Abstract:
A cooking device having a liquid containing well in a center surrounded by a connected flange positioned or formed at an angle to the well for draining liquid into the well, and has a controllable flame directed to said well. A collapsible stand has a frame that holds the cooking device and the source of the flame, and has articulated legs selectively collapsible alongside the frame.

Description:
CONTINUATION-IN-PART APPLICATION AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C., §120** 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 12/653,147, filed Dec. 9, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,737,170, issued on Aug. 22, 2017, which claims priority to application Ser. No. 61/203,072, filed on Dec. 8, 2008. Applicants herein claim all priority rights under Title 35 U.S.C., §120 et seq., for all matter disclosed in said co-pending application. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the art of cooking device and more particularly to the art of portable cooking devices storable in tight spaces. 
     Description of the Prior Art 
     In the past, it has been known to provide portable frying assemblies, as may be seen, for representative example, in Kimbrough, U.S. Pat. No. 3,722,498. Some portable cooking arrangements have provided optional shelf attachments, such as, for example, Coleman, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,951,213. Typically, such shelf arrangements are provided primarily for positioning cooking tools such as spatulas and tongs. Id. Such shelf arrangements are typically flat or level shelving, as may be appreciated given the purpose for them. Some frying arrangements are configured to be inserted in a level table which provides extended storage area adjacent to the frying pan or well. See, e.g., Segroves, U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,276. 
     All such arrangements show and describe significant improvements in the art of cooking by frying in portable devices. However, it has been sought to provide for a frying configuration which also provides for storage of the cooked, fried food immediately following the frying, whereby the frying oils or other liquids are drained from the fried foods while the fried foods are maintained warm, even hot during such a draining process. 
     Moreover, it is desired to provide a portable cooking by frying device which can maintain the cooked food at least warm, if not hot for substantial times, even after the foods have been drained. It is further desired that both of these desired objectives be provided in a portable structure that can be folded into a relatively small, tight spaced configuration that can be carried simply with one hand. 
     SUMMARY 
     In brief, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a relatively large plate structure has a well or reservoir at its center for receiving cooking oil or liquid and a substantial surface or flange integral with the reservoir on which surface cooked food may be drained of excess oil or liquid and be kept warm for substantial periods of time. In another aspect of the present invention, the plate structure has a second flange integral with the reservoir on which the cooked food can be kept warm, even hot for a substantial time even after the food has been drained of the cooking oils or liquids. In yet another aspect of the invention, a collapsible stand comprising legs that can be retracted into a tight space provides a stable support for the plate which can be detached from the stand, and provides support and position for controllable heating means. 
     These and other novel aspects of the present invention, together with other aspects thereof, can be better understood by the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which are designed to be read in conjunction and together with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of the cooking device in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the plate structure, a stand and heating means assembled in an upright position; 
         FIG. 2  is an angle or perspective view of the cooking device plate structure of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1  showing the plate structure in greater detail; 
         FIG. 3  is top perspective view of details of the stand and heating means of the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  assembled in an upright position with the cooking device plate structure removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of the details of the burner support arms of  FIG. 1  of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of details of the burner and regulator control of  FIG. 1  of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of the burner of  FIG. 5 , having parts removed and parts exploded for clarity of description; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of shelf in an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is perspective view of a utility holder in an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 9  is a side perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention having the cooking device plate structure removed for clarity, and showing the stand partially collapsed for storage and transporting. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A cooking device plate structure  10  is shown, reference being had initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the accompanying drawings where reference numerals refer to like reference numerals used herein. The plate structure  10  comprises a well or reservoir  12  for containing liquid. The reservoir  12  has a circular bottom  14  with an upright cylindrical side wall  16  defining a depth between the bottom  14  and the top edge  18  of the reservoir  12 . The plate structure  10  extends from the reservoir top edge  18  radially outward to an outer edge defined by the outer circumferential edge  28  in a plate flange  20 . Flange  20  has two concentric annular portions  22 ,  24 . A first beveled portion  22  extends outwardly from, and sloped downwardly toward the top edge  18  of the reservoir  12 . A second, substantially horizontal portion  24  extends outwardly from the beveled portion  22  to the outer, circumferential edge  26 . An outer, vertical flange  28  extends downwardly from the outer, circumferential edge  26  to form a curtain for purposes that will be described in greater detail below. In the preferred embodiment, the structure  10  comprising the reservoir  12 , the beveled flange portion  22 , the substantially level or horizontal flange portion  24  and the outer vertical flange  28  are formed of a single, integral metal plate capable of sustaining and conducting heat. 
     The cooking device assembly  30 , is best seen in  FIG. 1  of the drawings, where the support stand  32  and, partially, the burner assembly  34  are shown. The support stand  32  is comprised of a first pair of legs  36 ,  37  and a second pair of legs  38 ,  39 . A bucket-like utility holder  40  and an accessory shelf  42  are attached to round out the cooking device assembly  30 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , the support stand  32  and the burner assembly  34  are shown with the cooking device structure  10  removed for clarity. The stand  32  has a circular frame ring  44  with a first brace  46  and a second brace  48  positioned parallel to each other and connected to the frame ring  44 , each across an arc of the frame ring  44 . The leg  36  of the first pair of legs  36 ,  37  is connected articulately by hinge  50  to the first brace  46  and locked into position by stabilizing support lock or arm  54 . The leg  37  of the first pair of legs  36 ,  37  is connected articulately by hinge  51  to the second brace  48  and locked into position by stabilizing support lock or arm  55 . The leg  38  of the second pair of legs  38 ,  39  is connected articulately by hinge  52  to the brace  46  and locked into position by stabilizing support lock or arm  56 . The leg  39  of the second pair of legs  38 ,  39  is connected articulately by hinge  53  to the brace  48  and locked into position by stabilizing support lock or arm  57 . Each of the legs  36 ,  37 ,  38 ,  39  is a telescoping leg, and is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3  extended into its full, telescopic extension. When it is desired to fold the support means stand  32  into a tight, small space, as will be described in greater detail below, the lower portion of the legs  36 ,  37 ,  38 ,  39  will be telescoped into the upper portion to result in substantially half the length as when the legs are extended into the upright position of  FIGS. 1 and 3 . 
     A wind ring or chimney  58  is placed upon the metal support arms  61  around a heating plate  70 , the flame end of the pneumatic tube  78  and the nozzle  90  beneath the heating plate  70 , for the purpose of shielding the flame  92  from wind and other disturbances. It is preferred that the upper end of the wind ring or chimney  58  not be in physical contact with the vertical side  16  of the reservoir well  12 , but slightly spaced below the reservoir well  12  so as to allow heat from the flame  92  to flow out from the wind ring or chimney  58  and around the vertical side  16  which will result in directing heat to the flanges  22 ,  24 . 
     In  FIG. 4 , the metal burner and wind shield support  60  is shown having metal support arms  61  extending from a central support plate  63 . Each support arm  61  has a bent end  62  for inserting into its corresponding hole in one of the legs  36 ,  37 ,  38 ,  39 . The support plate  63  has a slot  64  formed to receive parts of the burner assembly, as will be explained in greater detain below. Between two of the arms  61  extends an heating means brace  66  having a “U” shaped indent  68  to receive a pneumatic tube heat shield  80 , again as will be explained in greater detail below. When each of the bent ends  62  is inserted into its corresponding leg  36 ,  37 ,  38 ,  39 , the burner and wind shield support  60  is properly positioned to support the burner assembly  34  as well as the chimney or wind shield  58 . 
     In  FIG. 5 , the burner assembly  34  is shown in greater detail. A heating plate  70  is spaced a set distance above heating means support plate  72  by support cylinder  74 . Air intake holes  76  are formed in the cylinder  74  to supply oxygen to a flame  92  within. A pneumatic tube  78  runs from inside the cylinder  74  to a pneumatic connector  86  through a gas control valve or regulator  82 . The tube  78  is protected by a heat shield  80 . 
     Referring now to both  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the heating means support plate  72  is inserted into the slot  64  of the burner support assembly  60 . The heat shield  80  is nestled into the “U” shaped indent  68  of heating means brace  66  to provide support for the extended tube  78  and heat shield  80 . At this point, the burner assembly  34  is mounted between the legs  36 ,  37 ,  38 ,  39  by means of the burner support arms  61  of the burner and wind shield support  60 . A gas supply  88  can be attached to the connector  86 , as seen best in  FIG. 1  of the drawings. 
     As better seen in  FIG. 6  of the drawings, which is a view of the flame end of the burner assembly  34 , and in which the support cylinder  74  is removed and the heating plate  70  is exploded upward for clarity to show the end of the pneumatic tube  78 , the end of the pneumatic tube  78  is pneumatically connected to flame nozzle  90 . Within the support cylinder  74 , the flame nozzle  90  is set pointed to the underside of heating plate  70  so that when a flame  92  is ignited, the flame  92  will go toward the underside of, and heat plate  70 . By means of the gas control valve or regulator  84 , the supply of gas to the nozzle  90  within the cylinder  74  can be selectively controlled and regulated. 
     Referring to both  FIGS. 5 and 6 , an electrical spark ignitor  94  comprises the end of an electrical conductor  96  and a ground. The other end of the electrical conductor  96  terminates in a push button operable switch  98 . When depressed, switch  98  ignites a spark at ignitor  94 . If gas is being supplied from gas supply  88  by selectively operating the control knob  84  of the control valve or regulator  82 , the spark should ignite flame  92 , and heat will be supplied to the heating plate  70 . 
     The control valve or regulator  82  to include the manually operable control knob  84 , and the gas or other energy supply  88 , and the spark ignitor switch  98  are spaced a substantial distance from the flame nozzle  90 , the spark ignitor  94  and the heating plate  70 . By this structure, heat from the flame  92 , or from the heating plate  70 , or from liquid in the liquid containing means  12  is kept at a safe distance from the control valve or regulator  82  and the control knob  84  so that the heat will not interfere with safe operation of the cooking device structure. Moreover, the chance for extreme heat destructively contacting the control valve or regulator  82  or the gas supply  88  is substantially reduced if not completely eliminated. 
     In operation, the cooking device  30  is assembled initially by extending the each of the pair of legs  36 ,  37  and  38 ,  39  into their extended, upright position by pivoting the legs about their corresponding hinges  50 ,  51  and  52 ,  53 . The legs are locked into their extended, upright position by locking the corresponding lock arms  54 ,  55 ,  56 ,  57 . The burner and wind shield support  60  is then attached to the legs by inserting the bent ends  62  into corresponding holes in the legs  36 ,  37 ,  38 ,  39 , each bent end  62  in its corresponding leg. The burner assembly  34  is then put into position by inserting the heating means support plate  72  into the slot  64  of the burner and wind shield support  60 , with the heat shield  80  nestled into the “U” indent  68  on the brace  66 . A gas supply  88  is then secured to the valve or gas regulator assembly  82 . The cooking device structure  10  is then positioned onto the stand frame  44 . 
     The gas regulator control knob  84  is then selectively turned to open the valve proportionately and establish the desired gas flow though the pneumatic tube  78 , supplying gas to the flame nozzle  90  within the cylinder  74 . The gas is ignited by pushing the switch  98  to cause a spark at ignitor  94 . Alternatively, the gas can be ignited by any convenient and safe means, such as by safety matches or the like. The resulting flame  92  will heat the heating plate  70 . 
     Frying oil is then inserted into the reservoir  12 . Food to be fried is placed within the reservoir  12 . When cooked, the food is removed from the reservoir  12  and placed on the beveled flange  22 , allowing excess oil from the frying process to drain back into the reservoir  12 . The heat transmitted to the underside of the reservoir  12  from the heating plate  70 , is transmitted by the thermally conducting metal of the cooking device structure  10  outwardly to the beveled flange  22  and to the horizontal flange  24 . Heat is trapped within the space immediately below the cooking device structure  10  by its outer vertical flange  26  surrounding the cooking device structure  10 , in effect creating a downward lip trapping the heat underneath the flanges  22 ,  24 . Food cooked and laid on the flange  22  will be kept warm, even hot while excess oil is drained from it. After satisfactory amounts of the excess oil is so drained, the food may then be moved to the horizontal flange  24 . The heat trapped underneath the cooking device structure  10  by the downward flange  26  will continue to keep the food warm while further waiting. 
     In  FIG. 7  of the accompanying drawings, an alternative embodiment embodying a shelf  42  is illustrated. The shelf  42  is intended primarily for holding accessories, but may be used for any purpose, such as, e.g., holding foods cooked or to be cooked. The shelf  42  had two support arms  110 . As better shown in  FIG. 3 , the support arms  110  are pivotally secured to the braces  46 ,  48  by pins  112 , and the far ends of the arms  110  are positioned under a shelf rod  114 , also secured to and between the braces  46 ,  48 . The pins  112  in effect act as a fulcrum about which the shelf  42  settles into position by forcing against the shelf rod  114 . The arms  110  have an indent portion along their lengths to receive the outer vertical flange  28  of the cooking device structure  10  when the cooking device structure  10  is positioned over the stand frame  44 . Thus, when the cooking device structure  10  is placed on the stand frame  44 , the cooking device structure  10  completely settles on and contacts with the frame  44  at every point along the entire circumference of the frame  44 , as shown in  FIG. 1  of the drawings. 
     In  FIG. 8  of the drawings, yet another alternative embodiment comprising a utility holder  40  is shown. The holder  40  is intended for holding cooking accessories such as, e.g., cooking utensils but may be used for any purpose for which a bucket like container may be desired. The holder  40  is equipped with a clip or hook  116  for positioning over the stand frame  44 , as best seen in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. Again, the hook  116  has a shape with a indent to receive the outer vertical flange  26  of the cooking device structure  10  when the cooking device structure  10  is position onto the stand frame  44 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     When it is desired to store the cooking device altogether, the gas control knob  84  is used to close the valve or regulator  82  to stop the gas supplied to the heating plate  70 , and the cooking device assembly  30  is cooled. The cooking device structure  10  is then removed from the stand frame  44 , and the used oil safely removed from the reservoir  12 . The gas supply  88  is detached from the pneumatic connector  86 . The wind shield or chimney  58  is lifted from its position on the metal support arms  61 . The burner assembly  34  is then removed by lifting the heat shield  80  from its nestled position in the “U” indent  68 , and the heating means support plate  72  is slid out of the slot  64 . The burner and wind shield support  60  is detached from the stand  44  by removing the bent ends  62  from their corresponding legs  36 ,  37 ,  38 ,  39 . 
     Next, the lock arms  54 ,  55 ,  56 ,  57  are unlocked by articulating the joint in the lock arms in the direction of the arrows  118  as shown in  FIG. 9  of the accompanying drawings. At substantially the same time, the legs  36 ,  37 ,  38 ,  39  are telescoped in the direction of arrows  120  into a shorter length, as depicted for legs  38 ,  39  and partially for legs  36 ,  37  in the view of  FIG. 9 . The pairs of legs  36 ,  37  and  38 ,  39  are articulately pivoted inwardly about their corresponding hinges  50 ,  51 ,  52 ,  53  so to collapse the pairs of legs against the braces  46 ,  48  and the stand frame  44 . 
     In  FIG. 9 , the cooking device structure  10  is depicted positioned on the stand ring or frame  44 . The entire support stand  32  fits within the outer cooking flange  26 . The reservoir  12  protrudes downward between the braces  46 ,  48 . In the view of  FIG. 9 , the undersides of the beveled flange  22  and the horizontal flange  24  may be seen. The burner and wind shield support  60  and the burner assembly  34  can then be placed within the tight compact space left over after the pairs of legs  36 ,  37  and  38 ,  39  are collapsed and positioned within the space defined by the outer vertical flange  26 . If desired, a cover, not shown, can be made to fit over such a compacted assembly, for ease in transporting the cooking device. 
     Although the preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described by a primarily circular cooking device structure  10  and cooking device assembly  30 , other designs may be used to work the same purpose and benefit. 
     The foregoing detailed description of my invention and of preferred and of alternative embodiments to products, compositions and processes, is illustrative of specific embodiments only. It is to be understood, however, that additional embodiments may be perceived by those skilled in the art. The embodiments described herein, together with those additional embodiments, are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.