Abstract:
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.

Description:
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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  shows a perspective view of the pot first embodiment; 
         FIG. 1B  shows a perspective view of the pot second embodiment; 
         FIG. 1C  shows a perspective view of the pot third embodiment; 
         FIG. 1D  shows a perspective view of the pot fourth embodiment; 
         FIG. 1E  shows a perspective view of the pot fifth embodiment; 
         FIG. 2A  shows a perspective upward view of the lid first embodiment; 
         FIG. 2B  shows a perspective downward view of the lid first embodiment; 
         FIG. 2C  shows a perspective upward view of the lid second embodiment; 
         FIG. 2D  shows a perspective downward view of the lid second embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is demonstrating functional units in a top view of the lid depicted in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  placed on top of the pot depicted in  FIG. 1C ; 
         FIG. 4A  shows a perspective view of the pot and the lid locking mechanism first embodiment; 
         FIG. 4B  shows a perspective view of the pot and the lid locking mechanism second embodiment; 
         FIG. 4C  shows a perspective view of the pot and the lid locking mechanism third embodiment; 
         FIG. 4D  shows a perspective view of the pot and the lid locking mechanism fourth embodiment; 
         FIG. 4E  shows a perspective view of the pot and the lid locking mechanism fifth embodiment; 
         FIG. 5A  shows a partial cross-sectional view of the lid locking tab and the pot pouring region depicted in  FIG. 4E  demonstrating an opened position; 
         FIG. 5B  shows a partial cross-sectional view of the lid locking tab and the pot protrusion channel depicted in  FIG. 4E  demonstrating a locked position; 
         FIG. 6A  shows a perspective view of a lid handle created as a result of the lid protrusion; 
         FIG. 6B  is demonstrating markings in a top view of the lid depicted in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  placed on top of the pot depicted in  FIG. 1C ; 
         FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of a cookware sample embodiment which includes a combination of the pot embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1E , the lid embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 2C and 2D , and the locking mechanism embodiment depicted in  FIG. 4C ; 
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a cookware sample embodiment which includes a combination of the pot embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1D , the lid embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 2C and 2D , and the locking mechanism embodiment depicted in  FIG. 4D ; 
         FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of a cookware sample embodiment which includes a combination of the pot embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1C , the lid embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 2C and 2D , and the locking mechanism embodiment depicted in  FIG. 4E . 
     
    
    
     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 in  FIGS. 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 in  FIGS. 7-9  and lid handles are demonstrated in  FIGS. 2A-4E  and  6 A- 9 . 
     There are five sample pot embodiments described herein. 
     The pot first embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1A  includes pouring region opening  25  in the pot wall  22  from the pot rim  23  down. 
     The pot second embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1B  includes a cutout  28  in the pot rim  23  circumference and pouring region opening  25  in the pot wall  22  below the cutout  28 . 
     The pot third embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1C  includes pouring region opening  25  in the pot wall  22  from the pot rim  23  down with the pouring region lip  26  enclosing the pouring region opening  25 . 
     The pot fourth embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1D  includes pouring region opening  25  in the pot wall  22  from the pot rim  23  down with the pouring region lip  26  enclosing the bottom portion of the pouring region opening  25 . 
     The pot fifth embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1E  includes cutout  28  in the pot rim  23  circumference and pouring region opening  25  in the pot wall  22  below the cutout  28  with the pouring region lip  26  enclosing the pouring region opening  25 . 
     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&#39; 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 in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  where functional units  100  and  200  (best seen in  FIG. 3 ) are located on the lid periphery  32 . For exemplary purposes lid handle  35  is depicted in the center of the lid  30 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates functional units for the first lid embodiment. The lid  30  is sized to cover the pot pouring region lips  26  in order to be able to position the draining regions  40  and  50  and the solid regions  38  over the pot pouring region lips  26 . Although, two pot pouring region lips  26  and two functional units  100  and  200  are depicted, more can be made if desired. Functional unit  100  comprises a solid region  38  and a draining region  50 . For exemplary purposes, the draining region  50  comprises a set of draining sections gradually increasing from the smallest  51  to the largest  56 . Each draining section  51  to  56  includes a fixed number of identical size holes (for exemplary purposes, three holes are depicted in a draining section). When the lid  30  is on the pot  20  and the draining region  50  is aligned with the pot pouring region lip  26 , any three adjoining holes of the same or neighboring draining sections can be positioned to be aligned with the pot pouring region lip  26  for desirable drainage, vapor escape, or particle filtering. Functional unit  200  comprises a solid region  38  and a draining region  40 . For exemplary purposes, the draining region  40  comprises a set of four multiple draining sections, gradually decreasing from the most dense  48  to least dense  42 . Each draining section  42  to  48  includes 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 lid  30  is positioned on the pot  20 , the amount of drainage and vapor escape of the draining region  50  will approximately correspond to the amount of drainage and vapor escape of the draining region  40  at any locked position and can be adjusted gradually. For instance, aligning the largest draining section  56  with the pot pouring region lip  26  will result in the opposed most dense draining section  48  to be positioned against the other pot pouring region lip  26  and will result in maximum amount of drainage and vapor escape. Aligning the smallest draining section  51  with the pot pouring region lip  26  will result in the opposed least dense draining section  42  to be positioned against the other pot pouring region lip  26  and will result in minimum amount of drainage and vapor escape. 
     Draining regions  40  and  50  allow for gradual adjustment of vapor escape and the speed liquid can be drained. While draining region  40  is dedicated for retaining only the smallest particles when draining liquid, the draining region  50  is dedicated for selecting the size of the particles to be removed. While adjusting for desirable drainage and vapor escape, the lid  30  is capable of being rotated by the full 360 degrees making it no difference which rotational direction is used when setting the desired draining regions  40  and  50  against 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 in  FIGS. 2C and 2D  where functional units  100  and  200  are located on a lid skirt  34 . The lid skirt  34  is a flange located inside of the lid periphery  32 . Functional units  100  and  200  for the second lid embodiment are laid out in the same fashion on the lid skirt  34  as the functional units  100  and  200  of the first lid embodiment ( FIGS. 2A and 2B ) layout on the lid periphery  32 . 
     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 in  FIG. 4A . It applies to the lid embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  and the pot embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1C . The pot locking component includes flanges  60  extending outwardly from the pot pouring region lips  26 . The lid locking component includes a flange  70  inwardly extending from the lid rim  36 . The lid locking flange  70  includes cutouts  74 . The positions of the lid cutouts  74  must correspond to the positions of the pot locking flanges  60  for the locking mechanism to work. Although  FIG. 4A  illustrates only two such pot pouring region lips  26 , more than two can be made if desired. In the opened position, the lid  30  is placed on the pot  20  in such way that the lid locking flange  70  does not interfere with the pot locking flanges  60  due to the lid locking flange cutouts  74 . This way, the lid  30  seals the pot  20  at the pot rim  23  level resulting in the lid periphery solid regions  38  to be aligned with the pot pouring region lips  26 . Rotation of the lid  30  in any direction will result in the pot locking flanges  60  being disposed inside of the lid locking flange  70 , locking the lid  30  to the pot  20 , and alignment of the lid periphery draining regions  40  and  50  and the pot pouring region lips  26 . 
     The second embodiment of the automatic locking mechanism is illustrated in  FIG. 4B . It applies to the lid embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  and the pot embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1C . The lid locking component includes flanges  72  outwardly extending from the bottom of the lid  30  and positioned slightly away from the lid rim  36 . The pot locking component includes flanges  62  inwardly extending from the pot rim  23 . The number of the pot pouring region lips  26  and their positions must correspond to the number and positions of the lid locking flanges  72  for the locking mechanism to work. Although  FIG. 4B  illustrates two lid locking flanges  72  and two pot pouring region lips  26 , more than two can be made if desired. In the opened position, when the lid  30  is placed on the pot  20 , the lid locking flanges  72  are positioned inside of the pot pouring region lips  26 , resulting in the lid periphery solid regions  38  to be aligned with the pot pouring region lips  26 . Rotation of lid  30  in any direction will position the lid locking flanges  72  inside of the pot rim flanges  62  resulting in locking the lid  30  to the pot  20  and alignment of the lid periphery draining regions  40  and  50  and the pot pouring region lips  26 . 
     The third embodiment of the automatic locking mechanism applies to the lid embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2C and 2D  and the pot embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  1 D, and  1 E.  FIG. 4C  illustrates an example of this embodiment which includes the locking mechanism of the lid depicted in  FIGS. 2C and 2D  and the pot depicted in  FIG. 1D . The lid locking component includes flanges  70  inwardly extending from the lid rim  36 . The pot locking component includes flanges  60  outwardly extending from the pot rim  23 . The pot pouring regions can be located at the pot rim  23  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1D  or below the pot rim  23 . If the pot pouring regions are located below the pot rim  23  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1B and 1E , the pot rim cutouts  28  are necessary above the pot pouring regions. The number of the pot rim cutouts  28  or the pot pouring region openings  25  and their positions must correspond to the number and positions of the lid locking flanges  70  for the locking mechanism to work. Although  FIG. 4C  illustrates two lid locking flanges  70  and two pot pouring region openings  25 , one or more than two can be made if desired. In the opened position, when the lid  30  is placed on the pot  20 , the lid skirt  34  is nested inside of the pot wall  22  with the lid locking flanges  70  positioned inside of the pot rim cutouts  28  or the pot pouring region openings  25 , resulting in the lid skirt solid regions  38  to be aligned with the pot pouring region openings  25 . Rotation of lid  30  in any direction will result in the pot rim flange  60  being disposed inside of the lid locking flanges  70 , locking the lid  30  to the pot  20 , and alignment of the lid skirt draining regions  40  and  50  and the pot pouring region openings  25 . 
     The fourth embodiment of the automatic locking mechanism applies to the lid embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2C and 2D  and the pot embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  1 C,  1 D, and  1 E.  FIG. 4D  illustrates an example of this embodiment which includes the locking mechanism of the lid depicted in  FIGS. 2C and 2D  and the pot depicted in  FIG. 1A . The lid locking component includes outwardly protruding locking tabs  76  located slightly below the top of the lid skirt solid regions  38 . The pot locking component includes inward flanges  62  of the pot rim  23  forming protrusion channels  66 . The pot pouring regions can be located at the pot rim  23  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 C, and  1 D or below the pot rim  23 . If the pot pouring regions are located below the pot rim  23  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1B and 1E , the pot rim cutouts  28  are necessary above the pot pouring regions. The positions of the lid locking tabs  76  must correspond to the positions of the pot rim cutouts  28  or the pot pouring region openings  25 . The number of the lid locking tabs  76  may be less or equal to the number of the pot pouring region openings  25 , although, at least one lid locking tab  76  is required for the locking mechanism to work. Although  FIG. 4D  illustrates two lid locking tabs  76  and two pot pouring region openings  25 , one or more than two of each can be made if desired. In the opened position, when the lid  30  is placed on the pot  20 , the lid skirt  34  is nested inside of the pot wall  22  with the lid locking tabs  76  positioned inside of the pot pouring region openings  25  or inside of the pot cutouts  28  resulting in the lid skirt solid regions  38  to be aligned with the pot pouring region openings  25 . Rotation of the lid  30  in any direction will position the lid locking tabs  76  inside of the pot protrusion channel  66  resulting in locking the lid  30  to the pot  20  and alignment of the lid skirt draining regions  40  and  50  and the pot pouring region openings  25 . 
     The fifth embodiment of the automatic locking mechanism applies to the lid embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2C and 2D  and the pot embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 C, and  1 D.  FIG. 4E  illustrates an example of this embodiment which includes the locking mechanism of the lid depicted in  FIGS. 2C and 2D  and the pot depicted in  FIG. 1C . The lid locking component includes outwardly protruding locking tabs  76  located slightly above the bottom of the lid skirt solid regions  38 . The pot locking component includes a protrusion channel  66  in the pot wall  22  communicating with the pot pouring region openings  25 . The number of the lid locking tabs  76  may be less or equal to the number of pot pouring region openings  25 , although, at least one lid locking tab  76  is required for the locking mechanism to work. Although  FIG. 4E  illustrates two lid locking tabs  76  and two pot pouring region openings  25 , one or more than two of each can be made if desired. In the opened position, when the lid  30  is placed on the pot  20 , the lid skirt  34  is nested inside of the pot wall  22  with the lid locking tabs  76  positioned inside of the pot pouring region openings  25  (best seen in  FIG. 5A ), resulting in the lid skirt solid regions  38  to be aligned with the pot pouring region openings  25 . Rotation of the lid  30  in any direction will position the lid locking tabs  76  inside of the pot protrusion channel  66  (best seen in  FIG. 5B ) resulting in locking the lid  30  to the pot  20  and alignment of the lid skirt draining regions  40  and  50  and the pot pouring region openings  25 . 
     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. 6A  demonstrates one of the embodiments of the lid functioning as a lid operator, where the handle  35  of the lid  30  is a protruded part from the lid surface  37 . 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. 6B  illustrates a top view of the lid  30  from  FIGS. 2A and 2B . The lid handle  35  is positioned in the center of the lid  30  with the longest dimension positioned toward the lid solid regions  38 . The lid handle  35  also includes pointing arrows  82  directed toward the lid solid regions  38 . The lid  30  includes additional markings comprising arrows and text words positioned on the lid periphery  32  indicating locked and unlocked positions. The text word “OPENED”  84  surrounded by opened arrows  85  indicates the solid regions  38 ; and the text word “LOCKED”  86  surrounded by locked arrows  87  indicates the draining regions  40  and  50 . The lid handle  35  and the pointing arrows  82  are directed toward the pot pouring region lips  26  when the lid  30  is in the opened position and the word “OPENED”  84  with opened arrows  85  is positioned above the pot pouring region lips  26 . When the lid  30  is in the locked position, only the word “LOCKED”  86  with locked arrows  87  is positioned above the pot pouring region lips  26 . 
     Although the draining and solid regions of the lid second embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2C and 2D  are 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 in  FIGS. 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 in  FIGS. 7 ,  8 , and  9 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a cooking apparatus as a pot  20  and a lid  30  comprising a pot embodiment demonstrated in  FIG. 1E  and a lid embodiment demonstrated in  FIGS. 2C and 2D  using an automatic locking mechanism demonstrated in  FIG. 4C . For illustrative purposes, the pot  20  includes two pot handles  27  and only one pot pouring region lip  26 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a cooking apparatus as a pot  20  and a lid  30  comprising a pot embodiment demonstrated in  FIG. 1D  and a lid embodiment demonstrated in  FIGS. 2C and 2D  using an automatic locking mechanism demonstrated in  FIG. 4D . For illustrative purposes, the pot  20  includes three pot handles  27  and three pot pouring region lips  26 . The lid  30  includes three locking tabs  76  and three functional units  300 ,  400 , and  500 . The functional unit  300  includes a draining region  93  having circular openings. The functional unit  400  includes a draining region  94  having triangular openings. The functional unit  500  includes a draining region  95  having square openings. The size of the openings of each draining region  93 ,  94 , and  95  is increased gradually in order to release approximately the same vapor escape and drainage amount from each of the pot pouring region lips  26  at any locked position. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a cooking apparatus as a pot  20  and a lid  30  comprising a pot embodiment demonstrated in  FIG. 1C  and a lid embodiment demonstrated in FIG.  FIGS. 2C and 2D  using an automatic locking mechanism demonstrated in  FIG. 4E . For illustrative purposes, the pot  20  includes four pot handles  27  and four pot pouring region lips  26 . The lid  30  includes two locking tabs  76  and four functional units  600 ,  700 ,  800 , and  900  including draining regions  96 ,  97 ,  98 , and  99 , with each draining region differing in opening sizes. The combined size of the openings of each draining region  96 ,  97 ,  98 , and  99  is increased gradually in order to release approximately the same vapor escape and drainage amount from each of the pot pouring region lips  26  at 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.