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US3774523A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Corn popper

Assignee: CORNWALL CORP
•
Filing: 1971-12-10
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Granted: 1973-11-27
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Expires: 1991-12-10
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Abstract

Abstract A cornpopper having a butter holding, melting and dispensing device incorporated in the base member.

Inventors

  • 👤 J Moot

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 04:42
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47J; A47J37/00; A23; A23L; A23L7/00; A23L7/10; A23L7/161; A23L7/174; A23L7/183; A23L7/187

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 209 words
In a corn popper, a base adapted to be rested on a supporting surface; a heating element within said base; means associated with said base providing a receptacle for corn to be popped; a cover fitting over said receptacle; manipulating handle means by which said base and cover may be inverted; and means providing self buttering of said corn once popped, said self buttering means comprising a base-carried butter cup mounted above said receptacle and within said cover, said butter cup constructed and arranged for receiving a quantity of solid butter suitable when melted for buttering said corn when popped, removable closure means for said butter cup, said removable closure means manipulable to open said butter cup to deposit therein of said buttering quantity of solid butter, said butter cup constructed and arranged also for melting of said solid butter quantity under corn popper heating time and temperature causing said kernels to be popped, and means aperturing said self buttering means above the level of said melted butter in said cup whereby, when and only when said base is inverted and said popped corn thereby deposited in said cover, said melted butter is enabled and caused to flow out of said cup and drip onto said cover-deposited pop corn.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 209 words
In a corn popper, a base adapted to be rested on a supporting surface; a heating element within said base; means associated with said base providing a receptacle for corn to be popped; a cover fitting over said receptacle; manipulating handle means by which said base and cover may be inverted; and means providing self buttering of said corn once popped, said self buttering means comprising a base-carried butter cup mounted above said receptacle and within said cover, said butter cup constructed and arranged for receiving a quantity of solid butter suitable when melted for buttering said corn when popped, removable closure means for said butter cup, said removable closure means manipulable to open said butter cup to deposit therein of said buttering quantity of solid butter, said butter cup constructed and arranged also for melting of said solid butter quantity under corn popper heating time and temperature causing said kernels to be popped, and means aperturing said self buttering means above the level of said melted butter in said cup whereby, when and only when said base is inverted and said popped corn thereby deposited in said cover, said melted butter is enabled and caused to flow out of said cup and drip onto said cover-deposited pop corn.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 38 words
A corn popper according to claim 1, wherein said cup comprises a cone having sloping sides non-interferent with said popping and freely passing said popped corn from said receptacle to said cover when said corn popper is inverted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
A corn popper according to claim 1, wherein said butter cup comprises a cone and dependent therefrom a stem.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
A corn popper according to claim 3, wherein said cone and stem are of integral ceramic construction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 32 words
A corn popper according to claim 1, and a mounting stud on said receptacle and a stem on said cup engaging said stud for removably supporting said cup in butter holding position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 31 words
A corn popper according to claim 5, wherein said stud and stem are matingly threaded for securing and removing of said cup by its oppositely screwing on and off said stud.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 35 words
A corn popper according to claim 5, wherein said stud and stem have mating key-form projection and recess whereby said cup is first telescoped and then rotated thereon for removably locking it onto said stem.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 39 words
A corn popper according to claim 5, wherein said stud has a spring detEnt deformably engaged by said stem and biasing thereagainst with sufficient force to retain said cup against falling from said stud when the same are inverted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 80 words
A corn popper according to claim 1, wherein said removably closing means is a cover comprising a disc having a periphery smaller than the rim of the cup; and a plurality of resilient tabs depending outwardly from said disc periphery and curving downwardly and gripping inwardly over said cup rim; and wherein said aperturing means comprise peripheral openings intermediate said tabs determined by the spacing of said disc above said cup by the engagement of said tabs over said rim.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 22 words
A corn popper according to claim 1, wherein said aperturing means comprise a series of openings through the wall of said cup.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 52 words
A corn popper according to claim 10, wherein said cup has an annular rim, and wherein said removable closing means comprise an annular disc member havings its outer radial edge seated on said rim and having an inset portion engaging the inner wall of said cup above the level of said openings.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 29 words
A corn popper according to claim 11, and said disc member having resilient tabs depending from said outer radial edge and spring clamping the outer wall of said cup.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 152 words
In a corn popper a base adapted to be rested on a supporting surface; a heating element carried by said base; means associated with said base providing a receptacle for kernels of corn to be popped; a cover removably received over said receptacle; means adapting said base and cover to be manually manipulable; and means associated with said base providing self buttering of corn once popped, said self buttering means comprising a reservoir supported within said receptacle, said reservoir; constructed and arranged for the melting therein of a quantity of solid butter deposited therein appropriate to the buttering of, and during the heating time and temperature for the cooking of, the popcorn deposited in said receptacle; having underlying and overlying surfaces bypassing the corn kernels as they rise and fall in the corn popper in the course of being popped; and adapted to dispense said melted butter upon said receptacle being inverted.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 152 words
In a corn popper a base adapted to be rested on a supporting surface; a heating element carried by said base; means associated with said base providing a receptacle for kernels of corn to be popped; a cover removably received over said receptacle; means adapting said base and cover to be manually manipulable; and means associated with said base providing self buttering of corn once popped, said self buttering means comprising a reservoir supported within said receptacle, said reservoir; constructed and arranged for the melting therein of a quantity of solid butter deposited therein appropriate to the buttering of, and during the heating time and temperature for the cooking of, the popcorn deposited in said receptacle; having underlying and overlying surfaces bypassing the corn kernels as they rise and fall in the corn popper in the course of being popped; and adapted to dispense said melted butter upon said receptacle being inverted.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 43 words
A corn popper according to claim 13, wherein said reservoir comprises a cup mounted centrally of said receptacle; and wherein said cup is adapted for said dispensing by peripheral openings constructed and arranged for dispensing said melted butter in a radially distributed pattern.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 21 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said peripheral openings are oriented to pass said melted butter in initially lateral directed streams.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 22 words
A corn popper according to claim 1, wherein at least some of said aperturing means are located in said removable closure means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1839671A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-11-26 1977-05-28 1977-11-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-11-26 1981-05-28 1981-11-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-11-26 1985-05-28 1985-11-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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