Foods and beverages: apparatus – Cereal-puffing – Corn-popper type
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-03
2001-05-22
Simone, Timothy F. (Department: 1761)
Foods and beverages: apparatus
Cereal-puffing
Corn-popper type
C099S323500, C099S323110
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234064
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a cooker adapted for the commercial preparation of popcorn and the like. More particularly, the invention is directed to a portable cooker which is capable of intensifying the cooking temperature within a kettle included in the cooker such that the ingredients contained therein are economically processed and then conveniently discharged for subsequent use or sale.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
The preparation and dispensing of freshly cooked hot foods, especially popcorn, is commonly found at recreational gatherings, particularly outdoor events such as large picnics, fairs, carnivals, races, and the like. Consequently, a number of cookers have been developed for preparing and dispensing freshly popped popcorn.
Certain types of popcorn makers have been developed which heat the kernels by using a hot air stream. However, for making large batches of popcorn, particularly at outdoor gatherings, it is more conventional to pop the corn in a heated pan or kettle.
Accordingly, conventional large scale popcorn poppers include a relatively large heated kettle or bowl which is charged with a measured amount of popping corn and cooking oil. The kettle or bowl may have a hinged lid, which is opened to permit loading of the unopened kernels, closed to contain the corn while popping, and opened again to allow unloading of the popped corn. The bowl is typically mounted on a pivot to permit dumping the finished popcorn into a tub or suitable container from which individual packages or bags of popcorn can be filled.
Kettle cookers that are heated by open flames have hitherto been somewhat inefficient because the flame tends to be dissipated over a large fraction of the kettle surface and, accordingly, does not produce the high temperatures needed in the cooking operations.
Some of these conventional commercial popcorn cookers use pans or bowls that are heated by electric heating elements which are in direct contact with the bowl, typically over a relatively large area of the bowl. Although this method of heating allows for efficient heat transfer, it has certain disadvantages as well. In outdoor locations it is usually inconvenient to provide the high-power electric service needed for such heavy-duty commercial poppers. Furthermore, for some types of popcorn, e.g., comprising special formulas wherein the popcorn is cooked with sugar and salt, a cooking temperature which is higher than usual is desired. In using conventional methods and apparatus, producing such a higher temperature in the cooking bowl is difficult to achieve.
Furthermore, concessionaires who supply confections at assemblies, and the like, need a cooker that is designed to be easily portable and convenient to set up and operate.
Accordingly, a need has continued to exist for a portable cooker for popcorn and other confections that provides an efficient, economical, high-temperature cooking kettle and is easy to transport, set up and operate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The difficulties described above, particularly those dealing with the setup and economical operation of portable commercial popcorn cookers, have been alleviated by the cooker of this invention.
The cooker described and claimed herein comprises a housing adaptable for portable use, a heater such as a gas burner or electric heating element supported within the housing, a kettle carrier pivotably attached to a top edge of the housing and having a cooking kettle mounted therein, and a tub supported next to the housing by a detachable frame extending from the housing. The burner, or the like, is surrounded by a heat-intensifying shield which together with the burner and associated air vents serves to concentrate intense heat in a central area of the lower portion of the cooking kettle rapidly causing the popping of corn kernels and vaporizing and sweetening agent, such as sugar, so that it infuses the resulting popcorn. The kettle carrier is pivotable, moving from a substantially horizontal position across the top of the housing such that the kettle is positioned over the burner, to a substantially vertical position whereby the contents of the cooking bowl may be discharged into the dispensing tub. The kettle carrier is biased towards the vertical position by a biasing means, preferably a torsion spring, at least one end of which is received in a support tube provided in the carrier while the other end is anchored relative to the housing. The tub is provided with a screen bottom and a waste receptacle detachably mounted below the tub for easy separation and removal of waste material, such as unpopped kernels. The tub can be removed from the support frame and positioned on the top of the housing, together with the waste receptacle, over the cooking kettle, thus permitting the apparatus to be more easily transported. The housing also conveniently includes a chamber for the fuel supply lines and controls for regulating the flow of fuel to the burner. The housing is preferably provided with casters for ease of transportation and with retractable legs to stabilize the housing during operation.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a cooker for economically preparing popcorn and similar cooked foods.
A further object is to provide a cooker that is adapted to produce popcorn cooked with a sweetening agent, such as sugar.
A further object is to provide a cooker that makes efficient use of the energy used to heat the kettle.
A further object is to provide a cooker that incorporates a heat intensifier.
A further object is to provide a cooker that is easily transportable.
A further object is to provide a popcorn cooker that is convenient for use at outdoor gatherings, as well as mall's, shopping centers, and various other temporary and/or permanent locations.
A further object is to provide a cooker that incorporates a dispensing tub for the cooked food.
A further object is to provide a cooker with a convenient dispensing tub and waste receptacle. Further objects of the invention will become apparent from the description of the apparatus which follows.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1248234 (1917-11-01), Worth
patent: 1449687 (1923-03-01), Marfisi
patent: 1457854 (1923-06-01), Parks
patent: 1594190 (1926-07-01), Barnard
patent: 2117872 (1938-05-01), Barnard
patent: 2537744 (1951-01-01), Cretors
patent: 4138937 (1979-02-01), De Weese
patent: 4702158 (1987-10-01), Ishihara
patent: 5857403 (1999-01-01), Mann
Concessions Manufacturing Ltd.
Simone Timothy F.
Vorys Sater Seymour and Pease LLP
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