PORTABLE OVEN

Abstract

There is described a portable oven, such as a wood-fired oven. The oven comprises a housing and a cooking surface arranged within the housing. The housing comprises a skirt extending below the cooking surface such as to raise the cooking surface from the bottom edge of the oven. There is also provided a method for making a portable oven.

Claims

1. A portable oven, suitably a wood-fired oven, comprising: a housing; a cooking surface arranged within the housing; wherein the housing comprises a skirt extending below the cooking surface such as to raise the cooking surface from the bottom edge of the oven.

2. An oven according to claim 1, wherein the skirt delineates the side walls of a cavity extending beneath the cooking surface, suitably the skirt is operable to restrict fluid communication between the external atmosphere and the cavity arranged underneath the cooking surface.

3. An oven according to claim 1, wherein the skirt comprises at least two cut-away portions operable to be used as handles, suitably, the skirt comprises substantially opposed cut-away portions on opposite sides of the cooking surface.

4. An oven according to claim 1, wherein between 30 and 100% of the surface area of the skirt is closed such as to block fluid communication between the external atmosphere and the cavity arranged underneath the cooking surface, such as between 40 and 99%, between 50 and 98%, between 60 and 97%, between 65 and 96%, between 70 and 95%, between 75 and 94% or between 80 and 93%, or between 85 and 92%.

5. An oven according to claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a base for supporting the cooking surface and a cover extending over the cooking surface such as to form a partially enclosed cooking chamber with the cooking surface, and wherein the skirt comprises an inner skirt attached to the base and an outer skirt attached to the cover.

6. A portable oven, suitably a wood-fired oven, such as an oven according to claim 1, comprising: a housing and a cooking surface; the housing comprising a cover and a base wherein the cooking surface is attached to the base; wherein the oven comprises an inner and outer skirt extending below the cooking surface, wherein the base comprises the inner skirt extending below the cooking surface such as to raise the cooking surface from the bottom edge of the oven; and wherein the cover comprises the outer skirt extending below the cooking surface.

7. An oven according to claim 5, wherein the inner skirt is operable to support the weight of the base and/or the outer skirt is operable to support the weight of the cover.

8. An oven according to claim 5, wherein the cover, base, inner skirt and/or outer skirt of the oven are formed of a polymeric material, preferably a reinforced polymeric material, most preferably fibre-glass.

9. An oven according to claim 5, wherein the cover comprises a liner, suitably, the liner is a multi-layered liner and may comprise an insulation layer and a heat resistant layer.

10. An oven according to claim 5, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of projections extending into the liner such as to attach the liner to the cover.

11. An oven according to claim 5, wherein the liner comprises a binding layer and preferably the projections are attached at a first end to the cover and at a second end to the binding layer, suitably, the binding layer is an intermediate layer in the liner.

12. An oven according to claim 5, wherein the oven comprises a mouth in the form of an aperture operable to permit the passage of foodstuffs into and out of the cooking chamber of the oven, the mouth of the oven comprising a mouth plate having an aperture, preferably, the mouth plate is formed of a more heat resistant material than the material of the cover, such as a more heat resistant metal, for example stainless steel, suitably, mouth is arranged on a substantially planar side face of the oven.

13. An oven according to claim 5, wherein the mouth of the oven is operable to provide the only means for fluid communication between the cooking chamber and the external atmosphere.

14. An oven according to claim 5, wherein the mouth comprises a lip arranged on the upper edge of the mouth, suitably on the mouth plate, preferably lip extending outwardly from a side face of the oven.

15. A portable oven, suitably a wood-fired oven, such as an oven according to claim 1, comprising: a cooking surface a housing arranged over the cooking surface such as to provide a partially enclosed cooking chamber with the cooking surface; wherein the oven comprises a side wall having a mouth in the form of an aperture operable to permit the passage of foodstuffs into and out of the cooking chamber of the oven; wherein the mouth comprises a lip arranged on the upper edge of the mouth, and wherein the lip extends outwardly from the side wall of the oven.

16. A method for producing a portable oven, such as a portable oven, comprising the steps of: a. optionally attaching an insulation layer to a base; b. attaching a cooking surface to a base or insulation layer, if present, the base comprising a skirt operable to raise the cooking surface from the bottom edge of the oven; c. attaching a liner to a cover, the cover comprising a skirt; d. arranging the cover over the base such that the skirt of the base and the skirt of the cover are abutting and the cooking surface and cover define a partially enclosed cooking chamber having a mouth; e. optionally attaching, suitably fixedly attaching, the skirt of the base and the skirt of the cover together; f. optionally, attaching a lip to the mouth of the oven, suitably attaching a mouth plate to the cover, and optionally to one or more of the skirts, wherein the mouth plate comprises a lip; g. optionally removing a portion of the skirt to form one or more handles. wherein steps a., b., c., f and g may be carried out in any suitable order.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0060] For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the following figures.

[0061] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of an oven according to the present invention.

[0062] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the oven of FIG. 1.

[0063] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the oven of FIG. 1.

[0064] FIG. 4 shows a front view of the oven of FIG. 1.

[0065] FIG. 5 shows a side sectional view along line A-A of the oven of FIG. 1.

[0066] FIG. 6 shows a front sectional view along line B-B of the oven of FIG. 1.

[0067] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of an oven according to the present invention.

[0068] FIG. 8 shows a side view of the oven of FIG. 7.

[0069] FIG. 9 shows a top view of the oven of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0070] FIGS. 1 to 6 show a wood-fired oven 102 according to the present invention. Oven 102 is formed of cooking surface 106 enclosed within a housing formed of base 120 and cover 104.

[0071] Base 120 contains horizontally orientated planar platform 124. Extending downwardly around all of the peripheral edge of platform 124 is skirt 108b. Integrally formed platform 124 and skirt 108b are constructed from fibre-glass. Attached to the upper face of platform 124 with silicone sealant, and co-terminal with platform 124, is insulation board 122. Attached to the upper face of board 122 with fire proof tile adhesive, and co-terminal with board 122, is cooking surface 106. Cooking surface 106 is formed of a single integrally formed refractory ceramic tile. Base 120, fire-proof refractory insulation board 122 and cooking surface 106 collectively form the base section of oven 102. The total weight of the base section of oven 102 is around 10 kg.

[0072] Cover 104 is formed of domed body 112a; hemi-cylindrical head 112b, skirt 108a, lining 118 and planar mouth plate 114. Head 112b is integrally formed with, and extends from one side of, body 112a such that body 112a and head 112b collectively form a curved upper face across the top of oven 102. Skirt 108a is integrally formed with body 112a and head 112b and extends downwardly from the bottom of body 112a and head 112b. Body 112a, head 112b and skirt 108a are made of fibre glass and plate 114 is constructed from stainless steel.

[0073] Lining 118 extends over the inner face of body 112a and head 112b and is formed of insulation, binding, and heat resistant layers (not shown). Lining 118 terminates at the start of skirt 108a. The insulation layer of lining 118 extends over and abuts the inner face of body 112a and head 112b. A binding layer formed of galvanised wire mesh extends over and abuts the inner face of the insulation layer and a heat resistant layer of crushed firebrick cement extends over and around the wire mesh of the binding layer. The heat resistant layer also includes a layer of fine screed extending over the inner face of the layer of firebrick cement. To secure lining 118 to the inner face of body 112a and head 112b a plurality of deformable spikes (not shown) are attached to the inner face of body 112a and head 112b. The spikes extend through the insulation layer and are folded over the mesh to secure the insulation layer to the wire mesh of the binding layer. The presence of the heat resistant layer over and around the mesh further assists in securing the spikes to the mesh. In this manner, a single binding layer enables the attachment of an insulation layer to fibre-glass cover 104 and the attachment of a heat resistant layer to an insulation layer.

[0074] The base section of oven 102 is arranged in and fixedly attached to cover 104 such the outer face of skirt 108b extends parallel to, and abuts, the inner face of skirt 108a and the bottom edge of skirt 108b is co-terminal with the bottom edge of skirt 108a. In this configuration body 112a and head 112b extend upwardly from the peripheral edge of cooking surface 106 around substantially all of the peripheral edge except for the front peripheral edge of cooking surface 106. Skirt 108a extends downwardly from the peripheral edge of cooking surface 106 around substantially all of the peripheral edge except for the front peripheral edge of cooking surface 106. In this configuration, cooking surface 106 is raised from the bottom edge of oven 102 providing an open-bottomed cavity on the underside of oven 102 delineated by the bottom face of platform 124 and by the inner face of skirt 108b. In each of skirts 108a and 108b are opposed cut-away portions providing a restricted airflow channel and handles 110a and 110b.

[0075] Plate 114 is fixedly attached to a side face of oven 102 along a flange (not shown) extending from head 112b and also to the front face of skirt 108b. Plate 114 has hemi-spherical mouth 116 and is attached to cover 104 and base 120 such that the lower linear edge of mouth 116 is flush with the upper face of cooking surface 106. The arched upper edge of mouth 116 extends upwardly from the lower linear edge of mouth 116. In oven 102 the upper face of cooking surface 106 and the inner faces of liner 118 and plate 114 delineate a cooking chamber which chamber is fully enclosed apart from mouth 116.

[0076] In use, oven 102 is carried from a storage position using handles 110a,b and placed on the intended support surface for use, such as a work top or table. When oven 102 is in the desired position, wood that has been inserted into the cooking chamber of oven 102 via mouth 116 is ignited and further wood added until the desired temperature is reached inside the cooking chamber. When the desired temperature is reached any remaining wood and residues thereof can be pushed toward the peripheral edges of cooking surface 106 to allow foodstuffs, such as uncooked pizza, to be inserted via mouth 116 and arranged on cooking surface 106. When cooked, the foodstuff is removed from oven 102 via mouth 116. Once oven 102 has cooled sufficiently it can be returned to a storage position by carrying with handles 110a,b.

[0077] FIGS. 7 to 9 show an oven 202 according to a second embodiment of the first present invention. Oven 202 is the same as oven 102 except that oven 202 additionally has arched lip 226 extending perpendicularly outwardly from plate 214 and the side face of oven 202. Metal lip 226 is integrally formed with plate 214 and extends along the upper edge of mouth 216. Lip 226 has a depth that is significantly greater than its height. The depth of lip 226 is greatest at the apex of arched lip 226 and tapers equally on either side to a smallest depth at the ends of lip 226.

[0078] In use, smokes is emitted from the cooking chamber of oven 202 out of aperture 216 and lip 226 directs the smoke such as to reduce the surface area of the outer faces of oven 202 that contacts significant amounts of the emitted smoke compared to oven 102. Furthermore, the majority of the surface area that is contacted with significant amounts of smoke faces downwardly such that the outer face of oven 202 that is contacted with significant amounts of smoke is not readily viewable during use.

[0079] Further advantageously, the provision of a skirt in combination with the limited ventilation and smoke guidance of oven 202 results in a portable oven that reduces damage to the support surface and the oven whilst providing improved heat retention.

[0080] Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

[0081] All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

[0082] Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[0083] The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.