Patent Abstract:
A steam cooker composed of: a water reservoir for water that is to be converted into steam by a steam generator; a cooking enclosure for receiving a cooking vessel and/or a support provided with flow passages, the cooking enclosure being arranged to be supplied with steam from the steam generator; an intermediate collecting receptacle associated with the cooking enclosure and disposed for collecting liquid that appears in the cooking enclosure during a cooking operation, the intermediate collecting receptacle having a pouring orifice via which liquid can flow from the intermediate collecting receptacle into the water reservoir; and a removable closing member associated with the pouring orifice for selectively blocking flow of liquid via the pouring orifice.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of steam cooking appliances or implements, and concerns more particularly multifunction steam cookers provided for cooking on a perforated support as well as in a vessel. 
     A steam cooking appliance or implement has a base provided for the production of steam that is to be supplied to a cooking enclosure. Steam cooking appliances also have heating means, for example of the electric type, while cooking implements do not have a separate heating means. 
     Appliances and implements are provided with a cooking enclosure that generally includes a lower receptacle atop which one or several cooking vessels, or supports, and a lid, are provided. The lower receptacle is used to collect cooking liquids and condensates. However, the cooking enclosure can have an external wall that is independent of the vessels and/or the cooking supports, and/or the collecting receptacle. 
     Slow cooking or simmering is effectuated at a temperature below 100° C., but can last for several hours. Steam can thus be utilized to perform this cooking. A cooking vessel adapted to such slow cooking has a lateral wall and a bottom that are not provided with openings. A lid closing the cooking vessel enables the food products to be protected from the vapor. Heat is transmitted to the food products via the walls. 
     Steam cooking of dry food products, such as rice, is carried out in water and utilizes a cooking vessel having a bottom that is not provided with openings and a lateral wall whose lower part is also not provided with openings. It is preferable to not use a lid to close the cooking vessel. In effect, the absence of a lid permits the steam to be in contact with the food products or the liquid in order to accelerate the cooking. Liquid foods such as sauces and soups can equally be cooked or reheated in this manner. 
     Steam cooking of other food products is generally performed on perforated supports through which steam passes. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,412 discloses a steam cooker having a cooking vessel provided with a curved bottom having openings at the periphery of the bottom. The openings are arranged above a receptacle for recovering cooking liquids. This arrangement avoids disturbing water in the reservoir arranged at a central position in the base of the appliance. 
     The patent document WO 88/07829 discloses a steam cooker having a cooking enclosure with a lid that is provided with an internal peripheral groove communicating with a pouring tube opening above the water reservoir. This arrangement permits condensates to be collected. 
     It has been noted that none of these appliances allows the recycling of condensates to be reconciled with the separate collection of cooking juices in a simple manner. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a steam cooker that does permit the recycling of condensates to be reconciled with the separate collection of cooking juices in a simple way. Thus, the invention provides a steam cooker of the type described above, in which the utilization of cooking juices is facilitated. 
     To achieve these and other objects, the invention provides a steam cooker having a water reservoir supplying or constituting a steam production chamber, and a cooking enclosure supplied with steam from the steam production chamber, having an intermediate collecting receptacle provided with a means for pouring liquid into the water reservoir, in which can be arranged a cooking vessel and/or support provided with a means permitting liquid to flow into the intermediate collecting receptacle. According to the invention, pouring means is associated with a removable blocking, or closing, means. 
     References herein to a cooking vessel are intended to encompass a vessel having an imperforate bottom and sidewalls that are imperforate to a sufficient height to avoid overflow or escape of the food products. Steam can reach the food products if no lid is provide on the vessel. However, cooking juices will remain within the vessel. The vessel can be closed by a lid for a slow cooking of the simmering type, at a temperature below 100° C. 
     A support having a flow means refers to a support having lower and/or side openings, and/or lateral cutouts provided for flow of cooking liquids. Steam can thus pass through the support, through the openings or cutouts, and pass around the food products. 
     The removable closing means permits the user to employ the intermediate collecting receptacle either to allow condensates to flow into the water reservoir, or as a recovery basin, or bowl, for the cooking juices. 
     When the food products are placed in a cooking vessel, the cooking juices remain confined in the cooking vessel. Steam coming into contact with the interior walls of the cooking enclosure or with the outer walls of the cooking vessel form condensates that can flow along those walls to be collected in the intermediate collecting receptacle. The condensates not coming back into contact with the food products contained in the cooking vessel, then, constitute a water reserve that can be reused for cooking without risk of polluting the steam production chamber. In order to recycle the condensates toward the water reservoir, the user opens the pouring means of the intermediate receptacle by withdrawing, or removing, the closing means. This arrangement eliminates the need for the user to add water during a cooking operation, or at least reduces the frequency at which water must be added. 
     When the food products are placed on the cooking support, the user puts the closing means in place to block the pouring means of the intermediate collecting receptacle. This arrangement prevents the cooking juices coming from the food products placed in the cooking support from disturbing, or mixing with, the water in the reservoir. The user can then easily gain access to the cooking juices collected in the intermediate collecting receptacle. 
     An appliance or implement according to the invention is thus versatile and efficient. 
     Advantageously, the closing means is fixed to the intermediate collecting receptacle. This arrangement helps to prevent the closing means from being lost. Alternatively, the closing means can be independent or even fixed to another element of the steam cooker. 
     According to one embodiment, the closing means is composed of a valve having a closing surface connected to a shank engaged in the pouring means, the shank being pivotably supported by a lever along an off-center pivot axis. The lever has a bearing surface whose distance from the pivot axis increases between a first zone, in which the closing surface is moved to a position that opens the pouring means, and a second zone, in which the bearing surface is in contact with a surface of the intermediate collecting receptacle in order to maintain the closing surface against an opposed face of the receptacle. Thus, the position of the lever permits a control of the closing or opening of the pouring means by the valve. 
     Advantageously, then, the pouring means is an orifice arranged in a wall of the intermediate collecting receptacle, the closing surface being a ring and the shank extending from the interior of the ring. The orifice can then be provided in the bottom of the intermediate collecting receptacle. 
     Advantageously, also, the pivot axis between the shank and the lever is form by two aligned tenons, or pins, engaged axially in two cavities each having a lateral cutout permitting a force-fitted insertion of the tenons. This arrangement facilitates assembly of the device. 
     Advantageously then, the lever has a pair of cheeks, or side pieces, each carrying one of the tenons on its interior face, the bearing surface being arranged on the periphery of the side pieces. Such a part can easily be produced by molding. Also advantageously, the side pieces are connected by a tongue. Such a lever can be easily maneuvered by the user. 
     Also advantageously, the lever is arranged on an interior surface of the intermediate collecting receptacle. In other words, when the intermediate collecting receptacle is in place on the water reservoir, the user can gain access to the lever without having to withdraw the receptacle. 
     Also advantageously, the closing surface is formed by a joint, or seal, mounted on a flange fixed to the shank. Alternatively, the joint can be mounted on the intermediate collecting receptacle. 
     According to another embodiment, the closing means is formed by a supple plug, or stopper. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is an elevational, cross-sectional view of an electric steam cooker according to the invention having a first example, or embodiment, of the means for closing the pouring means of the intermediate collecting receptacle. 
     FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the two components of a second example of construction of the means for closing the pouring means of the intermediate collecting receptacle. 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 are front elevational views of the second example showing, respectively, the open position and the closed position. 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 are side elevational views of the second example showing, respectively, the open position and the closed position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 shows an electric steam cooking appliance according to the first embodiment having a base  1 , provided for the production of steam, the base being provided with a water reservoir  2  and a heating element  3  associated with an electronic control device  9  permitting operation of the appliance at full power during an initial phase of heating and operation at reduced power during the cooking phase. The reduced power can be furnished in the form of a continuous current or current pulses separated by intervals during which the electric power supply is disconnected. An annular wall  4  is arranged around heating element  3 . Wall  4  is provided with a lower passage  5  separating reservoir  2  from a steam production chamber  6 . 
     On top of base  1  there is provided a cooking enclosure  10  having a bottom  11 , lateral walls  12 ,  13  and  14 , and a lid  15 . Lid  15  has a concave lower face  16 , a gripping element  17  and a vent  18 . 
     An intermediate collecting receptacle  20  arranged on base  1  forms the bottom  11  of cooking enclosure  10 . Receptacle  20  has a peripheral wall  21  supporting lateral wall  12 . Wall  21  surrounds a basin, or bowl,  22  provided to collect cooking juices or condensates. An annular wall  23  extends upwardly form the bottom of basin  22 . Wall  23  has orifices  24  near its top provided for the passage of steam coming from chamber  6 . Receptacle  20  has a pouring means  25  associated with a removable closing means  26 . Pouring means  25  is formed by an orifice formed in the bottom of basin  22 . 
     According to the form of construction shown in FIG. 1, closing means  26  is formed by a supple, or flexible, plug, or stopper,  27  connected to receptacle  20  by an attachment piece  28 . Plug  27  is made, for example, of an elastomer. 
     A cooking support  30  is mounted on an internal rim, or flange, of wall  12 . Cooking support  30  is formed by a removable plate  31  provided with perforations  32 , the perforations forming a means  33  that permit liquid to flow into receptacle  20  disposed under plate  31 . 
     A cooking vessel  40  has an imperforate bottom  41  and a lateral wall  42  that is imperforate up to the top of an upper rim  43 . Openings  44  are provided in a wall  45  that forms a part of vessel  40  and connects vessel  40  to lateral wall  14  of enclosure  10 . Openings  44  permit steam to reach the interior surface  16  of lid  15 , where the steam condenses. Because of the concave form of lower surface  16 , the condensates flow along that surface in order to form a liquid seal by condensation at the level of rim  43 , due to the small distance provided between rim  43  and surface  16 . Steam coming from stream production chamber  6  then continues to heat bottom  41  and lateral wall  42  of cooking vessel  40 , without penetrating to the interior of the vessel. 
     When the user wishes to cook food products on support  30 , cooking juices can flow through perforations  32  in plate  31 . The user must insert plug  27  into pouring means  25  to block pouring means  25  if the user wants the cooking juices to be collected in receptacle  20 . The user can easily gain access to the cooking juices collected in receptacle  20  by withdrawing the other elements of cooking enclosure  10 . 
     When the user wants to cook food products in vessel  40 , condensates can form on the wall of the cooking enclosure outside of vessel  40  and flow back into collecting receptacle  20 . In order to prolong unattended operation of the appliance, the user can withdraw plug  27 . The condensates collected in receptacle  20  can then flow back into reservoir  2  and can again supply water to steam production chamber  6 . 
     Recycling of the condensates can equally be envisioned during cooking in a vessel placed on support  30 . In effect, cooking juices remain confined in that vessel. 
     A second embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 2-7, in which closing means  26 ′ is formed by a valve  50  pivotably connected to a lever  60  along an off-center pivot axis  61 . 
     Valve  50  has a closing surface  51  connected to a shank  52  pivoted with respect to lever  60 . Closing surface  51  is an annulus and shank  52  emerges from the portion of valve  50  that is enclosed by this annulus. Closing surface  51  is formed by a joint, or seal,  57  mounted on a flange  58  fixed to shank  52 . Shank  52  is engaged in an orifice forming pouring means  25  arranged in the bottom of receptacle  20 . Two cavities  53  and  54  forming part of the pivot mechanism are formed in shank  52 . 
     Lever  60  is composed of a pair of cheeks, or side pieces,  67 ,  68  connected together by a tongue  69 . The inner face of each of cheeks  67 ,  68  carries a respective tenon, or pin,  65 ,  66 . The two pins  65 ,  66 , are aligned with one another. The axes of pins  65 ,  66  form the pivot axis  61 . Lever  60  is arranged on an inner face  29  of receptacle  20 . Lever  60  has bearing surfaces  62 . The distance between each bearing surface  62  and axis  61  increases between a first bearing zone  63  and a second bearing zone  64 . 
     Each bearing surface  62  is extended, at one side and the other of bearing zones  63  and  64 , on the one hand by a first rest zone  70  and on other hand by a second rest zone  71 . As shown in FIG. 3, rest zones  70  and  71  are formed by two preferably opposed faces of the periphery of each of side pieces  67  and  68 . On each of the side pieces, the first rest zone  70  is connected to the second rest zone  71  by a circular sector on which bearing zones  63  and  64  are arranged. 
     The pivot axis, or articulation, between shank  52  and lever  60  is formed by the two tenons, or pins,  65  and  66  concentric with axis  61  and engaging in cavities  54  and  53 , respectively. Each of cavities  54  and  53  has a lateral cutout  55  or  56  permitting insertion of tenons  65  and  66 , possibly with a force fit. 
     As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, when first rest zone  70  is in contact with the inner face  29  of receptacle  20 , bearing zone  63  is situated in proximity to face  29 . Bearing zone  63  being relatively close to axis  61 , shank  52  articulated in axis  61  is in a lower position with respect to pouring means  25 . Blocking surface  51  is spaced from the opposite, or outer bottom, surface of receptacle  20  and opens pouring means  25 . Lever  60  then occupies the position that is desired during slow cooking, or simmering. The recycling of condensates enhances the capability to perform a cooking operation unattended. 
     As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, when second rest zone  71  is in contact with inner face  29  of receptacle  20 , bearing zone  64  is situated in proximity to inner face  29 . Bearing zone  64  being relatively distant from axis  61 , shank  52  is brought into its upper position with respect to pouring means  25 . Blocking surface  51  is maintained against the opposite surface, or outer bottom surface, of receptacle  20 . Pouring means  25  is thus blocked. Lever  60  then occupies the position desired during steam cooking, allowing cooking juices to be collected in receptacle  20 . 
     The present invention thus provides a versatile steam cooker that is easy to use, allowing several types of steam cooking to be performed. 
     In order to pass from one position to the other of valve  50 , the user simply maneuvers lever  60  by acting on tongue  69 . Supporting contact between lever  60  and receptacle  20  is transferred from rest zone  70  to rest zone  71  while passing through bearing zones  63  and  64 , and vice versa. 
     According to one alternative feature of the first embodiment, plug  27  can be made of rigid material, and a joint, or seal, can then be provided on plug  27  or in receptacle  20 . Attachment piece  28  is not essential. 
     According to one alternative form of construction for the second exemplary embodiment, lever  60  can be mounted on the lower surface, or outer bottom surface, of receptacle  20 . A spring would then be used to push shank  52  back in order to open pouring means  25 . Tenons  65  and  66  can be mounted on shank  52  and cavities  53  and  54  can then be provided in lever  60 . Joint  57  can be disposed around orifice  25 . 
     According to a further alternative, pouring means  25  is not necessarily formed in the bottom of receptacle  20 , but can alternatively be formed in a lateral wall of receptacle  20 , adjacent its bottom. 
     According to yet another alternative, cooking receptacle  40  can be associated with a lid that is independent of the lid of cooking enclosure  10 , or need not have a lid. 
     This application relates to subject matter disclosed in French Application Number 01 14345, filed Nov. 6, 2001, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without undue experimentation and without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. The means, materials, and steps for carrying out various disclosed functions may take a variety of alternative forms without departing from the invention. 
     Thus the expressions “means to . . . ” and “means for . . . ”, or any method step language, as may be found in the specification above and/or in the claims below, followed by a functional statement, are intended to define and cover whatever structural, physical, chemical or electrical element or structure, or whatever method step, which may now or in the future exist which carries out the recited function, whether or not precisely equivalent to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed in the specification above, i.e., other means or steps for carrying out the same functions can be used; and it is intended that such expressions be given their broadest interpretation.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0