US-12622544-B2 - Cooking device with a control linkage

US12622544B2US 12622544 B2US12622544 B2US 12622544B2US-12622544-B2

Abstract

A cooking device is provided. In one embodiment, the cooking device includes a base having a recessed cavity arranged in a top surface. The cooking device can also include a heating element arranged within the recessed cavity of the base. A first bracket can be positioned on the base, and a cooking plate can be positioned on the top surface of the base. A lid assembly can be provided and can include a cover plate configured to be removably positioned over the cooking plate. The cover plate can include a plurality of through-holes arranged therein. A second bracket can be positioned on the cover plate and it can be configured to couple to the first bracket such that the lid assembly is connected to and rotatable relative to the base.

Inventors

Simon Christopher Smith
Samuel Benjamin Baldry
Christina J. Crowley
Tong Cui

Assignees

SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230516

Claims (18)

1 . A cooking device, comprising: a base including an interior volume formed from a first recessed cavity and a second recessed cavity arranged in a top surface; a heating element positioned in the first recessed cavity of the base: a dial positioned on the base and configured to rotate relative to the base; a bracket movably arranged within the interior volume of the base; a temperature sensor positioned on the bracket; a cooking plate positioned on the top surface of the base and in contact with the temperature sensor, and including a grease trap formed therein, wherein the second recessed cavity is configured to receive the grease trap when the cooking plate is positioned on the base; and a linkage extending from the dial to the temperature sensor underneath the grease trap, wherein rotational movement of the dial is mechanically translated to the temperature sensor through the linkage.
2 . The cooking device of claim 1 , wherein the bracket is configured to move vertically within the interior volume relative to the base.
3 . The cooking device of claim 1 , wherein the rotational movement of the dial is configured to alter a threshold temperature of the temperature sensor.
4 . The cooking device of claim 1 , wherein a gap is formed between the heating element and the cooking plate arranged on the base.
5 . The cooking device of claim 1 , wherein at least one spring member is positioned between the base and the bracket.
6 . The cooking device of claim 1 , further comprising a cover plate configured to be removably positioned over the cooking plate, the cover plate having a plurality of through-holes arranged therein.
7 . The cooking device of claim 1 , wherein the linkage includes a double universal pivot joint.
8 . The cooking device of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor remains in contact with the cooking plate at any rotational position of the dial.
9 . The cooking device of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor and bracket are vertically displaced when the cooking plate is positioned on the base.
10 . A cooking device, comprising: a housing having an interior volume formed from a first recessed cavity and a second recessed cavity, a cooking plate including a grease trap formed therein, and a rotatable dial; a temperature sensor mounted on a moveable bracket arranged within the housing, the temperature sensor positioned in contact with a bottom surface of the cooking plate; a heating element positioned in the first recessed cavity of the housing, and wherein the second recessed cavity is configured to receive the grease trap when the cooking plate is positioned on the housing; and a rotatable linkage including a double universal pivot joint extending from the dial to the temperature sensor underneath the grease trap.
11 . The cooking device of claim 10 , wherein a rotational movement of the dial is mechanically translated to the temperature sensor through the linkage.
12 . The cooking device of claim 10 , wherein a gap is formed between the heating element and the cooking plate arranged on the basehousing.
13 . The cooking device of claim 10 , wherein the rotational movement of the dial is configured to alter a threshold temperature of the temperature sensor, the threshold temperature corresponding to an activation temperature of the heating element.
14 . The cooking device of claim 13 , wherein the bracket is positioned vertically below the heating element.
15 . The cooking device of claim 10 , wherein the housing comprises a base and a cover plate rotatably connected to the base.
16 . The cooking device of claim 15 , wherein the cover plate is configured to be removably positioned over the cooking plate, the cover plate having a plurality of through-holes arranged therein.
17 . The cooking device of claim 10 , wherein at least one spring member is positioned between the housing and the bracket.
18 . The cooking device of claim 10 , wherein the temperature sensor is vertically displaced when the cooking plate is positioned on the housing.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/156,066, filed Jan. 18, 2023, and entitled “COVER PLATE FOR COOKING DEVICES,” the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. FIELD Cover plates for use with cooking devices are provided. BACKGROUND Various systems and methods for preventing grease from escaping a cooking surface, such as metal pot cover screens, are known. These systems typically include a fine mesh screen that not only prevents grease and food particulates from escaping the cooking surface, but also excessively traps moisture generated from the cooking process. The capture of excessive moisture leads to undesired results, since certain cooking processes, such as searing meat at a high temperature, requires removing moisture from the cooking space to allow a searing effect to occur, rather than a steaming effect. Existing cooking devices are typically designed to prevent the escape of grease and food particulates, and sacrifice moisture removal to achieve this. SUMMARY Cover plates and cooking device for use therewith are provided. In one embodiment, a cooking device is provided having a base including a recessed cavity arranged in a top surface. The cooking device can also include a heating element arranged within the recessed cavity of the base. A first bracket can be positioned on the base, and a cooking plate can be positioned on the top surface of the base. A lid assembly can be provided and it can include a cover plate configured to be removably positioned over the cooking plate. The cover plate can include a plurality of through-holes arranged therein. A second bracket can be positioned on the cover plate and it can be configured to couple to the first bracket such that the lid assembly is connected to and rotatable relative to the base. The base can have a variety of configurations. For example, in some embodiments, the first bracket can include at least one slot. The second bracket includes at least one projection configured to be removably positioned within the at least one slot of the first bracket. In another embodiment, a gap can be formed between the heating element and the cooking plate arranged on the base. In another embodiment, the cooking plate can include a grease trap formed within the cooking plate. In another embodiment, the base can include a second recess configured to receive the grease trap of the cooking plate when arranged on the base. The cover plate can also have a variety of configurations. In one embodiment, the cover plate can have a first zone having a first design pattern of through-holes, and a second zone having a second design pattern of through-holes. The first zone can have a greater percentage of open surface over the cooking plate than the second zone. In another embodiment, a percentage of open surface over the cooking plate created by the through-holes can be within a range of 10% to 30%. In another embodiment, the cover plate can include at least one spacer configured to prevent the cover plate from contacting the cooking plate. In another embodiment, the through-holes can be configured to allow moisture generated by a cooking process occurring on the cooking plate to pass through the cover plate while preventing food particulate and grease from passing there through. In yet another embodiment, a lid assembly is provided and includes a cover plate configured to be removably positioned over a cooking plate. The cover plate can include a plurality of through-holes arranged therein. A bracket can be positioned on a rear surface of the cover plate, and the bracket can be configured to rotatably connect the cover plate to a base of a cooking device to position the cover plate over a cooking plate in the base. The through-holes can be configured to allow moisture generated by a cooking process occurring below the cover plate to pass through the cover plate while preventing food particulate and grease from passing therethrough. The lid assembly can have a variety of configurations. For example, in some embodiments, the cover plate can include a first zone having a first design pattern of through-holes, and a second zone having a second design pattern of through-holes. In some aspects, the first zone can have a greater percentage of open surface over the cooking plate than the second zone. In another embodiment, a percentage of open surface over the cooking plate created by the through-holes can be within a range of 10% to 30%. In another embodiment, the through-holes can have a width within a range of 3 mm to 8 mm. In another embodiment, the cover plate can include at least one non-abrasive spacer. In another embodiment, a cooking device is provided having a base including a first recessed cavity arranged in a top surface and a second recessed cavity arranged in the top surface. A heating element can be positioned within the first recessed cavity. A first