Abstract:
A pivot assembly for use in an electric fryer that rotates heating elements out of a frypot, and a pivot housing that prevents the passage of outside contaminants from entering the pivot assembly. The pivot assembly comprises a tube that has mounting position for heating elements, and the elements can be lowered and raised into the frypot. The pivot housing comprises a hood that fits over the pivot assembly and forms a seal around the assembly, preventing the passage of oil therethrough. The tube of the pivot assembly can comprise one or more heating elements, and the heating elements can be lowered or raised independently of one another.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/717,691, filed on Sep. 16, 2005. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention relates generally to a pivot assembly that rotates elements out of a pot, and a pivot housing which protects the internal mechanisms of the pivot assembly from outside contaminants. In particular, the pivot assembly is used to rotate heating elements out of the pot of an electric fryer, and the pivot housing prevents cooking oils and other contaminants from entering the pivot assembly.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Electric heating elements have been used extensively in the fryer industry for years. Current designs have elements with pivot mechanisms affixed above the oil line or elements sealed under the oil level immovably affixed to a sidewall of a frypot. Elements with pivot mechanisms are generally affixed above the oil line for movement of the elements out of the fryer pot or above the oil line in order to permit the user direct access to the pot for cleaning or maintenance. Most other fryer manufacturers have installed fryers having fixed elements extending through the frypot wall below or above the oil line with static seals.  
         [0006]     Traditionally, tilting the heating elements out of the cooking area for cleaning creates opportunities for oil to undesirably enter the rear of the frypot cabinet. These areas are hard to clean which can create a large oil buildup which is unsanitary. Moreover, fixed elements that remain in the frypot impede the user&#39;s access to some areas of the frypot during maintenance, such as those areas beneath the heating elements. Again, these areas are hard to clean which can create a large oil buildup which is unsanitary.  
         [0007]     Accordingly, there is a need for a pivot assembly that rotates the heating elements out of the frypot but which does not permit leakage of cooking oils or other contaminants into the rear of the frypot cabinet.  
         [0008]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a pivot block assembly that permits rotation of the heating elements out of the frypot.  
         [0009]     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a pivot housing that prevents leakage of a liquid or other contaminant into the rear of the frypot cabinet.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The pivot assembly of the present invention comprises an actuator or pivot tube that rotates heating elements out of the frypot and a pivot housing that prevents leakage of a liquid through the pivot tube and into the rear of the frypot itself.  
         [0011]     The pivot tube comprises a tubular portion that has mounting positions for one or more heating elements along its axis. At opposite ends of the pivot tube are brackets. These brackets are used to rotate the pivot tube through the use of a tension spring connected to the brackets and located on the opposite side of the pivot tube from the mounted heating elements. When the tension on the spring is increased, the pivot tube is rotated accordingly, raising the heating elements up above the oil line and out of the frypot.  
         [0012]     The pivot housing comprises a hood that is placed over the pivot tube and which forms a seal with the upper edge of the frypot. The portion of the pivot housing that is placed over the pivot tube also forms a seal, thus preventing any contaminating liquids from entering the internal fryer mechanisms or the rear of the fryer.  
         [0013]     In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the tubular portion of the pivot tube can be separated into two or more components. This allows each heating element to be manipulated individually, and used in separate frypots. This embodiment thus allows for the simultaneous frying of two or more separate foods.  
         [0014]     The fryer can further comprise a probe mounted to the heating element that monitors the oil temperature. The probe can remain in the same relative position to the element during operation.  
         [0015]     The above-described and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, drawings, and appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a front, left side perspective view of the pivot and heating element assemblies of the present disclosure;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  shows a front, right side perspective view of the pivot and heating element assemblies of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0018]      FIGS. 3, 4 , and  5  show a top, side, and front view, respectively, of the pivot tube and heating element assemblies of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  shows an enlarged front, right side perspective view of the junction between the pivot tube and heating element assemblies of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  shows a front, left side perspective view of the pivot tube assembly of the present disclosure;  
         [0021]      FIGS. 8, 9 , and  10  show a top, front, and side view, respectively, of the pivot tube assembly of  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 11  shows a side view of the pivot housing and pivot assembly;  
         [0023]      FIG. 12  shows a rear, left side perspective view of the pivot housing;  
         [0024]      FIGS. 13 and 14  show a rear and side view of the pivot housing;  
         [0025]      FIG. 15  shows a front, left side perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the pivot and heating element assemblies of the present disclosure;  
         [0026]      FIG. 16  shows a front, right side perspective view of the pivot and heating element assemblies of  FIG. 15 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 17  shows a front, left side perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the pivot tube assembly of the present disclosure;  
         [0028]      FIGS. 18, 19 , and  20  show a top, front, and side view, respectively, of the pivot tube assembly respectively of  FIG. 17 ;  
         [0029]      FIGS. 21 and 22  show the pivot and heating assemblies of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , respectively, with a lift handle; and  
         [0030]      FIGS. 23 and 24  show the pivot and heating assemblies of  FIGS. 15 and 16 , respectively, with a lift handle. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0031]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the invention of the present disclosure has pivot assembly  20  and heating element assembly  50 . Heating element assembly  50  further has a number of heating elements  51 . In the shown embodiment, there are two heating elements per heating element assembly, but the present invention contemplates the use of one or more heating elements per assembly. The heating elements consist of one continuous sheath of metal that is formed in the shape of the loops shown in the drawings. The electrical wiring used to heat the loops is located inside this sheath. In the shown embodiment, there are three heating loops per heating element; however, the present invention contemplates the use of one or more heating loops per heating element.  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , heating elements  51  have external ribs  52  and internal ribs  53 . Bracket  56  runs perpendicular to and underneath all external and internal ribs  52  and  53  of the heating loops  51 , and is joined to external ribs  52  with clamps  57 . In the shown embodiment, clamp  57  is a snap-on mounting bracket that does not use fasteners; however, other means of attaching bracket  56  to external rib  53  of the heating loop may be used. Additionally, in the shown embodiment there are two brackets  56 , using four clamps  57  per bracket. The present invention, however, contemplates the use of one or more brackets  56  per heating element.  
         [0033]     Referring to  FIGS. 3, 4 , and  5 , each heating element  51  has left and right heating element stems  60  and  61  respectively. Temperature probe  58  runs from a junction with pivot assembly  20  parallel to and in between left and right heating element stems  60  and  61 , then bends to run parallel to the heating loop ribs, flush with the level of heating element  51 . It is joined to an internal rib through the use of probe clamp  59 . Probe clamp  59  uses a snap-on means of attachment to join internal rib  52  to temperature probe  58 ; however, other attachment means are contemplated by the present invention, including, but not limited to screw fasteners and permanent welding.  
         [0034]     Referring in particular to  FIG. 5 , heating element stems  60  and  61  are welded to element bracket  65 . Element bracket  65  has upper fastening hole  66  and lower fastening hole  67 . In the shown embodiment, screw fasteners are inserted into fastening holes  66  and  67  to attach element bracket  65  to pivot assembly  20 . However, other ways of attaching element bracket  65  to pivot assembly  20  are contemplated by the present invention, including but not limited to spring-loaded and tongue and groove fastening methods.  
         [0035]      FIG. 6  shows an enlarged view of an end of the pivot assembly  20 , and how heating element stems  60  and  61  are joined to element bracket  65 . Pivot assembly  20  has pivot tube  22 . Element bracket  65  is attached to pivot tube  22  through upper and lower fastening holes  66  and  67 . Lower fastening hole  67  is on the underside of pivot tube  22  and is not visible in this Figure.  
         [0036]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , pivot assembly  20  also has left tube support bracket  24 , right tube support bracket  26 , left upper spring bracket  28 , and right upper spring bracket  30 . The ends of tube  22  extend through openings in tube support brackets  24  and  26 . Tube bushing  36  functions as both a seal and bearing between tube  20  and support brackets  24  and  26 . It prevents the passage of fluid between these components, and also allows tube  20  to rotate within support brackets  24  and  26 . In the shown embodiment, tube bushing  36  is made of Teflon. However, any heat-resistant polymer with a low friction coefficient can be used and is contemplated by the present invention.  
         [0037]     Referring to  FIGS. 8, 9 , and  10 , pivot tube  22  has two upper tube fastening holes  40  and two lower tube fastening holes  38 , which correspond to upper fastening hole  66  and lower fastening hole  67  of element bracket  65 , shown in  FIG. 5 . Element bracket  65  is connected to tube  22  through the use of tube fastening holes  40  and  38 . Tube  22  also has conduit  39 . The electrical wiring to the heating elements and temperature probe is routed through conduit  39 , under element bracket  65 , so that the wiring is not exposed to the ambient environment.  
         [0038]     Pivot assembly  20  has outer support plate  32  and inner support plate  34 . The two plates and the tube support brackets— 32 ,  34 , and  24  on the left side, and  32 ,  34 , and  26  on the right—are aligned adjacent to one another. In the shown embodiment, the plates are fastened together with a nut and bolt, but other methods of joining the plates together are contemplated by the present invention.  
         [0039]     On the outside portion of support brackets  24  and  26 , tube  22  is connected to left and right upper spring brackets  28  and  30 . In the present embodiment, the upper spring brackets  28  and  30  are attached to tube  22  with a nut and bolt screw fastener. However, other methods of connection are contemplated by the present invention, such as with welding or rivets.  
         [0040]     Upper spring brackets  28  and  30  have several holes along the upper ridge. These holes can be used to connect a spring mechanism that rotates the pivot tube, thereby raising and lowering the heating elements in the frypot.  
         [0041]     The present invention also includes a pivot housing  70 , shown in  FIG. 11 . Pivot housing  70  has upper component  72  and lower component  76 . Lower component  76  has lower connection notch  78 , which forms a tongue and groove seal with frypot upper edge  80 . This seal is tight enough to prevent the leakage of cooking oil into the rear of the fryer assembly, in the event that such oil splashes up out of the frypot. The tongue and groove seal between lower connection notch  78  and frypot upper edge  80  in the present embodiment is preferred, to allow for easier removal and cleaning of the pivot housing components. However, other means and methods of connecting the two are contemplated by the present invention, including more permanent means of connection such as with fasteners.  
         [0042]     Upper component  72  has upper connection notch  73 , which forms a tongue and groove seal with upper sealing edge  77  of lower component  76 . This seal also prevents cooking oil from leaking into the back of the fryer. Upper component  72  can also have a basket hanger  82 , used to suspend foods to be cooked in the frypot.  
         [0043]     Referring to  FIGS. 12, 13 , and  14 , lower component  76  of pivot housing  70  has inner radius  79 . In the completed assembly of the electric fryer, inner radius  79  fits over tube  22  between left tube support bracket  24  and right tube support bracket  26  (shown in  FIG. 7 ), so that the rear of the fryer is sealed off from the area in front of the pivot housing and from the frypot. This seal serves to prevent any cooking oils from leaking into the rear of the fryer.  
         [0044]      FIGS. 15 and 16  show an alternative embodiment of the present invention. Most of the components of the alternative embodiment function in the same way as the main embodiment of  FIGS. 1 through 10 , with the exceptions discussed below. The alternative embodiment has pivot assembly  120  and heating element assembly  150 .  
         [0045]     Referring to  FIG. 17, 18 , and  19 , tube element  120  has left tube component  121  and right tube component  122 . Separating the two components are left bushing  123  and right bushing  124 . Thus, left and right tube components  121  and  122  can move independently of each other. The two bushings are made of Teflon to prevent leakage of cooking oil into the internal tube mechanism, and to reduce the friction between the two tube components. In the shown embodiment, left and right bushings  123  and  124  are made of Teflon; however, any heat resistant polymer with a low-friction coefficient can also be used.  
         [0046]     Referring to  FIG. 20 , tube insert  125  supports left and right tube components  121  and  122  when they are rotating. Tube insert  125  comprises two cylindrical components placed adjacent to one another inside left and right tube components  121  and  122 , such that the seam between the two insert components aligns with the seam between left and right bushings  123  and  124 . Insert fastener  126  is used to hold the insert components together, and can be adjusted to create the appropriate amount of friction between the insert components and tube components  121  and  122 . In the shown embodiment, insert fastener  126  consists of a shoulder bolt, nut, and washer, though other means for controlling the friction between the insert components are contemplated by the present invention.  
         [0047]     Referring to  FIG. 21  through  24 , an optional lift handle  90  for use in the pivot and heating element assemblies is shown. Lift handle  90  can be used with single tube pivot assembly  20  and heating element assembly  50 , as shown in  FIGS. 21 and 22 , or with double tube pivot assembly  120  and heating element assembly  150 , as is shown in  FIGS. 23 and 24 . When used with dual pivot assembly  120 , there can be two lift handles  90 . Lift handle  90  is affixed to the heating element assembly  50  or  150 , so that a user can use lift handle  90  to manually lift the heating elements out of the frypot during use, if so desired.  
         [0048]     The present invention having been thus described with particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.