Adjustable lock and drain apparatus

An apparatus which serves as a single utensil allowing to gradually adjust vapor escape, liquid drainage speed, and particle drainage and filtering. A few of the apparatus applications are cooking utensils, pitchers, drinking cups, gardening watering and fertilizing cans, etc. The apparatus comprises a vessel having pouring regions and a lid having draining and solid regions. In use, the solid regions of the lid must be aligned with the vessel pouring regions, which is the non-straining or opened position with no vapor release. If the lid is rotated in either direction, it slides into a locking engagement with the vessel until the desired draining regions of the lid are aligned with the vessel pouring regions. This is the straining or locked position where a desirable degree of steam or liquid and particles can be released.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a field of cookware or any other field, where specifically, an ability to gradually adjust amount of particle drainage and vapor or liquid release is required.

2. Background of the Invention

The present invention is an adjustable draining apparatus which can be used for different applications. For instance, some of the applications are pitchers, drinking cups, gardening watering and fertilizing cans, etc. For exemplary purpose, a cooking application will be described herein.

Preparation of foods such as pasta, meat, and vegetables often requires an individual to cook the food in liquid while releasing desired amount of steam and then straining the food items. For example, pasta is first boiled in water and then strained to be separated from the liquid. Another example is the preparation of ground meat. While browning the ground meat, liquid fat produced must be drained before the meal can be served. In other examples, certain foods such as vegetables require different amounts of steam being released depending on the texture of the vegetables desired. For example, cooking very tender broccoli requires very little steam release while crisp broccoli requires a large amount of steam release.

Commonly, an individual uses multiple kitchen utensils by cooking food in one utensil, releasing steam with a second utensil, and straining with a third separate utensil. However, using separate cooking utensils adds inconvenience in food preparation. Moreover, additional utensils take up more space in storage and dishwasher. Another typical occurrence is when a strainer is unavailable. In this case, one of the common options is to handle the lid as a barrier while straining. This creates a dangerous situation with the risk of being burned from uncontrollable escape of hot liquid and steam. Furthermore, this alternative may result in the escape of food.

There have been attempts in the prior art to fix these problems by combining a cooking vessel and a strainer into a single kitchen utensil.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,881 issued on Aug. 5, 1997 to Bruss, discloses a single utensil that combines the features of a cooking vessel with those of a strainer.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,045 issued on Mar. 24, 1968 to Delaquis, discloses a pot and lid that can be securely integrated to function as a strainer.

However, these prior art vessel draining systems are limited in their draining capabilities. More particularly, since the locking position is fixed in the Bruss and the Delaquis devices, the amount of drainage is fixed and is limited to the size of the draining region.

Consequently, there is a need for cookware that provides an ability to adjust the desirable degree of vapor escape and drainage of liquid and food particles.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:

To provide a draining device allowing to vary the adjustment of vapor escape, speed of liquid drainage, and particle filtering.

To provide a reliable lid that locks to the vessel in any position where the draining regions are aligned with the vessel pouring regions.

To provide a device allowing to seal the content to prevent vapor escape in the opened position.

To provide a safe device that protects the user from explosions by unlocking the lid from the vessel when vapor escape is blocked.

To provide a device with clear indication whether the lid is locked or not.

To provide a draining device that is easy to use with minimal strength and use of hands by providing a lid which automatically locks to the vessel.

To provide a draining device that is convenient to use by allowing the user to drain without using hands while attending to other matters.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a single utensil that combines the features of a cooking vessel with those of a strainer adapted to safely drain liquid and/or food particles with a capability to gradually adjust amount of drainage and vapor escape. This invention achieves this while overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art devices.

A cooking application of the present invention includes a vessel having pouring regions and a lid having draining and solid regions to facilitate drainage and vapor escape.

In use, the lid is placed on the vessel so that the lid solid regions are in communication with the vessel pouring regions. This is an unlocked position (non-straining position) where the lid is not locked to the vessel enabling the individual to cook without vapor escape. At the same time, if the pressure is too high, and since the lid is not locked, it will allow for vapor escape and will not cause an explosion.

Once the vessel is ready for draining, the lid is rotated in either direction until the desirable draining regions of the lid are aligned with the vessel pouring regions. Whenever the draining regions of the lid are in communication with the vessel pouring regions, the lid is automatically in the locked position. Since the lid is locked in place, the individual can place his or her hands on the vessel or vessel handles to pick up the vessel and drain without having to hold the lid in place. The vessel can also be placed upside down for draining, permitting the individual to attend to other matters meanwhile.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention comprises a vessel, sealing means for sealing the vessel, and means for adjusting the amount of drainage and vapor escape. The vessel can be of any size, type, and shape including, but not limited to a container, a pot, a pan, or a skillet used to contain, store, prepare, or cook items. The sealing means can be of any size and type including, but not limited to a lid, a cover, a top, or a cap. The sealing means can also be of any shape including, but not limited to flat, nested inwardly, domed, etc. For illustrative purposes, the vessel is described herein as a pot, the sealing means are described herein as a lid, and the adjustment means are described herein as a relative position of the lid and the pot.

In general, a pot includes a pot wall with a pot rim through which contents can be placed in the pot. The pot has one or more pouring regions. A pouring region is an opening in the pot wall to facilitate drainage and vapor escape. The pouring region opening can be of any shape to provide adequate drainage and vapor escape. The pouring region may include a lip extending outwardly from the pot wall next to the pouring region to facilitate direct drainage and vapor escape. The lip can be of any shape as long as it provides adequate direction of drainage and vapor escape. For example, pouring region lips are demonstrated inFIGS. 1C-1E.

Handles for the pot and the lid are not mandatory. If handles are used, as long as they support the adjustment of drainage and vapor escape, their number, types, and positions are dictated only by the purpose of the application. For illustrative purposes, pot handles are demonstrated inFIGS. 7-9and lid handles are demonstrated inFIGS. 2A-4Eand6A-9.

There are five sample pot embodiments described herein.

The pot first embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1Aincludes pouring region opening25in the pot wall22from the pot rim23down.

The pot second embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1Bincludes a cutout28in the pot rim23circumference and pouring region opening25in the pot wall22below the cutout28.

The pot third embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1Cincludes pouring region opening25in the pot wall22from the pot rim23down with the pouring region lip26enclosing the pouring region opening25.

The pot fourth embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1Dincludes pouring region opening25in the pot wall22from the pot rim23down with the pouring region lip26enclosing the bottom portion of the pouring region opening25.

The pot fifth embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1Eincludes cutout28in the pot rim23circumference and pouring region opening25in the pot wall22below the cutout28with the pouring region lip26enclosing the pouring region opening25.

In general, a lid includes functional units. Each of the functional units includes one draining and one solid region. The draining region includes a set of openings of the same or various shapes and sizes to facilitate draining and vapor escape when aligned with the pot pouring region. The solid region prevents draining and vapor escape when aligned with the pot pouring region. The number of functional units must be larger or equal to the number of pot pouring regions. The functional units must be located on the lid in such a way that all the pot pouring regions can be blocked by the functional units' solid regions when necessary. The lid is operable between an opened and a locked position. In the opened position the lid can be removed from the pot and can be placed on the pot rim causing the lid solid regions to be aligned with the pot pouring regions. In the locked position the lid is positioned on the pot and the lid draining regions are aligned with the pot pouring regions.

There are two sample lid embodiments described herein.

The first lid embodiment is illustrated inFIGS. 2A and 2Bwhere functional units100and200(best seen inFIG. 3) are located on the lid periphery32. For exemplary purposes lid handle35is depicted in the center of the lid30.

FIG. 3illustrates functional units for the first lid embodiment. The lid30is sized to cover the pot pouring region lips26in order to be able to position the draining regions40and50and the solid regions38over the pot pouring region lips26. Although, two pot pouring region lips26and two functional units100and200are depicted, more can be made if desired. Functional unit100comprises a solid region38and a draining region50. For exemplary purposes, the draining region50comprises a set of draining sections gradually increasing from the smallest51to the largest56. Each draining section51to56includes a fixed number of identical size holes (for exemplary purposes, three holes are depicted in a draining section). When the lid30is on the pot20and the draining region50is aligned with the pot pouring region lip26, any three adjoining holes of the same or neighboring draining sections can be positioned to be aligned with the pot pouring region lip26for desirable drainage, vapor escape, or particle filtering. Functional unit200comprises a solid region38and a draining region40. For exemplary purposes, the draining region40comprises a set of four multiple draining sections, gradually decreasing from the most dense48to least dense42. Each draining section42to48includes the same size small holes utilized to retain most of the particles while being able to adjust the amount of liquid drainage and vapor escape.

No matter how the lid30is positioned on the pot20, the amount of drainage and vapor escape of the draining region50will approximately correspond to the amount of drainage and vapor escape of the draining region40at any locked position and can be adjusted gradually. For instance, aligning the largest draining section56with the pot pouring region lip26will result in the opposed most dense draining section48to be positioned against the other pot pouring region lip26and will result in maximum amount of drainage and vapor escape. Aligning the smallest draining section51with the pot pouring region lip26will result in the opposed least dense draining section42to be positioned against the other pot pouring region lip26and will result in minimum amount of drainage and vapor escape.

Draining regions40and50allow for gradual adjustment of vapor escape and the speed liquid can be drained. While draining region40is dedicated for retaining only the smallest particles when draining liquid, the draining region50is dedicated for selecting the size of the particles to be removed. While adjusting for desirable drainage and vapor escape, the lid30is capable of being rotated by the full 360 degrees making it no difference which rotational direction is used when setting the desired draining regions40and50against the pot pouring regions.

The shape, size, and position of draining region openings can vary from simple holes and rectangles to text messages and/or images desired. The only requirement is the cumulative increase in size of the corresponding openings along the perimeter of each draining region in order to allow for gradual adjustment of drainage and vapor escape.

The second lid embodiment is illustrated inFIGS. 2C and 2Dwhere functional units100and200are located on a lid skirt34. The lid skirt34is a flange located inside of the lid periphery32. Functional units100and200for the second lid embodiment are laid out in the same fashion on the lid skirt34as the functional units100and200of the first lid embodiment (FIGS. 2A and 2B) layout on the lid periphery32.

In the second lid embodiment, the lid is sized to cover the pot rim only, since the lid skirt is adapted to slidably engage with the inner sides of the pot wall and is responsible for positioning the draining and solid regions against the pot pouring region openings or the pot pouring region lips.

The lid is automatically locked to the pot when the lid draining regions are aligned with the pot pouring regions for draining or allowing vapor to escape. There are five sample automatic locking mechanism embodiments described herein.

The first embodiment of the automatic locking mechanism is illustrated inFIG. 4A. It applies to the lid embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 2A and 2Band the pot embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1C. The pot locking component includes flanges60extending outwardly from the pot pouring region lips26. The lid locking component includes a flange70inwardly extending from the lid rim36. The lid locking flange70includes cutouts74. The positions of the lid cutouts74must correspond to the positions of the pot locking flanges60for the locking mechanism to work. AlthoughFIG. 4Aillustrates only two such pot pouring region lips26, more than two can be made if desired. In the opened position, the lid30is placed on the pot20in such way that the lid locking flange70does not interfere with the pot locking flanges60due to the lid locking flange cutouts74. This way, the lid30seals the pot20at the pot rim23level resulting in the lid periphery solid regions38to be aligned with the pot pouring region lips26. Rotation of the lid30in any direction will result in the pot locking flanges60being disposed inside of the lid locking flange70, locking the lid30to the pot20, and alignment of the lid periphery draining regions40and50and the pot pouring region lips26.

The second embodiment of the automatic locking mechanism is illustrated inFIG. 4B. It applies to the lid embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 2A and 2Band the pot embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1C. The lid locking component includes flanges72outwardly extending from the bottom of the lid30and positioned slightly away from the lid rim36. The pot locking component includes flanges62inwardly extending from the pot rim23. The number of the pot pouring region lips26and their positions must correspond to the number and positions of the lid locking flanges72for the locking mechanism to work. AlthoughFIG. 4Billustrates two lid locking flanges72and two pot pouring region lips26, more than two can be made if desired. In the opened position, when the lid30is placed on the pot20, the lid locking flanges72are positioned inside of the pot pouring region lips26, resulting in the lid periphery solid regions38to be aligned with the pot pouring region lips26. Rotation of lid30in any direction will position the lid locking flanges72inside of the pot rim flanges62resulting in locking the lid30to the pot20and alignment of the lid periphery draining regions40and50and the pot pouring region lips26.

The third embodiment of the automatic locking mechanism applies to the lid embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 2C and 2Dand the pot embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 1A,1B,1D, and1E.FIG. 4Cillustrates an example of this embodiment which includes the locking mechanism of the lid depicted inFIGS. 2C and 2Dand the pot depicted inFIG. 1D. The lid locking component includes flanges70inwardly extending from the lid rim36. The pot locking component includes flanges60outwardly extending from the pot rim23. The pot pouring regions can be located at the pot rim23as illustrated inFIGS. 1A and 1Dor below the pot rim23. If the pot pouring regions are located below the pot rim23as illustrated inFIGS. 1B and 1E, the pot rim cutouts28are necessary above the pot pouring regions. The number of the pot rim cutouts28or the pot pouring region openings25and their positions must correspond to the number and positions of the lid locking flanges70for the locking mechanism to work. AlthoughFIG. 4Cillustrates two lid locking flanges70and two pot pouring region openings25, one or more than two can be made if desired. In the opened position, when the lid30is placed on the pot20, the lid skirt34is nested inside of the pot wall22with the lid locking flanges70positioned inside of the pot rim cutouts28or the pot pouring region openings25, resulting in the lid skirt solid regions38to be aligned with the pot pouring region openings25. Rotation of lid30in any direction will result in the pot rim flange60being disposed inside of the lid locking flanges70, locking the lid30to the pot20, and alignment of the lid skirt draining regions40and50and the pot pouring region openings25.

The fourth embodiment of the automatic locking mechanism applies to the lid embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 2C and 2Dand the pot embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 1A,1B,1C,1D, and1E.FIG. 4Dillustrates an example of this embodiment which includes the locking mechanism of the lid depicted inFIGS. 2C and 2Dand the pot depicted inFIG. 1A. The lid locking component includes outwardly protruding locking tabs76located slightly below the top of the lid skirt solid regions38. The pot locking component includes inward flanges62of the pot rim23forming protrusion channels66. The pot pouring regions can be located at the pot rim23as illustrated inFIGS. 1A,1C, and1D or below the pot rim23. If the pot pouring regions are located below the pot rim23as illustrated inFIGS. 1B and 1E, the pot rim cutouts28are necessary above the pot pouring regions. The positions of the lid locking tabs76must correspond to the positions of the pot rim cutouts28or the pot pouring region openings25. The number of the lid locking tabs76may be less or equal to the number of the pot pouring region openings25, although, at least one lid locking tab76is required for the locking mechanism to work. AlthoughFIG. 4Dillustrates two lid locking tabs76and two pot pouring region openings25, one or more than two of each can be made if desired. In the opened position, when the lid30is placed on the pot20, the lid skirt34is nested inside of the pot wall22with the lid locking tabs76positioned inside of the pot pouring region openings25or inside of the pot cutouts28resulting in the lid skirt solid regions38to be aligned with the pot pouring region openings25. Rotation of the lid30in any direction will position the lid locking tabs76inside of the pot protrusion channel66resulting in locking the lid30to the pot20and alignment of the lid skirt draining regions40and50and the pot pouring region openings25.

The fifth embodiment of the automatic locking mechanism applies to the lid embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 2C and 2Dand the pot embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 1A,1C, and1D.FIG. 4Eillustrates an example of this embodiment which includes the locking mechanism of the lid depicted inFIGS. 2C and 2Dand the pot depicted inFIG. 1C. The lid locking component includes outwardly protruding locking tabs76located slightly above the bottom of the lid skirt solid regions38. The pot locking component includes a protrusion channel66in the pot wall22communicating with the pot pouring region openings25. The number of the lid locking tabs76may be less or equal to the number of pot pouring region openings25, although, at least one lid locking tab76is required for the locking mechanism to work. AlthoughFIG. 4Eillustrates two lid locking tabs76and two pot pouring region openings25, one or more than two of each can be made if desired. In the opened position, when the lid30is placed on the pot20, the lid skirt34is nested inside of the pot wall22with the lid locking tabs76positioned inside of the pot pouring region openings25(best seen inFIG. 5A), resulting in the lid skirt solid regions38to be aligned with the pot pouring region openings25. Rotation of the lid30in any direction will position the lid locking tabs76inside of the pot protrusion channel66(best seen inFIG. 5B) resulting in locking the lid30to the pot20and alignment of the lid skirt draining regions40and50and the pot pouring region openings25.

The lid includes a lid operator to facilitate positioning the lid on the pot, adjusting it for required draining and vapor escape, and lifting it off the pot. The lid operator can be implemented as one or more lid handles; or the lid itself can be shaped to provide the operator function. For instance,FIG. 6Ademonstrates one of the embodiments of the lid functioning as a lid operator, where the handle35of the lid30is a protruded part from the lid surface37. The lid surface and/or the lid operator surface may include markings comprising arrows, symbols, text word, etc. The markings and/or the lid operator position indicate an opened or locked position when aligned with the pot pouring regions. An additional way of indicating an opened or locked position is having a color coded pot and lid. The area beneath the pot pouring regions is marked by a desirable color. The lid surface solid regions or the lid surface above the lid skirt solid regions is marked by the same color. Indication of an opened position is when the colors from both the pot and the lid are aligned with each other and indication of a locked position is when the colors from the pot and the lid are not aligned.

For exemplary purposes,FIG. 6Billustrates a top view of the lid30fromFIGS. 2A and 2B. The lid handle35is positioned in the center of the lid30with the longest dimension positioned toward the lid solid regions38. The lid handle35also includes pointing arrows82directed toward the lid solid regions38. The lid30includes additional markings comprising arrows and text words positioned on the lid periphery32indicating locked and unlocked positions. The text word “OPENED”84surrounded by opened arrows85indicates the solid regions38; and the text word “LOCKED”86surrounded by locked arrows87indicates the draining regions40and50. The lid handle35and the pointing arrows82are directed toward the pot pouring region lips26when the lid30is in the opened position and the word “OPENED”84with opened arrows85is positioned above the pot pouring region lips26. When the lid30is in the locked position, only the word “LOCKED”86with locked arrows87is positioned above the pot pouring region lips26.

Although the draining and solid regions of the lid second embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 2C and 2Dare located on the lid skirt, the lid handle and the lid markings are still located on the lid periphery laid out in the same fashion as described in paragraph but indicating the draining and solid regions below.

The pot can be placed upside down in the locked position if the lid handle is not present, detached, folded, or leveled by other means with the lid outer surface. In this case, draining can be facilitated without using hands. During draining the pot may be shaken at times to unblock the draining regions in order to release the remaining liquid or particles. This will permit users to attend to other matters if necessary. This upside down method of draining is supported by both of the lid embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 2A-2D. Although in the case of the first embodiment (FIGS. 2A and 2B), the lid must be placed on a raised surface which will not block the lid draining regions.

The pot and the lid draining apparatus can be created, for instance, from numerous combinations comprising the five sample pot embodiments (FIGS. 1A-1E) and two sample lid embodiments (FIGS. 2A-2D) using one of the five sample locking mechanism embodiments (FIGS. 4A-4E). The permissible combinations of the sample embodiments were described in paragraphs [0066]-[0070]. For illustrative purposes, three of these combinations are depicted inFIGS. 7,8, and9.

FIG. 7illustrates a cooking apparatus as a pot20and a lid30comprising a pot embodiment demonstrated inFIG. 1Eand a lid embodiment demonstrated inFIGS. 2C and 2Dusing an automatic locking mechanism demonstrated inFIG. 4C. For illustrative purposes, the pot20includes two pot handles27and only one pot pouring region lip26.

FIG. 8illustrates a cooking apparatus as a pot20and a lid30comprising a pot embodiment demonstrated inFIG. 1Dand a lid embodiment demonstrated inFIGS. 2C and 2Dusing an automatic locking mechanism demonstrated inFIG. 4D. For illustrative purposes, the pot20includes three pot handles27and three pot pouring region lips26. The lid30includes three locking tabs76and three functional units300,400, and500. The functional unit300includes a draining region93having circular openings. The functional unit400includes a draining region94having triangular openings. The functional unit500includes a draining region95having square openings. The size of the openings of each draining region93,94, and95is increased gradually in order to release approximately the same vapor escape and drainage amount from each of the pot pouring region lips26at any locked position.

FIG. 9illustrates a cooking apparatus as a pot20and a lid30comprising a pot embodiment demonstrated inFIG. 1Cand a lid embodiment demonstrated in FIG.FIGS. 2C and 2Dusing an automatic locking mechanism demonstrated inFIG. 4E. For illustrative purposes, the pot20includes four pot handles27and four pot pouring region lips26. The lid30includes two locking tabs76and four functional units600,700,800, and900including draining regions96,97,98, and99, with each draining region differing in opening sizes. The combined size of the openings of each draining region96,97,98, and99is increased gradually in order to release approximately the same vapor escape and drainage amount from each of the pot pouring region lips26at any locked position. Larger variety of drainage openings allows for more flexibility in filtering particles and drainage speed.

Those who are skilled in the art will readily perceive how to modify the invention. Therefore, the appended claims are to be construed to cover all equivalent structures which fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.