초록 ▼

A battery powered microprocessor-controlled fondue fork has a thermal sensor, a timer, a color LED display for indicating degree of doneness, and a control switch for selecting a predefined cooking time. When the fondue fork is placed into a heated liquid for cooking, the thermal sensor activates th

A battery powered microprocessor-controlled fondue fork has a thermal sensor, a timer, a color LED display for indicating degree of doneness, and a control switch for selecting a predefined cooking time. When the fondue fork is placed into a heated liquid for cooking, the thermal sensor activates the microprocessor-controlled timer which then illuminates the LED display. The LED displays flashing green to indicate the food is cooking, yellow to indicate the food is cooked rare, steady green to indicate the food is cooked medium, red to indicate the food is well-done, and flashing red to indicate an overdone stage of cooking.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A cooking utensil comprising: a) a fondue fork having a handle portion;b) a fork portion extending from said handle portion;c) a power source comprising a battery in said handle portion;d) a thermal sensor for detecting when said fork portion is heated or cooled;e) a microprocessor in said handle

1. A cooking utensil comprising: a) a fondue fork having a handle portion;b) a fork portion extending from said handle portion;c) a power source comprising a battery in said handle portion;d) a thermal sensor for detecting when said fork portion is heated or cooled;e) a microprocessor in said handle portion, said microprocessor powered by said power source and in circuit communication with said thermal sensor;f) a timer controlled by said microprocessor and being started when said thermal sensor detects a predetermined amount of heat entering said fork portion;g) a color LED display controlled by said timer and powered by said power source; andh) a manually operable control in said handle portion for selecting one of a plurality of predefined cooking times. 2. A cooking utensil according to claim 1, wherein said timer is turned off when said thermal sensor detects said fork portion losing heat. 3. A cooking utensil according to claim 2, wherein said color LED display comprises yellow, green and red displays. 4. A cooking utensil according to claim 3, wherein said color LED display comprises a single multi-colored LED. 5. A cooking utensil according to claim 4, wherein said timer cycles said single multi-colored LED sequentially through the colors flashing green, yellow, steady green and red. 6. A cooking utensil according to claim 5, wherein said timer, when started by said thermal sensor upon detection of fork heating, signals said LED to display flashing green, indicating a cooking phase. 7. A cooking utensil according to claim 6, wherein said timer signals said LED to cycle from flashing green to yellow after a predetermined, user-selected period of time, with yellow indicating a rare stage of cooking. 8. A cooking utensil according to claim 7, wherein said timer signals said LED to illuminate dim yellow when initially cycled from flashing green to yellow. 9. A cooking utensil according to claim 8, wherein said timer signals said LED to progressively brighten from dim yellow to bright yellow as cooking progresses. 10. A cooking utensil according to claim 7, wherein said timer signals said LED to cycle from yellow to steady green after a predetermined, user-selected period of time, with steady green indicating a medium stage of cooking. 11. A cooking utensil according to claim 10, wherein said timer signals said LED to cycle from steady green to red after a predetermined, user-selected period of time, with red indicating a well-done stage of cooking. 12. A cooking utensil according to claim 11, wherein said timer signals said LED to cycle from red to flashing red after a predetermined, user-selected period of time, with flashing red indicating an overdone stage of cooking. 13. A cooking utensil according to claim 12, wherein said user-selected predetermined cooking time is maintained between uses unless reset by the user. 14. A cooking utensil according to claim 13, further comprising an on/off switch. 15. A cooking utensil according to claim 14, wherein said timer signals said LED to flash yellow upon being switched on, indicating said utensil is ready for use. 16. A cooking utensil according to claim 13, wherein said microprocessor turns said LED off after a predetermined period of nonuse. 17. A cooking utensil according to claim 16, wherein said microprocessor turns said LED on upon detection of heat from said thermal sensor. 18. A method of cooking food in a heated liquid comprising the steps: a) providing a cooking utensil comprising a fondue fork having a handle portion, a fork portion extending from said handle portion, a battery in said handle portion, a thermal sensor for detecting when said fork portion is heated or cooled, a microprocessor in said handle portion, said microprocessor powered by said battery and in circuit communication with said thermal sensor, a timer controlled by said microprocessor, a color LED display controlled by said timer and powered by said battery, an on/off button, and a manually operable control in said handle portion for selecting one of a plurality of predefined cooking times;b) turning said cooking utensil on with said on/off button;c) attaching a piece of food to said fork portion of said utensil;d) selecting one of said plurality of predefined cooking times with said manually operable control;e) placing said fork portion, with said piece of food attached thereto, into a heated liquid for cooking, and starting said timer when said thermal sensor detects a predetermined amount of heat entering said fork portion;f) removing said fork portion, with said piece of food attached thereto, from said heated liquid when said LED display indicates said food is cooked to a user's desired degree of doneness. 19. A method of cooking food in a heated liquid according to claim 18, wherein said timer is turned off when said thermal sensor detects said fork portion losing heat. 20. A method of cooking food in a heated liquid according to claim 19, wherein said color LED display comprises a single multi-colored LED capable of illuminating yellow, green and red. 21. A method of cooking food in a heated liquid according to claim 20, wherein said timer cycles said single multi-colored LED sequentially through the colors flashing green, yellow, steady green and red, said timer, when started by said thermal sensor upon detection of fork heating, signaling said LED to display flashing green, indicating a cooking phase, said timer signaling said LED to cycle from flashing green to yellow after a predetermined, user-selected period of time, with yellow indicating a rare stage of cooking, said timer signaling said LED to cycle from yellow to steady green after a predetermined, user-selected period of time, with steady green indicating a medium stage of cooking, said timer signaling said LED to cycle from steady green to red after a predetermined, user-selected period of time, with red indicating a well-done stage of cooking, and said timer signaling said LED to cycle from red to flashing red after a predetermined, user-selected period of time, with flashing red indicating an overdone stage of cooking. 22. A method of cooking food in a heated liquid according to claim 21, wherein each said predetermined, user-selected period of time is maintained between uses unless reset by the user.