Abstract:
The apparatus includes a basket body, a basket door with a pivoting mechanism for attaching the door to a bottom portion of the basket body and a basket slider connected to the basket door. The basket door is pivotal between an open position and a closed position. The apparatus also includes a handle with a handle housing and comprising a trigger member in the handle housing. The trigger member has a pivot end in the slot in the opposite end. The apparatus also has a basket drive rod with a first end and a second end. The first end connects to the basket slider and the second end slidably engages the slot of the trigger member. In operation, pivoting of the trigger member about the trigger pivot and translates the basket drive rod with a translation moving the basket slider. The basket slider moves the basket door between an opened and a closed position.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Typically in the restaurant and the hospitality arena several different types of food can be sold exclusively for cooking in deep fat fryers. These deep fat fryers are commercially used by restaurants, institutional kitchens, and fast food establishments for cooking. 
         [0002]    These foods may include a variety of food products, such as French fries, fish, fried chicken and other similar fried foods. As is known, food products are cooked by inserting them into a fryer basket and immersing the basket in a fryer vat that is filled with a heated liquid cooking medium such as lard, shortening, oil or another type of material. Typically, the lard or oil temperature is kept at a cooking temperature such as 250° F. 
         [0003]    The known fryer basket typically includes a handle and a basket body made from steel or other resilient lightweight material in a mesh configuration. The basket is left into the deep fat fryer in order to cook the food for a period such as three to five minutes. Thereafter, the basket is removed using the handle. Excess oil is allowed to drain through the mesh basket body. 
         [0004]    Often, an operator may find it desirable to shake the container a number of times over the fryer after removing the basket to remove residual cooking grease droplets from lateral surfaces of the fryer basket. To remove the cooked foods from fryer basket, typically requires the operator to rotate the fryer basket about 180° to eject the cooked food through the opening at the top side of the basket. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    It is difficult, depending on the food that is being cooked (which may involve several small food pieces, such as French fries), to project the food into a predetermined or desired spot using known fryer basket methods. By rotating the deep fryer basket to place the food on a plate, one can often miss the plate and unintentionally place the food on a counter or on the floor. Moreover, often the chef cannot touch the hot basket to properly orient the basket. 
         [0006]    Moreover, such methods and apparatus of the prior art are not advantageous, since they require shaking to eject the food once the basket is rotated. Further, the operator cannot control how fast or how slow the food is released from the deep fryer basket, since often the French fries or other food will tumble out uncontrollably. Moreover, the known method of releasing the food from the deep fryer basket can also allow excess grease or oil deposited on the sidewalls of the basket to contact the food upon the rotation, or instead the grease may contact a plate or floor. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a fryer basket that does not require rotating or shaking the basket in order to release the cooked contents from the fryer basket. There is also a further need for a fryer basket that allows an operator to precisely place and eject the food in a controlled manner. There is also a further need for a fryer basket that allows an operator to eject the food quickly from the bottom of the fryer basket and then return the fryer basket to a stowed location over the fryer in order to avoid any stray messy grease droplets from falling on a plate, or on the floor which require clean up, or may present a potentially hazardous condition. 
         [0008]    In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises a basket body and a basket door having a pivot mechanism for attaching the door to a bottom portion of the basket body. The basket door is pivotal between an open and closed position. The apparatus further includes a basket slider connected to the basket door and a handle with a handle housing. 
         [0009]    The handle housing includes a trigger member in the handle housing. The trigger member has a pivot end and a slot in an opposite end. The apparatus further includes a basket drive rod having a first and a second end, with the first end connecting to the basket slider and the second end slidably engaging the slot of the trigger member. In operation, pivoting of the trigger member about the trigger pivot end translates the basket drive rod with a translation moving the basket slider. The basket slider moves the basket door between an open position and a closed position. 
         [0010]    According to a further aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further includes a second basket door. The second basket door has a pivoting mechanism for attaching the second basket door to a bottom portion of the basket body. The second basket door is pivotal between the open position and the closed position. 
         [0011]    In another aspect, the basket slider further comprises at least two fingers at the second end of the basket drive rod. At least two fingers move the respective basket doors between the open position and the closed positions. 
         [0012]    In another aspect, the trigger member further comprises a hook. The hook is configured to detachably connect with a handle housing at the slot end. According to a further aspect, the apparatus includes a basket door that has a looped ring. The looped ring is configured to engage an aperture in the basket slider. When the basket slider is translated upward or downward, the looped ring that is connected to the basket slider through the aperture is translated upward or downward to rotate the basket door about the pivoting mechanism to close or open the basket door respectively. 
         [0013]    According to a further aspect, the apparatus further comprises a second basket door. The second basket door comprises a second loop ring that is configured to engage a second aperture in the basket slider. When the basket slider is translated upward or downward, the second loop ring connected to the basket slider through the second aperture is translated upward or downward. This rotates the second basket door about a pivot mechanism to close or open the second basket door. 
         [0014]    According to another aspect, the basket door is generally rectangular shaped or is generally circular shaped. In another aspect, the apparatus is configured so that if the hook is detached then the hook is adapted to release the trigger member from the handle housing to allow the trigger member to move about the trigger pivot end. 
         [0015]    In a further aspect, the trigger member has a bottom surface that extends through a bottom portion of a handle housing. When the hook detaches from a handle housing, the bottom surface is configured as a palm support surface. This provides support and is configured to also support the trigger member an amount so as to permit the user to control the pivoting of the trigger member about the trigger pivot end. 
         [0016]    According to a further aspect, the apparatus further comprises a spring. The spring biases the trigger member relative to the handle housing. 
         [0017]    According to yet a further aspect, the apparatus further comprises an elongated member connecting the handle housing and the basket body. 
         [0018]    In another embodiment, an apparatus has a basket body and a first basket door. The door has a first pivot mechanism for attaching the first basket door to a bottom portion of the basket body. The first basket door is pivotal between an open and a closed position. 
         [0019]    In another embodiment, an apparatus has a basket body. The first and second basket doors can be made from the same material. Additionally, at least one of the basket body and the first and second basket doors can be made from a mesh material. 
         [0020]    In another embodiment, an apparatus includes a basket body and a basket door with a pivot mechanism for attaching the door to a bottom portion of the basket body. The basket door pivots between an open position and a closed position. The apparatus further includes a handle with a device for opening and closing the basket door. 
         [0021]    According to yet another embodiment a method for cooking that includes inserting food into a basket and inserting the basket into heated oil in a deep fat fryer to cook the food. The method also includes lifting the basket from the heated oil, and without rotating the basket, ejecting the cooked food from the basket bottom. In yet another aspect, the apparatus may be used for either residential use or commercial use. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particular description of example 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 embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a fryer basket having a pair of basket doors shown in a closed position. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the fryer basket of  FIG. 1  with the door between the open and closed positions. 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the fryer basket of  FIG. 1  with the doors in an open position. 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the fryer basket of  FIG. 1  showing a number of components thereof. 
           [0027]      FIGS. 5A through 5D  show operation of a trigger handle of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0028]      FIGS. 6A through 6C  are side views of the fryer basket corresponding to  FIGS. 1 through 3  showing operation of the basket slider and fingers to open the basket doors. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    A description of example embodiments of the invention follows. 
         [0030]    Turning now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a first embodiment of a fryer basket  100  of the present disclosure in a perspective view. The fryer basket  100  preferably has a first door  105  and a second door  110 . The doors  105 ,  1105  generally are made as a metal mesh structure to allow grease and oil to easily traverse the basket. Both doors  105 ,  110  are located on a bottom portion of a basket  115 . The basket  115  is operatively connected to a handle  120 . The user can hold the handle  120  and then selectively open the basket  115  using the handle  120 . The basket  115  opens from a bottom portion  125  to release the fried food contents disposed in the basket  115  on to a desired location such as a plate, tray, or serving basket. The basket  115  also includes an exterior hook H. Exterior hook H is positioned on the basket  115  to permit the basket  115  to be temporarily supported on a cooking appliance (not shown). 
         [0031]    Advantageously, using the handle  120  the user can also control how quickly or slowly the first door  105  and the second door  110  open or close. These features are advantageous since the fryer basket  100  avoids the conventional manner of emptying the contents by rotating the fryer basket to empty the contents from a top opening. This rotation may lead to the food tumbling and missing the desired location on a serving plate. Instead, the food may land on a counter which unintentionally contaminates the food. 
         [0032]    With the present approach, the fryer basket  100  provides for controlled and accurate release of the food onto the plate or desired location using the handle  120 . Moreover, the fryer basket  100  may allow the fried food to rest over the deep fat fryer to drain excess oil and grease from the food, and then provide for a quick and accurate release of the food onto the plate. This quick release feature avoids turning the entire fryer upside down which may lead to further excess grease from a top opening or lateral sides of the basket  115  to escape and touch the food, floor or plate during transfer. 
         [0033]    The handle  120  includes a housing  135  with a top side  140  and a bottom side  145 . The top side  140  includes a hook member  150 . The hook member  150  preferably engages with a portion of the handle housing  135  to support the first and the second door  105 ,  110  in the configuration shown in  FIG. 1  using a support which is described in detail further herein. Using an index finger or thumb, the user may move the hook member  150  in a direction parallel to a horizontal axis  160  of the housing  135  as shown by arrow  155 . This movement releases or otherwise detaches the hook member  150  from the handle housing  135  resulting in the opening of the first and the second basket doors  105 ,  110 . It should be appreciated that the embodiments may actuate the handle  120  differently to open doors  105 ,  110 . For example, the fryer basket  100  may include a switch or button located in other areas or on the handle  120 . 
         [0034]    Turning now to  FIG. 2 , the fryer basket  100  has, on a bottom side  145  of the handle housing  135 , a support surface  170  that may be supported using the palm of the user. In this manner, the user may squeeze the handle housing  135  and support surface  170  to control the opening of first and the second doors  105 ,  110 . If the support  170  is held in a direction toward the handle housing  135 , the basket doors  105 ,  110 , will be prevented from opening. 
         [0035]    Turning now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown the doors  105 ,  110  opened in a direction illustrated by reference arrows  165 . Here, if the support surface  170  is gently released or released slowly as shown by reference arrow F, then the doors  105 ,  110  will completely open as shown by reference arrows  165 . Operation of the above assemblies is described in detail further herein. 
         [0036]    Turning now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown an exploded view of the fryer basket  100 . The fryer basket  100  includes a handle assembly  120  that includes a first handle housing portion  200  and a second handle housing portion  205 . The second handle housing portion  205  includes a channel  210  disposed therethrough. The channel  210  is generally orthogonal relative to the housing portion  205  and extends along a length of portion  205 . 
         [0037]    A wire handle portion  215  is disposed on a bottom side of the second handle housing portion  205  and is secured thereto. The wire handle portion  215  and the second housing portion  205  may be connected to one another using any fasteners, screws or bolts as is known in the art. On an opposite end, the wire handle portion  215  includes prongs  220 ,  225  that are fixedly connected to the basket  115 . The wire handle portion  215  preferably connects the basket  115  to the second handle housing portion  205  of the handle  120 . In an alternative embodiment, the basket  115  may be directly connected to the second handle housing portion  205 , and instead of being connected using the wire handle portion  215 . 
         [0038]    Disposed in the handle assembly  120  is a trigger member  230 . The trigger member  230  is disposed between the first handle housing portion  200  and the second handle housing portion  205 . The trigger member  230  is a structure which will translate a downward motion or an upward motion from the handle  120  to ultimately open or close the basket doors  105 ,  110 . A portion of the trigger member  230  is positioned in or through the channel  210  that is disposed through portion  205 . The trigger member  230  may be biased against the first housing handle portion  200  by a spring  230   a  and may move in the handle  120  about a point. In this regard, the trigger member  230  has a pivot  230   b  disposed at a pivot end  235 . The trigger member  230  also has an opposite end  240 . Pivot  230   b  engages a complementary structure in the second housing handle portion  205  and remains fixed in the handle  120  so only end  240  may move upwardly or downwardly. 
         [0039]    The end  240  of the trigger member  230  includes a slot  245 . The slot  245  is connected to interface with a looped end  255  of a basket driver rod  250 . The basket drive rod  250  is a longitudinal structure that can translate the motion of the trigger member to the doors  105 ,  110 . Looped end  255  includes a curvature that interfaces with the slot end  245  of the trigger member  230  such that if the trigger member  230  is deflected downwardly, the slot end  245  will translate this downward deflection to the basket drive rod  250 . Conversely, the basket driver rod  250  interfaces with the slot end  245  of the trigger member  230  such that if the trigger member  230  is deflected upwardly, the slot end  245  will also translate this upward movement to the basket drive rod  250  as well. It should be appreciated that this embodiment is only illustrative and the arrangement may be reversed with the basket drive rod  250  including the slot end  245  and the trigger member  230  including a looped member  255 . Various connection configurations are possible and the trigger member  230  may be integrally connected to the basket drive rod  250  or connected by any manner known in the art. 
         [0040]    The trigger member  230  also has an extended trigger portion  260 . The extended trigger portion  260  is a thin resilient surface that serves as the support  170  in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . The extended trigger portion  260  extends through the channel  210  or opening disposed through the second handle housing portion  205 . As shown, the extended trigger portion  260  includes surfaces that are rounded and smooth as these surfaces contact the user&#39;s palm to control the movement and pivoting of the trigger member  230 . In this manner, the user may support the trigger member  230  by the extended trigger portion  260  through the channel  210  of the second handle housing portion  205  and simply by gripping handle  120 . 
         [0041]    Moreover, the user may selectively control the speed of the pivoting of the trigger member  230  about pivot  230   b  by supporting the extended trigger portion  260  through the slot  210  of the second handle housing portion  205 . The user may desire to simply loosen the grip on the handle  120  to slowly permit the trigger member  230  to pivot about pivot  230   b  and to translate this motion to the basket drive rod  250  to open or close doors  105 ,  110 . 
         [0042]    Disposed on a top side of the trigger member  230  is the hooked member  150  which interfaces with a slot  150 ′ disposed through the top of the first handle housing portion  200 . In this manner, the user may affix or otherwise connect the hooked member  150  through the slot  150 ′ and hook the hooked member  150  to the first handle housing portion  200 . This connection couples the trigger member  230  to the first handle housing portion  200  and keeps the trigger member  230  in place to keep the basket doors  105 ,  110  in the closed position. 
         [0043]    The basket drive rod  250  is a lightweight, rigid member. Now referring to the opposite end, the basket driver rod  250  further is directly connected to a basket slider portion  265  at end  265 ′. The basket slider  265  is connected to the doors  105 ,  110  and is intended to push the basket doors  105 ,  110  opened, or pull the basket doors  105 ,  110  closed. The basket slider  265  is connected to the drive rod  250  and may move upwardly or downwardly in response to the pivoting of the trigger member  230  in between the first handle housing  200  and the second handle housing  205 . 
         [0044]    The basket slider  265  includes a first finger  265   a  and a second finger  265   b  that together form a substantially upside down U shaped member. The first finger  265   a  is a resilient member and includes an aperture  270 . The second finger  265   b  is also a resilient member and includes a second aperture  275 . The first finger  265   a  and the second finger  265   b  preferably deflect in a downward manner in order to open the basket doors  105 ,  110 . 
         [0045]    The first door  105  includes a first tab  105   a  with a receiving aperture that connects with a first pivot pin  105   a ′ on the basket  115 . The first door  105  also includes a second tab  105   b  with a receiving aperture that connects with a pivot pin  105   b ′ on the basket  115 . The first door  105  further includes a looped member  105   c . The looped member  105   c  is a resilient, curved bar like structure and extends from the first tab  105   a  to the first door  105 . The looped member  105   c  also extends through the first aperture  270  of the basket slider  265 , or from the finger  265   a  thereof. In this manner, the basket slider  265  is connected to the first door  105  by the first looped member  105   c  and through the first finger  265   a . Likewise, the second door  110  includes a first tab  110   a  with a receiving aperture that connects with a pivot pin  10   a ′ on the basket  115 . The door  110  also includes a tab  110   b  with a receiving aperture that connects with a pivot pin  10   b ′ on the basket  115 . The first door  105  further includes a looped member  110   c  that extends from the tab  110   a . The looped member  110   c  also extends through the aperture  275  of the basket slider  265 , or from the finger  265   b  thereof. In this manner, the basket slider  260  is connected to second door  110  by the first looped member  110   c  through the other finger  265   b . It should be appreciated that the tabs  110   a ,  105   a  may be configured with other connection devices. 
         [0046]    Upon being deflected downwardly from the basket drive rod  250 , the basket slider  265  translates downwardly in a similar manner, and forces the first door  105  and the second door  110  to rotate open. Likewise, when the basket slider  265  is moved upwardly, the basket slider  265  translates upwardly. This upward movement moves the looped members  105   c ,  110   c  upwardly to pivot the doors  105 ,  110  and close the doors  105 ,  110 . 
         [0047]    Turning now to  FIGS. 5A through 5D , operation of the fryer basket  100  is shown and described commencing with operation of the handle  120 . As shown in  FIG. 5A , the hook member  150  of the trigger member  230  is positioned through slot  150 ′. The hook member  150  holds the trigger member  230  and supports it on the first handle housing portion  200 . This hook member  150  otherwise also supports the basket drive rod  250  in a first position as the trigger member  230  is held stationary between the first handle portion  200  and the second handle portion  205 . Here, the basket drive rod  250  is connected in the slot  245  of the trigger member  230  by looped end and is held in the retracted or first position. 
         [0048]    Turning now to  FIG. 5B , when the user desires to release the contents of the basket  115 , the user will separate or detach the hook member  150  from the first handle portion  200  or slot  150 ′. The user advances the hook member  150  in a direction that is parallel to a longitudinal axis  160  of the handle  120  as shown by arrow  155 . In this manner, without the support from the hooked member  150 , the trigger member  230  drops and rotates about pivot  230  as shown by reference arrow  300 . In this detached position as shown in  FIG. 5B , the user can support the trigger member  230  by supporting underneath the extended portion  260  with the palm as shown. The extended portion  260  extends through the channel  210  and the user by lifting the extended portion  260  may control basket driver rod  250  that extends through the second handle housing  205 . 
         [0049]    Turning now to  FIGS. 5C and 5D , when the user desires to open the first basket door  105  and the second basket door  110 , the user may simply release the extension member  260  using the user&#39;s palm the appropriate amount as shown by arrow  300 . This release permits the trigger member  230  to pivot about the pivot end  230   b  in a direction downwardly about the pivot  230   b  as shown by reference arrow  300 . This permits the slot end  145  of the trigger member  230  to move the basket drive rod  250  in a downward manner as shown by arrow  310 . The basket drive rod  250  may then be advanced in a downward manner to contact the basket slider  260  as discussed further herein. 
         [0050]    Turning now to  FIGS. 6A through 6C , there is shown the advancement of the basket drive rod  250  from the closed to the open positions. The basket drive rod  250  is moved in a downward fashion by the trigger member  230 , or slot  245  that moves the basket drive rod  250  downwardly. The basket drive rod  250  then moves the basket slider  265  in a similar manner or downwardly. The basket slider  265  connected to the first and the second fingers  265   a ,  265   b  will likewise move in a downward manner. The first and second fingers  265   a ,  265   b  include the respective first aperture  270  and the second aperture  275  which are each connected to the first and the second basket doors  105 ,  110  by the respective looped members  105   c ,  110   c . The basket slider fingers  265   a ,  265   b  contact the respective first looped member  105   c  and the second looped member  110   c  to force the first basket door  105  and the second basket door  110  downwardly. 
         [0051]    In response, the first door  105  pivots about the first pin  105   a ′ and the second pin (not shown) and the second basket door  110  pivots about the first pin  10   a ′ and second pin (not shown) to open to drop the contents through a bottom  125  of the fryer basket  100 . This permits the user to controllably and correctly position the contents on a plate or other serving basket. It should also be appreciated that the basket doors  105 ,  110  are configured to remain closed at all times during frying or near the deep fat fryer so as not to lose the contents of the basket  115  while cooking. Moreover, hooked member  150  is configured to prevent the doors  105 ,  110  from opening. 
         [0052]    In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the fryer basket  100  may be configured with one basket door, rather than two doors  105 ,  110 , and it also should be appreciated that in a further embodiment, the trigger member  230  may be configured to slide instead of pivot in order to advance the basket drive rod  250  from the handle  120 . In another alternative embodiment, the doors  105 ,  110  may be positioned in other locations as compared to the bottom of the basket  115 , such as for example, the doors  105 ,  110  placed on a lateral side of the basket  115 . Various configurations are possible and within the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0053]    While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to example embodiments thereof, 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 scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.