WO1996010942A1

WO1996010942A1 - Multi-purpose pan-stove

Info

Publication number: WO1996010942A1
Application number: PCT/AP1995/000002
Authority: WO
Inventors: A. M. Stephanou
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-10-10
Filing date: 1995-10-01
Publication date: 1996-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 1998-04-01
Also published as: AU3464695A; AP9400681A0; ZA958534B

Abstract

The multi-purpose pan-stove consists of a heating pan (1), a cooking pan (2) which fits into the heating pan, and accessories, which allows to carry out various cooking operations. It can function as a stove, a frying pan, a grill, a braai, a chinese wok, a poacher, a steamer, a fondu, a chip fryer or a baker, and with some small modifications it can even be used as a pressure cooker. The heating pan (1) contains a heating device such as an electric element or a gas burner. Protrusions are pressed into its side wall just above the heating element, for air ventilation and to act as support. The main accessories are a lid, a grid, a frying basket, a chinese wok, a pan with large openings in the bottom into which fit small cups and a steamer plate with small holes and a divider. For grilling, the grid is put on the bottom of the cooking pan and the heating pan is put upside down on the cooking pan, else the cooking pan is installed into the heating pan and rests on the protrusions and whenever necessary the lid is put on top of the cooking pan. For poaching eggs, the pan with large openings is put into the cooking pan and the small cups are placed in the large openings. For steaming, the disc with small holes is led down upon the bottom of the pan with large openings.

Description

MULTI-PURPOSE PAN-STOVE

The invention concerns a multi-purpose pan-stove with accessories which allows to carry out various cooking operations. It can function as a stove, a frying pan, a grill, a braai, a Chinese wok, a poacher, a steamer, a fondu, a chip fryer or a baker, and with some small modifications it can even be used as a pressure cooker.

The multi-purpose pan stove is easy to operate and to clean. It can be simply stored with the other kitchen utensils. The pan can be used whenever and wherever it is desired.

The multi-purpose pan-stove, subject of this invention, consists of a cooking pan, a heating pan and accessories to be mounted depending on the cooking operation.

The heating pan is provided at the inner or outer side of its bottom with a heat insulation. At the outer bottom are small heat resistant feet to bear the pan when put down. Provision can be made to extend these feet, e.g. by screwing extension legs on their foot end, so that the pan stove is higher and easier to operate when used outside.

The heating pan is heated by any convenient power supply such as electric energy, solar energy, or gaseous, liquid or solid carbonaceous fuel but preferably by electric power or gas

When heated electrically an electric coil has to be installed. The electric element can be 600 to 1200 watt or what ever suitable wattage. The power supply can be straight or regulated by a thermostat or time switch. The most appropriate regulator to be used is the electric current control plug, subject of ARIPO patent application AP/P/94/00682. When the pan is heated by gas, the appropriate piping and burner have to be mounted into the heating pan. Also provision can be made to connect a gas cylinder directly to the gas burner.

For grilling, when the heating pan is put upside down on the cooking pan, a structure reflecting radiant heat downward is installed into the heating pan. Preferably this structure is a spherical dome, as illustrated in detail in Drawing no. 3, especially when the heating pan has a cylindrical shape.

It is understood that the burning device has to be adapted to the kind of fuel used.

The multi-purpose pan-stove can be of any suitable material, such as aluminum, stainless steel, mild steel, ceramics or glass and can be covered by a non-sticking material. A light can be installed to follow the cooking operation if the cooking pan is made of glass or other transparent material . The pan stove can be of any size or shape (preferably it is cylindrical with the heating pan having a diameter of 35 cm. and the cooking pan a little bit smaller to fit into the heating pan, the height of the heating pan is 7 cm. and of the cooking pan 10 cm.) The heating pan is heat insulated at its bottom and is provided with three or more heat resistance feet.

The multi-purpose pan-stove is illustrated in the Drawings.

Drawing no. 1 shows front views of the electric heated multi- purpose pan-stove

-in Figure A used as a grill, and -in Figure B used as a cooker.

Drawing no. 2 shows the electric heated heating pan - in Figure A cross section, and - in Figure B a top view Drawing no. 3 shows front views of the gas heated multi-purpose pan-stove

-in Figure A used as a grill, and -in Figure B used as a cooker.

Drawing no. 4 shows the gas heated heating pan

- in Figure A cross section, and

- in Figure B a top view.

Drawing no. 5 shows in Figure A cross section of the cooking pan, and in Figure B a top view of the lid

Drawing no. 6 shows the accessories for poaching and steaming. - in Figure A cross section of the poaching pan and a cup,

- in Figure B a top view of the poaching pan, and

- in Figure C a top view of the steaming disc.

Drawing no. 7 shows some supplementary possibilities - in Figure A for use as Chinese wok.

- in Figure B for deep frying,

Drawing no. 1 portrays the electric heated multi-purpose pan- stove : - in Figure A as a grill with the heating pan (1) upside down on top of the cooking pan (2) .

- in Figure B as a cooking pan, frier, steamer or poacher with the cooking pan (2) put into the heating pan (1) .

On the bottom of the heating pan (1) is mounted a heat insulation pan (3) with at the outer bottom small heat resistant supports

(4) . The insulation pan (3) has a lower section filled with insulation material separated with a plate (5) from an empty upper section provided with openings (6) for air ventilation. The heating pan has protrusion (7) pressed into its side wall to support the cooking pan or the grid. Heat resistant handles (8a) and (8b) and flanges (9a) and (9b) are installed respectively for the heating pan (1) and cooking pan (2) .

Drawing no. 2 represents details of the electric heated heating pan.

-In Figure A is shown a cross section of the electric heated heating pan. It consists of a cylindrical pan (1) , on which outer bottom is affixed an insulation pan (2) divided in a lower section filled with insulation material and is separated with a metal plate (3) from an empty upper section provided with openings (4) for air ventilation. Into the side wall at the lower part of the pan just above the heating element are punched protrusions (5) . These protrusions (5) serve as supports for the cooking pan or the grid (6) . The top of the heating pan has a flange (7) which serves as support when the heating pan is put upside down on the flange of the cooking pan for grilling.

Bolts pass vertically through the insulation pan (2) and tr. bottom of the heating pan (1) . For a better insulation, they a.-. composed of an inner long hollow nut (8a) into which ends are screwed outer bolts (8b) and (8c) . Onto the lower ends of the bolts (8c) are firmly fixed small heat resistant feet (8d) , while the heads of the bolts (8b) are screwed firmly to the bottom of the pan (1) .

An electric coil (9) is installed in the heating pan with clips (10) which lower ends are connected as washers to the bolts (8b) . The metal clips are flexible so that they can be effortlessly bent to release the electric coil. Two heat resistant handles (11) are fixed onto the wall of the pan.

Figure B shows a top view of the electric heated heating pan with the flange (7) , the electric coil (9) , the clips (10) and the head of the bolt (8b) , the grid (6) which is put into the heating pan upon the protrusions (5) and the two heat resistant handles (11) .

Drawing no. 3 portrays the gas heated multi-purpose pan-stove

- in Figure A as a grill with the heating pan (1) upside down on top of the cooking pan (2) .

On the bottom of the heating pan (1) is mounted a heat insulation pan (3) with at its outer bottom heat resistant supports (4) . The insulation pan (3) has a lower section filled with insulation material separated with a plate (5) from an empty upper section provided with openings (6) for air ventilation. The heating pan has protrusion (7) pressed into its side wall to support the cooking pan or the grid. The outside wall of the heating pan is provided with big openings (8) from which the area can be regulated to ensure an adequate air supply to the gas burner.

Heat resistant handles (9a) and (9b) and flanges (10a) and (10b) are installed, respectively for the heating pan (1) and cooking pan (2) .

Drawing no. 4 portrays details of the gas heated heating pan.

In Figure A is shown a cross section of the gas heated heating pan. It consists of a cylindrical pan (1) , on which outer bottom is mounted an insulation pan (2) which lower section is filled with insulation material and is separated with a metal plate (3) from an empty upper section provided with openings (4) for air ventilation. The heating pan has protrusion (5) pressed into its side wall just above the gas burner to support the cooking pan or the grid (6) . The side wall of the heating pan at the gas burner height has big openings (7) which sizes can be regulated to provide for an appropriate air supply. The top of the heating pan has a flange (8) which supports the heating pan when put upside down on the cooking pan for grilling.

Bolts pass vertically through the insulation pan (2) and the bottom of the heating pan (1) to hold the insulation pan (2) firmly to the heating pan (1) . For a better insulation, they are composed of an inner hollow nut (9a) into which ends are screwed outer bolts (9b) and (9c) . Onto the lower ends of the bolts (9c) are firmly fixed small heat resistant feet (9d) , while the heads of the bolts (9b) are screwed firmly with washers to the inner bottom of the heating pan (1) .

Gas is admitted through pipe (10) which ends at an aluminum handle (11) containing a gas jet. The gas is jetted into the heating pan via pipes (12) which is screwed into the tube (13) of a spherical dome (14) to the burner (15) . The spherical dome (14) with the screwed tube (13) in the middle is mounted in the heating pan to reflect radiant heat down when the heating pan is put upside down on the cooking pan. The spherical dome is kept fixed into the heating pan by screwing the gas burner (15) firmly to the screwed tube (13) . The dome consists of a solid plate (14b) and a perforated metal plate (14a) on top of it with a 0.5 cm wire (14c) joining the two together. The bottom solid dome acts as a heat resistant to the rest of the heated pan and as a heat reflector. The perforated dome on top absorbs heat and creates radiant heat for grilling.

Two heat resistant handles (16) are fixed onto the outside of the pan.

In Figure B is a top view of the gas heated heating pan showing the perforated spherical dome (14) , the gas burner (15) , the gas inlet (10) and (11) , the grid (6) , put into the heating pan upon the protrusions (9) , the heat resistant handles (16) and the flange (8) on top of the heating pan. Drawing no. 5 portrays

-in Figure A cross section of the cooking pan (1) with at the top a flange (2) and two heat resistant handles (3) on the side wall.

-in Figure B a top view of the lid of the cooking pan (4) with in the centre a heat resistant knob (5) . The lid is put upon the cooking pan when cooking, poaching or steaming.

By installing clips on the rim of the lid which fit upon the flange of the cooking pan, the latter can be used as pressure cooker by firmly closing the clips. It will be preferable to use a rubber seal ring to have a good closure.

Drawing no. 6 illustrates the accessories for poaching eggs and steaming.

In Figure A is shown a cross section of the poaching pan (1) . The bottom is provided with large openings (2) and at the top is a flange (3) . The pan is put into the cooking pan and its flange rests upon the flange of the cooking pan. For poaching eggs are provided small cups (4) with handles (5) which fit into the large openings (2) .

In Figure B is shown the bottom of the poaching pan (1) with the big openings (2) and the flange (3) .

In Figure C is illustrated a steamer plate which is a disc (6) fitting into the pan with large openings and has all over the surface small holes (7) . The disc is laid down upon the bottom of the pan with large openings. The disc will stay down by the weight of the food to be steamed.

Drawing no. 7 illustrates to other uses of the pan stove.

- Figure A portrays the use as a Chinese wok (1) on a gas heated heating pan (2) , resting on the grid (3) . - Figure B portrays a deep-fry basket which can be put into the cooking pan for deep frying.

According to the cooking procedure the following configuration of the multi-purpose pan-stove is installed :

- for grilling : the heating pan is put upside down on the cooking pan and the grid is put on the bottom of the cooking pan.

- for cooking : the cooking pan is installed in the heating pan and the lid may be put upon the cooking pan..

- for poaching : the cooking pan is installed in the heating pan, the pan with large openings is put into the cooking pan with the openings filled with the small cups and the lid is put on the cooking pan.

- for steaming : the cooking pan is installed in the heating pan, the pan with large openings is put into the cooking pan with the plate with small openings led down upon the bottom and the lid is put upon the cooking pan.

It is understood that the Drawings are exclusively illustrative, and that other means of heat supply could be used such as solar energy, paraffin etc.. Also other accessories can be added, such as a divider when steaming, to have separate steaming sections.On the grid can be put fire stones for braaing, a Chinese wok or any other pot . The heating pan and cooking pan can also be used as a fondue set by providing long forks.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention has been mentioned, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

C L A I M S

1.- A multi-purpose pan-stove characterized that it consists of a heating pan with at its outer bottom an insulation pan, a cooking pan which fits into the heating pan, and accessories to be mounted, depending on the cooking operation.

2.- A multi-purpose pan-stove according to claim 1 characterized that the heating pan has protrusions, pressed into the side just above the heating device, and a flange on the top.

3.- A multi-purpose pan-stove according to claims 1 to 2 characterized that an insulation is provided at the outer or inner bottom of the heating pan

4.- A multi-purpose pan-stove according to claim 3 characterized that the insulation is at the outer bottom of the heating pan and consists of an insulation pan which has a lower part filled with insulating material separated from an upper part provided with small openings, and that the insulation pan is fixed onto the bottom of the heating pan with bolts having heat resistant supports on the end.

5.- A multi-purpose pan-stove according to claim 4 characterized that each bolt is composed of a long hollow middle nut into which ends are screwed thinner outer bolts, the lower outer bolt has firmly fixed a heat resistant support screwed on its end and the upper outer bolt is fastened with a washer to the inner bottom of the heating pan.

6.- A multi-purpose pan-stove according to claims 1 to 2 characterized that the heating pan is heated by a convenient heat supply such as electric power, gaseous fuel, liquid carbonaceous fuel, solid fuel or solar energy.

7.- A multi-purpose pan-stove according to claim 6 characterized that, when the heating pan is heated by electric power, an electric coil of 500 to 1200 Watt or more is used, which is mounted into the pan with flexible clips connected to as washers to the bolts at the inner bottom of the heating pan.

8.- A multi-purpose pan-stove according to claim 5 characterized that, when the heating pan is heated by gas or any other fuel creating a naked flame, a structure creating radiant heat is installed in the heating pan and in the side wall are big openings which area can be regulated to ensure adequate air supply.

9.- A structure creating radiant heat according to claim 7 characterized that a spherical dome is installed in the heating pan, which dome is composed of a solid metal dome upon which is mounted at a distance of about 0.5 cm a perforated metal dome and has a screwed tube in the middle into which at one end is screwed the gas burner head and at the other end the gas supply pipe.

10.- An accessory for a multi-purpose pan-stove according to claim 1 consisting of a pan having large openings in its bottom and which fixes into the cooking pan.

11.- Accessories for the pan with large openings according to claim 10 consisting of small cups with handles which fix into the large openings of the pan.

12. - An accessory for the pan with large openings according to claim 10 consisting of a plate having small holes which fixes into the pan.

13.- A method of cooking using the multi-purpose pan-stove according to claims 1 to 8 characterized that, for grilling, the heating pan is put upside down on the cooking pan and a grid is put into the bottom else the cooking pan is placed into the heating pan resting on the protrusions.

14.- A method of cooking using the multi-purpose pan-stove according to claims 1 to 11 characterized that for poaching the pan with large openings is put into the cooking pan with the openings filled with the small cups and the lid is put upon the cooking pan.

15.- A method of cooking using the multi-purpose pan-stove according to claims 1 to 8 and 12 characterized that for steaming the pan with large openings is put into the cooking pan, the plate with small holes is led down upon the bottom of the pan with large openings on which plate may be installed a divider and the lid is put upon the cooking pan.

16. - A method of cooking using as a stove the heating pan, with or without grid, or any of the accessories covered by the previous claims .