Abstract:
The invention features a cooking apparatus having a number of compartments for the cooking of different foods under different cooking conditions. Aspects of embodiments of the contemplated invention include a lid portion, an upper portion that is vertically retractable and removably engaged with a bottom portion. The cooking apparatus is modular and, as such, enables the use of multiple cooking apparatuses for the steaming and/or boiling of different foods within the same pot or cooking unit at the same time.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of, and is related to, Applicant&#39;s following provisional patent application: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/278,848 titled “COOKING APPARATUS” filed Jan. 14, 2016, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates, in general, to a cooking apparatus and in particular, a cooking apparatus designed to, inter alia, cook different kinds of foods within different compartments at the same time. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Different kinds of food, such as pasta, vegetables and/or rice etc. are cooked in different ways and at different times. In some instances, families interested in cooking different kinds of food at the same time, have to cook each food separately. This takes time and uses up resources by way of electric and/or gas bills as each food dish would have to be cooked separately and at different times. 
         [0004]    As such, there is a need for a cooking apparatus which would enable different kinds of food to be cooked at the same time and within the same pot or cooking utensil. There is also a need for a cooking apparatus that may be adaptable to existing pots and cooking utensils that people currently have in their homes. This reduces or eliminates the added cost that such an apparatus would ordinarily incur as users of the contemplated invention would not have to purchase a new pot. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    An aspect of an embodiment of the present invention contemplates a cooking apparatus which may have an upper portion which may include a cooking compartment for cooking food, a lid portion shaped to cover the upper portion and a bottom portion which may include a cooking compartment for cooking food, wherein the bottom portion is structurally configured to be in a vertically retractable relationship with the upper portion, wherein the bottom portion may be vertically elevated from the bottom of the pot or cooking unit. 
         [0006]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the bottom portion may include fenestrations along its sidewalls and base. 
         [0007]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the bottom portion may include engagement bosses where the upper portion may also include corresponding engagement points which enable engagement with the bottom portion bosses. 
         [0008]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the upper and bottom portions may be structurally adapted to fit within a pot. 
         [0009]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the bottom portion may include base structures at the bottom portion&#39;s base. These structures enable the bottom portion to sit at a height off the bottom surface of a pot or cooking unit. 
         [0010]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the upper portion may include a lower portion having fenestrations and a second upper portion having no fenestrations. In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the fenestrations enable infusion of steam, water and/or liquid into the bottom portion food compartment. 
         [0011]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the upper portion may include one or more latching mechanism(s) for engagement of the upper portion with the edge of a pot. This/these ensure(s) attachment of the cooking apparatus to the pot. 
         [0012]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the upper portion may include one or more slot(s) for enabling engagement of the upper portion with the lid portion. 
         [0013]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the fenestrations of the upper portion, as engagement points, may be structurally enabled and/or configured to engage bosses of the bottom portion. As the upper portion is vertically moved upward from the bottom portion, the bosses may then engage with the upper portion fenestrations in order to affix the cooking apparatus portions in a certain way—for example, to lower the bottom portion into the pot or cooking unit, lower fenestrations of the upper portion may be used to engage the bottom portion bosses. To elevate the bottom portion, the bottom bosses may be elevated to engage with higher positioned engagement points or fenestrations of the upper portion. Doing so enables food to be steamed, boiled or cooked depending on the position of the bottom portion relative to the bottom of the pot and/or any liquid within the pot or cooking unit. In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the bosses may be positioned a quarter inch distance from each other. 
         [0014]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the lid portion may include a handle and engagement lips or structures for engaging the lid portion with the upper portion. In another aspect, the lid, once firmly locked in place, may act as a handle for lifting the cooking apparatus out of the pot or cooking unit. 
         [0015]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the upper portion may be completely detached from the bottom portion. This may ease the cleaning of the cooking apparatus. 
         [0016]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the bottom portion may be retracted into the upper portion to enable steaming of food within the bottom portion&#39;s compartment. 
         [0017]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the bottom portion may be extended from the upper portion to enable cooking/boiling of food within the bottom portion&#39;s compartment. 
         [0018]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, each of the upper and bottom portions has one or more side(s) that may conform(s) to the shape of a pot. 
         [0019]    Additional aspects, objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a side view of all portions of the cooking apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a top perspective view of the cooking apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a perspective view of the bottom portion of the cooking apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2B  illustrates a view of the bottom portion of the cooking apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the upper portion of the cooking apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a perspective view of the lid portion of the cooking apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 4B  illustrates a top view of the lid portion of the cooking apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4C  illustrates a top perspective view of the lid portion of the cooking apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 4D  illustrates a bottom view of the lid portion of the cooking apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  illustrates a detailed view of an engagement between a boss and an engagement point of the cooking apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 6A  illustrates a side view of a cooking apparatus showing an elevation configuration according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 6B  illustrates an interior view of a cooking apparatus showing an elevation configuration according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of a cooking apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0033]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1A-4D , overall and perspective views of a cooking apparatus  100 , detailed views of cooking apparatus  100 &#39;s bottom  102  and upper  116  portions and lid  132  are all shown according to aspects of embodiments of the present invention. Cooking apparatus  100  includes bottom portion  102  which has a cooking compartment  104  where food may be placed for cooking. Bottom portion  102  may also include base structures ( FIG. 2B ) which enable bottom portion  102  to be placed at a height above the bottom of a pot or cooking unit. Bottom portion  102  also includes a plurality of sidewall fenestrations  110  along its sidewalls and base fenestrations  112 . Fenestrations  110 ,  112  of bottom portion  102  enable infusion of water, liquid and/or steam to cook food placed within cooking compartment  104 . 
         [0034]    Positioned around and relatively above bottom portion  102  is upper portion  116 . Upper portion  116  includes a plurality of fenestrations  120  along its walls. Fenestrations  120  enable infusion of water, liquid and/or steam to cook food placed within cooking apparatus  100 . In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, upper portion  116  may include a lower portion  118 A with fenestrations and a second upper portion  118 B without fenestrations. In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the fenestrations  120  of lower portion  118 A located at the base of upper portion  116 , are structurally configured (structurally conforming), as engagement points, to engage with the bosses  108  of bottom portion  102 . 
         [0035]    As upper portion  116  is vertically moved upward from bottom portion  102 , the bosses may then engage with the upper portion fenestrations in order to affix the cooking apparatus portions in a certain way—for example, to lower bottom portion  102  into the pot or cooking unit, lower fenestrations of the upper portion may be used to engage bottom portion  102  bosses  108 . To elevate bottom portion  102 , the bottom bosses may be elevated to engage with higher positioned engagement points or fenestrations of the upper portion. Doing so enables food to be steamed, boiled or cooked depending on the position of bottom portion  102  relative to the bottom of the pot and/or any liquid within the pot or cooking unit. In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the bosses may be positioned a quarter inch distance from each other. Upper portion  116  may also include latching mechanism(s)  128  which latches upper portion  116  to a pot or a cooking unit. 
         [0036]    Cooking apparatus  100  may also include lid portion  132  which covers upper portion  116 . Lid portion  132  includes handle  132 A which enables lifting of lid portion  132  and engagement lips or structures  132 B. Engagement lips  132  enable locking lid portion  132  with upper portion  116  by way of their engagement with slots  122  of upper portion  116 . In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, lid  132  may include latch  132 C for affixing lid  132  to upper portion  116 . 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIG. 5  a detailed view of an engagement between boss  108  of bottom portion  102  and engagement point  124  of upper portion  116  is shown according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. Along the walls and base of bottom portion  102  are sidewall bosses  108  which enable engagement with corresponding engagement points  124  of upper portion  116 . In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the bosses may be interspersed along the sidewalls of bottom portion  102 . In another aspect, the bosses may be positioned with uniform spaces between each other. In one aspect, they may be located at quarter inch distances from each other. Bosses  108 , by way of their engagement with engagement points  124  enable the elevation of bottom portion  102  and affixing of bottom portion  102  once a desired height away from the base of the pot or cooking unit has been attained. 
         [0038]    Referring now to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , side and interior views of a cooking apparatus showing an elevation configuration are shown according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, upper portion  116  may include track channel(s)  130  which enable engagement and vertical movement of guides  134  of bottom portion  102 . This arrangement enables vertical movement of bottom portion  102  within upper portion  116  to elevate bottom portion  102  away from the base of the pot or cooking unit or to lower it closer (or to) the bottom of the pot/cooking unit. In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, guides  134  may include a system of wheels which engage track channel  130  and enable vertical movement of bottom portion  116 . 
         [0039]    Cooking apparatus  100  may include a system for raising or lowering bottom portion  102 . This system may include a number of vertically spaced openings  136  on upper portion  116  and a corresponding member  138  of bottom portion  102  for engaging the opening  136  at the desired height to lock bottom portion  102  in place. To raise bottom portion  102  above and away from the base of the pot/cooking unit, bottom portion  102  would be vertically raised using the track channels  130  of upper portion  116  and guides  134 . Once the desired height has been attained, bottom portion  102  may be held or locked in place using engaging member  138  to engage the opening at the desired height. 
         [0040]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a perspective view of a cooking apparatus  100  is shown according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. Here, cooking apparatus  100  is seen with handle  140  which enables easy removal of cooking apparatus  100  from the pot/cooking unit. 
         [0041]    An aspect of an embodiment of the present invention contemplates multiple cooking apparatuses  100 . For instance, cooking apparatus  100  may be shaped to occupy a third of the pot or cooking unit. In this instance, the cooking pot or cooking unit may accommodate three cooking apparatuses  100 , comprising a system of same, with each having its own upper ( 116 ) and bottom ( 102 ) sections and other elements as described in the foregoing disclosure. In an aspect an embodiment of the present invention, cooking apparatus  100  may be modular thereby further comprising of connectors to enable connection with other cooking apparatuses  100 . 
         [0042]    The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.