Patent ID: 6405645
Filing Date: 2002-06-18
Classification: A23B,A47J

Abstract:
A marinating apparatus for marinating food products to induce flavoring agents into the food products, said apparatus comprising:a housing having a base wall and a peripheral wall extending between and being integrally coupled to said base and top walls, said peripheral wall including a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, and a back wall, a pair of intermediate walls dividing said housing into a pair of outer compartments and a middle compartment; a lid for enclosing said middle compartment having a rear edge and a front edge, said rear edge being hingably coupled to said housing, a shape of said lid conforming to said opening such that said lid generally seals said middle compartment when said front edge is abutting said housing; a heating element for warming said middle compartment being positioned in said middle compartment and attached to an inner surface of said back wall; a tray for supporting the food products having a bottom surface and a peripheral surface coupled to and extending upwardly from said bottom surface, said bottom surface having a plurality of perforations therethrough; a lifting means being positioned in each of said outer compartments; a vacuum pump for withdrawing air through said vacuum port from said middle chamber when fully enclosed by said lid being fixedly coupled to said base wall and positioned in said second outer compartment; a pair of positioning switches for activating said moving means being attached to said top wall of said first compartment being operationally coupled to said motor; a vacuum control device for activating said vacuum pump being attached to said top wall of said second compartment being operationally coupled to said vacuum pump; a timer device for permitting the user to time processing being attached to said top wall of said second compartment; a heat switch for controlling said heater element being attached to said top wall of said second compartment being operationally coupled to said heating element; a first indicator light for displaying the status of the apparatus being attached to said top wall of said first compartment and being operationally coupled to said timer device; and a second indicator light for displaying the position of said tray in said middle compartment being operationally coupled to said motor.