CA2121824C - Egg spatula - Google Patents
Egg spatula Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2121824C CA2121824C CA 2121824 CA2121824A CA2121824C CA 2121824 C CA2121824 C CA 2121824C CA 2121824 CA2121824 CA 2121824 CA 2121824 A CA2121824 A CA 2121824A CA 2121824 C CA2121824 C CA 2121824C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- handle
- spatula
- clamping
- paddle
- fingers
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
- A47J43/00—Implements for preparing or holding food, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- A47J43/28—Other culinary hand implements, e.g. spatulas, pincers, forks or like food holders, ladles, skimming ladles, cooking spoons; Spoon-holders attached to cooking pots
- A47J43/288—Spatulas; Scrapers; Multi-purpose hand implements
Abstract
A kitchen spatula for handling eggs during the preparation thereof allows the user to grasp the egg being manipulated without puncturing its yolk. The spatula has a substantially flat spatula paddle and an elongated paddle handle attached to it. The spatulla also has an elongated clamping handle and a substantially flat clamping member rigidly fixed to the clamping handle. A substantially U-shaped indentation is provided in the clamping member, the indentation defining a pair of fingers projecting substantially forwardly, the fingers being spaced apart by a spacing of sufficient size to accomodate the yolk of the egg. The clamping handle is adapted to be hingely pivoted relatively to the paddle handle so that the fingers of the clamping member and the spatula paddle will act as tongs grasping the albumen portion of the egg while the yolk portion will be nested between the fingers of the clamping member.
Description
~~,.~ ~ 8 ~ 4 Egg Spatula Background of the invention:
Field of the invention:
The present invention relates to the field of culinary ustensils and is particularly concerned with a kitchen spatula for handling eggs during the preparation thereof.
Prior art:
The art of kitchen ustensils is replete with spatulas of various shapes and sizes. The most common kitchen spatula consists of a substantially flat spatula blade extending integrally into a handle.
This type of ustensil is freqently used during cooking operations to flip over food being, for example, grilled in a sauce pan. The conventional spatula is also often used to manipulate the food when it is being placed or removed for a cooking receptacle.
In order to improve the efficiency of the spatula in manipulating the food, a number of spatulas have been provided with various components mostly dedicated to grasping the food in order to prevent it from slipping off the spatula blade.
Examples of such ustensils are disclosed in U.S. Patent 2,643,907 issued to J. B. Thomas, June 30, 1953; U.S. Patent 2,292,889 issued to I.
A. McKee, August 11, 1942; U.S. Patent 3,492,039 issued to J. F. Chmela, January, 1970; U. S. Patent 2,801,873 issued to J. E. Faughnder, August 6, 1957 and U. S. Patent 4,955,971 issued to Goulter, September 11, 1990.
Although the spatulas disclosed in the above mentioned patents may be adequate to grip and manipulate various types of food products, they do not form an elegant solution for the manipulation of eggs.
Indeed, the egg has specific characteristics which structurally sets it apart from other food products. When an egg is being fried, its yolk portion bulges upwardly in a substantially hemispherical configuration from the albumen or so-called "white" portion. The yolk is fragile and susceptible of being punctured.
Fried eggs are typically served in either a "sunny side up" or an "over easy" configuration. In both configuration, the yolk remains unpunctured and surrounded by the albumen or so-called "white" portion. The spatulas disclosed in the above mentioned patents are not suited for manipulating an egg without puncturing its yolk.
Summary of the invention:
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved egg spatula.
The egg spatula in accordance with the present invention will allow the user to grasp the egg being manipulated without puncturing its yolk.
According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a spatula for manipulating an egg having a yolk portion and an albumen portion, said spatula comprising a substantially flat spatula paddle, an elongated paddle handle having a handle proximal end and a handle distal end, said handle proximal end being rigidly fixed to said spatula paddle, ~~~~.~Z~
Field of the invention:
The present invention relates to the field of culinary ustensils and is particularly concerned with a kitchen spatula for handling eggs during the preparation thereof.
Prior art:
The art of kitchen ustensils is replete with spatulas of various shapes and sizes. The most common kitchen spatula consists of a substantially flat spatula blade extending integrally into a handle.
This type of ustensil is freqently used during cooking operations to flip over food being, for example, grilled in a sauce pan. The conventional spatula is also often used to manipulate the food when it is being placed or removed for a cooking receptacle.
In order to improve the efficiency of the spatula in manipulating the food, a number of spatulas have been provided with various components mostly dedicated to grasping the food in order to prevent it from slipping off the spatula blade.
Examples of such ustensils are disclosed in U.S. Patent 2,643,907 issued to J. B. Thomas, June 30, 1953; U.S. Patent 2,292,889 issued to I.
A. McKee, August 11, 1942; U.S. Patent 3,492,039 issued to J. F. Chmela, January, 1970; U. S. Patent 2,801,873 issued to J. E. Faughnder, August 6, 1957 and U. S. Patent 4,955,971 issued to Goulter, September 11, 1990.
Although the spatulas disclosed in the above mentioned patents may be adequate to grip and manipulate various types of food products, they do not form an elegant solution for the manipulation of eggs.
Indeed, the egg has specific characteristics which structurally sets it apart from other food products. When an egg is being fried, its yolk portion bulges upwardly in a substantially hemispherical configuration from the albumen or so-called "white" portion. The yolk is fragile and susceptible of being punctured.
Fried eggs are typically served in either a "sunny side up" or an "over easy" configuration. In both configuration, the yolk remains unpunctured and surrounded by the albumen or so-called "white" portion. The spatulas disclosed in the above mentioned patents are not suited for manipulating an egg without puncturing its yolk.
Summary of the invention:
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved egg spatula.
The egg spatula in accordance with the present invention will allow the user to grasp the egg being manipulated without puncturing its yolk.
According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a spatula for manipulating an egg having a yolk portion and an albumen portion, said spatula comprising a substantially flat spatula paddle, an elongated paddle handle having a handle proximal end and a handle distal end, said handle proximal end being rigidly fixed to said spatula paddle, ~~~~.~Z~
an elongated clamping handle having a clamping handle proximal end and a clamping handle distal end, said clamping handle distal end being hingely fixed to said handle distal end, a substantially flat clamping member rigidly fixed to said clamping handle proximal end, a substantially U-shaped indentation provided in said clamping member, said indentation defining a pair of fingers projecting substantiallyforwardly, said fingers being spaced apart by a spacing of sufficient size to accomodate said yolk of said egg, whereby said clamping handle is adapted to be hingely pivoted relatively to said paddle handle so that said fingers of said clamping member and said spatula paddle will act as tongs grasping said albumen portion of said egg while said yolk portion will be nested between said fingers of said clamping member.
Conveniently, said biasing means for biasing said paddle handle and said clamping handle away from each other is positioned between said paddle handle and said clamping handle.
Preferrably, said biasing means is a bent segment of substantially resilient material extending integrally from said handle distal end into said clamping handle distal end.
Conveniently, said spatula is formed entirely of an injected moldable piece of polymeric material.
In the preferred embodiment, each one of said fingers has a finger width, wherein said fingers are spaced apart by a distance of at least one inch and wherein each one of said fingers has a width of at least one quarter of an inch so thath said fingers will offer a sufficiently large contact surtace so as not to damage sais albumen portion..
Conveniently, said biasing means for biasing said paddle handle and said clamping handle away from each other is positioned between said paddle handle and said clamping handle.
Preferrably, said biasing means is a bent segment of substantially resilient material extending integrally from said handle distal end into said clamping handle distal end.
Conveniently, said spatula is formed entirely of an injected moldable piece of polymeric material.
In the preferred embodiment, each one of said fingers has a finger width, wherein said fingers are spaced apart by a distance of at least one inch and wherein each one of said fingers has a width of at least one quarter of an inch so thath said fingers will offer a sufficiently large contact surtace so as not to damage sais albumen portion..
Brief description of the drawings:
Fig 1: in a perspective view illustrates an egg spatula in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig 2: in a perspective view illustrates an egg in a frying pan being grasped by a spatula in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 3 through 7 in sequential elevational views illustrate an egg being flipped over by a spatula in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Detailed description:
Referring to figure 1, there is shown an egg spatula 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
The egg spatula 10 has a substantially flat paddle 12. An elongated paddle handle 14 extends integrally from the flat paddle 12. The paddle handle 14 thus has a handle proximal end 16 attached to the paddle and a handle distal end 18. A clamping arm 20 having a clamping arm proximal end 22 and a clamping arm distal end 24 is hingely fixed by an hinge link to the distal end 18 of the paddle handle 14. In the embodiment illustrated in figure 1, the hinge link is a bent section 26 of relatively resilient material having a substantially curved configuration. The distal end 18 of the paddle handle 14 thus extends integrally into the section 22 which in turn extends integrally into the clamping arm 20. The proximal end 22 of the clamping arm 20 extends integrally into a clamping fork 28.
The clamping fork 28 is substantially flat. The clamping fork 28 has ~ ~'~18 ~~
a frontal substantially U-shaped indentation 30 which defines a pair of frontwardly projecting fingers 32.
In use, the clamping arm 20 is adapted to be pivoted about its distal end 24 relatively to the paddle handle 14. The pivotal action of the clamping arm 20 is schematized by arrow A in figure 1. The paddle 12 has a set of optional elongated gripping slots 34 extending therethrough. The top surface of the paddle 12 has a bevelled section 36 adjacent its peripheral edge.
Figures 3 through 7 illustrate a sequence of actions which are typically pertormed when an egg is being flipped over with a spatula 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
When a frying egg 38 needs to be manipulated, for example turned over, as is the case in the preparation of a so-called "easy over" fried egg, the user must first scrape the egg 38 from the frying pan 40 by sliding the flat paddle 12 between the albumen or so-called "white" section 42 and the bottom wall of the frying pan 40. As illustrated in figures 2 and 3, during the scraping action, the clamping arm 20 and the clamping fork 28 are kept in spaced relationship relatively to the paddle handle 14 and the paddle 12.
The spatula 10 is manipulated so that the yolk portion 46 of the egg 38 is positioned in register with the indentation 30.
As illustrated in figure 4, to grasp the egg 38, the hand 48 of the user squeezes the clamping arm 20 towards the paddle handle 14, causing the section 26 to bend and the clamping fork 28 to move towards the paddle 12. The albumen or so-called "white" section 42 of the egg 38 is thus squeezed between the fingers 32 of the clamping fork 28 and the flat paddle 12, while the yolk portion 46 is nested between the fingers 32. With '' ~~~:18~~
the clamping fork 28 and the paddle 12 acting as tongs, the egg 38 is thus safely clamped by the spatula 10 without puncturing its yolk section 46.
The egg 38 being securely clamped by the spatula 10, it can be pivoted as illustrated in figure 5. The egg 38 with its yolk section 46 facing downwardly as illustrated in figure 6, can then be gently put in contact with the bottom wall 44 of the pan 40, again minimizing the risk of puncturing the yolk.
By releasing the grasping action which squeezes the paddle handle 14 towards the clamping arm 20, the user then allows the bent section 26 to bring the clamping arm 20 back to its original spaced relationship relative to the paddle handle 14 thus allowing the egg 38 to slide off the spatula.
The reference letter S is used in figure 7 to illustrate the spacing between the paddle handle 14 and the clamping arm 20 when no squeezing action is exherted on them.
In the preferred embodiment illustrated in figures 1 through 7, the spatula 10 is formed out of one integral piece of injection molded polymeric material. The handle proximal end 16 and the clamping arm proximal end 22 are both bent in order to form a spacing V between a plane T defined by the paddle 12 and a plane U defined by the paddle handle 14.
Each one of the fingers 38 defines a substantially flat grasping surface. The fingers 38 typically have a width W greater than '/a of an inch in order to apply the squeezing force over a relatively large surface thus minimizing the risk of damaging the albumen or so-called "white" portion 42.
Fig 1: in a perspective view illustrates an egg spatula in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig 2: in a perspective view illustrates an egg in a frying pan being grasped by a spatula in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 3 through 7 in sequential elevational views illustrate an egg being flipped over by a spatula in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Detailed description:
Referring to figure 1, there is shown an egg spatula 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
The egg spatula 10 has a substantially flat paddle 12. An elongated paddle handle 14 extends integrally from the flat paddle 12. The paddle handle 14 thus has a handle proximal end 16 attached to the paddle and a handle distal end 18. A clamping arm 20 having a clamping arm proximal end 22 and a clamping arm distal end 24 is hingely fixed by an hinge link to the distal end 18 of the paddle handle 14. In the embodiment illustrated in figure 1, the hinge link is a bent section 26 of relatively resilient material having a substantially curved configuration. The distal end 18 of the paddle handle 14 thus extends integrally into the section 22 which in turn extends integrally into the clamping arm 20. The proximal end 22 of the clamping arm 20 extends integrally into a clamping fork 28.
The clamping fork 28 is substantially flat. The clamping fork 28 has ~ ~'~18 ~~
a frontal substantially U-shaped indentation 30 which defines a pair of frontwardly projecting fingers 32.
In use, the clamping arm 20 is adapted to be pivoted about its distal end 24 relatively to the paddle handle 14. The pivotal action of the clamping arm 20 is schematized by arrow A in figure 1. The paddle 12 has a set of optional elongated gripping slots 34 extending therethrough. The top surface of the paddle 12 has a bevelled section 36 adjacent its peripheral edge.
Figures 3 through 7 illustrate a sequence of actions which are typically pertormed when an egg is being flipped over with a spatula 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
When a frying egg 38 needs to be manipulated, for example turned over, as is the case in the preparation of a so-called "easy over" fried egg, the user must first scrape the egg 38 from the frying pan 40 by sliding the flat paddle 12 between the albumen or so-called "white" section 42 and the bottom wall of the frying pan 40. As illustrated in figures 2 and 3, during the scraping action, the clamping arm 20 and the clamping fork 28 are kept in spaced relationship relatively to the paddle handle 14 and the paddle 12.
The spatula 10 is manipulated so that the yolk portion 46 of the egg 38 is positioned in register with the indentation 30.
As illustrated in figure 4, to grasp the egg 38, the hand 48 of the user squeezes the clamping arm 20 towards the paddle handle 14, causing the section 26 to bend and the clamping fork 28 to move towards the paddle 12. The albumen or so-called "white" section 42 of the egg 38 is thus squeezed between the fingers 32 of the clamping fork 28 and the flat paddle 12, while the yolk portion 46 is nested between the fingers 32. With '' ~~~:18~~
the clamping fork 28 and the paddle 12 acting as tongs, the egg 38 is thus safely clamped by the spatula 10 without puncturing its yolk section 46.
The egg 38 being securely clamped by the spatula 10, it can be pivoted as illustrated in figure 5. The egg 38 with its yolk section 46 facing downwardly as illustrated in figure 6, can then be gently put in contact with the bottom wall 44 of the pan 40, again minimizing the risk of puncturing the yolk.
By releasing the grasping action which squeezes the paddle handle 14 towards the clamping arm 20, the user then allows the bent section 26 to bring the clamping arm 20 back to its original spaced relationship relative to the paddle handle 14 thus allowing the egg 38 to slide off the spatula.
The reference letter S is used in figure 7 to illustrate the spacing between the paddle handle 14 and the clamping arm 20 when no squeezing action is exherted on them.
In the preferred embodiment illustrated in figures 1 through 7, the spatula 10 is formed out of one integral piece of injection molded polymeric material. The handle proximal end 16 and the clamping arm proximal end 22 are both bent in order to form a spacing V between a plane T defined by the paddle 12 and a plane U defined by the paddle handle 14.
Each one of the fingers 38 defines a substantially flat grasping surface. The fingers 38 typically have a width W greater than '/a of an inch in order to apply the squeezing force over a relatively large surface thus minimizing the risk of damaging the albumen or so-called "white" portion 42.
Claims (5)
1 Claims:
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A spatula for manipulating an egg having a yolk portion and an albumen portion, said spatula comprising:
- a substantially flat spatula paddle, - an elongated paddle handle having a handle proximal end and a handle distal end, said handle proximal end being rigidly fixed to said spatula paddle, - an elongated clamping handle having a clamping handle proximal end and a clamping handle distal end, said clamping handle distal end being hingely fixed to said handle distal end, - a substantially flat clamping member rigidly fixed to said clamping handle proximal end, - a substantially U-shaped indentation provided in said clamping member, said indentation defining a pair of fingers projecting substantially forwardly, said fingers being spaced apart by a spacing of sufficient size to accomodate said yolk of said egg, whereby said clamping handle is adapted to be hingely pivoted relatively to said paddle handle so that said fingers of said clamping member and said spatula paddle will act as tongs grasping said albumen portion of said egg while said yolk portion will be nested between said fingers of said clamping member.
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A spatula for manipulating an egg having a yolk portion and an albumen portion, said spatula comprising:
- a substantially flat spatula paddle, - an elongated paddle handle having a handle proximal end and a handle distal end, said handle proximal end being rigidly fixed to said spatula paddle, - an elongated clamping handle having a clamping handle proximal end and a clamping handle distal end, said clamping handle distal end being hingely fixed to said handle distal end, - a substantially flat clamping member rigidly fixed to said clamping handle proximal end, - a substantially U-shaped indentation provided in said clamping member, said indentation defining a pair of fingers projecting substantially forwardly, said fingers being spaced apart by a spacing of sufficient size to accomodate said yolk of said egg, whereby said clamping handle is adapted to be hingely pivoted relatively to said paddle handle so that said fingers of said clamping member and said spatula paddle will act as tongs grasping said albumen portion of said egg while said yolk portion will be nested between said fingers of said clamping member.
2. A spatula as recited in claim 1, wherein a biasing means for biasing said paddle handle and said clamping handle away from each other is positioned between said paddle handle and said clamping handle.
3. A spatula as recited in claim 2, wherein said biasing means is a bent segment of substantially resilient material extending integrally from said handle distal end into said clamping handle distal end.
4. A spatula as recited in claim 1, wherein said spatula is formed entirely of an injected moldable piece of polymeric material.
5. A spatula as recited in claim 1, wherein each one of said fingers has a finger width, wherein said fingers are spaced apart by a distance of at least one inch and wherein each one of said fingers has a width of at least one quarter of an inch.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2121824 CA2121824C (en) | 1994-04-21 | 1994-04-21 | Egg spatula |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2121824 CA2121824C (en) | 1994-04-21 | 1994-04-21 | Egg spatula |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2121824A1 CA2121824A1 (en) | 1995-10-22 |
| CA2121824C true CA2121824C (en) | 2002-04-02 |
Family
ID=4153423
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2121824 Expired - Lifetime CA2121824C (en) | 1994-04-21 | 1994-04-21 | Egg spatula |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2121824C (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2012055779A1 (en) | 2010-10-26 | 2012-05-03 | Leifheit Ag | Holding device for food with integrated tong |
-
1994
- 1994-04-21 CA CA 2121824 patent/CA2121824C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2121824A1 (en) | 1995-10-22 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |
Effective date: 20140422 |