GB2471503A

GB2471503A - Pot mounted food processing device

Info

Publication number: GB2471503A
Application number: GB0911460A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Recep Yildirim
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-07-02
Filing date: 2009-07-02
Publication date: 2011-01-05
Also published as: GB2471503A8; GB0911460D0

Abstract

An apparatus for processing food in a vessel comprises at least one processing tool 100 such as a stirring or mixing tool, a drive means 138 such as a variable speed battery operated motor and a means for removably attaching the apparatus to the rim or lip of the vessel 102. The attachments means are adjustable 118 such that the apparatus can be clamped 120 to a variety of different vessels or receptacles. The tool can rotate or can move in a circular path and can be adjusted or changed to account for the varying height, depth or diameter of each vessel and the current use 101. Examples of different tools include a mixer, blender, chopper, grinder, grater, crusher, kneader or whisk. Embodiments of the invention could also be used to mix concrete, sand or chemical compounds among others.

Description

Pot-mounted food processing device

Background of the Invention

[1] The present invention relates to food processing, and in particular to processing food while still in its cooking vessel.

[2] It is well known in the art to have a food processor which comes with a specific bowl or other vessel in which the food must be processed.

[3] It is further known in the art to have a food heating device which is capable of mixing the food while it cooks.

[4] For example, US 4151792 to Nearhood discloses a simultaneous food cooking and mixing apparatus comprising a stove type heating element having an electrically driven mixing means connected thereto. The cooking means can resemble a conventional pressure cooker structure with a lid assembly releasably connected to a main container member. The mixing means includes a power assembly operable to drive a mixer assembly through a connector shaft assembly. The mixer assembly lies against a bottom wall and lower sidewall area of the main container member and includes a main hub member with four (4) equally spaced paddle assemblies connected thereto. Each paddle assembly includes a spoke member integral on an outer end with a flexible wiper end member. The spoke member is provided with cut-out, material flow channels to aid in mixing of the food product therein. The wiper end member is flexible so as to wipe the sidewall and bottom wall during rotation.

[5] US 2002027175 to Capp discloses a food preparation appliance which includes a food preparation container and a base unit. The base unit includes a stirring mechanism drive and a heating element. The heating element comprises an induction heating element. The stirring mechanism drive includes a motor which drives a drive pin. The base unit has a control panel for use in controlling the stirring mechanism drive and the heating element. In one or more embodiments, the base unit includes a processor and memory storage device. Specific control sequences are stored and may be processed, whereby the stirring and heating mechanisms operate in a specific sequence and manner. In one embodiment, control information, such as cooking control instructions associated with a particular recipe of food to be prepared, may be downloaded from a remote location to the base unit via a telecommunication link. The food preparation container comprises a specially configured pot. The pot has a mixer which is removably located in its interior. The mixer includes a helical central blade and an outwardly extending wiping blade.

The mixer includes a spindle for connection to the drive pin of the base unit via a connecting rod. The pot may be removed from the base unit and used independently thereof.

[6] It is further known in the art to have a device for mixing food while it cooks, which can be used on a regular pan or pot. US 5516208 to Givant discloses a stirrer for mixing ingredients in a pot wherein the stirrer includes a housing enclosing a battery-operated motor driving a downwardly depending drive shaft to which a stir paddle is detachably connected via an offset link so that the paddle revolves about the central axis of the housing but is offset therefrom. A releasable mounting arrangement attaches the housing to the rim of the pot so that the drive shaft is centered thereon allowing the paddle to revolve without striking the wall of the pot. The mounting arrangement includes self-adjusting, spring-bias arms having end clamps detachably coupled with the pot rim. Push button and dial controls with circuit networks carried on the housing selectively control time, speed and other operating parameters.

Brief Siinry of the Invention [7] It can be seen from the forgoing that a need has arisen for a means for variably stirring, mixing, blending and otherwise processing food while in a regular cooking pot or pan. It would be further advantageous if the means could be transferred between different pots and pans.

[8] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus capable of performing a variety of food processing tasks on food or similar substances in a variety of vessels.

[9] To this end, an apparatus for processing matter such as food in a vessel is disclosed comprising: at least one processing tool; means for attaching to a rim of said vessel; drive means; and at least one power source; whereby said apparatus can process food in a variety of vessels.

[10] An advantage of the present invention is that it eliminates the need to use a specific vessel for processing food.

Any convenient vessel can be used. Furthermore, if the food is already in a vessel, there is no need to transfer the food and dirty further vessels. Furthermore, the food can be processed while being heated or while still in the pot or pan in which it was heated, with no need to transfer hot food.

[11] A further advantage of the present invention is that the same relatively small piece of equipment can be used for many purposes, that is, mixing, blending, chopping, grinding, crushing, kneading, whisking, etc, using different attachments.

This reduces cost since one piece of equipment performs many tasks. Furthermore, it reduces storage space occupied in a kitchen.

Brief Description of the Several Views of the Drawing [12] The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings, in which: [131 Figure 1 shows an isometric view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[141 Figure 2 shows the underside of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[15] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures 1 and 2 in which like numerals refer to like components, an apparatus for processing matter such as food in a vessel is disclosed comprising: at least one processing tool 100; means for attaching to a rim of said vessel 102, mounted on an outer housing 140; drive means (not shown) disposed inside a drive means housing 138; and at least one power source (not shown); whereby said apparatus can process food in a variety of vessels.

[16] As further shown in the figure, the apparatus preferably further comprises means for removably attaching said at least one processing tool (not shown) mounted directly or indirectly to said drive means, means for moving said tool in a circular path 110; and means for rotating said tool about its own axis 112. Preferably, the apparatus further comprises means for adjusting the height of said processing tool 114, and means for varying a speed of said tool 116. The drive means housing 138 and an outer housing 140 are preferable and not essential components of the invention and are designed to protect the inner components and ease cleaning and maintenance.

[17] Said at least one processing tool 100 is preferably at least one selected from the list comprising: mixer, blender, chopper, grinder, grater, slicer, liquidizer, ice crusher, kneading hook, whisk, as known in the art. This list is not all encompassing and there may be further food mixing or processing tools which are included under the scope of the invention. The tool may be any processing tool or means for manipulating or altering the state or position of food in a pot, as known in the art.

[18] It should be noted that while the term food' is used herein to describe the matter to be processed in the vessel, the scope of the invention includes the processing of any matter in a vessel by the apparatus described herein. This may be concrete, sand, chemical compounds, etc. [19] The means for attaching preferably comprises at least one and more preferably three adjustable clamps 102 as shown in the figure. The three adjustable clamps are preferably evenly spaced around the apparatus, that is, 120 degrees apart from each other, and preferably comprise radial sliding rails 118, vessel grips 120, and locking levers 122 as shown. Thus in use, the grips are slid to their outermost position, the apparatus is positioned centrally over the vessel, the grips are slid inwards until they meet the rim of the vessel, and the locking levers are moved to the locked position to lock the apparatus to the rim of the vessel. The apparatus can now be used to process the food.

[20] Preferably, the sliding rails further comprise a rubber grip panel 124 on their underside for gripping the rim of the vessel. The vessel grips may also comprise rubber grip surfaces on the surfaces which touch the vessel.

[21] Alternatively, there may be one clamp which may clamp, clip or otherwise attach to the inside and outside of the vessel, or there may be two or more than three clamps. The clamps may be adjustable by any means known in the art and may screw, slide, buckle, or move manually or electrically by any mechanism known in the art. The clamps may move independently or together.

[22] The clamps are preferably mounted on outer housing 140 which is preferably shaped to fit around the drive means housing and which can move vertically with respect to the drive means housing. The outer housing is preferably two shot moulded polycarbonate or may be any suitable material.

[23] It should be noted that it is envisaged that the vessel will be a pot or pan for use on a stove top and will therefore be circular. However, the vessel may be any food container, such as a mixing bowl, casserole dish etc, and may be of any material or shape. The invention is directed towards round vessels but it will be readily understood that four clamps of the kind described above can easily accommodate square and rectangular vessels and this is included within the scope of the invention. Furthermore, clamps may be pivotable with respect to the sliding rails to accommodate vessel walls in any direction and thus to accommodate oval, hexagonal and other shapes of vessels and this is also included within the scope of the invention.

[24] Said drive means is preferably an electric induction motor comprising a rotor and stator as known in the art. The drive means may alternatively be any other means of driving the tools as known in the art, for example permanent magnet motor, hydraulic motor, etc. The drive means is preferably encased in a housing 138 shaped to fit around the drive means and attached components, which is preferably two shot moulded polycarbonate or may be any suitable material. Furthermore, the drive means may be mechanical such as a handle or lever to be driven by a user' s hand.

[25] The power source is preferably an internal battery (not shown) which can be charged by connection to an external electrical socket 107. Preferably, the apparatus can also be driven directly from an external electrical socket. Alternatively the power source may be removable batteries or may be a user's hand, or any power source known in the art.

[261 The means for removably attaching the processing tool or tools may be any means known in the art. Preferably, the tools comprise a stem 101 at their top which slots into a cavity in the main body of the apparatus -that is, in the means for adjusting the height or the means for moving or rotating the tools. Preferably the stems comprise protrusions which, when rotated or pushed within the slot, slide and lock into cavities disposed for that purpose. This and similar mechanisms are widely known in the art and therefore not described in more detail here.

Alternatively, any removable attachment mechanism known in the art may be used, which may include release buttons, switches, etc. [27] Preferably, the apparatus comprises both means for moving said tool in a circular path as shown by arrow 126 of Figure 2 and means for rotating said tool about its own axis as shown by arrow 128 of Figure 2. Said means for moving the tool in a circular path is preferably the motor, which preferably rotates in circular motion. Thus the tool or tool attachment means can be mounted -directly or indirectly via gears -to the motor, away from the axis of rotation of (and preferably close to the outside edge of) the rotor, to cause the tool to travel in a circular path, that is, to traverse a path within the circumference of the vessel as shown by arrow 126. Preferably, the means for rotating said tool comprise gears or a gear train 112 as known in the art to transform the circular motion of the motor about its central axis into circular motion about the stem of the tool such that the tool rotates about its own axis as shown by arrow 128.

Preferably this rotation is in conjunction with the circular motion, thus the tool rotates about its own axis while it encircles the food.

[28] Preferably, the means for adjusting the height of said processing tool is a height adjustment release button 114 disposed on the outer housing which, when depressed, removes a pin having a fixed height with respect to the outer housing from a rack 134 mounted on the motor housing and enables the motor and therefore the attached tools to be lifted up or pushed down along the rack. When the motor is at the correct height, the button is again pressed to insert the pin in to the rack and thus hold the motor and tools in place. This is widely known in the art and is therefore not described here in more detail. Alternatively, any means known in the art may be used to adjust the height of the tool or tools. There may be a button, pin and rack disposed on the cavity which receives the stem of the tool, for example, or on the gears. Alternatively there may be height adjustment means disposed on the means for attaching to the vessel. Any means known in the art may be used for adjusting the height of the tools with respect to the vessel and food therein.

[29] The means for varying a speed of said tool may be a button or buttons, dial, lever, touch screen, or any control means known in the art in conjunction with gears or gear trains connected to the motor and/or power adjustment means or any means known in the art for adjusting the speed of circulation and rotation of the tool.

[30] It is envisaged that one tool at a time will be mounted to the apparatus, however, the scope of the invention also includes the mounting or option to mount more than one, or many tools at once to the apparatus. This may be the same or different tools, for example, two or three liquidizing tools for faster or smoother liquidizing, or a mixing and a liquidizing tool simultaneously. Thus the apparatus may comprise more than one means for attaching a tool.

Claims

Claims 1. An apparatus for processing matter in a vessel comprising: at least one processing tool; means for attaching to a rim of said vessel; drive means; and at least one power source; whereby said apparatus can process matter in a variety of vessels.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said matter comprises food.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for removably attaching said at least one processing tool.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one selected from the list comprising: means for moving said tool in a circular path; means for rotating said tool.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for adjusting the height of said processing tool.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one processing tool is at least one selected from the list comprising: mixer, blender, chopper, grinder, grater, slicer, liquiddizer, ice crusher, kneading hook, whisk.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for attaching comprises at least one adjustable clamp
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for attaching comprises three adjustable clamps.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for varying a speed of said tool.