IP Library Granted Patent US 11,547,243
Granted Patent B2
US 11,547,243 · App. 16/357,250 · Granted Jan 10, 2023

Cooking device and components thereof

Inventors: Aaron Michael Gill (Boston, MA); Ross Richardson (Dover, MA); Naomi Kalia Williams Zabel (Oakland, CA); Da Deng (Newton, MA); Mete Gursel (Istanbul, AR); Andrew John Roy Tattersfield (London, GB); Niall Christopher Denham (London, GB); Roger Neil Jackson (Cornwall, GB); Ronan Patrick Leahy (London, GB); Evan James White (Brookline, MA); Thomas Guerin (Boston, MA); Chris Martin (Concord, MA); Nathaniel R. Lavins (Somerville, MA); Mackenzie Lee Swanhart (Boston, MA); Samuel Andrew Ferguson (Medford, MA); Scott James Stewart (Boston, MA)
Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
A47J37/0641A23L5/17A47J27/04A47J27/08A47J27/0802A47J39/003A47J36/12A47J37/0623A47J37/1266
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,547,243
App. No.
16/357,250
Granted
Jan 10, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein is a cooking system for cooking food, the cooking system being functional in a plurality of cooking modes. The cooking system includes a housing defining a hollow chamber configured to receive a food container. The housing has an upper portion defining an opening to the hollow chamber. The cooking system includes a first lid configuration for use in at least a first cooking mode, a second lid configuration for use in at least a second cooking mode. A first lid detection sensor is configured to detect a closed condition of said first lid configuration and a second lid detection sensor is configured to detect a closed condition of said second lid configuration.

Claims (26)

1. A cooking system for cooking food, comprising:

a housing defining a hollow chamber configured to receive a food container;

at least one lid configured to be arranged in a convective cooking configuration in which the at least one lid is in an unlocked state and covers the hollow cooking chamber, and a pressure cooking configuration in which the at least one lid is in a locked state and is locked relative to the housing to allow for pressure buildup in the food container of at least 40 kPa; and

at least one lid detection sensor configured to detect that the at least one lid is in the unlocked state in the convective cooking configuration and that the at least one lid is in the locked state in the pressure cooking configuration.

2. The cooking system of claim 1 , wherein in the convective cooking configuration the cooking system is operable as at least one of an air fryer, baking/roasting oven, broiler, and dehydrator.

3. The cooking system of claim 1 , wherein in the convection cooking configuration the at least one lid is transformable between an open state and closed state, and wherein in the closed state the at least one lid closes the hollow chamber.

4. The cooking system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one lid detection sensor comprises a first lid detection sensor and a second lid detection sensor, and wherein the at least one lid is connected to the housing at a hinge and the first lid detection sensor is located proximate the hinge.

5. The cooking system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one lid detection sensor comprises an actuating switch.

6. The cooking system of claim 1 , wherein in the pressure cooking configuration the at least one lid is transformable between an open state and closed state, and wherein in the closed state the at least one lid closes the hollow chamber.

7. The cooking system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one lid comprises a first lid hinged to the housing and a second lid removably coupled to the housing and adapted to seal the food container.

8. The cooking system of claim 4 , wherein the second lid detection sensor comprises a sensor system including a Reed switch disposed in the housing and a magnet disposed in the at least one lid.

9. The cooking system of claim 1 , wherein the cooking system will not operate in a convection cooking mode unless the lid detection sensor detects that the at least one lid is in the unlocked state in the convection cooking configuration.

10. The cooking system of claim 1 , wherein the cooking system will not operate in a pressure cooking mode unless the lid detection sensor detects that the at least one lid is in the locked state in the pressure cooking configuration.

11. The cooking system of claim 1 , wherein the cooking system will not operate in a convection cooking mode if the lid detection sensor detects that the at least one lid is in the locked state in the pressure cooking configuration.

12. The cooking system of claim 1 , wherein the cooking system will not operate in a pressure cooking mode if the lid detection sensor detects that the at least one lid is in the unlocked state in the convection cooking configuration.

13. A cooking system, comprising:

a housing defining an interior hollow chamber;

at least one lid coupled to the housing and configured to close the hollow chamber; and

a lid detection sensor disposed proximate to the at least one lid and configured to detect a convective cooking configuration of the at least one lid in which the lid is unlocked, and configured to detect a pressure cooking configuration of the at least one lid in which the lid is locked.

14. The cooking system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one lid detection sensor comprises a Reed switch disposed in the housing.

15. The cooking system of claim 13 , wherein the cooking system will not operate in a convection cooking mode unless the lid detection sensor detects that the at least one lid is in the unlocked state.

16. The cooking system of claim 13 , wherein the cooking system will not operate in a pressure cooking mode unless the lid detection sensor detects that the at least one lid is in the locked state.

17. The cooking system of claim 13 , wherein the cooking system will not operate in a convection cooking mode if the lid detection sensor detects that the at least one lid is in the locked state.

18. The cooking system of claim 13 , wherein the cooking system will not operate in a pressure cooking mode if the lid detection sensor detects that the at least one lid is in a closed state in the convection cooking configuration.

19. The cooking system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one lid is configured to seal the hollow chamber in the pressure cooking configuration.

20. The cooking system of claim 19 , wherein the at least one lid includes at least one vent disposed therein.

Assignments (2)
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jul 20, 2023
From: SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 064600/0098 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 18, 2019
From: GILL, AARON MICHAEL; RICHARDSON, ROSS; ZABEL, NAOMI KALIA WILLIAMS; DENG, DA; GURSEL, METE; TATTERSFIELD, ANDREW JOHN ROY; DENHAM, NIALL CHRISTOPHER; JACKSON, ROGER NEIL; LEAHY, RONAN PATRICK; WHITE, EVAN JAMES; GUERIN, THOMAS; MARTIN, CHRIS; LAVINS, NATHANIEL R.; SWANHART, MACKENZIE LEE; FERGUSON, SAMUEL ANDREW; STEWART, SCOTT JAMES
To: SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLC
Reel/Frame 048630/0393 →
Cited By (5)
US 1,100,567 US 1,101,472 US 1,101,481 US 1,123,517 US 1,138,537