Patent Description:
Heat and humidity are the two critical factors that determine how a food item is cooked in an oven. Humidity governs the temperature at which the food item actually cooks.

Dry air heats food more slowly than moist air, and moist air also smooths out temperature swings and minimises hot and cold zones within the oven.

In moist air, if the temperature of the food item is below the dew point of the air, droplets of water will form on the food item, which then releases a high amount of heat energy. This phase change causes the temperature of the food item to be raised up to the dew point.

Conversely, in dry air, evaporating water absorbs a great deal of heat energy and hence cools the food item through evaporative cooling. The heating of the food item is offset by the cooling effect of evaporation.

A known humidity system in an oven may include the use of a water bath, using a Dutch oven, spraying the oven cavity with water, adding ice cubes, or wrapping the food item in foil. A disadvantage of such known humidity systems is that they are not automated or built in as a feature of the oven, not accurately controllable, and therefore the humidity level in the oven is also difficult to control.

Document <CIT> discloses a steam oven that includes an accommodating chamber installed with a driving motor for driving a fan to rotate. An electric heater is positioned around the fan, and a holding tray having a water tank received therein is disposed at the bottom of the oven. An electric heating tray is fixed in the accommodating chamber, and a duct is connected with the water tank and with a water-feeding pipe above the electric heating tray. The housing of the oven has its inner wall provided with a position structure for positioning the plate door of the oven. The driving motor is started to drive the fan to rotate and send hot air out to cooperate with the steam heated in the accommodating chamber for steaming food, keeping moisture of the steamed food. The plate door can be closed by an expansion spring and an elastic engage member, preventing hot air from leaking. Document <CIT> discloses a baking oven that comprises a baking cavity accessible by the user and suitable to receive the foods to be cooked; heating means in thermal contact with the cavity; a reservoir for containing water which identifies a first portion of the cavity and comprises an opening at least partially oriented upwards which serves as interface with a remaining second portion of the cavity external to the reservoir, the water contained in the reservoir evaporating under the action of the heating means; said opening constituting both an inlet for the water to flow into the reservoir and an outlet for the steam from the reservoir; a tubular conduit for the outflow of the water connectable fluid-dynamically to means for supplying the water and having an outlet section internal to the cavity, the water flowing out of the tubular conduit subsequently flowing into the reservoir. To facilitate cleaning operations on the reservoir performed manually by an operator, the outlet section of the tubular conduit is external to the volume generated by a translation of the opening along the physical vertical, said opening remaining parallel to itself during said translation.

It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more of the disadvantages of existing arrangements, or at least provide a useful alternative to existing arrangements. The invention is defined by the independent claim.

There is disclosed herein an oven having a body that includes a base, a ceiling, and a wall extending between the base and the ceiling, the wall at least partly surrounding a cooking cavity;.

Preferably, the heating assembly includes a heating element mounted to a substrate, with the substrate being mounted to the underside of the receptacle.

Preferably, the heating element is brazed to the substrate, and the substrate is brazed to the underside of the receptacle.

Preferably, the heating assembly is located above the base of the oven and below the cooking cavity.

Preferably, the plumbing assembly is located adjacent the base of the oven and outside of the cooking cavity.

Preferably, the heating assembly further includes a temperature sensor adapted to detect a temperature of the receptacle.

Preferably, the interface assembly further includes a switch to detect the absence or presence of the removable container in the base cavity.

Preferably, the switch is located towards a rear portion of the removable container.

Preferably, the interface assembly further includes a sensor to detect a fluid level in the chamber of the removable container.

Preferably, the oven further includes a heat shield located between the heating assembly and the plumbing assembly.

Preferably, the heat shield is integrally formed with the base.

Preferably, the oven further includes an inner oven assembly and a base assembly, with the base assembly providing the base of the oven, and the inner oven assembly including a cavity part that has a base and sidewall portions that are integrally formed.

Preferably, the inner oven assembly further includes a tray adapted to be mounted on the base portion of the cavity part, the tray including mounting features that cooperate with corresponding mounting features located on the base portion of the cavity part, and wherein the tray is in the form of a crumb tray.

Preferably, the fluid pump is controllable to create an optimum ratio of flow rate of fluids being introduced into the receptacle to power density so as to cause a desired amount of steam to be directed into the cooking cavity.

Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

In <FIG> of the accompanying drawings, there is schematically depicted an oven <NUM> for cooking one or more food items (not shown). The oven <NUM> includes a body <NUM> having a base <NUM>, a ceiling <NUM>, and a wall <NUM> extending between the base <NUM> and the ceiling <NUM>. The wall <NUM> at least partially surrounds a cooking cavity <NUM>. The oven <NUM> has a front portion <NUM> and a rear portion <NUM>. At the front portion <NUM>, the oven <NUM> also includes an opening <NUM> providing a passage through which the food item to be cooked is to be moved in and out of the cooking cavity <NUM>. The oven <NUM> further includes a door <NUM> enclosing the opening <NUM>. The door <NUM> is hingedly connected to a lower portion <NUM> of the door <NUM> such that the door <NUM> is moveable between a closed position in which the opening <NUM> is enclosed (e.g. as shown in <FIG>), and an open position in which the opening <NUM> is at least partially exposed. The door <NUM> includes a handle <NUM> grippable by a user to move the door <NUM> between the closed and open positions.

The base <NUM> includes a base cavity <NUM> and an opening <NUM> providing access into the base cavity <NUM>. The opening <NUM> is preferably located centrally and adjacent the front portion <NUM> of the oven <NUM>, generally below the area that the door <NUM> is located. The base <NUM> also includes foot portions <NUM> for supporting the oven <NUM> on a surface <NUM> (such as a surface of a kitchen benchtop).

The oven <NUM> further includes a removable container <NUM>, and the base cavity <NUM> is adapted to receive the removable container <NUM> therein. The removable container <NUM> is movable relative to the base <NUM> in a direction <NUM> between an open position in which the removable container <NUM> is at least partially exposed relative to the base cavity <NUM>, and a closed position in which the removable container <NUM> is retained in the base cavity <NUM>. In a preferred form, the removable container <NUM> is slidable with respect to the base <NUM> in the direction <NUM>, which is generally parallel to the surface <NUM>. The floor of the removable container <NUM> is preferably slidable on the surface <NUM> along the direction <NUM>.

<FIG> of the accompanying drawings schematically depicts an exploded parts view of the removable container <NUM>. The removable container <NUM> includes a container body <NUM> having a floor <NUM> and sidewalls <NUM> that define a chamber <NUM> to hold fluids therein. The container body <NUM> also has an open top <NUM> to provide access into the chamber <NUM>.

The sidewalls <NUM> include sidewall portions <NUM> that engage corresponding portions <NUM> (see <FIG>) located in the base <NUM> so as to locate and facilitate movement of the container body <NUM> with respect to the base <NUM> during initial insertion of the removable container <NUM> in the base cavity <NUM>. In a preferred form, the sidewall portions <NUM> have angled or ramped features <NUM> (see <FIG>) that engage opposing angled or ramped features <NUM> located on the base <NUM>. In other embodiments (not shown), the sidewall portions <NUM> may additionally or alternatively include a track or a groove that engages a corresponding protrusion located in the base cavity <NUM> or the base <NUM> so as to correctly locate and guide the movement of the removable container <NUM> with respect to the base <NUM>. The sidewall portions <NUM> may additionally or alternatively include a protrusion that engages a corresponding track or groove located in the base cavity <NUM> or the base <NUM>. It will be appreciated that the sidewall portions <NUM> and the corresponding portions <NUM> located in the base <NUM> may also cooperate to provide an audible or tactile indication to the user that the removable container <NUM> has been fully inserted and retained in the base cavity <NUM>.

In a preferred form, the sidewall portions <NUM> are located at the same relative height with respect to the surface <NUM> that the corresponding portions <NUM> in the base <NUM> are located. The floor <NUM> of the container body <NUM> is preferably slidable on the surface <NUM> along the direction <NUM>. In this way, the floor <NUM> remains generally parallel to the base <NUM>, and also the surface <NUM>, when the removable container <NUM> is moved between the open and closed positions relative to the base <NUM>. As such, the surface <NUM> may be used as a leveller to easily locate the correct orientation to position the removable container <NUM> with respect to the base <NUM>, and also to facilitate the movement of the removable container <NUM> between the open and closed positions.

In the depicted embodiment, the container body <NUM> also includes a recessed portion <NUM> that is grippable by a user to move the removable container <NUM> between the open and closed positions relative to the base <NUM>. The recessed portion <NUM> is preferably located centrally at a front (or proximal) portion <NUM> of the container body <NUM> to provide for ease of access for the user and to also allow for a balanced grip on the removable container <NUM> during movement between the open and closed positions. The recessed portion <NUM> is dimensioned so as to provide sufficient grip for the user to hold the removable container <NUM> using only one hand. The sidewalls <NUM> also include a fluid outlet <NUM> located towards a rear (or distal) portion <NUM> of the container body <NUM>. In other embodiments (not shown), the fluid outlet <NUM> may alternatively be located adjacent to the sidewall portions <NUM> or the floor <NUM> of the container body <NUM>.

The removable container <NUM> also includes a lid <NUM> that is removably engageable with the body <NUM> of the removable container <NUM> to at least partially enclose the chamber <NUM>. In a preferred form, the lid <NUM> is sealingly engageable with the body <NUM> to inhibit egress of fluids from the chamber <NUM>. A seal member <NUM> is provided between the lid <NUM> and the body <NUM> to sealingly engage the lid <NUM> to the body <NUM>. In the depicted embodiment, the seal member <NUM> is arranged to correspond to an outer periphery of the lid <NUM> and the body <NUM>. The seal member <NUM> is preferably formed from a resiliently deformable material such as rubber.

The insertion of the removable container <NUM> into the base cavity <NUM> is best shown with reference to <FIG>. In particular, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> show the removable container <NUM> completely exposed or removed from the base cavity <NUM> of the base <NUM>. <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> show the removable container <NUM> completely retained in the base cavity <NUM>, whilst <FIG> shows the removable container <NUM> partially retained in the base cavity <NUM>. As described above, to insert the removable container <NUM> into the base cavity <NUM>, the user slides the removable container <NUM> on the surface <NUM> along the direction <NUM> until the angled or ramped features <NUM> of the container body <NUM> engage the corresponding angled or ramped features <NUM> of the base <NUM>. The features <NUM> and <NUM> cooperate to act as a guide for the removable container <NUM> to move into the base cavity <NUM>. The removable container <NUM> continues to move into the base cavity <NUM> until the rear portion <NUM> of the container body <NUM> abuts a stop feature <NUM> located on the base <NUM>. As discussed above, the features <NUM> and <NUM> may cooperate to provide an audible or tactile indication to the user that the container <NUM> has been fully inserted and retained in the base cavity <NUM>. The base <NUM> may also include a locking feature <NUM> that engages a corresponding feature <NUM> located on the container body <NUM> when the removable container <NUM> is fully inserted in the base cavity <NUM> so as to lock or retain the container <NUM> in the base cavity <NUM>. In a preferred form, the locking feature <NUM> is a resiliently deformable member, such as a clip or fastener, that engages a corresponding recess in the container body <NUM>. It will be appreciated that the features <NUM> and <NUM> allow the removable container <NUM> to be retained in the base cavity <NUM> until such time that a user grips the recessed portion <NUM> and moves the container <NUM> out of the base cavity <NUM>. At this point, the feature <NUM> will resiliently deform to disengage from the feature <NUM>, thereby releasing the container <NUM> from the base cavity <NUM>.

Returning to <FIG>, in the depicted embodiment, the lid <NUM> includes an opening <NUM> generally located at a corner portion of the lid <NUM>, although it will be understood that the opening <NUM> may be located at any other location on the lid <NUM>. The opening <NUM> provides access into the chamber <NUM> of the container body <NUM> and is a passage through which fluids may be introduced into the chamber <NUM>. The opening <NUM> may be positioned under a tap to fill the chamber <NUM> with water. Alternatively, a user may pour water into the chamber <NUM> from a jug or other container through the opening <NUM>. The orientation of the lid <NUM> relative to the container body <NUM> may be changed by rotating the lid <NUM>. As such, the position of the opening <NUM> with respect to the body <NUM> may also be changed. It will be appreciated that in an arrangement whereby the opening <NUM> is located adjacent the front portion <NUM> of the container body <NUM> (and towards the front portion <NUM> of the oven <NUM>), the removable container <NUM> does not have to be fully removed from the base cavity <NUM> to provide access to the opening <NUM>, and a user can easily fill the chamber <NUM> with water from a jug. Alternatively, in an arrangement whereby the opening <NUM> is located towards a rear portion of the body <NUM>, the user may fully remove the removable container <NUM> from the base cavity <NUM> and place the container <NUM> under a tap to fill the chamber <NUM> (through the opening <NUM> with tap water).

The opening <NUM> is provided with a cover member <NUM> that engages a corresponding recessed portion <NUM> of the lid <NUM>. The cover member <NUM> may be resiliently deformable. In the depicted embodiment, the cover member <NUM> is mounted to the lid <NUM> and is angularly movable about an axis <NUM> between an open position in which the cover member <NUM> encloses the opening <NUM> (see <FIG>), and a closed position in which the opening <NUM> is at least partially exposed (see <FIG>). In a preferred form, the cover member <NUM> is biased to the closed position such that the opening <NUM> is enclosed in a resting state until the user manually moves the cover member <NUM> to expose the opening <NUM>. It will be appreciated that in other embodiments (not shown), the cover member <NUM> is a resiliently deformable piece of material (e.g. silicone) that is movable in an out of the opening <NUM> so as to close and expose the opening <NUM>. The piece of silicone material may be 'popped' or deformed by the user in a direction away and towards the opening <NUM> to act as a plug for the opening.

<FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> schematically depict an interface assembly <NUM> of the oven <NUM> that provides a connection between the removable container <NUM> and the cooking cavity <NUM> of the oven <NUM>. The interface assembly <NUM> includes a receptacle <NUM> having an open top <NUM>. In the depicted embodiment, the receptacle <NUM> is in the form of a trough, or an elongated shallow container. The receptacle <NUM> is mounted above the base <NUM> to a cavity floor <NUM> located in the cooking cavity <NUM> of the oven <NUM>, whereby the open top <NUM> of the receptacle <NUM> is exposed to the cooking cavity <NUM> via a cavity opening <NUM> in the cavity wall <NUM> (see <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>). The receptacle <NUM> further includes a fluid inlet <NUM>. The receptacle <NUM> is preferably formed of a stainless steel material (deep drawn or pressed) and the cavity floor <NUM> is preferably formed of a non-stick material. In a preferred form, the receptacle <NUM> and the cavity floor <NUM> are formed from different materials. It will be appreciated that the receptacle <NUM>, which is exposed to the cooking cavity <NUM>, is easily accessible via the opening <NUM> of the oven <NUM> for ease of cleaning.

The interface assembly <NUM> further includes a plumbing assembly <NUM> providing a connection between the fluid outlet <NUM> of the container body <NUM> and the fluid inlet <NUM> of the receptacle <NUM>. In a preferred form, the plumbing assembly <NUM> includes a first connector <NUM> (see <FIG>, <FIG>) and a valve member <NUM> located adjacent the fluid outlet <NUM> of the container body <NUM>. The first connector <NUM> and the valve member <NUM> may be located partially or wholly within the fluid outlet <NUM>. The plumbing assembly <NUM> also includes a second connector <NUM> that is associated with the fluid inlet <NUM> of the receptacle <NUM>. In the depicted embodiment, the valve member <NUM> includes a spring valve <NUM> that is biased towards a closed position (see <FIG>). As the removable container <NUM> is moved into the base cavity <NUM>, the spring valve <NUM> engages the second connector <NUM>, causing the spring valve <NUM> to move into an open position (see <FIG>), thereby allowing fluids to travel out of the fluid outlet <NUM> and into the fluid inlet <NUM>. In the depicted embodiment, the first connector <NUM> includes a part 171A (see <FIG>) that is perpendicular to the floor <NUM> of the container body <NUM>, with minimal distance between the part 171A and the floor <NUM>. Accordingly, the first connector <NUM> may provide a passage or a vacuum that allows most of the fluids within the chamber <NUM> to be evacuated, even when a low level of fluid is present, as the part 171A is close to the bottom of the container body <NUM>.

The plumbing assembly <NUM> also includes a first conduit <NUM> and a second conduit <NUM>. A fluid pump <NUM> of the plumbing assembly <NUM> is operatively associated with, and preferably located between, the first and second conduits <NUM> and <NUM>, with the first conduit <NUM> providing a connection between the fluid outlet <NUM> of the container body <NUM> and the fluid pump <NUM>, and the second conduit <NUM> providing a connection between the fluid pump <NUM> and the fluid inlet <NUM> of the receptacle <NUM>. The second connector <NUM> described above provides the attachment between the first conduit <NUM> and the fluid outlet <NUM> via the first connector <NUM> and the valve member <NUM>. A conduit attachment member <NUM> is provided to facilitate attachment of the second conduit <NUM> to the fluid inlet <NUM>. In the depicted embodiment, the conduit attachment member <NUM> is attached to the receptacle <NUM> and provides a fluid passage for the fluid inlet <NUM>. It will be appreciated that the fluid inlet <NUM> is provided at a side of the conduit attachment <NUM> and is oriented such that the fluid inlet <NUM> faces a direction generally transverse relative to a direction of extension of the receptacle <NUM>. The arrangement minimises upward exposure of the fluid inlet <NUM>, thus limiting the ingress of debris or crumbs from food items entering and blocking the fluid inlet <NUM>. The fluid pump <NUM> has a pump inlet <NUM> connected to the first conduit <NUM> and a pump outlet <NUM> connected to the second conduit <NUM>. The fluid pump <NUM> is operable by a controller <NUM> to drive or direct a flow of fluid from the fluid outlet <NUM> of the container body <NUM> to the fluid inlet <NUM> of the receptacle <NUM> so as to at least partially fill the receptacle <NUM> with fluid.

The controller <NUM> of the interface assembly <NUM> is operatively associated with a sensor <NUM> that is adapted to detect a fluid level in the chamber <NUM> of the container body <NUM> and send a signal to the controller <NUM>, which then communicates information to be displayed on a user interface (not shown) of the oven <NUM> regarding the fluid level. The user interface may be an LCD display, for example. In a preferred form, the sensor <NUM> is an optical sensor. The optical sensor may be integrally formed with a translucent version of the container body <NUM>, or separately formed and ultrasonically welded to an opaque version of the container body <NUM>. It will be appreciated that when the fluid level detected by the sensor <NUM> is below a predetermined limit, the sensor <NUM> sends a signal to the controller <NUM>, which then communicates information to be displayed on the user interface that the chamber <NUM> needs to be refilled with fluid. In an embodiment whereby the container body <NUM> is translucent, it is envisaged that the sensor <NUM> is in the form of a translucent prism (as best shown in <FIG>) which includes a light emitter and a light sensor. In this embodiment, upon diffusion of light through the translucent prism, its reflected quality is altered by fluid being present or absent in the chamber <NUM>, and is detected by the light sensor. The signal communicated to the controller <NUM> based on this detection may then be used for computation of information supplied to the user. Additionally, as best shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the information may also be communicated via one or more LED panels <NUM> that are mounted in or adjacent the base <NUM>. The one or more LED panels <NUM> are also operatively associated with the controller <NUM> and adapted to emit one or more sets of lights that indicate the fluid level detected by the sensor, or different operation modes of the oven <NUM>. For example, the one or more LED panels <NUM> may be configured to emit a set of blue lights to indicate that the fluid level detected by the sensor <NUM> is at or above the predetermined limit, or a set of yellow lights to indicate that the fluid level detected by the sensor <NUM> is below the predetermined limit. The one or more LED panels <NUM> may also be configured to emit a set of red lights to indicate the oven <NUM> is operating (thus telling the user that the container <NUM> should not be removed). It will be understood that the one or more LED panels <NUM> would not emit any lights when the oven <NUM> is not operating. In an embodiment whereby the container body <NUM> is translucent, it will be appreciated that the light emitted by the one or more LED panels <NUM> will travel through the translucent container body <NUM> such that the light is visible to the user through the container body <NUM>.

The interface assembly <NUM> further includes a switch <NUM> adapted to detect the presence or absence of the removable container <NUM> in the base cavity <NUM>. In a preferred form, the switch <NUM> detects whether the removable container <NUM> is fully engaged or retained in the base cavity <NUM> and sends a corresponding signal to the controller <NUM>. It will be appreciated that the switch <NUM> is configured to send a signal to the controller <NUM>, which then communicates information to be displayed on the user interface as to whether the removable container <NUM> is present or absent (i.e. whether the container <NUM> is fully engaged and retained in the base cavity, or whether the container <NUM> has been at least partially removed from the base cavity <NUM>). In the depicted embodiment, the switch <NUM> is located towards the rear portion <NUM> of the container body <NUM> and adjacent the sidewall portion <NUM>. However, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments (not shown), the switch <NUM> may be located at any other location on or around the container body <NUM> that is suitable for detection for the removable container <NUM>. For example, the switch <NUM> may be located adjacent a rear wall of the container body <NUM>, or adjacent the floor <NUM> of the container body <NUM>. The valve member <NUM> may also provide an audible or tactile indication to the user that the fluid outlet <NUM> of the container body <NUM> is connected to the plumbing assembly <NUM>, thereby indicating that the removable container <NUM> is fully inserted and retained in the base cavity <NUM>. In a preferred form, the valve member <NUM> includes the spring valve <NUM> described above.

The controller <NUM> of the interface assembly is further operatively associated with a heating assembly <NUM> (best shown in <FIG>) to control the operation of the heating assembly <NUM> based on one or more signals received from the various sensors and switches in the oven <NUM> (e.g. sensor <NUM> and switch <NUM>). The heating assembly <NUM> is mounted to the receptacle <NUM>, which is in turn mounted to the cavity floor <NUM> of the oven <NUM> via the cavity opening <NUM>. Accordingly, as earlier discussed, the open top <NUM> of the receptacle <NUM> is exposed to the cooking cavity <NUM> via the cavity opening <NUM>. The cavity opening <NUM> is surrounded by a rim <NUM> and, in a preferred form, the rim <NUM> is crimped to a corresponding rim <NUM> of the receptacle <NUM>. Crimping the receptacle <NUM> to the cavity floor <NUM> allows the cavity floor <NUM> (which is typically a non-stick material) to be easily mated to the receptacle <NUM>, and also removes the need for conventional assembly parts such as gaskets, wet silicone, mechanical fasteners that may be cumbersome and less visually appealing. This arrangement also maximises the amount of available space in the oven cavity <NUM>, and also allows for ease of access and cleaning of scale and debris that may build up in the receptacle <NUM>. It will also be appreciated that crimping also creates a water tight seal between the receptacle <NUM> and the cavity floor <NUM> such that fluid ingress or egress through the cavity opening <NUM> may be limited or altogether avoided.

The heating assembly <NUM> includes a heating element <NUM> mounted to a substrate <NUM>, which is in turn mounted to an underside <NUM> of the receptacle <NUM>. In a preferred form, the heating element <NUM> is brazed to the substrate <NUM>, which is made of aluminium. The heating element <NUM> is preferably a tubular heating element having a flat surface to facilitate contact and attachment to the substrate <NUM>. The flat surface may also provide better heat transfer from the heating element <NUM> to the receptacle <NUM>. It should be appreciated that the heating element <NUM> is spaced from the conduit attachment member <NUM> so as to reduce the amount of heat that may be transferred to the conduit attachment member <NUM> or the attached plumbing assembly <NUM>. In a preferred form, the substrate <NUM> is also brazed to the underside <NUM> of the receptacle <NUM>. As earlier discussed, the receptacle <NUM> is preferably made of a material that is suitable for brazing, such as stainless steel (deep drawn or pressed) or aluminium. Such materials are also corrosion resistant. It will be appreciated that brazing the heating element <NUM> to the substrate <NUM> and/or the substrate <NUM> to the receptacle <NUM> may at least avoid the use of mechanical fasteners which may not provide even contact between the heating element <NUM> to the receptacle <NUM>. It will be understood that uneven contact may cause deformation, discolouration and denaturing of the receptacle <NUM> over time, and may also result in uneven heat transfer to the fluids in the receptacle <NUM>. Mechanical fasteners may also require additional fasteners that are not visually appealing.

As discussed above, the heating assembly <NUM> and by extension the heating element <NUM> is operatively associated with the controller <NUM>, and operable to provide heat to fluid in the receptacle <NUM>. This in turn causes the fluid to evaporate into the cooking cavity <NUM> (i.e. to produce steam and increase humidity levels in the cooking cavity <NUM>).

It will be appreciated that the heating assembly <NUM> is located above the base <NUM> and inside the cooking cavity <NUM> but below the cavity floor <NUM> of the oven <NUM>. The plumbing assembly <NUM> (which is connected to the receptacle <NUM>) is located adjacent the base <NUM>, below the cavity floor <NUM> and outside of the cooking cavity <NUM>. It will thus be appreciated that fluids entering the plumbing assembly <NUM> (and in turn the cooking cavity <NUM>) are at room temperature, rather than at higher temperatures where scale may build up and cause damage from blockages. Accordingly, having fluids entering the plumbing assembly <NUM> at room temperature may at least reduce the likelihood of scale build-up and blockages in the plumbing assembly <NUM>, thereby at least prolonging the life of the oven <NUM>. The receptacle <NUM> is located away from the plumbing assembly <NUM> and is easily accessible via the cooking cavity <NUM> for cleaning.

A heat shield or plate <NUM> located in or below the cooking cavity <NUM> or on the base <NUM> separates the heating assembly <NUM> from the plumbing assembly <NUM>. The heat shield or plate <NUM> may either be integrally formed with the base <NUM>, or separately formed and attached to the base <NUM>. The heating assembly <NUM> also includes a temperature sensor <NUM> mounted to the substrate <NUM>. The temperature sensor <NUM> is adapted to detect a temperature of the receptacle <NUM>. It will be appreciated that the substrate <NUM> may include other areas or zones to allow for mounting or attachment of other elements such as fuses and fixtures for the plumbing assembly <NUM>.

In a preferred form, the fluid pump <NUM> is controllable to create an optimum ratio of flow rate of fluids being introduced into the receptacle <NUM> to power density, depending on a cooking mode of the oven <NUM>. By controlling the optimum ratio, the receptacle <NUM> may be filled at a desired flow rate to cause a desired amount of steam to be directed into the cooking cavity <NUM> in a desired amount of time to suit the desired cooking mode. The cooking modes of the oven <NUM> may be selected from a group including toast, steam, 'low & slow', air fry, and browning assist. Different cooking modes or types of the food item being cooked will benefit from different humidity levels in the cooking cavity <NUM>. The fluid pump <NUM> includes specifications such as gear ratio, low flow rate, size and orientation, operating noise / sound, and wattage, with each specification being variable to create the optimum flow rate. The receptacle <NUM> itself may also be optimised in size to create the optimum flow rate and evaporation conditions. In a preferred form, the receptacle <NUM> is optimised for quick evaporation by having a larger width relative to its depth (to maximise surface area and contact to the heating element), and with low power required for the heating element <NUM>. It will also be appreciated that the power delivered to the heating element <NUM> may be shared with other heating elements of the oven <NUM>, but limited up to a certain power limit such that the heating element <NUM> does not undesirably draw power away from those other heating elements. The power, heat density, volume and surface area of the heating element <NUM> may also be optimised accordingly.

In <FIG>, there is schematically depicted an inner oven assembly <NUM> and a base assembly <NUM> of the oven <NUM>. The inner oven assembly <NUM> is located in the cooking cavity <NUM> of the oven <NUM>, whilst the base assembly <NUM> provides the base <NUM> of the oven <NUM>. The inner oven assembly <NUM> includes a cavity part <NUM> having a base portion <NUM> and a pair of side portions <NUM> extending upwardly away from the base portion <NUM>. In the depicted embodiment, the cavity part <NUM> forms a generally U-shaped structure. In a preferred form, the base portion <NUM> and the side portions <NUM> are integrally formed to provide the cavity part <NUM>. It will be appreciated that the integrally formed structure of the base portion <NUM> may at least minimise the need for fasteners and also reduce the points of egress (e.g. from oil, steam, water, debris or crumbs from the food items being cooked). This arrangement may also reduce the part count and assembly processing costs. The base portion <NUM> is also easier to clean as there are less sharp corners and debris collection point. It will also be appreciated that the evaporation system (through the heating of fluids in the receptacle <NUM> to produce steam in the cooking cavity <NUM>) may also be programmable to provide steam assist cleaning, i.e. whereby moisture or steam is introduced into the cooking cavity <NUM> to soften grease and debris build up.

In the depicted embodiment, the base portion <NUM> of the cavity part <NUM> includes the cavity floor <NUM> of the oven <NUM> discussed above. The base portion <NUM> includes angled portions <NUM> extending generally around a periphery of the cavity floor <NUM>. The receptacle <NUM> is mounted in the cavity opening <NUM> of the cavity floor <NUM>, which is located generally at the center of the base portion <NUM>, with the angled portions <NUM> at least partially surrounding the receptacle <NUM>. In the depicted embodiment, the cavity floor <NUM> also includes an additional raised portion <NUM> that surrounds the cavity opening <NUM>. This additional raised portion <NUM> extends to an uppermost portion of the receptacle (i.e. adjacent to the rim <NUM>) to encourage any debris or crumbs falling from food items being cooked in the cavity <NUM> to roll away from the receptacle <NUM>.

The base assembly <NUM> includes the heat shield or plate <NUM> discussed above and is provided to reflect heat from the oven cavity <NUM> back into the oven cavity <NUM>. In other words, the heat shield or plate <NUM> insulates the base cavity <NUM> (where the plumbing assembly <NUM> and removable container <NUM> are located) from heat in the cooking cavity <NUM>. It will be appreciated that the heat shield or plate <NUM> may function as a chassis that separates the cooking cavity <NUM> from the base cavity <NUM> and may provide a platform for mounting sensitive components, thereby avoiding the need to mount such sensitive components in the cooking cavity <NUM>. For example, the heat shield or plate <NUM> may provide a mounting platform for the plumbing assembly <NUM> and/or the interface assembly <NUM> discussed above, along with any other sensitive components such as sensors, switches, speakers, power PCBs and the like. The inclusion of the heat shield or plate <NUM> also means that the removable container <NUM> may be located centrally under the cooking cavity <NUM> with little risk that the heat from the cavity <NUM> will have an effect on the removable container <NUM>. In a preferred form, the heat shield or plate <NUM> is galvanised to reduce costs and reflectivity. The heat shield or plate <NUM> may also include insulation fibre and/or air gaps to enhance its heat shielding capabilities.

The inner oven assembly <NUM> also includes a removable tray <NUM> that is adapted to be mounted to the base portion <NUM> of the cavity part <NUM>. In a preferred form, the tray <NUM> is a crumb tray that is adapted to collect debris or crumbs from the cooking cavity <NUM>. It will be appreciated that the tray <NUM> includes a central portion <NUM> that aligns with the cavity opening <NUM> of the cavity floor <NUM>. The central portion <NUM> includes one or more openings or vents <NUM> to provide a passageway for moisture or steam to travel upwardly into the cooking cavity <NUM> from the receptacle <NUM>. It will be appreciated that the openings or vents <NUM> are suitably sized to allow for travel of moisture or steam, but to prevent ingress of debris or crumbs. The openings or vents <NUM> may be formed as separately woven mesh, or punched/perforated through the tray <NUM>. It will also be appreciated that the openings or vents <NUM> are elongated to correspond to the shape of the elongated receptable <NUM>, which may at least encourage condensation to drip back into the receptacle <NUM>.

The central portion <NUM> also includes a raised portion <NUM> that surrounds the openings or vents <NUM>, and have a corresponding shape to the additional raised portion <NUM> of the cavity floor <NUM> located below the tray <NUM>. Similar to the additional raised portion <NUM> discussed above, the raised portion <NUM> extends to an uppermost height of the openings or vents <NUM> to encourage any debris or crumbs falling from food items being cooked in the cavity <NUM> to roll away from the openings or vents <NUM>. It will be appreciated that the central portion <NUM>, the openings or vents <NUM> and the raised portion <NUM> assist with locating and correctly mounting the tray <NUM> with respect to the base portion <NUM>. The tray <NUM> may include one or more additional features to assist with locating and mounting the tray <NUM>, and to also create a seal to prevent condensation and debris or crumbs from collecting underneath the tray <NUM>. This arrangement may thus allow the various components to be easily cleaned. Referring to <FIG>, for example, the tray <NUM> may be provided with one or more seal members <NUM> in the form of an o-ring, gasket, high-temperature silicone seal or the like, to assist with the prevention of condensation / debris / crumbs from collecting underneath the tray <NUM>.

In other embodiments (not shown), the tray <NUM> may include a single opening sized to expose the receptacle <NUM> to the cooking cavity. This arrangement may allow for visual and physical access to the receptacle <NUM> from the cooking cavity <NUM>. The opening of the tray <NUM> in this embodiment may be provided with a removable cover (not shown) that corresponds to the size of the receptacle <NUM>.

In the embodiment as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, for example, the oven <NUM> may also include a door sensor (<NUM>) that detects whether the door <NUM> is in the open position (in which the opening <NUM> of the oven <NUM> is at least partially exposed) or closed position (in which the opening <NUM> of the oven <NUM> is enclosed by the door <NUM>). In such embodiments, the door sensor will send a signal to the controller <NUM>, which then communicates information to be displayed on the user interface to prompt the user to close the door <NUM>. If the door <NUM> of the oven is open, and steam is being introduced into the cooking cavity <NUM> whilst the door <NUM> is open, the steam would escape out of the cooking cavity <NUM> and the receptacle <NUM> could be prematurely depleted of fluids. It will be appreciated that the door sensor <NUM> may thus be provided as a safety feature of the oven <NUM>, and also avoid any undesirable condensation of fluids outside of the oven <NUM>. It is envisaged that the door sensor <NUM> may be in the form of a tilt switch, a microswitch, a hall effect sensor, or any other type of sensor suitable to detect the position of the door <NUM>.

An exemplary operation of a humidity system of the oven <NUM> will now be described with respect to <FIG>, in which a series of steps of a preferred embodiment is described.

At step <NUM>, for example, the switch <NUM> detects whether the removable container <NUM> is fully inserted and engaged in the base cavity <NUM>. If the switch <NUM> detects that the removable container <NUM> is not fully inserted and engaged at step <NUM>, the switch <NUM> sends a signal to the controller <NUM>, which then communicates information to be displayed on the user interface at step <NUM> to prompt the user to fully / correctly insert the removable container <NUM>. If the switch <NUM> detects that the removable container <NUM> is fully / correctly inserted and engaged at step <NUM>, the switch <NUM> sends a signal to the controller <NUM>, which then instructs the sensor <NUM> to detect the fluid level in the chamber <NUM> of the container body <NUM> at step <NUM>.

At step <NUM>, if the sensor <NUM> detects that the fluid level in the chamber <NUM> is below a predetermined limit, or is empty, the sensor <NUM> sends a signal to the controller <NUM> to communicate information to be displayed on the user interface at step <NUM> that the chamber <NUM> needs to be refilled with fluid. At the same time, the controller <NUM> sends a signal to the one or more LED panels <NUM> to emit a set of lights indicating the status of the fluid level at step <NUM>. If the sensor <NUM> detects that the fluid level in the chamber <NUM> is at or above the predetermined limit at step <NUM>, the sensor <NUM> sends a signal to the controller <NUM> to instruct the door sensor <NUM> to detect whether the door <NUM> is open or closed at step <NUM>. If the door sensor <NUM> detects that the door <NUM> is open, then the door sensor <NUM> sends a signal to the controller <NUM> to ensure that the oven <NUM> remains off (i.e. the heating element <NUM> does not get energised) at step <NUM>. If the door sensor <NUM> detects that the door <NUM> is closed at step <NUM>, then the door sensor <NUM> sends a signal to the controller <NUM> to enable operation of the heating element <NUM> at step <NUM> and to enable operation of the fluid pump <NUM> for a predetermined amount of time at step <NUM> (thereby introducing fluids into the receptacle <NUM> from the container <NUM>. It will be understood that the predetermined amount of time that the fluid pump <NUM> is operated at step <NUM> is dependent on a flow rate of the fluid pump <NUM> and a volume or surface area of the receptacle <NUM>.

At step <NUM>, following operation of the fluid pump <NUM>, the temperature sensor <NUM> detects the temperature of the receptacle <NUM>. It would be understood that a detected temperature of the receptacle <NUM> of over X degrees Celsius indicates that the receptacle <NUM> has reached an undesirable 'dry boil'. It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that X degrees Celsius may be anywhere between <NUM> to <NUM> degrees Celsius for dry boil detection. Accordingly, if the temperature sensor <NUM> detects that the temperature of the receptacle <NUM> is over X degrees Celsius at step <NUM>, the temperature sensor <NUM> sends a signal to the controller <NUM>, which then disables operation of the heating element <NUM> at step <NUM>. In this way, it will be appreciated that the temperature sensor <NUM> acts as part of a safety feature of the oven <NUM> to prevent dry boil in the receptacle <NUM>, which could otherwise cause damage to the receptacle <NUM> and potentially insufficient humidity levels in the cooking cavity <NUM>. If the temperature sensor <NUM> detects that the temperature of the receptacle <NUM> is under X degrees Celsius at step <NUM>, the temperature sensor <NUM> sends a signal to the controller <NUM>, which then maintains operation of the heating element <NUM> at step <NUM>.

It will be appreciated that the adding moisture into an oven cavity may also be beneficial to vary the type of food item being cooked and techniques used. Additionally, adding moisture or humidity in an oven cavity may increase the versatility of the oven and provides a more desirable environment for the various uses of the oven, such as baking, holding, thawing, roasting, proofing, air frying, incubating, steaming, and cleaning.

Claim 1:
An oven (<NUM>) having a body (<NUM>) that includes a base (<NUM>), a ceiling (<NUM>), and a wall (<NUM>) extending between the base (<NUM>) and the ceiling (<NUM>), the wall (<NUM>) at least partly surrounding a cooking cavity (<NUM>);
the base (<NUM>) including a base cavity (<NUM>) and an opening that extends between the base cavity (<NUM>) and the cooking cavity (<NUM>);
the oven (<NUM>) further including a removable container (<NUM>) having a floor and sidewalls (<NUM>) that define a chamber (<NUM>) to hold fluids therein, the base cavity (<NUM>) adapted to receive the removable container (<NUM>),
the removable container (<NUM>) being movable relative to the base cavity between a storage position in which the removable container (<NUM>) is retained in the base cavity (<NUM>), and an open position in which the removable container (<NUM>) is at least partially exposed relative to the base cavity (<NUM>);
the oven (<NUM>) further including an interface assembly (<NUM>) providing a connection between a fluid outlet (<NUM>) of the removable container (<NUM>) and the cooking cavity (<NUM>), the interface assembly (<NUM>) including:
a receptacle (<NUM>) mounted above the base (<NUM>) and having an open top (<NUM>) that is exposed to the cooking cavity, the receptacle (<NUM>) being located underneath the cooking cavity (<NUM>), the receptacle (<NUM>) further including a fluid inlet (<NUM>);
a plumbing assembly (<NUM>) connecting the fluid outlet (<NUM>) of the removable container (<NUM>) and the fluid inlet (<NUM>) of the open receptacle (<NUM>), the plumbing assembly (<NUM>) including a fluid pump (<NUM>) operable to direct a flow of fluid from the fluid outlet (<NUM>) of the removable container (<NUM>) into fluid inlet (<NUM>) of the receptacle (<NUM>); and
a heating assembly (<NUM>) mounted to an underside (<NUM>) of the receptacle (<NUM>), the heating assembly (<NUM>) being adapted to heat fluids in the receptacle (<NUM>) for evaporation of said fluids into the cooking cavity (<NUM>).