WO1999000041A1

WO1999000041A1 - Cooking appliance

Info

Publication number: WO1999000041A1
Application number: PCT/AU1997/000862
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tony John Archbold
Original assignee: Breville Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1997-06-27
Filing date: 1997-12-19
Publication date: 1999-01-07
Also published as: AUPO759497A0; AU9411498A; AU692419B3

Abstract

A cooking appliance including a base plate (20) having an upper surface (21) and an underside (22), the plate having at least one elongated recess (23) positioned in the upper surface to define a cooking receptacle, the underside of the plate supporting an electric element (39) and a lid (40) secured to the base plate by a hinge (30), the hinge being adapted to allow the lid to float vertically off the base due to expansion of the contents of the cooking receptacle during the cooking process.

Description

TITLE

Cooking Appliance

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a cooking appliance and more particularly to an electrically operated appliance for cooking omelettes . The designers of cooking appliances have been striving for many years to produce appliances that are easy to use and take the hard work out of cooking. In recent years, the industry has seen the release of sandwich makers, pie makers, ice cream makers and a variety of other kitchen aids.

A well made omelette is an art form and many amateur cooks struggle to make a good omelette. It is thus envisaged that there is a need for an appliance that can be used with little training to make a iality omelette. It is this need that has brought about the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a cooking appliance including a base plate having an upper surface and an underside, the plate having at least one elongated recess positioned in the upper surface to define a cooking receptacle, the underside of the plate supporting an electric element and a lid secured to the base plate by a hinge, the hinge being adapted to allow the lid to float vertically off the base due to expansion of the contents of the cooking receptacle during the cooking process .

Preferably, the at least one recess includes at least one marker on the wall structure as a fill indicator. Preferably a plurality of recesses are provided in an array in the upper surface of the base and the electric element is arranged in a configuration whereby the element extends substantially centrally of each recess so the wall structure of each recess defines a uniform heat sink.

The lid preferably includes a flat undersurface that, when the lid is closed rests on the upper surface of the base plate to close off each recess.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an omelette maker with the lid closed,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the omelette maker with the lid open,

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the omelette maker in an open position,

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the omelette maker in a closed position, Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the omelette maker with the lid closed but slightly lifted,

Figure 6 is an side view of the omelette maker in a stored vertical position,

Figure 7 is a view taken in the direction of arrow 7 on Figure 3 showing the hinged arrangement of the lid and a top platen,

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 8-8 of Figure 7,

Figure 9 is a plan view taken in the direction of the arrow 9 on Figure 3 showing a base platen and hinge arrangement,

Figure.10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 10-10 of Figure 9,

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 11-11 of Figure 9,

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 12-12 of Figure 9 showing the hinge when the lid is closed, and

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 12 but with the lid closed but slightly raised.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An omelette maker 10 as shown in the accompanying drawings comprises a base member 70 hinged to a lid member 40, the base member 70 includes an exterior housing 71 supported by feet 72 and 73 to support a metal base platen 20 of rectangular configuration having an upper surface 21 and an underside 22.

In normal use, the omelette maker 10 is free standing in a substantially horizontal array as shown in Figures 1 to 5. The lid member 40 can pivot open to the position shown in Figures 2 and 3 to provide access to receptacles for an omelette mix. The lid member 40 is closed as shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5 to effect cooking. When the omelette maker 10 is closed as shown in Figure 6, it can be stored vertical resting on the foot 73 and the right edge 75 of the lid member 40. This orientation of the omelette maker ensures that the lid remains closed against the base member 70 thereby preventing entry of dust into the cooking recesses.

As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the base platen 20 is cast in a suitable heat conductive metal such as aluminium and includes two elongated elliptical recesses 23 and 24 positioned in a symmetrical array in the upper surface 21. The underside of the base platen is provided with a pair of downwardly projecting parallel flanges 6 and 7 which define a substantially rectangular channel 8 into which an electrical heating element 39 is located. The channel defines the configuration of the heating element in a manner that the heating element runs fairly centrally of each recess 23, 24. in this manner, the positioning of the heating element 39 ensures that the wall structure of each recess is substantially at uniform temperature and provides a heat sink which in use can cook an omelette mix. The upper surface 21 includes three small recesses 25, 26, 27 that are positioned to act as spill catchment areas. The large elliptical recesses 23, 24 and the small recesses have their mouths formed in the single plane that defines the upper surface 21.

As shown in Figure 10, the wall structure of each recess 23, 24 is provided with two markers 95, 96 which provide assistance to ensure against overfilling of the recesses. The first fill marker 95 is an indentation placed in the wall of each recess during the casting process . This marker is the line to which the egg mix should reach. Filling the recesses above the line 95 will result in overfilling. The second fill marker 96 is used when the device is used to poach eggs . Water is added up to the line 96 and then a raw egg is dropped into each recess for poaching. When an egg mix is placed in a recess and is cooked, the egg mix expands substantially and thus overfilling of the recess with the egg mix can cause spillage or impair the finished quality of the omelette by causing an increase in the density of the omelette.

The lid member 40 includes a top platen 41 of similar rectangular configuration as the base platen. As shown in Figures 2 and 7, the lid member 40 has an upper/outer surface 42 the forward edge 43 of which defines a carry handle 44 with the base platen. As shown in

Figures 7 and 8, the undersurface of the top platen 41 has two shallow recesses 46, 47 that complement the recesses 23, 24 in the base platen 20. In a similar manner to the base platen, the upper surface of the top platen 41 has a rectangular channel 48 that supports an electric element 49 positioned substantially centrally of the recesses 46, 47. The upper surface 21 of the base platen 20 and the lower surface 50 of the top platen 41 have portions in abutting planar contact when the lid member 40 is closed onto the base platen 20.

As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the base platen 20 includes a rearward face 28 that has a pair of hinge pins 30, 31 that extend parallel and spaced from the edge of the face 28. Each pin 30, 31 projects from a lug 32, 33 formed to project from the rearward face. The rearward face also includes a pair of location lugs 34, 35 that are spaced apart to project rearwardly of the face. A similar positioned pair of location lugs 36, 37 are provided on the front face 38 of the platen 20.

As shown in Figures 11 to 13, the top platen 41 has a rearward face 58 that includes a pair of spaced flanges 60, 61 with slotted apertures 62, 63 to accommodate the hinge pins 30, 31 of the base platen 20. The front face 59 of the top platen 41 includes similarly positioned lugs 66, 67 to the lugs 36, 37 on the base platen 20. The rear face 58 of the top platen 41 also includes projecting lands 68, 69 that are arranged to abut the location lugs

34, 35 on the base platen. The slotted apertures 62 or 63 in the flanges 60 or 61 of the top platen allow the pins 30 or 31 to float in a vertical plane through about 4mm. This floating of the hinge pins allows the lid to move vertically off the base platen during the cooking process. To use the omelette maker, the recesses are coated in a suitable lubricant such as butter. The machine is switched on and allowed to preheat to the operating temperature after a short delay. The egg mix is then added to each recess up to the fill level and the lid is closed.

In one embodiment, closing of the lid activates a timer which rings when the cooking period has elapsed. As the omelette mix cooks it expands thereby causing the lid 40 to be lifted clear of the base platen 20 through the float in the location of the hinge pins. In this manner, a fluffy omelette is produced without the mixture being compressed by the lid. Once the timer rings, the lid is pivoted back to the open position and it is a simple exercise to remove the perfectly formed omelette from the recesses . The fact that the egg mix is only added to the recess in the base platen to the fill level marker ensures that initially, there is no contact with the recess in the top platen. The heat of the top platen acts in a diffused manner against the top of the egg mix. As the mix cooks it rises to eventually contact the recess in the top platen and browning occurs. The limited contact with the top platen ensures even browning without the production of a hard over-browned top surface.

The uniform heat sink formed by the design and positioning of the recesses ensures even cooking distribution and enhances the finished texture of the omelette.

In the preferred embodiment the cooking recesses 23, 24 are formed integrally with the base platen. It is however understood that removable trays may be positioned in apertures in the platen, the trays defining the cooking recesses. Furthermore, although in the preferred embodiment the lid has recesses that mirror the recesses in the base platen it is understood that a flat lid could be used with or without a heating element.

It is understood that the appliance described above can be used to make a plain omelette but can also be used to produce omelettes with fillings such as onion, bacon, and other vegetables. These can be cooked in the recesses prior to the addition of the omelette mix. The appliance can also, as described earlier, be used to poach eggs .

Although in the preferred embodiment the cooking appliance described above is for the use in cooking omelettes, it is understood that this invention in its broadest aspect could be adapted to act as a cooking means for a variety of other foodstuffs.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A cooking appliance including a base plate having an upper surface and an underside, the plate having at least one elongated recess positioned in the upper surface to define a cooking receptacle, the underside of the plate supporting an electric element and a lid secured to the base plate by a hinge, the hinge being adapted to allow the lid to float vertically off the base due to expansion of the contents of the cooking receptacle during the cooking process .

2. The cooking appliance according to Claim 1 wherein the lid includes a recess positioned to be directly above the recess in the base when the lid is closed onto the base.

3. The cooking appliance according to Claim 2 wherein an electric element is positioned behind the recess in the lid.

4. The cooking appliance according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one recess has a wall structure that includes at least one marker that operates as a fill indicator.

5. The cooking appliance according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the lid includes a flat undersurface that operates, when the lid is closed, to rest on the upper surface of the base plate to close off the recess.

6. The cooking appliance according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a plurality of recesses are provided in an array in the upper surface of the base and the electric element is arranged in a configuration whereby the element extends substantially centrally of each recess so that the wall structure of each recess defines a uniform heat sink