US3722400A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Taco shell fryer
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-07-16
•
Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1990-07-16
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for preparing taco shells from uncooked tortillas comprising a cooking vessel for containing cooking oil, a plurality of expandable taco shell forming means for holding the tortillas during cooking, spaced guide members disposed within the cooking vessel and arranged so as to frictionally engage the taco shell forming means, a conveyor for moving taco shell forming means between the spaced guide members and means cooperating with the taco shell forming means to free the cooked taco shell therefrom.
Inventors
- 👤 J Jimenez
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:30
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47J; A47J37/00; A47J37/12; A47J37/1214; A21; A21B; A21B5/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
An apparatus for preparing taco shells comprising: a. a cooking vessel, b. confining means defining a passageway through said cooking vessel, c. forming means having at least one yieldable side panel adapted for expansive movement within said confining means, said forming means being generally V-shaped in cross section in both a confined and relaxed state, d. means for moving said forming means through the passageway defined by said confining means including means for elevating said forming means above said cooking vessel, and e. means for positioning tortillas in the path of said forming means prior to the movement of said forming means into said confining means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
106 words
An apparatus for preparing taco shells comprising: a. a cooking vessel, b. confining means defining a passageway through said cooking vessel, c. forming means having at least one yieldable side panel adapted for expansive movement within said confining means, said forming means being generally V-shaped in cross section in both a confined and relaxed state, d. means for moving said forming means through the passageway defined by said confining means including means for elevating said forming means above said cooking vessel, and e. means for positioning tortillas in the path of said forming means prior to the movement of said forming means into said confining means.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
92 words
An apparatus for preparing taco shells and the like comprising: a. a cooking vessel, b. a taco shell forming means having at least one yieldable side panel for forming a tortilla to which a tortilla may be applied, c. guide means comprising a plurality of spaced guide elements positioned within said cooking vessel between which said taco shell forming means is moved, said guide elements being movable along the path of movement of said taco shell forming means, and d. means for moving said taco shell forming means between said guide means.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
92 words
An apparatus for preparing taco shells and the like comprising: a. a cooking vessel, b. a taco shell forming means having at least one yieldable side panel for forming a tortilla to which a tortilla may be applied, c. guide means comprising a plurality of spaced guide elements positioned within said cooking vessel between which said taco shell forming means is moved, said guide elements being movable along the path of movement of said taco shell forming means, and d. means for moving said taco shell forming means between said guide means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
side panels in pivotal association with said carrier means and having leading and trailing edges,
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
side panels in pivotal association with said carrier means and having leading and trailing edges,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein the guide means comprises: a. a first endless belt, b. a second endless belt, and c. means for driving said first belt along a path which includes a first plane intermediate of said cooking vessel and means for driving said second belt along a path which includes a plane laying substantially in a spaced parallel relationship with said first plane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
bias means tending to urge separation of the trailing edges of said side panels, and
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
bias means tending to urge separation of the trailing edges of said side panels, and
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
96 words
An apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said guide means comprises: a. a guide drum rotatably mounted within said cooking vessel, b. an elongated rigid first guide member mounted within said cooking vessel in a plane tangent to the outer surface of said guide drum, c. an elongated rigid second guide member mounted within said cooking vessel in a spaced parallel relationship with said first guide member, and d. a plurality of curved guide elements cooperating with said second guide member, said guide elements having a radius of curvature larger than that of said guide drum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
bearing members on said side panels adapted to carry pressural loads experienced by said side panels, c. guide means comprising a plurality of spaced guide elements positioned within said cooking vessel between which said taco shell forming means is moved, and d. means for moving said taco shell forming means between said guide means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
bearing members on said side panels adapted to carry pressural loads experienced by said side panels, c. guide means comprising a plurality of spaced guide elements positioned within said cooking vessel between which said taco shell forming means is moved, and d. means for moving said taco shell forming means between said guide means.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus for preparing, taco shells comprising: a. a cooking vessel, b. confining means defining a passageway through said cooking vessel, c. forming means having at least one yieldable side panel adapted for expansive movement within said confining means, d. means for moving said forming means through the passageway defined by said confining means including means for elevating said forming means above said cooking vessel, e. means for positioning tortillas in the path of said forming means prior to the movement of said forming means into said guide means, and f. a taco shell separation means frictionally engageable by said forming means for urging relative movement between the cooked tortilla and said forming means.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus for preparing, taco shells comprising: a. a cooking vessel, b. confining means defining a passageway through said cooking vessel, c. forming means having at least one yieldable side panel adapted for expansive movement within said confining means, d. means for moving said forming means through the passageway defined by said confining means including means for elevating said forming means above said cooking vessel, e. means for positioning tortillas in the path of said forming means prior to the movement of said forming means into said guide means, and f. a taco shell separation means frictionally engageable by said forming means for urging relative movement between the cooked tortilla and said forming means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said taco shell separation means comprises: a. a rigid guide element mounted above said cooking vessel, and b. a stepped guide element mounted in a spaced relation with said rigid guide element for permitting said forming means to expand in order to loosen said tacos from said forming means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said means for positioning tortillas comprises: a. a tortilla supporting surface, b. a first locating means cooperating with said tortilla supporting surface for locating a tortilla relative to a first axis, and c. a second locating means cooperating with said tortilla supporting surface for locating a tortilla relative to a second axis.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
44 words
An apparatus for preparing taco shells and the like comprising: a. a cooking vessel, b. a taco shell forming means having at least one yieldable side panel for forming a tortilla to which a tortilla may be applied, said taco shell forming means comprising:
Claim 18
Independent Claim
44 words
An apparatus for preparing taco shells and the like comprising: a. a cooking vessel, b. a taco shell forming means having at least one yieldable side panel for forming a tortilla to which a tortilla may be applied, said taco shell forming means comprising:
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein said side panels have tortilla retainer means affixed to the leading edges thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein the bias means tending to urge separation of the trailing edges of said side panels comprises a spring interconnecting said side panels.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein the bearing members comprise bearing strips affixed near the longitudinal edges of said side panels.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus defined in claim 8 including means for limiting separation of the trailing edges of said side panels.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
115 words
An apparatus for preparing taco shells and the like comprising: a. a cooking vessel, b. a generally V-shaped taco shell forming means having at least one yieldable side panel for forming a tortilla to which a tortilla may be applied, c. guide means comprising movable spaced guide elements positioned within said cooking vessel and disposed in planes forming a space between which said taco shell forming means is moved, said guide means being adapted to confine the tortilla within the space between said guide elements and said taco shell forming means as the latter means is moved between said guide elements, and d. means for moving said taco shell forming means between said guide means.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
115 words
An apparatus for preparing taco shells and the like comprising: a. a cooking vessel, b. a generally V-shaped taco shell forming means having at least one yieldable side panel for forming a tortilla to which a tortilla may be applied, c. guide means comprising movable spaced guide elements positioned within said cooking vessel and disposed in planes forming a space between which said taco shell forming means is moved, said guide means being adapted to confine the tortilla within the space between said guide elements and said taco shell forming means as the latter means is moved between said guide elements, and d. means for moving said taco shell forming means between said guide means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |