U.S. patent application number 13/957797 was filed with the patent office on 2014-05-29 for egg yolk separation apparatus and methods.
This patent application is currently assigned to Quirky, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Quirky, Inc.. Invention is credited to Mark Fusco, Nicholas Oxley, Aaron Saxton.
Application Number | 20140144335 13/957797 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50772134 |
Filed Date | 2014-05-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140144335 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fusco; Mark ; et
al. |
May 29, 2014 |
EGG YOLK SEPARATION APPARATUS AND METHODS
Abstract
An exemplary aspect comprises a device for separating an egg
yolk from an egg white, comprising: (a) a yolk chamber component
comprising a first opening and a second opening; and (b) a vacuum
chamber component comprising an opening, wherein the second opening
of the yolk chamber component is detachably connected to the
opening of the vacuum chamber component. Another exemplary aspect
comprises a method of separating an egg yolk from an egg white,
comprising: (a) compressing a vacuum chamber component, wherein the
vacuum chamber component is detachably connected to a yolk chamber
component, and wherein the yolk chamber component is empty; (b)
placing the first opening of the yolk chamber component against an
egg yolk; and (c) releasing pressure on the vacuum chamber
component until the egg yolk is drawn into the yolk chamber
component.
Inventors: |
Fusco; Mark; (Sugar Land,
TX) ; Saxton; Aaron; (New York, NY) ; Oxley;
Nicholas; (Brooklyn, NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Quirky, Inc. |
New York |
NY |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Quirky, Inc.
New York
NY
|
Family ID: |
50772134 |
Appl. No.: |
13/957797 |
Filed: |
August 2, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13737740 |
Jan 9, 2013 |
|
|
|
13957797 |
|
|
|
|
61730605 |
Nov 28, 2012 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
99/497 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 43/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
99/497 |
International
Class: |
A47J 43/14 20060101
A47J043/14 |
Claims
1. A device for separating an egg yolk from an egg white,
comprising: a yolk chamber component comprising a first opening and
a second opening; and a vacuum chamber component comprising an
opening, wherein said second opening of said yolk chamber component
is detachably connected to said opening of said vacuum chamber
component, wherein said vacuum chamber component creates a vacuum,
when compressed and released by a user, sufficient to draw an egg
yolk into said yolk chamber component.
2. A device as in claim 1, wherein said yolk chamber component
consists primarily of one or more of polycarbonate, polypropylene,
styrene acrylonitrite, and copolyester.
3. A device as in claim 1, wherein said yolk chamber component
consists primarily of a rigid, food-safe material.
4. A device as in claim 1, wherein said vacuum chamber component
consists primarily of a flexible, food-safe material.
5. A device as in claim 1, wherein said yolk chamber component is
transparent.
6. A device as in claim 1, wherein said vacuum chamber component
consists primarily of at least one of thermoplastic elastomer and
silicone.
7. A device as in claim 1, wherein said vacuum chamber component is
detachably connected to said yolk chamber component via a press
fitting.
8. A device as in claim 7, wherein said press fitting is a ribbed
press fitting.
9. A device as in claim 1, wherein said vacuum chamber component is
detachably connected to said yolk chamber component via a threaded
fitting.
10. A device for separating an egg yolk from an egg white,
comprising: a vacuum chamber component comprised of a flexible,
food-safe material and an opening, wherein said vacuum chamber
component is operable to be connected to a yolk chamber component
comprised of a rigid, food-safe material and a first opening and a
second opening.
11. A device as in claim 10, wherein said vacuum chamber component
consists primarily of at least one of thermoplastic elastomer and
silicone.
12. A device as in claim 10, wherein said vacuum chamber component
creates a vacuum, when compressed and released by a user,
sufficient to draw an egg yolk into said yolk chamber
component.
13. A device for separating an egg yolk from an egg white,
comprising: a yolk chamber component comprised of a rigid,
food-safe material and a first opening and a second opening,
wherein said yolk chamber component is operable to be connected to
a vacuum chamber component comprised of a flexible, food-safe
material and an opening.
14. A device as in claim 13, wherein said vacuum chamber component
creates a vacuum, when compressed and released by a user,
sufficient to draw an egg yolk into said yolk chamber
component.
15. A device as in claim 13, wherein said yolk chamber component
consists primarily of one or more of polycarbonate, polypropylene,
styrene acrylonitrite, and copolyester.
16. A device as in claim 1, wherein: said yolk chamber component is
symmetric about a first axis, and said vacuum chamber component is
symmetric about a second axis, and when said yolk chamber component
is connected to said vacuum chamber component, said first and
second axes are aligned.
17. A device as in claim 17, wherein said yolk chamber component
comprises varying radii about said first axis.
18. A device as in claim 17, wherein said vacuum chamber component
comprises varying radii about said second axis.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 13/737,740, filed Jan. 9, 2013, and claims priority to
U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/730,605, filed Nov. 28,
2012, entitled "Egg Yolk Separation Apparatus and Methods." The
entire contents of each of the above-referenced applications are
incorporated herein by reference.
INTRODUCTION
[0002] While it is known that an egg yolk may be separated from its
egg white using a plastic water bottle having suitable dimensions
(see, for example,
http://kitchenista-welcometomykitchen.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-t-
o-separate-eggs-separate-eggs-with.html and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uz2Vnp5ZW4c), plastic bottles have
several disadvantages, including: (a) imperfect separation of the
egg yolk from the egg white, resulting in inclusion of some egg
white with the separated egg yolk; (b) rupturing of the egg yolk
during separation from the egg white; (c) difficulty separating
more than one egg without first emptying each egg yolk from the
bottle before separating another egg; and (d) difficulty removing
and replacing an egg yolk from/in an egg white without rupturing
the egg yolk and/or losing some of the egg in the bottle.
[0003] Moreover, plastic bottles are difficult to clean, resulting
in a likelihood of bacterial contamination upon repeated use.
[0004] Also, plastic bottles may be difficult to squeeze, and often
are noisy when squeezed.
[0005] Finally, an empty plastic bottle is not an aesthetically
pleasing item to keep in one's kitchen.
[0006] Thus, what is needed is an apparatus for separating an egg
yolk from its egg white, that is reusable, easily cleaned, and
aesthetically pleasing both visually and audibly (i.e., doesn't
make the unpleasant cracking sound made by a plastic water bottle
when squeezed).
[0007] An exemplary aspect comprises a device for separating an egg
yolk from an egg white, comprising: (a) a yolk chamber component
comprising a first opening and a second opening; and (b) a vacuum
chamber component comprising an opening, wherein the second opening
of the yolk chamber component is detachably connected to the
opening of the vacuum chamber component.
[0008] In various exemplary embodiments: (1) the vacuum chamber
component creates a vacuum, when compressed and released by a user,
sufficient to draw an egg yolk into the yolk chamber component; (2)
the yolk chamber component consists primarily of one or more of
polycarbonate, PP, SAN, and Tritan; (3) the yolk chamber component
consists primarily of a rigid, food-safe material; (4) the vacuum
chamber component consists primarily of a flexible, food-safe
material; (5) the yolk chamber component is transparent; (6) the
vacuum chamber component consists primarily of at least one of TPE
and silicone; (7) the vacuum chamber component is detachably
connected to the yolk chamber component via a press fitting; (8)
the press fitting is a ribbed press fitting; and (9) the vacuum
chamber component is detachably connected to the yolk chamber
component via a threaded fitting.
[0009] Another exemplary aspect comprises a method of separating an
egg yolk from an egg white, comprising: (a) compressing a vacuum
chamber component, wherein the vacuum chamber component is
detachably connected to a yolk chamber component, and wherein the
yolk chamber component is empty; (b) placing the first opening of
the yolk chamber component against an egg yolk; and (c) releasing
pressure on the vacuum chamber component until the egg yolk is
drawn into the yolk chamber component.
[0010] In various exemplary embodiments, the method further
comprises: (1) compressing the vacuum chamber component until the
egg yolk emerges from the egg yolk chamber component; (2)
disconnecting the yolk chamber component from the vacuum chamber
component, and separately cleaning the yolk chamber component and
the vacuum chamber component; and (3) connecting the yolk chamber
component to the vacuum chamber component.
[0011] Another exemplary aspect comprises a device for separating
an egg yolk from an egg white, comprising a vacuum chamber
component comprised of a flexible, food-safe material and an
opening, wherein the vacuum chamber component is operable to be
connected to a yolk chamber component comprised of a rigid,
food-safe material and a first opening and a second opening.
[0012] In various exemplary embodiments: (1) the vacuum chamber
component consists primarily of at least one of TPE and silicone;
and (2) the vacuum chamber component creates a vacuum, when
compressed and released by a user, sufficient to draw an egg yolk
into the yolk chamber component.
[0013] Another exemplary aspect comprises a device for separating
an egg yolk from an egg white, comprising a yolk chamber component
comprised of a rigid, food-safe material and a first opening and a
second opening, wherein the yolk chamber component is operable to
be connected to a vacuum chamber component comprised of a flexible,
food-safe material and an opening.
[0014] In various exemplary embodiments: (1) the vacuum chamber
component creates a vacuum, when compressed and released by a user,
sufficient to draw an egg yolk into the yolk chamber component; and
(2) the yolk chamber component consists primarily of one or more of
polycarbonate, PP, SAN, and Tritan.
[0015] Other exemplary aspects and embodiments, and their
advantages, will be apparent from the drawings and description
below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment, assembled and
disassembled.
[0017] FIG. 2 depicts exemplary usage.
[0018] FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary embodiment.
[0019] FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment.
[0020] FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary vacuum chamber component.
[0021] FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary yolk chamber component.
[0022] FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary yolk chamber component.
[0023] FIG. 8 depicts an exemplary embodiment, in a cutaway
drawing.
[0024] FIG. 9 depicts an exemplary embodiment, showing a press fit
seal.
[0025] FIGS. 10 and 11 depict additional views of exemplary
embodiments, in assembled configurations.
[0026] FIGS. 12 and 13 depict additional views of exemplary
embodiments, in disassembled configurations.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0027] An exemplary apparatus embodiment allows a user to easily
separate an egg yolk from an egg white. An exemplary apparatus
embodiment is depicted in FIG. 1. In this exemplary embodiment, the
apparatus comprises two components: a vacuum chamber component 110,
and a yolk chamber component 120. Those skilled in the art will
understand that other embodiments may comprise a single component,
or more than two components.
[0028] In an exemplary embodiment, a vacuum chamber component 110
may be comprised of TPE, silicone, or a similar flexible, durable
material.
[0029] In an exemplary embodiment, a yolk chamber component 120 may
be comprised of polycarbonate, acrylic, polypropylene (PP), SAN,
Tritan co-polyester, bioplastic, glass, and/or similar material
suitable for use with food products, with colors such as egg shell
white, Pantone Q716-2-1, Pantone Q716-3-1, and Pantone Q758-1-2.
Although it is preferred that yolk chamber 120 be of a clear
material, non-clear materials such as rigid melamine, rubbery
polypropylene, and the like also may be used. Exemplary dimensions
are: height 100 mm, width 54 mm, but of course other dimensions may
be used in other embodiments.
[0030] An exemplary apparatus embodiment allows a user to easily
separate egg yolks from egg whites. In an exemplary first step (see
step 210 in FIG. 2), the user cracks an egg and disgorges the
contents into a bowl. Then (at step 220) the user compresses vacuum
chamber component 110 and places yolk chamber component 120 onto
the egg yolk. The user then releases pressure (see step 230) on
vacuum chamber component 110 to vacuum up the egg yolk. The yolk
sits in yolk chamber component 120 until it is squeezed out, for
example, into a separate bowl (see step 240).
[0031] The apparatus may be easily cleaned by separating vacuum
chamber component 110 from yolk chamber component 120. See step 250
in FIG. 2. The two components may be then, for example, be hand
washed or placed in a dishwasher.
[0032] In an exemplary embodiment, vacuum chamber component 110
attaches to yolk chamber component 120 via a pressure fitting. One
example using a press fit double ribbed seal is depicted in FIG. 9.
In other embodiments, a threaded fitting may be used. Those skilled
in the art will understand that other embodiments may use other
types of connections between vacuum chamber component 110 and yolk
chamber component 120.
[0033] While certain exemplary aspects and embodiments have been
described herein, many alternatives, modifications, and variations
will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly,
exemplary aspects and embodiments set forth herein are intended to
be illustrative, not limiting. Various modifications may be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
* * * * *
References