Patent Publication Number: US-9888812-B2

Title: Cooking device

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 14/729,668 filed Jun. 3, 2015, incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     This disclosure relates to the field of cooking pots having a mixing or stirring component to be used while cooking. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Disclosed herein is a cooking device which in one example comprises: a container having a base with an interior surface, at least one sidewall, and a container rim at the upper vertical edge of the sidewall. In one example, the base is a thermally conductive composition, and has a base, at least one sidewall, and an inner surface. A mixer assembly is also disclosed comprising in one example: a frame assembly removably attached to the container, a lid assembly removably attached to the container, and a crank assembly. The frame comprises a frame rim attached to the container and a radially central frame hub. Also disclosed is a shaft extending from a radial center of the frame rim, through the frame hub downward toward the base of the container, the shaft having a vertical axis of rotation. A scraper paddle extends from the shaft in a first horizontal direction so as to rotate therewith, the scraper paddle at an angle of less than 90° to the interior surface of the base wherein the scraper paddle is in constant contact with the interior surface of the base of the container from the axis of rotation of the shaft to the sidewall of the container. Also disclosed is a mixer paddle which extends from the shaft in a second direction and configured to rotate there with. The mixer paddle lies in a horizontal plane above the scraper paddle at an angle of less than 90° to the interior surface of the base. As shown, the lid assembly substantially extends over the container rim enclosing the container; and the crank assembly is removably attached to the shaft and extends vertically above the lid assembly. 
     The cooking device may be arranged wherein the frame removably attaches to the container rim. 
     The cooking device may be arranged wherein the lid assembly removably attaches to the frame rim. 
     The cooking device may be arranged wherein the scraper paddle comprises a rigid core and a malleable coating. 
     The cooking device may be arranged wherein the malleable coating comprises heat resistant silicone. 
     The cooking device may be arranged wherein the rigid core comprises metal. 
     The cooking device may be arranged wherein the mixer paddle comprises a rigid core and a malleable coating. In one example, the malleable coating comprises heat resistant silicone. In one example the rigid core comprises metal. 
     The cooking device may be arranged wherein the crank assembly comprises a horizontal leg extending horizontally from the axis of rotation of the shaft to provide leverage, and a knob rotatably attached to the horizontal leg. In one example, the crank assembly is coupled to the lid assembly to be removed therewith. The lid may comprise surfaces defining a plurality of vent holes through the lid. Each vent hole may comprise a vent ring attached to the lid surrounding and reinforcing each vent hole. 
     The cooking device may be arranged wherein the lid comprises: a lifting knob attached to the lid wherein the lifting knob having a surface defining a void there through aligned with the axis of rotation of the shaft; and the crank assembly removably attaches to the shaft at the lifting knob. 
     The cooking device may be arranged wherein the scraper paddle has a lower edge radially aligned with the shaft, wherein the lower edge extends radially outward toward the inner surface of the sidewall. 
     The cooking device may be arranged wherein the mixer paddle has a lower edge radially aligned with the shaft, wherein the lower edge extends radially outward toward the inner surface of the sidewall. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top isometric view of one example of the disclosed cooking device. 
         FIG. 2  is a side hidden line view of the example shown in  FIG. 1  with the opposing side view being a mirror image thereof. 
         FIG. 3  is a front hidden line view of the example shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a rear hidden line view of the example shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the example shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the example shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a partially disassembled view of the example shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a disassembled hidden line view of the example shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a disassembled view of the example shown in  FIG. 8  with greater separation between the components. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Disclosed herein is a cooking device  20  which in one example is used for the mixing for stirring of sauces, soups, gravies, and other foodstuffs. the cooking device may be operated while being heated on a heat source  22  ( FIG. 2 ) such as a stovetop, gas burner, hot plate, barbeque grill, charcoal, open flame, etc. the term “sauce” will be used herein to indicate all such foodstuffs to be cooked in order to abbreviate this disclosure and the term “pot” used to indicate the container in which sauce is mixed and cooked. The cooking device allows a user (cook) to stir and mix the sauce while heating the sauce and optionally while a lid assembly  24  is in place thus, more efficiently retaining heat, steam, and flavors within the cooking device  20  during cooking and stirring. In addition, it is commonly desired to scrape the bottom of the cooking device  20  during mixing to avoid scorching. One example of the disclosed apparatus provides such structure. 
     Looking to  FIG. 1  is shown the cooking device  20  with the lid assembly  24  resting upon the rim of the container. The lid assembly  24  is shown substantially transparent, which allows the user to see the action of the paddles and to see the color and texture of the sauce which is a commonly desired feature. In addition, a frame assembly  26  is shown with the lid assembly  24  attached thereto or resting there upon. In this example, the mixer assembly  28  is attached to the frame assembly  26  and configured to rotate relative thereto. One advantage of this example of the frame assembly  26  being separable from the lid assembly  24  is that the mixing assembly  28  is operable with or without the lid assembly  24  in place. Portions of the mixer assembly  28  rotates within a container  30  which is shown as a cooking pot having a handle  32  extending therefrom to allow a user to grasp the handle  32  during mixing to stabilize the apparatus and also allow the cooking device  20  to be easily repositioned on the cooking surface or to be lifted to and from the cooking surface from prep or serving areas. In one example the cooking device has a volume of 4 quarts, and in another example the cooking device has a volume of 6 quarts although other volumes are conceived. 
     In more detail, the container  30  in the example shown comprises a base  34  having in one example a substantially planar and horizontal inner surface  36 , and an outer surface  38 . A sidewall  40  or plurality of sidewalls  40 , extend vertically upward from the base  34  to the container rim. The sidewall  40  has an inner surface  42  and outer surface  44 . The upper edge of the sidewall  40  terminates at the container rim  46 . 
     Generally, the container  30  will be made of metal such as stainless steel, copper, aluminum, titanium, or alloys thereof. The container  30  may also be made of ceramics such as porcelain, clay, or glass. The container  30  of this example includes a handle  32  with a distal end  48  and a proximal end  50 . The proximal end  50  of the handle  32  in this example including an attachment plate  52  which is attached by way of fasteners  54  to the outer surface  44  of the sidewall  40 . In addition, the portion of the handle  32  which is commonly grasped by a user may be coated with a thermally insulating coating  56  such as silicone, rubber, wood, etc. 
     The frame assembly  26  is more easily seen in  FIG. 9  and generally includes a frame rim  58  which may include a radially inward downward protrusion  60 . The frame rim  58  of this example rests upon and nests within the container rim  46 , while the downward protrusion  60  centers and maintains the frame assembly in contact with the container rim  46  or the inner surface  42  of the sidewall  40 . In one form, a malleable gasket or layer such as rubber or silicone may be provided between these two rims  58 / 46  to hold the frame assembly  26  in position relative to the container  30  during operation. Although rotation of the frame assembly  26  relative to the container  30  will not be substantially detrimental to operation, it may be perceived as detrimental to the user. The frame assembly  26  of this example further comprises a plurality of radial struts  62  extending radially inward between the frame rim  58  and a hub  64  having a surface defining a void  66  there through. The use of the hub  64  to be defined below. 
     Returning to  FIG. 1 , the mixer assembly  28  is shown attached to the frame assembly  26 . In one example, the mixer assembly  28  includes a single scraper paddle  68  and a single mixer paddle  70  each attached to a mixer shaft  72  having a vertical axis of rotation. In other examples, multiple scraper paddles  68  and mixer paddles  70  may be used. As can be better seen in the hidden line view of  FIG. 8 , the mixer shaft  72  of this example extends upwards through the void  66  in the frame hub  64 . The mixer shaft  72  may be held in place by way of a nut  74  fixed to the shaft  72  below the frame hub  64  and a second nut  76  fixed to the shaft above the frame hub  64 . This arrangement allows the shaft  72  with attached paddles  68  and  70  to rotate relative to the container  30 , and frame assembly  26  with the lid assembly in position on the container rim or removed from the container. A bearing  78 , sleeve, or lubricant may be provided to reduce friction between the mixer shaft  72  and the hub  64 . In one form, the nut  74  and/or nut  76  are threaded onto the shaft by way of threads  80 . Looking to  FIG. 9  it can be seen that in this example, the upper end  82  of the shaft  72  includes a crank receiver  84 . In this example, the crank receiver  84  has a non-cylindrical inner surface  86  which receives and is attached to a non-cylindrical outer surface  88  of a crank assembly  90 , thus providing rotating force to the mixer assembly  28 . In the example shown, the crank assembly  90  includes the protrusion surface  88 , a horizontal leg  92  extending radially outward from the protrusion surface  88  to a vertical leg  94 , and a crank knob  96  attached to the vertical leg  94 . Generally, the crank knob  96  will be attached so as to rotate relative to the vertical leg  94 . This example of the crank assembly  90  also provides leverage for use in thicker sauces. In another example the crank knob may be directly attached to the horizontal leg  92 . In yet another example the crank knob is directly attached to the protrusion surface  88 , and thus can rotate the paddles  68 / 70  by rotation of the crank knob without the leverage provided by the horizontal leg  92 . 
     The exploded view of  FIG. 8  also shows the lid assembly  24  which in this example includes a lid rim  98  including a downward protrusion  100  such that the lid rim  98  rests upon the frame rim  58  and the downward protrusion  100  extends therein so as to center, align, and maintain position of the lid assembly  24  relative to the frame assembly  26 . As shown, the lid rim  98  surrounds a cover  102 . The cover  102  substantially holds heat, liquids, and gases within the container  30  thus substantially forming a closed container. In the example shown, the cover  102  has a plurality of surfaces defining vents  104  through the cover  102  to allow some steam, pressure, heat, and gases to escape, thus avoiding a pressure buildup within the container  30  when the cover  102  is in place. As shown, each of the vents  104  has a vent ring  106  surrounding the associated vent  104 . Commonly, the cover  102  is formed of glass or other polymers which is susceptible to breakage or damage and thus, the vent rings  106  are provided in part to reinforce the weak points formed by the vents  104 . 
     In addition, the lid assembly  24  of this example includes a lifting knob  108  attached to the lid assembly  24  and comprising an outer surface  110  which in this example is angled outward from the lower portion  112  to the upper portion  114  such that a user may easily grasp the lifting knob  108  and then lift the lid assembly  24  free of the frame assembly  26  to allow access to the interior of the container  30 . This allows the user to check the temperature, consistency, or taste, of the sauce without removing the frame assembly  26 . 
     As it will often be desired to remove the frame assembly  90  with the lid assembly  24 ; the lifting knob  108  of this example has a surface defining a void  112  there through so as to allow passage of the crank receiver  84  in such a way that as the lid assembly  24  is removed from the frame assembly  26 , the crank assembly  90  may be removed therewith. Alternatively, the crank assembly  90  may be removed independent of the lid assembly  24 . In one example, this arrangement allows the crank assembly  90  and mixing assembly  28  of the cooking device  20  to be operated even without the lid assembly  24  in place for use as an open pot stirring apparatus. 
     The example shown in  FIG. 2  also shows the scraper paddle  68  formed with a scraper paddle rigid core  116  which may be made of metals, alloys, plastics, or other rigid materials. Each scraper paddle  68  may further have a flexible or malleable scraper paddle coating  118  or cover affixed thereto wherein the lower edge  120  of the scraper paddle  68  contacts and scrapes against the inner surface  36  of the container  30  from the shaft  72  to the inner surface  42  of the sidewall  40 . The scraper paddle coating  118  may comprise rubber, silicone, or other flexible/malleable materials. In addition, the radially outward edge  122  of the scraper paddle  68  contacts and scrapes against a transition area  124  connecting the inner surface  36  and the inner surface  42 , and furthermore, the radially outward edge  122  of the scraper paddle  68  contacts and scrapes against the inner surface  42  of the sidewall  40  up to a top edge  126 . In this Fig., it appears that there is a separation between these components however, when looking to  FIG. 1 ; this contact of the radially outer edge  122  of the scraper paddle  68  to the inner surface  42  of the sidewall  40  can be seen more clearly relative to the angle of the scraper paddle  68  to the base  34  and sidewalls  40 . 
     In addition to the scraper paddle  68 , the mixer paddle  70  is provided to further mix, agitate, and scrape sauce from the inner surface  42  of the sidewalls  40  of the container  30  during cooking. In the example shown, the mixer paddle  70  comprises a mixer paddle rigid core  128  which may be made of metals, alloys, plastics, or other rigid materials. The mixer paddle  70  may also comprise a mixer paddle coating  130  substantially covering the rigid core  128  which may comprise rubber, silicone, or other flexible/malleable materials. In this example, the radially outward edge  132  of the mixer paddle  70  contacts and scrapes against the inner surface  42  of the sidewall  40  from a lower edge  134  of the mixer paddle  70  to an upper edge  136 . In the example shown, it may be desired to have the lower edge  134  of the mixer paddle  70  at substantially the same vertical height as the top edge  126  of the scraper paddle  68  so as to provide a substantially complete scraping action of the surfaces of the container  30  which are most susceptible to scorching of the sauce. These surfaces encompass a first vertical region having a scraper paddle scraping height  142  and a mixer paddle scraping height  144  combined to form an overall scraping height  146 . In one example, the overall scraping height  146  is more than one half of the vertical distance between the base  34  and the container rim  46 . As sauces are generally not cooked in volumes substantially exceeding one half the volume of the container  30  it is expected that the overall scraping height  146  need not substantially extend upwards to the container rim  46 . For example in  FIG. 4  where the volume of sauce  164  has an upper surface  166  below the container rim  46  and above the mixing paddle  70 . 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 2 , the scraper paddle  68  comprises a median edge  138  which lies in a plane which is vertically above the lower edge  120 . It is also shown in this example that the median edge  138  lies in a plane vertically below the top edge  126  in  FIG. 4  and in  FIG. 5  it can be seen that these edges 138 / 120  are not directly vertically aligned. This example of the scraper paddle  68  having a median edge  138  having a vertical paddle offset  140  to the lower edge  134  of the mixer paddle further enhances mixing of the sauce during cooking. The scraper paddle  68  and mixer paddle  70  of this example are not only circumferentially offset by substantially 180° as can be seen in the top view of  FIG. 5 , they are also vertically offset  140  which allows more space for the sauce to lift and mix during rotation of the mixer assembly  28 . 
     Although only a single scraper paddle  68  and single mixer paddle  70  are shown, it is to be appreciated that multiple embodiments of each of these paddles  68 / 70  may be incorporated into a single device. In one example, multiple mixer paddles  70  may be provided at varying vertical and/or circumferential positions about the shaft  72 . 
     Looking to  FIG. 5  is shown an example wherein the lower edge  120  of the scraper paddle  68  is radially aligned with the shaft  72  and extends radially outward therefrom. To accomplish this, in the example shown an angled flange  148  may be provided having a first side  150  attached to the shaft  72  and a second side  152  attached to the scraper paddle  68 . In one example, the angled flange  148  is formed as an integral component of the scraper paddle rigid core  116  by bending, casting, welding, or other methods. 
       FIG. 5  also shows the mixer paddle  70  formed in a similar manner, wherein the lower edge  134  of the mixer paddle  70  is radially aligned with and extends radially outward from the shaft  72 . To accomplish this, another angled flange  154  is provided having a first side  156  attached to the shaft  72  and a second side  158  attached to the mixer paddle  72 . As with the angled flange  148 , the angled flange  154  may be formed as an integral component of the mixer paddle rigid core  128  by bending, casting, welding, or other methods. 
     Each of the scraper paddle  68  and mixer paddle  70  are angled  160  and  162  relative to the base  34 . These angles may be between 30° and 60°, and in a narrower range between 40° and 50° to maximize mixing, stirring, and/or scraping of the sauce from the inner surfaces of the container up to an upper surface  166  of the sauce  160 . 
     While the present invention is illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments are described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications within the scope of the appended claims will readily appear to those sufficed in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicants&#39; general concept.