Kitchen Appliance with an Improved Temperature Probe Jack Receiver Cover

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016255997-A1
Application number	US-201514640350-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 6, 2015
Priority date	Mar 6, 2015
Publication date	Sep 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A jack receiver for a kitchen cooking appliance includes a bracket mounted to the appliance. The bracket includes an aperture for receiving a thermometer therethrough. A jack socket for receiving and engaging a portion of the thermometer therein projects from the bracket aperture to an opposing side of the chamber's wall from the jack receiver, and is in operative communication with the appliance's controller. A cover is pivotably attached to the bracket and a biasing member exerts a biasing force onto the cover to bias the cover into a position covering the bracket aperture. The cover is pivotable against the biasing force of the biasing member, uncovering the bracket aperture, for insertion of the thermometer. Removal of the thermometer from the jack receiver permits automatic pivotable return of the cover to the covering position under the biasing force of the biasing member.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A kitchen appliance comprising:
a housing having a heating chamber for heating or cooking foodstuff therein, the heating chamber being defined by at least a plurality of walls; at least one heating element in thermal communication with the heating chamber; a controller, in operative communication with the at least one heating element; a jack receiver mounted to the appliance in operative communication with the controller; a thermometer having a temperature probe for engaging the foodstuff and a thermometer jack removably insertable into the jack receiver, for establishing communication between the thermometer probe and the controller; the jack receiver comprising:
a bracket engaging the wall and having an aperture for receiving the thermometer jack therethrough, the bracket having a top surface defining a plane;
a jack socket for receiving and engaging at least a portion of the thermometer jack therein, the jack socket projecting from the bracket aperture to an opposing side of the wall from the jack receiver, the jacket socket being in operative communication with the controller;
a cover member pivotably attached to the bracket, the cover member pivotable in a plane parallel to the plane defined by the top surface of the bracket 28 ; and
a biasing member exerting a biasing force onto the cover member to bias the cover member into a first position covering the bracket aperture;
wherein the cover member is pivotable against the biasing force of the biasing member away from the first position, uncovering the bracket aperture, for insertion of the thermometer jack through the bracket aperture and into engagement with the jack socket, and wherein removal of the thermometer jack from the jack receiver permits automatic pivotable return of the cover member to the first position under the biasing force of the biasing member.

2 . The kitchen appliance of claim 1 , wherein the cover member of the jack receiver includes a caming indent in a side surface thereof, said thermometer jack engaging the caming indent to pivot the cover member away from the first position.

3 . The kitchen appliance of claim 2 , wherein the caming indent is a generally arcuate indent corresponding to a cylindrical shape of the thermometer jack.

4 . The kitchen appliance of claim 2 , wherein the bracket top surface has the bracket aperture therein, the side surface of the cover member include the caming indent, and the caming indent extending generally perpendicularly to the top surface of the bracket.

5 . The kitchen appliance of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member comprises a torsion spring engaging the bracket of the jack receiver at one end thereof and engaging the cover member at an opposing end thereof.

6 . The kitchen appliance of claim 1 , wherein the bracket of the jack receiver further includes a stop tab projecting from the bracket and covered by the cover member, said stop tab limiting an angular range of pivotable motion of the cover member away from the first position.

7 . A kitchen appliance comprising:
a housing having a heating chamber for heating or cooking foodstuff therein, the heating chamber being defined by at least a plurality of walls; at least one heating element in thermal communication with the heating chamber; a controller in operative communication with the at least one heating element; a jack receiver mounted to a wall inside of the heating chamber, in operative communication with the controller; a thermometer having a temperature probe, for engaging the foodstuff, and a thermometer jack removably insertable into the jack receiver, for establishing communication between the thermometer probe and the controller; the jack receiver comprising:
a bracket engaging the wall and having an aperture for receiving the thermometer jack therethrough,
a jack socket for receiving and engaging at least a portion of the thermometer jack therein, the jack socket projecting from the bracket aperture to an opposing side of the wall from the jack receiver, the jacket socket being in operative communication with the controller;
a cover member pivotably attached to the bracket;
a torsion spring engaging the bracket of the jack receiver at one end thereof and engaging the cover member at an opposing end thereof, and exerting a biasing force onto the cover member to bias the cover member into a first position covering the bracket aperture;
the cover member pivotable against the biasing force of the torsion spring away from the first position, uncovering the bracket aperture, for insertion of the thermometer jack through the bracket aperture and into engagement with the jack socket;
the cover member including a caming indent in a side surface thereof, the thermometer jack engaging the caming indent to pivot the cover member away from the first position; and
removal of the thermometer jack from the jack receiver permits automatic pivotable return of the cover member to the first position under the biasing force of the torsion spring.

8 . The kitchen appliance of claim 7 , wherein the caming indent is a generally arcuate indent corresponding to a cylindrical shape of the thermometer jack.

9 . The kitchen appliance of claim 7 , wherein the bracket defines a top surface having the bracket aperture therein, the side surface of the cover member, having the caming indent, extending generally perpendicularly to the top surface of the bracket.

10 . The kitchen appliance of claim 7 , wherein the bracket defines a top surface having the bracket aperture therein, said top surface defining a plane, and wherein the cover member is pivotable in a plane parallel to the plane of the top surface of the bracket.

11 . The kitchen appliance of claim 7 , wherein the bracket of the jack receiver further includes a stop tab projecting from the bracket and covered by the cover member, said stop tab limiting an angular range of pivotable motion of the cover member away from the first position.

Assignees

• Hamilton Beach Brands Inc

Inventors

• Romandy Mark K

Classifications

• G01K13/00

  Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes · CPC title

• H01R13/73

  Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall · CPC title

• A47J37/0629 Primary

  with electric heating elements · CPC title

• A47J37/0664

  Accessories · CPC title

• G01K2207/06

  for preparation purposes · CPC title