SPRITZER ASSEMBLY

A spritzer assembly for a cooking device is provided herein. The spritzer assembly includes a reservoir configured to maintain a fluid therein. A pump is operably coupled with the reservoir. The pump is configured to move the fluid from the reservoir and through a nozzle. The nozzle is configured to be positioned within a heating chamber. A controller is configured to selectively activate the pump.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to a spritzer assembly for a cooking device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various liquids can be applied to food items as the food item is cooked. For some cooking devices, it may be desirable to have a spritzer assembly to accomplish this task.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to some examples of the present disclosure, a spritzer assembly for a cooking device is provided herein. The spritzer assembly can includes a reservoir configured to maintain a fluid therein. A pump is operably coupled with the reservoir, the pump configured to move the fluid from the reservoir and through a nozzle. The nozzle is configured to be positioned within a heating chamber. A controller is configured to selectively activate the pump.

According to some examples of the present disclosure, a cooking device includes a housing defining a heating chamber and a void within the housing. A spritzer assembly has a pump operably coupled with a reservoir and a nozzle. The nozzle is disposed within the heating chamber and operably coupled to the pump through a tubing disposed through the void. A controller is operably coupled with the pump and configured to selectively activate the pump to move a fluid from the reservoir through the nozzle.

According to some examples of the present disclosure, a spritzer assembly for a cooking device is provided herein. The spritzer assembly includes a reservoir configured to maintain a fluid therein. A pump is operably coupled with the reservoir. The pump moves the fluid from the reservoir and through first and second nozzles. The first and second nozzles are configured to be positioned within a heating chamber and are fluidly coupled to one another. A controller is configured to selectively activate the pump. The controller is further configured to operably couple with an electronic device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EXAMPLES

The following disclosure describes a spritzer assembly for a cooking device. The spritzer assembly can include a reservoir configured to maintain a fluid therein. A pump can be operably coupled with the reservoir. The pump can be configured to move the fluid from the reservoir and through a nozzle. The nozzle is configured to be positioned within a heating chamber. A controller is configured to selectively activate the pump. The controller is operably coupled with an electronic device and/or an input device that may be be configured to accept instructions. In turn, the controller can selectively activate the pump for at least one of a predetermined duration and a predetermined time frequency based on the instructions.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, a cooking device10includes a housing12that defines a heating chamber14in which food items to be prepared may be placed. In some examples, the housing12includes a movable lid16for providing and inhibiting access to the heating chamber14. A handle18can be positioned on the lid16to enable a user to move the lid16between a closed position, as exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 1, and an open position, as exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 2. In some examples, the cooking device10may include one or more racks44upon which an item may be placed. During operation, the lid16can be closed so as to retain heat and/or smoke supplied to the heating chamber14for food preparation. The cooking device10may also include one or more exhaust conduits20to remove heat and/or smoke from the heating chamber14. The exhaust conduit20may be selectively closed and/or altered to adjust the heating characteristics within the chamber14.

The housing12may be coupled to a support structure22that includes one or more legs24. Any of the legs24may be operably coupled with a swivel caster and/or a wheel26to facilitate movement of the cooking device10. A shelf28may be operably coupled with the support structure22and/or supported by one or more of the legs24. Additionally, and/or alternatively, the shelf28may be operably coupled with the housing12and extend therefrom. It will be appreciated that the cooking device10may be any type of cooking device. As non-limiting examples, the cooking device10may a grill, smoker, air fryer, oven, brazier, steamer, roaster, fryer, broiler, stove, and/or toaster oven. While the cooking device10may be any type of cooking device10, the present disclosure will be described with continuing reference to a grill, which may utilize pellets38as the fuel34. Those of ordinary skill in the art will be able to apply the features set forth herein to other types of cooking devices10using the description of the present disclosure in the non-limiting example of a grill.

Various components of the cooking device10may be made of any desired heat resistant material(s). As non-limiting examples, various portions of the cooking device10may be made of stainless steel and/or cast iron. The cooking device10can be shaped to have an enclosed inner chamber, i.e., the heating chamber14, which may be heated by a heat source30. The heat source30can include a heating element32that may independently produce heat. Additionally, and/or alternatively, the heating element32may ignite a fuel34and/or sustain a burning of the fuel34to produce heat within the heating chamber14, which may occur in a burn box. Additionally, and/or alternatively, still, the heating element32may be replaced, or supplemented with, with an ignitor that may ignite the fuel34to produce heat within the heating chamber14in examples in which a liquid and/or a gas fuel34is utilized.

In some examples, the fuel34may be stored in a hopper36, or any other type of container, and may contain wood pellets38for producing the heat and/or smoke. In some instances, the pellets38are loaded into the hopper36through movement of a panel40from a closed position to an open position thereby providing access into the hopper36. The pellets38may be transported from the hopper36using a channel48and an auger50. The auger50may be centrally disposed in the channel48that may run along an underside of the heating chamber14. The channel48includes openings or the like that place the channel48and/or the auger50in gaseous communication with the heating chamber14. When the auger50is rotated within the channel48, pellets38are drawn from the hopper36and transported via the auger50through the channel48. One or more heating elements32(e.g., electrical heating elements) locally heat the wood pellets38and cause the pellets38to emit heat and/or smoke for the heating chamber14. After the consumption of the pellets38, the channel48and the auger50further transport the consumed pellets38(or remains thereof) to a used pellet discharge port52. At the used pellet discharge port52, the pellets38can exit the cooking device10. In some instances, a bucket54, container, tray, or the like may be disposed at the used pellet discharge port52to collect the pellet remains.

It will be appreciated that the cooking device10of the present disclosure may use any desired fuel34for heating the heating chamber14. As non-limiting examples, the fuel34for the cooking device10may be wood (e.g., wood pellets), stick burners, natural gas, charcoal, gas, and/or an electrical heating unit. The heat source30may sustain a temperature inside the cooking device10of around 100 to 800 degrees Fahrenheit for cooking the food items. In some examples, the cooking device10may be able to automatically (without human intervention) regulate the temperature inside the cooking device10to a predetermined set temperature or temperature range.

With further reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, a control unit56for controlling operation of the cooking device10may house, be integrated within, or otherwise installed on the hopper36. However, it will be appreciated that the control unit56may be disposed on any portion of the cooking device10and/or remotely coupled with the cooking device10without departing from the teachings provided herein. In some instances, the control unit56can control the auger50and/or operation of the heating elements32. However, the control unit56may perform other functions and it is also contemplated that the cooking device10may have multiple control units56at various locations, which may be tethered to or remotely positioned from the cooking device10.

The control unit56may further include a display130for displaying the status of the operation of the cooking device10, an input device84for accommodating user input, a cabinet temperature sensor for determining the temperature inside the chamber14, a probe58for determining the internal temperature of the food being cooked, a timer module for setting the cooking time for the cooking device10, a probe temperature set module for setting the internal temperature of the food product based on the user's preference for the cooked food, a display control relay for powering the display and input device84, and/or a heat source control relay for cycling the heat source30on and off. The probe58may be electronically coupled with one or more input/output (I/O) ports46disposed on the control unit56. The I/O ports46may be configured in any manner and may interact and/or couple with a wide array of devices.

Still referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, a spritzer assembly60may be operably coupled with the chamber14to deliver a fluid solution62to the heating chamber14. The spritzer assembly60may include a reservoir64, a pump66, piping or tubing70, and one or more nozzles72,74. The spritzer assembly60can deliver various types of solutions62that can alter the flavor of the food item, increase moisture within the food item, increase cooking efficiency of the food item, and/or provide other various benefits while the food item is positioned within the heating chamber14. In some examples, the fluid solution62that can be used with the spritzer assembly60include water based solutions, juice based solutions, vinegar based solutions, fermented solutions, and/or other types of seasoning solutions as desired. The solution62can be contained within the reservoir64and can be refilled by a user. Alternatively, the reservoir64can be a replaceable cartridge that can be removed from the spritzer assembly60and replaced as desired. The replaceable cartridge may have any standard or proprietary attachment such that the user may be able to ensure the origination of the replaceable cartridge.

In some instances, each of the components of the spritzer assembly60can be constructed from a metallic material (e.g., stainless steel, steel, aluminum, etc.), an elastomeric material (e.g., rubber), a polymeric material (e.g., silicone) and/or other materials. The components of the spritzer assembly60can be positioned in any one of a multitude of possible locations, such as, on the shelf28of the cooking device10, as shown inFIG. 2, on and/or within the control unit56, on and/or within the hopper36, on and/or within the housing12of the cooking device10, or in other suitable locations. In some examples, the pump66, the reservoir64, and/or the power supply92are not contained within a predefined location, but rather are individually located within or adjacent to the cooking device10.

Referring now toFIGS. 3 and 4, the spritzer assembly60may include a controller76electronically coupled to a power source68and/or a power supply (FIG. 5). The controller76is configured to receive various inputs and control the pump66by applying signals to the pump66. The controller76may be disposed within the spritzer assembly60, the control unit56, the hopper36, and/or any other portion of the cooking device10. In some examples, the controller76, and consequently, the pump66may be powered by a port46disposed on the control unit56. The port46may be configured as a universal serial bus (USB) port in some implementations. In instances in which the controller76receives power from the control unit56, various user preferences and/or instructions may be inputted through the input device84of the control unit56for activation/deactivation of the pump66. In some instances, power may be provided to the spritzer assembly60from power sources remotely disposed form the cooking device power, such as plugging the spritzer assembly60into an electrical outlet thereby coupling the grid. In some instances, the pump66can be gravity fed, hand operated, or pre-pressurized, such that the spritzer assembly60is free from a power source68and/or operable without use of the power source68.

With further reference toFIGS. 3 and 4, the pump66can be any fluid pump capable of transporting a fluid solution62from the reservoir64to at least one nozzle72,74. In various examples, the pump66can be configured as an electric pump, a gravity fed system, a hand operated pump, a pre-pressurized pump, and/or any other type of practicable pump. The reservoir64can contain a fluid solution62until received by the pump66, and the capacity of the reservoir64can vary with the size of the cooking device10and/or as desired by a user. In some examples, the spritzer assembly60can include a low fluid sensor78coupled to the reservoir64and the spritzer assembly60and/or the cooking device10may be capable of providing notifications when the fluid level within the reservoir64is below a predefined amount of fluid solution62.

One or more sections of tubing70can be coupled to the pump66for transporting the fluid from the pump and/or the reservoir64to the nozzles72,74. The tubing70can be constructed from silicone, stainless steel, steel, aluminum, rubber, plastic, or other materials as desired by a user. The tubing70can be disposed through a void80defined by the housing12and supported within the heating chamber14by one or more brackets82(FIG. 2). Additionally or alternatively, the tubing70may also be welded, bonded, latched, and/or otherwise secured to and/or supported within the heating chamber14. The tubing70may be extendable and/or be formed of a sufficient length such that the pump66and/or reservoir64may stay in a substantially constant position when the lid16of the cooking device10is moved between the closed position and an open position in examples in which the nozzle may be coupled to the lid16. Moreover, in some examples, the housing12may include a cover that is positioned over the void80when the tubing70is removed from therefrom.

In some examples, the tubing70can be fluidly coupled to at least one nozzle72,74for producing a mist within the heating chamber14. In some instances, the nozzles72,74can additionally or alternatively produce a spray, jet, wash, droplets, or other forms of liquid as desired to the heating chamber14. The nozzles72,74can comprise misters, sprinklers, atomizers, mist generators, and/or any other device configured to direct fluids in a predefined manner. The nozzles72,74can produce a preset level of mist/moisture or the nozzles72,74can be modified by the user to produce more or less mist/moisture.

The controller76may be operably coupled with the input device84, which may be disposed within the control unit56and/or the spritzer assembly60. The input device84may be configured to accept instructions as to at least one of a predetermined duration and a predetermined time frequency to initiate the pump66and the controller76may activate and deactivate the pump66based on those instructions. In some instances, a user may define a frequency upon which the pump66can be activated and deactivated. Additionally or alternatively, when the input device84is not utilized and/or instructions are not provided by a user, the input device84or the controller76may activate/deactivate the pump66based on a default frequency. As one non-limiting example, some food items might take several hours to smoke, and during this period, a user may generally want to spritz the food item every20-30minutes. The application128can allow the user to automate that procedure possibly without having to have physical presence at the cooking device128.

Additionally, the input device84may further include a switch86thereon such that the user may activate/deactivate the pump66by manually toggling the switch86between a first state and a second state. It will be appreciated that the switch86may be any type of switch86without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the switch86may be configured as a proximity switch that provides a sense activation field to sense contact or close proximity (e.g., within one millimeter) of an object, such as the hand (e.g., palm or finger(s)) of a user in relation to the switch86. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that proximity switches of any type can be used, such as, but not limited to, capacitive sensors, inductive sensors, optical sensors, temperature sensors, resistive sensors, the like, or a combination thereof. It will also be appreciated that the switch86may alternatively be a mechanical switch of any type known in the art, such as a push button.

With further reference toFIGS. 3 and 4, in some examples, the cooking device10may communicate via wired and/or wireless communication with one or more handheld or electronic devices88. The communication may occur through one or more of any desired combination of wired (e.g., cable and fiber) and/or wireless communication mechanisms and any desired network topology (or topologies when multiple communication mechanisms are utilized). Exemplary wireless communication networks include a wireless transceiver (e.g., a BLUETOOTH module, a ZIGBEE transceiver, a Wi-Fi transceiver, an IrDA transceiver, an RFID transceiver, etc.), local area networks (LAN), and/or wide area networks (WAN), including the Internet, cellular, satellite, microwave, and radio frequency, providing data communication services.

The electronic device88may be any one of a variety of computing devices and may include a processor and memory. The memory may store logic having one or more routines that is executable by the processor. For example, the electronic device88may be a cell phone, mobile communication device, key fob, wearable device (e.g., fitness band, watch, glasses, jewelry, wallet), apparel (e.g., a tee shirt, gloves, shoes or other accessories), personal digital assistant, headphones and/or other devices that include capabilities for wireless communications and/or any wired communications protocols.

In operation, when the cooking device10is in use, the spritzer assembly60may be configured to activate/deactivate the pump66as determined by a user and/or a predetermined routine. If the cooking device10is equipped with a door sensor90, in some instances, the spritzer assembly60may pause or cease operation until the door is detected to be in the closed position. Once the spritzer assembly60has become operational, the pump66may transport the fluid from the reservoir64through the tubing70and ultimately to the at least one nozzle72,74. It will be appreciated, however, that the pump66may be activated while the lid16is in the open position in some instances. Once the fluid has reached the nozzle72,74the fluid is dispensed into the heating chamber14in the form of mist, spray, spritz, etc. towards the food items therein. By spraying the food item within the heating chamber14, the taste, cooking properties, aesthetics, etc. may be altered. Among other factors, the amount of moisture that is dispensed during each interval can vary with the size of the cooking device10, the number of nozzles72,74, the type of fluid used, and the duration of the spritzing operation.

In some examples, the spritzer assembly60disclosed herein can be produced and sold as a retrofit kit. The retrofit kit can allow a user to modify an existing cooking device10, such that the retrofitted cooking device10is capable of delivering the fluid solution to the heating chamber14. The kit can include a pump66, a reservoir64, a power supply92(FIG. 5) (and/or a power source attachment), a controller76(possibly having a wireless transceiver126therein), and/or a user input device84. In alternative examples, the kit can include a gravity fed, hand operated, or pre-pressurized pump instead of a pump/power supply combination. The kit can also include at least one nozzle72,74and at least one section of tubing70to channel the solution62between the pump66and at least one nozzle72,74.

Referring toFIG. 5, the spritzer assembly60may additionally or alternatively include a dedicated power supply92, such as alkaline type batteries, rechargeable batteries, lithium ion, nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal-hydride, button batteries, capacitors, and/or any other suitable power storage device. Additionally, in some examples, the power supply92may receive power thereto from one or more generators94disposed within and/or on the cooking device10, the power source68, and/or from an external power source, such as the grid. The power supply92may provide power for at least one of the controller76and the pump66. In some instances, the generator94may be configured as a thermoelectric generator98(FIG. 3) may be operably coupled with the power source68and/or the controller76for generation of thermal and electrical energy. The thermoelectric generator98may use a temperature gradient, such as between a hot component (e.g., the exhaust conduit20and/or a portion of the housing12) and a lower-temperature space (e.g., ambient air) to provide a temperature difference across one or more thermoelectric conversion elements and thereby generate electricity. In operation, the heating chamber14is heated and the generator98, which may include a plurality of thermoelectric converters may be used to extract electrical energy. The electrical energy generated by thermoelectric conversion may be provided to the power supply92(e.g., rechargeable battery, capacitor, etc.) for later use.

Additionally or alternatively, the generator94may be configured as a solar panel100(FIG. 3) that is configured to convert light into electric energy through the photovoltaic effect. The panel100may use wafer-based crystalline silicon cells, thin-film cells, or any other type of device capable of converting light into electrical energy. The panel100may be positioned on and/or around the cooking device10in any manner. As provided herein, the electrical energy generated by the solar panel100may be provided to the power supply92(e.g., rechargeable battery, capacitor, etc.) for later use.

Referring toFIGS. 6 and 7, the first nozzle72and the second nozzle74may each include a respective frame102that defines an inlet106and one or more outlets108,110. In some examples, the first nozzle72may be a three way nozzle in which the nozzle72includes an inlet106and a pair of outlets108,110. The first outlet108may be configured as a pass-through that allows fluid to continue through the first nozzle72, through the tubing70, and to the second nozzle74. The second outlet110may be configured as a spray outlet that emits the fluid solution62in a predefined manner. The second nozzle74may be a two way nozzle and can include a single inlet106and a single outlet110. In some instances, the first nozzle72generates a first spray pattern and the second nozzle74generates a second, differing spray pattern. It will be appreciated, however, that the spritzer assembly60may include any number of nozzles72,74(e.g., one or more) having any number of inlets106and/or outlets108,110(spray, pass-through, or other type) without departing from the teachings provided herein.

With further reference toFIGS. 6 and 7, each nozzle72,74may produce a cone spray pattern in a finely distributed spray of atomized fluid as the fluid exits each nozzle72,74, according to some examples. However, the spritzer assembly60may utilize any other type of nozzle72,74and/or spray pattern without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In some instances, the frame102,104of each nozzle72,74defines an internal fluid chamber112between the inlet106and the spray outlet110. An orifice114is disposed between the fluid chamber112and the spray outlet110. In some instances, a width we of the fluid chamber112is greater than a width wo of the orifice114. The spray outlet110can be positioned at an opposing end of the orifice114from the fluid chamber112. In some instances, the spray outlet110may have a “v-notched” shape that may assist in spreading of the flow of the solution62there though.

Referring toFIG. 8, in some examples, the cooking device10includes the control unit56and the heating chamber14. The hopper36may be integrated within the control unit56that controls the amount of fuel34that is supplied from the hopper36to produce heat/smoke within the heating chamber14through a cooking device controller136. The cooking device controller136may have any of the features described in regards to the spritzer assembly controller76without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The control unit56may be electronically controlled and, thus, includes the power source68. It will be appreciated, however, that the control unit56may be additionally or alternatively include a valve and/or other non-electronically powered device for regulating the fuel34. In some examples, the fuel34may also be disposed within the hopper36. However, it will be appreciated that the fuel34may be otherwise positioned within the cooking device10and/or remotely disposed from the cooking device10without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure.

The heating chamber14defines a space for placing food items in. The heating chamber14also may include a heating element32or a heat producing device to heat the heating chamber14and/or ignite the fuel34thereby providing heat/smoke to the heating chamber14. At least one nozzle72,74of the spritzer assembly60may also be disposed within the heating chamber14. In some instances, the heat source30may be on a differing, or opposing, side of the food item from the at least one nozzle72,74while the food item is maintained on the rack44.

The nozzle72,74of the spritzer assembly60is fluidly coupled with the pump66and the reservoir64. The pump66is activated and deactivated by a controller76that may include a processor116and memory118, according to some examples. Logic120is stored within the memory118and includes one or more routines, such as a pump control routine122, which is executed by the processor116. The controller76,136may further include a timer124that can determine operational intervals/frequencies and activation durations of the pump66. The controller76may include any combination of software and/or processing circuitry suitable for controlling the pump66described herein including without limitation processors, microcontrollers, application-specific integrated circuits, programmable gate arrays, and any other digital and/or analog components, as well as combinations of the foregoing, along with inputs and outputs for transceiving control signals, drive signals, power signals, sensor signals, and so forth. All such computing devices and environments are intended to fall within the meaning of the term “controller” or “processor” as used herein unless a different meaning is explicitly provided or otherwise clear from the context.

As provided herein, the controller76may be programmed to activate/deactivate the pump66at discrete frequencies and durations, and/or the pump66may be manually actuated through the use of the input device84and/or a remote electronic device88. In addition to the input device84, the controller76may communicate with one or more electronic devices88through a wireless transceiver126. The electronic device88may have an application128thereon and a display130may provide a graphical user interface (GUI) and/or various types of information to a user. The activation of the pump66by the controller76may be varied through usage of the application128. The electronic device88may likewise have any combination of software and/or processing circuitry suitable for controlling the pump66described herein including without limitation processors, microcontrollers, application-specific integrated circuits, programmable gate arrays, and any other digital and/or analog components, as well as combinations of the foregoing, along with inputs and outputs for transceiving control signals, drive signals, power signals, sensor signals, and so forth. For instance, the electronic device88may be configured to receive user inputs via touchscreen circuitry132on the display130. The inputs may relate to a type of food item disposed within the heating chamber14and may be based on an automatic detection of the food item and/or user provided information as to a type of food item. In response, the application128and/or controller76may provide suggested spritzing patterns during the duration in which the food item is heated. Accordingly, the activation of the pump66by the controller76may be varied by a user through usage of the application128in addition to or in lieu of usage of the input device84and/or a predetermined activation sequence. The spritzing patterns may be based on any variable, including but not limited to, the temperature within the heating chamber14, the type of food item, the type of fluid utilized within the spritzer assembly60, user preferences, user instructions, food temperature (which may be measured by the probe58), etc. As one non-limiting example, some food items might take several hours to smoke, and during this period, a user may generally want to spritz the food item every20-30minutes. The application128can allow the user to automate that procedure possibly without having to have physical presence at the cooking device128. In addition, the electronic device88may also provide feedback information, such as visual, audible, and tactile alerts. The feedback information may be provided for any reason, including but not limited to, error notifications, pump activation notifications, food item cooked notifications, timing notifications, etc.

In some instances, the cooking device10may include an imaging system134, which is exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 2. In such instances, one or more imagers within the imaging system134may include an area-type image sensor, such as a CCD or a CMOS image sensor, and image-capturing optics that captures an image of an imaging field of view defined by the image-capturing optics. The captured image may be illustrated on the display130of the electronic device88. In some instances, successive images may be captured and provided on the display130to create a video. The images may be used to monitor the food item, to determine whether to activate/deactivate the pump66, to verify the spritzer assembly60is functioning, and/or for any other purpose.

Referring toFIG. 9, in some examples, a controller136of the control unit56may also control the pump66of the spritzer assembly60. In some instances, the control of the pump66may occur through a wired connection of the pump66to the control unit56of the cooking device10. Additionally, in some examples, the control unit56may include a wireless transceiver126therein that may be operably coupled to the electronic device88in addition to or in lieu of a dedicated wireless transceiver126within the spritzer assembly60. The electronic device88may be operably coupled with one or both of the transceivers126and a common or different application128may be used on the electronic device88depending on which the transceiver126of the electronic device88is communicating with. Likewise, the control unit56may also include the input device84in addition to or in lieu of the spritzer assembly60. As provided herein, the frequency and/or duration of the activation of the pump66may be altered through any electronic device88and/or any input device84that is operably coupled with the spritzer assembly60.

Referring toFIG. 10, in some examples, the cooking device10and/or the spritzer assembly60may be communicatively coupled with one or more remote sites such as a remote server138via a network/cloud140. The network/cloud140represents one or more systems by which the cooking device10and/or the spritzer assembly60may communicate with the remote server138. Accordingly, the network/cloud140may be one or more of various wired or wireless communication mechanisms, including any desired combination of wired and/or wireless communication mechanisms and any desired network topology (or topologies when multiple communication mechanisms are utilized). Exemplary communication networks140include wireless communication networks (e.g., using Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, etc.), local area networks (LAN) and/or wide area networks (WAN), including the Internet and the Web, which may provide data communication services and/or cloud computing services. The Internet is generally a global data communications system. It is a hardware and software infrastructure that provides connectivity between computers. In contrast, the Web is generally one of the services communicated via the Internet. The Web is generally a collection of interconnected documents and other resources, linked by hyperlinks and URLs. In many technical illustrations when the precise location or interrelation of Internet resources are generally illustrated, extended networks such as the Internet are often depicted as a cloud (e.g.140inFIG. 10). The verbal image has been formalized in the newer concept of cloud computing. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides a definition of cloud computing as “a model for enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.” Although the Internet, the Web, and cloud computing are not exactly the same, these terms are generally used interchangeably herein, and they may be referred to collectively as the network/cloud140.

The server138may be one or more computer servers, each of which may include at least one processor and at least one memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor, including instructions for carrying out various steps and processes. The server138may include or be communicatively coupled to a data store142for storing collected data as well as instructions for operating the cooking device10, the control unit56(FIG. 8), the spritzer assembly60, etc. that may be directed to and/or implemented by the cooking device10and/or the spritzer assembly60with or without intervention from a user and/or the electronic device88.

In some examples, the instructions may be inputted through the electronic device88and relayed to the server138. Those instructions may be stored in the server138and/or data store142. At various predefined periods and/or times, the cooking device10and/or the spritzer assembly60may communicate with the server138through the network/cloud140to obtain the stored instructions, if any exist. Upon receiving the stored instructions, the cooking device10and/or the spritzer assembly60may implement the instructions. The server138may additionally store information related to multiple cooking devices10, food items, usage characteristics, errors, etc. and operate and/or provide instructions to the cooking device10and/or the spritzer assembly60in conjunction with the stored information with or without intervention from a user and/or the electronic device88.

With further reference toFIG. 10, the server138also generally implements features that may enable the cooking device10and/or the spritzer assembly60to communicate with cloud-based applications144. Communications from the cooking device10and/or the spritzer assembly60can be directed through the network/cloud140to the server138and/or cloud-based applications144with or without a networking device146, such as a router and/or modem. Additionally, communications from the cloud-based applications144, even though these communications may indicate one of the cooking device10and/or the spritzer assembly60as an intended recipient, can also be directed to the server138. The cloud-based applications144are generally any appropriate services or applications144that are accessible through any part of the network/cloud140and may be capable of interacting with the cooking device10and/or the spritzer assembly60.

In various examples, the electronic device88can be feature-rich with respect to communication capabilities, i.e. have built in capabilities to access the network/cloud140and any of the cloud-based applications144or can be loaded with, or programmed to have, such capabilities. The electronic device88can also access any part of the network/cloud140through industry standard wired or wireless access points, cell phone cells, or network nodes. In some examples, users can register to use the remote server138through the electronic device88, which may provide access the cooking device10and/or the spritzer assembly60and/or thereby allow the server138to communicate directly or indirectly with the cooking device10and/or the spritzer assembly60. In various instances, the cooking device10and/or the spritzer assembly60may also communicate directly, or indirectly, with the electronic device88or one of the cloud-based applications144in addition to communicating with or through the server138. According to some examples, the cooking device10and/or spritzer assembly60can be preconfigured at the time of manufacture with a communication address (e.g. a URL, an IP address, etc.) for communicating with the server138and may or may not have the ability to upgrade or change or add to the preconfigured communication address.

Referring still toFIG. 10, when a new cloud-based application144is developed and introduced, the server138can be upgraded to be able to receive communications for the new cloud-based application144and to translate communications between the new protocol and the protocol used by the cooking device10and/or the spritzer assembly60. The flexibility, scalability and upgradeability of current server technology renders the task of adding new cloud-based application protocols to the server138relatively quick and easy.

The cooking device of the present disclosure may offer a variety of advantages. For instance, use of the spritzer assembly provided herein may improve the flavor, tenderness, and/or color of a food item that is heated within the cooking device. The spritzer assembly may be used for a wide range of fluids that may be disposed on the food item while the food item is in a substantially closed chamber without having to open the chamber for further spritzing. The spritzer assembly provided herein may dispense fluid at a predetermined frequency and/or for a preset duration. Additionally or alternatively, the spritzer assembly may include an input device that allows a user to define the frequency and the duration of the spritzing. An electronic device may be used to determine the activation patterns of the spritzer assembly. The cooking device may further include an imaging system that may provide images to a display of the electronic device. Upon viewing the food item within the closed chamber, the user may determine whether or not to manually activate the spritzer assembly. The spritzer assembly may be a stand-alone unit that may be retrofit onto any desired cooking device and/or partially (or fully) integrated into a cooking device.