Clamshell grill for non-flat food products
AssigneeStearns Product Development Corporation
InventorsSteven Raio, Juan Martinez, Howard J. Frantz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clamshell heating apparatus for elongate food items includes a lower platen and an upper platen, at least one platen having a plurality of elongate concave channels defined by arcuate or cylindrical-segment profiles that increase conductive surface contact while limiting deformation of cylindrical products such as burritos, wraps, and sandwiches. A tapered lead-in surface at an operator-facing front edge of the lower platen facilitates safe manual access upon opening. An adjustable stop defines a closed position and maintains a repeatable minimum separation distance between the platens, providing consistent compression independent of the number, size, or placement of items.
Claims20
A clamshell heating apparatus for heating an elongate food item, the apparatus comprising:
- a lower platen and an upper platen, at least one of the platens including a plurality of elongate concave channels defined by arcuate profiles configured to increase conductive contact with the elongate food item while limiting deformation thereof, the lower platen having a tapered lead-in surface adjacent an operator-facing front edge to facilitate manual access to the elongate food item upon opening;
- and
- an adjustable stop that defines a closed position and is configured to maintain a repeatable minimum separation distance between the upper platen and the lower platen in the closed position to prevent overcompression.
A method of heating an elongate food item, the method comprising:
- adjusting an adjustable stop on a clamshell heating apparatus including a lower platen and an upper platen, at least one of the platens having a plurality of elongate concave channels defined by arcuate or cylindrical-segment profiles configured to increase conductive contact with the elongate food item while limiting deformation thereof, the lower platen having a tapered lead-in surface adjacent an operator-facing front edge, the adjustable stop being configured to define a closed position and to maintain a repeatable minimum separation distance between the platens;
- placing the elongate food item on the lower platen with the elongate food item aligned with at least one of the elongate concave channels;
- lowering the upper platen until the adjustable stop defines the closed position at the repeatable minimum separation distance independent of a number, size, or placement of elongate food items;
- maintaining the platens at the closed position for a selected heating interval to increase conductive contact with the elongate food item while limiting deformation thereof;
- raising the upper platen;
- and
- removing the elongate food item by grasping an end thereof adjacent the tapered lead-in surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.