COOKTOP MODULE FOR CONNECTING TO A KITCHEN APPLIANCE BASE AS WELL AS COOKING SYSTEM

Abstract

A cooktop module (1) to connect to a kitchen appliance base (2). The range of functions of kitchen appliances is expanded, in that the cooktop module (1) features at least one surface (3) for at least one cooking vessel (9), at least one electrical heating means (4), at least one connection area (5) for accommodation on the kitchen appliance base (2), and at least one electrical contact means (6), wherein a cooking vessel (9) which can be positioned on the surface (3) can be warmed by the heating means (4), and wherein the heating means (4) can be electrically connected to the kitchen appliance base (2) via the electrical contact means (6).

Claims

1. A cooktop module adapted for connecting to a kitchen appliance base, comprising at least one surface for at least one cooking vessel, at least one electrical heating means, at least one connection area for accommodation on the kitchen appliance base, and at least one electrical contact means, wherein a cooking vessel which can be positioned on the surface can be warmed by the heating means, and wherein the heating means can be electrically connected to the kitchen appliance base via the electrical contact means.

2. The cooktop module according to claim 1, wherein at least one sensor is provided.

3. The cooktop module according to claim 1, wherein at least one signal interface is provided for transmission of electrical signals to an opposing signal interface of the kitchen appliance base.

4. The cooktop module according to claim 1, wherein at least one coupling is provided for transferring of rotational movement.

5. The cooktop module according to claim 1, wherein the heating means features at least one electrical radiant heating means.

6. The cooktop module according to claim 1, wherein the heating means features at least two heating zones in the surface, and that the heating zones can be separately controlled.

7. The cooktop module according to claim 1, wherein the surface is designed as completely flat or at least partially convex or at least partially concave.

8. The cooktop module according to claim 1, wherein at least one retaining area, is provided to function together with at least one retaining arm of the kitchen appliance base.

9. The cooking system, comprising at least one kitchen appliance base, wherein the kitchen appliance base features at least one receiving area, at least one control unit, and at least one power supply, having the cooktop module according to claim 1, that the cooktop module can be disposed with its connection area in the receiving area of the kitchen appliance base.

10. The cooking system according to claim 9, wherein the electrical contact means of the cooktop module can make contact with opposing electrical contact means of the kitchen appliance base for voltage supply to the heating means.

11. The cooking system according to claim 9, wherein the kitchen appliance base features two retaining arms, and that the retaining arms can function together with at least one retaining area on the cooktop module in order to secure the cooktop module in the receiving area.

12. The cooktop module according to claim 2, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor.

13. The cooktop module according to claim 12, wherein the temperature sensor is arranged for measurement of the surface temperature of the surface.

14. The cooktop module according to claim 3, wherein the signal interface is connected to at least one sensor.

15. The cooktop module according to claim 4, wherein the at least one coupling a magnetic coupling.

16. The cooktop module according to claim 5, wherein the heating means features at least one of a ceramic insulated heating element, at least one induction heating means or at least one thick film heating means.

17. The cooktop module according to claim 1, wherein the surface features a plurality of flexible ring faces or a plurality of flexibly-positioned ring faces.

18. The cooktop module according to claim 1, wherein at least two retaining areas are provided to function together with at least two retaining arms of the kitchen appliance base.

19. The cooking system according to claim 11, wherein the two retaining arms are rotatable.

20. The cooking system according to claim 11, wherein the retaining arms can function together with at least two retaining areas.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Additional favorable embodiments of the invention are indicated in the following figure description and the dependent subordinate claims. Shown here:

[0029] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a cooktop module in a partially cut-away view,

[0030] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a cooking system in a perspective view,

[0031] FIG. 3 shows an additional exemplary embodiment of a cooking system in a perspective view, and

[0032] FIGS. 4a-4c show exemplary embodiments of cooktop modules in partially cut-away views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The same components are always denoted by the same reference numerals in the various figures.

[0034] For the following description it is to be noted that the invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments and therefore not to all or multiple features of the described feature combinations; furthermore, every individual partial feature of each and every design example is also meaningful for the object of the invention separately from all other partial features described in combination, and also in combination with any features of another exemplary embodiment.

[0035] FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a cooktop module 1 in at least partially cut-away side view. The cooktop module 1 is intended to be connected to a kitchen appliance base 2—shown as an example in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. The cooktop module 1 features a surface 3 for at least one cooking vessel 9, which is designed as a cooking pot here. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the surface 3 is completely flat and at least partially made of a glass ceramic. Underneath the surface 3, an electrical heating means 4 is disposed, which is designed as an induction heating means in this exemplary embodiment.

[0036] The cooktop module 1 features a connection area 5 for connecting the cooktop module 1 to a kitchen appliance base 2. The electrical contact means 6 is disposed in the connection area 5 in the form of three contact prongs 6a, 6b, 6c. When the cooktop module 1 is placed with its connection area 5 into a kitchen appliance base 2, then the electrical contact means 6 automatically make contact with an opposing contact means 17—depicted in FIG. 2—of the kitchen appliance base 2. The heating means 4 makes electrical contact and is provided with voltage via the electrical contact means 6. For easy operation, the cooktop module 1 features a hand grip 7 which facilitates the cooktop module 1 being inserted into or removed from the kitchen appliance base 2.

[0037] According to FIG. 1, two sensors 8 are disposed in the surface 3, which are designed as thermocouples in this exemplary embodiment. The surface temperature of the surface 3 can be determined by the sensors 8. The measurement signals of the sensors 8 can be transmitted via a signal interface 11—depicted as an example in FIG. 2—via an opposing signal interface of the kitchen appliance base 2—to a control unit of the kitchen appliance base 2. The control unit regulates, for example, the heat output of the heating means 4, in order to reach a predetermined surface temperature for the cooking vessel 9 positioned on the surface 3.

[0038] FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a cooktop module 1 with a kitchen appliance base 2 which together form a cooking system 10. For an easier understanding of the construction, the cooktop module 1 is depicted at least partially transparently. The cooktop module 1 is connected to the kitchen appliance base 2 with the connection area 5. The heating means 4, which in this exemplary embodiment features one heating zone 4a, is disposed underneath the surface 3 for at least one cooking vessel 9. The heating means 4 is electrically connected to the kitchen appliance base 2 via the electrical contact means 6, via the opposing contact means 17. The opposing contact means 17 is connected to the control unit, including the power electronics unit, of the kitchen appliance base 2.

[0039] Additionally, the cooktop module 1 features a sensor 8, designed as a temperature sensor, underneath the surface 3, which makes contact via a signal interface 11 with an opposing signal interface 18 of the kitchen appliance base 2. The measurement signals of the sensor 8 are thereby transmitted to the control unit of the kitchen appliance base 2. In this exemplary embodiment the kitchen appliance base 2 features a power supply 12 in the form of an electrical connecting plug.

[0040] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the cooktop module 1 features a coupling 13, designed as a magnetic coupling, for transferring of rotational momentum. In this exemplary embodiment the coupling 13 comprises a mechanical interface 14, which can be coupled in a positive locking manner to a drive interface—not depicted—of the kitchen appliance base 2. The rotation of an electric motor of the kitchen appliance base 2 can be transferred to a coupling member 15 via the mechanical interface 14. A magnetic head 16 is disposed on the coupling member 15, in which a rotational movement can be induced via the coupling member 15. An opposing magnet 19 can be disposed in a cooking vessel 9, which is coupled to a stirring blade 20, in order to, for example, prevent stirring of a liquid food item disposed in the cooking vessel 9. FIG. 3 depicts a further exemplary embodiment of a cooktop module 1 in a kitchen appliance base 2, which together form a cooking system 10. The cooktop module 1 is installed by its connection area 5 into a corresponding receiving area 21 of the kitchen appliance base 2. In this exemplary embodiment a circumferential collar is designed as a retaining area 22 underneath the surface 3. The retaining area 22 works together with two rotatable and oppositely disposed retaining arms 23—only one retaining arm visible in FIG. 3—of the kitchen appliance base 2. The retaining arms 23 can be swung around their longitudinal axes between a locking position—depicted in FIG. 3—and a release position—not depicted. In the depicted locking position of the retaining arms 23, the cooktop module 1 cannot be removed from the kitchen appliance base 2.

[0041] Due to the fact that the cooktop module 1 also makes electrical contact with the kitchen appliance base 2, all functions of the cooktop module 1 can be controlled via the operating unit 24, in particular the touch display 24a and the rotary switch 24b, of the kitchen appliance base 2.

[0042] FIG. 4a to FIG. 4c depict exemplary embodiments of cooktop modules 1 in partially cut-away side views.

[0043] According to FIG. 4a, the heating means 4 features a single heating zone 4a. The surface 3 is designed as completely flat.

[0044] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4b, the surface 3 is also designed as flat. The heating means 4 features two separately controllable heating zones 4a, 4b.

[0045] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4c, the surface 3 is designed as concave and features a plurality of flexible ring faces 25. An exemplary embodiment of a cooktop module 1 such as this is favorably usable with a wok. The heating means 4 features only one heating zone 4a.

[0046] The invention is not limited to the depicted and described design examples, but rather encompasses all designs of equivalent function in the sense of the invention. It is explicitly noted that the exemplary embodiments are not limited to all individual features in combination, but rather each individual feature can be meaningful to the invention independently of all other individual features. Furthermore, the invention has hitherto not been restricted to the combination of features as described in claim 1, but rather can also be defined by any other desired combination of features out of all of the features described in total. This means that in essence practically every individual feature of claim 1 can be omitted or replaced by at least one other feature described elsewhere in this application.

[0047] While the above description constitutes the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope and fair meaning of the