Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a device for capturing liquid splash and overflow during the cooking process. A splash gutter comprises a seal region and a deflector region, with the seal region defining a perimeter of an aperture dimensioned for receipt of cookware. The seal region is operable to conform to the outer surface of a sidewall of the cookware. The deflector region is joined to the seal region, with the deflector region depending upwardly and outwardly from the seal region. The deflector region is adapted to bound a capture zone when joined with cookware.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    The present invention claims priority to nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 13/214,190, which has a filing date of Aug. 21, 2011. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to cookware, more specifically to a device for capture of liquid overflow from cookware. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    During the cooking process, liquids are frequently added to foodstuff and brought to a simmer or boil. At or near those temperatures, the liquid composition becomes turbulent, causing the liquid to overflow or splash from the cookware. Water, grease, sauces, or other liquids can splash or overflow from the cookware during the stove top, oven, or microwave cooking processes. Moreover, liquids may splash or overflow in moving the cookware, causing a safety concern. The liquid overflow can be a concern, requiring active monitoring during cooking or other concerns. A person can monitor the cookware for liquid overflow and address the overflow. However, this extra attention may be impractical or undesirable, especially in larger scale food preparation environments. 
         [0006]    Failure to monitor the cookware during cooking leads to other concerns. The liquid overflow can travel down the outer sidewall of the cookware and contact the heat source, affecting the heat output. In the preparation of a single batch of foodstuff, the liquid overflow can lead to uneven heating of the foodstuff, thus lowering the food quality, producing unwanted odors, or requiring more attention during the cooking process. In the medium term, the liquid overflow can lead to the requirement for more frequent cleaning of the cooking surface, heat source, and related elements. In the long term, the liquid overflow can damage the heat source, leading to a shortened life cycle for parts such as heating elements. 
         [0007]    Lids have been used to attempt to address the problem but fail to do so. First, lids restrict access to the foodstuff being cooked. Moreover, the lids without a seal fail because they still permit liquid overflow to some extent. 
         [0008]    For the above reasons, there is a need for a device for use during cooking which is readily engaged to cookware, allows reasonable access to the foodstuff, and captures liquid splash and overflow. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    The present invention is directed to a device for capturing liquid splash and overflow during the cooking process. A splash gutter comprises a seal region and a deflector region, with the seal region defining a perimeter of an aperture dimensioned for receipt of cookware. The seal region is operable to conform to the outer surface of a sidewall of the cookware. The deflector region is joined to the seal region, with the deflector region depending upwardly and outwardly from the seal region. The deflector region is adapted to bound a capture zone when joined with cookware. 
         [0010]    These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  depicts a top perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  depicts a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  depicts a top perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  depicts a top perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  depicts a cross-sectional profile of a reservoir region of an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  depicts an alternative cross-sectional profile of a reservoir region of an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  depicts a top perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  depicts a cross-sectional profile of a reservoir region of an alternative embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  depicts a top perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure, or manner. 
         [0021]    The current invention includes cookware  08  with a splash gutter  10  to capture liquid splash or overflow during the cooking and preparation process. Referring to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the invention  10  is illustrated. Illustrated are cookware  08  and a splash gutter  10 . The cookware  08  includes a bottom wall  07  and at least one sidewall  09  extending upwardly from the bottom wall  07 . The upper end of the sidewall  09  presents a rim which defines the perimeter of an open top end of the cookware  08  in which foodstuff and liquid may be introduced. When viewed from above, the cross-sectional profile of the cookware  08  may take a variety of shapes, such as a circle, square, rectangle, or other polygons. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the sidewall  09  is configured annularly. 
         [0022]    The splash gutter  10  is configured to be removably mated to the cookware  08 , preferably at the rim presented by the sidewall  09  of the cookware  08 . The splash gutter  10  can be dimensioned for cookware  08  of a particular geometry and dimension. A single splash gutter  10  can be configured to mate with cookware  08  of slightly different dimensions due to characteristics such as elasticity. Accordingly, the splash gutter  10  geometry is complementary to the cookware  08  with which it is mated. The illustrated splash gutter  10  of  FIG. 1  is semi-toroidal, although it can take other geometries, as illustrated in other figures. The splash gutter  10  includes a seal region  12 , an optional reservoir region  14 , a deflector region  16 , and an inner periphery  18 . 
         [0023]    The outer bound of the inner periphery  18  of the splash gutter  10  is dimensioned to encompass the sidewall  09  of the cookware  08 . The seal region  12  defines the perimeter of the inner periphery  18  and is dimensioned for slideable engagement to the outer surface of the sidewall  09 . At least a portion of the seal region  12  abuts the sidewall  09 , conforming to the outer surface of the sidewall  09 , presenting a barrier to liquid traveling from the open end of the cookware  08  along the outer surface of the sidewall  09 . The seal region  12  downwardly depends from the sidewall  09 . Optionally, a portion of the seal region  12  can be flexible and a portion of the seal  12  can depend angularly and outwardly relative to the sidewall  09  in order to alter liquid overflow properties or enable a single splash gutter  10  to mate with cookware  08  of varying dimensions. The seal region  12  is preferably semi-elastic, but can be composed of more rigid materials. 
         [0024]    Joined to the seal region  12  is a reservoir region  14 . From a first end, the reservoir region  14  extends downwardly from the seal region  12  to a bottom and then rises upwardly to a second end. The interior formed presents a reservoir operative to contain liquid therein. The cross-sectional profile of the reservoir region  14  can take the curvilinear configuration of  FIG. 2  or alternate configurations, such as the angular configurations depicted in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The lateral distance from the first end of the reservoir region  14  to the second end is configured to provide a suitable capture zone for liquid splashing from the cookware. Additionally, the depth from the first and seconds ends of the reservoir region  14  to its bottom is configurable to provide a desired volume for captured liquid. 
         [0025]    The deflector region  16  is operative to direct splashed liquid to the reservoir region  14 . The deflector region  16  depends upwardly from the second end of the reservoir region  14 . The deflector region  16  can be dimensioned such that its terminal point is lower, higher, or at the same height as the peak height of the seal region  12 . Additionally, the deflector region&#39;s  16  angular orientation relative to the cookware is configurable. The deflector region  16  is preferably oriented at about 90 degrees from the plane  05  defined by the surface of a liquid  06  contained in the cookware  08 . In alternate configurations, the deflector region  16  is oriented at an obtuse angle relative to the plane  05  defined by the surface of a liquid contained in the cookware  08 , providing a larger capture zone. 
         [0026]    The splash gutter  10  presents a capture zone for capturing liquid splash or overflow from the cookware  08  at varying distances and manner. The innermost area of the capture zone is seal region  12 , which captures liquid overflow traveling from the open end of the cookware  08  along the outer surface of the sidewall  09 . The central area of the capture zone is the reservoir region  14 , which captures liquid ejected from the open end of the cookware  08 . The outermost area of the capture zone is the deflector region  16 , which captures liquid ejected yet further from the open end of the cookware  08 . Where the overflow or ejected liquid is captured at the seal region  12  or the deflector region  16 , it flows into the reservoir region  14 . 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 7 , the splash gutter  10  optionally includes a slot  20  operable to slidably receive a portion of the handle  03 . The slot  20  includes a recess where the width and depth of the recess are dimensioned to slidably receive the portion of the handle  03 . In one configuration, the slot  20  includes a recess in the seal region  12 . In a second configuration, the slot includes a recess in the seal region  12  and a recess in the deflector region  16 . In this second configuration, the recess of the deflector region  16  is proximate the recess of the seal region  12  in order to receive a distal portion of the handle  03 . In a third configuration, the slot  20  includes a recess in the deflector region  16 . 
         [0028]    Both the cookware  08  and splash gutter  10  may be composed of material suitable for cooking and the disclosed functionality. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, aluminum, copper, steel, iron, ceramics, glass, composites, or other materials known in the art for stove top, oven, microwave, or other cooking means. Preferably, the splash gutter  10  is composed of silicone. 
         [0029]      FIG. 9  shows an alternate embodiment of the splash gutter  10 . Shown are a splash gutter  10  and cookware  08 . The splash gutter  10  of this embodiment is comprised of the seal region  12 ′ and the deflector region  16 ′. The seal region  12 ′ defines the perimeter of the inner periphery  18  and is also dimensioned for slideable engagement to the outer surface of the sidewall  09 . The seal region  12 ′ abuts the sidewall  09 , conforming to the outer surface of the sidewall  09 . Optionally, seal region  12 ′ is flexible. The seal region  12 ′ is preferably semi-elastic, but can be composed of more rigid materials. Deflector region  16 ′ is operative to direct splashed liquid to the region bounded by the seal region  12 ′, the sidewall  09 , and the deflector region  16 ′. The deflector region  16 ′ depends upwardly and outwardly from the seal region  12 . The deflector region&#39;s  16 ′ angular orientation relative to the cookware is configurable. The deflector region  16 ′ can be oriented from slightly above 90 degrees to slightly less than 180 degrees from the plane  05  defined by the surface of a liquid  06  contained in the cookware  08 .  FIG. 8  shows the cross-sectional profile of this alternative embodiment. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , the use of the device is shown. The foodstuff and liquid are introduced to the cookware  08 . The splash gutter  10  is slidably engaged to the cookware  08 , preferably such that the upper edge of the seal region  12 ′ is generally coplanar with the plane defined by the upper edge of the cookware  08 , limiting the volume of the capture zone and directing the overflow liquid back into the cookware  08 . The heat source  04  is applied to the cookware  08  and the foodstuff is cooked. The overflow and splashed liquid is collected in the capture zone of the splash gutter  10 . After the cooking process, the splash gutter  10  is disengaged from the cookware  08  and the captured liquid is removed. 
         [0031]    Insofar as the description above and the accompanying drawing disclose any additional subject matter that is not within the scope of the claims below, the inventions are not dedicated to the public and the right to file one or more applications to claim such additional inventions is reserved.