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US3842724A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus and package for use in heating or cooking of food by electrical conduction through the food

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-09-27
•
Granted: 1974-10-22
•
Expires: 1992-09-27
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Abstract

Abstract Prepackaged food to be heated or cooked is provided in a container having electrodes for passing current through the food, and also having indicia thereon related to the electrical conducting properties of the food and providing information in machine-readable form as to how the current to the food should be controlled for best results. The food package is placed into apparatus which connects a current source to the electrodes to accomplish the desired heating or cooking by the passage of current through the food. The apparatus includes means for sensing the indicia and for producing current-control signals which cause an appropriate initial current to be passed through the food, and which reduce the current by substantial decrements whenever certain potentially harmful increases in current through the food occur during the heating or cooking process. The power absorbed by the food is preferably also monitored, and appropriate safety and indicator devices provided. The desired heating or cooking is accomplished very quickly, yet without burning or rendering the food unappetizing.

Inventors

  • 👤 A Korr
  • 👤 J Mahoney
  • 👤 B Svihel

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 20:20
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; A; A23; A23B; A23B2/00; A23B2/05; H; H05; H05B; H05B3/00; H05B3/0004

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 93 words
Apparatus for the heating or cooking of food packaged in a container, comprising: indicia reading means for producing current-control signals in response to machine-readable indicia on said container representing current-control information characteristic of said packaged food; means for applying a voltage across said food in said container to pass a current through said food to heat or cook said food; and means supplied with said current-control signals for automatically varying said current while said heating or cooking is taking place, through values of current determined at least in part by said current-control signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 93 words
Apparatus for the heating or cooking of food packaged in a container, comprising: indicia reading means for producing current-control signals in response to machine-readable indicia on said container representing current-control information characteristic of said packaged food; means for applying a voltage across said food in said container to pass a current through said food to heat or cook said food; and means supplied with said current-control signals for automatically varying said current while said heating or cooking is taking place, through values of current determined at least in part by said current-control signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 42 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which said means for varying said current comprises means for sensing the current through said packaged food and means for automatically reducing said current by a substantial decrement when said current reaches a predetermined level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 32 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which said means for varying said current comprises a relay-controlled multilevel stepping switch responsive to said current-control signals to select different levels of said switch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 46 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which said means for varying said current comprises means for sensing the rate of increase of said current through said food and means for decreasing said current by a substantial discrete decrement when said rate exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 37 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, comprising means responsive to the current through and the voltage across said food during said heating or cooking, to provide an indication of the total accumulated power absorbed by said food.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 35 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, comprising means for sensing changes in said current through said food occurring during said heating or said cooking and for further controlling said current in response to said changes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 69 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 6, in which said sensing means comprises means for sensing when said current rises above a predetermined level, means for sensing when the time rate of increase of said current exceeds a predetermined value, and means for decreasing said current by a substantial decrement when either said current rises to said predetermined level or said rate of current increase rises to said predetermined value.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

No citation records indexed.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-10-21 1978-04-22 1978-10-22 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-10-21 1982-04-22 1982-10-22 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-10-21 1986-04-22 1986-10-22 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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