Field of Invention:
The present invention generally relates to a novel container as the popcorn cum
snack maker, particularly a popcorn maker wherein said container is provisioned
to be placed directly on a burner for backing/roasting grains like corn, particularly
by utilizing its structural components like manual stirrer, secured with the lid of
the utensil (hereinafter referred as popcorn maker).
This disclosure relates to the field of Snack maker, performing the
roasting/backing/cooking of food grains like corn kernels by utilizing the heat
energy received by its metallic body directly from the burner of a cooking stove,
particularly a kitchen stove, wherein said popcorn maker utilizes an
interoperating apparatus to facilitate the mixing and stirring of the ingredients of
snacks during roasting or flavouring operation therein.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
The basic concept of roasting the raw grain of corn or similar other grain is
known and there are several conventional methods, practiced in different parts of
the world, is known.
For roasting corn kernels and similar grains, there are some electric devices
available in the public. While many prior electric devices are available for popping
3
corn kernel and roasting snacks, particularly based on food grains, it appears
that their demand has increased and thus non-electric stove top device for home
use is much desired, particularly matching to Indian domestic cooking practices.
There is lack of a customized container for cooking/roasting popcorn or similar
snack, particularly in accordance with the Indian domestic cooking traditions,
using which the popcorn/snack can be cooked with ease and with complete
hygiene.
An easy to cook/roast container, as disclosed herein, is a must-required utensil
towards uniformly cooking/roasting a healthy low GI value snack with optionally
added flavours.
The primarily intent of the instant invention is to provide such a customized and
easy to use popcorn maker utensil, which can be utilized for roasting of grains
like corn kernels, either in absence of any roasting medium like sand or common
salt or in presence of the roasting medium.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION:
It is the prime object of the instant invention to provide a popcorn cum snack
maker comprising of a cooker-pot and a lid of said cooker-pot, wherein the said
popcorn-com-snack maker utensil is provisioned to be placed directly on a burner
of a cooking-stove for roasting/backing/cooking of food-grains like corn,
particularly by rotating the manual stirrer, secured with the lid of the said utensil,
optionally in presence of roasting media like sand or common salt.
4
It is another object of the instant invention to provide a popcorn cum snack
maker wherein its the lid to cover the cooker-pot is preferably made of a
transparent material, namely glass and the said lid is assembled with a knobcum-
handle, a stirrer at the centre of said lid and at least one steam vent on the
body of said lid.
Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a popcorn cum snack
maker wherein the stirrer assembled with the lid comprises a shaft, extending
vertically downwardly and substantially perpendicular to the faces of the said lid,
a freely rotatable handle at outer end of said vertical shaft and at least one blunt
edged lower paddle at the lower end of said shaft therein.
Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a popcorn cum snack
maker, wherein the shaft of the stirrer is so secured with the body of lid, using a
bearing member that without interrupting the rotational motion of the said stirrer,
said shaft is capable of being lifted upwardly while performing the
roasting/cooking in popcorn maker, particularly by holding and lifting the handle
of said stirrer.
Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a popcorn cum snack
maker wherein the knob is positioned on the body of the lid at a location away
from the area covered under rotational diameter of the stirrer and wherein said
knob is provisioned for pressing the said lid downwardly towards keeping the
said lid steady and firmly placed on the top opening of the cooker-pot, so that the
said cooker-pot remains properly closed and nothing is allowed to come out from
the closed popcorn maker therein.
5
Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a popcorn cum snack
maker, wherein the lower paddle is so secured at the lower end of the shaft of
the stirrer that it remains in the proximity of the bottom of the cooker-pot and is
provisioned to perform stirring action within the said cooker-pot by way of its
rotation around the said shaft of stirrer, secured with the lid.
Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a popcorn cum snack
maker, wherein the preferred embodiment of the said popcorn maker preferably
comprises round shaped cooker-pot wherein its bottom is like flat and circular
disk and the walls of said cooker-pot is optionally selected vertical cylinder or
near to a cylinder, with matching diameter of said flat bottom; wherein such
shape of the bottom is characterized in that the maximum area available for
receiving maximum heat and also for spreading the food grains therein towards
uniform stirring and roasting.
Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a popcorn cum snack
maker, which is preferably a popcorn maker utensil provisioned for roasting corn
kernels, preferably in absence of any roasting media like sand or common salt,
within the cooker-pot kept closed by applying the lid above the said cooker-pot
and supported with the stirring action of stirrer therein.
Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a popcorn cum snack
maker wherein said popcorn maker utensil is characterized in the method of
popcorn making, involving the following major steps:
- putting certain amount of food grains like corn kernels within the cookerpot
(2);
6
- closing the said cooker-pot (2) by placing the lid (4) and matching its edges
(11) with the top opening of said cooker-pot (2) above said cooker-pot (2);
- putting said closed popcorn maker utensil (1), loaded with corn kernels, on
the direct flame of a cooking stove, preferably on the flame of the burner of
a kitchen stove;
- gently pressing the knob (5) of the lid (4) downwardly using fingers of one
hand of user;
- manually rotating the handle (7) of the stirrer (6) regularly towards
performing stirring action of the lower paddle (9’) and for uniformly
spreading the corn kernels on the heated bottom (12) of said cooker-pot
(2), preferably in continuous manner to avoid over cooking/roasting or
burning of food grains therein; and
- by regularly visualizing the cooking/roasting of corn kernels within
the cooker-pot (2) through the transparent lid (4) and on confirming the
completion of said cooking/roasting of said corn kernels, the popcorn
maker utensil (1) is removed from the said direct flame of the cooking
stove and the cooker/roasted popcorn is taken out from the said cookerpot
(2).
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
Disclosed herein is a food preparation device, particularly popcorn cooker or
roaster capable of roasting/cooking/baking corn and other food grains by placing
said cooker on direct flame of stove.
7
One preferred embodiment of said popcorn maker comprises a cooking pot
having a substantially planar and circular bottom, a substantially straight sidewall
having one edge in continuous contact with the bottom, an annular rim in
continuous contact with the sidewall, vertically opposed to the bottom and a
handle projecting from the annular sidewall. A lid is also provided that the lid
comprises upper and lower faces, wherein the lid is removable in contact with the
annular rim of the pot.
The food cooking/roasting device, as disclosed in the instant invention,
comprises:
a. a pot comprising:
i. a Straight walls and circular bottom;
ii. a substantially vertical, annular sidewall having one edge in continuous
contact with the bottom;
iii. an annular rod in continuous contact with the side
wall, vertically opposed to the bottom;
iv. a handle projecting from the straight sidewall;
b. a lid comprising:
i. upper and lower faces;
ii. Wherein the lid is irremovably in contact with the annular rim of the pot;
c. a stirrer comprising:
8
i. a shaft extending through the canter of the lid, substantially
perpendicular to the faces of the lid;
ii. The shaft having an axis of rotation;
iii. a rotating handle attached to the shaft, wherein the rotating handle is
configured to be rotated by a user to rotate the shaft;
iv. a bearing member cantered about the shaft and in Contact with the lid;
v. at least one blunt edged lower paddle bent from the rod an angle
thereto;
vi. Wherein there is a vertical clearance gap between the lower paddle and
the bottom of the pot.
In one preferred embodiment of said popcorn cum snack cooker, the lid
comprises at least one steam vent and is made by transparent material, such as
glass or other polymeric/plastic material. Alternatively, the said lid is made of
metallic sheet, such as steel, wherein said lid comprises of a transparent lookthrough
region, made of glass or plastic, to allow the user to view the food
product being cooked/roasted/baked. Glass or other transparent or translucent
materials can be used for preparing the said lid or its transparent/translucent
look-through region. The lid may be removed from the top opening of the cookerpot
as to put in the raw food grains like corn kernels for roasting and cooking to
prepare the snack, and also for processing said snack with flavouring items.
9
A stirrer is provided at the centre of the lid comprising a shaft, extending vertically
downwardly, substantially perpendicular to the faces of the said lid. Said stirrer,
at its vertical shaft, is so secured at the centre of body of the lid that it can freely
rotate with respect to the steady lid, placed above the cooker-pot during roasting
and cooking snack. At least one lower paddle is attached to the shaft of the
stirrer, wherein said lower paddle(s) is configured to be rotated manually by a
user, holding the handle of said stirrer and rotating the said shaft. Lower paddle
of the shaft is created in the form of at least one blunt edged lower paddle(s),
coupled to the shaft. Preferably, the vertical shaft of the stirrer is bent in such a
way at 900 to itself that the lower paddle gets created, positioned horizontally to
the flat bottom surface of the cooker-pot, preferably at close vicinity of said
bottom surface of cooker-pot. While roasting and processing the food grains the
popcorn maker supported with the manual operation of the stirrer, said lower
paddle remains in interaction to the food ingredients at all time all over the
circular surface of the pot so that it spreads the food evenly during its rotation.
The shaft of the stirrer is so secured with the body of lid, using a bearing member
that without interrupting the rotational motion of the said stirrer it can be lifted
upwardly while performing the roasting/cooking in popcorn maker, particularly by
holding and lifting the handle of said stirrer. While such lifting action of the stirrer,
it becomes significantly beneficial to hold the knob and press the lid towards
keeping the lid steady and firmly placed on the top opening of the cooker-pot so
that the said cooker-pot remain properly closed and nothing is allowed to come
out from the closed popcorn maker therein. While performing the upward lift of
the stirrer, the lower paddle of the stirrer, hanging at the lower end of the shaft,
10
also performs upward lift, while performing its normal rotational motion. As per
the manual action of user towards stirring and lifting it time to time, the stirrer
moves upward and returns back to the normal position, leading to upward lift and
downward return of the lower paddle therein. Such upward and downward return
of the lower paddle supports uniform and rapid stirring of the food grain within the
cooker-pot towards uniform roasting/cooking.
When the pot is filled with food this rod interact with the food pushing it too
evenly spread on the surface of the bottom of the top so that the heat does not
heat from the bottom does not burn the food and it get evenly cooked.
During the process of roasting and cooking the food ingredients, a great deal of
steam is formed and towards releasing the said steam the lid is fitted with a
steam vent positioned away from the rotating handle. Preferably, two holes as to
steam vents are provisioned on the lid of the popcorn maker.
Various structural and functional features, provisioned within the said popcorn
maker of the present invention are further demonstrated hereinbelow with the
help of illustrative schematic drawings:
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1: Represents the schematic complete side view of the said popcorn
maker, in closed condition;
Figure 2: Represents the schematic complete view of the said popcorn maker, in
open condition;
11
Figure 3: Shows the schematic side view of the lid assembled with the stirrer;
Figure 4: Shows one schematic view of the lid assembled with the stirrer,
wherein said actual position of the lid body and the perpendicularly hanging
stirrer therein depicted;
Figure 5: Shows the schematic sectional view of the complete popcorn cum
snack maker wherein the rotational function of stirrer to uniformly roast/bake the
food grain like corn, placed either in roasting media or without roasting media, is
depicted;
Figure 6: Shows the schematic upper view of the lid with the stirred, wherein the
horizontal lower paddle section of the stirrer, rotating in the vicinity of the potbottom,
is also shown.
Figure 1 shows the complete view of the said popcorn-cum-snack maker utensil
(1), which is capable of being placed on the burner of kitchen stove for
roasting/cooking grains like corn. Said popcorn maker (1) is depicted having the
main cooker-pot (2), handle (3) of said cooker-pot of the popcorn maker, the lid
(4). Figure 1 shows the closed form of the said popcorn maker (1), properly
closed by the lid (4) at the top.
Figure 2 depicts another view of the popcorn maker (1), not covered by the lid
(4). The lid (4), preferably in circular shape, comprises of several novel structural
and functional components provisioned for effective and uniform roasting/cooking
of corn carnets. Said lid (4) comprises a knob (5) on upper surface of its body,
which acts as the handle for holding the said lid (4) during the roasting of corn or
12
for placing/removing the said lid (4) at the top opening of the cooker-pot (3). At
the central position of the lid (4), a stirrer (6) is assembled. Said stirrer (6)
comprises a handle (7), preferably capable of free rotation. Said stirrer (6)
comprises of a shaft (9), which passes through the centre of the said lid (4) and
is secured using a bearing member (8), allowing the shaft (9) of said stirrer (6) to
perform free rotation.
As depicted in figures 3 and 4, said lid (4) is provided with at least one steam
vent (10). The shaft (9) of the stirrer (6) is provided with a lower paddle (9’) as the
stirring handle, wherein said lower paddle (9’) is so positioned that it remains
almost parallel to the bottom surface (12) of the cooker-pot (2). In the preferred
embodiment of said popcorn maker (1), as also depicted in figure 3 and 4, the
vertical shaft (9), perpendicular to the body of lid (4) comprises the lower paddle
(9’) created at 900. The shape and dimension of said lower paddle (9’) may be
selected optionally, particularly depending upon the nature and quantity of the
grain roasted/cooked as well as on the fact whether the roasting media like sand
or common salt is used or not.
In one preferred embodiment of said popcorn-cum-snack maker (1), the lid (4)
comprises at least one steam vent (10) and the body of said lid (4) is made by
transparent material, such as glass or other polymeric/plastic material.
Alternatively, the said lid (4) is made of metallic sheet, such as steel, wherein
said lid (4) comprises of a transparent look-through region, made of glass or
plastic, to allow the user to view the food product being cooked/roasted/baked.
Glass or other transparent or translucent materials can be used for preparing the
13
said lid (4) or its transparent/translucent look-through region. The lid (4) may be
removed from the top opening of the cooker-pot (2) as to put in the raw food
grains like corn kernels for roasting and cooking to prepare the snack, and also
for processing said snack with flavouring items.
A stirrer (6) is provided at the centre of the lid (4) comprising a shaft (9),
extending vertically downwardly, substantially perpendicular to the faces of the
said lid (4). Said stirrer (6), at its vertical shaft (9), is so secured at the centre of
body of the lid (4) that it can freely rotate with respect to the steady lid (4), placed
above the cooker-pot (2) during roasting and cooking snack. At least one lower
paddle (9’) is attached to the shaft (9) of the stirrer (6), wherein said lower
paddle(s) (9’) is configured to be rotated manually by a user, holding the handle
(7) of said stirrer (6) and rotating the said shaft (9). Lower paddle (9’) of the shaft
(7) is created in the form of at least one blunt edged lower paddle(s), coupled to
the shaft (7). Preferably, the vertical shaft (9) of the stirrer (6) is bent in such a
way at 900 to itself that the lower paddle (9’) gets created, positioned horizontally
to the flat bottom surface (12) of the cooker-pot (2), preferably at close vicinity of
said bottom surface (12) of the cooker-pot (2). While roasting and processing the
food grains in the popcorn maker (1), supported with the manual operation of the
stirrer (6), said lower paddle (9’) remains in interaction to the food ingredients at
all time all over the circular bottom surface (12) of the cooker-pot (2) so that it
spreads the food evenly during its rotation.
The shaft (9) of the stirrer (6) is so secured with the body of lid (4), using a
bearing member (8) that without interrupting the rotational motion of the said
14
stirrer (6) it can be lifted upwardly while performing the roasting/cooking in
popcorn maker (1), particularly by holding and lifting the handle (7) of said stirrer
(6). While such lifting action of the stirrer (6), it becomes significantly beneficial to
hold the knob (5) of the lid (4) and press the said lid (4) towards keeping the lid
(4) steady and firmly placed on the top opening of the cooker-pot (2), so that the
said cooker-pot (2) remain properly closed and nothing is allowed to come out
from the closed popcorn maker (1) therein. While performing the upward lift of
the stirrer (6), the lower paddle (9’) of the stirrer (6), hanging at the lower end of
the shaft (9), also performs upward lift, while performing its normal rotational
motion. As per the manual action of user towards stirring and lifting it time to
time, the stirrer (6) moves upward and returns back to the normal position,
leading to upward lift and downward return of the lower paddle (9’) therein. Such
upward and downward return of the lower paddle (9’) supports uniform and rapid
stirring of the food grain within the cooker-pot (2) towards uniform
roasting/cooking.
When the cooker-pot (2) is filled with food grains, the lower paddle (9’) interact
with the food material pushing it to evenly spread on the surface of the bottom
(12) of the said cooker-pot (2) so that the heat from the bottom (12) does not
burn the food and it get evenly cooked.
When the handle (7) of the stirrer (6) is rotated in one direction (13), say
clockwise, the whole body of the said stirrer (6), including the shaft (9) and the
lower paddle (9’) rotates in the same direction, that is in clockwise direction
herein indicated by reference (14). The movement of lower paddle (9’), either
15
horizontal to the bottom section (12) of the cooker-pot (2) or in upward-downward
direction is completely in accordance with the manual operation of said stirrer (6)
by the user.
The most preferred embodiment of said popcorn maker utensil (1) is
characterized in the method of popcorn making, involving the following major
steps:
- putting certain amount of food grains like corn kernels within the cookerpot
(2);
- closing the said cooker-pot (2) by placing the lid (4) and matching its edges
(11) with the top opening of said cooker-pot (2) above said cooker-pot (2);
- putting said closed popcorn maker utensil (1), loaded with corn kernels, on
the direct flame of a cooking stove, preferably on the flame of the burner of
a kitchen stove;
- gently pressing the knob (5) of the lid (4) downwardly using fingers of one
hand of user;
- manually rotating the handle (7) of the stirrer (6) regularly towards
performing stirring action of the lower paddle (9’) and for uniformly
spreading the corn kernels on the heated bottom (12) of said cooker-pot
(2), preferably in continuous manner to avoid over cooking/roasting or
burning of food grains therein; and
16
- by regularly visualizing the cooking/roasting of corn kernels within the
cooker-pot (2) through the transparent lid (4) and on confirming the
completion of said cooking/roasting of said corn kernels, the popcorn
maker utensil (1) is removed from the said direct flame of the cooking
stove and the cooker/roasted popcorn is taken out from the said cookerpot
(2).
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and
variations can be made in the scheme(s), programming of various software
based instructions involved, modules provisioned for data analysis and
transmission/storage involved, or other possible arrangements and
rearrangements within the present invention, without departing from the spirit or
scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the
modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the
scope of the description, illustrations, drawings, appended claims and their
equivalents.

We Claim:
1. A popcorn cum snack maker (1) comprising of the cooker-pot (2) and a lid
(4) of said cooker-pot (2), wherein the said popcorn-com-snack maker utensil (1)
is provisioned to be placed directly on a burner of a cooking-stove for
roasting/backing/cooking of food-grains like corn, particularly by rotating the
manual stirrer (6), secured with the lid (4) of the said utensil (1), optionally in
presence of roasting media like sand or common salt.
2. A popcorn cum snack maker (1), as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid (4)
is preferably made of a transparent material, namely glass and the said lid (4) is
assembled with a knob-cum-handle (5), a stirrer (6) at the centre of said lid (4)
and at least one steam vent (10) on the body of said lid (4).
3. A popcorn cum snack maker (1), as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stirrer
(6) comprises a shaft (9), extending vertically downwardly, substantially
perpendicular to the faces of the said lid (4), a freely rotatable handle (7) at outer
end of said vertical shaft (9) and at least one blunt edged lower paddle (9’) at the
lower end of said shaft (9) therein.
4. A popcorn cum snack maker (1), as claimed in claim 1, wherein shaft (9) of
the stirrer (6) is so secured with the body of lid (4), using a bearing member (8)
that without interrupting the rotational motion of the said stirrer (6), said shaft (9)
is capable of being lifted upwardly while performing the roasting/cooking in
popcorn maker (1), particularly by holding and lifting the handle (7) of said stirrer
(6).
18
5. A popcorn cum snack maker (1), as claimed in claim 1, the knob (5) is
positioned on the body of lid (4) at a location away from the area covered under
rotational diameter of the stirrer (6) and wherein knob (5) is provisioned for
pressing the said lid (4) downwardly towards keeping the said lid (4) steady and
firmly placed on the top opening of the cooker-pot (2), so that the said cooker-pot
(2) remains properly closed and nothing is allowed to come out from the closed
popcorn maker (1) therein.
6. A popcorn cum snack maker (1), as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower
paddle (9’) is so secured at the lower end of the shaft (9) of the stirrer (6) that it
remains in the proximity of the bottom (12) of the cooker-pot (2) and is
provisioned to perform stirring action within the said cooker-pot (2) by way of its
rotation around the said shaft (9) of stirrer (6), secured with the lid (4).
7. A popcorn cum snack maker (1), as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
preferred embodiment of the said popcorn maker (1) preferably comprises round
shaped cooker-pot (2) wherein its bottom (12) is like flat and circular disk and the
walls of said cooker-pot (2) is optionally selected vertical cylinder or near to a
cylinder, with matching diameter of said flat bottom (12); wherein such shape of
the bottom (12) is characterized in that the maximum area available for receiving
maximum heat and also for spreading the food grains therein towards uniform
stirring and roasting.
8. A popcorn cum snack maker (1), as claimed in claim 1, is preferably a
popcorn maker utensil provisioned for roasting corn kernels, preferably in
absence of any roasting media like sand or common salt, within the cooker-pot
19
(2) kept closed by applying the lid (4) above the said cooker-pot (2) and
supported with the stirring action of stirrer (6) therein.
(9) A popcorn cum snack maker (1), as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
popcorn maker (1) is characterized in the method of popcorn making, involving
the following steps:
- putting certain amount of food grains like corn kernels within the cookerpot
(2);
- closing the said cooker-pot (2) by placing the lid (4) and matching its edges
(11) with the top opening of said cooker-pot (2) above said cooker-pot (2);
- putting said closed popcorn maker utensil (1), loaded with corn kernels, on
the direct flame of a cooking stove, preferably on the flame of the burner of
a kitchen stove;
- gently pressing the knob (5) of the lid (4) downwardly using fingers of one
hand of user;
- manually rotating the handle (7) of the stirrer (6) regularly towards
performing stirring action of the lower paddle (9’) and for uniformly
spreading the corn kernels on the heated bottom (12) of said cooker-pot
(2), preferably in continuous manner to avoid over cooking/roasting or
burning of food grains therein; and
- by regularly visualizing the cooking/roasting of corn kernels within
the cooker-pot (2) through the transparent lid (4) and on confirming the
20
completion of said cooking/roasting of said corn kernels, the popcorn
maker utensil (1) is removed from the said direct flame of the cooking
stove and the cooker/roasted popcorn is taken out from the said cookerpot
(2).