Pancake maker apparatus, methods and systems

• US 9,687,110 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2014
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teca Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: Teca Technologies Limited
• Inventors: Lee, Andrew James, Moeller, Preston, Si, Zhong Quan
• Primary Examiner(s): MICHALSKI, SEAN M
• Application Number:
  US14/556,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20150150413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 99424
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/067 Horizontally disposed broiling griddles
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/105 electrically heated

Abstract

A cooking apparatus includes first and second griddles, each having a generally planar cooking surface for cooking food. A first lifting mechanism is configured to elevate the first griddle such that a food item on the cooking surface of the first griddle is predisposed to fall onto the cooking surface of the second griddle. A first wiper is configured to sweep the cooking surface of the first griddle to facilitate detachment of any food item attached to the cooking surface of the first griddle for transfer such food item to the cooking surface of the second griddle. The first and second griddles, first lifting mechanism, and first wiper are interconnected preferably to form a portable, integrated cooking product. These components preferably are enclosed within a housing for presenting a refined consumer product for use in a home kitchen and are arranged so as to define a compact volume and footprint.

Claims

1. A cooking apparatus, comprising:

(a) first and second griddles, each comprising a generally planar cooking surface for cooking food;

(b) a first lifting mechanism configured to elevate a first side of the first griddle relative to an opposite second side of the first griddle such that a food item on the cooking surface of the first griddle is predisposed to fall onto the cooking surface of the second griddle; and

(c) a first wiper configured to sweep the cooking surface of the first griddle to facilitate detachment of any food item attached to the cooking surface of the first griddle and transfer such food item to the cooking surface of the second griddle;

(d) wherein the first wiper comprises a blade that is biased into direct and constant engagement with the generally planar cooking surface of the first griddle; and

(e) wherein the first wiper is biased into a standby position in which the first blade of the wiper extends along a side of the first griddle.

2. The cooking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first griddle is configured to rotate about a first pivot axis in a first direction, and the second griddle is configured to rotate about a second pivot axis in a second direction, the first pivot axis extending in a direction that is generally orthogonal to the direction in which the second pivot axis extends.

3. The cooking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first griddle is supported at an elevation that is above an elevation of the second griddle when the first and second griddles are in generally horizontal positions for cooking food.

4. The cooking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first lifting mechanism is configured to elevate the first side of the first griddle relative to the opposite, second side of the first griddle such that the cooking surface of the first griddle at least partially extends vertically over the cooking surface of the second griddle.

5. The cooking apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a dispensing assembly for dispensing food onto the cooking surface of the first griddle comprising a hopper for containing batter and a support structure for positioning the hopper over the cooking surface of the first griddle for dispensing batter onto the cooking surface.

6. The cooking apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first heating mechanism located under the first griddle and a second heating mechanism located under the second griddle.

7. The cooking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first griddle is configured to rotate about a first pivot axis in a first direction, and the second griddle is configured to rotate about a second pivot axis in a second direction, the first and second axes extending in parallel to each other so as to form an in-line arrangement of the first and second griddles.

8. A cooking apparatus, comprising:

(a) first and second griddles, each comprising a generally planar cooking surface for cooking food;

(b) a first lifting mechanism configured to elevate a first side of the first griddle relative to an opposite second side of the first griddle such that a food item on the cooking surface of the first griddle is predisposed to fall onto the cooking surface of the second griddle; and

(c) a first wiper configured to sweep the cooking surface of the first griddle to facilitate detachment of any food item attached to the cooking surface of the first griddle and transfer such food item to the cooking surface of the second griddle;

(d) wherein the first wiper is mounted to the first griddle and is configured to pivot from a first position to a second position and, in so pivoting, sweep a majority of the area of the cooking surface of the first griddle; and

(e) wherein the first wiper is configured to pivot from the first position to the second position during lifting of the first griddle by the first lifting mechanism.

9. A cooking apparatus, comprising:

(a) first and second griddles, each comprising a generally planar cooking surface for cooking food;

(b) a first lifting mechanism configured to elevate a first side of the first griddle relative to an opposite second side of the first griddle such that a food item on the cooking surface of the first griddle is predisposed to fall onto the cooking surface of the second griddle; and

(c) a first wiper configured to sweep the cooking surface of the first griddle to facilitate detachment of any food item attached to the cooking surface of the first griddle and transfer such food item to the cooking surface of the second griddle; and

(d) a guide member that is engaged by the first wiper during movement of the first griddle by the first lifting mechanism, which engagement causes the first wiper to sweep the cooking surface of the first griddle during movement of the first griddle by the first lifting mechanism.

10. The cooking apparatus of claim 9, wherein the guide member comprises a rail, and wherein an inclined portion of the rail is engaged by the first wiper during downward pivoting movement of the first griddle.

11. The cooking apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first griddle is configured to rotate about a first pivot axis in a first direction, and the second griddle is configured to rotate about a second pivot axis in a second direction, the first pivot axis extending in a direction that is generally orthogonal to the direction in which the second pivot axis extends.

12. The cooking apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first griddle is supported at an elevation that is above an elevation of the second griddle when the first and second griddles are in generally horizontal positions for cooking food.

13. The cooking apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first lifting mechanism is configured to elevate the first side of the first griddle relative to the opposite, second side of the first griddle such that the cooking surface of the first griddle at least partially extends vertically over the cooking surface of the second griddle.

14. A cooking apparatus for making pancakes, comprising:

(a) first and second griddles for cooking opposite sides of a pancake, each comprising a generally planar cooking surface having an area for cooking a pancake;

(b) a first lifting mechanism configured to elevate a first side of the first griddle relative to an opposite second side of the first griddle such that a pancake on the cooking surface of the first griddle is predisposed to fall onto the cooking surface of the second griddle resulting in a flipping of the pancake being cooked;

(c) a first wiper mounted to the first griddle for pivoting movement relative thereto and configured to sweep the area of the cooking surface of the first griddle for cooking the pancake in order to facilitate detachment of any pancake that is attached to the cooking surface of the first griddle and transfer such pancake to the cooking surface of the second griddle;

(d) a second lifting mechanism configured to elevate a first side of the second griddle relative to an opposite second side of the second griddle such that a pancake on the cooking surface of the second griddle is predisposed to fall off the cooking surface of the second griddle; and

(e) a second wiper mounted to the second griddle for pivoting movement relative thereto and configured to sweep the area of the cooking surface of the second griddle for cooking the pancake in order to facilitate detachment of any pancake that is attached to the cooking surface of the second griddle and transfer such pancake from the cooking surface of the second griddle;

(f) wherein a blade of the first wiper is biased into direct and constant engagement with the generally planar cooking surface of the first griddle and a blade of the second wiper is biased into direct and constant engagement with the generally planar cooking surface of the second griddle.

15. The cooking apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first griddle is supported at an elevation that is above an elevation of the second griddle when the first griddle and the second griddle are in generally horizontal positions for cooking a side of a pancake.

16. The cooking apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first lifting mechanism is configured to elevate the first side of the first griddle relative to the opposite, second side of the first griddle such that the cooking surface of the first griddle at least partially extends vertically over the cooking surface of the second griddle.

17. The cooking apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a first heating mechanism located under the first griddle and a second heating mechanism located under the second griddle, the first and second heating mechanisms being interconnected with the first and second griddles, first lifting mechanism, and first wiper, the first lifting mechanism not being configured to elevate the first heating mechanism when elevating the first griddle.

18. A cooking apparatus, comprising:

(a) first and second griddles, each comprising a generally planar cooking surface for cooking food;

(b) a first lifting mechanism configured to elevate a first side of the first griddle relative to an opposite second side of the first griddle such that a food item on the cooking surface of the first griddle is predisposed to fall onto the cooking surface of the second griddle; and

(c) a first wiper configured to sweep the cooking surface of the first griddle to facilitate detachment of any food item attached to the cooking surface of the first griddle and transfer such food item to the cooking surface of the second griddle;

(d) a second lifting mechanism configured to elevate a first side of the second griddle relative to an opposite second side of the second griddle such that a food item on the cooking surface of the second griddle is predisposed to fall off the cooking surface of the second griddle;

(e) a first channel defined in a housing of the cooking apparatus that is engaged by the first wiper during pivoting movement of the first griddle by the first lifting mechanism, which engagement causes the first wiper to sweep the cooking surface of the first griddle during movement of the first griddle by the first lifting mechanism; and

(f) a second channel defined in a housing of the cooking apparatus that is engaged by the second wiper during pivoting movement of the second griddle by the second lifting mechanism, which engagement causes the second wiper to sweep the cooking surface of the second griddle during movement of the second griddle by the second lifting mechanism.

19. A cooking apparatus, comprising:

(a) first and second griddles, each comprising a generally planar cooking surface for cooking food;

(b) a first lifting mechanism configured to elevate a first side of the first griddle relative to an opposite second side of the first griddle such that a food item on the cooking surface of the first griddle is predisposed to fall onto the cooking surface of the second griddle; and

(c) a first wiper configured to sweep the cooking surface of the first griddle to facilitate detachment of any food item attached to the cooking surface of the first griddle and transfer such food item to the cooking surface of the second griddle;

(d) hopper and a support for receiving and supporting the hopper over the griddle, wherein the hopper is removably received within and rests upon the support; and

(e) a housing cover in which the hopper support is formed;

(f) wherein the housing cover is hingedly attached to a housing of the cooking apparatus for pivotal movement between a closed position, in which the housing cover generally encloses the first griddle and second griddle, and an open position, in which the first griddle and second griddle are generally accessible for manual cleaning.

20. A cooking apparatus for making pancakes, comprising:

(a) first and second griddles for cooking opposite sides of a pancake, each comprising a generally planar cooking surface having an area for cooking a pancake;

(b) a first lifting mechanism configured to elevate a first side of the first griddle relative to an opposite second side of the first griddle such that a pancake on the cooking surface of the first griddle is predisposed to fall onto the cooking surface of the second griddle resulting in a flipping of the pancake being cooked;

(c) a first wiper mounted to the first griddle for pivoting movement relative thereto and configured to sweep the area of the cooking surface of the first griddle for cooking the pancake in order to facilitate detachment of any pancake that is attached to the cooking surface of the first griddle and transfer such pancake to the cooking surface of the second griddle;

(d) a second lifting mechanism configured to elevate a first side of the second griddle relative to an opposite second side of the second griddle such that a pancake on the cooking surface of the second griddle is predisposed to fall off the cooking surface of the second griddle;

(e) a second wiper mounted to the second griddle for pivoting movement relative thereto and configured to sweep the area of the cooking surface of the second griddle for cooking the pancake in order to facilitate detachment of any pancake that is attached to the cooking surface of the second griddle and transfer such pancake from the cooking surface of the second griddle;

(f) a first lever by which the first lifting mechanism is manually operated; and

(g) a second lever by which the second lifting mechanism is manually operated.