WO2016019990A1

WO2016019990A1 - Poultry holder accessory for use in an oven

Info

Publication number: WO2016019990A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/066915
Authority: WO
Inventors: Omer YANIK; Melih OZDOGAN; Levent Oner; Tevfik EKER
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2014-08-06
Filing date: 2014-08-06
Publication date: 2016-02-11
Also published as: EP3177875A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an accessory (1) comprising a poultry holder (2) for use in an oven comprising a chamber, a heater, a tray (3) and a grill rack (4) fitting into the tray (3) and securing a spacing (8) therebetween. The poultry holder (2) includes a column (9) for placing into a whole poultry and a base (10) for resting on the tray (3). In the accessory (1) of the present invention, the poultry holder (2) includes a retainer (11) for fixing the poultry holder (2) to the grill rack (4) in a state when both the grill rack (4) and the poultry holder (2) rest on the tray (3), the base (10) being located within said spacing (8) and the column (9) protruding through a gap (12) of the grill rack (4) upwards beyond the upper side thereof so as to hold the whole poultry in the upright position.

Description

POULTRY HOLDER ACCESSORY WITH IMPROVED SAFETY FOR USE IN AN OVEN

The present invention relates to a poultry holder for use in an oven. The present invention more particularly relates to a poultry holder for holding a whole poultry such as a whole chicken or the like in the upright position during a grilling process.

In general, conventional ovens for grilling food are commonly known. The user places the whole poultry to be grilled on a tray or the like. Thereafter, the user mounts the tray to a pair of supports in accordance with the desired level of doneness. During the grilling process the whole poultry is generally exposed to a relatively high amount of radiant heat emanated from the heater so that it develops a crust but remains juicy inside. A fast transfer of heat can easily compromise uniform grilling. In particular, in case of a non-uniform impingement of the radiant heat onto the whole poultry, some parts thereof which receive relatively more heat become well roasted while the other parts which receive relatively less heat may still require additional time for the completion of the grilling process. Therefore, there is a risk that the whole poultry may not be uniformly grilled. Thus, the outcome of the grilling process may easily degrade.

To ensure uniform grilling, different techniques have been devised. In a commonly known technique the whole poultry is mounted on a skewer which is rotated by an electric motor. Thereby the whole poultry can be uniformly exposed to the radiant heat. A drawback of this technique is that the oven requires additional electrical components such as the motor and a controller which increase the overall manufacturing costs. In addition, the energy consumption during the grilling process increases.

In another commonly known technique the whole poultry is held in an upright position by a poultry holder. Thereby the whole poultry can be uniformly exposed to the radiant heat. In general, conventional poultry holders are commonly known. A poultry holder usually has a column which can be placed into the cavity of the poultry in particular a chicken or the like so as to hold the whole poultry in the upright position and a base which can be put on the bottom of the tray. The base supports the column.

CA1259812 (A1) discloses a chicken holder. This chicken holder has a bowl and a pair of upstanding stainless rods which are attached to the bowl.

A drawback of the above type of poultry holders is that they occasionally tip over during the grilling process because of the changes occurring in the weight and shape of the poultry. In such instances the user must each time set the poultry holder to its upright position. However, the hot parts pose a severe health risk to the user and may cause skin burns. Moreover, the user may not always become aware that the poultry has fallen over. Thus, the grilling process may easily degrade.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a poultry holder accessory and an oven having the same which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art in a cost-effective way and which has an improved safety and enables an improved grilling performance.

This objective has been achieved by the poultry holder accessory as defined in claim 1 and the oven as defined in claim 11. Further achievements have been attained by the subject-matters respectively defined in the dependent claims.

In the accessory of present invention, one or more than one identical poultry holder is used in combination with a tray and a grill rack which are configured to match the poultry holder.

In the present invention, the poultry holder includes a retainer for detachably fixing the poultry holder to the grill rack. In the fixed state, the feet of the grill rack and the base of the poultry holder rest on the bottom of the tray such that said base is located within a spacing between the tray and the grill rack and the column of the poultry holder has been inserted under elastic deformation from an underside of the grill rack through a corresponding gap in its grid so as to protrude a predetermined length upwards beyond the upper side of the grill rack. The predetermined length is sufficiently long to hold the whole poultry in the upright position. The gap of the grid has a size which matches a width of the column at the level of the grid. The spacing between the tray and the grill rack matches a height of the base.

In an embodiment, the gap tightly snaps into an indentation of the retainer which is formed into the column.

In another embodiment, the column has two u-shaped upstanding wires. In this embodiment, the indentations are formed by further bending the u-shaped upstanding wires.

In another embodiment, the base has a starfish like shaped wire which is bent so as to form legs.

In another embodiment, the grill rack has flexible straight wires which are uniformly spaced by the gap and welded onto a rectangular shaped wire.

In another embodiment, two of the flexible straight wires are bent at their opposing ends so as to form the feet of the grill rack.

The present invention also provides an oven which has at least one poultry holder, the tray and the grill rack of the present invention.

With the poultry holder accessory of the present invention, particularly by virtue of the retainer, the poultry can be prevented from slipping and/or falling over during the grilling process. With the present invention the poultry remains in an upright position through the grilling process. Thereby, the poultry can be uniformly grilled from all sides. In addition, the user has been relieved from frequently checking whether the poultry is in the upright position. Thereby, the aforementioned risk of skin burns has been eliminated or reduced in as much as possible. In the present invention, a plurality of poultry holders may be simultaneously used in combination with the same tray and the same grill rack in a single oven. Thereby, a plurality of poultries can be simultaneously and reliably grilled in a cost effective way. Thus with the poultry holder accessory of the present invention, the usability and the safety of the oven has been improved. Thereby, a consumer satisfaction can be increased.

Additional advantages of the poultry holder accessory of the present invention and the oven of the present invention will become apparent with the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 – is a schematic perspective view of an accessory which comprises a poultry holder, a grill rack and a tray in an assembled state according to an embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 2 – is a schematic perspective view of an accessory which comprises two poultry holders, a grill rack and a tray in an assembled state according to another embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 3 – is a schematic perspective view of the poultry holder according to an embodiment of the present invention, prior to assembling with the grill rack and the tray of the present invention,

Figure 4 – is a schematic perspective view illustrating the consecutive stages when assembling the poultry holder with the grill rack and the tray according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The reference signs appearing on the drawings relate to the following technical features.

Accessory
Poultry holder
Tray
Grill rack
Grid
Frame
Foot
Spacing
Column
Base
Retainer
Gap
Indentation

14a-14e. Wire
15. Leg

The accessory (1) is suitable for use in an oven (not shown). The oven comprises a chamber for cooking/baking/grilling food such as a whole poultry, a heater for heating the interior of the chamber, a tray (3) and a grill rack (4) which fits into the tray (3). The grill rack (4) has a flexible grid (5) for supporting the food from below, a frame (6) which supports the grid (5) and feet (7) for resting on the bottom of the tray (3) so as to secure a spacing (8) between the bottom of the tray (3) and the grid (5) (Fig. 1 to Fig. 4).

The accessory (1) comprises one or more than one poultry holder (2) which includes a column (9) for placing into the cavity of the whole poultry in particular a chicken or the like so as to hold the whole poultry in the upright position and a base (10) for resting on the bottom of the tray (3). The base (10) supports the column (9).

In the accessory (1) of the present invention the poultry holder (2) includes a retainer (11) for detachably fixing the poultry holder (2) to the grill rack (4) in a state when both the feet (7) and the base (10) rest on the bottom of the tray (3), the base (10) being located within said spacing (8) and the column (9) has been inserted under elastic deformation from an underside of the grill rack (4) through a corresponding gap (12) of the grid (5) so as to protrude a predetermined length upwards beyond the upper side of the grill rack (4). The predetermined length is sufficiently long to hold the whole poultry in the upright position. The gap (12) of the grid (5) matches a width of the column (9) at the level of the grid (5). The spacing (8) between the tray (3) and the grid (5) matches a height of the base (10).

In the present invention the poultry holder (2) of the accessory (1) is used in combination with the tray (3) and the grill rack (4) which are configured to match the poultry holder (2).

In an embodiment, the retainer (11) comprises an indentation (13) which is formed at least partly around the column (9) at the level of the grid (5). In the assembled state, the periphery of the grid (5) which surrounds the gap (12) tightly snaps into the indentation (13). Thereby, the poultry holder (2) is detachably fixed to the grill rack (4).

In another embodiment, the column (9) comprises at least one wire (14a, 14b). In this embodiment, the wire (14a, 14b) of the column (9) is bent at the level of the grid (5) so as to form the indentation (13) of the retainer (11) (Fig. 1 to Fig. 4). In a version of this embodiment, the wire (14a, 14b) of the column (9) is made of stainless steel.

In another embodiment, the column (9) comprises two u-shaped upstanding wires (14a, 14b) which are rotated relative to each other by 90 degrees in the horizontal plane. In this embodiment, the opposing ends of the u-shaped upstanding wires (14a, 14b) project downwards. In addition, each u-shaped upstanding wire (14a, 14b) is bent at its opposing ends so as to form the indentation (13) of the retainer (11).

In another embodiment, the base (10) comprises at least one wire (14c) which is bent so as to form a plurality of legs (15) for resting on the bottom of the tray (3). In a version of this embodiment, the wire (14c) of the base (10) is also made of stainless steel.

In another embodiment, the base (10) comprises a single wire (14c) which is bent so as to form four evenly spaced legs (15).

In another embodiment, the wires (14a, 14b, 14c) of the base (10) and the column (9) are joined with each other by welding.

In another embodiment, the frame (6) comprises a rectangular shaped wire (14d). In this embodiment the grid (5) comprises a plurality of flexible straight wires (14e) which are welded to the rectangular shaped wire (14d). The adjacent flexible straight wires (14e) are spaced by the gap (12) such that the gap (12) of the grid (5) matches a width of the column (9) at the level of the grid (5).

In another embodiment, two flexible straight wires (14e) of the grid (5) which are close to the opposing ends of the frame (6) are bent at their opposing ends so as to form the feet (7) of the grill rack (4) such that the base (10) can be located within said spacing (8) between the bottom of the tray (3) and the grid (5).

In another embodiment, the base (10) has a size which allows at least two poultry holders (2) to rest on the bottom of the tray (3). Thus, in the present invention, the poultry holder (2) can be singly or multiply used in combination with the tray (3) and the grill rack (4).

The accessory (1) of the present invention is not limited to the use wires (14a, 14b, 14c). In an alternative embodiment, the column (9), its indentation (13) and the base (10) are not formed by wires (14a, 14b, 14c) but are alternatively made of a solid or a hollow tube (not shown) having an integral or detachable pedestal (not shown) for resting on the tray (3) and an annular groove (not shown) formed into the tube at the level of the grid (5) so as to snap into the gap (12) of the grid (5).

The present invention also provides an oven (not shown). The oven of the present invention comprises at least one poultry holder (2), the tray (3) and the grill rack (4) of the present invention.

With the present invention an accessory (1) has been provided which prevents the poultry from falling over during the grilling process. With the accessory (1) of the present invention, both the usability and the safety of the oven have been improved. Thereby, a consumer satisfaction can be increased.

Claims

An accessory (1) comprising one or more than one poultry holder (2) for use in an oven comprising a chamber for cooking/baking/grilling food such as a whole poultry, a heater for heating the interior of the chamber, a tray (3) and a grill rack (4) which fits into the tray (3), wherein the grill rack (4) has a flexible grid (5) for supporting the food from below, a frame (6) which supports the grid (5) and feet (7) for resting on the bottom of the tray (3) so as to secure a spacing (8) between the bottom of the tray (3) and the grid (5), the poultry holder (2) comprising a column (9) for placing into the cavity of the whole poultry in particular a chicken or the like so as to hold the whole poultry in the upright position and a base (10) for resting on the bottom of the tray (3), wherein the base (10) supports the column (9), said accessory (1) being characterized in that the poultry holder (2) further comprising

- a retainer (11) for detachably fixing the poultry holder (2) to the grill rack (4) in a state when both the feet (7) and the base (10) rest on the bottom of the tray (3), wherein the base (10) being located within said spacing (8) and the column (9) has been inserted under elastic deformation from an underside of the grill rack (4) through a gap (12) of the grid (5) so as to protrude a predetermined length upwards beyond the upper side of the grill rack (4), which is sufficiently long to hold the whole poultry in the upright position, wherein the gap (12) of the grid (5) matches a width of the column (9) at the level of the grid (5) and wherein the spacing (8) between the tray (3) and the grid (5) matches a height of the base (10).
The accessory (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the retainer (11) comprising an indentation (13) which is formed at least partly around the column (9) at the level of the grid (5), wherein the periphery of the grid (5) which surrounds the gap (12) tightly snaps into the indentation (13).
The accessory (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the column (9) comprising at least one wire (14a, 14b), wherein the wire (14a, 14b) of the column (9) is bent at the level of the grid (5) so as to form the indentation (13) of the retainer (11).
The accessory (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the column (9) comprising two u-shaped upstanding wires (14a, 14b) which are rotated relative to each other by an angle about 90 degrees in the horizontal plane, wherein the opposing ends of the u-shaped upstanding wires (14a, 14b) project downwards and wherein each u-shaped upstanding wire (14a, 14b) is bent at the opposing ends so as to form the indentation (13) of the retainer (11).
The accessory (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the base (10) comprising at least one wire (14c) which is bent so as to form a plurality of legs (15) for resting on the bottom of the tray (3).
The accessory (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the base (10) comprising a single wire (14c) which is bent so as to form four evenly spaced legs (15).
The accessory (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the wires (14a, 14b, 14c) of the base (10) and the column (9) are joined with each other by welding.
The accessory (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the tray (3) and the grill rack (4) as defined in any one of claims 1 to 7.
The accessory (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the frame (6) comprising a rectangular shaped wire (14d) and the grid (5) comprises a plurality of flexible straight wires (14e) which are welded to the rectangular shaped wire (14d), wherein the adjacent flexible straight wires (14e) are spaced by said gap (12).
The accessory (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that two flexible straight wires (14e) of the grid (5) which are close to the opposing ends of the frame (6) are bent at their opposing ends so as to form the feet (7) of the grill rack (4), which secures said spacing (8).
An oven comprising a chamber for cooking/baking/grilling food such as a whole poultry and a heater for heating the interior of the chamber, characterized in that the accessory (1) as defined in any one of claims 8 to 10.