Patent US4650968A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4650968A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steamer cooking device
Assignee: Excalibur Products Inc
•
Filing: 1984-10-03
•
Granted: 1987-03-17
•
Expires: 2004-10-03
Abstract
Abstract A steamer having a base, a water reservoir, a heater for heating the same and a vented cover. The steamer includes a plurality of different cooking surfaces so that a variety of different foods can be steamed at the same time and may include a reversible cooking liquor collector tray for either collecting condensate and liquors during cooking or returning all condensate to the water reservoir. The liquors collected by the tray may be delivered to a reservoir or cup which can be removed from the steamer to make sauces or the like.
Inventors
- 👤 James T. Williams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:15
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47J; A47J27/00; A47J27/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
In a steamer comprising a housing having a base, a boiling water reservoir in the base, a heater coupled to the water reservoir for heating the same, and a bottom tray mounted in the steamer, the improvement which comprises: said tray being loosely mounted within the steamer above the water reservoir, said tray having at least one aperture therethrough fluidly communicating with the water reservoir and a second aperture therethrough said tray on one side thereof remote from said first mentioned aperture in non-fluid communication with the water reservoir, said tray having spacer means thereon both spacing said bottom tray from inner side walls of the water housing and deflecting steam produced by the boiling of water in the water reservoir upwardly within said steamer including a food liquor reservoir mounted in said base remote from the water reservoir and in non-fluid communication therewith, said tray being reversible within said steamer so that, in a first position, said second aperture therein is in fluid communication with said liquor reservoir, and, in a second position, said second aperture therein is in fluid communication with the water reservoir.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
In a steamer comprising a housing having a base, a boiling water reservoir in the base, a heater coupled to the water reservoir for heating the same, and a bottom tray mounted in the steamer, the improvement which comprises: said tray being loosely mounted within the steamer above the water reservoir, said tray having at least one aperture therethrough fluidly communicating with the water reservoir and a second aperture therethrough said tray on one side thereof remote from said first mentioned aperture in non-fluid communication with the water reservoir, said tray having spacer means thereon both spacing said bottom tray from inner side walls of the water housing and deflecting steam produced by the boiling of water in the water reservoir upwardly within said steamer including a food liquor reservoir mounted in said base remote from the water reservoir and in non-fluid communication therewith, said tray being reversible within said steamer so that, in a first position, said second aperture therein is in fluid communication with said liquor reservoir, and, in a second position, said second aperture therein is in fluid communication with the water reservoir.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
In the steamer of claim 1 including a plurality of spikes mounted on said tray extending vertically upwardly therefrom and tapering to a point.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
In the steamer of claim 1 including a large capacity bowl mounted on top of said tray in said steamer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
In the steamer of claim 3 wherein said bowl is imperforate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
In the steamer of claim 4 wherein a plurality of spikes are mounted on said tray extending vertically upwardly therefrom tapering generally to a point.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
In the steamer of claim 3 including at least one food tray mounted on the top of said bowl within said steamer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
In the steamer of claim 6 wherein said bowl includes a peripheral lip and a pair of handles on opposite sides of said bowl extending horizontally outwardly from said lip including openings which cooperate with food trays.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
In the steamer of claim 7 wherein said food tray includes a plurality of spaced brackets downwardly depending from its underside having cut-out portions thereinreceiving the lip and at least one handle of said food tray therein for supporting said food tray on top of said bowl.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
In the steamer of claim 8 including a second food tray similar to said first food tray supported in like manner on the other one of said handles of said bowl and said lip thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
In the steamer of claim 7 wherein each of said food trays includes a bottom wall and an upstanding peripheral wall, and including a plurality of spaced bumps on the upper surface of the bottom wall of said food trays.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
86 words
In the steamer of claim 7 wherein each of said food trays includes a bottom wall and an upstanding peripheral wall, and at least one aperture extending through one side of said bottom wall fluidly communicating with the interior of said steamer away from the interior of said bowl, each of said food trays having bracket means on the bottom thereof for engaging the top of said bowl and supporting said food tray so that any liquids thereon flow to and out of said aperture therethrough.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
In the steamer of claim 11 wherein said aperture in said food tray fluidly communicates with the portion of said first mentioned tray having said first mentioned aperture therein whereby food liquors may drip from said food tray past said bowl and through the aperture in said bottom (deflector) tray.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
In steamer of claim 12 including a food liquor reservoir mounted in said base remote from said water reservoir and in non-fluid communication therewith, said food liquor reservoir being in fluid communiation with said second aperture in said bottom tray for receiving food liquors therefrom.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
In the steamer of claim 1 including a removable cup mounted in said food liquor reservoir for removing food liquors from said steamer without need for tipping the same.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
In the steamer of claim 1 wherein a vented cover is mounted over said housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
In the steamer of claim 1 wherein said bottom tray is so shaped that liquids therefrom flow to said second aperture.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
In the steamer of claim 1 further including lighted switch means coupled to said heater.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
154 words
In a steamer comprising a housing having a base, a boiling water reservoir in the base, a heater coupled to the water reservoir for heating the same, and a bottom tray mounted in said steamer, said tray allowing passage of steam from the water reservoir above said tray, a food liquor reservoir in said base isolated from the water reservoir, and condensate directing means on said tray for exclusively directing food liquor and steam condensate to either the water reservoir or said food liquor reservoir wherein said condensate directing means is defined by a sloped contour of said tray and an aperture at a lowest point of said sloped tray to direct condensate therethrough, said aperture offset from a geometrical center of said tray such that reorientation of said tray allows fluid communication to a different situs therebelow, and said reservoirs are located strategically so that tray reorientation provides communication with a different reservoir.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
154 words
In a steamer comprising a housing having a base, a boiling water reservoir in the base, a heater coupled to the water reservoir for heating the same, and a bottom tray mounted in said steamer, said tray allowing passage of steam from the water reservoir above said tray, a food liquor reservoir in said base isolated from the water reservoir, and condensate directing means on said tray for exclusively directing food liquor and steam condensate to either the water reservoir or said food liquor reservoir wherein said condensate directing means is defined by a sloped contour of said tray and an aperture at a lowest point of said sloped tray to direct condensate therethrough, said aperture offset from a geometrical center of said tray such that reorientation of said tray allows fluid communication to a different situs therebelow, and said reservoirs are located strategically so that tray reorientation provides communication with a different reservoir.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
130 words
In a steamer comprising a housing having a base, a boiling water reservoir in the base, a heater coupled to the water reservoir for heating the same, and a bottom tray mounted in the steamer, the improvement which comprises: said tray removeably mounted wtihin the steamer above the water reservoir, said tray allowing an area above said tray to communicate with the water reservoir and an aperture through said tray off center, a food liquor reservoir mounted in said base remote from the water reservoir and in non-fluid communication therewith, said tray being reversible within said steamer so that, in a first position, said aperture therein is in fluid communication with said liquor reservoir, and, in a second position, said aperture therein is in fluid communication with the water reservoir.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
130 words
In a steamer comprising a housing having a base, a boiling water reservoir in the base, a heater coupled to the water reservoir for heating the same, and a bottom tray mounted in the steamer, the improvement which comprises: said tray removeably mounted wtihin the steamer above the water reservoir, said tray allowing an area above said tray to communicate with the water reservoir and an aperture through said tray off center, a food liquor reservoir mounted in said base remote from the water reservoir and in non-fluid communication therewith, said tray being reversible within said steamer so that, in a first position, said aperture therein is in fluid communication with said liquor reservoir, and, in a second position, said aperture therein is in fluid communication with the water reservoir.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE271879C
Cited
US136588A
Cited
US157897A
Cited
US475678A
Cited
US847117A
Cited
US1339350A
Cited
US2236992A
Cited
US2980099A
Cited
US2766366A
Cited
FR1206114A
Cited
US3456598A
Cited
US4509412A
Cited
US4509412B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-03-16 | 1990-09-15 | 1991-03-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-03-16 | 1994-09-15 | 1995-03-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-03-16 | 1998-09-15 | 1999-03-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |