US4477705A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microwave oven popcorn popper, steamer and roaster
Assignee: Plastics Inc
•
Filing: 1982-06-01
•
Granted: 1984-10-16
•
Expires: 2002-06-01
Abstract
Abstract A cooking utensil for a microwave oven is provided comprising a shallow, generally hollow, lower cooking member defining a pyramidal-shaped cavity with an open base. A stand orients the lower cooking member in the microwave oven cavity with the open base upwardly directed to define an open top, pyramidal-shaped lower heating chamber for retaining and heating popcorn kernels. Unpopped popcorn kernels are gravity biased into the apexes defined by the intersections of the sidewalls of the pyramidal-shaped heating chamber to facilitate efficient heating of the unpopped kernels. A cover is disposed over the lower cooking member comprising a deep, generally hollow, upper member defining a roughly cube-shaped cavity with one open side. A support is provided for orienting the open side of the cover relative to the lower cooking member such that the open side of the roughly cube-shaped cavity communicates with the open top of the pyramidal-shaped lower heating chamber to define an upper chamber for receiving and storing popped popcorn kernels upwardly and away from the heating chamber to prevent scorching of the popped kernels. A steaming and roasting trivet is provided which engages a lower cooking member and defines a generally horizontal surface for supporting foodstuffs above the lower heating chamber. The trivet converts the cooking utensil into a steaming and roasting device wherein the lower heating chamber retains liquid and the upper chamber comprises an oven chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Allen M. Danley
- 👤 Mark L. Steingraber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 14:22
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D81/00; B65D81/34; B65D81/3446; B65D81/3453; B65D2581/00; B65D2581/34; B65D2581/3401; B65D2581/3402; B65D2581/3421; B65D2581/3429; B65D2581/3433; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S99/00; Y10S99/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
333 words
A cooking utensil for popping corn in a microwave oven cavity and serving the popped corn comprising: a shallow, generally hollow, lower cooking member defining a pyramidal-shaped cavity with an open base; stand means for orienting said lower cooking member in said microwave oven cavity with said open base being upwardly directed for defining an open top pyramidal-shaped lower heating chamber for retaining and heating unpopped corn kernels, said unpopped corn kernels being gravity biased into apexes defined by the intersections of the sidewalls of said pyramidal-shaped heating chamber whereby efficient heating of said unpopped kernels is facilitated; a combined cover and serving container; support means for supporting a combined cover and serving container about the periphery of said lower cooking member; a handle means for defining a handle disposed at the juncture of said cover and serving container and said lower cooking member; said cover and serving container comprising a deep, generally hollow, upper member defining a roughly cube-shaped cavity with one open side, said support means orienting said cover and serving container relative to said lower cooking member such that said open side of roughly cube-shaped cavity communicates with said open top of said pyramidal-shaped lower heating chamber to define an upper chamber for receiving and storing popped corn kernels upwardly and away from said heating chamber whereby scorching of said popped kernels is reduced; and vent means disposed in said cover and serving container remote form said handle means for venting said upper chamber to the atmosphere without heating said handle means, said vent means comprises a plurality of apertures, each of the apertures being disposed in a side of said cover and serving container at the terminus of each one of a plurality of channels extending from the side opposite to said open side and down the sides of said cover and serving container to provide for the use of said cover and serving container as a serving container while minimizing the loss of popcorn through said vent means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
333 words
A cooking utensil for popping corn in a microwave oven cavity and serving the popped corn comprising: a shallow, generally hollow, lower cooking member defining a pyramidal-shaped cavity with an open base; stand means for orienting said lower cooking member in said microwave oven cavity with said open base being upwardly directed for defining an open top pyramidal-shaped lower heating chamber for retaining and heating unpopped corn kernels, said unpopped corn kernels being gravity biased into apexes defined by the intersections of the sidewalls of said pyramidal-shaped heating chamber whereby efficient heating of said unpopped kernels is facilitated; a combined cover and serving container; support means for supporting a combined cover and serving container about the periphery of said lower cooking member; a handle means for defining a handle disposed at the juncture of said cover and serving container and said lower cooking member; said cover and serving container comprising a deep, generally hollow, upper member defining a roughly cube-shaped cavity with one open side, said support means orienting said cover and serving container relative to said lower cooking member such that said open side of roughly cube-shaped cavity communicates with said open top of said pyramidal-shaped lower heating chamber to define an upper chamber for receiving and storing popped corn kernels upwardly and away from said heating chamber whereby scorching of said popped kernels is reduced; and vent means disposed in said cover and serving container remote form said handle means for venting said upper chamber to the atmosphere without heating said handle means, said vent means comprises a plurality of apertures, each of the apertures being disposed in a side of said cover and serving container at the terminus of each one of a plurality of channels extending from the side opposite to said open side and down the sides of said cover and serving container to provide for the use of said cover and serving container as a serving container while minimizing the loss of popcorn through said vent means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The cooking utensil of claim 1 further comprising a steaming and roasting trivet for engaging said lower cooking member and defining a generally horizontal surface for supporting foodstuffs above said lower heating chamber, said trivet converting said cooking utensil into a steaming and roasting device wherein said lower heating chamber retains liquid and said upper chamber comprises an oven chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The cooking utensil of claim 2 wherein at least one of said lower cooking member, said cover and serving containers and said trivet are formed from a low dielectric loss material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cooking utensil of claim 2 wherein said trivet is formed from a material having a predetermined lossiness to facilitate browning of foodstuffs disposed on said trivet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cooking utensil of claim 2 wherein said trivet further includes a plurality of vents interconnecting said lower heating chamber and said upper oven chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cooking utensil of claim 2 wherein said trivet is generally rectangular in shape and engages the sidewalls of said pyramidal-shaped cavity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The cooking utensil of claim 6 wherein said pyramidal-shaped cavity is provided with a plurality of gussets disposed in the apexes defined by the intersections of said sidewalls, said gussets engaging and supporting
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cooking utensil of claim 1 wherein said stand comprises a plurality of legs projecting outwardly and downwardly from the underside of said lower cooking member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The cooking utensil of claim 8 wherein said lower cooking member and said stand are molded from a polymeric material, said legs extending from the apexes defined by the intersections of the sidewalls of said lower cooking member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cooking utensil of claim 1 wherein said cover and serving container is provided with a plurality of vents.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cooking utensil of claim 1 wherein said lower cooking member and said stand means are adapted for insertion into said cover for storage in a nested fashion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cooking utensil of claim 1 wherein said support means comprises a first generally horizontal flange disposed about the periphery of said lower cooking member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The cooking utensil of claim 12 wherein said support means further comprises a second generally horizontal flange disposed about the periphery of said cover and serving container, said cover and serving container being supported above said lower cooking member through engagement of said first and second flanges.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
65 words
The cooking utensil of claim 13 wherein said support means further comprises a third generally vertical flange disposed on the periphery of said cover and serving container, and a shoulder disposed on the periphery of said lower cooking member said third generally vertical flange engaging said shoulder to provide for the accurate vertical alignment of said lower cooking member and said cover and serving container.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The cooking utensil of claim 1 wherein said cover and serving is formed from a transparent material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
309 words
A cooking utensil for roasting and steaming foodstuffs in a microwave oven cavity comprising: a shallow generally hollow lower cooking member defining a cavity with an open end; stand means for orienting said lower cooking member in said microwave oven cavity with said open end upwardly directed for defining an open top lower heating chamber for retaining liquid; a steaming and roasting trivet for engaging said lower cooking member and defining a generally horizontal surface for supporting foodstuffs above said lower heating chamber; a cover; support means for supporting said cover about the periphery of said lower cooking member; said cover comprising a deep, generally hollow upper cooking member with one open side, said support means orienting said cover relative to said lower cooking member such that said open side of said cover communicates with said open top of said lower heating chamber to define an upper oven chamber, said upper oven chamber enclosing foodstuffs disposed on said trivet to provide for the efficient steaming and roasting thereof; a first vent means for venting said lower heating chamber into said upper oven chamber, said first vent means being disposed at said trivet; and a second vent means disposed on said cover for venting said upper oven chamber, whereby liquids retained in said lower heating chamber are vaporized and circulate upwardly through and around the foodstuffs supported by said trivet under the application of microwave energy, the foodstuffs thus being cooked both by direct absorption of microwave energy and by indirect convective heat transfer from liquids retained in said lower heating chamber, said second vent means comprises a plurality of apertures, each of the apertures being disposed in a side of said cover at the terminus of each one of a plurality of channels extending from the side opposite to said open side and down the sides of said cover.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
309 words
A cooking utensil for roasting and steaming foodstuffs in a microwave oven cavity comprising: a shallow generally hollow lower cooking member defining a cavity with an open end; stand means for orienting said lower cooking member in said microwave oven cavity with said open end upwardly directed for defining an open top lower heating chamber for retaining liquid; a steaming and roasting trivet for engaging said lower cooking member and defining a generally horizontal surface for supporting foodstuffs above said lower heating chamber; a cover; support means for supporting said cover about the periphery of said lower cooking member; said cover comprising a deep, generally hollow upper cooking member with one open side, said support means orienting said cover relative to said lower cooking member such that said open side of said cover communicates with said open top of said lower heating chamber to define an upper oven chamber, said upper oven chamber enclosing foodstuffs disposed on said trivet to provide for the efficient steaming and roasting thereof; a first vent means for venting said lower heating chamber into said upper oven chamber, said first vent means being disposed at said trivet; and a second vent means disposed on said cover for venting said upper oven chamber, whereby liquids retained in said lower heating chamber are vaporized and circulate upwardly through and around the foodstuffs supported by said trivet under the application of microwave energy, the foodstuffs thus being cooked both by direct absorption of microwave energy and by indirect convective heat transfer from liquids retained in said lower heating chamber, said second vent means comprises a plurality of apertures, each of the apertures being disposed in a side of said cover at the terminus of each one of a plurality of channels extending from the side opposite to said open side and down the sides of said cover.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The cooking utensil of claim 16 wherein said cover is formed from a transparent material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cooking utensil of claim 16 wherein said lower cooking member and said stand means are adapted for insertion into said cover for storage in a nested fashion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cooking utensil of claim 16 wherein at least one of said lower cooking member, said cover and said trivet are formed from a low dielectric loss material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cooking utensil of claim 16 wherein said trivet is formed from a material having a predetermined lossiness to facilitate browning of foodstuffs disposed on said trivet.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cooking utensil of claim 16 wherein said trivet is generally rectangular in shape and engages the sidewalls of said pyramidal-shaped cavity.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The cooking utensil of claim 21 wherein said pyramidal-shaped cavity is provided with a plurality of gussets disposed in the apexes defined by the intersections of said sidewalls, said gussets engaging and supporting said trivet.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cooking utensil of claim 16 wherein said stand comprises a plurality of legs projecting outwardly and downwardly from the underside of said lower cooking member.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
The cooking utensil of claim 23 wherein said lower cooking member and said stand are molded from a polymeric material, said legs extending from the apexes defined by the intersections of the sidewalls of said lower cooking member.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cooking utensil of claim 16 wherein said support means comprises a first generally horizontal flange disposed about the periphery of said lower cooking member.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
41 words
The cooking utensil of claim 25 wherein said support means further comprises a second generally horizontal flange disposed about the periphery of said cover, said cover being supported above said lower cooking member through engagement of said first and second flanges.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
59 words
The cooking utensil of claim 26 wherein said support means further comprises a third generally vertical flange disposed on the periphery of said cover, and a shoulder disposed on the periphery of said lower cooking member said third generally vertical flange engaging said shoulder to provide for the accurate vertical alignment of said lower cooking member and said cover.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2123663A
Cited
US2078719A
Cited
US2113091A
Cited
US2480679A
Cited
US2522085A
Cited
US2602134A
Cited
US2901587A
Cited
US2939379A
Cited
US3079854A
Cited
US3232214A
Cited
US3611910A
Cited
US3457852A
Cited
US3699874A
Cited
US3722399A
Cited
US3773669A
Cited
US3835280A
Cited
US3847067A
Cited
US4013798A
Cited
DE2421216A1
Cited
US4038425A
Cited
US3974354A
Cited
US4332188A
Cited
US4156806A
Cited
US4158760A
Cited
US4166208A
Cited
US4335291A
Cited
US4299160A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-10-16 | 1988-04-16 | 1988-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-10-16 | 1992-04-16 | 1992-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-10-16 | 1996-04-16 | 1996-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |