Slow cooker with thermometer for indicating a temperature condition of the food in the cooking vessel

Abstract

A slow cooker having a thermometer such as a capillary thermometer and a graphic display device for indicating a temperature condition of the food product contained within the cooking vessel, the thermometer measuring the temperature of an outer surface of the cooking vessel and the graphic display device displaying the temperature measured by the thermometer but adjusted by a correlation factor to indicate at least an approximate temperature of the food product within the cooking vessel.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A slow cooker comprising:
 a housing;   a cooking vessel having an inner and outer surface, said cooking vessel being configured to be removably nestable within said housing;   a lid configured to removably cover said cooking vessel;   a heating element powered by a power source for heating a food product positioned within the cooking vessel;   a thermometer coupled to said housing and in thermal communication with an outer surface of said cooking vessel when said cooking vessel nests within said housing; and   a graphic display device for indicating a measured adjusted temperature condition of the food product contained within the cooking vessel, the thermometer measuring the temperature of an outer surface of the cooking vessel without power from the power source powering the heating element and the graphic display device displaying the temperature measured by the thermometer but adjusted by a correlation factor to indicate at least an approximate temperature of the food product within the cooking vessel.   
     
     
         24 . The slow cooker of  claim 23  wherein said thermometer includes a temperature sensing device having at least a portion thereof biased against the outer surface of said cooking vessel. 
     
     
         25 . The slow cooker of  claim 24  wherein said temperature sensing device and said graphic display device are operable separate and apart from the power source powering said heating element. 
     
     
         26 . The slow cooker of  claim 24  wherein said temperature sensing device is a capillary thermometer. 
     
     
         27 . The slow cooker of claim  4  wherein said capillary thermometer includes a housing assembly having a top cap, a bottom cap, and a biasing member disposed therebetween for urging said top cap away from said bottom cap, said top cap including a top wall in thermal communication with said temperature sensing device. 
     
     
         28 . The slow cooker of  claim 23  wherein the outer surface of said cooking vessel bears against the top wall of said top cap when said cooking vessel nests within said housing, and wherein said biasing member applies a resistive force to said top cap to ensure that the top wall of said top cap is at all times in thermal communication with the outer surface of said cooking vessel. 
     
     
         29 . The slow cooker of  claim 28  wherein said housing assembly includes a guide mechanism to prevent relative rotation between said top cap and said bottom cap. 
     
     
         30 . The slow cooker of  claim 23  wherein said lid includes a vent. 
     
     
         31 . The slow cooker of  claim 30  wherein said vent is a one-way valve configured to release pressure within said cooking vessel during cooking. 
     
     
         32 . The slow cooker of  claim 31  wherein said vent includes an elastomeric membrane having one or more slits extending therethrough, said membrane configured to displace under pressure such that one or more slits will open when a predetermined pressure force is reached within the cooking vessel. 
     
     
         33 . The slow cooker of  claim 32  wherein said vent is configured to allow an instrument to be inserted into said cooking vessel. 
     
     
         34 . The slow cooker of  claim 23  further including at least two arms coupled to said housing, said at least two arms configured such that a power cord associated with the slow cooker for providing power to the heating element may be wrapped around said at least two arms for storage or transport.