Patent Publication Number: US-6216314-B1

Title: Device for removing accumulated grease from culinary utensils

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a device for removing and collecting grease that accumulates withing cooking utensils. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     Many food items such as beef, bacon and other substances having a high fat concentration produce a significant amount of grease when heated. The generated grease accumulates within a pot or pan causing the food item to be greasier and less tasteful. Furthermore, disposing of such grease is troublesome. The grease cannot be poured into the sink since the grease will harden and clog drain pipes. Sometimes, it is desirable to save and reuse the grease. However, transferring grease from a pot or pan to another container for collection or disposal is tedious and difficult. The present invention relates to a device which allows a user to quickly transfer accumulated grease from a cooking utensil to a storage container. 
     Various food preparation devices exist in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,787,799 issued to Mohrhauser et al relates to a liquid baster including a liquid tube and a squeezable suction bulb. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,872 issued to Porter relates to a siphoning device for use in basting, measuring or separating immiscible liquids. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,919 issued to Hutzler et al relates to a baster including a cylinder for receiving gravy and a piston reciprocatable within the cylinder to intake and expel gravy. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,789 issued to Evans et al relates to a manually operable device for metering air through a valve system. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,129,066 issued to Corley relates to a basting device for injecting fluid including an elongated hollow member with perforations adjacent an end thereof and an annular flange adjacent the other end. Adjacent the perforations is a pointed tip for penetrating a food article. A bowl is threadedly attached to the flange with the flange forming a cover. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,887,035 issued to De Seversky relates to a food seasoning injection device. 
     As indicated above, various food basting devices exist in the prior art. However, none are capable of quickly withdrawing accumulated grease from a cooking utensil and storing such grease until it can be properly discarded. Furthermore, the present invention is adapted so that the stored grease may be quickly transferred to an external container. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a device for removing and storing accumulated grease produced in a cooking utensil. The device comprises a substantially hollow housing having a vacuum assembly therein. The housing includes a tapered nozzle having a narrow, open vacuum tip that may be easily inserted into confined spaces such as around and between food items. Within the nozzle is a grease collection reservoir in communication with the vacuum tip that temporarily stores grease vacuumed into the nozzle. A drain aperture in communication with the reservoir is disposed on a side of the nozzle for draining the reservoir into an external container. In a second embodiment, the nozzle includes a gear driven belt partially protruding from the open vacuum tip that assists in removing grease from the utensil. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device which assists a user in quickly and easily removing accumulated grease from a cooking utensil. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a device which assists a user in disposing of grease generated by heating food items. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a device that assists a user in preparing lighter, healthier meals. Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the attached drawings and the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross sectional side view of the nozzle. 
     FIG. 3 is a partial cut-away view of the housing according to a second embodiment, depicting the internal components thereof. 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the internal vacuum assembly according to the second embodiment. 
     FIG. 5 depicts the recharging support stand. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 5, the present invention relates to a device for removing and storing accumulated grease. The device comprises a substantially hollow housing  1  having an elongated nozzle  2 . The nozzle is tapered towards and terminates at a vacuum tip  3  having an opening in communication with a reservoir  8  within the housing. Preferably, the nozzle is arcuate and is sloped downwardly from the housing to assist a user in inserting the tip into a pot or pan. 
     Received within the housing proximal the nozzle portion is a conventional vacuum assembly  20  including a vacuum motor  15 , a vacuum impeller  16  for creating a vacuum within the nozzle and a filter  17  separating the vacuum assembly from the reservoir. On a side of the nozzle is a port  10  sealable with a removable cap member  30 . The port is in fluid communication with the reservoir whereby the reservoir may be conveniently emptied by simply removing the cap and tilting the housing. In addition, the device may also include an external drain tube  31  adapted to be coupled with the outlet port to assist a user in draining the grease into an external container. 
     A second embodiment is depicted in FIG.  3 . Within the nozzle is a motor  41  and gear  40  assembly that rotatably drives an elongated belt  5 . The belt is preferably constructed with an absorbent material. A portion of the belt  6  protrudes from the vacuum tip allowing it to contact a grease puddle. In this embodiment, the filter or air intake to the vacuum impeller has a small surface area and is positioned such that a suction is created immediately below the belt. The strategically positioned smaller suction area results in less suction, and therefore less turbulence, at the vacuum tip. 
     In either embodiment, the housing includes a plurality of air discharge openings  35  for expelling air generated by the vacuum assembly. The device also includes a rechargeable battery  36  for powering the vacuum assembly as well as the gear and motor. The battery is recharged with a DC adapter/holder  37  in which the device can be mounted when not in use. The holder may also include means for mounting the holder to a wall. A switch means  38  activates the vacuum assembly and motorized belt. 
     Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thcreto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims.