Simmer Plate for Commercial or Residential Stoves

Abstract

A simmer plate for use in cooking liquid food materials in a cooking vessel. The simmer plate forming a center section defining a top surface on an upper plane, and a lower surface defining a lower plane displaced from the upper plane. A plurality of radially extending channels project from the center section and terminate at an outer perimeter of the plate, the channels having an inverted generally U-shaped profile with an upper surface located at or near the upper plane and blending into the lower surface. A slanted wall extends concentrically from the center section and between adjacent ones of the channels, and extend from the top surface to the lower surface. One or more holes are formed in the simmer plate between the center section and the outer perimeter for allowing venting of cooking gases.

1 . A simmer plate for use in cooking liquid food materials in a cooking vessel comprising:
 the simmer plate forming a center section defining a top surface on an upper plane,   a lower surface defining a lower plane displaced from the upper plane,   a plurality of radially extending channels projecting from the center section and terminating at an outer perimeter of the plate, the channels formed having an inverted generally U-shaped profile with an upper surface located at or near the upper plane and blending into the lower surface,   a slanted wall extending concentrically from the center section and between adjacent ones of the channels, and extending from the top surface to the lower surface, and   at least one first hole formed in the simmer plate between the center section and the outer perimeter for allowing venting of cooking gases.   
     
     
         2 . The simmer plate in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising the at least one first hole formed in at least one of the channels and the slanted wall. 
     
     
         3 . The simmer plate in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising the at least one first hole formed in the slanted wall. 
     
     
         4 . The simmer plate in accordance with  claim 3  further comprising the at least one first hole formed in the slanted wall between each of the channels. 
     
     
         5 . The simmer plate in accordance with  claim 3  further comprising at least one second hole formed in the upper surface of the channels. 
     
     
         6 . The simmer plate in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising five of the channels are provided equally angularly spaced around the center section. 
     
     
         7 . The simmer plate in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising the channels forming a cross-sectional area decreasing in area as the channels extend from the central section to the outer perimeter. 
     
     
         8 . The simmer plate in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a notch formed in the outer perimeter at the terminal end of the channel. 
     
     
         9 . The simmer plate in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising the simmer plate formed from flat stock of sheet metal or other heat resistant material. 
     
     
         10 . The simmer plate in accordance with  claim 8  further comprising the simmer plate formed of at least one of a mild low carbon steel, a stainless steel, an aluminum, a tin, or other heat resistant materials. 
     
     
         11 . The simmer plate in accordance with  claim 9  further comprising the simmer plate flat stock formed into the simmer plate by a metal pressing or stamping operation. 
     
     
         12 . The simmer plate in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising an upper surface of the channels lying on the upper plane. 
     
     
         13 . The simmer plate in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising an upper surface of the channels displaced below the upper plane. 
     
     
         14 . A simmer plate for use in cooking liquid food materials in a cooking vessel comprising:
 the simmer plate forming a center section defining a top surface on an upper plane,   a lower surface defining a lower plane displaced from the upper plane,   a plurality of radially extending channels projecting from the center section and terminating at an outer perimeter of the plate, the channels formed having an inverted generally U-shaped profile with an upper surface located at the upper plane and blending into the lower surface, the channels having a cross-sectional area decreasing in area as the channels extend from the central section to the outer perimeter,   a slanted wall extending concentrically from the center section and between adjacent ones of the channels, and extending from the top surface to the lower surface, and   at least one first hole formed in the simmer plate in the slanted wall for allowing venting of cooking gases.   
     
     
         15 . The simmer plate in accordance with  claim 14  further comprising at least one second hole formed in the upper surface of the channels. 
     
     
         16 . The simmer plate in accordance with  claim 14  further comprising the simmer plate formed from flat stock of sheet metal or other heat resistant material. 
     
     
         17 . The simmer plate in accordance with  claim 14  further comprising the simmer plate formed of at least one of a mild low carbon steel, a stainless steel, an aluminum, a tin, or other heat resistant materials. 
     
     
         18 . The simmer plate in accordance with  claim 14  further comprising the simmer plate flat stock formed into the simmer plate by a metal pressing or stamping operation. 
     
     
         19 . The simmer plate in accordance with  claim 14  further comprising the at least one first hole formed in the slanted wall between each of the channels.