Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a liquid reduction timing device useful for cooking. More specifically, the disclosed liquid reduction timing device indicates to a user that a liquid has been reduced to a predetermined level when the level of the liquid is equal to the station of a movable indicator.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/765,831, filed Feb. 18, 2013, entitled LIQUID REDUCTION TIMING DEVICE, incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This disclosure relates to liquid reduction timing devices useful for cooking. More specifically, the disclosed liquid reduction timing device of this invention indicates to a user that a liquid has been reduced to a predetermined level when the level of the liquid is equal to the longitudinal station of an indicator. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     “Reduction” is a cooking technique wherein a liquid is reduced in volume by boiling. Reduction is often used to thicken or intensify the flavor of a liquid mixture, such as a soup, sauce, syrup, wine, or juice. Reduction is often performed by boiling a liquid in a container without a lid or cover, thereby allowing vapor to escape and the volume of liquid to decrease to a desired level. 
     A cook may reduce a liquid using guesswork, simply by observing a boiling liquid in a container and reducing the applied heat when he or she estimates that the liquid has been reduced by the proper amount. A need exists for a device capable of indicating to a cook in a more precise and quantifiable manner that a liquid has indeed been reduced to the preferred predetermined level. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The disclosed liquid reduction timing device provided by this invention comprises an elongated body, a clip attached to the body, and an indicator slidably attached to the body. The indicator is slidably positioned by the user to a desired station on the body, namely, a station equal to the desired liquid level at the end of the reduction process. The liquid reduction timing device is adapted to be removably attachable to a cooking container used for boiling liquid, such as, for example, a pot, kettle, or cauldron, by attaching the device to the side wall of the container using the clip, such that at least a portion of the body is disposed within the container. The user then reduces the liquid within the container by applying heat and boiling the liquid. Reduction of the liquid level within the container to the station of the indicator indicates to the user that the desired level of reduction has occurred and the reduction process can then be terminated. 
     It will be appreciated that the various apparatus and methods described in this summary section, as well as elsewhere in this application, can be expressed as a large number of different combinations and subcombinations. All such useful, novel, and inventive combinations and subcombinations are contemplated herein, it being recognized that the explicit expression of each of these combinations is unnecessary. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Some of the figures shown herein may include dimensions. Further, some of the figures shown herein may have been created from scaled drawings or from photographs that are scalable. It is understood that such dimensions, or the relative scaling within a figure, are by way of example, and not to be construed as limiting. 
         FIG. 1A  is a side view of a first embodiment of a liquid reduction timing device provided by this invention.  FIG. 1B  is a side view of the first embodiment positioned in a container, shown in cross-section, partially filled with liquid.  FIG. 1C  is a side view of the first embodiment positioned in the container, shown in cross-section, after reduction of a portion of the liquid. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a liquid reduction timing device provided by this invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a liquid reduction timing device provided by this invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a liquid reduction timing device provided by this invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a liquid reduction timing device provided by this invention. 
         FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of a liquid reduction timing device provided by this invention.  FIG. 6B  is an expanded view of the means for retaining the indicator of this sixth embodiment show in  FIG. 6A . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a seventh embodiment of a liquid reduction timing device provided by this invention. 
         FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of an eighth embodiment of a liquid reduction timing device provided by this invention.  FIG. 8B  is an expanded view of the means for retaining the indicator of this eighth embodiment shown in  FIG. 8A . 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a ninth embodiment of a liquid reduction timing device provided by this invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. At least one embodiment of the present invention will be described and shown, and this application may show and/or describe other embodiments of the present invention. It is understood that any reference to “the invention” is a reference to an embodiment of a family of inventions, with no single embodiment including an apparatus, process, or composition that should be included in all embodiments, unless otherwise stated. Further, although there may be discussion with regards to “advantages” provided by some embodiments of the present invention, it is understood that yet other embodiments may not include those same advantages, or may include yet different advantages. Any advantages described herein are not to be construed as limiting to any of the claims. 
     The use of an N-series prefix for an element number (NXX) refers to an element that is the same as the non-prefixed element (XX), except as shown and described thereafter. The usage of words indicating preference, such as “preferably,” refers to features and aspects that are present in at least one embodiment, but which are optional for some embodiments. As an example, an element  426  would be the same as element  26 , except for those different features of element  426  shown and described. Further, common elements and common features of related elements are drawn in the same manner in different figures, and/or use the same symbology in different figures. As such, it is not necessary to describe the features of  426  and  26  that are the same, since these common features are apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the related field of technology. 
     Although various specific quantities (spatial dimensions, temperatures, pressures, times, force, resistance, current, voltage, concentrations, wavelengths, frequencies, heat transfer coefficients, dimensionless parameters, etc.) may be stated herein, such specific quantities are presented as examples only, and further, unless otherwise noted, are approximate values, and should be considered as if the word “about” prefaced each quantity. Further, with discussion pertaining to a specific composition of matter, that description is by example only, and does not limit the applicability of other species of that composition, nor does it limit the applicability of other compositions unrelated to the cited composition. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1A-C , one preferred disclosed liquid reduction timing device  10  of this invention comprises an elongated body  12  having a top  14 , a bottom  16  opposite the top  14 , and at least one side. A securing member  18  for removably attaching the device  10  to a cooking container  50  is attached to the body  12  and extends from a first side  22  of the body  12 . In some embodiments, the securing member  18  is a clip slidably attached to the body  12 , such that it can be positioned at different stations along the height of the body  12 . In other embodiments, the clip  18  is fixed to a specific station on the body  12 . An indicator  20  is slidably attached to the body  12  such that it can be positioned at different stations along the height of the body  12 . The indicator  20  extends from a second side of body  24 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1A-C , the first and second sides  22 ,  24  are preferably defined by opposite sides of the body  12 . In the depicted embodiment, the body  12  is preferably a rod about 12 inches in height and about ⅜ths of an inch in diameter. In some embodiments, the device  10  includes a handle  32  extending from the top  14  of the body. In some embodiments, the bottom  16  of the body is formed of or covered by a material adapted to not scratch, abrade, or otherwise damage the interior of container  50 . 
     The device  10  includes a control rod  26  used to control the positioning of the indicator  20 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1A-C , the control rod  26  is affixed to the indicator  20  and extends generally upwardly therefrom. In some embodiments, the indicator  20  includes an indicator bore  28  through which the body  12  extends. The indicator bore  28  snugly fits the body  12  and maintains the position of the indicator  20  on the body  12  by a friction fit. The user may slidably re-position the indicator  20  along the body  12  by pulling or pushing the control rod  26  or indicator  20  upward or downward to overcome the friction fit. 
       FIGS. 1B  and C show the liquid reduction timing device  10  attached to a container  50 , namely, a cooking pot, containing a liquid  54  both before ( FIG. 1B ) and after ( FIG. 1C ) reduction. The clip  18  removably attaches the device to the side wall  52  of the container  50 , such that the body  12  is generally disposed in an upright, vertical orientation substantially parallel to the side wall  52  of the container  50  and with at least a portion of the body  12  arranged within the container  50 . A portion of the side wall  52  is secured between the clip  18  and the body  12  by a friction fit, maintaining the device  10  in position. The indicator  20  is set by the user at a station along the body  12  equal to the desired post-reduction liquid level. The user then reduces the liquid  54  within the container by applying heat and boiling the liquid  54 . Reduction of the level of the liquid  54  level within the container  50  to the station of the indicator  20  as shown in  FIG. 1C  indicates to the user that the desired level of reduction has occurred and the reduction process can then be terminated. 
     In some embodiments, the device  10  further comprises at least one spacer  30  extending from the first side of the body. In this first embodiment, the device  10  includes two spacers  30 . In this embodiment, the spacers  30  are heat-resistant beads or the like affixed to the first side  22  of the body  12 . The heat-resistant beads are configured to withstand the temperature of boiling water, boiling oil, or other liquids used in cooking at their respective boiling points without degradation. As shown in  FIGS. 1B  and C, the spacers  30  are configured to interpose between the body  12  and the side wall  52 , preventing the body from directly contacting the container  50  and maintaining the body  12  in an orientation substantially parallel to the side wall  52 . 
       FIGS. 2-5  depict second, third, fourth and fifth embodiments, respectively, of a liquid reduction timing device  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 , comprising an elongated body  112 ,  212 ,  312 ,  412 , a clip  118 ,  218 ,  318 ,  418 , and an indicator  120 ,  220 ,  320 ,  420 . The second ( FIG. 2 ) and third ( FIG. 3 ) embodiments are identical, apart from the third embodiment including a flange-shaped handle  232  arranged atop body  212 . The fourth ( FIG. 4 ) and fifth ( FIG. 5 ) embodiments are likewise identical, apart from the fifth embodiment including a flange-shaped handle  432  arranged atop body  412 . Similar to the first embodiment, each of the second, third, fourth and fifth embodiments includes an indicator  120 ,  220 ,  320 ,  420 , having an indicator bore  128 ,  228 ,  328 ,  428 , through which the body  112 ,  212 ,  312 ,  412 , extends. The bore  128 ,  228 ,  328 ,  428  snugly fits the body  112 ,  212 ,  312 ,  412  and maintains the position of the indicator  120 ,  220 ,  320 ,  420  on the body  112 ,  212 ,  312 ,  412  by a friction fit. The user may slidably re-position the indicator  120 ,  220 ,  320 ,  420  along the body  112 ,  212 ,  312 ,  412  by simply pulling or pushing the control rod  126 ,  226 ,  326 ,  426  or indicator  120 ,  220 ,  320 ,  420  upward or downward to overcome the friction fit. While these embodiments as shown lack spacers, the invention contemplates such embodiments alternatively including spacers. 
     In certain embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 2-5  for example, the body includes markings  134 ,  234 ,  334 ,  434 , such as numbers or letters to indicate different vertical positions on the body. For example, in embodiments where the clip is fixed to the body, the body may include markings designating of distance from the clip (for example, ¼″, ½, ¾″, or 1 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm) to aid the user in positioning the indicator. In the embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 2-5 , the markings  134 ,  234 ,  334 ,  434  are a sequential series of roman numerals (I, II, III, IV, . . . ) extending vertically along the body  112 ,  212 ,  312 ,  412 . 
       FIGS. 6A-B  depict a sixth embodiment of a liquid reduction timing device  510  of this invention. This sixth embodiment includes a substantially spherical handle  532  arranged atop body  512 . In this embodiment, the indicator  520  includes at least one indicator bore. The body  512  extends through a first indicator bore  528  and slidably engages the indicator  520 . The control rod  526  is attached at or in proximity to the bottom  516  of the body  512  and extends upwardly through a second indicator bore  529 . The control rod  526  is biased in a position that is not parallel to the direction of the second indicator bore  529 , such that a friction fit between the control rod  526  and the indicator  520  maintains the position of the indicator  520 . The user may adjust the orientation of the control rod  526  to place the control rod  526  substantially parallel to the direction of the second bore  529  to relieve the friction fit between the control rod  526  and indicator  520 , thereby allowing the indicator  520  to be slid upwardly and downwardly along the body  512  and control rod  526  to a desired station. The user may squeeze the control rod  526  and body together  512 , as indicated by arrows A-A in  FIG. 6B , to place the control rod  526  substantially parallel to the direction of the second bore  529 . 
       FIG. 7  depicts a seventh embodiment of a liquid reduction timing device  610  provided by this invention. In this embodiment, the clip  618 , body  612 , and control rod  626  are formed from a single piece. Both the body  612  and control rod  626  extend through a single indicator bore  628 . The body  612  and control rod  626  are biased in a spaced-apart orientation, such that friction between the body  612  and indicator  620  and between the control rod  626  and the indicator  620  maintains the position of the indicator  620 . The user may adjust the orientation of at least one of the control rod  626  and the body  612  to relieve the friction fit and allow the indicator  620  to be freely slid upwardly and downwardly. For example, the user may squeeze the control rod  626  and body  612  together, as indicated by arrows B-B in  FIG. 7 , thereby relieving the friction against the indicator  620  and allowing the indicator  620  to be re-positioned. In this embodiment, the handle  632  is formed by an upward curve between the body  612  and clip  618  portions of the device. In this embodiment, the spacers  630  are preferably substantially spherical beads through which the body  612  extends. 
     In this seventh embodiment, the spacers  630  are configured to serve at least two (2) separate functions. First, the spacers  630  are configured to interpose between the body  612  and the side wall of a container (not shown), preventing the body  612  from contacting the container. Second, the spacers  630  also have a diameter of sufficient size to prevent the indicator bore  628  from passing the body  612 , a spacer  630 , and the control rod  626 , thereby preventing the indicator  620  from sliding off the liquid reduction timing device  610 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8A-B , the depicted eighth embodiment of a liquid reduction timing device  710  illustrates an additional means for maintaining the indicator at a specific station on the body  712 . In this embodiment, the control rod  726  is affixed to the indicator  720  and extends upwards from the indicator  720  substantial parallel to the body  612 . The indicator  720  includes a single indicator bore  728  through which the body  712  extends. 
     In this embodiment, a retaining member  736  is fixed to and extends from the body  712 , and the control rod  726  extends through apertures  737  in the retaining member  736 . The retaining member  736  is configured such that the control rod  726  contacts the sides of the apertures  737 . Friction between the retaining member  736  and the control rod  726  maintains the position of the control rod  726  and indicator  720  with respect to the body  712 . By squeezing the retaining member  736 , the apertures  737  are repositioned in alignment with the control rod  726 , such that the control rod  726 , and the indicator  720  affixed thereto, may be freely moved upwardly or downwardly along the body  712 , as indicated by arrows C-C in  FIG. 8B , to a desired station. When the user releases the retaining member  736 , it returns to its original configuration and friction between the retaining member  736  and the control rod  726  maintains the control rod  726  and indicator  720  at the desired station. 
       FIG. 9  depicts a ninth embodiment of a liquid reduction timing device  810 . This ninth embodiment is generally similar in structure to the first embodiment, but lacks spacers  30 . The bottom  816  of the body  812  is covered by a cap to prevent the body  812  from scratching or abrading the bottom of a container when the device  810  is in use. The cap is preferably formed a resilient material capable of withstanding exposure to boiling water or boiling cooking oil without impairment. 
     While the inventions have been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only certain embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.