FOOD SEPARATOR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention refers to a separating apparatus to be placed between foodstuffs in a food pile to allow the movement of steam between the food pile; and more particularly as a method for reheating tortillas or flat bread in a mircroonde oven using the separating apparatus. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The tortilla made from cooked corn flour is a traditional food product of Mexico. Individuals of Hispanic descent have introduced tortillas into the mainstream of American cuisine. In the United States, tortillas are made from corn flour, whole wheat flour or white flour. In 1998, the purchase of tortillas represented approximately half of the total products made with dough purchased in this country. Traditionally, the tortilla has been made by heating cornmeal dough on a grill, on a griddle or in a pan. This method is used to provide enough hot tortillas for all diners at mealtime. However, the person, who warms the REF: 146866 tortillas, can not participate at lunchtime with the other diners. From the moment that the activity of providing a sufficient quantity of hot tortillas occurs at the same time as the guests eat, the person, who heats the tortillas, does not have the opportunity to participate in the meal together with the others. This problem is essentially solved by the fact that you can easily get packages of tortillas in all kinds of food and grocery stores throughout the country. At the moment to serve with the food a sufficient quantity of tortillas to satisfy the appetite of all the diners it is only necessary to heat the tortillas. Various inventions have been proposed for heating tortillas as in U.S. Patent No. 5,765,471 to Monrad, U.S. Patent No. 4,013,669 to Orts and U.S. Patent No. 4,147,924 to DeWitt are electric appliances for heating tortillas. However, in many cases the microwave oven is more useful for heating tortillas. To heat a large number of tortillas at the same time the tortillas are placed stacked one on top of the other. But, when the tortillas are heated stacked in a microwave oven during the process the water vapor escapes as moisture resulting in wet tortillas, which tend to stick together. Moist tortillas are difficult to separate and are not aesthetically acceptable. It is possible to heat tortillas in the microwave oven without placing them stacked as shown in the microwave bowl in U.S. Patent No. 5, 756, 976 by Akasaka. However, the Akasaka method has the disadvantage that tortillas must be individually folded before being placed in the bowl. The method of heating tortillas stacked in the microwave oven still persists; therefore, there remains the need to solve the problem of wet tortillas, which tend to stick together, after being heated stacked in the microwave oven. The invention of this separator solves the problem by allowing the water vapor generated during heating to move between the individual stacked tortillas and thus escape. In this way, as a result of heating the excess moisture is not concentrated; in such a way, that avoids humid and sticky tortillas. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a certain aspect, this invention refers to a separator placed between the food, which means that it allows the steam to move between the stacked foods. In a further aspect, this invention relates to a food stack, between which a separator is placed to allow the steam to move between the stacked foods. In one of its forms, this invention comprises a set of prepared foods and separators alternatively stacked for reheating in the microwave. The set includes a quantity of prepared foods placed in a stacked manner, and separators placed freely next to the prepared foods to free the water vapor. Each separator between the adjacent foods essentially has a flat structure with an upper surface and another lower surface with strips, channels, corrugations or perforations to allow the water vapor to move between and away from the adjacent prepared foods. Each separator between the adjacent foods has a lower surface resting on an upper surface of the first of the adjacent foods, and the upper surface resting on the lower surface of the second of the adjacent foods. The food stack can also include the lowest of the separators below the lowest of the food set. The assembly may also include a package for the food stack, preferably a plastic bag. Alternatively, the assembly may include a container for use within the microwave to place the food stack. The container may have thermal insulation, and preferably include rigid vertical walls and a lid that can be removed and put on. Another aspect of the invention is a method for reheating a plurality of edible products, for example flat bread such as tortillas, in a microwave oven, comprising a stack of a plurality of edible products alternating with separators placed between the adjacent edible products, placing the stack of edible products in the oven, which supplies microwave radiation to heat edible products, and allows water vapor to escape from food via separators. In one of its forms, the method includes placing the assembly described above in the microwave heating compartment; introduce microwaves inside the compartment to heat food, and allow water vapor to escape from food via separators. The lower part separator, when present, can be placed on a microwave surface, for example a plate, a tray, or directly on the lower surface of the heating compartment. In the case that the food is packaged, for example in a plastic bag, the preferred method is to remove the food from the package before placing it in the compartment to heat the microwave. If desired, the food can be placed in a container with removable lid for use in the microwave, which is preferable to have thermal insulation. The food set and the container need to be assembled to receive the microwaves. Overheated tortillas or other foods can thus be conveniently served in the same container used in the microwave, for example by removing and replacing the lid to catch the tortillas, while the thermal insulation effect of the container helps the tortillas remain hot for a longer period of time than if the container was not used. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a complete understanding of the nature of the present invention references should be made with the accompanying drawings in connection with the following detailed description. Figs. 1-25 are not drawn in particular scale and are presented for the purpose of describing and illustrating certain day-present invention forms. Figures 1, 5, 7, 9 and 15 are each a perspective drawing of the apparatus of the invention, in which the windows are defined by unframed strips and the strips are arranged in a pattern having a geometric pattern.
Figure 2 is an oblique view of the separating apparatus of fig.l. Figures 3, 4, 6, 8 and 14 are each a perspective drawing of the apparatus of the invention, in which the windows are defined by strips with a frame, and the strips are arranged in a design to represent a known object . Figures 11, 13 and 17 are each a perspective drawing of the apparatus of the invention, in which the windows are defined by strips without a frame, and the strips are arranged in a pattern to represent a known object. Figure 20 is a perspective drawing of the apparatus of the invention, in which the windows are defined by strips in a frame. Figure 21 is a perspective drawing of the apparatus of the invention, in which the strips are arranged in a design for writing a word. Figure 22 is an unfolded drawing of the set of precooked tortillas and the spacers arranged in alternate form of fig. 1 for heating in a microwave oven according to the first form of the invention. Figure 23 is a perspective drawing of the pre-package assembly of fig. 22
Figure 24 is a perspective, partially cut-away, drawing of a microwave oven within which it is positioned to reheat the food assembly of Figs. 22-23. Figure 25 is a drawing of the side part of the assembly according to one of the day-present invention forms where the food set of figs. 22-23 has been placed in a microwave container for reheating and / or serving. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The separator of this invention allows both steam and steam or water vapor to move between the food. The need to allow steam to move between stacked foods usually grows when the food is heated. The steam source can be liquid, such as water, inseparably present in edible products before the heating process occurs, or liquid can be added on purpose at the time of heating. The heating can be done in any type of appliance for heating or cooking like a stove or oven; but, the present invention is more useful used to reheat in a microwave oven. To allow the steam to move between the foods, the separator is placed between the stacked foods.
The term "pile" is used in this case in relation to food in the sense of a set or pile of foods. The term "stack" frequently denotes a vertical heap, but this does not require that the separator of the invention be used only in conjunction with the foods placed in a vertical orientation with respect to each other. Frequently this may be the most convenient use since the separator can be used more easily disposed freely between the foods outside a container, this means that the separator and food are placed in a vertical orientation with respect to each other. However, the term "pile" should not be interpreted as requiring a particular spatial arrangement of food. The requirement is that the separator is placed between the foods. Further, in spite of the reference made to "a" separator, usually only one separator is placed between two adjacent foods, if desired more than one separator can be placed between two adjacent foods. And in a stack of more than two foods, it may usually be preferred to use two or more separators, typically a separator between two foods, depending on the total number of stacked foods. The shape of the separator is generally flat, for example the characteristic shape of a plane. When the size of the separator is described in the plane direction, this means that the separator is longer in its flat area compared to the thickness. The separator will generally have a thickness of at least 0.06 inches, but not more than 0.25 inches. It is usually preferable that the dimensions in the side area of the separator be of sufficient size to protrude beyond the edges of the stacked food to increase the likelihood that the steam can move between the food and finally move outward and away from the stack. food. Nevertheless, describing the separator in terms of flat surfaces does not mean that it requires to be completely flat, for example a geometrically perfect plane, when desired may have waves, bends or undulations. These waves, bends or undulations in the separator create space between the food stack allowing the steam to move between the stacked foods. Channels on the surface of the separator are also effective to allow steam to move between stacked foods. The channels can be on one or both sides (lower and / or upper) of the separator. The preferable structure for the separator is to allow the steam to move between the stacked foods by means of holes, openings or windows in the separator. When any of the foregoing is present in the separator, the separator is often essentially flat in shape and its shape is essentially a flat plate. A hole, perforation, opening or window can be of any size or shape. Although a hole generally denotes a circular opening, the size and shape of the openings in the separator through which the vapor can pass is essentially unlimited. A channel, hole, perforation, opening or window can be cut in the separator after being manufactured, or it can be formed in the separator at the same time in which it is manufactured. When one or more windows are used to allow the steam to move through the separator and thus between the stacked foods, the windows are typically defined by strips. Although a strip is conventionally intended to secure a glass window in the context of a frame given by a large physical structure, the windows in the separator of this invention can be defined by strips in a frame, or by strips without the frame. The strips by which a separator of this invention are constructed can be defined by a curved or straight line in the general plane of the separator. The frame within which the strips define one or more windows, can also be formed as a curve or straight line, or as a circle or oval in the general plane of the separator. A separator, which is constructed of strips inside a frame can be hung to be stored when not in use. The operational aspect of the properties of this invention can be seen by referring to Figs. 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12-14, 16 and 18-20, in which a window 2 is defined by a strip 4 in a frame 6. In contrast, in figs. 1, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 21, a window 2 is defined by a strip 4 without a frame. The frame is not necessary if several strips are attached or secured in some way to the central member or support. The central member or support 8 can be seen in figs. 1, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 21. The use of the strips allows the steam to move between stacked foods; provides an opportunity for the use of strips with or without a frame in a decorative or functional way. For example: the strips can be accommodated in a design in the plane of the separator to present a geometric pattern as in figs. 1, 3-9, 14 and 15; to represent an object known as in figs. 10-13 and 16-19; or to spell a word like in figs. 20 and 21. The strips can also be used to present a logo or a registered trademark. The separator can be made with paper or plastic or materials used for frets typically used in microwaves. Paper or plastic are preferable if the separator is used only once before being discarded. Typically this should be the case, in which the consumer buys the pre-packaged separator with the food, for example in a previously formed assembly. Plastic materials may be preferred because they are easy to clean when the separator is to be reused. The method of manufacturing the separator with paper, plastic or other materials is known to those who have skills in this art. The foods that are separated by the separator of this invention may be any type of food, but more often products made from pasta. The pasta can be made from grains such as corn, wheat or rice. When the food is made from the dough, it can be prepared cooked in the oven or fried, and is often made by passing a rolling pin used to make tortillas. When the tortillas are heated forming a pile with the separators arranged between them, the tortillas do not tend to get wet. After heating the separators can be left between the tortillas until they are eaten. This prevents the tortillas from sticking together due to accumulated moisture and creates an air gap between the adjacent tortillas, in which the heat can be trapped so that they last hot longer.
In relation to figs. 22-24, the stacked tortillas present day invention generally consist of a group of separators and a group of precooked tortillas, for example soft wheat flour tortillas, alternately placed one above the other in a vertical stack for example a first separator 100 , a first tortilla 102 in the upper part of the first separator, a second separator 104 in the upper part of the tortilla 102, a second tortilla 106 in the upper part of the second separator 104 and so on up to the upper tortilla 108. In this way , each tortilla is separated from each adjacent tortilla or from the adjacent lower surface of another food, respectively. The stack 110 is preferably pre-packaged to be distributed to the consumer, for example in a box, casing or bag 112, the stack can be removed for reheating. Alternatively the stack 110 can be assembled by the microwave oven operator from separate or / and distributed packages of tortillas and separators. As seen in fig. 24, the stack 110 assembled or ready to assemble can be placed directly in the microwave oven 120, directly on the lower surface 121 of the heating compartment or on a cooking tray, in a microwave-safe dish, on a napkin of paper or as it is placed on the surface 121, and irradiated with the microwaves for a convenient period of time to heat the tortillas. The separators are preferably transparent for use in the microwave. In one of the preferred designs observed in Fig. 25, the stack 110 is placed in a safe container for use in microwaves 122, for example a thermally resistant plastic, which has rigid vertical walls 124, for example cylindrical walls with a dimension interior to accommodate the food stack 110 and close it with a removable lid 126. The container 122 preferably has thermal properties to help keep the tortillas warm overheated for a longer period of time when they are used as a serving bowl after the heating cycle . It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.