AU2015200789B2

AU2015200789B2 - Vessel for microwave heating and cooking

Info

Publication number: AU2015200789B2
Application number: AU2015200789A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Maggie Man Kai Tang
Original assignee: Decor Corp Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Decor Corp Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2014-02-28
Filing date: 2015-02-17
Publication date: 2019-09-19
Anticipated expiration: 2035-02-17
Also published as: AU2015200789A1

Abstract

A container assembly for use in microwave cooking and/or heating includes a container (10) having a base (20) and a peripheral side wall (18) which extends in a direction upwardly from the base (20), forming an enclosure which is open at that end which is spaced apart from the base (20), and a lid (16) for the open end of the container, that lid (16) including an adjustable closure means to allow for controlled egress of fluid, for example steam and/or heated air, from the container assembly, the base further including a protuberance (28) which extends upwardly into the enclosure and means for spacing the base from a surface on which the container assembly is disposed. l'7/07/1 29s ? nt i 9 si 22

Description

[0001] This invention relates to containers to be used for cooking or heating, more particularly for cooking or heating of food or foodstuffs, whether solid or liquid, in microwave ovens.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Cooking or heating of food and foodstuffs in microwave ovens has been taking place for a number of decades. It involves passing microwave radiation through solids or liquids and provides a rapid and relatively efficient way of cooking or heating. As foods and liquids/beverages in microwave ovens absorb heat faster than they lose it, the potential for bubbling or boiling over is real. Also, since as the outer portions, from about 25 to 38 mm from the edge, of the substances being heated or cooked absorb heat more quickly than the inner portions, the potential for undesirable browning, charring or burning around the outer edges is real. Circular or oval cooking vessels have been employed to minimise the latter potential. However, such has been found to not fully overcome those potential disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0003] It has been found by the inventor that, for microwave oven cooking or heating, the provision of a substantially centrally positioned projection or protuberance extending into the

5 cavity of a container materially improves the actual performance of such a container.

[0004] According to one aspect of the invention, therefore, there is provided a container assembly for use in microwave cooking and/or heating, said container assembly including: a container including a base and a peripheral side wall which extends in a direction upwardly

0 from said base, wherein said base forms, with said peripheral sidewall, an enclosure which is open at that end which is spaced apart from said base; and a lid which, in use, seals said open end of said enclosure, said lid including an adjustable closure means adapted to allow for controlled egress of fluid, including steam and/or heated air, from said container assembly, and wherein a wall of said base is moulded with a central dome-like projection which extends 35 upwardly therefrom into said enclosure so that in side cross-section the wall at the projection

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-22015200789 30 Aug 2019 is rounded and has the form of a portion of a sphere, and wherein the projection creates a corresponding dome-like space on the underside of the base.

[0005] Preferably the protuberance or projection is formed by deformation or moulding of the base.

[0006] Preferably the protuberance or projection is located substantially at the centre of the base.

[0007] Preferably the container is generally cylindrical or frusto-conical.

[0008] Preferably the container is provided with a separate means for raising the base of said container above a surface.

[0009] Preferably the container is cooperatively engageable with a handle means.

[0010] Preferably the container is provided with a removable lid including an adjustable closure which allows for egress of fluid, including steam or heated air, from said container.

0 [0011] Preferably the container is moulded from a plastics material, although it could be formed by other means and from other materials, such as for example glass.

[0012] It has been found by the inventor that a container constructed according to the present invention provides improvements in efficiency of use of microwave energy in terms of reduced

5 cooking and heating times. In one instance the time taken to boil 375 ml of water was reduced from 2 minutes and 25 seconds to 2 minutes and 5 seconds. In another instance the bubbling of a semi-solid food, such as porridge, was greatly reduced when the protuberance was present as compared to a container without a protuberance or projection.

0 DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0013] In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and put into practical effect there shall now be described in detail preferred embodiments of a vessel or container for microwave heating and cooking in accordance with the invention. The description is given by 35 way of non-limitative example only and is with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

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2015200789 30 Aug 2019

-3 [0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0015] FIG.2 is a top perspective view from below of the preferred embodiment of Figure 1;

[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view from above of the three components of the preferred embodiment of Figure 1;

[0017] FIG.4 is a perspective view from below of the components of the preferred embodiment of Figure 1;

[0018] FIG.5 is a view from the front of the container being a component of the preferred embodiment of Figure 1;

[0019]

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the container shown in Figure 5;

[0020]

FIG.7 is the left side view of the container shown in Figure 5;

[0021]

FIG. 8 is the right side view of the container shown in Figure 5;

[0022]

FIG.9 is the plan view of the container shown in Figure 5;

[0023]

FIG. 10 is the underneath view of the container shown in Figure 5;

[0024]

FIG. 11 is the sectional view of the container of Figure 5 along line A-A of Figure 9;

[0025]

FIG. 12 is a perspective view from above of the container shown in Figure 5;

[0026] of Figure 1;

FIG. 13 is the front view of the holder being a component of the preferred embodiment [0027] FIG. 14 is the rear view of the holder shown in Figure 13;

[0028] FIG. 15 is the side view of the holder shown in Figure 13;

[0029] FIG. 16 is the right side view of the holder shown in Figure 13;

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-42015200789 30 Aug 2019 [0030] FIG. 17 is the plan view of the holder shown in Figure 13;

[0031] FIG. 18 is the underneath view of the holder shown in Figure 13;

[0032] FIG. 19 is the front view of the lid being a component of the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1;

[0033] FIG. 20 is the rear view of the lid shown in Figure 19;

[0034] FIG. 21 is the left side view of the lid shown in Figure 19;

[0035] FIG. 22 is the right side view of the lid shown in Figure 19;

[0036] FIG. 23 is the plan view of the lid shown in Figure 19;

[0037] FIG. 24 is the underneath view of the lid shown in Figure 19.

[0038] FIG. 25 is a front perspective view, from above, of another embodiment of the

0 invention, including a container and holder or handle which are not separable; and [0039] FIG. 26 is a rear perspective view, from below, of the container with handle of Figure 25.

[0040] In the drawings the numeral 10 designates generally a cooking vessel, incorporating a container (12), being a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the preferred embodiment shown, the cooking vessel (10) is made up from three separable components - a container (12), a holder (14) and a lid (16).

0 [0041] The container (12) is generally frusto-conical in shape, with the lower portion of the sidewall (18) curving into the base (20). A plurality of downwardly extending projections or short legs (22) provide a stable mounting for the container (12) when it is not mounted within the holder (14). The container (12) is open at the top end is provided with a pouring spout (24) and a rim (26). A protuberance (28) formed by moulding of base (20) extends upwardly into the cavity (30) of the container (12). It is the presence of protuberance (28) which leads to improved heating and cooking efficiency in microwave cooking and heating.

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-52015200789 30 Aug 2019 [0042] Holder (14) comprises a frusto-conical ring (32) to which is moulded or secured a handle (34). Container (12) can fit snugly in the frusto-conical ring (32) of the holder (14) to allow the container to be moved from one point to another point safely, by minimising the potential for contact of a person's hand with sidewall (18) of container (12), especially after heating of solid, or liquid or mixtures thereof in the cavity (30) of the container (12).

[0043] Lid (16) is provided with a rim (36) which co-operates with rim (26) on container (12) to provide a sealing relationship between lid (16) and container (12). Lid (16) is also provided with a flap (38) to assist in removing of the lid (16) from the container (12). The lid (16) is also provided with a venting means (4) which can be used to allow steam or heated air to escape from the container (12).

[0044] In the alternative embodiment of FIGS. 25 and 26, rather than being separable the container (12) and holder (14) are formed in a co-moulding operation (of any known type), whereby to be non-separable and non-releasably connected one to the other. In other words, in this embodiment the subject matter of the invention is of two pieces, namely a container (with holder or handle) and a co-operable lid.

0 [0045] Finally, it is to be understood that the aforegoing description refers merely to preferred embodiments of the invention, and that variations and modifications will be possible thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the ambit of which is to be determined from the following claims.

5 [0046] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word comprise, and variations such as comprises and comprising, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

0 [0047] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

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Claims

1. A container assembly for use in microwave cooking and/or heating, said container assembly including:

5 a container including a base and a peripheral side wall which extends in a direction upwardly from said base, wherein said base forms, with said peripheral sidewall, an enclosure which is open at that end which is spaced apart from said base; and a lid which, in use, seals said open end of said enclosure, said lid including an adjustable closure means adapted to allow for controlled egress of fluid, including steam

10 and/or heated air, from said container assembly, and wherein a wall of said base is moulded with a central dome-like projection which extends upwardly therefrom into said enclosure so that in side cross-section the wall at the projection is rounded and has the form of a portion of a sphere, and wherein the projection creates a corresponding dome-like space on the underside of the base.

2. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container is generally cylindrical or frusto-conical.

3. The container as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said container is

2 0 cooperatively engageable with a handle means.

4. The container as claimed in claim 3, wherein said handle means is separable from said container.

2

5 5. The container as claimed in claim 3, wherein said container and said handle means are formed in a co-moulding operation and are not separable.

6. The container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base further includes means for spacing said base from a surface on which said

3 0 container assembly is disposed

7. The container as claimed in claim 6, wherein said means for raising said base of said container above said surface includes a plurality of projections, at spaced-apart positions around the periphery of said base and extending downwardly from said base.