OVEN SYSTEM

Abstract

Disclosed is an oven comprising an oven chamber, a base and an aperture. The oven chamber is for containing foodstuffs during a cooking or curing process. The base is for supporting the oven chamber and comprises a cavity for receiving an accessory for supplying energy to cook or cure foodstuffs. The aperture is for permitting energy from the accessory to flow into the oven chamber.

Claims

1. An oven system kit comprising: an oven comprising: oven chamber for containing foodstuffs during cooking or curing; and a base for supporting the oven chamber, wherein the base comprises a cavity for receiving an accessory for supplying energy to cook or cure foodstuffs; and an aperture for permitting energy from the accessory to flow into the oven chamber; and a first accessory for supplying energy of a first type to cook or cure foodstuffs, a second accessory for supplying energy of a second type different to the first type to cook or cure foodstuffs, wherein the first and second accessories are each configured to be slidably receivable in and removable from the cavity of the oven so as to provide different types of energy to the oven chamber.

2. An oven system kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cavity comprises the aperture.

3. An oven system kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cavity is located underneath at least part of the oven chamber and/or underneath at least a part of an oven floor of the oven.

4. An oven system kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cavity comprises an opening in the side of the base.

5. An oven system kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base comprises a sidewall and wherein the sidewall comprises an opening to permit access to the cavity.

6. An oven system kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cavity is configured to slidably receive the accessory through the opening.

7. An oven system kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the oven chamber is at least partially surrounded by an oven housing.

8. An oven system kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the accessory comprises at least one of a smoke source for cold or hot smoking the foodstuffs, a heat source to cook foodstuffs, and wherein the aperture is configured to permit the passage of smoke from the smoke source, when the smoke source is received in the cavity, into the oven chamber.

9. An oven system kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the accessory comprises a heat source, and wherein the aperture is configured to permit the passage of heat from the heat source, when the heat source is received in the cavity, into the oven chamber.

10. An oven system kit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a blanking cap for selectively covering the aperture.

11. An oven system kit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an oven floor, the oven floor forming a surface of the oven chamber for supporting foodstuffs during cooking.

12. An oven system kit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cavity is located below the oven floor.

13. An oven system kit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the oven floor comprises the aperture.

14. An oven system kit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the aperture is a first aperture and wherein the cavity comprises the aperture, wherein the oven floor comprises a second aperture, and wherein the first and second apertures form two ends of a conduit, the conduit fluidly connecting the cavity with the oven chamber and forming a passage energy to be supplied from the accessory to the oven chamber.

15. An oven system kit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cavity comprises a slidable drawer.

16. An oven system kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the oven is configured to permit energy from the accessory to flow into the oven chamber substantially vertically from the base through the aperture.

17. An oven system kit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the accessory for supplying energy to cook or cure foodstuffs, wherein the accessory is slidably receivable in and removable from the cavity of the oven.

18. An oven system kit as claimed in claim 17 wherein the accessory is slidably received in the base in a lateral direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] 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:

[0039] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an oven; and

[0040] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the oven of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an oven 1 comprising an oven chamber 10 for containing a foodstuff (not shown in FIG. 1) during cooking or curing. The oven 1 comprises a base 20 for supporting the oven chamber 10. The base 20 comprises a bottom surface 20b that is intended to contact the ground, or a support surface, in use to support the oven chamber 10. The oven chamber 10 sits atop the base 20. The base 20 is therefore a structural support for the oven chamber 10. In other examples, the base may comprise legs for supporting the base and/or oven chamber.

[0042] The base 20 comprises a cavity 30 for receipt of an accessory (not shown), the accessory being for supplying energy to cook or cure a foodstuff (for example heat, smoke, or steam etc.). The oven 1 comprises an aperture, or an opening, 50, shown in FIG. 2, for connecting (e.g. fluidly connecting) the cavity 30 and the oven chamber 10. The aperture 50 is for permitting energy in the cavity 30 to flow into the oven chamber 10. The aperture 50 is therefore for permitting energy from the accessory (when the accessory is at least partially received in the cavity 30) to flow into the oven chamber 10.

[0043] The oven 1 comprises an oven housing 11 that at least partially surrounds the oven chamber 10. The oven housing 11 at least partially encloses the oven chamber 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 11 does not fully enclose the oven chamber 10 in that the housing 11 comprises an opening 12. The opening 12 in the oven housing 11 provides access to the oven chamber 10, for example for the transportation of a foodstuff to place the foodstuff in the oven chamber 10 for cooking or curing the foodstuff. The opening 12 may be referred to as an oven mouth.

[0044] The oven 1 comprises an oven surface 13, for example a cooking surface, for example an oven floor. It will be appreciated that the cooking surface 13 of the oven 1 may become hot during use and may heat and/or cook a foodstuff contained in the oven chamber 10. For example, the oven floor 13 may heat up and radiate heat into the oven chamber 10. For example, when a foodstuff is placed in the oven chamber 10 on a rack, elevated from the floor 13, the floor 13 may radiate heat around the foodstuff to cook the foodstuff. Alternatively, if a foodstuff is placed directly on the oven floor 13 then the heat from the oven floor 13 may cook (for example, crisp) the bottom of the foodstuff (e.g. the part of the foodstuff in contact with the hot oven floor 13). This latter example may be when the oven 1 is used as a pizza oven and a pizza is placed in the oven chamber 10, on the oven floor 13, to cook. In these examples the hot oven floor 13 may cause the base of the pizza to crisp.

[0045] It will be appreciated from the figures that the cavity 30 is located in the base 20 directly below or underneath at least part of the oven chamber 10 and directly below or underneath the oven floor 13. Locating the cavity 30 directly below the oven chamber 10 and oven floor 13 takes advantage of the natural tendency for energy in the cavity (e.g. heat or smoke) to migrate upwards, thereby reducing energy dissipation before the energy reaches the oven chamber.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 2 the aperture 50 may comprise an aperture 51 in the cavity 30 and/or an aperture 52 in the base and/or part of a conduit 53 that connects the cavity 30 to the oven chamber 10. In other words, in the example of FIGS. 1 and 2, the cavity 30 comprises a first aperture 51 and the oven floor comprises a second aperture 52. A conduit 53 connects the two apertures 51, 52, such that the two apertures 51, 52 are the openings at either end of the conduit 53. In this example, the cavity 30 comprises an aperture that is the opening to the conduit 53 and thereby allows energy in the cavity 30 (e.g. emanating from the accessory) to enter the conduit 53. The conduit 53 is configured to direct the energy into the oven chamber 10. In the example of FIG. 2, the conduit 53 is to direct the energy upwards and into the oven chamber 10 through the oven floor 13 (e.g. via or through the aperture 52 in the oven floor 13). In this way, the arrangement of the first and second apertures 51, 52 and the conduit 53 may direct the energy upwards and into the oven chamber 10 through the oven floor 13. The combination of 51, 52 and 53 may also be considered to be a single aperture of the oven 1. It should be understood that the conduit 53 extends through any insulation provided under the oven floor 13. Therefore, the conduit provides communication between the cavity 30 and the oven chamber 10 through the oven floor 13 and any insulation beneath the oven floor.

[0047] The cavity 30 comprises a lower surface 31, an upper surface 32 and at least one sidewall 33. The upper surface 32 of the cavity comprises the aperture 51 but, in other examples the aperture 51 may be provided in the side surface 31 or lower surface 33 depending on the example.

[0048] Other arrangements of the cavity, aperture and conduit however may be utilized and are within the scope of this disclosure. For example, the cavity 30 may be positioned closer to the oven chamber 10 to shorten the length of the conduit 53. In other examples the conduit 53 may extend in a different direction. For example, the oven in use defines an upwards, or vertical direction, direction X and in the example of FIG. 2 the conduit 53 has an axis parallel to the axis X such that the conduit 53 is configured to direct fluid in an upward, or vertical, direction. However, the oven housing 11 may comprise the second aperture 52 in a side wall of the oven housing (rather than the ape true 52 being provided in the oven floor 13), or a in a ceiling of the oven housing 11. In these examples, the conduit 53 may extend in a lateral direction (the lateral direction being perpendicular to the upward direction X). In these examples also, the first aperture 51 may be provided elsewhere in the cavity 30. For example, a sidewall 33 of the cavity may comprise the aperture 51 and the conduit 53 may direct fluid from the aperture 51 in the sidewall 33 of the cavity 30 to the aperture 52.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 2, the oven housing 11 may comprise an outer oven housing 11b and an inner oven housing 11a. The inner oven housing 11a may be an oven chamber housing 11a. In other words, the inner housing 11a may at least partially surround, or enclose, the oven chamber 10. In examples where the aperture 52 is not located in the oven floor 13 the inner housing 11a may comprise the aperture 52. The inner and outer oven housings 11a, 11b may define a region 11c therebetween. In some examples the conduit 53 may be located in the region 11c between the inner and outer oven housings 11a, 11b. The conduit 53 may therefore be located in between the oven chamber 10 and an outer surface 11b of the oven 1.

[0050] The base 20 comprises at least one sidewall 21. In the examples depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 the base 20 comprises a cylindrical base and the sidewall 21 comprises a cylindrical sidewall. This defines a radial direction r, perpendicular to the upward or axial direction X. The radial direction r may also be referred to as the lateral direction. Of course, in other examples the base 20 may comprise a shape other than cylindrical (for example, rectangular). In any case, the sidewall 21 comprises an opening 22. The opening 22 is to permit access to the cavity 30. The cavity 30 may comprise the opening 22 which may therefore effectively comprise an entrance to the cavity 30. The cavity 30 may therefore be configured to receive an accessory in the lateral, or radial, direction r. In other words, in the examples of FIGS. 1 and 2, the cavity 30 is configured to slidably receive the accessory, e.g. in the lateral direction. The cavity 30 therefore comprises a lateral opening in the base 20. In this way a user may conveniently slide an accessory into the side of the 20 to provide a heat source for the oven 1. The accessory is also slidably removable from the cavity 30, e.g. in the lateral direction. In this way a user may conveniently remove the accessory from the base either to terminate the cooking or curing process or to replace the energy source for continued cooking or curing.

[0051] In the example of FIGS. 1 and 2, a slidable drawer 40, in particular a burner drawer, is provided for optional use. Drawer 40 is an exemplary accessory for providing energy for cooking or curing foodstuffs. In this example, the sidewall of the cavity 33 is formed integrally with the drawer 40 such that, when the drawer 40 is received in the cavity 30, the sidewall 33 forms a substantially continuous portion of the sidewall 21 of the base 20. In this example, if a solid fuel source, such as wood, is to be burned to supply energy to the oven chamber 10, the drawer 40 can be removed from the cavity 30 in the radial direction r, as shown in FIG. 1, the solid fuel can be placed in the drawer 40, ignited, and the drawer 40 slidably inserted back into the cavity 30.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 2, the drawer 40 can be slidably inserted and removed as required, as indicated by the arrow S. If another type of energy source accessory is to be utilized, such as a smoker or steamer, then the burner drawer 40 can be removed and set aside, and the accessory can be slidably inserted into the cavity 30 instead of the drawer 40. Therefore, the oven can be conveniently set-up as required by the user for the particular cooking or curing operation required with ease and without disturbing any foodstuffs in the oven chamber 10. Some accessories may be secured in the cavity with releasable fixings, such as bolts, to ensure optimal placement in the cavity, but it should generally be understood that the cavity 30 permits a modular approach to be achieved, with accessories being far more easily and quickly swappable so as to change the cooking or curing process by a user with the oven in situ. It should be understood that the oven 10 may be provided as part of an oven system kit comprising two or more different accessories for providing different oven functionalities with the same oven chamber and housing, and without disturbing the oven chamber or door. For example, a heat source accessory, such as a burner, may be provided in order to initially heat the oven chamber to a high temperature and then the burner could be removed and swapped for a smoker accessory to add smoke to the oven chamber once the oven is up to temperature without opening the oven chamber, which would result in significant heat loss.

[0053] As accessories are slidably received and removed in the cavity 30 in a lateral or radial direction, it is not required to move the oven chamber and base in order to change an accessory, or to locate the oven far higher than the support surface to provide sufficient space below the oven. Furthermore, as the accessories are still located below the oven chamber, the energy they supply can be conveniently transferred into the chamber 10 with a short, uncomplicated path (via the conduit 53) which may minimize any energy losses.

[0054] The base 20 may comprise a separate component from a remainder of the oven 1. For example, the base 20 may comprise a lower half of the oven and may be attached to an upper half of the oven comprising the oven chamber 10. The base 20 may be attached to the oven chamber 10, for example the base 20 may be attached to the oven floor 13. In other examples, the base may be formed integrally with a remainder of the oven 1. For example, the base 20 may be integrally formed with the oven chamber.

[0055] In some examples, the floor 20b of the base, or underside surface 20b of the base 20 may comprise the cavity 30. In these examples the accessory may be inserted upwards and into the base 20 of the oven 1 rather than laterally into the side of the base as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In these examples the oven may comprise a lock to prevent the accessory from falling out of the cavity.

[0056] It will be appreciated that the accessory can comprise a smoke source (e.g. for hot or cold smoking a foodstuff), e.g. wood chips or similar, and/or a heat source for cooking (e.g. roasting or steaming a foodstuff), e.g. boiling water for steaming or burning or smoldering coals or wood etc. for roasting. The aperture 50 is therefore configured to permit the passage of smoke, heat and/or steam to cook or cure a foodstuff in the oven chamber. The accessory may be receivable (e.g. slidably receivable) in the cavity and removable (e.g. slidably removable) from the cavity.

[0057] Therefore, in use, a user may insert an accessory comprising a heat source for cooking (or a smoke source for smoking etc.) a food stuff in the cavity 30 of the oven 1. Before, or after, insertion of the accessory a user may place a foodstuff to be cooked (or smoked) in the oven chamber 10. For example the user may place an uncooked pizza in the oven camber 10 for cooking (or a joint of meat in the oven chamber for smoking). Heat from the heat source (or smoke from the smoke source) will then migrate out of the cavity 30, through the aperture 50 (e.g. through the first aperture 51, conduit 53 and second aperture 52) and enter the oven chamber 10. The oven 1 comprises a chimney 18 fluidly connected to the oven chamber 10 to vent any fluid (e.g. smoke) generated during any part of the cooking or curing process. If the accessory runs out of its energy source, e.g. fuel, then the user may remove the accessory from the cavity 30 and place a new accessory in the cavity 30 to continue the cooking or curing process.

[0058] According to one aspect of this disclosure there is provided the oven 1 comprising a plurality of cavities 30, each cavity to receive an accessory (e.g. slidably receive). In this way, different types of energy, or multiple sources of the same type of energy, may be supplied to the oven chamber 10 at the same time. Each cavity 30 shall be capable of receiving any of the different accessories to provide further modularity for a wide range of different cooking or curing methods.

[0059] It should be understood that an oven system kit described herein is provided as a kit of parts comprising the oven 1 and a plurality of accessories, each accessory as above being an energy source to cook or cure a foodstuff. Each of the accessories is slidably receivable in and removable from the cavity 30 of the oven 1. Each of the accessories may provide a different type of energy. In this way, different types of energy, or multiple sources of the same type of energy, may be supplied to the oven chamber 10.

[0060] The oven cavity 30 should be understood a modular accessory port for the oven. Multiple different accessories, and in particular, energy source accessories (including but not limited to, a cold smoker, hot smoker, or heat source as described above) may each therefore be received in the cavity to supply energy to the oven chamber. In this way, access to the oven is not limited or restricted, since the accessory port is provided in the base, and the oven chamber space can be fully utilized. Furthermore, as access to the cavity is below the oven chamber, space is not only maximized but the accessory port may be accessed in a safe way that does not disturb a cooking or curing process, or the oven chamber itself. Therefore, a cooking or curing process in the oven chamber is effectively separated from introducing, or altering, an accessory providing heat or smoke to the oven chamber. Providing the cavity in the base also means that more control over the airflow may be maintained. It may also mean that the oven may maintain optimum dimensions even when an accessory is used as the accessory may be received in the base. In other words, the oven may be kept as compact as possible.

[0061] Other possible accessories may comprise a burner with adjustable airflow, an electric heating element, a gas burner, hot air blower, steam generator.

[0062] In the illustrated example, the cavity for receiving an accessory is accessible in a sideways direction (i.e. in the side of the oven when in use) but it should be understood that in other examples, the aperture could be provided on a front or rear of the oven when in use, or anywhere around the oven that is accessible in a substantially lateral direction in use.

[0063] It should be understood that, although the heat sources in these specific examples may utilize gas and/or non-gas fuel energy sources, ovens utilizing electrical energy sources, such as radiant elements or fan heaters are equally possible within the principles of this disclosure.

[0064] It will be appreciated by a skilled person that although the invention has been described by way of example, with reference to 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.