GB2610178A

GB2610178A - Scales for use in cooking

Info

Publication number: GB2610178A
Application number: GB2112062.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Dobb Daniel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-08-23
Filing date: 2021-08-23
Publication date: 2023-03-01
Also published as: GB202112062D0

Abstract

Scales for use in cooking, the scales comprise processing means, a weighing area 1, a display 3 and control means 5. The processing means provides access to a digitally-stored cooking recipe including a plurality of recipe ingredients and co-ordinates the weighing area, display and control means. The weighing area is adapted to receive directly or indirectly a recipe ingredient to be weighed. The display is adapted to display one or more items of information relating to the recipe. The control means is adapted to select individual recipe ingredients presented to a user on the display and to identify a first-selected individual recipe ingredient as a key ingredient. The processing means is adapted to scales the amounts of the remaining recipe ingredients on the basis of the amount of the key ingredient are to display the amount of each remaining ingredient required on the display. The control means may comprise a control pad 5 which may include left 7, right 9, up 11, down 13 and enter controls. The control means may be incorporated into display 3 in a touch sensitive manner. The control means may comprise a rotary means (17, Fig 2) and a selection means (19, Fig 2).

Description

SCALES FOR USE IN COOKING

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to scales for use in cooking and more particularly relates to scales which are able to adapt the relative proportions of ingredients depending on the weight of one ingredient.

Background to the Invention

Cooking scales are useful for weighing out the amounts of ingredients to be used in a recipe, but have limitations, for example when one of the ingredients is not available in an amount specified in the recipe to be used. For example, if a recipe calls for one or more large eggs, but the user has only small eggs, in order to ensure a consistent product it may be desirable or necessary to adjust the amounts of other ingredients in the recipe. Indeed, the ordinary skilled user is unlikely to know the precise weights of different sizes of eggs, or may not know the size of eggs available, and this would make it difficult for the user to adapt a recipe without the need for research and calculation.

Similar considerations will apply to other ingredients for which the available amount does not correspond to the amount required for the recipe or is not precisely known. Use of the correct relative amounts of recipe ingredients provides a greater opportunity for consistent results.

Object of the Invention -1 -It is an object of the present invention to provide cooking scales which overcome, or at least ameliorate, the abovementioned problems.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there are provided scales for use in cooking, the scales comprising: processing means providing access to a digitally-stored cooking recipe including a plurality of recipe ingredients and for co-ordinating a weighing area, display and control means forming part of the scales; the weighing area being adapted to receive directly or indirectly a recipe ingredient to be weighed; the display being adapted to display one or more items of information relating to the recipe; the control means being adapted to select individual recipe ingredients presented to a user on the display and to identify a first-selected individual recipe ingredient as a key ingredient; the processing means being adapted to scale the amounts of the remaining recipe ingredients on the basis of the amount of the key ingredient and to -2 -display the amount of each remaining ingredient required on the display.

The control means may comprise a control pad which may include left, right, up, down and enter controls. Alternatively, or additionally, the control means may be incorporated into the display in a touch-sensitive manner and may include separate left, right, up, down and enter controls and/or control may be effected by gestures such as dragging and/or flicking to scroll the information displayed and tapping and/or pressing to select an item of information.

As a further alternative, the control means may comprise a rotary means and selection means. The rotary means may comprise a rotary wheel or rotary knob and the selection means may comprise a pushbutton.

The rotary means may be located in a side wall of the scales, for example such that part thereof protrudes through a slit in the side wall. Alternatively, the rotary means may be located elsewhere in the scales such as at a corner between adjoining side walls, protruding from a front face of the scales or mounted on a front face of the scales. The selection means may be located on the front face or side wall of the scales or may be incorporated into the rotary means.

The rotary means may be connected to a rotary encoder.

The scales may include an on-off switch and/or means for switching between metric and imperial units and/or for zeroing the amount of an ingredient to be -3 -weighed.

Digitally stored recipes may be accessed from one or more of internal memory, means for receiving a memory card (such as an SD card or USB memory stick), means for receiving an external connector (such as a USE connector), and means for connection to an external device or network (such as a Bluetooth, wifi or other internet connection).

Each of the stored recipes is stored in a manner which lists the various ingredients and which enables scaling of the various ingredients. That is a recipe may be stored as a list of the ingredients and the absolute amount of each ingredient required or, alternatively, may be stored as a list of the ingredients and the relative ratios of such ingredients.

As part of the selection of an individual recipe, the processing means may present on the display a number of recipe titles from a source of digitally-stored recipes, the control means being usable to select a desired recipe title.

As a further part of the selection of an individual recipe, the processing means may first present on the display a number of potential sources for recipes, the control means being usable to select a desired source.

The amount of each ingredient to be added may be displayed numerically, for example counting down from a required amount towards zero as the ingredient is added. Alternatively or additionally, the amount of each -4 -ingredient to be added may be displayed graphically, for example as a bar graph which extends (or contracts) as an ingredient is added and contracts (or expands) if any of the ingredient is removed.

Once the key ingredient has been identified and weighed, the processing means may then present on the display the next required ingredient and the amount required. Alternatively, a user may use the control means to select the next ingredient, whereupon the processing means can determine the amount of that ingredient required.

The scales may include a database of calorific values of ingredients in order to be able to provide an approximate calorific value for a product, scaled as necessary on the basis of the amount of the key ingredient.

Additionally or alternatively, the scales may include a database of the nutritional information of ingredients so as to be able to provide approximate nutritional details, such as the amounts of carbohydrates, fats and proteins, scaled as necessary on the basis of the amount of the key ingredient.

In a further development of the scales according to the present invention, the processing means may be adapted to present on the display additional information such as suppliers of certain ingredients and/or instructions for mixing the ingredients and for cooking a product.

The scales according to the present invention may be used, for example, in -5 -the home, in restaurants, and in other businesses providing food to the public.

Brief Description of the Drawings

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of one embodiment of cooking scales according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of another embodiment of cooking scales according to the present invention.

Description of the Invention

Figure 1 shows one possible embodiment of cooking scales according to the present invention and which include a weighing area 1 for receiving an ingredient to be weighed, a display 3 which may display one or more lines of information (four lines as illustrated) and a control pad 5 which in the illustrated embodiment includes left 7, right 9, up 11, down 13 and enter 15 controls, the purpose and use of which will be explained in more detail hereinafter. A microprocessor, not shown, is provided for co-ordinating the weighing area, display and control pad. -6 -

As an alternative, or in addition, the control pad may be incorporated into the display which, for this purpose, will be touch-sensitive. In this case, in addition to, or as an alternative to, separate controls 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15, control may be effected by gestures well known to the skilled person, such as dragging and/or flicking to scroll the information displayed and tapping and/or pressing to select an item of information.

Electronic, for example battery-powered, cooking scales are well known for use in measuring amounts of ingredients for use in a recipe and do not require to be described in detail herein. Consequently, this description will focus on the additional features introduced by the present invention.

The scales may include additional conventional features, such as an on-off switch or means for switching between metric and imperial units, or such 15 features may be incorporated into the control pad 5.

Although not shown, the cooking scales according to the present invention also include means for accessing a plurality of recipes, each of which includes a number of ingredients and the relative or absolute proportions of those ingredients. The recipe accessing means may comprise one or more of a number of alternatives, including, but not limited to, internal memory, means for receiving a memory card (such as an SD card or USB memory stick), means for receiving an external connector (such as a USB connector), and means for connection to an external device or network (such as a Bluetooth, wifi or other internet connection). The recipe accessing means may therefore -7 -allow for further recipes to be added at a later date, either to the internal memory or as a result of access to an external source of recipes.

Each of the stored recipes is stored in a manner which lists the various ingredients and which enables scaling of the various ingredients. In its simplest form, this might be a list of the ingredients and the amount of each ingredient based on a well-known recipe, but an alternative would be to store the amounts as ratios.

Depending on the number of potential sources for recipes, when the cooking scales are turned on, the display may show a list of recipe titles from the internal memory or may display a list of recipe sources, such as internal, a Bluetooth connection or a USB connection. Where there is more than one source of recipes, the user may employ the up and down keys to scroll to a desired source of recipes (for example a number of recipes stored as part of an App on a mobile phone and accessible by way of a Bluetooth connection) and may actuate a designated key (such as by pressing the enter key or the right key) to select that source, whereupon the display is updated to show a list of available recipe titles. The left key may be employed, for example, to reverse a step.

Once a list of available recipe titles is presented on the display 3, the user may employ the up and down keys to scroll to a desired recipe and may then press the enter or right key to select that recipe whereupon the display is updated to show a list, or part of a list, of ingredients for the selected recipe. -8 -

The user can then employ the up and down keys to select the key ingredient, that is the ingredient to which all the other ingredients are to be adjusted, or scaled. If the user simply wishes to use the chosen recipe, but is not constrained by the amount of any particular ingredient, then an ingredient may be chosen at random as the key ingredient.

There are two major methods by which the amounts of the ingredients may be determined. According to one method, the amount of each ingredient is determined individually, while according to the other method all the ingredients are added to a single receptacle for mixing therein. Of course, the two methods may be combined and the amounts of some ingredients may be determined individually, while other ingredients may be combined. There is therefore a need for one or more receptacles for receiving the ingredients of the recipe. In every case, it is necessary to exclude the weight of the receptacle from the weight of the ingredient(s). Typically for electronic cooking scales, provided the maximum allowable weight is not exceeded, if a receptacle is placed on the weighing area before the scales are turned on, then the scales will initialise to zero and the weight of the receptacle itself will be excluded from the amount to be weighed. Alternatively, the amount to be weighed may at any chosen time be set to zero by any suitable means, such as using the enter key. Zeroing of the scales may be employed between addition of individual ingredients if desired, or for each of a number of separate receptacles for ingredients. -9 -

The amount of each ingredient to be added may be displayed in a number of ways. For example, weight may be displayed numerically, such as in grams or pounds and ounces, for example counting down from a required amount towards zero as the ingredient is added. Alternatively, weight may be displayed as a bar graph which extends (or contracts) as an ingredient is added and contracts (or expands) if any of the ingredient is removed.

In use of the cooking scales according to the present invention, once a source of recipes has been selected Of required), a desired recipe title has been selected, a key ingredient has been identified, and the scales have been zeroed with a suitable receptacle in position on the weighing area 1 in a manner as described above, the key ingredient can be added to the receptacle and registered with the cooking scales, for example using the enter key. The microprocessor forming part of the cooking scales can then determine the amount of the key ingredient present and can adjust the amounts of the remaining ingredients accordingly.

The microprocessor can then present on the display the next required ingredient and can indicate the amount required, for example in terms of weight or as a mark associated with a bar graph. Alternatively, the user may use the up and down keys and the enter key to select the next ingredient. Once the next ingredient has been selected the scales may be automatically zeroed or, alternatively, the user may substitute a different receptacle and may effect zeroing. This procedure is repeated until all the ingredients have been weighed out and the user may then proceed to use the recipe based on the amounts of the ingredients available.

It has been found that determining the amounts of the ingredients to be used in a recipe in this manner reduces errors in the relative amounts of ingredients to be used and results in a greater likelihood of the product being successful and uniform. It can also reduce wastage of ingredients and, for example where the amount of product required is less than that produced from the full amounts of the ingredients, reduce wastage of product.

The cooking scales may be adapted to assist those on a diet or those in business wishing to improve product labelling by containing a database of calorific values of ingredients in order to be able to provide an approximate calorific value for a product, scaled as necessary on the basis of the amount of the key ingredient.

The cooking scales may additionally or alternatively include a database of the nutritional information of ingredients so as to be able to provide approximate nutritional details, such as the amounts of carbohydrates, fats and proteins, scaled as necessary on the basis of the amount of the key ingredient.

In a further development of the cooking scales according to the present invention, the recipe may include additional information such as suppliers of certain ingredients and/or instructions for mixing the ingredients and for cooking a product.

Identification of specific suppliers can generate advertising revenue for the provider of the recipe and/or sales income for the supplier.

By way of example, a recipe for cupcakes may include preliminary instructions for preheating an oven to a certain temperature and placing paper cake cases in bun tins prior to measuring the required well-known ingredients (margarine/butter, caster sugar, medium eggs, self-raising flour and baking powder in this version) into a mixing bowl in the manner previously described and beating them for 2 to 3 minutes to obtain a well-blended, smooth mixture.

Further instructions may include half-filling the cake cases with the mixture and baking for 15-20 minutes until the cakes are well risen and golden brown. Finally, the cakes can be lifted out of the bun tins and cooled on a wire rack.

As a further option, for example when baking cakes, baking times and temperatures often differ according to the size of the cake, with lower temperatures and longer cooking times being employed for larger cakes The scales may therefore include an algorithm which adjusts the cooking temperature and cooking time for products based on the overall amount of the ingredients.

The cooking scales of Figure 2 are largely the same as those of Figure 1, but the control pad is replaced by a rotary wheel 17 and pushbutton 19. As illustrated, the rotary wheel is located in a side wall of the scales such that part of the wheel protrudes through a slit in the side wall, and the wheel is connected to a rotary encoder (not shown). Alternatively, the wheel may be -12-located elsewhere in the scales such as in a different side wall to that illustrated or at a corner between adjoining side walls. Further alternative arrangements include mounting the rotary wheel such that part protrudes from a front face of the scales or providing alternative rotary means such as a rotary knob mounted, for example, on a front face of the scales. The pushbutton 19 is shown on the front face of the scales, but may be located at any convenient position or may be incorporated into the rotary wheel or knob. The pushbutton may have multiple functions such as one push for enter (select) and two pushes for back.

The provision of the rotary means and pushbutton enables a user to scroll quickly through a list, for example of options or ingredients (conveniently referred to as a menu), with the pushbutton effecting selection, with the result that the scales of Figure 2 are generally quicker and more convenient to use compared with the scales of Figure 1.

It will be clear that modifications may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the present invention.

The cooking scales according to the present invention are clearly directed to a user of the scales. However, others may also have an interest in promoting use of the scales. For example, third parties such as social influencers, chefs and others who wish to promote their recipes, for example from a website or a recipe book, may wish to make versions of their recipes available for us with the cooking scales. As explained previously, such recipes may be incorporated into a version, such as a personalised version, of the cooking scales, or may be made available on removable memory that can be employed in conjunction with the cooking scales, or may be provided remotely in a manner that can be accessed by the cooking scales, for example by way of the internet. Moreover, the user may communicate with the cooking scales from a computer to upload their own recipes or to provide access to recipes that are stored remotely, such as on the computer.

Where recipes are provided by third parties, such recipes could include advertising material, for example, but not limited to, further recipes, sources of ingredients or cooking utensils. -14-

Claims

CLAIMS1. Scales for use in cooking, the scales comprising: processing means providing access to a digitally-stored cooking recipe including a plurality of recipe ingredients and for co-ordinating a weighing area, display and control means forming part of the scales; the weighing area being adapted to receive directly or indirectly a recipe ingredient to be weighed; the display being adapted to display one or more items of information relating to the recipe; the control means being adapted to select individual recipe ingredients presented to a user on the display and to identify a first-selected individual recipe ingredient as a key ingredient; the processing means being adapted to scale the amounts of the remaining recipe ingredients on the basis of the amount of the key ingredient and to display the amount of each remaining ingredient required on the display.
2. Scales as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means comprise a control pad which may include left, right, up, down and enter controls.
3. Scales as claimed in claim 1 01 2, wherein the control means is incorporated into the display in a touch-sensitive manner and may include separate left, right, up, down and enter controls and/or control may be effected by gestures such as dragging and/or flicking to scroll the information displayed and tapping and/or pressing to select an item of information.
4. Scales as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means comprises a rotary means and selection means.
5. Scales as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rotary means comprises a rotary wheel or rotary knob and the selection means comprises a pushbutton.
6. Scales as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the rotary means is located in a side wall of the scales, for example such that part thereof protrudes through a slit in the side wall.
7. Scales as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the rotary means protrudes from a front face of the scales
8. Scales as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the rotary means is mounted on a front face of the scales
9. Scales as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the selection means is located on a front face or side wall of the scales. -16-
10. Scales as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the selection means is incorporated into the rotary means.
11. Scales as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 10, wherein the rotary 5 means is connected to a rotary encoder.
12. Scales as claimed in any preceding claim and including an on-off switch and/or means for switching between metric and imperial units and/or for zeroing the amount of an ingredient to be weighed.
13. Scales as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the processing means is adapted to access digitally stored recipes in one or more of internal memory, means for receiving a memory card (such as an SD card or USB memory stick), means for receiving an external connector (such as a USB connector), and means for connection to an external device or network (such as a Bluetooth, wifi or other internet connection).
14. Scales as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each of the stored recipes is stored in a manner which lists the various ingredients and which enables scaling of the various ingredients.
15. Scales as claimed in claim 14, wherein recipes are stored as a list of the ingredients and the relative ratios of such ingredients.
16. Scales as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein, as part of the selection of an individual recipe, the processing means is adapted to present on the display a number of recipe titles from a source of digitally-stored recipes, the control means being usable to select a desired recipe title.
17. Scales as claimed in claim 16, wherein, prior to presenting a number of recipe titles, the processing means first presents on the display a number of potential sources for recipes, the control means being usable to select a desired source.
18. Scales as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the amount of each ingredient to be added is displayed numerically, for example counting down from a required amount towards zero as the ingredient is added.
19. Scales as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the amount of each ingredient to be added is displayed graphically, for example as a bar graph which extends (or contracts) as an ingredient is added and contracts (or expands) if any of the ingredient is removed.
20. Scales as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein, once the key 20 ingredient has been identified and weighed, the processing means then presents on the display the next required ingredient and the amount required.
21. Scales as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein, once the key ingredient has been identified and weighed, the control means is adapted to 25 be used by a user to select the next ingredient, whereupon the processing means determines the amount of that ingredient required.
22. Scales as claimed in any preceding claim and including a database of calorific values of ingredients so as to be able to provide an approximate calorific value for a product, scaled as necessary on the basis of the amount of the key ingredient.
23. Scales as claimed in any preceding claim and including a database of the nutritional information of ingredients so as to be able to provide approximate nutritional details, such as the amounts of carbohydrates, fats and proteins, scaled as necessary on the basis of the amount of the key ingredient.
24. Scales as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the processing means is adapted to present on the display additional information such as suppliers of certain ingredients and/or instructions for mixing the ingredients and for cooking a product.