COOKING ACCESSORY DEVICE AND METHOD

Abstract

A cooking accessory for a springform pan includes a reusable, expandable sleeve, with a demarcation cooking bath fill line. The cooking accessory for a springform pan may be useful for preventing liquid from a cooking bath from entering between the removable bottom and the clasped collar of a springform pan.

Claims

1) A cooking accessory for a springform pan, the springform pan having a removable bottom that is held in place by a clasped collar forming its sides, the cooking accessory comprising: a) an expandable sleeve comprising: i) a concave shape; ii) a base; and iii) a corrugated-shaped wall comprising a height above said base and a perimeter encircling said base; and b) c) a demarcation line; d) wherein said corrugated-shaped wall is sufficiently deformable under hydrostatic pressure to contour to a clasping mechanism of the springform pan while maintaining said height above said base for all temperatures less than boiling water temperature; e) wherein said base is structured and arranged said height and said perimeter of said corrugated-shaped wall to removably-receive the springform pan while preventing a liquid from a cooking bath from entering between the removable bottom and the clasped collar of the springform pan; and f) wherein said demarcation line is structured and arranged about said corrugated-shaped wall, such that said demarcation line visibly indicates a predefined liquid level of the cooking bath while the springform pan is received and seated in said expandable sleeve.

2) The cooking accessory of claim 1, wherein said expandable sleeve is of unitary construction.

3) The cooking accessory of claim 1, wherein said expandable sleeve is substantially made of heat-resistant materials.

4) The cooking accessory of claim 1, wherein said expandable sleeve is substantially made of heat-conductive materials.

5) The cooking accessory of claim 1, wherein said expandable sleeve is substantially made of waterproof materials.

6) The cooking accessory of claim 1, wherein said expandable sleeve is substantially made of elastomeric materials that are deformable and flexible during manipulation by a user.

7) The cooking accessory of claim 1, wherein said corrugated-shaped wall is configured to thermally interface with the clasped collar of the springform pan while the springform pan is received and seated in said expandable sleeve.

8) The cooking accessory of claim 7, wherein said corrugated-shaped wall is configured to flexibly deform about contours of a clasping mechanism of the springform pan.

9) The cooking accessory of claim 1, wherein the base of said expandable sleeve has a substantially flat shape that is structured and arranged to interface with the removable bottom of the springform pan.

10) The cooking accessory of claim 9, wherein said base has a diameter of approximately 9 inches.

11) The cooking accessory of claim 1, wherein said corrugated-shaped wall of said expandable sleeve extends from said base by at least 2 inches.

12) The cooking accessory of claim 1, wherein said corrugated-shaped wall is structured and arranged with the springform pan to contain a heated-water-bath there between such that heat energy is transferable from the heated-water-bath through the springform pan to contents of the springform pan while the springform pan is seated in said expandable sleeve.

13) The cooking accessory of claim 1, wherein said expandable sleeve has a thickness such that the elastomeric material is tear-resistant.

14) The cooking accessory of claim 1, wherein the demarcation line is a raised band about a circumference of said expandable sleeve.

15) The cooking accessory of claim 14, wherein said corrugated-shaped wall of said expandable sleeve includes an upper edge opposite the base, and the demarcation line is positioned at a distance of approximately 1.25 inches from the base of said expandable sleeve.

16) The cooking accessory of claim 15, wherein said corrugated-shaped wall is tapered inward from the upper edge to the base.

17) The cooking accessory of claim 1, wherein the springform pan is a baking pan of solid construction having at least one side, an interior periphery, and a hollow interior.

18) A cooking accessory for a springform pan, the springform pan having a removable bottom that is held in place by a clasped collar forming its sides, the cooking accessory comprising: a) an expandable sleeve configured to removably-receive the springform pan and prevent liquid from a cooking bath from entering between the removable bottom and the clasped collar, said expandable sleeve having a concave shape including base and an corrugated-shaped wall extending from and encircling said base; and b) a demarcation line about said corrugated-shaped wall, the demarcation line configured to visibly indicate a predefined liquid level of the cooking bath while the springform pan is received and seated in said expandable sleeve; and c) wherein said expandable sleeve is of unitary construction; d) wherein said expandable sleeve is substantially made of heat-resistant materials; e) wherein said expandable sleeve is substantially made of heat-conductive materials; f) wherein said expandable sleeve is substantially made of waterproof materials; g) wherein said expandable sleeve is substantially made of elastomeric materials that are deformable and flexible during manipulation by a user; h) wherein said corrugated-shaped wall is configured to thermally interface with the clasped collar of the springform pan while the springform pan is received and seated in said expandable sleeve; i) wherein said corrugated-shaped wall is configured to flexibly deform about contours of a clasping mechanism of the sprung collar; j) wherein the base of said expandable sleeve has a substantially flat shape that is structured and arranged to interface with the removable bottom of the springform pan; k) wherein the removable bottom of the springform pan has a diameter of approximately 9 inches; l) wherein said corrugated-shaped wall of said expandable sleeve extends from its base by at least 2 inches; n) wherein said corrugated-shaped wall is structured and arranged with the springform pan to contain a heated-water-bath there between such that heat energy is transferable from the heated-water-bath through the springform pan to contents of the springform pan while the springform pan is seated in said expandable sleeve, o) wherein said expandable sleeve has a thickness such that the elastomeric material is tear-resistant; p) wherein said demarcation line is a raised band about a circumference of said expandable sleeve; q) wherein the corrugated-shaped wall of said expandable sleeve includes an upper edge opposite to the base, and said demarcation line is positioned at a distance of approximately 1.25 inches from said base; and r) wherein the corrugated-shaped wall is tapered inward from the upper edge opposite to said base.

19) The cooking accessory of claim 17, further comprising a set of instructions.

20) A method of use for the cooking accessory of claim 17, the method comprising the steps of: a) placing an expandable sleeve about a springform pan; b) filling the springform pan with batter; c) placing said expandable sleeve and the springform pan within a vessel used for a cooking bath; d) filling the vessel used for the cooking bath with a quantity of hot water sufficient to reach a demarcation line of said expandable sleeve; e) placing said expandable sleeve, the springform pan, and the vessel used for the cooking bath in an oven; f) removing the springform pan with said expandable sleeve in place, and the vessel used for the cooking bath from the oven; g) removing said expandable sleeve and the springform pan from the vessel used for the cooking bath; and h) removing said expandable sleeve from the springform pan.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, an easy bath cheesecake wrap, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cooking accessory coupled with a springform pan during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a detail perspective view of the cooking accessory of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a top view of the cooking accessory of FIG. 1 in isolation, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cooking accessory of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of use for the cooking accessory of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a food and baking apparatus and more particularly to an easy bath cheesecake wrap as used to improve a cooking accessory.

[0028] Generally, the best way to bake a cheesecake (or other egg-based foods e.g. custard or bread pudding) is in a water bath after wrapping the springform pan in aluminum foil. If for any reason, the aluminum foil seal has small tears or leaks and doesn't hold, the cheesecake is ruined due to the water leaking into the cheesecake from the water bath. The easy bath cheesecake wrap provides bakers with a reusable silicone wrap for a springform pan designed to replace aluminum foil when baking the cake in a water bath. It eliminates the worry of water seeping into a spring-form pan at the lower edge, where the bottom and sides meet, when a cheesecake is being baked in a water bath. The device replaces the inefficient and inconvenient tactic of wrapping disposable aluminum foil around the bottom, and up the sides, of the pan. It ensures a cheesecake can be baked all the way through as the water allows a gentle uniform heat that does not allow the egg protein contained in the cheesecake/custard/bread pudding batter to exceed temperatures that cause surface cracking and allows the cake to be of a more desirable creamy texture, and it is reusable.

[0029] Because the wrap is made from reusable silicone, the device is stretchy and elastic, making it easy to put on and remove from the springform pan. The sides of the wrap slope outwards to assist in putting it on the springform pan. The wrap may be dimensioned to be used with standard springform pans having diameters of 8 inches, 9 inches and 9.5 inches. For example, the inside diameter of the wrap may be just over 9 inches, and may stretch to accommodate pans having a diameter of 9.5 inches. An indicator, or fill line, such as a demarcation line may be used to indicate the proper amount of water to add to the water bath. The wrap can be sturdy enough or otherwise sufficiently rigid that its sides can stand up without supplemental support. Lastly, the wrap may be made of materials able to withstand multiple exposures to the heat and time required for baking items in a water bath.

[0030] Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4, various views of a cooking accessory 100. FIG. 1 shows a cooking accessory 100 during an ‘in-use’ condition 150, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, the cooking accessory 100 may be beneficial for use by a user 140 to be a cooking accessory 100 for a springform pan 5.

[0031] The springform pan 5 may have a removable bottom 10 that may be held in place by a clasped collar 15, which wraps around the removable bottom 10 and forms the sides of the springform pan 5. The springform pan 5 and cooking accessory 100 may be joined together for use, with the cooking accessory 100 serving as a water barrier when the springform pan 5 and cooking accessory 100 are placed in a water bath, as is sometimes used by bakers.

[0032] As illustrated, the cooking accessory 100 may include an expandable sleeve 110, which may be configured to removably-receive the springform pan 5 and may also have a demarcation line 120. In addition, the uppermost portion of the side wall arising gradually from the base may have a slightly corrugated appearance 202 configured as such to receive and physically interface with the springform pan 5, thereby allowing thermal conduction of heat to the springform pan 5 while seated in the expandable sleeve 110. The corrugated-shaped wall 202 may be further configured to thermally interface with the clasped collar 15 of the springform pan 5 while the springform pan 5 is received and seated in the expandable sleeve 110. The corrugated-shaped wall 202 may yet further be configured to flexibly deform about the contours of the clasping mechanism 30 of the clasped collar 15 when the user 140 is engaging, and alternately disengaging, the springform pan 5 with the expandable sleeve 110. For example, as discussed above, this may be achieved by selection of deformable materials such as silicone.

[0033] The cooking accessory 100 may be arranged as a kit 105. In particular, the cooking accessory 100 may further include a set of instructions 155. The instructions 155 may detail functional relationships in relation to the structure of the cooking accessory 100 (such that the cooking accessory 100 can be used, maintained, or the like, in a preferred manner). In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the kit 105 may include at least one spatula, a water bath pan with finger-grip holes, the springform pan 5, and the cooking accessory 100.

[0034] FIG. 2 is a detail perspective view of the cooking accessory of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the cooking accessory 100 may include expandable sleeve 110 with a demarcation line 120. Additionally, the expandable sleeve 110 may be configured to act as a water barrier to prevent liquid from a cooking bath 20 from entering between the removable bottom 10 and the clasped collar 15. Should liquid from the cooking bath 20 enter between the removable bottom 10 and the clasped collar 15, the liquid may dilute the cooking batter and unsatisfactorily alter the baked product.

[0035] In continuing to refer to the expandable sleeve 110, the expandable sleeve 110 may further have a slightly corrugated wall 202. The slightly corrugated wall 202 will allow elasticity and flexibility to seat the springform pan 5 within the sleeve 110 while still allowing the heated water of the surrounding water bath 35 to be conducted through the silicone material to uniformly bake the cheesecake within the springform pan 5.

[0036] In further referring to the slightly corrugated wall 202, the slightly corrugated wall 202 may have a demarcation line 120. The demarcation line 120 may be a raised band, which may be configured to visibly indicate a predefined liquid level 25 for the cooking bath. For example, the demarcation line 120 may circumscribe the outside of the expandable sleeve 110. Further, while the springform pan 5 may be received and seated in the expandable sleeve 110, both are placed in a vessel used for a cooking bath 35, the liquid for the cooking bath 20 may then be added to up to the demarcation line 202, for example, to allow controlled heat transfer between the direct heat of the oven through the cooking bath 35 conducted through the sleeve 110 to the springform pan 5 and its contents.

[0037] FIG. 3 is a top view of the cooking accessory of FIG. 1 in isolation, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the cooking accessory 100 may include the expandable sleeve 110 configured to receive the springform pan 5. Alternately, instead of the springform pan 5, the expandable sleeve 110 may be configured to receive a baking pan of solid construction having at least one side, an interior periphery, and a hollow interior. In alternate configurations of the present invention, baking pans of a plurality of shapes and sizes may be received by the expandable sleeve 110. The baking pans may further include a plurality of individual serving-sized ramekin-style bakeware with contents that may require baking in conjunction with a water bath.

[0038] In continuing to refer to the expandable sleeve 110, the expandable sleeve 110 may include a base 201 and a slightly corrugated wall 202. The base 201 of the expandable sleeve 110 may have a substantially flat shape that may be structured and arranged to interface with the removable bottom 10 of the springform pan 5 (FIG. 1). For example, the base 201 of the expandable sleeve 110 may be dimensioned to receive one or more standard sized pans. Further, in dimensioning the base 201, elastic properties of the expandable sleeve 110 may be included such that a “large” standard size is included by moderate stretching. For example, in this embodiment of the present disclosure, the removable bottom 10 of the springform pan 5 may have a diameter of approximately 9 inches, thus the base 201 may also have a diameter 203 of approximately 9 inches. In alternate embodiments of the present disclosure, the removable bottom 10 of the springform pan 5 (FIG. 1) may have an approximate range from 8 inches to 9.5 inches.

[0039] In referring now to the slightly corrugated wall 202, the slightly corrugated wall 202 may extend up starting at approximately ½ inches from the base 201 to the upper edge of the side walls at least 2 inches high 202. As noted above, the corrugated, flexible walls 202 allow the heated water 20 from the water bath 35 to be conducted uniformly through the silicone material to bake the cheesecake seated in the springform pan 5 within the sleeve 110.

[0040] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cooking accessory of FIG. 1 in isolation, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In referring now to the expandable sleeve 110, the expandable sleeve may have a demarcation line 120 and a slightly corrugated wall 202. As illustrated, the expandable sleeve 110 may have a concave shape 200 at rest and/or when the springform pan 5 is seated inside (FIG. 1). The concave shape may receive the springform pan 5.

[0041] The demarcation line 120 may be a raised band about the circumference of the expandable sleeve 110. Further, the demarcation line 120 may be positioned at a distance of approximately 1.25 inches from the lower edge of the base 205 to provide a visible identification for the appropriate amount of liquid to use for a cooking bath 20 (FIG. 2). The corrugated wall 202 may also be tapered inward from the upper edge opposite to the base 205 to the base 201, as shown.

[0042] In further referring to the expandable sleeve 110, the expandable sleeve 110 may be of unitary construction. The expandable sleeve 110 may be substantially made of elastomeric materials that may be both deformable and flexible during manipulation by a user 140 (FIG. 1). Further, the unitary construction of the expandable sleeve 110 may have a thickness such that the elastomeric material may be durable and non-tearable. The expandable sleeve 110 may be substantially made of heat-resistant materials. The expandable sleeve 110 may also be substantially made of heat-conductive materials. Further, the expandable sleeve 110 may be substantially made of waterproof materials. In alternate embodiments of the present disclosure, the elastomeric material may be food-grade silicone, and alternately, other materials having heat-resistant, heat-conductive, and waterproof characteristics.

[0043] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of use for the cooking accessory, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the method for the cooking accessory 500 may include one or more components or features of the cooking accessory 100 as described above. As illustrated, the method for the cooking accessory 500 may include the steps of: step one 501, placing an expandable sleeve about a springform pan; step two 502, filling the springform pan with batter; step three 503, placing the expandable sleeve and the springform pan within a vessel used for a cooking bath; step four 504, filling the vessel used for a cooking bath with a quantity of hot water sufficient to reach a demarcation line on the expandable sleeve; step five 505, placing the expandable sleeve, the springform pan, and the vessel used for a cooking bath in an oven; step six 506, removing the expandable sleeve, the springform pan, and the vessel used for a cooking bath from the oven; step seven 507, uncoupling or otherwise removing the expandable sleeve and the springform pan from the vessel used for a cooking bath; and step eight 508, removing the expandable sleeve from the springform pan.

[0044] It should also be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for the cooking accessory (e.g., different step orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc.), are taught herein.

[0045] The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.