GB2322271A

GB2322271A - Food stirrer for microwave oven

Info

Publication number: GB2322271A
Application number: GB9703180A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Martin Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-02-15
Filing date: 1997-02-15
Publication date: 1998-08-19
Also published as: GB9703180D0

Abstract

A mixing vessel 2 for use in a microwave oven 6 comprises a stirring device with agitating blades 18 mounted on a shaft 16, the shaft being prevented from rotation by an arm member 12 which abuts against a wall 20 of the oven. The vessel is rotated by turntable 4. The arm may be telescopic and spring biased to engage the wall. The shaft is positioned within a lid 10 by bearing 14, so that it may rotate about a vertical axis with respect to the vessel.

Description

Stirrer for Microwave Oven The present invention relates to a stirring arrangement for a microwave oven.

A microwave oven is now a relatively commonplace kitchen appliance and is often used in place of the hob or hotplate of a conventional oven as a convenient means for heating fluids. However, whereas when heating fluids using a conventional oven the fluid may be continually agitated by stirring, continuous agitation is impossible using a microwave oven as the oven door must always remain securely closed.

A large number of different microwave oven designs exist nowadays, however a more or less universal feature amongst them is a rotating turntable centred within the oven and upon which dishes or containers are placed.

I have now devised an arrangement which utilises this common feature to provide an effective means for continuously agitating substances within a microwave oven.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a mixing vessel for a microwave oven, the vessel comprising a radially projecting arm mounted for rotation about the vertical axis of said vessel and carrying one or more agitating elements for stirring the contents of the vessel, said projecting arm serving in use to interfere with an inner wall of said oven to prevent rotation of said agitating elements as said vessel is rotated upon the turntable of said oven.

The relative clockwise or anti-clockwise motion between the rotating vessel and the stationary agitating elements contained therein thus provides an efficient mixing action.

Preferably the projecting arm rotates about a bearing provided at the top of the vessel. Preferably the bearinq is mounted within a lid of the vessel which is preferably formed with one or more ventilation apertures. Preferably the projecting arm carries a shaft which extends into the vessel from its top. The vessel may comprise å second bearing situated at the base of the shaft. Preferably the agitating elements comprise a plurality of blades which extend radially from the shaft; preferably at or adjacent its lower end.

Preferably the blades are profiled to minimise the degree of clearance at the base of the vessel.

Preferably the projecting arm is telescopic so that it may be adapted to suit ovens of differing designs or sizes.

Preferably the projecting arm is spring biased towards its extended position.

Preferably the vessel may be disassembled, thereby allowing it to be properly cleaned.

Certain other features such as a handle, a pouring spout or an anti-slip base may be provided to enhance the utility of the vessel.

Also in accordance with the present invention there is provided a stirring device for attaching to a vessel and comprising a radially projecting arm which is, in use, rotatable about the vertical axis of the vessel and carries one or more agitating elements for stirring the contents of the vessel, the projecting arm being arranged to interfere with an inner wall of the oven to prevent the rotation of the agitating elements as the vessel is rotated upon the turntable of the oven.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cut-away perspective view of a microwave oven containing a mixing vessel according with the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view through the vessel of Figure 1; and, Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating the vessel in operation.

Referring to the drawings, a lidded vessel 2 is shown arranged upon the rotating turntable 4 of a conventional microwave oven 6. The vessel 2 comprises a container 8 closed at its top by means of a circular lid 10. A radially projecting telescopic arm 12 is supported by a bearing 14 in the centre of the lid 10. A shaft 16 extends downwards from the proximal end of the arm 12 and into the body of the container 8, the shaft having, at its lower end, a plurality of axially projecting profiled blades 18. The blades may take the form illustrated in which they may also be profiled to minimise the degree of clearance at the base of the vessel, or, alternative or additional blade arrangements may be provided along the shaft. It will be appreciated that the arrangement described is intended to be used in conjunction with microwave ovens having either a clockwise and/or anti-clockwise rotating turntable. Non-symmetrically profiled blade arrangements must therefore be oriented according to the direction of rotation of the turntable, either during manufacture, or by subsequently inverting or otherwise adjusting the attitude of the blades.

Whilst not shown in the drawings, the shaft may comprise a second bearing formed within or upon the inside surface of the vessel's base.

The telescopic arm 12 is extended so that, as the vessel 2 is rotated upon the turntable 4, the bladed shaft 16 is held stationary with respect to the container 8 due to the obstruction of the distal end of the arm 12 by the oven wall 20, the effect upon the contents 22 of the vessel being shown in Figure 3. In particular, as shown, the distal end of the arm 12 locates in the corner, between the back wall and one side wall of the oven.

Whilst the arrangement described comprises a vessel having an integral stirring mechanism, it would remain in accordance with the present invention for the telescopic arm and bladed shaft arrangement to be supplied as an independent unit and to comprise means for fitting to other dishes.

The devices thus described are simple yet effective in stirring the contents of a container which is rotated upon the turntable of a microwave oven, and may be used in ovens of differing designs and/or sizes.

Claims

1) A mixing vessel for a microwave oven, said vessel comprising a radially projecting arm mounted for rotation about the vertical axis of said vessel and carrying one or more agitating elements for stirring the contents of said vessel, said radially projecting arm serving in use to interfere with an inner wall of said oven to prevent rotation of said agitating elements as said vessel is rotated upon the turntable of said oven.

2) A mixing vessel as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said radially projecting arm rotates about a bearing provided at the top of said vessel.

3) A mixing vessel as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said bearing is mounted within a lid of said vessel.

4) A mixing vessel as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said lid of said vessel is formed with one or more ventilation apertures.

5) A mixing vessel as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said radially projecting arm carries a shaft which extends into said vessel from its top.

6) A mixing vessel as claimed in Claim 5 appended to Claim 2, comprising a second bearing situated at the base of said shaft.

7) A mixing vessel as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein said agitating elements comprise a plurality of blades which extend radially from said shaft.

8) A mixing vessel as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said plurality of blades extend radially from said shaft at or adjacent its lower end.

9) A mixing vessel as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein said plurality of blades are profiled to minimise the degree of clearance at the base of said vessel.

10) A mixing vessel as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said radially projecting arm is telescopic.

11) A mixing vessel as claimed in Claim 10, wherein said radially projecting arm is spring-biased towards its extended position.

12) A mixing vessel as claimed in any preceding claim, which may be disassembled.

13) A mixing vessel substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14) A stirring device for attaching to a vessel and comprising a radially projecting arm which is, in use, rotatable about the vertical axis of said vessel and carries one or more agitating elements for stirring the contents of said vessel, said radially projecting arm being arranged to interfere with an inner wall of an oven to prevent the rotation of said agitating elements as said vessel is rotated upon the turntable of said oven.

15) A stirring device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.