Strainer gripping and lifting assembly

A strainer gripping and lifting assembly includes a generally horizontally orientated elongated member that has a first end and a second end. A hook member is attached to the second end of the elongated member and hangs downwardly from the elongated member. A stabilizer is attached to and extends downwardly from the elongated member. The stabilizer is positioned for selectively abutting a peripheral wall of a strainer basket when the hook member removably engages a handle of the strainer basket. A handhold is attached to an upper surface of the elongated member. The handhold is positioned generally adjacent to the first end of the elongated member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to strainer gripping devices and more particularly pertains to a new strainer gripping device for engaging and lifting a straining basket from a pot of a hot fluid in such a manner to space a hand using the device from the pot.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of strainer and pot gripping devices is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 864,372 describes an elongated handle that is adapted for engaging a bracket on a particularly designed cooking pot so that a person may use the handle to engage the bracket and lift the pot. Another type of pot gripping device is U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,936 having an elongated rod terminating in a hook which may be used for engaging a pot handle so that the pot may be supported over a fire. A strainer gripping device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,981,044 and includes a particularly designed strainer having a slot therein for receiving engaging member attached to an elongated handle so that user of the device may lift the strainer while remaining distanced from a deep fat fryer.

While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that can be used with more conventionally designed strainers so that they may be removed from a pot containing a hot fluid in such a manner that the person removing the strainer is able to keep their hands spaced from the hot fluid. The device should be adapted for working with most types of strainers with little or no modification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a generally horizontally orientated elongated member that has a first end and a second end. A hook member is attached to the second end of the elongated member and hangs downwardly from the elongated member. A stabilizer is attached to and extends downwardly from the elongated member. The stabilizer is positioned for selectively abutting a peripheral wall of a strainer basket when the hook member removably engages a handle of the strainer basket. A handhold is attached to an upper surface of the elongated member. The handhold is positioned generally adjacent to the first end of the elongated member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular toFIGS. 1 through 5thereof, a new strainer gripping device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral10will be described.

As best illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 5, the strainer gripping and lifting assembly10generally comprises a device adapted for selectively engaging a handle6of a strainer basket5of the type conventionally used in water boiling pots7and deep fat frying pots. The basket5has a peripheral wall8and the handle6extends across an upper portion of the basket5. The assembly10includes an elongated member12that is generally horizontally orientated. The elongated member12has a first end14and a second end16. The elongate member12preferably has a length generally between 12 inches and 20 inches.

A hook member18is attached to the second end16of the elongated member12. The hook member18hangs downwardly from the elongated member12and preferably extends forward of the elongated member12.

A stabilizer20is attached to and extends downwardly from the elongated member12. The stabilizer20is positioned for selectively abutting the peripheral wall8of the basket5when the hook member18removably engages the handle6. This ensures that the basket5remains upright and prevents excessive movement of the basket5which could spray boiling water or hot oil.

The stabilizer20includes a leg22that has an upper end24and a lower end26. The upper end24is attached to a bottom surface28of the elongated member12and is positioned generally adjacent to the first end14of the elongated member12. The leg22is angled with respect to the elongated member12and an angle between the leg22and the elongated member12is less than 80 degrees and greater than 40 degrees. This places the lower end26below and between the first14and second16ends of the elongated member12. A first vertical line extending through the lower end26and a second vertical line extending through the hook member18is spaced from each other a distance generally between 6 inches and 12 inches. A plate30has a front side32, a back side34, a first side edge36, a second side edge38, a top edge40and a bottom edge42. The back side34is attached to the leg22adjacent to the lower end26such that the plate30is vertically orientated. The front side32is concave from the first side edge36to the second side edge38to better conform to the peripheral wall8of the strainer5. The top edge40is spaced from the elongated member12generally between 6 inches and 12 inches and the bottom edge42is spaced from the elongated member12generally between 18 inches and 24 inches. A brace44is attached to and extends between the elongated member12and the leg22.

A handhold46is attached to an upper surface48of the elongated member12. The handhold46is positioned generally adjacent to the first end14of the elongated member12. The handhold46comprises a pair of vertical supports50that are attached to and extend upwardly from the elongated member12. A central portion52extends between upper ends of the vertical supports50. A gripping member54is attached to and extends around the central portion52. The gripping member54preferably comprises an insulating material such as a heat resistant plastic.

In use, the hook18engages the handle6, and the plate30is run along the pot7and then abuts the basket5when a sufficient portion of the basket5has cleared the pot7. The user then lifts the assembly10, along with the basket5, so that the basket5is removed from the pot7. The fluid contained in the basket5is allowed to drain into the pot7while the user's hand remains a safe distance from the basket5.