US3794016A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steam injector and spatula
Assignee: Restaurant Technology Inc
•
Filing: 1972-04-03
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Granted: 1974-02-26
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Expires: 1992-04-03
Abstract
Abstract A steam injector for steaming food products, such as the heels and crowns of buns. The steam injector incorporates a platen covered by a relatively rigid clamping plate enclosing steam forming chambers and passages in the platen, and a relatively flexible, thin cover plate overlying the clamping plate. The clamping and cover plates define orifices through which steam jets upwardly into an overlying steaming chamber. The steaming chamber includes side and back flanges which are integral with the cover plate and is topped by a top plate to define an open front. A juxtaposed removable spatula is formed to provide the front wall of the steaming chamber and to support bun portions to be steamed. The base of the spatula defines steam passages ordered similarly to the steam orifices and provides crowned diffuser members overlying the orifices to baffle and diffuse the steam jetting through the steam passages.
Inventors
- 👤 C Binks
- 👤 J Moser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 20:34
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47J; A47J27/00; A47J27/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A steam injector comprising a heated platen assembly and a cabinet section, said platen assembly being supported on said cabinet section and being releasably secured to said cabinet section for ready removability, said platen assembly providing a water inlet communicating with steam generating chambers and steam discharge passages defined by said platen assembly, said platen assembly comprising a platen and a platen cover plate, said platen cover plate defining steam discharge orifices in communication with said steam discharge passages, and a steam chamber, said steam chamber comprising said platen cover plate, side walls, a back wall and a top plate spaced from said cover plate and providing an open front, a spatula, said spatula defining an expansive surface defining a plurality of passages aligned with said orifices and said spatula providing a large front wall for closing said open front thereby to form an enclosed steam chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
A steam injector comprising a heated platen assembly and a cabinet section, said platen assembly being supported on said cabinet section and being releasably secured to said cabinet section for ready removability, said platen assembly providing a water inlet communicating with steam generating chambers and steam discharge passages defined by said platen assembly, said platen assembly comprising a platen and a platen cover plate, said platen cover plate defining steam discharge orifices in communication with said steam discharge passages, and a steam chamber, said steam chamber comprising said platen cover plate, side walls, a back wall and a top plate spaced from said cover plate and providing an open front, a spatula, said spatula defining an expansive surface defining a plurality of passages aligned with said orifices and said spatula providing a large front wall for closing said open front thereby to form an enclosed steam chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A steam injector in accordance with claim 1 wherein said side walls, back wall and platen cover plate are integrally formed, and said top plate is removably supported on said side walls and back wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A steam injector in accordance with claim 1 wherein said spatula front wall mounts a handle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A steam injector in accordance with claim 1 wherein said spatula passages are arranged in rows and columns and each defines at least two passage segments spaced by a diffuser member positioned to overlie an orifice to diffuse steam discharging through said orifice.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
202 words
A steam injector comprising a heated platen assembly and a cabinet section, said platen assembly being supported on said cabinet section and being releasably secured thereto for ready removability, said platen assembly comprising a platen defining steam generating and steam discharge passages in one of its faces, and an expansive, relatively thick, rigid clamping plate confront-ing said platen and overlying said passages to form closed passages, said clamping plate defining a plurality of regularly ordered and spaced steam discharge orifices overlying said steam discharge passages, a steam chamber for receiving food products to be steamed, the base of said steam chamber comprising a relatively thin sheet metal cover plate confronting said clamping plate and defining orifices aligned with said steam discharge orifices, and means for securing said platen, said clamping plate and said cover plate to each other and for securing said platen assembly to said cabinet section, said steam chamber further comprising side walls, a back wall and a top plate, and defining an open front, and a spatula, said spatula having an expansive surface defining a plurality of passages aligned with said orifices, and a large front wall for closing said open front thereby to form an enclosed steam chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
202 words
A steam injector comprising a heated platen assembly and a cabinet section, said platen assembly being supported on said cabinet section and being releasably secured thereto for ready removability, said platen assembly comprising a platen defining steam generating and steam discharge passages in one of its faces, and an expansive, relatively thick, rigid clamping plate confront-ing said platen and overlying said passages to form closed passages, said clamping plate defining a plurality of regularly ordered and spaced steam discharge orifices overlying said steam discharge passages, a steam chamber for receiving food products to be steamed, the base of said steam chamber comprising a relatively thin sheet metal cover plate confronting said clamping plate and defining orifices aligned with said steam discharge orifices, and means for securing said platen, said clamping plate and said cover plate to each other and for securing said platen assembly to said cabinet section, said steam chamber further comprising side walls, a back wall and a top plate, and defining an open front, and a spatula, said spatula having an expansive surface defining a plurality of passages aligned with said orifices, and a large front wall for closing said open front thereby to form an enclosed steam chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A steam injector in accordance with claim 5 wherein said spatula passages are arranged in rows and columns and each defines at least two passage segments spaced by a diffuser member positioned to overlie an orifice to diffuse steam discharging through said orifice.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
195 words
A steam injector comprising a heated platen assembly and a cabinet section, said platen assembly being supported on said cabinet section and being releasably secured thereto for ready removability, said platen assembly comprising a platen defining steam generating and steam discharge passages in one of its faces, and an expansive, relatively thick, rigid clamping plate confronting said platen and overlying said passages to form closed passages, said clamping plate defining a plurality of regularly ordered and spaced steam discharge orifices overlying said steam discharge passages, a steam chamber for receiving food products to be steamed, the base of said steam chamber comprising a rElatively thin sheet metal cover plate confronting said clamping plate and defining orifices aligned with said steam discharge orifices, and means for securing said platen, said clamping plate and said cover plate to each other and for securing said platen assembly to said cabinet section, said steam chamber further comprising side walls, a back wall and a top plate, and defining an open front, and wherein said side walls, back wall and platen cover plate are integrally formed, and said top plate is removably supported on said side walls and back wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
195 words
A steam injector comprising a heated platen assembly and a cabinet section, said platen assembly being supported on said cabinet section and being releasably secured thereto for ready removability, said platen assembly comprising a platen defining steam generating and steam discharge passages in one of its faces, and an expansive, relatively thick, rigid clamping plate confronting said platen and overlying said passages to form closed passages, said clamping plate defining a plurality of regularly ordered and spaced steam discharge orifices overlying said steam discharge passages, a steam chamber for receiving food products to be steamed, the base of said steam chamber comprising a rElatively thin sheet metal cover plate confronting said clamping plate and defining orifices aligned with said steam discharge orifices, and means for securing said platen, said clamping plate and said cover plate to each other and for securing said platen assembly to said cabinet section, said steam chamber further comprising side walls, a back wall and a top plate, and defining an open front, and wherein said side walls, back wall and platen cover plate are integrally formed, and said top plate is removably supported on said side walls and back wall.
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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) | 1977-02-25 | 1977-08-27 | 1978-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-25 | 1981-08-27 | 1982-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-25 | 1985-08-27 | 1986-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |