Kitchen Appliance and Method of Using Same

Abstract

A kitchen appliance includes a housing that defines a cavity. The housing has a housing rim defining an opening to the cavity. A heating or cooling element is disposed within the housing to heat or cool the cavity. A container has a generally hollow interior and a container rim. A lid is sized and shaped to at least partially cover the opening of the container when placed on the container. The lid has an exterior surface and an opposing interior surface. At least one latching mechanism or handle is operable to seal the contents of the appliance within the appliance.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A kitchen appliance comprising:
 a housing having a base and a side wall extending therefrom, the side wall having an exterior surface and an opposing interior surface, at least portions of the interior surface of the side wall and base defining a cavity within the housing, the housing having a housing rim at a first, free edge of the side wall defining an opening to the cavity;   a heating element disposed within the housing proximate the cavity to heat the cavity;   a container having a generally hollow interior and a container rim defining an opening for accessing the interior thereof, the interior being capable of retaining contents therein, the container being sized and shaped to fit within the cavity of the housing;   a lid sized and shaped to at least partially cover the opening of the container when placed on the container, the lid having an exterior surface and an opposing interior surface facing the interior of the container when the lid is placed on the container;   at least one spoon pivotally mounted to the exterior surface of the lid, the spoon being pivotable between an engaged position to retain the lid in sealing engagement with the container rim for inhibiting leakage of the contents from the interior of the container and a disengaged position in which the lid is removable from the container rim;   at least one latch attached to one of the housing and the container, an upper portion of each latch extending above the container rim; and   the spoon engaging the latch in the engaged position.   
     
     
         2 . The kitchen appliance according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a flexible gasket positioned between the lid and container, the gasket being at least partially compressed when the spoon is in the engaged position.   
     
     
         3 . The kitchen appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the spoon is selectively removable from the lid. 
     
     
         4 . A kitchen appliance comprising:
 a housing having a base and a side wall extending therefrom, the side wall having an exterior surface and an opposing interior surface, at least portions of the interior surface of the side wall and base defining a cavity within the housing, the housing having a housing rim at a first, free edge of the side wall defining an opening to the cavity;   a heating element disposed within the housing proximate the cavity to heat the cavity;   a container having a generally hollow interior and a container rim defining an opening for accessing the interior thereof, the interior being capable of retaining contents therein, the container being sized and shaped to fit within the cavity of the housing;   a lid sized and shaped to at least partially cover the opening of the container when placed on the container, the lid having an exterior surface and an opposing interior surface facing the interior of the container when the lid is placed on the container;   at least one latching mechanism having a top surface and pivotally mounted to the exterior surface of the lid, the latching mechanism being pivotable between an engaged position to retain the lid in sealing engagement with the container rim for inhibiting leakage of the contents from the interior of the container and a disengaged position in which the lid is removable from the container rim, the latching member extending from the exterior surface of the lid to beneath a portion of the housing rim such that the top surface of the latching mechanism is at least partially enclosed by the housing rim; and   a rotatable lid knob positioned on the exterior surface of the lid, the latching mechanism being integral to and rotatable with the lid knob.   
     
     
         5 . The appliance of  claim 4 , further comprising at least one overhang portion of the latching mechanism.