Patent US3786222A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3786222A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Metallic foil induction cooking
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1972-04-19
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Granted: 1974-01-15
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Expires: 1992-04-19
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic frequency induction surface cooking unit heats aluminum foil and other thin metal utensils placed on the cool cooking surface. For optimum heating the aluminum foil has a thickness of 0.5 mils. A uniform heating distribution is obtained by preferably using a rectangular induction heating coil with several series-connected elongated coil sections, or by varying the metal thickness to graduate the energy acceptance. Frozen convenience foods can be defrosted in this manner, and the aluminum foil can be wrapped about the food and shaped by the user into disposable utensils using a set of molds. Disposable foil cooking obviates the clean-up and storage problems of pots and pans.
Inventors
- 👤 J Harnden
- 👤 W Kornrumpf
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 12:10
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B6/00; H05B6/02; H05B6/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A metallic foil induction surface cooking unit comprising a substantially unbroken, relatively smooth, non-metallic cooking surface, an induction heating coil mounted adjacent to and beneath said cooking surface, and a solid state power conversion circuit for producing an ultrasonic frequency wave that drives said induction heating coil and generates an alternating magnetic field distribution which produces relatively uniform heating in a variety of sizes and shapes of food containing metallic foil utensils and containers placed on top of said cooking surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
A metallic foil induction surface cooking unit comprising a substantially unbroken, relatively smooth, non-metallic cooking surface, an induction heating coil mounted adjacent to and beneath said cooking surface, and a solid state power conversion circuit for producing an ultrasonic frequency wave that drives said induction heating coil and generates an alternating magnetic field distribution which produces relatively uniform heating in a variety of sizes and shapes of food containing metallic foil utensils and containers placed on top of said cooking surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A surface cooking unit according to claim 1 in which said induction heating coil is a nominally flat even-heating induction coil comprising a plurality of elongated coil sections connected together and arranged side-by-side with adjacent coil sides close to one another and aiding.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A surface cooking unit according to claim 1 in which said induction heating coil is a nominally flat even-heating induction heating coil comprising an odd number of series connected elongated coil sections arranged side-by-side and close together such that current in adjacent coil sides flows in the same direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A surface cooking Unit according to claim 3 further including a peripheral coil section closely surrounding said elongated coil sections and also connected in series therewith such that current in adjacent coil sides flows in the same direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A surface cooking unit according to claim 1 in which said induction heating coil is an even-heating induction coil, and said surface cooking unit further includes a removable cover enclosing the top of the cooking surface above said induction heating coil.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
A surface cooking unit according to claim 5 in which said even-heating induction coil has a rectangular configuration and includes at least three substantially identical elongated central coil sections arranged close together side-by-side and closely surrounded by a peripheral coil section, the current in the center one of said central coil sections flowing in the opposite direction to the current in the other central coil sections and the peripheral coil section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
A surface cooking unit according to claim 5 in which said even-heating induction coil has an oval configuration and includes at least three elongated central coil sections arranged close together side-by-side and closely surrounded by a peripheral coil section, the current in the center one of said central coil sections flowing in the opposite direction to the current in the other central coil sections and the peripheral coil section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
A surface cooking unit according to claim 5 further including an inductively heated aluminum foil utensil on said cooking surface underneath said removable cover which is comprised by a sheet of aluminum foil having a thickness of approximately 0.5 mils for optimum energy acceptance that is user-shaped as a cavity for receiving the food.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
A surface cooking unit according to claim 5 further including an inductively heated aluminum foil container on said cooking surface underneath said removable cover with a contoured bottom wall having a variable thickness to graduate the energy acceptance and thereby obtain a more uniform heating distribution, the optimum energy acceptance thickness being approximately 0.5 mils.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
A surface cooking unit according to claim 5 further including an inductively heated aluminum foil container on said cooking surface underneath said removable cover having a contoured bottom wall with at least two food cavities at different heights from said cooking surface to obtain differential heating.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
A surface cooking unit according to claim 1 further including an inductively heated aluminum foil disk disposed in the bottom of a non-metallic container placed on said cooking surface, said aluminum foil disk having a thickness of approximately 0.5 mils for optimum energy acceptance.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
110 words
An aluminum foil induction cooking unit comprising a nominally flat even-heating induction heating coil mounted adjacent a substantially unbroken non-metaliic plate to thereby provide a relatively cool cooking surface, said induction heating coil comprising a plurality of coupled elongated coil sections electrically and physically arranged to produce relatively uniform heating in disposable aluminum foil utensils and containers placed on said cooking surface, a static power conversion circuit comprising a solid state inverter for converting a unidirectional voltage to an ultrasonic frequency wave that drives said induction heating coil, and for adjusting the power output of said inverter, and a removable cover enclosing the cooking surface above said induction heating coil.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
110 words
An aluminum foil induction cooking unit comprising a nominally flat even-heating induction heating coil mounted adjacent a substantially unbroken non-metaliic plate to thereby provide a relatively cool cooking surface, said induction heating coil comprising a plurality of coupled elongated coil sections electrically and physically arranged to produce relatively uniform heating in disposable aluminum foil utensils and containers placed on said cooking surface, a static power conversion circuit comprising a solid state inverter for converting a unidirectional voltage to an ultrasonic frequency wave that drives said induction heating coil, and for adjusting the power output of said inverter, and a removable cover enclosing the cooking surface above said induction heating coil.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A cooking unit according to claim 12 wherein said even-heating induction heating coil has a rectangular configuration and wherein said elongated coil sections are series-connected and arranged side-by-side so that adjacent coil section sides are aiding.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
67 words
A cooking unit according to claim 12 wherein said even-heating induction heating coil includes an odd number of said elongated coil sections arranged side-by-side and surrounded by a peripheral coil sectIon, said coil sections being series-connected with the current in the center one of said central coil sections flowing in the opposite direction to the current in the other central coil sections and the peripheral coil section.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
107 words
An induction surface cooking unit comprising a nominally flat induction heating coil mounted adjacent a substantially unbroken non-metallic cooking surface and generating an alternating magnetic field, a static power conversion circuit including a solid state inverter for converting a unidirectional voltage to an ultrasonic frequency wave that drives said induction heating coil, said inverter having an operating frequency between 18 and 40 kilohertz, and an inductively heated aluminum foil food container placed on said cooking surface, said aluminum foil container having a variable metal thickness to graduate the energy acceptance and thereby obtain a relatively uniform heating distribution, the optimum energy acceptance thickness being approximately 0.5 mils.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
107 words
An induction surface cooking unit comprising a nominally flat induction heating coil mounted adjacent a substantially unbroken non-metallic cooking surface and generating an alternating magnetic field, a static power conversion circuit including a solid state inverter for converting a unidirectional voltage to an ultrasonic frequency wave that drives said induction heating coil, said inverter having an operating frequency between 18 and 40 kilohertz, and an inductively heated aluminum foil food container placed on said cooking surface, said aluminum foil container having a variable metal thickness to graduate the energy acceptance and thereby obtain a relatively uniform heating distribution, the optimum energy acceptance thickness being approximately 0.5 mils.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-14 | 1977-07-16 | 1978-01-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-14 | 1981-07-16 | 1982-01-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-14 | 1985-07-16 | 1986-01-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |