GB2474495A

GB2474495A - An intermittent egg boiling controller

Info

Publication number: GB2474495A
Application number: GB0918202A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Edward Osborn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-10-17
Filing date: 2009-10-17
Publication date: 2011-04-20
Also published as: GB0918202D0

Abstract

An electronic assemblage that is programmed to control the supply of electrical power to heat water when boiling eggs, with the aim of achieving consistently satisfactory results by means of a specific series of timed intervals during which the power supply is interrupted and restored. It takes advantage of the facts that the white of an egg has greater resistance to being overcooked than the yolk and that, during a short interruption of the power supply, the already hot shell continues to pass heat to the white but the further penetration of heat required by the yolk is constrained. The assemblage can be connected to, or integrated in, an immersion-type water heating element, a dedicated water boiling appliance or a water boiling module of a cooker or other multi-purpose appliance which, in all cases, is programmed with established technology to interrupt the power supply when water in it reaches boiling point.

Description

AN INTERMITTENT EGG BOILING CONTROLLER

Preparing a soft boiled egg by immersing it in continuously boiling water for a specific time sometimes results in an unwanted hard yolk or runny white because variations in an egg's size, grade and freshness make it difficult to time it in order to avoid either an overcooked yolk or an undercooked white.

The present invention tackles the problem by replacing continuous with intermittent boiling. It is based on the fact that, if the power supply is temporally interrupted during the boiling process, the hot shell will continue to heat the white (which has more resistance to being overdone than the yolk) for a short time but the slight reduction in the water temperature is sufficient to constrain penetration of heat to the yolk.

The present invention is an electronic assemblage, hereinafter referred to as an assemblage, connected to an electrically powered immersion type water heating element that is programmed with established technology to interrupt the power supply when the water reaches boiling point, as used in many domestic kettles. The element is designed to enable it to be freely immersed in a basin, bowl, mug or any type of vessel suitable for boiling water.

Unlike a kettle, however, there is no facility for the user to restore the power supply with an attached switch but instead, the assemblage is programmed to restore it on the expiry of an interval of specific duration after its interruption, hereinafter referred to as a power supply interval.

Each time the water reaches boiling point after the power is restored the routine is repeated until after a programmed specific number of power supply intervals have been completed, after which the next interruption of power will complete what is now and hereinafter referred to as a boiling cycle. The egg is then ready for serving.

The assemblage is also programmed with a default setting to activate the boiling cycle routine when the power is manually restored. It may also have a connected audible andlor visual signal to indicate completion of a boiling cycle, which may also be programmed for its cancellation after a specific delay.

The assemblage may either be physically attached to the water heating element or integrated in a wall-type or junction-type power plug or circuit module and connected to it by cable or any wireless technology that may be available. Alternatively, the assemblage may be connected to or integrated in a dedicated water boiling appliance. Yet another option is to connect the assemblage to or integrate it in a cooker, or other multi-function appliance, that contains a water boiling module separately programmed to interrupt power supply to the said module when water within it reaches boiling point.

There are two other programming options that can make more sophisticated versions of the present invention available. First, any number of boiling cycles can be programmed, each with its own individual number and duration of power supply intervals, to facilitate user choice of, for example, soft, medium or hard boiled eggs or the boiling of eggs of different bird breeds. The durations of power supply intervals in any boiling cycle can be similar or variable.

Secondly, a selected boiling cycle can be directed into any one of two or more channels where the assemblage is connected to or integrated in an appliance in which eggs can be boiled at any time to order, independently and simultaneously, that may be used for example in a catering establishment.

When either or both of the above programming options are used a separate module will be required of any suitable design, construction, configuration and labelling to facilitate user selection of options. Also, one particular boiling cycle and/or channel will be the producer-selected default setting.

Finally, an assemblage may be enclosed in a protective and/or cosmetic and/or identity container of any suitable design and made of any suitable material.

Claims

CLAIMS1 An electronic assemblage, hereinafter referred to as an assemblage, that is programmed to restore a source of electrical power supply to which it is connected on the expiry of a specific period following an interruption of the said power supply, hereinafter referred to as a power supply interval.
2 An assemblage according to claim 1 that is programmed to restore the said power supply after each of a specific number of successive power supply intervals of similar or variable duration and which, after the final interruption to the said power supply following the final programmed power supply interval, is now and hereinafter referred to as a boiling cycle.
3 An assemblage according to either foregoing claim that is programmed to control any one of two or more boiling cycles, each of which is individually programmed with a specific number of power supply intervals and their durations.
4 An assemblage according to any foregoing claim that is connected to or integrated in an electrically powered immersion-type water heating element that can be freely inserted into any vessel suitable for boiling water and is programmed to interrupt the said electrical power supply when water within the said vessel reaches boiling point.
An assemblage according to claims 1 to 3 that is connected to or integrated in an electrically powered appliance for boiling water and programmed to interrupt the said power when water within it reaches boiling point.
6 An assemblage according to claims 1 to 3 that is connected to or integrated in an electrically powered multi-purpose appliance containing a water boiling module that is separately programmed to interrupt the said power when water within it reaches boiling point.
7 An assemblage according to any foregoing claim that is connected to or integrated in a wall-type plug, a junction-type plug or a circuit module and connected to a water heating element or water boiling appliance or module by cable or any available wireless technology.
8 An assemblage according to any foregoing claim that is programmed to direct any one boiling cycle programmed therein into any one of two or more channels and is connected to or integrated in a multi-vessel appliance in which any one vessel can function independently of andlor simultaneously with any other vessel in the said appliance.
9 An assemblage according to any foregoing claim that is programmed with a default setting programmed to reset the boiling cycle when its connected power supply is restored manually and, if two or more boiling cycles and/or channels referred to in claim 8 are programmed into the said assemblage, the said default setting will also reset a producer-selected boiling cycle and/or, if appropriate, a producer-selected channel.
An assemblage according to any foregoing claim that is connected to or integrated with an audible and/or visual signal that is programmed to indicate completion of a boiling cycle and cancellation of the said signal after a specific delay.
11 An assemblage according to any foregoing claim which, if programmed with more than one boiling cycle and/or channel according to claim 8, is connected to or integrated with any suitably designed, constructed, configured and labelled module to facilitate user choice of any available boiling cycle and/or any said channel.
12 An assemblage according to any foregoing claim that is enclosed in a protective and/or cosmetic and/or identity container of any suitable design and made of any suitable material.
13 An assemblage according to any foregoing claim incorporating any combination of the details in the said claims. 4.AMENDMENTS TO CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS1 An intermittent egg boiling controller comprising an electrically powered water heating element equipped with known technology to activate disconnection of its power supply when water it is heating reaches boiling point and an electronics assemblage programmed to activate restoration of the said power supply at the end of a specific period of time after the said disconnection, hereinafter referred to as a power supply interval.2 An intermittent egg boiling controller according to the preceding claim, the water heating element and electronics assemblage of which are either integrated or connected by cable or wireless technology.3 An intermittent egg boiling controller according to either preceding claim, the whole or the electronics assemblage of which is integrated with a wall-type plug, junction plug or circuit module.4 An intermittent egg boiling controller according to any preceding claim of which the electronics assemblage is also programmed to cease activating power supply restoration after a specific number of power supply intervals, hereinafter referred to as a boiling cycle.*** 5 An intermittent egg boiling controller according to any preceding * claim, of which the electronics assemblage is also programmed to : activate any one of two or more boiling cycles, to facilitate variations in * the number and durations of power supply intervals.6 An intermittent egg boiling controller according to any preceding : * * claim, of which the electronics assemblage is also programmed to * . activate power supply intervals or a boiling cycle in any one of two or more channels, each of which may optionally be equipped with a separate water heating element, to facilitate the boiling of a quantity of eggs independently and simultaneously.7 An intermittent egg boiling controller according to any preceding claim, the electronics assemblage of which is programmed with one or more boiling cycles comprised of power supply intervals of either similar or varied duration.8 An intermittent egg boiling controller according to any preceding claim, of suitable design for immersion in water contained in a saucepan, basin or any other vessel that is suitable for containing boiling water.9 An intermittent egg boiling controller according to any preceding claim, of suitable design for installation in, or use with, a kettle or any other appliance that is suitable to be adapted for use as an egg boiler, either exclusively or partially and either permanently or temporarily.An intermittent egg boiling controller according to any preceding claim, of suitable design for installation in, or use with, a dedicated egg boiling appliance.11 An intermittent egg boiling controller according to any preceding claim, of suitable design for installation in, or use with, a cooker, toaster, food processor or any other suitable dual or multi-function appliance.12 An intermittent egg boiling controller according to any preceding claim, of which the electronics assemblage is also programmed with manually activated and producer selected default settings of any aforesaid power supply intervals, boiling cycles or channels.13 An intermittent egg boiling controller according to any preceding claim, of which the electronics assemblage is also programmed to S..... . . . . . * * activate a visual and/or audible signal with optional cancellation thereof * * * at the end of a specific period of time, to indicate completion of a user * : selected boiling cycle.14 An intermittent egg boiling controller according to any preceding claim, with any of the aforesaid technical features and any combination thereof. *. S * . .S