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 - 14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . A time-bake cooking cycle for a refrigerated oven used to cook a food item therein, the refrigerated oven comprising a cooking chamber selectively closeable by a door, a heating element for heating the cooking chamber, a refrigeration unit for cooling the cooking chamber, a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the cooking chamber, a data input device for inputting user-selected cooking cycle parameters, and a controller operably coupling the heating element, refrigeration unit, temperature sensor, and the data input device to selectively actuate the heating element and the refrigeration unit in response to the sensed temperature to implement the cooking cycle as defined by the cooking cycle parameters, the time-bake cooking cycle comprising: 
 a cool cycle wherein the temperature of the cooking chamber is maintained at a first predetermined temperature to prevent spoilage of the food item in the cooking chamber;    a bake cycle following the cool cycle wherein the temperature of the cooking chamber is maintained at a temperature to cook the food item in the cooking chamber; and    a warm cycle following the bake cycle wherein the temperature of the cooking chamber is maintained at a temperature suitable for serving the food item upon removal from the cooking chamber.    
   
   
       16 . The time-bake cooking cycle of  claim 15  wherein the heat element is at least one of the group consisting of an electrical resistance heating element and a gas burner.  
   
   
       17 . The time-bake cooking cycle of  claim 15  wherein the data input device further comprises: 
 a first means adapted for controlling the operation of the heating element and the refrigeration unit;    a second means adapted for sending and receiving data concerning the heating element and the refrigeration unit 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 the heating element and the refrigeration unit received through the second means thus enabling the individual to direct and control the first means through the second means.    
   
   
       18 . The time-bake cooking cycle of  claim 17  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.  
   
   
       19 . The time-bake cooking cycle of  claim 17  wherein the communication is through a network medium.  
   
   
       20 . The time bake cooking cycle of  claim 17  wherein the communication is through an intranet.  
   
   
       21 . The time-bake cooking cycle according to  claim 15  and further comprising a second cool cycle initiated after the warm cycle.  
   
   
       22 . The time-bake cooking cycle according to  claim 15  and further comprising a data input cycle prior to the cool cycle wherein user-defined operating parameters are stored in the controller.  
   
   
       23 . The time-bake cooking cycle according to  claim 22  wherein the user-defined operating parameters comprise an End Time representing the time of day that the cooking of the food is to be completed and a Bake Time representing the length of time to cook the food.  
   
   
       24 . The time-bake cooking cycle according to  claim 22  wherein the bake cycle is initiated at the time of day corresponding to the End Time minus the Bake Time.  
   
   
       25 . A time-bake cooking cycle for a freezer oven used to cook a food item therein, the freezer oven comprising a cooking chamber selectively closeable by a door, a heating element for heating the cooking chamber, a freezing unit for freezing the cooking chamber, a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the cooking chamber, a data input device for inputting user-selected cooking cycle parameters, and a controller operably coupling the heating element, freezer unit, temperature sensor, and the data input device to selectively actuate the heating element and the freezer unit in response to the sensed temperature to implement the cooking cycle as defined by the cooking cycle parameters, the time-bake cooking cycle comprising: 
 a freeze cycle wherein the temperature of the cooking chamber is maintained at a first predetermined temperature to prevent spoilage of the food item in the cooking chamber;    a bake cycle following the freeze cycle wherein the temperature of the cooking chamber is maintained at a temperature to cook the food item in the cooking chamber; and    a warm cycle following the bake cycle wherein the temperature of the cooking chamber is maintained at a temperature suitable for serving the food item upon removal from the cooking chamber.    
   
   
       26 . The time-bake cooking cycle of  claim 25  wherein the heat element is at least one of the group consisting of an electrical resistance heating element and a gas burner.  
   
   
       27 . The time-bake cooking cycle of  claim 25  wherein the data input device further comprises: 
 a first means adapted for controlling the operation of the heating element and the freezer unit;    a second means adapted for sending and receiving data concerning the heating element and the freezer unit 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 the heating element and the freezer unit received through the second means thus enabling the individual to direct and control the first means through the second means.    
   
   
       28 . The time-bake cooking cycle of  claim 27  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.  
   
   
       29 . The time-bake cooking cycle of  claim 27  wherein the communication is through a network medium.  
   
   
       30 . The time bake cooking cycle of  claim 27  wherein the communication is through an intranet.  
   
   
       31 . The time-bake cooking cycle according to  claim 25  and further comprising a data input cycle prior to the freeze cycle wherein user-defined operating parameters are stored in the controller.  
   
   
       32 . The time-bake cooking cycle according to  claim 25  and further comprising a cool cycle following the warm cycle.  
   
   
       33 . The time-bake cooking cycle according to  claim 25  and further comprising a cool cycle following the bake cycle.  
   
   
       34 . The time-bake cooking cycle according to  claim 31  wherein the user-defined operating parameters comprise an End Time representing the time of day that the cooking of the food is to be completed and a Bake Time representing the length of time to cook the food.  
   
   
       35 . The time-bake cooking cycle according to  claim 31  wherein the bake cycle is initiated at the time of day corresponding to the End Time minus the Bake Time.