U.S. patent application number 10/640920 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-06 for stiffened flexible mould.
Invention is credited to Bergeret, Nathalie.
Application Number | 20050000960 10/640920 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33522788 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050000960 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bergeret, Nathalie |
January 6, 2005 |
Stiffened flexible mould
Abstract
A mould for culinary preparation comprises a hollow tray made
from a flexible elastomer material and comprising a side wall, the
top end of which forms an opening, and a rigid stiffener. Another
stiffener, for example an annular or discoid stiffener is connected
to the bottom, close to the junction with the side wall.
Inventors: |
Bergeret, Nathalie; (Aix Les
Bains, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACHMAN & LAPOINTE, P.C.
900 CHAPEL STREET
SUITE 1201
NEW HAVEN
CT
06510
US
|
Family ID: |
33522788 |
Appl. No.: |
10/640920 |
Filed: |
August 14, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
219/732 ;
219/730 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 249/01 20130101;
A21B 3/138 20130101; A21B 3/136 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
219/732 ;
219/730 |
International
Class: |
H05B 006/80 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 4, 2003 |
FR |
03 08221 |
Claims
1. A flexible mould for a culinary preparation, comprising: a tray
to be handled, the tray comprising a bottom wall located at a lower
edge of the tray, a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom
wall, the side wall having an upper edge and including a peripheral
wing projecting outwardly from the upper edge, at least the side
wall being made of a food-grade silicone material, a first
stiffening element secured to the tray near the upper edge for
improving the handling of the tray by said upper edge, a second
stiffening element secured to the tray near the lower edge of the
tray, whereby the side wall is folded on itself and said first and
second stiffening elements are brought towards each other for
removing the culinary preparation out of the mould.
2. The flexible mould according to claim 1, wherein the first and
second stiffening elements are covered with a protective layer for
allowing the mould to be heated in a microwave oven.
3. The flexible mould according to claim 1, wherein the side wall
has an essentially uniform thickness.
4. The flexible mould according to claim 1, wherein the side wall
and bottom wall have an inner surface in contact with the culinary
preparation, and said inner surface is free of any undercut.
5. The flexible mould according to claim 1, wherein: the bottom
wall and the peripheral wing of the tray are also made of a
food-grade silicone material, the tray is a one-piece sheet-like
self-supporting tray, the side wall has a uniform thickness, and
the second stiffening element is a ring located in the vicinity of
a junction between the bottom wall and the side wall.
6. The flexible mould according to claim 1, wherein the second
stiffening element is a plate defining at least a part of the
bottom wall of the tray.
7. The flexible mould according to claim 6, wherein: the bottom
wall has an upper surface directed to the inside of the tray, and a
lower surface, and at said upper surface, the plate is covered with
an anti-adhesive layer.
8. The flexible mould according to claim 3, wherein: at least one
of the bottom wall and the side wall of the tray has a groove, and
the second stiffening element is a ring secured in said groove.
9. The flexible mould according to claim 1, wherein: at least one
of the bottom wall and the side wall of the tray has a groove, and
the second stiffening element is removably disposed in said
groove.
10. A flexible mould for food, comprising: a flexible one-piece
sheet-like tray to be handled and made of a food-grade silicone
material, the tray comprising a bottom wall located at a lower edge
of the tray, a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall,
the side wall having an upper edge and including a peripheral wing
projecting outwardly from the upper edge, a first stiffening
element secured to the tray near the upper edge for improving the
handling of the tray by said upper edge, a second stiffening
element secured to the tray near the lower edge of the tray, the
first and second stiffening elements being covered with said
silicone material, for allowing the mould to be heated in a
microwave oven.
11. The flexible mould according to claim 10, wherein the side wall
and bottom wall have an inner surface adapted to be in contact with
a culinary preparation, and said inner surface is free of any
undercut.
12. The flexible mould according to claim 10, wherein the second
stiffening element is embedded within said silicone material near
the periphery of the bottom wall for preventing inward radial
distortion of the silicone material in the vicinity of the location
of the second stiffening element.
13. The flexible mould according to claim 10, wherein the second
stiffening element is a plate extending along the bottom wall.
14. A flexible mould for food, comprising: a tray to be handled and
made of a flexible, food grade elastomer material to be heated in
one of a conventional culinary oven and a microwave culinary oven,
the tray comprising a bottom wall located at a lower edge of the
tray, a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the side
wall having an upper edge and including a wing projecting outwardly
from the upper edge, a first stiffening element secured to the tray
near the upper edge for improving the handling of the tray by said
upper edge, a second stiffening element secured to the tray near
the lower edge of the tray, so that, for removing out of said tray
a culinary preparation previously disposed therein and heated in
said oven, the side wall is folded on itself and said first and
second stiffening elements are brought towards each other.
15. The flexible mould according to claim 14, wherein the side wall
and the bottom wall have an inner surface in contact with the
culinary preparation, and said inner surface is free of any
undercut.
16. The flexible mould according to claim 14, wherein: the tray is
a flexible one-piece sheet-like tray, and the first and second
stiffening elements are covered with the material of the tray for
allowing the mould to be heated in a microwave oven.
17. The flexible mould according to claim 14, wherein the flexible,
food grade elastomer material comprises a silicone obtained by a
process of cross-linking with platinum.
18. The flexible mould according to claim 14, wherein the side wall
has an essentially uniform thickness.
19. The flexible mould according to claim 14, wherein the tray is
heated in a microwave oven and both the first and second stiffening
elements are covered with a protective layer for allowing the mould
to be heated in said microwave oven.
20. The flexible mould according to claim 19, wherein the tray is
made of a silicone material, and the protective layer of the first
and second stiffening elements is made of the silicone material of
the tray.
21. The flexible mould according to claim 14, wherein the side wall
of the tray has a uniform thickness.
22. The flexible mould according to claim 14, wherein the wing of
the tray is provided with an open seat and the first stiffening
element is disposed within said seat.
23. The flexible mould according to claim 14, wherein the first and
second stiffening elements are made of one of a rigid plastic
material and metal.
24. The flexible mould according to claim 7, wherein the
anti-adhesive layer includes polytetrafluorethylene.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a mould used to make culinary
preparation such as cakes, pastry, etc.
[0002] Very stiff moulds made of metallic material are known, but
the fact that they are stiff does not facilitate removal of the
preparation from the mould.
[0003] Silicone moulds are also known which have the advantage that
they can be put into the oven, the microwave oven, the
refrigerator, the freezer or the dishwasher without being damaged,
but these moulds are not stiff due to the high elasticity of the
material.
[0004] There are three disadvantages, all of which result from this
high elasticity of elastomers: it is difficult to remove the
preparation from the mould, it is inconvenient to manipulate the
mould because it deforms so easily, and the uncooked preparation
(frequently liquid) can easily overflow while the mould is being
manipulated.
[0005] Solutions have been suggested to obtain a sufficiently
flexible mould by making a local overthickness of the material.
However, the resulting mould removal performances and the ability
to maintain the liquid preparation in the mould are not always
satisfactory.
[0006] Patent FR 2 827 494 describes a silicone elastomer mould for
a culinary preparation to be baked or heated in the oven. The mould
comprises a flexible hollow tray made of an elastomer material with
a lower part provided with a bottom from which a side wall rises
up, an opening being formed around the top end of the side wall,
this opening being surrounded by a rigid annular or approximately
annular stiffener connected to the said hollow tray.
[0007] The preparation is removed from the mould as follows; start
with the mould the right way up (opening at the top), and place the
bottom of the mould on a support. Press downwards on the stiffener
towards the support, so as to curve the side wall and bring the top
opening approximately to the level of the bottom.
[0008] Although this solution is attractive, it is not perfectly
satisfactory, particularly for the removal of all preparations from
the mould, since the curved side wall allows a rim to project
upwards around the border of the bottom forming an obstacle, for
example to the removal of a soft cake or for the correct insertion
of a cake turner.
[0009] Therefore, the problem that arises is to make a new mould
for a culinary preparation allowing very easy removal of the solid
preparation from the mould, potentially facilitating resistance of
the mould to deformation, particularly if it contains a baked or
unbaked liquid or heavy preparation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The proposed solution is a mould for a culinary preparation
of the type mentioned above characterized in that it comprises
another rigid stiffener located in the lower part of the hollow
tray and connected to it.
[0011] So, an object of the invention is a flexible mould for a
culinary preparation, comprising:
[0012] a tray adapted to be handled, the tray comprising a bottom
wall located at a lower edge of the tray, a side wall extending
upwardly from the bottom wall, the side wall having an upper edge
and including a peripheral wing projecting outwardly from the upper
edge, at least the side wall being made of a food-grade elastomer
material (preferably silicone-based),
[0013] a first stiffening element secured to the tray near the
upper edge, for improving the handling of the tray by said
edge,
[0014] a second stiffening element secured to the tray near the
lower edge of the tray,
[0015] whereby the side wall is folded on itself and said first and
second stiffening elements are brought towards each other for
removing the culinary preparation out of the mould.
[0016] The first and second stiffening elements can especially be
made of one of a rigid plastic material and metal.
[0017] Inward radial distortion of the material in the vicinity of
the location of the second stiffening element (especially the
bottom wall) is prevented.
[0018] According to a preferable feature, the first and second
stiffening elements are covered with a protective layer adapted for
allowing the mould to be heated in a microwave oven.
[0019] For preventing the polymerization process of the material to
generate decomposition by-products when the mould is manufactured,
the flexible, food grade elastomer material of the tray will
advantageously comprise a silicone obtained by a process of
cross-linking with platinum, as explained in U.S. Pat. No.
6,197,359 enclosed in the present description by reference.
[0020] According to another preferable feature, the side wall has
an essentially uniform thickness, preferably the bottom wall
too.
[0021] According to another preferable feature, the side wall and
bottom wall have an inner surface adapted to be in contact with the
culinary preparation, said inner surface being free of any
undercut.
[0022] According to another preferable feature:
[0023] the bottom wall and the peripheral wing of the tray are also
made of a food-grade elastomer material,
[0024] the tray is a one-piece sheet-like self-supporting tray,
and
[0025] the second stiffening element is a ring located in the
vicinity of the junction between the bottom wall and the side
wall.
[0026] If said second stiffening element is a ring, at least one of
the bottom wall and the side wall of the tray can be provided with
an open seat (or groove), and said ring can be (possibly removably)
secured in said open seat.
[0027] Optionally, the wing of the tray can also be provided with
such an open seat (or groove),and the first stiffening element is
then disposed within said seat.
[0028] Alternatively, the second stiffening element can be embedded
within the flexible elastomer material near the periphery of the
bottom wall.
[0029] According to an alternative embodiment, the second
stiffening element is a plate defining at least a part of the
bottom wall of the tray.
[0030] In such a case, the bottom wall having an upper surface
directed to the inside of the tray, and a lower surface, said upper
surface being preferably covered with an anti-adhesive layer
including polytetrafluorethylene.
[0031] It can be understood that with this particular arrangement
of the two stiffeners, the advantages of the maximum flexibility of
moulds, especially made of a silicone type material, are
maintained, particularly if the upper and lower stiffeners are both
annular (ring) or approximately annular, the lower stiffener then
preferably being fixed to the bottom and located close to the
junction between this bottom and the side wall. The result is that
the entire mould remains flexible, thus improving some mould
removal operations.
[0032] But some preparations may continue to cause a weight
problem, and/or a mould removal problem.
[0033] The invention then proposes that the "lower" rigid stiffener
should be in the form of at least one plate at the bottom of the
mould.
[0034] If this bottom plate extends radially around the outside
periphery, approximately as far as the junction between the bottom
and the side wall, the hinge effect between the bottom and the side
wall during mould removal will be reinforced (as in the previous
solution with a bottom ring), particularly if the "bottom"
stiffener around the external periphery continues around the entire
periphery of the lower portion of the hollow tray. Furthermore, if
the said plate extends inwards as far as the centre of the bottom,
thus occupying most or all of the surface of this bottom, the
mechanical behavior of the bottom will be facilitated preventing
"belly" effects under the weight and assuring some stability in the
bottom mould under all circumstances.
[0035] One aspect of the invention also relates to the link between
the hollow tray and the "bottom" stiffener, when it is a plate.
[0036] The preferred solution for combining mould removal quality,
mould cost price and ease of manufacturing, consists of:
[0037] doubling up the plate at least on one of its two faces by an
anti-adhesive (typically PTFE) coating that is visible on the
inside on the bottom of the mould;
[0038] and the plate is connected to the hollow tray by moulding
around its periphery, where it is trapped in a peripheral groove in
the hollow tray defining an inner rim.
[0039] Due to all or some of the above characteristics, two mould
removal techniques are recommended in particular, in relation with
the basic problem that arises.
[0040] In the first case, pressure is applied on the mould that
tends to bring the level of the bottom and the "top" stiffener
surrounding the opening towards each other, thus bending the side
wall of the mould which turns on itself, until the bottom rises
above the top end of the mould.
[0041] To complete mould removal in some cases, it is even
recommended that the bottom can be raised above the level of the
said top end, until the side wall is unfolded upwards. The mould is
then fully turned inside out like a glove.
[0042] In the second case, the mould is firstly put inside out and
then pressure is applied on the two stiffeners to bring the bottom
and the opening towards each other, thus forcing the preparation
out of the mould.
[0043] In all cases, the mould assembly is stiff enough to be able
to use gripping utensils, for example removable handles.
[0044] Other special features and advantages of the invention will
become clear after reading the following description of an
embodiment given as a non-limitative example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0045] In the attached drawings:
[0046] FIG. 1 shows a three-quarter bottom perspective view of a
mould according to the invention;
[0047] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view along line II-II in FIG.
1;
[0048] FIG. 3 shows detail III in FIG. 2;
[0049] FIG. 4 shows a top view of a rigid stiffener used in a mould
according to this invention;
[0050] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view along axis V-V of the
stiffener in FIG. 4; and
[0051] FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 each represent a local section of a
possible adapted embodiment of the mould, along the same section as
in FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0052] As can be seen particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2, the culinary
preparation mould 1 according to this invention is in the form of a
hollow tray la made of a flexible (easily deformable), elastomer
material (therefore with elastic characteristics) for example made
of silicone. This hollow tray forms the receptacle inside which the
preparation may be placed. It includes a bottom wall 2, a side wall
3 that stands up from the bottom and a top ring (or wing) 4
defining an outer stiffening and gripping rim that extends radially
from the top part of the side wall 3 around the opening 5.
[0053] The mould 1 may have different shapes, for example round,
rectangular, elliptical.
[0054] The thickness of the side wall(s) is preferably essentially
uniform (a few millimeters everywhere), and said side wall is free
of any undercut for receiving the article to be heated or for
improving local bending of the tray. The bottom wall has
advantageously the same features.
[0055] If it is round as shown in the figure, the thickness of the
ring 4 for an opening diameter 5 of the order of 240 mm, is usually
between 0.5% and 1.5% of this diameter, and preferably 1%. In one
preferred embodiment, the thickness of the ring 4 is of the same
order of magnitude as the thickness of the bottom 2 and side wall
3, and is preferably between 1.5 mm and 4 mm.
[0056] The top end of the side wall 3 delimits the opening 5
through which the preparation can be added into tray 1a. The
annular part 6 of the top ring 4 located at the opening 5 comprises
a first rigid stiffener 7 (or top stiffener).
[0057] For example, the stiffener 7 may be made of a plastic
material (particularly a type PA 6.6 thermoset material) or a metal
such as stainless steel or aluminum. In particular, the stiffener 7
may be a wire with a diameter of between 1 mm and 5 mm.
[0058] The stiffener 7, advantageously placed around the entire
mould periphery, is located at the same level as the opening 5. It
is connected to the side wall 3 only through the ring 4, at a
distance from the opening 5. This distance is typically between 10
mm and 40 mm. For a mould with an opening 5 with a diameter of 240
mm and with a height of about 50 mm, the stiffener 7 will
preferably be located at a distance from the opening 5 equal to
between 0.08 and 0.14 times this diameter, and preferably 0.12
times.
[0059] In the embodiment illustrated, the peripheral wing 4 is
connected to the top part of the side wall 3 through a rim 8 that
is convex upwards.
[0060] This area 8 facilitates mould removal, by initiating
curvature of the side wall 3 to enable mould removal. The largest
force which consists of smoothing the angle between the ring 4 and
the side wall 3 is no longer necessary.
[0061] In the example shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the shape of the
stiffener 7 is circular, including in section.
[0062] In the example shown in the figures, the ring 4 is formed
continuously and is made of the same material as tray la. However,
a removable ring 4 could be used.
[0063] In FIG. 1, the stiffener is embedded in the material forming
the ring 4, at the location of the projection 6 at the radial end
of it. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the stiffener 7 is fixed removable to the
ring, by forced fitting in a peripheral groove, or seat, 9
partially open towards the inside.
[0064] Although not shown in the figures, means suitable for
cooperating with removable gripping utensils could be placed at the
stiffener 7.
[0065] The mould described above typically corresponds to the mould
disclosed in FR-A2 827 494.
[0066] The mould according to the invention is different from the
mould described in the prior application, particularly due to the
presence of another rigid stiffener mark 11 in FIG. 1, 11' in FIG.
2 and 11" in FIG. 9.
[0067] This second stiffener is located in the lower portion of the
hollow tray 1a and connected to it to facilitate removal of the
culinary preparation from the mould, or even to stabilize the shape
of the bottom 2, during mould removal or when carrying the mould
when full.
[0068] Like the upper stiffener 7, the lower stiffener may be a
ring, annular or approximately annular, with a round section, as
shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0069] In this case, it is recommended as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7,
that the rigid ring 11 should be fixed to the bottom 2, being
approximately at the junction between this bottom and the side wall
3.
[0070] It should be noted that in the solution in FIGS. 6 and 7,
the annular retaining ring 11 may be embedded inside the elastomer
material of the hollow tray 1a, or may be added onto it inside a
groove (or open seat) made in the outer surface of the bottom wall
with a narrow retaining neck 13 extending as an annular ring around
the periphery of the bottom 2, with an access opening preferably
facing outwards (under the bottom) as shown in FIG. 7.
[0071] However, the solution of an embedded ring 11 in FIG. 6 will
be preferred for cost reasons, for ease of cleaning and therefore
for keeping the mould clean. Furthermore, if the stiffener is
arranged in this manner, it must be present when making the hollow
tray I a itself that is typically made by moulding.
[0072] Another solution consists of using a rigid stiffener in the
form of a plate 11' or 11" at the bottom of the mould, instead of a
retaining ring 11 (FIGS. 2, 8 and 9).
[0073] The plate 11' (or 11") preferably extends over the entire
surface of the bottom 2.
[0074] The connection between the tray I and the plate may be made
particularly in two different ways: either the plate is embedded in
the flexible material of the tray located at the bottom 2 (FIG. 8),
or the plate is connected to tray I at its periphery by inserting
said plate into a horizontal peripheral groove 15, facing the
inside and belonging to a rim 17 of the tray.
[0075] In both cases, the tray 1a is made by moulding, the plate
being placed in the mould before the flexible material is poured
into it; in the second case, shrinkage and elasticity of the
material block the plate with respect to the rim 17.
[0076] In the first case, the plate 11' may be made of a piece of
sheet metal or a rigid plastic plate (preferably
thermosetting).
[0077] In the second case, it is a "coated" plate lined on at least
its top face 19 by an anti-adhesive coating 21 such as
polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE).
[0078] In this case, almost the entire bottom 2 is then formed by a
solid disk with an anti-adhesive surface fixed to tray 1a.
[0079] The advantage of a solution with a discoidal shaped plate
like that in FIGS. 2, 8 and 9, instead of a solution with an
annular retaining ring like that shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, is that
the bottom is stiffer and cannot deform, either during mould
removal or under the weight of the preparation.
[0080] Furthermore, during mould removal, the user does not need to
think about where to put his or her fingers on the bottom; there is
always a rigid area that will resist finger pressure.
[0081] It should be noted that a solution in which the bottom is
locally reinforced by several well-positioned plates linked
together by a retaining ring if necessary, could be satisfactory in
this respect (solution not shown).
[0082] The preparation in the figures can be removed from the
moulds in two main manners, depending on whether the preparation is
removed from the mould the right way down or upside down.
[0083] First assumption: mould the right way down and horizontal.
The user pushes the upper stiffener 7 downwards and the bottom
upwards, acting on the stiffener 11, 11' or 11". Without
necessarily placing the mould on a support, he or she continues the
movement until the bottom 2 passes above the level of the ring 4,
in other words above the opening 5, and finishes by turning the
mould inside out like a glove finger, the elasticity and
deformability of the side wall 3 making it possible.
[0084] The retaining ring 11 and particularly the plates 11' or 11"
then enable a utensil to be inserted along the top wall completely
separated from the bottom, if necessary. There is no rim to make
the operation more difficult.
[0085] When being turned inside out like a glove finger, the
arrangement of the retaining ring or the peripheral edge of the
plate at the location of the slope change between the side wall 3
and the bottom 2 accentuates the hinge effect at this location.
[0086] Second assumption: mould inside out, held by the user. The
user pushes on the periphery of the bottom at the same time as he
pulls on ring 4, preferably lifting the mould slightly. The side
wall folds outwards on itself. The preparation is pushed outside
the mould which once again tends to fold back like a glove finger,
this time downwards.
[0087] To sum up, two methods for removing the culinary preparation
from the mould 1 are preferably proposed thanks to the advantageous
features of the invention:
[0088] a pressure is applied on the mould tending to bring the
level of the bottom wall and the first stiffening element 7 towards
each other, thus bending the side wall typically inwardly. During
removal of the preparation from the mould, the bottom rises above
the level of the opening 5. Typically, this removal operation is
done by continuously lifting the bottom wall above the level of the
opening 5, until the side wall is unfolded upwards.
[0089] The mould is upside down, pressure is applied on the first
and second stiffening elements 7, 11, 11', 11" to bring the bottom
wall and the opening 5 towards each other.
[0090] Due to the stiffness of the bottom, the bottom keeps its
shape and will not become wavy and create a risk of damaging the
preparation, particularly if the preparation is a fragile cake.
* * * * *