GB2609625A - A steaming device - Google Patents

Abstract

A steaming device comprising a housing 17 defining an internal volume 10 for steaming food items, with at least one divider 9 for dividing the internal volume into more than one section in which different steaming characteristics are achieved, a door 2 may have hinges 4 and has a pressure seal, wherein a top lid section 5 of the steamer is sloped to define a wedge shaped condenser. The steamer may comprise perforated trays and the housing may include displaceable portions, such as a tray base portion 12 and/or a lid portion 5. The lid angle may be between 30 and 60 degrees, and more preferably between 40 and 50 degrees. The internal volume may be sealed by one or more gaskets (21, Fig.6) and one or more latches 8. A pressure relief or control valve 14, lid mounted lock cap or chimney 6, timer and temperature gauge, which may be a combined unit 1, window 11 to see inside and one or more handles (7,16) may also be present.

Description

A STEAMING DEVICE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a steaming device, in particular a device for steaming of items. More particularly but not exclusively the steaming device is adapted for steaming food and beverages.

Background

Increasing awareness of food preparation in many societies is linked to a greater appreciation of health benefits of certain types of cooking and food item preparation.

Steaming food preserves its nutrients and fibres compared to alternative methods of 15 food preparation such as microwaving.

Often people steam food items using a pan top steamer, which is placed over a pan of boiling water either on a heater or within an oven. This method is imprecise as it is sometimes difficult to control the distance of food to be steamed from the water.

Also many existing system have been inefficient due to lost energy.

Prior Art

CN 108 477 983 (CHEN) discloses a high pressure steam box characterised in that the high pressure steam box has a body which is a temperature-limited and pressure-limited. A high-temperature-resistant and thermal-insulation airtight door is arranged in the front of the box body.

EP 333 383 (BOWEN et al) discloses a combination bake oven/steamer/broiler cartridge for cooking food on a cooktop which includes a heat source in a lower pan adapted to be located within a cooktop frame mounted in a counter.

GB 1 179 164 (FELSKE) discloses a food steaming vessel with a two level rack for 35 supporting food to be steamed in a steaming vessel at two distinct levels within the vessel. The arrangement comprises a removable rack for accommodating one or more food containers on its top surface.

The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing 5 devices.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a steaming device comprising: a housing defining an internal volume for steaming food items; at least one divider for dividing the internal volume into more than one section in which different steaming characteristics are achieved; and a door with a pressure seal, wherein a top section of the steamer is sloped to define a wedge shaped condenser.

The internal volume is sealable by the door in order to withstand pressure of in excess of 1 bar, preferably in excess of 3 bar and more preferably in excess of 6 bar and most preferably in excess of 10 bar.

The housing may comprise displaceable portions, for example a displaceable lid 20 portion which may be hinged or connected to the housing by lockable connectors to allow access to the internal volume for rearranging dividers, placement or removal of foodstuff or items to be cooked.

In some embodiments the housing comprises a removable base portion which may 25 includes a water receptacle or tray portion. This tray portion may be displaceable to allow it to be filled with water for steaming purposes.

The door may comprise a hinged door, hinging open to open an entrance to the internal volume.

In some embodiments the displaceable portions and/or the door are arranged to be reversibly sealed to the housing, for example using resiliently deformable gaskets.

Such resiliently deformable gaskets ideally comprise rubber or synthetic rubber seals 35 between the housing and the displaceable portions.

In some embodiments the steaming device comprises locking means, for example one or more over centre lock arm latches, for closing the housing or internal volume.

In some embodiments the steaming device contains an electric heating element.

Alternatively the heating device may be adapted to be placed directly on a gas or electric or inductive hob as a heat source in order to turn water into steam thereby steaming items within the internal space.

The internal space, namely the housing may comprise a pressure relief valve, so as to allow steam to limit the internal pressure and to permit escape of steam above a defined pressure.

The steaming device, when used on a gas hob or charcoal burner or open fire, can 15 therefore be used to steam food without need for a mains electricity supply such that a healthier method of cooking of items is achieved. This provides for a quick, convenient and delicious cooking technique.

The device may be formed from sheet metal by fabrication techniques, such as 20 bending and stamping. The steaming device may be formed from stainless steel due to its durability and food safe characteristics.

In some embodiments the steaming device may have parts, such as handles or grips, that a user touches. Such locks, grips and handles may be made from a heat 25 resistant polymer.

The housing may comprise handles, as may the displaceable portions.

The internal volume may comprise displaceable dividers, for example trays or 30 shelves, which trays, or shelves may be perforated and/or used to space items vertically in the internal volume.

The internal volume may comprise a plurality of receptor locations which receive the dividers, for example provided by vertical columns, edges or shelf supports.

In some embodiments the device comprises a timing mechanism, for timing steaming of items. Such mechanism may comprise an egg timer, a timing dial or an electronic stopwatch or clock.

The lid portion may be inclined, funnelled or channelled, for example so as to prevent internal build-up of condensation in use and to allow condensed water to run down and return to a water tray.

The dividers may have apertures or holes formed therein to promote contact of 10 steam to surround the food items and to enable the food to be cooked evenly. The dividers may be arranged in use horizontally or vertically on the supports, providing a number of discrete tiers in use.

For example: a first tier has concaved areas to receive eggs, allows for eggs to be 15 steamed A second tier deeper divider may be used for cooking a main part of the meal, typically a meat or fish item.

A third tier flat tray can be used to cook accompaniments to the meal, such as potatoes and vegetables.

Having multiple levels of cooking advantageously provides user flexibility with regards to temperature and allows for constituent parts of the meal to be steamed separately. This is especially important when separating food groups such as dairy and raw meats and advantageously, allows for the entire meal to be prepared simultaneously, which is both faster and more efficient.

It may be envisaged that various iterations of the device could be introduced to 30 diversify the range of available appliances and appeal to a wider demographic and catering situations, such as large cooking functions and on-the-go cooking.

For example, such a tri-chamber embodiment also enables two or three internal volumes to allow for steaming at different temperatures and pressures A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention, with a door open; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1, with door closed; Figure 4 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 6 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, Figure 7 shows an isometric view of a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention; and Figure 8 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 7.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the Figures there are shown embodiments of the device generally comprising a housing 17 defining an internal volume 10 for steaming food items (not 30 shown), and dividers 9 which vertically divide the internal volume into plural sections, and a door 2 for accessing one or more section at a time.

The embodiments show the device with a substantially rectangular base with a rectangular footprint 17. The housing has a wider front which defines the door 2 and 35 an inclined lid portion 5. The lid portion 5 is displaceable and held in place on the top 10 15 20 25 edges of the front, rear and sides of the housing by a gasket and latches 8, which have over centre arms which provide a locking means.

The lid is arranged at an angel of between 30 and 60 degrees, ideally at an angle 5 between 40 to 50 degrees which in use to promotes condensation and helps to prevent water build-up, because the rear face of the housing is shorter, so that condensed water trickles towards the rear portion of the housing.

The lid has two handles 18 to hold when displacing it from the housing. The front 10 face of the housing is substantially comprised by a substantially rectangular door 2, with two side hinges 4.

The bottom face of the housing is opened and closed in use by a displaceable tray portion 12. The displaceable tray portion is attached to the housing by latches 15 and a gasket. The housing provides a narrowed fillet stepped back from, and extending below, the faces of the housing, so as to overlap and thereby lock the tray to provide an improved seal.

As shown in Figure 3 the tray portion has handles 15 at either end, so as to carry the 20 whole device, and is filled with water for use.

The door has a single handle 20, and two clip arms 3 opposite the hinges 4, arranged to clip over the side of the housing, where two latches 13 with over centre locking means are located.

Referring to Figure 5 the dividers comprise three shelves 9, supported by four corner supports 19, with two longer supports at the front of the internal volume, and two shorter at the back of the internal volume.

A further embodiment of the steaming device may provide a compact embodiment of the device with only one shelf on which to cook and two tiers for portability.

The pictured embodiment in Figure 3 includes the following: a combined clockwork timer 1 for timing the duration of cooking and temperature gauge 1 for monitoring 35 cooking temperature. Rubber gaskets 21 help to keep the internal volume sealed for higher pressure steaming.

Vertical slot windows 11 to either side of the tray to help user determine water level and thereby steaming time.

Latches which work with fixed anchors and the rubber gaskets in creating a sealed 5 internal volume. Pressure control valves 14 mounted in the side faces of the housing allow for progressively controlling steam release, allowing greater control over steam pressure. Pressure plugs 18 on the lid eject when pressure exceeds a safe level.

A lid-mounted lock cap 6 provides a chimney that can be permanently open to allow 10 a steady stream of steam and has bayonet sliding positions including fully closed.

In instances where a sauce is required, existing baking trays could be used.

For example, in use: a user fills the base portion with water, to the required level. A 15 level indicator may be provided to indicate a safe water level.

A transparent window may be provided to allow visual inspection of food from outside the steaming device to help estimate steaming time.

Using the latch locks the user can seal the internal volume closed.

The embodiment is then heated on a stove until the water is gently boiling.

The heated water turns to steam within the internal volume, which cooks and flavours 25 the food.

A temperature gauge (not shown) and timer 1 may be provided on an external surface of the steaming device to help maintain food at the correct temperature for the required time.

The user can cook a full nutritious meal using the appropriate vertically spaced divider within the internal volume.

Once cooked, the pressure control valves can be opened to reduce steam pressure 35 before safely opening the door.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims, in particular but not solely combination of features of described embodiments.

Claims (13)

1. Claims 1 A steaming device comprising: a housing defining an internal volume for steaming food items; at least one divider for dividing the internal volume into more than one section in which different steaming characteristics are achieved; and a door with a pressure seal, wherein a top section of the steamer is sloped to define a wedge shaped condenser.
2. 2. A steaming device according to claim 1 wherein the dividers comprise perforated trays.
3. 3. A steaming device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the housing includes displaceable portions.
4. 4. A steaming device according to claim 3 wherein the housing comprises a displaceable tray base portion.
5. 5. A steaming device according to claim 3 or 4 wherein the housing comprises a displaceable lid portion.
6. 6. A steaming device according to any preceding claim comprising an angled lid.
7. 7. A steaming device according to claim 6 wherein the lid is angled at an angle between 30 and 60 degrees, ideally between 40 and 50 degrees. 25
8. 8. A steaming device according to any preceding claim comprising an internal volume that is sealed by one or more gaskets and one or more latches.
9. 9. A steaming device according to any preceding claim comprising a pressure relief valve.
10. 10. A steaming device according to any preceding claim comprising a timer.
11. 11. A steaming device according to any preceding claim comprises a temperature gauge.
12. 12. A steaming device according to any preceding claim comprises a window into the internal volume.
13. 13. A steaming device according to any preceding claim comprises one or more handles.