WO2006030265A2

WO2006030265A2 - Microwave oven accessory

Info

Publication number: WO2006030265A2
Application number: PCT/IB2005/002566
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel Johann GRÄBE
Original assignee: Graebe Daniel Johann
Priority date: 2004-08-31
Filing date: 2005-08-31
Publication date: 2006-03-23
Also published as: WO2006030265A3

Abstract

A microwave oven accessory for use in a microwave oven having a floor (9) and a turntable (11) for supporting a bowl (6) in the microwave oven is provided. The accessory comprises, in the operative condition, a support frame, that is preferably of knockdown construction, configured and dimensioned to fit within at least a particular shape and size of microwave oven. The support frame has upright supports (8) interconnected by at least one generally horizontal transverse crosspiece (2) supporting an axle (4) extending downwards and terminating at or towards its operatively lower end in one or more transverse mixer blades (5) that in use are located in a required region of a bowl supported on the. Mixing is achieved by rotation of the turntable and bowl thereon relative to the stationary mixer blades.

Description

MICROWAVE OVEN ACCESSORY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a microwave oven accessory and, more particularly, to an accessory the purpose of which is to mix or stir the contents of a bowl or the like (herein termed a bowl irrespective of its configuration or technical name) being heated in a microwave oven.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is a common problem when heating, cooking or otherwise preparing food in a microwave oven that the contents of a bowl needs to be mixed or stirred from time to time. This typically involves lifting the relevant bowl out of the microwave, as and when necessary; stirring or mixing the contents; and returning the bowl to the microwave for further heating.

This procedure is not only tedious but also relatively dangerous in that the bowl can become extremely hot and, accordingly, exposes the person handling it to the possibility of burns.

One expedient that has been made available in order to counteract this difficulty is for the turntable that supports a bowl in use to be mounted on runners so that it can be pulled out in the manner of a drawer with the bowl still in position on the turntable. This then facilitates and, in fact, diminishes, handling of a hot bowl.

Applicant is not aware of any other expedients that have been made commercially available on the market in order to address this difficulty. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide a microwave oven accessory that will address the difficulty outlined above, at least to some extent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a microwave oven accessory for use in a microwave oven having a floor and a turntable for supporting a bowl in the microwave oven, the accessory being characterised in that it comprises, in the operative condition, a support frame configured and dimensioned to fit within at least a particular shape and size of microwave oven, the support frame comprising generally upright supports interconnected by at least one generally horizontal transverse crosspiece supporting an axle extending downwards and terminating at or towards its operatively lower end in one or more transverse mixer blades operatively positioned, in the vertical direction, to be located in a required region of a bowl supported on the turntable within the microwave oven, and wherein the upright supports are configured so as to be supported on the floor of the microwave oven in a region radially beyond the periphery of said turntable.

Further features of the invention provide for the support frame to be collapsible and, in particular, to be made of a series of components that fit together releasably in knockdown manner; for the support frame to comprise a pair of end frames interconnected by a single central transverse crosspiece from which the axle extends downwards; for the end frames to be composed of straight frame members interconnected by corner or Tee-piece fittings, as may be appropriate, with the straight frame members being releasable relative to the cooperant fittings; for the straight frame members to be adjustable in length, typically by cutting or breaking off predetermined portions thereof in order to dimension the support frame for use in any one of a variety of different shapes and sizes of microwave oven; for the axle to be attached to the cross piece in a manner enabling it to swivel or articulate, at least to some extent, relative to the crosspiece; and for the axle to carry two oppositely directed mixer blades and that may optionally have inclined faces for imparting a vertical component to the mixing motion applied by the mixer blades to the contents of a bowl, in use.

It will be understood that the microwave oven accessory, being preferably of a knockdown nature, will generally be sold in the form of a series of components together with instructions as to the assembly thereof and such knockdown form of the microwave oven accessory is intended to fall within the scope of this invention.

Any suitable material can be used to manufacture the microwave oven accessory but, in general, electrically nonconductive materials such as reinforced or non-reinforced plastics or ceramic materials are to be preferred.

It will be appreciated that the invention operates on the basis that the turntable of a microwave oven is provided with a rotary drive assembly and therefore mixing can be achieved by utilising this rotary movement in combination with stationary mixer blades.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood one embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective front elevation of a microwave oven in which an accessory according to the invention has been placed; and, Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the accessory with some of the components thereof in exploded relationship relative to each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, a microwave oven accessory comprises a pair of laterally spaced end frames (1) of inverted U-shape in the assembled condition with a transverse crosspiece (2) interconnecting the centres of the two web portions (3) of the end frames.

Extending generally vertically downwards from the centre of the crosspiece is an axle (4) having at its lower end a pair of transverse radially extending mixer blades (5). The mixer blades may assume any required configuration that may optionally be selected from a set thereof according to the characteristics of the contents of a bowl (6) that needs to be mixed, and the type of mixing required. The mixer blades will preferably be somewhat flexible and may have inclined faces with reference to the axial direction of the axle (of the general nature of a propeller) so that an axial component of movement is imparted to the contents of a bowl the contents of which is being mixed, in use.

The connection (7) of the axle to the crosspiece is preferably adapted to enable the axle and mixer blades a certain degree of swivelling or articulated movement in order that uneven motion or jamming of the mixer blades is obviated, at least to a large extent. Still further, this connection is adapted to enable the axle either to flex out of the way as a bowl is introduced into the oven, or removed from it, or, more preferably, the axle is attached to the crosspiece releasably so as to enable the axle and mixer blades to be positioned in the bowl whilst it is introduced into, and removed from, the microwave oven. In use, the uprights (8) of the end frames have their lower ends supported on the floor (9) of a microwave oven (10) outside of the periphery of the usual centrally located turntable (11) that is used to support whatever is being heated in the microwave oven, in this instance, a bowl. Depending on the surface characteristics of the turntable it may be necessary to place a friction affording mat or the like on the turntable prior to placing the bowl (6) on it. The purpose of this is to ensure that the bowl does not slip and therefore inhibit the mixing motion applied to its contents by the mixer blades in consequence of rotation of the bowl in unison with the turntable relative to the stationary mixer blades.

In order to provide for convenience of transport, storage, and general handling of the accessory in the commercial chain, it is preferably made collapsible by dismantling various releasable components. In addition to that objective, by suitable selection of design of appropriate components, the accessory can be made so as to be capable of being assembled in various different sizes so that only one size needs to be manufactured to suit all sizes of microwave ovens.

With this end in view the uprights (8) are releasably engagable in sockets provided in right angled corner pieces (12) to the end frames and the web portions of the end frames are composed of two connector pieces (13) that fit into sockets in the right angled comer pieces and into sockets in a Tee-piece (14) the stem of which supports the crosspiece (2). Each of the uprights (8) and connector pieces (13) is adjustable in length either simply by cutting off portions thereof or, preferably, by providing a series of weekend zones enabling predetermined lengths to be snapped off according to the size of an oven in which the accessory is to be used. The crosspiece can be adjustable in length in a similar manner in order to enable adjustment of the spacing between the end frames to be achieved. The entire accessory therefore assumes a knockdown form. It will be understood that numerous variations may be made to the embodiment of the invention described above without departing from the scope hereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A microwave oven accessory for use in a microwave oven having a floor (9) and a turntable (11) for supporting a bowl (6) in the microwave oven, the accessory being characterised in that it comprises, in the operative condition, a support frame configured and dimensioned to fit within at least a particular shape and size of microwave oven, the support frame comprising generally upright supports (8) interconnected by at least one generally horizontal transverse crosspiece (2) supporting an axle (4) extending downwards and terminating at or towards its operatively lower end in one or more transverse mixer blades (5) operatively positioned, in the vertical direction, to be located in a required region of a bowl supported on the turntable within the microwave oven, and wherein the upright supports are configured so as to be supported on the floor of the microwave oven in a region radially beyond the periphery of said turntable.

2. A microwave oven accessory as claimed in claim 1 in which the support frame is collapsible.

3. A microwave oven accessory as claimed in claim 2 in which the support frame is made of a series of components that fit together in knockdown manner.

4. A microwave oven accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the support frame comprises a pair of end frames (3) interconnected by a single central transverse crosspiece from which the axle extends downwards.

5. A microwave oven accessory as claimed in claim 4 in which the end frames are composed of straight frame members (8, 13) interconnected by corner or Tee-piece fittings (12, 14 one), as may be appropriate.

6. A microwave oven accessory as claimed in claim 5 in which the straight frame members are releasable relative to the cooperant fittings.

7. A microwave oven accessory as claimed in either one of claims 5 or 6 in which the straight frame members are adjustable in length by cutting or breaking off predetermined portions thereof in order to dimension the support frame for use in any one of a variety of different shapes and sizes of microwave oven.

8. A microwave oven accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the axle is attached to the cross piece in a manner (7) enabling it to swivel or articulate, at least to some extent, relative to the crosspiece.

9. A microwave oven accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the axle carries two oppositely directed mixer blades that may optionally have inclined faces for imparting a vertical component to the mixing motion applied by the mixer blades to the contents of a bowl, in use.

10. A kit comprising a series of components together with instructions as to the assembly thereof in order to form a microwave oven accessory as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.