COOKING APPARATUS

Abstract

Cooking apparatus comprises an oven. The oven comprises a cooking chamber, a heated air source, a flue, and a baffle. The cooking chamber extends between the heated air source and the flue, thereby defining, in use, a heated air flow path between said heated air source and said flue. The baffle is reversibly deployable in said heated air flow path to deflect heated air, thereby causing recirculation of heated air within the cooking chamber.

Claims

1. Cooking apparatus comprising an oven, the oven comprising a cooking chamber, a heated air source, a flue, and a baffle, the cooking chamber extending between the heated air source and the flue, thereby defining, in use, a heated air flow path between said heated air source and said flue, the baffle being reversibly deployable in said heated air flow path to deflect heated air.

2. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the baffle is reversibly deployable in a deflecting configuration in said heated air flow path in which the baffle is configured to deflect heated air.

3. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the baffle is reversibly deployable in a deflecting position in said heated air flow path in which the baffle deflects heated air.

4. The cooking apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the baffle is moveable between the deflecting position and an air flow position in which deflection of heated air by the baffle is reduced.

5. The cooking apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the baffle is retracted from the heated air flow path when in the air flow position.

6. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the baffle depends from a ceiling of the cooking chamber when the baffle is deployed in the heated air flow path.

7. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the oven further comprises an oven door moveable between a closed position in which the cooking chamber is sealed from an external atmosphere and an open position in which the cooking chamber is externally accessible, and wherein movement of the oven door from the open position to the closed position causes corresponding reversible deployment of the baffle into the heated air flow path.

8. The cooking apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the baffle is attached to the oven door.

9. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heated air source is provided at a lower height than the flue such that heated air flowing from the heated air source flows upwards through the cooking chamber towards the flue.

10. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein deflection of heated air flowing from the heated air source towards the flue by the baffle causes recirculation of heated air within an upper portion of the cooking chamber.

11. The cooking apparatus according claim 1, wherein the baffle is removably deployed in said heated air flow path to deflect heated air.

12. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the oven is a portable oven.

13. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the oven is a pizza oven, the cooking chamber being configured for cooking one or more pizzas.

14. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heated air source comprises a fuel burner.

15. The cooking apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the fuel burner is configured to burn one or more of the following combustible fuels: wood chips, wood pellets, coal, split wood, twigs, gas, oil.

16. Modular cooking apparatus comprising an oven unit and a stove top unit, the oven unit comprising a cooking chamber extending between a heated air source and a vent, the stove top unit comprising a heating surface, the stove top unit being releasably mountable on the oven unit such that, when the stove top unit is mounted on the oven unit, heated air flowing from the heated air source flows through the vent and into the stove top unit, thereby heating the heating surface.

17. The modular cooking apparatus according to claim 16 further comprising a removable flue, said removable flue being releasably mountable to the vent of the oven unit when the stove top unit is not mounted on the oven unit.

18. The modular cooking apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the vent is provided on an upper surface of the oven unit, and wherein the stove top unit is mountable on top of the oven unit.

19. The modular cooking apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the stove top unit comprises an inlet configured to align with the vent when the stove top unit is mounted on the oven unit, thereby bringing an interior chamber of the stove top unit into gaseous communication with the cooking chamber of the oven unit.

20. The modular cooking apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the heating surface is provided on or forms part of an upper (most) surface of the stove top unit.

21. The modular cooking apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the stove top unit further comprises one or more heated air guides configured to guide heated air flowing from the vent into the stove top unit towards an underside of the heating surface.

22. The modular cooking apparatus according to claim 21, wherein one or more of the one or more heated air guides is moveable between a directed position in which the heated air flowing from the vent into the stove top unit is directed towards a first area of the underside of the heating surface and a diffuse position in which said heated air is directed towards a second area of the underside of the heating surface, said second area being greater than said first area.

23. The modular cooking apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the stove top unit further comprises a flue.

24. The cooking apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the oven unit comprises a portable oven.

25. The cooking apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the oven unit comprises a pizza oven, the cooking chamber being configured for cooking one or more pizzas.

26. The cooking apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the heated air source comprises a fuel burner.

27. The cooking apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the fuel burner is configured to burn one or more of the following combustible fuels: wood chips, wood pellets, coal, split wood, twigs, gas, oil.

28. Cooking apparatus comprising an oven, the oven comprising a cooking chamber extending between a removable burner unit and a flue, the removable burner unit being releasably mountable to the oven and configured to receive combustible fuel.

29. The cooking apparatus according to claim 28, wherein, when the removable burner unit is mounted to the oven and is loaded with combustible fuel, said combustible fuel being ignited, heated air flowing from the removable burner unit flows towards the flue, thereby heating the cooking chamber.

30. The cooking apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said heated air flows through the cooking chamber as it flows from the removable burner unit towards the flue.

31. The cooking apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the removable burner unit comprises one or more air vents configured to permit air to flow from outside the removable burner unit into the removable burner unit, thereby facilitating combustion of combustible fuel within the removable burner unit, when said removable burner unit is mounted to the oven and is loaded with combustible fuel, said combustible fuel being ignited.

32. The cooking apparatus according to claim 31, wherein one or more of the one or more air vents is adjustable to thereby control a flow of air into the removable burner unit.

33. The cooking apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the oven is a portable oven.

34. The cooking apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the oven is a pizza oven, the cooking chamber being configured for cooking one or more pizzas.

35. The cooking apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the removable burner unit is configured to burn one or more of the following combustible fuels: wood chips, wood pellets, coal, split wood, twigs, gas, oil.

36. Modular cooking apparatus comprising an oven unit and a stove top unit, the oven unit comprising an oven, the oven comprising a cooking chamber, a removable burner unit, a vent, and a baffle, the cooking chamber extending between the removable burner unit and the vent, thereby defining, in use, a heated air flow path between said removable burner unit and said vent, the removable burner unit being releasably mountable to the oven and configured to receive combustible fuel, said combustible fuel being ignitable within the removable burner unit so as to function as a heated air source, the baffle being reversibly deployable in the heated air flow path to deflect heated air, the stove top unit comprising a heating surface, the stove top unit being releasably mountable on the oven unit such that, when the stove top unit is mounted on the oven unit, heated air flowing from the removable burner unit flows through the vent and into the stove top unit, thereby heating the heating surface.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0077] An example embodiment of the present invention will now be illustrated with reference to the following Figures in which:

[0078] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable pizza oven;

[0079] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the portable pizza oven of FIG. 1;

[0080] FIG. 3 is a side view of the portable pizza oven of FIG. 1;

[0081] FIG. 4 is a view from below of the portable pizza oven of FIG. 1;

[0082] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the portable pizza oven of FIG. 1;

[0083] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a removable baffle from within the portable pizza oven of FIG. 1;

[0084] FIG. 7 is an additional perspective view of the removable baffle of FIG. 6;

[0085] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a burner unit from the portable pizza oven of FIG. 1;

[0086] FIG. 9 is an additional perspective view of the burner unit of FIG. 8;

[0087] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the portable pizza oven of FIG. 1 when a lid of the burner unit has been opened to reveal air vents;

[0088] FIG. 11 illustrates the flow path of heated air through the portable pizza oven of FIG. 1 when the removable baffle has been removed;

[0089] FIG. 12 illustrates the flow path of heated air through the portable pizza oven of FIG. 1 with the removable baffle in place;

[0090] FIG. 13 is a sectional view of an alternative portable pizza oven;

[0091] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the oven door with integral baffle of the portable pizza oven of FIG. 13;

[0092] FIG. 15 is an additional perspective view of the oven door of FIG. 14;

[0093] FIG. 16 is a sectional view of a further alternative portable pizza oven;

[0094] FIG. 17 is a perspective of the oven door with integral flue extender of the portable pizza oven of FIG. 16;

[0095] FIG. 18 is an additional perspective view of the oven door of FIG. 17;

[0096] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the portable pizza oven of FIG. 1 after the flue has been removed;

[0097] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a hot plate module;

[0098] FIG. 21 is an additional perspective view of the hot plate module of FIG. 20;

[0099] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the hot plate module of FIGS. 20 and 21 mounted on top of the portable pizza oven of FIG. 19 with a flue attached; and

[0100] FIG. 23 illustrates the flow path of heated air through the portable pizza oven and through the hot plate module of FIG. 22.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT

[0101] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, a portable pizza oven 1 comprises a pizza oven body 2 supported on top of four legs 3, 4, 5, 6 which extend from a base 7 of the body 2. A flue 8 extends from a top surface 9 of the body at a front end 10, and a removable burner 11 extends from a rear wall 12 of the body at a rear end 13. An opening 14 for receiving pizzas is provided at the front end 10 of the body. The oven body 2, flue 8, legs 3, 4, 5, 6 and burner 11 are constructed principally from stainless steel.

[0102] The interior structure of the oven is illustrated in FIG. 5. A pizza cooking surface 15 made of aluminium is provided within the oven body 2 above the base 7, extending from the front end 10 approximately three quarters of the way towards the rear end 13 of the oven where the burner 11 is releasably retained. The burner 11 has an open roof which brings the interior of the burner 11 into gaseous communication with the interior of the oven body 2, and a slidable lid 16 with a handle 17 releasable retained on a rear portion of the burner. An insulating air gap 18 is provided between the top surface of the oven body 9 and a cooking chamber ceiling 19. The cooking chamber ceiling 19 is fixedly attached to the oven body 2 at the rear and sides of the oven, but the air gap 18 is open towards the front end 10. A removable baffle 20 is releasably mounted to the cooking chamber ceiling 19 at the front end, said removable baffle 20 depending from the ceiling 19 into the cooking chamber 21 in front of the flue 8. The flue 8 is releasably attached to the top surface 9 of the oven body 2 around a vent 22 such that the interior of the flue 8 and the interior of the oven body 2 are in gaseous communication. A removable door 23 with a handle 24 is provided at the front end 10 of the body, closing the opening 14. The cooking chamber ceiling 19, cooking surface 15 and side walls of the oven body 2 together define the cooking chamber 21.

[0103] The removable baffle 20, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, comprises an elongate baffle wall 25 which extends generally downwards from a mounting surface 26 divided into three substantially flat portions. The mounting surface 26 is shaped to conform with the three-dimensional shape of the cooking chamber ceiling 19 and the top surface of the oven body 9 so as to be releasably mountable within the space 18 therebetween.

[0104] The removable burner 11, as shown in more detail in FIGS. 8 and 9, comprises a generally cuboidal front burner portion 27 with an open roof 28 and a rear fuel loading portion 29. The front burner portion 27 is shaped and dimensioned so as to be slidably receivable within a rear burner opening 30 of the oven body 2. A vent wall 31 comprising a plurality of air vents 32 is provided across the open roof of the burner 11 between the front burner portion 27 and the rear fuel loading portion 29. The base of the rear fuel loading portion 29 is sloped generally downwards from the rear of the rear fuel loading portion 29 towards the front burner portion 27 such that fuel loaded into the rear fuel loading portion 29 tends to slide down into the front burner portion 27. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, a user may manually slide the slidable lid 16 onto and along the rear portion of the open roof of the burner 11 by way of the handle 17, to thereby provide access to the rear fuel loading portion 29 for the provision of burner fuel, or to expose or cover the air vents 32 during use.

[0105] The typical operation of the pizza oven without the removable baffle, and with the removable baffle in place, is illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12 respectively. In both cases, a user loads combustible fuel 33 (such as wood chips or twigs) into the burner 11 by first sliding back the slidable lid 16 to expose the open roof of the rear fuel loading portion 29 of said burner. The combustible fuel 33 is ignited within the burner 11 and combustion of the fuel heats the air directly above the open roof of the front portion of the burner within the oven body 2. Heated air (and combustion products) flow from above the burner 11 into the cooking chamber 21 of the oven. As heated air is less dense than cool air, the heated air tends to flow through the cooking chamber 12 immediately below the cooking chamber ceiling 19 along flow path 34.

[0106] When the removable baffle is not mounted within the oven, as shown in FIG. 11, heated air which approaches the front of the cooking chamber 21 tends to flow vertically upwards through the vent 22, into the flue 8, and escapes into the surrounding atmosphere. Air heated by combustion of fuel 33 in the burner 11 therefore spends a relatively short period of time within the cooking chamber 21.

[0107] Additionally, only a small proportion of the heated air flows towards the base 15 of the cooking chamber. Any food which is placed on top of the cooking surface 15 (such as a pizza) reaches a relatively low maximum temperature. When the oven is used to cook pizzas, this means that an optimum pizza cooking temperature may not be achieved, resulting in an inadequately cooked pizza.

[0108] However, when the removable baffle 20 is correctly mounted within the oven, as shown in FIG. 12, heated air which approaches the front of the cooking chamber 21 immediately below the cooking chamber ceiling 19 is deflected both vertically downwards and horizontally backwards towards the rear of the cooking chamber 19 according to flow path 35. Heated air therefore tends to recirculate within the cooking chamber 19, and particularly within an upper portion of the cooking chamber 19, for a significant period of time before the air cools sufficiently to fall below the lowest height of the baffle wall and escape underneath the baffle, up through the vent and out through the flue into the surroundings according to flow path 36. As the heated air circulates within the cooking chamber 19, the average temperature of the cooking chamber is raised. Any food which is placed on top of the cooking surface 15 (such as a pizza) reaches a higher maximum temperature than when the removable baffle is not provided. When the oven is used to cook pizzas, it is more likely that an optimum pizza cooking temperature is achieved, resulting in a higher quality pizza.

[0109] If the oven is to be used to cook a food item having a greater (vertical) height profile than a pizza, such as a cake, the removable baffle 20 can be removed from the oven, thereby permitting sliding of the larger object into the oven through the front opening 14 without interference from the baffle 20. Optionally, the removable baffle 20 may be remounted within the oven after the larger object has been placed in the cooking chamber 19, if a higher cooking temperature is also required. The removable baffle 20 therefore permits the cooking of food items of different sizes and at different temperatures without having to provide a directly controllable temperature control. This portable pizza oven 1 is therefore more versatile as well as more effective as a pizza oven.

[0110] A first alternative configuration of the removable baffle is illustrated in FIGS. 13, 14 and 15. Baffle 36 is fixedly attached to oven door 37 by three support struts 38, 39, 40. The oven door 37 is provided with a thermally insulated handle 41. When the oven door is not used to close the front opening 14 of the oven body, the oven functions essentially as outlined with regard to FIG. 11, and air heated by combustion of fuel within the burner 11 is able to flow through the cooking chamber 21 and out of the flue 8 without recirculating within said chamber. The average temperature of the oven is, in that case, relatively lower. When front opening 14 of the oven body is closed by the door 37, the baffle 36 extends from the door into the cooking chamber 21 and rests on the ceiling 19 of the cooking chamber, such that the oven functions essentially as outlined with regard to FIG. 12. Heated air therefore, in that case, circulates within the oven due to deflection by the baffle 36, and the average cooking temperature of the oven is relatively higher. A particular benefit of providing the baffle 36 fixedly attached to the oven door 37 is that a separate tool is not required to remove and replace the (hot) removable baffle during use.

[0111] A second alternative configuration of the removable baffle is illustrated in FIGS. 16, 17 and 18. A vertical flue extender 42 is fixedly attached to oven door 43 by support panel 44. The oven door 43 is provided with a thermally insulated handle 45. When the oven door 43 is not used to close the front opening 14 of the oven body, the oven again functions essentially as outlined with regard to FIG. 11, and air heated by combustion of fuel within the burner 11 is able to flow through the cooking chamber 21 and out of the flue 8 without recirculating within said chamber. The average temperature of the oven is, in that case, relatively lower. When front opening 14 of the oven body is closed by the door 43, the vertical flue extender 42 projects from the door into the cooking chamber 21 beneath the flue 8, forming a vertical channel beneath the flue 8, effectively functioning to lower the position of the vent 22 at which air flows into the flue. The front and side walls of the flue extender 42 together function as a baffle, deflecting heated air flow from the burner 11 back into the cooking chamber 21, such that the oven again functions essentially as outlined with regard to FIG. 12. Heated air therefore, in that case, circulates within the oven due to deflection by the baffle walls of the flue extender 42, and the average cooking temperature of the oven is relatively higher. Again, this configuration means that a separate tool is not required to remove and replace the removable baffle during use. Additionally, as the baffle walls of the flue extender 42 extend around the entrance to the flue 8, the flue extender 42 effectively deflects more heated air away from the flue, allowing even higher air recirculation times, and thus higher temperatures, to be achieved within the cooking chamber.

[0112] As illustrated in FIG. 19, the flue 8 is detachable from the top 9 of the oven body 2 so as to expose the circular vent 22 and bring the interior of the cooking chamber 21 into gaseous communication with the surroundings. In use, the flue 8 is typically detached in order to mount additional cooking modules to the oven body, such as the hot plate module 46 shown in FIGS. 20 and 21. A top side of the hot plate module includes a substantially rectangular heating plate 47 provided at a heating end of the module 48 and a circular vent 49 provided at a vent end 50 of the module. An underside 51 of the hot plate module is shaped to be cooperatively mountable onto the top surface 9 of the oven body 2, when the flue 8 is detached, and also comprises a circular vent 52 provided at the heating end 48 of the module. In use, the hot plate module 46 is mounted on top of the oven such that the heating plate 48 end is positioned above the oven vent 22, the vent 52 on the underside of the hot plate module aligning with the oven vent, and the vent end 50 is positioned vertically above the rear of the oven. Such an arrangement brings an interior chamber 53 of the hot plate module into gaseous communication with the cooking chamber 21 of the oven.

[0113] The flow path 54 of heated air generated by the burner 11 through the oven 2 and through the hot plate module 46 is illustrated in FIG. 23. Heated air (and combustion products) flows sequentially from above the burner 11 into and through the cooking chamber 21 immediately below the cooking chamber ceiling 19 towards the oven vent 22, through the oven vent 22 and the aligned vent 52 provided on the underside of the hot plate module 46, into and through the hot plate chamber 53, and then out through the hot plate flue 55 releasably mounted onto the hot plate module around the vent 49. Heated air generated by the burner 11 therefore heats both the cooking chamber 21 of the oven and the interior chamber 53 of the hot plate module. The heating plate 47 is made of thermally conductive materials such that the heated air flowing through the interior chamber 53 heats the heating plate 47. The heating plate 47 may therefore be used to warm plates or food (such as bread), or when the temperature is sufficiently high enough, the heating plate 47 may also be used for cooking purposes, essentially functioning as a cook top or hob. The oven 2 combined with the hot plate module 46 therefore provides a dual cooking function from one single burner 11. Both the oven 2 and the hot plate 46 may be operated simultaneously.

[0114] One skilled in the art will appreciate that alternative shapes of the removable baffle are possible. For example, the baffle may comprise a single flat wall which depends vertically from the ceiling of the oven cooking chamber. Alternatively, the baffle may have a complex three-dimensional shape configured to cause specific heated air recirculation paths within the cooking chamber.

[0115] The baffle may be a movable baffle. For example, the baffle may be hingedly attached to the ceiling of the cooking chamber such that the baffle is rotatable between a deployed position in which the baffle causes recirculation of heated air within the cooking chamber and a retracted position in heated air flows relatively undeflected from the burner to the flue. The baffle may be a collapsible baffle or a foldable baffle. The baffle may form a continuous barrier across the width of the cooking chamber. Alternatively, the baffle may form a partial barrier across the width of the cooking chamber. The baffle may have one or more perforations. The baffle may comprise a window or may be formed from a transparent material so as to allow a user to observe the interior of the cooking chamber during cooking.

[0116] While the oven is typically an oven for cooking pizzas (i.e. the size and shape of the cooking chamber is configured for cooking one or more pizzas), the oven may alternatively be configured for cooking other foodstuffs, including baked goods, roasted vegetables, casseroles, meat and fish, among others.

[0117] The pizza cooking surface may be made of any suitable material, including aluminium, cast iron, stainless steel, stone (such as cordierite) or a ceramic material.

[0118] The oven body may be provided on legs, feet, castors, wheels or any other form of support. Alternatively, the oven body may rest directly on a (thermally insulating) work surface.

[0119] The burner may be configured to burn any forms of combustible fuel including, but not limited to, coal, coke, charcoal, wood, twigs, wood chips, oil or gas. Alternatively, the burner may comprise an electric heater.

[0120] The underside of the hot plate module, or an underside of the heating surface of the hot plate module, may be provided with one or more baffles or heated air directors configured to direct heated air towards specific areas of the heating surface to create hot spots. Said baffles or heated air directors may be moveable between one or more directed positions and one or more diffuse positions, so that the areas of the heating surface which are heated by the heatable air may be controlled.

[0121] Further modifications and variations may be made within the scope of the invention herein disclosed.