AU2012101011A4 - Baking pan - Google Patents

Abstract

- 23 Baking pans for use in food preparation comprise a top 5 baking pan and a bottom baking pan each having complementary cups formed therein, the complementary cups defining cavities into which food preparation is placed and baked, chilled, solidified, etc. The cups of the top baking pan may be provided with apertures which allow gas 10 to enter or leave the cavities. 34913301 (GHMetters) P90854 AU

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Innovation Patent Applicantss: Telebrands Corp. Invention Title: BAKING PAN The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method for performing it known to me/us: - 2 BAKING PANS TECHNICAL FIELD 5 This invention relates to shape imparting devices for use in shaping consumable food products during their production. 10 One form of the invention relates to shape imparting devices in the form of moulds or devices having mould surfaces which are configured to shape food goods during one or more preparation steps in the production of the food products. 15 One form of the invention relates to baking pans which are used to shape food items during a cooking step, such as for example, a baking step. 20 One form of the invention relates to moulds to shape food products, such as for example, liquid food preparations as they solidify in a mould or similar to form a shaped food product, such as a shaped confectionary which solidifies from a pourable state. 25 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION One form of the shaping device of the present invention are food moulds for imparting shape to the food products. 30 Baking pans are one example of the food moulds. Pans are a staple of any modern kitchen and are commonly used for baking, roasting, candy making, and the like. 5107/12 34913301_ (CHMatters) P90854 AU - 3 Whilst traditional baking pans are usually in the form of a flat, rectangular pan, or flat sheet and perhaps this form is the most common type of pan used in the kitchen, more decorative type pans have been proposed which are 5 intended to impart a particular shape to the food being prepared therein. Examples of common decorative pans include bundt pans, Jello moulds, cupcake pans, ice cube trays, chocolate moulds or similar. 10 However, such conventional decorative pans customarily have a single open side into which the unformed food preparation is poured or placed in a liquid or semi-liquid form enabling the food preparation to flow to conform to the shape of the pan. Thus, the side of the finished food 15 product corresponding to the open side of the decorative pan is not contacted by the decorative pan during baking or solidification and is left relatively flat and plain as compared to the side of the food product in contact with the mould which takes the shape of the mould. In order to 20 obtain a finished food product with no unshaped sides, therefore, traditionally it has been necessary to join two or more moulded shaped goods together along their respective flat, plain sides to form the desired finished shape having an overall shaped appearance. 25 While moulds used in other applications (such as thermoplastic injection moulding, as one example) have been used to shape all finished surfaces of an item, particular obstacles exist in the food preparation context 30 which prohibit the easy adaptation of such moulds to the kitchen. For example, as a batter is baked in an oven, chemical and thermal processes and reactions take place within the batter, which typically cause the food 5107/12 3491330_1 (GHMatters) P90854.AU - 4 preparation to rise, or expand in volume. Gases or steam are given off during this process. Similarly, when liquid confectionary preparations are solidified, (for example, by a chilling step), the volume of such preparations may 5 expand or contract by a substantial amount so that conventional moulds or moulding processes cannot be utilised at all times. Such aspects have, until now, deterred the further 10 development of baking pans for use in imparting an overall shape or decoration to a moulded item. While some effort has been directed at elaborate food shaping machinery in the industrial food preparation industry, there exists an unmet demand for moulds in the form of pans or similar is which are configured to shape all, or substantially all, of the finished surfaces of a consumable food product and which are not so complex or expensive so as to prohibit their use in the home kitchen. Accordingly, there is a need for a low cost food shaping device and/or method of 20 forming a shaped food product which finds more universal appeal in households by being primarily designed for use in a normal domestic kitchen of a house or other dwelling constituting the household. 25 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one form of the present invention there is provided a shape imparting assembly for imparting a shape to a food product comprising a first mould surface having 30 at least one first mould element for imparting a first shape to the food product; and a second mould surface having at least one second mould element for imparting a second shape to the food product, wherein the at least one 3491330_1 (GHMatters) P90854AU 5/07/12 - 5 first mould element of the first mould surface and the at least one second mould element of the second mould surface are arranged to cooperate with one another to define a cavity when the first and second mould surfaces are in an 5 assembled position forming the assembly; wherein at least one of either the first mould element or the second mould element includes an aperture such that the cavity is open through the aperture. 10 According to the present disclosure, there is provided a baking pan assembly for use in imparting a shape to a food product comprising a first mould surface and a second mould surface, wherein at least one of the first or second mould surfaces is provided with an aperture for venting a 15 cavity formed by the first mould surface and the second mould surface when in an assembled configuration in which the mould surfaces cooperate with one another to form a cavity for shaping the food product located intermediate the first and second mould surfaces. 20 The present disclosure provides a baking pan assembly for use in imparting a shape to a food product comprising a first mould surface in the form of a first baking pan, preferably a top pan, and a second mould surface in the 25 form of a second baking pan, preferably a bottom pan in which the top baking pan has at least one aperture, preferably multiple apertures. One form of the invention includes an optional clip for 30 holding the pans together. Each of the pans has cups therein. Food product is placed in the cups of the bottom pan for baking. When the top pan is placed over the bottom pan, a cavity is formed between the respective top cups 5/07/12 3491330_1 (GHMaltem) P90854.AU -6 and bottom cups. During baking, for example, the food product rises to create a finished product that substantially conforms to the shape of the cavity. The top cups can have an aperture therein, to, for example, allow 5 steam and/or other gases to escape during baking, allow the addition of additives, and/or prevent issues related to volume changes from occurring. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 10 One form of the first mould surface is a baking pan, typically a top or upper baking pan. One form of the second mould surface is a baking pan, typically, a bottom or lower baking pan. In one form of the invention, the is top or upper baking pan is connected to the lower or bottom baking pan to form a baking assembly. One form of the first mould element is a depression provided in the surface of one of the baking pans. One 20 form of the second mould element is a depression provided in the surface of the other of the baking pans. One form of the depression is a cup or similar so that each baking pan is provided with a cup. In one form, the 25 two cups are the same shape whereas in other forms, the two cups are of different shapes. Typically, the shapes of the two cups are complementary to one another to form a food product having a visually appealing shape. 30 In one form, the first mould surface is am upper part of a mould and the second mould surface is a lower part of a mould. Typically, the upper and lower parts are provided with depressions for receiving a food preparation for 5/07/12 34913301 (GHMafto,) P90854 AU - 7 cooling, chilling, freezing, solidifying or similar in a cooking step involving heating or in a process not involving heating or applying heat to the preparation. 5 One form of the mould surface, typically, the mould element, is provided with at least one aperture. More typically, the cup of the top or upper baking pan is provided with an aperture. Some forms of the cup have more than a single aperture, such as for example, two, 10 three, four or more apertures. The multiple apertures if provided, are arranged randomly or in a prearranged pattern, array or configuration, such as a regularly repeating pattern or in regularly spaced apart relationship to each other. One form of the apertures, 15 including the size, shape, location or the like, enhances the visual appeal of the food product and/or enhances the venting of steam and/or gases from the cavity to assist in cooking, shaping, forming or the like of the food product. 20 One location of the aperture is the zenith of the cup whereas another location is in the side wall of the cup. One form of the mould assembly is a baking assembly in which one or more apertures are provided in each cup of 25 the top or upper baking pan. However, in some forms, the aperture is in the bottom baking pan. In still further forms, the aperture is located in both the top baking pan and in the bottom baking pan. 30 The aperture can have any suitable or convenient size, shape and profile in accordance with the requirements of the food product being prepared by the particular mould, 5107/12 34913301 (GHM~elm) P90854AU - 8 such as in a heating step or in a cooling step. One form of the aperture in the cups is provided with a closure, such as for example, a removable closure to 5 releasably seal the aperture in some circumstances, such as during a food preparation operation, such as standing while waiting for the food preparation to rise or the like. One form of the aperture is an adjustable aperture provided with a movable closure for adjusting the size of 10 the aperture to vary its opening in accordance with different steps in the cooking procedures, such as to retain moisture by having a reduced size aperture, and/or so as to allow steam to escape by having a larger sized aperture. 15 Typically, the shape, configuration, decoration or the like of the cavity formed from the two mould elements determines the shape, configuration, decoration, appearance or similar of the food product. 20 The cavity can take any suitable or desired shape, configuration, etc. One form of the cavity is a simple geometric 3-dimensional shape, such as a sphere, ovoid, disc or similar. Other forms of the shape of the cavity 25 correspond to other items, such as animals, characters, shapes, cartoon characters, characters from literature, including children's stories, movies, and the like. One form of the cavity incorporates the size, shape, 30 location of the aperture into the shape of the food product, such as for example, the aperture may form the eyes of the character represented by the food product in which case there are two apertures per cavity. 3491330_1 (GHMatters) P90854.AU - 9 One form of the shape of the food product is a first shape. Typically, the first shape is the shape of the upper portion of the food product. 5 One form of the shape of the food product is a second shape. Typically, the second shape is the shape of the lower portion of the food product. 10 The overall shape of the food product is the combination of the shape of the first or upper portion and the shape of the second or lower portion of the product. Typically, the upper portion is formed by the cup having 15 the aperture and the lower portion is formed by the cup not having the aperture. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 20 The above mentioned and other aspects, features and advantages can be more readily understood from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: 25 Figure 1 shows a top perspective view of a baking pan according to one embodiment of the present invention with the top and bottom pans separated. Figure 2 shows a top perspective view of the baking pan 30 assembly of Figure 1 with the top and bottom pans assembled. Figure 3 shows a top plan view of a lower pan of a baking 5/07/12 3491330_1 (GHMattem) P90854 AU - 10 pan assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 shows a side view of the lower pan of Figure 3. 5 Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the lower pan of Figure 4, along line A-A. Figure 6 shows a top view of an upper or top pan of the 10 baking pan assembly of Figure 3. Figure 7 shows a side view of the upper or top pan of Figure 6. 15 Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the top pan of Figure 7. Figure 9 is a perspective view of a sample food product made using a baking pan assembly according to one 20 embodiment of the present invention. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional partial view of the baking pan assembly of Figure 2, along line C-C. 25 Figure 11 is a further cross-sectional partial view of a baking pan assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention similar to the view shown in Figure 10. Figure 12 is a cross-sectional partial view of a baking 30 pan assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention similar to the view along line D-D in Figure 2. Figure 13 is a cross-sectional partial view of a baking 5/07/12 3491330_1 (GHMattem) P90854.AU - 11 pan assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention similar to the view shown in Figure 10. Figure 14 is a top perspective view of a baking pan 5 according to a further embodiment of the present invention with the individual top and bottom pans assembled to form another form of assembly. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 10 Referring to the drawings, one embodiment of the shaping device will now be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. One form of the shaping device is a baking pan assembly, generally denoted as 10 having two mould 15 surfaces, in the form of a top pan 20, and a bottom pan 30. One form of assembly 10 is provided with one or more optional clips 40 for retaining bottom pan 20 and top pan 20 30 in an assembled condition. Top pan 20 has a multitude of first mould elements in the form of a plurality of top cups 25 or similar depressions, and bottom pan 30 has a multitude of second mould elements in the form of a plurality of bottom cups 35, or similar depressions. The 25 location of top cups 25 generally correspond to the location of bottom cups 35, so that cavities are formed between them when the top and bottom pans 20 and 30 are assembled together to form assembly 10 as shown more particularly in Figure 2. In the shown embodiment, top 30 cups 25 and bottom cups 35 are spherical, but the present disclosure contemplates other shapes, such as but not limited to, oval, elliptical, square, rectangular, or other polygonal shapes including complex shapes or 5/07112 3.491330_1 (GHM.Iltem) P90854.AU - 12 compound shapes and shapes representing other items, such as animals, characters, or similar. In addition, either top cups 25, bottom cups 35 or both are provided with optional surface configurations for imparting 5 corresponding surface shaped decoration to the food product being formed in the cavities in use of the baking pans. Top cups 25 can either have the same or different shapes as bottom cups 35. In one embodiment, top cups 25 and/or bottom cups 35 can be about one inch (about 2.5cm) io deep. However, any suitable size and/or shape is contemplated. Further, it is to be noted that one arrangement of cups 25, 35 is in the form of 24 individual cups arranged in linear arrays extending diagonally from one side of the pan to the other, is shown in Figures 1 is and 2, whereas other arrangements of cups 25, 35 are in the form of 40 individual cups arranged in staggered linear arrays as shown in figures 3 to 8. A still further embodiment of a baking assembly having 40 individual cups arranged in staggered linear arrays, is shown in Figure 20 14. Top cups 25 are provided with apertures 27 in top surfaces 26 of top cups 25. Apertures 27 can also be located on other areas of cups 25, such as on the side (not shown). 25 The size, shape, location of the apertures can vary, including the number of apertures per cup. The apertures can be of any suitable configuration, and in any suitable pattern or arrangement. Some forms of the apertures form part of the shape, decoration, pattern or ornamentation 30 imparted to the food product. Apertures 27 may serve one or more purposes. For example, during baking, apertures 27 may allow steam to escape from 5107112 3491330_1 (GHMatlems) P90854.AU - 13 the respective cavities formed by individual top cups 25 and bottom cups 35, which allows for the food product within the cavities to rise. Apertures 27 also allows a user to inject food product into the cavities or to 5 introduce filling into or on the food product being cooked in the cavities, during, before or after baking for enhancing the appearance and/or organoleptic properties of the food product, including enhancing the appearance of the food product, particularly if the food product is in 10 the shape of a familiar object, character or symbol. Another embodiment of the baking assembly including the top pan and the bottom pan is illustrated in Figures 3 to 8 using the same reference numerals for corresponding 15 features. In another example, shown in Figure 10, apertures 27 are configured to allow an implement, such as for example, a holding stick 50 to be inserted into the cavity before, 20 during or after food preparation in the cavity is baked or solidified. The prepared food product may be removed from the baking pans together with holding stick 50 after lifting top pan 30 from bottom pan 20 to expose the contents of bottom pan 20. In this example, apertu'res 27 25 are configured to align holding sticks 50 in a generally upright position once inserted through the apertures 27. As shown in Figure 11, forms of apertures 27 are configured with an extended barrel 52 or other feature to 30 aid in aligning holding sticks 50 in the desired position or orientation, typically in the vertical position allowing easy removal of top pan 20 from assembly 10. In some embodiments, the aperture is provided with a closure 5/07/12 3491330_1 (GHMatters) P90854.AU - 14 (not shown) in the form of a removable cover, lid or similar to selectively close and open the aperture as required, or a movable cover, lid, vent, or the like to adjust the size of the aperture as required. 5 In another example, apertures 27 are configured to allow inspection of the food preparation in the cavities to provide information about the preparation of the food product, such as for example, the cooking process. During 10 baking, for example, a toothpick or other implement is inserted through apertures 27 to test if a batter has been baked to a point at which the batter mixture no longer adheres to the toothpick upon removing the toothpick from the cavity thus, providing information about the cooking 15 process. As a further example, when making candy or chocolate products, apertures 27 may allow a food preparation to be injected into the cavities and also may prevent an 20 unwanted suction effect within the cavity if the food preparation should shrink in volume during a solidification step such as during chilling to assist in removal of the food product from the baking pan 30. 25 Top pan 20 and bottom pan 30 can be made from materials suitable for baking, such as but not limited to aluminium, steel, silicone or similar. Either pan can also be coated with a non-stick coating, release coating or the like. 30 In some forms of the baking pans, once assembled, assembly 10 comprising top pan 20 and bottom pan 30, can be held together by clips 40, as shown more particularly in Figures 1, 2 and 12, which can be made of silicone, or 5/07112 3491330_1 (GHMelters) P0004.AU - 15 another suitable material that can withstand the heat of baking. Clips 40 are optional for retaining the assembly in an assembled condition. The top and bottom pans 20 and 30 may also be provided with one or more clip retention 5 features configured to aid the clips 40 in holding the baking pans together. For example, as shown in Figure 12, the top and bottom pans 20 and 30 are each provided with clip ridges 54 which are configured to engage with a complementary channel 56 in the clips 40 to assist in 10 locating the retaining clips 40 in place with respect to pans 20, 30. Of course, many other clip retention feature configurations are possible in order to retain the clips in whatever form, securely in place during the heating or cooling operations. 15 In some embodiments, top pan 20 can simply rest on top of bottom pan 30, or parts of top pan 20 and bottom pan 30 are arranged to cooperatively engage with one another to retain the two pans together to form the cavities as shown 20 more particularly in Figure 14. Forms of the pans that cooperatively engage include the two pans being aligned, held or connected together with methods and/or fastenings, such as for example, a snap fit, pressure fit, tongue and groove, or other complementary arrangement comprising a 25 male and female profile part. Top pan 20 and bottom pan 30 can have top lip 22 and bottom lip 32 respectively, around outer edges of the respective pans, to facilitate connection with clip 40 as shown more particularly in Figures 2 and 3, or the other connection methods 30 discussed. Top pan 20 and bottom pan 30 can also have tapered portions 21 and 31 respectively near the outer edges, which can mate with each other to help assembly 10 remain secure during use also as shown in Figures 2 and 3. 3491330_1 (GHMatters) P90854 AU - 16 In another example, the top cups 25 and bottom cups 35 may be provided with complementary features to aid in alignment of the top and bottom trays 20 and 30 to one another. For example, as shown in Figure 13, top cups 25 s may be provided with a protruded rim 58 while bottom cups 35 may be provided with a corresponding recessed rim 59 or vice versa. In use, top pan 20 is placed in alignment over bottom pan 10 30 (as shown in Figure 2) and batter or other food preparation is placed in bottom cups 35 and/or top cups 25, either before or after the top pan 20 is placed over the bottom pan 30. Optionally, top and bottom pans 20 and 30 may be held together by clips 40 in order to form the 15 cavities for moulding or imparting shape to the food product being prepared. When used as a baking pan, the entire baking pan assembly 10 may be placed in a baking apparatus such as an oven, once filled and assembled. When used as a candy or chocolate pan, the entire baking pan 20 assembly 10 may be placed in a chilling apparatus such as a refrigerator or freezer once filled and assembled. Figure 9 illustrates one form of a sample food product that can be made using assembly 10. The food products can 25 be made in a variety of shapes, such as spherical, and can have additives such as fillings, or surface additives such as sprinkles or flaked flavourings. In some forms, the food product has surface decorations imparted from the cups which are formed with corresponding surface 30 decoration but in reverse to as to impart the shape to the food product. The food products made with assembly 10 are advantageous in that they are easily made into a variety of shapes, but are baked instead of fried. Assembly 10 5/07/12 34913301 (GHMatters) P90854 AU - 17 also provides for easier use, assembly, and cleaning than other devices that fry the food products, and does not require large amounts of cooking oil, which can be wasteful and expensive. While the present disclosure has s been described with reference to one or more particular embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope thereof. In addition, many modifications may be 10 made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be is limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure. In addition, elements and/or features of different illustrative and exemplary embodiments herein may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other 20 within the scope of this disclosure. It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the 25 common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country. In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context 30 requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but 5/07/12 34913aQl (GHM~fee) P90854 AU - 18 not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. 5/07/12 349131Q.1 (GHMatlers) P90854.AU

Claims (15)

1. A shape imparting assembly for imparting a shape to a food product comprising: 5 a first mould surface having at least one first mould element for imparting a first shape to the food product; and 10 a second mould surface having at least one second mould element for imparting a second shape to the food products, wherein the at least one first mould element of the first mould surface and the at least one second mould element of the second mould surface 15 are arranged to cooperate with one another to define a cavity when the first and second mould surfaces are in an assembled position forming the assembly; wherein at least one of the first mould element and the second mould element includes an aperture such 20 that the cavity is open through the aperture.

2. The shape imparting assembly of claim 1, wherein the first mould surface is a first baking pan and the second mould surface is a second baking pan. 25

3. The shape imparting assembly of claims 1 or 2 in which the first mould element is a cup and the second mould element is a cup. 30

4. A baking pan assembly comprising: a first baking pan including at least one cup; and 5/07112 3491330_1 (GHMallers) P90854.AU - 20 a second baking pan including at least one cup, wherein the at least one cup of the first baking pan and the at least one cup of the second baking pan are arranged adjacent to one another and together define s a cavity when the first and second baking pans are in an assembled position; and the at least one second cup of the second baking pan includes an aperture. 10

5. The shape imparting assembly of any preceding claim, in which the cavity is generally spherical.

6. The shape imparting assembly of any preceding claim, 15 wherein the first and second baking pans seal to one another in the assembled position and the aperture is configured to permit gas to escape the cavity.

7. The shape imparting assembly of any preceding claim, 20 wherein the at least one cup of the first baking pan does not include an aperture.

8. The shape imparting assembly of any preceding claim, further comprising at least one clip configured to 25 hold the first baking pan and the second baking pan together in the assembled position.

9. The shape imparting assembly of any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the first and second baking 30 pan includes a clip retention feature configured to assist the at least one clip in holding the first baking pan and second baking pan together in the assembled position. 5/07/12 34913301 (GHMatters) P90854 AU - 21

10. The shape imparting assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the first baking pan and the second baking pan each include an alignment feature, the alignment feature of the first baking pan being configured to 5 engage the alignment feature of the second baking pan to align the first baking pan to the second baking pan in the assembled position.

11. The shape imparting assembly of any preceding claim, 10 wherein the alignment feature of one of the first and second baking pans is a raised ridge at a rim of at least one cup and the alignment feature of the other of the first and second baking pans is a recession at a rim of an adjacent at least one cup. 15

12. A method of baking a shaped food article, the method comprising the steps of: (a) placing unbaked food preparation into at least 20 one cup of a first baking pan; (b) assembling a second baking pan having at least one cup corresponding to the at least one cup of the first baking pan over the first baking pan such that 25 the at least one cup of the first baking pan is adjacent to the at least one cup of the second baking pan; (c) providing an aperture in the at least one cup of 30 the second baking pan; (d) placing the assembled first and second baking pans containing the food preparation into an oven; 5/07/12 3491330_1 GHMatemr) P90854 AU - 22 and (e) allowing the food preparation to bake within a cavity formed by the at least one cup of the first s baking pan and the adjacent at least one cup of the second baking pan.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of: 10 (f) allowing gas to escape the cavity through the aperture during the baking step (e).

14. A shape imparting assembly for imparting a shape to a is food product substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. A method of baking a shaped food article substantially as herein described with reference to 20 the accompanying drawings. 5/07/12 3491330_1 (GHM91ters) P90854 AU