Subjacent Receptacle Or Director Patents (Class 99/446)
  • Publication number: 20040040447
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus equipped with heaters and a method of controlling the same. An aspect of the present invention is to increase convenience of a user by identifying a kind of an accessory, such as a wire rack, a crumb tray or the like, present in a cooking cavity based on a variation in an inner temperature of a cooking cavity at an initial operating stage of a cooking mode using the heaters and automatically performing the ON/OFF control mode of the heaters suitable for a corresponding accessory. A cooking apparatus is provided including two or more heaters installed in a first position of a cooking cavity heating food, the crumb tray is inserted in a second position of the cooking cavity and is used to contain the food in cooking modes using the heaters, and a temperature detection unit is installed between the first and second positions to detect an inside temperature of the cooking cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Won-Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 6684757
    Abstract: Generally speaking, a latching valve is easily installed in the path of gas flow on a gas grill. Once a grill is turned on, an automatically activated on/off switch activates a electric timing device, which begins monitoring time. The timing device is adjustable by the user to set the amount of time it will accrue prior to sending power to a latching valve, terminating the gas flow. So, if a gas grill is inadvertently left on, the latching valve will receive power and be closed, saving fuel and preventing a possible hazard. At this point a reset button on the timing device must be pressed to reopen the latching valve. But, if a gas grill is used and shut off prior to that time set by the timing device no action will result from the Gas Grill Propane Monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventor: Bradley Frank Petersen
  • Publication number: 20030226452
    Abstract: Cooking apparatus having an enclosed cooking chamber with a radiant heater suspended in the upper portion thereof provides radiant and forced air convection heating to cook food products. The food is contained in a cooking tray which has a screen or perforated bottom to allow grease, oils and crumbs to pass through the cooking tray. A drip tray below the cooking tray catches liquids and/or crumbs which fall through the cooking tray. A shell positioned within the cooking chamber forms air plenums adjacent the sides of the chamber so that air circulating within the chamber is passed through the cooking tray. The food is cooked by a combination of the hot air passing through the product carried on the cooking tray and radiant heat from the radiant heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Inventor: Paul R. Artt
  • Patent number: 6658993
    Abstract: An oven including a housing, a heater for heating the interior space of the housing, and a conveyor belt which extends between an inlet and an outlet of the housing, for passing products which are to be heated through the interior space, which conveyor belt has at least one helical path with turns which are situated above one another and are supported by guides, which extend in a corresponding way to the turns and are supported by bearing arms transversely below the turns. A collector is also provided for the collection of liquids which may accumulate on the bearing arms and/or guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: CFS Bakel B.V.
    Inventor: Hendrikus Antonius Jacobus Kuenen
  • Patent number: 6655264
    Abstract: A steam cooker composed of: a water reservoir for water that is to be converted into steam by a steam generator; a cooking enclosure for receiving a cooking vessel and/or a support provided with flow passages, the cooking enclosure being arranged to be supplied with steam from the steam generator; an intermediate collecting receptacle associated with the cooking enclosure and disposed for collecting liquid that appears in the cooking enclosure during a cooking operation, the intermediate collecting receptacle having a pouring orifice via which liquid can flow from the intermediate collecting receptacle into the water reservoir; and a removable closing member associated with the pouring orifice for selectively blocking flow of liquid via the pouring orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Seb S.A.
    Inventor: Fabrice Rossi
  • Patent number: 6644175
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a barbecue grill assembly 10 including a cooking surface assembly 12 positioned in a cooking chamber 14. The cooking surface assembly 12 includes a first portion or griddle 16 and a second portion or grate 18. The second portion or grate 18 has a plurality of openings 32 and a plurality of ribs 33. A transition wall 40 is positioned between the first portion 16 and the second portion 18. A duct 46 depends from a lower surface 48 of the first portion 16. The duct 46 has an end 47 that is cooperatively positioned with the aperture 30 to form a passageway or channel 50. The passageway 50 is adapted to permit the drainage of grease and other byproducts generated by cooking food on the assembly 12 past a plurality of burner tubes and to a lower portion of the cooking chamber 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Weber-Stephen Products Co.
    Inventors: Robert T. Stephen, Adrian A. Bruno, J. Michael Alden
  • Publication number: 20030200961
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and system is described for catching juices dripping from food being cooked in an infrared cooking apparatus, while still allowing infrared radiation to directly irradiate the food. A drip pan has base plate with an outer perimeter and an outer sidewall extending therefrom. The base plate has one or more apertures, each with an inner sidewall extending from its edges. The drip pan can hold a liquid, and the aperture and inner sidewall form a passage for infrared radiation through the liquid. The amount of drippings falling from the food being cooked through the passage may be reduced by covering the passage with a perforated cover, or by angling the inner sides defining the passage to overhang the aperture in the base plate. An adjustable solid cover may be mounted to the drip pan to allow the amount of infrared radiation reaching the food to be controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventor: Michael George Tiernan
  • Patent number: 6630184
    Abstract: A controllable electric toasting apparatus primarily for use in the home permits power to be safely disconnected when items become jammed inside. In addition, a carriage assembly inside the toasting apparatus can be raised during a toasting cycle so that the items can be viewed without interrupting the toasting cycle. Also, if an item is smaller than usual and placed in the toasting apparatus, the carriage assembly can be raised beyond its initial raised position to allow convenient removal of the small item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Goldus Industrial Ltd.
    Inventors: C. K. Chung, C. F.
  • Patent number: 6622616
    Abstract: A poultry roaster for use on top of a gas-fired cooker includes a barrel-shaped cover that designed to resemble a beer keg and a carrying handle which resembles a pair of oppositely facing beer taps. An open bottom of the cover closely fits to a bottom pan having a plurality of upwardly punched lower heat distribution holes. The cover is retained to the bottom pan by a pair of latch hooks and mating headed pins. A heat deflector includes a circular plate for supporting a basting adapter, and a downwardly dependent annular rim which closely engages the bottom pan. The circular plate includes a plurality of upper heat distribution holes. A heat diffuser chamber formed between the bottom pan and the heat deflector provides even heat flow to an inner cooking chamber of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Dutro Company
    Inventor: Ty Measom
  • Patent number: 6607805
    Abstract: The invention is a rubber or plastic mat with four sidewalls for collecting the grease drippings from a conventional barbecue grill. The mat is placed on the ground and the grill is simply rolled onto the mat. Specially shaped grease barriers allow the wheels of the grill to be rolled over them to place the grill over the center of the mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Inventor: Tom Clark
  • Patent number: 6595115
    Abstract: A cooking device comprises a lower cooking plate including a flat top area, parallel, widthwise ribs on the top area, and pairs of arcuate, opposite projections on the top area; an upper cooking plate including a flat bottom area, parallel, widthwise ribs on the bottom area, and holes at the bottom area; and a temperature sensor including a circuit board in the upper plate, temperature sensing units disposed at the holes and being coupled to the circuit board, and an indicator lamp on the device. Foodstuffs placed in the pairs of arcuate, opposite projection are held in position by the ribs with the pointed ends of the sensing units inserted into the foodstuffs. Temperature of the foodstuffs is sensed by the sensing units. Further, the lamp is lit if the foodstuffs are thoroughly cooked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Splendor Corp.
    Inventor: Yu-Yuan Lin
  • Patent number: 6595116
    Abstract: A cooking device comprises two L-shaped supports, a lower cooking plate on the supports, an upper cooking plate matingly engaged with the lower plate and including a hollow protrusion at either side, a handle pivotably secured to the supports and including two first side slots, two sliding members inserted through the first slots and the protrusions for pivotably securing the upper plate to the handle and being adjustable for taking account of variations in thickness of steaks, and a second side slot adjacent one first slot, and a fastening mechanism secured to the handle. The device further guides oil drops formed by the thoroughly cooked steaks to flow from the pivoted, slanted upper plate to the lower plate, and is capable of standing upright for saving storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Splendor Corp.
    Inventor: Yu-Yuan Lin
  • Publication number: 20030116032
    Abstract: A suspension frame for supporting trays includes support rails formed by legs which have cutouts and vertical sections having apertures in order to make it possible to wet the suspension frame with cleaning liquid as far as possible on all sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: Convotherm Elektrogerate GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Fischhaber, Lutz Riefenstein, Dario Manicardi, Giovanni Allesina
  • Patent number: 6575082
    Abstract: An air funnel roaster coated with non-stick inside and outside comprises a circular roaster body with handles and a funnel affixed vertically in the center which is open to the bottom exterior of the body, a roaster cover with handle, a steaming plate, and a supporting rack. A circular concave space is formed on the bottom of the roaster body, and a steaming plate or a supporting rack can be put above the concave space. When a steaming plate is put above the concave space with water, the roaster is heated to steam foods. When a supporting rack is put above the concave space with spices, the roaster is heated to smoke foods. And when the rack is used without anything in the concave space, the roaster is used to bake foods. And the roaster can also used in baking a whole fowl with the fowl placed vertically over the funnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Inventor: Huo-Hsiung Liao
  • Patent number: 6546850
    Abstract: A meatloaf pan with removable, hinged pan insert is disclosed, comprising an elongated, rectangular meatloaf pan and an elongated, rectangular pan insert. The pan insert has two insert side panels that are hinged at their bottom edges to the longitudinal edges of the bottom of the pan insert. The hinges allow the insert side walls to support the meatloaf, bread or other product during baking, and fold downward to allow access to the product for cutting and serving purposes. As such, the present invention can be used as a serving tray. Removal of the pan insert is facilitated in one of three ways. First, built-in hand grips in the flanges located on the pan insert. Second, a set of handles that connect to the flanges located on the pan insert. Third, a sliding unit that slidably inserts into the cavity formed by the rolled edges of the flanges on the pan insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Inventor: Yumi Akiyama-Warren
  • Patent number: 6526873
    Abstract: A cooking appliance having an upper cooking unit pivotally mounted on a lower cooking unit for rotation substantially about a horizontal axis into three different positions, a first position in which the upper cooking unit is on top of the lower cooking unit to form a contact grill, a second position in which the upper cooking unit is substantially horizontally oriented with and parallel to the lower cooking unit to form therewith a double grooved griddle, and a third, generally upright, position intermediate the first and second positions to provide access to the lower cooking plate when the appliance is being used as a contact grill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Procter-Silex, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Brady
  • Patent number: 6526875
    Abstract: The invention involves an improved cooking system of the type having a cooking vessel with watertight lower portion of a concave interior, having side walls generally upwardly extending from a bottom. The improvement is the addition of an annular, substantially hemi-toroidal insert. The insert is dimensioned to engage an inner surface of the side walls thereby removably supporting the insert within the cooking vessel remote from the bottom. There is a central opening in the middle of the insert, above the bottom of the vessel, whereby the bottom of the vessel may be accessed. In this way, utensils may be employed to manipulate the food cooking in the bottom of the pot or wok, ingredients may be added to the food cooking in the bottom of the pot or wok, water may be added to the bottom of the pot or wok, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Inventor: DuWayne M. Dzbinski
  • Patent number: 6523461
    Abstract: An apparatus configured to permit the use of charcoal for cooking in a gas barbecue grill, the gas grill having a bottom casting containing a gas burner element, a cooking rack supported thereabove, and a top casting rotatably affixed thereto. The apparatus includes a tray configured to be received within the bottom casting and the tray includes a pair of handles. Each of the handles includes a proximal end and a distal end, and the handles are rotatably connected to the tray at the proximal ends and the distal ends are configured to support the cooking rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: W. C. Bradley Company
    Inventors: Robert Johnston, Bradley R. Gillespie
  • Patent number: 6508165
    Abstract: The present invention is a barbecue grill assembly having a frame with a work surface secured by a sliding mechanism, such as a sliding track assembly. The present invention alternatively provides a work surface being a slidable burner cover assembly for an auxiliary burner of a barbecue gas grill. The assembly includes a burner cover having a body portion disposed over the auxiliary burner in a closed position and a slide mechanism attached to the grill and the cover to allow the cover to be slidably moved from the closed position to a second position wherein the auxiliary burner is exposed from underneath the body portion of the burner cover. The slide mechanism also provides extended cantilever support for the work surface in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Weber-Stephen Products Co.
    Inventor: Mark Johnson
  • Patent number: 6502504
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for preparing food, such as a grilling or baking device, comprising a unit for heating air (5) and possibly a rack. Above the unit for heating air (5) several run-off grooves (11) for the juices of the food being prepared are arranged at a distance from each other and preferably in the same plane. Between the device for heating the air (5) and the run-off grooves (11) at least one device (28) is positioned for deflecting the heated air which rises from the air-heating device in the direction of the run-off grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Inventor: Ernst Gschwind
  • Patent number: 6502501
    Abstract: An apparatus for cooking poultry consists of a shallow pan, and a lid which covers the pan and which is provided with a centrally located opening. The lid supports an upwardly extending, hollow, perforated poultry-supporting tower on its upper surface. The detachable tower is mounted over the centrally located opening such that steam generated within the pan during cooking rises up into the tower, escapes through the perforations thereby infusing the poultry. The lid is also provided with at least one drain hole so that the drippings from the cooking poultry can be trapped within the pan, and re-infused into the poultry. The tower is detachable from the lid, and is interchangeable with alternative towers of differing lengths and circumferences to accommodate various sizes of poultry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Inventor: Thomas W. Simon
  • Patent number: 6499479
    Abstract: A barbecue grill accessory that includes an inverted V-shaped burner cover having drip channels formed along opposed side edges thereof that are each formed to channel drippings toward a first end of the burner cover. A method of using the barbecue grill accessory is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Inventor: Nathan E. McLamb
  • Patent number: 6487964
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods for cooking meat are provided. The apparatus preferably includes a base having at least one liquid container connected to an upper surface of the base and a liquid collecting cavity formed in the upper surface of the base between outer walls of the liquid container and outer peripheries of the base. The apparatus also preferably includes at least one separate meat infusor positioned to contact the base and to overlie and substantially surround at least inner walls of the liquid container. The meat infusor preferably has an infusor body and a plurality of openings positioned in side peripheries of the infusor body so that when liquid positioned in the liquid container heats, steam from the liquid travels through the infusor body, through the openings therein, and toward meat positioned to overlie the infusor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Innovative Culinary Concepts, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Phillip Jack Snoke, George C. McKerrow, Jr., Ronald William Scharbo
  • Patent number: 6487963
    Abstract: A grill device includes a connecting unit which pivotally connects upper and lower grill units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Eupa International Corporation
    Inventor: Tsan-Kuen Wu
  • Patent number: 6488022
    Abstract: A portable outdoor cooker for cooking foods is provided. The cooker comprises a substantially circular heat transfer plate, a plurality of individually controllable burners disposed beneath the heat transfer plate, and a frame assembly for supporting the heat transfer plate and burners above the ground and in relation to one another. The heat transfer plate has a center and a perimeter, and includes a cooking surface. The plurality of burners includes an inner burner and an outer burner, the outer burner being positioned adjacent the perimeter of the heat transfer plate and the inner burner being positioned closer to the center of the heat transfer plate than the outer burner such that the cooking surface can be made hotter adjacent the perimeter of the heat transfer plate than adjacent the center of the heat transfer plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Inventor: Robert A. Shingler
  • Patent number: 6484624
    Abstract: A grill device includes an upper grill unit pivoted to a lower grill unit so as to rotate about an axis between an open position, and a closed position, in which, the upper and lower grill units cooperatively define a cooking space therebetween. A seasoning supplying unit includes a vessel mounted in the cooking space to receive a body of seasonings in liquid form, and a thermal conductive dispenser. The thermal conductive dispenser is extendible into the vessel when the upper grill unit is positioned at the closed position, and defines a plurality of channels. Each of the channel has an inlet that is immersed in seasonings in the vessel, and an outlet that is exposed from the vessel when the upper grill unit is positioned at the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Eupa International Corporation
    Inventor: Tsan-Kuen Wu
  • Patent number: 6481343
    Abstract: A cooking grate for a grill, such as a barbecue grill, is comprised of a plurality of generally elongate rail members assembled in a nesting relationship to form a first and second cooking surface. The first cooking surface is formed by a generally flat surface on each of the rail members, the flat surfaces abutting to form a substantially smooth surface, with a plurality of elongate apertures therein through which juices produced by cooking food may flow. Each rail member has a gutter along its length which underlies approximately half of each of the apertures for catching a portion of the juices and diverting it from the heat source below. The grate may be reversed and the gutters form the second cooking surface which is similar to a conventional grate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Empire Comfort Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald P. Rigney, Lloyd Maschhoff
  • Publication number: 20020157542
    Abstract: A domestic electrical appliance for cooking with steam, having a steam production device (43) composed of a steam reservoir (45) associated with a heating unit (46), a cooking enclosure (41) supplied with steam by the steam production device, and a steam detector (49) associated with elements for reducing the power of the heating unit, the cooking enclosure (41) having at least one exhaust (61, 61′, 62, 62′) to the outside. The cooking enclosure (41) communicates through a descending conduit (63) with a chamber (64) of the appliance in which the steam detector (49) is disposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Applicant: SEB S.A.
    Inventor: Nicolas Pretre
  • Patent number: 6467399
    Abstract: A meat and poultry roaster which is characterized by a one-piece drip pan or bowl and marinade container, wherein the marinade container extends upwardly from the center of the drip pan for supporting the meat or poultry in an upright position in an oven or cooker, and contains marinade for seasoning the meat or poultry. The drip pan or bowl and marinade container may be constructed of a rigid metal such as stainless steel and aluminum heat-resistant glassware or plastic, or it may be built of a flexible, disposable material such as aluminum foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Inventor: Charles M. Boutte
  • Patent number: 6463924
    Abstract: A grease collection device for a grill for catching grease falling from an open grill cover. The device includes a bottom wall which is elongate and has a first end edge, a second end edge, a first side edge and a second side edge. A first vertical wall is attached to and extends along the length of the first side edge. A second vertical wall is attached to and extending along the length of the second side edge. A hook member is attached to and extends along a length of an upper edge of the first vertical wall. A cup member has a base wall and a peripheral wall. The peripheral wall has a top edge defining an opening into the cup member. The top edge is attached to the second end edge such that the opening is generally within a plane of the bottom wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Inventor: Kevin J. Osterman
  • Patent number: 6457401
    Abstract: A flavor plate is used in a gas barbecue to replace the ceramic briquettes or lava rock used previously. The grid that is located above the burner to support ceramic briquettes is also replaced by the flavor plate. The flavor plate has several vertical passages there through but is closed off immediately above a burner of the barbecue to prevent the juices from the food being cooked from contacting the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Onward Multi-Corp. Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore A. Witzel
  • Publication number: 20020134250
    Abstract: A portable griddle stove has two non-stick cooking surfaces, either of which can withstand being on the underside of the cooking surface in use and the heat applied to the underside surface. A heat shield and heat diffuser control the temperature applied to the underside of the cooking surface by providing radiant heat to the center portion of the cooking surface and cooling the combustion gas diffused to the perimeter of the cooking surface. Secondary air provided through openings in case the and heat shield assist in cooling the combustion gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventors: Robert F. Mosher, Norman D. Neugebauer, Randall L. May, Robert L. Lawhon
  • Patent number: 6450085
    Abstract: Apparatus for cooking foods by heating with heat transmitted from outside to a product to be cooked by a current of hot air, wherein, substantially, a hot-air circuit is formed in an enclosed space and the product to be cooked rests on a receiving element (10) for the product to be cooked forming a receiving base (11), wherein air is flowable through the receiving base (11) of the receiving element (10) for the product to be cooked and the hot air is guided so that it flows through the product to be cooked substantially at right angles to the receiving base (11) of the receiving element (10) for the product to be cooked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Inventor: Gottfried Riesselmann
  • Patent number: 6439110
    Abstract: A frying pan is constructed to include a pan body, the pan body having a flat circular frying wall upwardly protruded from a flat bottom thereof, a step extended around the periphery of the flat circular frying wall, and a plurality of L-shaped hooks equiangularly spaced around the frying wall, and an annular oil filter fitted onto the flat circular frying wall and supported on the step in flush with the flat circular frying wall for filtering excessive edible oil when frying food on the frying wall, the annular oil filter having a plurality of notched bottom mounting lugs respectively coupled to the hooks of the pan body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Inventor: Shao Chiu Lin
  • Patent number: 6439108
    Abstract: A grill device includes a U-shaped frame that is pivoted to a lower grill unit and that has two lateral arms. An upper grill unit is disposed between and is pivoted to the lateral arms by two first pivots. A space adjusting unit includes second, third and fourth pivots, and pivotally connected first and second links. The first link is pivoted to the upper grill unit via the second pivot which is disposed frontwardly of and which extends in a direction parallel to the first pivot. The second link is pivoted to the first link and one of the lateral arms via the third and fourth pivots, respectively, which extend in directions parallel to the first pivots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: EUPA International Corporation
    Inventor: Tsan-Kuen Wu
  • Patent number: 6435078
    Abstract: An integrated system including an oven and a separator for converting a grease/water mixture exiting the oven into a grease component and a gray water component is disclosed. The oven, which may be considered to be independent of the integrated system, includes a reservoir that acts as a water vapor source and a drip pan for capturing the juice and/or grease that exude from a food stuff as it cooks. A water supply line in fluid communication with reservoir provide for clearing the surface of the reservoir of grease slicks or a grease layer that might interfere with the humidity or water vapor content of the oven. A controller may be provided to regulate the frequency and duration of the clearing of the reservoir surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Thermaco, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Bruce W. Kyles
  • Patent number: 6431628
    Abstract: A mobile pizza kitchen utilizes a pickup truck with a camper shell that covers the cargo bed. A radiation type intermittently operated oven and refrigerated case are located in the bed and covered by the shell. A clutched AC generator is installed under the hood of the truck and is driven by a serpentine belt connected to the engine. The electricity from this generator is used to power the oven, refrigerated case and other equipment. One type of oven that is suitable for this mobile pizza kitchen utilizes quartz halogen lights which produce ultraviolet and infrared radiation. In order to cook pizza, the driver must exit the cabin of the vehicle and open the tailgate and the rear door of the shell. Cooking occurs while the vehicle is stopped. The oven and the case are vented to atmosphere to prevent overheating of the rear compartment. The engine of the truck is left on while cooking so that the generator can produce electricity for the oven and the refrigerated case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Kbell Pizza Enterprises, L.L.C.A.
    Inventor: Richard A. Bell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6427582
    Abstract: A cooking container adapted for roasting large fowl has a pot shaped base member and a top member shaped like an inverted pot that jointly form a high heating chamber proportioned to receive a full sized fowl in a vertical orientation, A heat pipe extends upward from an opening in the bottom of the base member and enters the hollow interior of the dressed fowl. A trivet in the heating chamber holds the fowl out of contact with the very hot bottom of the base member. Relative rotation of the base member and top member opens a notch into which a meat thermometer may be entered. The roaster configuration facilitates outdoor cooking where available heat sources, such as gas cookers, barbecue stands or campfires, concentrate heating at the base of an overlying food container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Dutro Company
    Inventor: Ty Measom
  • Patent number: 6425318
    Abstract: A barbecuing cooker uses infrared rays to cook the food contained therein to provide excellent taste and nutrition and to permit easy cleaning of the cooking chamber as well as handy mounting or dismounting of spits. The barbecuing cooker comprises a main body with side and rear reflecting plates as the inner walls of a cooking chamber, an upper and lower door for opening or closing the inlet opening of the cooking chamber, a ceramic heater, spits provided rotatably through gear wheels, a motor for operating the gear wheels, a control panel for controlling the ceramic heater and motor, an oil receiver and a parching cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Paseco Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gwan-Hee Kim
  • Publication number: 20020096056
    Abstract: A Microwave Cooking Tray and Sleeve Assembly comprises a tray for holding food to be cooked, a transparent heat seal covering the tray, and a sleeve designed to hold the tray. In order to cook the food in the tray, the assembly is placed in a microwave oven. During cooking, side vents on the tray channel steam out of the tray. Holes in the sleeve allow the steam to easily escape the box after passing through the vents in the tray. After a short period of cooking in the microwave oven, the tray is removed from the sleeve, the heat seal is removed from the tray, and the food in the tray is ready to eat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Applicant: Steamway Franchise Sales, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary L. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 6422134
    Abstract: A grill apparatus for grilling large quantities of food. The grill apparatus includes a drum support assembly including a plurality of leg members, and also including cross members interconnecting said leg members; and also including a drum member having a side wall which is securely mounted upon top ends of the leg members and also having end walls and further having an opening disposed through the side wall and into the drum member and also having a hole being disposed through one of the end walls; and also includes a lid being hingedly attached to the drum member and being closable over the opening; and further includes a door being hingedly attached to the drum member and being closable over the hole; and also includes a grate assembly including a grate member being removably disposed in the drum member; and further includes tray members being attached to the drum member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Inventors: Elmor Barksdale, Kesha Green
  • Patent number: 6418835
    Abstract: A rotisserie oven structure includes a main body, an oil-collecting plate, an oil-guidance plate, electric heating tubes, turning trays or a rotary basket, a roasting plate, a top cover, steam-tight silicone straps and a heat circulating box. The heat from the electric heating tubes will flow into the lower inner room of the heat circulating box, and the heat is blown upward to the upper inner room by the reversal rotation of the inner fan. Because of the slope formed at the upper part of the housing and the close contact of flanged ribs and grooves, the heat in the upper part of the housing can be prevented from flowing downwardly, and the heat will flow through the upper series of heat circulating perforations into the interior of the main body so as to make the food be roasted evenly and to shorten the roasting time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Inventor: Ching-Mei Lin
  • Patent number: 6415710
    Abstract: A grease collection system is disclosed for use with a generally portable cooking device of the type designed to isolate grease and other liquids released from food during the cooking. process, said cooking device having a cooking chamber with a grease discharge area through which said grease and other liquids may exit said cooking chamber in a generally continuous flow during the cooking process. A top member is provided with a slot therethrough. A plurality of support means engage said top member so as to provide sufficient clearance such that a grease collection tray may be slidably positioned thereunder. In practice, said cooking device is positioned on said top member such that said slot is vertically disposed below said grease discharge area and said grease collection tray is further vertically disposed below said slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Inventor: Gary Roger Boone
  • Patent number: 6401601
    Abstract: A grill device includes two independently controllable cooking sets confining two isolated cooking spaces such that two different meat pieces can be grilled therein under different cooking temperatures at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Tsann Kuen USA Inc.
    Inventor: Tsan-Kuen Wu
  • Publication number: 20020066373
    Abstract: An electric grill comprising a large planar surface with shallow sides defining a first cooking surface and an adjustable grillpan carrying a second cooking surface. The first cooking surface is smooth and flat, suitable for cooking or grilling foods. The second cooking surface comprises a plurality of parallel ribs along its surface, and is adapted for grilling foods. Sloped channels between the ribs carry grease away from the food while it cooks. A reservoir on the downside of the sloping surface collects the run-off. The parallel ribs are flat on top, but are deeper as the channels approach the reservoir. Placement of the grillpan within the structure comprising the first cooking surface generates three separate cooking compartments. Juices from different foods cooked simultaneously on the three respective grill surfaces are thereby prevented from mixing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventor: Robert Grohs
  • Patent number: 6397733
    Abstract: A food roasting apparatus has a roasting main body and an upholding device is mounted on the roasting main body at the far end with respect to the oil-collected hole. The upholding device includes an upholding element and a covering body, which can shield the upholding element and can be locked at a bottom of the roasting main body. The upholding element has a pulling rod part. Two ends of the pulling rod part are forwardly bent to form a crossing part. The end of the crossing part is again inwardly bent to form a stopping part. With respect to the crossing part, the roasting main body and the cover body both has indentations for crossing over.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Uni-Splendor Corp.
    Inventor: Yu-Yuan Lin
  • Patent number: 6397730
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sandwich consisting of two toasted slices of bread and an edible filling placed between said slices. According to the invention, the filling is essentially arranged in the inner region of the surfaces of the slices of bread and the slices of bread are pressed together in a peripheral edge area with greater force than in the inner region so that the slices of bread adhere to each other and form a cohesive sandwich arrangement, whereby the filling is packed between the slices of bread. The invention also relates to a method for the production of a toasted sandwich that consists of two slices of bread and an edible filling placed between said slices. According to the invention, the filling is initially and essentially arranged in the inner region of the surface of a first underlying slice of bread. A second slice of bread is subsequently placed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Inventors: Ortwin Steinbach, Marion Ferstl
  • Patent number: 6393970
    Abstract: A grill device includes two independently controllable cooking sets confining two isolated cooking spaces such that two different meat pieces can be grilled therein under different cooking temperatures at the same time. Each of the cooking sets has a cooking plate provided with first and second grill ribs alternately disposed thereon. The first grill rib has a horizontal flat portion and a curved portion extending curvedly and downwardly from the flat portion. The second grill rib has a horizontal flat portion, and a curved portion extending curvedly and upwardly from the flat portion. The curved portion of the second grill rib has an elevation higher than those of the flat portions of the first and second ribs to prevent sliding out a meat piece from the cooking plate when the meat piece is disposed on the flat portions of the first and second grill ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Tsann Kuen USA Inc.
    Inventor: Tsan-Kuen Wu
  • Patent number: 6389959
    Abstract: A multipurpose grill for grilling food items anywhere standard electricity is available. The multipurpose grill includes a lower housing member that has plurality of grilling sections, each thermostatically controlled, and a plurality of upper housing members for grilling the top sides of the food being cooked. The upper and lower housing members are pivotally connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Inventor: Harold E. Robertson
  • Patent number: 6389961
    Abstract: A grill plate includes a plate body having a central fluid collecting groove between left and right cooking plate portions. The central fluid collecting groove has opposite front and rear ends, and is defined by a groove wall having opposite lateral wall portions that extend upwardly from a groove bottom. The groove bottom inclines downwardly from the front end to the rear end. Each of the left and right cooking plate portions has an outer peripheral edge and an inner edge connected integrally to a respective lateral wall portion, and inclines upwardly from the inner edge to the outer peripheral edge. A surrounding wall extends uprightly from the outer peripheral edges of the left and right cooking plate portions and the groove bottom at the front end to close the latter, and is formed with an opening in fluid communication with the rear end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Tsann Kuen USA INC
    Inventor: Tsan-Kuen Wu