This invention relates to an apparatus for pressing ground meat into patties of various sizes.
Ground meat patties, such as hamburgers, are popular food items. It can be desirable to form these patties with a consistent shape, size and weight. This consistency cannot be achieved easily when forming patties by hand, as is often the case.
The patty press of according to the invention provides a means by which to form ground meat patties with consistent sizes, shapes, and weights.
According to one aspect, an apparatus for forming patties from a food product includes a base comprising a cylindrical sidewall defining chamber configured to receive the food product. A paddle includes a paddle blade configured to be installed onto the base to form a bottom wall of the chamber, the paddle further comprising a handle positioned outside the base that can be grasped to remove the paddle from the base. A cover is pivotally attached to the base and can be maneuvered from an open condition providing access to the chamber to a closed condition closing the chamber. The cover when in the closed condition is configured to compress the food product in the chamber and cause the food product to conform to the shape of the chamber to form a patty. The paddle is configured to remove the patty formed in the chamber.
According to another aspect, an insert can be configured to be installed on the base. The insert can have a first side comprising a first patty mold and an opposite second side comprising a second patty mold. The insert can be configured to be installed on the base with either the first side or second side facing up. The cover when closed can compress the food product on the insert to conform to the shape of the first or second mold, whichever is facing up.
According to another aspect, the first mold can be configured to form a patty that is smaller than a patty formed in the chamber. The second mold can be configured to form a patty that is smaller than a patty formed in the first mold.
According to another aspect, the chamber can be configured to produce ¾ pound beef patties and the first mold can be configured to form ½ pound beef patties.
According to another aspect, a handle assembly can be connected to the cover. The handle assembly can be removable from the cover and can include a base and a handle portion. The base can include a projection that projects from a bottom surface of the handle base and is configured to impress a cavity in a formed patty for receiving a stuffing food.
For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
The patty forming apparatus 10 also includes a paddle 20 that is connectable to the base 12. The paddle 20 includes a planar circular paddle blade 22 that is positioned at the bottom of the base 12 and forms the bottom surface of the chamber 14. The paddle 20 also includes a handle 24 that permits the user to install and remove the paddle from the base 12. When the paddle 20 is installed in the base 12 and the cover 16 is closed, the chamber 14 is configured and dimensioned to form a beef patty that is about ¾ of a pound in weight. Conveniently, the paddle blade 22 includes indicia that identifies “¾” so that the user knows the size/weight of the patty (made of ground beef) being produced.
Referring to
When the patty forming insert 30 is installed in the base 12 with the first side 32 facing up and the cover 16 is closed, the first mold 34 is configured and dimensioned to form a beef patty that is about ½ of a pound in weight. Conveniently, the first side 32 of the insert 30 includes indicia that identifies “½” so that the user knows the size/weight of the patty being produced.
When the patty forming insert 30 is installed in the base 12 with the second side 36 facing up and the cover 16 is closed, the second mold 38 is configured and dimensioned to form a mini beef patty, sometimes referred to as a “slider.” Conveniently, the second side 36 of the insert 30 includes indicia that identifies “mini” so that the user knows the size/weight of the patty being produced.
Referring to
While aspects of the present invention have been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiment above, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Other aspects, objects, and advantages of the present invention can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/440,420, which was filed on Dec. 30, 2016, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62440420 | Dec 2016 | US |