Patent Description:
Appliances used to cook pizza, such as an oven, provide for circulation of heat around a cavity within which the pizza is being cooked. The oven includes a heating element positioned within the cavity to radiate heat around the cavity to cook the pizza. Typically, the outer circumference of the pizza (referred to as the crust of the pizza) benefits from a more intense heat than the centre of the pizza where most of the delicate ingredients are arranged. Consequently, more power is supplied to the heating element to increase the radiated heat supplied to the crust. Disadvantageously, whilst the pizza crust is exposed to an intense heat, so too is the delicate centre of the pizza. Moreover, the intense heat may damage vulnerable electrical components of the appliance.

It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more of the above disadvantages.

The scope of protection is defined by claim <NUM>.

In a first aspect, the invention provides a cooking appliance including:.

According to the invention, the cooking appliance further includes a deck depending from the floor for receiving the product to be cooked.

Preferably, the cooking appliance further includes a door to selectively close the opening, wherein the deck is supported by a mechanism to both lower and withdraw the deck from the cavity as the door is opened and to both raise and insert the deck into the cavity as the door is closed.

According to the invention, the ceiling has a central axis extending perpendicularly between the floor and the ceiling to centrally locate the product.

According to the invention, the cooking appliance further includes:
a pair of inner and outer upper heating elements centrally located on the axis; and a primary shield and a secondary shield both centrally located on the axis, such that the primary shield is surrounded by the outer upper heating element and the secondary shield is surrounded by the inner upper heating element.

According to the invention, the cooking appliance further includes a controller operatively associated with each of the inner and outer upper heating elements, wherein each of the inner and outer upper heating elements are independently controllable by the controller to provide for selective delivery of electric power thereto thereby to provide a heating profile across the product.

Preferably, the cooking appliance further includes:.

According to the invention, the upper heating element is centrally located on the axis and extends circumferentially around the ceiling.

The shield is centrally located on the axis in the upper portion of the cavity such that the shield is surrounded by the upper heating element.

Preferably, the shield is detachably mounted to the ceiling so that the shield can be removed from the appliance.

Preferably, the shield is angularly rotatable and movable about the central axis relative to the floor such that the shield can be raised away from the floor or lowered towards the floor to vary the amount of radiant energy that is shielded from the portion of the product.

Preferably, the ceiling includes a slotted profile inclined relative to the floor, and wherein the shield includes a radial pin extending from a periphery of the shield to cooperate with the profile such that, as the shield is rotated about the axis, the pin slides towards an upper end of the profile or towards a lower end of the profile to respectively raise or lower the shield.

Preferably, the cooking appliance further includes an inner shield and an outer shield, the inner shield having a smaller diameter than a diameter of the outer shield so that the inner shield is nestable within the outer shield, the inner shield being rotatable about the axis relative to the outer shield.

Preferably, each of the inner and outer shields have at least one aperture to permit radiant energy to pass therethrough, wherein the apertures of both the inner and outer shields are alignable such that rotation of the inner shield relative to the outer shield causes at least partial alignment of the apertures to vary the amount of radiant energy that is shielded from the portion of the product.

Preferably, the cooking appliance further includes a motor assembly to drive the rotation of the shield about the central axis.

Preferably, the shield is threadedly engageable with the ceiling such that the shield can be rotated in a conventional screw-like manner to raise or lower the shield.

In a second aspect, the disclosure provides a cooking appliance including:.

Preferably, the mechanism includes a rear support arm and a front support bracket, wherein the support arm is pivotally coupled with respect to the floor of the cavity and pivotally supports a rear portion of the deck, and wherein the support bracket is hingedly coupled to the door such that opening and closing the door respectively withdraws and inserts the deck.

Preferably, a length of the support arm and a height of the support bracket hinged coupling are sized to maintain the deck generally horizontal as it is raised and lowered.

Preferably, the support arm rotates past the horizontal as the door is being closed, wherein an equilibrium is reached before the door is fully closed, such that the further insertion of the product causes the weight of the deck to over balance the support and further assist closure of the door.

Preferably, the cooking appliance of the second aspect further includes an upper heating element located in an upper portion of the cavity to deliver radiant energy to cook the product.

Preferably, the cooking appliance of the second aspect further includes a lower heating element embedded in the deck.

Preferably, the cooking appliance of the second aspect further includes a controller operatively associated with the upper heating element and the lower heating element to provide for selective delivery of electric power thereto thereby to provide a heating profile across the product.

Preferably, the cooking appliance of the second aspect further includes a temperature sensor located within the cavity to provide a signal indicative of the temperature within the cavity to the controller.

In a third aspect, the disclosure provides a cooking appliance including:.

Preferably, the cooking appliance of the third aspect further includes a pair of inner and outer upper heating elements, each of the inner and outer upper heating elements being independently controllable by the controller.

Preferably, the controller is configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode to alter the electric power and temperature of each of the upper heating elements and the lower heating element thereby to vary the heating profile across the product.

Preferably, the cooking appliance of the third aspect further includes a user operable control hub having a plurality of dials operatively associated with the controller to manually alter the electric power and temperature of each of the upper heating elements and the lower heating element in both the first mode and the second mode of the controller.

Preferably, in the first mode, a first dial is configured to control the temperature of the lower heating element.

Preferably, in the first mode, a second dial is configured to control the temperature of the inner and outer upper heating elements.

Preferably, in the first mode, a third dial is configured to control the electric power to the inner and outer upper heating elements to provide fine tuning to cooking an outer edge of the product, or even cooking across the whole of the product, or general control over cooking of a centre portion or the outer edge of the product.

Preferably, the controller includes a timer operatively associated with the inner and outer upper heating elements and the lower heating element to stop the delivery of electric power to the inner and outer upper heating elements and the lower heating element after a duration of time, wherein, in the second mode, a first dial is configured to control the duration of the timer.

Preferably, the controller includes a range of pre-set settings having different durations of the timer and temperatures of the inner and outer upper heating elements and the lower heating element, wherein a second dial is configured to select a pre-set setting from the range.

Preferably, in the second mode, a third dial is configured to fine-tune the temperature of the lower heating element.

Preferably, the cooking appliance of the third aspect further includes a temperature sensor located within the cavity to provide a signal indicative of the temperature within the cavity to the controller to adjust the delivery of electric power to each of the inner and outer upper heating elements and the lower heating element.

In a fourth aspect, the disclosure provides a cooking appliance including:.

Preferably, the cooling system includes a vent proximate the cold pin to expel air directed by the first airflow channel.

Preferably, the cooling system includes a fan mounted to the body and positioned away from the vent, wherein the fan drives the airflow through the first airflow channel to the vent.

Preferably, the cooking appliance of the fourth aspect further includes a controller operatively associated with the lower heating element to provide for selective delivery of electric power thereto thereby to provide a heating profile across the product.

Preferably, the cooking appliance of the fourth aspect further includes a temperature sensor located within the cavity to provide a signal indicative of the temperature within the cavity to the controller to adjust the delivery of electric power to the lower heating element.

Preferably, the cooking appliance of the fourth aspect further includes a deck depending from the floor to receive the product to be cooked.

Preferably, the temperature sensor is mounted to the deck.

Preferably, the fan is actuated when the temperature sensor detects a temperature above a certain temperature threshold monitored by the controller.

Preferably, the wall has a compartment to house electronics of the appliance, wherein the cooling system further includes a second airflow channel communicating with the compartment of the wall to cool the electronics.

Preferably, the cooking appliance of the fourth aspect further includes a door to selectively close the opening of the cavity; the door being hinged about a lower portion of the door, wherein a passage is located about the lower portion of the door to house electronics of the appliance, wherein the cooling system further includes a third airflow channel communicating with the passage to cool the electronics when the door closes the opening.

There is also disclosed a pizza oven apparatus, the apparatus including:.

The at least one heating element preferably defines a substantially circumferential heat source.

The variable heating or cooking profile may be provided by a shield. Preferably the shield is circumferential and located within the area defined by the heating element or elements.

The variable heating or cooking profile may be provided by a plurality of heating elements, each heating element having a different heat power output.

The variable heating or cooking profile may be provided by a heating element having different heat power output along its length.

In order to cook a pizza with a result as outlined by The True Neapolitan Pizza Association (Associazione Verace Pizza napoletana, AVPN), the pizza needs to be cooked rapidly and exposed to heat of a high intensity. Achieving the required heat intensity in domestic electrical appliances is difficult due to voltage & current-draw limitations. One way to effectively increase heat intensity without increasing wattage/current-draw is to increase the proximity of the heat source and food (for example, locate the food closer to a heating element). Doing so also reduces the total cooking chamber volume which allows for more rapid heating and recovery cycles. The downside is that this typically makes the product difficult to use & difficult to clean due to the narrow aperture in which to load foods.

One way of alleviating this problem is by incorporating a deck that is connected to the oven door, which lowers when the pizza is being loaded onto the deck and rises when the oven door is closed for the cooking operation.

Increasing the proximity of the heaters to the deck also reduces the total cavity volume which allows for the cavity temperature to rise faster with the same amount of power than would be possible with a larger cooking cavity.

<FIG>, shows a pizza oven apparatus <NUM>. The apparatus includes:.

The mechanism includes one or more rear support arm <NUM> and one or more front support bracket <NUM>; the support arm is pivotally coupled (at <NUM>) with respect to the floor of the cavity and pivotally supports (at <NUM>) a rear portion of the pizza deck; the support bracket is hingedly coupled (at <NUM>) to the door, such that opening and closing the door respectively withdraws and inserts the pizza deck.

The length of the support arm and height of the support bracket hinged coupling are sized to maintain the pizza deck substantially horizontal as it is raised and lowered.

The support arm rotates past the horizontal as the door is being closed, wherein an equilibrium is reached before the door is fully closed, and the further insertion of the pizza deck causes the weight of the pizza deck to over balance the support arm and support mechanism to further assist closure of the door.

An electrical heating element <NUM> is located about the top of the cavity. Operation of the cavity heating element is controlled by a processor <NUM> module that receives a temperature signal from a temperature sensor element <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>).

The pizza deck is heated by a second electrical heating element <NUM>. Operation of the second heating element is controlled by a processor module that receives a temperature signal from a temperature sensor element.

Referring to <FIG>, the deck support mechanism (or assembly) has a hinge linking it to the front door and pivoting rear supports that are linked to the lower chassis. When the door is opened, the deck moves with the door, traveling out of the cooking cavity and lowering as the door rotates on its lower hinges. The rear support arm rotates with the movement of the deck and substantially keeps the deck horizontal. Lowering the deck means the pizza can be loaded and removed easily, the deck can be cleaned easily. Raising the deck means that the pizza can be cooked at the optimum distance from the upper heater element or elements.

The oven door has at least a bottom pivoting hinge and is attached to the front bottom hinge of the pizza oven. The deck support mechanism and door are adapted to enable the deck to maintain a substantially horizontal configuration during opening and closing the door.

A close mechanism may be included that acts to assist closing of the door (not shown). The close mechanism may include an arm, which is pivotally attached to the door at one end and extend into the side wall of the oven, and the other end of the arm is biased by a spring located within the oven sidewall toward a closed door configuration.

<FIG> shows the pizza deck may include a deck carriage <NUM> that houses a heating element <NUM> and supports a cooking base <NUM>. In this embodiment, the cooking base is a ceramic cooking base. It will be appreciated that a cooking base may be may be made of one or more appropriate materials. The heating element has connectors <NUM> that protrude through the back of the deck carriage for connection to power source under control of a processor module. The temperature sensor <NUM> can be located about the underside of the ceramic cooking base.

<FIG> shows that the door can be hyper-extend past the horizontal, wherein an abutment surface <NUM> passes through an aperture in the carriage <NUM> and engages an underside of the ceramic cooking base <NUM>, which cause the ceramic cooking base <NUM> to rise with respect to carriage to provide improved access for removal.

<FIG> show sectional side views of a pizza oven <NUM>, wherein the door is in a variety of configurations.

In this embodiment, the pizza deck support mechanism <NUM> includes one or more rear support arm <NUM> and a front support bracket <NUM>; the support arm is pivotally coupled (at <NUM>) with respect to the floor or cavity and pivotally supports (at <NUM>) a rear portion of the pizza deck <NUM>; the support bracket is hingedly coupled (at <NUM>) to the door, such that opening and closing the door respectively withdraws and inserts the pizza deck. The door <NUM> is hinged (at <NUM>) with respect to the cavity.

It will be appreciated that, to maintain the deck in a substantially horizontal configuration as the door is opened or closed, each pivot point must form a corner of a parallelogram (e.g. see <NUM> in <FIG>).

<FIG> and <FIG> show the embodiment pizza oven <NUM>, with the door in a part or mostly closed configuration. In this configuration, the rear support arm is vertical (e.g. see <NUM> in <FIG>), and further closing of the door will cause the arm to lean toward the rear of the cooking cavity, thereby creating a moment about the pivot point (at <NUM>) that will further assist closure of the door.

It will be appreciated that, by locating the door hinge (at <NUM>) and forward bracket hinge (at <NUM>) such that they are offset (<NUM>) when the door is in the closed position, the parallelogram arrangement <NUM> can be maintained while allowing the rear pivot arm <NUM> moving past the vertical. While this will cause a slight lowering the deck when the door moves to a fully closed configuration, there is assistance to close the door through the moment applied to the arm by the deck.

In this embodiment, the oven door has a thickness, which enables the pivot hinge to be located at the bottom of the oven door and about the front wall of the door. By way of example only, an L shaped hinge <NUM> is used. The forward hinge <NUM> is connected between the pizza deck and door, such that the pivot (at <NUM>) is behind that of the door hinge pivot (at <NUM>).

It will be appreciated that, this feature causes the raising of the deck as the door is initially opened, which causes the pizza to be brought into closer proximity of the upper heat element. This process in the cooking of a pizza enables the user to give the pizza ingredients a final more intense exposure to heat.

<FIG> show a pizza oven <NUM> having a pizza deck comprising a carriage element <NUM> that supports a lower electrical heating element <NUM> and a cooking base <NUM> (shown in <FIG>).

The carriage element <NUM> defines an aperture <NUM>, which enables an abutment surface <NUM> to pass through an aperture and engage an underside of the cooking base <NUM>, when the door is hyper-extended past the horizontal. This causes the cooking base <NUM> to rise with respect to carriage and provide improved access for removal.

In this embodiment, the carriage element <NUM> has a plurality of support surfaces <NUM> to support the cooking base <NUM>. A rear shield <NUM> is provided, which may conform to the rear portion of the D-shaped cavity. As shown in <FIG>, the rear shield <NUM> reduces the likelihood of the pizza positioned on the cooking base <NUM> from sliding off onto the floor of the pizza oven <NUM> as the door is opened.

As shown in <FIG>, the cooking base <NUM> may be provided with a complementary profile <NUM> for mating with the lower electrical heating element <NUM> so that the heating element <NUM> can be substantially embedded into the cooking base <NUM>. This in turn increases the heat transfer (compared to the arrangement in which the element is not embedded) due to increased surface of the cooking base <NUM> that surrounds the heating element <NUM> (shown in <FIG>). As shown <FIG>, the cooking base <NUM> and the carriage element <NUM> may have complementary locating detail in the form of recessed portions <NUM>, <NUM> and raised platforms <NUM>, <NUM> to removably secure the cooking base <NUM> to the carriage element <NUM> when in use.

As shown in <FIG>, a temperature sensor <NUM> may be embedded in the cooking base <NUM> to provide feedback to the processor module in order to cause the power which is applied to the heating element <NUM> to be controlled and eventually decreased/increased upon the desired temperature being reached.

By way of example only, <FIG> shows a pizza oven <NUM> having an abutment device <NUM> supported by the floor of cavity, as discussed above.

It will be appreciated that a carriage element <NUM> defines an aperture <NUM>, which enables an abutment surface <NUM> to pass through an aperture and engage an underside of the cooking base <NUM>, when the door is hyper-extended past the horizontal (as shown in <FIG>). This causes the cooking base <NUM> to rise with respect to carriage <NUM> and provide improved access for removal.

By way of example only, <FIG> shows an alternative pizza oven <NUM> having an abutment device <NUM> supported by the door.

<FIG> shows a pizza oven <NUM> using an alternative deck support mechanism, wherein the pizza deck carriage <NUM> is supported in an arcuate guide <NUM> located about the cooking cavity sidewall without use of the one or more rear support arm (e.g. <NUM>). By way of example the arcuate guide <NUM> may be a guide or slot that cooperates with the deck.

It will be appreciated that, to maintain the deck in a substantially horizontal configuration as the door is opened or closed, each pivot point must form a corner of a parallelogram (e.g. see <NUM> in <FIG>). Corners (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) of the parallelogram are described with reference to <FIG>.

In this embodiment, with the door closed, there is horizontal displacement (<NUM>) between location the door hinge (at <NUM>) and the location that the deck support bracket is hingedly coupled (at <NUM>) to the door. This causes the location deck support bracket hinged coupling (at <NUM>) to initially rise then fall in an arcuate path <NUM> as the door is opened. Accordingly, the arcuate guide <NUM> conforms in shape to the arcuate path <NUM> travelled by the support bracket hinged coupling.

<FIG> shows a pizza oven <NUM> using an alternative deck support mechanism, wherein the pizza deck carriage <NUM> is supported by a movable scissor lift arrangement <NUM> that is coupled to the door <NUM>. By way of example, the scissor lift arrangement <NUM> is in the form of a two arms <NUM> that are pivotally coupled together (at <NUM>) along their length, with the upper ends <NUM> slidably mounted to the pizza deck by a guide or rail <NUM>, and the lower ends <NUM> slidably mounted with respect to the cavity by a guide or rail <NUM>. The arrangement causes the pizza deck carriage <NUM> to remain horizontal as it is raised (as shown in <FIG>) or lowered (as show in <FIG>).

In this embodiment, the deck is hinged attached (at <NUM>) to the door <NUM>. With the door closed, the support bracket <NUM> holds the arm in the raised configuration as shown in <FIG>. As the door is opened, the support bracket <NUM> lowers, allowing the pizza deck carriage <NUM> to respectively lower. The rails and guides (<NUM>,<NUM>) enable the door to draw out the pizza deck carriage to an open configuration as shown in <FIG>.

An alternative to the deck support mechanism (e.g. <NUM>), a pizza deck carriage may be supported by telescopic support elements, which are controlled by a micro controller (not shown). These telescopic support elements may be further attached a mechanism which tilts them under control of a processor module. Upon opening the pizza door, a switch is activated and the telescopic supports are, in a controlled matter, extended and tilted towards the door, bringing the deck towards and past the opening of the pizza oven.

<FIG> shows a sectional top view of the cooking cavity <NUM> that can be used in any pizza oven, and defines a D-Shaped configuration. As the rear portion <NUM> of the oven cavity is rounded, the floor surface is restricted and provides a <NUM> degree wall structure <NUM> that can reflect radiant heat onto the pizza, which enhances crust browning. It will also be appreciated that the pizza deck can substantially conform to the configuration of the oven cavity, for example, being D- shaped.

In an example embodiment, the rear portion of the D-shaped cavity has a reflective wall that conforms to the pizza deck (and halfway around the sides of the deck).

Improvements are made to the cooking of pizza crust or 'cornicione' evenly in an asymmetric cooking chamber, while protecting delicate ingredients in the centre of the pizza.

The pizza crust (or outer circumference of the pizza) should be exposed to an intense heat source so as to cause blistering and intense darkening during the cooking process. However, doing so causes the inner portion of the pizza to be overcooked. For example, delicate ingredients such as cheese or basil can quickly overcook and become spoilt if not protected.

It was identified that the problem may be alleviated in any one or more of the following three means:.

<FIG> shows a sectional side view of a pizza oven <NUM>, that provides a heating profile across a pizza deck <NUM>. The pizza deck may be movable (i.e. slidable and/or raisable) or fixed. The pizza deck may be supported by a support mechanism as disclosed herein.

This pizza oven apparatus <NUM> includes:.

The cooking cavity can be formed of a heat reflective material (e.g. stainless steel), including any one or more of the floor <NUM>, the ceiling <NUM> and intermediate wall <NUM>.

The least one heating element <NUM> preferably defines a substantially circumferential heat source, wherein a variable heating or cooking profile is provided across the pizza deck.

A circumferential shield element <NUM> is located within the area defined by the circumferential heating element or elements. The shield may be integral with, or coupled to, the shield element. The shield defines an annular channel-like region <NUM> that encompasses the heating element.

The shield reduces radiant heat from the heating element reaching the centre portion of the pizza deck (and pizza), thereby providing a heating or cooking profile across the pizza that has greater radiant heat applied to the crust and less radiant heat applied to the centre.

In this embodiment the reflector shield directs heat energy from the heating element onto the pizza, such that a more intense heat is focused on the crust, while a less intense heat is applied to the rest of the pizza.

It will be appreciated that the reflector shield can be a simple strip of metal disposed about the inner periphery of the heating element, such that some heat energy can be blocked from the middle of the pizza. The shield height can determine an amount of heat radiated to the centre of the pizza. The shield can be a separate part mounted to the ceiling such as a ring of sheet metal or could be formed as part of the ceiling. This shield can be used effectively in symmetric or asymmetric oven cavities.

<FIG> shows a ceiling element <NUM> for a cooking cavity of a pizza oven. The ceiling element <NUM> has a curved outer perimeter (at <NUM>) to define a domed area for receiving the at least one heating element <NUM> and the circumferential shield element <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the shield element <NUM> is coupled (e.g. at <NUM> via a fastener or means) to the celling element <NUM> for defining a cylindrical (or frusto-conical) shield, which defined an annular channel-like region <NUM> that encompasses the heating element. The heating element can be supported by the ceiling element, and pass through the ceiling element to enable power connection.

<FIG> shows a sectional side view of a pizza oven <NUM>, substantially conforms to the oven <NUM> except for the ceiling and shield, and provides an alternative heating profile across a pizza deck <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the shield <NUM> is curved or convex, to define an inverted dome like form, and the ceiling <NUM> defines an outer dome that supports the shield to define an annular channel-like region <NUM> that encompasses the heating element.

<FIG> shows a ceiling element <NUM> for a cooking cavity of the embodiment pizza oven. In this embodiment the ceiling <NUM> is integrally formed with the shield portion <NUM>.

The ceiling element <NUM> has a curved outer perimeter (at <NUM>) to define a domed area and an integrally formed inner convex shield portion <NUM> for receiving the at least one heating element <NUM> there between. The centre (at <NUM>) of the ceiling may be recessed as shown for fixing to the oven body. Alternatively the shield portion <NUM> may define an inverted dome.

The shield portion reduces radiant heat from the heating element reaching the centre portion of the pizza deck (and pizza), thereby providing a heating or cooking profile across the pizza that has greater radiant heat applied to the crust and less radiant heat applied to the centre.

It will be appreciated that the ceiling and shield (or the portions thereof about the annular channel-like region <NUM>, <NUM>) can be formed of a heat reflective material, or have an appropriate finish.

The reflector properties about the annular channel-like region <NUM>, <NUM> can concentrate heat energy, and the inverted dome shield may be constructed of fiberglass and act as a ceiling for the chamber, thereby reducing the need for some metal in the ceiling.

Referring for <FIG>, it will be appreciated that the reflector portion may include one or more of the following features:.

<FIG>, <FIG> discloses alternative structures for providing a heating or cooking profile across the pizza.

The front half of a D-shaped cooking cavity is less efficient due to there being no sidewalls to reflecting radiant energy to the pizza, and heat loss through the door (particularly when opened).

The cooking cavity being less-efficient in the front half can result in the pizza being cooked unevenly.

<FIG> shows a sectional plan view of a pizza oven <NUM>, which heating profile provided across the pizza deck <NUM>. The variable heating or cooking profile may be provided by a heating element <NUM> having different heat power output along its length.

In this embodiment, the heater element <NUM> may be circular in shape, with the forward half <NUM> adapted to heat with greater intensity than the rear half <NUM>. For example, the front half of the heating element may providing heating power approximately <NUM>% higher in wattage than the rear half of the heater assembly. It will be appreciated that the power output of a heating element can be adapted based on the respective winding density along its length.

<FIG> shows a sectional plan view of a pizza oven <NUM>, with a heating profile provided across the pizza deck (not shown). The variable heating or cooking profile may be provided by two semi-circular heating elements <NUM>,<NUM> having different heat power outputs and can be controlled independently of each other.

The variable heating or cooking profile may be provided by a plurality of heating elements, each heating element having a different heat power output. Different power outputs may be achieved through the specification of the heater elements or independent power control via processor module control.

In this embodiment, the forward semi-circular heating element <NUM> adapted to heat with greater intensity than the rear semi-circular heating element <NUM>. For example, the front heating element of the heating element may provide heating power approximately <NUM>% higher in wattage than the rear heating element.

In this embodiment, each heating element is powered from opposing sides of the oven.

<FIG> shows a sectional plan view of a pizza oven <NUM>, with a heating profile provided across the pizza deck (not shown). The variable heating or cooking profile may be provided by two semi-circular heating elements <NUM>,<NUM> having different heat power outputs.

In this embodiment, each heating element is powered from the same sides of the oven. To neatly achieve this configuration, a return lead for each heating element (<NUM>,<NUM>) may traverse from one end across the diameter of the cooking chamber (<NUM>,<NUM> respectively) and angle slightly to avoid the other end.

In <FIG>, there is depicted a cooking appliance <NUM> configured to cook a pizza <NUM> (shown in <FIG>). The appliance <NUM> includes a generally cuboidal body <NUM> providing a floor <NUM>, a ceiling <NUM> and an intermediate wall <NUM> extending between the floor <NUM> and the ceiling <NUM>. The floor <NUM>, ceiling <NUM>, and wall <NUM> at least partly surround a cooking cavity <NUM>.

The body <NUM> has an opening <NUM> via which the pizza <NUM> that is to be cooked can be moved in and out of the cavity <NUM>. The opening <NUM> is closed by a door <NUM> which is hinged to the body <NUM> at a lower portion <NUM> of the door <NUM>.

The appliance <NUM> also preferably includes a pizza deck <NUM> mounted to the floor <NUM> for receiving the pizza <NUM>. A central axis <NUM> of the pizza deck <NUM> extends perpendicularly between the floor <NUM> and the ceiling <NUM>.

The appliance <NUM> also includes an upper heating element <NUM> centrally located on the axis <NUM> in an upper portion <NUM> of the cavity <NUM> to deliver radiant energy to cook the pizza <NUM>. The element <NUM> extends circumferentially around the ceiling <NUM>.

The appliance <NUM> further includes an annular shield <NUM> centrally located on the axis <NUM> in the upper portion <NUM> of the cavity <NUM>. The shield <NUM> is surrounded by the element <NUM>. The shield <NUM> is configured to shield the centre portion <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) of the pizza <NUM> from the radiant energy.

As depicted in <FIG>, the shield <NUM> reduces radiant energy from the element <NUM> reaching the centre portion <NUM> of the pizza <NUM> located about the axis <NUM> thereby providing a heating or cooking profile across the pizza <NUM> that has greater radiant energy applied to the crust <NUM> of the pizza <NUM> and less radiant energy applied to the centre portion <NUM> of the pizza <NUM>. In contrast, <FIG> depicts the effect of the removal of the shield <NUM> from the cavity <NUM> such that the heating or cooking profile across the pizza <NUM> is relatively uniform.

Referring to <FIG>, the shield <NUM> includes a plurality of hooks <NUM> configured to be received into respective openings <NUM> in the ceiling <NUM> so that, upon axial rotation of the shield <NUM>, the shield <NUM> is removably attached to the ceiling <NUM>.

An alternative embodiment of a shield <NUM> and a ceiling <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. The shield <NUM> is domed about its top end <NUM> and includes a central hole <NUM> for alignment with an orifice <NUM> in the ceiling <NUM>. A nut <NUM> is passed through the central hole <NUM> and the orifice <NUM> to removably attach the shield <NUM> to the ceiling <NUM>.

Yet another embodiment of a shield <NUM> and a ceiling <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. The shield <NUM> is movable relative to the pizza deck <NUM> such that the shield <NUM> can be lowered towards the pizza deck <NUM> or raised away from the pizza deck <NUM> to respectively decrease or increase the amount of radiant energy reaching the centre portion <NUM> of the pizza <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

The raising and lowering of the shield <NUM> relative to the pizza deck <NUM> may be achieved through the use of a radial pin <NUM> extending from the shield <NUM> and co-operating with a slotted profile <NUM> of the ceiling <NUM> as best depicted in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, the profile <NUM> of the ceiling <NUM> is inclined relative to the floor <NUM> such that, as the shield <NUM> is angularly rotated about the axis <NUM> in a counter-clockwise direction <NUM> when viewed towards the floor <NUM>, the pin <NUM> slides towards the end 2052a of the profile <NUM> which is furthest away from the floor <NUM> thereby raising the shield <NUM> away from the floor <NUM>. In an opposite manner, as the shield <NUM> is rotated in a clockwise direction when viewed towards the floor <NUM>, the pin <NUM> slides towards the end 2052b of the profile <NUM> which is nearest the floor <NUM> thereby lowering the shield <NUM> towards the floor <NUM>.

The rotation of the shield <NUM> may be controlled by a motor assembly <NUM> mounted to the body <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The motor assembly <NUM> includes a motor <NUM>, a rotatable shaft <NUM> driven by the motor <NUM>, and a belt (in another embodiment a chain may be used or another rotational transfer device) <NUM> attached at one end 2063a to the shaft <NUM> and attached at its opposite end 2063b to an axle <NUM> attached to the shield <NUM> to transmit rotational drive from the shaft <NUM> to the axle <NUM> thereby rotating the shield <NUM>. The motor <NUM> may be controlled by a motor control unit <NUM> configured to receive an input signal from a user operable knob <NUM> mounted on the body <NUM>.

Yet another embodiment of a shield <NUM> and a ceiling <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. The shield <NUM> is in threaded engagement with the ceiling <NUM> by way of a screw assembly <NUM> attached to the shield <NUM>. In this regard, the shield <NUM> can be rotated in a conventional screw-like manner to raise or lower the shield <NUM> relative to the floor <NUM>.

In another embodiment, shown in <FIG>, the appliance <NUM> includes a pair of inner and outer shields 2094a, 2094b. The inner shield 2094a is nested within the outer shield 2094b. Each of the inner and outer shields 2094a, 2094b has a plurality of apertures generally in the form of rectangular vents <NUM>.

With particular reference to <FIG>, the outer shield 2094b may be angularly rotated about the axis <NUM> with respect to the inner shield 2094a to vary the alignment of each of the vents <NUM> of each of the inner and outer shields 2094a, 2094b to in turn vary the amount of radiant energy that is shielded from the centre portion <NUM> of the pizza <NUM>. In this regard, the outer shield 2094b may be angularly rotated about the axis <NUM> with respect to the inner shield 2094a to cause partial or complete alignment of each of the vents <NUM> to allow radiant energy to pass through the inner and outer shields 2094a, 2094b as shown in <FIG>. In a similar manner, the outer shield 2094b may be rotated to cause complete misalignment of each of the vents <NUM> to substantially prevent radiant energy from passing through the inner and outer shields 2094a, 2094b as shown in <FIG>. Alternate embodiments are envisaged in which the inner shield 2094a may be angularly rotated about the axis <NUM> with respect to the outer shield 2094b to align or misalign each of the vents <NUM>. Further alternate embodiments are envisaged in which each of the inner and outer shields 2094a, 2094b is angularly rotatable about the axis <NUM> with respect to each other to align or misalign each of the vents <NUM>.

As best depicted in <FIG>, rotation of the inner shield 2094a may be controlled by the motor assembly <NUM>.

A further embodiment of a cooking appliance <NUM> is now described with reference to <FIG>. Features of the cooking appliance <NUM> that are identical to those of the cooking appliance <NUM> are provided with an identical reference numeral.

With particular reference to <FIG>, the appliance <NUM> includes a pair of inner and outer upper heating elements 2110a, 2110b circumferentially extending around the ceiling <NUM> and centrally located on the axis <NUM> in the upper portion <NUM> of the cavity <NUM>. The appliance <NUM> also includes a lower heating element <NUM> circumferentially extending around the floor <NUM> and centrally located on the axis <NUM> in a lower portion <NUM> of the cavity <NUM> to deliver radiant energy to cook the pizza <NUM>. The lower heating element <NUM> is preferably embedded within the pizza deck <NUM>.

The appliance <NUM> also includes a primary annular shield 2104a centrally located on the axis <NUM> to localise radiant energy to the crust <NUM> of the pizza <NUM> and a secondary annular shield 2104b centrally located on the axis <NUM> to localise radiant energy to the centre portion <NUM> of the pizza <NUM>. The primary shield 2104a is surrounded by the outer upper heating element 2110b. The secondary shield 2104b is surrounded by the inner upper heating element 2110a. It will be appreciated that the arrangement of the upper heating elements 2110a, 2110b and the shields 2104a, 2104b can be housed within the cuboidal body <NUM> of the cooking appliance <NUM> or a substantially rounded body <NUM> of the cooking appliance <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> depicts a controller in the form of an algorithm <NUM> operatively associated with each of the inner and outer upper heating elements 2110a, 2110b and the lower heating element <NUM> to provide for selective delivery of electric power to each of the inner and outer upper heating elements 2110a, 2110b and the lower heating element <NUM> thereby to provide a heating profile across the pizza <NUM>. Each of the inner and outer upper heating elements 2110a, 2110b is independently controllable by the algorithm <NUM>.

As depicted in <FIG>, the heating profile across the pizza <NUM> is controlled by means of a user operable control hub <NUM> of the appliance <NUM>. The control hub <NUM> is operatively associated with the algorithm <NUM> to manually and independently alter the electric power and temperature of each of the inner and outer upper heating elements 2110a, 2110b and the lower heating element <NUM>. The control hub <NUM> includes a first dial (not shown), a second dial 2118b, and a third dial 2118c.

The algorithm <NUM> is configured to operate in a first mode 2114a and a second mode 2114b (shown in <FIG>).

In the first mode 2114a of the algorithm <NUM>, the first dial (not shown) is configured to control the temperature of the lower heating element <NUM>; the second dial 2118b is configured to control the temperature of the inner and outer upper heating elements 2110a, 2110b; and the third dial 2118c is configured to control the electric power of only the inner and outer upper heating elements <NUM>10a, <NUM>10b. When the third dial 2118c is in a first position <NUM>, the electric power to each of the inner and outer upper heating elements 2110a, 2110b is adjusted to provide radiant energy relatively uniformly across the pizza <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. When the third dial 2118c is in a second position <NUM>, the electric power to the inner upper heating element <NUM>10a is reduced and the power to the outer upper heating element 2110b is increased, relative to the power configuration when the third dial 2118c is in the first position <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. When the third dial 2118c is in a third position <NUM>, the electric power to the inner upper heating element 2110a is reduced to zero and the power to the outer upper heating element 2110b is increased to maximum, relative to the power configuration when the third dial 2118c is in the second position <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>; in this configuration, radiant energy is most focused on the crust <NUM> of the pizza <NUM>. Essentially, the third dial 2118c, whilst operating in the first mode 2114a, provides fine tuning to crusting the pizza <NUM>, even cooking across the whole of the pizza <NUM>, or general control over the cooking of the centre portion <NUM> or crust <NUM> of the pizza <NUM>.

In the second mode 2114b of the algorithm <NUM>, the first dial (not shown) is configured to control a timer (not shown) of the inner and outer upper heating elements 2110a, 2110b and the lower heating element <NUM>; the second dial 2118b is configured to control a "type" setting of the appliance <NUM> (for example, the "type" can be "thick pizza") to provide a range of pre-set timing intervals and temperatures of the inner and outer upper heating elements 2110a, 2110b and the lower heating element <NUM> to suit a user's particular needs; and the third dial 2118c is configured to control the temperature of the lower heating element <NUM>. When the third dial 2118c is in the first position <NUM>, the temperature to the lower heating element <NUM> is decreased, relative to the second dial configuration when the algorithm <NUM> is in the first mode 2114a, as shown in <FIG>. When the third dial 2118c is in the second position <NUM>, the temperature to the lower heating element <NUM> is normal, relative to the power configuration when the third dial 2118c is in the first position <NUM> in the second mode 2114b of the algorithm <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. When the third dial 2118c is in the third position <NUM>, the temperature to the lower heating element <NUM> is increased, relative to the power configuration when the third dial 2118c is in the second position <NUM> in the second mode 2114b of the algorithm <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. Essentially, the third dial 2118c, whilst operating in the second mode 2114b, provides fine control for the temperature of the lower heating element <NUM> in the event that the pre-set temperature settings of the second dial 2118b are not completely accurate for the user's particular needs.

The appliance <NUM> includes a temperature sensor <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) located about the ceiling <NUM> within the cavity <NUM> to provide a signal indicative of the temperature within the cavity <NUM> to the algorithm <NUM> to adjust the delivery of electric power to each of the inner and outer upper heating elements 2110a, 2110b and the lower heating element <NUM> as necessary.

A further cooking appliance <NUM> is now described with reference to <FIG>. Features of the cooking appliance <NUM> that are identical to those of the cooking appliance <NUM> are provided with an identical reference numeral.

The appliance <NUM> includes a cooling system <NUM> integrated with a periphery <NUM> of the body <NUM>. The cooling system <NUM> includes a first airflow channel <NUM> and a second airflow channel <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The first airflow channel <NUM> communicates with the cavity of the wall <NUM> to cool the cavity of the wall <NUM> as a secondary activity as shown in <FIG>. The primary activity of the first airflow channel <NUM> is to cool electronics of the appliance <NUM> (such as the PCB) which are located adjacent the entrance of the channel <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The second airflow channel <NUM> communicates with a vent <NUM> that expels air and cools cold pins <NUM> of the lower heating element <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. In this way, the vent <NUM> is proximate the cold pins <NUM> when the cold pins <NUM> are in their home position when the door <NUM> closes the opening <NUM> of the cavity <NUM>. The vent <NUM> is aligned so that its height and projection creates an airflow to target the cold pins <NUM>. The air comes from entrance <NUM> and is guided by the channel in the periphery <NUM> under the heating cavity <NUM>. A fan <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) driving the air to the vent <NUM> is positioned away from the vent <NUM> to distance itself from the air in the cavity <NUM> which can reach temperatures of around <NUM>. The fan <NUM> is actuated when the temperature sensor <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) or a secondary temperature sensor (not shown) mounted on the pizza deck <NUM> records a temperature threshold above a certain point, preferably <NUM>. The fan <NUM> turns off when the temperature sensor <NUM> or the secondary temperature sensor (not shown) records a temperature threshold below the certain point.

The lower heating element <NUM> can operate at approximately <NUM> which in turn causes the temperature of the cavity to reach <NUM> and the temperature of the lower region below the deck <NUM> where the cold pins <NUM> reside to reach <NUM>. Thus, this dedicated cooling airflow to the cold pins <NUM> helps to prevent the cold pins <NUM> from being destroyed.

The channel in the periphery <NUM> below the floor <NUM> of the cavity <NUM> is preferably made of a polymer to insulate the channel in the periphery <NUM> and the mounting body of the fan <NUM> from the cavity <NUM> and the vent <NUM>. The vent <NUM> is preferably made of metal to withstand the temperature in the cavity <NUM> and is fixed, preferably welded, to the cavity floor <NUM> in the cavity <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, the cooling system <NUM> includes a second fan <NUM> mounted on an external portion of the body <NUM>. The fan <NUM> draws air into a third airflow channel <NUM>. When the door <NUM> closes the opening <NUM> of the cavity <NUM>, the third airflow channel <NUM> communicates with a passage <NUM> of the door <NUM> adjacent the lower portion <NUM> of the door <NUM> as best depicted in <FIG>. The airflow cools electronics <NUM> (such as the power PCB and interface) housed in the door <NUM> located about the passage <NUM>.

It will be appreciated that the illustrated embodiments provide an improved or alternative pizza oven.

It would be appreciated that, some of the embodiments are described herein as a method or combination of elements of a method that can be implemented by a processor of a computer system or by other means of carrying out the function.

In alternative embodiments, the one or more processors operate as a standalone device or may be connected, e.g., networked to other processor(s), in a networked deployment, the one or more processors may operate in the capacity of a server or a client machine in server-client network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer- to-peer or distributed network environment.

Thus, one embodiment of each of the methods described herein is in the form of a computer-readable carrier medium carrying a set of instructions, e.g., a computer program that are for execution on one or more processors.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the specification discussions utilizing terms such as "processing", "computing", "calculating", "determining" or the like, can refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or computing system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform data represented as physical, such as electronic, quantities into other data similarly represented as physical quantities.

The methodologies described herein are, in one embodiment, performable by one or more processors that accept computer-readable (also called machine-readable) code containing a set of instructions that when executed by one or more of the processors carry out at least one of the methods described herein. Any processor capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken is included.

Similarly, it is to be noticed that the term "coupled", when used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being limitative to direct connections only. The terms "coupled" and "connected", along with their derivatives, may be used. Thus, the scope of the expression a device A coupled to a device B should not be limited to devices or systems wherein an output of device A is directly connected to an input of device B. It means that there exists a path between an output of A and an input of B which may be a path including other devices or means. "Coupled" may mean that two or more elements are either in direct physical or electrical contact, or that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other but yet still co-operate or interact with each other.

Claim 1:
A cooking appliance (<NUM>) including:
a body (<NUM>) providing a floor (<NUM>), a ceiling (<NUM>), and an intermediate wall (<NUM>) located between the floor (<NUM>) and the ceiling (<NUM>), the floor (<NUM>), the ceiling (<NUM>), and the intermediate wall (<NUM>) at least partly surrounding a cooking cavity (<NUM>), the body (<NUM>) having an opening (<NUM>) via which a product to be cooked can be moved relative to the cooking cavity (<NUM>), and the ceiling (<NUM>) having an axis (<NUM>) extending perpendicularly between the floor (<NUM>) and the ceiling (<NUM>), the axis (<NUM>) being a central axis of the ceiling (<NUM>) to centrally locate the product,
a deck (<NUM>) depending from the floor (<NUM>) for receiving the product to be cooked;
at least one upper heating element located in an upper portion (<NUM>) of the cooking cavity (<NUM>) to deliver radiant energy to cook the product; and
at least one annular shield positioned relative to the heating element to shield a portion of the product from the radiant energy,
characterized in that the at least one upper heating element includes a pair of inner and outer upper heating elements (2110a, 2110b) extending circumferentially around the ceiling (<NUM>) relative to the axis (<NUM>),
wherein the at least one annular shield includes a primary shield (2104a) and a secondary shield (2104b) respectively arranged relative to the inner and outer upper heating elements (2110a, 2110b), with the primary shield (2104a) being surrounded by the outer upper heating element (2110b), and with the secondary shield (2104b) being surrounded by the inner upper heating element (2110a), and
wherein the cooking appliance (<NUM>) further includes a controller (<NUM>) operatively associated with each of the inner and outer upper heating elements (2110a, 2110b), wherein each of the inner and outer upper heating elements (2110a, 2110b) are independently controllable by the controller (<NUM>) to provide for selective delivery of electric power thereto thereby to provide a heating profile across the product.