Abstract:
A hand held apparatus used for coating and tenderizing food products particularly meat, poultry, and fish. The apparatus is comprised of a foodstuff container attached to a convex shaped plate with a plurality of protruding convex shaped protrusions attached to the head of the convex shaped plate head. In addition, the convex shaped protrusions optionally contain a variable number of smaller protrusions whereby increasing the adhesion of foodstuff coating onto the surface of food products. The foodstuff container can be made to attach, detachable or permanently affixed, onto the back of the convex shaped plate whereby additional leverage and maneuverability for applying pressure is achieved as well as the convenience of a container of foodstuff is constantly in hand. In addition, the foodstuff container brim can be attached to a container lid lip thereby acting as a lid for a separate foodstuff container. In a second embodiment, the apparatus contains a detachable convex shaped lid whereby a conventional means for dispensing foodstuff is provided in addition to a comfortable surface when applying hand pressure as well as preventing spillage of foodstuff when in use and as a cover for the convex shaped press plate when in storage. By applying downward force, rocking, and rolling the apparatus in a spiral manner the apparatus will tenderize food and apply foodstuff coating in one step without requiring any other conventional means of applying foodstuff coating onto food.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     1. Field of Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to the hand held apparatuses in the field of food preparation, particularly to tenderizing and season coating of solid malleable foods such as, but not limited to, meat, poultry, and fish with foodstuff such as, but not limited to, breadcrumbs, spices, and herbs within a typical domestic kitchen.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Prior Art  
         [0004]     Foodstuff coatings are typically applied onto the outer surfaces of food to be prepared prior to cooking. The intention of foodstuff coating is to enhance the flavor of the food or to make it more palatable. Foodstuff coated food is typically a preliminary step prepared for a frying or baking process, such as, but not limited to, fried breaded chicken cutlets. It has been found that pressing additional foodstuff coating onto the outer surface of food provides an enhanced flavor of foodstuff as well as more tender pieces of food versus simple shaking and tumbling methods and mechanisms of coating food with foodstuff.  
         [0005]     In a typical household kitchen the food coating process is a labor-intensive, tedious, and cumbersome task typically requiring several stations for each step of the food coating process. Generally, a typical household chef would require utensils such as several bowls to contain foodstuff coating, such as breadcrumbs, flour, or both as well as a binding agent such as water, milk, or eggs where the food is dredged in order to provide a better sticking surface. After the binding agent dredge the food needs to be coated with foodstuff by shake, tumble, and/or physical hand pressing. The fact that the process requires many utensils, an extraordinary amount of space, and an extraordinary amount of time and effort is the basis for this invention.  
         [0006]     Many methods and devices have been proposed to tenderize meats or distribute more foodstuff coatings onto food. Some of these proposed methods and devices are elaborate not well suited for typical household use while others are limited in their use of coating foodstuff onto food.  
         [0007]     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,223,651 teaches a simple tool for seasoning and tenderizing food that embeds seasonings beneath the outer surfaces of food. This apparatus is intended to be used much the same as a hand held tenderizer whereby the chef needs to continually embed the seasoning beneath the surface of the food using a tapping/pounding technique. The limitation of this device is that of simple food seasoning such as spices and herbs are inadequate for coating the food entirely. In fact, any device requiring pounding, such as a meat-tenderizing mallet, is inadequate for coating foodstuff. The pounding results in the expulsion of the seasoning outside of the head of the mallet head. In addition the foodstuff coating will normally be wedged in between protrusions of such apparatuses due to the small spacing in between protrusion points.  
         [0008]     Meat tenderizers such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,380,850 involving a roller to avoid pounding meat achieves the results of tenderizing meat without pounding, but these devices simply address tenderizing meat by cutting fibers and connective tissues using blades or sharp instruments and are inadequate for coating food with foodstuff. Meat tenderizers such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,261 comprises of a top and bottom plate each having a plurality of protruding projections whereby the meat is placed in between the plates and pressed between the two plates. This device limits the mobility of any food coating that would need to be applied since it is a stationary device therefore making it a cumbersome tool for coating as well as seasoning meat.  
         [0009]     Breading apparatuses such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,182,260, 5,020,427, or 6,000,320 are simply too large and elaborate for typical household use and are intended for more mass productions of food preparation.  
         [0010]     Although each of the above inventions address the subject of food preparation and more particularly the preparation of meat, poultry, and fish there still remains a need to provide a quick, easy, and efficient method of tenderizing and coating food with foodstuff within a typical household kitchen.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0011]     The objective of this invention is provide a cheap, easy to use, easy to clean, easy to store, hand-held apparatus for tenderizing and coating solid malleable food particularly meat, poultry, and fish with foodstuff, particularly seasoned breadcrumbs, in a clean and efficient manner whereby enhancing the palatability of food while eliminating tasks and utensils in food preparation within a typical household kitchen.  
         [0012]     Previous discoveries have shown that tenderization processes and methods have made the food, particularly meats, more palatable. Tenderization methods include pounding or crushing meat to break apart fibers and connective tissues within meat. By applying force onto meat such that the fibers and connective tissues are disrupted achieves the result of tenderized meat. The process of tenderization is normally a separate task in a food preparation process.  
         [0013]     Also, it has been found that pressing foodstuff coating onto food enhances the flavor of the food versus simple shake methods, particularly with ordinary seasoned breadcrumbs, when the prepared food is cooked. The pressing of foodstuff results in more foodstuff coating applied to food whereby enhancing the flavor of food with foodstuff. The pressing action also crushes meat whereby resulting in a tenderization process while coating food with foodstuff.  
         [0014]     Based on the discoveries and findings stated an apparatus has been invented to tenderize and coat food in one convenient step whereby enhancing the flavor of food with foodstuff and improving the process of coating food for a typical domestic kitchen. The apparatus is configured such that it provides an average adult individual to hold in hand an apparatus to press foodstuff coating onto meat, poultry, or fish whereby achieving meat tenderization and foodstuff coating. The apparatus avoids the need to hammer, perform separate tasks, food binding agents, provides cleaner, easier, and more effective leverage than conventional rollers, and fits in the hand of an average adult individual. The apparatus is configured such that it is comfortable, sanitary, and easy to use, clean, and store for a typical household chef. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the second and preferred embodiment of the apparatus where a separate foodstuff container lid is detached from the foodstuff container.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the second and preferred embodiment of the apparatus where a separate foodstuff container lid is attached to the foodstuff container.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a bottom end view of the convex shaped plate head with convex shaped protrusions and one pyramid shaped prong attached to each convex shaped protrusion.  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a bottom end view of the convex shaped plate head showing one spiral roll traversal of the convex shaped plate head when being maneuvered.  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  are cross-sectional views of the convex shaped circular head with convex shaped circular protrusions on top of the convex shaped circular head and pyramid shaped protrusions on top of the convex shaped circular protrusions when positioned at its left-most, center-most, and right-most position whereby illustrating a rocking motion.  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a topical end view of the first embodiment of the apparatus without a lid and without a foodstuff container lid lip.  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a bottom end view of the separate foodstuff container lid contained within the second and preferred embodiment.  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the second and preferred embodiment of the apparatus with the foodstuff container lid detached and being assembled for storage in one of two methods.  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the second and preferred embodiment of the apparatus assembled for storage using one configuration.  
         [0024]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the first embodiment of the apparatus. This configuration also illustrates the second and preferred embodiment of the apparatus assembled for storage using a second configuration.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0025]      FIG. 10  illustrates the first embodiment of the apparatus  11 . The apparatus, when placed upside down, acts as a lid for a foodstuff container where the foodstuff container lid lip  18  attaches onto an appropriately sized foodstuff container. Generally, the apparatus would initially be filled with foodstuff such as, but not limited to, seasoned breadcrumbs, within the foodstuff container  15  through the foodstuff container opening  19  from its base  36  to the foodstuff container brim  40 . In addition, the process of filling the foodstuff container  15  with foodstuff is not a requirement of the present invention, however, the conventional methods of applying foodstuff coating onto food, such as, but not limited to, a separate foodstuff container is required.  
         [0026]     The chef will normally dislodge a layer of foodstuff over the foodstuff container brim  40  by tilting and shaking the apparatus  11 , in an amount sufficient to coat the bottom of food within a bowl or breading pan. The food to be coated will normally be washed or dipped in egg to provide a better binding agent on to the surface of food but this invention does not require such a process to be performed thereby improving the typical process of coating food with foodstuff. The chef will then lay flat a piece of food, such as, but not limited to, a chicken cutlet, atop the center of foodstuff within the breading pan. The chef will normally sprinkle another layer of foodstuff atop the food, within the breading pan, such that it is completely surrounded with foodstuff. The chef will then take the apparatus  11  and place it centrally atop the coated food and apply downward pressure. With downward pressure being applied the chef, at their discretion, will roll the apparatus spirally  28  from its center  26  to its outer edge  27 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , and rock the apparatus from its left-most edge, back through its center, to the right-most edge, and back to its left-most edge as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The chef will continually pick up and place the apparatus  11  onto food and repeat the pressing process until food has been flattened whereby meat becomes tenderized and the food is entirely coated with foodstuff on its surface. In addition, the continued flattening of the food using the apparatus  11  expands the surface area of the food thereby increasing the overall amount of foodstuff coating applied to the outer surface of food.  
         [0027]      FIG. 1  The second and preferred embodiment of the apparatus contains a separate foodstuff container lid  16  to be placed atop the foodstuff container opening  19  such that the foodstuff container lid lip  18  snugly fits over the foodstuff container brim  40 , thereby enclosing  29  the foodstuff within the foodstuff container  15 . The chef will normally dislodge a layer of foodstuff; through the foodstuff spout  17  by tilting and shaking the apparatus  11 , in an amount sufficient to coat food as previously stated.  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the apparatus  11 , in its assembled form, for coating food with foodstuff encompassing the second and preferred embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus  11  is of a size that an average chef can grasp the foodstuff container lid  16 , in one hand, where the chef&#39;s palm is centrally on top of the foodstuff container lid  16 , fingers are over the foodstuff container lid lip  18 , and foodstuff spout  17  is between the thumb and index fingers. The apparatus is of a weight, when foodstuff container  15  is filled with foodstuff, such that it can easily be manipulated by picking it up, tilting and shaking foodstuff through the foodstuff spout  17 , and able to be maneuvered within a typical bowl or breading pan.  
         [0029]      FIG. 1 , according to the present invention the apparatus  11  can be made of any composition of matter not known to contaminate food and is of a construction as to withstand a moderate amount of downward pressure for a limited or indefinite period of time based upon usage and materials used for construction such as, but not limited to plastic, metal wood, or paper product. In a preferred embodiment, the foodstuff container  15 , the convex shaped plate  12 , the convex shaped protrusions  13 , and the pyramid shaped prongs  14  can be manufactured from a form using a rigid plastic or metal for a durable hand breading apparatus  11  design. The preferred embodiment also can be manufactured by using a semi-rigid plastic or paper based construction for the foodstuff container  15  attached to, a semi-rigid formed convex shaped plate  12  with convex shaped protrusions  13  and optional pyramid shaped prongs  14 , by any traditional means such as, but not limited to, adhesives, threads, and/or by interlocking designs for a temporary or disposable hand breading apparatus  11  design. In addition, the preferred embodiment would manufacture the convex shaped foodstuff container lid  16 , foodstuff container lid lip  18 , and foodstuff spout  17  from a second form. In the first embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the foodstuff container lid lip  18  would be formed with or attached onto the foodstuff container brim  40  whereby the foodstuff container lid  16  is not required to be manufactured.  
         [0030]      FIG. 1 , in a preferred embodiment, the foodstuff container  15  and convex shaped plate  12  will be circular and have a total diameter of approximately four inches. The height of the foodstuff container  15 , from its bottom  36  to its top  40  will be approximately two inches. The convex shaped plate  12  will have a height of one half inch from its base  36  to its center  37 . No particular size or shape is required according to the present invention, however, the convex shaped plate  12  and the plurality of convex shaped protrusions  13  are a requirement and the basis of this invention. In addition, no particular thickness of the foodstuff container  15 , convex shaped plate  12 , and plurality of convex shaped protrusions is required, however, the apparatus must be rigid to withstand a moderate amount of downward pressure for a limited period of time. In addition, the foodstuff container  15  is not a requirement of the present invention, however, any attachment, acting as a handle whereby providing leverage or maneuverability of the convex shaped plate  12  is a requirement.  
         [0031]      FIG. 1 , in its preferred embodiment, the foodstuff container lid  16  and foodstuff container lid lip  18  can be of any shape or size that can be conveniently be grasped in an average adults hand. The height of the foodstuff container lid  16  from its bottom  18  to its top  32  such that its height will approximately be the sum of heights of the convex shaped plate  12  plus the center-most convex shaped protrusion  13  plus the height of, if any, the center-most pyramid shaped protrusion  14 . The total diameter of the foodstuff container lid  16  will be approximately the total diameter of the foodstuff container  15 . The foodstuff spout  17  will be approximately three quarters of one inch in length from its right-most edge  33  to its left-most edge  34  and have a height of approximately one quarter of one inch from its base  30  to its top  35  where the foodstuff spout  17  is simply a semi-elliptical opening within the foodstuff container lid  16 . The foodstuff container lid lip  18  will be approximately one quarter of one inch in total height starting from the bottom  31  to the top  30 . In the preferred embodiment, the foodstuff container lid lip  18  will have an outer diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter of the foodstuff container  15  and is attached to the brim of the foodstuff container lid  16  by approximately one eight of one inch. In the first embodiment, the foodstuff container lid lip  18  will have an outer diameter of approximately one sixteenth of one inch wider than the outer diameter of the foodstuff container  15  and is attached to the foodstuff container brim  40  by approximately one eight of one inch. In either embodiment the foodstuff container lid lip  18  will be approximately one eight of an inch in thickness whereby it is attached to its respective item, the foodstuff container lid  16  or foodstuff container  15 , by approximately one sixteenth of one inch. The foodstuff container lid  16  is not a requirement of the present invention. Explicitly stated here the foodstuff container  15  attached to the convex shaped plate  12  can also act as a foodstuff container lid such that a separate foodstuff container lid  16  is unnecessary to handle and operate the apparatus  11  in its preferred embodiment.  FIG. 10  illustrates the first embodiment whereby the foodstuff container opening  19  represents that a separate lid is not present and can also act as a lid for a separate foodstuff container.  FIG. 10  also illustrates the second embodiment whereby the foodstuff container lid opening  39  represents the presence of a lid in its stored configuration and can also act as a lid for a separate foodstuff container.  
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is a bottom end view of a circular convex shaped plate  12  with a plurality of convex shaped circular protrusions  13  attached to the bottom of convex shaped circular head  12  and pyramid shaped protrusion  14  attached to the center of the convex shaped circular protrusions  13 . In addition,  FIG. 3  displays the spacing between the closest outer edges of convex shaped circular protrusions  13  when protrusions are on the same circular row such as items  21  and  22 .  FIG. 3  also depicts the spacing between the closest outer edges of convex shaped circular protrusions  13  when protrusions are on different circular rows such as items  23  and  24 . The preferred embodiment would contain approximately twenty-five protruding circular convex shaped  13  each having a size of approximately one half of one inch in diameter where the height of the convex shaped protrusion from its base, the bottom of the convex press plate head  37 , to its top-most point of convex shaped pressure point center  38 , of approximately one quarter of one inch. The plurality of convex shaped protrusions  13  will be in a circular configuration with one protrusion at the center of the convex shaped plate  12 , surrounded by a circular configuration of eight protrusions followed by a circular surrounding of sixteen protrusions around the eight protrusions. The distance between a convex shaped protrusion  21  and another convex shaped protrusion  22  on the same circular row should not be less than three sixteenths of one inch apart from the closest outer edges of each other on the same circular row. The distance between a convex shaped protrusion  23  and another convex shaped protrusion  24  should not be less than approximately one quarter of one inch apart from the closest edges of each other on different circular rows. The spacing between convex protrusions  13  and the curvature of the convex shaped plate  12  eradicates foodstuff from being lodged in between convex shaped protrusions  13 , during foodstuff coating application. The convex shaped protrusions allow the convex shaped plate  12  to contain pressure points when downward force is applied, thus emulating about 25 fingers pressing foodstuff coating onto food in one spiral roll, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . No particular number of protrusions, size, or shape is required according to the invention, however, the convex nature of the plate  12  and its convex shaped protrusions  13 , are a requirement.  
         [0033]     Using  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the pyramid shaped prongs  14  would be no greater than approximately one eight of one inch in diameter and one eight of one inch in height and is centrally located on each of the protruding convex shaped pressure points  38 . The pyramid shaped prongs  14  are slightly rounded at its tip in order to prevent sharp points that may cause injury but not so rounded as to prevent its function of aiding in the embedment of foodstuff onto the surface of food. The total height of the convex shaped plate  12  from its bottom-most point  36  to its top-most point  14  is approximately seven eights of one inch. The number and shape of prongs  14  is not a requirement of the invention, however, any plurality of attached prong to the convex shaped plate  12  and/or protruding convex shaped pressure points  13  aiding in the embedment of foodstuff coating on to the surface of the food is preferred. In addition, the prong  14  are not intended to be driven into food, nor is it the specific purpose of tenderizing a meat product but rather to aid in the embedment of foodstuff onto the surface of food.  
         [0034]      FIG. 4  is a bottom end view of the apparatus  11  having a convex shaped circular head  12  with a plurality of convex shaped circular protrusions  13  attached to the bottom of convex shaped circular head  12  and pyramid shaped protrusion  14  centrally attached to the bottom convex shaped circular protrusions  13 . In addition, this view displays the full spiral roll traversal and tilted towards the left edge, indicated along the curved line with arrowheads  28 , of the convex shaped circular head  12  when in use starting at position  26  and ending at position  27 . The spiral roll traversal indicated along the curved line with arrowheads  28  can be implemented at the chef&#39;s discretion such as starting at any position between the center of the convex plate  26  and its outer edges  27 . In addition,  FIG. 5  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the rocking motion of the convex shaped plate  12  with convex shaped protrusions  13  and pyramid shaped protrusions  14  from left, to center, to right respectively when the apparatus is in use. The combination of  FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrates the maneuverability of the convex shaped plate  12  and its convex shaped protrusions  13  when in use and the flexibility of application by the chef.  
         [0035]      FIG. 6  is a topical end view of the second and preferred embodiment of the foodstuff container  15  without a convex shaped foodstuff container lid  16  depicted in other figures.  FIG. 6  illustrates the inside of the circular shaped foodstuff container  19  where the circular shaped foodstuff container  15  is affixed to the back of convex shaped circular head  12 .  FIG. 7  illustrates a bottom end view the circular shaped foodstuff container lid  16  where the circular shaped foodstuff container lid lip  18  is affixed to the brim of a convex shaped circular lid  16 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 8  illustrates the apparatus  11  being assembled for storage in one of two methods. This illustrations show how a chef would push/pull  29  the foodstuff container lid  16  onto/from the foodstuff container  15  whereby exposing the foodstuff container opening  19  and foodstuff container lid opening  39 . Aligning the center of the foodstuff container lid  16  with the center of the foodstuff container  15  performs the assembly  29  of the apparatus for storage, as illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . The apparatus can easily be hand cleaned and dried by separating the foodstuff container  15  from the foodstuff container lid  16 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 9  illustrates one method of storage of the apparatus  11  whereby the foodstuff container lid  16  covers the convex shaped plate  12 . The illustration shows the side view of the apparatus  11  assembled to be stored with the foodstuff container lid lip  18  attached to the bottom of the foodstuff container  36  whereby completely covering the convex shaped plate  12 , its convex shaped protrusions  13 , and the prongs  14 .  FIG. 9  also shows the foodstuff spout  17  is facing forward and a partial view of convex shaped plate  12 , one of the convex shaped protrusions  13 , and one of the prongs  14  is showing through the foodstuff spout  17 . By turning the apparatus  11  upside down it can be placed on any flat surface. In its preferred embodiment the total height of the apparatus assembled for storage would be approximately three inches.  
         [0038]      FIG. 10  illustrates, as previously stated, the first embodiment of the apparatus  11  whereby the foodstuff container lid lip  18  is attached to the brim of the foodstuff container  15 . By turning the first embodiment of the apparatus  11  upside down it can be placed on any flat surface or atop a separate foodstuff container of an appropriate shape and diameter.  FIG. 10  also illustrates a second method of storage of the second and preferred embodiment of the apparatus  11  whereby the foodstuff container lid  16  is placed upside down within the foodstuff container  15 , exposing the foodstuff container lid opening  39 . By turning the apparatus  11  upside down it can be placed on any flat surface or atop a separate foodstuff container of an appropriate shape and diameter.  
         [0039]     It is to be understood that the present invention is by no means limited to the particular sizes, construction, and use herein disclosed, as shown in the drawings, but also comprises any modifications or equivalents within the scope of the claims.