Granted Patent B2

US 12,622,544 · App. 18/318,259 · Granted May 12, 2026

Inventors: Simon Christopher Smith (Essex, GB); Samuel Benjamin Baldry (Northhamptonshire, GB); Christina J. Crowley (London, GB); Tong Cui (Suzhou, CN)

Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC

A47J36/06A47J27/004A47J37/0676

Abstract

Claims (29)

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.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (329)