Diverse Cooker Types Patents (Class 99/339)
  • Patent number: 6829984
    Abstract: A flipping pan having a base, a rim and a handle additionally has a lip upstanding from a limited segment of the top of the rim generally opposite the handle. The lip has an arcuate cross section extending upwardly and inwardly from the segment whereby the food stuff in the pan may be flipped against the lid by appropriate movement of the handle. A flip and drain pan has drainage perforations in the lip and in a blocking member, the blocking member being movable relative to the lip between a draining position and a blocking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: Marc Leibowitz
  • Patent number: 6802247
    Abstract: An electric oven includes a housing having a door at a front, a chamber in an interior and a motor at a bottom; rotating devices installed in the housing and each consisting of an upper frame, a lower frame, roller seat assemblies, a gear wheel, a driven shaft and a driven gear; and, net racks capable of being rested on the gear wheels. In using, the motor is actuated to turn the driven shafts and gears to synchronously rotate the gear wheels to make the net racks rotated accordingly for roasting food articles evenly. The rotating devices designed to be located in multiple layers can be placed with various food articles, thus enabling one single electric oven to roast the various food articles at the same time. A pan can be rested on the rotating device that is positioned at a top layer for frying, roasting, boiling and deep-frying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Inventor: Ming-Tsung Lee
  • Patent number: 6796222
    Abstract: A cooking appliance has a vessel, a top and first and second racks each having a food item support surface. The first rack has a rack support suitable to support the second rack on top of the first rack in nested relation with the food item support surface of the second rack spaced a predetermined distance above the food item support surface of the first rack. The first rack includes a plurality of attachment clips to interconnect the two racks. The racks are interconnected by stacking the racks in a vertical stack and rotating the racks relative to one another for handling the racks as one unit. When interconnected, relative rotation of the racks is prevented. One rack includes a rectangular utensil receiving opening in a bottom surface sized and shaped to receive the tines of a standard kitchen for transporting the rack independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Inventor: Randall Cornfield
  • Patent number: 6796218
    Abstract: A grill device includes a base unit, a seasoning retaining vessel, and a seasoning supply unit. The base unit includes a housing, a cooking member mounted in the housing, and at least one supply tube connected to the cooking member and extending downwardly relative to the cooking member. The vessel has a tube immersing portion disposed under the cooking member for extension of the supply tube thereinto, and a container mounting portion in fluid communication with the tube immersing portion. The seasoning supplying unit includes a flow control member connected to a container member and mounted adjustably in the container mounting portion. The flow control member controls the flow of seasoning in the container member into the vessel in accordance with the level of the seasoning in the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Tsann Kuen Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chung-Ho Pan
  • Patent number: 6776084
    Abstract: The invention is a barbecue consisting of a base with an extension at its top side, a hollow-cylindrical center part attached to the base, one or several rests attached to this hollow-cylindrical center part and several coal pans inserted in the rests. Furthermore, the barbecue has a hollow-cylindrical upper part attached to the center part. This upper part is equipped with cutouts in which one or several gridirons are inserted. The upper part can be rotated in relation to the center part. The extension of the base, the hollow-cylindrical center part and the hollow-cylindrical upper part form a columnar and vertical axis of the barbecue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Inventor: Rudolf Wild
  • Patent number: 6772677
    Abstract: A household electric fryer having: a case having a bottom and a side wall and enclosing a warming chamber, the side wall having a lateral opening permitting access to the warming chamber; a bowl contained in the case above the warming chamber, the bowl having a bottom; electric heating elements for heating the bowl to frying temperatures; and an element presenting an imperforate surface between the electric heating elements and the warming chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventors: Michel Marotel, Jean-Marc Payen
  • Publication number: 20040144259
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooking appliance used for boiling or cooking food, or more particularly, to a cooking pot, which can rapidly heat water or food, and thereafter can suppress overflowing of water or food therein, while simultaneously maintaining its suitable temperature and pressure, thereby shortening its cooking time while enhancing its safety and convenience during cooking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventor: Byung-Doo KIM
  • Patent number: 6758207
    Abstract: A gas-fired cooking device includes a braising cavity defined on its lower side by a heated surface. A more uniform heating of the heated surface is provided by a plurality of heating chambers disposed below the heated surface, with each of the heating chambers heated by at least one naturally fed gas burner. A portion of the hot combustion gases rise into upper zones associated with each heating chamber that have relatively low average front-to-back air flow therein. The upper zones have sidewalls and downwardly extending dam walls that cooperate to create the low flow zones beneath the heated surface. The relatively low flow rates within the low flow zones allow a more uniform layer of hot combustion gases to be formed along the underside of the heated surface, thereby more evenly delivering heat to the heated surface. There may be two or more such heating chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Middleby-Marshall, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Hotard, Joseph Mark Suchecki
  • Publication number: 20040112226
    Abstract: A gas barbecue grill including a firebox assembly containing a gas burner element, a cooking grate supported thereabove, a top casting rotatably affixed thereto, the firebox assembly defining a receiving slot in a sidewall thereof, and a tray carrier assembly configured to be slidably received within the receiving slot of the firebox assembly, the tray carrier assembly being configured to support a charcoal tray. The gas barbecue grill further includes a grate frame configured to support the cooking grate, and a grate lift assembly configured to raise and lower the grate frame relative to the firebox assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Robert Johnston, Alex T. Gafford, Dan Mitchell, Sam Zaidspiner, Joseph Hale Andrews
  • Patent number: 6736050
    Abstract: A portable food handling system for transporting,preparing and storing food. The portable food handling system includes a trailer assembly comprising a body portion, at least one wheel and a tongue portion. The wheel is rotatably coupled to the body portion whereby the wheel is designed for rolling across a support surface to facilitate transporting of the body portion across the support surface. The tongue portion is coupled to the body portion. The tongue portion is designed for being selectively coupled to a vehicle to facilitate transporting of the body portion across the support surface. At least one food handling assembly is selectively coupled to the body portion of the trailer assembly. The food handling assembly is designed for handling food received by the food handling assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Inventor: Randolph Monn
  • Publication number: 20040089159
    Abstract: A method for producing a surgical knife of a very small size for use in ophthalmic surgery under a microscopic environment having a sharp edge without causing reflection of lights. The surgical knife comprises a handle, and a blade attached to the handle. The blade has a sharp polished cutting edge, a rough machined surface provided inside of the cutting edge having a relatively rough surface area, and an inner flat area. An anti-reflection treatment is provided on an upper and lower surfaces of the blade except for the cutting edge, thereby prohibiting reflection or emission of lights from the knife.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Kanji Matsutani, Takashi Ina, Masahiko Saitoh, Mitsuru Saitoh
  • Patent number: 6734402
    Abstract: A cooking device includes two casings each having an inner portion, and a shelf disposed in the middle portion. A heating device is disposed and supported on the inner portions of the casings, and may either be the electrical heating members, or gas stoves, or furnaces, etc. The casings and the heating device may be assembled by the users when required, and may be disengaged from each other for allowing the cooking device to be easily stored and packaged. The casings each may include a chamber to receive boiled fluid material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Inventor: Yueh-Kung Chenglin
  • Patent number: 6711992
    Abstract: A basket featuring a main body with a product capture reception area, a side wall, a bailing extension fixed to the side wall and a capture hook device fixed to the side wall. The capture hook device includes capture hook sections that are circumferentially spaced apart about the circumference of the main body of the basket and designed to engage a pot configured to receive the basket. In one embodiment, the basket capture hook device features a monolithic member with a common back wall that conforms to the curvature of the main body of the basket and from which common back wall the capture hook segments radially extend out from. In another embodiment, the capture hook segments are independent and separated circumferentially on the basket and designed to provide a locking function for a predetermined diameter reception pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Inventor: John D. McLemore
  • Patent number: 6698334
    Abstract: A chafer comprising a support frame, a food service pan, a cover, a cover pivoting assembly, a cover mounting assembly and a cover damper assembly. The cover has a peripheral edge and is pivotably mounted on the support frame by the cover pivoting assembly. The support frame supports the pan under the cover. The cover mounting assembly releasably mounts the cover to the cover pivoting assembly to enable the cover to be pivoted about a horizontal axis from a fully closed position to an intermediate, partially open position and to a fully open position, and vice versa. The cover is arranged to be automatically held in the fully closed, partially open or fully open positions by the mere movement of the cover to any of those positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Legion Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles A. Brown
  • Patent number: 6688213
    Abstract: Device for subjecting dough pieces to more than one dough treatment. The device has a number of dough treatment rooms placed above one another. From a supply side dough pieces are supplied to the device, and from a discharge side dough pieces that have been subjected to all dough treatments are discharged from the device. A first leverage apparatus is placed at the supply side and a second leverage apparatus is placed at the discharge side. Each dough treatment room is provided with an introduction opening for introducing dough pieces in the dough treatment room and with a take-out opening for taking dough pieces out of it. A conveyor conveys the dough pieces from the introduction opening to the take-out opening. The introduction opening and the take-out opening of each of the dough treatment rooms are placed near the respective supply side and the respective discharge side of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Johan Hendrik Bernard Kaak
    Inventor: Lothar Pasch
  • Patent number: 6679163
    Abstract: An improved structure of a roasting device is disclosed. The roasting device has a bean-roasting chamber with a body mounted with a heat dissipation seat. The heat dissipation seat is provided with a bottom seat having a position hole and contains a fan. The top portion of the motor is a debris disc having through holes and net body. The blowing of fan accelerates cooling of the roasted beans and the quality of bean is preserved. The external of the bean roasting chamber is provided with fastening hook for mounting a protective net having a fastening ring so that the touch of the high temperature bean is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Inventor: Yung Sen Su
  • Patent number: 6674051
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a grilling grate supported directly above at least one heating element and situated adjacent to a downdraft grill. The grilling grate includes structure to effectively shield the heating element(s) from an air flow generated during operation of the downdraft system. More specifically, the grilling grate includes a grilling surface on an upper side, and a plurality of conductive heat members on a lower side. The conductive heat members have side portions which extend about the heating element in order to cloak the heating element from the effects of the airflow produced by the downdraft system thereby providing a more efficient means of energy transfer to the grilling surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Arntz, S. Todd Brooks, Mark A. Pickering
  • 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: 6647865
    Abstract: A hot-air lid (1) for containers (2) used for cooking and frying is proposed. In order to provide advantageous construction conditions it is proposed that it consists of an upper part (3) and a lower part (4) which can be fixed in said upper part and which together with the upper part (3) forms a cooking chamber (5), with the lower part (4) having an upwardly oriented curved part (6) with steam outlet openings (7) and with a reflector (8) being provided around said curved part (6) in which further through openings (9) are located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Inventor: Josef Holl
  • 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
  • Patent number: 6640695
    Abstract: A pizza insert has at least one tile that rests on a rack that is advantageously spaced above a barbeque grill by a support structure that is connected to the rack and extends downwardly therefrom. The pizza insert also has a rim that extends upwardly from the rack and substantially prevents the tile from moving in horizontal directions. The rim extends away from the rack a distance less than the thickness of the tile so that the rim does not obstruct access to the pizza placed on the tile. Also disclosed are a kit for the pizza insert and the method of using the pizza insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Inventor: Steven Stark
  • Publication number: 20030196558
    Abstract: An automated grill automatically transfers frozen food from a freezer component to grilling component by an automatic loading device in response to a signal. Frozen food is loaded in a loading side in the freezer component. When the signal is received indicating that the food is to be grilled, food in a feeding side is raised and delivered to the loading device. When a sensor detects that food is positioned in the loading device, the loading device removes the food from the freezer component and into the grilling component. The food is then grilled as it travels between two substantially vertical grilling structures each surrounded by a conveyor belt. Preferably, the conveyor belt is made of a non-stick coated Invar. A lateral sensor detects and compensates for lateral movement of the conveyor belts. After the food exits the grilling component, the food slides onto a heated holding area for serving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Sands, James D. Conlin, Thomas J. Franken, Andrew Paul Franklin, Randy L. Ginner, Ronald J. Glavan, Scott A. Glawe, David A. Hill, Michael J. Newberry, Jack Pellicane, Manuel Calzada, Henry Thomas Ewald
  • Patent number: 6626089
    Abstract: A cooking and smoking apparatus having a housing that has an upper section and a firebox section. A drawer-like meat rack is slideably connected to the housing upper section. A coal rack is connected to the housing firebox section for holding charcoal. A drain is connected to the housing firebox section. The drain allows slow draining of water from wood chips placed in the housing firebox section. A vent is connected to the housing firebox section. The vent is capable of variable flow for regulating the burn rate of charcoal and wood chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Inventor: Leroy Hubert
  • Patent number: 6626088
    Abstract: Hitherto, a cooking apparatus and a preservative food preparing apparatus have been known and practically used exclusively for the purpose of cooking foods or preparing preservative foods. There has been an increasing demand for a cooking-and-preservative food preparing apparatus, and to meet this demand, a heating, cooking, and sterilizing apparatus according to the present invention is constructed as follows: a horizontal type of cylindrical heating-and-cooking oven (1) has numerous nozzles (7) provided therein. These nozzles (7) are connected to the outlet (37) of a heat exchange (25) positioned outside of the oven (1), and the bottom of the oven (1) is connected to the inlet (38) of the heat exchanger (25) via a return pipe (43), which is fixed to the bottom of the oven (1), thus forming a circulation line between the oven (1) and the heat exchanger (25). A circulation pump (40) is included in the circulation line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Ono Foods Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takuji Ono
  • Publication number: 20030177913
    Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a gas grill or add-on component for a gas grill that provides the additional functionality of permitting grilling with either gas, charcoal briquettes, or wood chips. The additional functionality of being able to cook with charcoal or wood chips on a gas grill is achieved by positioning moveable flaps in a second position thus providing a horizontal surface above the gas burner, yet below the cooking surface, upon which to place charcoal briquettes. Spaces on either side of each pair of flaps allow the gas burners to be used to ignite the charcoal briquettes or wood chips. Once the charcoal briquettes or wood chips are ignited, use of the gas burner is discontinued. The charcoal or wood chips are permitted to burn to complete ash, then the moveable flaps are placed to a first position thus forming an apex that permits the ash to fall into an ash pan located in the bottom of the firebox.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventor: J. Scott Dellinger
  • Publication number: 20030167930
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for fast-cook pasta with automatic loading for variable sized portions. An amount of bulk product is isolated in a variable sized cavity. The contents of the cavity is discharged by gravity assisted mechanisms into a cooking chamber. The cooking chamber is pressurizable and uses preheated water. After the cooking period has ended, the cooking chamber is depressurized and the cooked pasta is transferred to a postcooker via a cooker exit valve. Heat energy present in vapor created by depressurization of the cooker is used to preheat the water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: Henry Narcissi, Larry Schwartz, Jack Novak
  • Patent number: 6603099
    Abstract: The appliance comprises a heater base, at least two removable cooking receptacles capable of being centered and held on said heater base, one of them being constituted by a leakproof pan and the other by a grill plate, and also a removable lid adapted to close the top portion of said pan so as to make up a cooking enclosure. The grill plate is provided with at least one through orifice and has means enabling it to be positioned above said pan in order to perform steam cooking in said cooking enclosure. The appliance is applicable to cooking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventor: Christophe Gouthiere
  • Patent number: 6598514
    Abstract: A kiosk (10) that enables pasta portions of the type forming the classical Italian first course to be prepared, the kiosk (10) including an automatic pasta cooking machine (18); a cooking hob (20) for amalgamating within a suitable container, by heating accompanied by mixing, the required sauces or condiments with the pasta previously cooked in the pasta cooking machine; and a heating element (22) for heating the sauces or condiments and/or for maintaining them hot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Techfood S.N.C. Di Iori E Castagnetti
    Inventor: Aurelio Leggi
  • Publication number: 20030116030
    Abstract: An oven for cooking a food item containing a halogen lamp and an infrared tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventor: Donglei Wang
  • Patent number: 6578568
    Abstract: A new fire pit grill comprises a vertical support that may be driven into the ground or otherwise supported in a vertical position. On the vertical support is an adjustable stop which may be set at any desired height. Resting on the stop is a sleeve and bracket which in turn support a grill surface. Opposite the bracket, the sleeve supports a handle whereby the bracket and grill surface can be rotated over and away from a fire below the grill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Inventors: Richard Dufort, Louis Ristovski
  • Publication number: 20030101875
    Abstract: Hitherto, a cooking apparatus and a preservative food preparing apparatus have been known and practically used exclusively for the purpose of cooking foods or preparing preservative foods. There has been an increasing demand for a cooking-and-preservative food preparing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventor: Takuji Ono
  • Patent number: 6561082
    Abstract: A barbecue grill cart including a right leg frame assembly and a left leg frame assembly, each having a front leg and a rear leg, the front leg and the rear legs being connected by a support member. The cart further includes a front panel and securing means, the securing means being disposed through the front panel and the right front leg and the left front leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: W. C. Bradley Company
    Inventors: Bradley R. Gillespie, Otha Richardson
  • Patent number: 6553897
    Abstract: A steamer for pastries and the pastries to be steamed thereby. The steamer includes primary and secondary receptacles, a lid, and a mold. The primary receptacle holds water therein that is turned into steam when the primary receptacle is heated. The lid selectively closing the primary receptacle. The secondary receptacle is steam permeable and holds the pastries to be steamed above the water in the primary receptacle, and is disposed in the primary receptacle. The mold contains the pastries and is hingedly attached to the secondary receptacle so as to allow the mold to pivot upwardly from the secondary receptacle for insertion of, and removal of, the pastries, and has a piece of perforated material that allows the steam to pass therethrough, as opposed to being trapped therein, and as result thereof, provides the pastries with a pleasing texture. The pastries include flour, yeast, sugar, milk, salt, and either butter or margarine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventor: Irena Mach
  • Patent number: 6550373
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus comprising: a housing (122); at least one heating unit (170) disposed within and on the periphery of said housing (122), said heating unit (170) radiating substantially radially inwards to the centre of the cooking apparatus; at least one support plate (136) provided above said heating unit, said support plate (136) having an inclined surface for supporting and retaining flat dough for cooking; at least one support plate revolving means, coupled to said support plate (136), for rotating said support plate (136); and a means for maintaining the temperature of the top surface of said dough to allow equal cooking of top and bottom surfaces of said dough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Food & Spice Co. PTE LTD
    Inventors: Siavosh Hafezan, Yong Siew Khow
  • Patent number: 6546845
    Abstract: A collapsible rotisserie and grill and oven accessory is provided for use with a cooking appliance. The collapsible rotisserie and grill and oven accessory can bake and grill and utilize a rotisserie simultaneously. The collapsible rotisserie and grill and oven accessory comprises folding side panels and a folding rear panel, a front panel that removably engages to the side panels and side panels including apetures adapted for receiving a spit therethrough. The collapsible rotisserie and grill and oven accessory can be disassembled into a compact portable carrying structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Inventor: Joseph A. Lanzilli
  • Patent number: 6539841
    Abstract: A device for automatically preparing food is provided. The device includes a hot plate for heating a pot. Above the hot plate, a chamber is arranged. In the chamber, an exchangeable cartridge is provided which contains ingredients for the preparation of the food. The cartridge comprises an opening for filling the ingredients into the pot. The opening of the cartridge is closed with a closure, preferably a foil. The closure of the cartridge can be opened by a drive unit provided at the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventor: Marjan Spasovski
  • 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: 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
  • Publication number: 20030000395
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus comprising: a housing (122); at least one heating unit (170) disposed within and on the periphery of said housing (122), said heating unit (170) radiating substantially radially inwards to the centre of the cooking apparatus; at least one support plate (136) provided above said heating unit, said support plate (136) having an inclined surface for supporting and retaining flat dough for cooking; at least one support plate revolving means, coupled to said support plate (136), for rotating said support plate (136); and a means for maintaining the temperature of the top surface of said dough to al low equal cooking of top and bottom surfaces of said dough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Siavosh Hafezan, Yong Siew Khow
  • Patent number: 6499391
    Abstract: An improved structure of a roasting device is disclosed. The roasting device comprises a body, a bean-roasting chamber, a bean-entering cover, a front frame board, front cover, connecting elements, a rear cover, fan, filter, fan seat, controller, cooling device, and control panel. The roasting device allows the exhausted gas within the chamber to be forced out and the oil fume and particles are filtered. This will improve environmental pollution and the quality of the roasted bean is improved. The roasted beans are prevented from being squeezed out from the chamber and the speed of cooling of the roasted beans is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Inventor: Yung-Sen Su
  • Patent number: 6484623
    Abstract: A baking apparatus with a toaster comprises a main body; a baking part disposed at one side of the main body, and having a lid mounted at an upper portion thereof so as to be opened and closed by a hinge, a pot mounting portion for receiving a pot, a first heat generator formed at an inside wall of the pot mounting portion, and a rotational shaft protruded at a lower center portion of the pot mounting portion so that a stirring wing is inserted thereon; a toasting part disposed at the other side of the main body, and having a toasting chamber for receiving a slice of bread, a second heat generator formed at an inside wall of the toasting chamber, a lever for applying power source to the second heat generator and guiding the slice of bread, a crumb tray for removing bread crumbs, a driving motor for driving the rotational shaft of the baking part, and an operating portion for applying the power source to the driving motor and the first heat generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Kaiser Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chong-Man Yoon, Jong-Deuk Jeong, Jin-Kook Park
  • 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: 6467398
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for making bowl-shaped snack food products, e.g. tortilla chips. The method features placing chip preforms in open bowl-shaped cavities and partially frying the chip preforms by filling them with hot oil from above. Additionally, the preforms are partially fried from below by immersing the lower portions of the preforms in a vat of hot oil and transporting them through the hot oil. After cooking the preforms to a desired moisture content, at which point the preforms retain their bowl shapes outside of or independent of the mold cavities, the preforms are removed from the mold cavities and subsequently cooked to completion in a secondary frying operation. The invention also features an apparatus to carry out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Recot, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Fink, Ernest Marshall, Peris W. Njenga, James L. Sanford, James W. Stalder, Kevin Trick
  • Patent number: 6460453
    Abstract: A covering system includes a frame, a cover pivotally coupled to the frame and a stop surface pivotally coupled to the frame. The cover pivots between a closed position, a substantially open position and at least one intermediate position. The stop surface pivots between a first position in which the stop surface engages the cover when the cover is in the at least one intermediate position to retain the cover in the at least one intermediate position and a second position permitting the cover to be pivoted to at least one of the substantially open position and the closed position. The stopper includes a counterweight which biases the stop surface towards the first position as a result of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: The Vollrath Company, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Victor M. Frauenfeld
  • 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: 6446544
    Abstract: Cooking Utensil comprising a cooking pan, the pan having a flat circular bottom approximately nine inches in diameter, the pan having an angled rising surface approximately two inches above the circular bottom, the angled rising surface terminating in an annular surface having an outer perimeter of twenty four inches, the annular surface having a five degree slop toward the central nine inch diameter portion, the outer perimeter terminating in a vertical lip approximately two inches tall, the pan being made of anodized aluminum, the pan being alternately made of stainless steel, and the pan having opposing carry handles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Inventor: Richard W. Creighton
  • Patent number: 6446543
    Abstract: A food cooking accessory for snowmobile includes, a stainless steel oven, an attaching accessory means for receiving said stainless steel oven, and an affixing device for affixing a food cooking accessory to an exhaust pipe of a snowmobile. The food cooking accessory for snowmobile allow the user to evenly cook the food at high elevation without wasting the cooking time and leave no mess to clean up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Inventor: Kandace H. Lai
  • Patent number: 6446545
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus includes a container, a spigot, a lid, and a food support. The container has a bottom surface and a side wall that extends upwardly from the bottom surface to a top edge of the side wall. The spigot is attached to the container side wall and has a valve member that is selectively positionable between opened and closed positions. The spigot valve member allows liquid contents of the container to drain from the container when in the opened position, and prevents the contents from draining out of the container when in the closed position. The food support is comprised of a perforated horizontal member with a perforated side wall extending upwardly from the horizontal member. A plurality of vertical members spaced around the periphery of the horizontal member extend upwardly from the horizontal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Empire Comfort Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald P. Rigney
  • Patent number: 6443052
    Abstract: A household electric appliance has three basic components, a griddle, a skillet which can be placed on the griddle to be heated thereby when the griddle is not otherwise in use, and a skillet lid which can be placed atop the skillet. The appliance can be compactly assembled for storage by changing the manner in which the components are stacked. When compactly assembled for storage, the three basic components can be clamped together and stored on edge to conserve lateral storage space. Two types of clamps are described, a resilient strap clamp and a wire rod clip. Operation of the appliance is controlled by a thermostat and a heating control panel is provided that has two sets of indicia, one for use when the griddle is used by itself and one for use when the skillet is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan M. Garber, Phillip L. Brookshire, David L. Slayton, Lawrence M. Pillion, Stacey R. Just