulated by a hot air system that comprises the
electrical motor)
and conduction (by the heat plate). Additionally or alternatively, in at least
some example
embodiments a gear assembly attached to an underside of the pan's lid and used
to rotate
a stirrer is removable from the lid, thereby facilitating cleaning of the gear
assembly and
the hot air system.
[0053] As shown in FIGS. 1-8, in at least one example embodiment a
multi-purpose
frying pan 100 comprises a base 1, a lid 3 with a hot air system 2, an inner
pot 4, a stirrer
5, and a stirrer drive device 6. The inner pot 4 is attached to or placed in
the base 1. When
the lid 3 is closed, it forms a cooking chamber with the inner pot 4. The
stirrer 5 is located
inside the chamber. The stirrer drive device 6 is mounted on the lid 3 and on
the outside of
the hot air system 2. The stirrer drive device 6 drives the stirrer 5 to
rotate.
[0054] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of the pan 100. The inner pot 4 sits
on the
base 1, and a stirring paddle 52 that comprises part of the stirrer 5 sits on
the inner pot 4.
The lid 3 comprises a handle portion 12 and a cover portion 10, with the
handle portion 12
attached to a top side of the cover portion 10. Within the handle portion 12
resides a hot
air system motor 16 (depicted in FIGS. 2 and 4) and a drive motor 14 (also
depicted in
FIGS. 2 and 4), which comprises part of the stirrer drive device 6. The cover
portion 10
delineates a top of the cooking chamber when the lid 3 is closed over the
inner pot 4.
Attached to an underside of the cover portion 10 is a gear assembly 51, which
comprises
- 8 -
CA 2992697 2018-01-19
part of the stirrer 5 and which is rotatably driven by the stirrer drive
device 6. Gear
assembly protrusions 32 (shown in FIGS. 5 and 7) on an underside of the gear
assembly
51 are rotated against analogous paddle protrusions 30 located on a top side
of the stirring
paddle 52, thereby rotating the paddle 52.
[0055] Referring now to FIGS. 2-4, there are shown a sectional view of the
lid 3
when the lid 3 is not coupled to the gear assembly 51, a perspective view of
the gear
assembly 51 itself, and a sectional view of the lid 3 when it is coupled to
the gear assembly
51, respectively.
[0056] FIG. 2 shows the handle portion 12 attached to and positioned
over the
.. cover portion 10. A hot air system motor 16 that comprises part of the hot
air system 2 and
a drive motor 14 that comprises part of the stirrer drive device 6 are both
positioned within
the handle portion 12. The cover portion 10 is rotationally symmetric about a
rotational
axis. The hot air system motor 16 comprises an output shaft 38 that is coaxial
with the
rotational axis. The motor's 16 output shaft 38 is attached to and
consequently rotates a
propeller 18, which propels hot air through the cooking chamber when the lid 3
is closed
and the hot air system 2 is on. The propeller's 18 axis of rotation is coaxial
with the output
shaft 38, and the propeller 18 is contained within a ventilated air system
housing 20. At the
bottom of the housing 20 and coaxial with the rotational axis is an aperture
34 for receiving
a shaft 531 of a positioning rod 53, as discussed further below.
[0057] The drive motor 14 of the stirrer drive device 6 is positioned
within the
handle portion 12 and is laterally offset from the hot air system motor 16.
The drive motor
14 comprises an output shaft 40; due to the curvature of the handle portion 12
and as the
drive motor 14 is laterally offset from the hot air system motor 16, the
output shafts 40,38
of the drive motor 14 and hot air system motor 16 are not coaxial or parallel.
The output
shaft 40 rotates a drive gear 61, which in turn rotates the gear assembly 51,
as discussed
further below.
- 9 -
CA 2992697 2018-01-19
I
t 4
T 4
100581 The gear assembly 51 as depicted in FIG. 3 comprises
a ring gear 511 that
circumscribes a gear bracket 522. In the depicted embodiment the gear 511 and
bracket
522 are integral; they may, for example, be welded together. In at least some
different
embodiments (not depicted), the gear 511 and bracket 522 may be detachably
coupled
together, such as by using clips. The gear bracket 522 comprises a generally
cylindrical
wall that has ventilation holes 22. Extending between the wall and the
bracket's 522 center
are three bracing arms 42. The arms 42 converge at a location that includes an
aperture 36
about which the cylindrical wall is rotationally symmetric.
100591 FIG. 4 depicts a sectional view of the lid 3 with the
gear assembly 51
detachably coupled to the underside of the cover portion 10. Detachably
coupling the
assembly 51 to the cover portion 10 permits the assembly 51 to be removed,
thereby
making cleaning of the gear assembly 51 and the air system housing 20 more
convenient.
The stirrer 5 comprises the gear assembly 51, the stirring paddle 52 (depicted
in FIGS. 1,
5, 8 and 9), and the positioning rod 53. The positioning rod 53 comprises a
shaft 531 having
a stop block 532 at one end. The shaft 531 is threaded and screwable into the
underside of
the cover portion 10 through the apertures 36,34. When the gear assembly 51 is
positioned
such the aperture 36 in the gear bracket 522 is coaxial with the aperture 34
in the air system
housing 20, and the shaft 531 is subsequently screwed into and thereby affixed
to the cover
portion 10, the stop block 532 positions and restricts the gear bracket 522
between the stop
block 532 and the lid 3. The teeth, which are on the outside of the ring gear
511, mesh with
the teeth of the drive gear 61, which comprises part of the stirrer drive
device 6.
Consequently, when the drive motor 14 drives the output shaft 40, the drive
gear 61 drives
the ring gear 511 to rotate, which causes the gear bracket 522 to rotate about
the shaft 531
and the stirring paddle 52 to rotate as discussed further below. While the
stop block 532 is
used to retain the gear assembly 51 in the depicted embodiment, in at least
some different
embodiments (not depicted), the gear assembly 51 may be detachably coupled to
the lid 3
in a different manner. For example, the gear assembly 51 may be detachably
coupled to
the lid 3 magnetically, by using clips, or the gear assembly 51 may be
threaded and screwed
into the lid 3.
- 10 -
I
CA 2992697 2018-01-19
L00601 Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 7 in particular, a disc 28
secured to an
underside of the gear bracket 522 is visible. Extending from an underside of
the disc 28 are
gear assembly protrusions 32. The stirring paddle 52 is placed on the inner
pot 4 and
similarly shaped paddle protrusions 30 extend from a top side of the paddle
52. The
protrusions 30,32 are positioned such that when the gear assembly 51 is
secured to the
underside of the lid 3 and the lid 3 is closed, rotation of the gear assembly
51 causes the
gear assembly protrusions 32 to rotate, which consequently interfere with the
paddle
protrusions 30 and drive the stirring paddle 52 to rotate and stir. The paddle
52, disc 28,
gear assembly 51, and propeller 18 all rotate about the common rotation axis.
[0061] The disc 28 in the depicted embodiment is positioned centrally on
the gear
bracket 522 such that the positioning shaft 531 extends through it; however,
in at least
some alternative embodiments (not depicted) the disc 28 may be elsewhere
positioned, or
may be absent entirely. For example, in at least some alternative embodiments,
the
protrusions 32 may extend directly from the underside of the arms 42.
[0062] In at least one example alternative embodiment, a structure for the
stifling
mechanism follows: the stirrer 5 comprises the large gear assembly 51, the
stirring paddle
52, and the positioning rod 53. The gear assembly 51 comprises the ring gear
511 and the
gear bracket 522, which can be integrally one piece or two pieces mounted
together. The
stirring paddle 52 is detachable from the gear bracket 522. The positioning
rod 53 passes
through the center of the gear bracket 522 and is attached to the lid 3. The
gear bracket 522
can rotate about the positioning rod 53. The gear bracket 522 has ventilation
holes. The
stirrer driving device 6 comprises the drive gear 61, which drives the ring
gear 511 to rotate.
The teeth of the ring gear 511 may face towards or, as shown in the embodiment
of FIGS.
3 and 4, away from the gear's 511 axis of rotation.
[0063] Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 8 in particular, there are shown a
front
perspective view of the pan's 100 base 1 and a bottom plan view of the
stirring paddle 52,
respectively. The inner pot 4 is shown sitting in the base 1 in FIG. 6, and
has a groove 24
- 11 -
CA 2992697 2018-01-19
shaped such that a bottom edge 26 of the paddle 52 fits therein. The groove 24
helps to
retain the paddle 52 in a set location while it is being driven by the stirrer
drive device 6.
[0064] While the groove 24 is shown as being in the inner pot 4 with
the paddle 52
fitting in the groove 24, in at least some alternative embodiments (not
depicted) one or
more grooves 24 may additionally or alternatively be in the paddle 52, and a
portion of the
inner pot 4 or elsewhere in the base 1, such as a protrusion extending
therefrom, may fit in
those one or more grooves 24. Furthermore, while the bottom edge 26 of the
paddle 52 fits
in the groove 24 in the depicted embodiment, in at least some alternative
embodiments (not
depicted) a different portion of the paddle 52, such as a protrusion extending
therefrom,
may fit in the groove 24.
[0065] Additionally, while the groove 24 in the depicted embodiment
is circular,
in at least some alternative embodiments (not depicted) the groove 24 may be
differently
shaped. For example, the protrusions may be cylindrical, conical, frusto-
conical
protrusions, or a combination thereof; and the corresponding grooves may
accordingly be
cylindrical, conical, or frusto-conical, or a combination thereof.
[0066] Referring now to FIG. 9, there is shown an exploded view of
the pan 100,
according to another example embodiment. The pan 100 of FIG. 9 is identical to
the pan
100 of FIGS. 1-8, except the base 1 further comprises a housing and an outer
pot 7
positioned therein, and a heating plate 8 between the pots 4,7. The outer pot
7 may be
permanently or detachably coupled to the housing 1. The inner pot 4 in the
depicted
example embodiment sits in the outer pot 7; in at least some different
embodiments (not
depicted), the inner pot 4 may be affixed to the outer pot 7 in some manner,
such as by
using a type of permanent or detachable coupling. The heating plate 8 is
affixed to an
interior of the outer pot 7, and the pot body of the inner pot 4 is placed on
top of the heating
plate 8.
[0067] In the embodiment of FIG. 9, cooking may be performed using
one or both
of convection (by means of the hot air system 2) and conduction (by means of
the heating
- 12 -
CA 2992697 2018-01-19
plate 8). Furthermore, while the gear assembly 51 is detachably coupled to the
lid 3 in the
embodiment of FIG. 9, in at least some different embodiments, the pan 100 may
comprise
the heating plate 8 and the gear assembly 51 may be permanently attached
(e.g., through
welding) to the lid 3.
[0068] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular
embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. Accordingly, as used
herein, the
singular forms "a", "an", and "the" are intended to include the plural forms
as well, unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that
the terms
"comprises" and "comprising", when used in this specification, specify the
presence of one
or more stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and
components, but do not
preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
steps, operations,
elements, components, and groups. Directional terms such as "top", "bottom",
"upwards",
"downwards", "vertically", and "laterally" are used in the following
description for the
purpose of providing relative reference only, and are not intended to suggest
any limitations
on how any article is to be positioned during use, or to be mounted in an
assembly or
relative to an environment. Additionally, the term "couple" and variants of it
such as
"coupled", "couples", and "coupling" as used in this description are intended
to include
indirect and direct connections unless otherwise indicated. For example, if a
first device is
coupled to a second device, that coupling may be through a direct connection
or through
an indirect connection via other devices and connections. Similarly, if the
first device is
communicatively coupled to the second device, communication may be through a
direct
connection or through an indirect connection via other devices and
connections.
[0069] It is contemplated that any part of any aspect or embodiment
discussed in
this specification can be implemented or combined with any part of any other
aspect or
embodiment discussed in this specification.
[0070] One or more example embodiments have been described by way of
illustration only. This description is presented for purposes of illustration
and description,
but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the form disclosed. It will
be apparent to
- 13 -
CA 2992697 2018-01-19
I
, .
persons skilled in the art that a number of variations and modifications can
be made without
departing from the scope of the claims.
- 14 -
1
CA 2992697 2018-01-19
