Patent Description:
Details in the background section do not constitute the related art but are given only as background information concerning the subject matter of the present disclosure.

Cooking appliances, one of the home appliances, are installed in the kitchen and cook food as a user wants. The cooking appliances can fall into different categories, based on a heat source or a type, and the sort of a fuel.

The cooking appliances can be categorized into an open cooking appliance in which food is placed in an open space, and a sealed cooking appliance in which food is placed in a closed space, based on a way of cooking food. The sealed cooking appliance includes an oven, a microwave oven and the like, and the open cooking appliance includes a cooktop, a hob, and the like.

In the sealed cooking appliance, a space, in which a food item is placed, is shielded, and the shielded space is heated to cook the food item. The sealed cooking appliance is provided with a cooking space in which a food item is placed and which is shielded when the food item is cooked. In the cooking space, a food item is actually cooked. A heat source is disposed inside or outside the cooking space to heat the cooking space.

The sealed cooking appliance is provided with a door that selectively opens and closes the cooking space in a rotatable manner. The door is installed in a main body in a rotatable manner through a door hinge and rotates around a portion in which the door is coupled to the main body to selectively open and close the cooking space.

A heat source is disposed in an inner space of the cooking space opened and closed by the door, to heat the cooking space. The heat source includes a gas burner or an electric heater and the like.

When a food item is put into the cooking space of the cooking appliance and cooked in a high temperature atmosphere, a large amount of foreign substances such as fats, oils, and the like can be produced from the food item. In particular, when meat such as chicken meat is cooked at a high temperature, a large amount of fats can be produced from the meat.

In this case, an additional vessel is needed to store the cooked food item such that the cooked food item and the foreign substances are taken out of the cooking space in a state where the cooked food item is separated from the foreign substances.

Thus, there is a growing need for a cooking appliance provided with a vessel ensuring user convenience.

A cooking container for an electronic cooker is disclosed in <CIT> (hereinafter, "related art"). The cooking container of the related art is configured to move such that the cooking container is put into and taken out of a microwave oven. <FIG> is a view disclosed in the document of the related art.

For the cooking container of the related art, an intake space <NUM> is disposed in a central portion of a housing <NUM> supporting a supporter <NUM> in which an object to be cooked is placed. Accordingly, foreign substances such as fats, oils and the like falling from the supporter <NUM> fall to a bottom of the microwave oven, making it difficult to collect the foreign substances and move the same out of the microwave oven.

Additionally, the housing <NUM> supporting the supporter <NUM> is disposed at a constant height. Accordingly, a height at which an object to be cooked is placed cannot be adjusted in the microwave oven, thereby causing deterioration of space efficiency in the microwave oven. When an object to be cooked having a small volume is cooked efficiently, the object to be cooked needs to be placed near an upper heater disposed in an upper portion of the microwave oven. However, since a height at which the object to be cooked is placed cannot be adjusted, making it difficult to cook the object to be cooked efficiently.

Further, since the supporter <NUM> of the cooking container of the related art has a circular shape, a limited amount of objects to be cooked can be accommodated in the supporter <NUM>. Particularly, when the circular supporter <NUM> is accommodated in a cuboid-shaped microwave oven, the supporter <NUM> cannot contain large amounts of food items while the microwave oven has a relatively wide space.

Thus, the cooking container of the related art needs to improve.

Furthermore, cooking appliances can be configured to operate in a heating mode where a food item is heated and cooked using a heating device such as a heater and in a microwave oven mode where the cooking appliances serve as a microwave oven.

In this case, there is a growing demand for a cooking appliance provided with a vessel having a structure in which the vessel is not damaged by electromagnetic waves emitted to a cooking space even when the cooking appliance operates in a microwave oven mode.

<CIT> relates to a trivet for a microwave oven.

<CIT> relates to a cooking apparatus which can carry out frying using hot air.

According to the present disclosure, provided is a storage vessel which is built into an oven and the like, has a net structure to completely separate oils from a food item that produces a large amount of fats and oils while being cooked or fried, and keeps the separated oils at a lower end thereof.

According to the invention provided is a cooking appliance including a storage vessel that contains food items, and is readily put into and taken out of a cooking space, thereby ensuring user convenience.

According to the disclosure, provided are a storage vessel that is readily used regardless of a mode of a cooking appliance operating in a microwave oven mode as well as a heating mode, and a cooking appliance including the storage vessel.

According to the disclosure, provided are a storage vessel having a structure that helps to reduce cooking time and improve cooking performance, and a cooking appliance including the storage vessel.

According to the disclosure, provided is a cooking appliance having a structure for collecting oils produced from a food item that produces a large amount of fats and oils while being cooked or fried, and removing the produced oils from the cooking space.

Aspects according to the present disclosure are not limited to the above ones, and other aspects and advantages that are not mentioned above can be clearly understood from the following description and can be more clearly understood from the embodiments set forth herein.

The invention is specified by the independent claim.

A cooking appliance in one embodiment may be provided with a storage vessel which is disposed in a cooking space and in which a food item is placed. The storage vessel may be provided with a first component in which a food item is placed, and a second component supporting the first component, and the first component and the second component may be attached to and detached from each other.

The first component may have a plurality of holes formed in transverse and vertical directions such that foreign substances such as fats, oils, and the like produced from a food item placed in the first component fall to a lower portion of the first component through the holes.

When the first component and the second component are coupled to each other, a bottom portion of the first component and a bottom portion of the second component may be disposed to face each other. Accordingly, the foreign substances falling from the first component may be collected in the bottom portion of the second component.

A plurality of through holes may be formed on a lateral surface of the second component, and heated air, forced by a convection device included in the cooking appliance to move, may flow into a food item placed in the first component through the through holes such that the food item is cooked effectively and quickly.

A cooking appliance according to the invention includes a main body provided therein with a cooking space, a rack formed on a lateral wall of the cooking space, a door configured to open and close the cooking space, and a storage vessel which is held in the rack and in which a food item is placed.

The storage vessel includes a first piece having a plurality of removing holes formed in a portion, in which a food item is placed, in transverse and vertical directions, and at least one bent portion on an edge thereof, a second piece onto which the first piece is mounted, and which has a bent portion at a position corresponding to the bent portion of the first piece, and an insulating member made of an electrically insulating material, disposed on the edge of the first piece, and disposed between the first piece and the second piece.

The first piece and the second piece may have a base layer made of a material including aluminum and coated with Teflon, and the insulating member may be made of silicone rubber.

The first piece includes a first bottom part having the removing holes, a first bent part disposed on an edge of the first bottom part, bent from the first bottom part and formed at a slant with respect to the first bottom part, a second bent part bent from the first bottom part and disposed in parallel with the first bottom part, and a third bent part bent from the second bent part and disposed across the first bottom part.

The second piece may include a second bottom part disposed to face the first bottom part, a fourth bent part disposed on an edge of the second bottom part, bent from the second bottom part and disposed at a slant with respect to the second bottom part, a fifth bent part bent from the fourth bent part and disposed in parallel with the second bottom part, and a sixth bent part bent from the fifth bent part and disposed at a slant with respect to the second bottom part.

The insulating member may include a first groove in which at least a portion of the second bent part is disposed, and a second groove which is connected to the first groove and in which the third bent part is disposed.

At least a portion of the second bent part and at least a portion of the fifth bent part may be disposed to face each other, and a portion of the insulating member may be disposed between the second bent part and the fifth bent part to prevent contact between the second bent part and the fifth bent part.

The first piece may be disposed between the fourth bent part and the sixth bent part, and a plurality of first through holes may be formed at the sixth bent part.

A plurality of second through holes may be formed at the fourth bent part.

The cooking appliance may further include an edge part bent from the sixth bent part and disposed in parallel with the second bottom part.

The edge part may include a pair of first cells disposed to face each other on an edge of the second piece, and a pair of second cells disposed to face each other on the edge of the second piece in a direction across a direction in which the pair of first cells face each other, and having a width greater than a width of the first cells.

The second cell may be provided with a depression having a predetermined width, length and shape and formed in a way that a portion of the second cell is pushed down.

The second cell may be mounted onto the rack and disposed in the cooking space.

The first piece and the second piece may be attached to and detached from each other, and the first piece and the insulating member may be attached to and detached from each other.

The cooking appliance may further include an upper heater disposed in an upper portion of the cooking space and disposed to face a surface of an upper side of the first piece, and a convection part disposed to face a lateral surface of the storage vessel and allowing heated air to flow to the storage vessel.

A storage space for storing foreign substances having passed through the removing holes may be formed between a lower surface of the first piece and a bottom surface of the second piece.

A cooking appliance according to the present disclosure may include a plurality of removing holes formed at a first piece, where a food item is placed, and formed into a net structure. Accordingly, even when large amounts of fats and oils are produced from a food item during a cooking process, the produced fats and oils may be easily separated from the food item.

Additionally, the fats and oils flowing down through the removing holes may be stored in a second piece having a closed bottom surface, and the fats and oils flowing down may be easily moved out of a cooking space. When the food item is moved after the cooking process, the fats, oils and the like may be prevented from falling down to a bottom of the cooking space or an indoor floor outside the cooking space.

The cooking appliance according to the disclosure may be provided with the first piece which is easily held in a rack and disposed in a cooking space and in which a food item is placed, and the second piece on which foreign substances such as fats, oils and the like produced from a food item pile, and a user may readily separate the first piece from the second piece and wash the first piece and the second piece, thereby ensuring improvement in user convenience.

A storage vessel according to the disclosure may include an insulating member disposed in a portion where the first piece and the second piece contact each other such that the insulating member prevents direct contact between the first piece and the second piece and spaces the first piece from the second piece, thereby effectively preventing a spark caused by the mutual contact between the first piece and the second piece that are made of a conductive material.

Additionally, the storage vessel according to the disclosure may include the second piece provided with a first through hole and a second through hole, and air passing through the first through hole and the second through hole may effectively heat a food item placed in the first piece, thereby reducing cooking time of the cooking appliance and improving cooking performance thereof.

The storage vessel according to the disclosure may be held in a rack disposed on both lateral walls of the cooking space and having multiple steps such that the storage vessel is held in each step of the rack based on an algorithm for cooking of a food item. Thus, a distance from the storage vessel to an upper heater disposed on an upper side of the storage vessel may be adjusted, and space efficiency of the cooking space may be enhanced.

Further, the storage vessel according to the disclosure may be formed into a rectangular shape entirely when viewed from an upper surface of the storage vessel. The rectangular storage vessel may accommodate larger amounts of food items than a circular storage vessel. In particular, when the storage vessel is disposed in the cooking space having a cuboid shape, the rectangular storage vessel may ensure higher space efficiency than the circular storage vessel.

The above-described aspects, features and advantages are specifically described hereunder with reference to the accompanying drawings such that one having ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains can easily implement the technical spirit of the disclosure. In the disclosure, detailed descriptions of known technologies in relation to the disclosure are omitted if they are deemed to make the gist of the disclosure unnecessarily vague. Below, preferred embodiments according to the disclosure are specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, identical reference numerals can denote identical or similar components.

The singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless explicitly indicated otherwise. It should be further understood that the terms "comprise" or "include" and the like, set forth herein, are not interpreted as necessarily including all the stated components or steps but can be interpreted as excluding some of the stated components or steps or can be interpreted as including additional components or steps.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing a cooking appliance in one embodiment. <FIG> is a front view showing the cooking appliance in one embodiment. In <FIG>, a door <NUM> is omitted for clarity of description.

Referring to <FIG>, an exterior of the cooking appliance in one embodiment is formed by a main body <NUM>. The main body <NUM> is provided therein with a cooking space <NUM>, and may have an approximately rectangular cuboid shape. The main body <NUM> may be made of a material having a predetermined strength to protect a plurality of components installed in an inner space thereof.

The cooking space <NUM> may be formed into a cuboid, a front surface of which is open. With the cooking space <NUM> closed, an inner space of the cooking space <NUM> may be heated to cook a food item.

An upper heater <NUM> may be disposed on an upper side of the cooking space <NUM>, and the upper heater <NUM> may heat the inner space of the cooking space <NUM> from above. Additionally, a convection part <NUM> may be further disposed on a rear side of the cooking space <NUM>. The convection part <NUM> may heat the inner space of the cooking space <NUM> as a result of convection of hot air. The upper heater <NUM> and the convection part <NUM> are described specifically with reference to the drawings, below.

A rack <NUM> is disposed on both lateral walls of the cooking space <NUM>. A storage vessel <NUM> containing a food item is held in the rack <NUM>. To adjust a height of the storage vessel <NUM> containing a food item, the rack <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, may have a plurality of steps.

The storage vessel <NUM> in the embodiment may have a structure in which when a food item produces large amounts of fats and oils during a cooking process such as a frying process, the produced fats and oils are easily moved out of the cooking space <NUM> and prevented from contaminating the inner space of the cooking space <NUM> or flowing onto an indoor floor outside the cooking space.

The storage vessel <NUM> may be disposed in the cooking space <NUM> and used for placing a food item. A user may place a food item to be cooked in the storage vessel <NUM> and dispose the storage vessel <NUM> on the rack <NUM> to cook the food item. The storage vessel <NUM> is specifically described with reference to the drawings, below.

The door <NUM> may be formed into a cuboid having a predetermined thickness entirely. The door <NUM> may be provided with a handle <NUM> gripped by the user to rotate the door <NUM> on a front surface thereof. The user may readily open and close the door <NUM> using the handle <NUM>.

An electronic component space <NUM> (see <FIG>) may be formed in a space separate from the cooking space <NUM> on the upper side of the cooking space <NUM> in the inner space of the main body <NUM>.

A control panel <NUM>, an input part <NUM>, and a display <NUM> may be disposed on a front surface of the electronic component space <NUM>, and the cooking appliance may have a structure in which the front surface of the electronic component space <NUM> is shielded by the control panel <NUM>, the input part <NUM>, and the display <NUM>.

The control panel <NUM> may be disposed at the electronic component space <NUM> disposed on an upper side of the door <NUM>. The input part <NUM> may be disposed on a front surface of the control panel <NUM>, and the input part <NUM> may allow the user to input a manipulation signal for operating devices installed in the cooking space <NUM>.

The input part <NUM> may be provided with a plurality of manipulation switches. Accordingly, the user may input a manipulation signal directly. The manipulation switch of the input part <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, may be formed into a button, for example.

The display <NUM> may be further disposed on the control panel <NUM>, and the display <NUM> may provide operation information of the cooking appliance or cooking information of a food item and the like. The user may check various types of information on the cooking appliance through the display <NUM>.

The cooking appliance may be provided with an upper plate <NUM> that forms an exterior of an upper surface of the cooking appliance, closes an upper surface of the electronic component space <NUM> of the main body <NUM> and covers electronic components <NUM>.

Additionally, the cooking appliance may be provided with a plug <NUM> for connecting external power with the electronic component <NUM> installed in the electronic component space <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective cross-sectional view showing an inside of the cooking appliance in one embodiment. <FIG> is a planar cross-sectional view showing an upper portion of the cooking appliance in one embodiment. <FIG> is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the cooking appliance in one embodiment.

The upper heater <NUM>, configured to heat the inner space of the cooking space <NUM> from above, may be disposed on the upper side of the cooking space <NUM>. With the structure, the upper heater <NUM> may be disposed in the cooking space <NUM> to face a food item placed in the storage vessel <NUM> installed in the cooking space <NUM>.

Accordingly, the upper heater <NUM> may cook the food item mainly by applying radiant heat to the food item. Heat emitted from the upper heater <NUM> may heat air in the cooking space <NUM>, and the heated air may be allowed to flow by the convection part <NUM> described below. Thus, the upper heater <NUM> may apply convection heat to the food item.

The upper heater may include a first heater 34a and a second heater 34b. The first heater 34a, for example, may be a carbon heater made of a carbon material, heated quickly and having a high temperature. The second heater 34b, for example, may be a sheath heater in which a coil-shaped electrothermal wire is built into a protecting pipe.

The upper heater <NUM>, in which two different types of heaters are combined, may apply intense heat to a food item and reduce time spend cooking the food item.

The convection part <NUM> may be further disposed on the rear side of the cooking space <NUM>, and the convection part <NUM> may heat the inner space of the cooking space <NUM> as a result of convection of hot air.

The convection part <NUM> may include a convection motor 36a, a convection fan 36b rotated as a result of operation of the convection motor 36a and allowing air in the cooking space <NUM> to flow, and a convection heater 36c configured to surround the convection fan 36b and heat flowing air.

The convection part <NUM> may heat air in the inner space of the cooking space <NUM> and force the air to flow. Since the convection part <NUM> heats the air in the inner space of the cooking space <NUM> and force the air to flow, the inner space of the cooking space <NUM> may be heated and a food item in the inner space of the cooking space <NUM> may be uniformly heated.

Referring to <FIG>, heat emitted from the upper heater <NUM> may be delivered from the upper side of the cooking space <NUM> to a lower side thereof in the form of radiant heat, as indicated by the downward arrows in the upper portion of the cooking space in <FIG>.

The convection part <NUM> may circulate air in the cooking space <NUM> to uniformly heat the entire cooking space <NUM>, as indicated by the arrows in a central portion of the cooking space in <FIG>.

The cooking appliance in the embodiment may be provided with an electromagnetic wave generating device as an electronic component <NUM> to radiate electromagnetic waves to the cooking space <NUM>. Accordingly, the cooking appliance may serve as a microwave oven. The user may use the cooking appliance in a heating mode or in a microwave oven mode as a result of control over the input part <NUM> such that the cooking appliance is selectively used as a heating and cooking device or a microwave oven.

Additionally, the user may use the cooking appliance in the heating and microwave oven modes as a result of control over the input part <NUM> such that electromagnetic waves are generated at the same time as the heater included in the cooking appliance is used. Thus, a food item may be cooked using the electromagnetic waves while being heated by the heater.

In this case, the storage vessel <NUM> may be used to store and cook a food item regardless of the heating mode or the microwave oven mode of the cooking appliance.

Hereunder, the storage vessel <NUM> which is mounted onto the rack <NUM> of the cooking space <NUM> and in which a food item is placed is specifically described with reference to the drawings.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing a storage vessel <NUM> in one embodiment. <FIG> is an exploded view of the storage vessel <NUM> in one embodiment. <FIG> is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the storage vessel <NUM> in one embodiment.

The user may place a food item in the storage vessel <NUM> and mount the storage vessel <NUM> on the rack <NUM> of the cooking space <NUM> to cook the food item. The storage vessel <NUM> in the embodiment may store the food item and be stored in the cooking space <NUM>.

The storage vessel <NUM> in the embodiment includes a first piece <NUM>, a second piece <NUM>, and an insulating member <NUM>. Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, upper surfaces of the first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM> may be entirely formed into a rectangle when viewed from above.

The first piece <NUM> includes a plurality of removing holes <NUM> that is disposed in transverse and vertical directions in a portion in which a food item is placed, and includes at least one bent portion on an edge thereof.

Since a food item is placed in the first piece <NUM>, foreign substances such as fats and oils may be produced from the food item when the food item is cooked in a high-temperature atmosphere.

For example, when meat such as chicken meat and the like is heated and cooked in the cooking space <NUM>, fats may be produced from the meat in the cooking space <NUM>. The fats may be splattered or scattered while maintaining its high temperature.

In this case, a structure for separating and removing liquid-or-gel-phase foreign substances, such as fats and oils produced from food items and having a high temperature and a high fluidity, from the food items is needed.

In the embodiment, the first piece <NUM>, in which a food item is placed, may include the removing holes <NUM>, and fats, oils and the like produced from the food item may flow to a lower portion of the first piece <NUM> through the removing holes <NUM>.

The first piece <NUM> may be mounted onto the second piece <NUM>, and the second piece <NUM> has a bent portion at a position corresponding to the bent portion of the first piece <NUM>.

The first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM> may be attached to and detached from each other. That is, the first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM> may respectively include the bent portion, on edges thereof, and the bent portions of the first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM> may be disposed in parallel with each other. In the bent portions, the first piece <NUM> may be mounted onto the second piece <NUM> such that the first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM> serve as a single storage vessel <NUM>.

In the storage vessel <NUM> of the embodiment, when the first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM> are coupled, a storage space <NUM> for storing foreign substances having passed through the removing holes <NUM> may be formed between a lower surface of the first piece <NUM> and a bottom surface of the second piece <NUM>. The storage space <NUM> may be surrounded and formed mostly by a first bottom part <NUM> of the first piece <NUM> and a second bottom part <NUM> of the second piece <NUM>.

When a food item is cooked in a high-temperature atmosphere, liquid-or-gel-phase foreign substances such as fats, oils, and the like produced from the food item and having a high fluidity may flow to the lower portion of the first piece <NUM> through the removing holes <NUM> and be stored in the storage space <NUM> between the first bottom part <NUM> and the second bottom part <NUM>.

The user may take the storage vessel <NUM> out of the cooking space <NUM> after the cooking process and wash or wipe the storage vessel <NUM> to remove the foreign substances stored in the storage space <NUM>.

The first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM> may be made of the same material, and the material may include metal having good thermal conductivity, for example. Accordingly, the first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM> may be provided with a base layer that is made of aluminum or an alloy including aluminum exhibiting excellent thermal conductivity, heat resistance and corrosion resistance, but not limited.

The first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM> may include a base layer made of another sort of metal or non-metal exhibiting good thermal conductivity.

The base layers of the first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM> may be coated with a material that helps to improve durability. For example, Teflon ensuring durability and good heat resistance may be used to coat the base layers.

Accordingly, for the first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM>, the base layers made of a material including aluminum may be coated with Teflon.

The insulating member <NUM> may be made of an electrically insulating material, and may be mounted onto the edge of the first piece <NUM> and disposed between the first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM>.

The insulating member <NUM> may be entirely formed into a ring and mounted onto the edge of the first piece <NUM>, and when the first piece <NUM> is mounted onto the second piece <NUM>, may prevent direct contact between the first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM>. Additionally, the insulating member <NUM> may be made of a flexible material that is easily deformed.

To enhance efficiency of thermal conductivity, the first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM> may be made of a metallic material. In this case, when the first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM> are made of a conductive metallic material having good electrical conductivity, the first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM> need to be electrically insulated.

When the cooking appliance operates in the microwave oven mode in a state in which the storage vessel <NUM> is in the cooking space <NUM>, electromagnetic waves emitted into the cooking space <NUM> may produce a spark in the first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM>.

In this case, when the first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM> made of a conductive metallic material contact each other, a spark may often be produced in the contact portion by the electromagnetic waves.

When a coating layer is made of an electrically conductive material or is worn as a result of repetitive use of the storage vessel <NUM> despite a coating of surfaces of the first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM> with Teflon and the like, a spark is likely to be produced.

The produced spark may damage the storage vessel <NUM>, and devices installed in the cooking appliance, causing failure of the cooking appliance.

In the embodiment, the insulating member <NUM> may be disposed in the portion where the first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM> contact each other to prevent direct contact between the first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM> and to space the first piece <NUM> from the second piece <NUM>, thereby effectively preventing a spark caused by mutual contact of the first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM> made of a conductive material.

In this case, the insulating member <NUM> may be made of a material, e.g., silicone rubber exhibiting good corrosion resistance, heat resistance and electric insulation.

The cooking appliance in the embodiment is provided with the storage vessel <NUM>, including the first piece <NUM> which is readily held in the rack <NUM>, stored in the cooking space <NUM> and used for placing a food item, and the second piece <NUM> on which foreign substances such as fats and oils produced from the food item pile, such that the user readily separates the first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM> from each other and washes the same, thereby ensuring improvement in user convenience.

The first piece <NUM>, as described above, is provided with the removing holes <NUM>, the first bottom part <NUM>, a first bent part213, a second bent part <NUM>, and a third bent part <NUM>.

The first bottom part <NUM> may form a bottom of the first piece <NUM>, and allow a food item to be placed on an upper surface thereof, and have the removing holes <NUM> on the upper surface thereof in the transverse and vertical directions.

Referring to <FIG>, the first bottom part <NUM> may have an approximately rectangular shape and a rounded edge when the first piece <NUM> is viewed from above. Additionally, the first bottom part <NUM> may have a handle part <NUM> at a center thereof such that the user readily handles the first piece <NUM>.

The removing holes <NUM> may be formed in most of the first bottom part <NUM> in transverse and vertical directions of the first bottom part <NUM>. However, the removing holes <NUM> may not be formed in the portion where the handle part <NUM> is formed and on the edge of the first bottom part <NUM>.

The arrangement, diameter and number of the removing holes <NUM> may be properly selected considering cooking conditions of a food item such as a temperature of the cooking space <NUM>, the sort of a food item to be cooked, and the like.

The first bent part <NUM> is disposed on the edge of the first bottom part <NUM>, bent from the first bottom part <NUM> and formed at a slant with respect to the first bottom part <NUM>.

The second bent part <NUM> is bent from the first bottom part <NUM> and disposed in parallel with the first bottom part <NUM>. The second bent part <NUM> is a portion where the first piece <NUM> is held in the second piece <NUM>.

That is, when the first piece <NUM> is coupled to the second piece <NUM>, the second bent part <NUM> of the first piece <NUM> may be held in a fifth bent part <NUM> of the second piece <NUM>. In this case, the second bent part <NUM> and the fifth bent part <NUM> may be disposed in parallel with each other, thereby maintaining a stable coupling between the first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the third bent part <NUM> may be bent from the second bent part <NUM> and disposed across the first bottom part <NUM>. Accordingly, the third bent part <NUM> may be disposed across the second bent part <NUM> parallel to the first bottom part <NUM>.

The insulating member <NUM> is mounted onto the second bent part <NUM> and the third bent part <NUM>. To keep the insulating member <NUM> mounted onto the second bent part <NUM> and the third bent part <NUM>, the insulating member <NUM> may be form-fitted and interference-fitted into the second bent part <NUM> and the third bent part <NUM>. To this end, the second bent part <NUM> and the third bent part <NUM> may be disposed to cross each other.

The second piece <NUM> may include the second bottom part <NUM>, a fourth bent part <NUM>, and the fifth bent part <NUM>, and a sixth bent part <NUM>.

The second bottom part <NUM> may be bent from the fourth bent part <NUM> and disposed in parallel with the second bottom part <NUM>. When the first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM> are coupled, the second bottom part <NUM> may be disposed to face the first bottom part <NUM> of the first piece <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, like the first bottom part <NUM>, the second bottom part <NUM> may have an approximately rectangular shape and a rounded edge when the second piece <NUM> is viewed from above.

The second bottom part <NUM> may form the storage space <NUM> along with the fourth bent part <NUM> and the first bottom part <NUM> of the first piece <NUM>, and foreign substances produced from a food item may pile on an upper surface of the second bottom surface <NUM>.

The fourth bent part <NUM> may be disposed on the edge of the second bottom part <NUM>, bent from the second bottom part <NUM> and disposed at a slant with respect to the second bottom part <NUM>.

The fourth bent part <NUM> may for the storage space <NUM> of foreign substances along with the first bottom part <NUM> and the second bottom part <NUM>. That is, when the first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM> are coupled, the fourth bent part <NUM> may space a lower surface of the first bottom part <NUM> and an upper surface of the second bottom part <NUM> of the second piece <NUM>, to form the storage space <NUM>.

The fifth bent part <NUM> may be bent from the fourth bent part <NUM> and disposed in parallel with the second bottom part <NUM>. When the first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM> are coupled, the fifth bent part <NUM> may be disposed in parallel with the second bent part <NUM> of the first piece <NUM>.

Accordingly, the second bent part <NUM> of the first piece <NUM> may be stably held in the fifth bent part <NUM> when the first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM> are coupled.

The sixth bent part <NUM> may be bent from the fifth bent part <NUM> and disposed at a slant with respect to the second bottom part <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, when the first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM> are coupled, the first piece <NUM> may be held in the fifth bent part <NUM> and disposed between the fourth bent part <NUM> and the sixth bent part <NUM>.

The sixth bent part <NUM> may have a plurality of first through holes 224a. Accordingly, the first through holes 224a may be disposed at a position facing a food item placed on the upper surface of the first bottom part <NUM> of the first piece <NUM>, when the storage vessel <NUM> is viewed from a side.

With the structure, air forcibly moved by the convection part <NUM> may pass through the first through holes 224a and flow into the food item placed in the first piece <NUM>. Thus, heat of the flowing air may be effectively delivered to the food item, thereby reducing cooking time of the cooking appliance and improving cooking performance thereof.

The fourth bent part <NUM> may have a plurality of second through holes 222a. Accordingly, the second through holes 222a may be disposed at a position facing the storage space <NUM> disposed between the first bottom part <NUM> and the second bottom part <NUM> when the storage vessel <NUM> is viewed from the side.

With the structure, air forcibly moved by the convection part <NUM> may pass through the second through holes 222a, and some of the air may heat the lower surface of the first bottom part <NUM> of the first piece <NUM>. Thus, heat of the flowing air may be effectively delivered to a food item placed on the upper surface of the first bottom part <NUM>, thereby reducing cooking time of the cooking appliance and improving cooking performance thereof.

In the embodiment, the second piece <NUM> of the storage vessel <NUM> may be provided with the first through holes 224a and the second through holes 222a, and air passing through the first through holes 224a and the second through holes 222a may effectively heat a food item placed in the first piece <NUM>, thereby reducing cooking time of the cooking appliance and improving cooking performance thereof.

The second piece <NUM> may be further provided with an edge part <NUM> bent from the sixth bent part <NUM> and disposed in parallel to the second bottom part <NUM>. The edge part <NUM> may be used by the user to hold and move the storage vessel <NUM> and used for holding the storage vessel <NUM> on the rack <NUM> of the cooking space <NUM>.

Accordingly, the edge part <NUM> may be disposed on an upper surface of the rack <NUM> of the cooking space <NUM>, and when the storage vessel <NUM> is taken out of the cooking space <NUM> and put into the cooking space <NUM>, a lower surface of the edge part <NUM> may be held in the rack <NUM> or escape from the rack <NUM> while sliding with respect to the upper surface of the rack <NUM>.

Additionally, the edge part <NUM> may suppress deformation of the entire shape of the second piece <NUM>, caused by repetitive use of the second piece <NUM> in a high-temperature atmosphere, thereby ensuring improve durability of the second piece <NUM>.

The edge part <NUM> may include a first cell <NUM> and a second cell <NUM>. A pair of first cells <NUM> may be disposed to face each other on the edge of the second piece <NUM>.

A pair of second cells <NUM> may be disposed to face each other on the edge of the second piece <NUM> in a direction across a direction in which the pair of first cells <NUM> faces each other, and have a width greater than a width of the first cells <NUM>.

The second cell <NUM> may serve as a handle that is used by the user to move the storage vessel <NUM>, and may be a portion held in the rack <NUM>. Accordingly, the second cells <NUM> may have a width and surface area greater than those of the first cells <NUM>.

The second cell <NUM> may have a predetermined width, length and shape and be provided with a depression 2252a that is formed in a way that a portion of the second cells <NUM> is pushed down.

The depression 2252a may compensate for a thickness of the relatively thin second cells <NUM> and suppress deformation of the second cells <NUM> caused in a high-temperature atmosphere or by external force, thereby ensuring improvement in the durability of the second piece <NUM>.

Additionally, the depression 2252a may guide a movement direction of the storage vessel <NUM> such that the storage vessel <NUM> is easily held in the rack <NUM> or escape from the rack <NUM>, when the storage vessel <NUM> is mounted onto the rack <NUM> of the cooking space <NUM>.

<FIG> is an enlarged view showing portion A in <FIG>. The insulating member <NUM> may include a first groove <NUM> and a second groove <NUM>. At least a portion of the second bent part <NUM> of the first piece <NUM> may be disposed in the first groove <NUM>. The second groove <NUM> may connect to the first groove <NUM>, and the third bent part <NUM> of the first piece <NUM> may be disposed in the second groove <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the first groove <NUM> and the second groove <NUM> may be formed to cross each other in a state in which a cross section of the insulating member <NUM> is seen. Further, the second bent part <NUM> and the third bent part <NUM> may be formed to cross each other in a state in which a cross section of the first piece <NUM> is seen.

With the structure, a portion of the second bent part <NUM> and the third bent part <NUM> of the first piece <NUM> may be formed-fitted, insertion-fitted into and coupled to the first groove <NUM> and the second groove <NUM> of the insulating member <NUM>. Since the insulating member <NUM> is made of a flexible material that is easily deformed, a coupling member may be readily coupled to the first piece <NUM>.

Accordingly, the insulating member <NUM> may stay on the edge of the first piece <NUM> stably. The insulating member <NUM> made of a flexible material <NUM> may readily separate the second piece <NUM> from the first piece <NUM>.

With the structure described above, the first piece <NUM> and the insulating member <NUM> may be attached to and detached from each other.

Referring to <FIG>, when the first piece <NUM>, onto which the insulating member <NUM> is mounted, is coupled to the second piece <NUM>, at least a portion of the second bent part <NUM> of the first piece <NUM> and at least a portion of the fifth bent part <NUM> of the second piece <NUM> may be disposed to face each other.

In this case, a portion of the insulating member <NUM> may be disposed between the second bent part <NUM> and the fifth bent part <NUM> to prevent contact between the second bent part <NUM> and the fifth bent part <NUM> and to space the second bent part <NUM> from the fifth bent part <NUM>.

With the structure, the first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM> may not contact each other and may be spaced from each other. Accordingly, when the cooking appliance operates in the microwave oven mode, a spark, caused by contact between the first piece <NUM> and the second piece <NUM>, may be effectively suppressed.

<FIG> is a perspective showing a cooking appliance provided with a storage vessel <NUM>.

The cooking appliance, as described above, may be further provided with the rack <NUM> protruding from lateral walls of the cooking space <NUM>. In this case, the second cells <NUM> may be mounted onto the rack <NUM> and disposed in the cooking space <NUM>.

The rack <NUM> may mount a plurality of steps. Accordingly, the user may place the storage vessel <NUM> onto a proper step of the rack <NUM> considering the volume, sort and the like of a food item placed in the storage vessel <NUM>.

In the case of a food item having a small volume, the user may be encouraged to place the storage vessel <NUM> on the upper side of the cooking space <NUM>, near the upper heater <NUM>, such that the food item receives radiant heat from the upper heater <NUM>.

The cooking appliance, as described above, may further include the upper heater <NUM> disposed in the upper portion of the cooking space <NUM> to face a surface of an upper side of the first piece <NUM>, and the convection part <NUM> disposed to face a lateral surface of the storage vessel <NUM> and allowing heated air to flow to the storage vessel <NUM>.

Thus, a food item, stored in the storage vessel <NUM> and placed in the cooking space <NUM>, may receive radiant heat from the upper heater <NUM>, and receive convection heat from the convection part <NUM> to be heated and cooked effectively and quickly.

<FIG> is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a storage vessel <NUM> in another embodiment. <FIG> is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a storage vessel <NUM> in yet another embodiment.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the storage vessel <NUM> of the embodiments, a through hole may be formed at any one of the fourth bent part <NUM> or the sixth bent part <NUM>.

For example, the through hole 222a may be formed only at the fourth bent part <NUM> and may not be formed at the sixth bent part <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>.

On the contrary, the through hole 224a may be formed only at the sixth bent part <NUM> and may not be formed at the fourth bent part <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>.

The structure described-above may be less efficient than the structure, in which the through hole is formed at both of the fourth bent part <NUM> and the sixth bent part <NUM>, in terms of heat transfer to a food item placed in the first piece <NUM>, but may ensure improvement in the rigidity and durability of the second piece <NUM>.

In particular, the structure, in which the through hole 224a is formed only at the sixth bent part <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>, may suppress a fall of highly fluidable foreign substances such as fats, oils, and the like, produced from a food item and introduced through the removing hole <NUM>, onto the bottom of the cooking space <NUM> through the through hole formed at the fourth bent part <NUM> more effectively than the structure in which the through hole is formed at the fourth bent part <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A cooking appliance, comprising:
a main body (<NUM>) provided therein with a cooking space (<NUM>);
a rack (<NUM>) formed on a lateral wall of the cooking space (<NUM>);
a door (<NUM>) configured to open and close the cooking space (<NUM>); and
a storage vessel (<NUM>) which is held in the rack (<NUM>) and in which a food item is placed the storage vessel (<NUM>), comprising:
a first piece (<NUM>) having a plurality of removing holes (<NUM>) formed in a portion, in which a food item is placed, in transverse and vertical directions, and at least one bent portion on an edge thereof;
a second piece (<NUM>) on which the first piece (<NUM>) is mounted, and which has a bent portion at a position corresponding to the bent portion of the first piece (<NUM>); and
an insulating member (<NUM>) made of an electrically insulating material, disposed on the edge of the first piece (<NUM>), and disposed between the first piece (<NUM>) and the second piece (<NUM>);
the first piece (<NUM>) comprises:
a first bottom (<NUM>) part having the removing holes (<NUM>);
a first bent part (<NUM>) disposed on an edge of the first bottom part (<NUM>), bent from the first bottom part (<NUM>) and formed at a slant with respect to the first bottom part (<NUM>);
a second bent part (<NUM>) bent from the first bottom part (<NUM>) and disposed in parallel with the first bottom part (<NUM>); characterized in that the first piece (<NUM>) comprises a third bent part (<NUM>) bent from the second bent part (<NUM>) and disposed across the first bottom part (<NUM>), and the insulating member (<NUM>) is mounted onto the second bent part (<NUM>) and the th bent part (<NUM>).