FOOD WARMING DEVICE

Abstract: A food warming device (1, 100, 101) comprising a frame (2) which supports a first plate (3) which forms a first cooking surface (4), a second plate (5) which forms a second cooking surface (6) and is associated with the frame (3) by virtue of articulation meand (7) being adapted to arrange the plates (3, 5) so that they face each other in order to form the cooking space (10) in which the food (V) is placed; and means (8) for heating each plate (3, 5). The food warming device (1, 100) has one or more walls (9, 91) which are adapted to close the cooking space (10) along its perimeter.

Description: FOOD WARMING DEVICE Technical field The present invention relates to a food warming device of the plate type, particularly suitable for cooking and/or warming sandwiches, toasts, piadinas, small pizzas, garlic bread, vegetables and the like. Background art Conventional food warming devices of the plate type substantially comprise a frame which supports a first plate which forms a first cooking surface and a second plate which forms a second cooking surface which is associated with the frame by articulation means. The articulation means are generally constituted by hinges and/or tubular guides and allow the second plate to face the first one in order to form a cooking space in which the food is placed. The cooking space is delimited in a downward region by the first plate and in an upward region by the second plate and is open along its perimeter. One or more electric resistors associated with each plate and supplied by a power supply unit heat the food. One of the main drawbacks of the described conventional devices is that they have a high and undesirable heat loss. This is due to the fact that the cooking space is not closed. Another drawback is the low efficiency of the device, which again is caused by the fact that part of the electric power used to supply the electric resistors is lost into the environment as heat and is therefore not used for cooking. Another drawback is the poor hygiene that the device provides for the food during its cooking and/or warming. Since the cooking space is open laterally, it exposes the food to possible contact with contaminants or unintended objects. Disclosure of the Invention The aim of the present invention is to overcome these drawbacks. Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a device which allows to minimize heat loss during the cooking and/or warming of the food. Another object of the invention is to provide a device which allows, in equal conditions, to reduce the cooking time of the food with respect to conventional devices. Another object of the invention is to create a closed environment in which the food is placed so as to prevent it from making contact with foreign matter. Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which allows to filter the fumes produced by the cooking process. Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which allows to increase, with respect to conventional devices, the efficiency of the cooking and/or warming process in terms of energy saving and cooking time. This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent are achieved by a food warming device which comprises: ~ a frame which supports at least one first plate which forms a first cooking surface; — at least one second plate which forms a second cooking surface and is associated with said frame by articulation means adapted to arrange said first and second plates so that they face each other in order to form a cooking space in which the food is placed; ~ means for heating at least one of said at least one first plate and said at least one second plate; characterized in that one or more walls are provided which are adapted to close the cooking space along its perimeter. Advantageously, the provision of a substantially closed cooking environment allows the device to operate also as a conventional oven, thus extending the range of use of the device. Brief description of the drawings Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of non-limitative example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the food warming device according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of some components of the device of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side view of a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention; Figure 5 is a sectional side view of a third embodiment of the device of the present invention. Ways of carrying out the Invention The food warming device according to the present invention is shown in Figure 1, where it is generally designated by the reference numeral 1, and comprises a frame 2 which supports at least one first plate 3 which forms a cooking surface 4 and at least one second plate 5 which forms a second cooking surface 6. The second plate 5 is associated with the frame 2 by articulation means, generally designated by the reference numeral 7, which are adapted to arrange the two plates 3 and 5 so that they face each other, as shown in dashed lines in Figure 2, in order to form a cooking space 10 in which a food V is placed. The device further comprises means for heating at least one of the plates 3 and 5, which are generally designated by the reference numeral 8 and are shown in detail in Figure 3. In the invention, the food warming device 1 is provided with one or more walls 9 which are adapted to close, along its perimeter, the cooking space 10 in which the food V is arranged. In particular, the walls 9 are rigidly coupled to the plate 5 by means of protruding elements 11 which are rigidly coupled to a housing 13 fixed to the second plate 5 and mate with a guiding slot 12 formed in each side wall 9. Such sliding coupling allows the walls 9 to move freely in a direction 14 which is substantially perpendicular to the second cooking surface 6. This allows the second plate 5 to approach the first plate 3 until it makes contact with it, adapting the height 15 of the cooking space 10 to the dimensions of the food V and ensuring its perimetric closure. In a different embodiment, not shown, the protruding elements 11 can be rigidly coupled to each side wall 9 and the slots can be formed in the housing 13. In another embodiment, the walls 9, as described above, may be rigidly coupled to the frame 2 instead of being coupled to the second plate 5. In this case, the sliding coupling between each wall 9 and the frame 2 is of the elastic type in order to allow the walls 9 to first descend under the weight of the second plate 5 and then rise to return into the initial position. In another embodiment, not shown, the side walls 9 may be constituted by laminar elements which are elastically and telescopically coupled to each other, or only part of the side walls might be movable along the direction 14. According to another embodiment, shown in Figure 5 and designated by the reference numeral 100, the walls 91 are fixed to the housing 13a, while the plate 51 is associated with the housing 13a by guiding means 35 which allow it to move in a substantially vertical direction 36. In particular, each guiding means 35 is constituted by a tubular guide 38 which is rigidly coupled to the housing 13a and with which a ring 39, monolithic with the plate 51, is coupled. It is important to note that the invention provides for the presence of a device, not shown, which compensates for the weight of the plate 51 so as to prevent it from crushing, under its own weight, the food V. In this case, therefore, it is the plate 51 that descends, varying the height 151 of the cooking space by gravity until it touches the food V. As regards the articulation means 7, they comprise means for adjusting the distance between the two plates 3 and 5 which are constituted by two tubular elements 15, which are arranged substantially at right angles to the first plate 3, and by two hinges 16 which form a rotation axis 17 which is substantially perpendicular to the axis 18 of each tubular element 15. In particular, each hinge 16, as shown in detail in Figure 1, has a first annular element 19 which is slidingly coupled to the tubular element 15 and a second element 20 which is rigidly coupled to a support 21 which belongs to the housing 13. This allows the second plate 5 to rotate in a first direction 22 until it reaches a position which is substantially parallel to the first plate 3 and to move at right angles thereto in a second direction 23. According to a different embodiment, generally designated by the reference numeral 101 and shown in detail in Figure 4, each tubular element 15 is replaced with a corresponding number of guiding slots 24 formed in the frame 2a, with which a corresponding number of protruding pins 25 which belong to the support 21a rigidly coupled to the housing 13b are coupled. In this situation, the coupling of the protruding pin 25 and the guiding slot 24 allows the rotation of the second plate 5 in the direction designated by the reference numeral 26 and its vertical sliding in the direction designated by the reference numeral 27, so as to place the second plate 5 into the position shown in dashed lines. As regards the heating means 8, they are constituted by a plurality of electrical resistors 28, shown in detail in Figure 3, which are arranged in contact with each plate 3 and 5 and are supplied by a respective power supply unit, not shown, which is connected to the electric mains. It is also noted that the first plate 3 has lateral shoulders 30 which allow to increase the radiating surface, thus increasing heat exchange and therefore the efficiency of the cooking/warming process. In use, the user U, after placing the food V on the first plate 3, by acting on the handle 29 which is rigidly coupled to the housing 13, turns the second plate 5 until it lies parallel to the first plate 3 and at the same time lowers it so as to vary the distance between the two plates 3 and 5 and adapt it to the food V. By doing so, the side walls 9, by contrasting against the frame 2, form a closed environment inside which the food V is cooked and/or heated. The fumes F produced during the cooking process are evacuated and released into the environment, as shown in detail in Figure 5, by means of one or more openings 29 which are preferably but not necessarily formed in the upper part of the housing 13a, after being filtered by means of the filtering element 30. In a further embodiment, not shown, there is an extractor unit whose inlet is located proximate to the openings 29 and whose outlet is connected to a duct dedicated to fume evacuation. It is further important to note that the device according to the invention is provided with a locking device 37, shown in detail in Figure 2, which allows the user to set in advance the distance between the two plates 3 and 5 during cooking. Said device is preferably but not necessarily constituted by a clamp 33 which is slidingly coupled to the tubular element 15, with which it is rigidly coupled by acting manually on actuation means which are constituted by a locking knob 34. Once it has been fixed to the tubular element 15, the clamp 33 blocks the vertical sliding of the hinge 16 in the chosen point, preventing contact between the second plate 5 and the food V, thus converting the device into a conventional electric oven. In view of what has been said, it is evident that the described invention achieves the intended aim and objects. Although the invention has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, any modifications rendered necessary during manufacture, all of which are within the scope of the same inventive concept and are therefore described in the appended claims, are to be understood as being protected by the present patent. The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application No. VI2000U000034 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A food warming device (1, 100, 101) comprising: ~ a frame (2) which supports at least one first plate (3) which forms a first cooking surface (4); ~ at least one second plate (5) which forms a second cooking surface (6) and is associated with said frame (2) by articulation means (7) which are adapted to arrange said first and second plates (3, 5) so that they face each other in order to form a cooking space (10) in which said food (V) is placed; -- means (8) for heating at least one of said at least one first plate (3) and said at least one second plate (5); characterized in that one or more walls (9, 91) are provided which are adapted to close said cooking space (10) along its perimeter. 2. The device (1, 100, 101) according to claim 1, characterized in that said one or more walls (9, 91) are rigidly coupled to said at least one second plate (5). 3. The device (1, 100, 101) according to claim 1, characterized in that said one or more walls (9, 91) are rigidly coupled to said frame (2) or to said at least one first plate (3). 4. The device (1, 101) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said one or more walls (9) can move in a direction (14) which is substantially perpendicular to said second cooking surface (6). 5. The device (1, 101) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that said one or more walls (9) are rigidly coupled to said at least one second plate (5) by means of one or more protruding elements (11) which are rigidly coupled to a housing (13) which is fixed to said at least one second plate (5) and are mated with corresponding guiding slots (12) formed in each one of said one or more walls (9). 6. The device (1, 101) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that said one or more walls (9) are rigidly coupled to said at least one second plate (5) by means of one or more protruding elements which are rigidly coupled to each one of said one or more side walls (9) and mate with corresponding guiding slots formed in a housing (13) which is fixed to said second plate (5). 7. The device (1, 101) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said one or more walls (9) are laminar elements which are elastically and telescopically coupled to each other. 8. The device (1, 100, 101) according to claim 1, characterized in that said articulation means (7) comprise means for adjusting the distance (15, 51) between said at least one first plate (3) and said at least one second plate (5). 9. The device (1, 100) according to claim 8, characterized in that said means for adjusting the distance between said at least one first plate (3) and said at least one second plate (5) are constituted by at least one tubular element (15) which is arranged substantially at right angles to said at least one first plate (3). 10. The device (101) according to claim 8, characterized in that said means for adjusting the distance between said at least one first plate (3) and said at least one second plate (5) are at least one guiding slot (24) which is formed in said frame (2) and with which at least one protruding pivot (25) is coupled, said pivot being part of a support (21) which is rigidly coupled to said housing (13). 11. The device (1, 100) according to claim 8, characterized in that said at least one hinge (16) forms a rotation axis (17) for said at least one second plate (5) which is substantially perpendicular to the axis (18) of each of said at least one tubular element (15). 12. The device (1, 100) according to claim 11, characterized in that said at least one hinge (16) has a first element (19) which is slidingly coupled to one of said at least one tubular element (15) in order to allow said at least one second plate (5) to move along a second direction (23) which is substantially perpendicular to said at least one first plate (3) and a second element (20) which is rigidly coupled to a support (21) which belongs to a housing (13) which is rigidly coupled to said at least one second plate (5). 13. The device (1, 100, 101) according to claim 1, characterized in that said means (8) for heating said at least one first plate (3) and said at least one second plate (5) are a plurality of electric resistors (28) which are supplied by a power supply unit which is connected to the electric mains. 14. The device (1, 100, 101) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one first plate (3) has lateral shoulders (30) which are substantially perpendicular to said first cooking surface (4). 15. The device (1, 100, 101) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one second plate (15) is rigidly coupled to a housing (13, 13a) which has one or more openings (29) for evacuating the fumes (F) produced during the cooking/warming of said food. 16. The device (1, 100, 101) according to claim 15, characterized in that it comprises an extractor unit arranged proximate to said openings (20). 17. The device (1, 100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a locking device (37) which is adapted to set the distance (15, 51) between said at least one first plate (3) and said at least one second plate (5). 18. The device (1, 100) according to claim 17, characterized in that said locking device (37) is a clamp (33) which is slidingly coupled to said articulation means (7) and is provided with actuation means (34).

Inventors: ALESSIO FRANCESCO, ALESSIO, FRANCESCO
Applicants: ALESSIO FRANCESCO, ALESSIO, FRANCESCO
Application year: 2001
Main classification: A47J37
IPC codes: A47J37