OVEN INSERT

Abstract

An insert for an oven including a housing and a food cooking volume inside the housing. A plurality of deflectors are movably mounted on the housing. The plurality of deflectors are configured to be actuated from a first position to a second position. The plurality of deflectors are configured to deflect air towards the food cooking volume when the plurality of deflectors are in the second position during operation of the oven.

Claims

1. An insert for an oven, comprising: a housing; a food cooking volume inside the housing; a plurality of deflectors movably mounted on the housing; wherein the plurality of deflectors are configured to be actuated from a first position to a second position; and wherein the plurality of deflectors are configured to deflect air towards the food cooking volume when the plurality of deflectors are in the second position during operation of the oven.

2. The insert for an oven as claimed in claim 1, comprising at least one receptacle for holding food; wherein the at least one receptacle for holding food is removably mounted in the housing; and wherein optionally the at least one receptacle for holding food comprises a plurality of apertures.

3. The insert for an oven as claimed in claim 2, wherein the housing comprises a front face and a rear face opposite the front face; wherein the at least one receptacle for holding food comprises a rear side arranged to be proximal to the rear face of the insert; and the at least one receptacle for holding food comprises a substantially closed surface at the rear side.

4. The insert for an oven as claimed in claim 3, wherein the housing comprises the front face and the rear face opposite the front face; wherein the at least one receptacle for holding food comprises the rear side arranged to be proximal to the rear face of the insert, and a front side opposite the rear side; and wherein the at least one receptacle for holding food comprises a substantially vertical divider that extends in a direction between the front side and the rear side of the receptacle.

5. The insert for an oven as claimed in claim 1, comprising at least one receptacle for holding oil; and wherein optionally the at least one receptacle for holding oil is perforated.

6. The insert for an oven as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of deflectors are rotatably mounted on the housing.

7. The insert for an oven as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of deflectors are configured to be mechanically actuated from the first position to the second position.

8. The insert for an oven as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plurality of deflectors are configured to be actuated when a door of the oven closes.

9. The insert for an oven as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plurality of deflectors are configured to be actuated when the insert is inserted into the oven.

10. The insert for an oven as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plurality of deflectors are configured to be actuated when the at least one receptacle for holding food is mounted in the insert and the insert is inside the oven.

11. The insert for an oven as claimed in claim 10, wherein the insert comprises a rod; wherein the plurality of deflectors are connected to the rod; and the plurality of deflectors are configured to be actuated by the rod when: a door of the oven closes; or the insert is inserted into the oven; or the at least one receptacle for holding food is mounted in the insert and the insert is inside the oven.

12. The insert for an oven as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plurality of deflectors are configured to be actuated by air circulating inside the oven during operation of the oven.

13. The insert for an oven as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of deflectors are configured to be electrically actuated from the first position to the second position.

14. The insert for an oven as claimed in claim 13, wherein the insert comprises an electrical contact; wherein the plurality of deflectors are connected to the electrical contact; and the plurality of deflectors are configured to be actuated by the electrical contact when: a door of the oven closes; or the insert is inserted into the oven; or the oven is switched on; or the at least one receptacle for holding food is mounted in the insert and the insert is inside the oven.

15. The insert for an oven as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of deflectors are rotatably mounted on the housing; and the plurality of deflectors each have curved cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the deflector's axis of rotation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0064] Certain examples of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0065] FIGS. 1a and 1b are schematic cross-sectional top views of an insert inside an oven in accordance with an example of the present disclosure;

[0066] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an insert in accordance with an example of the present disclosure;

[0067] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional front view of an insert inside an oven in accordance with an example of the present disclosure;

[0068] FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of a receptacle for holding food for an insert in accordance with an example of the present disclosure;

[0069] FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of a receptacle for holding food for an insert in accordance with an example of the present disclosure; and

[0070] FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional top view of an insert inside an oven in accordance with an example of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0071] FIGS. 1a and 1b are schematic cross-sectional top views of an insert 2 inside an oven 4 according to an example of the present disclosure.

[0072] In the examples of FIGS. 1a and 1b, the oven 4 includes a fan 6 and a heating element 8 at the back of the oven 4. The fan 6 moves air over the heating element 8 to increase the temperature of the air and induce circulation of the air around the oven 4. The oven 4 may comprise a convection oven or a steam oven.

[0073] The oven 4 further includes a barrier 10, which diverts the air away from the fan 6 and heating element 8 and induces air circulation around the edges of the oven 4. Therefore, in an oven 4 without an insert 2, air travels initially around the edges of the oven 4 from the back of the oven 4 to the front of the oven 4, owing to the presence of the barrier 10. This may result in a significant reduction in the heat and speed of the air, as energy can be lost to the edges of the oven 4. The heat distribution may be improved when one or more of the features described herein are used.

[0074] An insert 2 is shown inside the oven 4. The insert 2 includes a housing 12. The inside of the housing 12 defines a food cooking volume 14. Food may be placed anywhere inside the food cooking volume 14 in order to be cooked during operation of the oven 4.

[0075] The insert 2 also includes a plurality of deflectors 16 movably mounted on the housing 12. The plurality of deflectors 16 are configured to be actuated from a first position to a second position. The deflectors 16 are shown in the first position in FIG. 1a and in the second position in FIG. 1b. The deflectors 16 may be mounted on the housing 12 and actuated from the first position to the second position in any suitable and desired manner. In this example, the deflectors 16 are mounted to the housing 12 by an axle 13 and rotated between the first position and the second position.

[0076] The plurality of deflectors 16 are configured to deflect air towards the food cooking volume 14 when the plurality of deflectors 16 are in the second position during operation of the oven 4. When the deflectors 16 are in the second position, the housing 12 is at least partially open (e.g. the housing 12 comprises apertures, openings, or at least one open side) to allow air to enter the food cooking volume 14. Air that is circulating around the edges of the oven 4 will be redirected by the ends of the deflectors 16 because they protrude outwardly from the housing 12 when the deflectors 16 are in the second position. The air is then guided towards the center of the food cooking volume 14 by the deflectors 16.

[0077] This has the effect of increasing the speed of the air in the food cooking volume 14 and the volume of air passing over the food compared to an oven 4 without an insert 2. This allows food to be cooked more quickly and helps to achieve the result of crispy food with a smaller amount of oil being required in the cooking process.

[0078] In the example of FIGS. 1a and 1b, the deflectors 16 vary in shape and size along the sides of the housing 12. The radius of curvature decreases and the length of the deflectors 16 increases from the back to the front of the oven 4. This helps to ensure that an increasing proportion of the air is redirected into the food cooking volume 14 as the air travels from the back to the front of the oven 4 (i.e. as the air travels further away from the fan 6 and heating element 8). However, the deflectors 16 may be arranged in any suitable and desired manner.

[0079] In the example of FIGS. 1a and 1b, the deflectors 16 are arranged in a symmetrical manner along two of the faces of the housing 12 (i.e. the two sides of the housing 12 comprise deflectors 16 of the same shape and size at the same distance from the back of the oven 4). However, the deflectors 16 may be arranged in any suitable and desired manner.

[0080] The insert 2 of FIGS. 1a and 1b also includes a receptacle for holding food 18 (e.g. a tray or a basket). In the example of FIGS. 1a and 1b, the receptacle 18 has a meshed structure. The mesh structure defines a plurality of apertures, which allows the air circulating inside the oven 4 to reach the food held inside the receptacle 18 in order to facilitate cooking of the food. However, the receptacle for holding food 18 may be any suitable and desired type.

[0081] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an insert 2 according to an example of the present disclosure.

[0082] The insert 2 includes a housing 12, which in this example includes a handle 20 for carrying the insert 2. In this example, two receptacles for holding food 18 are shown inside the insert 2. The receptacles 18 may include a handle 22 to facilitate insertion and removal of the respective receptacle 18 from the insert 2. The housing 12 may include an opening (e.g. a door, e.g. in the front of the housing 12) through which a receptacle 18 may be inserted into and removed from the insert 2.

[0083] The receptacles 18 may be arranged inside the insert 2 in any suitable and desired manner. In the example of FIG. 2, the receptacles 18 are in a stacked configuration, with a first receptacle situated above a second receptacle.

[0084] The insert 2 in FIG. 2 also includes a receptacle for oil 24. The receptacle for oil 24 may take any suitable and desired form. In this example, the receptacle for oil 24 is substantially vertical and has substantially the same vertical extent as the insert 2. The receptacle for oil 24 may be removably situated inside the housing 12 (e.g. so that it may be removed in order to fill the receptacle 24 with oil).

[0085] In this example, the receptacle 24 includes a plurality of perforations 26. The perforations 26 allow oil contained in the receptacle 24 to be removed from the receptacle 24 by air circulating inside the oven 4 during operation of the oven 4. At least some of the oil may then be carried into the food cooking volume 14 by the circulating air, in order to at least partially coat the food during cooking.

[0086] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional front view of an insert 2 inside an oven 4 according to an example of the present disclosure.

[0087] Two receptacles for holding food 18 are shown inside the insert 2. The receptacles 18 may be arranged inside the insert 2 in any suitable and desired manner. In the example of FIG. 2, the receptacles 18 are in a stacked configuration, with a first receptacle situated above a second receptacle.

[0088] The insert 2 also includes two drip trays 28. The drip trays 28 may be any suitable and desired type. In this example, the drip trays 28 are situated below each of the two receptacles for holding food 18. The drip trays 28 may help to catch any falling crumbs or oil from the receptacles 18. This may reduce the risk of cross-contamination if different types of food are cooked in each of the receptacles 18. It may also prevent crumbs and oil from coming into contact with the interior surfaces of the oven 4. This may decrease the risk of excess smoke and/or smell coming from the oven 4, as crumbs and oil on the interior surfaces of the oven 4 may become burnt during operation of the oven 4 (e.g. when the oven is not cleaned between cooking cycles).

[0089] In the example of FIG. 3, the receptacles for holding food 18 and the drip trays 28 are removably mounted in the housing 12. In this example, the receptacles 18 and drip trays 28 rest on mounts 30, such that they can be slidably mounted in the housing 12. However, any suitable and desired mechanism may be used to removably mount the receptacles 18 and drip trays 28 in the housing 12.

[0090] FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of a receptacle for holding food 18 for an insert 2 according to an example of the present disclosure.

[0091] The receptacle 18 of FIG. 4 includes a plurality of surfaces for holding food 32. The surfaces 32 may be vertically separated from each other to allow food to be placed on each surface 32 of the receptacle 18. The surfaces 32 may have any suitable and desired shape. For example, they may be substantially flat and horizontal as shown in this example, or they may include at least one recess suitable for holding food inside.

[0092] The receptacle 18 of FIG. 4 includes a substantially closed surface 34. The substantially closed surface 34 is configured to be proximate to the back of the insert 2 when the receptacle 18 is inside the insert 2. The substantially closed surface 34 may help in deflecting air into the food cooking volume 14 when the oven 4 is in use, by deflecting any air travelling in a direction from the front to the back of the oven 4. In this example, the substantially closed surface 34 is sloped, which may help to direct air downwards towards the food held inside the receptacle 18.

[0093] The receptacle for holding food 18 of FIG. 4 includes a receptacle for oil 24. In this example, the receptacle for holding oil 24 is a small bowl which rests on the bottom surface of the receptacle for holding food 18. The receptacle for holding food 18 of FIG. 4 also includes a handle 22, to facilitate insertion and removal of the receptacle for holding food 18 from the insert 2.

[0094] FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of a receptacle for holding food 18 for an insert 2 according to an example of the present disclosure.

[0095] The receptacle 18 of FIG. 5 includes a divider 36 that extends in a direction between the front side and the rear side of the receptacle 18. In this example, the divider 36 extends from the front side to the rear side of the receptacle 18, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the front and rear sides of the receptacle 18. However, it will be understood that any suitable and desired divider may be used.

[0096] The divider 36 may help to reduce the turbulence of the air flow inside the oven 4. For example, air circulating from two sides (e.g. left and right sides) of the oven 4 may be substantially separated by the divider 36 of this example, and therefore do not combine and create turbulence. This may help to maintain higher air speed inside the oven 4.

[0097] FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional top view of an insert 2 inside an oven 4 in accordance with an example of the present disclosure. In this example, the insert 2 comprises a pair of rods 38a, 38b. In this example, the rods 38a, 38b are located on opposite sides faces of the housing 12. Each of the rods 38a, 38b is connected to a plurality of deflectors 16. The rods 38a, 38b may be used to help actuate the deflectors 16 from the first position to the second position.

[0098] In the example of FIG. 6, the insert 2 also comprises an electrical contact 40. The electrical contact 40 may be placed anywhere on or inside the housing 12, but in this example it is placed proximal to the front of the oven 4 when the insert 2 is inside the oven 4. In some examples, there may be a corresponding electrical contact on or inside the oven 4. The electrical contact(s) 40 may be used to help actuate the deflectors 16 from the first position to the second position.

[0099] In many ovens, air inside the oven is heated by a heating element at the back of the oven. Some ovens may comprise a plate proximal to the back of the oven, which prevents air passing directly over the food. This may help prevent the food from coming into contact with extremely hot air and potentially burning. However, a significant proportion of the air then travels around the sides of the oven. As the air travels, it loses energy (i.e. speed and heat) to the sides of the oven. In some applications, it is desirable to reduce the energy lost in this manner, for example in applications where higher temperatures are required to produce crispy food, and/or where a shorter cooking time is desired. A way to achieve this objective is to reduce the distance that the air travels along the sides of the oven during the cooking process.

[0100] It will be seen from the above that in some examples, the deflectors of the present disclosure help to achieve this aim by redirecting air away from the edges of the oven and into the center of the oven (i.e. the food cooking volume). The deflectors may achieve this aim by extending outwardly from the insert toward the edges of the oven during operation of the oven (i.e. when the deflectors are in the second position). The deflectors also point inwards towards the center of the food cooking volume. Therefore, when air travelling along the sides of the oven comes into contact with a deflector, at least some of the air is deflected along the deflector towards the food cooking volume.

[0101] This may help to increase the speed of the air circulating around the oven and increase the volume of the air that passes the food during cooking. This may help to achieve shorter cooking times than an oven without an insert. It may also help to produce crispy food, with a smaller amount of oil being required to heat the food to the required temperature. Therefore, the present disclosure may help to reduce the amount of fat in the cooked food.