Magnetic self-stirrer
A stirring assembly includes a turntable configured to rotate about a central axis. A cooking vessel is configured to engage a top surface of the turntable. A bar is disposed proximate a bottom surface of the turntable. The bar maintains a fixed position relative to the turntable. A stirrer is magnetically attracted to the bar. The stirrer is configured to generally maintain a fixed orientation within the cooking vessel as the cooking vessel rotates with the turntable.
1 . A stirring assembly comprising:
a turntable configured to rotate about a central axis;
a cooking vessel configured to engage a top surface of the turntable;
a bar disposed proximate a bottom surface of the turntable, wherein the bar maintains a fixed position relative to the turntable; and
a stirrer including a vertically-extending frame that defines an open cavity and which is magnetically attracted to the bar, the stirrer including a first magnet encapsulated by a polymeric member at a first corner of the frame and spaced a predetermined distance from a second magnet encapsulated by a separate distinct polymeric member at a second corner of the frame, wherein the stirrer is configured to generally maintain a fixed orientation within the cooking vessel as the cooking vessel rotates with the turntable.
2 . The stirring assembly of claim 1 , wherein the stirrer includes a plastic material.
3 . The stirring assembly of claim 1 , wherein the stirrer is completely covered by an electric insulation material.
4 . The stirring assembly of claim 1 , wherein the stirrer is completely covered by a thermal insulation material.
5 . The stirring assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bar extends across approximately one-half of a diameter of the turntable.
6 . The stirring assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bar is uniformly attached to an inside support surface of a microwave oven.
7 . The stirring assembly of claim 1 , wherein the stirrer includes a generally planar body portion with a generally linear engagement surface and a protrusion extending upward from the generally planar body portion.
8 . The stirring assembly of claim 7 , wherein the generally planar body portion defines a central opening configured to allow food to flow therethrough.
9 . The stirring assembly of claim 7 , wherein the generally planar body portion includes first and second side segments, and wherein a flexible polymeric material is disposed on at least one of the generally linear engagement surface and the first and second side segments.
10 . A stirring assembly for use with a cooking vessel comprising:
a turntable operable between a rotating state and a non-rotating state, the turntable configured for rotation about an axis, wherein the turntable includes a top surface and a bottom surface;
a bar disposed proximate the bottom surface of the turntable, wherein the bar maintains a fixed position while the turntable is in the rotating state; and
a stirrer proximate the top surface of the turntable, wherein the stirrer includes a first magnet disposed proximate a first side segment and a second magnet disposed proximate a second side segment that includes a flexible wiping flange, and wherein the stirrer is configured to generally maintain a fixed orientation within said cooking vessel as said cooking vessel rotates with the turntable such that the stirrer does not rotate with said cooking vessel.
11 . The stirring assembly of claim 10 , wherein the stirrer includes a plastic material.
12 . The stirring assembly of claim 10 , wherein the stirrer is completely covered by an electric insulation material.
13 . The stirring assembly of claim 10 , wherein the bar extends across approximately one-half of a diameter of the turntable.
14 . A microwave assembly comprising:
a plurality of walls defining a cooking compartment;
a turntable configured to rotate about a central axis, and further configured to support a cooking vessel;
a bar operably coupled with at least one of the plurality of walls defining the cooking compartment, wherein the bar is disposed proximate a bottom surface of the turntable, and wherein the bar maintains a fixed position relative to the turntable; and
a stirrer attracted to the bar, wherein the stirrer is configured to generally maintain a fixed orientation within the cooking vessel as the cooking vessel rotates with the turntable, and wherein the stirrer includes a first magnet covered by a polymeric member at a first bottom corner of the stirrer, the first magnet being spaced from a second magnet that is covered by a polymeric member having a flexible wiping feature and disposed at a second bottom corner of the stirrer.
15 . The microwave assembly of claim 14 , wherein the bar is uniformly attached to an inside support surface of a microwave oven.
16 . The microwave assembly of claim 14 , wherein the stirrer is completely covered by a thermal insulation material.
17 . The microwave assembly of claim 14 , wherein the stirrer includes a generally planar body portion with a generally linear engagement surface and a protrusion extending upward from the generally planar body portion.
18 . The microwave assembly of claim 17 , wherein the generally planar body portion defines a central opening configured to allow food to flow therethrough.