CA2775194C - Grilling rack - Google Patents

Abstract

A food grilling rack provides a frame defined by a plurality of connected side walls forming a closed geometric shape. The frame includes a lower corrugated sheet that provides multiple troughs, each trough having a lowest portion. The lower sheet is attached to at least some of the side walls. An upper sheet of material is supported (e.g., removably) above the sheet of corrugated material. There are a plurality of openings in the upper sheet of material, each opening being vertically aligned with a lowest portion of a trough. In one embodiment, the frame includes a pair of flanged members attached to a lower corrugated sheet that provides multiple troughs, each trough having a lowest portion. A sheet with openings slides into the frame aligning the openings with the lowest part of the trough. A food stuffing apparatus provides a receptacle having an interior, an upper end portion with a larger opening and a lower end portion with a smaller opening, and a tapering portion in between the upper and lower end portions. A plunger is provided having a head, a lower end portion with a shaft having a lower pushing surface and a joint that joins the head to the shaft. The pushing surface has a larger diameter portion, the shaft tapering above the pushing surface to a smaller diameter portion above the pushing surface in the upper one half of the plunger.

Description

GRILLING RACK /
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to food grilling racks that can be used to contain food and then be placed upon a cooking surface such as an outdoor grilling surface. The present invention also relates to a method and apparatus for stuffing a selected food stuffing into a food item such as a pepper or other vegetable food item. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus that holds a volume of food stuffing material (e.g., a rice based stuffing, cheese based stuffing or a mixture of meat and cheese and possibly other food items).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Food items are often placed upon a perforated plate, which is then placed upon a barbecue pit, outdoor grill or other outdoor cooking surface. Such perforated plates are commercially available. At times, they are provided with handles for enabling a user to lift and move the plate before and after use. It is common and known to grill a number of different food items on such perforated grilling plates, such as onions, peppers, corn, and other food items.
Some food items such as jalapeno peppers or bell peppers can be stuffed with food items such as a breaded mixture of rice and meat or seafood. In such a case, users often cut the pepper transversely or longitudinally and fill each of the cut halves with a selected stuffing or filling.
One of the problems with the prior art grilling racks is that the food items can often fall in between the openings or become stuck in the openings.

SUMMARY
In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a food grilling rack for grilling elongated food items, comprising: a frame defined by a plurality of connected side walls; the frame including a lower corrugated sheet that provides multiple troughs, each trough having a lowest portion, said lower sheet attached to at least some of said side walls; an upper sheet of material that is supported above the sheet of corrugated material; a plurality of openings in the upper sheet of material, each opening being vertically aligned with a lowest portion of a trough; and there being a plurality of openings that are spaced apart and aligned vertically above a trough.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a food grilling rack for grilling elongated food items, comprising: a pan having a plurality of connected side walls and a pan bottom; the pan bottom wall being a lower corrugated sheet that provides multiple pan troughs, each pan trough having a lowest portion, said lower corrugated sheet attached to at least some of said side walls; an upper sheet of material that is supported by the pan above the sheet of corrugated material; and a plurality of openings in the upper sheet of material, each opening being generally vertically aligned with a lowest portion of a said pan trough so that an elongated food item placed in an opening rests in the lowest part of the trough and is laterally supported by the upper sheet at a said opening.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a pepper stuffing apparatus comprising: a receptacle having an interior, an upper end portion with a larger opening and a lower end portion with a smaller opening, a tapering portion in between the upper and lower end portions and a handle that enables a user to hold and manipulate the receptacle; a plunger having a head, a lower end portion with a shaft having a lower pushing surface and a joint that joins the head to the shaft; wherein the pushing surface has a larger diameter portion, the shaft tapering above the pushing surface to a smaller diameter portion that is positioned above the pushing surface and in the upper one half of the plunger; and the smaller opening having a diameter of less than one inch.
In accordance with still yet another aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a method of stuffing one or more hollow peppers having generally void interiors, comprising the steps of: cutting each of the pepper transversely to provide on each pepper, a pepper opening;
providing a receptacle having an interior, an upper end portion with a larger receptacle opening and a lower end portion with a smaller receptacle opening, and a tapered portion in between the upper and lower end portions; filling at least part of the interior with a food stuffing; aligning the smaller opening with the pepper opening; manually moving a plunger into the larger opening in order to contact the food stuffing, the plunger having a shaft with an upper end portion with a handle configured to be gripped manually by a user and a lower end portion having a food pushing surface; pushing the plunger from the larger opening to the smaller opening, wherein the pushing surface pushes some of the food stuffing into the pepper via the aligned smaller receptacle and pepper openings; and wherein the receptacle tapered portion directs the plunger food pushing surface toward the smaller receptacle opening when a user moves the plunger

-2-within the interior and in a direction generally from the larger receptacle opening to the smaller receptacle opening.
In accordance with still yet another aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a method of stuffing one or more hollow peppers, each said pepper having a hollowed interior, comprising the steps of. cutting each of the pepper transversely to provide on each pepper, a pepper opening that is in communication with the hollowed interior; providing a receptacle having a receptacle interior, an upper end portion with a larger receptacle opening and a lower end portion with a smaller receptacle opening that is smaller than the pepper opening, and a tapered portion in between the upper and lower end portions; filling at least part of the pepper interior with a food stuffing; inserting the receptacle lower end portion and the smaller opening into the pepper interior via the pepper opening; manually moving a plunger into the larger opening in order to contact the food stuffing, the plunger having a shaft with an upper end portion with a handle configured to be gripped manually by a user and a lower end portion having a food pushing surface; pushing the plunger from the larger opening to the smaller opening, wherein the pushing surface pushes some of the food stuffing into the pepper via the smaller receptacle and pepper opening; and wherein the receptacle tapered portion directs the plunger food pushing surface toward the smaller receptacle opening when a user moves the plunger within the interior and in a direction generally from the larger receptacle opening to the smaller receptacle opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a partially cut away perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of figure 2;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the upper plate removed;

-3-Figure 5 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention taken along lines 6-6 of figure 5;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;
Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;
Figure 9 is a partial sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the food dispensing funnel;
Figure 10 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the food dispensing plunger or push rod;
Figure 11 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the food dispensing plunger and push rod;
Figures 12 - 13 are sectional views illustrating the method of the present invention; and Figure 14 is a perspective view illustrating the method of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Figures 1-4 show a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention designated generally by the numeral 10. Grilling rack 10 is in the form of a two part frame 11 which can be metallic (e.g., aluminum or stainless steel). Frame 11 has a lower section 12 and an upper section 13. Upper section 13 is a removable plate that can be perforated or apertured.
The upper section or plate 13 can be in the form of a perforated plate that can be removed from the lower section 12 by lifting the upper section 13 upwardly. Lower section 12 has a corrugated bottom panel 20 (see figures 2-4) that has troughs 21 and peaks 22 (See figures 2-3).
Bottom panel 20 can be of a mesh material (e.g., stainless steel mesh) or of solid plate metal (e.g., stainless steel). Lower section 12 can be generally rectangular, providing side walls 14, 15 and end walls 16, 17. Each end wall 16, 17 can be provided with a handle. End wall 16 has a handle 23. End wall 17 has a handle 24. Each trough 21 and peak 22 is connected with an inclined panel 25. (See figure 4.) While multiple troughs 21 are shown, a single trough 21 could

-4-be provided on an elongated lower section 12 having a single row of openings 19 in an upper section 13 (as an alternate embodiment).
The upper section or plate 13 nests within the side walls 14, 15 and end walls 16, 17 and rests upon the plurality of peaks 22 of corrugated bottom panel 20 (see figures 1-3). The lower section 12 can be of welded metal construction including troughs 21 which can be formed of sections of angle members, flanged members or the like that are welded together. Alternatively, a single sheet of material can be corrugated to the shape of lower section 12 using a stamp or die.
Each trough 21 has a trough 21 lower end 26 that is centered upon the center 27 of an opening 19 as seen by referring to reference line 28 in figure 3. In this fashion, when an lo elongated food item (such as an elongated pepper 18) is placed in an opening 19, the lower end of the pepper 18 also registers in the V-shaped trough 21 and more particularly in the lower most portion 26 thereof (see figure 3).
When grilling stuffed elongated peppers (e.g., a jalapeno), the upper section or plate 13 is placed upon the lower section 12 (see figures 1-3). Notice in figure 3 that the center 27 of each opening 19 is vertically aligned with the lowest end 26 of a trough 21 as indicated by the dotted reference line 28 in figure 3. Lower end 29 of pepper 18 rests in lower end 26 of trough 21.
Circular edge 30 that defines each opening 19 engages and supports pepper 18 in between its upper end 39 and lower end 29 as seen in figures 2-3. Upper section or plate 13 is shown having an array of openings 19. In figures 1-2, there are seven rows of openings .19, six openings 19 in 2o each row. However, more or fewer rows can be provided. Each row can provide any selected number of openings 19.
In figures 5-8, an alternate version of the grilling rack is designated by the numeral IOA
in figures 5-6 and 8 and numeral IOB in figure 7. For the racks IOA-IOB, there is no upper section or plate 13.
In figures 5, 6, and 8, the rack 1 OA includes a pair of cylinders or cylindrically shaped members or receptacles 31. Each cylinder 31 has an open top 32 and an interior 33 for holding a vegetable or other food item or a container of seasoning such as an opened can 34 of any selected beverage. Rack I OB in figure 7 provides only cylinder 31. Each receptacle 31 is attached to corrugated bottom panel 20. Receptacle 31 can be placed anywhere on the rack I
OA. Panel 20 can be a single sheet of corrugated material or a plurality of tapered or V-shaped members welded together. Corrugated panel 20 can have handles 23, 24 connected thereto (e.g., welded).

-5-The present invention provides an improved grilling rack apparatus that enables a user to cook many food items including elongated peppers that have been stuffed with a filler or filling.
For the embodiment of figures 4-8, food item 35 such as poultry can be supported upon (e.g.
skewered) a cylinder 31 that contains flavoring (e.g. opened can 34 of any selected liquid or spices or vegetables). Arrow 36 in figure 8 illustrates placement of can 34 within interior 33 of cylinder 31 via open top 32. A food item 35 such as a chicken can be placed over (e.g., skewered) the combination of opened can 34 and cylinder 31 as indicated by arrows 37 in figure 8. Such final position of the food item (e.g., poultry carcass, chicken, etc.) is designated as 38 in figure 8 wherein the can 34 (or other spice or flavoring) occupies interior 33 of lo cylinder/receptacle 31 and the food item 35 is skewered over both cylinder 31 and the contained can 34 or spice or flavoring. Receptacle 31 can be placed anywhere on the rack l OB.
Figures 9 - 11 show the food dispensing funnel, plunger, push rod. Figures 12 -show the method of the present invention. In figure 11 there is a food stuffing apparatus, designated generally by the numeral 40. Food stuffing apparatus 40 includes a receptacle or funnel 41 that can contain a volume of a selected food stuffing 58 (e.g., rice or cheese or meat based stuffing or dressing). Receptacle 41 can be of metallic (e.g., stainless steel) or plastic (e.g., any food grade plastic) construction. This food stuffing or dressing 58 can be added to interior 53 of receptacle 41 via an open top 44 at upper end portion 43. The receptacle 41 has upper end portion 43 and lower end portion 45. Tapered portion 47 joins upper end portion 43 to lower end portion 45. (See figures 9, 11.) Upper end portion 43 can include a circular rim or edge 56. A dispensing outlet opening 46 is provided at lower end portion 45. Receptacle 41 can be manually supported and manipulated using handle 42 which is attached to the outer surface of receptacle 41 at attachments 54, 55. (See figures 9, 11.) Plunger 48 has head 49 with lower end portion 50. Head 49 has a circular, generally flat end surface 51. Plunger 48 has a handle 57 attached at joint 52 to plunger head 49. Head 49 can be generally cylindrically shaped or can have a taper as shown in figure 10.
Outlet opening 46 has a circular configuration that closely matches the size and shape of end surface 51 of plunger 48. Outlet opening 46 can be of the same diameter or slightly larger in diameter than plunger 48 surface 51. Head 49 is preferably of a food grade plastic or metal material.
Handle 57 can be of wood, plastic or metal.

-6-Figures 12-14 illustrate more particularly the method of the present invention. In figures 12-14, there can be seen an array 67 of peppers 18 placed in grilling rack 10.
As shown in the figures 1-8 and as discussed in the preceding, corresponding text, the grilling rack 10 has a lower section 12, upper section 13, a plurality of openings 19 and a corrugated bottom panel 20. Each pepper 18 is first cut using a knife to form a transverse cut 63 and a pepper opening 64 through which food stuffing can enter the pepper cavity 65. The cavity 65 extends between pepper opening 64 and lower end 66 as shown in figures 12 and 13.
After each pepper 18 is cut to provide the pepper opening 64 and to expose cavity 65, the pepper 18 is placed on rack 10 with opening 64 facing up as shown in figure 14. Once each of the openings 19 of rack 10 is fitted with a pepper 18 as shown in figure 14, a user fills each pepper 18 cavity 65 with food stuffing 58 of the user's choice. During the filling of each pepper 18 cavity 65 with food stuffing 58, a user positions one hand 61 to hold the handle 42 of receptacle or funnel 41. The user grasps plunger 48 with the other hand 60 as shown in figure 14. An up and down movement of the plunger 48 relative to the receptacle 41 forces the stuffing 58 through the cylindrically shaped channel 62 at lower end portion 45 of receptacle 41.
Figure 12 illustrates a downward movement of plunger 48 as indicated by arrow wherein stuffing 58 is pushed by plunger head 49 through lower end 45, through channel 62, and into pepper 18 cavity 65. Note in figure 12 that the lower end portion 45 of receptacle 41 is sized and shaped to fit inside of pepper 18 lower end of cavity 66. The external diameter of lower end portion 45 at dispensing outlet opening 46 is preferably about the same diameter or is a smaller diameter when compared to the diameter of pepper opening 64. This arrangement can be seen in figures 12 and 13.
By using the method of the present invention, a user can prepare an entire array 67 of peppers upon grilling rack 10 for placement in a cooking device, oven, barbeque pit, or the like.
The method of the present invention enables an entire array 67 of peppers to be supported in a position that places the lower end portion of the pepper in trough 21 of grilling rack 10 while orienting the transversely cut pepper opening 64 upwardly. In this fashion, the opening 64 easily receives lower end portion 45 and opening 46 of receptacle 41 as shown in figure 12. The user raises and lowers the plunger 48 repeatedly to push food stuffing into cylindrically shaped channel 62 and then into cavity 65 until the pepper 18 cavity 65 is filled with stuffing as shown in figures 12 and 13. In figure 14, most of the peppers 18 have been stuffed with food stuffing

-7-58. A final row at 68 shows six peppers 18 that have not yet been filled with food stuffing 58.
Once the user fills the cavity 65 of each pepper 18, the array 67 of peppers supported upon rack are placed in heat transfer contact with a selected cooking device, smoker, camp fire, barbeque pit, oven or the like.
5 PARTS LIST:
The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention:
Parts Number Description 10 grilling rack 10 10A grilling rack 10B grilling rack 11 frame 12 lower section 13 upper section/plate 14 side wall 15 side wall 16 end wall 17 end wall 18 pepper 19 opening 20 corrugated bottom panel 21 trough 22 peak 23 handle 24 handle 25 inclined panel 26 lower end 27 center of opening 28 reference line 29 lower end 30 circular edge

-8-31 cylinder/receptacle 32 open top 33 interior 34 can 35 food item 36 arrow 37 arrow 38 position 39 upper end 40 food stuffer/food stuffing apparatus 41 receptacle/funnel 42 handle 43 upper end portion 44 open top 45 lower end portion 46 dispensing outlet opening 47 tapered portion 48 plunger 49 plunger head 50 lower end portion 51 flat, circular end surface 52 joint 53 interior 54 attachment 55 attachment 56 rim/edge 57 handle 58 food stuffing 59 arrow 60 user's hand

-9-61 user's hand 62 cylindrically shaped channel 63 transverse cut 64 pepper opening 65 cavity 66 lower end of cavity 67 array of peppers 68 final row All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. All materials used or intended to be used in a human being are biocompatible, unless indicated otherwise.
The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.

-10-

Claims (20)

1. A method of stuffing one or more hollow peppers having generally void interiors, comprising the steps of:
a) cutting each of the pepper transversely to provide on each pepper, a pepper opening;
b) providing a food stuffer, the food stuffer including a funneling receptacle having an interior, an upper end portion with a larger receptacle top opening and a lower end portion with a smaller discharge opening, and a tapered portion in between the receptacle top opening and lower end portion, the tapered portion being comprised of a solid wall;
c) filling at least part of the interior with a food stuffing through the larger receptacle top opening;
d) aligning the smaller opening with the pepper opening;
e) manually moving a plunger through the larger receptacle top opening and into the interior in order to contact the food stuffing, the plunger having a shaft with an upper end portion with a handle configured to be gripped manually by a user and a lower end portion having a food pushing surface;
f) pushing the plunger from the larger receptacle top opening to the smaller discharge opening, wherein the pushing surface pushes some of the food stuffing into the pepper via the aligned smaller discharge and pepper openings; and g) wherein the receptacle tapered portion directs the plunger food pushing surface toward the smaller discharge opening when a user moves the plunger within the interior and in a direction generally from the larger receptacle top opening to the smaller discharge opening.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the pepper is a jalapeno pepper.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein step "f' is repeated a plurality of times without repeating step ''c'' ,

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the peppers are supported in a rack.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the rack has a v-shaped trough and a plate above the trough with multiple openings, one opening supporting each of a plurality of peppers to be stuffed.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the rack has multiple v-shaped troughs and a plate above the troughs with multiple openings, each opening positioned above a trough.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the rack is placed in a heating device that cooks the stuffed peppers after step "f''.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the rack is placed in a heating device that cooks the stuffed peppers after step "f''.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the rack is placed in a heating device that cooks the stuffed peppers after step "f''.

10. The method of claim 2 wherein the jalapeno pepper is generally vertically oriented with a supporting rack.

11. A method of stuffing one or more hollow peppers, each said pepper having a hollowed interior, comprising the steps of:
a) cutting each of the pepper transversely to provide on each pepper, a pepper opening that is in communication with the hollowed interior;
b) providing a food stuffer, the food stuffer including a funneling receptacle having a receptacle interior, an upper end portion with a larger receptacle top opening and a lower end portion with a smaller discharge opening that is smaller than the pepper opening, and a tapered portion in between the receptacle top opening and lower end portion, the tapered portion being comprised of a solid wall;
c) filling at least part of the pepper interior with a food stuffing through the larger receptacle top opening;
d) inserting the receptacle lower end portion and the smaller discharge opening into the pepper interior via the pepper opening;

e) manually moving a plunger through the larger receptacle top opening and into the interior in order to contact the food stuffing, the plunger having a shaft with an upper end portion with a handle configured to be gripped manually by a user and a lower end portion having a food pushing surface;
f) pushing the plunger from the larger receptacle top opening to the smaller discharge opening, wherein the pushing surface pushes some of the food stuffing into the pepper via the smaller discharge and pepper opening; and g) wherein the receptacle tapered portion directs the plunger food pushing surface toward the smaller discharge opening when a user moves the plunger within the interior and in a direction generally from the larger receptacle top opening to the smaller discharge opening.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the pepper is a jalapeno pepper.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein step "f'' is repeated a plurality of times without repeating step "c".

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the peppers are supported in a rack.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the rack has a v-shaped trough and a plate above the trough with multiple openings, one opening supporting each of a plurality of peppers to be stuffed.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the rack has multiple v-shaped troughs and a plate above the troughs with multiple openings, each opening positioned above a trough.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the rack is placed in a heating device that cooks the stuffed peppers after step "f".

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the rack is placed in a heating device that cooks the stuffed peppers after step "f''.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the rack is placed in a heating device that cooks the stuffed peppers after step ''f''.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein the jalapeno pepper is generally vertically oriented with a supporting rack.