Kitchen appliance for cooking foods

Kitchen furniture item for cooking foods, comprising a support structure having a lower support base, and a cooking device mounted in correspondence with an operative portion of the support structure. The cooking device comprises a cooking tank, a water inlet conduit and a drain conduit both connected to the tank. On the drain conduit is also mounted a first shut-off valve. The cooking device further comprises heating means operatively associated to the tank to heat its contents on command. The kitchen furniture item is also provided with at least a covering element associated to the support structure and movable from an open position in which it allows access to the cooking device, to a closed position in which it covers the cooking device at least superiorly and it defines a support plane superiorly to the kitchen furniture item.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a kitchen appliance for cooking foods formed as a base unit for use with other similarly sized base units in a kitchen.

In particular, the present invention is destined to be applied to home kitchens, and it is particularly advantageous in the case of modular kitchens.

The preferred field of application of the present invention is that of cooking foods by boiling, such as cooking pasta, whereto explicit reference shall be made hereinafter.

2. Prior Art

Nowadays, kitchen appliances usable for this purpose are those whereon is mounted a cooking range, which can be gas-fed or electrically powered.

Cooking by boiling is then achieved by filling a pot with water which is then set to be heated onto the cooking range.

However, this solution has some drawbacks when it become necessary to cook relatively large quantities of foods, as occurs for instance when a group of friends or relatives meet for dinner at someone's home.

The larger the quantity of food to cook, the larger is also the quantity of water that needs to be brought to a boil.

Oftentimes, however, pots of adequate size are not available in a normal home.

On the other hand, if an adequate pot is in fact available, oftentimes the cooking range is not adequate for it.

Consequently, it is necessary to wait a very long time before the water reaches the boiling point, hence enabling to pour the pasta into it.

Moreover, oftentimes there is no place available to store a bulky object like a large pot, which additionally is also very awkward to wash in a home sink or dishwasher.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In this situation the technical task constituting the basis of the present invention is to provide a kitchen appliance formed as a base unit for cooking foods for use with other similarly sized base units in a kitchen which overcomes the aforesaid drawbacks.

In particular a technical task of the present invention is to provide a kitchen furniture item for cooking foods which allows to complete the cooking process rapidly, in a manner that is substantially independent from the quantity of food.

Another technical task of the present invention is to provide a kitchen furniture item for cooking relatively large quantities of food which does not require bulky pots.

The specified technical task and the indicated aims are substantially achieved by a kitchen furniture item for cooking foods, as described in the accompanying claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the aforementioned figures, the reference number1globally designates a kitchen furniture item for cooking foods, according to the present invention.

The kitchen furniture item1of the present invention comprises first of all a support structure2whose lower base3is destined to be set down onto the kitchen floor, and may have (FIGS. 1 and 3), or not have (FIGS. 4 and 5) a skirting board4.

In correspondence with the upper operative portion of the support structure2is mounted a cooking device5.

Said cooking device5comprises mainly a cooking tank6and heating means7operatively associated with the tank6to heat, on command, whatever is contained therein.

In addition, to the tank6are associated a drain conduit8and an inlet conduit9.

The drain conduit8is connected to the bottom of the tank6by means of a first shut-off valve10. The free end11of the drain conduit8can be connected, by means of a hydraulic union fitting12, to a drain system. By exploiting the action of the first shut-off valve10, it is therefore possible to discharge on command the contents of the tank6through the drain conduit8.

Although not shown in the accompanying figures, the drain conduit8can also comprise a branch connected to the upper part of the tank6to prevent the tank6from overflowing.

The inlet conduit9has a first end13connectable to a water supply system and a second end14connected to the upper part of the tank6to pour water on command into the tank6.

In the accompanying figures, in which the inlet conduit9is depicted only schematically, to the first end13of the inlet conduit9is associated a connecting element which can be constituted either by a simple hydraulic union fitting for connection to the water supply system, or by a second shut-off valve15able to regulate the flow of water in the inlet conduit9. In this latter case, a solenoid valve is preferably provided.

Another important feature of the present invention is represented by the fact that the kitchen furniture item1further comprises at least a covering element16associated to the upper part of the support structure2. Said covering element16is movable from an open position, in which it allows a user to access the cooking device5, to a closed position in which it covers the cooking device5at least superiorly. When the covering element16is in the latter position, the kitchen furniture item1superiorly has a support plane17defined at least in part by the covering element16itself.

With the covering element16in the closed position, the kitchen furniture item1of the present invention is thus wholly similar to a traditional furniture item1, whilst the cooking device5remains hidden from view.

Many embodiments of the covering element16can be provided, only some of which are shown in the accompanying tables.

According to a first type, the covering element16is associated in sliding fashion to the support structure2(FIG. 1) and can slide in a horizontal plane, laterally relative to the kitchen furniture item1.

The covering element16can be actuated either manually, or, as shown inFIG. 1, by means of an appropriate control push-button18connected to appropriate actuation means (not shown).

According to the type shown inFIG. 5instead, the covering element16is hinged to the support structure2, and when it is in the open position it lies in a substantially vertical plane.

According to additional embodiments not illustrated herein, the covering element16can also be in the form of a roller shutter (for instance winding within the kitchen furniture item1), of a bellows, or in yet other ways.

In the illustrated embodiments, lastly, the upper support plane17of the kitchen furniture item1is defined in part by the covering element16and in part by a U shaped planar portion19of the support structure2.

According to the illustrated embodiments, the heating means7are constituted by one or more electrical plates20,21associated to the cooking tank6.

In other embodiments the heating means7can be also be constituted by a burner, for instance gas-fed, or, in more complex embodiments (since, at least, shielding elements will be required), a source of microwaves.

In the embodiments ofFIGS. 3 and 5, the cooking device5is provided with a lower electrical plate20inferiorly associated to the cooking tank6.

In the embodiment ofFIG. 4, instead, the cooking device5is provided with a lateral electrical plate21laterally associated to the tank6. Instead of the lateral electrical plate21, electrical coils may be provided.

Under certain circumstances, both the lower electrical plate20and the lateral electrical plate21(or the electrical coils) may be provided. The cooking device5is preferably provided with means22for sensing the level of the water contained in the cooking tank6, which in the illustrated embodiments comprise a minimum level sensor23mounted in proximity to the bottom of the cooking tank6, to sense when the water contained in the tank6drops below the minimum allowed level, and a maximum level sensor24mounted laterally to the cooking tank6in proximity to its top, to sense when the water contained in the tank6reaches the maximum allowed level.

In a more complex embodiment (not shown), the sensing means22comprise a sensor able to measure with good precision the level of water in the tank6, whilst the lateral electrical plate21is subdivided into a plurality of superposed modules, able to be operated independently. The cooking device5further comprises control means to command the operation of the heating modules according to the level of the water measured by the sensing means22, according to the procedures described below.

The cooking device5can further comprise at least a holed basked25removably inserted in the tank6to contain food to be cooked and which, once cooking is completed, can be used as a colander. For this purpose the basket25is provided with a handle26.

Advantageously, the cooking device also comprises a lid27superiorly associated to the tank6, which can also be made of an appropriate transparent material.

In a first embodiment (FIG. 1), the lid27is associated to the tank6by means of sliding guides (not shown), and it can slide from a closure position of the tank6, in correspondence with which it closed in substantially hermetic fashion the tank6, to an open position in which it is laterally translated relative to the tank6and it allows access thereto.

In a second embodiment (FIG. 4), the lid27is hinged to the support structure2and, in the open position, it lies in a vertical plane (drawn in dashed lines inFIG. 4). Moreover, depending on the embodiment, the lid27can be opened and closed manually or in automated fashion.

Advantageously, the lid27is provided with a safety valve28, appropriately calibrated, for protection against excessive overpressures which may occur inside the cooking tank6itself.

Lastly, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the kitchen furniture item1further comprises an electronic unit (not shown) for controlling the various active elements which comprise it. In particular, the control unit can control the operation of the cooking device5being connected to the means22for sensing the water level, as well as to the heating means7and to the shut-off valves (which may advantageously be constituted by solenoid valves). moreover the control unit may control the position of the lid27, and be connected to the control push-button18and to the means for actuating the covering element16.

In the illustrated embodiments, control over the operation of the kitchen furniture item1is exercised by a user through a control panel29in which are grouped a plurality of controls30operatively connected to the electronic unit.

In particular, the following can be provided: a control for the operation of each solenoid valve; a control for the operation of the heating means7; a control for regulating the quantity of heat generated by the heating means7; a control for opening the lid27(if it is capable of automated opening); a timer; a water temperature display (in which case the cooking device5will obviously be provided with an appropriate temperature measuring device); etc.

In the embodiments in which the lateral plate is subdivided into multiple superposed independent modules, the electronic unit also controls the operation of the modules, in such a way as to activate only those located below the level of the water.

The operation of the present invention is as follows.

First of all, manually or through the appropriate push-button18, the user opens the covering element16.

After ensuring that the second valve15, associated to the drain conduit8, is shut, the user commands the opening of the first valve10and fills the tank10with water up to the desired level.

Subsequently, the users activates the heating means7and brings the water to the desired temperature (which the user can monitor by means of the temperature display).

The food can then be cooked in traditional fashion also with reference to use of the lid27and of the timers, if present.

When cooking is complete, the user can, at his/her discretion, either operate the second shut-off valve15to drain the water, leaving the food in the holed basket25, or extract the holed basket25.

The last step is the closure of the covering element16to recompose the upper support plane17, hiding the cooking device5from view.

The present invention achieves important advantages.

In the first place the kitchen furniture item for cooking foods of the present invention allows rapidly to complete the cooking of even large quantities of food thanks to the heating means incorporate in the furniture item itself and dimensioned to suit the size of the tank.

In the second place, said kitchen furniture item avoids the need to have available large pots which are a considerable element of bulk, for which cleaning operations are particularly difficult.

Once the cooking operation is completed, cleaning the tank is very simple thanks to the inlet conduit and to the drain conduit.

It should also be noted that the present invention is relatively easy to construct and that the cost connected with the embodiment of the invention is not very high.

The invention thus conceived can be subject to numerous modifications and variations, without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept that characterises it.

All details can be replaced with other, technically equivalent, elements and in practice all materials employed, as well as the shapes and dimensions of the various components, can be any depending on requirements.