US5620623A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal blend convection oven
Assignee: Whirlpool Corp
•
Filing: 1996-01-26
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Granted: 1997-04-15
•
Expires: 2016-01-26
Abstract
Abstract A thermal convection oven comprises an enclosure housing an oven cavity having connected rear, top, bottom and side walls to define an oven space having a front opening. A door is hingedly mounted to the enclosure about the front opening providing selective access to the oven space. A bottom plate is mounted in the oven space above the bottom wall separating a heated space from a cooking space, the plate having peripheral bottom vent openings. A heating element is disposed in the heated space. A blower fan is disposed in the heated space in proximity to the heating element. A top vent opening is in the cavity above the bottom plate. The blower fan circulates air heated by the heating element through the bottom vent openings into the cooking space and out the top vent openings.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard L. Baker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 22:23
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24C; F24C15/00; F24C15/32; F24C15/322
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
241 words
A thermal convection oven for cooking food comprising: enclosure having rear, top, bottom, and side walls defining an oven space with a front opening providing selective access to the oven space; a door pivotally mounted to the enclosure at the front opening and moveable relative to the enclosure between an open and a closed position to cover and uncover the opening to provide selective access to the oven space; a bottom plate mounted in the oven space above the bottom wall, separating the oven space into a heated space in a cooking space; a heating element disposed in the heated space; the bottom plate being sized to cover the heating element and the bottom plate having at least one vent opening positioned on the bottom plate not directly above the heating element so that any spills in the enclosure will not directly contact the heating element; a fan disclosed in the heated space; a deflector disposed within the heated space, a portion of which is positioned below the fan for deflecting the flow of air from the fan upwardly through the at least one vent opening and into the cooking space; and the enclosure having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, wherein the fan draws air into the enclosure through the inlet opening, where it is heated by the heater and circulates the heated air through the vent opening, with the air finally exiting the enclosure through the outlet opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
241 words
A thermal convection oven for cooking food comprising: enclosure having rear, top, bottom, and side walls defining an oven space with a front opening providing selective access to the oven space; a door pivotally mounted to the enclosure at the front opening and moveable relative to the enclosure between an open and a closed position to cover and uncover the opening to provide selective access to the oven space; a bottom plate mounted in the oven space above the bottom wall, separating the oven space into a heated space in a cooking space; a heating element disposed in the heated space; the bottom plate being sized to cover the heating element and the bottom plate having at least one vent opening positioned on the bottom plate not directly above the heating element so that any spills in the enclosure will not directly contact the heating element; a fan disclosed in the heated space; a deflector disposed within the heated space, a portion of which is positioned below the fan for deflecting the flow of air from the fan upwardly through the at least one vent opening and into the cooking space; and the enclosure having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, wherein the fan draws air into the enclosure through the inlet opening, where it is heated by the heater and circulates the heated air through the vent opening, with the air finally exiting the enclosure through the outlet opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A thermal convection oven as claimed in claim 1, wherein the deflector has a generally planar body with upwardly sloped ends for deflecting upwardly the air blown by the fan.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A thermal convection oven as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one vent opening is positioned over one of the upwardly sloped ends.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A thermal convection oven as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising at least one oven rack positioned within the cooking space above the bottom plate for supporting food to be cooked in the oven.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A thermal convection oven as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inlet opening is in the heated space and the outlet opening is in the cooking space.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A thermal convection oven as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fan comprises a power source having a drive shaft and a fan blade mounted on the drive shaft, and the power source is positioned below the heater.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
A thermal convection oven as claimed in claim 6, wherein the inlet opening is in the bottom wall of the enclosure and the drive shaft extends through the inlet opening such that the fan blade is positioned within the heated space and the power source is positioned below the bottom wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
An thermal convection oven as claimed in claim 1, wherein the deflector plate disposed in the heated space below the heater.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A thermal convection oven as claimed in claim 8, wherein the deflector has a generally planar body with upwardly sloped ends for deflecting upwardly the air blown by the fan.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A thermal convection oven as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one vent opening is positioned over one of the upwardly sloped ends.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A thermal convection oven as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom plate extends substantially across the oven space and covers the heating element to protect it from direct contact with spilled cooking material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
A thermal convection oven as claimed in claim 11, wherein the deflector has a generally planar body with upwardly sloped ends for deflecting upwardly the air blown by the fan and the at least one vent opening is positioned over one of the upwardly sloped ends.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A thermal convection oven as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bottom plate is removable.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
70 words
A thermal convection oven as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bottom wall comprises an insulated wall having a through opening and said fan comprises a motor having a shaft, the motor being positioned below said bottom wall with said shaft extending through said opening, and a fan blade secured to distal end of said shaft, said fan blade drawing exterior air through said through opening around said motor shaft.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A thermal convection oven as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heating element comprises an electrical ring element surrounding said fan.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A thermal convection oven as claimed in claim 1, wherein said door includes a gasket completely surrounding said opening.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A thermal convection oven as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outlet opening is in said top wall.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A thermal convection oven as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one vent opening is a plurality of peripheral bottom vent openings.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
A thermal convection oven as claimed in claim 18, wherein the outlet opening is a top vent opening in said enclosure above said bottom plate and the fan circulates air heated by said heating element through said bottom vent openings into said cooking space and out said top vent opening.
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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) | 2000-04-14 | 2000-10-14 | 2001-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-04-14 | 2004-10-14 | 2005-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-04-14 | 2008-10-14 | 2009-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |