Food or edible material: processes – compositions – and products – Direct application of electrical or wave energy to food... – Heating by electromagnetic wave
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-29
2001-12-11
Bhat, Nina (Department: 1761)
Food or edible material: processes, compositions, and products
Direct application of electrical or wave energy to food...
Heating by electromagnetic wave
C426S289000, C099S451000, C099S498000, C099S499000, C099S508000, C219S726000, C219S729000, C219S732000, C219S757000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06329004
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to cooking methods and devices and, more particularly, to cooking devices for cooking eggs and the like. Most particularly, the preferred embodiments of the present invention pertain to devices for cooking eggs and the like using microwave or the like energy.
2. Description of the Related Art
While a variety of cooking devices are known, there remains a continued need for improved cooking devices and especially for improved microwave oven or the like cooking devices and more especially for improved cooking devices for cooking eggs or the like with a microwave oven or the like.
The present invention is an improvement over, for example, the methods and devices shown in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,807,597 (Process for Storing and Cooking an Omelet); 5,674,546 (Package for Storing and Cooking an Omelet); 5,293,021 (Egg Poacher for Microwave Oven); 4,908,487 (Egg Poacher for Microwave Oven); 4,413,167 (Microwave Egg Cooker); 4,280,032 (Egg Cooking in a Microwave Oven); 4,133,996 (Microwave Oven Egg Cooking Apparatus).
The related art contains a variety of deficiencies and does not provide various advantages, benefits and functions achieved by the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes a variety of problems found in existing devices and also provides significant advantages, benefits and functions not available with existing devices.
According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, an improved container is provided for cooking eggs and the like in a microwave oven. Preferably, the container includes a bottom cup having a top opening and a top cap configured to fit over the top opening. Preferably, the container also includes a unique separator fitted within the bottom cup. Preferably, the separator includes a cracker plate for cracking eggshells and/or at least one depending leg extending along an inside surface of the bottom cup to facilitate separation of cooked eggs. In the most preferred embodiments, the separator includes both of these features combined into a single integrally formed piece (e.g., using an injection molded plastic or the like). The container preferably also includes a unique scrambler fitted within the top cap. Preferably, the scrambler is formed as a grid through which egg contents can pass when the container is shaken. In addition, a novel cradle can be provided to facilitate carrying and handling of a plurality of like containers. In addition, a unique egg strainer that is configured to rest upon the bottom cup is also preferably included.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention enable a variety of egg dishes—e.g., poached eggs, scrambled eggs, omelets, etc.—to be easily and conveniently cooked in microwave or the like ovens with added health benefits, e.g., not requiring added fats or the like, with cost reduction and manufacturing advantages, with aesthetic advantages and with other significant advantages.
In one illustrative embodiment of the invention, a microwavable container for cooking eggs can be provided which includes: a bottom cup having a top opening; a top cap configured to fit over the top opening; a separator fitted within the bottom cup, the separator including a cracker plate, and the separator including at least one depending leg extending along an inside surface of the bottom cup; and a scrambler fitted within the top cap, the scrambler having a grid through which egg contents can pass when the container is shaken.
In another illustrative embodiment of the invention, a microwavable container assembly for cooking eggs can be provided which includes: a bottom cup having a top opening; a top cap releasably connected to the bottom cup over the top opening; and a separator fitted within the bottom cup, the separator including a generally vertical cracker plate for cracking eggs.
In another illustrative embodiment of the invention, a microwavable container for cooking eggs can be provided that includes: a bottom cup having a top opening; a top cap releasably connected to the bottom cup over the top opening; and a scrambler having a grid through which egg contents can pass when the container is shaken.
According to other embodiments of the invention, novel methods of cooking eggs and the like are provided. In one illustrative embodiment, a method of cooking an egg in a microwave oven is set forth which includes: providing a microwavable container for cooking eggs having a bottom cup with a top opening, a top cap releasably connectable to the bottom cup over the top opening, and a separator fittable within the bottom cup, the separator including a generally vertical cracker plate; impacting a whole egg against the cracker plate so as to crack the shell of the egg; depositing the internal egg contents inside the bottom cup without the egg shell; connecting the top cap to the bottom cup to form a substantially enclosed container having the internal egg contents therein; and cooking the container along with its internal egg contents within a microwave oven.
According to another illustrative embodiment of the invention, a method of cooking an egg in a microwave oven is set forth which includes: providing a microwavable container for cooking eggs having a bottom cup with a top opening, a top cap releasably connectable to the bottom cup over the top opening, and a scrambler having a grid through which egg contents can pass; depositing internal egg contents inside the bottom cup without the egg shell; connecting the top cap to the bottom cup to form a substantially enclosed container having the internal egg contents therein; shaking the container such that the internal egg contents is scrambled by impacting the scrambler; and cooking the container along with its internal egg contents within a microwave oven.
The above and other embodiments, features, methods and advantages will be described further herein-below with reference to the accompanying figures.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 342187 (1993-12-01), Chen
patent: 4133996 (1979-01-01), Fread
patent: 4280032 (1981-07-01), Levinson
patent: 5293021 (1994-03-01), Davis
patent: 5432324 (1995-07-01), Freewald
patent: 5674546 (1997-10-01), Barnes et al.
patent: 5807597 (1998-09-01), Barnes et al.
patent: 1 027 869 U (1994-09-01), None
Bhat Nina
Kilpatrick & Stockton LLP
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