Refrigerator-oven

Abstract

A self-contained refrigerator/freezer and oven, for refrigerating/freezing and cooking food in the same enclosed chamber, which can be actuated by the operator from a variety of remote locations around the world through a public exchange computer communications system, a public switched telephone network, or the internet. The oven has a heating element such as an electrical resistance heating element or a gas burner. A controller is in communication with the heating unit and the refrigeration/freezer unit. The controller activates the refrigeration/freezing unit when a cooling mode is desired, and activates the heating unit when a heating mode is desired.

1 . A combination appliance for cooling and cooking a food item, comprising: 
 a frame including a cooking chamber and a refrigeration module chamber, wherein the cooking chamber has a first access opening through which access to the interior of the cooking chamber is provided;    a door moveably mounted to the frame for movement between an open position wherein the first access opening is uncovered and a closed position where the first access opening is covered;    a heat element disposed within the cooking chamber to selectively provide heat to the cooking chamber;    an inlet duct extending between the refrigeration module chamber and the cooking chamber, the inlet duct having an inlet in communication with the refrigeration module chamber and an outlet in communication with the cooking chamber;    a return duct extending between the refrigeration module chamber and the cooking chamber, the return duct having an inlet in communication with the cooking chamber and an outlet in communication with the refrigeration module chamber;    a refrigeration module including a compressor, condenser, evaporator, and base on which the compressor, condenser, and evaporator are mounted to form a module; and    an insulated housing overlying the evaporator to thermally isolate the evaporator from the condenser, the insulated housing having an inlet and an outlet, which align with the outlet of the return duct and the inlet of the inlet duct, respectively, when the refrigeration module is mounted within the refrigeration module chamber, to thereby form a refrigerated air path between the evaporator and the cooking chamber.    
   
   
       2 . The combination appliance of  claim 1  wherein the heat element is at least one of the group consisting of an electrical resistance heating element and a gas burner.  
   
   
       3 . The combination appliance of  claim 2  further comprising: 
 a first means adapted for controlling the operation of the heating element and the refrigeration module,    a second means adapted for sending and receiving data concerning the heating element and the refrigeration module to and from a remote location via at least one of the groups consisting of a public exchange computer communications system, a public switched telephone network and an internet;    whereby an individual may evaluate said data concerning the heating element and the refrigeration module received through said second means thus enabling said individual to direct and control the first means through the second means.    
   
   
       4 . The combination appliance of  claim 3  wherein the second means of actuating the first means from a remote location include software run by a home server capable of being able to communicate by using communication interface protocol via network media.  
   
   
       5 . The combination appliance of  claim 4  wherein the communication is through a network medium.  
   
   
       6 . The combination appliance of  claim 4  wherein the communication is through an intranet.  
   
   
       7 . The combination appliance of  claim 1  wherein the heat element is located at the bottom of the cooking chamber, further comprising a second heat element at the top of the cooking chamber.  
   
   
       8 . A combination appliance for freezing and cooking a food item, comprising: 
 a frame including a cooking chamber and a freezer module chamber, wherein the cooking chamber has a first access opening through which access to the interior of the cooking chamber is provided;    a door moveably mounted to the frame for movement between an open position wherein the first access opening is uncovered and a closed position where the first access opening is covered;    a heat element disposed within the cooking chamber to selectively provide heat to the cooking chamber;    an inlet duct extending between the freezer module chamber and the cooking chamber, the inlet duct having an inlet in communication with the freezer module chamber and an outlet in communication with the cooking chamber;    a return duct extending between the freezer module chamber and the cooking chamber, the return duct having an inlet in communication with the cooking chamber and an outlet in communication with the freezer module chamber;    a freezer module including a compressor, condenser, evaporator, and base on which the compressor, condenser, and evaporator are mounted to form a module; and    an insulated housing overlying the evaporator to thermally isolate the evaporator from the condenser, the insulated housing having an inlet and an outlet, which align with the outlet of the return duct and the inlet of the inlet duct, respectively, when the freezer module is mounted within the freezer module chamber, to thereby form a refrigerated air path between the evaporator and the cooking chamber.    
   
   
       9 . The combination appliance of  claim 8  wherein the heat element is at least one of the group consisting of an electrical resistance heating element and a gas burner.  
   
   
       10 . The combination appliance of  claim 8  further comprising: 
 a first means adapted for controlling the operation of the heating element and the freezer module;    a second means adapted for sending and receiving data concerning the heating element and the freezer element to and from a remote location via at least one of the groups consisting of a public exchange computer communications system, a public switched telephone network and Internet;    whereby an individual may evaluate said data concerning heating element and freezer module received through the second means thus enabling the individual to direct and control the first means through the second means.    
   
   
       11 . The combination appliance of  claim 10  wherein the second means of actuating the first means from a remote location include software run by a home server capable of being able to communicate by using communication interface protocol via network media.  
   
   
       12 . The combination appliance of  claim 11  wherein the communication is through a communication media interface.  
   
   
       13 . The combination appliance of  claim 11  wherein the communication is through an intranet.  
   
   
       14 . The combination appliance of  claim 8  wherein the heat element is located at the bottom of the cooking chamber, further comprising a second heat element at the top of the cooking chamber.  
   
   
       15 - 35 . (canceled)