Patent ID: 6693261
Filing Date: 2004-02-17
Classification: F24C

Abstract:
An electric stove to cook food, said electric stove comprising:an electric stove body; said electric stove body being configured with an exterior comprising side walls, a rear wall, a front, a top, and a bottom spaced from said top; said top comprising an exterior top surface; a plurality of electric heating elements disposed on said exterior top surface; said plurality of electric heating elements each being configured to receive the bottom of a cooking utensil to cook food on said electric stove; electric heating element control apparatus to control the operation of said electric heating elements to produce a temperature to cook food on said electric stove; electric circuitry configured to connect said heating element control apparatus and said plurality of electric heating elements to a source of electric power; a first electric heating arrangement disposed in said electric stove and being configured to heat said electric stove to a cooking temperature; a first electric heating arrangement control apparatus being configured to control the operation of said first electric heating arrangement to produce a cooking temperature to cook food in said electric stove; an arrangement to support a cooking utensil in said electric stove; a second electric heating arrangement disposed in said electric stove and being configured to heat said electric stove to a temperature greater than said cooking temperature; a second heating control apparatus being configured to control said second electric heating arrangement to produce a temperature sufficient to convert splatters and/or spills produced during cooking in said electric stove into a converted splatters and/or spills residue more easily removable from said electric stove than said splatters and/or spills produced during cooking in said electric stove; said electric stove being configured with an interior comprising an interior top surface, an interior bottom surface, interior side surfaces, and an interior rear surface; said interior top surface, said interior bottom surface and said interior side surfaces defining an inlet opening to introduce food to be cooked into said interior of said electric stove; said first electric heating arrangement being disposed in said interior of said electric stove and being configured to heat said interior of said electric stove to a cooking temperature; said first heating arrangement control apparatus being configured to control the operation of said first electric heating arrangement to produce a cooking temperature to cook food in said interior of said electric stove; said arrangement to support a cooking utensil being disposed in said interior of said electric stove; said second electric heating arrangement being disposed in said interior of said electric stove and being configured to heat said interior of said electric stove to a temperature greater than said cooking temperature; said second heating control apparatus being configured to control said second electric heating arrangement to produce a temperature sufficient to convert splatters and/or spills produced during cooking in said interior of said electric stove into a converted splatters and/or spills residue more easily removable from said interior of said electric stove than said splatters and/or spills produced during cooking in said interior of said electric stove; said electric stove comprising a stove door; said stove door and said electric stove comprising a hinge arrangement configured to permit said stove door to be positioned in a closed position, to close said inlet opening, and said hinge arrangement being configured to permit said stove door to be positioned in an open position, to open said inlet opening; said stove door comprising a window arrangement with a viewing area having a predetermined height and a predetermined width configured to view said interior of said electric stove; said stove door comprising a mounting arrangement configured to mount said window arrangement to said door; said window arrangement comprising: a first pane and a second pane; and a spacer arrangement being configured to maintain said first pane in an outer position with respect to said electric stove interior upon said stove door being in the closed position, and said spacer arrangement being configured to maintain said second pane in a position closer with respect to said electric stove interior than said first pane upon said stove door being in the closed position; said first pane comprising a substantially planar structure having a surface area substantially equal to said viewing area; said first pane comprising an at least partially transparent glass; said second pane comprising a first planar portion, a second, central, planar portion and a third planar portion; said second, central, planar portion comprising a central portion having a first surface disposed substantially parallel with respect to said first pane; said central portion being rectangular, having a first side and a second side opposite said first side and having a third side and a fourth side opposite said third side; said first planar portion and said third planar portion each having a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of said central planar portion; said central planar portion being bent at an intersection of said first side of said central planar portion with said first planar portion and said central planar portion being bent at an intersection of said second side of said central planar portion with said third planar portion; said first planar portion and said third planar portion each being disposed at a substantial obtuse angle transverse to said central planar portion; and said central planar portion being configured to expand in response to heat being produced by at least one of said first and second heating arrangements.