Patent Application
20240215768
This specification relates generally to the field of culinary science and, more specifically, to a silicon mold for suspension in pancake batter to yield custom designed pancakes.
Virtually everyone enjoys a good pancake. The vast majority of folks enjoy butter, syrup, fruit, or some combination thereof on their pancakes. However, these toppings have a tendency to drain off the pancake, as the center is usually higher than the edges. Thus, there remains a need for a fun means to capture an hold toppings on the pancake. The present novel technology addresses this need.
Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.
Before the present methods, implementations, and systems are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to specific synthetic methods, specific components, implementation, or to particular compositions, and as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular implementations only and is not intended to be limiting.
As used in the specification and the claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed in ways including from “about” one particular value, and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another implementation may include from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, for example by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another implementation. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint.
“Optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not. Similarly, “typical” or “typically” means that the subsequently described event or circumstance often, though may not always, occur and that the description includes instances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not.
The details of one or more embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.
In general, the present novel technology relates to a mold for producing pancakes having a central depression or aperture for containing syrup and like condiments or food stuffs. The mold includes a ring member for defining and containing the pancake, an insert member for defining the central depression/aperture formed in the pancake, a suspension member for positioning and holding the insert member. The insert member typically has a simple yet visually appealing shape, such as a star, a heart, a smiley face, an animal, a fictional character, a historical figure, a cartoon character, or the like, and is more typically removably attachable to the suspension member so as to be readily swapped out for a different shape to lend variety to breakfast.
Typically, pancake mold assembly 100 includes a ring member 110 defining parallel first and second oppositely disposed inner and outer surfaces 130, 135. More typically, first surface 130 may be considered the pancake (batter) engaging surface, while oppositely disposed second surface 135 may be considered the outer boundary surface. The ring member 110 is typically relatively thin, insofar as the distance between surfaces 130, 135 is substantially less than the diameter of the ring member 115. Described another way, the thickness of the ring member 130 is substantially less than the orthogonal height dimension extending within the planes defined by the respective typically flat surfaces 130, 135. The ring member 110 is typically made of a flexible, heat resistant material, such as silicone rubber or the like.
A support structure 115 is typically unitarily connected, or operationally connectable, to the ring member 110, engaging the ring member 110 at one or (typically) more points to provide an armature or boom arm 140 extending over the ring member 110 from which the plug member 120 may be suspended. The support structure 115 is typically made of a heat resistant structural material, such as hard silicone, metal, thermoplastic, or the like. The support structure 115 is typically flexible enough such that the suspended plug 120 may be adjusted and positioned within the pancake as desired. In some embodiments (see
The negative mold portion 120 is typically a solid piece of heat resistant structural material, such as silicone rubber, metal, composite material, ceramic, borosilicate glass, or the like, and is suspended from the support structure 115, such as by direct connection to the boom arm 140 or via an intermediate handle member 150 extending therefrom. The handle member 150 may include a grip portion 155, a plug engaging connection portion 160, and an elongated member 165 extending therebetween and connected to the grip and plug engaging portions 155, 160.
In some embodiments, the mold 120 and handle 150 portions are unitary, while in other embodiments the negative mold portion 120 likewise typically includes a mated handle engaging portion 170, whereas the engaging portions 160, 170 are matably disengageably engagable so as to function as connectors, allowing different plug portions 120 of different designs to be swapped out to make pancakes with a variety of designs contained therein. The engaging portions 160, 170 may be magnetic connectors, threaded connectors, snap-on connectors, or any convenient type of connectors. The boom arm 140 may be operationally connected to plug engaging portion 160 as shown, directly to the plug member 120 (not shown), to the handle portion 150, or the like. The negative mold portion 120 is sized and shaped to yield a depression or hole in the pancake of sufficient volume to contain a desired serving of syrup, butter, fruit, fruit jam, peanut butter, and the like, and combinations thereof, as might be desired by the diner.
In operation, the ring member 110 is placed into a (typically preheated) frying pan, griddle, electric frying pan, electric griddle, baking sheet or the like 145, with the support structure 115 operationally connected thereto. The support structure 115 may be directly connected to the ring member 110, independently positioned adjacent ring member 110 and suspended thereover, connected to the pan, or the like. Oil or shortening is typically added to the pan within the confines of the ring member 110, and pancake batter is poured thereinto. The plug member 120 is operationally connected to the support structure 115 and depends therefrom into the poured batter, displacing a portion of the same to define a depression. The pancake batter cooks until a pancake having a depression or aperture results. The plug member 120 is removed from the pancake and the pancake is removed from the pan and assembly for consumption.
Pancake size may be varied by using larger or smaller ring members 110, wherein the support structure 115 may be operationally connected to, and disconnected from, a particular ring member 115 as desired. In some embodiments, the ring member 110 may be non-circular to provide design cooperation with one or more mold assemblies 100.
While the novel technology has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood that the embodiments have been shown and described in the foregoing specification in satisfaction of the best mode and enablement requirements. It is understood that one of ordinary skill in the art could readily make a nigh-infinite number of insubstantial changes and modifications to the above-described embodiments and that it would be impractical to attempt to describe all such embodiment variations in the present specification. Accordingly, it is understood that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the novel technology are desired to be protected.
This patent application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/149,502, filed on Jan. 3, 2023, and claims priority thereto.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 18149502 | Jan 2023 | US |
| Child | 18188424 | US |
