Abstract:
This will allow a consumer to steam food in more than one container at the same time. It will allow the food preparer to specifically time those items depending on the type of food that is being steamed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A. Field of the Invention 
     This relates to preparation of food using a steamer and specifically a steamer with multiple compartments. 
     B. Prior Art 
     A variety of other similar patents dealing with steaming foods exist in the prior art. 
     They generally involve a level base, which houses the heating element(s) and a tray or bowl of water to steam or prepare the food. Ventilation holes are at the top of the steamer for ventilation. 
     A representative example of the prior art is the Naft U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,094, which includes the base, boiling liquid reservoir, heating element and cooking utensil. However, patents such as Naft are structurally and functionally different from the present invention. 
     Other representative patents in this particular area are Anelli, U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,908 and Barrow, U.S. Pat. No. 6,259,068. None of these patents, which are representative of the prior art, specifically solve the problem of steaming multiple foods at the same time in one device. 
     This particular device seeks to address the concern where an individual can steam and prepare multiple food products in one unit. This would increase the efficiency and general utility of a food steamer for household use. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is capable of steaming different types and amounts of foods such as vegetables in one unit using separate containers. 
     The device has four separate food containers. Each of the containers is identically shaped and easily interchangeable. Separate timers and separate heating elements for the containers control the process of cooking the food in the respective container. 
     A separate handle is provided for each container and is used for each section as well as separate ventilation valves for each particular compartment. In this device the steamer is circular and each container occupies approximately ninety degrees of the circle. 
     The device would allow the individual to steam one vegetable in one compartment for a designated period of time and a different vegetable for a different period of time in a separate compartment. 
     It is the object of this device to allow multiple types of foods to be steamed at the same time with one device. Other objects of this device, which are not specifically mentioned, will be apparent by the description of the device in this application. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of the device showing the elements of the device. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the top of the device. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view according to line  3 — 3  on FIG.  2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view according to line  4 — 4  on FIG.  1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the base of the device. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of the base of the device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     This device  10  is a cooking utensil, which has a base  11 , four separate steaming containers  15 , and a top section  33 .  FIG. 1  shows a front view of the device showing all visible parts of the machine and the base  11  which is slightly elevated. 
     The device can be elevated by using a means of elevation such as is represented in FIG.  1 . 
     The device  10  rests on a base  11 , which is circular. This device  10  is approximately sixteen to eighteen inches high, and has an eighteen inch diameter. The containers  15 , which are of equal size, rest on the top surface of the base  11 . The containers fit on the top surface of the base  11  and under the space for the top section  33 . 
     In the center of the device is a rod  20 , which is secured in the base  11  of the device and extends vertically the entire height of the device.  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  6  The rod  20  is threaded on one end to provide a means to secure the top section  33  to the rest of the device and maintain the proper position of the separate containers.  FIG. 2  depicts the means to secure the top section  33  of the device to the top of the threaded rod  20 . 
     A recessed lip  21  on the top surface of the top section  33  of the device accommodates the upper seal  22 , which is used to seal the device at the top. FIG.  2 . 
     The top section  33  of the device  10  is equipped with a hole in the center of the top section  33  through which the rod  20  passes.  FIG. 2A  tightening mechanism  24  such as a nut, wing nut or other type of locking device secures the top section  33  to the remainder of the device. FIG.  2 . 
     According to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , valves  25  are located on the top section  33  of the device to allow the steam to exit the respective containers  15 . Separate valves  25  are used for each container  15  so that the steam may escape from the respective container.  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 . 
     The four steaming containers  15 , are positioned on the top of the base  11  and the underside of the top section  33 . The containers  15  extend radially from the threaded rod  20  and occupy approximately ninety degrees of the circle formed by this device.  FIGS. 1 ,  2 . 
     A separate handle  30  is included on the side of each container  15  so that a particular steaming container  15  may be removed without having to remove all the other containers  15 . The handles  30  are identically shaped and extend perpendicularly from the approximate middle of each steaming container  15 .  FIGS. 1 ,  4 . 
     According to  FIGS. 1 and 4  timers  32  are positioned to properly time each particular section in terms of each cooking need. These timers  32  operate independently of each other and may be set on different times depending on a different food need. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross section of the device as shown from the top, and shows the threaded rod  20  and the area occupied by each of the steaming containers  15  and the handles  30 .  FIG. 4  depicts each container  15  into four equal sections of this device  10 . 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  show the elements involved in the base  11  of this device. In order to steam the vegetables there must be some steamed produced. Therefore, a separate tray of water  41 ,  FIG. 6 , is included for each section and a separate heating element  40  and timer  32  is included per section.  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  6 . 
     On the bottom of the base  11  are heating elements  40 , which may be electric or gas.  FIG. 5  Separate heating element  40  are installed for each steaming container  15 . 
     The purpose of the heating element  40  as shown in  FIG. 5  is to heat the water in the water reservoir  41 ,  FIG. 6 , which is located above the respective heating element  40  and placed between the burner and the grate  42 , which holds the food.  FIGS. 4 ,  6  The vegetable is placed on the grate  42  above the water reservoir.  FIG. 4  The grate  42  is equipped with slats or grooves as shown in  FIG. 4  to allow the steam to fill the respective steaming container and cook the vegetables but prevents the food from entering the water reservoir  41 . FIG.  6 . 
     The rod  20  is installed to run from the top to the bottom of the device down the center of the device. According to  FIG. 6  one end of the rod  20  is secured to the base  11 . The rod  20  may be included as part of a molded base  10  or inserted through a separate hole in the center of the base  11 . 
     It is anticipated that the base  11 , the steaming containers  15 , and the top section  33  will be constructed from hard plastic and will be non-ferrous to avoid corrosion. The grate  42  and rod  20  may be made from aluminum or some other non-ferrous metal.