Claims:I/We Claim:
1. A batter moulding assembly (400A) for enhanced flow of steam in a cooker (502) for uniform cooking of a steamed food product, wherein the batter moulding assembly (400A) comprises,
a first moulding unit (102A) that comprises,
a first mould (104A) and a second mould (104B) for pouring batter; and
a first locking unit (106A) that connects the first mould (104A) and the second mould (104B); and
a second moulding unit (102B) that comprises,
a third mould (104C) and a fourth mould (104D) for pouring batter; and
a second locking unit (106B) that connects the third mould (104C) and the fourth mould (104D), and locks with the first moulding unit (102A), wherein the second locking unit (106B) comprises a middle slot (302) that accommodates a handle (304) for lifting the second moulding unit (102B) along with the first moulding unit (102A),
characterized in that, when the second moulding unit (102B) is placed over the first moulding unit (102A) inside the cooker (502), the second locking unit (106B) locks with the first locking unit (106A) at an angle to enable the steam to pass through spaces between the first moulding unit (102A) and the second moulding unit (102B) for uniform cooking of the steamed food product.

2. The batter moulding assembly (400A) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first locking unit (106A) and the second locking unit (106B) are nested at a tapered angle, wherein the second moulding unit (102B) is stacked on top of the first moulding unit (102A) at the tapered angle with the first locking unit (106A) and the second locking unit (106B), wherein the first moulding unit (102A) is adapted to fix exactly with the second moulding unit (102B) while stacking.

3. The batter moulding assembly (400A) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first locking unit (106A) and the second locking unit (106B) comprises a sheet to lock the first moulding unit (102A) with the second moulding unit (102B), wherein the sheet comprises any of: a lanced sheet, a curled sheet or a bent sheet.

4. The batter moulding assembly (400A) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second moulding unit (102B) is placed over the first moulding unit (102A) at an angle ranging from 60 degrees to 120 degrees between an axis of the first locking unit (106A) and an axis of the second locking unit (106B) to provide space for flow of steam.

5. The batter moulding assembly (400A) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second locking unit (106B) that locks the first moulding unit (102A) at the angle enables the steam to pass through the space and reduces obstruction from metal plates for uniform cooking of the steamed food product.

6. The batter moulding assembly (400A) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first locking unit (106A) comprise one or more first locking slots (202A-B) and one or more first locking projections (204A-B), wherein the second locking unit (106B) comprise one or more second locking slots (202C-D) and one or more second locking projections (204C-D), wherein the second moulding unit (102B) locks the first moulding unit (102A) by pressing the one or more second locking projections (204C-D) inwards to fit into the one or more first locking slots (202A-B), wherein the second moulding unit (102B) releases the first moulding unit (102A) by pressing the one or more second locking projections (204C-D) inwards.

7. The batter moulding assembly (400A) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the batter moulding assembly (400A) comprises a base clip stand on which that the first moulding unit (102A) and the second moulding unit (102B) are placed for providing an elevated height for the first moulding unit (102A) and the second moulding unit (102B) from water level in the cooker (502), wherein the base clip stand is detachable.

8. The batter moulding assembly (400A) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second locking unit (106B) comprises a flat edge to control the height of stacking after locking with the first moulding unit (102A).

9. The batter moulding assembly (400A) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the batter moulding assembly (400A) stacks the first moulding unit (102A) and the second moulding unit (102B) based on the inner volumes of the cooker (502).

10. The batter moulding assembly (400A) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first mould (104A) and the second mould (104B) of the first moulding unit (102A) are shaped at an angle for close nesting with the third mould (104C) and the fourth mould (104D) of the second moulding unit (102B). , Description:BACKGROUND
Technical Field
[0001] The embodiments herein generally relate to a batter moulding assembly, more particularly to a batter moulding assembly for enhanced flow of steam in a cooker for uniform cooking of a steamed food product.
Description of the Related Art
[0002] Idli is a savoury rice cake, that is cooked by steaming batter in the cavities of an idli tray. A typical idli tray includes four cavities for cooking 4 idlis at a time. Several idli trays can be placed, over each other, in a cooker using a stand. The cavities are used to give a definite form to the idli batter as per the shape of the cavities. Since the idly trays have a flat plate like surface that separate the cavities from each other, when they are placed in a cooker, the flat surfaces and the cavities obstruct the flow of steam in the vertical direction. Therefore, typical idli trays include tiny holes for partial movement of steam between the idli trays from a bottom idli tray to a top idli tray. Since the holes are very small, the bottom idli tray receives significantly more steam than the trays that are higher up. Hence, the idlis in the bottom tray cook faster than the top idli tray, which leads to non-uniform cooking of the idlis.
[0003] The idli trays can be used only on bigger cookers that can accommodate the plates and not on smaller steamers/cookers. The idly trays, when placed vertically above each other using the stand, have significant vertical gaps between them, due to which the overall height is more and the height of the cooker also has to be more to accommodate the idli trays. Further, the idly trays occupy more space, which is limited in a small kitchen, or in a small restaurant. Also, the flat surface in the idli trays increases the weight of the idli trays.
[0004] Accordingly, there remains a need for a batter moulding assembly for enhanced flow of steam in a cooker for uniform cooking of steamed food products (e.g. idlis), which occupies less space and can be used with a variety of cookers.
SUMMARY
[0005] In view of the foregoing, an embodiment herein provides a batter moulding assembly for enhanced flow of steam in a cooker for uniform cooking of a steamed food product. The batter moulding assembly includes a first moulding unit and a second moulding unit. The first moulding unit includes a first mould and a second mould for pouring batter and a first locking unit that connects the first mould and the second mould. The second moulding unit includes a third mould and a fourth mould for pouring batter and a second locking unit that connects the third mould and the fourth mould, and locks with the first moulding unit. The second locking unit includes a middle slot that accommodates a handle for lifting the second moulding unit along with the first moulding unit. When the second moulding unit is placed over the first moulding unit inside the cooker, the second locking unit locks with the first locking unit at an angle to enable the steam to pass through spaces between the first moulding unit and the second moulding unit for uniform cooking of the steamed food product.
[0006] In some embodiments, the first locking unit and the second locking unit includes a tapered angle that provides a property of nesting. The second moulding unit is stacked on top of the first moulding unit at the tapered angle with the first locking unit and the second locking unit.
[0007] In some embodiments, the first moulding unit is adapted to fix exactly with the second moulding unit while stacking.
[0008] In some embodiments, the first locking unit and the second locking unit includes a sheet to lock the first moulding unit with the second moulding unit. The sheet includes any of: a lanced sheet, a curled sheet or a bent sheet.
[0009] In some embodiments, the second moulding unit is placed over the first moulding unit at a range of 60 degrees to 120 degrees angle to provide space for enhanced flow of steam.
[0010] In some embodiments, the second locking unit that locks the first moulding unit at the angle enables the steam to pass through the space and reduces obstruction from metal plates for uniform cooking.
[0011] In some embodiments, the first locking unit include one or more first locking slots and one or more first locking projections. The second locking unit comprise one or more second locking slots and one or more second locking projections. The second moulding unit locks the first moulding unit by pressing the one or more second locking projections inwards to fit into the one or more first locking slots. The second moulding unit releases the first moulding unit by pressing the one or more second locking projections inwards.
[0012] In some embodiments, the batter moulding assembly includes a base clip stand on which that the first moulding unit and the second moulding unit are placed for providing an elevated height for the first moulding unit and the second moulding unit from water level in the cooker. The base clip stand is detachable.
[0013] In some embodiments, the second locking unit includes a flat edge to control the height of stacking after locking with the first moulding unit.
[0014] In some embodiments, the batter moulding assembly stacks the first moulding unit and the second moulding unit based on the inner volumes of the cooker.
[0015] In some embodiments, the first mould and the second mould of the first moulding unit are shaped at an angle for close nesting with the third mould and the fourth mould of the second moulding unit.
[0016] The batter moulding assembly allows for any stack with one or more moulding units based on diversity of the cooker volumes. The first moulding unit and the second moulding unit can be stacked to allow for compact storage when not in use, when they are placed parallel to each other. The batter moulding assembly allows modularity without a central stand and a hooking mechanism between each of the one or more moulding units locks one or more moulding units into one another.
[0017] These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a prespective view of one or more moulding units according to some embodiments herein;
[0020] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a locking process and a locked assembly of the one or more moulding units according to some embodiments herein;
[0021] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrates a handle assembly of the one or more moulding units according to some embodiments herein;
[0022] FIGS. 4A-C illustrate section of one or more batter moulding assemblies with one or more moulding units in the locked assembly according to some embodiments herein;
[0023] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate one or more batter moulding assemblies in a cooker according to some embodiments herein;
[0024] FIG. 6 illustrates the flow of steam in the cooker for uniform cooking of a steamed food product according to some embodiments herein;
[0025] FIG. 7A and 7B illustrate storage nesting stacking of the one or more moulding units according to some embodiments herein; and
[0026] FIG. 8A and 8B illustrate exemplary views of the locking process of the one or more moulding units according to some embodiments herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0028] As mentioned, there remains a need for a batter moulding assembly for enhanced flow of steam in a cooker for uniform cooking of steamed food products (e.g. idlis), which occupies less space and can be used with a variety of cookers. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 8B, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, preferred embodiments are shown.
[0029] FIG. 1 illustrates a prespective view of one or more moulding units 102A-B according to some embodiments herein. The one or more moulding units 102A-B includes a first moulding unit 102A and a second moulding unit 102B. The first moulding unit 102A includes a first mould 104A, a second mould 104B, and a first locking unit 106A. The first mould 104A and the second mould 104B may be for pouring batter. In some embodiments, the batter includes idli batter. The first locking unit 106A connects the first mould 104A and the second mould 104B. The second moulding unit 102B includes a third mould 104C, a fourth mould 104D and a second locking unit 106B. The third mould 104C and the fourth mould 104D may be for pouring batter. The second locking unit 106B connects the third mould 104C and the fourth mould 104D.
[0030] The first moulding unit 102A may be placed inside a cooker and the second moulding unit 102B may be placed over the first moulding unit 102A. The second locking unit 106B locks the first moulding unit 102A with the first locking unit 106A at an angle to enable the steam to pass through spaces between the first moulding unit 102A and the second moulding unit 102B for uniform cooking of the steamed food product. In some embodiments, the second moulding unit 102B can be placed over the first moulding unit 102A at a range of 60 degrees to 120 degrees angle to provide space for enhanced flow of steam to spread within the first moulding unit 102A and the second moulding unit 102B in the cooker. The second moulding unit 102B may lock the first moulding unit 102A with a lanced sheet.
[0031] In some embodiments, the second moulding unit 102B that locks the first moulding unit 102A at the angle enables the steam to pass through the space and reduces obstruction from metal plates for uniform cooking of the steamed food product.
[0032] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a locking process and a locked assembly of the one or more moulding units 102A-B according to some embodiments herein. The one or more moulding units 102A-B includes the first moulding unit 102A with the first locking unit 106A and the second moulding unit 102B with the second locking unit 106B. The first locking unit 106A includes one or more first locking slots 202A-B and one or more first locking projections 204A-B. The second locking unit 106B includes one or more second locking slots 202C-D and one or more second locking projections 204C-D. The second moulding unit 102B locks the first moulding unit 102A by pressing the one or more second locking projections 204C-D inwards to fit into the one or more first locking slots 202A-B, to form the locked assembly as shown in FIG. 2B. In some embodiments, the second moulding unit 102B bends inwards owing to flexible properties of the material, when the one or more second locking projections 204C-D are pressed. The first locking unit 106A and the second locking unit 106B may include the lanced sheet. In some embodiments, the lanced sheet in the second locking unit 106B locks with the first moulding unit 102A by pressing the one or more second locking projections 204C-D inwards.
[0033] In some embodiments, the second moulding unit 102B releases the first moulding unit 102A by pressing the one or more second locking projections 204C-D inwards. The second moulding unit 102B may bend inwards owing to the flexible properties of the material, when the one or more second locking projections 204C-D are pressed. The material may be any of: elastomeric materials or plastic. The second moulding unit 102B may be lifted when the locked assembly is separated.
[0034] In some embodiments, the second locking unit 106B includes a flat edge to control the height of stacking after locking with the first moulding unit 102A. Height provided in the one or more second locking projections 204C-D may be for rising of the batter during cooking of the steamed food product. In some embodiments, the height in the one or more second locking projections 204C-D is for the steamed food product to rise during cooking.
[0035] The first locking unit 106A and the second locking unit 106B includes any of: curled sheet or bent sheet in the one or more first locking projections 204A-B and the one or more second locking projections 204C-D. In some embodiments, the any of: curled sheet or bent sheet, locks the first moulding unit 102A by pressing the one or more second locking projections 204C-D inwards.
[0036] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrates a handle assembly of the one or more moulding units 102A-B according to some embodiments herein. The first locking unit 102A includes a middle slot 302 that accommodates a handle 304 for lifting the one or more moulding units 102A-B. FIG. 3B illustrates the handle accommodated with the middle slot 302. In some embodiments, the handle 304 is for lifting the second moulding unit 102B along with the first moulding unit 102A.
[0037] FIGS. 4A-C illustrate section of one or more batter moulding assemblies 400A-C with one or more moulding units 102A-N in the locked assembly according to some embodiments herein. FIG. 4A shows a batter moulding assembly 400A that includes the first moulding unit 102A and the second moulding unit 102B in the locked assembly. FIG. 4B shows a second batter moulding assembly 400B that includes the first moulding unit 102A, the second moulding unit 102B, a third moulding unit 102C and a fourth moulding unit 102D in the locked assembly. The second batter moulding assembly 400B includes the handle 304 for lifting the one or more moulding units 102A-D. FIG. 4C shows a third batter moulding assembly 400C that includes the the first moulding unit 102A, the second moulding unit 102B, the third moulding unit 102C and the fourth moulding unit 102D, a fifth moulding unit 102E and Nth moulding unit 102N in the locked assembly. The third batter moulding assembly 400C includes the handle 304 for lifting the one or more moulding units 102A-N.
[0038] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate one or more batter moulding assemblies 400A-C in a cooker 502 according to some embodiments herein. The one or more batter moulding assemblies 400A-C stacks the one or more moulding units 102A-N based on the inner volumes of the cooker 502 as shown in FIG. 5A and 5B. In some embodiments, the one or more batter moulding assemblies 400A-C includes a base clip stand on which that the one or more moulding units 102A-N are placed for providing an elevated height from water level in the cooker 502. The base clip stand may be detachable.
[0039] FIG. 6 illustrates the flow of steam in the cooker 502 for uniform cooking of the steamed food product according to some embodiments herein. The one or more moulding units 102A-N are placed over the other at the angle for significantly enhanced free space for steam to spread within the one or more moulding units 102A-N that enables the uniform cooking of the steamed food product in the cooker 502.
[0040] FIG. 7A and 7B illustrate storage nesting stacking of the one or more moulding units 102A-N according to some embodiments herein. FIG. 7A shows a perspective view of nesting of the one or more moulding units 102A-N. One or more moulds of the one or more moulding units 102A-N may be shaped for close nesting. The one or more moulds may be the first mould 104A, the second mould 104B, the third mould 104C, and the fourth mould 104D. In some embodiments, the first mould 104A and the second mould 104B of the first moulding unit 102A are shaped at an angle for close nesting with the third mould 104C and the fourth mould 104D of the second moulding unit 102B. One or more locking units in the one or more moulding units 102A-N includes a tapered angle that provides a property of nesting. In some embodiments, the first locking unit 106A and the second locking unit 106B includes a tapered angle to provide the property of nesting.
[0041] The one or more moulding units 102A-N may be adapted to fix exactly with the other one or more moulding units 102A-N while stacking. In some embodiments, the first moulding unit 102A is adapted to fix exactly with the second moulding unit 102B while stacking. FIG. 7B shows a front view of the nesting of the one or more moulding units 102A-N. The one or more moulding units 102A-N may be stacked on top of each other at a tapered angle of the one or more locking units. In some embodiments, the first moulding unit 102A and the second moulding unit 102B are stacked on top of each other at the tapered angle of the first locking unit 106A and the second locking unit 106B.
[0042] FIG. 8A and 8B illustrate exemplary views of the locking process of the one or more moulding units 102A-B according to some embodiments herein. The second locking unit 106B in the second moulding unit 102B includes a curled sheet 802 in the one or more second locking projections 204C-D, as shown in FIG. 8A. The curled sheet 802 in the one or more second locking projections 204C-D locks with the first moulding unit 102A by pressing the one or more locking projections 204C-D inwards. The second locking unit 106B in the second moulding unit 102B includes a bent sheet 804 in the one or more second locking projectiosn 204C-D, as shown in FIG. 8B. The bent sheet 804 in the one or more second locking projections 204C-D locks with the first moulding unit 102A by pressing the one or more locking projections 204C-D inwards.
[0043] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.