Patent ID: 7628603
Filing Date: 2009-12-08
Classification: A21C

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for making unbaked pastry shells, comprising: an annular baking ring having one or more vertical side walls and opposite upper and lower ends that are open and parallel to each other; a lower support plate having a horizontal upper surface and means for locating the baking ring at a selected position on the upper surface such that the baking ring and the lower support plate together define an upward-facing female die having a flat, horizontal floor and vertical interior side wall surfaces that intersect the floor at a right angle; a gasket disposed between the lower end of the baking ring and the upper surface of the lower support plate; an upper support plate having a horizontal lower surface disposed above and parallel to the upper surface of the lower support plate; a male die having a lower face and vertical exterior side wall surfaces that are respectively complementary to the floor and interior side wall surfaces of the female die extending downward from the lower surface of the upper support plate, the male die being arranged and configured to be inserted concentrically downward into the female die with a complementary clearance fit defining a die space between the two dies; means for locating the male die at a selected position on the lower surface of the upper support plate; means for positioning the upper and lower support plates relative to each other such that, when the two plates are urged toward each other, the male die is inserted concentrically into the female die; an annular sealing collar disposed concentrically about the male die and resiliently supported on the lower surface of the upper support plate such that, when the upper and lower support plates are urged toward each other, the collar simultaneously sealingly engages the upper end of the baking ring and sealingly compresses the gasket between the lower end of the baking ring and the upper surface of the lower support plate; and, means for controllably urging the upper and lower support plates toward each other such that a selected volume of pastry dough disposed between the male and female dies is formed into an unbaked pastry shell having a floor and vertical side walls substantially conforming to the die space between the two dies, wherein the baking ring, the gasket and the unbaked pastry shell formed in the baking ring define an assembly that is laterally removable from the apparatus for a subsequent filling of the interior of the shell and a conjoint baking of the ring, the gasket the shell and the filling of the shell in a separate oven, and wherein the baking ring functions to support the unbaked pastry shell during the subsequent filling and baking thereof.