Description:A COOKING PAN
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a cooking pan. In particular, the present invention relates to a cooking pan with a plurality of pits.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Certain cooking pans have a plurality of pits to house food items while cooking them. In such cooking pans, generally the plurality of pits are provided at a same level. When such cooking pans are placed on a cooking stove, the base of the cooking pits come in direct contact with the flame from the gas stove. Specifically, the base of the pits positioned at the center of the cooking pan get a higher exposure of the flame as compared to the pits far from the center or on the circumference of the cooking pan. This difference in the exposure of the flame, directly varies the cooking time of the food item due to difference in the heat received by the pits at the center and the outer pits. Due to this difference in the cooking time and the heat, the cooking quality of the food items is not uniform across the plurality of pits. For example, in case of higher time of exposure to heat, the food items in the center pits get over cooked. Similarly, in case of a lower time of exposure to heat, the food items in the outer pits remain under cooked.
[0003] Thus, in view of the above, there is a need for a cooking pan providing even distribution of heat for uniform cooking across the plurality of pits irrespective of their position with respect to gas stove.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] An embodiment of the present invention discloses a cooking pan. The cooking pan includes a plurality of outer pits and a plurality of inner pits. The plurality of inner pits are at an elevated level than the plurality of outer pits.
[0005] Further, a second protrusion touching base of a first set of the plurality of inner pits is provided. The first protrusion facilitates a uniform distribution of heat, from a flame, between the plurality of inner pits and the plurality of outer pits during cooking of food item in the plurality of outer pits and the plurality of inner pits.
[0006] In an embodiment of the present invention, the number of the outer pits is more than the number of the inner pits and the plurality of inner pits are elevated by a level of 5 to 10 mm above the plurality of the outer pits.
[0007] Further the cooking pan includes a third protrusion touching base of the plurality of outer pits, the third protrusion facilitates placement of the cooking pan over a gas stove and a second protrusion touching base of a second set of the plurality of inner pits. In an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of outer pits and plurality of inner pits are arranged concentrically.
[0008] Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description read in conjunction with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0009] The following drawings are illustrative of preferred embodiments for enabling the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The drawings are not to scale (unless so stated) and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description.
[0010] Figures 1(a), 1(b), 1(c), 1(d) and 1(e) illustrate different views of a cooking pan in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0011] Figures 2(a) and 2(b) illustrates a back view and a sectional view of the cooking pan respectively in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0012] The following disclosure is provided in order to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention. Exemplary embodiments are provided only for illustrative purposes and various modifications will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art. The general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Also, the terminology and phraseology used is for the purpose of describing exemplary embodiments and should not be considered limiting. Thus, the present invention is to be accorded the widest scope encompassing numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents consistent with the principles and features disclosed. For the purpose of clarity, details relating to technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.
[0013] Figures 1(a), 1(b), 1(c), 1(d), 1(e) illustrate different views of a cooking pan 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1(a) illustrates an isometric view of the cooking pan 100 with a lid 102. Figure 1(b) illustrates an isometric view of the cooking pan 100 without the lid 102. Figure 1(c) illustrates a side view of the cooking pan 100 with the lid 102. Figure 1(d) illustrates a top view of the cooking pan 100 with the lid 102. Figure 1(e) illustrates a front view of the cooking pan 100 with the lid 102. For the sake of brevity figures 1(a), 1(b), 1(c), 1(d), 1(e) have been described together.
[0014] The cooking pan 100 has a plurality of pits 106, 108, 110 to house food items while they are cooked under the impact of heat. Accordingly, the cooking pan 100 may be suitable for cooking dishes like, without any limitation, paniyaram, appam, fritters, aebleskiver. In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooking pan 100 may also include, a handle 104 and a circular rim 112.
[0015] In an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of pits 106, 108, 110 may have a plurality of outer pits 106 and a plurality of inner pits 108, 110. Further, the plurality of inner pits 108, 110 may include a first set of plurality of inner pits 108 and a second set of plurality of inner pits 110. In an embodiment of the present invention, the second set of plurality of inner pits 110 are concentrically arranged inside the first set of plurality of inner pits 108 and the first set of plurality of inner pits 108 are concentrically arranged inside the plurality of outer pits 106. In another embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of inner pits may be arranged in a triangular formation. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of the inner pits may be arranged in a pentagonal formation.
[0016] Further, the plurality of inner pits 108, 110 are provided at an elevated level from the plurality of the outer pits 106. The purpose of providing the inner pits 108, 110 at the elevated level is to reduce the surface contact area of the inner pits 108, 110 with the heat source i.e., flame from a gas stove while the cooking pan 100 is placed on the gas stove. The detailed description of the elevation of the plurality of inner pits 108, 110 is provided in subsequent paragraphs.
[0017] Further, the plurality of pits, without any limitation, may have a curved shape, such as spherical and semi-spherical shape. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the shape and dimension of all the pits amongst the plurality of pits may be same. In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the shape and dimension of pits amongst the plurality of pits may be different, such that a set of pits may have same shape and dimensions but different from another set of pits.
[0018] Further, the outer peripheral surface of the plurality of outer pits 106 extends upwards unitarily to terminate at a circular rim 112. The lid 102 may be configured to rest on the circular rim 112. The lid 102 may have a shape that complements with the contour of the circular rim 112 in order to fit perfectly on the cooking pan 100. The lid 102 may be provided with a pressure releasing mechanism preferably a valve to release excess pressure generated inside the cooking pan 100. In an embodiment of the present invention, the lid 102 is made from one of but not limited to: stainless steel, carbon steel, aluminium, glass or heat resistant plastic.
[0019] In an embodiment of the present invention, the handle 104 may be provided in the outer periphery of the plurality of the outer pits 106. The handle 104 may be made of a heat resistant material, such as a plastic or phenolic material or any other material. The handle 104 may further be different in shape and size and may be secured to the cooking pan 100 with any appropriate attaching means, such as industrial grade rivets or welded studs. In another preferred embodiment, the handle 104 may form an integral part of the cooking pan 100, such as integrated cast handle 104.
[0020] The cooking pan 100 of the present invention preferably has a non-stick-coating interior and may be made of a suitable material, such as a metal or metal alloy selected from the group consisting of carbon core stainless steel, aluminium core stainless steel, solid stainless steel with braised heat conducting base, carbon steel, copper aluminium clad stainless steel and cast iron. Further, the cooking pan 100 may be exposed to a heat source, such as a gas flame. Upon exposure of the cooking pan 100 to the heat source, the item in the cooking pan 100 may be treated or cooked due to the heat.
[0021] Figures 2(a) and 2(b) illustrate a back view and a sectional view of the cooking pan 100 respectively in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. For the sake of brevity figures 2(a) and 2(b) are described together. When the cooking pan 100 is placed over a gas stove, the base of the plurality of outer pits 106 comes in direct contact with the heat source. The elevation of the plurality of inner pits 108, 110 reduces the surface contact area of the base of the inner pits 108, 110 with the heat source and thus reducing the heat intensity and prevents over cooking of the food item housed in the plurality of inner pits 108, 110. In an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of inner pits 108, 110 are elevated by a level of 5 to 10 mm above the plurality of the outer pits 106. The elevation of the plurality of inner pits 108, 110 may be measured from the base of the plurality of outer pits 106. As shown in figure 2(b), the elevation of the plurality of inner pits 108, 110 as against the plurality of the outer pits 106 is represented as ‘h1’.
[0022] In an embodiment of the present invention, the number of the plurality of outer pits 106 is more than the number of the plurality of inner pits 108, 110. The number of inner pits may be determined by the overall diameter of the cooking pan 100. In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, for the cooking pan 100 of 200 mm diameter, the number of inner pits may be 3. In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, for the cooking pan 100 of 240 mm diameter, the number of inner pits may be 5. In another more exemplary embodiment of the present invention, for the cooking pan 100 of 300 mm diameter, the number of inner pits may be 8.
[0023] Further, the cooking pan 100 is provided with a plurality of protrusions below the plurality of inner pits 108, 110 and the plurality of outer pits 106. The plurality of protrusions facilitates in equal distribution of heat between the plurality of inner pits 108, 110 and the plurality of outer pits 106. The construction of the protrusions in the cooking pan 100 for equal heat distribution is described in detail in subsequent paragraphs.
[0024] The plurality of protrusions may include a first protrusion 202, a second protrusion 204 and a third protrusion 206. The first protrusion 202 extends longitudinally around the second set of the plurality of inner pits 110, the second protrusion 204 extends longitudinally below the first set of the plurality of inner pits 108 and the third protrusion 206 extends longitudinally below the plurality of outer pits 106. In an embodiment of the present invention, the height of the first protrusion 202 from the base of the second set of the plurality of inner pits 110 may be in a range from 2 mm to 8 mm, the height of the second protrusion 204 from the base of the first set of the plurality of inner pits 110 may be in a range from 2 mm to 8 mm and the height of the third protrusion 206 from the base of the plurality of outer pits 110 may be in a range from 2 mm to 8 mm.
[0025] Further, the third protrusion 206 extends as a circular wall connecting the base of the plurality of outer pits 106. Similarly, the second protrusion 204 extends as a circular wall connecting the base of the first set of the plurality of inner pits 108 and the first protrusion 202 extends as a circular wall around the second set of the plurality of inner pits 110. Since the plurality of inner pits 108, 110 are elevated compared to the plurality of outer pits 106, the first protrusion 202 and the second protrusion 204 are also elevated compared to the third protrusion 206. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first protrusion 202 and the second protrusion 204 are elevated by a level of 5 mm to 10 mm from the third protrusion 206.
[0026] The third protrusion 206 facilitates in the placement of the cooking pan 100 over the gas stove. That is, when the cooking pan 100 is placed on the gas stove, the third protrusion 206 will be in direct contact with the heat source, the first protrusion 202and the second protrusion 204 will be at an elevated level as compared to the third protrusion 206. Further, the elevation of the first protrusion 202 and the second protrusion 204 as against the third protrusion 206 is represented as ‘h2’ in the illustrated figure 2 (b).
[0027] During the process of cooking, the cooking pan 100 is placed above the gas stove. The heat source comes in direct contact with the third protrusion 206 and gets it heated. The heat is uniformly distributed along the surface of the third protrusion 206 which in turn heats the plurality of the outer pits 106. The third protrusion 206 facilitates in equal distribution of heat to the plurality of the outer pits 106. Further, the first protrusion 202 and the second protrusion 204 are not directly exposed to the heat source. However, as the heat intensity is high in the center, the first protrusion 202 and second protrusion 204 gets heated by the heat source and equally distribute the heat to the first set of the plurality of the inner pits 108 and the second set of the plurality of inner pits 110 respectively. Thus, the elevated profile of the cooking pan 100 facilitates in even distribution of heat and uniform cooking in both the plurality of inner pits 108, 110 and the plurality of outer pits 106.
[0028] Accordingly, the present invention provides the following effects or advantages. The cooking pan 100 provides for a unique structural construct that overcomes the disadvantages over existing arrangements. In the present invention, the center of the cooking pan 100 that may have high heat exposure while cooking is elevated to reduce the heat impact. Further, the provision of the protrusions facilitates in equal distribution of heat along the plurality of pits in the cooking pan 100. Thus, the profile of the cooking pan 100 provides for an even distribution of heat all along the plurality of pits in the cooking pan 100 and facilitates in uniform cooking.
[0029] While the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described and illustrated herein, it will be appreciated that they are merely illustrative. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications in form and detail may be made therein without departing from or offending the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
, Claims:We claim:
1. A cooking pan (100) comprising:
a plurality of outer pits (106);
a plurality of inner pits (108, 110), wherein the plurality of inner pits (108, 110) are at an elevated level than the plurality of outer pits (106); and
a second protrusion (204) touching base of a first set of the plurality of inner pits (108), the second protrusion (204) facilitates a uniform distribution of heat, from a flame, between the plurality of inner pits (108, 110) and the plurality of outer pits (106) during cooking of food item in the plurality of outer pits (106) and the plurality of inner pits (108, 110).
2. The cooking pan (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of the outer pits (106) is more than the number of the inner pits (108, 110).
3. The cooking pan (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of inner pits (108, 110) are elevated by a level of 5 to 10 mm above the plurality of the outer pits (106).
4. The cooking pan (100) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a first protrusion (202) touching base of a second set of the plurality of inner pits (110); and
a third protrusion (206) touching base of the plurality of outer pits (106), the third protrusion (206) facilitates placement of the cooking pan (100) over a gas stove.
5. The cooking pan (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of outer pits (106) and plurality of inner pits (108, 110) are arranged concentrically.