Patent Application
20150237876
This application claims the priority benefit to GB Patent Application No. GB1403434.2, titled “Food Smoking Cake and Disposable Food Smoking Apparatus”, filed 27 Feb. 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated into this document. In the event of a conflict, the subject matter explicitly recited or shown in this document controls over any subject matter incorporated by reference. The incorporated subject matter should not be used to limit or narrow the scope of the explicitly recited or depicted subject matter.
The present invention relates to a food smoking cake, particularly, but not exclusively, a food smoking cake used to cold-smoke food in a closed food smoking container such as a barbeque or food smoking chamber. The present invention also relates to a disposable food smoking apparatus which includes a food smoking cake. The present invention also relates to a method of forming a food smoking cake.
The practice of smoking foodstuffs in order to preserve them and impart a smoked flavour thereto has been popular for centuries. This can either be achieved by way of hot-smoking (where smoke is passed over the foodstuffs whilst they are heated and cooked) or by cold-smoking (where cool smoke is passed over the foodstuffs in order to smoke them without cooking as such). Cold-smoking requires a significant quantity of cool smoke to be created over a prolonged period of time (normally several hours) in order to achieve best results.
Creating such quantities of cool smoke over prolonged periods can often be difficult to achieve. This is because, over long periods, such combustible materials typically either have a tendency to catch fire or extinguish themselves prematurely.
Furthermore, even if such combustible materials do not extinguish or catch fire, variations in the combustion temperature can lead to dramatic variations in the smoke levels produced during smoking which can have adverse effects on the consistency of the resulting smoked food product.
It is known to use specifically engineered “smoke pellets” to reliably provide large quantities of smoke over prolonged periods of time; however, such pellets tend to include chemical compounds or formulations which, at best, will adversely affect the taste of the food and any resulting enjoyment in consuming those foods or, at worst, are completely unsuitable for the smoking of food for human consumption in view of the taste imparted on the foodstuffs and/or chemicals to which the foodstuffs would be thereby exposed. In addition, such products are often unable to generate smoke over a sufficiently long duration due to dimension and other limitations. Furthermore, the chemical composition of such products typically requires them to be lit by a relatively heavy duty flame from e.g. a butane torch.
One solution to the above problem is described in UK Patent Publication No. GB52471296. This arrangement has a metal container which forms a convoluted channel that receives loose particles of wood dust therein. With such an arrangement, in order to begin the smouldering/smoke generation process, a candle is lit beneath one end of the convoluted channel in order to light that end of the trail of wood dust. Eventually after a few minutes, the wood dust should then begin to smoulder thereby creating cool smoke; however, this arrangement has a number of disadvantages such as:—
In this specification where reference has been made to patent specifications, other external documents, or other sources of information, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the invention. Unless specifically stated otherwise, reference to such external documents is not to be construed as an admission that such documents, or such sources of information, in any jurisdiction, are prior art, or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a food smoking cake that goes at least some way towards overcoming the above disadvantages, or which at least provides the public with a useful choice. It is a further object of the invention to provide a disposable food smoking apparatus that that goes at least some way towards overcoming the above disadvantages, or which at least provides the public with a useful choice.
The term “comprising” as used in this specification and indicative independent claims means “consisting at least in part of” and is intended as an inclusive rather than exclusive term. When interpreting each statement in this specification and indicative independent claims that includes the term “comprising”, features other than that or those prefaced by the term may also be present. Related terms such as “comprise” and “comprises” are to be interpreted in the same manner
As used herein, the term “and/or” means “and” or “or”, or both.
As used herein “(s)” following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun.
Accordingly, in a first aspect the present invention may broadly be said to consist in a food smoking cake comprising: a discrete block configured to be placed into abutment with at least one substantially similar block such that when an end one of a series of abutting blocks is lit by a flame, adjacent abutting blocks will each smoulder sequentially.
In an embodiment, the discrete block comprises a main body having a projecting ledge section at one end and a corresponding shoulder section at the opposed end configured such that the ledge of one discrete block can be rested upon a corresponding shoulder section of an adjacent block.
In an embodiment, the discrete block comprises a main body having a male portion at one end and a female portion at the opposed end, the female portion substantially corresponding to the male portion, the male and female portions configured such that a plurality of the discrete blocks can be arranged end-to-end in series with the male portion of one block in contact with the female portion of the adjacent block, and wherein contact between the male and female portions facilitates passage of smoulder heat from one block to the next.
In an embodiment, the discrete block further comprises a curved or otherwise profiled underside configured to facilitate circulation of air underneath the blocks during smouldering thereof.
In an embodiment, the discrete block further comprises a loose particulate receiving chamber configured to receive a complementary loose particulate therein.
In an embodiment, the complementary loose particulate receiving chamber comprises a groove or channel provided along at least a portion of an upper surface of the discrete block.
In an embodiment, the complementary loose particulate receiving chamber comprises a throughbore provided along at least a portion of the discrete block.
In an embodiment, the material that forms the discrete block comprises: a minor part combustible natural plant base particulate which smoulders when lit by a flame, and; a major part combustible wood base particulate which produces smoke when smouldering.
In an embodiment, the combustible natural plant base particulate comprises a powder or resin derived from tree bark.
In an embodiment, the combustible natural plant base particulate comprises makko powder from the persea genus.
In an embodiment, the combustible natural plant base particulate comprises makko powder from the machilus thunbergii tree.
In an embodiment, the combustible natural plant base particulate comprises xiangnan pi from the phoebe genus.
In an embodiment, the natural plant base particulate comprises substantially between 1 to 20% of the material and the combustible wood base comprises substantially between 80 to 99% of the mixture.
In an embodiment, the natural plant base particulate comprises substantially 10% and the combustible wood base comprises substantially 90% of the material.
In an embodiment, the combustible wood base particulate comprises powdered wood particulates obtained from at least one of the group consisting of oak, beech, hickory, maple, cherry, apple, pear, or alder wood.
In an embodiment, the combustible wood base particulate further comprises at least one of herbaceous matter, infusions, flavour enhancers or other aromatic tinctures.
In a second aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist in a disposable food smoking apparatus configured to create smoke over a prolonged period of time in order to impart a smoked flavour on food, the food smoking apparatus comprising: a base configured to rest on a surface, and; a food smoking cake.
In an embodiment, the body of the food smoking cake comprises a convoluted form configured such that if one end of the convoluted form is lit by flame the cake will smoulder progressively along the length of the body.
In an embodiment, the convoluted form comprises an upwardly extending coiled helix configuration.
In an embodiment, the base further comprises an upwardly projecting mounting member configured so that an upwardly extending helical coil of food smoking cake can be positioned there around,
In an embodiment, the disposable food smoking apparatus further comprises a cover configured to enclose the mounting member and cake, the cover having at least one lower air breathing aperture, and at least one upper smoke exhaust aperture.
In an embodiment, the cover further comprises an air regulator located at or close to the lower air breathing aperture configured to control air flow through the lower air breathing aperture to control the rate of combustion and hence smoke levels produced by the food smoking cake when lit.
In an embodiment, the base is configured to form a container adapted to receive the food smoking cake therein, the container and cake mutually configured so that the cake can locate within the container as a unitary item.
In an embodiment, the convoluted form comprises a flattened, convoluted configuration.
In an embodiment, the disposable food smoking apparatus further comprises a lower aerating shelf locating in use within the base portion and configured to retain the food smoking cake and space the cake away from the floor of the container.
In an embodiment, the lower aerating shelf comprises a wire mesh grill.
In an embodiment, the disposable food smoking apparatus further comprises an upper retaining shelf configured to locate on top of the food smoking cake to sandwich the food smoking cake between the upper retaining shelf and the lower aerating shelf.
In an embodiment, the upper retaining shelf comprises a wire mesh grill.
In an embodiment, the base further comprises a first access aperture configured to allow external access to a first end of the food smoking cake so that the cake can be lit by a flame.
In an embodiment, the base further comprises a second access aperture configured to allow external access to a second end of the food smoking cake so that the cake can be lit by a flame.
In an embodiment, the base further comprises at least one hinged flap of material configured to be movable between a position where the access aperture is open, and a position substantially closing the access aperture.
In an embodiment, the base plate further comprises at least one slider configured to be movable between a position where the access aperture is open, and a position substantially closing the access aperture.
In an embodiment, the disposable food smoking apparatus further comprises a drip tray having at least one aperture therethrough and configured to locate in use atop the upper retaining shelf.
In a third aspect, the invention may broadly be said to consist in a method of forming a food smoking cake comprising the steps of: choosing a combustible wood base particulate of the type that produces smoke when smouldering; choosing a combustible natural plant base particulate of the type that smoulders when lit by a flame; combining the wood base particulate and natural plant base particulate with a binding agent to form a substantially homogenous and malleable mixture with the wood base particulate as the major portion thereof; forming the mixture into the required shape or shapes, and; drying the formed mixture to remove the binding agent therefrom.
In an embodiment, in the step of combining the wood base particulate and natural plant base particulate with a binding agent, the binding agent is a liquid.
In an embodiment, in the step of combining the wood base particulate and natural plant base particulate with a binding agent, the binding agent is water.
In an embodiment, in the step of forming the mixture into the required shape or shapes the forming operation can be performed by one or more of hand forming, press moulding or by extrusion from a tube.
In an embodiment, in the step of choosing a combustible natural plant base particulate, the plant base particulate chosen comprises a powder or resin derived from tree bark.
In an embodiment, the plant base particulate chosen comprises makko powder from the persea genus.
In an embodiment, the plant base particulate chosen comprises makko powder from the machilus thunbergii tree.
In an embodiment, the plant base particulate chosen comprises xiangnan pi from the phoebe genus.
In an embodiment, in the step of combining the wood base particulate and natural plant base particulate the mixture is formed so that natural plant base particulate comprises substantially between 1 to 20% of the material in the mixture.
In an embodiment, in the step of combining the wood base particulate and natural plant base particulate the mixture is formed so that natural plant base particulate comprises substantially 10% of the material in the mixture.
In an embodiment, in the step of choosing the combustible wood base particulate, the wood base particulate chosen comprises powdered wood particulates obtained from at least one of the group consisting of oak, beech, hickory, maple, cherry, apple, pear, or alder wood.
In an embodiment, the combustible wood base particulate further comprises at least one of herbaceous matter, infusions, flavour enhancers or other aromatic tinctures.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
The accompanying drawings illustrate a number of exemplary embodiments and are a part of the specification. Together with the following description, these drawings demonstrate and explain various principles of the instant disclosure.
a shows a perspective view of the disposable food smoking apparatus and food smoking cake of
b shows a sectional view of the food smoking apparatus and food smoking cake of
In the present application the term wood “particulate” means any type of wood chippings or powder where the grains of the particulate have a relatively small dimension and includes for example, saw dust, wood powder, wood chippings etc.
In the present application the term “cake” should be taken to mean a unitary shaped, moulded or compressed mass.
In order to form an embodiment of food smoking cake of the present invention, approximately 10% combustible natural plant base particulate (such as makko powder) and approximately 90% combustible wood base particulate (such as wood dust from e.g. a beech tree) are mixed with a small quantity of binding liquid such as water in order to bind the combined mixture into a soft, malleable patty. This patty is then shaped into the required shape of food smoking cake and subsequently dried to remove the water therefrom. Drying of the resulting food smoking cake can be achieved by warming or dehydrating of the cake in order to encourage the water previously introduced into the mixture as a binder to evaporate thereby forming a dried food smoking cake.
Shaping of the patty into the required formation can be performed by hand, by press moulding or by extrusion from a tube etc.
In a first embodiment, the patty is formed into a convoluted concertina shape as shown in
The disposable foil tray 12 is provided with a hinged flap 20 in one side wall thereof in order to provide a combined access and air breathing aperture 22. The combined access and air breathing aperture 22 allows air to be drawn into the disposable tray 12 during smouldering and also allows a user to access a first end 24 of the convoluted food smoking cake 18 for lighting thereof.
The edges of the lower aerating shelf 14 are bent over in order to support itself on a base 26 of the tray 12 such that the shelf 14 is spaced away from the base 26 by a sufficient amount to allow air to freely flow under the convoluted food smoking cake 18.
As shown in
Due to the stable, dry nature of the food smoking cake described, the apparatus 10 can be stored for long periods of time before use without any adverse effect on its eventual smouldering/smoking properties. Furthermore, the protection offered by the disposable foil tray 12 and the upper and lower meshes 14, 16 prevents the food smoking cake 18 from being damaged in transport.
In use, when a user wishes to create smoke for the cold smoking of foods they first open the flap 20 in order to gain access to aperture 22 and then light the first end 24 of the convoluted food smoking cake 18 with a suitable flame (e.g. a gas lighter, candle or match etc.). Due to the readily combustible nature of the food smoking cake 18, within a very short time (a few seconds) of being exposed to the flame the first end 24 of the food smoking cake 18 will begin to smoulder thereby creating smoke; however, it will not catch fire due to the inherent combustible properties of the combined makko powder and wood base mixture which are optimised for smouldering but not for burning. As used in this specification, the term ‘smouldering’ should be taken to mean ‘combusting without a visible flame’, and the term ‘burning’ to mean ‘combusting with a visible flame’.
With the food smoking cake 18 lit, the user can place the drip tray 28 on top of the disposable tray 12 and then place the disposable food smoking apparatus 10 in a suitable enclosed space (such as a barbeque or food smoking chamber) for cold smoking of food. Alternatively, the drip tray 28 can be provided sealed onto the top of the tray 12 as a non-removable drip tray if desired.
Once smouldering of the food smoking cake 18 has begun the smoulder line (the point at which smoulder is sustained and hence smoke is created along the length of the food smoking cake 18) will progress along the convoluted path defined by the food smoking cake 18 until it reaches the second end 32 of the food smoking cake 18, at which point, with all fuel having been combusted, the smoulder will extinguish. In the present embodiment the dimensions of the food smoking cake 18 are selected to provide a sufficient quantity of smoke for the cold-smoking of food for around 8 to 12 hours depending upon conditions (such as draughts or the hinged flap 20/draught aperture control position etc.). In this regard, in the present embodiment, the smoulder rate is selected to typically be around 3-9 cm per hour. However, the reader will appreciate that this can be readily altered by selecting different dimensions of the food smoking cake 18 during manufacture and/or different positions for the hinged flap 20/draught aperture control position.
Throughout the above described process, improved smouldering of the food smoking cake 18 is facilitated by the air gap provided below the food smoking cake 18 as provided by the aerating mesh 14 being spaced apart from the base 26 of the disposable tray 10. Furthermore, since the aerating mesh 14 is raised from the base 26 of the tray 10, any depleted ash deposited as the food smoking cake 18 smoulders will fall through the aerating mesh 14 and onto the base 26. This further facilitates the smouldering process by preventing the depleted ash from “dampening” or “snuffing out” the smoulder. In addition, this also results in a cleaner smoulder which avoids acridity being imparted on the food being smoked.
Once smoking of the food has been completed, the food smoking apparatus 10 (and associated ash) may simply be discarded. If smoking of the food is adjudged to be complete by the user prior to the entire length of the food smoking cake 18 being used, the user may extinguish the smoulder with a small amount of water or by starving the smoulder of oxygen by way of a lid etc. If a sufficient quantity of the food smoking cake 18 is left, the remainder can be used in future food smoking sessions.
With reference to
In the second embodiment, the disposable food smoking apparatus 110 comprises a convoluted food smoking cake 118 which is coiled such that its first end 124 and its second end 132 are located adjacent one another towards the centre of the food smoking apparatus 110. A first hinged access flap 21 is provided adjacent the first end 124 of the cake 118 and a second hinged access flap 23 is provided adjacent the second end 132 of the cake 118 such that the cake can be lit by flame from either or both ends thereof. This allows the user to select a longer smoulder time with a reduced quantity of smoke being produced at any given time (by lighting only one end of the food smoking cake 118) or a shortened smoulder time with an increased quantity of smoke being produced at any given time (by simultaneously lighting both ends of the cake 118).
In a third embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
The cover 44 comprises an air draw hole 46 (
In use, when the user wishes to light the food smoking apparatus 210 of the second embodiment, the top of the coiled food-smoking cake 218 is lit and the cover 44 is then placed on top of the base plate 42 as shown in
With reference to
In use, several discrete blocks 318 can be arranged in alignment with one another.
This abutment between each block is sufficient to transfer the heat of one discrete smouldering block 318 to the next discrete smouldering block 318 when the smoulder line reaches the male/female intersection between each block 318.
This allows a user to select the desired number of discrete blocks 318 in order to provide cold-smoking for a specific amount of time. For example, if each block is sized and dimensioned during manufacture to smoulder for approximately 20 minutes, and the user wishes to smoke food for six hours then the user can align twelve blocks end to end (or in a spiral/dog leg formation) to provide this.
With reference to
The lower surface 56 of each discrete block 418 is arched in order to provide an air-gap there below in order to facilitate improved smouldering of the block 418 in use. As shown in
With reference to
With reference to
As shown in
With reference to
In the above described arrangements, the discrete blocks can be used to both vary the total smoking time and also to facilitate the mixing of woods/herbaceous mixes etc. in order to achieve different flavour combinations. This could be used to provide e.g. three hours of oak smoke with an hour of cherry wood finish smoke.
In addition, blocks can be “branched-off”, and or run in parallel in addition to a chain of blocks in series in order to increase the flavour mixes and smoke density wherever desired.
Furthermore, the discrete blocks may also be provided with reinforcement wires or skewers in order to provide further strength and protection thereto as well as improving ash containment.
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein in detail, this has been done by way of example and for the purposes of illustration only. The aforementioned embodiments are not intended to be limiting with respect to the scope of the statements of invention.
It is contemplated by the inventors that various substitutions, alterations, and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the statements of invention. Examples of these include the following:—
In an alternative to the embodiment of the food smoking apparatus 210, rather than having a removable cover 44, a sealed unit can be provided where a tip of the food smoking cake projects through a small hole (or indeed the upper vent aperture for lighting when desired). In such an arrangement, the tip of the food smoking cake projecting through the vent aperture may be protected by a removable plug or cap.
The embodiments of the discrete blocks described do not require male protruding ledges but instead may simply abut end-to-end or on top of one another.
Furthermore, if desired the blocks can be arranged in a perpendicular T-shape or branch arrangement in order to produce greater quantities of smoke during particular time periods during smoking.
The type of natural wood base used in the mixture can be varied to provide a selection of different smoking aromas suited to the tastes of different users. For example, oak, beech, hickory, maple, cherry, apple, pear or alder wood powder/dust could be used. Furthermore, wood powder/dust derived from different types of wood can be mixed together to create interesting aromas suited to particular tastes/food smoking applications.
The aroma or smoke produced, can also be changed by adding other natural components to the mixture such as for example herbaceous tinctures and exotic mixes.
The food smoking cake could be formed into a ridged block of weakly joined members enabling the user to easily snap off a desired number of blocks in order to allow the user to select a desired quantity of smoke to be produced for a desired amount of time.
Different lengths of food smoking cake can be provided in order to alter the overall food smoking time and/or different diameters of food smoking cake can be provided in order to alter the quantity of smoke produced at any given time.
Although the above described invention is primarily concerned with cold-smoking of foods, the apparatus could also be used in the hot-smoking of foods if desired.
Unless otherwise noted, the terms “a” or “an,” as used in the specification and claims, are to be construed as meaning “at least one of.” In addition, for ease of use, the words “including” and “having,” as used in the specification and claims, are interchangeable with and have the same meaning as the word “comprising.”
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1403434.2 | Feb 2014 | GB | national |
