GB2509951A

GB2509951A - Stirring device for use in a microwave

Info

Publication number: GB2509951A
Application number: GB201300935A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Mark Greenstreet
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-01-18
Filing date: 2013-01-18
Publication date: 2014-07-23
Also published as: GB201300935D0

Abstract

A stirring device 10 for use in a microwave oven comprises a support 11 and a stirring member 12a that extends from the support 11 and is adapted for stirring the contents of a receptacle 20. In use, the receptacle 20 is rotated by the microwave oven and the support 11 engages with an interior wall (31, Fig.5) of the microwave over and thereby remains stationary. Relative motion between the receptacle 20 and the stirring device 10 is thereby achieved, effecting stirring of the contents of the receptacle 20 by the stirring member 12a of the device 10. The device may comprise a lid 132 to cover the bowl 20. The support may have a fixed length or may have a variable length. The support may extend between and engage two opposite walls of the oven.

Description

STIRRING DEVICE

This invention relates to a stirring device and particularly but not exclusively to a food stirring device for use in a microwave oven.

It is often desired to stir food products during the cooking process. This is straightforward when cooking food on a hob, but becomes more difficult and cumbersome when cooking food in a microwave oven: food must be removed from the microwave, stirred and then replaced in the microwave for further heating.

Furthermore, microwave ovens heat food by the formation of standing waves of electromagnetic radiation within the microwave cavity. As a result, the position of the nodes and antinodes of the standing waves are fixed in relation to the microwave cavity and hence the heat distribution within the microwave cavity can be highly uneven.

It is well known to provide a rotating plate within the microwave cavity, this plate acting to rotate the food relative to the cavity and allow for a more uniform heating of the food. However, this is generally insufficient to achieve an adequate uniformity of heating of the food. If heating food that is suitable for mixing or stirring, a user will often periodically take the food out of the microwave oven and stir the food to aid heat distribution. This process of removing the food, stirring, and replacing in the microwave oven may be repeated several times before the food is fully heated throughout.

I have now devised a stirring device to enable stirring of a food product whilst in a microwave oven.

In accordance with the present invention as seen from a first aspect, there is provided a stirring device for use in a microwave oven, the device comprising a support for engaging with an interior wall of the microwave oven and a stirring member that extends from the support and is adapted for stirring the contents of a receptacle as said receptacle rotates relative to said interior wall when the microwave oven is in use.

It will be appreciated that the rotation of the receptacle relative to the interior wall of the microwave oven may be effected by simply placing the receptacle on the rotatable base plate of a conventional microwave oven. The present invention therefore provides a simple and effective means of stirring a food product during cooking in a microwave oven.

The support is preferably arranged to additionally engage with a second interior wall of the microwave oven such that the support extends between the first and second interior walls. The second interior wall is preferably disposed spatially opposite the first interior wall.

In one preferred embodiment, the support may comprise length adjustment means for enabling use of the stirring device with microwave ovens of varying sizes. The support preferably comprises first and second collinear portions and said length adjustment means preferably comprises telescopic coupling means intermediate said first and second support portions. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the support may comprise a frangible portion at at least one end thereof, thereby enabling a user to reduce the length of the support by snapping the or each frangible portion at a desired position.

In an alternative preferred embodiment, the support may be of a fixed length.

The stirring member may comprise a spoon head. Alternatively, the stirring member may comprise a whisk head. In a third alternative, the stirring member may comprise a stirring blade.

Preferably the stirring member is detachably coupled to the support. Advantageously this allows the user to use the stirring device with a number of different stirring members such as spoons, blades, whisks or the like according to his or her needs.

More preferably, the stirring member is slidingly coupled to the support to enable the selective repositioning of the sliding member within the microwave oven. It will be appreciated that this enables use of the stirring device with food receptacles of varying diameters.

Preferably the stirring device comprises a second stirring member, said second stirring member being preferably spatially separated from said first stirring member in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the support.

The stirring device may comprise a lid portion coupled to the stirring member such that the stirring member depends downwardly therefrom, the lid portion being arranged for substantially covering the receptacle. An upper face of the lid portion preferably comprises attachment means for coupling the lid portion to the support, the attachment means preferably being adapted to allow sliding movement of the lid portion relative to the support. Advantageously, this sliding movement enables the effective functioning of the device when positioned non-centrally within the microwave cavity. The attachment means may comprise a sleeve through which the support may pass to couple the lid to the support.

An outer edge of the lid portion may comprise an inwardly depending flange for engaging with a rim of the receptacle.

The stirring device is preferably formed of plastic.

In accordance with the present invention, also as seen from the first aspect, there is provided a stirring assembly, the assembly comprising a receptacle for a food product and a stirring device as hereinbefore described.

The receptacle preferably comprises an open upper end. The lid of the stirring device is preferably shaped and sized for cooperation with the open upper end of the receptacle such that the lid preferably substantially covers the open upper end of the receptacle when the stirring device is in use. The open upper end of the receptacle may comprise lip for cooperation with corresponding lip disposed on a peripheral edge of the lid in order to detachably secure the lid to the receptacle.

Preferably the receptacle comprises a lower surface having a non-slip layer such as a rubber coating in order to minimise the likelihood of the receptacle slipping relative to the base plate of the microwave oven.

In accordance with the present invention, also as seen from a first aspect, there is provided an assembly for simultaneously heating and stirring food, the assembly comprising a microwave oven and a stirring device as hereinbefore described.

In the embodiment in which the support is a fixed length, said length is preferably less than the maximum horizontal diniension of the microwave cavity i.e. less than the horizontal diagonal of the microwave cavity.

Said length is preferably greater than the minimum horizontal dimension of a microwave cavity. For a rectangular microwave cavity, said length is preferably greatel than the length of the shoitest side-wall. Advantageously, this ensures that the support cannot rotate any more than 180 degrees within the microwave cavity: in use, the support rotates through a small angle until opposing ends of the support abut opposing side walls of the microwave cavity, causing the support to become substantially lodged in a fixed position with lespect to the miciowave cavity upon continued rotation of the microwave plate. It will be appreciated, however, that whilst the support is substantially lodged in a fixed position with respect to the microwave cavity, the design of the stirring device is preferably such that the stirring member is able to move relative to the support. This relative movement between the support and the stirring member may facilitate stirring of the foodstuff contained within the receptacle. Furthermore, it has been found that if the receptacle is positioned non-centially within the miciowave cavity then the circular motion of the receptacle acts to displace the support in a direction parallel to the normal of the shortest side-wall such that the support continues to abut the longer side walls of the microwave cavity but the position at which the support abuts these side walls varies as the receptacle moves around the central point of the microwave cavity! thereby enabling the device to function effectively to stir foodstuff within the receptacle even when the receptacle is positioned non-centrally within the microwave cavity.

Said length may be greater than the length of the longest interior side wall of the microwave cavity. In this embodiment, said length is greater than the length of each side-wall of the cavity. Advantageously, this ensuies that the support cannot lotate any more than 90 degiees within the microwave cavity.

The or each stirring member is preferably located such that the distance between the fiist interior wall and the stirring member is not equal to the distance between the second interior wall and the stirring member. Accordingly, if the food receptacle is placed centrally within the microwave then, in use, the or each stirring member is displaced from the centre of the receptacle.

Preferably the assembly further comprises a receptacle for a food product, the receptacle being preferably as hereinbefore described.

In accordance with the present invention as seen from a third aspect, there is provided a method of stirring a food product in a microwave oven, the method comprising: (a) placing a receptacle containing the food product on a rotatable base of the microwave oven; (b) providing a stirring device comprising a support and a stirring member coupled thereto, and engaging the support with an interior wall of the microwave oven in a position that enables contact between the stirring member and the food product; (c) commencing the operation of the microwave oven, such that microwave radiation is supplied to the foodstuff and the base of the microwave oven undergoes rotation relative to the interior wall, thereby effecting stirring of the food product by the stirring member of the device.

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 perspective underside view of a stirring device in accordance with the present invention as seen from the first aspect; Figure 2 is a side view of the stirring device of Figure 1 positioned over a receptacle, the dotted lines indicating the portion of the stirring device obscured by the receptacle; Figure 3 is a perspective top view of the stirring device positioned over the receptacle as illustrated in Figure 2, the dotted lines indicating the portion of the stirring device obscured by the receptacle; Figure 4 is a perspective top view of an alternative embodiment of a stirring device in accordance with the present invention; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the stirring device and receptacle of Figures 2 and 3 in situ in a microwave oven; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the stirring device and receptacle of Figures 2 and 3 in use in a microwave oven; and, Figure 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of stirring a food product in a microwave oven in accordance with the present invention as seen from the second aspect.

Referring to the Figures 1 to 3, 5 and 6 of the drawings, there is illustrated a stirring device 10 for use in a microwave oven 30. The stirring device 10 is adapted for use with a microwavable receptacle such as a plastic bowl 20 that may be placed on the rotatable base plate 33 of the microwave oven 30. The bowl 20 ideally has a non-slip coating applied to its base 22 in order to enhance the frictional contact between the bowl 20 and the base plate 33.

The stirring device 10 comprises a support 11, first and second mixing blades 12a, 12b and a lid 13.

The support 11 is in the form of an elongate rod formed of a material suitable for microwave use such as a plastics material. The support 11 is of a fixed length that is less than the horizontal diagonal dimension of the cavity but greater than the horizontal length of the shortest interior side wall 31, 32 of the microwave cavity of the microwave oven 30. In this way, the support is adapted to extend between opposing side walls of the microwave cavity.

The lid 13 is generally circular in section, comprising an upper surface and a lower surface. The lid 13 is formed of a material suitable for use in a microwave such as a plastics material. A lip 132 is formed on an outer peripheral edge of the lid 13 for engagement with a corresponding lip 21 formed on the open upper end of the bowl 20. The dimensions of the lid 13 are such that the lid sealingly closes the bowl 20 when engaged therewith. First and second sleeves 133a, 133b are disposed on the upper surface of the lid and arranged collinearly such that the support 11 may pass through both first and second sleeves 133a, 133b, thereby coupling the support 11 to the lid 13. The sliding engagement between the support 11 and the sleeves 133a, 133b enables the effective functioning of the device when the bowl 20 is positioned non-centrally within the microwave oven 30.

A lower end of each mixing blade 12a, 12b comprises a substantially planar portion 122a, 122b of a shape similar to a conventional kitchen spatula. The first and second mixing blades 12a, 12b are detachably coupled to the lid 13 by virtue of a male connecting portion 121a, 121b formed on an upper end of the mixing blades 12a, 12b and a corresponding female connecting portion 131a, 131b formed on a lower face of the lid 13. The female connecting portions 131a, 131b of the lid 13 are located substantially below the first and second sleeves 133a, 133b such that the mixing blades 12a, 12b are spatially separated along the longitudinal axis of the support 11.

The male and female connecting portions 121, 131 have four-fold rotational symmetry to enable a user (not shown) to position the mixing blades 12a, 12b in a variety of orientations with respect to the lid 13. In the illustrated embodiment, the normal to the surface of the planar portion 122a, 122b of each mixing blade 12a, 12b extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support 11.

In an alternative embodiment, the stirring device 10 may not comprise a lid, as illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings. In this embodiment, the mixing blades 12a, 12b are detachably coupled directly to the support 11, the upper end of each mixing blade 12a, 12b comprising first and second sleeves 123a, 123b similar to those provided on the lid 13 (133a, 133b) of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 to 3, 5 and 6. In the illustrated embodiment, the sleeves 123a, 123b are disposed outwardly of the portions of the mixing blades 12a, 12b arranged for contacting the food product. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the sleeves 123a, 123b are substantially vertically aligned with the portions of the mixing blades 12a, 12b arranged for contacting the food product. The above-described embodiments, in which the device does not comprise a lid, may comprise coupling means for coupling the support to the rim of a receptacle.

With reference to Figure 7 of the drawings, in order to use the stirring device 10 for stirring a food product in the microwave oven 30, the user carries out the steps of: (a) Placing the bowl 20 containing the food product on the rotatable baseplate 33 of the microwave oven 30.

(b) Engaging the support 11 of the stirring device with the interior microwave oven 30 in a position that enables contact between the mixing blades 12a, 12b of the stirring device 10 and the food product. In order to fit the stirring device 10 to the interior of a microwave 30, the user positions the support such that that the support 11 is orientated approximately with the horizontal diagonal dimension of the cavity. This will allow opposing ends of the support 11 to abut opposing side walls of the cavity on operation of the microwave oven 30, thereby holding the support 11 in place by frictional contact between the support 11 and opposing side walls of the cavity and enabling relative motion between the support 11, the mixing blades 12a, 12b and the foodstuff contained within the bowl 20.

(c) Commencing the operation of the microwave oven 30, such that microwave radiation is supplied to the food product within the bowl 20. Whilst the microwave oven 30 is operating, the baseplate 33 of the microwave oven 30 undergoes rotation relative to the interior side walls 31, 32 and hence the bowl 20 also undergoes rotation by virtue of the frictional contact between the base 22 of the bowl 20 and the baseplate 33 of the microwave. The stirring device 10 remains stationary and thus relative motion between the bowl 20 and the stirring device 10 is achieved, thereby effecting stirring of the food product by the mixing blades 12a, 12b of the device 10.

From the foregoing therefore, it is evident that the present invention provides a simple yet effective means of stirring a food product in a microwave oven.

It will be appreciated that whilst the device has been described for use with a food product, it is equally suitable for use in stirring a drink.

Claims

Claims 1. A stirring device for use in a microwave oven, the device comprising a support for engaging with an interior wall of the microwave oven and a stirring member that extends from the support and is adapted for stirring the contents of a receptacle as said receptacle rotates relative to said interior wall when the microwave oven is in use.
2. A stirring device as claimed in claim 1, in which the support is arranged to additionally engage with a second interior wall of the microwave oven, such that the support extends between the first and second interior walls.
3. A stirring device as claimed in claim 2, in which the support is arranged to engage with first and second interior wall which are disposed spatially opposite each other. C')
4. A stirring device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the support C comprises length adjustment means for enabling use of the stirring device V". with microwave ovens of varying widths. C) 20o
5. A stirring device as claimed in claim 4, in which the support comprises first and second collinear portions.
6. A stirring device as claimed in claim 5, in which said length adjustment means comprises telescopic coupling means intermediate said first and second support portions.
7. A stirring device as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6, in which the support comprises frangible portion at at least one end thereof.
8. A stirring device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the support is of a fixed length.
9. A stirring device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the stirring member may comprises a spoon-shaped head.
10. A stirring device as claimed in any of claims I to 8, in which the stirring member comprises a whisk-shaped head.
11. A stirring device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, in which the stirring member comprises a stirring blade.
12. A stirring device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the stirring member is detachably coupled to the support.
13. A stirring device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the stirring member is slidingly coupled to the support to enable the selective repositioning of the sliding member within the microwave oven.
14. A stirring device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the stirring device comprises a second stirring member.0')
15. A stirring device as claimed in claim 14, in which the second stirring member is spatially separated from said first stirring member in a direction O substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the support.
16. A stirring device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the stirring o device comprises a lid portion coupled to the stirring member such that the stirring member depends downwardly therefrom, the lid portion being arranged for substantially covering the receptacle.
17. A stirring device as claimed in claim 16, in which an upper face of the lid portion comprises attachment means for coupling the lid portion to the support.
18. A stirring device as claimed in claim 17, in which the attachment means is adapted to allow Siding movement of the lid portion relative to the support.
19. A stirring device as claimed in claim 17 or 18, in which the attachment means comprises a sleeve through which the support passes to couple the lid to the support.
20. A stirring device as claimed in any of claims 16 to 19: in which an outer edge of the lid portion comprises an inwardly depending flange for engaging with a rim of the receptacle.
21.A stirring device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the stirring device is formed of plastics.
22. A stirring device substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.
23. An assembly comprising a receptacle for a food product and a stirring device as claimed in any preceding claim.
24. An assembly as claimed in claim 23, in which the receptacle comprises an open upper end.
25. An assembly as claimed in claim 24, in which the lid of the stirring device is cy) shaped and sized for cooperation with the open upper end of the receptacle such that the lid substantially covers the open upper end of the receptacle o when the stirring device is in use. r26. An assembly as claimed in claim 24 or 25, in which the open upper end of the o receptacle comprises a lip for cooperation with corresponding lip disposed on a peripheral edge of the lid in order to detachably secure the lid to the receptacle.27. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 23 or 26, in which the receptacle comprises a lower surface having a non-slip layer in order to minimise the likelihood of the receptacle slipping relative to the base plate of the microwave oven.28. An assembly substantially as heroin described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.29. An assembly comprising a microwave oven and a stirring device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 23.30. An assembly as claimed in claim 29 as appended to claim 8, in which said length is less than the maximum horizontal dimension of the microwave cavity 31. An assembly as claimed in claim 30, in which said length is greater than the minimum horizontal dimension of a microwave cavity.32. An assembly as claimed in claim 30, in which said length is. greater than the length of the longest interior side wall of the microwave cavity.33. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 29 to 32, in which the or each stirring member is located such that the distance between the first interior wall and the stirring member is not equal to the distance between the second interior wall and the stirring member 34. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 29 to 32, in which the assembly o further comprises a receptacle for a food product as claimed in ciqirned in claims 23 to 28. a,o 20 35. A method of stirring a food product in a microwave oven, the method comprising: (a) placing a receptacle containing the food product on a rotatable base of the microwave oven; (b) providing a stirring device comprising a support and a stirring member coupled thereto, and engaging the support with an interior wall of the microwave oven in a position that enables contact between the stirring member and the food product; (c) commencing the operation of the microwave oven, such that microwave radiation is supplied to the foodstuff and the base of the microwave oven undergoes rotation relative to the interior wall, thereby effecting stirring of the food product by the stirring member of the device.36. A method of stirring a food product in a microwave oven, the method being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.