Patent Publication Number: US-2022225840-A1

Title: Ladle Strainer Assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
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     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM 
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     STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     The disclosure relates to strainer devices and more particularly pertains to a new strainer device for straining solids from a liquid. The device includes a bowl for scooping and a strainer that is closeable over the bowl. 
     (2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
     The prior art relates to strainer devices including a ladle that has a bowl shaped strainer. The prior art discloses a variety of strainers that can be positioned over a container for straining a liquid in the container. The prior art also discloses a spoon which includes a perforated element that is closable over the spoon for straining a liquid. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a handle is hollow wherein the handle is configured to be gripped by a user. A bowl is coupled to the handle for dipping into a liquid to scoop a predetermined volume of the liquid. A strainer is pivotally coupled to the handle and the strainer is positionable in a closed position to facilitate liquid to be drained from the bowl while retaining solids in the bowl. An opener is movably integrated into the handle and the opener is in communication with the strainer. The opener urges the strainer between an open position and the closed position to facilitate the user to open and close the strainer without touching the strainer. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a ladle strainer assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure showing a strainer in an open position. 
         FIG. 3  is a left side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a left side cut-away view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a left side cut-away view of an embodiment of the disclosure showing a strainer in an open position. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosure showing a strainer in an open position. 
         FIG. 8  is a left view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is a left side cut-away view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is a left side cut-away view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosure showing a strainer in an open position. 
         FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 12  is a left side cut-away view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosure showing a strainer in an open position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 12  thereof, a new strainer device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 6 , the ladle strainer assembly  12  generally comprises a handle  12  that is hollow such that the handle  12  can be gripped by a user. The handle  12  has a first section  14  forming an angle with a second section  16 . The handle  12  has a first end  18 , a second end  20  and an outer wall  22  extending therebetween, and the outer wall  22  has a bend  24  therein to define the first section  14  and the second section  16 . The first end  18  is associated with the first section  14  and the second end  20  is associated with the second section  16 . The bend  24  is positioned closer to the second end  20  than the first end  18 , and the bend  24  defines a right angle between the first section  14  and the second section  16 . The second end  20  is open into an interior of the handle  12 , and the outer wall  22  has a front side  26 , a back side  28 , a first lateral side  30  and a second lateral side  32 . The front side  26  of the outer wall  22  corresponding to the second section  16  has a slot  34  extending therethrough to engage a hook for hanging the handle  12  during storage. 
     The front side  26  of the outer wall  22  corresponding to the first section  14  has a recess  36  extending toward the back side  28  of the outer wall  22  corresponding to the first section  14 . The recess  36  extends through each of the first lateral side  30  and the second lateral side  32 . Additionally, the recess  36  has a first bounding surface  38  that is oriented at an angle with a second bounding surface  40  such that the recess  36  has a wedge shape. The recess  36  is positioned adjacent to the first end  18 , and the second bounding surface  40  has a first hole  42  extending into the interior of the handle  12 . The back side  28  of the outer wall  22  corresponding to the first section  14  has a second hole  44  extending into the interior of the handle  12 , and the second hole  44  is aligned with the first hole  42 . 
     A bowl  46  is provided that is coupled to the handle  12  and the bowl  46  can be dipped into a liquid for scooping a predetermined volume of the liquid. The bowl  46  has an outside wall  48  and a top edge  50 , and the outside wall  48  is coupled to the front side  26  of the outer wall  22  corresponding to the first section  14  of the handle  12 . Additionally, the top edge  50  lies on a plane that is oriented perpendicular to the front side  26 . The top edge  50  is aligned with the second bounding surface  40  of the recess  36  in the back side  28  of the outer wall  22  corresponding to the first section  14 . 
     A strainer  52  is provided and the strainer  52  is pivotally coupled to the handle  12 . The strainer  52  is positionable in a closed position having the strainer  52  covering the bowl  46 . In this way the strainer  52  facilitates liquid to be drained from the bowl  46  while retaining solids in the bowl  46 . In this way broth can be strained from vegetable soup, for example. The strainer  52  is positionable in an open position having the strainer  52  being displaced from the bowl  46 . In this way the bowl  46  can function as a ladle. 
     The strainer  52  has a perimeter edge  54  and the perimeter edge  54  lies on the top edge  50  of the bowl  46  having the perimeter edge  54  being coextensive with the top edge  50 . Additionally, the strainer  52  covers the bowl  46  when the strainer  52  is in the closed position. The perimeter edge  54  is displaced from the top edge  50  when the strainer  52  is in the open position. The strainer  52  is comprised of a mesh material to pass liquid therethrough. Additionally, the strainer  52  is comprised of a rigid material to inhibit solids from passing therethrough. The strainer  52  might also be comprised of a foraminous material for passing liquid therethrough. 
     An opener  56  is movably integrated into the handle  12  and the opener  56  can be manipulated by a user. The opener  56  is in communication with the strainer  52  and the opener  56  urges the strainer  52  between the open position and the closed position. In this way the opener  56  facilitates the user to open and close the strainer  52  without touching the strainer  52 . The opener  56  comprises a rod  58  that has a first end  60  and a second end  62 , and the rod  58  is movably positioned within the handle  12 . The second end  62  of the rod  58  is aligned the second section  16  of the handle  12  and the first end  60  of the rod  58  is aligned with the second hole  44  in the back side  28  of the outer wall  22  corresponding to the first section  14  of the handle  12 . Moreover, the rod  58  has a bend  63  thereon that is positioned adjacent to the first end  60  of the rod  58  such that the rod  58  extends outwardly through the second hole  44  having the first end  60  of the rod  58  being exposed. 
     The opener  56  includes a lever  64  that has a coupled end  66  and a free end  68 , and the coupled end  66  is pivotally coupled to the outer wall  22  corresponding to the second section  16  having the lever  64  being exposed. In this way the lever  64  can be gripped or released by the user. The second end  20  of the rod  58  is pivotally coupled to the coupled end  66  of the lever  64 . In this way the rod  58  is lifted upwardly in the handle  12  when the lever  64  is gripped and the rod  58  is lowered downwardly in the handle  12  when the lever  64  is released. 
     The opener  56  includes a pair of shackles  70  that is each pivotally coupled between the first end  18  of the rod  58  and the perimeter edge  54  of the strainer  52 . Each of the shackles  70  extends along a respective one of the first lateral side  30  and the second lateral side  32  of the outer wall  22  corresponding to the first section  14  of the handle  12 . Additionally, each of the shackles  70  pivots in a first direction when the lever  64  is gripped thereby tilting the strainer  52  into the open position. Conversely, each the shackles  70  pivots in a second direction when the lever  64  is released thereby lowering the strainer  52  into the closed position. 
     In an alternative embodiment  72  as is most clearly shown in  FIGS. 6 through 10 , the bend  24  on the handle  12  defines an obtuse angle between the first section  14  of outer wall  22  of the handle  12  and the second section  16  of the outer wall  22  of the handle  12 . Additionally, the back side  28  of the outer wall  22  corresponding to the second section  16  is open into the interior of the handle  12 . Continuing in the alternative embodiment  72 , the rod  58  has a curve  74  thereon that is positioned adjacent to the second end  20  of the rod  58  to define a hook  76  extending outwardly from the back side  28  of the outer wall  22  corresponding to the second section  16 . Additionally, the hook  76  can be gripped by the user for lifting and lowering the rod  58 . The first end  18  of the rod  58  is positioned within the handle  12  and the first end  18  is pivotally coupled to a pin extending between each of the shackles  70 . Each of the first bounding surface  38  and the second bounding surface  40  of the recess  36  is open thereby exposing the rod  58 . 
     As is most clearly shown in an alternative embodiment  78  as is most clearly shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the front side  26  of the outer wall  22  corresponding to the first section  14  has a button slot  80  extending into the interior of the handle  12 . Continuing in the alternative embodiment  78 , a button  82  is coupled to the rod  58  and the button  82  is positioned adjacent to the second end  20  of the rod  58 . Moreover, the button  82  extends outwardly through the button slot  80  such that the button  82  can be manipulated by a user. In this way the rod  58  can be slid upwardly and downwardly in the handle  12 . 
     In use, the lever  64  is gripped to urge the strainer  52  into the open position for scooping a liquid and solids in the liquid, such as broth and vegetables in vegetable soup. The lever  64  is gripped to empty the liquid and the solids from the bowl  46 . Conversely, the lever  64  can be released to empty only the liquid from the bowl  46  while retaining the solids in the bowl  46 . In this way the broth of the vegetable soup could be strained from the vegetables of the vegetable soup. Additionally, the lever  64  could be released to position the strainer  52  in the closed position for scooping only a liquid and no solids in the liquid. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.