Dual-mode moo ka ta-style cookware with removable cooking/grilling surface

Abstract

A moo ka ta-style grill pan includes an outer perimetrical wall, an inner wall, and a bottom surface connecting the outer wall and the inner wall. The bottom surface, outer wall, and inner wall form a reservoir adapted to hold soup, broth, or a similar hot liquid. A central grilling area is provided, surrounded at least partially by the reservoir; the central grilling area includes a removable grill surface. The central grilling area may be defined by the inner wall, and the removable grill surface sits thereatop. Structure for securing the removable grill surface grill atop the central grilling area, e.g. a flange disposed on at least one of the removable grill surface or a top rim of the inner wall, is provided. Holes are provided in the removable grill surface to allow drippings of food being grilled thereatop to pass therethrough and not fall into the reservoir.

Claims

1. A moo ka ta-style grill pan, comprising: an outer wall; an inner wall; a bottom surface connecting said outer wall and said inner wall; said bottom surface, said outer wall, and said inner wall forming a reservoir adapted to hold soup, broth, a hot liquid food, or a semi-liquid food; and a central grilling area surrounded at least partially by said reservoir, said central grilling area including a removable grill surface.

2. A moo ka ta-style grill pan according to claim 1, wherein said central grilling area is defined by said inner wall, and said removable grill surface sits atop said inner wall.

3. A moo ka ta-style grill pan according to claim 1, further comprising means for removably securing said removable grill surface atop said central grilling area.

4. A moo ka ta-style grill pan according to claim 3, said means for removably securing said removable grill surface comprising at least one flange disposed on at least one of said removable grill surface or a top rim of said inner wall.

5. A moo ka ta-style grill pan according to claim 2, further comprising means for removably securing said removable grill surface atop said central grilling area.

6. A moo ka ta-style grill pan according to claim 5, said means for removably securing said removable grill surface comprising at least one flange disposed on at least one of said removable grill surface or a top rim of said inner wall.

7. A moo ka ta-style grill pan according to claim 1, further comprising holes in said removable grill surface, said holes structured to allow drippings of food being grilled atop said removable grill surface to pass therethrough.

8. A moo ka ta-style grill pan according to claim 7, wherein said central grilling area is structured so that the drippings of food being grilled atop said removable grill surface do not fall into said reservoir.

9. A moo ka ta-style grill pan according to claim 1, wherein said removable grill surface is substantially flat.

10. A moo ka ta-style grill pan according to claim 1, wherein said removable grill surface is structured to substantially prevent drippings of food being grilled atop said removable grill surface from falling into said reservoir.

11. A moo ka ta-style grill pan according to claim 1, wherein said outer wall is substantially circular, said inner wall is substantially circular, and said outer wall and said inner wall are substantially concentric.

12. A moo ka ta-style grill pan according to claim 1, wherein said outer wall forms an outer perimeter of said grill pan.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional moo ka ta grill pan.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a grill pan in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a grill pan in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

(4) FIG. 4A is a bottom plan view of a grilling surface of a grill pan in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

(5) FIG. 4B is a side sectional view of a grill pan in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

(6) FIG. 4C is a side sectional view of an alternate grill securing structure in a grill pan in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

(7) FIG. 4D is a side sectional view of another alternate grill securing structure in a grill pan in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

(8) FIG. 4E is a side sectional view of yet another alternate grill securing structure in a grill pan in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND DRAWINGS

(9) Description will now be given with reference to the attached FIGS. 1-4E. It should be understood that these figures are exemplary in nature and in no way serve to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims appearing hereinbelow.

(10) A grill pan 110, suitable for use in moo ka ta cuisine, for example, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, is shown in FIGS. 2-4B. Grill pan 110 includes a central grilling area 120 and an outer circumferential soup reservoir 130. Central grilling area 120 has a removable grill 121 that has a flat grilling surface 122 which includes a number of perforations or holes 124 extending entirely through the thickness of grill 121 to the underside thereof. Surrounding central grilling area 120 is soup reservoir 130. Soup reservoir 130 is defined by outer wall 132, spaced apart from inner wall 126 of central grilling area 120, and a bottom surface 131 therebetween, thereby creating a semi-toroidal receptacle 134. One or more handles 140 project outwardly from outer wall 132 to enable someone to be able to pick up the grill pan.

(11) Removable grill 121 sits atop central grilling area 120 and rests on upper rim 123 of wall 126. As best shown in FIG. 4B, grill 121 has a flange 125 that projects downwardly from the underside of grill 121 around at least a portion of the perimeter of grill 121. Upper rim 123 of inner wall 126 has a flange 127 that projects upwardly around at least a portion of the perimeter of inner wall 126. In the embodiment shown, grill flange 125 is slightly larger in diameter than wall flange 127. As a result, when grill 121 is placed atop inner wall 126, grill 121 cannot easily slide off of central grilling area 120 because flange 125 will engage or engages with flange 127. Flange 125 need not be in direct, tight contact with flange 127; some space or play is acceptable without departing from the scope of the invention.

(12) Some exemplary and non-limiting alternative embodiments of the grill securing structure between the grill and the central grilling area are shown in FIGS. 4C, 4D, and 4E. In FIG. 4C, grill 221 is provided with groove 225 that flange 227 fits inside when grill 221 is placed atop wall 226 at rim 223. Groove 225 may pass fully through grill 221 or it may be more of a channel as shown in FIG. 4C and pass only partially through grill 221. In FIG. 4D, flange 325 of grill 321 is provided smaller in diameter than flange 327 of wall 326. In this embodiment, the outer edge of the underside of grill 321 may rest atop flange 327 and/or flange 325 may rest atop rim 323. In FIG. 4E, grill 421 has no flange but instead rests atop rim 423. Wall 426 has an outer flange 427 that surrounds grill 421 when grill 421 sits atop rim 423. In these and other embodiments, the grill securing structure still achieves the same or similar effect of preventing unwanted lateral movement of the grill off of the central grilling area. Other variations on the grill securing structure, e.g., pins on one of the grill and the central grilling area and mating holes/recesses on the other of the grill and the central grilling area, are contemplated.

(13) One embodiment of the inventive grill pan is made from brass, however any typically heat-conductive and non-reactive material used in high heat cooking can be used, e.g., steel, ceramic, cast iron, aluminum, copper, borosilicate glass, and the like.

(14) In operation, the invention works as follows. Grill pan 110 is placed over a heat source (not shown) such as a fire, BBQ grill, hibachi, etc. Soup or broth is placed in soup reservoir 130. Foods to be grilled (meats, vegetables, etc.) are placed atop grill 121. The heat source causes the soup in reservoir 130 to heat and simmer and the food atop grill 121 to cook. As the grilled food cooks, its juices and fats do not fall into the soup in reservoir 130 but rather through holes 124 and below into the fire/heat source. Because grill 121 is easily removable from central grilling area 120, it can be cleaned and replaced in between courses or as people at a communal meal rotate in or out without disrupting the soup in reservoir 130. Moo ka ta restaurants and similar commercial settings can keep a stock of grills on hand to swap out at a moment's notice without requiring the entire grill pan to be taken out of service for cleaning.

(15) The invention is not limited to the above description. For example, the embodiments shown and described are all circular, however they can be of any shape (e.g., polygonal, oval, star-shaped, a design, etc.). Similarly, the drawings depict the grill pan having two handles, however more handles may be provided, or one single handle may be provided, e.g., in the manner of a frying pan. Additionally, the holes in the grill need not be of the pattern, shape, or configuration shown in the drawings but can be of any pattern, shape, or configuration.

(16) It should be understood that, in the context of this disclosure, at least one of followed by a series of elements means any one of the elements in the series or any combination of the elements in the series, including all of the elements. So, for example, a recitation of at least one of A, B, or C means any of A, B, C, A+B, A+C, B+C, or A+B+C.

(17) Having described certain embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the above description or the attached exemplary drawings. Rather, the scope of the invention is defined by the claims appearing hereinbelow and includes any equivalents thereof as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.