GB2120531A

GB2120531A - Cooking utensils

Info

Publication number: GB2120531A
Application number: GB08215077A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yung Jung Weng
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-05-24
Filing date: 1982-05-24
Publication date: 1983-12-07

Abstract

A cooking utensil 10, such a pot, a frying pan or a heating plate, having a metallic bottom is provided with a plurality of heat-absorbing members 13 protruding out from the metallic bottom. The members may be fins or bars or wires formed into a zig-zag shape. Members in the form of fins or bars may integrally be formed with the metallic bottom of the utensil. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cooking utensils This invention relates to cooking utensils.

Conventional cooking utensils such as pots and pans for cooking foods with external heat applied from below are all provided with a generally flat or smooth surface at their metallic bottom where the heat is applied. Because of the flat or smooth surface, the heating area is quite limited and a good portion of the heat applied is not efficiently absorbed. Such an inefficient absorption of heat with conventional cooking utensils not only causes a high energy waste and consequent cost but also leads to a waste of time in cooking.

It is the main object of this invention to provide a cooking utensil of higher heating efficiency and thus capable of minimising energy cost.

It is another object of this invention to provide a cooking utensil capable of reducing cooking time.

According to the present invention there is provided a cooking utensil having a metallic bottom provided with a plurality of heat-absorbing members in a spaced arrangement and protruding outwardly from said metallic bottom.

Features of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from below of a first embodiment of a cooking utensil according to this invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the cooking utensil shown in Figure 1, in use.

Figure 3 is a side view of a second embodiment according to this invention.

Figure 4 is a side view of a third embodiment according to this invention.

Figure 5 is a side view of a fourth embodiment according to this invention.

Figure 6 is a perspective view from below of a fifth embodiment of a cooking utensil according to this invention.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary schematic view of an alternative heat-absorbing member employed in a cooking utensil according to this invention.

In Figure 1 there is shown a first embodiment of this invention. In this embodiment the cooking utensil 10 comprises frying pan 11 having a flat metallic bottom 12 provided with a plurality of heat absorbing members 13 arranged mutually parallel with a suitable space 14 between each pair of adjacent members. Said heat-absorbing members 1 3 are made of heat-conducting material, such as iron, steel, copper, aluminum or one of their alloys, and are provided in the form of flat strips having one side fixedly connected to the outer surface of the flat bottom 12 of frying pan 11 so as to perpendicularly protrude from the flat bottom 12 to form a plurality of metallic fins, with the other side of the strips being flush with each other so that the frying pan 11 can be stably placed on any conventional heater.

The heat-absorbing members 13, i.e., flat strips or fins may be welded or brazed onto the flat bottom 12 of frying pan 11, or integrally formed with the frying pan in case the frying pan is to be made by casting.

in use the cooking utensil 10 can be placed on a heater 20, which may be a gas store or electric heater, as shown in Figure 2, with the heatabsorbing members 1 3 being directly exposed to the flame or heat. The heat-absorbing members expose to the heat an extra area of the surface in comparison with conventional frying pans in which the heat is only absorbed by the limited area of the flat bottom surface, and therefore more heat is effectively absorbed and utilized for cooking.

The heat-absorbing members 13, or metallic fins, may be provided on the bottom surface of other types of cooking utensils such as pots 1 1 A as the second embodiments shown in Figure 3; heating plates 1 B as the third embodiment shown in Figure 4; and Chinese cooking pans 1 1 C having an arcuate bottom as the fourth embodiment shown in Figure 5.

Instead of flat strips the heat-absorbing members can alternatively be a plurality of metallic bars 1 3A as the fifth embodiment shown in Figure 6. Said metallic bars 1 3A have one end fixedly mounted onto or integrally formed with the bottom of frying pan 11 so as to protrude outwardly. The metallic bars 1 3A are spaced a suitable distance apart from another to facilitate the fabrication of the metallic bars with the utensil. Although a frying pan is employed in the fifth embodiment, it is to be understood that the bars 1 3A as shown in Figure 6 can be mounted onto or formed with the bottom of other types of cooking utensils such as pots and plates.

Figure 7 shows another type of the heatabsorbing member that can be alternatively employed in place of the flat strips or bars as in the previous embodiments. The heat-absorbing member, such as 1 3B, are made of a metallic wire formed into a zig-zag shape and fixedly attached preferably by blazing, to the outer surface of the cooking utensil 11 , which may be a pot, a pan or a plate, so that the formed wire protrudes outwardly and provides an extra heating area for the cooking utensil.

1. A cooking utensil having a metallic bottom provided with a plurality of heat-absorbing members in a space arrangement and protruding outwardly from said metallic bottom.

2. A cooking utensil as recited in claim 1, wherein said heat-absorbing member is a metallic fin constituted by a metallic strip having one side edge fixedly connected to said metallic bottom.

3. A cooking utensil as recited in claim 1, wherein said heat-absorbing member is a metallic bar having one end fixedly connected to said metallic bottom.

4. A cooking utensil as recited in claim 1, wherein said heat-absorbing member is a metallic wire formed into a zig-zag shape having one side fixedly connected to said metallic bottom.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Cooking utensils This invention relates to cooking utensils. Conventional cooking utensils such as pots and pans for cooking foods with external heat applied from below are all provided with a generally flat or smooth surface at their metallic bottom where the heat is applied. Because of the flat or smooth surface, the heating area is quite limited and a good portion of the heat applied is not efficiently absorbed. Such an inefficient absorption of heat with conventional cooking utensils not only causes a high energy waste and consequent cost but also leads to a waste of time in cooking. It is the main object of this invention to provide a cooking utensil of higher heating efficiency and thus capable of minimising energy cost. It is another object of this invention to provide a cooking utensil capable of reducing cooking time. According to the present invention there is provided a cooking utensil having a metallic bottom provided with a plurality of heat-absorbing members in a spaced arrangement and protruding outwardly from said metallic bottom. Features of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from below of a first embodiment of a cooking utensil according to this invention. Figure 2 is a side view of the cooking utensil shown in Figure 1, in use. Figure 3 is a side view of a second embodiment according to this invention. Figure 4 is a side view of a third embodiment according to this invention. Figure 5 is a side view of a fourth embodiment according to this invention. Figure 6 is a perspective view from below of a fifth embodiment of a cooking utensil according to this invention. Figure 7 is a fragmentary schematic view of an alternative heat-absorbing member employed in a cooking utensil according to this invention. In Figure 1 there is shown a first embodiment of this invention. In this embodiment the cooking utensil 10 comprises frying pan 11 having a flat metallic bottom 12 provided with a plurality of heat absorbing members 13 arranged mutually parallel with a suitable space 14 between each pair of adjacent members. Said heat-absorbing members 1 3 are made of heat-conducting material, such as iron, steel, copper, aluminum or one of their alloys, and are provided in the form of flat strips having one side fixedly connected to the outer surface of the flat bottom 12 of frying pan 11 so as to perpendicularly protrude from the flat bottom 12 to form a plurality of metallic fins, with the other side of the strips being flush with each other so that the frying pan 11 can be stably placed on any conventional heater. The heat-absorbing members 13, i.e., flat strips or fins may be welded or brazed onto the flat bottom 12 of frying pan 11, or integrally formed with the frying pan in case the frying pan is to be made by casting. in use the cooking utensil 10 can be placed on a heater 20, which may be a gas store or electric heater, as shown in Figure 2, with the heatabsorbing members 1 3 being directly exposed to the flame or heat. The heat-absorbing members expose to the heat an extra area of the surface in comparison with conventional frying pans in which the heat is only absorbed by the limited area of the flat bottom surface, and therefore more heat is effectively absorbed and utilized for cooking. The heat-absorbing members 13, or metallic fins, may be provided on the bottom surface of other types of cooking utensils such as pots 1 1 A as the second embodiments shown in Figure 3; heating plates 1 B as the third embodiment shown in Figure 4; and Chinese cooking pans 1 1 C having an arcuate bottom as the fourth embodiment shown in Figure 5. Instead of flat strips the heat-absorbing members can alternatively be a plurality of metallic bars 1 3A as the fifth embodiment shown in Figure 6. Said metallic bars 1 3A have one end fixedly mounted onto or integrally formed with the bottom of frying pan 11 so as to protrude outwardly. The metallic bars 1 3A are spaced a suitable distance apart from another to facilitate the fabrication of the metallic bars with the utensil. Although a frying pan is employed in the fifth embodiment, it is to be understood that the bars 1 3A as shown in Figure 6 can be mounted onto or formed with the bottom of other types of cooking utensils such as pots and plates. Figure 7 shows another type of the heatabsorbing member that can be alternatively employed in place of the flat strips or bars as in the previous embodiments. The heat-absorbing member, such as 1 3B, are made of a metallic wire formed into a zig-zag shape and fixedly attached preferably by blazing, to the outer surface of the cooking utensil 11 , which may be a pot, a pan or a plate, so that the formed wire protrudes outwardly and provides an extra heating area for the cooking utensil. CLAIMS

5. A cooking utensil as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said plurality of heat-absorbing members are integrally formed with said metallic bottom.

6. A cooking utensil substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.