Patent ID: 6515263
Filing Date: 2003-02-04
Classification: C03C

Abstract:
A stove, with a smooth-top cooktop, for cooking food, said stove comprising:a stove body; said stove body being configured with a support comprising feet; a smooth-top cooktop to cook food thereon; an arrangement to attach said smooth-top cooktop to said stove body; said smooth-top cooktop comprising a layer which becomes an upper layer upon installation in a kitchen; said smooth-top cooktop comprising a cooking surface configured to cook food; said cooking surface being disposed at or adjacent to said upper layer of said smooth-top cooktop; said cooking surface, at or adjacent to said upper layer of said smooth-top cooktop, being configured to receive a bottom of a cooking vessel to cook food therein; at least one heat source; said at least one heat source being configured to heat said cooking surface to thereby cook food; said at least one heat source being disposed adjacent to said cooking surface; control apparatus being configured and disposed to control said smooth-top cooktop; said control apparatus being connected to control said at least one heat source and thus to control heat; said smooth-top cooktop comprising a glass ceramic body; said cooking surface being disposed adjacent to or comprising a part of said glass ceramic body; said glass ceramic body comprising: a crystallized and ceramicized glass; an interior portion; an exterior surface; a first glass ceramic region and a second glass ceramic region; said first glass ceramic region being disposed within said interior portion of said glass ceramic body; said second glass ceramic region being disposed between said exterior surface and said first glass ceramic region; said glass ceramic body comprising glass ceramic continuously from within said first glass ceramic region to within said second glass ceramic region; said first glass ceramic region comprising, at least predominantly, a first glass ceramic material; said second glass ceramic region comprising, at least predominantly, a second glass ceramic material; said first glass ceramic material comprising a chemically different glass ceramic material than said second glass ceramic material; said second glass ceramic region of said glass ceramic body being configured to minimize surface defects; said surface defects comprising at least one of: fissures, cracks, pits, and pores; and said first glass ceramic region of said glass ceramic body being configured to provide resistance to impact to said second glass ceramic region from cooking utensils being dropped onto said second glass ceramic region of said smooth-top cooktop.