Kettle type corn popper

A stainless steel cabinet has a carbon steel kettle for popping corn which includes apparatus to maintain the popping corn within the kettle during the cooking stage and to prevent spilling of popped corn as it is being dumped into a receiver. This is accomplished with a horizontally pivotal lid over the kettle during the cooking stage. A D-shaped receiver substantially retains the popped corn as it is dumped. There is an un-popped corn catcher below the receiver. A hand operated releaseable latch connects the kettle during the cooking stage and disconnects for the dumping stage. Fluid actuated piston/cylinders normally bias the kettle into the dumping stage when the latch is released.

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE INVENTION
 This invention is directed to the field of apparatus for creating "Kettle"
 type popcorn.
 BACKGROUND
 Commercial "Kettle" type corn popping apparatus, capable of producing large
 quantities of popcorn, have become popular for use by vendors at theme
 parks, outdoor public gatherings and other events. It is recognized as an
 old concept in preparing popcorn. Such apparatus, and even that used to
 prepare commercial popcorn typically comprises a pivotable cooking kettle,
 a burner or other source of heat below the kettle, and a contiguous
 receiving container for the popped corn. Such apparatus is disclosed in
 U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,457,854; 2,477,416; 2,117, 872; 5,857,403; and 6,032,572.
 In use, a fairly large hemispheric bowl-like cooking or popping kettle is
 manually pivoted from the first position over the heat source wherein
 popping takes place, to a second position over a receiving bowl (sometimes
 referred to as a "primary catcher") where the popped corn is bagged for
 resale. Heretofore at least one of the popping and receiving bowls were
 made of copper and thus continually subject to cleaning and polishing to
 meet health standards. The operator typically uses a wooden paddle for
 stirring, which paddles have been found incapable of meeting certain
 health standards. The receiving bowl, such as found in U.S. Pat. No.
 5,857,403, is usually a mirror image of the popping kettle, or in other
 instances rectangular, or square. As a result, in many cases, as the
 popping kettle is raised to the second position, popped popcorn spills
 outside the receiving kettle onto the ground. Another problem is in
 manually pivoting a hot popping kettle from one position to the other as
 it is made of heavy metal, even without the presence of the popcorn.
 Further problems include keeping the popping corn within the popping
 kettle and the separation and removal of un-popped corn or `culls` from
 the receiving bowl.
 OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
 One object of the invention is to provide an improved wheeled kettle corn
 popper cabinet that overcomes the problems as set forth above.
 Another object of invention is to provide a substantially insulated
 stainless steel apparatus, particularly the popping kettle (which can be
 of carbon steel) and the receiving bowl (a.k.a. "primary catcher").
 A yet further object of the invention is to provide a popping kettle that
 pivots toward a receiving bowl that substantially eliminates spill outside
 the bowl. Preferably, the receiving bowl is of a U or D-shape; with the
 bight of the U-shape, or the straight portion of the D being adjacent the
 pivot axis of the popping bowl.
 Another object is to provide a pivotal cover for the popping kettle, which
 will yet permit means to utilize a non wooden stirring paddle while the
 popping kettle is covered.
 Another object is to provide a screen at the bottom of the receiving bowl
 for the unpopped corn to pass into a removable D-shaped container below
 the receiving bowl. For travel the removable D-shaped container is
 nestable in the receiving bowl.
 A yet further object of the invention is to provide an improved pneumatic
 or hydraulic means to assist in pivoting the hot popping kettle to the
 second position where the popped corn falls into the receiving bowl.
 Other objects will become more apparent from the following description,
 specifications, and drawings.
 BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The invention is directed to improvements in kettle type popcorn poppers of
 the type having a cabinet enclosure with a controllable and exhaustable
 heat source, such as a natural gas, propane, or electric below a kettle
 formed as a part of the top of the cabinet. The top, and its kettle, is
 pivotable along one edge to dump the popped corn into a receiving
 container. The apparatus of this invention, for health reasons, is
 substantially constructed of insulated stainless steel, with a carbon
 steel kettle. One improvement is to provide means to retain the popped
 corn within the system, not only during the cooking stage but also in the
 receiving container. A lid that is horizontally pivotal over the kettle,
 in one position, or away in another position includes an opening for a
 stirring paddle when in the one position over the kettle. Another
 improvement is a D-shaped receiving container that is retained adjacent
 the cabinet with the straight portion of the D-shape, in horizontal cross
 section, adjacent the one edge. Below the receiving container is a
 matching D-shaped catcher that receives un-popped corn. The catcher is
 nestable within the receiving container for storage and transport. Further
 improvement include fluid, gas or hydraulic, actuated springs normally
 biased toward the kettle dumping position to assist in raising and
 lowering the top and kettle. A releaseable latch is provided to retain the
 top and kettle in the cooking position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
 Referring now to FIG. 1, the numeral 10 generally indicates the kettle
 cooking cabinet, while the numeral 12 generally indicates the popped corn
 receiving system. The cabinet 10 is of stainless steel and comprises
 insulated enclosed sides 14,16, 18, and 20. Within the enclosure is a heat
 source, usually a gas (natural or propane) burner 22, with randomly
 directed jets 23 against the bottom of the kettle 34. Gas is supplied from
 a control box 26 through conduit 24 to the burner 22, shown in FIGS. 2 and
 6. An air channel 25 within the kettle is below the burner 22 situated
 upon supports. An exhaust 28, and cooking oil pot 30 are attached to side
 16. And insulated top 32 includes the kettle 34, which is preferably
 constructed of carbon steel, and welded to the stainless steel top 32. A
 handle 36 and a releaseable latch are provided, as best described in FIGS.
 7, 8, and 9. The top 32 is pivoted at 40 and as shown by the dotted lines.
 Counter balancing of the lid occurs using fluid actuated cylinder/piston
 devices 44 on each side. A lid 46 is horizontally pivotal about pivots 47
 and 49 (see FIG. 4), using handle 51. Wheels 46 and 48 permit the cabinet
 to be easily moved.
 The receiving system 12 includes D-shaped receiver 60 having perforations
 62 in the bottom for un-popped corn to pass into a lower D-shaped catcher
 64. The straight end portions of the D-shape receiver 60 and catcher 64
 are adjacent side 18 of the kettle cooking cabinet. The receiver 60 is
 supported on rails 66 and 67 and bolted at 68 on each side thereof. A
 handle 69 may be provided for the receiver. Likewise catcher 64 is
 supported on rails 70 and 71 for slidable removal using handle 72. For
 aesthetic purposes side panel 73, shown in FIG. 1, may extend from the
 respective rails. Catcher 64 is slightly smaller than receiver 60 so as to
 be nestable therein for transport and storage. (See FIG. 5). Leveling
 means 75 is also shown.
 In the view of FIG. 4, the lid 46 is pivotal relative to arm 48 at center
 pivots 47 and pivot 49 attached to the side of the cabinet.
 In FIG. 5, catcher 64, shown dotted, is nested into receiver 60 and bolted
 at 68 for storage and transport.
 Referring to FIG. 6, the gas controls are shown having, as is well-known in
 the art, gas inlet 80, regulator 82 and pressure gauge 84. Piezoelectric
 pilot light 86 and thermocouple 88 are also provided. Handle 90 controls
 valve 92 to supply or shut off gas to conduit 24.
 Referring now to FIGS. 7, 8, and 9, describe the latch mechanism, to retain
 and release the cooking kettle 34, which comprises plate 100 that supports
 shaft 102 on bearings 104 and 106. Attached to the shaft, at one end, is
 latch 108 that connects or disconnects with the keeper 110 attached to
 kettle 34, as shown in FIG. 8. Spring adjustment for the latch is shown in
 FIG. 9. Shaft 102 is welded to plate 120 which is retained to plate 100 by
 bolts 122 and 124, the latter having a spring 126 between the plate 120
 and the support plate 100 that maintain adjustable tension to the latch
 108. Handle b, outside the cabinet, is used to rotate the shaft 102 and
 associated latch.
 Although the invention has been referred to in detail as to the form,
 construction, an arrangement of the parts involved, the same is to be
 considered only in the illustrative stands which is not to be limited
 thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.