Thermally insulated pot

A thermally insulated cooking pot consists of an outer pot and an inner pot. The inner pot is suspended within the outer pot by hanging from the top inner circumferential area of the outer pot with its own top outer circumferential area. The space between the inner and outer pots becomes an insulation cavity. The contact point between the two pots is sealed by a pliable packing ring with an L-shaped cross-section, thereby sealing the insulation cavity. This sealed insulation cavity provides excellent thermal insulation. The packing ring contains a plurality of protrusions on the surface that come into contact with the inner pot to prevent the packing ring from sticking to the inner pot. The gap formed between the packing ring protrusions and the inner pot prevents the inner pot from sticking to the packing ring.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to cooking devices, and particularly, to a thermally insulated pot.

2. Description of Prior Art

Existing thermally insulated cooking devices are double structured, with a sealed insulation cavity between the inner and outer vessels. Having the cavity sealed is a costly process, leading to high manufacturing costs. In addition, pots with sealed insulation cavities are heavy to lift.

Thermally insulated cooking devices without properly sealed insulation cavities, however, would not provide enough thermal insulation, and are therefore impractical. The present invention discovered this.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to address the above problems by providing a cooking pot with an inner pot that is suspended within an outer pot, thereby providing thermal insulation in the space formed between the inner pot and the outer pot.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tightly sealed insulation cavity that provides excellent thermal insulation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a cooking pot with thermal insulation that can conveniently function as a conventional cooking pot.

In accordance with the above objects of the present invention, there is provided a cooking device comprising an inner pot that is suspended within an outer pot, forming a single unit. When the inner and outer pots are joined, an insulation cavity is created in the space formed between them. A packing ring is placed between the point of contact of the inner and outer pots in order to seal the insulation cavity. The inner pot is suspended on the inside of the outer pot by having the top outer circumferential area of the inner pot hanging onto the top inner circumferential area of the outer pot. The packing ring, made of a pliable material, blocks air from flowing into and out of the insulation cavity.

In one embodiment, the packing ring has protrusions that come in contact with the top outer circumferential area of the inner pot when the inner pot is suspended within the outer pot. The protrusions on the packing ring prevent the inner pot from making contact with the entire upper surface of the packing ring. Only the packing ring protrusions come in contact with the inner pot.

By having multiple protrusions arranged on the packing ring, a space is created between each protrusion. This space forms a gap when the top outer circumferential area of the inner pot is positioned on the packing ring. This gap will prevent the inner pot from sticking to the packing ring.

The cross section of the packing ring is L-shaped. When the packing ring is positioned in the outer pot, it covers the top, the corner, and the bottom of the step area.

In another embodiment, the packing ring comprises of a metal core partially covered with pliable material. The top part of the metal core is exposed, and the remaining sides are covered with pliable material. The top edges of the packing ring adjacent to the exposed metal core form the protrusions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A cooking apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated inFIGS. 1to9. InFIG. 1an inner pot3is suspended within an outer pot1. The outer pot's1inner top circumferential area2has a step area5, where a packing ring6is positioned. The packing ring6, made of a pliable material, supports the inner pot3by having a top outer circumferential area4of the inner pot3hang within the outer pot1. By having this type of positioning, an insulation cavity7is created between a wall and base of the inner pot3and a wall and base of the outer pot1. The packing ring6seals the insulation cavity7and prevents exterior air from flowing into and out of it.

The present invention, with the packing ring6positioned over step area5, provides excellent thermal insulation when the top outer circumferential area4of inner pot3is hanging from the step area5. This is due to the pliability of the packing ring6, which allows it to create strong adhesion with the step area5, thereby tightly sealing the insulation cavity7.

Since this invention provides an easily installed and removed packing ring6, both the inner pot3and outer pot1can be used as conventional cooking pots. The simple procedure of installing the packing ring6on the step area5of the outer pot1, before suspending the inner pot3within the outer pot1, seals the insulation cavity7that is created. In addition, using the pots as conventional cooking pots requires only the removal of the inner pot3and the packing ring6from the outer pot1.

The packing ring6is made of a pliable material. Therefore, if pliability is increased to make stronger adhesion, there is a possibility that the upper surface8of packing ring6will stick to the inner pot3when the inner pot3is raised. To prevent this from happening, the packing ring6is arranged with protruded contact areas or protrusions9on its upper surface so that the entire upper surface8of the packing ring will not come in contact with the inner pot3as seen in FIG.2.

Furthermore, the protrusions9will fully support the top outer circumferential area of the inner pot4. Although a space or gap10is created between the protrusions9, the quality of the seal of the insulation cavity remains highly effective. Consequently, the sticking phenomenon is controlled when the inner pot is removed.

As shown inFIG. 3, the cross section of the packing ring is L-shaped. Having this shape will allow the packing ring6to cover all parts of the step area5of the outer pot1including a top part of step area11, a corner of step area12, and a bottom part of step area13. Consequently, the installation and removal of the packing ring6can be done smoothly, without misplacements. At the same time, the tightness of the seal improves, resulting in improved thermal insulation.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, an outwardly projecting contact area is formed at the top of the inner circumferential area of the outer pot2. The step area5of the outer pot1, the base of the outwardly projecting contact area, provides support for the packing ring6. An outwardly projecting contact area is also formed at the top circumferential area of the inner pot3. Positioned at the base of the outer pot's outwardly projecting contact area, the packing ring6supports a step area15of the inner pot3. By having the outwardly projecting contact area of the inner pot3and the outwardly projecting contact area of the outer pot1positioned in such a way, a cavity is formed between the wall and base of the inner pot3and the wall and base of the outer pot1. By placing the packing ring6between the first step area5and the second step area15, the insulation cavity is tightly sealed.

The step area5of the outer pot1is sized in a way such that the inner pot3can be suspended within the outer pot1. Specifically, the step area5is wide enough to provide a means for the inner pot3to be suspended. The wall and base of the inner pot3is sized so that the inner pot3can be suspended within the outer pot1while the step area15of the inner pot3is shaped and sized so that the step area5of the outer pot can support the step area15of the inner pot3.

Two handles16are attached to the outer pot1, and two handles18are attached to the top outer circumferential area of the inner pot3. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 4, a first lid17fits on the step area15of the inner pot3. A second lid20fits on an inner pot rim19, making the inner pot3double-covered, which provides excellent thermal insulation.

As shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, when the inner pot3and outer pot1are used as conventional pots, both the first lid17and the second lid20can be used as lids for either the inner pot3or the outer pot1. The first lid17can fit either the step area15of the inner pot or the step area5of the outer pot3, while the second lid20can fit either the inner pot rim19or an outer pot rim21.

As previously mentioned, the packing ring6has an L-shaped cross-section, is easily installed and removed, is heat-resistant, and has strong flexibility. These characteristics are attributable to the packing ring6being made of silicone rubber having superior adhesive qualities. When the packing ring6is installed on the step area5of the outer pot1, it will help seal the insulation cavity7and provide excellent thermal insulation. Since the packing ring6extends from the outer circumferential surface inwardly to its inner circumferential surface the packing ring6will cover all parts of the step area5including the top part of step area ii, the corner of step area12, and the bottom part of step area13. In other words, the packing ring6is properly sized with adequate thickness so that it fully seals the insulation cavity7, and at the same time, the packing ring6is shaped so that its inner vertical circumferential surface does not come in contact with the inner pot3as shown in FIG.2. The packing ring6has dual concentrically arranged protrusions9on its top surface. By arranging the protrusions9in this fashion, the gap10that is created when the inner pot3is suspended within the outer pot I ensures that the inner pot3does not stick to the upper surface8of packing ring6. Each protrusion9is sized with enough width so that the packing ring6will adequately support the inner pot3.

Since the purpose of the packing ring6is to close the insulation cavity7and tightly seal it, it is made of pliable material, which does not help to maintain its shape. Protrusions9, in contrast, help the packing ring6maintain its shape. When the packing ring6keeps its shape, its installation onto the step area5of the outer pot1is simple and smooth.

An additional embodiment of the present invention is illustrated inFIGS. 9to13. In this embodiment, the packing ring6is made with a core material14made of metal. The core material14is covered by pliable material on all sides except at the top. The core material14helps the packing ring6to maintain its shape while the pliable material helps it to have adhesive qualities.

As shown inFIG. 11, the packing ring6has a hollow area22, and on top of the hollow area22is where the protrusions9are formed. The core material, a plate-like metal made of stainless steel, occupies the hollow area22of the packing ring. The top part of the core material14is exposed, and the exposed area will have protrusions9above either end. Having this composition makes the packing ring6easier to install.

If too much pressure from the weight of the inner pot3and its contents is exerted on the protrusions9, causing the protrusions9to be deformed, then the inner pot3and the upper surface8of packing ring6will stick to each other, and the sealed insulation cavity7will make it difficult for the inner pot3to be separated from the outer pot I. However, when the protrusions9are deformed due to pressure, the gap10will still be there to prevent the upper surface8of packing ring6from sticking to the inner pot3. Even if the protrusions9are completely crushed and the inner pot3comes into contact with the exposed core material14, a metallic ring-shaped core, the design and composition of the packing ring6will prevent the inner pot3from sticking to the upper surface8of packing ring6. When the inner pot3comes in contact with the metal core, they will not stick to each other because metals do not stick to each other.

The packing ring6is made of pliable material to help it have adhesive qualities when in contact with the inner pot3and outer pot1. The flexibility of the material determines the level of adhesion. The more flexible the material is, the higher the level of adhesion. The pliability of the packing ring6also allows the protrusions9to flex and be adaptable in order to provide for a good fit for the top outer circumferential area of the inner pot4. This, in turn, improves the tightness of the seal of the insulation cavity7. Therefore, even when the inner pot3contains little food, the seal of the insulation cavity will still be tight enough because the inner pot3will hang effectively on the packing ring6in order to provide excellent thermal insulation.

On the other hand, the packing ring6may be difficult to install on the step area5of the outer pot1if the material of the packing ring6is too flexible and easily bent. This can be the case even if the packing ring6is able to maintain its essential shape.

In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the packing ring6is arranged with protrusions9for support. Since this helps the packing ring6to keep its shape, a softer material can be used for the packing ring6, which makes it easier to install. In the second embodiment, the packing ring6consists of a metallic ring-shaped core material14. This improves its shape retaining qualities, which also makes the packing ring6easier to install.

Therefore, when the packing ring6is made of a very flexible material to ensure that the insulation cavity7is well sealed, it can still maintain its shape as well as be easily installed. This proves the usefulness of the packing ring6.

The packing ring6of the second embodiment, with a metallic ring-shaped core, does not necessarily have to be made with stainless steel as long as it can keep its shape. The core material14does not have to be board-shaped having wide width. For example, the core material14can have line-form with narrower width such as a wire or a group of wires. In addition, the configuration of the core material14may be setup more than once.

The present invention does not only apply to the embodiments mentioned here. The requirements for each specific construction could be designed so that it suits what it is asked for.

Conclusion, Ramifications, and Scope

Accordingly, the reader will see that the thermally insulated cooking pot has excellent thermal insulating qualities. The thermally insulated cooking pot can be easily installed by placing the packing ring on the step of the outer pot and by suspending the inner pot within the outer pot. The pliability of the packing ring ensures that the top outer circumferential area of the inner pot can securely hang from the top inner circumferential area of the outer pot. The pliability of the packing ring also ensures that the packing ring adheres to the inner and outer pots, thereby tightly sealing the insulation cavity to provide excellent thermal insulation.

The packing ring's pliability and shape allows the packing ring to be easily installed and removed. By simply positioning the packing ring on the steps of the outer pot and by positioning the inner pot on the packing ring, a thermally insulated pot with excellent heat retention is possible. By simply removing the inner pot and packing ring from the outer pot, the inner and outer pots both can be used as conventional pots.

The thermally insulated pot of this invention provides excellent thermal insulation because the packing ring protrusions make possible an insulation cavity that is securely sealed. The gaps, formed between the packing ring protrusions and the inner pot, prevent the inner pot from sticking to the packing ring.

The packing ring adequately covers the top, the corner, and the bottom of the step area to ensure that the insulation cavity is completely sealed, allowing for exceptional heat insulating qualities. The packing ring can be installed smoothly, which makes installation easy.

The packing ring can be made with a metal core material. Not only does this help the packing ring to maintain its shape, but also makes it easier to install the packing ring on the step area of the outer pot.

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. In as much as the present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has been described in its preferred forms with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and numerous changes in the details of construction and combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.