U.S. patent application number 10/692373 was filed with the patent office on 2004-11-04 for portable cooking appliance.
Invention is credited to Hussey, Lance G., Kalyuzhny, Val, Sawhney, Ravi K., Steele, Craig R..
Application Number | 20040216730 10/692373 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33313416 |
Filed Date | 2004-11-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040216730 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sawhney, Ravi K. ; et
al. |
November 4, 2004 |
Portable cooking appliance
Abstract
An article of manufacture for cooking of food in a manner that
may remove a portion of the fat contained in said food, comprising
a plurality of housing parts, hingeably attached, with removable
cooking surfaces to distribute heat generated by heating elements,
housing geometry that allows positioning the invention to cook in a
sloped, fat draining mode, a level mode, or a combination level and
draining mode, or closed mode, and geometry that allows efficient
storage in the vertical orientation.
Inventors: |
Sawhney, Ravi K.;
(Calabasas, CA) ; Hussey, Lance G.; (Simi Valley,
CA) ; Steele, Craig R.; (Manhattan Beach, CA)
; Kalyuzhny, Val; (Reseda, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PAUL JANOWSKI
RKS DESIGN INC.
350 CONEJO RIDGE AVE.
THOUSAND OAKS
CA
91361
US
|
Family ID: |
33313416 |
Appl. No.: |
10/692373 |
Filed: |
October 23, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60461961 |
Apr 10, 2003 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
126/1R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 37/0611
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
126/001.00R |
International
Class: |
F24C 001/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An article of manufacture for cooking of food in a manner that
may remove a large portion of the fat contained in said food.
Comprising: A plurality of housing parts, hingeably attached, with
conductive grill surfaces that distribute the heat generated by
heating elements in one or more housing parts.
2. A portable cooking appliance consisting of two housing parts,
hingeably attached, incorporating geometry in each part of the
housing that allows the user to cook with one half disposed level
as in a griddle, and one half disposed at an angle, such that
cooking fat drains away.
3. A portable cooking appliance consisting of two main housing
parts, each containing an independent heating element, a heat
distributing grill, and each is attached to the other by means of a
dual sliding pin hinge.
4. The article of claim 1 wherein is disposed housing geometry that
allows each half to be positioned in either the sloped and fat
draining position, or the level position
5. The article of claim 1 wherein is disposed housing geometry that
allows each half to be positioned in either the open position or
the closed position, either of which are effective
6. The article of claim 1 wherein the housing geometry is disposed
such that it allows storage in the vertical position
7. The article of claim 1 where each housing part contains a
conductive cooking grill that is removable
8. The removable grill of claim 7 where said grill incorporates
geometry enabling the user to slip one or more fingers under the
grill to aid in removal
9. The removable grill of claim 7 where said grill is disposed with
a plurality of ridges arranged in a fan pattern
10. The removable grill of claim 7 where said grill cooking surface
is smooth
11. The removable grill of claim 7 where said grill is washable by
means such as a dishwasher
12. The article of claim 2 wherein is disposed housing geometry
that allows each half to be positioned in either the sloped and fat
draining position, or the level position
13. The article of claim 2 wherein is disposed housing geometry
that allows each half to be positioned in either the open position
or the closed position, either of which are effective
14. The article of claim 2 wherein the housing geometry is disposed
such that it allows storage in the vertical position
15. The article of claim 2 where each housing part contains a
conductive cooking grill that is removable
16. The removable grill of claim 15 where said grill incorporates
geometry enabling the user to slip one or more fingers under the
grill to aid in removal
17. The removable grill of claim 15 where said grill is disposed
with a plurality of ridges arranged in a fan pattern
18. The removable grill of claim 15 where said grill cooking
surface is smooth
19. The removable grill of claim 15 where said grill is washable by
means such as a dishwasher
20. The article of claim 3 wherein is disposed housing geometry
that allows each half to be positioned in either the sloped and fat
draining position, or the level position
21. The article of claim 3 wherein is disposed housing geometry
that allows each half to be positioned in either the open position
or the closed position, either of which are effective
22. The article of claim 3 wherein the housing geometry is disposed
such that it allows storage in the vertical position
23. The article of claim 3 where each housing part contains a
conductive cooking grill that is removable
24. The removable grill of claim 23 where said grill incorporates
geometry enabling the user to slip one or more fingers under the
grill to aid in removal
25. The removable grill of claim 23 where said grill is disposed
with a plurality of ridges arranged in a fan pattern
26. The removable grill of claim 23 where said grill cooking
surface is smooth
27. The removable grill of claim 23 where said grill is washable by
means such as a dishwasher
28. The article of claim 1 where the fat generated by cooking
drains into a tray disposed at the center of the opposing
grills
29. The article of claim 2 where the fat generated by cooking
drains into a tray disposed at the center of the opposing
grills
30. The article of claim 3 where the fat generated by cooking
drains into a tray disposed at the center of the opposing grills
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based on provisional application serial
No. 60/461,961 filed Apr. 10, 2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to the field of portable
cooking appliances, and more particularly to tabletop cooking
appliances.
[0003] The cooking of food takes place in many ways, among them,
boiling, baking, barbeque grilling, frying, microwaving, steaming,
and cooking on an open flame. A trend in cooking methods has
appeared in recent years, paralleling a rising awareness of healthy
lifestyles, namely in ways to cook food without introducing
additional calories or fat, and if possible, removing a portion of
the fat inherent in such foods as meats.
[0004] There exist on the market many portable cooking appliances
that grill food in a manner that allows the fat from cooking to
drain away from the food, that is a simple matter of tilting the
appliance so the grease flows downhill. The disadvantage to such
appliances currently available include limiting the user to the
closed cooking position, preventing viewing of the food during
cooking, cooking space limited to one half of the appliances
available surface area, storage limited to the least space
efficient configuration whereby the appliance lays flat and
occupies a large portion of the shelf, and limited cleanability due
to fixed cooking grills.
[0005] It is obvious that an invention is needed to give users a
wide range of functionality and solve problems unaddressed by the
products currently available. The present invention provides for
cooking of food in a manner that may remove a large portion of the
fat contained in said food. In addition, it provides a tabletop
cooking appliance that cooks in multiple positions, allows cooking
fat to drain away from the food, easily stores upright, has
removable cooking surfaces, and can cook in fat draining and level
modes simultaneously.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The primary object of the invention is to provide a tabletop
cooking appliance that cooks in multiple positions.
[0007] Another object of the invention is to provide a tabletop
cooking appliance that cooks food disposed at such an angle that
the fat from cooking drains away from the food.
[0008] Another object of the invention is to provide a tabletop
cooking appliance that has removable cooking surfaces.
[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide a tabletop
cooking appliance that can cook two types of food simultaneously;
draining fat from one side while cooking level on the other
side.
[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a tabletop
cooking appliance that is assembled with dual sliding pin hinges,
allowing for multiple positions and accounting for varying
thicknesses of food.
[0011] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, The appliance is hingeably assembled in two halves, each
of which can contain a cooking surface that is either flat or
contains a plurality of ridges, and may incorporate one or more
heating elements.
[0012] Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the
following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an
embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL DRAWINGS
[0013] The drawings constitute a part of this specification and
include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be
embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some
instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated
or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view in the upright and stored
position in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cooking appliance of
FIG. 1, showing the open operational position with both halves in
fat draining mode.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cooking appliance of
FIG. 1, showing one preferred attachment method for the cooking
surfaces.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the cooking appliance
of FIG. 1, showing both halves draining fat towards the center.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the cooking appliance
of FIG. 1, showing one half in fat draining mode and the other half
in level cooking mode.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cooking appliance of
FIG. 1 showing the open operational position with one half in fat
draining mode and the other half in level cooking mode.
[0020] FIG. 7 is an exploded assembly view of a preferred
embodiment showing one method of assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiments are
provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present
invention may be embodied in various forms. Various aspects of the
invention may be inverted, or changed in reference to specific part
shape and detail, part location, or part composition. Therefore,
specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as
limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a
representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ
the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed
system, structure or manner.
[0022] FIG. 1 shows an exterior perspective view of a preferred
embodiment of the invention in the vertically stored position,
showing the exterior housing halves 10 and 20, integrating the
storage foot geometry 11 and 21, the carry handle opening 12 and
22, and the stabilizing foot 13.
[0023] Turning now to FIG. 2, there is shown a preferred embodiment
of the invention in the open position, exposing the cooking grills
30, disposed with a plurality of ridges 31, in this embodiment
being symmetrical so that one part fits both housing halves 10
& 20. The invention in this view may cook such that the fat
from cooking drains towards each opposing cooking grill 31, flows
down the ramp 40, and is directed by the finger pull geometry 33
into the grease cup 50. The appliance halves in this embodiment are
held slidably in multiple positions by the dual sliding pin hinges
60.
[0024] Turning now to FIG. 3, there is shown a preferred embodiment
of the invention showing one half of the exterior housing 10 and
illustrating how the grill 30 is inserted and removed for cleaning,
to insert namely by first inserting the grill tabs 32 into the
housing slots 14 and pressing the ramp end of the grill 40 into the
spring clip 15, reversing this procedure to remove the grill, using
the finger pull geometry 33 to release the grill 30 from the spring
clip 15.
[0025] Turning now to FIG. 4, there is shown a preferred embodiment
of the invention in side elevational view as placed on a flat
surface for cooking. The exterior housings 10 & 20 are disposed
at an angle to the flat surface by resting on the stabilizing foot
13 & 23 and the storage foot 11 & 21, maintained in
opposition to each other by the hinge 60, and allowing cooking fat
to drain into the grease cup 50.
[0026] Turning now to FIG. 5, there is shown a preferred embodiment
of the invention in side elevational view as placed on a flat
surface for cooking. The exterior housing 10 is disposed at an
angle to the flat surface by resting on the stabilizing foot 13 and
the storage foot 11. The exterior housing 20 is disposed parallel
to the flat surface by resting on the stabilizing foot 23 and by
the storage foot 21 resting on the grease cup 50, maintained in
opposition to each other by the hinge 60, allowing multiple cooking
positions simultaneously as fat from cooking food in housing 10
will drain into the grease cup 50 as the housing 20 maintains a
level position.
[0027] Turning now to FIG. 6, there is shown a preferred embodiment
of the invention in perspective view positioned on a flat surface
with the housings disposed as in FIG. 5. The griddle plate 70
replaces the grill plate 30 in housing 20 in this
configuration.
[0028] Turning now to FIG. 7, there is shown a preferred embodiment
of the invention in exploded assembly view. The housings 10 &
20 provide space for the heating elements 80, which are removably
attached and captured by the electrical contacts 82 and contact
bracket 81. The electrical connection 90 is removably attached to
the contacts 82 and provides a means of drawing household
electricity well known in the art. The cover panels 28 shield the
internal housing structure 16 & 26 from grease and dirt.
[0029] While the invention has been described in connection with a
preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the
invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it
is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and
equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined by the appended claims.
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