GB2481677A

GB2481677A - Two baking trays connected by a hinge

Info

Publication number: GB2481677A
Application number: GB1109111.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Alan Jefferson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-05-31
Filing date: 2011-05-31
Publication date: 2012-01-04
Also published as: GB201109111D0; GB201009025D0

Abstract

Joining 2 trays by a hinge mechanism, such that the baking trays can be rotated relative to each other. By doing this you can greatly reduce the need to touch partly cooked and potentially very hot food items. This helps reduce the risk of harm and also save a great amount of time when baking. The joined trays may or may not be identical in either length, width, depth, material, hinged pattern or branding/colour. The trays may have an internal or external handle system which may be attached to a spring system. The trays may have an adjustable spring system which allows the depth of the trays to be altered. The hinge may or may not be formed of metal. There may be more than one hinge. The hinges may allow rotation between 45 degrees and 360 degrees. The apparatus may be formed in a mould. The baking trays may be constructed from a coated metal which preferably provides a non-stick coating.

Description

r ITh1I _____ I p ___ I? 6L1

____ IL

sDnpoJd poo' L 6!i forntvewof ________ ______________________________ hinged trays _____________________________________ showing hand'es ci_________________________________

NJ

Background and description

The invention relates to a baking tray system which improves the current baking tray when cooking a variety of products.

A conventional baking/cooking tray (from this point referred to as baking trays) is a flat tray, usually made of a coated metal which has raised edges or walls around the perimeter of the cooking area.

Such trays are often sold in a variety of sizes and usually have the same or very similar characteristics. They are usually sold in single units (i.e. a single tray) with no attachments.

When baking food stuffs it is normal be given a set of cooking instructions. These instructions often involve the cook having to "turn" the food after a specified amount of time; i.e. when cooking oven chips you may have to turn the chips after 8 minutes. This process involves the cook removing the tray from the oven and turning each item individually, before placing the tray back into the oven to ensure the food item is evenly cooked.

The object of our invention is to produce a cooking apparatus which minimises the need to touch uncooked/partially cooked food items part way through the cooking process. This will remove the chance of the cook potentially harming themselves from touching hot food stuffs whilst also improving hygiene standards and, we believe, will also prove to be an invaluable time-saver for commercial and residential kitchens.

The invention is essentially 2 joined baking trays which are attached by a "hinge". The hinge allows full or partial rotation where one tray holds food stuffs (tray 1), the second tray (tray 2) can then be rotated to form a base or a roof off tray 1.

Once tray 2 is on top of tray 1 the whole item can then be "flipped" allowing the transfer of food stuffs from tray one to tray 2, therefore allowing the food stuffs to be turned, with no direct human contact. The cook would then re-insert the tray into the cooker and cook for the desired period of time.

The trays may also have a spring system within the product which would allow for adjustment of the trays combined depth -thus allowing food stuff of different depths to be catered for.

Claims The apparatus will be formed of 2 baking trays which may or may not be constructed from a coated metal, More preferably the apparatus will be constructed of a metallic material whose coating will perform a non-stick' duty. A commercial example of this already in existence would be polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or similar coating material.

The width of the trays will preferably be between 50mm and 2000mm. More preferably the size will be between 200mm and 800mm The length of the trays will preferably be between 50mm and 2000mm. More preferably the size will be between 200mm and 800mm The depth of each tray will be between 1mm and 500mm. More preferably the size will be between 5mm and 100mm.

The joined trays may or may not be identical in either width, length, depth, material, hinged pattern or branding/colour, or a combination of any the above named.

The tray may have an internal or external handle system to facilitate ease of rotation. The handle system may be attached to a spring system which facilitates ease of storage and rotation.

An adjustable spring system may also be included which would allow the depth of the product to be altered -thus catering for the different dimensions of food items The external aspect of the trays may or may not be covered in a heat resistant material. Preferably all aspects of the external apparatus will be covered in a material which will resist heat. External aspects are all areas which will not ordinarily come into contact with food stuffs.

The hinge is a movable joint or mechanism which facilitates the rotation of the baking trays. The hinge may or not be formed of metal.

The hinge may be arranged down the width, depth or length aspect of the apparatus and may cover the whole or part of the width or length of the apparatus.

The hinge may or may not be one single body but may be more than one. i.e. there may be several hinges on the width/length/depth of the apparatus, rather than one complete hinge.

The trays will be joined by a hinge which will allow a rotation between 45 degree and 360 degree rotation. More preferably the rotation will be in excess of 85 degrees.

The apparatus, including the hinge may be formed from a mould in which the baking area of the apparatus (i.e. the area in which food would normally be placed) may be coated in a material with no distinguishable separation from the hinge.

*.:r: INTELLECTUAL . ... PROPERTY OFFICE Application No: GB 1109111.3 Examiner: Mr Christopher Smith Claims searched: all Date of search: 27 September 2011 Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17 Documents considered to be relevant: Category Relevant Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance to claims X all KR20090030630 A (SEO SUN JA) See whole document, especially abstract and Figures X all FR2697425 Al (FREYBURGER) See whole document, especially abstract and Figures X all KR200400 19823 A (HAPPY CALL CO LTD) See whole document, especially Figures and abstract X all KR20030011967A (HAPPY CALL CO LTD) See whole document, especially Figures and abstract X all KR100888727B (SEO SUN JA) See whole document, especially Figures and abstract X all CN2055014U (JIN) See whole document, especially Figures and abstract Categories: X Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive A Document indicating technological background and/or state step of the art.

Y Document indicating lack of inventive step if P Document published on or after the declared priority date but combined with one or more other documents of before the filing date of this invention.

same category.

& Member of the same patent family E Patent document published on or after, but with priority date earlier than, the filing date of this application.

Field of Search:

Search of GB, EP, WO & US patent documents classified in the following areas of the UKCX: Worldwide search of patent documents classified in the following areas of the IPC A47J The following online and other databases have been used in the preparation of this search report Online: WPI, EPODOC, INTERNET Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk *.:r: INTELLECTUAL . ... PROPERTY OFFICE International Classification: Subclass Subgroup Valid From A47J 0037/0 1 01/01/2006 A47J 0037/06 01/01/2006 Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk