Abstract:
A cooking device for roasting and basting food. The cooking device includes a roasting pan and lid forming a defined interior volume. The roasting pan includes a base, one or more sidewalls, and an open upper end. Along the interior of the sidewalls of the roasting pan, one or more tubes extend upwardly onto the lid and towards a centrally located reservoir. A pump is disposed on the exterior of the lid and allows a user to selectively baste food during the cooking process. The tubes and reservoir are operably connected to the pump, wherein the pump, once actuated, draws fluids through each tube and into the reservoir. The reservoir includes one or more openings for dispersing the fluids therefrom for basting food located within the roasting pan.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/101,687 filed on Jan. 9, 2015. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to cooking devices. More specifically, the present invention provides a cooking device for roasting and selectively basting food. 
         [0003]    Roasting food, such as meat, requires basting the meat to allow the end product to be juicy and moist. Basting involves pouring the liquid accumulated at the bottom of the roasting pan over the food while cooking in order to keep it moist. However, conventional roasting pans include a lid that must be removed in order for the user to baste the food. When the lid is removed, heat from the cooking process escapes the roaster, which results in a longer cook time. Therefore, there exists a need in the prior art for a cooking device that allows a user to baste without removing the lid of the roaster. 
         [0004]    Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to cooking devices. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. These devices generally relate to combination ovens and roasting pans, such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,055,287, U.S. Pat. No. 2,352,292, and U.S. Pat. No. 1,977,486. 
         [0005]    These prior art devices have several known drawbacks. The devices in the prior art fail to provide a plurality of tubes extending upward from a roasting pan to a lid in order to draw fluid from the roasting pan for release from the lid. Further, the prior art fails to provide a pump as a means to selectively draw the fluid through the tubes. 
         [0006]    In light of the devices disclosed in the prior art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the prior art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing cooking devices. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of roasting and basting devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new roasting and basting device wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when selectively basting food without removing the lid of a cooking device. 
         [0008]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved roasting and basting device that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
         [0009]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a roasting and basting device comprising a lid removably covering a roasting pan, wherein a the roasting pan comprises a base, one or more sidewalls, and an open upper end for receiving food therein. 
         [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a roasting and basting device comprising one or more tubes extending upward from the roasting pan to a centrally located reservoir positioned on the lid, wherein each tube includes an open lower end for receiving liquid from the base of the roasting pan. 
         [0011]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a roasting and basting device further comprising a pump as a means for drawing the fluid from the roasting pan into the tubes. 
         [0012]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a roasting and basting device further comprising one or more openings disposed on the reservoir and in fluid communication with the tubes in order to disperse the liquid therefrom over the food positioned therebelow. 
         [0013]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a roasting and basting device that may be readily fabricated from materials that permit relative economy and are commensurate with durability. 
         [0014]    Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the roasting and basting device. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the roasting and basting device wherein the lid is separated from the roasting pan. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3A  shows a cross sectional view of the roasting and basting device wherein the pump is depressed. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3B  shows a cross sectional view of the roasting and basting device wherein the pump is released. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the roasting and basting device. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for selectively basting food without removing the lid of a cooking device. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown a perspective view of the roasting and basting device and a perspective view of the roasting and basting device wherein the lid is separated from the roasting pan, respectively. The roasting and basting device  11  comprises a lid  13  removably covering a roasting pan  12 , wherein the roasting pan  12  includes a base  20 , one or more sidewalls  22 , and an open upper end  23  for receiving food therein. The roasting pan  12  receives food, such as meat, for roasting. In the illustrated embodiment, the roasting pan  12  comprises a rectangular shape. However, in alternate embodiments, the roasting pan  12  comprises any suitable shape, such as a cylinder. 
         [0022]    The lid  13  comprises an open lower end  24  and an upper wall  25  configured to removably cover the open upper end  23  of the roasting pan  12  so as to prevent heat from escaping during the cooking process. In the illustrated embodiment, the lid  13  comprises a cross section having a rectangular shape with substantially the same dimension of the open upper end  23  of the roasting pan  12  so as to provide full coverage thereover. In other embodiments, the lid  13  comprises any suitable shape as long as it is configured to removably cover the open upper end  23  of the roasting pan  12 . In some embodiments, the lid  13  further comprises a handle  14  disposed thereon for allowing a user to conveniently separate the lid  13  from the roasting pan  12 . 
         [0023]    The roasting and basting device  11  further comprises a plurality of tubes  19  extending upward from a lower end of the roasting pan  12  to the lid  13 . Each tube  19  comprises an open lower end for receiving liquid from the base  20  of the roasting pan  12 . Preferably, the open lower end is covered by a screen  37  for filtering out solid food from the liquid. The screen  37  comprises the same dimension as that of the lower end of the tube  19  so as to fasten thereto via a press fit. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper end of each tube  19  terminates at a centrally located reservoir  26  on the lid  13  in order to collect liquid received in the tubes  19 . In use, the liquid accumulates during the cooking process from the juices that are extracted from the food in the roasting pan  12  and any fluids added thereto. In the illustrated embodiment, each tube  19  further comprises a first section  31  removably secured to a second section  32 , wherein the first section  31  is disposed in the roasting pan  12  and the second section  32  is disposed in the lid  13 . The first section  31  comprises an open upper end  16  in order to allow the liquid to travel into the corresponding second section  32  of the tube  19  positioned on the lid  13 , while still allowing the lid  13  to separate from the roasting pan  12 . The corresponding second section  32  comprises an open lower end  17  that fits over the upper end  16  of the first section  31  via an air tight seal. Preferably, an air tight seal is created therebetween in order to allow liquid to be efficiently drawn upward through the tubes  19  via a pump. The air tight seal may be accomplished via a gasket or any known methods of creating an air tight seal in the prior art. 
         [0024]    In the illustrated embodiment, the first section  31  of each tube  19  extending along the roasting pan  12  is positioned against the sidewalls  22  thereof. Likewise, the corresponding second section  32  of the tube  19  on the lid  13  is positioned along the upper wall  25  thereof so as to align with the first section  31  for efficient transport of liquid therethrough. Preferably, the tubes  19  are positioned against or near the sidewalls  22  in order to provide maximum space for food to be placed in the interior volume of the roasting pan  12 . However, the depicted embodiment of the tubes  19  of the present invention is merely illustrative and the present disclosure contemplates other embodiments of the present invention utilizing other positioning of the tubes and different shaped tubes to allow liquid to be transported from the base  20  of the roasting pan  12  to the lid  13  for dispersal over food positioned below the lid  13  in the roasting pan  12 . 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , there are shown cross sectional views of the roasting and basting device. The flow of liquid through the tubes  19  is selectively controlled by a pump  15 . In the illustrated embodiment, the pump  15  is positioned on the exterior of the device  11 , wherein the pump  15  displaces air within the reservoir  26  and tubes  19  in order to create suction. In the illustrated embodiment, the roasting and basting device  11  further comprises one way valves  33 ,  34  that are operably connected to the pump  15  in order to control the flow of liquid. There is at least one valve  34  that controls the flow of liquid from the tubes  19  into the reservoir  26  and at least one valve  33  that controls the flow of liquid from the reservoir  26  to out thereof and into the roasting pan  12 . Preferably, the pump  15  is composed of any suitable flexible material, such as rubber. As the pump  15  is depressed, liquid is dispersed from the reservoir  26  into the roasting pan  12 . As the pump  15  is released, fluid is drawn into the tubes  19  through the open lower end thereof. 
         [0026]    In the illustrated embodiment, the pump  15  is disposed on the top of the lid  13 , wherein an opening  36  is positioned in the lid  13  beneath the pump  15  in order to allow air to flow from the interior of the pump  15  to the tubes  19  and the reservoir  26 . The reservoir  26  comprises an open upper end in order to receive liquid therethrough and a base  35  having one or more openings thereon. The base  35  of the reservoir  26  is positioned lower than the upper end of each tube  19  so as to serve to collect liquid drawn through the tubes  19  therein. The opening allows the liquid collected in the reservoir  26  to disperse therethrough onto food positioned below the reservoir  26 . 
         [0027]    In the illustrated embodiment, the reservoir  26  comprises an opening on the base  35  thereof that is removably covered by a first valve  33 . The first valve  33  comprises the opening, a valve seat  30 , and a baffle  28 , wherein the first valve  33  is configured to control the flow of liquid from the reservoir  26 , out through the opening, and into the roasting pan  12 . The valve seat  30  is positioned parallel to and along the periphery of the opening and configured to receive the baffle so as to prevent liquid from flowing through the opening when the first valve  33  is in the closed position. Further, the valve seat  30  includes a plurality of apertures thereon configured to allow the liquid to spray onto the food  61  when the first valve  33  is open. In some embodiments, the apertures comprise angled edges in order to provide a directional spray. The baffle  28  is pivotally secured to the reservoir  26 , adjacent to the opening, wherein the baffle  28  removably covers the opening and the valve seat  30  in order to prevent liquid from flowing therethrough. 
         [0028]    In the illustrated embodiment, a second valve  34  is positioned within each tube  19  for controlling the flow of liquid therethrough. Similar to the first valve  33 , each second valve  34  comprises an opening within the tube  19 , a baffle  27 , and a valve seat  29 , wherein the valve seat  29  is positioned between the sidewalls of the tube  19 . The valve seat  29  comprises one or more apertures to allow liquid to flow therethrough and receives the baffle  27  thereon when the second valve  34  is closed so as to prevent liquid from flowing through the apertures. The baffle  27  is pivotally secured to the tube  19 . In other embodiments, any suitable valve may be used, such as a check valve or butterfly valve. However, the depicted embodiment of the pump and valve configuration of the present invention is merely illustrative and the present disclosure contemplates other embodiments of the present invention utilizing other types of pumps and valves having other suitable configurations to allow liquid to be drawn through the tubes and dispersed over food positioned in the roasting pan. 
         [0029]    In operation, food  61  is positioned in the roasting pan  12  and the lid  13  is placed over the open upper end of the pan  12 , wherein the upper and lower ends of the tubes  19  are aligned. The user applies heat to the roasting and basting device  11 , wherein juices from the food accumulate on the base  20  of the roasting pan  12 . The user depresses the pump  15  positioned on the exterior of the device  11  until the air within the reservoir  26  and tubes  19  is displaced. Once the air is displaced, liquid is suctioned into the reservoir  26  via the tubes  19 . Once the reservoir  26  has basting liquid therein, the pump  15  is depressed in order to open the baffle  28  disposed over the opening of the first valve  33  of the reservoir  26  and release liquid collected therein onto the food  61  in the pan  12 . As the pump  15  is depressed, the baffles  27  of the second valves  34  are configured to close in order to provide pressure to open the baffle  28  of the first valve  33 . As the user releases the pump  15 , the baffle  28  of the first valve  33  is closed and the baffle  27  of the second valves  33  are opened so as to draw the liquid through the tubes  19  and into the reservoir  26 . The user repeats the basting process by selectively depressing the pump  15  throughout the cooking time in order to keep the food moist and tasty. 
         [0030]    It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
         [0031]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.