Foods and beverages: apparatus – Cereal-puffing – Corn-popper type
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-05
2001-04-24
Simone, Timothy F. (Department: 1761)
Foods and beverages: apparatus
Cereal-puffing
Corn-popper type
C099S323500, C099S323900
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220148
ABSTRACT:
SUBJECT MATTER OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to the field of apparatus for creating “Kettle” type popcorn.
BACKGROUND
Commercial “Kettle” type corn popping apparatus, capable of producing large quantities of popcorn, have become popular for use by vendors at theme parks, outdoor public gatherings and other events. It is recognized as an old concept in preparing popcorn. Such apparatus, and even that used to prepare commercial popcorn typically comprises a pivotable cooking kettle, a burner or other source of heat below the kettle, and a contiguous receiving container for the popped corn. Such apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,457,854; 2,477,416; 2,117, 872; 5,857,403; and 6,032,572.
In use, a fairly large hemispheric bowl-like cooking or popping kettle is manually pivoted from the first position over the heat source wherein popping takes place, to a second position over a receiving bowl (sometimes referred to as a “primary catcher”) where the popped corn is bagged for resale. Heretofore at least one of the popping and receiving bowls were made of copper and thus continually subject to cleaning and polishing to meet health standards. The operator typically uses a wooden paddle for stirring, which paddles have been found incapable of meeting certain health standards. The receiving bowl, such as found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,403, is usually a mirror image of the popping kettle, or in other instances rectangular, or square. As a result, in many cases, as the popping kettle is raised to the second position, popped popcorn spills outside the receiving kettle onto the ground. Another problem is in manually pivoting a hot popping kettle from one position to the other as it is made of heavy metal, even without the presence of the popcorn. Further problems include keeping the popping corn within the popping kettle and the separation and removal of un-popped corn or ‘culls’ from the receiving bowl.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
One object of the invention is to provide an improved wheeled kettle corn popper cabinet that overcomes the problems as set forth above.
Another object of invention is to provide a substantially insulated stainless steel apparatus, particularly the popping kettle (which can be of carbon steel) and the receiving bowl (a.k.a. “primary catcher”).
A yet further object of the invention is to provide a popping kettle that pivots toward a receiving bowl that substantially eliminates spill outside the bowl. Preferably, the receiving bowl is of a U or D-shape; with the bight of the U-shape, or the straight portion of the D being adjacent the pivot axis of the popping bowl.
Another object is to provide a pivotal cover for the popping kettle, which will yet permit means to utilize a non wooden stirring paddle while the popping kettle is covered.
Another object is to provide a screen at the bottom of the receiving bowl for the unpopped corn to pass into a removable D-shaped container below the receiving bowl. For travel the removable D-shaped container is nestable in the receiving bowl.
A yet further object of the invention is to provide an improved pneumatic or hydraulic means to assist in pivoting the hot popping kettle to the second position where the popped corn falls into the receiving bowl.
Other objects will become more apparent from the following description, specifications, and drawings.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is directed to improvements in kettle type popcorn poppers of the type having a cabinet enclosure with a controllable and exhaustable heat source, such as a natural gas, propane, or electric below a kettle formed as a part of the top of the cabinet. The top, and its kettle, is pivotable along one edge to dump the popped corn into a receiving container. The apparatus of this invention, for health reasons, is substantially constructed of insulated stainless steel, with a carbon steel kettle. One improvement is to provide means to retain the popped corn within the system, not only during the cooking stage but also in the receiving container. A lid that is horizontally pivotal over the kettle, in one position, or away in another position includes an opening for a stirring paddle when in the one position over the kettle. Another improvement is a D-shaped receiving container that is retained adjacent the cabinet with the straight portion of the D-shape, in horizontal cross section, adjacent the one edge. Below the receiving container is a matching D-shaped catcher that receives un-popped corn. The catcher is nestable within the receiving container for storage and transport. Further improvement include fluid, gas or hydraulic, actuated springs normally biased toward the kettle dumping position to assist in raising and lowering the top and kettle. A releaseable latch is provided to retain the top and kettle in the cooking position.
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Pearce Michael R.
Shoffner Larry D.
Head James R.
Simone Timothy F.
Trinity Concessions, L.L.C.
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