Abstract: A cooking or food warming appliance having a heated heat sink plate situated in a vacuum environment within an outer shell. A food vessel intimately engages the heat sink plate along a food contacting surface thereof by virtue of the vacuum. The vacuum eliminates air gaps between the food contacting surface of the food vessel and the heat sink plate so as to provide instantaneous and uniform heating of the food vessel. The vacuum environment also provides thermal insulation for the heat sink plate whereby heat loss by convection is virtually eliminated.

Abstract: A composite griddle plate comprising a first sheet of metal defining a cook surface and a core plate of a metal having a relatively high coefficient of heat conductivity wherein the first sheet remains in intimate contact with an upper surface of the core plate with the aid of a vacuum.

Abstract: Multi-ply composite cookware consisting of different metal combinations to include the beauty of copper on the exterior coupled with its excellent heat distribution/conductivity properties within the interior to provide thermally efficient, durable and cosmetically pleasing cookware. In several embodiments of the present invention, a layer of silver is also preferably employed in the interior thereof between adjacent aluminum layers to further improve thermal conductivity.

Abstract: Cookware having improved uniform heat transfer over the entire cross section thereof, the cookware formed from a multi-layered composite metal having a layer of stainless steel roll bonded at or near the core of the composite to act as a thermal barrier and provide more uniform heat distribution on the cook surface. The stainless layer is roll bonded to layers of aluminum which, in turn, is roll bonded to layers of stainless steel or aluminum or copper. The layer of stainless steel adjacent to the cooking range may be a ferromagnetic grade of stainless steel if induction-type heating is desired. The cookware may include a non-stick surface applied thereto.

Abstract: A composite griddle plate comprising a first sheet of metal defining a cook surface and a core plate of a metal having a relatively high coefficient of heat conductivity wherein the first sheet remains in intimate contact with an upper surface of the core plate with the aid of a vacuum.

Abstract: A flavor infusion device for roasting poultry, such as chicken, comprising an elongated metal member having an attachment means at one end for attachment to a sidewall of a roasting pan, a radiused bent portion extending upwardly from the attachment means, and a horizontal arm portion extending from the radiused bent portion in a substantially horizontal orientation relative to the roasting pan to support an open cavity of the poultry, said horizontal arm portion having a flavor cup associated therewith for receiving an infusion flavoring liquid therein. A method of roasting poultry comprising the steps of providing a flavor infusion device, attaching the device to a sidewall of a roasting pan, placing an infusion liquid in the cup, mounting the poultry on the horizontal arm of the device, preferably in a breast-down orientation, and roasting the poultry.

Abstract: Cookware having improved uniform heat transfer over the entire cross section thereof, the cookware formed from a multi-layered composite metal having a layer of stainless steel roll bonded at or near the core of the composite to act as a thermal barrier and provide more uniform heat distribution on the cook surface. The stainless layer is roll bonded to layers of aluminum which, in turn, is roll bonded to layers of stainless steel or aluminum or copper. The layer of stainless steel adjacent to the cooking range may be a ferromagnetic grade of stainless steel if induction-type heating is desired. The cookware may include a non-stick surface applied thereto.

Abstract: A combined conical measuring beaker combining two truncated conically shaped portions of differing volumes joined together, wherein each of the portions has volumetric measuring markings applied along respective sidewalls of each portion.

Abstract: Cookware in the form of a grill plate, griddle plate, waffle iron, panini press or the like is made from a cast composite including a graphite core plate encapsulated within a cast metal shell of aluminum or stainless steel, and a method for manufacturing same.

Abstract: A composite metal sheet (20) comprising a core layer (24) of drawable aluminum alloy such as 3003 or 3004 aluminum alloy roll bonded to a thinner layer (26) of 5456 aluminum alloy, the composite metal sheet including a layer (22) of stainless steel roll bonded to the layer of drawable aluminum (24) on the opposite side from the 5456 aluminum alloy layer (26). The composite metal sheet is useful in forming drawn cookware (2) such as fry pans, stock pots, and the like wherein the stainless steel layer (22) forms the cooking surface and the 5456 aluminum alloy layer (26) forms the exterior surface of the cookware.

Abstract: A standing aid for supporting a person and relieving leg fatigue while standing on a riser step. The standing aid comprises a seat capable of supporting a person standing on the riser step, a vertical stand having a top end secured to the seat and a mounting system secured to a bottom end of the vertical stand. The mounting system has a clamp having a first surface for extending over and in contact with a top surface of the riser step and a second surface for extending below and in contact with a bottom surface of the riser step. The first surface of the mounting system has a relatively small footprint in that it has a second predetermined width which is less than the first predetermined width of the riser step. This small footprint allows people to maneuver around the standing aid while moving on and off the riser step.

Abstract: Cookware made from a composite metal sheet having a stainless steel or titanium layer defining a cooking surface bonded to a low carbon steel layer having a porcelain enamel layer applied thereto and forming an exterior of said cookware. An intermediate layer of copper or nickel may also be bonded between the layers of stainless steel or titanium and the low carbon steel layer.

Abstract: A standing aid for supporting a person and relieving leg fatigue while standing on a riser step. The standing aid comprises a seat capable of supporting a person standing on the riser step, a vertical stand having a top end secured to the seat and a mounting system secured to a bottom end of the vertical stand. The mounting system has a clamp having a first surface for extending over and in contact with a top surface of the riser step and a second surface for extending below and in contact with a bottom surface of the riser step. The first surface of the mounting system has a relatively small footprint in that it has a second predetermined width which is less than the first predetermined width of the riser step. This small footprint allows people to maneuver around the standing aid while moving on and off the riser step.

Abstract: A method is described for the cutting of apertures in a material using a computer, laser control software, input device, laser and an x-y plotting bed. The method is to preferably form apertures in fluid impermeable material including composite materials. The apertures are used as exhaust valves in positive pressure masks to deliver breathable gas to patients and in garments.

Abstract: A composite metal sheet (20) comprising a core layer (24) of drawable aluminum alloy such as 3003 or 3004 aluminum alloy roll bonded to a thinner layer (26) of 5456 aluminum alloy, the composite metal sheet including a layer (22) of stainless steel roll bonded to the layer of drawable aluminum (24) on the opposite side from the 5456 aluminum alloy layer (26). The composite metal sheet is useful in forming drawn cookware (2) such as fry pans, stock pots, and the like wherein the stainless steel layer (22) forms the cooking surface and the 5456 aluminum alloy layer (26) forms the exterior surface of the cookware.

Abstract: A composite griddle plate or cookware comprising a first metal sheet defining a cook surface and a core plate of carbon foam having a relatively high coefficient of heat conductivity and a low density. A second metal sheet is peripherally sealed by welding or the like to the first metal sheet. The first and second sheets remain in intimate contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the core plate with the aid of a vacuum. In a further cooking appliance embodiment, a food vessel intimately engages the carbon foam plate beneath a food-contacting surface thereof while the carbon foam plate on its opposite side engages a heat sink plate by virtue of a vacuum. The vacuum eliminates air gaps between the food-contacting surface of the food vessel and the carbon foam plate and the heat sink plate so as to provide instantaneous and uniform heating of the food vessel. The vacuum environment also provides thermal insulation for the heat sink plate whereby heat loss by convection is virtually eliminated.

Abstract: A food cooking or warming apparatus (10) has a water-containing vessel (12) with an inductor portion for heating the water by way of a portable induction heating unit. The inductor portion (20) is made from a selected Ni—Fe alloy having a predetermined Curie temperature for maintaining the water temperature in the food warming apparatus between about 180°-200° F. (82°-99° C.).