Patent Application
20050176564
1. Technical Field of the Invention
This invention relates to cooking accessories, and more particularly, to an improved rolling pin for use in cooking.
2. Description of Related Art
Rolling pins are commonly used in cooking. A conventional rolling pin is constructed of wood and includes a cylindrically-shaped roller which rotates about a shaft. The rolling pin is commonly used to flatten dough or other food mixtures/articles. An individual grasps a rolling pin by two handles, one located on each side of the shaft. The individual then rolls the roller upon the dough or other food article, thereby rotating the rolling pin about its shaft and simultaneously flattening the food article. However, existing rolling pins suffer from several disadvantages. First, the roller pin is constructed of wood. The roller area works appreciably better if its surface is cool. It would be advantageous if the roller could be stored in the refrigerator to have its surface cooled. However, wood does not retain a cold temperature for a long period of time. Therefore, cooks do not store the rolling pin in refrigerators to cool its surface. Existing rolling pins are also not weighted properly to effectively roll the food article. Specifically, existing rolling pins are light, due to the fact that wood is not very dense. A heavier, denser material is desirable to enable the food article to be effectively rolled. In addition, existing rolling pins do not allow the use of powder coated. Powder coating would allow the rolling pin to be coated with a metallic or non-metallic color which definitively enhances the appearance of the rolling pin. Powder coating is an effective way to color the outer surface of a metallic surface without contaminating the food article.
Existing devices reveal no disclosure or suggestion of a rolling pin providing the ability to be cooled, allow the application of powder coating to enhance the aesthetics of the rolling pin, or weighted and configured in a fashion to optimize the rolling process. It is an object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus.
In one aspect, the present invention is an improved rolling pin for use upon a food article. The rolling pin includes a cylindrically-shaped main body having a first end and a second end. In addition, the rolling pin includes a first ball-shaped handle affixed to the first end and a second ball-shaped handle affixed to the second end. The main body and handles are composed of a solid metallic substance.
In another aspect, the present invention is an improved rolling pin for use upon a food article. The rolling pin includes a cylindrically-shaped main body having a first end and a second end. The main body tapers to the first end and the second end. The rolling pin also includes a first ball-shaped handle affixed to the first end and a second ball-shaped handle affixed to the second end. A powder coating is applied to the main body, the first end, and the second end. The main body, first handle and second handle are composed of a solid aluminum based substance.
The invention will be better understood and its numerous objects and advantages will become more apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following drawings, in conjunction with the accompanying specification, in which:
An improved rolling pin is disclosed.
The entire rolling pin 10 is constructed of a metallic substance. In the preferred embodiment, the material is aluminum. However, the rolling pin may be constructed of any rigid material, such as stainless steel or a composite material. Preferably, the rolling pin is solid, thereby providing a heavier rolling pin than conventional rolling pins.
In the preferred embodiment, the rolling pin is of a unitary constructed and is manufactured from a single shaft of aluminum or other metallic substance. The shaft is then lathed to the shape of the improved rolling pin 10.
As discussed above, the rolling pin is preferably constructed of an aluminum material. The main body is preferably a solid material without any hollow portions, thus adding weight to the rolling pin. Since the rolling pin is constructed of a metallic substance, a powder coating may be applied to the rolling pin. Preferably, the powder coating process is a Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved process. Thus the powder coating is acceptable for application to a food article. In addition, the powder coating allows the application of distinct metallic and non-metallic colors which enhances the aesthetics of the rolling pin. In an alternate embodiment, the material coating the rolling pin may be subjected to a coloring process, such as an anodizing process.
With reference to
The present invention provides many advantages over existing rolling pins. The rolling pin 10 enables the application of color to the surface of the rolling pin, which was not feasible with rolling pins constructed of wood. The powder coating provides a very distinctive and unusual appearance to the rolling pin 10. In addition, the rolling pin 10 is constructed of a metallic substance suitable for retaining a cool temperature. By cooling the surface of the rolling pin 10, the food article is easier, in many cases (e.g., butter-based dough), to roll. Additionally, the rolling pin 10 is sized, contoured and weighed for optimal handling of the rolling pin and use in rolling a food article.
It is thus believed that the operation and construction of the present invention will be apparent from the foregoing description. While the apparatus shown and described has been characterized as being preferred, it will be readily apparent that various changes and modifications could be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
