Cooking vessel heating apparatus

Abstract

A cooking vessel heating apparatus ( 10 ), including: a top plate ( 12 A) including a first electrical heating element ( 18 A 1 ) for heating the top plate ( 12 A); a bottom plate ( 12 B) including a second electrical heating element ( 18 B) for heating the bottom plate ( 12 A); and a distance setting mechanism ( 52 ), for setting a distance ( 70 ) between the top ( 12 A) and bottom ( 12 B) plates, while maintaining parallelism and horizontal position therebetween.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooking vessel heating apparatus ( 10 ), comprising:
 a top plate ( 12 A) comprising a first electrical heating element ( 18 A 1 ) for heating said top plate ( 12 A);   a bottom plate ( 12 B) comprising a second electrical heating element ( 18 B) for heating said bottom plate ( 12 A); and   a distance setting mechanism ( 52 ), for setting a distance ( 70 ) between said top ( 12 A) and bottom ( 12 B) plates, while maintaining parallelism and horizontal position therebetween.   
     
     
         2 . The cooking vessel heating apparatus ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said setting said distance ( 70 ) between said top ( 12 A) and bottom ( 12 B) plates, is for covering a cooking vessel ( 26 B) disposed between said top ( 12 A) and bottom ( 12 B) plates, the covering by said top plate ( 12 A). 
     
     
         3 . The cooking vessel heating apparatus ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said setting said distance ( 70 ) between said top ( 12 A) and bottom ( 12 B) plates, is for heating a cooking vessel ( 26 B) disposed between said top ( 12 A) and bottom ( 12 B) plates, the heating being by said top heatable plate ( 12 A) attaching said cooking vessel ( 26 B). 
     
     
         4 . The cooking vessel heating apparatus ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a switch ( 42 ), for turning off said second electrical heating element ( 18 B) of said bottom plate ( 12 B), while said distance ( 70 ) between said plates is too small for disposing a cooking vessel ( 26 B) therebetween.   
     
     
         5 . The cooking vessel heating apparatus ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said distance setting mechanism ( 52 ) comprises two arms ( 50 A, 50 B) being pivotally ( 56 ) connected therebetween.