GB2295533A

GB2295533A - Electric steam cooker

Info

Publication number: GB2295533A
Application number: GB9424455A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ming-Yang Lee
Original assignee: HOLY OCEAN INTERNATIONAL Ltd
Current assignee: HOLY OCEAN INTERNATIONAL Ltd
Priority date: 1994-12-03
Filing date: 1994-12-03
Publication date: 1996-06-05
Also published as: GB9424455D0

Abstract

An electric steam cooker including a steam generating unit (1) controlled to boil water into steam, and a steamer unit (2) detachably connected to the steam generating unit to receive steam from the steam generating unit for cooking food, wherein the steamer unit has a transparent water tray for collecting water during the seam cooking process. The base of the steam generating unit comprises a substantially L-shaped steam duct (53) which has a vertical steam inlet (531) and a horizontal steam outlet (532). Steam outlet (532) slopes downward to prevent reverse flow of water from the steamer unit and thus prevents damage occuring to the circuits of the steam generating unit. <IMAGE>

Description

ELECTRIC STEAM COOKER The present invention relates to an electric steam cooker which comprises a steam generating unit controlled to boil water into steam, and a steamer unit detachably connected to the steam generating unit to receive steam from the steam generating unit or cooking food, wherein the steamer unit has a transparent water tray or collecting water curing the steam cooking process.

Various electric steam cookers are well known ano intensively used for cooking foods by steam. These electric steam cookers commonly comprise an electric steam generating unit for boiling water into steam and a steamer unit for cooking foods by steam rom the electric steam generating unit. However these electric steam cookers are still not satisfactory in function because the electric steam generating unit an the steamer it are fixedly coupled together, the wasning and maintenance works are difficult to perform.

Furthermore, because the steam passage between the steam generating unit and the steamer unit is disposed ncrizontally at the bottom, accumulated water tends to flow back from the steamer unit to the inside of the steam generating unit, causing the internal parts of the steam generating unit damped. If the internal circuit of the steam generating unit is damped, the service life of the steam cooker will be shortened.

The present invention has been accomplished to provide a steam cooker which eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks. According to one aspect of the resent invention, the steam generating unit is detachably fastened to the steamer unit by hooks. Therefere, the steamer unit can be detached from the steam generating unit for washing with water separately.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the steam outlet of the steam generating unit which is connected to a steam ifliCt on the steamer unit, has an orifice sloping outwards downwards to -revent reverse flow oz water from the steamer unit.

According to still another aspect of the preset invention, the steamer base of the steamer unit has z detachable water tray for collecting water from the steamer unit during the steam cooking operation cf the electric steam cooker. The water tray is transparent, and therefore the user can know by visual the amount of accumulated water.

The invention will now be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an exploded view of an electric steam cooker according to the present invention; and ig. 2 is z perspective view in section c the electric steam cooker shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, an electr c steam cooker in accordance with the present invention is generally comprised of an electric steam generating unit 1, a steamer unit 2, and a water tray 3. The electric steam generating unit 1 comprises a base 50, z water container 60, ana a water container cover 0. The steamer unit 2 comprises a steamer base 1G, a steamer cover 20, and a dish 40.

referring to Figures 1 and 2, the steam generating unit 1 is comprised of a base 50, a water container 60 fixedly mounted on the base 50 at the top, and a water container cover 70 covered on the water container 60. The base 50 cf the steam generating it 1 comprises a substantially L-shaped steam duct 53, which has one end terminating ;n an upward steam inlet 521 disposed inside the water container 60 and an opposite end terminating in a horizontal steam outlet 532, and two hooks 52 disposed at two opposite sides by the steam outlet 532.The steamer unit 2 comprises a steamer base 10, a steamer cover 20 coverec cn the steamer base 10 at the top, and a dish 40 mounted on the steamer base 10. The steamer base 10 comprises a steam inlet 12 at one side near the bottom, which receives the steam outlet 532 of the base 5 c the steam generating unit i, two retaining holes 13 at two opposite sides by the steam outlet 532, which receive the hooks 52 o the base 50 cf the steam generating unlit 1, a water tray mounting hole 14 spaced from the steam Inlet 12 near the bottom. A water tray 3 is fastened to the water tray mounting hole 14 to collect water from the steamer unit 2. The dish 40 is made of circular shape having a stepped peripheral wall and a plurality cf drip holes i6. Through the drip holes 15 water drops are guided to the water tray 3 during the steam cooking of the steam cooker.

Referring to Figure 2 again, when the electric steam generating unit 1 and the steamer it 2 are connected together by fastening the hooks 52 to the retaining holes 13 and connecting the steam outlet 532 cf the steam duct 53 to the steam inlet 12 of the steamer base 10, a suitable amount of water is filled in the water container 60 and then the water container cover 70 is covered on the water container 60.After foods are put on the dish 40, the electric heater (not shown) wnich is installed in the base 50 of the steam generatin unit 1 is turned to heat water to the boiling point, permitting steam to flow from the steam inlet 531 of the steam duct 53 through the steam ou 532 into the steamer base 10 via the steam inlet 12, and therefore foods are cooked by steam. During the cooking process, condensed water drops drop through the drip holes 16 to the water tray 3.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 again, two handles 11 are made on the steamer base 10 of the steamer unit Z at two opposite locations =cr carrying t hand; a handle 32 is made on the steamer cover 20 for the holding of the hand. Furthermore, the orifice of the steam outlet 532 is preferably made sloping downwards outwards to prohibit reverse flow of water.

While only one embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that various modiflcaticns and changes could be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is

1. An electric steam cooker comprising: a steam generating unit controlled to boil water into steam, said steam generating unit comprising a base and a water container fixedly mounted on the base of said steam generating unit and covered by a water container cover, the base of said steam generating unit comprising a substantially L-shaped steam duct and a plurality of hooks, said steam duct having a vertical st-tam inlet disposed inside said water container and a horizontal steam outlet extended out of the base of said steam generating unit;; a steamer unit for cooking foods by steam, sai steamer unit comprising a steamer base, a dish mounted on said steamer base for carrying foods and having a stepped peripheral wall, and a steamer cover covered on said steamer base over said dish, said steamer base comprising a steam inlet connected to the steam outlet of said steam duct, two retainin holes, which receives the hooks of the base of said electric steam generating unit, and a water tray mounting hole; and a water tray fastened to said water tray mounting hole to collect water from said steamer unit.

2. The electric steam cooker of claim 1 wherein said steam outlet of said steam duct has an orifice sloping downwards outwards.

3. The electric steam cooker of claim 1 wherein said dish of said steamer unit has at least one drip hole throuch' which water drops are guided t said water tray.

4. The electric steam cocker of claim 1 wherein said steamer base of said steamer unit has two handles disposed at two opposite s:es tor carrying by hand.

5. The electric steam cooker of claim 1 wherein said steamer cover has a handle fcr the holding Gf the hand.

6. An electric steam cooker substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.