Patents Examined by Timothy Simone
  • Patent number: 6095038
    Abstract: An egg white and yolk separator for separating the egg yolk from the egg white of a broken egg shell of a whole egg. The egg white and yolk separator includes an egg yolk collector for collecting and holding a plurality of egg yolks therein, the collector having an upper surface with a plurality of spaced-apart, concave-shaped compartments formed in the upper surface for holding the yolks and egg whites of a whole egg, wherein each of the compartments includes a slit opening located at the bottom of each of the compartments for draining of egg whites through the slit openings. The egg white and yolk separator also includes an egg white receiving container under the collector for collecting egg whites drained from the slit openings in each of the compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Inventor: Matt Cerro
  • Patent number: 6095037
    Abstract: An improved efficient deep fat fryer is described. Heat exchange within the fryer tank is facilitated by a "U" shaped burner tube which is cantilever mounted from a side of the tank and a burner system is provided to circulate in a spiral pathway products of combustion through the burner tube. An internal turbulator baffle is provided to both facilitate the spiral circulation through the tube and to facilitate heat transfer from the combustion gases to burner tube walls. Exhaust gases are circulated downwardly from the burner tubes to a plenum beneath the tank which also has heat transfer baffle plates to facilitate heat exchange. Ultimately the products are expelled through a flue. The system further comprises filter bags for continuously filtering the oil which are disposed in a sump at the surface of the oil so that oil continually spills from the tank into the sump where it is filtered preferably by one or more bags of cloth material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Pitco Frialator, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Savage, Thomas DeWayne Wendel
  • Patent number: 6095035
    Abstract: A food processing apparatus is disclosed that has a tank with an inlet end and an outlet end. The apparatus has at least two rotary drums received within an interior chamber of the tank, each communicating with the inlet end for urging a food product from the inlet end simultaneously through the drums to the outlet end. A liquid is held at a desired level within the interior chamber. Each of the rotary drums is submerged in the liquid to a predetermined depth. The food processor of the present invention is particularly well suited for increasing the food product volume capacity for particular foods which can only be passed through the drums at a relatively low product level within each drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Lyco Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Zittel, Steven W. Hughes
  • Patent number: 6095036
    Abstract: A hermetic sealing assembly for refrigerators in machines for vending prepackaged foodstuffs, such as sandwiches, toasts, small pizzas or the like comprising a sliding plate which is moved in an axial and planar direction by actuation means and is adapted to act as a sealing element for a refrigeration chamber during food storage and as a removable support, during vending, for a stack of metallic containers which contain the prepackaged food to be dispensed. The lowermost container of the stack rests on the plate and can instead fall freely by gravity into a collection seat for vending when the plate is removed by axial movement. Means for temporarily supporting the containers stacked on top of the lowermost container are also provided in the assembly and are associated and synchronized with the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Inventor: Ivan Tocchet
  • Patent number: 6092460
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device for removing liquid from solid canned goods such as tuna. More specifically, the present invention is a hand held strainer device which operates in scissor-like fashion and includes opposing, hinged members with one having a can support and the other having a free floating strainer. The device further includes a quick-release, thumb activated ratchet-locking and engaging mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Inventor: Jeffrey Engelhardt
  • Patent number: 6092459
    Abstract: A pancake cooking apparatus has an elongate and preferably open-ended griddle and a batter scraper by which a mass of batter is spread from one end of the griddle to the other. Thickness uniformity is realized by structures for keeping the scraper's edge and the griddle's cooking surface spaced a fixed distance apart during the batter spreading step. The pancake cooking apparatus at times includes a plurality of side-by-side griddles for high-volume manual cooking operations. A method for cooking uniformly thin, rectangular pancakes uses the cooking apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Inventor: Li Feng Zhang
  • Patent number: 6092458
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for popping popcorn comprise a heated kettle which is controlled and monitored according to the temperature of the kettle. The kettle is initially heated to a start cook temperature and a buzzer and light alert an operator to add uncooked popcorn and oil to the kettle which lowers the temperature of the kettle below a predetermined start temperature and initiates a cooking cycle. An oil pump system is enabled at the initiation of the cooking cycle for adding oil to the kettle. As the popcorn and oil cook, the kettle temperature increases and passes through a predetermined dump temperature and the kettle automatically tilts and dumps the cooked popcorn. After the dump, the kettle temperature increases to the start cook temperature again and the buzzer and light are activated to alert the operator to add another batch of ingredients for consecutive batches of popcorn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Gold Medal Products Co.,
    Inventors: Ronald R. Weiss, Lee Kindley Hodgson
  • Patent number: 6089146
    Abstract: A temperature sensing device for a food storage container accurately detects the internal temperature of a storage chamber to achieve an accurate on/off control for heating and cooling cycles by minimizing a temperature fluctuation existing in the storage chamber. The temperature sensing device includes a temperature sensor to sense a temperature of the storage chamber and generate an electrical signal representative of the sensed temperature; a control unit, having a microprocessor, to control the cooling system based on the electrical signal generated by the temperature sensor; and a metallic fixing bracket for fixing the temperature sensor to the inner liner at a position near an inlet portion of an evaporator receiving a cooled refrigerant from a condenser, such that the temperature sensor is in close contact with the outer surface of an inner liner of the storage chamber, to establish a thermally conductive path between the inner liner and the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Mando Climate Control Corporation
    Inventors: Jae-wook Nam, Bo-youn Son
  • Patent number: 6089144
    Abstract: A household electric flat bread making appliance has a heated lower pressure plate fixed to a frame, an upwardly biased upper heated pressure plate pivotally mounted on the frame, and a heated skillet mounted on the frame in general vertical alignment with the pressure plates. A handle is connected to the upper pressure plate to enable the upper pressure plate to be manually pivoted downwardly toward the lower pressure plate to flatten a mass of dough between the two pressure plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan M. Garber, Timothy E. Covington, Phillip L. Brookshire, David L. Slayton
  • Patent number: 6089143
    Abstract: A machine that is set up with the required potatoes, milk, butter and other seasonings for mashed potatoes and that when turned on proceeds to boil the potatoes, add the flavoring ingredients and whip the potatoes to a degree set by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Inventor: Carmina B. Figueroa
  • Patent number: 6089145
    Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for cooking food. There is a plastic housing with air flow holes, heating elements, a metal conductive pan with additional holes to allow airflow to enter the cooking chamber, a cylindrical riser, and a lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Inventor: Lance Watson
  • Patent number: 6089747
    Abstract: An ice cream making apparatus includes an inner container having a first bottom formed with a first bottom opening, and an outer container surrounding the inner container to confine a coolant storing space therebetween. The outer container has a second bottom formed with a second bottom opening, and an outer rim extending along and upwardly from the second bottom opening. The outer rim has a shoulder extending radially and inwardly therefrom adjacent to the first bottom opening and confronting the first bottom of the inner container. A sealing ring is disposed between the shoulder and the first bottom of the inner container. A hollow tightening member extends through the first and second bottom openings, and abuts against the first bottom of the inner container and the outer rim so as to press the shoulder and the first bottom of the inner container to abut tightly against the sealing ring for preventing coolant from leaking out from the coolant storing space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Inventor: Olivia Huang
  • Patent number: 6085645
    Abstract: An ice cream making apparatus includes a container having a bottom opening for passage of ice cream, and a discharging mechanism mounted on the container below the bottom opening and adapted to discharge ice cream out of the container. The discharging mechanism has a hollow guide which is mounted on the container and which defines a passageway therein for communication with the bottom opening, a gate member disposed underneath the passageway and mounted slidably on the hollow guide for moving in a transverse direction across the passageway to seal the passageway, and a linkage mechanism pivotally mounted on the hollow guide for rotating about an axis to manipulate movement of the gate member in the transverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Inventor: Olivia Huang
  • Patent number: 6085642
    Abstract: A cooking utensil is provided for use over open fires, grates or the like. The utensil has a metallic Rod having an insulating handle end and a pointed skewer end. Near the skewer end a slideable protective cover of an open mesh design is mounted to move up or down the rod under the influence of gravity. The cover may be moved up the rod toward the handle for placing a foodstuff on the utensil and then moved down the rod to protectively cover the foodstuff and protect it as it is cooked over the fire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Inventor: Chase Neveon Terry
  • Patent number: 6085644
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a gentle process for homogenizing fatty liquid natural products, particularly for homogenizing milk or cream products, e.g. cow's milk, sheep's milk or goat's milk, with a fat content of up to 50 wt. %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Bernd Klinksiek
  • Patent number: 6085639
    Abstract: Foodstuffs are cooked by soaking in a hot liquid followed by a soaking in at least one cold liquid. A tank or a plurality of cooking tanks is provided with a liquid inlet, a heating unit for obtaining hot liquid, a refrigeration unit for obtaining cold liquid and filling pipes for conveying the liquids to the respective inlets of the tanks. The installation has reversible pumps, each designed to permit the liquids to flow in a tank in the direction of the inlet and to permit the liquid to return from the tank inlet, via one of the filling pipes and in the direction of the units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Armor Inox SA
    Inventor: Claude Dreano
  • Patent number: 6085640
    Abstract: A carrier for product trays of a fryer is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the carrier includes a first and a second upper horizontal support. The front portions of the upper horizontal supports are connected by a front stabilizing means, and a rear portion of the upper horizontal supports are connected by a rear stabilizing device. A rear vertical support extends downwardly from the rear of the carrier. At least one tray securing point is located on the rear vertical support and is adapted to detachably receive a product tray. The product tray may be placed in the carrier in from the side of the carrier or from an oblique angle to the carrier. In another embodiment, a carrier includes a first and second upper horizontal support. The front portions of the upper horizontal supports are connected by a front stabilizing device, and a rear portion of the upper horizontal supports are connected by a rear stabilizing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Henny Penny Corporation
    Inventor: James D. King
  • Patent number: 6082250
    Abstract: A device for treating massage based products such as wafer materials for consumption or for packaging to cool and moisturize the same. The device has a channel through which the product can be moved in which the product path is flanked by a pair of air channels which have openings opposite one another so that the air can pass from one air channel to the other transversely to the direction of displacement of the products in the product channel. The walls between the air channels and the product channels are bearing walls and preferably massive plates having the aforementioned openings. The lining or housing can have removable walls or doors which open to offer access to the air channels and the product channel for cleaning purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Franz Haas Waffelmaschinen-Industrie Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Franz Haas Jun
  • Patent number: 6082249
    Abstract: A multi-purpose cooker includes a base having a circular top formed with a plurality of equidistant holes, a heating seat having a bottom formed with a plurality of downwardly extending pins engageable with the holes, a heating member mounted within the heating seat and provided with a switch and a control button on an outer side of the heating seat, a frying pan configured to be mounted on the heating seat and provided with a plurality of slots for passage of oil so as to prevent food from sticking the frying pan, a barbecue grill provided with a plurality of supporting legs adapted to be arranged on the heating seat for roasting food, a circular tray having an annular recess and a central portion formed with a projection, a pot having a bottom formed with a cavity configured to engage with the projection, and a plurality of condiment trays configured to be fitted in the annular recess of the circular tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Inventor: Yung-Sen Su
  • Patent number: 6082252
    Abstract: A tomato lye applicator (10) including a pre-heat apparatus (14) mounted to the shell (16) of applicator (10) for pre-heating tomatoes prior to submerging in a lye solution bath (28). Pre-heat apparatus (14) includes a conveyor (42) and steam connections (64, 66) for heating enclosure (40) so that as tomatoes move from inlet (18) to applicator inlet (20), the skins of the tomatoes are pre-heated an amount sufficient to enhance skin loosening by the lye solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Sherman Howell Creed, Rey A. Elizondo, Robert Leland Frenkel