FR2635171A1 - Steam cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a steam cooker device. It is constituted by the combination, firstly, of a sealed enclosure 1 containing at the bottom part a water reserve 7, and then at least two superimposed drawers 3, 4, 5 sliding in this enclosure and equipped with a grid or a slightly raised, downwardly inclined plate 8 on which the foods to be cooked are placed, the drawers comprising, on the one hand, lateral perforations 9, allowing the circulation of the steam 12 and, on the other hand, at least one perforation at the base of the bottom wall or of the lateral walls, intended for the flow of condensation water into the water reserve 7, it being specified that the dimensions of this drawer or these drawers are such that the steam can freely circulate between them and the walls of the external enclosure; and lastly an integrated or independent heating element 6, disposed below the water reserve and keeping the latter at the temperature of boiling water throughout the cooking. It is intended for cooking foods according to the method known as "steaming", both for domestic and professional uses.

Description

STEAM COOKER
The present invention relates to a steam cooker device.

It is intended for cooking food using the so-called steaming process ", for both domestic and professional use.

The devices produced to date consist of perforated and superimposed pots, allowing the steam to pass through the perforations, from bottom to top, which causes poor distribution of the steam and a fall of the condensed water on the foods located in the lower pots. Cooking is therefore not regular. In addition, monitoring the cooking is made difficult, since it is necessary each time to undo the stacking of the pots.

The device according to the present invention eliminates all these drawbacks. In fact, it allows a perfect distribution of the steam in all the cooking compartments, and the condensation water falls directly into the water reserve, without dripping onto the food placed below. The different foods being in independent drawers, monitoring cooking is particularly easy, and it is possible to easily replace the contents of one of the drawers without having to handle the others.

It consists of the combination, first, of a sealed enclosure containing; lower part, a water reserve, then, at least two superimposed drawers sliding in this enclosure and equipped with a grid, or a plate inclined towards the bottom, slightly raised, on which the food to be cooked is placed, the drawers comprising, on the one hand, lateral perforations allowing the circulation of steam and, on the other hand, at least one perforation at the bottom of the bottom wall or the lateral walls, intended for the flow of water of condensation in the water reserve, it being specified that the dimensions of this or these drawers are such that steam can circulate freely between them and the walls of the external enclosure; finally an integrated or independent heating means, placed below the water reserve and maintaining it at the boiling temperature of the water during all cooking.

In the accompanying drawings, given by way of nonlimiting example of one of the forms of the invention:
FIG. 1 represents the device in elevation,
FIG. 2 is a cross section along the arrows AA of FIG. 1,
Figure 3 is a cross section along the arrows BB of Figure 2, showing an extended drawer.

The device, FIGS. 1 to 3 consists of an enclosure 1 comprising a removable cover 2, comprising three superimposed drawers 3,, 5 and a stove 6.

The enclosure 1, which is sealed when the cover 2 is in place and the drawers 3, 4, 5 are closed, has at its lower part a reserve of water 7 maintained at boiling temperature by the stove 6.

The drawers 3, 4, 5 are equipped with a grid 8, slightly raised on which the food to be cooked will be placed. Lateral perforations 9 allow the circulation of steam, while the condensation water can flow directly into the water reserve 7, thanks to a perforation 10 provided in the bottom of the bottom wall 11.

The heating means 6, which can be either electric or solid, liquid or gaseous fuel, can be integrated into the enclosure 1 or be independent; it can, for example, be constituted by a plate or a domestic stove fire.

Thanks to its ease of use and the quality of cooking that it provides, the device which has just been described lends itself particularly well to the production of steam cooking appliances both for domestic and professional use. .

The positioning of the various constituent elements gives this device a maximum of useful effects which had not been obtained to date by similar devices.

However, the shapes, dimensions and arrangements of the various elements, as well as the materials used for their manufacture may vary within the limit of equivalents, without thereby changing the general conception of the invention which has just been described.

Claims (3)

10 Steam cooker device characterized by the combination first of all, of a sealed enclosure (1) comprising a cover (2) and containing in the lower part a reserve of water (7), then at least two superimposed drawers (3,4,5) t sealingly closing, sliding in this enclosure, and fitted with a grid or plate inclined towards the bottom (8) slightly raised, on which the food to be cooked, the drawers are arranged comprising on the one hand, lateral perforations (9) intended for the circulation of steam (12), and on the other hand, at least one perforation (10) at the bottom of the bottom wall or lateral walls allowing the flow of the condensation water directly into the water reserve (7), without runoff on the food placed below, finally, a heating means (6) arranged below the water reserve (7) and now this at the boiling point of water. 20 Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the dimensions of the drawers (3,4,5) are such that steam can circulate freely between them and the walls of the outer enclosure (1,2). 30 Device according to claims 1, 2 and an alternative embodiment, characterized in that the heating means (6) is independent of the device and consists of any heat source.