Abstract:
Method and apparatus are described for separating and cooking egg whites. A heat resistant bowl includes a bottom portion and a wall portion, a lid for removably engaging the wall portion of the bowl in a snug fit, and a separator for separating liquid egg whites from eggs, the separator being connected to the lid, whereupon the egg whites are cooked in the bowl by subjecting the bowl to microwaves.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This disclosure relates generally to containers and cookware, and more particularly to an apparatus and a method for separating and cooking eggs. 
     For many years weight lifters and others interested in a high protein, low fat, diet have sought readily digestible protein. Such protein should be as pure as possible, without associated fats or carbohydrates. Historically, egg whites have filled this niche. Eating uncooked egg whites is undesirable because of risks of bacterial infection, including exposure to salmonella. 
     However, preparing cooked egg whites has always been inconvenient. For example, in one method, eggs may be boiled whole and then the shells peeled off, and the yolks removed. Often, this is a time consuming and laborious process. In another method, egg whites may be separated from the yolks before cooking and then fried, however, this is undesirable for two reasons. First, frying requires a certain amount of oil or butter, which contains a disproportionate amount of fat. Second, this method requires multiple utensils, which increases the cleanup time. 
     Therefore, what is needed is an improved method and apparatus for separating and cooking egg whites that easily separates the whites from the yolk, cooks without using fat, and is simple to clean. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention, accordingly, provides a method and apparatus for separating and cooking eggs comprising a heat resistant bowl having a bottom portion and a wall portion, a lid for removably engaging the wall portion of the bowl in a snug fit, and an arrangement for separating liquid egg whites from eggs, the arrangement being connected to the lid, whereupon the egg whites may then be cooked in the bowl. In one aspect, a radially extending lip is disposed on the wall portion of the bowl to provide a gripping surface while opening and closing the lid, and one or more vents are provided in the lid. The separator includes an extrusion projecting from the lid for retaining the yolk of the egg, and at least one slot for allowing the egg white to pass through the slot and into the bowl. 
     In another embodiment, a larger separator cooker has a lid which contains two separators and the bowl is divided into two portions. 
     In yet another embodiment, a smaller separator cooker is provided for cooking a relatively small amount of egg whites. 
     One advantage of the embodiments described herein is that a separator is connected to the lid to separate the egg whites before they are cooked, making separation easier. Another advantage of the embodiments described herein is that the cooker is a two-piece unit, comprising the lid and the bowl, which is convenient for consumer cleanup and is easier to manufacture. Another advantage is that the invention facilitates cooking of egg whites without fat. 
     Yet another advantage of the invention is that in one embodiment, cooked egg whites can be easily prepared for multiple consumers at the same time. 
     Yet another advantage of the invention is that it is small and compact, and easily allows a small amount of egg whites to be prepared, while maintaining an optimal thickness of the cooked egg whites. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 a  illustrates an isometric view of an apparatus for separating and cooking eggs. 
     FIG. 1 b  depicts an isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 a  with the lid in position for attachment to the bowl. 
     FIG. 1 c  illustrates an isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 a  with the lid attached to the bowl. 
     FIG. 2 depicts an isometric view of an alternative embodiment for an apparatus for separating and cooking egg whites. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric view of yet another alternative embodiment for an apparatus for separating and cooking egg whites. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS. 1 a - 1   c  depict an embodiment of an egg separator cooker, generally referred to by the reference numeral  10 . The separator cooker  10  is formed from a heat resistant material, such as microwaveable plastic. The separator cooker includes a bowl  12 , defined by a cylindrical wall  14  extending perpendicularly from a bottom  16 . A brim  18  is formed at the distal end of the wall, and a radially extending lip  20  is formed on the exterior of the wall  14  below the brim. 
     A flexible lid  22  is provided for removably engaging the bowl  12 . The lid has a top  24  for reasons to be described. An edge  26  extends generally perpendicularly from the top in a first direction, the edge terminating in a rim  30 . A plurality of vents  32  are disposed in the top  24 . A separator, generally referred to by the reference numeral  34 , is formed in the center of the top  24 . As best seen in FIG. 1 b,  the separator  34  comprises a half round extrusion  36  extending in a direction opposite the first direction, and having two slots  38  for reasons described below. 
     In operation, the lid  22  is placed upside down over the bowl  12  (FIG. 1 a ), and an egg (not shown) is cracked by the consumer against the bowl, so that the egg&#39;s contents are deposited into the underside of the lid. As shown in FIG. 1 a,  the egg yolk, represented by reference numeral  40 , is deposited into, or guided to, the separator  34 . The slots  38  are of a sufficient size to allow the egg white, represented by reference numeral  42 , to pass through the slots, but small enough to retain the yolk  40 . After the egg white  42  has been separated into the bowl  12 , the yolk  40  is discarded, and the steps repeated with additional eggs. Alternatively, at least one yolk could be retained for flavor, and other ingredients such as chopped ham and onions, or salsa, could be added to create a low fat omelet. 
     Next, the lid  22  is flipped right side up by the consumer as shown in FIG. 1 b.  The lid  22  is then placed over the bowl  12  and lowered into position. To close the lid, as shown in FIG. 1 c,  the edge  26  is placed over the brim  18  of the bowl and a force is exerted in a direction represented by arrow B to create a snug fit. The separator cooker is then placed in a microwave oven (not shown), or some other heat generating device, and the egg whites are cooked. During the cooking process, the vents  32  allow steam to escape and prevent a buildup of pressure and a consequent explosion. After the egg whites are cooked, the lid  22  is removed by exerting force in a direction represented by arrow A on its rim  30 , while simultaneously exerting force in a direction represented by arrow B on the lip  20  of the bowl  12 . 
     One advantage of the embodiments described herein is that the egg whites are separated before they are cooked, making separation easier. The lid acts to trap heat and also retain the separator. Thus, the separator cooker is a two-piece unit, counting the bowl, which is convenient for consumers and easier to manufacture. Another advantage is that the egg whites are cooked without fat, unless desired. 
     FIG. 2 depicts another embodiment of an egg separator cooker, generally referred to by the reference numeral  50 . The separator cooker  50  is larger than the previous embodiment, and is also formed from a heat resistant material, such as microwaveable plastic. The separator cooker  50  includes a bowl  52 , defined by a cylindrical wall  54  extending perpendicularly from a bottom  56 . The bottom  56  is divided into two equally sized portions,  56   a  and  56   b,  by a wall  57 . A brim  58  is formed at the distal end of the wall  54 , and a radially extending lip  60  is formed on the wall exterior below the brim. 
     A flexible lid  62  is provided for removably engaging the bowl  52 . The lid  62  has a top  64 , with an edge  66  extending perpendicularly in a first direction from the top  64 . The edge  66  terminates in a rim  70 . A plurality of vents  72  are disposed in the top  64  for reasons to be described. A pair of separators,  74  and  74 ′, are formed in the top  64  extending in a direction opposite the aforesaid first direction. The separators  74  and  74 ′ are identical, and thus only separator  74  is examined in detail. The separator  74  comprises a half round extrusion  76  having two slots  78 . 
     In operation, a consumer places the lid  62  upside down over the bowl  52 , and an egg (not shown) is cracked into the underside of the lid. This embodiment can accommodate two yolks at once, as there are two separators  74  and  74 ′, and is suitable for use by two consumers at the same time. The slots  78  are of a sufficient size to allow the egg white to pass through, but small enough to retain the yolk. 
     After the desired number of egg whites (not shown) have been separated into the bowl, each separator having a corresponding portion of the divided bowl, the lid  62  is flipped right side up and lowered into position. To close the lid, the edge  66  is placed over the brim  58  of the bowl and downward force is exerted in a direction represented by arrow D to create a snug fit. The separator cooker is then placed in a microwave oven (not shown) to cook the egg whites, which may have been previously seasoned to taste as described above. After the egg whites are cooked, the lid  62  is removed by exerting force in a direction represented by arrow C on its rim  70 , while simultaneously exerting force in a direction represented by arrow D on the lip  60  of the bowl  52 . 
     One advantage of this embodiment is that egg whites can be cooked for two consumers at once. The wall  57  prevents mixing of the egg white in portions  56   a  and  56   b,  and thus allows the egg whites in the portions to be seasoned differently. 
     FIG. 3 depicts yet another embodiment of an egg separator cooker, generally referred to by the reference numeral  80 . The separator cooker  80  is also formed from microwaveable plastic. The separator cooker includes a bowl  82 , defined by a cylindrical wall  84  extending perpendicularly from a bottom  86 . A radially extending lip  90  is formed on the wall exterior. 
     A flexible lid  92  is provided for removably engaging the bowl  82 . The lid  92  has a top  94  for reasons to be described. An edge  96  extends perpendicularly from the top  94  in a first direction, the edge terminating in a rim  100 . A plurality of vents  102  are disposed in the top  94 . A separator, generally referred to by the reference numeral  104 , is formed in the top  94 . The separator  104  comprises a half round extrusion  106  extending in a direction opposite the first direction and two slots  108 . 
     In operation, a consumer places the lid  92  upside down over the bowl  82 , and an egg (not shown) is cracked into the underside of the lid. The slots  108  are of a sufficient size to allow the egg white to pass through, but small enough to retain the yolk. After the egg white has been separated into the bowl  82 , the yolk is discarded, and the lid  92  is flipped right side up and lowered into position. To close the lid, the edge  96  is placed over a distal end of the wall  84  of the bowl and force is exerted in a direction indicated by arrow F to create a snug fit. The separator cooker is then placed in a microwave oven (not shown) to cook the egg whites, which may have been previously seasoned to taste. After the egg whites are cooked, the lid  92  is removed by exerting force in a direction represented by arrow E on its rim  100 , while simultaneously exerting force in a direction represented by arrow F on the lip  90  of the bowl  82 . 
     One advantage of this embodiment is that it is small and compact, and allows a relatively small amount of egg whites to be prepared while maintaining an optimal thickness of the cooked egg whites because of the smaller diameter of the bowl. The cooked egg whites then could be paired with an English muffin, for example, forming a low fat snack. 
     This disclosure shows and describes illustrative embodiments, however, the disclosure contemplates a wide range of modifications, changes, and substitutions. For example, the wall forms a cylinder as depicted, but other shapes may be used; the bottom may be flat, as depicted, or ridged; and the separator slots are depicted as crescent shaped, but may also be square, round, or another shape consistent with their purpose. Such variations may employ only some features of the embodiments without departing from the scope of the underlying invention. For example, the separator slots may vent sufficiently to obviate the need for the vents in some embodiments, or the vents themselves may be modified into any number of shapes. Accordingly, any appropriate construction of the appended claims will reflect the broad scope of the underlying invention.