Agitating – Mixing chamber removable from stirrer and support – Support rectilinearly reciprocable only
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-19
2001-07-24
Soohoo, Tony G. (Department: 1723)
Agitating
Mixing chamber removable from stirrer and support
Support rectilinearly reciprocable only
C366S278000, C366S197000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264358
ABSTRACT:
RELATED APPLICATIONS
There are no previously filed, nor currently any co-pending applications, anywhere in the world.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an electric kitchen appliance used in food preparation and, more particularly, to a mixing or stirring appliance which can constantly stir the contents of a pot, pan or other conventional stove top cooking container.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the related art, electrical kitchen appliances used in food preparation, in particular those used for mixing and stirring, are well known.
These appliances can be divided into two groups. The appliances in the first group are of the type that simultaneously stir and mix the food ingredients in the same pot or vessel being used to heat or cool them. The second group are simply mixers with agitator shafts extending downwardly to mix the food ingredients. These types of devices are commonly associated with mixing and stirring ice cream products such as malts and milkshakes.
The problem with the appliances in the first group is that the food preparation container is an integrated part of the device. Typically, a shaft protrudes through an opening in the center of the container to drive an agitator which stirs the ingredients. Consequently, one cannot use the pot or pan of choice severely limiting the use of the device. The heating and cooling means are also integrated into the device adding to it's size and limiting it's portability. None of these devices can be used on a conventional stove top. The problem with the devices in the second group is that they were not designed for stirring ingredients cooking on a stove top. Again here one cannot use a selected pot or pan to be stirred because these units were designed for stirring a smaller container such as a cup. A pot or pan simply would not fit underneath the device. These devices are commonly associated with mixing and stirring ingredients used for making ice cream products.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related:
U.S. Pat. No.
Inventor
Issue Date
5,228,381
Virgilio, et al.
Jul. 20,
1993
5,031,518
Bordes
July 16,
1991
5,022,315
Bertram, et al.
June 11,
1991
5,112,135
Rupp
May 12,
1992
4,946,287
Barnard, et al.
Aug. 7,
1990
D 319,754
Maass
Sep. 10,
1991
D 319,946
Barrault
Sep. 17,
1991
Of considerable relevance is U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,381, issued in the name of Virgilio, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,518, issued in the name of Bordis, U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,315, issued in the name of Bertram, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. D 319,754, issued in the name of Maass. While mixing features are incorporated into these inventions, the design of the present invention as a stand alone, portable, stove top, constant spoon stirring apparatus is different enough as to make the device distinguished over these and other references. U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,135, issued in the name of Rupp and U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,287, issued in the name of Barnard, et al. both are stand alone mixing devices with downwardly extending agitators similar to the present invention; however, there is no suggestion that either device be used to stir ingredients in a pot or pan while being heated on a stove top. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. D 319,946, issued in the name of Barrault is a design patent issued for an attachment for a food mixer of the type of devices with downwardly extending agitators described above but the design of the attachment bears no similarity to any of the agitators being contemplated for this invention.
Consequently, a need has been felt for providing a stove top appliance which is portable, stand alone, and can be used to constantly stir or mix food ingredients in any pot, pan, or conventional stove top container while heating allowing one to attend to other tasks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a portable, stove or counter top device that is used to provide a constant stirring motion in a pot, pan, or other conventional stove top container.
It is a feature of the present invention to provide a constant stirring device which can stir food ingredients in a pot, pan, or other conventional cooking container freeing the food preparer to attend to other tasks.
It is another feature of the present invention to provide an adjustable arm that allows the stirring spoon to be positioned at variable positions with respect to the base, allowing it to be placed inside pots and pans of varying depths.
It is another feature of the present invention to perform a sweeping motion of the spoon across the pot so as to provide a stirring motion.
It is another feature of the present invention to provide variable speed settings of the stirring action.
Briefly described according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a portable, stand-alone, stove top, constant spoon stirring apparatus is provided having a swing arm comprised of adjustment mechanisms allowing variable positions of the arm with respect to the base allowing it to be placed inside pots and pans of varying depths. The swing arm would be further comprised of adjustment mechanisms allowing variable positions of the arm with respect to the head allowing pots of varying size to be utilized.
The stirring action would consist of a pendulum type motion of the stirring utensil across the pot or pan being stirred.
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Bradford Jennifer
Eisaman Lanna
Gugliotta John D.
Soohoo Tony G.
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