Abstract:
A cookware system includes a microwaveable metal collecting pan, configured in a bowl shape with a plurality of elongated slots disposed thereon. The collector pan is positioned in a supporting bowl to catch dripping fluids and to provide a basin to hold water during steam cooking. A food item can be placed inside the pan, which is in turn placed inside the bowl and covered with a lid.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to cookware, and in particular, to microwavable cookware configured to receive electromagnetic radiation at a first wavelength of a microwave oven in air, convert oven radiation power to transmission power in foodstuffs in a targeted configuration with strong surface heating under a shorter second wavelength, and distribute the radiation having the first wavelength and the radiation having the second wavelength to foodstuffs in a targeted configuration. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Microwave ovens are used daily for heating and cooking a variety of foodstuffs. Accompanying the increase in the use of microwave ovens is the various cookware used to contain the foodstuffs. Many different types of microwave safe cookware are known, each manufactured from microwave safe materials. Microwave ovens utilize microwave-type electromagnetic radiation to rotate and heat polarized molecules in foodstuffs. Microwave ovens heat foodstuffs quickly, efficiently, and evenly throughout. While microwave ovens are adequate at reheating cooked food, unfortunately, use of the microwave oven to prepare uncooked foods is not ideal. 
     Typically raw foodstuffs are cooked unevenly due to the dielectric heating accomplished with microwave ovens because excitation is fairly uniform only in the outer portions of a dense foodstuff, thus leading to overly dry outer portions and uncooked inner portions. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for cookware by which the foodstuffs can be cooked in a microwave oven without the disadvantages as described above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventor has recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and lack in the art and observed that there is a need for cookware for raw cooking foodstuffs in a microwave oven. The development of the present invention, which will be described in greater detail herein, substantially departs from conventional solutions to provide microwaveable cookware and in doing so fulfills this need. 
     In one (1) embodiment, the disclosed microwave cookware can include a collector pan configured to receive electromagnetic radiation at a first wavelength of microwave oven in air, convert oven radiation power to transmission power in foodstuffs in a targeted configuration with strong surface heating under a shorter second wavelength, and distribute the radiation having the first wavelength and the radiation having the second wavelength to foodstuffs in a targeted configuration. 
     In another embodiment, the disclosed microwave cookware can include a collector pan including a bottom surface, a continuous sidewall extending from a periphery of the bottom surface, a plurality of first slots disposed through the bottom surface, the plurality of first slots being configured to convert radiation power to transmission power in the collector pan such that foodstuffs will be heated in a targeted configuration under the shorter second wavelength entering the collector pan in resonance, and a plurality of second slots disposed though the sidewall, the plurality of second slots being configured to allow radiation having the microwave oven first wavelength to enter the collector pan. 
     In another embodiment, the disclosed microwave cookware can include a plurality of first slots, where each of the first slots includes a tapered rhombic shape having a length and a width, and wherein a strongest E-field strength is present at a middle area of the first slots and decays at both ends of the first slots. 
     In another embodiment, the disclosed microwave cookware can include a plurality of first slots, where a length of each of the plurality of first slots is determined by an effective wavelength of said electromagnetic radiation divided by an effective dielectric constant of a microwaveable foodstuff squared. 
     In another embodiment, the disclosed microwaveable cookware can include a susceptor board positioned on a collector pan, wherein the susceptor board includes a substrate body having a top surface and a bottom surface, a sputtered metalized material entirely covering at least the top surface, and a plurality of conical apertures disposed through the substrate body extending from the top surface to the bottom surface. 
     In another embodiment, the disclosed microwaveable cookware can include a bowl having an interior space, a collector pan positioned within the interior space of the bowl and configured to receive electromagnetic radiation having the first wavelength of microwave oven, convert radiation power to transmission power in the collector pan such that foodstuffs will be heated in targeted configuration by the shorter second wavelength, convert the radiation to a radiation having a second wavelength, and distribute the radiation having the first wavelength and the radiation having the second wavelength to foodstuffs in a targeted configuration, the collector pan having a flat bottom surface, a continuous sidewall extending from a periphery of the bottom surface, a plurality of equally spaced apart first slots disposed radially through the bottom surface, the plurality of first slots being configured to allow the radiation having the second wavelength to enter the collector pan in resonance, and a plurality of equally spaced second slots disposed though the sidewall, the plurality of second slots being configured to allow the radiation having the oven&#39;s first wavelength to enter the collector pan and positioned to radiate to the sides of the foodstuffs. A susceptor board lies on the collector pan for enhancing the crisp and brown of foodstuffs such as pizza, frozen fried dumplings (e.g., Guo Tie) as well as verity of meat. The susceptor board includes the heating top surface made from sputtered metalized film and laminated on the uncoated paperboard. A plurality of uniform spaced conical holes located at the specified regions of the susceptor board improves uniform surface heating of the foodstuffs. Conical venting holes provide driving of moisture (i.e., steam) during cooking as well as a thermal isolation between the susceptor board and metallic collector pan to enter the collector pan, and the susceptor board being positioned on the collector pan, the susceptor board having a substrate body with a top surface and a bottom surface, a sputtered metalized material entirely covering at least the top surface, and a plurality of equally spaced apart conical apertures disposed through the substrate body extending from the top surface to the bottom surface. 
     Furthermore, the described features and advantages of the disclosed microwaveable cookware can be combined in various manners and embodiments as one skilled in the relevant art will recognize after reading the present disclosure. The disclosure can be practiced without one (1) or more of the features and advantages described in any particular embodiment. 
     Further advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a microwave cookware system in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a section view of the microwave cookware system taken along section line A-A of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the microwave cookware system; and, 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of a collection pan of the microwave cookware system. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  microwave cookware 
               20  collector pan 
               22  collector bottom surface 
               24  collector side wall surface 
               26  collector rim 
               27  protection ring 
               30  first slot 
               32  second slot 
               34  third slot 
               50  cover 
               52  finger relief 
               53  cover rim 
               54  vent 
               60  susceptor board 
               61  paper substrate 
               62  top surface 
               64  conical aperture 
               80  bowl 
               82  bowl rim 
               100  microwave oven 
               105  pedestal 
               110  foodstuff 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In accordance with the invention, the best mode is presented in terms of the described embodiments, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 4 . However, the disclosure is not limited to the described embodiments and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the disclosure and that any such work around will also fall under its scope. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure, and only certain configurations have been shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     It can be appreciated that, although such terms as first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one (1) element from another element. Thus, a first element discussed below could be termed a second element without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, as used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It also will be understood that, as used herein, the term “comprising” or “comprises” is open-ended, and includes one (1) or more stated elements, steps or functions without precluding one (1) or more unstated elements, steps or functions. Relative terms such as “front” or “rear” or “left” or “right” or “top” or “bottom” or “below” or “above” or “upper” or “lower” or “horizontal” or “vertical” may be used herein to describe a relationship of one (1) element, feature or region to another element, feature or region as illustrated in the figures. It should be understood that these terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. It should also be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. It should also be understood that the sizes and relative orientations of the illustrated elements are not shown to scale, and in some instances they have been exaggerated for purposes of explanation. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , disclosing a microwave cooking system (herein referred to generally as a “system”)  10 , where like reference numerals represent similar or like parts. Generally, the system  10  includes cookware structures, which collectively provide a means to enhance a microwave heating process for the cooking of various foodstuffs  110 . The system  10  expands the cooking functionality of conventional microwave ovens  100 . Use of the system  10  results in improved cooking of foodstuffs  110  including such processes as pizza baking, raw meat crisping and roasting, and steam cooking of raw bread dough or raw vegetables. It can be appreciated that the teachings of the system  10  may be further utilized in the design and production of various multi-functional cookwares for use in microwave ovens. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the system  10  can include a collector pan  20 , a cover  50 , a paper susceptor board  60  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ), and a bowl  80 . The microwave cookware system  10  creates a specific heating environment and proper supply of energy suitable for various cooking processes such as, but not limited to: baking, crisping, roasting, steaming, and the like. 
     The system  10  is shown herein being approximately two-hundred millimeters (200 mm) in diameter; however, it can be appreciated that the system  10  may be introduced in a variety of sizes and cavity shapes (e.g., round, oval, square, rectangular or other geometric shapes) based upon configurations of various models of household microwave ovens  100  and other factors, such as stationery or pedestal cooking panel, and it should not be a limiting factor of the system  10 . It can be appreciated that the shape and size of the glass bowl  80  and/or the metallic energy collector pan  20  can be designed and manufactured in various shapes, such as rectangular or square, to match a shape of a rotational base cavity disposed in a bottom surface of some microwave ovens  100 . The previously described design principles of the E-field distribution within the collector pan  20  would be incorporated into various shaped and sized collector pans  20  based upon accompanying cookware items and specific microwave ovens  100 . 
     The microwave energy collecting pan  20  of the cookware system  10  is designed to support necessary heating energy applied to a specific location of the foodstuff  110 . The collecting pan  20  acts as an energy (e.g., microwave radiation) receiving antenna, which converts radiated energy into necessary heating energy being directed to the foodstuffs  110 , thereby acting as an energy converter and distributor. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the vented adjustable cookware cover  50  is designed to provide necessary airborne particle containment and steam venting during various cooking processes of different foodstuffs  110 . The cover  50  includes an upwardly tapering cylindrical construction having flat top and open bottom. A horizontally extending cover rim  53  is disposed along a bottom perimeter edge of the cover  50 . The cover rim  53  rests upon a matching horizontally extending collector rim  26  disposed along a perimeter of the collector pan  20  ( FIG. 3 ). The cover  50  is envisioned to be made using microwave-safe (e.g., BPA free) plastic or heat-resistant high borosilicate glass material. The cover  50  includes at least two (2) finger relief areas  52  along the flat top surface which allow convenient placement and removal of the cover  50  upon the collector pan  20  by a user. The cover  50  also includes at least one (1) vent  54  disposed in the flat top to allow the escape of steam, moisture, and expanding gasses during cooking. The cover  50  is envisioned to be made using a transparent microwave-safe plastic material. 
     The circular susceptor board  60  can be positioned between the foodstuffs  110  and the collector pan  20 . The susceptor board  60  can be especially useful for cooking bread-type foodstuffs  110 , such as pizza, fried dumpling (e.g., Guo Tie) and the like. The susceptor board  60  is suitably sized to contact and cover a bottom surface  22  of the collector pan  20  ( FIG. 2 ). The susceptor board  60  includes a semi-rigid paper substrate  61  having a metalized top surface  62  and a plurality of equally-spaced conically-shaped apertures  64  ( FIG. 3 ). The metalized top surface  62  can include a sputter deposited film of metallic particles similar sputtered metalized material entirely covering a top surface of a suitable substrate material. The susceptor board  60  can provide moisture steam, fluid drainage via the apertures  64  during cooking, as well as utilizing well known microwave reflection, absorption, and transmission properties of susceptor boards, thereby contributing enhanced surface thermal heating effect for crisping and browning at bottom of the cooking foodstuff. The susceptor board  60  works in conjunction with the collector pan  20  to enhance various cooking processes. 
     The susceptor board  60  is envisioned to be made using a conventional susceptor board material similar to the microwave heater and method of manufacture as disclosed in Turpin et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,904,836, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The conical apertures  64  can be added by a paper punching process. When combined with the energy converting and distributing properties of the collector pan  20 , the susceptor board  60  can provide significant enhancement of the cooking process, being within the environment of elevated E-field strength via the effect of the collector pan  20 . Additionally, the effect of the apertures  64  in providing a sufficient leaking path for condensing water helps particular foodstuffs  110 , such as pizza, to avoid becoming soggy during the cooking process. 
     The bowl  80  supports the collector pan  20  in a subjacent manner having a horizontally extending bowl rim  82  along a perimeter which diametrically matches and contacts the collector rim  26  of the collector pan  20 . The bowl  80  can contain a volume of water necessary for steam cooking of raw bread dough or raw vegetables. Additionally, the bowl  80  provides a receptacle for fluids secreted from the foodstuffs  110  during other cooking processes as the fluids escape downwardly through the susceptor board  60  and collector pan  20 . The bowl  80  can be made of transparent high borosilicate tempered glass material similar to PYREX® glass and others, and being in variety shapes as mentioned above. 
     It can be appreciated that the system  10  encompasses in its broader aspect to fulfill roasting, baking, steam heating as well as defrosting of frozen foods using a household microwave oven with equal effectiveness. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the system  10  creates a specific heating environment and proper supply of energy suitable for various cooking processes. The collecting pan  20  includes a bowl-shaped stainless steel structure being approximately two-hundred (200 mm) millimeters in diameter and having the collector bottom surface  22 , a collector side wall surface  24  ( FIG. 2 ), the collector rim  26 , a plurality of first slots  30 , a plurality of second slots  32 , and a plurality of third slots  34 . 
     The collecting pan  20  is designed to support necessary heating energy for application to the contained foodstuffs  110 . The collecting pan  20  acts as a microwave energy receiving antenna, which in turn converts radiated energy from the magnetron of the microwave oven  100  into suitable heating energy, and directs it toward the foodstuffs  110 , thereby acting as an energy converter and distributor. The energy collecting pan can be made from FDA approved food safety stainless steel or similar metallic materials having non-stick coatings. A silicon rubber protection ring  27 , which can also be made from FDA approved silicon rubber material, is tightly covered on full surface of the collector rim. This protection ring  27  provides sufficient electrical and thermal protection against high E-field strength generated at the collection rim under microwave cooking. 
     The design of the first slots  30  provides necessary correction of the radiated energy to provide proper E-field strength. If utilizing an embodiment of the collector pan  20  having the diameter of two-hundred ten millimeters (210 mm), as illustrated herein, the length of the first slots  30  can be approximately forty-nine millimeters (49 mm) and is to be selected based on the idea of even heating performance. 
     The strongest E-field strength will be generated under the wave transmission condition in resonance. A half wavelength of a length dimension of the first slot  30  is used to provide resonance. During cooking, the first slot  30  can be covered with foodstuffs  110 ; therefore, the physical length of the first slot  30  “L” is designed based on the resonate transmission condition for cooking the foodstuff and calculated as demonstrated in Equation 01: 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   L 
                   = 
                   
                     
                       λ 
                       eff 
                     
                     2 
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   [ 
                   
                     Equation 
                     ⁢ 
                     
                         
                     
                     ⁢ 
                     01 
                   
                   ] 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     Wherein λ eff  is the effective wavelength of the transmission power directed toward the foodstuff and is calculated as 
                 λ   eff     =       λ   0         ɛ   eff           ,         
λ 0  where is the wavelength of microwave oven radiation power in air; and ∈ eff  is the effective dielectric constant of the media (e.g., foodstuff).
 
     In conclusion, the length of each of the first slots  30  can selected based upon anticipated foodstuffs wall  110  and their corresponding dielectric constants (∈ eff ) and a balanced consideration of cooking safety and effectiveness. The strongest E-field strength will present at the middle area of the first slot  30 , while decaying at both ends of the slot  30 . To avoid significant non-uniformity in heating strength on the first slots  30 , the width along the first slot  30  can be selected with different values so that the shape of the first slot  30  is designed as a tapered rhombic. The first slots  30  can be machined or stamped through the collector bottom surface  22  and arranged in an equally-spaced radiating pattern, originating approximately twenty millimeters (20 mm) from a center point of the collector bottom surface  22 , and extending outwardly. 
     A plurality of equally-spaced second slots  32  are arranged along a horizontal circle all around the collector side wall surface portion  24 . Each second slot  32  is oval-shaped and approximately twenty-four millimeters (24 mm) in width and approximately eight millimeters high (8 mm) The function of the second slots  32  is to provide adequate microwave energy transmission into the collecting pan  20  being directed toward the foodstuffs  110 , thereby being especially useful in a case of pizza baking so as to help avoid soggy pizza crust during cooking. 
     The third slots  34  include a plurality of machined or punched circle-segments arranged about a center of the collector bottom surface  22  which provide proper drainage of fluids and provide ventilation during cooking. 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the disclosed system  10  can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure, and only certain particular configurations have been shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The disclosed system  10  can be installed and utilized by the user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training After initial purchase or acquisition of the system  10 , it can be installed and utilized as indicated in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
     The method of utilizing the system  10  to cook meat dishes may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring a model of the system  10  having a desired diametrical size; placing portions of meat-type food stuffs  110  such as chicken, steak, or the like, onto the collector pan  20 ; placing the collector pan  20  onto the bowl  80 ; placing a wet (e.g., water soaked) paper towel on the bottom of the bowl  80  for the reason of safety and easy to clean the bowl; placing the cover  50  onto the collector rim  26  of the collector pan  20 ; placing the system  10  and contained foodstuffs  110  into the microwave oven  100 ; heating the system  10  at one-hundred (100%) percent power for approximately four minutes (4 min); removing the system  10  and foodstuffs  110  from the microwave oven  100 ; and serving the foodstuffs  110  in a normal manner; cooking additional portions of the meat-type foodstuffs  110  in like manner as needed. An optional cooking recommendation is to place the vented susceptor board  60  under the bottom of the cooking meat on the collector pan. The better crispness and browning of the cooked meat will be observed with helps of the vented susceptor board. 
     The method of utilizing the system  10  to cook bread-based dishes such as pizza may be achieved by performing the following steps: placing the susceptor board  60  into the collector pan  20 ; placing a correspondingly-sized pizza or similar foodstuff item  110  onto the collector pan  20 ; placing a wet (e.g., water soaked) paper towel on the bottom of the bowl  80  for the reason of bowl safety and easy to clean the bowl; in general no cover is needed for cooking pizza and fried dumpling (e.g., Guo Tie); placing the system  10  into the microwave oven  100 , and cooking as previously described above. 
     The method of utilizing the system  10  to steam cook raw bread dough or raw vegetables within the microwave oven  100  may be achieved by performing the following steps: pouring approximately one-quarter (¼) of a liter of water into the bowl  80 ; placing foodstuffs  110 , such as raw bread dough or vegetables, upon the collector pan  20 ; placing the collector pan  20  onto the bowl  80 ; placing the cover  50  onto the collector rim  26  of the collector pan  20 ; placing the system  10  and contained foodstuffs  110  into the microwave oven  100 ; and heating at one-hundred (100%) percent power for approximately five (5) minutes. 
     The foregoing embodiments of the disclosed microwave cookware have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. It can be appreciated by one skilled in the art that other styles, configurations, and modifications of the invention can be incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure upon reading the specification and that the embodiments shown and described are for the purposes of clarity and disclosure and to limit the scope. The embodiments have been chosen and described in order to best explain the principles and practical application in accordance with the invention to enable those skilled in the art to best utilize the various embodiments with expected modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The present application includes such modifications and is limited only by the scope of the claims.