Patent Publication Number: US-2013233183-A1

Title: Cooking apparatus and system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/416,333 entitled “COOKING BASKET,” filed on Nov. 23, 2010, the contents and teachings of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     Additionally, this application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/449,423 entitled “COOKING BASKET,” filed on Mar. 4, 2011, the contents and teachings of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     Furthermore, this application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/500,226 entitled “HINGED BASKET,” filed on Jun. 23, 2011, the contents and teachings of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     One conventional fry basket includes (i) a basket body and (ii) a basket handle which is connected to a wall of the basket body. An operator is able to place food into the basket body and then, while holding the basket handle, lower the basket body into a fryer filled with cooking oil in order to cook the food. Since the food may float in the cooking oil, the top rim of the basket body is purposefully made to extend above the height of the cooking oil to prevent the food from escaping from the basket body while the food floating in the cooking oil is being cooked. 
     Another conventional fry basket is similar to the above-described fry basket, but further includes a lid having (i) a lid body which further prevents food from escaping from the basket body and (ii) a lid handle to operate the lid body. The lid body attaches to the same basket body wall that is connected to the basket handle. Accordingly, the lid handle is able to mirror the contour of the basket handle thus enabling the operator to grasp both the basket handle and the lid handle with a single hand. To open the lid, the operator moves the lid handle relative to the basket handle in order to swing the lid body toward the basket handle and toward the operator. 
     SUMMARY 
     An improved cooking apparatus includes a rectangular container and a cover which attaches to one of the four sides of the container other than the handle side. Such a cooking apparatus allows a user to open the cover in a direction other than toward the container handle and the user. For example, if the cover is configured to open toward the left, the user is able to hold the container handle with the right hand and conveniently open the cover toward the left side using the left hand. Similarly, if the cover is configured to open toward the right, the user is able to hold the container handle with the left hand and conveniently open the cover toward the right side using the right hand. Such configurations may provide users with improved comfort and control while maneuvering the cooking apparatus. Furthermore, such configurations prevent splattering of residual materials (e.g., hot cooking oil or other liquid medium) in the direction of the users. 
     One embodiment is directed to a cooking apparatus including a container which defines four sides, a bottom and an open top. The cooking apparatus further includes a container handle which extends from a handle side of the four sides, and a cover which attaches to one of the four sides other than the handle side. The cover is constructed and arranged to transition between (i) an open position in which the cover substantially exposes the open top defined by the container to allow food product to enter or exit through the open top of the container and (ii) a closed position in which the cover substantially encloses the open top defined by the container to prevent food product from entering or exiting through the open top of the container. 
     In some arrangements, the container and the cover are adapted to form a set of hinges on the left side and the right side at different times of operation. Such flexibility enables the user to customize the operation of the cooking apparatus for coordination and comfort based on whether the user is left-hand dominant or right-hand dominant. 
     In some arrangements, the cooking basket is further equipped with a latch to control movement of the cover from the closed position to the open position. In the arrangements in which the cover is able to selectively hinge from the right side and the left side, the same latch is able to control the cover regardless of whether the cover is currently hinged to the left side or to the right side. 
     In some arrangements, the cover is adapted to reside in a recessed location which is lower than the top edge of the container while in a closed position with respect to the container. Such a feature enables a top brim of the container to extend above the top surface of the cooking oil or other liquid medium while the cover maintains food product below the top surface (i.e., full immersion) for improved cooking rather than allow the food product to float at the surface. For example, since the food product is able to remain fully submerged, the food product may cook in a shorter period of time. 
     In some arrangements, the container includes container halves which are adapted to pivot relative to each other and relative to the container handle. Accordingly, while the user holds the container handle, the user is able to transition the container between (i) a retaining position in which the container halves are closed to prevent food product within the container from escaping through the bottom, and (ii) a bottom-emptying position in which the container halves separate to enable the food product within the container to escape through the bottom. 
     In some arrangements, the cooking apparatus is equipped with a trigger that enables the user to transition the container halves from the retaining position to the bottom-emptying position while the cover is in place. A depressible spring-biased button is suitable for use as the trigger. 
     Other embodiments are directed to cooking systems (e.g., personal or industrial fryer systems), other cooking devices and components, related cooking techniques, and so on. Some embodiments are directed to various processes for making and using the cooking apparatus. 
     It should be understood that the container may be made of stainless steel wire mesh or similar materials, and the food product may include potato, fish, chicken, among others. In some instances, the food product may be breaded or battered with flour or other types of coatings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of various embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cooking system which includes a first version of a cooking apparatus having a side-hinged cover in a closed position. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the first version of the cooking apparatus while the cover is hinged to a right side and the cover is in an opened position. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the first version of the cooking apparatus while the cover is hinged to the right side and the cover is in the closed position. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the first version of the cooking apparatus while the cover is hinged to the right side and the cover is in the closed position. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the first version of the cooking apparatus while the cover is hinged to the left side and the cover is in the closed position. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the first version of the cooking apparatus while the cover is hinged to the left side and the cover is in the closed position. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the first version of the cooking apparatus while the cover is hinged to the left side and the cover is in the closed position. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a second version of the cooking apparatus having a side-hinged cover and a bottom-emptying container. 
         FIG. 9  is a detailed perspective view of a trigger of the second version of the cooking apparatus when the trigger is in a non-actuated state. 
         FIG. 10  is a detailed perspective view of the trigger of the second version of the cooking apparatus when the trigger is in an actuated state. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the second version of the cooking apparatus when the trigger is in an actuated state. 
         FIG. 12  is a detailed perspective view of a third version of the cooking apparatus having a side-hinged cover in a closed position. 
         FIG. 13  is a detailed perspective view of the third version of the cooking apparatus having the side-hinged hinged cover in an opened position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An improved cooking apparatus includes a rectangular container and a cover which attaches to one of the four sides of the container other than the handle side. Such a cooking apparatus allows a user to open the cover in a direction other than toward the container handle and toward the user. For example, if the cover is configured to open toward the left, the user is able to hold the container handle with his or her right hand and conveniently open the cover toward the left side using his or her left hand. Similarly, if the cover is configured to open toward the right, the user is able to hold the container handle with his or her left hand and conveniently open the cover toward the right side using his or her right hand. Such configurations may provide users with improved comfort and control while maneuvering the cooking apparatus. Moreover, such configurations may prevent splattering of residual materials (e.g., hot cooking oil or another liquid medium) in the user&#39;s direction. 
       FIG. 1  shows an improved cooking system  20  for cooking food products. The cooking system  20  includes a fryer device  22  and a cooking apparatus  24 . The fryer device  22  defines a cavity  26  to hold and heat cooking oil (or other liquid medium)  28 . The fryer device  22  may sit safely on a flat surface (e.g., a table, a floor, etc.) and thus allow the user to effectively maneuver the cooking apparatus  24  relative to the fryer device  22  at a convenient height (e.g., waist level, counter level, etc.). 
     The cooking apparatus  24  includes a rectangular container  30  which defines a front side  32 ( f ), a handle side  32 ( h ), a right side  32 ( r ), and a left side  32 ( l ) (collectively, sides  32 ), a bottom  34  and an open top  36 . The right side  32 ( r ) (as viewed from the handle side  32 ( h ) of the cooking apparatus  24 ) extends from a right edge of the handle side  32 ( h ) to a right edge of the front side  32 ( f ). Similarly, the left side  32 ( l ) extends from a left edge of the handle side  32 ( h ) to a left edge of the front side  32 ( f ). Accordingly, the right and left sides  32 ( r ),  32 ( l ) are opposite each other and extend in a parallel manner in Y-Z planes. Likewise, the front and handle sides  32 ( f ),  32 ( h ) are opposite each other and extend in a parallel manner in X-Z planes. Furthermore, the bottom  34  and the open top  36  are opposite each other and extend in a parallel manner in X-Y planes. In some arrangements, some of the side and bottom edges are rounded. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the sides  32  and bottom  34  of the container  30  are porous to enable the cooking oil  28  to enter the container  30  when the container  30  is lowered into the cavity  26  defined by the fryer device  22 . Such porosity further allows the cooking oil  28  to drain from the container  30  when the container  30  is removed from the cavity  26  defined by the fryer device  22 . 
     In some arrangements, the sides  32  and bottom  34  are made of a stainless steel material in the form of wire mesh. In these arrangements, the container  30  includes a recessed set of railing segments  40  (i.e., one or more recessed railing segments  40 ), a top set of railing segments  42  (i.e., one or more top railing segments  42 ), and a latch  44 . The railing segments  40 ,  42  provide strength to container  30  as well as aid in defining the container&#39;s shape. The recessed railing segments  40  are recessed (or offset) from the top railing segments  42  (and thus from the top opening  36 ) by a predefined length L (e.g., 0.5 inches, 0.75 inches, 1.0 inches, etc.). 
     The cooking apparatus  24  further includes a container handle  50  which extends from the handle side  32 ( h ), and a cover  52  which attaches to one of the four sides  32  other than the handle side  32 ( h ). The cover  52  includes a basket wall portion  54  and a gripping portion  56  which extends from the basket wall portion  54 . 
     During operation, the cover  52  is capable of hinging to both the right side  32 ( r ) and the left side  32 ( l ) of the container  30  at different times. Such operation provides the user with flexibility and customizability in that the user can adjust the cover  52  to hinge on a side of greatest comfort or to accommodate a particular situation. Furthermore, the latch  44  is capable of controlling locking and unlocking of the cover  52  relative to the container  30 . Further details will now be provided with reference to  FIGS. 1-7 . 
       FIGS. 2-7  show further details of the cooking apparatus  24 . In particular,  FIGS. 2-4  show the cooking apparatus  24  when the cover  52  attaches to the right side  32 ( r ) of the container  30  (also see  FIG. 1 ). Additionally,  FIGS. 5-7  show the cooking apparatus  24  when the cover  52  attaches to the left side  32 ( l ) of the container  30 . 
     Turning to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , it should be understood that the cover  52  is constructed and arranged to pivot relative to the container  30 .  FIG. 1  shows the cooking apparatus  24  when the cover  52  is in a closed position, i.e., when the basket wall portion  54  of the cover  52  substantially encloses the open top  36  defined by the container  30  to prevent food product from entering or exiting through the open top  36  of the container  30 . Here, the latch  44  secures the cover  52  in place (e.g., by providing interference) to prevent inadvertent opening of the cover  52 . 
     In contrast,  FIG. 2  shows the cooking apparatus  24  when the cover  52  is in the open position, i.e., when the cover  52  substantially exposes the open top  36  defined by the container  30  to allow food product to enter or exit through the open top  36  of the container  30 . Here, the user has transitioned the latch  44  from a latched state to an unlatched state (e.g., turned the latch  44 , deflected the gripping portion  56 , etc. so that the cover  52  is no longer secured in the closed position). The user has then pivoted the cover  52  (e.g., by providing arc movement to the gripping portion  56 ) to move the cover  52  to the open position. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 3-4 , the cover  52  hinges with the recessed set of railing segments  40  of the container  30 . By way of example only,  FIGS. 3-4  show the cover  52  hinging on a recessed railing segment  40  on the right side  32 ( r ) of the container  30 . Accordingly, the cover  52  is able to enclose the top opening  36  while positioning the food products fully beneath the surface of the cooking oil  28  for full immersion cooking (also see  FIG. 1 ). 
     In some arrangements, the cover  52  includes a set of hooks  60  which form hinges with the recessed set of railing segments  40 . In particular, the set of hooks  60  includes a pair of hooks  60 ( r ) on the right edge of the basket wall portion  54 , and another pair of hooks  60 ( l ) on the left edge of the basket wall portion  54 . Accordingly, the cover  52  is able to form a set of right side hinges on the right side  32 ( r ) of the container  30  and a set of left side hinges on the left side  32 ( l ) of the container  30  while the gripping portion  56  remains adjacent the latch  44  and the container handle  50 . 
     Turning to  FIGS. 5-7 , the user is able to conveniently switch the cover  52  so that the cover  52  hinges from the other side  32  of the container  30 . For example, to switch the cover  52  from the right side  32 ( r ) to the left side  32 ( l ), the user simply disengages the hooks  60 ( r ) on the right edge of the basket wall portion  54  from the right side  32 ( r ) of the container  30 , and engages the hooks  60 ( l ) on the left edge of the basket wall portion  54  on the left side  32 ( l ) of the container  30 . 
     It should be understood that when the cover  52  is attached to the opposite side of the container  30  (e.g., the right side  32 ( l )), the operation of the cooking apparatus  24  is substantially the same. That is, the cover  52  is able to enclose the top opening  36  while positioning the food products fully beneath the surface of the cooking oil  28  for full immersion cooking. Furthermore, the gripping portion  56  remains adjacent the latch  44  and the container handle  50  and, when the user unlatches the cover  52 , the user is able to apply arc movement to the gripping portion  56  to move the cover  52  from the closed position to the open position. Further details will now be provided with reference to  FIGS. 8-11 . 
       FIGS. 8-11  show another version of the cooking apparatus  24 . In contrast to the version shown in  FIGS. 1-7  in which the bottom  34  of the container  30  did not open, the version of  FIGS. 8-11  allows the bottom  34  to open. To this end, the container  30  includes a left container half  70 ( l ) and a right container half  70 ( r ) (collectively, container halves  70 ) which are constructed and arranged to pivot relative to each other and relative to the container handle  50 . In particular, the left container half  70 ( l ) includes a left-front hinge member  72 ( l )( f ) and a left-back hinge member  72 ( l )( b ). Likewise, the right container half  70 ( r ) includes a right-front hinge member  72 ( r )( f ) and a right-back hinge member  72 ( r )( b ). The left-front hinge member  72 ( l )( f ) and the right-front hinge member  72 ( r )( f ) form a front hinge  74 ( f ). Similarly, the left-back hinge member  72 ( l )( b ) and the right-back hinge member  72 ( r )( b ) form a back hinge  74 ( b ). 
       FIG. 8  shows the container halves  70  in a retaining position which prevents the food product from escaping through the bottom  34 . That is, the container  30  includes two opposed wire mesh halves which integrally form the bottom  34  and a hold area for food product when brought together.  FIG. 9  shows particular details of a trigger  80  of the cooking apparatus  24  which is constructed and arranged to transition the container halves  70  from the retaining position to a bottom-emptying position. In particular, the trigger  80  includes a button portion  82  (e.g., a metallic loop sized for actuation by a human thumb) and a spring  84  which biases the container halves  70  toward each other to maintain the container halves  70  in the retaining-position. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , when the user actuates the trigger  80  by depressing the button portion  82  in the downward direction (i.e., the negative Z-direction) to overcome the biasing force of the spring  84 , the trigger  80  directs the container halves  70  to pivot relative to each other about a pivot axis in the Y-direction and into the bottom-emptying position. Accordingly, any food product in the container  30  is allowed to escape through the bottom  34  (see  FIG. 11 ). In some arrangements, the button portion  82  is positioned adjacent container handle  50  to enable the user to simultaneously hold the container handle  50  and actuate the trigger  82  using the same hand. In some arrangements, the various components of the cooking apparatus  24  are geometried so that the user is able to actuate the trigger  82  and open the bottom  34  of the container  30  even when the cover  52  is in the closed position. Further details will now be provided with reference to  FIGS. 12 and 13 . 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  show a third version of the cooking apparatus  24  which is similar to the first version in  FIGS. 1-7  and the second version in  FIGS. 8-11 . However, in the third version of  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the cover  52  attaches to the sides  32  of the container  30  via friction hinges  90 . By way of example,  FIGS. 12 and 13  show the cover  52  hinged to the left side  32 ( l ) of the container  30  at a location  92 ( l ) via a single friction hinge  90 . However, it should be understood that the cover  52  can be removed at the location  92 ( l ) and attached to the right side  32 ( r ) of the container  30  at a location  92 ( r ). 
     The friction hinge  90  allows the cover  52  to remain in the closed position ( FIG. 12 ) without need of any latch  44  (e.g., see  FIG. 1 ). Furthermore, the friction hinge  90  allows the cover  52  to remain in the open position (see  FIG. 13 ) or at any intermediate opening angle without the user needing to hold the cover  52 . 
     Additionally, by way of example, only, the gripping portion  56  of the cover  52  is shown adjacent the front side  32 ( f ) of the container. Although such an arrangement is achievable in any of the cooking apparatus versions, placement of the gripping portion  56  away from the container handle  30  is more easily achieved in this third version since the friction hinge  90  alleviates the need for a cover latch. In some arrangements, the gripping portion  56  is capable of pivoting relative to the basket wall portion  54  via tab clips (e.g., see  FIGS. 12 and 13 ). Moreover, in these arrangements, the user is able to switch the points of attachment of the gripping portion  56  to various locations of the basket wall portion  54  via the tab clips for added flexibility. 
     As mentioned above, an improved cooking apparatus  24  includes a rectangular container  30  and a cover  52  which attaches to one of the four sides  32  of the container  30  other than the handle side  32 ( h ). Such a cooking apparatus allows a user to open the cover  52  in a direction other than toward the container handle  32 ( h ) and the user. For example, if the cover  52  is configured to open toward the left, the user is able to hold the container handle  50  with the right hand and conveniently open the cover toward the left side using the left hand. Similarly, if the cover  52  is configured to open toward the right, the user is able to hold the container handle  50  with the left hand and conveniently open the cover  52  toward the right side using the right hand. Such configurations may provide users with improved comfort and control while maneuvering the cooking apparatus  24 . Furthermore, such configurations prevent splattering of residual materials (e.g., hot cooking oil or other liquid medium  28 ) in the direction of the users. 
     While various embodiments of the invention have been particularly shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     For example, it should be understood that the cover  52  was described above as attaching to the container  30  via hook-style hinges (e.g., hooks, hook and loop fasteners, etc.) or via friction hinges. Other types of hinges are suitable for use as well such as barrel hinges, spring hinges, magnetic hinges, and so on. 
     Additionally, the container  30  was described above as being formed primarily of a wire mesh structure by way of example only. In other arrangements, the container  30  is constructed of a stainless steel material in the form of a solid basket, or a perforated basket. Likewise, the basket wall portion  54  of the cover  52  can be constructed of similar stainless steel material. 
     Furthermore, the container  30  was described above as having two sets of railing segments  40 ,  42  running in parallel by way of example only. In other arrangements, the container  30  includes a different number of sets of railing segments (e.g., one, three, four, etc.). One of skill in the art will appreciate that such similarly shape railings can be positioned at different heights to provide different full immersion effects when cooking various food products. Such modifications and enhancements are intended to belong to various embodiments of the invention.