Abstract:
A slow cooker is provided that includes a ceramic cooking vessel and a base for supporting and heating the cooking vessel. The cooking vessel preferably extends substantially the upper surface of the base when mounted thereto. A stand is provided for supporting the base, and is preferably secured to the base. The stand includes handles that allow the slow cooker to be carried. The top of the base is preferably defined by a heat resistant, polymeric lip.

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 29/197,215 filed Jan. 9, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. D, 503,584. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The field of the invention relates to slow cookers including ceramic cooking vessels and bases for receiving the vessels. 
     2. Brief Description of the Related Art 
     Slow cookers have been available for many years, and are used for cooking food at relatively low temperatures ever relatively long periods of time compared to other cooking methods. Cooking times using a slow cooker are generally between four and eight hours. 
     A slow cooker is comprised of a base and a cooking vessel. The base includes one or more heating elements and defines a cavity for receiving the vessel. The cooking vessel is comprised of ceramic material having heat-retaining properties. It includes a peripheral lip that rests on the upper surface of the base. The lip forms the upper end of the cooking vessel and is the only portion of the cooking vessel that is positioned outside the cavity of the base. Opposing sides of the lip often include extensions forming handles. 
     The base of a slow cooker is ordinarily comprised of an outer wall, an inner liner, and a heating element that extends around the inner liner. The heating element is positioned within the outer wall. A control device such as a dial is mounted to the outer wall for controlling the cooking temperature, cooking time, and/or other functions. The inner liner is made from metal, and includes a top edge portion that is curled over the top edge of the outer wall. The base further includes a plate-like bottom that retains the lower edge portion of the outer wall. The bottom wall of the liner is positioned above the plate-like bottom. The plate-like bottom often includes feet to support the slow cooker on a counter top or other surface. Handles are secured to the outer walls of slow cooker bases to allow the bases and associated cooking vessels to be transported. 
     The cooking vessels employed in slow cookers are capable of withstanding the temperatures associated with such appliances. They generally include ribs on their bottom surfaces to provide strength. Heating slow cooker vessels in appliances other than slow cookers is ordinarily not recommended. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a slow cooker having a base for heating a cooking vessel. A controller is mounted to the base. A ceramic cooking vessel is provided for use with the base. The vessel engages an upper surface of the base and includes a side wall extending substantially above the upper surface of the base. A lid is mounted to the vessel. 
     A stand is preferably provided for supporting the base. The base preferably includes an upper lip that engages the stand. The side wall of the vessel adjoins the upper lip, preferably tapering inwardly in the direction of the base. 
     The invention is further directed to a slow cooker comprising a base for heating a cooking vessel, the base including an upper lip, a plate-like bottom, and a side wall connecting the upper lip and plate-like bottom. A controller is mounted to the base. A ceramic cooking vessel engages in an upper surface of the base. A lid is mounted to the cooking vessel. A stand supports the base. The stand includes a plurality of legs extending downwardly along the side wall of the base, feet coupled to the legs, the feet being positioned beneath the base, and a pair of diametrically opposed handles. 
     The invention further relates to a slow cooker comprising a base for heating a cooking vessel, the base including an outer wall, a bottom wall, a metal liner, a heating element within the outer wall and adjoining the liner, and a heat resistant polymeric lip secured to the liner. The metal liner defines a cavity including a top opening, and the lip bounds the top opening of the cavity. A ceramic cooking vessel is positionable at least partially within the cavity and engageable with the polymeric lip. The lip is preferably comprised of a phenolic compound. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a slow cooker and stand in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevation view thereof; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view thereof; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view thereof, the opposite side being a mirror image thereof; 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of a slow cooker and stand according to the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a front elevation view thereof; 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan thereof; 
         FIG. 8  is a side elevation view, the opposite side being a mirror image thereof; 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded, perspective view of the slow cooker shown in  FIGS. 1–4 ; 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged sectional view of the liner and lip of the slow cooker shown in  FIGS. 1–8 ; and 
         FIG. 11  is a second enlarged sectional view of the liner and lip of the slow cooker showing a vent opening in the flange of the liner. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The detailed description which follows relates to preferred embodiments of the invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to such preferred embodiments. 
     A slow cooker  10  in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 1–4 . It includes a base  12 , a controller  14  mounted to the base, a cooking vessel  16 , a lid  18  on the cooking vessel, and a stand  20 . 
     The base  12  includes a plate-like bottom  22 , a side wall  24 , and an upper lip  26 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the lip  26  extends radially outwardly beyond the upper end of the side wall  24 . The side wall tapers inwardly between the upper lip  26  and bottom  22 . 
     The cooking vessel  16  may be made of any ceramic material that is ordinarily used for slow cooker vessels. If the vessel is to be used on a stovetop, in an oven, or elsewhere such that temperatures higher than those associated with conventional slow cooking are expected, appropriate ceramic materials should be employed. Ceramic cooking vessels designed for cooking directly over a flame are sometimes referred to as “flameware”. The ceramic material employed for such vessels may include petalite combined with clay and other materials. The vessel  16  includes a rounded side wall  28  that tapers radially inwardly towards the base  12 , ultimately adjoining the top surface of the upper lip  26 . The side wall also tapers inwardly in the direction of the lid. The top portion of the side wall  28  includes a peripheral recess  30  between the rounded portion and radially outwardly extending lip  32 . Handles  34  extend from the side wall  28  and are located diametrically opposite from each other. 
     The stand  20  includes a substantially ring-shaped member  36  engaging the bottom surface of the lip  26  of the base. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the portion  38  of the stand adjacent the controller  14  extends around the arcuate bottom surface of the controller housing. A plurality of legs  40  extend downwardly from the ring-shaped member  36 , terminating in a plurality of feet  42  connected to the legs. As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 , the stand includes a support  44  comprised of elongate members  46  extending towards the center of the base from each leg. A fastener  48  connects the stand to the plate-like bottom  22 . Handles  49  extend radially outwardly from opposite ends of the ring-shaped member  36 . 
     The slow cooker  10  as described above cooks food in substantially the same manner as slow cookers known to the art. It is connected to a power supply by a power cord (see  FIG. 9 ). Food is inserted within the cooking vessel  16  and the lid  18  applied. The dial  50  of the controller is rotated to a selected position, causing the heating element (see  FIG. 9 ) within the base  12  to be actuated. Slow cooking generally takes four to eight hours. 
       FIGS. 5–8  disclose a second embodiment  10  of a slow cooker. The only difference between the second embodiment and that of  FIGS. 1–4  are the shapes of the base, the cooking vessel, the lid and the ring-shaped member of the stand. These elements are substantially round in this embodiment as opposed to being generally oval in the first embodiment. The wall  24  tapers inwardly in both preferred embodiments. The same reference numerals are employed in both embodiments to designate similar elements, the numerals used in connection with the second embodiment being primed. 
     Either slow cooker  10 ,  10 ′ may be transported by using the handles  49  on the stand  20 . The cooking vessel  16  can be removed from the base  12  by using the handles  34  on opposite ends thereof. It has been found that the loop-style handles  34  remain relatively cool even after hours of cooking in the base  12 . In addition to being well spaced from the top of the base  12 , the handles  34  are connected at only two points to the body of the cooking vessel. This is believed to minimize heat transfer from the side wall  28  to the handle. The location of the handles  34  well below the top opening of the cooking vessel  16  is also believed to add convenience as compared to handles formed by extensions of the lip  32  that are found in prior art slow cooker vessels. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the individual elements of a slow cooker such as that shown in  FIGS. 1–4  are depicted. The same reference numerals as those used in connection with  FIGS. 1–4  are used to designate common elements. In addition to the elements already described above, a power cord inlet  52  is shown as intended for removable coupling of a power cord to the rear side of the outer wall of the base. A power cord  54  is also shown. The cord includes one end for plugging into a wall outlet and a second end having a phenolic connector  56  for the inlet  52 . A heating element  58  extending around a metal liner  60  is also shown. The ends of the heating element are connected by a spring  62 . The liner and heating element, other than being relatively short to fit within the outer wall  24  of the base, are substantially conventional elements of slow cookers. The dimension of the cooking vessel  16  in this embodiment are such that about half the vessel extends within the liner  60  once the side wall  28  engages the lip  26 . At least about one third of the vessel should extend within the liner to provide effection slow cooking. As discussed below, the liner further includes a flange adapted for connection to the lip  26 . The fastener  48  is shown in greater detail. It is comprised of a tube  64  extending through openings in the liner  60 , the plate-like bottom  22  and the support portion of the stand. The stand includes a center ring  69  to which the crossing members  46  of the support are joined that defines the opening for the tube. A silicon washer  66  is positioned between the head of the tube and the top surface of the liner. A pair of lock washers  68  are coupled to the tube  64 . One lock washer adjoins the bottom surface of the support  44  of the stand  20  while the other adjoins the bottom surface of the plate-like bottom  22 . It will be appreciated that other types of fasteners could be employed for coupling the stand to the base. Alternatively, the stand does not have to be connected by a fastener to the base and can instead be detachable therefrom. 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  show the configurations of the lip  26  and the upper end of the liner  60  to which it is coupled. The liner includes a peripheral flange  70  having a plurality of slots or openings through which screws  72  can extend. The flange is substantially horizontal. The lip  26  is comprised of a heat resistant polymeric material, and preferably a phenolic compound, capable of withstanding the temperatures ordinarily associated with slow cooking and the pressure of a cooking vessel filled with food to be cooked. Chang Chun Longlite PM T385J General Purpose Phenolic Molding Compound has been found to be satisfactory in meeting these requirements. This compound is rated as having a maximum service temperature of 401° F. The inner surface  74  of the lip is inclined to accommodate the bottom portion of the upper side wall  28  of the cooking vessel. A peripheral channel  76  is formed between the lip and liner. This channel is preferably vented, as shown in  FIG. 11 , by slots  78  in the flange  70 . In a preferred embodiment, the flange  70  includes four sets of three slots. Each set of slots is equally spaced. The outer two slots of each set is aligned with a passage in the lip that receives the threaded part of the screw. The middle slot of each set is opposite the channel  76 . The panel portion of the controller  14  is preferably made from the same phenolic material as the lip  26 . It will be appreciated that the controller can be either mechanical as shown or electronic.