GB2475030A

GB2475030A - Food cooling apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2475030A
Application number: GB0915618A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Francis Mainey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-09-08
Filing date: 2009-09-08
Publication date: 2011-05-11
Also published as: GB0915618D0

Abstract

A device for cooling food served in a container 14 comprises a support arm 5 and a fan, the support arm being configured to hold the fan centrally over the food container. The fan is mounted on a fan head 1 and the blades of the fan are preferably fabricated from a dense foam material. The fan head contains an electric motor that rotates the fan in use and batteries and an on off switch for the motor. The support arm is sized to allow plates and bowls to be placed under the fan head in use, and configured so as to allow the user to stir the contents of the food container whilst they are being cooled by the fan. The fan head may be shaped and coloured to have a pleasing appearance, such as the head of a cartoon character or a person wearing a baseball cap.

Description

Food cooling apparatus This invention relates generally to a device that cools food.

Background

When preparing food for a family it is recognised that not all family members prefer their food piping hot, especially children who often complain that their food is too hot to eat. Hungry children can often take a mouthful of food before it is cool, possibly leading to burns and injury. Concerned parents heat baby food to high temperatures in order to kill any bacteria present and then spend a great amount of time cooling it again, usually by blowing on it. Blowing is an unhygienic method of cooling food as spit can be transferred, as well as any bacteria present in the fluid.

It is noted that various patents for food cooling apparatus already exist, and are listed below: Osterhoff U.S. Pat. No 5720171; Zeitlin U.S. Pat No 5181836; Zeitlin U.S. Pat. No 5115566; U.S. Pat. No 5060479: Oliphant U.S. Pat No 5062281; Altman U.S. Pat. No D416083 Compared to the proposed invention these devices are for similar purpose but not as versatile in their cooling ability or either cools individual spoons rather than a complete meal. Other devices are large and clumsy and so not portable and do not allow access to the food while it is cooling.

Summary of invention

To overcome these problems, the present invention allows the user to place the child's container of food beneath the apparatus, which via a fan blade connected to a battery powered motor, blows air onto their meal, cooling it down. Rather than time spent b'owing food cold, the spare time allows the user to dish up the adults meals while this is taking place. This leads to meals of all temperatures being available at the same time and done so in a quick and hygienic manner. The fan can also be removed from the support arm making the unit very portable making it possible to take to restaurants.

Stirring is also an important part of the cooling process and this invention benefits from an open design to allow stirring while the fan is in operation.

Handicapped and elderly adults may also benefit from the cooling device as well as children.

Introduction to the drawings

For a more complete explanation of the proposed invention reference is now made to the following description and the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the fan mounted on the support arm.

Figure 2 shows the support arm from a bottom plan view with the fan mounted.

Figure 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional side view of the fan and support arm showing its internals.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the fan mounted on the support arm with a food bowl in place.

Detailed description

In Figure 1 the plastic rod support arm 5 holds the fan assembly on a centre line above the base to give room for a bowl of hot food to be placed beneath the fan. The fan assembly itself is made up of the external components: The Head unit 1, the Cap 2, the Prop 3, and the Fan blade 4.

The Head unit 1 is a hollow cylindrical plastic component that houses the electrical components which provide power to rotate the fan blade 4. It is moulded to simulate a cartoon characters head and allows vinyl stickers to be applied to create a face, completing its look. A cross sectional view of the head is shown in Figure 3 describing the internal components in greater detail.

The Cap 2 is also hollow and covers the Head 1 the shape being moulded to imitate a baseball cap.

The Cap 2 is the lid and can be removed to access the batteries within the Head unit 1. The Cap 2 can also be rotated in a manner to create a different aesthetic look to the assembly.

The Prop 3 has an inner and outer in which the Fan Blade 4 is trapped between creating a twisted aerofoil shape. Fan Blade 4 is constructed from a dense foam which is waterproof and windproof which when rotated by Prop 3 creates a downward motion of air onto the food beneath. The fan blade foam material is soft enough to prevent injury if touched while it is rotating.

The diameter of the support arm S is designed to accommodate small bowls, which sit within the circular area, right up to larger plates that will overlap its base adding additional support via their weight.

The open design arrangement of the apparatus allows the food to be stirred whilst the fan is blowing in order to assist the cooling process.

Figure 2 is a view from the underside of the assembly showing how the fan blade 4 sits directly on the centreline of the support arm 5 providing equal cooling to all areas of the food. The mounting block 6 is attached to the support arm 5 and locates in the underside of the head unit 1. This arrangement allows the fan assembly to be removed from the support arm 5 for washing purposes.

Further detail of this fixing arrangement can be found in the cross-sectional side view Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view showing the inner components of the head unit 1. 3v DC electricity is provided by the twin AAA batteries 8 via the on-off switch 9 to the motor 7. The motor is mounted onto the inside base of the head unit 1 and is held in place by the top plate 10 via screws 11. The motor 7 rotates the prop 3 and fan blade 4 to provide a downward motion of air onto the plate which cools the food. The cap mounting frame 12 allows the cap 2 to be attached to the head unit 1 and is held in place by the screw 13 to prevent a child access to the batteries.

The support arm 5 is shown with the mounting block 6 in place located in the underside of the head unit 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the invention showing how a food container 14 is placed beneath the fan for cooling purposes.

Claims

Claims 1. A Device for cooling hot food served in a food container, comprising of: (I) A plastic fan head unit that is held centrally over a food container by means of a support arm.(ii) A battery powered motor within the head unit which rotates the fan shaft and is controlled by on and off switch.(iii) A foam fan blade which when rotated by the motor provides a downward stream of cooling air.
2. A Device for cooling hot food according to Claim 1, in which the head unit can be removed from the support arm to allow cleaning.
3. A Device for cooling hot food according to Claim 1, in which the head unit can be removed from the support arm to make the device more portable.
4. A Device for cooling hot food according to Claim 1, in which the open design of the apparatus allows the food to be stirred during the cooling process.
5. A Device for cooling hot food according to Claim 1, in which the base of the support arm allows food containers of various sizes to be accommodated.
6. A Device for cooling hot food according to Claim 1, in which the unit is moulded to depict a cartoon character.
7. A Device for cooling hot food according to Claim 6, in which the head unit can be decorated with printed vinyl stickers to create the look of a cartoon face.