Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US5278376?dq=6,373,753
Timestamp: 2017-02-28 06:42:38
Document Index: 611680465

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 11', 'arts 18', 'art 18', 'art 19', 'art 18', 'art 19', 'art 11', 'art 24', 'art 11', 'arts 18', 'art 11', 'art 11']

Patent US5278376 - Lobster cooking vessel for microwave ovens - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsThis invention covers a shallow bottom part adapted to receive an individual lobster from the Homaridae family on its back, shaped generally of lobster shape, with claw-shaped portions for receiving the lobster's claws and an elongated portion extending therefrom receiving the lobster's tail. Extending...http://www.google.com/patents/US5278376?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5278376 - Lobster cooking vessel for microwave ovensAdvanced Patent SearchTry the new Google Patents, with machine-classified Google Scholar results, and Japanese and South Korean patents.Publication numberUS5278376 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 07/979,850Publication dateJan 11, 1994Filing dateNov 23, 1992Priority dateNov 23, 1992Fee statusLapsedAlso published asCA2113426A1, WO1995005770A1Publication number07979850, 979850, US 5278376 A, US 5278376A, US-A-5278376, US5278376 A, US5278376AInventorsSamuel A. CyrOriginal AssigneeCyr Samuel AExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (8), Referenced by (5), Classifications (21), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetLobster cooking vessel for microwave ovens
US 5278376 AAbstract
Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1-4, there is shown a bottom part 11 shaped generally of a lobster and containing claw-receiving spaces 12 and 13 for receiving the claws of a lobster 14, as shown in phantom, and when placed upon its back within the bottom vessel part. Extending from the two separate claw-receiving portions 12 and 13 is an elongated portion 16 for receiving the tail of the lobster and fashioned at its end to provide a space 17 conforming generally to the lobster tail fins to retain them. Hinged connected respectively to opposite sides of the elongated portion 16 are respective breakaway hinged parts 18 and 19 adapted to overlie one another when extended over the tail of the lobster and retained by a slideable sleeve retainer 21. The end of the part 18 has a clip formation 18' attached to tightly fit over the sides of the hinged part 19 to retain the hinged parts against lateral shifting when extended parallel to one another and over the lobster's tail of the live lobster to prevent the lobster from releasing itself from the vessel by a flip of its tail. Across the claw space portions 12 and 13 are respectively respective fixed retaining strips 12' and 13' to fix the claws of the lobster therewithin.
As best seen in FIG. 2, the part 18 is hinged at 18" to the one side, whereas the part 19 is hinged at 19' to the other side. Extending upwardly from the inner surface of the bottom part is a rib 22 that extends into the logitudinal portion 16 centrally thereof to support the lobster upon its back and spaced upwardly from the bottom surface to permit passage of steam thereunder when the surface is covered with water used in the cooking operation in the microwave oven.
The bottom part 11 has on its top surface an upward extension 23, FIGS. 3 and 4, that surrounds the bottom vessel part and which is adapted to be received within a corresponding groove 24' of a preferably transparent cover part 24 in order that the vessel parts will be retained together in a tight manner to prevent leakage of steam generated while the vessel is placed in the microwave oven for the cooking operation and to retain the live lobster placed therein. Tabs 25 and 26 extend respectively laterally from the top edge of the bottom part from the respective claw portions 12 and 13 while an extension 27 extends laterally from the tail space portion 16 to facilitate the handling of the vessel in the microwave oven. By being able to retain the tail of the lobster in the manner illustrated by use of the hinged parts joined together and retained by slide sleeve 21, the lobster is not likely to separate itself from the vessel once it is placed in the microwave oven for the cooking operation.
Referring now to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, there is shown the insertion of a liner 31, the nose of which is attached under a projection 33 on the bottom part 11 to retain the forward end of liner 31 thereto and to adapt this cooking vessel more for use for the similar cooking of clawless rock lobster or crayfish. This liner 31 is without portions to receive claws and will render the claw-type cooking vessel more suitable for the cooking of the clawless mock lobster or crayfish as best illustrated in FIG. 5. The same hinged locking parts 18 and 19 of the bottom part 11 are used for the tail of the clawless mock lobster or crayfish within the liner 31 and will extend from the sides of the bottom part in such a manner as to extend over the tail of the lobster or crayfish when it is lying in the liner vessel 31. A body-retaining strip extends across the far end of the liner 31. Water will be provided in the liner to produce steam and water can also be provided in the bottom part to insure the adequate generation of steam for cooking purposes. Structurally, the top and bottom parts are the same as already described in connection with FIGS. 1-4 that include the claw extension spaces 12 and 13. The clawless rock lobster or crayfish, of course, can be cooked in the bottom part alone, but will be better confined in the liner in a more tight manner to prevent its release at the start of the cooking process. The preferably transparent cover 24 is also provided with tabs 25', 26' and 27' corresponding respectively with the respective tabs 25, 26 and 27 of the bottom part 11 to facilitate the handling of the cover and bottom parts to turn over the assembled parts with the lobster therein in the microwave oven.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS2540036 *Mar 26, 1948Jan 30, 1951Raytheon Mfg CoFood cookingUS4081646 *Mar 15, 1976Mar 28, 1978Teckton, Inc.Device for microwave cookingUS4894247 *Dec 11, 1987Jan 16, 1990E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And CompanyFibrous microwave susceptor packageUS4908487 *May 26, 1988Mar 13, 1990Ensar CorporationEgg poacher for microwave ovenUS4941401 *Jan 9, 1990Jul 17, 1990Ensar CorporationMicrowaveable fish poacherUS5005703 *Jul 10, 1990Apr 9, 1991Edward BodkerApparatus for individualized angular containment of crawfishUS5085879 *Jul 23, 1991Feb 4, 1992Gabriel ElbazLobster packaging and display unitUS5106635 *Nov 15, 1989Apr 21, 1992The Procter & Gamble CompanyMethod of simultaneously microwave heating or baking plural articles, and concomitant package* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS6639199Jul 10, 2001Oct 28, 2003Samuel R. Ross, Jr.Seafood microwave cookerUS7597918Apr 12, 2005Oct 6, 2009Hein RijnbeekMethod of vacuum packaging pre-cooked whole lobsters and the packages made therewithUS8661969 *Mar 27, 2006Mar 4, 2014Restaurant Technology, Inc.Shelled egg staging device, method of storing shelled eggs and method of cooking shelled eggsUS20050244557 *Apr 12, 2005Nov 3, 2005Hein RijnbeekMethod and apparatus for vacuum packaging pre-cooked lobstersUS20070224333 *Mar 27, 2006Sep 27, 2007Henry EwaldShelled egg staging device, method of storing shelled eggs and method of cooking shelled eggs* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification219/734, 99/441, 219/732, 99/DIG.14International ClassificationA23L17/40, B65D81/34, A47J27/00, A47J36/02Cooperative ClassificationA23L17/40, B65D25/10, B65D2581/3433, Y10S99/14, B65D2581/3456, A47J36/027, B65D81/3453, B65D2581/3424, A47J27/002European ClassificationA47J27/00A, A23L1/33, B65D81/34M1, A47J36/02MLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionJan 31, 1995CCCertificate of correctionAug 19, 1997REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedJan 11, 1998LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesMar 24, 1998FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 19980114RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services