On 23 January 1940, Irving Naxon, born Irving Nachumsohn, received US Patent 2,187,888 for a “Cooking apparatus”.
It was inspired by cholent, the slow cooked Sabbath stew, where time and gentle heat do the work. Naxon’s design brought that idea to an electric countertop cooker that could simmer safely for hours with minimal attention.
Decades later, the same core concept was commercialised at scale and become widely known as the Crock Pot.
This is a reminder that innovation is often an upgrade to tradition, plus a patent that helps an idea travel from community practice to mass market product.
Drawings from US Patent 2,187,888 for a “Cooking apparatus”.
| Country | Kind | No. | Published | Title | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | Patent | 2,187,888 | 23.01.1940 | Cooking apparatus |
Last updated on 18 February 2026