Euro-Pro Exhibit 1013
`Euro-Pro v. Acorne
`Page 1 of 4
`IPR2014-00186
`Page 1 of 4
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`P#\TENTEUKPR29i§7S
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`3,881,090
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`Page 2 of 4
`Page 2 of 4
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`1
`ELECTRIC COOKING UTENSIL HAVING A
`REMOVABLE CERAMIC VESSEL
`
`BACKGROUND AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF
`THE INVENTION
`
`Electric cooking utensils having heater wire wrapped
`about the outside of a vessel for the heating of food-
`stuffs contained therein are well known in the art. How-
`ever. these devices are subject to various deficiencies.
`If the ceramic utensil were to break it is possible that
`the user thereof could sustain serious electrical shocks
`if the foodstuff were to contact the “hot" electrical wir-
`ing. It is possible that even a small unseeen crack in the
`ceramic or earthenware container may allow enough
`seepage of liquid foodstuffs to create a dangerous elec-
`trical shock hazard.
`
`Accordingly. it is a primary object of the subject in-
`vention to eliminate or reduce the potential electrical
`shock hazard in a non-thermostatically controlled elec-
`tric cooking utensil which normally results when the
`earthenware vessel breaks. The heater wires are en-
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`cased in a separate metallic wall which is separate from
`the earthenware vessel. The metallic wall is electrically
`insulated, and if the vessel were to break or develop a
`small unseen crack. resultant liquid seepage would not
`result in a shock hazard. In fact. with the subject inven-
`tion, the liquid is precluded from entirely contacting
`the heater wires. This feature is further enhanced by a
`substantially liquid proof seal that is formed by the
`upper portion of the inner metallic container and the
`wall of the outer container of the utensil.
`In the prior art, thermally induced expansions and
`contractions of the heater wires will promote the sus-
`ceptibility of the earthenware vessel to cracking or de-
`teriorating, because of the physical contact of the wire.
`Also, since the wire is glued or otherwise fixedly at-
`tached to the earthenware vessel. expansions or con-
`tractions of the wire itself may ultimately result in a de-
`terioration of the heater circuit as the wire conse-
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`quently may break or become loose.
`It is a further object of the subject invention to avoid
`the preceding difficulties through the utilization of a
`unique heater wire attachment means. As mentioned
`previously, the heater wires are not wound around the
`earthenware vessel. so that the vessel itself will not be
`subject to the strains of expansions or contractions
`thereof. The wires are encapsulated by glass fiber in-
`suation and are held in place about the outer surface of
`the separate metallic wall within the grooves in an inde-
`pendent mounting unit. A spring connects the ends of
`the. heater wire mounting unit so as to compensate for
`expansions and contractions. Varying spring tension
`thus insures that the wires will adjustably be held within
`the circumferential grooves of the mounting unit.
`Another object of the subject device is to provide an
`electric cooking utensil having an earthenware vessel
`which may easily be washed and cleaned. Since no
`wires are attached to the earthenware vessel removabil-
`
`ity is allowed and washing may thus be accomplished
`by completely immersing the earthenware vessel in wa-
`ter. The vessel itself is completely waterproof since it
`is glazed _on_both sides. Prior art devices are not im-
`mersible in water because damage to the electrical cir-
`cuitry would likely occur, and cleaning of the cooking
`surfaces thus becomes difficult.
`
`It is yet another object of the subject invention to
`provide an electric cooking utensil having an easily re-
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`If the cooking vessel
`placeable earthenware vessel.
`should break no damage will occur to the heater. and
`the user may simply insert a replacement vessel.
`In
`prior art devices however. breakage of the earthenware
`vessel will necessitate expensive and time consuming
`factory repair. This is avoided by the aforementioned
`construction.
`
`It is yet another object of the subject invention to
`provide an electric slow cooking utensil in which the
`possibility of the contents thereof being inadvertently
`burned is substantially minimized. In prior art devices
`having the heater wires attached directly to the exterior
`surface of the cooking vessel “hot spots" will develop
`along the heater wire region. Food kontacting these
`areas may be burned under certain conditions. In the
`subject invention the heater wires are attached to a sep-
`arate metallic wall. Between the other side of this me-
`tallic wall and the outer surface of the earthenware
`cooking vessel is an air pocket or chamber, which facil-
`itates the uniform distribution ofheat to the vessel. The
`vessel is thus uniformly heated and hot spots which may
`operate to burn the contents thereof are avoided.
`It is yet another object to provide an electric slow
`cooking non-thermostatically controlled utensil which
`is particularly suited for the slow cooking of foodstuffs.
`The utilization of the aforementioned construction in
`
`which an air pocket or chamber operates to uniformly
`distribute heat is particularly suited to slow cooking ap-
`plications. Slow cooking operations are particularly
`vulnerable to burning from “hot spots“. which, as men-
`tioned. are eliminated in the subject design.
`Other and further objects of the invention. together
`with the features of novelty appurtenant thereto. will
`appear in the course of the following description.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`In the accompanying drawings which form a part of
`the specification and are to be read in conjunction
`therewith, and in which like reference numerals are
`employed to indicate like parts in the various views;
`FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the device showing the
`top. the earthenware vessel. and the enclosure means:
`FIG. 2 is a sectional and fragmentary view of the
`cooking utensil; and‘
`FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the electrical wiring
`utilized by the subject device.
`In FIG. 1, numeral 10 depicts a glazed earthenware
`cooking vessel that removably fits within the metallic
`shell (or outer container) structure 11 and which has
`a lid 13 removably located thereon. The outer edge 12
`of the lid will engage circumferential inner surfaces 15
`of lip structure 16 in vessel 10, thereby locating the lid.
`A bowl shaped metallic inner container 19 is positioned
`within the shell II with its upper circumferential edge
`17 contacting the outside circumferential edge 18 on
`the underside of lip 16 on vessel 10. In this manner ves-
`sel 10 is located and retained within the metallic shell
`11. It is significant to note that the only physical con-
`nection between the vessel l0 and the shell 11 occurs
`at the interface of edges 17 and 18 and that elsewhere
`an inner air Chamber 21 (FIG. 2) separate wall 19 from
`the earthenware vessel.
`
`As seen in FIG. 2, inner container 19 has an upper
`portion 23 that is crimped around the top of shell wall
`25 to hold container 19 in place. This crimped portion
`also precludes liquid from entering the area where the
`later described heater wires are located during the nor-
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`mal and expected use of the utensil. Bolt 27 depends
`from the bottom of the inner container 19 and serves
`to further retain same by its connection to shell bottom
`28. Pin 29 extends from the bottom of container 19
`through wall 28 to thereby prevent container 19 from
`rotating with respect to shell ll. Bolt 27 also has sol-
`derless connector 30 mounted therethrough which fa-
`cilitates the grounding of metallic structure 19 and the
`metal shell walls 28 and 25 to further significantly re- ~
`duce electrical shock hazards. Finally, feet F support
`the entire unit in the usual manner.
`Electrical current enters the device through cable 31.
`and is delivered via switch 32 to one or both of the
`heater wires. which are generally indicated at 36a and
`36b. The rotary knob 34 actually facilitates the switch-
`ing operation as indicated in FIG. 3. The heater wires
`are comprised of electrically resistive conductors 37a
`and 37/2 which are encapsulated by vinyl or silicone in-
`sulation 38a and 38/2. The heater wires are located ex-
`teriorly ofthe substantially vertical wall of container 19
`within grooves 41 which form a portion of the generally
`cylindrical heater wire mounting unit 40. This heater
`wire mounting unit serves to compressively retain and
`locate the wires against the side wall of the container
`19.
`It is to be noted that the disclosed construction is fa-
`cilitated by the utilization of suitably insulated heater
`wire such as that which is commercially available from
`Springfield Wire, lnc., of Springfield, Mass., and which
`is described in a Sale Bulletin entitled “Springfield
`Wire," and printed in the U.S.A. in Oct..
`l969.
`Heater wire mounting unit 40 does not extend com-
`pletely around the circumference of container 19. A
`spring 42 extends through the gap 43 between the ends
`ofthe mounting unit and holds same in place by the ex-
`ertion of pressure. Also, the lower edge of unit 40 rests
`upon pins 40a which extend horizontally from con-
`tainer I‘). This construction enables the mounting unit
`to compensate for thermally induced expansion of the
`heater wires and container 19 since the spring 42 will
`expand when necessary and at the same time maintain
`sufficient pressure on the mounting unit to insure ap-
`propriate heater wire position. If the heater wires were
`simply glued to the surface of wall 19, for example,
`thermal expansion could destroy the glued interface,
`ultimately causing the heater wires to detach and fall
`toward the inner bottom of the cooking utensil.
`ln operation, heat generated by the heater wires is
`conducted by adjacent wall 19 into the inner chamber
`21. This causes a mass of hot air of substantially uni-
`form temperature to contact the surface 12 of the
`earthenware vessel 10, and heat is conducted there-
`through to accomplish the cooking of foodstuffs within
`the vessel.
`It is to be noted that the utilization of the air pocket
`virtually eliminates the hot spots which are characteris-
`tic of devices having heater wires attached directly to
`the cooking vessel. Since the construction as shown
`lessens the likelihood of hot spot burning of foodstuffs,
`it is particularly adapted for slow cooking operations.
`The circuit as shown in FIG. 3 discloses the electrical
`circuitry utilized in the subject device. The center con-
`ductor of plug 46 is grounded as shown to the metallic
`inner container to guard against shock hazards. When
`switch 32 is rotated counterclockwise one position,
`wire 47 will be electrically connected to heater wire
`36a thereby generating heat in the distributed resis-
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`tance 37a. When rotated an additional position. wires
`36:: and 3617 will both be electrically connected to con-
`ductor 47 and both heater elements will be working.
`The latter position corresponds to the “high" setting of
`switch 34.
`From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention
`is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects
`hereinabove set forth together with other advantages
`which are obvious and which are inherent to the struc-
`ture.
`It will be understood that certain features and sub-
`combinations are of utility and may be employed with-
`out reference to other features and subcombinations.
`As many possible embodiments may be made of the
`invention without departing from the scope thereof, it
`is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or
`shown in the accompanying drawings is to be inter-
`preted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
`Having thus described my invention, I claim:
`1. An electric non-thermostitically controlled cook-
`ing utensil for slow cooking or warming food, said uten-
`sil including a vessel comprised of ceramic or earthern-
`ware material, said vessel having an annular lip located
`at the upper end portion thereof and extending radially
`outwardly therefrom, said vessel further including a
`generally cylindrical side wall integrally formed with
`said lip and a bottom wall,
`an inner container constructed of material having the
`ability to conduct heat and having a shape similar
`to said vessel and sized to permit at least a portion
`of said vessel to be received within said inner con-
`tainer, the inner container being substantially sepa-
`rated from said vessel by an air chamber located
`therebetween,
`at least one electric heating element operable to sup-
`ply heat to the utensil contents by heating said,
`inner container, said inner chamber and said ves-
`sel, said heating element encircling said inner con-
`tainer and being attached to the exterior surface of
`said inner container and electrically insulated
`therefrom,
`an outer container being of a size and shape to hold
`‘substantially all of said inner container and said
`vessel therein, said inner container having an upper
`end portion forming a seal with said outer con-
`tainer, said seal thereby precluding liquid located
`interiorly of said vessel from reaching said electric
`heating element while pouring out the contents _of
`said vessel or in the event of said vessel becoming
`cracked or broken, said lip of said vessel contacting
`said seal and supporting substantially the entire
`weight of said vessel thereon in spaced relationship
`from said inner container so that neither said side
`wall nor said bottom contacts said inner container,
`said vessel structure including said lip permitting
`said vessel to be easily removed from said con-
`tainer without removing any other portions of the
`utensil or using special tools,
`'
`attaching means for securing and attaching said heat-
`ing element to the exterior surface of said inner
`container, and
`electric lead means for applying electric current to
`said electric heating element thereby effecting the
`heating of said heating element.
`2. The combination as in claim 1 wherein said heat-
`ing element attaching means includes a cylindrical
`mounting having a circumference less than said inner
`container, the mounting unit having ends connected by
`a spring member, said spring member operable to resil-
`iently secure and locate the mounting unit on said inner
`container while at the same time compensating for
`thermally induced expansions or contractions of said
`mounting unit.
`a:
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