Electric cooking utensil having a removable ceramic vessel

Claim 1

An electric non-thermostitically controlled cooking utensil for slow cooking or warming food, said utensil including a vessel comprised of ceramic or earthernware material, said vessel having an annular lip located at the upper end portion thereof and extending radially outwardly therefrom, said vessel further including a generally cylindrical side wall integrally formed with said lip and a bottom wall, an inner container constructed of material having the ability to conduct heat and having a shape similar to said vessel and sized to permit at least a portion of said vessel to be received within said inner container, the inner container being substantially separated from said vessel by an air chamber located therebetween, at least one electric heating element operable to supply heat to the utensil contents by heating said inner container, said inner chamber and said vessel, said heating element encircling said inner container and being attached to the exterior surface of said inner container and electrically insulated therefrom, an outer container being of a size and shape to hold substantially all of said inner container and said vessel therein, said inner container having an upper end portion forming a seal with said outer container, said seal thereby precluding liquid located interiorly of said vessel from reaching said electric heating element while pouring out the contents of said vessel or in the event of said vessel becoming cracked or broken, said lip of said vessel contacting said seal and supporting substantially the entire weight of said vessel thereon in spaced relationship from said inner container so that neither said side wall nor said bottom contacts said inner container, said vessel structure including said lip permitting said vessel to be easily removed from said container without removing any other portions of the utensil or using special tools, attaching means for securing and attaching said heating element to the exterior surface of said inner container, and electric lead means for applying electric current to said electric heating element thereby effecting the heating of said heating element.