Abstract:
A skimmer device and a method for skimming a liquid, foam, fat or other solid or liquid material or anything else that a user wants to remove or separate from a remaining liquid or solid that is left in a container.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/563,507, filed Apr. 19, 2004. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a skimmer device and a method for skimming a liquid, foam, fat or other solid or liquid material or anything else that a user wants to remove or separate from a remaining liquid or solid that is left in the container. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,900 relates to a fat skimmer in the form of a ladle having a deep vessel bowl with a rim at which there are ports for the transfer of surrounding fatty liquid into the vessel, determined by manipulation controlled by a locator associated with the rim. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. D252,068, D493,070 and D357,389 relate to fat skimmer devices to a fat skimmer for separating an unwanted fat liquid from a wanted liquid. The device consists of a transparent cone shaped jug for storing the unwanted fat liquid and the wanted fat liquid that is to be separated. The jug has a tapered exhaust conduit formeriphery partially submerged in the liquid body, a fat removal opening is provided in the plate portion co-axially with respect to the axis of rotation of the plate, a spiral shaped fat capture flange extends forwardly from the surface of the plate and has an inner end at the fat removal opening entered in the plate and an outer leading end edge positioned radially outward from the fat removal opening to engage and remove fat from the surface of the liquid body and deliver it to the fat removal opening. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,043 and publication application 2003/0188439 relate to a fat skimming ladle to use for removal of fat and other floating debris off of cooked soup stock. The ladle has a conduit structure with inlet located at the interior bottom of the ladle bowl and the outlet is located behind the proximal end of the handle. 
     The removal of fats, oils and grease floating in pans and pots where meats and pastas are cooked is troublesome. In the past, the process is to pour it off or scoop it off. Spoons, cups and ladles have been used. Hot fats, grease and oil rise and form a uniform layer on underlying liquids during roasting and cooking. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a skimmer device and a method for skimming a liquid, foam, fat or other solid or liquid material or anything else that a user wants to remove or separate from a remaining liquid or solid that is left in the container. The present invention relates to a skimmer device and a method for skimming a layer of fat, oil, or other similar layer that is floating on top of another liquid. It is an object of the present invention for the other liquid to be water or soup or other similar substance. It is an object of the present invention for the device to be placed in a pot or other container. It is an object of the present invention for the device to be used to skim a layer of foam, such as that formed at the top of a pot of cooked pasta, from the surface of a liquid. It is an object of the present invention for the invention to comprise a flange around the outside to prevent the device from dropping to the bottom of the pot. 
     The present invention relates to a utensil which comprises a strainer, a reservoir, which may be constructed as an integral piece with the strainer, a stopper, a handle, and a stopper control rod. The size of the skimmer closely matches the size of the pot that it will be use with. It is an object of the present invention for the strainer to be available in different sizes or adjustable to accommodate different size pots. 
     The strainer is the portion of the skimmer with holes in it to permit entry of fat, liquid or foam or other similar substance but keeps out solids such as vegetables. The surface of the strainer is held parallel to the surface of the liquid to be skimmed. It is an object of the present invention for the strainer to be of a circular shape. It is an object of the present invention for the diameter of the strainer to closely approximate, but be slightly less than, the diameter of the pot that is being skimmed. 
     The reservoir is the portion of the skimmer that holds the fatty liquid, foam, or other similar substance that is removed from the pot. It is made from the side wall of the utensil, working in conjunction with the bottom of the utensil, formed by the combination of the strainer and stopper. In the prior art, the reservoir is in a location that is separated from the strainer holes, the fat enters the strainer holes and runs off into a separate reservoir. It is an object of the present invention for the reservoir to be collocated with the strainer holes, located in the same place where the fat enters from the strainer. 
     The stopper is the rotatable, slidable, or otherwise positionable piece of material that opens the holes in the strainer to permit the ingress of the liquid, fat, foam or other similar material to be removed, or alternatively close the holes in the strainer, allowing the skimmed liquid to be retained in the reservoir without draining out through the holes in the strainer. It is an object of the present invention for the stopper to be positioned above or below the strainer. It is an object of the present invention for the stopper to sit above the strainer within the reservoir. The holes in the stopper are the same size and in the same relative position as the holes in the strainer, when the stopper is aligned in the open position. When the stopper is moved or rotated into the closed position, the solid portions of the stopper completely block the holes in the strainer. The surface of the stopper forms a tight seal against surface of the strainer in the closed position, to prevent leakage of liquid from the reservoir when the skimmer is withdrawn from the pot. It is an object of the present invention for the stopper to be rotated or slid into position via the action of the stopper control rod. It is an object of the present invention for the stopper to comprise a thin, round, plate made of either a hard material, such as metal or plastic, or of a gasket-like material, with an array of holes matching the holes in the strainer. 
     It is an object of the present invention for the center of the stopper to be aligned with the center of the strainer, via a common pivot point. It is an object of the present invention for the stopper to be made from a plurality of solid hole plugs that may be lifted above or lowered into the holes in the strainer in tandem in order to open or close the strainer. 
     The handle is used for lowering the skimmer into the pot and for holding it in position first with the stopper open and then when the stopper is closed. The handle is also used for removing the skimmer from the pot in order to remove the liquid, fat, foam or other similar substance. It is an object of the present invention for the handle to be long enough so that the skimmer may be placed onto the surface of the liquid in the pot, whether the pot is full or only partially full. 
     The stopper control rod is the mechanism used to position the stopper in the open or closed position. It is an object of the present invention for the stopper control rod to rotate, lift or drop the stopper into the proper position. It is an object of the present invention for the turning rod to be an integral part of the handle. It is an object of the present invention for the rod to have a knob at its top to assist the user in rotating or changing the position of the rod. It is an object of the present invention for the rod to slide, click, snap, rotate or drop the stopper into alignment. 
     It is an object of the present invention for the component pieces of the skimmer to be disassembled to permit easy cleaning. 
     The present invention relates to a method for skimming a liquid, foam or other similar substance which floats on top of another liquid comprising: opening the stopper by aligning the stopper holes with the strainer holes. The device is then partially lowered via a handle into a container of liquid, using the handle to hold the bottom of the skimmer just below the top surface of the liquid. This forces the top layer of liquid up through the holes in the strainer at the bottom of the device. The side wall of the reservoir is aligned with the inside wall of the container with only a small clearance between the reservoir wall and the container wall, which keeps the bottom face of the strainer parallel to the top surface of the container&#39;s liquid. The top of liquid enters the reservoir area, which is above and to the sides of the holes in the strainer. When sufficient liquid, foam, fat or similar substance has entered the reservoir, the user rotates, or otherwise positions the stopper via the stopper control rod so that it blocks the holes in the strainer, trapping the liquid, foam, fat or other similar substance within the reservoir. The user then withdraws the skimmer from the container, and dispose of the skimmed liquid, fat, foam or similar substance. The user can repeat the operation to remove any liquid, foam, fat or similar substance that should have been removed. 
     The present invention can be used at the time of cooking, before adding solid materials such as bones or vegetables to a liquid material that one may want to remove after cooking. In this instance, the user would first place the skimmer into a pot, either with or without the liquid in the open position. The user could then add the solid materials such as bones or vegetables or meats (as in preparing a gravy) and commence with the cooking of the liquid. Once cooked, the skimmer can be removed in the open position allowing for the removal of the solids from the liquid. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  show the stopper control rod of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  shows an example of how the device works. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a skimming device  10  being of a round or circular shape having a center pivot pin  12 , stopper holes  14  and solid area  16 . The device further comprises a mechanical rotation stop  18 . The device  10  can be divided into a different number of segments which have various hole sizes or shapes. 
       FIG. 2  shows a skimming device  100  having a center pivot hole  102 , strainer holes  104  and solid area  106 .  FIG. 2  further comprises a reservoir wall  108 . The mechanical stops  110  and  112  limit the rotation of the device  100 . 
       FIG. 3   a  shows a stopper control rod  200  comprising a handle  202 , rod  204  and a key  206  which is inserted into the flange seat  208 . The flange seat  208  is for a fixed or removable stopper control rod. Skimming device  210  has a pivot  212  which is located under the center of the flange. Skimming device  210  also has a round stopper  214  and a mechanical rotational stop pin  216 . The device is opened by turning the device following arrow  220  and closed following arrow  218 . 
       FIG. 3   b  shows device  300  having a wire handle shaped stopper control rod  310 . The stopper control rod  310  can be welded or otherwise affixed, or removable from the skimmer  314 . The pivot  314  is under the center of the stopper  310 . The skimmer has round stopper  316  and a mechanical rotational stop pin  318 . By turning the device in the direction of arrow  320 , the holes in the device remain open. By turning the device in the direction of arrow  322  the holes in the device close. 
       FIG. 4  shows an exploded view of the device  400 . The device comprises a stopper control rod  410  which comprises a rotation knob  412  and a rod  414 . The top of the device has a flange with socket  416  located at the pivot  418 . The top of the device further has a stopper  420 , solid area  422  and holes  424 . The rotation knob opens in arrow direction  426  and closes in arrow direction  428 . The reservoir part  430  of the device comprises a strainer with integral reservoir wall  500 , having a reservoir wall  510  and a pivot  512 . The lower portion of the device further comprises a solid area  514  and strainer holes  516 . The device has mechanical stops  518  and  520  extending from reservoir wall  510 . A handle  522  is attached to the wall of the reservoir. 
       FIG. 5  shows the skimmer strainer device  600  having a stopper control  610  in the open position, a handle  612  and a mechanical stop  614  also in the open position. The skimmer strainer device  600  is lowered into pot  620 . A layer of fat or other similar solid or liquid is located at the top of the liquid in the pot  620 . The liquid enters through the holes  622 . The stopper control  610  is then rotated to close the holes forming a solid area wherein the fat or other similar solid or liquid is trapped within the reservoir. The skimmer strainer device  600  is then removed from the pot  620  removing the fat or other similar solid or liquid from the pot. The process can then be repeated if necessary.