Abstract:
A microwave grilling appliance comprising grill elements that include heat conducting elements and microwave absorbent material. Troughs are formed in the periphery of the grill elements to contain the liquids produced from grilling a grillable food. A microwave transparent cover and base support the grill elements and provide a void space between the microwave transparent cover and base and the respective grill element. A lip and seal provide a liquid-tight seal between the grill elements and the supporting microwave transparent cover and base. The seal prevents liquids from grilling or washing from entering behind the grill elements. A hinge assembly provides multiple stop positions for the microwave transparent cover relative to the microwave transparent base.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention in general relates to appliances that operate by changing microwave energy to heat energy and conducting the heat to food by contact, and more particularly to such appliances that can be used to grill foods. 
     2. Statement of the Problem 
     Appliances that heat grillable food or other grillable substances by causing microwave energy to be absorbed by an intermediate body, such as a block of ferrite, which in turn transfers heat to the grillable food, which we shall refer to herein as microwave grills, have been known for more than twenty years. These appliances inherently require no ventilation of burned fuels and thus can be used in a small kitchen, use a ready source of energy, and are very fast as compared to conventional grills. Yet a commercially successful microwave grill has never been produced. The reason is that prior art microwave grills have never reached the degree of reliability and ease of use expected for kitchen appliances, particularly in the upscale homes and businesses that would tend to use such grills. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,362,917 issued Dec. 7, 1982 to Freedman and Bowen describe a block of ferrite binded to a microwave transparent cover. U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,403 issued Jun. 12, 1984 to Teich and Dudley describes a silicone material having ferrite material dispersed within the silicone binded to a microwave transparent cover. The ferrite material in these references continuously contacts the microwave transparent cover and transfers heat across the whole of the microwave transparent cover making the microwave transparent cover uncomfortable to the touch of a user. In addition, these designs do not include a suitable means for handling grease and other liquids that are generated in the grilling process. U.S. Pat. No. 5,736,718 issued Apr. 7, 1998 to Levinson describes a vertical microwave grilling apparatus with a separate collection container. This arrangement requires alignment between the grilling apparatus and the collection container and is really too messy to appeal to the average upscale griller. All known prior art microwave grill designs that had separate grills and grill housings also allowed grease, water and other liquids to get into the areas between the grills and housings. At the same time, the prior art designs did not consider the fact that the appliances were likely to be washed in a dishwasher, and allowed water to seep between the outside cover and base and the grill elements. Prior art grills are generally not capable of being submerged in water, which expedites the cleaning process. Further, prior art designs had unwieldy hinges that did not account for differing user preferences and needs and further contributed to messiness by not permitting easy separation of the cover and base. Thus, it is evident that if the advantageous properties inherent in microwave grills are to be enjoyed by the public, a significant advance in such grills is required. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention advances the art and helps to overcome the aforementioned problems by providing a microwave grilling appliance that includes all the inherent advantages of a microwave griller and at the same time is easy to use and does not result in undesirable messiness. 
     The microwave grill according to the invention provides a base grill element and base that are thermally isolated. The microwave griller according to the invention provides a liquid-tight seal between the grill element and base. Similarly, the microwave grill according to the invention includes a cover grill element and cover that are thermally isolated. The microwave grill according to the invention also includes a liquid-tight seal between the cover grill element and the cover. The microwave grill according to the invention includes a trough about the base grill element that effectively prevents grease and liquids generated in the grill process from overflowing the grill unit. The microwave grill according to the invention provides a hinge assembly that permits the cover to be held open in two different positions and to be easily removed from the base. Each of the above features is separately novel, and the novel combination of all the features results in a microwave griller that should be a welcome addition to an upscale kitchen 
     The present invention provides an appliance for converting microwave energy to heat and applying the heat to a grillable food or other grillable substance, the appliance comprising: a first grill element including a microwave absorbent material and a heat conducting element, the heat conducting element having a first surface in contact with the microwave absorbent material and a second surface adapted to contact said grillable food or other grillable substance, a microwave transparent base adapted to support the grill element with the absorbent material spaced from the base, the base and heat conducting element enclosing the absorbent element, and a liquid-tight seal between the grill element and the base. Preferably, the seal comprises an epoxy glue. Preferably, the epoxy is a flexible epoxy. Preferably, the epoxy is a silicon-based epoxy. Preferably, the seal further comprises a first lip on the heat conducting element and a second lip on the base, the first and second lips overlapping, and wherein the epoxy glue is located between the lips. 
     Preferably, the first lip is spaced from the microwave absorbent material. Preferably, the heat conducting element includes a first trough between the first lip and the second surface, the first trough having sufficient capacity to effectively prevent grease and liquids generated in the grill process from overflowing the grill unit. Preferably, the first trough has a capacity of between 20 milliliters (mls) and 50 mls. Preferably, the trough forms a rim about the first surface, and wherein the microwave absorbent material lies in the recess formed by the rim. Preferably, the appliance further comprises: a second grill element including a second microwave absorbent material and a second heat conducting element, the second heat conducting element having a third surface in contact with the microwave absorbent material and a fourth surface adapted to contact the grillable food or other grillable substance, a microwave transparent cover adapted to support the grill element, the cover and the second heat conducting element enclosing the second absorbent element, and a liquid-tight seal between the second grill element and the cover. Preferably, the second seal comprises a third lip on the second heat conducting element and a fourth lip on the cover, the third and fourth lips overlapping, and wherein epoxy glue is located between the third and fourth lips. Preferably, the third lip is spaced from the second microwave absorbent material. Preferably, the second heat conducting element includes a second trough between the third lip and the third surface, the second trough having sufficient capacity to effectively prevent grease and liquids generated in the grill process from overflowing the grill unit. Preferably, the second trough has a capacity of between 10 mls and 30 mls. 
     In another aspect, the invention provides an appliance for converting microwave energy to heat and applying the heat to a grillable food or other grillable substance, the appliance comprising: a first grill element including a first microwave absorbent material and a first heat conducting element, the first heat conducting element having a first surface in contact with the microwave absorbent material and a second surface adapted to contact the grillable food or other grillable substance, a microwave transparent base adapted to support the grill element, the base and first heat conducting element enclosing the first absorbent element, a second grill element including a second microwave absorbent material and a second heat conducting element, the second heat conducting element having a third surface in contact with the microwave absorbent material and a fourth surface adapted to contact the grillable food or other grillable substance, a microwave transparent cover adapted to support the grill element, the cover and the second heat conducting element enclosing the second absorbent element; and a hinge assembly adapted to: permit movement of the fourth surface relative to the second surface with the fourth and second surfaces remaining substantially parallel; permit rotational movement of the cover about said hinge; and to support the cover in first stop position located at a point corresponding to a rotation about the hinge of between 90 degrees and 180 degrees. Preferably, the hinge assembly is further adapted to permit the cover to lie flat on a flat surface at a second stop position located at a position corresponding substantially to a rotation about the hinge of 180 degrees. 
     The microwave grill according to the invention not only provides, for the first time, a microwave griller that achieves the degree of reliability and ease of use expected for kitchen appliances today, but also provides a simplicity of design that permits it to be constructed in modem, efficient assembly plants. Numerous other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the microwave grilling appliance; 
     FIG. 2 is an illustration of the microwave grilling appliance with the microwave transparent cover at just past the 90 degree stop position; 
     FIG. 3 is an illustration of the microwave grilling appliance with the microwave transparent cover at the 180 degree stop position; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the cover, second grill element, first grill element and base of the microwave grilling appliance; 
     FIG. 4A is a cross-section view of the cover; 
     FIG. 4B is a cross-section view of the base; 
     FIG. 5 is an illustration of the cross-section of the second grill element; 
     FIG. 6 is an illustration of the cross-section of the first grill element; 
     FIG. 7 is an illustration of the of the hinge assembly located in the microwave transparent base without the pins; 
     FIG. 8 is an end view of the hinge assembly; and 
     FIG. 9 is an illustration of microwave transparent cover showing the pin assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The microwave grilling appliance provides a convenient, fast approach to grilling foods in minutes using a microwave oven. Food is grill seared from the outside in, similar to grilling on a regular outdoor grill; i.e., steaks are cooked on the outside and pink in the middle. Most foods that you can grill outdoors, broil in the oven, fry on the stove or cook in a Foreman grill, can be grilled quicker and easier in the microwave grilling appliance according to the invention. The microwave grilling appliance includes a heating technology that absorbs microwaves and converts them into high temperature heat (400° F. to 500° F.) that is conducted by the microwave grilling appliance&#39;s two grill elements which grill the food on the top and bottom simultaneously. 
     Directing attention to FIGS. 1 and 2, the microwave grilling appliance  100  has a clam-shell design with a microwave transparent base  104 , a microwave transparent cover  102  and a hinge assembly  212 , that allows the microwave transparent cover  102  to close like a clam shell relative to the microwave transparent base  104 . The microwave grilling appliance  100  requires no electricity by itself to operate. The microwave grilling appliance  100  is also dishwasher safe. 
     The microwave transparent base  104  includes four legs  110  (two shown) that support the microwave grilling appliance  100  slightly above a supporting surface (not shown), such as the microwave oven or countertop. The legs  110  separate the base from the horizontal supporting surface, like a counter top or table, and thus enable a user to set the microwave grilling appliance  100  on a counter top or fine table without injury to the counter top or table should the base itself become hot. The microwave transparent base  104  includes a microwave transparent base handle  108  on each side, and the microwave transparent cover  102  includes a microwave transparent cover handle  106  on each side to enable a user to hold the microwave grilling appliance  100 . The microwave transparent base handles  108  and the microwave transparent cover handles  106  overlap each other when the microwave grilling appliance  100  is in the closed position, as shown in FIG.  1 . The microwave transparent base  104  and cover  102  are made of a bulk molding compound with low microwave absorption rate, or attentively, other types of compounds with low microwave absorption rates. A bulk molding compound generally comprises a mixture of resin, inert fillers, reinforcements and other additives which forms a puttylike sheet, which hardens upon curing. Such a material, in addition to being transparent to microwaves, is a good insulator. Thus, the base and cover will resist becoming hot, as described in more detail below. Further, if the portion of the base and cover that touches the grilling elements does become hot, the legs  110  and handles  106 ,  108  will not become hot because of the low heat transfer rates in the material. 
     The opened position of the microwave transparent cover  102  in FIG. 2 depicts a first stop position, which is just past 90 degrees, of the microwave transparent cover  102  with respect to the microwave transparent base  104 . The microwave transparent base  104  can be any color. In one aspect of the present invention, the color of the microwave transparent base  104  is red. The microwave transparent base  104  includes a slight hump back portion  414  which engages the microwave transparent cover  102  to define a stop position just past 90 degrees from horizontal. In one aspect of the present invention, the microwave transparent base  104  is approximately 11 inches in width. 
     The microwave transparent cover  102  includes a lip  410  for supporting the second grill element  204 . The microwave transparent cover  102  can be any color. In one aspect of the present invention, the color of the microwave transparent cover  102  is red. In one aspect of the present invention, the microwave transparent cover  102  is approximately 11 inches in width. The microwave transparent cover  102  has a stop position just past 90 degrees from horizontal, in addition to the microwave transparent cover  102  being capable of rotating to 180 degrees relative to the microwave transparent base  104 . The microwave transparent cover  102  also has a stop position in the closed position or cooking position. 
     To cook food, the microwave grilling appliance  100  is preheated in a microwave oven (not shown), then the food is placed in the microwave grilling appliance  100 , the microwave transparent cover  102  is closed, and the microwave grilling appliance  100  is placed back in a microwave oven for a period of time. The microwave grilling appliance  100  grills foods such as steaks, hamburgers, bacon, poultry, fish, grilled sandwiches and breads. 
     The microwave grilling appliance  100  includes a first grill element  202 . The first grill element  202  absorbs microwave energy and converts the microwave energy into thermal energy to grill the grillable food or other grillable substances. The first grill element  202  is disposed in and supported by the microwave transparent base  104 . A second grill element  204  is disposed in and supported by the microwave transparent cover  102 . The first grill element  202  and the second grill element  204  include ribs  206  to allow liquids generated by microwave grilling of the grillable foods to run into a trough, shown and described later in FIGS. 5 and 6. The microwave grilling appliance  100  includes a hinge assembly  212  located toward each side of the microwave grilling appliance  100 . The microwave grilling appliance  100  includes a first liquid-tight seal  208  located around the perimeter of the first grill element  202  and a second liquid tight seal  210  located around the perimeter of the microwave transparent cover  102 . The liquid-tight seals  208 ,  210  are a novel feature of the present invention, as they prevent liquids from seeping between the grill elements  202 ,  204  and the microwave transparent base  104  and microwave transparent cover  102 . The liquids are generated from the grillable foods, or alternatively, other sources such as during clean-up procedures, such as dishwashing operations. 
     Turning to FIGS. 4,  4 A and  4 B, the first liquid-tight seal  208  includes a first lip  406  that is located on the first heat conducting element  606  supported by the microwave transparent base  104 , and a second lip  404  that is located on the microwave transparent base  104 . A heat resistant adhesive material, such as epoxy glue, is placed between the first lip  406  and the second lip  404 . The epoxy glue, or alternatively, other epoxy compounds such as flexible epoxy, silicon-based epoxy or epoxy resin, are resistant to breakdown due to the high grilling temperatures. Lips  406  and  404  overlap each other. The second liquid-tight seal  210  includes a third lip  408  that is located on the second heat conducting element  506  supported by the microwave transparent cover  102 , and a fourth lip  410  that is located on the microwave transparent cover  102 . A heat resistant material, such as epoxy glue, is placed between the third lip  410  and the fourth lip  408 . Lips  410  and  408  overlap each other. The invention contemplates that other seals than those described above may be used. For example, an o-ring and fasteners may be used instead of the glue. A tight frictional fit with close specifications in which the grill element is forced into the tight fit may also be used. Structures other than the lip structures, such as a tongue and groove structure, may also be used. 
     Directing attention to FIG. 3, the opened position of the microwave transparent cover  102  in FIG. 3 depicts a second stop position of the microwave transparent cover  102 , which is 180 degrees with respect to the microwave transparent base  104 . FIG. 4 depicts an exploded illustration of the microwave grilling appliance  100 . The first lip  406  is located around the perimeter of the first grill element  202  and the second lip  404  located within the inside perimeter of the microwave transparent base  104 . A first rim  402  is located on the underside of the first grill element  202 . A second rim  412  is located on the top side of the second grill element  204 , when the microwave transparent cover  102  is oriented in the closed or cooking position. The third lip  408  is located around the perimeter of the second grill element  204 , and the fourth lip  410  is located within the inside perimeter of the microwave transparent cover  102 . 
     Directing attention to FIGS. 5 and 6, cross-sections of the first grill element  202  and the second grill element  204 , respectively, are shown. The first grill element  202  includes a first microwave absorbent material  604  and the second grill element  204  includes a second microwave absorbent material  504 . The microwave absorbent materials  604  and  504  comprise a ferrite mixture of resin and a metal oxide. Preferably, the resin amount is at least 15 percent, or alternatively, an amount greater than 15 percent, such as 20 percent. The metal oxide comprises a ferrite compound, such as Powder Tech FP350. The first microwave absorbent material  604  is located in a recess  615  defined by the first rim  402  of the first grill element  202 . The second microwave absorbent material  504  is located in a recess  515  defined by the second rim  412 . 
     The first grill element  202  is supported in the microwave transparent base  104  by the lip  406 , thereby creating a void space between the first grill element  202  and the microwave transparent base  104  to separate the first microwave absorbent material  604  from the microwave transparent base  104  when the first microwave absorbent material  604  is heated by the microwaves. The second grill element  204  is supported in the microwave transparent cover  102  by lip  408  thereby creating a void space between the second grill element  204  and the microwave transparent cover  102  to separate the second microwave absorbent material  504  from the microwave transparent cover  102  when the second microwave absorbent material  504  is heated by the microwaves. It is a feature of the invention that the grill elements  202 ,  204  contact the cover  102  and base  104 , respectively, only in the region where the lips  406  and  404  and  408  and  410 , respectively, overlap. The lips  406 ,  408  are spaced from the hottest portion of the grill elements  202 ,  204 , respectively, and comprise only a small area; thus, the heat transfer between the grill elements  202 ,  204  and the base  104  and cover  102  is minimized. 
     The first grill element  202  includes a first heat conducting element  606  and the second grill element  204  includes a second heat conducting element  506 . The ferrite mixture of resin and metal oxide is mixed, poured and cured on the backside of the stamping of heat conducting elements  506 ,  606 . The heat conducting elements  506 ,  606  comprise a metal, such as stamped aluminum. In one aspect of the present invention, the stamped aluminum is approximately 0.090 inches in thickness. The first heat conducting element  606  includes a first surface  610  and a second surface  608 . The surfaces are defined by the large planar surfaces of the first heat conducting element  606 . The first surface  610  contacts the first microwave absorbent material  604 . The second surface  608  contacts the grillable food and is covered with a non-stick coating, such as Teflon™. The second heat conducting element  506  includes a third surface  508  and a fourth surface  510 , which are again defined as the large planar surfaces of the second heat conducting element  506 . The third surface  508  contacts the second microwave absorbent material  504 . The fourth surface  510  contacts the grillable food and is covered with a non-stick coating, such as Teflon™. 
     The first grill element  202  has a first trough  602  that is located around the perimeter of the first grill element  202 . The first trough  602  is continuous and runs the entire perimeter of the first grill element  202 . The first trough  602  is formed into the first heat conducting element  606  to capture liquids that run from the grillable food. For the microwave transparent base  104 , the first trough  602  protrudes downward to retain the liquids that run from the grillable food. In one aspect of the present invention, the first trough  602  is approximately 5.3 millimeters deep. 
     The second grill element  204  has a second trough  502  that is located around the perimeter of the second grill element  204 . For the microwave transparent cover  102 , the second trough  502  protrudes upward when the microwave transparent cover  102  is in the closed or cooking position. The orientation of FIG. 5 is that of the microwave transparent cover being opened a full 180 degrees relative to the microwave transparent base  104 . In one aspect of the present invention, the second trough  502  is approximately 4 millimeters in depth. When the microwave grilling appliance  100  is opened completely 180 degrees, so that grill elements  204 ,  202  of the microwave transparent cover  102  and the microwave transparent base  104  point upward, the respective troughs  502 ,  602  are located downward into the heat conducting elements  506 ,  606 . The trough area produces rims  402 ,  412  on the opposite side of the heat conducting elements  606 ,  506  respectively, that defines the area where the microwave absorbent material is attached to the heat conducting element. The rims  402 ,  412  are located on the opposite side of their respective heat conducting elements  606 ,  506  that contacts the grillable food. 
     It is a feature of the invention that the troughs  602 ,  502  are sufficiently large so as to contain any amount of liquid that can be reasonably generated by the food being grilled. Thus, liquid overflow, which can both cause messes and can test the seals, is substantially eliminated by the invention. Preferably, trough  602  has a capacity of between 20 mls and 50 mls, and the trough  502  has a capacity of between 10 mls and 30 mls. More preferably, trough  602  has a capacity between 25 mls and 40 mls, and the trough  502  has a capacity of between 15 mls and 25 mls. An important difference between the invention and the prior art is that trough  602  has a capacity of 20 mls or greater, and more preferably, 25 mls or greater, and most preferably, 30 mls or greater. 
     The second surface  608  and the fourth surface  510  have ribs  206  for added searing effect and to allow liquids to run to one or both of the troughs  502 ,  602 . In one aspect of the present invention, there are nine ribs  206  formed in the second grill element  204 , and there are eight ribs  206  formed in the first grill element  202 . The ribs  206  protrude outwardly from the heat conductive elements  506 ,  606  toward the surface of the grillable food. 
     Directing attention to FIGS. 7 and 8, the microwave grilling appliance  100  includes a hinge assembly  212 . The hinge assembly  212  includes two channels  802  formed into the microwave transparent base  104 . Both channels  802  are located toward the rear of the microwave grilling appliance  100 . The channels  802  face outwardly from each other and have a rounded bottom portion. Each channel accepts a pin  902  that is attached to the microwave transparent cover  102 . The microwave transparent cover  102  includes two pins  902  which point inwardly toward each other. One pin  902  is on each side of the microwave transparent cover  102 , and the two pins  902  are located toward the rearward portion of the microwave transparent cover  102 . The microwave transparent cover  102  attaches to the microwave transparent base  104  by sliding the two pins  902  into the two channels  802  in the direction of opening  804 . When the pins  902  are engaged in the channels and the microwave transparent cover  102  is rotated toward the opened position, as shown in FIG. 3, the pins  902  tend to slide forward into the portions  812  of channels  802  and engage the sides of the walls of the channels  802  permitting a rearward portion  904  of the microwave transparent cover  102  to stop against a slight bulging rearward portion  414  of the microwave transparent base  104  to define a stop position just past 90 degrees. The microwave transparent cover  102  can be moved beyond this stop position by lifting the microwave transparent cover  102  slightly off of the microwave transparent base  104 , with pin  902  remaining in channel portion  814 , and positioning the microwave transparent cover  102  in the 180 degree position, relative to the microwave transparent base  104 . This action defines another stop position. 
     In addition, the hinge assembly  212  allows vertical movement of the microwave transparent cover  102  relative to the microwave transparent base  104 , by pins  902  moving upward into portions  814  of channels  802  to enable the microwave transparent cover  102  to be opened relative to the microwave transparent base  104  while remaining relatively parallel to the microwave transparent base  104 . This enables the microwave grilling appliance  100  to grill grillable foods of differing thicknesses. A channel opening  804  allows the microwave transparent cover  102  to be removed from the microwave transparent base  104 . 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     Medium Rare Steak 
     A microwave grilling appliance  100  includes a microwave transparent base  104  comprising a bulk molded plastic that is approximately 11 inches wide and 7.6 inches deep. The microwave transparent base  104  has two channels  802  located in the rearward portion of the microwave transparent base  104  that comprises part of the hinge apparatus  212 . A microwave transparent cover  102  comprising a bulk molded plastic includes two inwardly facing pins  902  that fit into the channels  802  of the microwave transparent base  104  to complete the hinge apparatus  212 . The microwave transparent base  104  includes a first lip  406  that accepts an epoxy glue. A first grill element  202  comprising a first heat conducting element  606  and a first microwave absorbent material  604  and a second lip  404  contacts the top of the epoxy glue and first lip  406  to create a first liquid-tight seal  208 . The first heat conducting element  606  is aluminum and is 0.090 inches in thickness. The first microwave absorbent material  604  comprises a mixture of 80 percent of Power Tech FP 350 and 20 percent resin. The microwave transparent cover  102  includes a third lip  408  that accepts an epoxy glue. A second grill element comprising a second heat conducting element  506  and a second microwave absorbent material  504  and a fourth lip  410  contacts the top of the epoxy glue and third lip  408  to create a second liquid-tight seal  210 . The microwave grilling appliance  100  is inserted and placed upside down into a conventional microwave oven equipped with a 1000 watt magnetron. The microwave grilling appliance is preheated for five minutes. The microwave grilling appliance  100  is removed from the microwave oven and opened. A steak of 1 inch thickness is placed in the microwave grilling appliance  100  and the microwave transparent cover  102  is closed on top of the steak. The microwave grilling appliance  100  is placed back in the microwave oven, right side up, and cooked for 2.5 minutes for a medium rare steak. The steak was cooked to medium rare with grill marks on both sides of the steak. 
     EXAMPLE 2 
     Chicken 
     A microwave grilling appliance  100  as constructed in Example 1 above is placed in a conventional microwave and preheated for 5 minutes as in Example 1. The microwave grilling appliance  100  is then removed and opened and a boneless chicken breast is placed in the microwave grilling appliance  100  and the microwave transparent cover  102  is closed on top of the chicken breast. The microwave grilling appliance  100  is placed back in the conventional microwave, right side up, and cooked for 5 minutes. The chicken breast was fully cooked with grill marks on both sides. 
     EXAMPLE 3 
     Grilled Sandwich 
     A microwave grilling appliance  100  as constructed in Example 1 above is placed in a conventional microwave and preheated for 5 minutes as in Example 1. The microwave grilling appliance  100  is then removed and opened and a sandwich is placed in the microwave grilling appliance  100  and the microwave transparent cover  102  is closed on top of the sandwich. The microwave grilling appliance  100  is placed back in the conventional microwave, right side up, and cooked for 3 minutes. The sandwich was fully cooked with grill marks on both sides. 
     There has been described a microwave grilling appliance that is much easier to use and much more reliable than prior art microwave grilling appliances. It should be understood that the particular embodiments shown in the drawings and described within this specification are for purposes of example and should not be construed to limit the invention, which will be described in the claims below. Further, it is evident that those skilled in the art may now make numerous uses and modifications of the specific embodiments described, without departing from the inventive concepts. Consequently, the invention is to be construed as embracing each and every novel feature and novel combination of features present in and/or possessed by the invention herein described.