Abstract:
A combination cone, collection rim and steamer tray placeable on a wide variety of conventional cooking pots and pans. The device permits a user to selectively prevent heat and/or moisture from escaping a cooking pot. The collection rim contains a reservoir that collects moisture and prevents it from returning to a cooking pot while the cone simultaneously retains most of the heat escaping from the pot upon which the cone and collection rim rests. The steamer tray permits a user to steam cook foods in combination with the cone which collects and returns moisture to a pot on which the cone and steamer tray rests.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a steamer for use in cooking, and more specifically, to a steamer cone, rim and tray for collecting and preventing the return of, or collecting and returning, moisture to a cooking pot or pan. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The use of steamers for cooking food is widely known. Such devices are commonly used to steam cook a variety of foods, such as vegetables, where the use of a direct heat source is undesirable. Accordingly, the need and desirability for such devices is without question, and need not be discussed herein. 
     Numerous designs have been utilized over the years for cooking steamers. For instance, most conventional steamers utilize a relatively shallow stainless steel insert which may be placed within a deep pot, in which boiling water is placed. The steam from the boiling water rises through holes in the bottom of the stainless steel insert, thereby steam-cooking food placed therein. Typically, steamers are configured to match within a pot having a particular size so that the pot&#39;s lid can be used to seal or cover the steamer. Other steamers also provide tapers or tiered steps on their underside so that they fit into many sizes of saucepans. 
     Although these designs are effective, each is limited in providing a steamer that allows water to cascade and fall back into the cooking pot or pan above which the steamer is placed. This is desirable in many conventional steam cooking applications. However, these designs do not provide conventional steam cooking capabilities while also providing a device that is operable to permit heat to escape while collecting and preventing moisture from returning to a cooking pot or pan. It will be appreciated that such a feature is desirable in a wide variety of cooking scenarios. 
     Thus, an unresolved need exists in the industry for a steamer device that collects and returns, or collects and prevents from returning, moisture generated by a cooking pot or pan. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly stated, the present invention provides for a combination cone and collection or steamer tray placeable on a wide variety of conventional cooking pots and pans. The invention provides the ability to selectively prevent heat and/or moisture from escaping a cooking pot. More specifically, devices in accordance with the present invention allow for steam cooking of foods, such as vegetables, where collected moisture is returned to a cooking pot, or the retaining of heat produced by a cooking pot while collecting and preventing moisture from returning to the cooking pot. 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a cooking device. The cooking device includes a cone comprising a top, a bottom, and a sloped side located there between, a handle, attached to the cone, and a collection rim removably affixed to the cone. The collection rim preferably includes a hole disposed in the center thereof, the hole being larger than, and disposed directly beneath, the top of the cone. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, the cone top comprises a small opening therein, and the cone bottom comprises a substantially flat edge protruding there from. According to another aspect of the invention, the device further includes a cap, the cap being removably inserted into the small opening of the cone top. According to yet another aspect of the invention, the collection rim includes a plurality of through holes, the centers of each through hole being arranged to define a single circle of through holes distributed in the collection rim. 
     Furthermore, according to the invention, each of the plurality of through holes can include side walls that extending vertically from, and define the center of, the through holes. Additionally, the collection rim can include a plurality of graduated concentric levels, the graduated concentric levels operable to engage cooking pots of varying widths. The plurality of through holes may also each be located in a single graduated concentric level of the collection rim. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the collection rim can further include an inner wall defining the inner edge of a collection area operable to retain moisture. Moreover, the collection rim is operable to collect and retain moisture collected by the cone. According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the cone is constructed of heat resistant glass, and the collection rim comprises stainless steel. The handle of the device may also comprise injection-molded plastic. 
     According to yet another aspect of the invention, the substantially flat edge of the cone bottom includes at least two indentations therein. The collection rim can include at least two clips formed therein, where the at least two clips engage the substantially flat edge of the cone to removably affix the collection rim to the cone. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a combined cone and collection rim, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial cross sectional view of a side of the combined cone and collection rim of  FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a exploded view of the combined cone and collection rim of  FIG. 1 , including a cap, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a steamer tray for use with the cone illustrated in  FIGS. 1–3 , according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the combination cone and steamer tray showing the device in use, placed on a cooking pot, according to one aspect of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of the handle of the cone, showing the clips attaching the handle to the cone, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present inventions now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
     A description of each and every use of a device in accordance with the present invention will be too voluminous to include herein, so the present disclosure is directed to those embodiments and uses that are believed to most clearly be representative of the present invention. However, the present invention should not be limited merely to the embodiments and uses disclosed herein, but should be construed to include all of the concepts and teachings disclosed herein. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a combined cone and collection rim  10 , according to one embodiment of the invention. The combined cone and collection rim  10  generally comprises a cone  12 , a handle  20  attached thereto, and a collection rim  14 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the cone  12  is funnel-shaped, and includes an opening  18  in the top of the cone  12 . The sloped side of the cone  12  terminates in a flat upper surface  17  which defines the opening  18 . Likewise, the sloped side of cone  12  terminates, at a bottom of the cone, in a flat edge  19  protruding radially outward from the central axis (not illustrated) of the cone  12 . 
     According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cone  12  is constructed of heat resistant glass, such as borasilicate glass, thick enough to withstand high temperatures, such as up to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, typically generated during cooking. Constructing the cone  12  of glass also permits a user to view the contents of the pot or pan upon which the combined cone and collection rim  10  is placed. It will be appreciated, however, that the cone  12  may be made of other materials commonly used in cookware, such as plastics, stainless steel, copper, and the like, which may withstand high temperatures produced during cooking. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the cone  12  includes at least two crescent-shaped cut outs or indentations  26  in the flat edge  19 . According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cone  12  includes four (4) such indentations each separated by 90 degrees. The purpose of the indentations  26  is to allow the cone  12  to receive and removably attach to the collection rim  14 . The collection rim  14  includes a plurality of clips  16 , the number of which correspond to the number of indentations in the cone  12 .  FIG. 1  illustrates that the clips  16  engage the upper surface of the flat edge  19  when the cone  12  is attached to the collection rim  14 . The indentations  26  allow the cone  12  to be removed from the tray when each of the clips  16  are lined up with the indentations  26 , due to the failure of the clips to engage any portion of the flat edge  19 . Therefore, to effect attachment of the collection rim  14  to the cone  12 , or vice versa, the clips  16  are lined up with the indentations  26  and the tray  14  or cone  12  is rotated in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction so as to enable the clips  16  to engage the upper surface of the flat edge  19 . To effect detachment of the collection rim  14  and cone  12 , the opposite steps are taken. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the clips  16  are integrated with the collection rim  14 , which is preferably constructed out of stainless steel. Alternatively the clips  16  may be removably attached to the collection rim  14  by any suitable means, such as by screws. 
       FIG. 1  also shows a handle  20  attached to the cone  12  at the top  22  of the cone  12  and at the bottom  24  of the cone  12 . The handle  20  includes a central portion  21  that is substantially parallel with the side of the cone  12 . The handle  20  is preferably constructed of heat-resistance plastic formed using an injection-molded process, as is well known in the art. The handle  20  may also be formed using compression molding or other techniques for forming plastic parts. Although heat-resistant plastic is preferred to insulate a user&#39;s skin from heat conducted by the cone  12  and collection rim  14 , it will be appreciated that other materials may be used, including stainless steel. 
       FIG. 2  shows a partial cross sectional view of a side of the combined cone and collection rim  10  of  FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment of the present invention. The cross sectional view illustrates a clip  16  of the collection rim  14  engaging the flat edge  19  of the cone  12 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the clip  16  is integrated with the collection rim  14 , which is positioned substantially below the cone  12 . According to one aspect of the invention, the flat edge  19  of the collection rim may include bumps  23  protruding there from, and located on each side of each indentation  26 . The bumps  23 , not illustrated in  FIG. 1 , prevent the collection rim  14  or cone  12  from any undesirable rotation that could cause the clips  16  to align with the indentations  16 , causing the collection rim  14  and cone  12  to become unattached. Therefore, the bumps  23  are of adequate height so that sufficient pressure must be applied to the cone  12  or collection rim  14  to persuade the clip  16  to sufficiently deform and slide over the bumps  23 . Requiring the application of pressure thus prevents the collection rim  14  and cone  12  from becoming separated due to only an incidental movement of the collection rim  14  or cone  12  that is not intended to detach the two elements from each other. 
       FIG. 2  also illustrates, in part, the shape of the collection rim  14 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the collection rim includes a series of graduated concentric levels  30 ,  32 ,  33  between the top and outermost portion of the collection rim  14  and the bottom of the collection rim  14 . The graduated concentric levels  30 ,  32 ,  33  allow the combined cone and collection rim  10  to be used with a wide range of pots and pans because the underside of the graduated concentric levels  30 ,  32 ,  33  can engage (i.e., rest upon) the top edges of a pots an pans (collectively referred to hereafter only as ‘pots’) having varying width. For instance, the inner concentric level  33  may rest upon the top edge of a small pot to support the combined cone and collection rim  10 , whereas the external concentric level  30  may rest upon the top edge of a larger pot to support the combined cone and collection rim. 
     The middle and inner graduated concentric levels  32 ,  33  are also sloped slightly downward toward the interior of the collection pan so that liquid on the middle concentric level  32  will flow toward the inner concentric level  33 , which is lower than the middle concentric level  32 . Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the invention, the middle concentric level  32  of the collection rim  14  includes a plurality of circular through holes located therein. One such through hole  42  is illustrated in  FIG. 2  in cross-section. The through hole  42  includes a side wall  43  extending upward from the middle concentric level  32 . This side wall  43 , as will be described in further detail below, prevents liquid collected in the collection tray  14  from spilling through the hole, e.g., into a pot beneath the collection rim  14 . According to another embodiment of the invention, the middle concentric level  32  of the collection rim  14  does not include any through holes located therein. 
       FIG. 3  is a exploded view of the combined cone and collection rim of  FIG. 1 , including a cap  34 , according to one embodiment of the present invention. The cap  34  includes a vertical member  38  extending vertically from the body of the cap  34  to enable a use to grip the cap  34 . The cap  34  also includes at least two outwardly extending tabs  36  that engage the interior edge  39  of the flat upper surface  17  defining defines the opening  18  as the cap is placed on, or removed from the cone  12 . The tabs  36  extend outward to provide sufficient resistance so that the cap  34  remains securely on the cone  12  unless an adequate force pulls vertically on the cap  34 , e.g., using the vertical member  38 . According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cap  34  includes three such tabs  36  located 120 degrees from each other. Furthermore, according to another preferred embodiment, the cap  34  is constructed out of injection molded plastic, or of material matching that of the handle  20 . 
       FIG. 3  further illustrates how the collection rim  14  is removably engaged to the cone  12 . As shown by the orientation of the collection rim  14  and cone  12  in  FIG. 3 , the indentations  26  allow the cone  12  to be removed from the tray when each of the clips  16  are lined up with the indentations  26 , due to the failure of the clips to engage any portion of the flat edge  19 . Likewise, when the cone  12  and rim  14  are separated, the orientation shown in  FIG. 3  allows the cone  12  and rim to be combined. To effect attachment of the collection rim  14  to the cone  12 , or vice versa, the clips  16  are lined up with the indentations  26  (as illustrated) and the tray  14  and cone  12  are brought together as illustrated by the direction arrows  40  of  FIG. 3 . As further illustrated by the direction arrows  40 , after the tray  14  and cone  12  are brought together, the cone may be rotated in a clockwise (or counterclockwise) direction so as to enable the clips  16  to engage the upper surface of the flat edge  19 . Alternatively, the collection rim  14  may also be rotated. 
       FIG. 3  also further illustrates the shape of the collection rim  14 . The collection rim includes an outer wall  47  and an inner wall  45 , between which the series of graduated concentric levels  30 ,  32 ,  33  are situated. The inner wall  47  of the collection rim  14  defines the central opening  49  of the rim  14 . The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3  also includes the plurality of through holes  42 , each of which have vertical side walls  43 . 
     The purpose and advantages of the collection rim  14  will now be described. It will be appreciated that the collection rim  14  permits heat and moisture from a pot upon which it rests to pass through its central opening  49 . Where the collection rim  14  sits on a large pot such that the exterior concentric level  30  rests upon the top edge of a larger pot to support the combined cone and collection rim  10 , the through holes  42  also permit heat and moisture to pass there through. During cooking, moisture from the food or liquids in the pot upon which the combined cone and collection tray  10  rests will rise and collect on the inner wall of the cone  12 . The moisture will then cascade down the sloped wall and collect in the collection rim  14 . More specifically, the moisture will collect between the inner wall  45  of the collection rim  14  and the exterior wall  57  defining the outermost and highest portion of the middle concentric level  32 . The sidewalls  43  of the through-holes  42  prevent most of the liquid collected in the collection tray from falling back into the cooking pot upon which the combined cone and tray  10  rests. 
     The combined cone and tray  10  collects moisture while simultaneously permitting the user to control whether heat escapes through the opening  18  in the top of the cone  12  by the inserting or removing the cap  34 . It will be appreciated that this is extremely useful in a wide variety of cooking situations. For instance, when heating a sauce in which one wishes to cook away excess water or moisture to effectively thicken the sauce, the collection tray enables the collection and removal of excess moisture during cooking while simultaneously preventing heat from escaping. Because the cone and collection tray  10  rests on the top edge of a pot, the excess moisture can be dumped easily by the user during cooking using the handle  20 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a steamer tray  44  for use with the cone illustrated in  FIGS. 1–3 , according to another embodiment of the present invention. The steamer tray  44  is identical to the collection rim  14  discussed above with reference to  FIGS. 1–3 , but for three differences. First, the steamer tray  44  includes a recessed center portion having multiple holes  48  therein which allow moisture to flow there through and back into a pot upon which the tray  44  rests. Therefore, the steamer tray  44  does not include an inner wall  45  permitting the tray to collect and retain moisture, as in the collection rim  14  discussed above. Second, the steamer tray  44  includes two flanges  50  extending outward from the top of the tray  44 . Third, the steamer tray  44  does not include the clips  16 ; the cone  12  illustrated in  FIGS. 1–3  therefore simply rests on top of and within the uppermost and outermost wall the steamer tray. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the cone  12  and steamer tray  44  showing the two devices in use, placed on a cooking pot  52 , according to one aspect of the present invention. The combination cone and steamer tray  44  functions similar to a conventional steamer tray in that food is played on the steamer tray, after which steam passes through the holes  48  therein to cook the food. The combination cone and steamer tray  44  of the present invention provides additional features not provided by the prior art. The sloped side of the cone  12  allows most of the moisture produced by the pot  52  to collect on the wall of the cone  12 , after which it immediately cascades down the cone wall and back into the pot through the holes  48  in the steamer tray  44 . The opening  18  in the top of the cone  12  permits heat to pass there through. Finally, the two flanges  50  allow the user to pick up the steamer tray  44 . 
       FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of the handle  20  of the cone  12 , showing the clips  54 ,  56  attaching the handle  20  to the cone  12  at the top  22  of the cone  12  and at the bottom  24  of the cone  12 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the invention the clips  54 ,  56  are at least partially inserted into the body of the handle  20 . According to one aspect of the invention, the clips  54 ,  56  each contain spring members  60 ,  64  which are respective small sections bending outward from the body of the clips. These small sections  62 ,  64  permit the clips  54 ,  56  to be inserted in a narrow clip-receiving cavity for receiving the clips  54 ,  56  are the respective ends  22 ,  24  of the handle  20 . However, as illustrated by their position in  FIG. 6 , the small sections  62 ,  64  spring outward after reaching respective cavities  58 ,  60  drilled or formed in the handle  20 . Therefore, once the clips  54 ,  56  are inserted into the handle they permanently affix the handle  20  to the cone  20 . The clips are preferably made of steel or another durable and strong material to support at least the weight of the cone  12  and rim  14 . 
     Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Thus, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be embodied in many forms and should not be limited to the embodiments described above. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.