Method of treating a surface of a utensil

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of treating a surface of a utensil as well as to a utensil having been treated by the method. A substrate is provided to form a component of the utensil. The substrate has a surface area to be treated. Through a shot peening process particles impact the substrate substantially evenly across the surface area, so as to dimple the substrate with depressions across the surface area, in order to reduce adhesion of matter on the treated surface area of the utensil.

1 . A method of treating a surface of a utensil, the method comprising:
 a) providing a substrate to form a component of the utensil, the substrate having a surface area to be treated; and   b) shot peening the substrate substantially evenly across the surface area with particles, for dimpling the substrate with depressions across the surface area, to reducing adhesion of matter on the treated surface area of the utensil.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the shot peening comprises impacting said particles against the surface area with a density comprised between about 100 particles/cm 3  to about 350 particles/cm 3 . 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein each particle of step (b) impacts the surface area of the substrate at a velocity ranging between about 10 m/sec. and about 30 m/sec. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein each particle of step (b) impacts the surface area of the substrate at an impact load ranging between about 0.65 PSI and about 2.5 PSI. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the depressions formed at step (b) have an average depth ranging between about 0.1 mm and about 0.5 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein each depression formed at step (b) has a diameter ranging between about 1 mm and about 3 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the particles of step (b) comprise a plurality of balls. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the balls comprise steel balls. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein each of the balls has a diameter ranging between about 1 mm and about 4 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises prior to step (b), cleaning the substrate to remove oxidation from a surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising after step (b):
 sand blasting the surface area of the substrate; and   coating the surface area with a non-stick coating.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate of step (a) is configured to form a vessel of a cooking utensil and said surface area to be treated includes at least a cooking surface of the vessel. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the surface area impacted by the shot peening in step (b) comprises a first surface of the substrate corresponding substantially to an inner side of the vessel. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the surface area impacted by the shot peening in step (b) further comprises at least a portion of a second surface of the substrate, opposite to the first surface, the second surface corresponding to an outer side of the vessel. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate of step (a) is configured to form a blade of a cutting utensil and said surface area to be treated includes at least a contact surface of the cutting utensil. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises at least one of: cast iron, aluminum, aluminum alloy, stainless steel-aluminum, stainless steel, and copper. 
     
     
         17 . A utensil for handling food, the utensil comprising a treated surface having depressions distributed substantially evenly across said treated surface, the depressions having being formed through a shot peening process. 
     
     
         18 . The utensil according to  claim 17 , wherein the treated surface comprises at least a contact surface for engaging with the food. 
     
     
         19 . The utensil according to  claim 17 , wherein the utensil is a cooking utensil and the treated surface includes at least a cooking surface of the cooking utensil. 
     
     
         20 . The utensil according to  claim 19 , wherein the cooking utensil comprises a vessel and wherein the treated surface includes at least an inner surface of the vessel. 
     
     
         21 . The utensil according to  claim 20 , wherein the treated surface further includes at least a portion of an outer surface of the vessel. 
     
     
         22 . The utensil according to  claim 17 , wherein the utensil is a cutting utensil and wherein the treated surface includes at least a cutting edge of a blade of the cutting utensil.