Foods and beverages: apparatus – Means to treat food – Subdividing into plural products
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-28
2001-08-21
Simone, Timothy F. (Department: 1761)
Foods and beverages: apparatus
Means to treat food
Subdividing into plural products
C099S495000, C099S498000, C099S516000, C099S538000, C099S577000, C099S64600C, C030S120100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276265
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an egg poker device for piercing a hole in a shell of an egg.
More specifically, the present invention relates to an egg poker device for piercing a hole in a shell of an egg to be boiled to facilitate removal of the shell.
INFORMATION DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
When eggs are boiled for use in the preparation of a salad or when making sandwiches or the like, the removal of the shell from the egg has proved difficult.
Accordingly, egg pokers have been devised for poking a small hole in the shell of an egg prior to boiling the same. The hole in the shell does not interfere with the process of boiling the egg. However, the small hole permits the flow of a small stream of water into the egg for forming a layer between the inner surface of the egg shell and the outer surface of the edible portion of the egg.
Consequently, when the egg has been hard boiled and the egg has been removed from the boiling water, the shell of the egg readily peels away from the white of the egg so that the white of the egg and the yolk therein are not broken or otherwise damaged during such shell peeling operation.
Included in the prior art is an egg poker device which has an egg supporting surface thereon. A central hole is provided for the passage therethrough of a needle. A first member slidably receives therein the supporting surface. The supporting surface includes a depending skirt portion which cooperates with an annular wall of the first member. When the egg is supported on the surface and the egg and supporting surface are pressed downwardly, the point of the needle pierces the shell of the egg.
However, the aforementioned prior art egg poker is relatively complex in construction and requires the provision of a compression spring for urging the support away from the first member.
The egg poker device of the present invention overcomes the problems associated with the prior art device and provides an egg poker of extremely simple construction which greatly reduces the cost of manufacture thereof.
Therefore, it is a primary feature of the present invention to provide an egg poker device that overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art devices.
Another feature of the present invention is the provision of an egg poker device that is extremely easy to construct.
A further feature of the present invention is the provision of an egg poker device that is simple to operate and of relatively low cost compared with the prior art arrangements.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art by a consideration of the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention contained herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an egg poker device for piercing a hole in a shell of an egg to be boiled to facilitate removal of the shell. The device includes a first member having a base and a wall extending away from the base such that the base and the wall define therebetween a cavity. A disc shaped spring is disposed within the cavity and adjacent to the base, the spring having a central portion. The spring also defines a peripheral edge. The first end of a rod is secured to the central portion of the spring and a second end of the rod defines a point for piercing the hole in the shell of the egg. A second member slidably cooperates with the first member. The second member includes a support for supporting the egg, the support defining a hole for the slidable passage therethrough of the point of the rod. A skirt portion extends from the support such that the skirt portion slidably cooperates with the wall. The skirt portion defines a distal end which cooperates with the peripheral edge of the spring. The arrangement is such that in operation of the device, when the the egg to be boiled is supported by the support, the support and the egg supported thereon are moved towards the first member so that the distal end of the skirt is urged against the peripheral edge of the spring for flexing the spring so that the central portion of the spring and the first end of the rod secured thereto are moved towards the egg such that the point passes through the hole in the support for piercing the shell of the egg.
In a more specific embodiment of the present invention, the first member is fabricated from plastics material and is of cup shaped configuration.
Also, the base is of circular configuration and the wall is a peripheral wall.
The spring is fabricated from metal and preferably, the spring is fabricated from a sheet of flexible metallic material, the spring being of saucer shaped configuration so that when the peripheral edge thereof is depressed in a first direction, towards the base, the central portion thereof is deflected in a second direction opposite to the first direction, away from the base.
Furthermore, the rod is fabricated from metal and the second member is fabricated from a plastics material.
Additionally, the second member slides telescopically relative to the first member and the support is of circular configuration.
Moreover, the support defines a depression for the reception thereagainst of the egg and the skirt portion slides within the wall.
More specifically, the skirt portion includes a stop which engages the wall for stopping the second member detaching from the first member.
Also, the distal end of the skirt portion is of annular configuration.
Many modifications and variations of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art by a consideration of the detailed description contained hereinafter taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings which show a preferred embodiment of the present invention. However, such modifications and variations fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
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Archer David J
Simone Timothy F.
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