GB2132474A - Improvements in food supports - Google Patents

Abstract

A former (10) for supporting food comprises an elongate tubular member of foil material. A preferred embodiment of a former (10) is elliptical in cross section and formed from strips of foil material with adjacent edges joined together by rolling. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in formers This invention relates to formers for food, being formers around which food such as minced beef, minced lamb or other mouldable food is formed and then cooked, the former serving to support the food while cooking takes place and allowing convenient removal of food from the cooking area. Such formers will be referred to hereinafter as "formers of the type defined".

Hitherto, formers of the type defined have commonly been in the form of solid bars, rods or blades around which food is formed, and a common terms for such foods is a "shish kebab".

The former has commonly been made of iron, steel or aluminium.

According to the invention, there is provided a former of the type defined comprising an elongate tubular member of foil material.

The foil material is preferably a metal foil, for example aluminium foil, of a preferred thickness 60 micron.

The tubular member may be elliptical in cross section and may be formed by joining together two strips of the foil material to form two elongate walls of the tubular member. The strips are preferably joined along associated edges by rolling.

This invention further provides a former according to the invention carrying food moulded around it.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a former according to the invention comprising the steps of forming a tubular elongate member of foil material and cutting a desired length therefrom.

In the forming step two strips of foil are preferably joined together by rolling together associated edges.

By way of example, one embodiment of a former according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a former; Figure 2 is an end view of the form of figure 1; Figure 3 is an expanded view of part of figure 2 showing a detail of an edge joint; and Figure 4 is a plan view of the former of figure 1 carrying food moulded around it.

An elongate former or "shish" 10 is tubular and elliptical. The former 10 is made of a foil material such as aluminium foil although other materials could be used. A preferred thickness for the foil is 60 microns although variations in this thickness could of course be made.

The former 10 is made from two strips 11 and 12 of the foil material rolled together along their iongitudinal edges 13 and 14. As shown in figure 3, joining together of the two strips 11 and 12 is achieved by a rolling process whereby edge portions of the strips are laid together and rolled to form a join. It will be appreciated that alternative ways of joining the two strips together may be provided, and also that the former could be made out of a single piece.

Figure 4 shows a former around which food is moulded to provide what is commonly known as a "shish kebab". The uncooked kebab is placed near a source of heat, cooked and then removed for eating. An advantage of this embodiment of a former is that, being tubular, there is good access for heat to a central part of the food and a further advantage is that, being of foil material, end portions of the former do not retain heat and allow easy handling of the cooked kebab without danger of burning the user. Furthermore, being of foil material, the former is cheap to produce and disposable.

Claims (Filed on 25th Oct, 83) 1. A former of the type defined for supporting food, which former comprises an elongate tubular member of foil material.

2. A former as claimed in Claim 1 having an elliptical cross section.

3. A former as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 comprising two strips of foil material joined together to form two elongate walls of the tubular member.

4. A former as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the strips are joined along associated edges by rolling of the foil material.

5. A former as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the foil material is a metal foil.

6. A former as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the metal is aluminium.

7. A former as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the foil has a thickness of approximately 60 micron.

8. A former substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

9. A method of manufacturing a former as claimed in any preceding Claim comprising the steps of forming a tubular elongate member of foil material and cutting a desired length therefrom.

10. A method as claimed in Claim 9 wherein in the forming step, two strips of foil are joined together by rolling together associated edges.

11. A method of manufacturing a former substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

12. A former made by a method as claimed in any one of Claims 8 to 11.

1 3. A former as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8 or 12 carrying food moulded around it.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (12)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in formers This invention relates to formers for food, being formers around which food such as minced beef, minced lamb or other mouldable food is formed and then cooked, the former serving to support the food while cooking takes place and allowing convenient removal of food from the cooking area. Such formers will be referred to hereinafter as "formers of the type defined". Hitherto, formers of the type defined have commonly been in the form of solid bars, rods or blades around which food is formed, and a common terms for such foods is a "shish kebab". The former has commonly been made of iron, steel or aluminium. According to the invention, there is provided a former of the type defined comprising an elongate tubular member of foil material. The foil material is preferably a metal foil, for example aluminium foil, of a preferred thickness 60 micron. The tubular member may be elliptical in cross section and may be formed by joining together two strips of the foil material to form two elongate walls of the tubular member. The strips are preferably joined along associated edges by rolling. This invention further provides a former according to the invention carrying food moulded around it. According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a former according to the invention comprising the steps of forming a tubular elongate member of foil material and cutting a desired length therefrom. In the forming step two strips of foil are preferably joined together by rolling together associated edges. By way of example, one embodiment of a former according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a former; Figure 2 is an end view of the form of figure 1; Figure 3 is an expanded view of part of figure 2 showing a detail of an edge joint; and Figure 4 is a plan view of the former of figure 1 carrying food moulded around it. An elongate former or "shish" 10 is tubular and elliptical. The former 10 is made of a foil material such as aluminium foil although other materials could be used. A preferred thickness for the foil is 60 microns although variations in this thickness could of course be made. The former 10 is made from two strips 11 and 12 of the foil material rolled together along their iongitudinal edges 13 and 14. As shown in figure 3, joining together of the two strips 11 and 12 is achieved by a rolling process whereby edge portions of the strips are laid together and rolled to form a join. It will be appreciated that alternative ways of joining the two strips together may be provided, and also that the former could be made out of a single piece. Figure 4 shows a former around which food is moulded to provide what is commonly known as a "shish kebab". The uncooked kebab is placed near a source of heat, cooked and then removed for eating. An advantage of this embodiment of a former is that, being tubular, there is good access for heat to a central part of the food and a further advantage is that, being of foil material, end portions of the former do not retain heat and allow easy handling of the cooked kebab without danger of burning the user. Furthermore, being of foil material, the former is cheap to produce and disposable. Claims (Filed on 25th Oct, 83)

1. A former of the type defined for supporting food, which former comprises an elongate tubular member of foil material.

2. A former as claimed in Claim 1 having an elliptical cross section.

3. A former as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 comprising two strips of foil material joined together to form two elongate walls of the tubular member.

4. A former as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the strips are joined along associated edges by rolling of the foil material.

5. A former as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the foil material is a metal foil.

6. A former as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the metal is aluminium.

7. A former as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the foil has a thickness of approximately 60 micron.

8. A former substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

9. A method of manufacturing a former as claimed in any preceding Claim comprising the steps of forming a tubular elongate member of foil material and cutting a desired length therefrom.

10. A method as claimed in Claim 9 wherein in the forming step, two strips of foil are joined together by rolling together associated edges.

11. A method of manufacturing a former substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

12. A former made by a method as claimed in any one of Claims 8 to 11.

1 3. A former as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8 or 12 carrying food moulded around it.