Granted Patent B2

US 12,287,098 · App. 16/997,375 · Granted Apr 29, 2025

Inventors: Philip R. McKee (Dallas, TX); Lee T. Vanlanen (McKinney, TX)

Assignee: Automation Tech, LLC

F24C11/00F24C15/32F24C15/36A21B1/245F24C7/085F24C7/087F24C15/16F24C15/325

Abstract

Claims (31)

1. A modular cooking apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a first interchangeable cooking module and a second interchangeable cooking module;

a first oven contained within said first interchangeable cooking module, said first oven having a first cooking chamber;

a first grease shield located within said first cooking chamber, wherein:

said first grease shield is configured to prevent grease from a food item from hitting a plurality of walls of said first cooking chamber;

said first grease shield includes a first wall, a second wall, and a back wall;

and an inner angle between said first wall and said back wall of said first grease shield is greater than 90° and less than or equal to 105°;

a second oven contained within said second interchangeable cooking module, wherein said second oven is different from said first oven;

a control panel on said housing for receiving cooking inputs;

a controller within said housing for controlling said first interchangeable cooking module and said second interchangeable cooking module; and

a single power plug for receiving electrical power from a wall outlet.

2. The modular cooking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an inner angle between said second wall and said back wall of said first grease shield is greater than 90° and less than or equal to 105°.

3. The modular cooking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein one of said first wall, said second wall, and said back wall includes multiple openings for return air to pass through.

4. The modular cooking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

said second oven has a second cooking chamber; and

a second grease shield is located within said second cooking chamber, wherein:

said second grease shield is configured to prevent grease from a food item from hitting a plurality walls of said second cooking chamber;

said second grease shield includes a first wall, a second wall, and a back wall; and

an inner angle between said first wall and said back wall of said second grease shield is greater than 90° and less than or equal to 105°.

5. The modular cooking apparatus of claim 4 , wherein an inner angle between said second wall and said back wall of said second grease shield is greater than 90° and less than or equal to 105°.

6. The modular cooking apparatus of claim 4 , wherein one of said first wall, said second wall and said back wall of said second grease shield includes multiple openings for return air to pass through.

7. The modular cooking appliance of claim 4 , wherein said second grease shield can be removed from said second cooking chamber for cleaning.

8. The modular cooking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first grease shield can be removed from said first cooking chamber for cleaning.

9. An oven, comprising:

a cooking chamber; and

a grease shield located within said cooking chamber, wherein:

said grease shield includes a first wall, a second wall, and a back wall to prevent grease from a food item from hitting a plurality of walls of said cooking chamber; and

an inner angle between said first wall and said back wall of said grease shield is greater than 90° and less than or equal to 105°.

10. The oven of claim 9 , wherein an inner angle between said second wall and said back wall of said grease shield is greater than 90° and less than or equal to 105°.

11. The oven of claim 9 , wherein one of said first wall, said second wall, and said back wall of said grease shield includes multiple openings for return air to pass through.

12. The oven of claim 9 , wherein said grease shield can be removed from said cooking chamber for cleaning.

Assignments (3)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (177)