Apparatus and methods for simple and safe heating of craft object(s)

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for safe-heated transformation of one or more two- or three-dimensional craft objects (FIG. 1 ). A color or symbol coded push-button control panel allows for the execution of a complete cycle of use for a particular craft object with little or no opportunity for operator error. For example, pressing a single button would control the temperature, time of heating, time of cool down, and locking of the access door to the heated object until after the cool down period is complete, thereby providing for effective and safe completion of a correspondingly coded craft object.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toy electric oven operable to heat an item, comprising:
 an insulated housing containing a heating chamber with a heating element,   an automatically lockable door coupled to said housing and immediately adjacent to said heating chamber,   a cooling system including a powered cooling fan; and   a control panel and controller, wherein said control panel contains a plurality of depictions, pads or buttons that are coded by color, symbol or both and that executes upon actuation of a single particular depiction, pad or button, a predetermined heating program, said predetermined heating program including locking said door, heating to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined duration, cooling for a predetermined period after heating ceases, and unlocking said door, and said predetermined program corresponding with a like-coded item or medium to be heated or a cooling program, wherein each predetermined heating program utilizes a different temperature and duration that correspond to a particular like-coded item or medium.   
     
     
         2 . The oven of  claim 1 , further comprising a cooling program that includes a safety feature whereby said lockable door remains locked until a cooling cycle is complete when a depiction, pad or button corresponding to said cooling program initiates the cooling program or upon loss of power to said oven. 
     
     
         3 . The oven of  claim 1 , wherein said door further contains a window through which said item in the heating chamber is viewable and said door is a least 3 inches wide by 3 inches high such that a human hand fits within said heating chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The oven of  claim 1 , wherein said housing contains a window through which said item in the heating chamber is viewable and said door is a least 3 inches wide by 3 inches high such that a human hand fits within said heating chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The oven of  claim 1 , further including a texture depicting a design or pattern. 
     
     
         6 . A method of processing a craft item with an oven having a heating chamber, control interface, and predetermined heating and cooling programs, comprising the steps of:
 actuating a single depiction, keypad or button, thereby executing a particular predetermined heating and cooling program, said predetermined heating and cooling program including locking said door, heating to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined duration, cooling for a predetermined period after heating ceases, and unlocking said door, and said predetermined program corresponding to a medium of a particular craft item, wherein each predetermined heating program utilizes a different temperature and duration that correspond to a particular like-coded craft item.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said medium is selected from the group consisting of a ceramic item, a clay item, a stained glass item, a plastic item, a wax item, and a metal/plastic combination item. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said predetermined heating and cooling program comprises the following:
 1. engage the heating chamber door latch to lock out access to the heating chamber,   2. turn on power to the heating chamber heating element to produce a temperature required for the craft medium corresponding to the depiction, keypad or button actuated,   3. turn off power to the heating chamber heating element after the programmed time has expired,   4. turn on power to the cooling system, thereby providing an airflow to the heating chamber,   5. turn off power to the cooling system after the programmed time has expired; and   6. disengage the heating chamber door latch to allow access to the heating chamber.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the heating and cooling program comprises stopping heat generation and keeping a door of said oven locked until cooling to a predetermined temperature, or for a predetermined time, occurs. 
     
     
         10 . A kit comprising the oven of  claim 1  and one or more of said a like-coded item to be heated. 
     
     
         11 . The toy electric oven of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of depictions, pads or buttons that are coded by color, symbol or both executes, upon actuation of a single depiction, pad or button, said predetermined heating program or a cooling program. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein actuating any of a single depiction, keypad or button, except a cooling program depiction, keypad or button, executes said particular predetermined heating and cooling program.