EP-4739947-A1 - COOKING DEVICES, METHODS, AND COMPONENTS THEREOF

Abstract

A device may include a housing(1002) having a cooking chamber(1034), an air inlet, an air outlet, and a first chamber formed therein, the cooking chamber(1034) comprising an inner top wall(1044); a microwave source positioned outside of the cooking chamber(1034), and configured to emit microwaves into the cooking chamber(1034); an air movement device(1068) positioned within the first chamber; a heating element(1070) positioned within the first chamber; a radiation shield(1065) defining a top surface of the first chamber; and a volute(2102) positioned on the radiation shield(1065), the volute(2102) having an inlet(2107) positioned within the housing(1002), and an outlet connected to the air outlet of the housing(1002), wherein a cooling air flow is generated by the air movement device(1068) to direct air into the housing(1002) through the air inlet, through the inlet(2107) of the volute(2102), and out of the housing(1002) through the outlet of the volute(2102) and the air outlet of the housing(1002).

Inventors

• DORSEY, Sean
• BROWN, EDWARD
• BROWN, ETHAN
• MAZZI, Gianluca
• VEUGEN, Zachary
• GARLAND, ADAM
• NG, Amanda

Assignees

• SharkNinja Operating LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20240905

Claims (20)

1. A device, comprising: a housing having a cooking chamber, an air inlet, an air outlet, and a first chamber formed therein, the cooking chamber comprising an inner top wall; a microwave source positioned outside of the cooking chamber, and configured to emit microwaves into the cooking chamber; an air movement device positioned within the first chamber; a heating element positioned within the first chamber; a radiation shield defining a top surface of the first chamber; and a volute positioned on the radiation shield, the volute having an inlet positioned within the housing, and an outlet connected to the air outlet of the housing, wherein a cooling air flow is generated by the air movement device to direct air into the housing through the air inlet, through the inlet of the volute, and out of the housing through the outlet of the volute and the air outlet of the housing.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first chamber is positioned vertically above the cooking chamber.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the volute is positioned vertically above the cooking chamber.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the inner top wall comprises a plurality of apertures configured to allow a heated airflow to pass therethrough from the first chamber to the cooking chamber.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein a mode stirrer is configured to deflect the microwaves emitted into the cooking chamber.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the air inlet includes a plurality of air inlets positioned about the housing.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first chamber is defined by the inner top wall and the radiation shield positioned radially outward of the heating element.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the air movement device includes a first fan positioned in the first chamber, and a second fan positioned within the volute.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein a wave guide is positioned between the microwave source and the mode stirrer, and an outlet of the wave guide is positioned adjacent the mode stirrer.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein the microwave source is positioned within a second chamber arranged adjacent to the cooking chamber and the first chamber.
11. A device, comprising: a housing forming a cooking chamber therein, the cooking chamber comprising an inner wall having a rail thereon, wherein an indent is positioned on the rail; a microwave source positioned outside of the cooking chamber, and configured to emit microwaves; an air movement device positioned outside of the cooking chamber, and configured to generate an airflow; a heating element positioned outside of the cooking chamber, and configured to heat the airflow to create a heated airflow that passes into the cooking chamber; and a container selectively removable from the cooking chamber, the container comprising a top opening and a projection extending outward from the top opening, wherein a dedent is positioned on the projection, wherein the indent corresponds to the dedent such that the dedent is partially received by the indent.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein the housing includes a second rail positioned vertically above the rail.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein the housing includes a third rail horizontally aligned with the rail along an insertion axis of the container.
14. The device of claim 13, wherein the container is configured to abut against the rail, second rail, and third rail when the dedent is received within the indent.
15. The device of claim 13, wherein the dedent is configured to be received within a gap positioned between the rail and the third rail.
16. The device of claim 11, wherein, the heating element is positioned radially outward of the air movement device.
17. The device of claim 11, wherein the rail includes a second indent axially offset from the indent.
18. The device of claim 11, wherein the dedent is tapered along an insertion axis of the container.
19. The device of claim 11, wherein the container is configured to be rotated relative to an insertion axis in order to remove the container from the cooking chamber.
20. The device of claim 11, wherein the container includes a second dedent axially offset from the dedent.

Description

COOKING DEVICES, METHODS, AND COMPONENTS THEREOF CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application claims priority to PCT Application No. PCT/CN2024/114608, filed on August 26, 2024 and entitled “COOKING DEVICES, METHODS, AND COMPONENTS THEREOF, ” and PCT Application No. PCT/US24/36903, filed on July 5, 2024 and entitled “COOKING DEVICES, METHODS, AND COMPONENTS THEREOF, ” which claim priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e) to U.S. Application No. 63/512,523, filed on July 7, 2023 and entitled “COOKING DEVICES, METHODS, AND COMPONENTS THEREOF, ” which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. FIELD A countertop cooking system including a one or more convection and radiant heating elements in combination with a microwave heating element, and methods for using the same, are provided. BACKGROUND Traditional microwave cooking systems typically include a microwave source (i.e., a magnetron) that directs microwave energy at food disposed in a cooking compartment therein. The microwave energy heats water molecules in the food, turning the water molecules into steam. Since a traditional microwave only includes a microwave source, the air in the microwave is relatively cool, which allows the steam to condense once microwaves are no longer absorbed by the food. This rapid condensing for steam means that moisture is left on the surface of the food, which leads to an undesirable reheating or cooking result, since there is no means of evaporation to remove the moisture created during the microwaving process. SUMMARY In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a device, including: a housing having a cooking chamber, an air inlet, an air outlet, and a first chamber formed therein, the cooking chamber including an inner top wall; a microwave source positioned outside of the cooking chamber, and configured to emit microwaves into the cooking chamber; an air movement device positioned within the first chamber; a heating element positioned within the first chamber; a radiation shield defining a top surface of the first chamber; and a volute positioned on the radiation shield, the volute having an inlet positioned within the housing, and  an outlet connected to the air outlet of the housing, wherein a cooling air flow is generated by the air movement device to direct air into the housing through the air inlet, through the inlet of the volute, and out of the housing through the outlet of the volute and the air outlet of the housing. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a device, wherein the first chamber is positioned vertically above the cooking chamber. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a device, wherein the volute is positioned vertically above the cooking chamber. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a device, wherein the inner top wall includes a plurality of apertures configured to allow a heated airflow to pass therethrough from the first chamber to the cooking chamber. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a device, wherein a mode stirrer is configured to deflect the microwaves emitted into the cooking chamber. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a device, wherein the air inlet includes a plurality of air inlets positioned about the housing. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a device, wherein the first chamber is defined by the inner top wall and the radiation shield positioned radially outward of the heating element. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a device, wherein the air movement device includes a first fan positioned in the first chamber, and a second fan positioned within the volute. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a device, wherein a wave guide is positioned between the microwave source and the mode stirrer, and an outlet of the wave guide is positioned adjacent the mode stirrer. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a device, wherein the microwave source is positioned within a second chamber arranged adjacent to the cooking chamber and the first chamber. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a device, including: a housing forming a cooking chamber therein, the cooking chamber including an inner wall having a rail thereon, wherein an indent is positioned on the rail; a microwave source positioned outside of the  cooking chamber, and configured to emit microwaves; an air movement device positioned outside of the cooking chamber, and configured to generate an airflow; a heating element positioned outside of the cooking chamber, and configured to heat the airflow to create a heated airflow that passes into the cooking chamber; and a container selectively removable from the cooking chamber, the container including a top opening and a projection extending outward from the top opening, wherein a dedent is positioned on the projection,