A need exists for a combination product that is structured so that a user can boil pasta then drain it without using a standard colander, that is structured so that a user can steam foods in a unit that also is useful for boiling pasta, and that has structural elements that enable the use to place the container in which the pasta or steamed foods are held in a safe and convenient receiver.
As depicted and disclosed in the Figures herewith, the combination of a cooking pot with a pair of receiver pivot points situated near the opening of the pot, a lid preferably with a glass top, and a basket dimensioned to fit within the cooking pot and having a plurality of openings to allow water or steam to pass through the basket and having pivot studs dimensioned to be received in the receiver pivot points on the cooking pot, will serve the need that exists.
The pasta pot and strainer combination of the present invention are made more functional when structural elements are added that enable straining and draining of the pasta or vegetables. The pot 10 typically has a circumferential rim 19 and sidewall 20 joined to a bottom or base, which form an open top vessel capable of holding water, liquid and cooking ingredients. The strainer or basket 11 typically has a circumferential rim 21, somewhat smaller in diameter than the sidewall of the pot, and has a hemispherical strainer wall joined to the rim. The strainer wall is formed with a plurality of drain holes, particularly in the lower portion of the wall.
The structural elements added to the strainer 11, to enable cooking and draining of the contents, include a pair of studs or pivot members 12 mounted on opposite sides of the strainer wall adjacent to the rim 13, and dimensioned according to the space between the outer circumference of the rim 21 and the inner circumference of the pot sidewall 20. The pair of pivot members preferably are rigid, solid except for a mount, and cylindrical, and when the strainer is in the pot, the pivot members 12 are generally parallel with the bottom of the pot. In one preferred embodiment of the strainer, a handle 14 is added that extends from one of the pair of studs 12 across the rim of the strainer 11, to the stud 12 on the opposite side of the strainer basket. A utilitarian version of the handle is depicted in
The structural features added to the pot 10 and its sidewall 20, which enable cooking and draining of the contents of the strainer, include a pair of receivers 15 mounted on opposite sides of the pot sidewall, as depicted in the
The mateable arrangement of the studs on the strainer and the receivers on the pot are depicted in
In the preferred embodiment, the position of the studs on the basket and the receivers on the pot are mounted at positions predetermined by the difference in distance from the rim of the basket to the bottom, and from the rim of the pot to the bottom. Preferably, the basket when supported by the studs in the receivers will not be in contact with the bottom of the pot, and preferably, the distance between the supported basket and the pot will predetermined so that when the pot is tipped to pour out liquid that the strainer will rotate freely within the receivers such that the contents of the strainer will not pour out.
With the inventive structure, the typical use would be for water to be added to the pot, and ingredients such as pasta to be boiled or vegetables to be steamed would be added to the strainer. The strainer would be lifted by the handle, and placed with the studs on the basket in contact with the acceptor portions of the receivers on the pot, then a downward force on the handle would push open clasps, and the studs would come to be supported and rotatable within the pivot and support portion of the receivers. The lid would be placed on the pot, and the contents cooked. When the food is ready to serve, and the lid removed, the pot would be tipped to pour out some or all of the liquid, and the rotatable support of the basket would keep the contents from pouring out. With an upward force on the handle of the basket, the studs would move through the jaw portions. Then, the basket can be removed for the contents to be served, or the basket can rest on the acceptors until service of the contents is desired.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/848,930, filed Jan. 15, 2013.