U.S. patent application number 12/535600 was filed with the patent office on 2011-02-10 for pre-loaded sliced food cooking product.
Invention is credited to Paul Beckman.
Application Number | 20110033582 12/535600 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43535021 |
Filed Date | 2011-02-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110033582 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Beckman; Paul |
February 10, 2011 |
PRE-LOADED SLICED FOOD COOKING PRODUCT
Abstract
This invention relates to a pre-loaded sliced food cooking
product for use in cooking by microwave energy. The invention
comprises two containment members that enclose two absorbent layers
between which food items are pre-loaded into prior to purchase by
the end-consumer.
Inventors: |
Beckman; Paul; (Pleasanton,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
John Nielsen;RANDICK O'DEA & TOOLIATOS, LLP
5000 HOPYARD ROAD, SUITE 400
PLEASANTON
CA
94588
US
|
Family ID: |
43535021 |
Appl. No.: |
12/535600 |
Filed: |
August 4, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
426/107 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2581/3417 20130101;
B65D 2581/342 20130101; B65D 81/264 20130101; B65D 81/3446
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
426/107 |
International
Class: |
B65D 81/34 20060101
B65D081/34 |
Claims
1. A combination cooking device and food product for use in cooking
via microwave energy, comprising: a. a first containment member,
wherein said first containment member comprises a material stable
against deformation when contacted by liquid grease; b. a second
containment member, wherein said second containment member
comprises a material stable against deformation when contacted by
liquid grease; c. A first absorbent layer and a second absorbent
layer located between the first and second containment members; and
d. a layer of food items, wherein the food items are pre-loaded
between the first and second absorbent layers during assembly of
the device/food product.
2. The invention as in claim 1, wherein said containment members
and absorbent layers are generally horizontal planar surfaces.
3. The invention as in claim 1, wherein the containment members and
the absorbent layers are composed of a plurality of microwave
transparent materials.
4. The invention as in claim 1, wherein said containment members
are sealed together at the time of manufacture but after having
been loaded with food items.
5. The invention as in claim 1, further comprising a means to
easily open the sealed containment members.
6. The invention as in claim 1, wherein the food product comprises
pepperoni.
7. The invention as in claim 1, wherein the food product comprises
salami.
8. The invention as in claim 1, wherein the food product comprises
SPAM.RTM..
9. The invention as in claim 1, wherein the food product comprises
pastrami.
10. The invention as in claim 1, wherein the food product comprises
bologna.
11. The invention as in claim 1, wherein the food product comprises
mortadella.
12. The invention as in claim 1, wherein the food product comprises
prosciutto.
13. The invention as in claim 1, wherein the food product comprises
liverwurst.
14. The invention as in claim 1, wherein the food product comprises
Canadian bacon.
15. The invention as in claim 1, wherein the food product comprises
testa.
16. The invention as in claim 1, wherein the food product comprises
pancetta.
17. The invention as in claim 1, wherein the food product comprises
bresaola.
18. The invention as in claim 1, wherein the food product comprises
sopressata.
19. The invention as in claim 1, wherein the food product comprises
coppa.
20. The invention as in claim 1, wherein the food product comprises
fruit.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
[0002] Not applicable.
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING
[0003] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] This device is designed to easily allow a casual and
unsophisticated end-user, with access to a microwave oven, to
remove the grease content of a food item by microwave cooking, for
example, by converting pepperoni slices into pepperoni chips. A
pepperoni chip is a novel food item created from a thin
(approximately 1 mm thick) slice of pepperoni. The pepperoni slice
is cooked in a microwave oven long enough to drive off the grease,
leaving the meat remainder in a form that is similar in texture and
form to a potato chip. The term "pepperoni" is used here for
convenience, however a variety of food products can be incorporated
into the invention. Just a few include the following: salami,
SPAM.RTM., pastrami, bologna, spam, mortadella, prosciutto,
liverwurst, Canadian bacon, testa, pancetta, bresaola, sopressata
and coppa.
[0005] Without this device, the end consumer faces three types of
problems in turning pepperoni slices into pepperoni chips. First,
they face the inconvenience of purchasing food items (e.g.,
pepperoni or salami slices) in an amount not financially efficient
for producing chips, bringing those food items home, finding some
type of cooking device, and finally, determining the optimal layout
of food items on their chosen cooking device. Second, the food
items reach temperatures too high for easy handling. Third, the
grease driven off by cooking the food items can make a mess both in
the microwave oven and also in the chosen cooking device. This
device solves all three of these problems, with the added
convenience of disposability after a single use.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The device is comprised of three different parts, two of
which are used twice in each distinct device. (See attached
figure.) One distinct part of the device is an absorbent layer that
collects and holds the liquefied grease driven from the food items
as they reach high temperatures inside the running microwave oven.
The second distinct part of the device is a protective containment
member that keeps the food items and the grease away from the
end-user until the cooking is completed and the cooked food items
are allowed to cool. The containment member may or may not be
perforated to release steam during the cooking process, as may or
may not be appropriate for the food item to be cooked within the
device. The third part of the device is a set of pre-loaded food
items such as, but not limited to, pepperoni or salami, laid out in
a pattern that optimally uses the available space inside the
device.
[0007] Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited
in its application to the details of construction and to the
arrangements of the components set forth in the following
description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is
capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out
in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology
and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description
and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0008] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be
utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods
and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present
invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded
as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not
depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a view of an embodiment of the
product.
[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of an embodiment of the
product of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The device is comprised of three different parts, two of
which are used twice in each distinct device. (See attached
figures.) The configuration of the three parts is thus: a first
containment member 1 is a layer of a material, possibly circular
but possibly formed in other geometric shapes, that is transparent
to microwave radiation, but that is inexpensive to produce (as the
entire device is disposable), such as cardstock or cardboard. This
first containment member 1 has a small raised lip around its
perimeter so as to contain the absorbent layer and the food items
to be cooked. The size of the containment member is set to fit into
a common microwave oven. The next physical level of the device is a
first absorbent layer 2 of a size just slightly smaller than the
first containment member 1 to which it is attached, so that it fits
within the lip of that containment member. The next physical level
of the device is a set of optimally-arranged food items 3,
preloaded during manufacture of the device and prior to sale to the
end-consumer. The next physical level is a second absorbent layer 4
of the same size as the first absorbent layer 2, and sized so as to
fit into a second containment member 5. The next (and final)
physical level is a second containment member 5, preferably of a
size identical to that of the first containment member 1, also with
a raised lip around its perimeter.
[0012] The first containment member 1 is attached to the second
containment member 5 in a manner that the two may be easily
separated by the end-consumer, such as with a "tear-away" cardboard
strip or other such process or mechanism. With this configuration,
there is no "top" or "bottom" to the device; the device can be
placed in a microwave oven with either side up. When cooking is
complete, the end-user removes the entire device from the microwave
oven, separates one combination of containment member and absorbent
layer from the other combination of containment member and
absorbent layer. The cooked food items with grease previously
driven off are thereby exposed on whichever combination of
containment member and absorbent layer is at that time, typically
the side facing up. The cooked food items can then be allowed to
cool to a temperature most favored by the end-consumer. Having had
the cooked food items removed, the cooking device is then disposed
of.
[0013] This device can also be used to safely remove the grease
from any other chosen food item such as other prepared meats, as
well as from other sliced food items such as fruit. There are, of
course, additional features of the invention that will be described
hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims
appended hereto.
[0014] Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable
the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and
especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art
who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to
determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence
of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is
neither intended to define the invention of the application, which
is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to
the scope of the invention in any way.
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