GB2426916A

GB2426916A - Cooking apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2426916A
Application number: GB0511522A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bruce Hunter; Philip Haywood
Original assignee: PYRAMID PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: PYRAMID PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 2005-06-07
Filing date: 2005-06-07
Publication date: 2006-12-13
Also published as: WO2006131688A3; GB0511522D0; WO2006131688A2

Abstract

A cooking apparatus 10 including a burner element 12 from which, in use, a flame or flames 14 are emitted, a lower cooking plate 16 and an upper cooking plate 18 wherein the lowermost cooking surface 16 is arranged so that, in use, the lower cooking plate 16 extends between part, but not all, of the burner element 12 and the upper cooking plate 18.

Description

Title: Gas Cooking Apparatus scriDtion of Invention The invention relates

to a gas cooking apparatus, in particular a gas fuelled cooking apparatus in which food is cooked between two heated cooking surfaces, both cooking surfaces preferably being in contact with the food during cooking.

Cooking apparatus in which food is cooked between two electrically heated cooking surfaces, both cooking surfaces preferably being in contact with the food during cooking, are known. One example of such an apparatus is sold under the trade mark "George Foreman Lean Mean Fat Reducing Grilling Machine". Such apparatus are becoming popular for health reasons, as the machines are designed to allow fat to drain away from the food as it cOoks, thus reducing the fat content of the cooked food. By placing the food between two heated cooking surfaces, the food is cooked from two opposite sides simultaneously, thus minimising the time required to cook the food.

As such known apparatus are electrically powered, and require relatively high power input, they are effectively restricted to use in locations where mains electricity is available. It is an object of the present invention to provide an equivalent gas powered cooking apparatus which would be suitable for use outdoors, for example when camping.

According to a first aspect of the invention we provide a cooking apparatus including a burner element from which, in use, a flame or flames are emitted, a lower cooking plate and an upper cooking plate, wherein the lowermost cooking surface is arranged so that, in use, the lower cooking plate extends between part, but not all, of the burner element and the upper cooking plate.

By virtue of the fact that the lower cooking plate extends between part, but not all, of the burner element and the lower cooking plate, heat from the flame or flames emitted from the burner element will be transferred directly to both the lower and upper cooking plates. Thus, food placed between the two cooking plates may be cooked from opposite sides simultaneously.

Preferably the lower cooking plate includes an aperture which, in use, is located between part of the burner element and the upper cooking plate. In this case, the aperture and the burner element may be located generally centrally relative to the lower cooking plate. By virtue of this arrangement, some of the heat from the flame or flames emitted from the burner element may be transferred directly to the edge of the lower cooking plate surrounding the aperture, whilst a portion of the flame or flames extends through the aperture in the lower cooking plate so that the remainder of the heat is transferred directly to the upper cooking plate.

The upper cooking plate may include a corresponding aperture which, in use, lies adjacent to and aligned with the aperture in the lower cooking plate, there being provided heat conducting parts which extend across the aperture in the upper cooking plate. Preferably the heat conducting parts are made from a material with relatively high thermal conductivity such as aluminium. The heat conducting parts may be made from a different material to the remainder of the upper cooking plate. For example, the heat conductive parts may be made from a metal with high thermal conductivity such as aluminium or an aluminium based alloy, whilst the remainder of the upper cooking plate may be made from a metal with a high specific heat capacity such as cast iron or pressed steel.

The lower cooking plate may include a drain aperture and be shaped such that when the apparatus is placed on a generally horizontal surface, at least a substantial proportion of liquid on the lower cooking plate flows to the drain aperture.

Where the lower cooking plate includes an aperture, a groove and/or ridge may be provided in the cooking surface around the aperture, substantially to prevent liquid on the lower cooking plate from draining into the central aperture onto the burner element. In this case, the drain aperture may be provided in or adjacent to the groove or ridge.

Where the cooking apparatus includes a drain aperture, the apparatus may further include a liquid collection container located, in use, beneath the drain aperture. In this case, the liquid collection container may be located between the burner element and a fuel container from which fuel required to produce the flame or flames is supplied to the burner element.

The lower cooking plate may include an outer ridge which extends around an outermost edge of the lower cooking plate, the ridge including at least one pair of notches in opposite sides thereof, the notches being adapted to receive a skewer and retain the skewer in a predetermined position on the lower cooking plate.

The upper and lower cooking plates may be connected by means of a hinge so that the upper cooking plate may be pivoted between a use position in which the upper cooking plate is on top of and generally parallel to the lower cooking plate and an open position in which the upper cooking plate is inclined relative to the lower cooking plate. In this case, the hinge may be adapted to permit variation in the spacing between the lower cooking plate and the upper cooking plate when in the use position in order to permit the cooking apparatus to be used to cook foods of varying thickness.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a perspective illustration of a cooking apparatus according to the invention in an open position.

Referring now to the figure, there is shown a cooking apparatus 10 including a burner element 12 from which, in use, flames 14 are emitted. In this example, the fuel required to feed the flames is butane gas, but it should be appreciated that any appropriate fuel may be used.

The cooking apparatus 10 also includes a lower cooking plate 16 and an upper cooking plate 18, and a base 20. The lower cooking plate 16 is mounted on the base 20 and the upper cooking plate 18 is pivotally connected to the lower cooking plate 16 by means of a pair of hinges 22 so that the upper cooking plate 18 may be pivoted between a use position in which the upper cooking plate 18 is on top of and generally parallel to the lower cooking plate 16 and an open position in which the upper cooking plate 18 is inclined relative to the lower cooking plate 16. Preferably the hinges 22 are configured so that the hinges 22 support the upper cooking plate 18 in an open position in which the angle between the upper cooking plate 18 and the lower cooking plate 16 is around 1100.

Whilst in this embodiment of the invention the hinges 22 are simple pivotal connections, the hinges 22 may be floating hinges adapted to permit variation in the spacing between the lower cooking plate 16 and the upper cooking plate 18 when in the use position in order to permit the cooking apparatus to be used to cook foods of varying thickness.

The base 20 is generally rectangular and includes four side walls 20a and a top surface 20b which extends inwardly of the side walls 20a to enclose a generally rectangular aperture. The aperture in the top surface 20b is slightly smaller that the lower cooking plate 16, so that the lower cooking plate 16 may be mounted on the top surface 20b of the base 20, whilst the burner element 12 is mounted beneath the lower cooking plate 16 in the space enclosed by the side walls 20a of the base 20. The lower cooking plate 16 may be fixed to the base 20, or may be removable to facilitate easy cleaning of the lower cooking plate 16 after use.

The lower cooking plate 16 and burner element 12 are arranged so that, in use, the lower cooking plate 16 extends between part, but not all, of the burner element 12 and the upper cooking plate 18.

In this embodiment of the invention, the lower cooking plate 16 is a generally rectangular plate with four rounded corners. A generally rectangular aperture 24 is provided in the lower cooking plate 16 generally centrally between the long edges of the lower cooking plate 16 and extends along virtually the full length of the plate.

The burner element 12 is a conventional gas burner, but includes two elongate side parts 12a connected by a central part 12b so that flames emitted from the periphery of the burner element 12 form the outline of a letter H. The burner element 12 is mounted below the aperture 24 in the lower cooking plate 16 so that when the upper cooking plate is in the use position, the lower cooking plate 16 does not extend between the central part 12b of the burner element 12 and the upper cooking plate 18 but does extend between end portions of the side parts I 2a of the burner element 12 and the upper cooking plate 18. By virtue of this arrangement, some of the heat from the flame or flames 14 emitted from the burner element 12 may be transferred directly to the edge of the lower cooking plate 16 surrounding the aperture 24, whilst a portion of the flame or flames 14 extends through the aperture 24 in the lower cooking plate 16 so that the remainder of the heat is transferred directly to the upper cooking plate 18.

It has been discovered that to achieve optimum performance, between 60 and 80% of the heat from the flame or flames 14 should be transferred directly to the upper cooking plate 18. In this embodiment of the invention, the burner element 12 and lower cooking plate 16 are configured such that around 70% of the heat from the flame or flames 14 is transferred directly to the upper cooking plate 18.

The upper cooking plate 18 is also a generally rectangular plate with four rounded corners. A top cover 46, made from a heat resistant plastics material, is mounted on the upper cooking plate 18 on an opposite side to the lower cooking plate 16 when in the use position. The top cover 46 extends beyond the periphery of the upper cooking plate 18, and, at the side opposite to the hinges 22, provides a handle 48 by means of which a user may pivot the upper cooking plate 18 between the open position and the use position. The hinges 22 providing the pivotal connection between plate 18 and the lower cooking plate 16 extend from the base 20 and the top cover 46. The upper cooling plate 18 may be fixed tot he top cover 46 or may be removable to facilitate easy cleaning of the plate 18 after use. The combination of the upper cooking plate 18 and the top cover 46 will hereinafter be referred to as the top plate 50.

A generally rectangular aperture 30 corresponding to the aperture 24 in the lower cooking plate 16 is also provided generally centrally in the upper cooking plate 18 and extends along virtually the full length of the plate 18. An inner ridge 34 is provided around the periphery of the aperture 30, the inner ridge extending generally normally from the upper cooking plate 18 towards the lower cooking plate 16. The upper cooking plate 18 includes heat conducting struts 32 which extend transversely across the aperture. The heat conducting struts 32 are made from a material with relatively high thermal conductivity such as aluminium, whilst, in this example, the remainder of the upper cooking plate 18 is made from cast iron or pressed steel.

The lower cooking plate 16 is mounted to one side of the base 20, and, under the top surface 20a at the other side of the base 20, there is provided space for a container of the fuel required for the burner element 12 to produce flames. In this case, a butane gas canister is contained in this space within the side walls 20a of the base 20. Conventional gas plumbing fittings are also mounted within the base 20 to connect the gas canister 34 to the burner element 12 and to control flow of gas to the burner element 12. A gas flow control dial 36 is provided at a front side wall 20a of the base 20 to enable a user to control the size of flames from the burner element 12, and there is removable access cover 37 of the base top surface 20b which, when removed, permits a user access to insert or remove the gas canister 34.

Ignition means may be provided to assist a user in lighting gas emitted from the burner element 12 to produce the flames required for cooking as is known in the art of gas cooking appliances.

Adjacent the gas flow control dial 36 is a locking lever 50 which is movable between a lock position in which removal of the gas canister is prevented, and a release position in which removal of the gas canister is permitted. The plumbing fittings are configured, as is conventional in the art of portable gas cooking appliances, to permit flow of gas from the canister only when the locking lever 50 is in the lock position.

In this example, the gas plumbing fittings are configured such that the gas canister 34 may be swapped for a butane gas bottle of the type conventionally used for fuelling camping stoves or gas lamps, if a user desires. It should be appreciated, however, that the base 20 is not large enough to accommodate a gas bottle, and therefore is would be necessary to place the gas bottle adjacent the cooking apparatus, and the gas bottle plumbing fittings are configured to allow this.

The lower cooking plate 16 includes a drain aperture 38 and is shaped such that when the apparatus 10 is placed, ready for use, on a generally horizontal surface, at least a substantial proportion of liquid on the lower cooking plate 16 flows to the drain aperture 38.

In this embodiment of the invention, the drain aperture 39 is provided adjacent an end of the aperture 30 in the lowermost cooking surface adjacent the gas canister 34. The lower cooking plate 16 is provided with an inner ridge 26 which extends from the edge surrounding the aperture 24 generally normal to the plate 16 and away from the base 20. Surrounding the inner ridge 26 is a groove 28, and the drain aperture 38 is provided in the groove 28. The lower cooking plate 16, although generally planar, is shaped such that when the base 20 is placed on a horizontal surface the area around the drain aperture 38 is slightly closer to the base 20 that the periphery of the plate 16. Thus, fluid on the lower cooking plate 16, such as fat draining from meat during cooking, flows to the drain aperture 38. The inner ridge 26 substantially prevents such fluid from flowing into the aperture 24 and onto the burner element 12.

The apparatus 10 further includes a liquid collection container 40 located, in use, beneath the drain aperture 38. In this case, the liquid collection container is located in the space enclosed by the side walls 20a of the base, between the burner element 12 and the gas canister 34. Locating the liquid collection container 40 in this position may be advantageous as it acts to provide a physical barrier between the gas canister 34 and the flame or flames 14 emitted from the burner element 12.

Both cooking plates 16, 18 are provided with a plurality of transversely extending ridges 41 which are generally semicircular in transverse crosssection. These ridges 41 assist in permitting fat to drain away from the food during cooking, and can provide food with the blackened stripes characteristic of a char-grill effect.

The lower cooking plate 16 is also provided with an outer ridge 42 which extends around an outermost edge of the lowermost cooking surface 16 generally normal to the plate 16 and away from the base 20. The shorter edges of the outer ridge 42 are each provided with four notches 44 which extend from the upper edge of the ridge 42 towards the base 20. A skewer may be located in each pair of notches 44, extending from one end of the lower cooking plate 16 to the other. The notches 44 thus may be used to retain a skewer or skewers in a predetermined position on the lower cooking plate 16 during cooking, two skewers on either side of the aperture 24.

The cooking apparatus 10 is preferably used as follows.

After removing the access cover 37, a user connects a butane gas canister 34 to the plumbing fittings as is conventional in the art, and then replaces the access cover 37. The user uses the handle 48 to pivot the top plate 50 to the open position. Then, the gas flow control dial 36 is operated so that there is flow of gas to the burner element 12, and the user lights the gas, using a match, gas lighter or other similar device, or using the ignition means if provided. The top plate 50 is then returned to the use position to allow the upper and lower cooking plates 16, 18 to be heated by the flames 14 from the burner element 12. By virtue of the fact that the lower cooking plate 16 extends between part, but not all, of the burner element 12 and the upper cooking plate 18, heat from the flame or flames 14 emitted from the burner element 12 will be transferred directly to both the lower and upper cooking plates 16, 18. Heat from the flames extending through the aperture 24 in the lower cooking plate 16 impinge on the heat conductive struts 32 in the upper cooking plate 18, and these struts 32 conduct the heat to the remainder of the plate 18.

When the user judges that the cooking plates 16, 18 have reached a desired temperature, the user lifts the top plate 50 by means of the handle 48 into the open position, and places food to be cooked on the lower cooking plate 16.

The user then returns the top plate 50 to the use position so that the upper cooking plate 18 contacts and is supported by the food. The food is thus sandwiched between two hot surfaces and is therefore cooked from opposite sides simultaneously.

Gas flow to the burner element 12 is maintained during cooking, in order to maintain the cooking plates 16, 18 at an appropriate temperature for cooking the food, the user using the gas flow control dial 36 to increase or decrease the size of the flames 14, and hence the temperature of the cooking plates 16, 18, as necessary. The food is supported on the semi-circular ridges 41 on the cooking plates 16, 18 and any fat or other fluid seeping from the food during cooking flows along the lower cooking plate 16 to the drain aperture 38 and drains into the liquid collection container 40. When the food is cooked to the user's satisfaction, the user lifts the top plate 50, removes the food, and uses the gas flow control dial 36 to cut the supply of gas to the burner element 12.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A cooking apparatus including a burner element from which, in use, a flame or flames are emitted, a lower cooking plate and an upper cooking plate, wherein the lowermost cooking surface is arranged so that, in use, the lower cooking plate extends between part, but not all, of the burner element and the upper cooking plate.

2. A cooking apparatus as claimed in claim I wherein the lower cooking plate includes an aperture which, in use, is located between part of the burner element and the upper cooking plate.

3. A cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the aperture and the burner element are located generally centrally relative to the lower cooking plate.

4. A cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the upper cooking plate includes a corresponding aperture which, in use, lies adjacent to and aligned with the aperture in the lower cooking plate, there being provided heat conducting parts which extend across the aperture in the upper cooking plate.

5. A cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the heat conducting parts are made from a material with relatively high thermal conductivity such as aluminium.

6. A cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the heat conducting parts are made from a different material to the remainder of the upper cooking plate.

7. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the lower cooking plate includes a drain aperture and is shaped such that when the apparatus is placed on a generally horizontal surface, at least a substantial proportion of liquid on the lower cooking plate flows to the drain aperture.

8. A cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein a groove and/or ridge is provided in the cooking surface around the aperture, substantially to prevent liquid on the lower cooking plate from draining into the central aperture onto the burner element.

9. A cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the drain aperture is provided in or adjacent to the groove or ridge.

10. A cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the apparatus may further includes a liquid collection container located, in use, beneath the drain aperture.

11. A cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the liquid collection container is located between the burner element and a fuel container from which fuel required to produce the flame or flames is supplied to the burner element.

12. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the lower cooking plate includes an outer ridge which extends around an outermost edge of the lower cooking plate, the ridge including at least one pair of notches in opposite sides thereof, the notches being adapted to receive a skewer and retain the skewer in a predetermined position on the lower cooking plate.

13. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the upper and lower cooking plates are connected by means of a hinge so that the upper cooking plate may be pivoted between a use position in which the upper cooking plate is on top of and generally parallel to the lower cooking plate and an open position in which the upper cooking plate is inclined relative to the lower cooking plate.

14. A cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the hinge is adapted to permit variation in the spacing between the lower cooking plate and the upper cooking plate when in the use position in order to permit the cooking apparatus to be used to cook foods of varying thickness.

15. A cooking apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

16. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.