Patent Application
20070227965
The present invention relates to the general field of food preparation implements and is particularly concerned with a deformable strainer.
There exists a plurality of situations wherein, in the preparation of food, it is desirable to separate or strain a liquid from a solid. For example, it is often desirable to drain cooking liquids such as water out of a cooking vessel in which a given food such as vegetables, pasta or the like has boiled or otherwise been cooked.
The conventional straining operation is typically performed using conventional strainers. These conventional strainers typically are substantially bowl or pot-shaped and may incorporate one or more features such as a single handle, a pair of handles or an extended handle and leg combination. These conventional strainers typically include drainage apertures that vary in number and size in proportion to the items to be strained. The volume of these conventional strainers also varies from small to large. The material of their construction also typically varies. Conventional strainers are, nowadays, typically made out of a polymeric resin although some strainers made out of aluminum, stainless steel or the like are also used.
During a typical straining operation, using a conventional strainer, the latter is placed in or held over a sink or a large bowl. A cooking vessel containing both food and the liquid to be strained is tilted sideways or upside down over the strainer and the food falls from the cooking vessel into the strainer. This tilting action is often considered unergonomical and can cause the user to drop the cooking vessel or its contents, especially as the weight of the cooking vessel shifts.
Also, if the cook transfers the food and liquid too quickly, the liquid may splash onto the cook's face or body, or onto the surrounding countertop and/or floor. In addition, the food itself may not fall directly from the cooking vessel into the strainer and may land in the sink, on the floor, or other undesired locations.
Furthermore, if the food has been boiled, hot steam typically rises from the cooking vessel. Hence, if boiling liquid is poured out of the cooking vessel, the cook's arms and hands may be exposed to the steam, potentially resulting in a burn injury.
Another problem associated with conventional strainers is the fact that such conventional strainers are not adapted to be used with various sizes of cooking vessels. When there is not a good fit between the strainer and the cooking vessel, the hereinabove-mentioned problems are compounded.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved cooking strainer.
It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved cooking strainer. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a strainer for straining liquids being poured through a pouring aperture of a cooking vessel, the cooking vessel having a vessel base wall and a vessel peripheral wall extending from the vessel base wall, the vessel peripheral wall defining a peripheral wall upper edge substantially circumventing the pouring aperture and a peripheral wall outer surface; the strainer being releasably attachable to the peripheral wall outer surface; the strainer comprising: a straining plate extending substantially through a plate geometrical plane, the straining plate having a plate first surface, an opposed plate second surface and a plate peripheral edge; the straining plate having straining apertures extending therethrough; an attachment flange extending substantially from the plate peripheral edge, the attachment flange having a flange contacting surface for frictionally contacting a circumferential contacting portion of the vessel peripheral wall so as to generate a frictional force between the flange contacting surface and the contacting portion of the vessel peripheral wall; at least a stretchable portion of the straining plate being made out of a resiliently deformable plate material so as to allow the straining plate to be stretchable substantially in the plate geometrical plane from a plate unstretched configuration wherein the plate peripheral edge has a peripheral edge first dimension to a plate stretched configuration wherein the plate peripheral edge has a peripheral edge second dimension, the peripheral edge second dimension being greater than the peripheral edge first dimension; wherein upon the straining plate being stretched towards the plate stretched configuration, the resilient nature of the stretchable portion of the straining plate biases the straining plate towards the plate unstretched configuration for exerting a compressive force on the contacting portion of the vessel peripheral wall and increasing the intensity of the frictional force between the flange contacting surface and the contacting portion of the vessel peripheral wall. Typically, the stretchable portion of the straining plate extends substantially throughout the straining plate.
Conveniently, at least a resilient portion of the attachment flange is made out of a resiliently deformable flange material so as to allow at least a movable portion of the flange contacting surface to move substantially outwardly from a movable portion first position to a movable portion second position, the perimeter of the movable portion of the flange contacting surface being greater in the movable portion second position than in the movable portion first position, wherein upon the resilient portion of the attachment flange being deformed so as to move the movable portion of the flange contacting surface towards the movable portion second position, the resilient nature of the resilient portion of the attachment flange biases the movable portion of the attachment flange back towards the movable portion first position.
Typically, the resilient portion of the attachment flange extends substantially throughout the attachment flange. Conveniently, the movable portion of the flange contacting surface extends substantially throughout the flange contacting surface.
Typically, the flange contacting surface is provided with a circumferential contacting surface groove extending at least partially therealong, the flange contacting surface defining a contacting surface first portion extending from the contacting surface groove substantially towards the straining plate and an opposed contacting surface second portion extending from the contacting surface groove substantially away from the straining plate.
Conveniently, the contacting surface groove has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional configuration, the nadir of the contacting surface groove being located substantially radially outwardly.
Typically, the straining plate and the attachment flange are both made out of an integral piece of resiliently deformable elastomeric material.
Conveniently, the strainer further comprises a strainer handle, the strainer handle being coupled to the attachment flange by a handle-to-attachment flange coupling.
Typically, the strainer handle, the handle-to-attachment flange coupling, the attachment flange and straining plate are all made out of an integral piece of resiliently deformable material.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, the staining plate is provided with a stirring aperture extending therethrough. In at least one embodiment of the invention, the straining plate is provided with a pouring aperture extending therethrough, the pouring aperture being located substantially adjacent the attachment flange. In at least one embodiment of the invention, the strainer is further provided with a pouring lip extending substantially outwardly from the straining plate.
Typically, the strainer is configured and sized such that upon a radial force being exerted on the strainer for stretching the strainer radially outwardly, the radial deformation of the straining plate is substantially greater than that of the attachment flange.
In accordance with the present invention, there is also provided, in combination, a cooking vessel and a strainer for straining liquids being poured through a pouring aperture of the cooking vessel, the cooking vessel having a vessel base wall and a vessel peripheral wall extending from the vessel base wall, the vessel peripheral wall defining a peripheral wall upper edge substantially circumventing the pouring aperture and a peripheral wall outer surface, the cooking vessel having a circumferential bead extending from the peripheral wall outer surface substantially adjacent the peripheral wall upper edge; the strainer being releasably attachable to the peripheral wall outer surface; the strainer comprising: a straining plate extending substantially through a plate geometrical plane, the straining plate having a plate first surface, an opposed plate second surface and a plate peripheral edge; the straining plate having straining apertures extending therethrough; an attachment flange extending substantially from the plate peripheral edge, the attachment flange having a flange contacting surface for frictionally contacting a circumferential contacting portion of the vessel peripheral wall so as to generate a frictional force between the flange contacting surface and the contacting portion of the vessel peripheral wall; the flange contacting surface being provided with a circumferential contacting surface groove, the contacting surface groove receiving the circumferential bead; at least a stretchable portion of the straining plate being made out of a resiliently deformable plate material so as to allow the straining plate to be stretchable substantially in the plate geometrical plane from a plate unstretched configuration wherein the plate peripheral edge has a peripheral edge first dimension to a plate stretched configuration wherein the plate peripheral edge has a peripheral edge second dimension, the peripheral edge second dimension being greater than the peripheral edge first dimension; wherein upon the straining plate being stretched towards the plate stretched configuration, the resilient nature of the stretchable portion of the straining plate biases the straining plate towards the plate unstretched configuration for exerting a compressive force on the contacting portion of the vessel peripheral wall and increasing the intensity of the frictional force between the flange contacting surface and the contacting portion of the vessel peripheral wall.
Advantages of the present invention include that the proposed cooking strainer is releasably mountable over the pouring aperture formed by conventional cooking vessels. The straining operation using the present invention hence only requires tipping of the cooking vessel with the proposed strainer mounted thereon without requiring the separate manipulation of a separate straining entity. The risk of injuries to the user and of creating a mess and/or wasting food is hence reduced.
The proposed cooking strainer is designed so as to be releasably secured over the pouring aperture of cooking containers in such a manner as to prevent involuntary removal thereof while the liquids are being poured from the cooking vessel and the solids retained therein.
The proposed cooking strainer is designed so as to be readily adaptable or adjustable to cooking vessels of various sizes. Furthermore, the proposed cooking strainer is designed so as to be substantially ergonomically attachable and detachable to and from a conventional cooking vessel without requiring manual dexterity or excessive strength.
Furthermore, the proposed cooking strainer is designed so as to be manufacturable using conventional forms of manufacturing and conventional materials through a relatively simple manufacturing process such as injection moulding so as to provide a cooking strainer that will be economically feasible, long-lasting and relatively trouble-free in operation.
In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the proposed cooking strainer is provided with strainer handles adapted to further secure the strainer to the cooking vessel and/or facilitate gripping of the cooking vessel handles.
Yet, still furthermore, in at least one embodiment of the invention, the cooking strainer is designed so as to allow insertion therethrough of various cooking implements such as stirring spoons, spatulas or the like in order to facilitate various cooking steps being performed as the food is being prepared without the need for removing the proposed cooking strainer from the cooking vessel.
Yet, still furthermore, in at least one embodiment of the invention, the proposed cooking strainer is further provided with a pouring spout in order to guide the flow of liquid as the liquid is being poured out from the cooking vessel.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings in which:
Referring to
In
The cooking vessel 12 may, in some instances, be provided with a vessel flange 28 extending typically radially outwardly from the peripheral wall outer surface 22. The vessel flange 28 may take any suitable form such as that of a rolled flange emanating from the peripheral wall upper edge 24. Typically, the vessel flange 28 is located substantially adjacent to the peripheral wall upper edge 24 although the vessel flange 28 may be spaced from the peripheral wall upper edge 24 in some instances.
It should be understood that the strainer 10, in accordance with the present invention, is adapted to be usable with cooking vessels having various types of vessel flanges 28 and with cooking vessels 12 deprived of any vessel flange.
The conventional cooking vessel 12 may also be provided with at least one and typically two vessel handles 30 extending typically substantially radially outwardly therefrom for facilitating the manipulation thereof. The vessel handles 30 may take any suitable form and size and be located at any suitable location. The strainer 10, in accordance with the present invention is adapted to be used with cooking vessels having any suitable type of vessel handles and with cooking vessels 12 deprived of any vessel handle.
As shown in cross-section in
The straining plate 32 has a plurality of straining aperture 42 extending therethrough. The straining apertures 42 are shown throughout the Figures as having a substantially square-shaped configuration. It should, however, be understood that the straining apertures 32 could have any other suitable configuration without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, throughout the Figures, the straining apertures 42 are shown as having an aperture bevelled peripheral edge 44. It should, however, be understood that the straining apertures 42 could be deprived of such straining aperture bevelled peripheral edge 44 without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The strainer 10 also includes an attachment flange generally indicated by the reference numeral 46. The attachment flange 46 extends substantially from the plate peripheral edge 40. The attachment flange 46 has a flange contacting surface generally indicated by the reference numeral 48 for frictionally contacting a circumferential contacting portion 50 of the vessel peripheral wall 20 so as to generate a frictional force between the flange contacting surface 48 and the contacting portion 50 of the vessel peripheral wall 20.
At least a stretchable portion of the straining plate 32 is made out of a substantially resiliently deformable plate material so as to allow the straining plate 32 to be stretchable substantially in the plate geometrical plate 34. The resiliently deformable plate material allows the straining plate 32 to be stretchable from a plate unstretched configuration, shown in
As shown throughout the drawings, the straining plate 32 typically has a substantially disc-shaped configuration. The straining plate 32 hence typically defines a plate diameter 52. The plate diameter 52 is smaller than the straining plate 32 is in the plate unstretched configuration than then the straining plate 32 is in the plate stretched configuration. By way of example,
The resiliently deformable plate material is selected such that upon the straining plate 32 being stretched towards the plate stretched configuration, the resilient nature of the stretchable portion of the straining plate 32 biases the straining plate 32 towards the plate unstretched configuration for exerting a compressive force on the contacting portion 50 of the vessel peripheral wall 20 and increasing the intensity of the frictional force between the flange contacting surface 48 and the contacting portion 50 of the vessel peripheral wall 20.
Typically, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the stretchable portion of the straining plate 32 extends substantially throughout the straining plate 32. It is, however, contemplated within the scope of the present invention to provide a straining plate 32 wherein only a limited portion thereof is stretchable. For example, in alternative embodiments of the invention, only a central portion of the straining plate 32 or a peripheral portion of the straining plate 32 could be made out of a resiliently stretchable material.
Typically, at least a resilient portion of the attachment flange 46 is made out of a resiliently deformable flange material. The resiliently deformable flange material allows at least a movable portion 44 of the flange contacting surface 48 to move substantially outwardly from a movable portion first position, for example illustrated in
Upon the resilient portion of the attachment flange being deformed so as to move the movable portion of the flange contacting surface 48 towards the movable portion second position, the resilient nature of the resilient portion of the attachment flange 46 biases the movable portion of the attachment flange 46 back towards the movable portion first position.
Typically, the resilient portion of the attachment flange extends substantially throughout the attachment flange 46. Also, typically, the movable portion of the flange contacting surface 48 extends substantially throughout the flange contacting surface 48. It is, however, contemplated within the scope of the present invention that only a portion of the attachment flange 46 be of a resilient nature. It is also contemplated within the scope of the present invention that only a portion the flange contacting surface 48 be actually movable.
The flange contacting surface 48 is typically provided with a circumferential contacting surface groove 56 extending at least partially therealong. In the embodiment shown throughout the Figures, the contacting surface groove 56 extends uninterrupted circumferentially. It is, however, contemplated within the scope of the present invention that only a portion of the perimeter of the contacting surface be provided with a contacting surface groove or that the contacting surface groove be intermittent according to a predetermined interval pattern.
The flange contacting surface 48 defines a contacting surface, or first portion, 58 extending from the contacting surface groove 56 substantially towards the straining plate 32 and an opposed contacting surface second portion 60 extending from the contacting surface groove 56 substantially away from the straining plate 32.
In the embodiment shown throughout the Figures, the contacting surface first and second portions 58, 60 extend in a substantially common contacting surface geometrical plane 62. Also, the contacting surface geometrical plane 62 is shown extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plate geometrical plane 34. It is, however, contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the contacting surface first and second portions 58, 60 be in different geometrical planes and that such geometrical plates be in any suitable orientation relative to the plate geometrical plate 34.
Referring to
Typically, the outer surface of the attachment flange 46 has a substantially rounded and convex configuration. It is, however, contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the outer surface of the attachment flange 46 be otherwise configured without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The strainer 10 typically further comprises at least one and preferably two strainer handles generally indicated by the reference numeral 64. Each strainer handle 64 is coupled to the attachment flange 46 by a corresponding handle-to-attachment flange coupling 66. Typically, the handle-to-attachment flange coupling 66 is resiliently deformable.
As shown more specifically in
Referring to
Each strainer handle 64 has a handle-to-handle outer surface 72 for contacting a corresponding hand of an intended user and a handle-to-handle inner surface 74 for contacting a vessel handle 30.
As shown in
Typically, the stirring aperture 76 is at least partially circumvented by a stirring aperture rim 78. The stirring aperture rim 78 typically merges integrally about a section thereof with the attachment flange 46. Typically, although by no means exclusively, the stirring aperture 76 has a substantially oval configuration.
As illustrated more specifically in
Also, the strainer 10 may optionally be further provided with a pouring lip 82 extending substantially outwardly from the straining plate 32. The pouring lip 82 is adapted to be used for guiding the flow of liquid 14 being poured. Typically, the pouring lip 82 extends substantially from the plate peripheral edge 40, over the attachment flange 46 and radially outwardly therefrom. Typically, although by no means exclusively, the pouring lip 82 has a substantially radially convex and circumferentially concave configuration. Typically, the pouring lip 82 is in fluid communication with the pouring aperture 80.
When both the stirring aperture 76 and the pouring aperture 80 are provided, the stirring and pouring apertures 76, 80 are typically located in a substantially diametrically opposed relationship relative to each other.
Typically, the straining plate 32 and attachment flange 46 are both made out of an integral piece of resiliently deformable elastomeric material. For example, the straining plate 32 and attachment flange 46 may be made out of an integral piece of heat-resistant Silicon approved for use in the industry such as the product identified by the trade mark O-THANE® #RP 6400-1 manufactured by the company Ciba.
Typically, the strainer handle 64 and the handle-to-attachment flange coupling 66 are also made integrally with the attachment flange 46 and the straining plate 32 out of an integral piece of resiliently deformable material.
Typically, the difference in thickness between the thickness of the straining plate 32 and the attachment flange 46 combined with the configuration of the straining plate 32 and that of the attachment flange 46 is such that upon a radial force being exerted on the strainer 10 for stretching the strainer 10 radially outwardly, the radial deformation of the straining plate 32 is substantially greater than that of the attachment flange 46. This feature is adapted to facilitate mounting of the strainer 10 over the cooking vessel 12 and to reduce undue deformation of flange deformable section. Typically, the radial deformation of the straining plate 32 is in the range of square times the elongation of the attachment flange 46.
In use, a radial force is exerted by the intended user so as to stretch the strainer 10 radially outwardly for fitting the flange contacting surface 48 over the outer surface of the cooking container. The radial force is then released to allow the external surfaces to frictionally contact each other. The frictional contacts prevent unwanted removal of the strainer and also prevent the fluid from leaking between the flange and the cooking vessel.
The handles may be stretched so as to cover the cooking vessel handle acting as a further means for preventing unwanted removal of the strainer and also as a cover for facilitating the gripping of the cooking vessel handles.
