US3739712A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for cooking hamburgers or the like
Assignee: Burger Chef Systems Inc
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Filing: 1971-01-27
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Granted: 1973-06-19
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Expires: 1991-01-27
Abstract
Abstract A cooker for food patties such as hamburgers or the like is comprised of two heated platens mounted in opposed relation to one another to provide opposed parallel cooking surfaces which are spaced apart no greater than the thickness of the patty to be cooked. An endless chain conveyor runs continuously through the gap between said opposed surfaces and carries the patties into cooking contact with said platens. Said conveyor is formed of a series of interconnected and spaced apart transverse elements which are maintained in a plane lying between and parallel to said opposed surfaces. The arrangement results in each patty, upon entering the gap between said opposed platen surfaces, being squeezed by one of said platens between successive transverse elements of said conveyor and into contact with the other platen as the conveyor elements in turn become partially imbedded in the surface of the patty. The chain is thus provided with sufficient traction to draw said patties through said gap, with both sides of the patties in surface contact with the opposed heating surfaces of said platens, thereby cooking said patties by heat applied conductively to both sides thereof simultaneously.
Inventors
- 👤 R Duning
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:17
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47J; A47J37/00; A47J37/04; A47J37/044
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A grill for cooking flat deformable patties of a meat-like substance comprising, a. a first platen disposed to present a flat heated cooking surface in a plane inclined to horizontal, b. a second platen disposed to present a flat heated cooking surface in a plane substantially parallel to that of the cooking surface of said first platen and in opposed relation thereto to define a gap therewith of a distance substantially equal to the thickness of a patty, and c. a continuously driven endless chain conveyor comprising a series of pivotally interconnected spaced apart rods and extending through said gap for carrying patties through said gap and into surface contact with both of said cooking surfaces simultaneously, said rods while traversing said gap being supported at their ends to cause their main central portion to proceed in a plane lying between and parallel to said opposed cooking surfaces wherein said rods become imbedded within the surface of a patty being conveyed thereby, whereby said patties are cooked by heat transferred conductively and simultaneously to opposite surfaces thereof by said platens while being conveyed through the gap therebetween.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
A grill for cooking flat deformable patties of a meat-like substance comprising, a. a first platen disposed to present a flat heated cooking surface in a plane inclined to horizontal, b. a second platen disposed to present a flat heated cooking surface in a plane substantially parallel to that of the cooking surface of said first platen and in opposed relation thereto to define a gap therewith of a distance substantially equal to the thickness of a patty, and c. a continuously driven endless chain conveyor comprising a series of pivotally interconnected spaced apart rods and extending through said gap for carrying patties through said gap and into surface contact with both of said cooking surfaces simultaneously, said rods while traversing said gap being supported at their ends to cause their main central portion to proceed in a plane lying between and parallel to said opposed cooking surfaces wherein said rods become imbedded within the surface of a patty being conveyed thereby, whereby said patties are cooked by heat transferred conductively and simultaneously to opposite surfaces thereof by said platens while being conveyed through the gap therebetween.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein, a. the rods comprising said chain conveyor at their main central portion are disposed transversely to the direction of conveyor travel, and b. the ends of said rods extend substantially at right angle to their main central portion to pivotally interconnect with the next adjacent rod of the series.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention according to claim 2 wherein, a. said rods are spaced apart a distance less than the shortest surface dimension of said patties.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein, a. at least one of said platens is formed with a beveled surface area leading to said gap and along the edge of the respective cooking surface whereat the patty is carried into said gap, said beveled surface area being effective fOr squeezing the patty between said spaced apart rods and into surface contact with the oppositely disposed cooking surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The invention according to claim 1 including, a. mounting means for one of said platens manually adjustable to vary the gap between said cooking surfaces, said mounting means including levers pivotally connecting said platen with the frame of the grill to render said platen and frame opposed elements of a parallelogram type linkage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The invention according to claim 5 including, a. adjusting levers rotatably manipulable for effecting the adjustment of said one platen, said adjusting levers being connected to said linkage and having a camming head cooperating with the framework of the grill for determining a plurality of adjusted settings of said platen in accordance with the rotative setting of said adjusting levers.
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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) | 1976-06-18 | 1976-12-18 | 1977-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-18 | 1980-12-18 | 1981-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-18 | 1984-12-18 | 1985-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |