U.S. patent number RE36,554 [Application Number 09/197,081] was granted by the patent office on 2000-02-08 for apparatus for applying coatings to food.
Invention is credited to Darryl J. Chedville.
United States Patent |
RE36,554 |
Chedville |
February 8, 2000 |
Apparatus for applying coatings to food
Abstract
A method and apparatus for coating food with batter, the
apparatus including two hollow generally cylindrical containers
open at one end and closed at the other end, and a generally hollow
cylindrical coupling member open at both ends, each end being
adapted to receive the open end of each of said cylindrical
containers, the coupling member having a perforated platform
therein which divides the coupling member into two cylindrical
sections; the method including placing batter in one of the two
containers, placing food in one of the two containers, connecting
the coupling member to the container having batter therein,
connecting the other container to the coupling member to the
coupling member, and shaking the assembled coupling member and two
containers to cause batter to coat the food.
Inventors: |
Chedville; Darryl J. (Gonzales,
LA) |
Family
ID: |
23378657 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/197,081 |
Filed: |
November 19, 1998 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
350896 |
Dec 7, 1994 |
05575848 |
Nov 19, 1996 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
118/13; 118/19;
220/501; 366/130; 99/494 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J
43/04 (20130101); A47J 43/22 (20130101); A23P
20/12 (20160801) |
Current International
Class: |
A23G
3/00 (20060101); A23G 003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;118/13,19,417 ;99/494
;126/348,369,383,377,373 ;366/130,226 ;220/4.21,4.24,501 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Edwards; Laura
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Garvey, Smith, Nehrbass &
Doody, LLC
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for applying batter to food comprising, in
combination:
a first hollow generally cylindrical container open at one end and
closed at the other end, said first container having a planar
annular ledge on an exterior thereof, said ledge being disposed on
said first container adjacent to said open end;
a second hollow generally cylindrical container open at one end and
closed at the other end, said second container having a planar
annular ledge on an exterior thereof, said ledge being disposed on
said second container adjacent to said open end, said second
container receiving a batter coating to be applied to said food;
and
a generally hollow cylindrical coupling member open at both ends,
said coupling member including a centered planar annular ledge with
taped shoulders extending from an upper portion and a lower portion
of said centered ledge and a perforated platform therein which
divides the coupling member into two cylindrical sections, said
platform supporting said food, wherein said first and second hollow
cylindrical containers slidably engage said shoulders of said
coupling member to form a sealed container enabling coating of said
food upon shaking said sealed container.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first container is
identical in size to said second container.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ledge on said first
container extends completely therearound.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ledge on said second
container extends completely therearound.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ledge on said coupling
member extends completely therearound.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first container has said
ledge on the outside thereof extending completely therearound, said
second container has said ledge on the outside thereof extending
completely therearound, and said coupling member has said ledge on
the outside thereof extending completely therearound.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said ledge on the outside of
said coupling member is horizontally aligned with said perforated
platform.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said ledge on said first
container is adjacent to said open end of said first container.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said ledges is of
sufficient size to be grasped by the hands of a user to force said
ledges toward, or away from, each other.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ledge on said second
container is adjacent to said open end of said second
container.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said platform on said coupling
member is located in the center of said coupling member.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said platform is
perpendicular to the central axis of said generally cylindrical
coupling member.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said platform is
disk-shaped.
14. An apparatus for applying batter to food comprising, in
combination:
a first hollow generally cylindrical container open at one end and
closed at the other end, said first container having a planar
annular ledge on an exterior thereof, said ledge being disposed on
said first container adjacent to said open end;
a second hollow generally cylindrical container open at one end and
closed at the other end, said second container having a planar
annular ledge on an exterior thereof, said ledge being disposed on
said second container adjacent to said open end, said second
container receiving a batter coating to be applied to said food;
and
a generally hollow cylindrical coupling member open at both ends,
said coupling member including a centered planar annular ledge with
tapered shoulders extending from an upper portion and a lower
portion of said centered ledge and a perforated platform therein
which divides the coupling member into two cylindrical sections,
said platform supporting said food, wherein said first and second
hollow cylindrical containers are slidably forced longitudinally
onto said shoulders of said coupling member without rotating said
first or second hollow cylindrical containers to form a sealed
container enabling coating of said food upon shaking said sealed
container. .Iadd.
15. An apparatus for applying batter to food comprising, in
combination:
a first hollow container open at one end and closed at the other
end, said first hollow container being configured to receive
food;
a second hollow container open at one end and closed at the other
end, said second container receiving a batter coating to be applied
to said food; and
a generally hollow coupling member open at both ends, said coupling
member including upper and lower portions that have respective
tapered shoulders extending therefrom, and a perforated platform
therein which divides the coupling member into two sections, said
platform enabling a supporting of said food during use, wherein
said first and second hollow containers sufficiently engage said
shoulders of said coupling member to form a sealed container
therewith, for enabling coating of said food with said batter upon
inverting and shaking said sealed container. .Iaddend..Iadd.16. The
apparatus of claim 15 wherein there is an annular ledge on said
first container. .Iaddend..Iadd.17. The apparatus of claim 15
wherein there is an annular ledge on said second container.
.Iaddend..Iadd.18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein there is an
annular ledge on said coupling member. .Iaddend..Iadd.19. The
apparatus of claim 16 wherein said first container has said ledge
on the outside thereof extending completely there around, said
second container has said ledge on the outside thereof extending
completely there around, and said coupling member has said ledge on
the outside thereof extending completely there around.
.Iaddend..Iadd.20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said ledge on
the outside of said coupling member is horizontally aligned with
said perforated platform. .Iaddend..Iadd.21. The apparatus of claim
16 wherein said ledge on said first container is adjacent to said
open end of said first container. .Iaddend..Iadd.22. The apparatus
of claim 15 wherein each container has an annular ledge thereon,
and each of said ledges is of sufficient size to be grasped by the
hands of a user to force said ledges toward, or away from, each
other. .Iaddend..Iadd.23. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said
ledge on said second container is adjacent to said
open end of said second container. .Iaddend..Iadd.24. The apparatus
of claim 18 wherein said platform on said coupling member is
located in the center of said coupling member. .Iaddend..Iadd.25.
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said platform is perpendicular to
the central axis of said generally coupling member.
.Iaddend..Iadd.26. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said platform
is disk-shaped. .Iaddend..Iadd.27. An apparatus for applying batter
to food comprising, in combination:
a first hollow container open at one end and closed at the other
end, said first container having an interior configured to receive
food therein;
a second hollow container open at one end and closed at the other
end for receiving a batter coating to be applied to said food;
and
a hollow coupling member open at both ends, said coupling member
including opposed tapered shoulders extending from said coupling
member in opposite respective directions toward said first and
second containers, said coupling member including a perforated
platform therein which divides the coupling member into two
sections, said platform supporting said food, wherein said first
and second hollow containers are connectable to said shoulders when
forced longitudinally onto said shoulders of said coupling member
without rotating said first or second hollow containers to form a
sealed container enabling coating of said food upon shaking said
sealed container. .Iaddend..Iadd.28. An apparatus for applying
batter to food comprising, in combination:
a first hollow container open at one end and closed at the other
end, said first container having a planar annular ledge on an
exterior thereof, said ledge being disposed on said first container
adjacent to said open end;
a second hollow container open at one end and closed at the other
end, said second container having a planar annular ledge on an
exterior thereof, said ledge being disposed on said second
container adjacent to said open end, said second container
receiving a batter coating to be applied to said food; and
a generally hollow coupling member open at both ends, said coupling
member including a centered planar annular ledge with tapered
shoulders extending from an upper portion and a lower portion of
said centered ledge and perforated platform therein which divides
the coupling member into two sections, said platform supporting
said food, wherein said first and second hollow containers slightly
engage said shoulders of said coupling member to form a sealed
container enabling coating of said food upon shaking said sealed
container. .Iaddend..Iadd.29. An apparatus for applying batter to
food comprising, in combination:
a first hollow container open at one end and closed at the other
end, said first container having a planar annular ledge on an
exterior thereof, said ledge being disposed on said first container
adjacent to said open end;
a second hollow container open at one end and closed at the other
end, said second container having a planar annular ledge on an
exterior thereof, said ledge being disposed on said second
container receiving a batter coating to be applied to said food;
and
a hollow coupling member open at both ends, said coupling member
including a centered planar annular ledge with tapered shoulders
extending from an upper portion and a lower portion of said
centered ledge and a perforated platform therein which divides the
coupling member into two sections, said platform supporting said
food, wherein said first and second hollow containers are slidably
forced longitudinally onto said shoulder of said coupling member
without rotating said first or second hollow container to form a
sealed container enabling coating of said food upon shaking said
sealed container. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to food products, and, in particular, to
coating food before cooking, serving, or storing the food product.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and
apparatus for coating food with flour, corn meal, seasoning, or the
like prior to cooking the food product.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is common practice to place food to be coated with a material
such as flour or the like in an paper bag and shake the bag until
it is assumed proper coating of the food with flour has occurred.
The food may be wet, and the moisture from the food may weaken the
bag and cause the bag to rupture.
If the bag does not rupture, the food is removed by reaching into
the paper bag and removing the coated food therefrom. If sufficient
coating of the food with flour has not been achieved, the food must
be placed in the bag and shaken again. The food may be dipped in a
liquid such as oil or raw eggs prior to being placed in the paper
bag to increase the amount of coating retained by the food. Such
liquids often weaken the paper bag and may cause the bag to rupture
and spill the contents therefrom.
Common coatings for food include flour, corn meal, seasoning such
as salt, pepper, and the like, and combinations thereof. Such
coatings and mixtures of coatings are hereinafter referred to as
"batter". Exemplary of food which may be coated with batter in
accordance with the present invention include poultry such as
chicken, quail, duck and the like, red meat such as beef, pork,
lamb, and the like, and seafood such as fish, shrimp, oysters, and
the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a method
and apparatus for coating food with batter. The apparatus of the
invention includes two hollow generally cylindrical containers open
at one end and closed at the other end, and a generally hollow
cylindrical coupling member open at both ends, each end being
adapted to receive the open end of each of said cylindrical
containers, the coupling member having a perforated platform
therein which divides the coupling member into two cylindrical
sections.
The method of the invention includes placing batter in one of the
two containers, placing food in one of the two containers,
connecting the coupling member to the container having batter
therein, connecting the other container to the coupling member, and
shaking the assembled coupling and two containers to cause batter
to coat the food.
The present invention has the advantage of securely sealing all
batter and food inside during application of the batter to the
food.
Furthermore, the invention enables the user to view the food items
during application of batter to determine when the application of
batter is complete.
In addition, the invention enables separation of unused batter to a
container separate from the container holding the food coated with
batter.
The present invention also decreases the time necessary to
thoroughly apply batter to food.
Also, the present invention provides a rigid container which will
not rupture when wet or oily food is shaken therein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an elevational, partly cut-away, partly cross-sectional
view of the apparatus of the invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded, elevational view of the apparatus of the
invention;
FIG. 3 is a plan view taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of the apparatus of the
invention; and
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the assembled apparatus of the
invention having food and batter therein being held by the
user.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1 is shown the apparatus of
the invention generally indicated by the numeral 10. Apparatus 10
includes a first container generally indicated by the numeral 12, a
second container generally indicated by the numeral 14, and a
coupling member generally indicated by the numeral 16.
Container 12 has a flat bottom 18 from which extends generally
cylindrical sidewall 20. Preferably sidewall 20 is about three
inches in height.
At the top of side wall 22 of container 12 is a flat, generally
circular ledge 22 extending outward from sidewall 20. Preferably,
ledge 22 extends completely around the outside of sidewall 20 at
the top, open end 21 of sidewall 20. Also, ledge 22 is preferably
parallel to bottom 18. Preferably, open end 21 is about 10 inches
in diameter, although open end 21 of container 12 may be larger or
smaller in diameter if desired.
The size of bottom 18, sidewall 20, and ledge 22 may be selected as
desired. Preferably, ledge 22 is large enough to permit grasping by
the hands 24 of the user as shown in FIG. 5. A preferred outside
diameter of ledge 22 is 11.5 inches.
Preferably, the thickness of bottom 18, sidewall 20, and ledge 22
is identical and uniform throughout container 12. It is preferred
that container 12 is formed from a polymeric material such as
polyethylene. Other polymeric materials may also be used if
desired. Furthermore it is preferred that container 12 is made from
a transparent material so that the contents can be viewed by the
user when apparatus 10 is assembled as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.
Sidewall 20 preferably forms an angle .alpha. with bottom 18 as
indicated in FIG. 2 to enable container 12 to be easily removed
from a mold in which container 12 may be formed from a molten
polymeric material.
Container 14 is preferably identical to container 12, and has
bottom 18a from which extends generally cylindrical sidewall 20a.
Preferably sidewall 20a is about three inches in height.
At the top of sidewall 20a of container 14 is a flat, generally
circular ledge 22a extending outward from sidewall 20a. Preferably,
ledge 22a extends completely around the outside of sidewall 20a at
the top, open end 21a of sidewall 20a. Also, ledge 22a is
preferably parallel to bottom 18a. Preferably, open end 21a is
about 10 inches in diameter, although open end 21 of container 14
may be larger or smaller in diameter if desired.
The size of bottom 18a, sidewall 20a, and ledge 22a may be selected
as desired. Preferably, ledge 22a is large enough to permit
grasping by the hands 24a of the user as shown in FIG. 5. A
preferred outside diameter of ledge 22a is 11.5 inches.
Preferably, the thickness of bottom 18a, sidewall 20a, and ledge
22a is identical and uniform throughout container 14. It is
preferred that container 14 is formed from a polymeric material
such as polyethylene. Other polymeric materials may also be used if
desired. Furthermore, it is preferred that container 14 is made
from a transparent material so that the contents can be viewed by
the user when apparatus 10 is assembled as shown in FIGS. 1 and
5.
Sidewall 20a preferably forms an angle .alpha. with bottom 18a as
indicated in FIG. 2 to enable container 14 to be easily removed
from a mold in which container 14 may be formed from a molten
polymeric material.
Coupling member 16 has a generally cylindrical sidewall generally
indicated by the numeral 24 which is open at both ends 25a and 25b.
Preferably sidewall 24 is about three inches in height, although
the height could be increased or decreased if desired. A platform
26 is centrally located in sidewall 24 and has holes or
perforations 28 therein. Platform 26 is preferably has the shape of
a disk. Platform 26 divides coupling member 16 into two parts. The
size of perforations 28 in platform 26 is selected to prevent
passage of food therethrough while enabling passage of batter
therethrough from container 12 to container 14, and/or from
container 14 to container 12. Preferably, perforations 28 are
circular and about one-half inch in diameter.
Aligned with platform 26 and connected to sidewall 24 is ledge 30.
Preferably, ledge 30 extends completely around the outside of
sidewall 24. Ledge 30 is useful as a handle when connecting
coupling member 16 to container 12 and/or 14. Furthermore, ledge 30
is useful when removing container 12 and/or 14 from coupling member
16.
Sidewall 24 has two shoulders 32 and 34 on the outside thereof.
Shoulders 32 and 34 limit the movement of containers 12 and 14,
respectively, when they are coupled to coupling member 16 as shown
in FIG. 1 to prevent containers 12 and/or 14 from being forced too
tightly on coupling member 16. Preferably the distance between
shoulders 32 and 34 is about 1.5 inches, although the distance
between shoulders 32 and 34 may be any desired distance. The
outside of sidewall 24 is tapered from ledge 30 to shoulders 32 and
34 by the angle e as indicated in FIG. 2, and the outside of
sidewall 24 between shoulders 32 and 34 and the outer edges of
sidewall 24 is parallel thereto.
It is preferred that coupling member 16 is formed from a polymeric
material such as polyethylene. Other polymeric materials may also
be used if desired. Furthermore, it is preferred that coupling
member 16 is made from a transparent material so that the contents
can be viewed by the user when apparatus 10 is assembled as shown
in FIGS. 1 and 5.
The inside of sidewall 24 is tapered from platform 26 to the outer
edges of sidewall 24 by the angle e as indicated in FIG. 2.
Angle .alpha. may be any desired angle although an angle of about
2.degree. is preferred.
The thickness of the sidewalls, ledges, and bottoms of containers
12 and 14 and coupling member 16 are preferably identical. A
preferred thickness is about 0.080 inches, although other desired
thicknesses could be utilized if desired.
The dimensions of openings 21 and 21a and the outside diameter of
the ends 25a and 25b of sidewall 24 are selected to achieve a snug,
slightly force fit between containers 12 and 14 and sidewall 24
when assembled as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.
In the preferred method of using the present invention to batter
food such as chicken parts 40 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, batter 42 is
placed in container 14, and coupling member 16 is then fitted into
the open end 21a of container 14 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. Food 40
is then placed on the platform 26 in coupling member 16, and
container 12 is then fitted onto the coupling member 16 as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 5. The assembly of containers 12 and 14 and coupling
member 16 is then shaken as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 5.
After food 40 is coated with batter, apparatus 10 is oriented as
shown in FIG. 5 and shaken to cause excess batter to fall from
container 12 through perforations 28 into container 14. Container
12 is then removed from coupling member 16, and the food removed
from coupling member 16. The excess batter is held in container 16,
and the procedure may be repeated for additional food to be coated
with batter.
In an alternative method of using the present invention to batter
food such as chicken parts 40 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, batter 42
such as flour is placed in container 14, and food is placed in
container 14 on the batter. Coupling member 16 is then fitted into
the open end 21a of container 14 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.
Container 12 is then fitted onto the coupling member 16 as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 5. The assembly of containers 12 and 14 and coupling
member 16 is the shaken as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 5,
although the food 4 is in container 14.
After food 40 is coated with batter, apparatus 10 is oriented as
shown in FIG. 5 and shaken to cause excess batter to fall from
container 12 through perforations 28 into container 14. Container
12 is then removed from coupling member 16, and the food removed
from coupling member 16. The excess batter is held in container 16,
and the procedure may be repeated for additional food to be coated
with batter.
Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been
described in detail above, it should be understood that the
invention is in no sense limited thereby, and its scope is to be
determined by that of the following claims:
* * * * *