GB2256120A

GB2256120A - Article of food

Info

Publication number: GB2256120A
Application number: GB9111774A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tonder Jan Rossouw Van
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-05-31
Filing date: 1991-05-31
Publication date: 1992-12-02
Also published as: GB9111774D0

Abstract

A flour based article of food such as a hamburger bun or hotdog roll is divided and a hollow is formed in at least one, preferably each, portion. The hollow is formed by impressing in a device having a socket, to seat the portion, and a protrusion. The material bounding the hollow may be toasted. A hamburger or hotdog is prepared by filling the hollow(s) with appropriate fillers or filling material. <IMAGE>

Description

ARTICLE OF FOOD THIS INVENTION relates to an article of food. It relates more specifically to a flour-based article of food suitable for use as the base of a filled article of food such as a hamburger, a hotdog, and the like. The invention relates further to a method of preparing such a filled article of food and to the filled article of food itself. It relates yet further to a device suitable for use in preparing such a filled article of food.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a flour-based article of food suitable for use as the base of a filled article of food, the article of food being in two complemental portions at least one of which has a hollow to hold filling, such as a filler item or filling material e.g. a meat patty, a sausage, sauces or condiments, and the like.

Preferably, both portions may have the hollows which will be arranged to oppose each other to form a cavity in use.

The article of food may be in the form of a bun such as a hamburger bun. Instead it may be in the form of a roll such as a hotdog roll.

The material bounding the hollows may be toasted.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a filled article of food comprising a base in the form of an article of food in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, and a filler or filling material contained in a cavity formed by the hollow or the opposed hollows of the base.

The filled article of food may be a hamburger.

Instead, it may be a hotdog.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of preparing an article of food of the first aspect, the method including dividing the article into two portions (not necessarily separated portions), and forming a hollow in at least one of the respective portions.

Preferably, the method may include forming hollows in both portions such that the hollows oppose each other to form a cavity in use.

Forming the hollows may be by impressing. Thus, the method may include seating each portion in a complemental socket and impressing the hollow into the article by means of a complemental protrusion.

By way of development, the method may include toasting material of the article of food bounding the hollows.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a device suitable for use in carrying out the method of the third aspect, the device having opposed plates having complemental sets of sockets and protrusions respectively to hold a portion of the article of food and to impress the hollow into the portion of the article of food.

The protrusions may be capable of being heated to toast the material bounding the hollows. Likewise, the sockets may be capable of being heated to warm the article of food. The device may thus have heating elements e.g. electrical heating elements associated with the protrusions and the sockets.

The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings Figure 1 shows, in three dimensional view, a first embodiment of a device in accordance with the invention in its open condition; Figure 2 corresponds to Figure 1 but shows the device in its closed condition; Figure 3 shows, in a view corresponding to that of Figure 1, a second embodiment of a device in accordance with the invention; Figure 4 shows, a section taken at the position indicated at IV-IV in Figure 1 but with the device in its closed condition; Figure 5 shows, in sectional side view, fragmentarily, to a larger scale, operation of the device of Figure 1; Figure 6 shows a hamburger in accordance with the invention in sectional side view; and Figure 7 shows a hotdog in accordance with the invention in part sectional three dimensional view.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a device in accordance with the invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 10.

The device 10 comprises a pair of plates indicated as a bottom plate 12 and a top plate 14. The bottom plate 12 is supported on feet 16 provided at corners of the bottom plate which is of rectangular shape. The top plate is of complemental size and shape. The plates are hinged along one sides as shown at 18 such that the top plate 14 can be pivoted between an open condition as shown in Fiure 1 and a closed condition as shown in Figure 2.

As is shown in Figure 2, the hinging at 18 is actually between the bottom plate 12 and a lever 20 having a handle 22 and extending over the top plate 14. A pair of lugs 24 project from an upper surface of the top plate 14 and hinge the lever 20 by means of a hinge pin 26 therebetween. The hinge pin 26 is parallel to the hinge axis of the hinge 18.

The bottom plate 12 has a flat operative surface 28 within which four sockets 30 are formed. The sockets 30 are of a size and shape to support one portion of a typical hamburger bun. Thus, in the embodiment shown, two hamburger buns can be halved and the four portions can each be supported in a socket 30. In this regard, it is to be appreciated that the capacity of the device 10 can be varied to suit the perceived operating conditions. For example, for domestic use, it is anticipated that about four sockets will be provided. In commercial devices, a larger number of buns will be accommodated. If desired, in such commercial devices, the top plates 14 may be in sections so that they can be opened independently.

Correspondingly, the top plate 14 has a flat operative surface 32 from which four protrusions 34 project. The protrusions 34 are of a size and shape to impress hollows within the bun portions supported in the sockets 30. Thus, and with reference to Figure 4, when the top plate 14 is closed on the bottom plate 12, cavities 36 are defined intermediate the sockets 30 and protrusions 34.

With reference to Figure 5, it is shown how a bun half 40 is supported in the socket 30 and how the protrusion 34 forms a depression or hollow 42 in the bun half 40.

By way of development and still with reference to Figure 5, a heating element cavity 44 may be provided in association with each protrusion 34 and a heating element 46 may be provided within each heating element cavity 44. The heating elements 46 are conveniently electrically powered. Thus, in that embodiment, the material bounding the depression or hollow 42 can be toasted.

It is to be appreciated that by toasting such bounding material, a layer of toasted material which is less absorbent than untoasted material is provided. It is thus anticipated that sauces, condiments and other liquid or semi-liquid matter will be less likely to render the bun soggy than with untoasted buns.

A further advantage of toasting the bounding material is that it will stabilize the hollow 42 and will make it less likely that the hollow will in time be filled up by dilating of the material of the bun as it may have a tendency to return to its original shape.

With reference to Figure 6, a hamburger in accordance with the invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 50. The hamburger comprises a bottom half 40 having a depression 42, a top half 44 having a complemental and opposing depression 46 and filling or filling material 48 within the cavity formed by the opposing depressions 42, 46. The filling, bearing in mind that the article is a hamburger, will be in the form of a meat patty, tomatoes, onion rings, lettuce or green salad, sauces, condiments, and the like. It is to be appreciated that the filling is described by way of example only and not in limiting fashion.

In Figure 3, a second embodiment of a device in accordance with the invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 10.1. In virtually all respects it is either identical or similar to the device of Figure 1 and like reference numerals refer to like features. The only distinction of significance is that the Figure 3 embodiment is intended for use with hotdog rolls rather than hamburger buns and the shape of the sockets 30.1 and protrusions 34.1 are accordingly modified. Also the operation of the device of Figure 3 is virtually identical to that of Figure 1 and is not again described.

With reference to Figure 7, a hotdog in accordance with the invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 50.1.

It comprises the bottom and top hamburger roll portions, respectively 40.1 and 44.1 within which opposing hollows 42.1 and 46.1 are formed. The hollows 42.1 and 46.1 define therebetween a cavity within which a filling 48.1 is shown. In this embodiment, the filling 48.1 is basically in the form of a sausage and mustard or like sauce.

It is a first advantage of the invention that the filling of an article of food such as a hamburger or hotdog is contained in a hollow, thus rendering the liquid or flowable portions of the filling less likely to flow out of the bun or roll.

A further advantage is that the filled article in accordance with the invention is of more slender profile thus making it more easy to eat, especially by women and children.

This aspect also makes the filled article less prone to messing.

It is a further advantage that by toasting a relatively thin layer of material bounding the hollows, the filled article will have a longer "shelf life" in that the liquid or flowable components of the filling are less likely to be absorbed in the material of the bun or roll and will make it less likely to become soggy.

The Applicant believes that it is also an advantage that a filled food article is provided having a new and neat appearance which will make it more attractive to a potential user, especially a more sophisticated user.

It is further believed to be an advantage that by forming hollows in the base article of food (the bun or roll for example) will facilitate preparing the article in that it will be more stable and will hold the filling more neatly.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A flour-based article of food suitable for use as the base of a filled article of food, the article of food being in two complemental portions, at least one of which has a hollow to hold filling, such as a filler item or filling material.

2. A flour-based article of food as claimed in Claim 1 in which both portions have hollows, the hollows being arranged to oppose each other to form a cavity in use.

3. A flour-based article of food as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the article of food is in the form of a bun suitable for use as a hamburger bun.

4. A flour-based article of food as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the article of food is in the form of a roll suitable for use as a hotdog roll.

5. A flour-based article of food as claimed in any one of Claim 1 to Claim 4 inclusive in which the material bounding the or each hollow is toasted.

6. A filled article of food comprising a base in the form of an article of food as claimed in any one of Claim 1 to Claim 5, and a filler or filling material contained in a cavity in the base.

7. A filled article of food as claimed in Claim 6, insofar as it is dependent from Claim 3, which is in the form of a hamburger.

8. A filled article of food as claimed in Claim 6, insofar as it is dependent from Claim 4, which is in the form of a hotdog.

9. A method of preparing an article of food as claimed in any one of Claim 1 to Claim 5, the method including dividing the article into two portions, and forming a hollow in at least one of the portions.

10. A method as claimed in Claim 9 which includes forming hollows in both portions such that the hollows oppose each other to form a cavity in use.

11. A method as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10 in which forming the or each hollow is by impressing.

12. A method as claimed in Claim 11 which includes seating the or each portion which is to be rendered hollow in a complemental socket and impressing the hollow into the portion by means of a complemental protrusion.

13. A method as claimed in any one of Claim 9 to Claim 12 inclusive including toasting material of the article of food bounding the or each hollow.

14. A device suitable for use in carrying out the method as claimed in any one of Claim 9 to Claim 13, the device having opposed plates having complemental sets of sockets and protrusions respectively to hold a portion of the article of food and to impress the hollow into the portion of the article of food.

15. A device as claimed in Claim 14 in which the protrusions are selectively heatable to toast the material bounding the hollows.

16. A device as claimed in Claim 14 or Claim 15 in which the sockets are selectively heatable to warm the article of food.

17. A device as claimed in Claim 15 or Claim 16 which has heating elements associated with at least one of the protrusions and the sockets.

18. A flour-based or a filled article of food substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

19. A method of preparing an article of food substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

20. A device for use in preparing an article of food, the device being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.