U.S. patent application number 10/979244 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-04 for combined griddle, wok and grill cookware.
Invention is credited to Shih Kwang Hsu.
Application Number | 20060090743 10/979244 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36260392 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060090743 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hsu; Shih Kwang |
May 4, 2006 |
Combined griddle, wok and grill cookware
Abstract
Cookware combining two or three cooking sections in one unit. In
the first four preferred embodiments, the three sections are a
griddle section, a wok section, and a grill section. The griddle
section is a flat plate. The wok section is a flat plate having an
opening within which a wok may be removably retained. The grill
section has bars, with open spaces between the bars. The griddle
and wok sections are parts of a single flat plate, the grill
section is generally coplanar with the flat plate, and the three
sections form a generally rectangular or curvilinear shape. The
fifth and sixth preferred embodiments of the invention are
substantially the same as the first four embodiments, except that
the fifth only includes a wok section and a griddle section, with
no grill section, and the sixth only includes a wok section and a
grill section, with no griddle section.
Inventors: |
Hsu; Shih Kwang; (Potomac,
MD) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STEPHEN CHRISTOPHER SWIFT;SWIFT LAW OFFICE
SUITE 600
1800 DIAGONAL ROAD
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314-2840
US
|
Family ID: |
36260392 |
Appl. No.: |
10/979244 |
Filed: |
November 3, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/211 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24C 15/10 20130101;
A47J 37/067 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
126/211 |
International
Class: |
F24C 15/10 20060101
F24C015/10 |
Claims
1. A cooking appliance, comprising: a flat plate, having a griddle
section with an upper surface suitable for cooking, and a wok
section with an opening that is suitably dimensioned and configured
for retaining a wok; and a grill section retained on a side of the
flat plate, said grill section having members that are generally
coplanar with the flat plate, with openings between the members,
whereby food retained on the members may be put in contact with
fire or heat passing through the openings.
2. The cooking appliance according to claim 1, including a wok that
is suitably dimensioned and configured to be removably retained in
the opening in the wok section.
3. The cooking appliance according to claim 2, including at least
one heat source for the griddle section, the wok section, and the
grill section.
4. The cooking appliance according to claim 3, wherein the heat
source may be separately controlled for each section.
5. The cooking appliance according to claim 4, wherein the flat
plate, the members of the grill, and the wok are principally made
of ferrous metal.
6. The cooking appliance according to claim 5, wherein the flat
plate and the grill section form a generally rectangular shape.
7. The cooking appliance according to claim 6, wherein the flat
plate and the grill section form a generally curvilinear shape.
8. A cooking appliance, comprising: a flat plate, having a griddle
section with an upper surface suitable for cooking, and a wok
section with an opening that is suitably dimensioned and configured
for retaining a wok.
9. The cooking appliance according to claim 8, including a wok that
is suitably dimensioned and configured to be removably retained in
the opening in the wok section.
10. The cooking appliance according to claim 9, including at least
one heat source for the griddle section and the wok section.
11. The cooking appliance according to claim 10, wherein the heat
source may be separately controlled for each section.
12. The cooking appliance according to claim 11, wherein the flat
plate and the wok are principally made of ferrous metal.
13. The cooking appliance according to claim 12, wherein the flat
plate has a generally rectangular shape.
14. The cooking appliance according to claim 12, wherein the flat
plate has a generally curvilinear shape.
15. A cooking appliance, comprising: a wok section, that is a flat
plate with an opening that is suitably dimensioned and configured
for retaining a wok; and a grill section retained on a side of the
flat plate, said grill section having members that are generally
coplanar with the flat plate, with openings between the members,
whereby food retained on the members may be put in contact with
fire or heat passing through the openings.
16. The cooking appliance according to claim 15, including a wok
that is suitably dimensioned and configured to be removably
retained in the opening in the wok section.
17. The cooking appliance according to claim 16, including at least
one heat source for the wok section and the grill section.
18. The cooking appliance according to claim 17, wherein the heat
source may be separately controlled for each section.
19. The cooking appliance according to claim 18, wherein: the flat
plate, the members of the grill, and the wok are principally made
of ferrous metal; and the flat plate and the grill section form a
generally rectangular shape.
20. The cooking appliance according to claim 18, wherein: the flat
plate, the members of the grill, and the wok are principally made
of ferrous metal; and the flat plate and the grill section form a
generally curvilinear shape.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to cooking utensils and
appliances with multiple surfaces for cooking food.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] There have been numerous prior inventions that combine
plural means for cooking food, but none that are equivalent to the
present invention.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 3,763,846, issued on Oct. 9, 1973, to John S.
Schantz, discloses a portable three-in-one deep fat fryer, griddle
and barbeque combination, with an open top having a ledge
supporting a deep fat fryer, a griddle, or a barbeque grate, but
not all three at the same time. The instant invention is
distinguishable, in that it allows a wok and either a grill or a
griddle, or both, to be used simultaneously.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,062,341, issued on Dec. 13, 1977, to John M.
Panzarella, discloses a patio wok stove, that can be used to heat
either a wok or a grill, but not both at the same time, as in the
instant invention.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,189,945, issued on Mar. 2, 1993, to Donald
C. Hennick, discloses a water cooled barbeque grill, with a
grilling surface that may either be flat or else have a wok-like
configuration. The instant invention is distinguishable, in that it
allows two or three cooking surfaces to be used simultaneously.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,452, issued on Feb. 13, 1996, to Erich
J. Schlosser and James C. Stephen, discloses a cooking grate
assembly for barbecue grills, including grill and griddle surfaces,
but not an opening for a wok, as in the instant invention.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,008, issued on Sep. 24, 1996, to Borden
Jenkins, discloses a combination grill-wok barbecue, with a ring
that can support either a grill or a wok over a heat source, but
not both at the same time, as in the instant invention.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,154, issued on May 26, 1998, to Wolfgang
Schroeter, Cliff Lilley and Steven Schwarz, discloses a gas
barbecue assembly, with grill and griddle surfaces, but without a
holder for a wok, as in the instant invention.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,165, issued on Jul. 21, 1998, to Daniel
T. Glenboski, Mark Cartellone and Stanley E. Grzywna, discloses a
multi-purpose cooking apparatus, with grill and griddle surfaces,
but no opening for a wok.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,361, issued on Nov. 24, 1998, to John T.
Richter, discloses a combination grill and griddle surface, which
is a sheet that is either rectangular or circular, with a grill
section and a griddle section. There is no holder for a wok, as in
the instant invention.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,357, issued on Apr. 13, 1999, to Raymond
Royer and Clifford Breaux, discloses a portable cooking system, in
which food may be cooked either in a wok or on a circular grating,
but not on both simultaneously, as in the instant invention.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,045, issued on Nov. 23, 1999, to Todd B.
Housley, discloses a utensil supporting multiple cooking
environments for preparing food, including a grill above
compartments, but not including an opening for a wok, as in the
instant invention.
[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,431, issued on Nov. 14, 2000, to Joseph
R. Tippmann and Vincent P. Tippmann, discloses a steam heated grill
and griddle, but without a holder for a wok.
[0016] U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,047, issued on Jul. 31, 2001, to Robert
F. Mosher, II et al., discloses a portable griddle stove with dual
cooking surfaces, one flat and one ribbed, but no opening for a
wok.
[0017] U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,092, issued on May 14, 2002, to Robert
Grohs, discloses an electric grill with a flat surface, combined
with a grillpan having a ribbed surface. The grill pan can slide
back and forth over the flat surface. There is no wok holder, as in
the instant invention.
[0018] U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,022, issued on Dec. 3, 2002, to Robert
A. Shingler, discloses a portable outdoor cooker, which may be used
with a wok or a grill, but not both simultaneously, as in the
instant invention.
[0019] U.S. Pat. No. 6,644,175, issued on Nov. 11, 2003, to Robert
T. Stephen, Adrian A. Bruno and J. Michael Alden, discloses a
barbecue grill cooking surface assembly, having griddle and grate
portions that may be used simultaneously, but not a wok holder, as
in the instant invention.
[0020] U.S. Pat. No. Des. 46,309, issued on Aug. 25, 1914, to Simon
Binswanger, discloses a design for a broiler griddle, having flat
and ribbed portions.
[0021] U.S. Pat. No. Des. 151,448, issued on Oct. 14, 1948, to
William Hallgarth, discloses a design for a frying pan, having flat
and ribbed portions.
[0022] U.S. Pat. No. Des. 326,029, issued on May 12, 1992, to Yuk
L. Lok, discloses a design for a stove for wok cooking, but without
a grill or griddle, as in the instant invention.
[0023] U.S. Pat. No. Des. 409,041, issued on May 4, 1999, to Mario
John Barker, discloses a design for an electric cooker, having flat
and ribbed surfaces, but no opening suitable for holding a wok, as
in the instant invention.
[0024] U.S. Pat. No. Des. 431,411, issued on Oct. 3, 2000, to Chung
Yuan Chang, discloses a design for a circular electric grill,
having flat and ribbed portions, but no opening suitable for
holding a wok, as in the instant invention.
[0025] U.S. Pat. No. Des. 441,250, issued on May 1, 2001, to Lung
Wai Choi, discloses discloses a design for a rectangular electric
grill, having flat and ribbed portions, but no opening suitable for
holding a wok, as in the instant invention.
[0026] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2001/0025843,
published on Oct. 4, 2001, to James William McClean, discloses
cooking appliances having a recessed bowl portion that may be used
as a wok, and a ribbed hotplate portion that may be used as a
grill, but not three cooking surfaces that may be used
simultaneously, nor a removable wok, as in the instant
invention.
[0027] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either
singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention
as claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0028] The present invention is cookware combining two or three
cooking sections in one unit. In the first four preferred
embodiments, the three sections are a griddle section, a wok
section, and a grill section. The fifth preferred embodiment of the
invention is substantially the same as the first four embodiments,
except that it only includes a wok section and a griddle section,
with no grill section. The sixth preferred embodiment of the
invention is substantially the same as the first four embodiments,
except that it only includes a wok section and a grill section,
with no griddle section.
[0029] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to
provide cookware which conveniently combines the use of a wok with
other cooking surfaces.
[0030] It is another object of the invention to provide cookware
which conveniently combines the use of a wok with either a griddle
or a grill, or both.
[0031] It is a further object of the invention to provide cookware
with multiple cooking surfaces, which may be conveniently used
outdoors.
[0032] Still another object of the invention is to provide cookware
with multiple cooking surfaces, which may be safely used indoors,
with appropriate precautions.
[0033] It is an object of the invention to provide improved
elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes
described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in
accomplishing its intended purposes.
[0034] These and other objects of the present invention will become
readily apparent upon further review of the following specification
and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the griddle section in the
first preferred embodiment of the invention.
[0036] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the wok section in the first
preferred embodiment of the invention.
[0037] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the wok in the first
preferred embodiment of the invention.
[0038] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the grill section in the first
preferred embodiment of the invention.
[0039] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the first preferred embodiment
of the invention.
[0040] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the second preferred embodiment
of the invention.
[0041] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the third preferred embodiment
of the invention.
[0042] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the fourth preferred embodiment
of the invention.
[0043] FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the fifth preferred embodiment
of the invention.
[0044] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the sixth preferred embodiment
of the invention.
[0045] FIG. 11 is a front elevational sectional view of the second
preferred embodiment of the invention along line 9-9 in FIG. 6.
[0046] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features
consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0047] The present invention is cookware combining two or three
cooking sections in one unit. In the first preferred embodiment,
the three sections are a griddle section, a wok section, and a
grill section.
[0048] FIG. 1 shows the griddle section 10, which is a flat plate
having an upper surface suitable for cooking food such as Mongolian
barbecue or Teppan-Yaki.
[0049] FIG. 2 shows the wok section 12, which is a flat plate
having an opening 14 within which a wok may be removably retained.
(A wok is a bowl-shaped cooking utensil commonly used in the
preparation of Chinese food by stir frying. Woks are generally
circular, and may have flat bottoms with rounded sides and one or
two handles.) The opening is preferably circular, so that it will
retain the sides of a conventionally shaped wok. A wok may be sold
with the invention, or it may be purchased separately.
[0050] FIG. 3 shows a wok 16 that may be used in the wok section,
having rounded side 18, a flat bottom 20, and a handle 22.
(Alternatively, the wok may have a rounded bottom.)
[0051] FIG. 4 shown the grill section 24, preferably having
parallel members or bars 26 joined at their ends by traverse
members or bars 28. There are open spaces 30 between the bars. The
parallel bars hold food that is being cooked (e.g., by barbecuing)
while the openings allow the food to be in direct contact with fire
or heat below the grill section.
[0052] FIG. 5 shows a top view of the first preferred embodiment of
the invention, in which the griddle and wok sections are parts of a
single flat plate 32. The grill section is generally coplanar with
the flat plate. The three sections form a generally rectangular
shape, with each section adjoining the other two.
[0053] FIG. 6 shows a top view of the second preferred embodiment
of the invention, which is the same as the first preferred
embodiment, except that the griddle and grill sections are on
opposite sides of the wok section.
[0054] FIG. 7 shows a top view of the third preferred embodiment of
the invention, which is the same as the first and second preferred
embodiments, except that the wok and grill sections are on opposite
sides of the griddle section, and the three sections form a
generally curvilinear shape, namely, a circle.
[0055] FIG. 8 shows a top view of the fourth preferred embodiment
of the invention, which is the same as the third preferred
embodiment, except that the three sections form a different
curvilinear shape, namely, a kidney shape.
[0056] FIG. 9 shows a top view of the fifth preferred embodiment of
the invention, which is substantially the same as the first four
embodiments, except that it only includes a wok section and a
griddle section, with no grill section.
[0057] FIG. 10 shown a top view of the sixth preferred embodiment
of the invention, which is substantially the same as the first four
embodiments, except that it only includes a wok section and a grill
section, with no griddle section.
[0058] The flat plate comprising the griddle and wok sections, the
members of the grill section, and the wok are preferably made of a
ferrous metal, such as iron or steel. (The handle of the wok may be
made of wood or another suitable material.) In addition to the
shapes shown in the drawings, the sections may form any square,
rectangular, circular, oval, kidney, polygonal, curvilinear, or
other shape.
[0059] FIG. 11 is a front elevational sectional view of the second
preferred embodiment of the invention along line 9-9 in FIG. 6.
(Substantially the same arrangement may be used for the other
embodiments.) A common heat source 34, such as propane or other
natural gas, is provided for all three sections 10, 12 and 24.
Lines 36 carry the gas to burners 38 below each section. The whole
apparatus is contained in housing 40 and supported on legs 42. The
supply of fuel to each section is preferably controlled separately,
as different temperatures may be required to cook food in each
section. Alternatively, wood, charcoal or any other fuel, or
electrical resistance heating, may be used. The invention is
ideally suited for outdoor cooking. However, with sufficient
ventilation and safeguards it can be installed in a dwelling house,
restaurant or other building for indoor cooking.
[0060] It is to be understood that the present invention is not
limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and
all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *