Patent Application
20150342230
Various embodiments of a cooking apparatus are described herein. In particular, the embodiments described herein relate to an improved cooking apparatus for cooking popcorn.
Many apparatus or methods of popping popcorn are known, including hot-air poppers, stovetop popcorn poppers, commercial popcorn popping machines, and heating pre-packaged servings of popcorn in a microwave oven. Known stovetop popcorn poppers typically include a pot or pan having substantially flat bottom and an upright cylindrical side wall extending upwardly from the periphery of the bottom. The pan is configured to be heated on burners of gas or electric stoves. The interior of the pan is configured for containing popcorn.
To facilitate heating of the popcorn kernels, oil, such as vegetable oil is placed in bottom of the pan with un-popped popcorn kernels. Butter and other flavoring may be added to the popcorn and oil as well. The oil provides even heating, uniform popping of the popcorn kernels, and minimizes the occurrence of burned and un-popped popcorn kernels. The benefits provided by the use of oil are achieved when the popcorn kernels reach a popping temperature, defined as the temperature at which the popcorn kernels begin to pop.
Upon reaching the popping temperature, the popcorn kernels pop. During the popcorn popping process, the popped kernels absorb the oil, butter, or other fluids in the popcorn popper, and may cause the popped corn to be undesirably wet. In addition to being undesirably wet, the oil, butter, or other fluids on the popcorn adds extra calories to the popped corn. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved popcorn popper.
The present application describes various embodiments of a popcorn popper and methods of popping popcorn. One embodiment of the method of popping popcorn includes combining unpopped popcorn kernels and cooking oil in a pan configured to contain popcorn kernels to be popped; heating the pan with a source of heat until the popcorn kernels reach a popping temperature and begin to pop; and pouring at least a portion of the cooking oil from the pan through a drain port formed in the pan, the drain port configured for the transmission of fluid between an inside of the pan and an outside of the pan.
Another embodiment of the method of popping popcorn includes combining unpopped popcorn kernels and cooking oil in a pan mounted within a commercial popcorn popping machine case and configured to contain popcorn kernels to be popped; heating the pan with a source of heat until the popcorn kernels reach a popping temperature and begin to pop; and pouring at least a portion of the cooking oil from the pan through a drain port formed in a wall of the pan, the drain port configured for the transmission of fluid between an inside of the pan and an outside of the pan.
In another embodiment, a popcorn popper includes a pan configured to contain popcorn kernels to be popped, and a drain port formed in a wall of the pan, the drain port configured for the transmission of fluid between an inside of the pan and an outside of the pan.
Other advantages of the cooking apparatus will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, when read in view of the accompanying drawings.
The present invention will now be described with occasional reference to the specific embodiments of the invention. This invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is for describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used in the description of the invention and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Referring now to
The illustrated popcorn popper 10 includes a pot or pan 12 having a circular bottom wall 14 and an annular sidewall 16 attached to the bottom wall 14 and defining a circular pan opening 18, best shown in
The pan 12 may be formed having any desired height and any desired diameter. The pan 12 may be formed from any desired material. Non-exclusive examples of suitable material include aluminum and stainless steel.
A handle 24 may be attached to the pan 12 by fasteners 26. The fasteners 26 may be any desired type of fastener suitable for attaching the handle 24 to the pan 12. Non-exclusive examples of suitable fasteners include threaded fasteners and rivets. The handle 24 may also be attached to the pan 12 by welding or with adhesive. Although only one handle 24 is illustrated, the popcorn popper 10 may include two or more handles 24. The popcorn popper 10 may also be provided with a handle that is removably mounted to the pan 12, or may have no handle.
A drain assembly 28 is attached to a lower portion of the pan 12 near the bottom wall 14. The illustrated drain assembly 28 includes the drain tube 30 positioned about the drain port 20 and attached to the sidewall 16. The illustrated drain tube 30 is cylindrical and attached to the sidewall 16 via a collar 32. The collar 32 and the drain tube 30 may be attached to the sidewall 16 by any desired means, such as for example by welding, with adhesive, by press fit, or by threaded attachment. Alternatively, the drain tube 30 may be integrally formed with the pan 12.
Alternatively, the drain tube 30 may have any other shape suitable for the discharge of fluid from within the pan 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the drain tube 30 is positioned slightly above the bottom wall 14. The drain tube 30 may also be positioned at any desired location on the sidewall 16 in order to facilitate the discharge of fluid from within the pan 12.
The drain assembly 28 includes a closure 34 having a circular closure portion or cap 36 and an attachment member 38 extending outward of the cap 36. A first portion of the attachment member 38 defines a cam 40. As best shown in
Alternatively, other types of closures may be used. Non-limiting examples of other types of closures include a threaded closure, a plug or stopper, a simple flip lid, and a plunger-type lid. The closures may be made from the same material as the pan 12, such as aluminum or stainless steel, silicone rubber, which is not negatively affected by heat, or other heat-resistant materials. Additionally, the drain tube 30 may have no closure.
A closure actuator or handle assembly 58 includes a spring 52, a first handle portion or base 60, a second handle portion 62, and a third handle portion or grip 64.
The illustrated spring 52 is substantially L-shaped and includes a substantially flat first leg 54 and a substantially flat second leg 56. The first leg 54 in attached to an outside surface of the drain tube 30 by any desired means, such as for example, by welding, with adhesive, or with fasteners such as threaded fasteners or rivets.
The illustrated base 60 is substantially J-shaped and has a first leg 66 and a second leg 68, both extending outward of the pan 12. Two parallel mounting flanges 70 are formed at the distal end of the first leg 66, as best shown in
The second handle portion 62 has an elongated body 78 with a first end 80 and a second end 82. Cylindrical posts 84 extend outwardly from opposite sides of the first end 80 and are mounted in the mounting apertures 72 of the base 60. Cylindrical posts 86 extend outwardly from opposite sides of the second end 82 of the second handle portion 62. The second end 82 of the second handle portion 62 is disposed between the attachment members 38. The posts 86 are mounted within the elongated slots 50 in the attachment members 38.
The grip 64 is attached to the first end 80 of the second handle portion 62 by any suitable means, or may be integrally formed with the second handle portion 62.
Referring again to
The lid may be formed from any desired material. Non-exclusive examples of suitable material include aluminum, stainless steel, transparent material, such as glass or transparent polymers, and other heat-resistant materials.
The closure 34 may be moved between a closed position as shown in
The closure 34 may be moved between a closed position as shown in
Likewise, the closure 34 may be moved between the opened position shown in
In operation, a user of the popcorn popper 10 may place any desired amount of popcorn kernels, cooking oil, and/or other fluid, such as flavoring fluid in the pan 12. Non-limiting examples of suitable cooking oils include olive oil, palm oil, soybean oil, canola oil, pumpkin seed oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, peanut oil, grape seed oil, sesame oil, other vegetable oils, coconut oil, palm oil, and animal-based oils such as butter and lard. The popcorn popper 10 may then be placed on a source of heat, such as a stove burner, and heated until the popcorn kernels reach a popping temperature, and at least one kernel of the popcorn begins to pop.
The user may then remove the popcorn popper 10 from the source of heat, move the closure 34 to the opened position, and tip the pan 12 such that the cooking oil or other fluid in the pan 12 flows out of the drain tube 30. Alternatively, if the pan 12 is not provided with a closure, the cooking oil or other fluid in the pan 12 may be poured from the pan 12 upon tipping.
The fluid in the pan 12 may be collected in a container, such as any of the containers 150, 154, and 158. Optionally, the user may attach the drain tube 30 to an attachment member of a container, such as the attachment members 156 and 164, prior to pouring the cooking oil or other fluid from the pan 12. Once the cooking oil or other fluid has been poured from the pan 12, the pan 12 may be returned to the source of heat so that the popcorn kernels may continue to pop without the excess cooking oil or other fluid in the pan 12. Because the cooking oil or other fluid has been removed from the pan 12, the freshly popped popcorn in the lower portions of the pan cannot become undesirably wet with the now removed cooking oil or other fluid. Advantageously, the cooking oil or other fluid removed from the pan 12 and collected in a container may be reused.
The fluid from the pan 12 may be poured into any desired container. A first embodiment of such container is an open container or cup 150, as shown in
Referring now to
The illustrated popcorn popper 110 includes a pot or pan 112 having a bottom wall 114 and an annular sidewall 116 defining a circular pan opening 118. A source of heat may be incorporated in the pan 112, but is not shown in
A drain tube 128 is attached to the sidewall 116 of the pan 112 about a drain port (not shown) formed through the sidewall 116. The drain port may be a single hole, or a plurality of holes, such as the holes 22 shown in
The illustrated drain tube 128 is cylindrical and attached to the sidewall 116 via a collar 130. The collar 130 and the drain tube 128 may be attached to the sidewall 116 by any desired means, such as described above in detail. The pan 112 may also be formed with the drain ports 182, 190, and 196, as shown in
The drain tube 128 may have any other shape suitable for the discharge of fluid from within the pan 112. The drain tube 128 may also be positioned at any desired location on the sidewall 116 in order to facilitate the discharge of fluid from within the pan 112.
Alternatively, the drain tube may extend from the bottom internal wall 113, through the space, and outwardly of the bottom wall 114, as shown at 128′ in
Although not shown in
The illustrated pan 112 is pivotally mounted to the case 100 about a pivot axis P. A tilt arm 120 is connected to the pan 112 at the pivot axis P and is operative to pivot the pan 112 about the pivot axis P.
A lid 122 for closing the pan 112 during the popping process is mounted about the pan opening 118. The illustrated lid 122 is formed in two parts and includes a first or rear portion 124 attached to the pan opening 118. A second or forward portion 126 is hingedly attached to the first portion 124. The hinged connection allows the forward portion 126 to fall open with the popcorn popper 110 is tipped forward.
In operation, a user of the popcorn popper 110 may place any desired amount of popcorn kernels, cooking oil, and/or other fluid, such as flavoring fluid in the pan 112. Heat from the source of heat (not shown) may then be applied to the pan 112 until the popcorn kernels reach a popping temperature, and at least one kernel of the popcorn begins to pop. The user may remove a closure from the drain tube 128, then grasp the tilt arm 120 and tip the pan 112 about the pivot axis P such that the fluid in the pan 112 flows out of the drain tube 128. Alternatively, if the pan 112 is not provided with a closure, the cooking oil or other fluid in the pan 112 may be poured from the pan 112 upon tipping.
The fluid in the pan 112 may be collected in a container, such as any of the containers 150, 154, and 158. Optionally, the user may attach the drain tube 128 to an attachment member of a container, such as the attachment members 156 and 164, prior to pouring the cooking oil or other fluid from the pan 112. Once the cooking oil or other fluid has been poured from the pan 112, heat may be reapplied to the pan 112 so that the popcorn kernels may continue to pop without the excess cooking oil or other fluid in the pan 12. Because the cooking oil or other fluid has been removed from the pan 112, the freshly popped popcorn in the lower portions of the pan 112 cannot become undesirably wet with the now removed cooking oil or other fluid. Advantageously, the cooking oil or other fluid removed from the pan 112 and collected in a container may be reused.
A mounting member 168 may be provided and include a mounting surface 170, as shown in
A container, such as the bottle 158 may be positioned on the mounting member 168 such that the attachment member 164 may be connected to the drain tube 128 when the pan 112 is tipped about the pivot axis P. Fluid may then flow from inside the pan 112, through the drain tube 128, to the bottle 158. Upon discharge of the fluid into the bottle 158, the attachment member 164 may be disconnected from the drain tube 128 and the pan 112 returned to its original, un-tipped position.
The principle and mode of operation of the cooking apparatus have been described in its preferred embodiments. However, it should be noted that the cooking apparatus described herein may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its scope.
