CA2530089A1 - Temperature sensing utensil with removable temperature display - Google Patents

Abstract

A utensil for sensing the temperature of food including a food utensil member and a handle with a removable temperature display assembly. The removable temperature display assembly includes a temperature display area and a power source, wherein the power source is substantially exposed upon removal of the removable temperature display assembly from the handle. A temperature sensor is positioned within the food utensil member, and an electrical connector is disposed within the handle for automatically releasably forming an electrical connection between the removable temperature display assembly and the temperature sensor.
The utensil may comprise a whisk for sensing the temperature of food comprising: a handle comprising a temperature display assembly; and a food utensil member secured to said handle.
The food utensil member comprises at least one whipping member and a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of food coupled to the temperature display assembly and disposed within a hollow whipping member. The hollow whipping member may be a hollow wire.

Description

TEMPERATURE SENSING UTENSIL
WITH REMOVABLE TEMPERATURE DISPLAY
Field of the Invention [0001 ] The present invention relates in general to temperature sensing utensils for cooking food. More particularly, the invention relates to a temperature sensing utensil having a handle with a removable temperature display assembly.
Background Art

[0002] Cooking utensils with temperature sensors are known in the art, commonly containing a food piercing member for sensing the temperature of food at an internal location thereof, and a temperature display positioned on the handle of the food utensil. For instance, U.S. Patent Nos. 5,983,783 and 6,065,391 of Archard et al. issued Nov. 16, 1999, and May 23, 2000, respectively, disclose an electronic chefs fork that indicates degree of doneness for a selected type of meat, and which includes control areas by which the user of the electronic chef's fork selects the meat type. The chef's fork may comprise a pair of fork tines, wherein one or both of the fork tines has a temperature sensor, typically at or near the tine tip. The sensor or sensors are coupled to operational circuitry and a display panel within the chef s fork to provide an indication of doneness for a meat type that is selected by the user, via the display panel on the handle of the chef s fork.

[0003] In another example, U.S. Patent No. 6,412,398 of Norcross et al., issued July 2, 2002 (hereinafter '398), discloses a temperature sensing utensil including a handle and having a detachable head. Norcross et al. disclose that such a temperature sensing utensil may take the form of a fork, spoon, knife, probe or other utensil, although the invention is described in relation to a handle having detachable fork tines. In a further example, U.S. Patent No. 6,591,739 of Norcross, issued July 15, 2003 (hereinafter '739), discloses a temperature sensing utensil including a handle and a plurality of modular, interchangeable, detachable utensil heads, such as a fork head having two or more tines, a spatula head including a temperature sensing probe, and a detachable probe having a flexible extension and a temperature sensing probe. In both of '398 and '739 references, it is disclosed that the handle includes an engagement region, having at least one engagement member operably moveable between locking and release orientations, and a temperature indicating display assembly. The detachable head includes a receiving region having at least one receiving member as well a temperature sensing assembly.
An electrical connection between the temperature sensing assembly and the temperature indicating display assembly is created when the at least one receiving member receives the at least one engagement member such that the engagement member is positioned in a locking orientation relative to the receiving member, securing the detachable head to the handle. Moving the engagement member to a release orientation permits detachment of the head from the handle, and the electrical circuit is thereby disconnected.

[0004] In all of the above-mentioned prior art devices, the display that indicates the temperature or degree of doneness of the food is located on the gripping portion of the handle.
This not an ideal position for the temperature indicating display, as the user must grip the utensil in a manner that exposes the temperature indicating display in order to monitor the temperature of the food that is being cooked, which may not be comfortable or convenient for the user. The '739 reference attempts to overcome this problem by including a hand-grasping region on the handle which is preferably contoured, and includes at least one tactile gripping surface which creates a grip enhancing region. The '739 reference discloses that the grip enhancing region is positioned in such a manner so as to allow the temperature indicating display on the handle to remain in substantially unobstructed view without altering a user's gripping orientation on the temperature sensing utensil. While this is an improvement over the prior art, it would be preferable to position the temperature indicating display on the handle of the utensil such that it does not impinge on the gripping surface of the handle whatsoever, and yet still remains in clear view of the user.

[0005] In a type of temperature sensing utensil disclosed in the '398 and '739 references, the handle is preferably hollow, so as to house not only the temperature indicating display but also a power source, such as a battery or batteries, preferably inserted in top of the handle after a cap is removed. Another embodiment of the invention disclosed in '739 is a temperature sensing utensil wherein a battery housing cover is provided on the handle for battery access. U.S. Patent Nos. 5,983,783 and 6,065,391 also disclose temperature sensing utensils wherein a power source such as a typical battery is placed within a housing located in the handle, and the use of two AAA dry cell batteries is suggested. A door is located on the handle so as to permit access to the battery housing. While the above-mentioned features provide a means for accessing the batteries of these prior art temperature sensing utensils, a preferable arrangement would be one where the power source remains easily accessible, but access to the power source does not necessitate the presence of doors or removable end caps on the handle, which may detract from the visual qualities of the utensil.

[0006] Accordingly, a temperature sensing kitchen utensil that allows for easy viewing of the measured temperature without affecting the gripping surface of the kitchen utensil, and also allows for easy access to the power source that does not detract from the visual qualities of the utensil is desired. This and other desirable characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from review of the disclosure and description of the invention below.
Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present invention is directed to a utensil for sensing the temperature of food.
The utensil comprises a handle which includes a receiving region, and a removable temperature display assembly that is received within the receiving region. The removable temperature display assembly comprises at least one removable battery and a temperature display area. The utensil further comprises a food utensil member that is connected to the handle. The food utensil member comprises a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the food.
The utensil additionally comprises an electrical connector that is disposed within the handle. The electrical connector is electrically and releasably connected to the removable temperature display assembly and the temperature sensor.

[0008] The removable temperature display assembly may comprise a display circuit that converts the sensed temperature to a temperature indicating output.
Preferably, the removable temperature display assembly is positioned on an end of the handle opposite the food utensil member, and the temperature display area faces opposite the food utensil member.

[0009] The electrical connector may comprise a mating pair of electrical connector members. The first mating pair member is located in the receiving region of the handle and a second mating pair member is located on the removable temperature display assembly. The mating pair of electrical connector members engage when the removable temperature display assembly is attached to the handle, and the pair of electrical connector members disengage when the removable temperature display assembly is detached from the handle.

[0010] The food utensil member may also comprise a food-friendly heat conductive material, such as stainless steel.
[0011 ] The food utensil member may further comprise at least one whipping member for whipping the food. Preferably, the wire whipping member is a looped wire segment that has a pair of wire segment ends which are connected to the handle. One whipping member also includes a hollow within which the temperature sensor may be disposed.
Preferably, the temperature sensor is positioned within a portion of the hollow that is spaced away from contact with a cooking surface of a cooking vessel when the utensil is in use.
[0012] The present invention is also directed to a Whisk for sensing the temperature of food. The whisk comprises a handle which includes a temperature display assembly; a temperature sensor that senses the temperature of the food. The sensor is coupled to the temperature display assembly. The temperature display assembly determines and displays the sensed food temperature. The whisk further includes at least one wire whipping member that comprises a looped wire segment which has a pair of wire segment ends that are connected to the handle. The one whipping member also includes a hollow within which the temperature sensor is disposed.
[0013] The temperature sensor is positioned within a portion of the hollow that is spaced away from contact with a cooking surface of a cooking vessel when the whisk is in use.
Brief Description of the Drawings [0014] In order that the invention may be readily understood, one preferred embodiment of the invention will be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a temperature sensing utensil with a removable temperature display assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0016] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the temperature sensing utensil shown in FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 3 is an end view of the removable temperature display assembly of the temperature sensing utensil shown in FIG. 2; and [0018] FIG. 4 is another end view of the removable temperature display assembly of the temperature sensing utensil shown in FIG. 2.
[0019] It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.
Detailed Description [0020] The present invention relates to a utensil for sensing the temperature of food. The utensil includes a food utensil member and a handle with a removable temperature display assembly. The food utensil member contains a temperature sensor that is electrically connected to the removable temperature display assembly. Removal of the removable temperature display assembly disconnects this electrical connection and substantially exposes the power supply for the utensil.
[0021 ] Although the present description relates primarily to a temperature sensing whisk, it will be understood that other temperature sensing kitchen implements, such as a fork, spoon, or other utensil may be employed.
[0022] Temperature sensing utensil 100 is shown in the form of a whisk of a conventional configuration, commonly known as a flat or roux configuration, in FIGS. 1-4.
Temperature sensing utensil 100 comprises a handle 102 and a food utensil member 110, wherein the latter is in the form of looped whipping members arranged in a generally flat plane in the specific embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Though ' the whipping members are generally formed of wire such as stainless steel, other materials may be used with wire loops such as plastics, silicone, wood, etc. Advantageously, wire whipping members are highly temperature conductive, and stainless steel is food friendly. Handle 102 comprises a removable temperature display assembly 104, which is preferably attached to the free end of the handle 102 opposite to the point of attachment of the food utensil member 110, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
The removable temperature display assembly 104 includes a temperature display area 106, which is preferably located on a face of the removable temperature display assembly 104.
[0023] Each wire whipping member of the food utensil member 110 has two ends secured to the inner end of the handle 102. In order to prevent the interior of the temperature sensing utensil 100 from becoming contaminated, a waterproofing seal 220, such as an epoxy, shown in FIG. 2, is preferably placed over the end of the handle 102 where the wire loops of food utensil member 110 are attached.
[0024] In accordance with the present embodiment, at least one of the wire Loops of food utensil member 110 is hollow to accommodate a temperature sensor (not shown).
The other loops may be hollow or solid and, preferably, each of the wire loops, whether hollow or solid, is of the same cross-sectional dimension. The temperature sensor is preferably a thermistor, such as a PSB-SS thermistor, which is of the proper dimensions to be accommodated within a hollow wire loop of food utensil member 110. In order to ensure accuracy of temperature measurement, the temperature sensor is preferentially located within a section of a wire loop of food utensil member 110 that comes into direct contact with the food that is being prepared. Preferably, the section of the wire loop does not come into direct contact with the cooking surface or is not otherwise exposed to a heat source cooking the food. Consideration may be given to positioning the temperature sensor so that accurate temperature measurement within a minimal volume of foodstuff is enabled. For example, a preferred temperature sensor position 222 is shown in FIG.
2. 'This position may vary among whisk styles or shapes. For example in a balloon-shape whisk embodiment (not shown) having a plurality of layers of wires, the temperature sensor may be placed in a fourth layer of wire counted inwards from the most outward layer.
[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates the removable temperature display assembly 104 disengaged from the handle 102 in FIG. 2. The casing 214 of handle 102 is illustrated in the cut-away section of FIG. 2. This casing 214 is preferably constructed from stainless steel, but may be constructed from other resilient, hard materials such as other metals, wood, or plastic.
Removable temperature display assembly 104 comprises a connecting member 200, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, which includes a power source. In the specific embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, this power source is battery 204, held in place within a battery housing 202. Upon removal of the removable temperature display assembly 104, it can be seen that battery 204 is substantially exposed and free of wires, easily accessible, and occupies a very compact space within the handle 102. Power can be provided by a suitable battery of 1.5 volts, such as a microalkaline battery of the type LRI
130 (Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.). Other types of batteries may be used such as AAA
or AA dry cells.
[0026] Connecting member 200 includes an electrical conduit, which is shown as a socket 300 in FIG. 3. The handle 102 includes a receiving region 208, which is illustrated in the cut-away section of FIG. 2. This receiving region 208 also includes an electrical conduit, shown as a DC power plug 212 in FIG. 2 for mating with socket 300. DC power plug 212 is electrically connected to the temperature sensor located in food utensil member 110, via internal electrical connecting wires 216 and 218 in the handle I02.
[0027] When the removable temperature display assembly 104 is securely attached to the handle I02, an electrical connection is maintained there between, thereby electrically connecting the temperature sensor located within the food utensil member 110 to temperature display assembly 104. Removal of the removable temperature display assembly 104 from the handle disconnects this electrical connection. In the specific embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, this electrical connection circuit is maintained through the interaction of the socket 300 of the connecting member 200 with the DC power plug 212 of the receiving region 208, wherein the socket 300 and DC power plug 212 releasably receive one another to connect the circuit. This electrical connection is illustrated as a hatched line in FIG. 2 between the removable temperature display assembly 104 and the receiving region 208 of the handle 102.
Though a specific mating pair of connector members (212 and 300) are shown, other connectors for creating an electrical connection between the removable temperature display assembly 104 and the receiving region 208 may be envisioned and utilized by those skilled in the art.
Preferably, such connectors matingly engage, disengage automatically upon attachment/removal of the removal temperature display assembly 104 to from the handle 102.

-8_ [0028] In the specific embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the removable temperature display assembly 104 is securely held in place within the receiving region 208 by the engagement of a threaded connecting section 206 of connecting member 200 with a receiving base 209 having a threaded receiving section 210 and defining the receiving region 208.
However, it is appreciated that in practice, other means may be employed, such as snap fit connectors, locking mechanisms, etc., by which the removable temperature display assembly 104 can be removably attached to the handle 102.
[0029] The temperature display area 106 is illustrated in FIG. 4, which is an end view of the removable temperature display assembly 104 shown in FIG. 2. An "ON/OFF"
button 402 is provided, which also serves as a toggle between Celsius and Fahrenheit temperature readings, although such a toggle could equivalently be located on the interior connecting member 200 or on any other portion of the removable temperature display assembly 104. The temperature display area 106 presents temperature indicating output to the user via temperature indicating display 400, which is preferably an LCD. In the circuitry of the preferred embodiment, a temperature range is provided which is intended to span a desired cooking temperature range.
The range of the illustrated embodiment in FIG. 4 is between -40 °F and 400 °F, or between -40 °C and 204 °C.
[0030] To manufacture the temperature sensing whisk of the above-described embodiment of the invention, stainless steel tubing is cut to appropriate lengths to form the handle 102, including casing 214 for removable temperature display assembly 104. Stainless steel wires are cut and bent to form the wire loops 110 according to the desired length and sequence on the whisk. The whisk wires are assembled into a base (not shown) for mounting in handle 102. Epoxy is applied to hold the wires in place. The temperature sensor wire is insulated and the temperature sensor is inserted into a desired hollow wire loop of the whisk. The base holding the wire loops is inserted into one end of the handle to form the food utensil member 110. A receiving base 209 containing the DC power plug 300 and threaded receiving section 210 is connected to temperature sensor wires and inserted into an opposing end of handle 102 to the point of attachment of food utensil member 11 0, to form the receiving region 208. Removable temperature display assembly 104 may be pre-assembled and mounted into casing 214.

[0031 ] Testing may be performed at various stages during and following assembly to verify operation of the temperature sensor and removable temperature display assembly 104.
[0032] While a temperature sensing whisk of conventional flat or roux configuration is disclosed as one preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced in whisks that have other shapes such as a piano or balloon shape, among others, or in whisks that do not contain loops, such as a ball whisk. In addition, although the sensor is located inside a whipping member of the whisk in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sensor can equivalently be exposed.
[0033] Although the above description and accompanying drawings relate to a specific preferred embodiment as presently contemplated by the inventor, it will be understood that the invention in its broad aspect includes mechanical and functional equivalents of the elements described and illustrated.

Claims (13)

We claim:

1. A utensil for sensing the temperature of food comprising:
a handle comprising a receiving region, and a removable temperature display assembly received within the receiving region, the removable temperature display assembly comprising at least one removable battery and a temperature display area;
a food utensil member connected to the handle, the food utensil member comprising a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the food; and, an electrical connector disposed within the handle, the electrical connector electrically and releasably connecting the removable temperature display assembly and the temperature sensor.

2. The utensil of claim 1, wherein the removable temperature display assembly comprises a display circuit that converts the sensed temperature to a temperature indicating output.

3. The utensil of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the removable temperature display assembly is positioned on an end of the handle opposite the food utensil member.

4. The utensil of claim 3, wherein the temperature display area faces opposite the food utensil member.

5. The utensil of any one of claims 1-4, wherein the electrical connector comprises a mating pair of electrical connector members, a first mating pair member being located in the receiving region of the handle and a second mating pair member being located on the removable temperature display assembly.

6. The utensil of claim 5, wherein the mating pair of electrical connector members engage when the removable temperature display assembly is attached to the handle, and the pair of electrical connector members disengage when the removable temperature display assembly is detached from the handle.

7. The utensil of claim 6, wherein the first mating pair member comprises one of a DC plug and socket and the second mating pair member comprises the other of the DC
plug and socket.

8. The utensil of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the food utensil member further comprises a food-friendly heat conductive material.

9. The utensil of claim 8, wherein the material is stainless steel.

10. The utensil of any one of claims 1-9, wherein the food utensil member further comprises at least one whipping member for whipping the food, a one of the at least one whipping member comprising a hollow within which the temperature sensor is disposed.

11. The utensil of claim 10, wherein the temperature sensor is positioned within a portion of the hollow, the portion being spaced away from contact with a cooking surface of a cooking vessel when the utensil is in use.

12. A whisk for sensing the temperature of food, the whisk comprising:
a handle comprising a temperature display assembly;
a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the food, the sensor being coupled to the temperature display assembly, the temperature display assembly determining and displaying the sensed food temperature; and, at least one wire whipping member comprising a looped wire segment having a pair of wire segment ends connected to the handle, a one of the at least one whipping member comprising a hollow within which the temperature sensor is disposed.

13. The whisk of claim 12, wherein the temperature sensor is positioned within a portion of the hollow, the portion being spaced away from contact with a cooking surface of a cooking vessel when the whisk is in use.