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  Vertical steamerUSPTO Application #: 20070283948Title: Vertical steamer Abstract: A vertical steamer for flavoring a bird during cooking in a closed cooker includes a hollow frustum bottom having a closed flat base. The cooker further includes a hollow cylindrical top having an open end and a plurality of circular openings located in the cylindrical top. (end of abstract)
Agent: Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP Intellectual Property Section - Dallas, TX, US Inventor: Greg Broom USPTO Applicaton #: 20070283948 - Class: 126369 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070283948. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001]1. Technical Field of the Invention [0002]The present invention relates in general to a vertical steamer and, more specifically, to a vertical steamer having a frustum bottom and an open cylindrical top for cooking a whole bird such as, for example, chicken, turkey, hen by placing the bird upright over the open cylindrical top of the steamer. [0003]2. History of Related Art [0004]Birds such as, for example, chickens are usually cooked by either being roasted in a baking dish or being placed on a rotary spit within an oven. Many people prefer the chicken to be cooked on a rotary spit instead of resting on a baking dish. However, by cooking the chicken on the rotary spit, the juices drip off the chicken sometimes causing the chicken to become dry. [0005]Another method of cooking a whole chicken involves placing the chicken upright over a container of liquid. More specifically, the chicken is placed over an open beer can and roasted inside a closed cooker. The heat from the closed cooker causes the liquid in the can such as, for example, beer to vaporize causing the vapors from the liquid in the can to be released inside the chicken, contributing flavor and moisture to the chicken while the chicken cooks. However, cooking the chicken by placing the chicken upright on the beer can does not always work because the chicken can topple over while being cooked. [0006]Therefore, there is a need for an improved steamer which allows a whole bird such as, for example, chicken, turkey, hen to be placed upright over the open cylindrical top of the steamer for cooking the bird and contributing flavor and moisture to the bird from the liquid placed inside the steamer. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007]A vertical steamer for flavoring a bird during cooking in a closed cooker including a hollow frustum bottom having a closed flat base. The cooker further includes a hollow cylindrical top having an open end and a plurality of circular openings located in the cylindrical top. [0008]An alternate embodiment includes a vertical steamer for flavoring a bird during cooking in a closed cooker including a hollow frustum bottom having a closed flat base. The cooker further includes a hollow cylindrical top having an open end and a plurality of steam jets located in the cylindrical top. The above summary of the invention is not intended to represent each embodiment or every aspect of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009]A more complete understanding of the method and apparatus of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein: [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the vertical steamer according to the present invention; [0011]FIG. 2 is a side view of the vertical steamer according to the present invention; [0012]FIG. 3 is a is a top view of the vertical steamer according to the present invention; [0013]FIG. 4 is cross-sectional view taken along lines A-A of FIG. 3; and [0014]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines A-A of FIG. 3 with a chicken placed on the steamer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0015]Embodiment(s) of the invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying Drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment(s) set forth herein. The invention should only be considered limited by the claims and the equivalents thereof. [0016]With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1-5 thereof, a novel vertical steamer embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described. [0017]FIG. 1 illustrates a vertical steamer 10 comprising a unitary wall structure including a hollow frustum bottom 12 connected to a hollow cylindrical top 14. According to embodiments of the present invention, the hollow frustum bottom 12 is formed from a part of a hollow conical or pyramidal shape which is left by cutting off a top portion by a plane parallel to the base. The hollow frustum bottom 12 includes a closed flat base 16 which is integrally attached around its perimeter to a bottom edge of a side wall 32 of the hollow frustum bottom 12. The hollow cylindrical top 14 includes an open end 18. The cylindrical top 14 includes an inner surface 28 and an outer surface 30 of a side wall 31 which is integrally attached to a top of the hollow frustum bottom 12. [0018]As further depicted in FIG. 1, the side wall 31 of the hollow cylindrical top 14 of the vertical steamer 10 further includes a plurality of circular openings 20, 22, 24, 26. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of circular openings 20, 22, 24, 26 are located approximately 1/4'' below a top peripheral edge 34 of the open end 18 of the cylindrical top 14 and are approximately 1/4'' in diameter. In one embodiment of the present invention, the vertical steamer 10 includes four circular openings 20, 22, 24, 26 in the side wall 31 of the cylindrical top 14. Although the vertical steamer 10 is disclosed as including four circular openings 20, 22, 24, 26, it will be appreciated that the vertical steamer 10 according to the present invention can include any number of circular openings such as, for example, two, three, four, five, etc. [0019]According to an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of circular openings 20, 22, 24, 26 are formed such that circular openings 20, 24 and 22, 26 are oriented opposite one another. The plurality of circular openings 20, 22, 24, 26 are utilized for a variety of purposes including vapor release, fluid release, air flow, drainage, display, etc. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of circular openings 20, 22, 24, 26 allow vapors from a heated liquid placed inside the hollow frustum bottom 12 of the vertical steamer 10 to be applied to the inside of the chicken, contributing flavor and moisture to the chicken while the chicken cooks after being placed inside a closed cooker. Thus, the plurality of circular openings 20, 22, 24, 26 according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention can also be referred to as a plurality of steam jets 20, 22, 24, 26 for allowing vapors from the heated liquid to be applied to the inside of the chicken while the chicken cooks after being placed inside the closed cooker. [0020]The vertical steamer includes a unitary one piece wall structure (formed of walls 31, 32 and base 16) that can be made of various materials which are flame resistant and heat resistant. In one embodiment of the present invention, the vertical steamer 10 can be made from a material that is heat resistant, hygienic, easy to clean, e.g., ceramic. Although the vertical steamer 10 is disclosed as being formed of ceramic, it will be appreciated that the vertical steamer 10 according to the present invention can be formed from a variety of different materials such as, for example, aluminum, steel, glass, porcelain, stoneware, and the like. Continue reading... Full patent description for Vertical steamer Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Vertical steamer patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. 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