1. Field of Invention
The invention relates generally to infused oils and more particularly, to a device for infusing a base oil with seasonings, herbs, or other flavors, and dispensing the infused oil in metered quantities.
2. Description of Related Art
Infusion is used with herbs that dissolve readily in water, or release their active ingredients easily in oil. Quantities of the herb/water or herb/oil mix will vary according to the herb or how strong the infusion is required to be. A common proportion used is one ounce of herb to one pint of liquid. A common example is herbal tea. People sometime drink infusions of this type for pleasure; other times for health. Herbal remedies and herb-infused oils can be prepared using dried herbs, flowers, or berries, infused together with oil or water. The herb/botanical is then removed from the oil and the oil is used in herbalism in those preparations that require short-term infused oils.
Infusion is often accomplished by combining an infusion base liquid, like olive oil, with an herb, and refrigerating the infusion oil. Infused oils are also used for seasonings, like herbs and spices, which magnify a natural flavor of a food making it richer or more delicate, and other seasonings, like black pepper and basil, which transfer some of their flavor to the food.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,213,507 describes an infusion beverage brewing system including a chamber and an infuser. The infuser is positioned in a liquid, such as hot water, and has an infusing chamber for containing infusible materials, such as tea leaves. After a brewing time has elapsed, an individual moves a piston past a perforated wall portion of the infusing chamber, where small apertures prevent the passage of the tea leaves or other infusible material, isolating the infusible material from the liquid.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,726,946 allows a user to store and brew beverages such as tea. The device includes a base container for storing the loose tea leaves prior to brewing. An infuser is removably attached to the base container. The infuser is shaped so that that it may be inverted over a drinking container and receives a predetermined amount of fresh tea leaves to be soaked during the brewing process.
Oil infusion is typically accomplished with herbs and oils in a jar. However, this conventional method ends up dispensing not just the infused oil, but the undesired and unfiltered particles that are in the oils. Also, this process is manual, which is less precise and harder to repeat, and considered very messy.
The present invention provides an oil infuser and metered dispenser for creating delicious, perfectly seasoned oil entrees. The dispenser comprises an infusing compartment and a filter disposed therein for receiving one or more flavor pods. A pump draws a base oil in the infusing compartment through the filter and flavor pods, and out the filter into a dispensing compartment (e.g., automatic infrared dispenser). The filter prevents particulate matter from being dispensed in the infused oil.
In an embodiment of the invention, a device comprises: an infusing compartment for holding a base oil; a dispensing compartment for dispensing infused oil; a removable filter disposed inside the infusing compartment, wherein the removable filter is configured to hold one or more flavor pods; and a pump for drawing the base oil into the removable filter, through the one or more flavor pods, and out of the removable filter to create infused oil, and drawing the infused oil into the dispensing compartment. The device may further comprise a meter for dispensing a predetermined amount of infused oil out of the dispensing compartment, tubing, and a clear lid in the infusing compartment. The pump may be powered by batteries. The flavor pods may comprise garlic, rosemary, chipotle, sage, seasoning, or herbs. The device may further comprise an adjuster mechanism for adjusting the predetermined amount of infused oil. The dispensing compartment may be see-through and infused oil may be dispensed in a drizzle or spray.
In another embodiment of the invention, an oil infusion system comprises: a portable countertop oil infusing device, and one or more flavor pods for infusing one or more flavors into a base oil via the portable countertop oil infusing device. The flavor pods may be specially adapted for use in a portable countertop oil infusing device.
In another embodiment of the invention, a device comprises: an infusing compartment comprising a pump, the infusing compartment configured to store a filter with a flavor pod inside and an infusion base liquid; and a dispensing compartment attached to the infusing compartment, the dispensing compartment comprising an adjuster mechanism, a sensor, and a dispensing outlet, wherein the pump draws the infusion base liquid through the flavor pod and the filter and the dispensing compartment dispenses a metered amount of an infused oil using the measuring mechanism, the sensor, and the dispensing outlet. The device may further comprise a meter for dispensing a predetermined amount of infused oil out of the dispensing compartment, tubing, and a clear lid in the infusing compartment. The flavor pods may comprise garlic, rosemary, chipotle, sage, seasoning, or herbs. The device may further comprise an adjuster mechanism for adjusting the predetermined amount of infused oil. The dispensing compartment may be see-through and infused oil may be dispensed in a drizzle or spray.
An advantage of the invention is that it creates infused oils without the mess created by conventional infusion devices. Another advantage of the invention is that the infused oils are created in measurable quantities preventing a user from using too much oil, as the amount of oil can be metered. Yet another advantage of the invention is that permits a user to create infused oils at home thereby eliminating the need to purchase expensive pre-manufactured infused oil. Even if the user already makes infused oil at home, the user will typically have to keep and store many bottles of oil (e.g., 10 bottles) to have all the desired flavors on hand, occupying a significantly larger amount of kitchen storage space than storing the same amount of flavor pods. Further, the user has the ability to experiment with the flavor the oil to match his taste preferences. Also, the infusion is virtually hands free, as the user can have a skillet in one hand and a spatula in the other hand and still be able to dispense oil in the skillet. Lastly, the user can make the oil and have it fresh, as opposed to using oil that was made much earlier.
The foregoing, and other features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the accompanying drawings, and the claims.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the ensuing descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings briefly described as follows:
Further features and advantages of the invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying
In an embodiment, the present invention provides an oil infuser and metered dispenser for creating delicious, perfectly seasoned oil entrees. The dispenser comprises an infusing compartment and a filter disposed therein for receiving one or more flavor pods. A pump draws a base oil in the infusing compartment through the filter and flavor pods, and out the filter into a dispensing compartment. The filter prevents particulate matter from being dispensed in the infused oil. A sensor is included for measuring predetermined amounts of infused oil. Various flavored pods are provided for infusing seasoning, herbs, and other flavors into the base oil.
The base oil can be any type of edible or cooking oil, which is preferably liquid at room temperature. Exemplary edible vegetable oils include, but are not limited to olive oil, palm oil, soybean oil, canola oil, pumpkin seed oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, peanut oil, grape seed oil, sesame oil, argan oil and rice bran oil. Many other kinds of vegetable oils are also used for cooking. In an embodiment of the invention, the device 100 further comprises a heater (not shown) for decreasing the viscosity of the base oil, particularly in the case of saturated oils such as coconut oil.
Each flavored pod 170 may include one or more seasonings, flavors, or herbs. The pods can be herbs chosen by the user or herbs filled into manufactured tea bag like pouches. Exemplary seasonings and herbs (or flavors) include, but are not limited to garlic, rosemary, chipotle, sage, salt, pepper, basil, chopped peppers, paprika, curry, cayenne, mixed spices, vinegar, orange, lemon, onion, chives, horseradish, mustard, capers, chilis, and any combination thereof.
In another embodiment of the invention, the device 100 can be used for cosmetic purposes, e.g., to infuse oils and other liquids for massage, aroma therapy, skin and hair care with other aromatic substances such as herb and flowers.
It is to be recognized that depending on the embodiment, certain acts or events of any of the methods described herein can be performed in a different sequence, may be added, merged, or left out altogether (for example, not all described acts or events are necessary for the practice of the method). Moreover, in certain embodiments, acts or events may be performed concurrently, rather than sequentially.
The invention has been described herein using specific embodiments for the purposes of illustration only. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, however, that the principles of the invention can be embodied in other ways. Therefore, the invention should not be regarded as being limited in scope to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but instead as being fully commensurate in scope with the following claims.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/298,864, filed Jan. 27, 2010, and entitled “OIL INFUSER AND METERED DISPENSER,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61298864 | Jan 2010 | US |