ARLINGTON, MA - For motorists craving a hot meal on the road, a recently patented invention may revolutionize travel dining: a microwave oven designed to fit snugly into the glove compartment. Daniel Perlman and Jane Katims of Arlington, Massachusetts, have secured patent 6,060,700 for their innovative design, aiming to transform the often-underutilized space into a convenient food-warming hub.
The microwave is designed to be roughly the size of a standard glove compartment, capable of holding a coffee cup or a fast-food container. A hinged door, similar to traditional glove compartment doors, would open downward to provide a stable shelf for holding and serving food. A sliding cup holder within the microwave cavity would prevent spills during transit and operation.
"Many items which were formerly stored in the dashboard area, in particular, the dashboard glove compartment, are now stored in new more accessible door pockets, seat pockets and a centrally located storage console located between the two front seats," the inventors stated in their patent application, justifying the glove compartment's repurposing. The microwave would draw power from the vehicle's battery or alternator, with the high-voltage transformer and power inverter potentially located behind the engine firewall.
Safety is a key consideration in the design. Proposed safety features include preventing the oven from operating while the car is in motion, allowing operation but locking the door until the car is stopped, and disabling the oven during acceleration, braking, or sharp turns. The patent application also mentions an alarm that would sound upon opening the oven door, warning the driver to avoid sudden acceleration to prevent spills. Recessed areas inside the microwave and on the door are designed to collect any spilled liquids or food. Controls, including a timer, power setting, and on/off switch, would be conveniently placed on the dashboard.
This invention joins other recent patents aimed at enhancing the on-the-go dining experience. Jay Walker, founder of Priceline.com, along with Andrew Van Luchene and Joshua Rogers, have patented a system (6,052,667) for fast-food restaurants to manage food waste by offering discounts on slightly older items. Arthur A. Krause and Walter K. Lim have patented a cereal coated with powdered milk (6,051,262), allowing for easy breakfast preparation with just the addition of water. Whether consumers will adopt these new innovations remains to be seen, but the future of on-the-go dining is certainly heating up.
