GB2127280A - Food preparation appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

An appliance for preparing food, includes a unitary body defining a flat griddle surface 14, a grille surface 16 having recessed liquid drainage paths 32, and a collection area 26 into which the paths drain. The body also defines a warming oven 18, having a lid 60. Heating means 53 is provided for heating the unitary body. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Food preparation appliance This invention relates generally to appliances for preparing food, and has to do particularly with an appliance capable of selectively frying, grilling or warming food.

Background of this invention There are currently available certain food preparing appliances which incorporate a flat frying surface or griddle, a food warming oven, and means for leading off and collecting grease and other liquids from the griddle surface. One such prior art appliance is illustrated in Canadian Industrial Design Registration No. 44188, issued on September 11, 1978, to Appliance Design Probe, Inc.

While these prior art devices are serviceable enough, they do lack a certain versatility in that they are not suited for grilling foods such as sausage, weiners, chops, steaks and the like. The flat griddle surface, while suitable for eggs, bacon, French toast and the like, is not efficiently enough drained to allow the relatively fat-free preparation of the foods first named.

General description ofthis invention Accordingly, it is an aspect of this invention to provide an appliance for preparing food, which has an extended capability as compared to the prior art devices of which one is described above. More particularly, the food preparation appliance to be disclosed herein has a separate grill surface for foods requiring more efficient fat drain-off, a flat griddle surface for fried foods, and a warmer oven.

Even more particularly, this invention provides an appliance for preparing food which includes a unitary body defining a flat griddle surface, a grille surface having recessed liquid drainage paths, a collection area into which the paths drain, and a warmer oven. Heating means are provided for heating the unitary body.

General description of the drawings One embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals denote like parts throughout the several views, and in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a food preparation appliance embodying this invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of one component thereof; and Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 2; Detailed description of the drawings Attention is first directed to Figure 1 which shows a food preparation appliance 10 which includes a unitary metal casting 12 that defines three general areas. The first is a flat griddle surface 14, and the second is a grille surface 16. The third is a warmer oven 18. The preferred material for the casting is an aluminium die casting alloy.

The griddle surface 14 is generally rectangular in plan view and a raised lip 20 completely encircles the primary areas of the appliance. At its leftward edge as pictured in Figure 1, the griddle surface 14 directly adjoins the grille surface 16. At the further end of the leftward edge, the griddle surface adjoins a collection area 26 which is adapted to receive melted grease, fat, oil and the like. The collection area 26 is somewhat funnel-like in configuration, converging downwardly to an opening 28 through which the liquid materials can drain into a grease catcher shown at 30 in Figure 3.

Looking simultaneously at Figures 1 and 3, it can be seen that the grille surface 16 has recessed liquid drainage paths 32 extending across the appliance.

More particularly, the drainage paths 32 are constituted by a plurality of round-bottomed, substantially parallel channels or grooves. If desired, the channels can be made to slope downwardly toward the collection area 26, though such slope is not essential.

Thus it can be seen that grease, oil orfatfrom the grille surface 16 also drain to the collection area 26.

As can be seen in the figures, the warmer oven 18 is recessed below the level of the grille and griddle surfaces, being defined by a bottom panel 35, side panels 36 and 37, and end panels 40 and 41. The side and end panels slope generally inwardly and downwardly, primarily due to casting considerations. The lip 20, described earlier as surrounding the griddle surface 14, continues around the grille surface 16, and is continuous with a portion 43 which separates the grille surface 16 from the warmer oven 18.

The panels 35,36,37,40 and 41 of the warmer oven are recessed inwardly with respect to the lip 20 and portion 43, leaving a step 45. The step 45 is thinner adjacent side panel 37 than it is adjacent the other side panel 36 or the end panels 40 and 41.

Two handles 48 are provided, one at either end, and are approximately trapezoidal in plan view. Each handle 48 is contiguous at its ends with two corner legs 50, and is connected to the casting 12 through bridge portions 52 adjacent the lateral corners of the handle 48. The bridge portions 52 are connected by machine screws (not shown) to two bosses cast integrally into the casting 12 (not shown).

Extending under the griddle surface 14 and the grille surface 16 is a heater element 53 of the Cay rod (trade mark) type. This item is also known conventionally, and requires no detailed explanation. As seen in Figures 1 the heater element follows a pattern under the surfaces 14 and 16 which allows heat from the element to be distributed substantially uniformly. The ends of the element 53 are brought to a connection box 56 and terminate in two prongs 57 adapted to receive electrical energy from a standard plug. As seen in Figure 3, the heater element 53 is contained within a surrounding sheath 59, the sheath being integrally cast onto the underside of the casting 12.

Attention is now directed to the cover shown at 60 in Figure 1. The cover 60 includes sloping lateral walls 62, which converge upwardly and inwardly from a bottom flange 64, and which undergo a reverse bend at the top to define a recess 66 in the middle of which is an elongated handle portion 68.

Along the inner edge of the flange 64 extends a rib 70, which is adapted to register just within the lip 20 and portion 43, as best seen in Figure 3.

The cover 60 is also capable of fitting over a portion of the griddle surface 14, since its flange 64 is capable of spanning from the nearer edge to the further edge of that surface, as pictured in Figure 1.

In effect, the dimension of both surfaces 14 and 16, and also the warmer oven 18, as measured between the opposed inside faces of lip 20 parallel with the direction of the drainage paths 32, are the same.

It will be appreciated that the cover 60 is intended to close the warmer oven substantially completely, without any gaps for the escape of hot air, but that it only partially closes over the surfaces 14 and 16.

More particularly, forthe grille surface 16, the cover 60 is suspended from its shorter edges and one long edge (at portion 43), leaving the other long edge suspended over the junction between surfaces 14 and 16. This provides a "window" into the grille region (the grille surface 16), when the cover is placed thereover. With respect to the griddle surface 14, the cover is suspended only at its shorter edges in such a way that the flange 64, with its downwardly protruding rib 70, does not touch the griddle surface 14. Thus, there will be two long edges of the cover 60 under which air can pass. This arrangement by which the cover closes the different areas to differing degrees is an important feature of this invention, since these areas have different coverage requirements. It is self-evident that the warmer oven should be as sealed as possible.When the grille surface 16 is being used, under which heat is being directly applied, some escape for heated air and fumes, etc.

must be provided and this is allowed by the opening under one long edge of the cover 60. However, for the griddle surface 14, the cover has primarily the purpose of containing spatter and not heat. By being held up away from the surface 14, the cover permits a flow of air under long edges, thus avoiding too great a temperature rise under the cover (this being undesirable for fried foods) while still containing spatter.

The grease catcher 30 is a well-known component and need not be described in detail beyond saying that is is preferably of a thermosetting plastic and slides along two metal rails (not shown) which are secured to the underside of the casting 12 in spaced relation therefrom by bosses 71 (two for each rail).

While a specific embodiment of this invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described hereinabove, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the essence of this invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims (12)

1. An appliance for preparing food, comprising: (a) a unitary body defining a flat griddle surface, a grille surface having recessed liquid drainage paths, a collection area into which said paths drain, and a warmer oven, and (b) heating means for heating said unitary body.

2. The appliance claimed in claim 1, in which the heating means is electrically powered and is located adjacent the griddle surface and the grille surface.

3. The appliance claimed in claim 1, which further comprises a cover adapted to be removably fitted over the grille surface or the warmer oven.

4. The appliance claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, in which the warmer oven is recessed below the level of the grille surface.

5. The appliance claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, in which the liquid drainage paths of the grille surface are constituted by a plurality of substantially parallel channels, the bottoms of which slope downwardly toward the collection area.

6. The appliance claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, in which the collection area is adjacent one side of the grille surface, the griddle surface is adjacent another side of the grille surface and the collection area, and the warmer oven is adjacent a further side of the grille surface.

7. The appliance claimed in claim 1, claim 2, or claim 3, in which the collection area is adjacent one side of the grille surface, the griddle surface is adjacent another side of the grille surface and the collection area, and the warmer oven is adjacent a further side of the grille surface, there being a pathway by which liquid from the griddle surface can reach the collection area.

8. The appliance claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, in which the collection area is adjacent one side of the grille surface, the griddle surface is adjacent another side of the grille surface and the collection area, and the warmer oven is adjacent a further side of the grille surface, there being a pathway by which liquid from the griddle surface can reach the collection area, the liquid drainage paths of the grille surface being constituted by a plurality of substantially parallel channels, the bottoms of which slope downwardly toward the collection area.

9. The appliance claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, which further includes means for supporting the body in spaced relation above a table or other surface.

10. The appliance claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, in which the collection area is adjacent one side of the grille surface, the griddle surface is adjacent another side of the grille surface and the collection area, and the warmer oven is adjacent a further side of the grille surface, there being a pathway by which liquid from the griddle surface can reach the collection area, the liquid drainage paths of the grille surface being constituted by a plurality of substantially parallel channels, the bottoms of which slope downwardly toward the collection area, the appliance further including means for supporting the body in spaced relation above a table or other surface.

11. The appliance claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, which further includes a removable container adapted to be affixed below said collection area, there being a drainage hole through which liquid in said collection area can pass to said container.

12. The appliance claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.