FILTERS FOR COOKING APPARATUS

Abstract

A filter (100) for filtering cooking juice particles from air circulating within a cooking apparatus (2) is provided. The filter is configured to be mounted on the cooking apparatus such that a base plate (102) of the filter is in a plane parallel with a plate direction (D.sub.P), the plate direction having a component in a vertical direction, wherein the filter comprises: the base plate, wherein the base plate comprises one or more openings (104) for circulating air to pass through the filter, wherein the filter is shaped to create a tortuous path for the circulating air to pass though the openings, such that cooking juice particles entrained by the circulating air passing through the openings collect on the filter, wherein the filter comprises one or more channelling portions (108) extending in the plate direction, wherein the channelling portions form one or more

surfaces for cooking juices, collecting on the filter to flow in the plate direction. A cooking apparatus comprising the filter is also provided.

Claims

1. A filter for filtering cooking juice particles from air circulating within a cooking apparatus, wherein the filter is configured to be mounted on the cooking apparatus such that a base plate of the filter is in a plane parallel with a plate direction (D.sub.P), the plate direction having a component in a vertical direction, wherein the filter comprises: the base plate, wherein the base plate comprises one or more openings for circulating air to pass through the filter, wherein the base plate is shaped to create a tortuous path for the circulating air to pass through the one or more openings, such that the cooking juice particles entrained by the circulating air passing through the one or more openings collect on the filter, wherein the base plate comprises one or more channelling portions extending in the plate direction, and wherein the one or more channelling portions form one or more surfaces for cooking juices collecting on the base plate to flow in the plate direction.

2. The filter of claim 1, wherein the filter comprises one or more projecting plate portions projecting from the base plate at edges of respective openings of the one or more openings in the base plate, and wherein the one or more projecting plate portions project away from the plane of the base plate.

3. The filter of claim 2, wherein the projecting plate portions at least partially overlap the one or more openings in a direction parallel with the plane of the base plate.

4. The filter of claim 2, wherein the one or more of channelling portions are provided between a pair of the one or more openings and/or the projecting plate portions.

5. The filter of claim 1, wherein the one or more channelling portions of the filter are arranged to create one or more continuous surfaces for the cooking juices to flow over from one of the one or more openings to below another of the openings.

6. The filter of claim 1, wherein the filter is configured to interact with a drip tray at a lower end of the filter, the drip tray for receiving the cooking juices that have flowed down the filter.

7. The filter of claim 6, wherein the drip tray is integrally formed with the filter.

8. The filter of claim 6, wherein the filter comprises an upstream side and a downstream side, and wherein an opening of the one or more openings into the drip tray extends between the upstream side and the downstream side of the base plate such that the cooking juices flowing over the upstream side and the downstream side of the filter enters the drip tray.

9. The filter of claim 6, wherein the one or more channelling portions of the filter are configured to create one or more continuous surfaces for the cooking juices to flow over from one or more of the openings to the drip tray.

10. The filter of claim 1, wherein the one or more openings extend principally in the plate direction (D.sub.P).

11. The filter of claim 1, wherein the one or more openings are spaced apart from one another in a lateral direction of the filter.

12. The filter of claim 1, wherein the one or more openings are arcuate in the plane of the base plate.

13. A cooking apparatus comprising: a chamber to receive food items to be cooked; an air mover arranged to one side of the chamber, circulate air around an interior of the cooking apparatus through the chamber; a heater arranged to the one side of the chamber, heat the air circulated by the air mover; and a filter mounted on the cooking apparatus between the chamber and the heater, the filter mounted such that a base plate of the filter is in a plane parallel with a plate direction (D.sub.P) having a component in a vertical direction, wherein the base plate comprises one or more openings for circulating air to pass through the filter, wherein the base plate is shaped to create a tortuous path for the circulating air to pass through the one or more openings, such that cooking juice particles suspended within the circulated air collect on the filter, wherein the base plate comprises one or more channelling portions extending along edges of the one or more openings in the plate direction, and wherein the one or more channelling portions form one or more surfaces for cooking juices collecting on the base plate to flow in the plate direction.

14. The cooking apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a drip tray arranged to receive the cooking juices flowing in the plate direction (D.sub.P).

15. The cooking apparatus of claim 14, wherein an opening of the one or more openings into the drip tray is arranged relative to the filter such that the cooking juices flowing over upstream surface and downstream surface of the base plate are received by the drip tray.

16. The cooking apparatus of claim 13, further comprises a removable basket within which the food items are contained during cooking.

17. The cooking apparatus of claim 13, further comprises a lid comprising a window to enable a user to view the food items within the chamber, when the lid is closed during cooking.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0034] FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a cooking apparatus according to arrangements of the present disclosure;

[0035] FIG. 2 is a front view of the filter and drip tray for the cooking apparatus depicted in FIG. 1;

[0036] FIGS. 3a and 3b are front and sectional views respectively of a filter for a cooking apparatus according to arrangements of the present disclosure; and

[0037] FIGS. 4a and 4b are front and sectional views respectively of another filter for a cooking apparatus according to arrangements of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] With reference to FIG. 1, a cooking apparatus 2 according to the present disclosure comprises a housing 10. The housing 10 at least partially defines a cooking chamber 20 to receive food items 60 to be cooked. As depicted, the cooking chamber may be configured to receive a basket 22 within which the food items are contained during cooking. The basket 22 may be removable from the cooking chamber in order to facilitate the loading of food items into the basket 22.

[0039] The housing 10 may comprise a lid 12, which can be opened in order to place food items and/or the basket 22 into the cooking chamber. As depicted, a wall of the cooking chamber, such as an upper wall may be formed by the lid 12. In some arrangements, the lid may comprise a window 14 to enable a user to see the food items within the cooking chamber 20 when the lid 12 is closed, e.g. during cooking.

[0040] The cooking apparatus 2 further comprises an air mover 30, such as a fan. The air mover may be powered by an electric motor 32 provided within the housing 10. In the arrangement shown, the air mover 30 is arranged to one side of the cooking chamber 20. In other words, the air mover 30 may be at least partially aligned with the cooking chamber 20, e.g. with the food items within the cooking chamber, in a vertical direction of the cooking apparatus 2.

[0041] As depicted, the air mover 30 is arranged to draw air from the cooking chamber 20 in a first direction D.sub.1 with a component, e.g. a principle component, in a lateral direction of the cooking apparatus into an inlet of the air mover 30, e.g. onto a leading edge of the fan. The first direction D.sub.1 may be aligned with the lateral direction. The air mover 30 may be arranged to eject the air in one or more second directions D.sub.2. For example in the arrangement shown, the air mover 30 is a fan configured to receive air in an axial direction of the fan and eject the air in a plurality of radial directions of the fan.

[0042] The housing 10 of the cooking device is configured to guide the air ejected from the air mover in the second directions D.sub.2 to return to the cooking chamber 20, thereby circulating the air around the cooking apparatus 2. For example, the housing 10 may guide the air ejected by the air mover along an air circulation path 50, such that the air returns to the cooking chamber in a direction with a component, e.g. a principle component, in a vertical direction of the cooking apparatus. In some arrangements, the cooking apparatus 2 may comprise one or more air guiding structures provided within the housing 10 for guiding the air ejected from the air mover 30 to the cooking chamber 20. The air guiding structures may be mounted on or integrally formed with the housing 10.

[0043] The cooking apparatus 2 further comprises a heater 40. The heater 40 is configured to heat the air being circulated by the air mover so that the air enters the cooking chamber 20 at a desirable temperature for cooking the food items 60 within the cooking chamber. The heater 40 may comprise one or more heating elements 42, such as resistive heating elements, which may be arranged in the flow of air being ejected by the air mover 30. As depicted, the heater 40 may be arranged to the one side of the cooking apparatus, e.g. adjacent to the air mover 30. In one or more arrangements, the heater 40 may comprise one or more heating element 42 extending in a circular shape about the air mover 30, such that air leaving the air mover in the second directions D.sub.2 passes over the heating element 42. It will be appreciated that in other arrangements the heater 40 may have a different configuration and/or may be located in a different location in the cooking apparatus 2.

[0044] During cooking of the food items, the food items may release, and/or have on their surfaces, liquids, e.g. cooking juices, containing, in particular, water and fat. Particles, e.g. droplets, of the cooking juices may become entrained within the flow of air being circulated around the cooking apparatus. Particles of the cooking juices that travel from the cooking chamber 20 to reach the heater 40 may be heated to undesirably high temperatures. In the case particles containing fat, the particles being heated by the heater may lead to the production of smoke, which is undesirable.

[0045] In order to restrict, e.g. limit, particles of cooking juices reaching the heater 40, the cooking apparatus further comprises a filter 100 according to arrangements of the present disclosure. The filter 100 comprises a base plate 102 comprising one or more openings 104 for the circulating air to pass though the filter. The cooking apparatus 2 may be configured such that substantially all of the air circulating from the cooking chamber 20 to the air mover 30 and heater 40 pass though the openings 104 in the filter 100.

[0046] As described above, the air mover 30 is arranged to draw air from the cooking chamber 20 in the first direction D.sub.1 having a component in a lateral direction of the cooking apparatus. Accordingly, the filter 100 is mounted, e.g. removably mounted, on the cooking apparatus such that the base plate is in a plane, e.g. a flat or curved plane, parallel with a plate direction D.sub.P that has a component in a vertical direction of the cooking apparatus. In this way, the openings 104 are formed in the base plate to define a flow area through the openings in a direction with a horizontal component. As depicted in FIG. 1, the filter 100 may be mounted on the cooking apparatus such that a principle, e.g. greatest, component of the plate direction is in a vertical direction. For example, the filter may be mounted such that the base plate 102 is in a vertical plane. In other words, the plate direction D.sub.P may be parallel with the vertical direction.

[0047] The filter 100 is configured to create a tortuous path, e.g. a flow path comprising one or more bends or turns, for the air circulating around the cooking apparatus 2 to pass through the openings 104 in the base plate 102. In particular, the filter 100 may comprise one or more projecting plate portions 106 that projecting from the base plate 102. The projecting plate portions 106 may project form the base plate 102 at edges of respective openings in the base plate. As depicted, the one or more projecting plate portions may project away from the plane of the base plate, e.g. at an angle relative to the plane of the base plate. The projecting plate portions may thereby form one or more slats or louvres in the filter, thereby creating the tortuous path for the circulating air. As depicted, the projecting plate portions 106 at least partially overlap the openings in a direction parallel with the plane of the base plate, thereby reducing areas of the openings through which particles of cooking juice travelling directly towards the openings, e.g. not following the tortuous path, can pass through.

[0048] The liquid particles, e.g. of cooking juices, entrained within the air have a greater inertia than the air particles, and hence, may be less able to follow the tortuous path though the openings 104, resulting in the particles of cooking juices colliding with the filter, e.g. with the base plate 102 or the projecting plate portions 106, as the circulating air passes through the openings 104.

[0049] With reference to FIG. 2, the filter 100 comprises one or more channelling portions 108. The channelling portions 108 may extend along edges of the openings in the plate direction D.sub.P and form one or more surfaces for cooking juices that have collected on the filter to flow over the filter in the plate direction D.sub.P, e.g. with at least a component vertically downwards.

[0050] As depicted in FIG. 2, one or more of the channelling portions 108 may be provided between pairs of the openings, e.g. in a direction perpendicular to the plate direction D.sub.P. Additionally or alternatively, one or more of the channelling portions may be provided between one of the openings and an edge of the plate, e.g. a lateral edge.

[0051] The channelling portions 108 may be configured to form a continuous surface for the cooking juices to flow over from one of the openings, e.g. an uppermost one of the openings to, e.g. to a position below, another of the openings, e.g. a lowermost one of the openings. As depicted in FIG. 2, the channelling portions 108 may be configured to form a continuous surface for the cooking juices to flow over from one of the openings, e.g. an uppermost one of the openings, or an upper end 102a of the base plate, to a lower end 102b of the base plate, e.g. in the plate direction D.sub.P.

[0052] The base plate 102 may comprise a plurality of openings 104 and associated projecting plate portions 106. As depicted in FIG. 2, the openings may extend principally in a lateral direction of the plate, e.g. a direction perpendicular to the plate direction D.sub.P. The projecting plate portions 106 may project from upper edges 104a of the openings. As shown, upper corners 104b of the openings 104 may be rounded. The projecting plate portions 106 may be attached to, e.g. project from, the base plate at least partially around one or both of the upper corners 104b of the openings to lateral edges of the openings. In this way, the projecting plate portions 106 may comprise arcuate portions 106a between upper and lateral edges of the projection plate portions, which may act to guide cooking juices that collect above the projecting plate portions 106 to the lateral side of the projecting plate portions 106, e.g. to the channelling portions 108.

[0053] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the cooking apparatus 2 may further comprise a drip tray 200. The drip tray 200 may be mounted, e.g. removably mounted, on the cooking apparatus 2 below, e.g. vertically below, the filter 100. The drip tray may be arranged relative to the filter 100 so that the drip tray catches drips of cooking juices that have run down the filter 100 to the lower end 100a of the filter before dripping on the filter. In particulate, the drip tray may be aligned with the channelling portions 108. As shown in FIG. 1, the drip tray 200 may be arranged relative to the filter such at an opening 204 into the drip tray reservoir 202 overlaps an upstream and downstream side 100b, 100c of the filter 100, e.g. the base plate of the filter, at the lower end 100a, so that the drip tray is able to receive cooking juices flowing down the upstream and downstream sides of the filter, e.g. of the base plate. Additionally, the drip tray 200 may extend as far as or further than the projecting plate portions 106, e.g. lower edges of the projecting plate portions, from the plane of the base plate 102, so that the drip tray is able to receive cooking juices dripping from the projecting plate portions 106.

[0054] In the arrangement depicted in FIG. 2, the filter 100 comprises a plurality of openings 104 and associated projecting plate portions 106 spaced apart from one another in the plate direction D.sub.P and the direction perpendicular to the plate direction to form a grid of openings and associated projecting plate portions.

[0055] With reference to FIGS. 3a and 3b, in another arrangement of the disclosure, the filter 100 comprises openings 104 that are spaced apart from one another in a lateral direction of the plate, e.g. perpendicular to the plate direction D.sub.P. The openings 104 may be spaced apart from one another such that the openings do not overlap in the lateral direction of the plate, e.g. perpendicular to the plate direction D.sub.P.

[0056] As depicted in FIG. 3a, the openings 104 and associated projecting plate portions 106 may have a length greater than half the length of the base plate in the plate direction D.sub.1. In such arrangements, the projecting plate portions may form continuous surfaces for the cooking juices to flow over the filter in the plate direction D.sub.P. In other words, the projecting plate portions 106 may from channelling portions, or further channelling portions.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 3a, in some arrangements, the projecting plate portions may not completely overlap the openings, in the plane of the base plate 102, such that a gap 105 is provided between a free edge of the projecting plate portion 106 and an adjacent edge of the opening in the plane of the base plate 102.

[0058] In some arrangements, such as the arrangements shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, the drip tray 200 may be integrally formed with the filter. For example, the drip tray may be formed integrally with the base plate 102, e.g. at a lower end of the base plate. The drip tray 200 may be formed such that cooking juices flowing down the filter, e.g. down the channelling portions, enter a reservoir 202 formed by the drip tray. The base plate 102 may form a wall of the drip tray reservoir. In this way, cooking juices flowing down the filter can enter the drip tray reservoir without detaching from the base plate. In such arrangements, the channelling portions 108 of the base plate may extend from one of the openings, e.g. an uppermost one of the openings, or the upper end 102a of the base plate to the drip tray 200, e.g. the reservoir 202 of the drip tray.

[0059] With reference to FIGS. 4a and 4b, in one or more arrangements, the openings 104 in the base plate 102 may be arcuate. Additionally, the projecting plate portions 106 may be arcuate. For example, as depicted in FIG. 4a, the openings may be crescent shaped. The crescent shaped openings may extend principally in the plate direction D.sub.P. The openings 104 may be symmetrically arrange don opposing lateral sides of the base plate. Two or more of the arcuate openings may be disposed of either lateral side of the plate. Successive ones of the openings disposed a greater distance from a centre of curvature the openings, or from the centre of the base plate 102, may have a greater radius of curvature, such that the arcuate openings further from the centre extend about the arcuate openings closer to the centre.

[0060] In such arrangements, one of more of the channelling portions 108 may be arcuate. In particular, the channelling portions 108 formed between, e.g. laterally between, pairs of the arcuate openings 104.

[0061] As depicted in FIGS. 4a and 4b, in one of more arrangements, the filter 100 may be configured such that an opening 204 into the drip tray reservoir 202 extends between upstream and downstream sides 100b, 100c of the filter. In this way, liquid, e.g. cooking juices flowing down either the upstream or downstream sides of the filter may enter the drip tray 200. As depicted in FIG. 4a, an aperture 110 may be formed in the base plate above, e.g. vertically above the drip tray opening, to enable the drip tray opening 204 to extend between the upstream and downstream sides of the base plate 102.

[0062] The following additional, numbered statements of invention are also included within the specification and form part of the present disclosure:

Statement 1. A filter (100) for filtering cooking juice particles from air circulating within a cooking apparatus (2), wherein the filter is configured to be mounted on the cooking apparatus such that a base plate (102) of the filter is in a plane parallel with a plate direction (D.sub.P), the plate direction having a component in a vertical direction, wherein the filter comprises:

[0063] the base plate, wherein the base plate comprises one or more openings (104) for circulating air to pass through the filter, wherein the filter is shaped to create a tortuous path for the circulating air to pass though the openings, such that cooking juice particles entrained by the circulating air passing through the openings collect on the filter,

[0064] wherein the filter comprises one or more channelling portions (108) extending in the plate direction, wherein the channelling portions form one or more surfaces for cooking juices, collecting on the filter to flow in the plate direction.

Statement 2. The filter (100) of statement 1, wherein the filter comprises one or more projecting plate portions (106) projecting from the base plate (102) at edges of respective openings (104) in the base plate, wherein the one or more projecting plate portions project away from the plane of the base plate.
Statement 3. The filter (100) of statement 2, wherein the projecting plate portions (106) at least partially overlap the openings (104) in a direction parallel with the plane of the base plate.
Statement 4. The filter (100) of any of statements 1 to 3, wherein one or more of the channelling portions (108) are provided between a pair of the openings (104) and/or projecting plate portions (106).
Statement 5. The filter (100) of any of statements 1 to 4, wherein the channelling portions (108) of the filter are arranged to create one or more continuous surfaces for cooking juices to flow over from one of the openings (104) to below another of the openings.
Statement 6. The filter (100) of any of statements 1 to 5, wherein the filter is configured to interact with a drip tray (200) at a lower end of the filter, the drip tray for receiving cooking juices that have flowed down the filter.
Statement 7. The filter (100) of statement 6, wherein the drip tray (200) is integrally formed with the filter.
Statement 8. The filter (100) of statements 6 or 7, wherein the filter comprises an upstream side (100a) and a downstream side (100b), wherein an opening (204) into the drip tray (200) extends between the upstream and downstream side of the filter such that cooking juices flowing over the upstream and downstream sides of the filter can enter the drip tray.
Statement 9. The filter (100) of any of statements 6 to 8, wherein the channelling portions (108) of the filter are configured to create one or more continuous surfaces for cooking juices to flow over from one or more of the openings (104) to the drip tray (200).
Statement 10. The filter (100) of any of the preceding statements, wherein the openings (104) extend principally in the plate direction (D.sub.P).
Statement 11. The filter (100) of any of the preceding statements, wherein the openings (104) are spaced apart from one another in a lateral direction of the filter.
Statement 12. The filter (100) of any of the preceding statements, wherein the openings are arcuate in the plane of the base plate (102).
Statement 13. A cooking apparatus (2) comprising:

[0065] a chamber (20) for receiving food items (60) to be cooked;

[0066] an air mover (30) arranged to one side of the chamber for circulating air around an interior of the cooking apparatus through the chamber;

[0067] a heater (40) arranged to the one side of the chamber for heating the air circulated by the air mover; and

[0068] a filter (100) mounted on the cooking apparatus between the chamber and the heater, the filter mounted such that a base plate (102) of the filter is in a plane parallel with a plate direction (D.sub.P) having a component in a vertical direction, wherein the filter plate is shaped to create a tortuous path for the circulating air to pass through the openings, such that cooking juice particles suspended within the circulated air collect on the filter, wherein the filter comprises one or more channelling portions (108) extending along edges of the openings in the plate direction, wherein the channelling portions form one or more surfaces for cooking juices collecting on the filter to flow in the plate direction.

Statement 14. The cooking apparatus (2) of statement 13 further comprising a drip tray (200) arranged to receive cooking juices flowing in the plate direction (D.sub.P).
Statement 15. The cooking apparatus (2) of statement 14, wherein an opening (204) into the drip tray is arranged relative to the filter (100) such that cooking juices flowing over upstream and downstream surfaces (100a, 100b) of the filter are received by the drip tray (200).

[0069] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although the invention has been described by way of example, with reference to one or more exemplary examples, it is not limited to the disclosed examples and that alternative examples could be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.