Fully submergible sous vide device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10827872-B2
Application number	US-201715721086-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2017
Priority date	Sep 29, 2017
Publication date	Nov 10, 2020
Grant date	Nov 10, 2020

Abstract

A sous vide device and method of using the same may include a body that is fully submergible in a container of water and may wirelessly communicate with an external device, e.g., to control an external heating element during sous vide cooking. Further, a sous vide device may include a rechargeable battery capable of being wirelessly recharged from a charging dock. In addition, a sous vide device may include a moisture sensor for use in changing the activation state of a heating element and/or a turbidity sensor for use in changing the activation state of a water circulator of the sous vide device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sous vide device, comprising:
a fully submergible body shaped and configured for full submersion in a container of water during sous vide cooking, the body including a battery, water circulator, and temperature sensor, wherein the body includes an external surface and first and second internal cavities, the external surface including one or more ports defined therein, wherein the first internal cavity is sealed and houses the battery and a first non-water resistant portion of a water circulator and the second internal cavity is in fluid communication with the one or more ports, wherein the temperature sensor is exposed to the second internal cavity to sense a temperature of water within the second internal cavity, and wherein a second portion of the water circulator is internal to the body and is exposed to the second internal cavity to circulate water through the one or more ports; and
a controller disposed within the first internal cavity of the body, the controller coupled to the temperature sensor and the water circulator and powered by the battery, wherein the controller includes a wireless communication circuit, wherein the controller is configured to actuate the water circulator to circulate water when the body is submerged in the container of water and wirelessly communicate with an external device using the wireless communication circuit;
wherein the body further comprises a turbidity sensor, and wherein the controller is coupled to the turbidity sensor to disable the water circulator in response to detecting immersion in a non-clear liquid.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the body is puck-shaped.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the body includes one or more protective external surfaces formed of silicone to protect a sink when the body is dumped from the container of water after cooking.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the water circulator comprises a pump.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the water circulator comprises rotating blade.

6. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless charging circuit disposed in the body such that the battery is wirelessly rechargeable.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to wirelessly communicate with the external device using the wireless communication circuit to communicate a water temperature sensed by the temperature sensor to the external device.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to wirelessly communicate with a mobile computing device, a personal computing device, a server or a cloud service.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to wirelessly communicate with a burner controller to regulate an energy output of a burner that heats the container of water, and wherein the burner and burner controller are disposed in a range, a stovetop, an oven, a grill or a countertop cooking device.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the burner is a gas burner, an electric burner, a microwave element, or an induction burner.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises a moisture sensor, wherein the controller is coupled to the moisture sensor and configured to control activation of the water circulator based in part on moisture sensed by the moisture sensor.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises a visual interface, and wherein the controller is coupled to the visual interface and configured to drive the visual interface to provide feedback to a user.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to drive the visual interface to indicate when the temperature sensor senses a temperature above a predetermined threshold.

14. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device lacks a heating element.

15. The device of claim 1 , wherein the body includes one or more feet configured to support the device on a bottom surface of the container while allowing for water to circulate between the body and the bottom surface.

16. The device of claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises a moisture sensor, and wherein the controller is further coupled to the moisture sensor and is configured to inhibit activation of the water circulator in response to a failure to detect immersion in a clear liquid using the moisture and turbidity sensors.

17. The device of claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises a moisture sensor, and wherein the controller is further coupled to the moisture sensor and is configured to activate the water circulator in response to detecting immersion in a clear liquid using the moisture and turbidity sensors.

18. The device of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to initiate pairing with the external device in response to sensing moisture with the moisture sensor.

19. A sous vide device, comprising:
a fully submergible body shaped and configured for full submersion in a container of water during sous vide cooking, the body including a battery, water circulator, moisture sensor, turbidity sensor and temperature sensor, wherein the body includes an external surface and first and second internal cavities, the external surface including one or more ports defined therein, wherein the first internal cavity is sealed and houses the battery and the second internal cavity is in fluid communication with the one or more ports, wherein the temperature sensor is exposed to the second internal cavity to sense a temperature of water within the second internal cavity, and wherein the water circulator is exposed to the second internal cavity to circulate water through the one or more ports; and
a controller disposed within the first internal cavity of the body, the controller coupled to the moisture sensor, the turbidity sensor, the temperature sensor and the water circulator and powered by the battery, wherein the controller includes a wireless communication circuit, wherein the controller is configured to actuate the water circulator to circulate water when the body is submerged in the container of water and wirelessly communicate with an external device using the wireless communication circuit, and wherein the controller is configured to inhibit activation of the water circulator in response to a failure to detect immersion in a clear liquid using the moisture and turbidity sensors.

20. A sous vide device, comprising:
a fully submergible body shaped and configured for full submersion in a container of water during sous vide cooking, the body including a battery, water circulator, moisture sensor, turbidity sensor and temperature sensor, wherein the body includes an external surface and first and second internal cavities, the external surface including one or more ports defined therein, wherein the first internal cavity is sealed and houses the battery and the second internal cavity is in fluid communication with the one or more ports, wherein the temperature sensor is exposed to the second internal cavity to sense a temperature of water within the second internal cavity, and wherein the water circulator is exposed to the second internal cavity to circulate water through the one or more ports; and
a controller disposed within the first internal cavity of the body, the controller coupled to the moisture sensor, the turbidity sensor, the temperature sensor and the water circulator and powered by the battery, wherein the controller includes a wireless communication circuit, wherein the controller is configured to actuate the water circulator to circulate water when the body is submerged in the container of water and

Assignees

• Midea Group Co Ltd

Inventors

• Trice Daniel J
• Digman Robert
• Staun Paul R

Classifications

• A47J36/321

  the electronic control being performed over a network, e.g. by means of a handheld device · CPC title

• A47J27/10 Primary

  Cooking-vessels with water-bath arrangements for domestic use · CPC title

• A47J36/32

  Time-controlled igniting mechanisms or alarm devices · CPC title