Cooking device to deep fat fry foods

• US 8,707,857 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2006
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ron's Enterprises LLC
• Original Assignee: Ron's Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Popeil, Ronald M., Popeil, Kathryn, Popeil, Lauren, Popeil-Stairs, Shannon, Backus, Alan Lester
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuen, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): SPURLOCK, BRETT SHANE
• Application Number:
  US11/425,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20070028781A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,870 Days
• Field of Search: 994/03, 993/30, 993/56, 993/55, 993/36, 994/07, 994/09, 994/08, 994/10, 994/44, 220/573.1, 426/233, D73/54, D73/60
• US Class Current: 99/340
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/10 Lid-locking devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/1209 electrically heated
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/1219 with means for lowering or raising the frying basket
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/1261 Details of the heating elements; Fixation of the heating elements to the frying vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/1266 Control devices, e.g. to control temperature, level or quality of the frying liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/129 Frying vessels

Abstract

A cooking device include an outer housing and a cooking cavity disposed within and separate from the outer housing. The cooking cavity accommodates a volume of cooking liquid therein. The device includes a heater positioned adjacent the cooking cavity to heat the cooking liquid. A lid is movably attached to the device and is used to form a seal with the cooking cavity. The lid includes a transparent portion positioned along a top surface to enable viewing inside of the cooking cavity. A controller can be used to heat the cooking fluid for an amount of time designated by user input. A moving mechanism can be used to move a food article into and out of the cooking liquid. The moving mechanism can be automated. The device can include a drainage system for removing the cooking liquid.

Claims

1. A hot fluid cooking vessel comprising:

an enclosure having a bottom wall portion and a curved side wall portion extending upwardly from the bottom wall portion and terminating at an opening separated from the bottom wall portion by lower and upper portions of the enclosure defined by the curved side wall portion wherein a cross-section of the upper portion of the enclosure is broader than a cross-section of the lower portion of the enclosure, the enclosure comprising an outwardly directed annular rim portion at the opening and extending generally perpendicular to the side wall portion and generally in parallel with the bottom wall portion, the rim portion defining at least one overflow drain hole disposed in an associated, surrounding depression in the rim portion configured to permit a flow of associated cooking fluid from the enclosure, the annular rim including a generally perpendicular extension disposed radially outwardly of the curved side wall portion and the at least one overflow drain hole;

an outer enclosure generally conforming to the bottom wall portion and curved side wall portion, operative to receive the enclosure in an internal cavity thereof so as to define a spaced, nested orientation therebetween, and wherein a separation cavity therebetween is oriented to receive effluent from the at least overflow drain hole;

a resistive heating element received in the opening and configured to heat the associated cooking fluid in the enclosure;

a lid configured to substantially cover the opening by engagement with an upper surface of the enclosure defined by the outwardly directed annular rim region; and

,

a food support surface in the enclosure, the food support surface being oriented so as to be interposed between the resistive heating element and associated food received in to the enclosure.

2. The hot fluid cooking vessel of claim 1 wherein the side wall portion defines a generally coffin-shaped cross section corresponding to a contour of fowl received therein.

3. The hot fluid cooking vessel of claim 2 further comprising a fill level indicator disposed on an exterior of the side wall portion and having at least one fluid path to an interior of the enclosure.

4. The hot fluid cooking vessel of claim 3 further comprising a hinged interconnection configured to hingedly connect the lid with the enclosure.

5. The hot fluid cooking vessel of claim 1 wherein:

the rim portion defines a recess spaced apart from the upper surface; and

,

the at least one overflow drain hole is defined by the rim portion at the recess.

6. The hot fluid cooking vessel of claim 1 wherein the a resistive heating element is received in the opening of the enclosure so as to be oriented along the bottom wall portion and having a conductive path disposed along the side wall portion and through the opening.

7. The hot fluid cooking vessel of claim 1 wherein the side wall portion defines at least one side wall overflow drain hole disposed in adjacent the opening, and wherein the cooking vessel further comprises a fluid path from the overflow drain to an associated fluid overflow reservoir.

8. A deep fryer comprising:

a vessel including a wall and a base defining a cavity configured to selectively receive associated cooking oil;

a lid configured to selectively close the cavity of the vessel;

a heating element extending into the cavity and being configured to heat the associated cooking oil received in the cavity;

a food support surface configured to selectively lower an associated food article into the associated cooking oil received in the cavity of the vessel;

an annular flange member disposed in a first horizontal plane relative to the base and extending radially outwardly from a top rim portion of the vessel;

wherein the annular flange member defines at least one indented portion disposed in a second horizontal plane located between the first horizontal plane and the base of the vessel;

wherein the annular flange member defines at least one passageway extending therethrough in an area outward of the top rim portion and in the indented portion, the at least one passageway being configured to selectively permit cooking oil to overflow from the vessel when a level of the cooking oil is increased above a predetermined overflow level as the associated food article is lowered into the cavity by the food support; and

an outer enclosure generally conforming to the vessel, operative to receive the enclosure in an internal cavity thereof so as to define a spaced, nested orientation therebetween, and wherein a separation cavity therebetween is oriented to receive effluent from the at least one passageway.

9. The deep fryer according to claim 8 further including an outer enclosure wherein at least a portion of the vessel is received in the outer enclosure thereby defining a space therebetween.

10. The deep fryer according to claim 9 wherein the at least one passageway is in fluid communication with the space defined between the outer enclosure and the vessel.

11. The deep fryer according to claim 10 wherein:

an upper portion of the outer enclosure defines a generally circular upper rim; and

,

the upper rim is selectively coupled with a radially outwardly extent of the annular flange member.

12. The deep fryer according to claim 10 wherein:

the an annular flange member defines at least one recess therein in the area outward of the top rim portion; and

,

the at least one passageway is disposed at the at least one recess to selectively permit the cooking oil to overflow from the vessel and into the space defined between the outer enclosure and the vessel when a level of the cooking oil is increased above the predetermined overflow level.

13. The deep fryer according to claim 8 wherein:

the an annular flange member defines at least one recess therein in the area outward of the top rim portion; and

,

the at least one passageway is disposed at the at least one recess.

14. A device to deep fry foods, the device comprising:

a vessel with a floor and a generally vertical side wall extending upwardly from the floor, and an upper rim at a top of the side wall, all defining a cavity configured to selectively receive associated cooking oil and associated food;

a heating element being configured to heat within the cavity, the associated cooking oil and the associated food;

an outer enclosure, the vessel being positioned within the outer enclosure, and the outer enclosure having a base, and a perimeter side wall extending upwardly from the base forming a reservoir configured to hold an overflow portion of the associated oil, wherein an opening is disposed in the vessel, adjacent to the upper rim and in a depression formed therein, configured to pass the associated oil from the cavity through the opening and into the reservoir if and when associated oil overflows the cavity;

an outer enclosure generally conforming to the vessel, operative to receive the enclosure in an internal cavity thereof so as to define a spaced, nested orientation therebetween, and wherein a separation cavity therebetween is oriented to receive effluent from the at least overflow drain hole.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the opening is a slot disposed between the upper rim of the vessel and the perimeter sidewall of the outer enclosure.

16. The device of claim 14 wherein there are a plurality of slots disposed between the upper rim and the perimeter sidewall, and each slot being configured to pass oil overflowing the cavity into the reservoir associated.

17. The device of claim 14 wherein the reservoir extends below the floor.

18. The device of claim 14 wherein there is a generally vertical annular wall extending upward from the top of the vessel, and in cooperation with the vessel, the two forming a cooking chamber and the opening being disposed exterior to the cooking chamber.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the generally vertical annular wall is configured to be mounted to and dismounted from the upper portion of the perimeter sidewall of the outer enclosure.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein the generally vertical annular wall is configured to, when dismounted from the upper portion of the perimeter sidewall, be stored surrounding the vessel.