WO2008016197A1

WO2008016197A1 - Rice cooker which the kind of rice can be selected

Info

Publication number: WO2008016197A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/003044
Authority: WO
Inventors: June Kim
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-08-02
Filing date: 2006-08-02
Publication date: 2008-02-07
Anticipated expiration: 2009-02-02
Also published as: CN101568283A; JP2009545425A

Abstract

A selective rice cooker can cook one kind of rice in a general way, and also can simultane- ouslycook two kinds of rice selectively as necessary. Therefore, a customer can cook and eat various kinds of rice, such as soft-boiled rice, hard-boiled rice, boiled rice, boiled rice and cereals, boiled brown rice, or the like, according to the tastes of the family members by means of the selective rice cooker. The selective rice cooker includes a cooker housing, an inner rice container placed inside of the cooker housing, and a holding means formed on an inner surface of the cooker housing in order for the inner rice container to be firmly held inside of the cooker housing.

Description

RICE COOKER WHICH THE KIND OF RICE CAN BE

SELECTED

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a selective rice cooker capable of selectively cooking rice, and more particularly to a selective rice cooker which can cook one kind of rice in a general way, and also can simultaneously cook two kinds of rice selectively as necessary. Therefore, a customer can cook and eat various kinds of rice, such as soft-boiled rice, hard-boiled rice, boiled rice, boiled rice and cereals, boiled brown rice, or the like, according to the tastes of the family members by means of the selective rice cooker. Background Art

[2] In general, rice cookers include various kinds of rice cookers, such as an electric rice cooker, a gas rice cooker, a common rice cooker, or the like. However, those kinds of rice cookers can cook only one kind of rice. For example, by means of those rice cookers, people fond of soft-boiled rice having much moisture cook rice to be soft- boiled, people fond of hard-boiled rice having less moisture cook rice to be hard boiled, and people fond of regular-boiledrice cook rice to be regularly boiled. Further, people fond of boiled rice cook boiled rice, and people fond of boiled rice and cereals cook boiled rice and cereals.

[3] In addition, there is a case that the favorite kind of the rice is different according to a family. For example, a senior parents' family likes the soft-boiled rice and a family of the young son likes regular-boiled rice. Furthermore, if one of the family members has diabetes, he should eat the boiled rice and cereals while the other members eat regular- boiled rice.

[4] In this case, there is inconvenience in that a user should boil the rice using a rice container two times or using two rice containers.

[5] As shown in FIG. 1, a rice cooker developed to solve the above problem was filed under Korean Utility Model Application No. 20-2004-0008161, which employs a partitioning 12 inside of the cooker housing 10 for boiling cereals, such as rice, barley, or the like, so as to form two cooking spaces 14 and 16 inside of the rice housing, and a lid 20 is assembled with the cooker housing 10.

[6] The above previously filed rice cooker has an advantage in that two kinds of rice can be cooked. However, there is a problem that one kind of rice cannot be cooked as necessary.

[7] In addition, a rice cooker was filed underKorean Utility Model Application Nos. 20-2001-0025491 and 20-2004-0014555, which can cook one kind of rice or two or more kinds of rice by using a partitioning detachable from the inside of the cooker housing as occasion demands.

[8] However, in the aforementioned kind of rice cooker, the detachable structure of the partitioning is complicated, and a side space neighboring the partitioning is not completely sealed so that water may shift to the neighboring side space. Therefore, it is not possible to accurately cook the desired kind of rice. Further, it is inconvenient that a user should scoop the different kinds of cooked rice into different rice bowls for eating.

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[9] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the present invention provides a selective rice cooker which can cook not only one kind of rice, but also two kinds of rice as necessary. Further, a structure of the selective rice cooker is simple, and the shift of water between neighboring spaces can be completely blocked, so that the selective rice cooker can accurately cook the desired kind of rice.

[10] Further, the present invention provides a selective rice cookerin which a user can eat at least one kind of rice after cooking on a table as it is without needs of scooping cooked rice into a separate rice bowl. Technical Solution

[11] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a selective rice cooker that includes a cooker housing, an inner rice container placed inside of the cooker housing, and a holding means formed on an inner surface of the cooker housing in order for the inner rice container to be firmly held inside of the cooker housing, and wherein a scale is marked on the inner surface of the cooker housing for representing a level of water, another scale is marked on an outer surface of the inner rice container for representing a level of water of the cooker housing, and another scale is marked on an inner surface of the inner rice container for measuring a level of water of an inside of the inner rice container.

[12] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a selective rice cooker, wherein the holding means for holding the inner rice container applies elastic force to an edge of the inner rice container 30, the holding means comprising a plurality of inner protrusions protruding perpendicularly from the inner surface of the cooker housing.

[13] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a selective rice cooker, wherein the inner rice container 40 is shaped like a rice bowl. Advantageous Effects

[14] As described above, the selective rice cooker of the present invention can cook not only one kind of rice, but also two kinds of rice as necessary. Further, the structure of the selective rice cooker is simple, theshift of water between the neighboring spaces is completely blocked, and a user can accurately cook the desired kind of rice. Furthermore, if a user wishes to cook one kind of rice, a user controls the level of water through the scale marked on the inner surface of the cooker housing, and if a user wishes to cook two kinds of rice, a user controls the level of water of the outside of the inner rice container, i.e., inside of the cooker housing through the scale marked on the outer surface of the inner rice container, and controls the level of water of the inside of the inner rice container through the scale marked on an inner surface of the inner rice container. Therefore, if a user wishes to cook two kinds of rice, a user can easily control water through the respective scales. Brief Description of the Drawings

[15] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[16] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a conventional rice cooker

[17] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a selective rice cooker according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[18] FIG. 3 is a plane view illustrating a state where an inner rice container is inserted in a cooker housing of a rice cooker of FIG. 2. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[19] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[20] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a selective rice cooker according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a plane view illustrating a state where an inner rice container is inserted in a cooker housing of a rice cooker of FIG. 2.

[21] Referring to FIGs. 2 to 3, the selective rice cooker includes the inner rice container

40 placed inside of the cooker housing 30, and a plurality of inner protrusions 31 protruding from the inner surface of the cooker housing in order for the inner rice container 40 to be firmly placed inside of the cooker housing.

[22] The cooker housing 30 is shaped like a conventional cooker housing, and the scale

32 representing the level of water of the cooker housing is marked on the inner surface of the cooker housing. The scale 32 represents the appropriate level of water when boiling rice without placing the inner rice container 40. [23] The inner protrusions 31 serving as a means for holding the inner rice container 40, protrudes perpendicularly from an inner surface of the cooker housing 30, so as to hold the inner rice container 40. However, the inner rice container 40 may have a slightly reduced height while additionally having inner container protrusions protruding in a transverse direction from an upper end of the inner rice container 40, so that the inner rice container 40 can be more firmly held in the cooker housing 30.

[24] The inner protrusions 31 and the scale 32 formed on the inner surface of the cooker housing 30 are simultaneously formed upon manufacturing the cooker housing 30.

[25] However, the inner rice container 40 can be held by means of any holding means having another structure and shape rather than the described holding means.

[26] In the meantime, it is preferable that the inner rice container 40 should be made of a substance having fine heat transmission performance. The inner rice container 40 may occupy about half the space of the cooker housing 30 as shown in FIGs. 2 and 3, or may be shaped like a rice bowl. If the inner rice container 40 is shaped like the rice bowl, a holding means should be formed in a side surface or a bottom surface of the inner rice container 40 and between the cooker housing 30.

[27] A scale 41 representing the level of water of the cooker housing 30 is marked on the outer surface of the inner rice container 40, and a scale 42 representing the level of water of the inside of the inner rice container 40 is marked on the inner surface of the inner rice container 40. When the inner rice container 40 is held inside of the cooker housing, the volume of the inside of the cooker housing 30 becomes reduced, so that the scale 41 marked on the outer surface of the inner rice container 40 is for representing the appropriate water level of the cooker housing 30 according to the reduced volume. In addition, the scale 42 marked on the inner surface of the inner rice container 40 is for representing the appropriate water level of the inside of the inner rice container 40. When the inner rice container 40 is placed in the cooker housing 30, it is preferable to hide the scale 42 marked on the inner surface of the cooker housing 30 so as not to be visible for preventing a customer's confusion.

[28] The selective rice cooker as described above functions as below.

[29] First, when cooking one kind of rice, a user cooks the rice in a common way with removing the inner rice container 40. At this time, the appropriate water level is- determined through the scale 32 marked on the inner surface of the cooker housing 30.

[30] Second, when cooking two kinds of rice, the inner rice container 40 is inserted in the cooker housing 30. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, only if the inner rice container 40 is pushed toward one side of the cooker housing 30, the inner rice container 40 is held by the elastic force of the inner protrusion 31.

[31] Then, a user pours the desired cereals, such as rice, cereals, or the like, and the appropriate quantity of water into the cooker housing 30 and the inner rice container 40, respectively. At this time, a user appropriately pours water determined through the scales 41 and 42.

[32] When cooking two kinds of boiled rice, including soft-boiled rice and hard-boiled rice, a user controls the quantity of water of the cooker housing 30 and the inner rice container 40. Further, when cooking the two kinds of rice, such as boiled rice and boiled rice and cereals, a user puts the desired cereals into the cooker housing 30 and the inner rice container 40, respectively.

[33] Further, the rice can be cooked inside of the cooker housing 30, and simultaneously, a potato, a sweet potato, a rice cake, or the like, can be steamed in the inner rice container 40.

[34] The heat of the inner rice container 40 required for cooking is delivered from the heat of the cooker housing 30. Also, the pressure rice cooker employs a method of steaming by pressure, and the inner pressure of the cooker housing 30 is transferred without change to the inner rice container 40. Therefore, it is possible to cook the desired rice without bringing any trouble in cooking. Mode for the Invention

[35] As illustrated, the rice cooker of the present invention illustrates the exem- plaryembodiment in which one inner rice container 40 is used. However, the present invention can cook two or more kinds of rice throughtwo inner rice containers 40 or more.

[36] The rice cooker according to the present invention is very convenient in the case when cooking soft-boiled rice and hard-boiled rice for family members who like soft- boiled rice and hard-boiled rice, cookingthe boiled rice and cereals good for diabetes treatment for a person having diabetes as well as regularrice for other family members, and boiling rice while steaming a potato, a sweet potato, or the like. Further, if a user cooks one kind of rice not two kinds of rice, a user removes the inner rice container to cook.

[37] The structure and a manufacturing process of the rice cooker of the present invention are simple, and its manufacturing cost is cheap. Further, the shift of water between the spacesfor boiling rice is completely blocked, so that the desired kind of rice can be cooked through the respective scales.

[38] Further, if the inner rice container 40 is shaped like the rice bowl, a user can carry the inner rice container 40 out of the cooker housing 30 so as to move the inner rice container 40 to the table and eat boiled rice as it is, so that it is convenient to use the selective rice cooker. For example, if a user cooks boiled rice and cereals through the inner rice container 40 for a person having diabetes, a user can move the inner rice container 40 as it is to the table and serve boiled rice and cereals to the person, without scooping boiled rice and cereals from the inner rice container 40 and putting them into a separate rice bowl.

[39] Although several exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

[40] For example, the subject specification refers to an effect of the rice cooker.

However, one can gain an identical effect in the common rice cooker or a pot. Therefore, the modified embodiment belongs to the scope and spirit of the invention. Industrial Applicability

[41] As described above, the selective rice cooker of the present invention can cook not only one kind of rice, but also two kinds of rice as necessary. Further, the structure of the selective rice cooker is simple, theshift of water between the neighboring spaces is completely blocked, and a user can accurately cook the desired kind of rice. Furthermore, if a user wishes to cook one kind of rice, a user controls the level of water through the scale marked on the inner surface of the cooker housing, and if a user wishes to cook two kinds of rice, a user controls the level of water of the outside of the inner rice container, i.e., inside of the cooker housing through the scale marked on the outer surface of the inner rice container, and controls the level of water of the inside of the inner rice container through the scale marked on an inner surface of the inner rice container. Therefore, if a user wishes to cook two kinds of rice, a user can easily control water through the respective scales.

Claims

[1] A selective rice cooker comprising: a cooker housing an inner rice container placed inside of the cooker housing and a holding means formed on an inner surface of the cooker housing in order for the inner rice container to be firmly held inside of the cooker housing, and wherein a scale is marked on the inner surface of the cooker housing for representing a level of water, another scale is marked on an outer surface of the inner rice container for representing a level of water of the cooker housing, and another scale is marked on an inner surface of the inner rice container for measuring a level of water of an inside of the inner rice container.

[2] The selective rice cooker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holding means for holding the inner rice container applies elastic force to an edge of the inner rice container 30, the holding means comprising a plurality of inner protrusions protruding perpendicularly from the inner surface of the cooker housing.

[3] The selective rice cooker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner rice container

40 is shaped like a rice bowl.