DEVICE FOR HOLDING COOKING BAG

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for holding boil-in-the-bags. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Boil-in-the-bag cooking bags are traditionally used for the quick and easy preparation of rice. However, noodles, vegetables, fruit, dumplings, and other foods can also be easily prepared using boil-in-the-bag cooking bags.

[0003] In addition, vacuum cooking or sous-vide cooking of meat, fish, seafood and other foods has become increasingly popular in recent years, as this type of preparation involves sealing the food in a plastic bag from which the air has been extracted using a vacuum sealer, and then gently preparing it at a constant water temperature in the range of 50 to 85 °C.

[0004] However, preparing food or meals using a boil-in-the-bag has the disadvantage that after the cooking process, the boil-in-the-bag usually has to be fished out of the hot water with a fork or wooden spoon, and in order to access the prepared contents, the boil-in-the-bag must be cut open, which sometimes forces you to grasp the still-hot boil-in-the-bag with your hands in order to cut it open.

[0005] Furthermore, draining the cooking water, especially with vegetables, rice, or pasta, causes the boil-in-the-bag to feel "slippery," making it unpalatable after cooking. Furthermore, handling the boil-in-the-bag with bare hands after draining—without gloves—is sometimes viewed with skepticism for hygiene reasons.

[0006] In order to simplify the removal of boil-in-the-bags from the hot water, it is known from the state of the art to hang the boil-in-the-bag in a special holder during the preparation of the food contained therein, which is then attached to the edge of the pot spanning the hot water bath.

[0007] With such a holder, as disclosed, for example, in US 3,819,089, it is no longer necessary to fish the cooking bag out of the hot water bath after the cooking / cooking process, since it has already been cooked while hanging in the holder.

[0008] However, using such a holder also requires the use of special, expensive cooking bags that can be held in the holder. Furthermore, because the holder hangs over the hot water bath, it becomes uncomfortably hot, making it difficult for the user to easily grasp it with their hands.

[0009] A different approach to handling boil-in-the-bags during food preparation is pursued in US Pat. No. 3,774,251. This document proposes using a scissor-like tool to fish the boil-in-the-bag out of the hot water and then cut it open directly at the end held by the scissor legs. For this purpose, the scissor legs are equipped with cutting edges.

[0010] However, this complex, multi-part tool isn't suitable for simply letting the boil-in-the-bag drain. Rather, the boil-in-the-bag would have to be placed somewhere or held in place by the tool the entire time.

[0011] Additionally, it's possible that when picking up the boil-in-the-bag after draining, or even when removing it from the water bath, it might accidentally be cut open, spilling the contents uncontrollably. It's also possible that when cutting open the boil-in-the-bag, the contents might fall out, forcing you to pick up the boil-in-the-bag again.

[0012] A device for turning food that is structurally similar to the invention is known from US 2,551,877A. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Based on the aforementioned prior art, the object of the present invention is therefore to create an easy-to-use device for holding boil-in-the-bags, which, on the one hand, allows the boil-in-the-bag, along with the food contained therein, to be drained easily and quickly, and, on the other hand, allows the boil-in-the-bag to be subsequently opened to remove prepared meals or food without having to grasp the boil-in-the-bag by hand. Furthermore, the device is intended to facilitate the removal of the boil-in-the-bag from the hot water.

[0014] This object is achieved by the device for holding boil-in-the-bags having the features of claim 1; advantageous further developments are the subject of the subclaims.

[0015] According to one aspect of the invention, a device for holding boil-in-the-bags is provided, which device comprises a substantially rectangular support surface, a handle, and a hanging section.

[0016] According to the invention, the handle and the suspension section are arranged on an upper edge in the longitudinal direction of the storage surface, preferably in the middle of the storage surface in the width direction, and extend in mutually opposite directions along a thickness direction of the storage surface.

[0017] The handle forms a U-shape with the storage surface, wherein the handle is spaced from a rear side of the storage surface and faces the rear side of the storage surface, and is designed to extend at an angle, in particular between 0° and 20°, along the storage surface.

[0018] The suspension section essentially forms an L-shape with the storage surface, wherein the suspension section is formed at an angle, in particular between 90° and 130°, relative to a front side of the storage surface, away from the front side of the storage surface. In a preferred embodiment, the handle and the suspension section are formed integrally with the storage surface.

[0019] With the device according to the invention for holding boil-in-the-bags (hereinafter also referred to simply as the device), it is particularly easy to let the boil-in-the-bag drain after cooking and then quickly and easily open it for emptying without having to grasp the boil-in-the-bag by hand.

[0020] For this purpose, the cooking bag can be fished out of the water bath as usual with a fork or similar and hung on the hanging section of the device.

[0021] According to the invention, it is also possible for the cooking bag to be hung on the device according to the invention before the food contained therein is prepared - in a dry state - and then hung on the pot together with the device for cooking.

[0022] The U-shaped design of the handle and resting surface makes it particularly advantageous to simply hang the device on the edge of the pot. This allows the boil-in-the-bag to be easily removed from the hot water in the pot after cooking, without having to fish it out with a fork or similar tool.

[0023] This is because the boil-in-the-bag device can be hung on the hanging section before preparing the food contained in the boil-in-the-bag, or at the very latest after removing the boil-in-the-bag device from the hot water. After preparing the food, the device with the boil-in-the-bag device attached can simply be set aside to drain.

[0024] Since the storage surface is inclined due to the handle on it, the water can drain away unhindered and the cooking bag can then be easily cut open.

[0025] It's also conceivable to use the device not only for storing boil-in-the-dry bags. Rather, it can also be used for storing tea bags with loose tea or spice sachets with spice blends, for example, for preparing sauces or mulled wine after brewing.

[0026] By holding the handle when cutting open the boil-in-the-bag and holding the device over a container to be filled, such as a bowl, the contents of the boil-in-the-bag can be easily emptied into the bowl without the user having to touch the boil-in-the-bag with their hand.

[0027] This avoids unpleasant and sometimes unhygienic handling of the boil-in-the-bag, which would otherwise occur when grabbing the boil-in-bag after draining and when emptying it.

[0028] The one-piece design also allows for a highly stable yet simple and sometimes cost-effective manufacture of the device according to the invention.

[0029] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the handle can consist of two legs extending essentially in a U-shape from the storage surface and bent towards the rear of the storage surface, and a handle plate adjoining the legs, in particular in one piece.

[0030] This design allows a stable and, in particular, torsion-resistant design of the device for holding boil-in-the-bags.

[0031] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the suspension section can consist of a tongue extending between the two legs of the handle in a substantially L-shaped manner away from the storage surface.

[0032] By designing the suspension section as a tongue extending essentially in an L-shape from the support surface between the two legs of the handle, it is particularly advantageous to manufacture the device simply and with little material expenditure - from one piece.

[0033] According to a further aspect of the present invention, in at least a partial area of ​​the front side of the storage surface, a support extending away from the front side of the storage surface can be formed on a lower edge of the storage surface in the longitudinal direction of the storage surface.

[0034] According to a further aspect, this support can be substantially triangular, wherein a tip of the triangular support pointing away from the support surface can have a cutting edge, in particular consisting of a serrated or wavy grind.

[0035] This design makes it particularly advantageous not only to place food cooked in the boil-in-the-bag on the shelf to drain, but also to open the boil-in-the-bag directly using the serrated or wavy cutting edge without the aid of additional tools such as a knife or scissors.

[0036] For example, after preparing a sous-vide cooked piece of meat or fish, it can be picked up with kitchen tongs after draining it together with the cooking bag and the bag can then be opened at the serrated cutting edge, allowing the cooked piece of meat or fish to be removed from the bag quickly and easily - hygienically - without having to touch the cooking bag or the food directly with your hand.

[0037] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the storage surface can be trapezoidal or circular segment-shaped and / or can be tapered or truncated cone-shaped towards the upper edge in the longitudinal direction of the storage surface.

[0038] This design advantageously allows the food to be placed on the storage surface in a stable and fall-proof manner and at the same time ensures that the cooking water can flow away from the food due to the trapezoidal or circular segment-like design of the storage surface.

[0039] In addition, the device for holding boil-in-the-bags can be designed with a low weight due to the upwardly tapered or truncated cone-shaped design.

[0040] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the handle can have thermal insulation at least partially, in particular in the transition area from the storage surface to the legs and / or in the area of ​​the handle plate adjoining the legs.

[0041] By providing thermal insulation, either by selecting a suitable material or by subsequently applying an insulating layer, for example made of a plastic or by means of a ceramic coating, it is advantageously possible to avoid injuries due to the heating of the device for holding cooking bags that occurs during the preparation of the food.

[0042] Especially if the device is hung on the pot throughout the entire preparation process, the heat from the water is transferred into the device, which heats up accordingly. By the time the user picks up the device, it may already be so hot that they burn their fingers.

[0043] Therefore, if thermal insulation is provided at the transition area from the support surface to the legs (the belly of the U) and / or in the area of ​​the handle plate adjoining the legs, which prevents heat transfer, the device for holding boil-in-the-bags can be easily removed from the hot pot without burning one's fingers.

[0044] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the device can consist of a stamped and bent part, a die-cast part, or an injection-molded part. Combinations of these are also conceivable.

[0045] The design as a stamped and bent part, die-cast part, or injection-molded part allows for extremely simple, cost-effective production, while also allowing a certain degree of freedom in choosing the shape of the shelf. Furthermore, easy and hygienic cleaning is possible. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS

[0046] Fig. 1 shows a front perspective view of an embodiment of a device for holding boil-in-the-bags according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows a rear perspective view of an embodiment of a device for holding boil-in-the-bags according to the invention; and Fig. 3 shows a side perspective view of an embodiment of a device for holding boil-in-the-bags according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0047] An exemplary embodiment of the device for holding boil-in-the-bags according to the invention is described below with reference to the drawings.

[0048] Referring to Fig. 1 the longitudinal direction of the device 1 according to the invention for holding boil-in-the-bags extends in the drawing substantially along the lateral direction from top to bottom and the width direction of the device 1 according to the invention extends in the drawing substantially along the lateral direction from left to right.

[0049] The device 1 shown here for holding boil-in-the-bag bags (hereinafter also referred to simply as the device) consists of a stamped and bent stainless steel part. Alternatively, the device can also be designed as an aluminum die-cast part or a plastic injection-molded part. Furthermore, various combinations of stainless steel, plastic, ceramic, aluminum, and the like are conceivable, as long as the device is sufficiently heat-resistant, food-safe, and easy to clean.

[0050] As in Fig. 1 As shown, the device 1 consists of a substantially rectangular, trapezoidal storage surface 3 with a central section and two side parts arranged on the central section, which extend from the central section in a trapezoidal manner upwards - away from the plane of the drawing.

[0051] The corners of the storage surface 3 are rounded in the embodiment shown here, but can also be straight or chamfered. Although the storage surface 3 is trapezoidal here, it can also be circular or—in the simplest design—flat.

[0052] A handle 5 and a suspension section 7 are formed at an upper end of the device 1.

[0053] In the embodiment shown here, the storage surface 3, the handle 5, and the suspension section 7 are formed from a single piece of metal, for example, stainless steel. However, it is also conceivable for the handle 5 and / or the suspension section 7 to be manufactured as separate components, for example, from a different material, and then connected to the storage surface 3, for example by gluing, laser welding, or the like.

[0054] For example, the handle 5 for heat insulation can be made of a ceramic material, a metal-ceramic alloy or the like and can be connected to the storage surface 3.

[0055] As in Fig. 1 As can be seen, the suspension section 7 and the handle 5 are designed as elements each extending away from the storage surface 3 as a reference plane.

[0056] In particular, in the embodiment shown here, the handle 5 and the suspension section 7 are arranged on an upper edge in the longitudinal direction of the storage surface 3 in the middle of the storage surface 3 in the width direction and extend in mutually opposite directions along a thickness direction of the storage surface 3. The thickness direction is to be understood as the direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the storage surface 3 in the longitudinal direction or width direction.

[0057] As can be seen in particular from the Figures 1 and 3As can be seen, the handle 5 and the storage surface 3 essentially form a U-shape, wherein the handle 5 is spaced from a rear side of the storage surface 3 as a reference plane and faces the rear side of the storage surface 3.

[0058] The angle formed between the handle 5 and the storage surface 3 as the two legs of the U is in this embodiment between 0° (the handle 5 and the storage surface 3 are parallel to each other) and 20° (the handle 5 runs diagonally away from the storage surface 3) or more, but can be adjusted as required.

[0059] As from Fig. 2 As can be seen, the handle 5 is formed in an upper region by two legs 51 extending away from the storage surface 3 and bent towards the rear of the storage surface 3.

[0060] The lower area of ​​the handle also consists of a grip plate 53, which enables the user to easily grasp the device 1 and at the same time allows a stable, tip-proof storage of the device 1, e.g. on a table or the worktop in the kitchen.

[0061] As from Fig. 3 As can be seen, the distance between the handle 5 and the storage surface 3 is selected such that it is not only easy for the user to grip the device 1 for holding boil-in-the-bags with his hand, but also that the device 1 can be easily hung on a pot or bowl, e.g. for preparing meals or foodstuffs held in the boil-in-the-bag or for emptying the boil-in-the-bag when serving the meals prepared therein.

[0062] For this purpose, the belly of the U between handle 5 and storage surface 3 is preferably dimensioned such that the device 1 does not rattle loosely when hanging from the pot, while the user can still easily and securely grip the device due to the angled position of the legs 51 and, above all, the handle plate 53. It is conceivable that the belly of the U between handle 5 and storage surface 3 can be secured to the pot in a non-slip manner using a silicone insert (not shown here).

[0063] The hanging section 7, which is also formed at the upper edge in the middle of the storage area 3, is used to hang boil-in-the-bags.

[0064] For example, classic boil-in-the-bag rice cookers have an opening in the middle of their upper edge, which is traditionally used to fish the boil-in-the-bag rice out of the boiling water with a fork or wooden spoon and place it on a plate or similar to drain.

[0065] Such cooking bags, but also other cooking bags that can be individually filled with vegetables, pasta or other foods or used for sous-vide cooking, can now be easily hung on the hanging section 7 and then either hung on or in the pot for cooking together with the device 1 by means of the handle 5 or placed on the worktop or a plate with the device 1 for draining before further processing.

[0066] As particularly in the Figures 1 and 3 As can be seen, the hanging section 7 with the storage surface 3 essentially forms an L-shape.

[0067] The angle formed between the hanging section 7 and the storage surface 3 as the two legs of the L in this embodiment is between 90° and 130° or more, but can be adjusted as required, as long as it is ensured that the cooking bag suspended on the hanging section 7 cannot slip off.

[0068] The angle formed between the hanging section 7 and the storage surface 3 as the two legs of the L is thus at least 90° in order to prevent the hanging cooking bag from slipping.

[0069] Alternatively, slipping of the suspended boil-in-bag can be prevented by forming the surface of the suspension section 7 with a grooved or ribbed structure or by forming the front end of the suspension section 7 in a hook-like manner.

[0070] In the embodiment shown here, the hanging section 7, as also shown in the figures, is designed as a tongue - spatula-like - extending between the two legs 51 of the handle 5 in an L-shape away from the storage surface 3, on which the cooking bags can be hung.

[0071] Although not shown in the drawings, a support extending away from the front side of the storage surface 3 may be formed on a lower edge of the storage surface 3 in the longitudinal direction of the storage surface 3.

[0072] This support can, for example, be triangular in shape, with the pointed end of the triangle pointing away from the support surface 3 having a serrated or wavy edge.

[0073] The serrated or wavy edge advantageously allows boil-in-the-bags located on the storage surface 3 to be cut open directly after draining - without the aid of additional tools such as scissors or a knife - in order to remove the food contained in the boil-in-the-bag.

[0074] At the same time, the serrated or wavy edge is designed so "blunt" that accidental cutting of the cooking bag, for example when placing it on the worktop to drain, can be prevented.

[0075] Thus, with the design according to the invention, the user can, for example, grasp the boil-in-the-bag with kitchen tongs after draining the prepared food and then cut the bag open by guiding the boil-in-the-bag along the cutting edge under pressure, whereby the cooked food can be removed from the bag quickly and easily without having to touch the boil-in-the-bag or the food directly with the hand.

[0076] In order to prevent a user from "burning his fingers" when using the device 1 for holding boil-in-the-bags, for example when removing the device 1 from the still hot cooking pot, a heat insulation (not shown here) is also formed at least partially on the handle 5.

[0077] This thermal insulation can be formed, for example, in the transition area from the support surface 3 to the legs 51 and / or in the area of ​​the handle plate 53 adjoining the legs 51. It is also conceivable for the handle to have a complete thermally insulating property, for example, by coating the handle with a thermally insulating material.

[0078] The device 1 described herein for holding boil-in-the-bags allows the simple and clean use of boil-in-the-bag bags in the preparation of all kinds of food, either in the form of boil-in-the-bag rice or in the form of individually packed foodstuffs in boil-in-the-bags such as noodles, vegetables, fish, meat or the like.

[0079] The device 1 described here for holding cooking bags also allows, in particular, the gentle sous-vide-like preparation of food in such a way that the food can be hung on the hanging section 7 of the device 1 for cooking in the cooking bag, in order to then be gently cooked together with the device 1 in the pot at relatively low temperatures of below 100 °C.

[0080] Due to the heat-resistant properties of the device 1 itself, it can also be used for boiling water without warping. The thermal insulation also allows for easy handling without the risk of burns.

[0081] Due to the angular design of the heat-insulated handle 5 and the trapezoidal storage surface 3 to each other, it is also possible to simply place the device 1 on the worktop, a plate or the like in the kitchen to drain after removing it from the hot pot, whereby the remaining cooking water can flow off along the curved surfaces of the storage surface 3.

[0082] After the draining process, the cooking bag can then be easily opened, if necessary using the additional serrated support or simply with a knife, in order to remove and serve the prepared food.

[0083] In addition, the device can also be used to store tea bags with loose tea or spice bags with spice mixtures, e.g. for the preparation of sauces or mulled wine, after brewing.

[0084] Since the device 1 is also designed as a single piece as a stamped and bent part, a die-cast part or an injection-molded part, the device can also be cleaned very easily and hygienically in the dishwasher.

[0085] The present invention thus creates an easy-to-use device for holding boil-in-the-bags, which on the one hand allows the boil-in-the-bag and the food held therein to be drained easily and quickly.

[0086] On the other hand, the device for holding boil-in-the-bags makes it possible to open the boil-in-the-bag after draining to remove prepared food without having to grasp the boil-in-the-bag with your hand.

[0087] In addition, the device makes it easier to remove the cooking bag from the hot water, as the cooking bag can be hung up before preparation and then placed in the water bath with the device.

Claims

1. A device (1) for holding cooking bags, comprising: a substantially rectangular support surface (3), a handle piece (5), and a hanging section (7), wherein: • the handle piece (5) and the hanging section (7) are arranged on an upper edge in the longitudinal direction of the support surface (3), preferably in the center of the support surface (3) in the width direction, and extend in opposite directions along a thickness direction of the support surface (3), • the handle piece (5) and the support surface (3) substantially form the shape of a U, with the handle piece (5) being spaced from a rear face of the support surface (3) and facing the rear face of the support surface (3), and extending along the support surface (3) at an angle, particularly between 0° and 20°, • the hanging section (7) substantially forms the shape of an L with the support surface (3), wherein the hanging section (7) extends away from a front face of the support surface (3) at an angle, particularly between 90° and 130°, with respect to the front face of the support surface (3), and • the handle piece (5) and the hanging section (7) are integrally formed with the support surface (3).

2. The device (1) for holding cooking bags according to claim 1, wherein the handle piece (5) consists of two legs (51) extending away from the support surface (3), substantially in the shape of a U, which are bent towards the rear face of the support surface (3), and of a handle plate (53) integrally adjoining the legs (51).

3. The device (1) for holding cooking bags according to claim 1, wherein the hanging section (7) consists of a tongue extending between the two legs (51) of the handle piece (5), substantially in an L shape, away from the support surface (3).

4. The device (1) for holding cooking bags according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a support extending away from the front face of the support surface (3) is provided in at least a partial area of the front face of the support surface (3) at a lower edge of the support surface (3) in the longitudinal direction of the support surface (3).

5. The device (1) for holding cooking bags according to claim 4, wherein the support is substantially triangular and a tip of the triangular support, facing away from the support surface (3), has a cutting edge, particularly consisting of a serrated or corrugated edge.

6. The device (1) for holding cooking bags according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the support surface (3) is formed in a trapezoidal design.

7. The device (1) for holding cooking bags according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the support surface (3) is formed in an arc-like design.

8. The device (1) for holding cooking bags according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support surface (3) is formed tapered or truncated towards the upper edge in the longitudinal direction of the support surface (3).

9. The device (1) for holding cooking bags according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handle piece (5) at least partially comprises heat insulation, particularly in the transition region from the support surface (3) to the legs (51) and / or in the region of the handle plate (53) adjoining the legs (51).

10. The device (1) for holding cooking bags according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device consists of a stamped and bent part, a die-cast part or an injection-molded part.