Oven

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved oven configured to heat or cook an item and preferably pizzas. The oven includes at least one heating gas pathway for heating gas moving within the oven and an item supporting surface on which to place the item to be heated. This item supporting surface has a defined degree of thermal communication with the heating gas pathway. The oven also includes a heating chamber located above the item supporting surface, with this heating chamber being in thermal communication with the upper surface of the item to be heated and thermal communication with the heating gas pathway. This heating chamber also includes a transition port for heating gases. When the oven is used the item is heated by thermal communication through the item supporting surface to a first degree and by thermal communication with the heating chamber by a second degree.

1 . An oven for heating an item, which includes:
 at least one defined heating gas pathway for heating gas moving within the oven;   at least one item supporting surface adapted to support an item to be heated, the item supporting surface having a defined degree of thermal communication with said at least one heating gas pathway;   at least one heating chamber located above the item supporting surface and in thermal communication with the upper surface of the item to be heated and in thermal communication with the heating gas pathway, said heating chamber including a transition port for heating gasses; and   at least one radiation member in contact with at least one heating gas pathway, said radiation member being adapted to radiate heat into the heating chamber,   wherein the item is heated by thermal communication through the item supporting surface to a first degree and by thermal communication with the heating chamber by a second degree.   
   
   
       2 . The oven of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heating gas pathway extends substantially through the heating chamber. 
   
   
       3 . The oven of  claim 2  wherein the heating chamber includes a transition port for the heating gas pathway adapted to direct at least one heating gas pathway in a second pass over the radiation member over a side of the radiation member opposite the heating chamber in which a first pass is made. 
   
   
       4 . The oven of  claim 3  wherein the radiation member defines at least one spoiler adjacent to a transition port of the heating chamber, said spoiler extending substantially towards the item supporting surface. 
   
   
       5 . The oven of  claim 4  wherein the heating chamber is defined by a lid portion configured to substantially cover the base portion and the item supporting surface. 
   
   
       6 . The oven of  claim 5  wherein said at least one radiation element is formed within the lid portion. 
   
   
       7 . The oven of  claim 5  wherein the lid portion includes an outer cover configured to substantially cover said at least one radiation element. 
   
   
       8 . The oven of  claim 5  wherein the outer cover includes at least one exhaust aperture. 
   
   
       9 . The oven of  claim 2  further comprising a heating gas deflection member provided below the item supporting surface. 
   
   
       10 . The oven of  claim 9  wherein the heating gas deflection member is adapted to deflect the heating gasses to provide separation of the item supporting surface and the at least one heating gas pathway where said pathway runs below the item supporting surface. 
   
   
       11 . The oven of  claim 9  wherein the heating gas deflection member defines a series of steps extending away from a heating gas inlet in the oven base portion. 
   
   
       12 . The oven of  claim 11  wherein said steps are adapted to create a turbulent boundary layer for a given heating gas flow-rate. 
   
   
       13 . The oven of  claim 9  wherein the underside of the item support surface is fixed to the deflection member. 
   
   
       14 . The oven of  claim 1  wherein the depth of the heating gas pathway above the supporting surface is greater than the depth of the heating gas pathway below the item supporting surface. 
   
   
       15 . The oven as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the depth of the heating gas pathway above the item supporting surface is two times greater than the depth of the heating gas pathway below the item supporting surface. 
   
   
       16 . The oven of  claim 1  substantially formed from sheet metal. 
   
   
       17 . The oven of  claim 16  wherein the sheet metal has a thickness of substantially 0.8 mm or less. 
   
   
       18 . The oven of  claim 1  substantially formed from stainless steel. 
   
   
       19 . The oven of  claim 6  wherein the radiation element is formed substantially from stainless steel. 
   
   
       20 . The oven of  claim 6  wherein the radiation element has a thickness of substantially 0.5 mm or less. 
   
   
       21 . The oven of  claim 20  wherein the radiation element has a thickness of substantially 0.3 mm 
   
   
       22 . The oven of  claim 1  wherein said at least one defined heating gas pathway begins at the exterior of the oven, whereby an external supply of heating gas is capable of working the oven. 
   
   
       23 . The oven of  claim 22  wherein said at least one defined heating gas pathway begins at the base of the oven, whereby the oven is capable of being worked by being placed on a source of heating gas. 
   
   
       24 . (canceled)