Abstract:
A cooktop drain that heats liquid in a stockpot and empties the hot liquid directly down a drain. The cooktop sits in at countertop level over a sink and a valved stockpot sits on the cooktop. The sink, cooktop and stockpot are assembled such that heating, draining the stockpot of liquid and rinsing any residue are performed by a single apparatus without having to transport and tip the stockpot. The cooktop drain has a burner underneath a grate, and the stockpot has a bottom valve connecting to an integrated funnel leading directly to the sink directly beneath the grate and the drain, bypassing the burner, disposing of heated water directly through the valve and integrated funnel into the sink and down the drain. The cooktop drain has a rinse head in the sink that rinses any food residue a clean, fresh smelling sink under the grate without removing the burner.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a nonprovisional utility application of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/316,178 filed in the United States Patent Office on Mar. 22, 2010 and claims the priority thereof. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to a cooktop drain that heats water in a stockpot and empties the water directly down a drain. More particularly, the invention relates to a drain, having a cooktop and a valved stockpot and to a sink connected to the drain, the sink having a rinse assembly. The sink, cooktop and stockpot are assembled such that heating, draining the stockpot of water into the sink and rinsing the sink of residue are performed by a single apparatus. 
     Today&#39;s residential and commercial kitchens use a cooking surface commonly known as a cooktop that is either independently installed on top of a counter surface or integrated into the top section of an oven range configuration. These appliances, having electric or gas heat sources, commonly have one or more burners along a flat grated cooking surface. A typical use for a cooktop is to heat water to boil or steam starchy foods such as pasta or rice or vegetables. This common task requires the cook to manually fill a pot with water at one location, typically a sink, transport the pot to the cooking area, boil the water, and when finished, lift the pot off the cooktop surface, and carry the vessel over to the sink to drain the water by tipping the pot over and expelling the hot liquid contents. 
     In this sequence of events, the cook must first fill the pot and then lift and manually transport it from the sink to the cooktop. With the emergence of backsplash or countertop faucets and hoses positioned above or adjacent to the cooktop in commercial and residential kitchen settings, pots can now be easily filled at the site of heating. While these filling devices conveniently resolve the issue of transporting a water laden pot from one location to another, the pot still requires the water to be drained manually in order for its food contents to be removed. Several convenience and safety issues arise as a result of these common tasks. The pot is heavy and unwieldy when full of water, making it difficult to lift to and from a sink. There is a danger from steam and scalding water, especially when the pot is transported back to the sink and emptied as the water and steam are expelled. The danger is acute if the user drops the pot during transportation, potentially scalding the user as well as bystanders. Many handicapped persons find these tasks physically challenging. 
     Both in commercial and residential kitchen settings, the frequent task of filling a pot with water, boiling the water, and draining the pot becomes an inconvenience and safety concern. Many have proposed devices that consolidate some of these tasks within one appliance, thus increasing the convenience and speed of these tasks. 
     Cooking pasta on demand in industrial settings has led to large spaghetti cookers that use vats of water with a heat source underneath and a drain. The pasta is submerged into the hot water inside a basket or similar device. Some recirculate or refresh the water, some have automated the task of maintaining the water level by adding more heated water through a valved pipe. Some have a separate vat of cool water to stop the pasta from overcooking. Some have added chutes to add pre-measured amounts of pasta. 
     Others have developed pots with bottom spouts, sometimes with a filter, especially for deep fryers that use hot oil. One even proposed a pot with a bottom spout for use outdoors. None of the these provide drains to dispose of the hot liquid, particularly those for deep fryers, since oil should not be drained to the sewer system. If the pot contains hot water, it must be transported to the sink and emptied through the bottom spout, which eliminates the tipping step, but not the transportation step. 
     Others have attempted to integrate a sink, a sunken cooking chamber and a cutting board to save the user steps. Others have place cook tops elevated with a sink at a lower level so that the cooktop can easily be cleaned and the cleaning fluid falling into the sink drain. One has proposed having heaters attached to the bottom of a sink and using the sink basin as a cooking pot. 
     While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to produce a cooktop drain that heats food in a pot sitting at a countertop level. Accordingly, the cooktop drain has a cooking grate at the countertop level, supporting the pot at countertop level when the food is heating. 
     It is another object of the invention to produce a cooktop drain that has a heat source adjacent to a countertop level. Accordingly, the cooktop drain has a burner underneath a cooking grate, the cooking grate placed at the countertop level. 
     It is a further object of the invention to produce a cooktop drain that drains heated water in a pot directly into a sanitary sewer system without carrying the pot to a sink. Accordingly, the cooktop drain has a sink with a drain pipe directly beneath the cooktop for disposing of heated water directly when the pot sitting on the cooktop is emptied into the sink. 
     It is yet another object of the invention to produce a cooktop drain that empties heated water from a pot sitting on a grate of the cooktop without tipping the pot into a sink. Accordingly, the cooktop drain has an integrated funnel and a pot with a bottom valve connecting to the integrated funnel, the integrated funnel leading directly to a sink with a drain directly beneath the grate, the cooktop drain disposing of heated water directly through the valve and integrated funnel into the sink when the pot sits on the grate. 
     It is yet another object of the invention to produce a cooktop drain that maintains a clean, fresh smelling sink under the grate without removing the cooktop plate. Accordingly, the cooktop drain has a rinse head in the sink that rinses any food residue into a drain pipe connected to the sanitary sewer system. 
     The invention is a cooktop drain that heats liquid in a stockpot and empties the hot liquid directly down a drain. The cooktop sits at countertop level over a sink and a valved stockpot sits on the cooktop. The sink, cooktop and stockpot are assembled such that heating, draining the stockpot of liquid and rinsing any residue are performed by a single apparatus without having to transport and tip the stockpot. The cooktop drain has a burner underneath a grate, and the stockpot has a bottom valve connecting to an integrated funnel leading directly to the sink directly beneath the grate and the drain, bypassing the burner, disposing of heated water directly through the valve and integrated funnel into the sink and down the drain. The cooktop drain has a rinse head in the sink that rinses any food residue, producing a clean, fresh smelling sink under the grate without removing the burner. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, like elements are depicted by like reference numerals. The drawings are briefly described as follows. 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a detailed side elevational view in cross-section of a drain valve assembly of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of the invention. 
         FIG. 6A  is a top plan view of a sink and an apron of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded side elevational view of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of the invention with a burner plate assembly, braced in an upright position. 
         FIG. 9A  is a top plan view of the burner plate assembly. 
         FIG. 9B  is a bottom plan view of the burner plate assembly. 
         FIG. 9C  is a side elevational view of the burner plate assembly, having gas as a heat source. 
         FIG. 9D  is a rear elevational view of the burner plate assembly, having gas as the heat source. 
         FIG. 10A  is a top plan view of a grate. 
         FIG. 10B  is a bottom plan view of the grate. 
         FIG. 11  is a front elevational view of a further embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a side elevational view of the further embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a top plan view of the further embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a bottom plan view of the further embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 16A  is a bottom plan view of the stockpot assembly in another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 16B  is a side elevational view of a removable basin assembly in another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 16C  is a front elevational view of the removable basin assembly in the another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 17A  is a front elevational view of a removable basin assembly in yet a further embodiment of the invention without the cooktop assembly. 
         FIG. 17B  is a side elevational view of the removable basin assembly in yet a further embodiment of the invention without the cooktop assembly. 
         FIG. 17C  is a top plan view of the removable basin assembly in yet a further embodiment of the invention without the cooktop assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a first embodiment of a cooktop drain  20  with a stockpot  150  having a drainage assembly  100  seated on a burner plate  200  above a sink  170 . In this embodiment, the cooktop drain  20  is installed in a countertop  24 . Note that the term “countertop” as used herein, provides a plane of reference for the various components of the present invention, can be at any reasonable height, and need not provide usable counter space. A user cooks food in water  22  in the stockpot  150  with heat provide by the burner plate  200 . When cooking is finished, the user drains the scalding water  22  through the drainage assembly  100  following a path  28  flowing directly into the sink  170 , the sink having a sink body  172 , and down a connected drain pipe  174  without having to lift, carry or tilt the heavy stockpot  150  to empty the scalding hot water  22 . The stockpot  150  sits on a grate  250  and the drainage assembly  100  allows the water  22  to flow through the grate  250  without contacting the burner plate  200 . After the stockpot  150  empties, a rinse head nozzle  48  connected to potable water and placed inside the sink body  172  washes away any food residue to maintain an odorless and clean sink  170 . 
       FIG. 7  shows the cooktop drain  20  in an exploded view. The stockpot  150  has a body  152  with a pair of vertical handles  154  and the attached drainage assembly  100 . The stockpot  150 , having a top  150 T, a bottom  150 B, an interior and an exterior, also has a removable lid  162  on the top and a removable strainer  156  in the interior. The strainer  156  is replaceable with other cooking utensils such as, for example, but not limited to, a steamer basket or a smaller pot inserted towards the top of the stockpot, forming a double boiler. The stockpot  150 , having a plurality of set pins  160 , sits atop the grate  250  above the burner plate  200  on the set pins  160 . The burner plate has 200 an integrated funnel  210  connecting through a bore in the grate  250 , illustrated in other drawings, to the drainage assembly  100 . The burner plate  200  has an integrated funnel  210  creating a passage to the sink body  172 . The drainage assembly  100  empties into the sink body  172  through the grate  250 , the grate  250  having the bore for the drainage assembly to connect to the integrated funnel  210  and into the sink body. The sink  170  has a back  170 B and a front  170 F. The burner plate  200  hingedly attaches to the back  170 B of the sink body  170 . A burner plate control assembly  30  is mounted on the sink front  170 F. 
       FIG. 4  shows the assembled invention  20  from the side. The sink body  172  has an exterior surface  172 X with a plurality of countertop mounting clips  208  to fix the cooktop drain  20  in the countertop  24  having a cutout to accommodate the cooktop drain  20 . The cooktop drain  20  has a front  20 F and attached to the front  20 F of the cooktop drain is an apron  34 . On the apron  34  is the burner control assembly  30  as well a pair of openings, a first opening for a rinse head actuator and a second opening for a filler head. 
       FIG. 3  shows the invention  20  from the front with the drainage assembly housing  100  mounted above the cook plate control assembly  30 . The stockpot body  152 , having a left side and a right side, has the pair of inverted vertical handles  154  mounted on each side for aligning the stockpot  150  properly on the grate  250 , the vertical handles  154  easier to grasp when rotating the stockpot  150 . 
     In a top plan view,  FIG. 5  shows the apron  34  with the burner control assembly  30  and an opening  46  for the rinse head assembly  40 . The apron  34  continues around the grate  250 , forming a rim  178  that mounts on the countertop, sealing the cutout with the cooktop drain  20  in place. 
     In a bottom plan view,  FIG. 6  shows an opening  176  in the sink body  172  for the drain pipe as well the opening  46  for the rinse head assembly in the apron  34 .  FIG. 6A  shows a top plan view of the sink body  172 . Inside the front of the sink body  172  is a rinse head spray nozzle  48 . In this drawing, the nozzle  48  extends along of the front  170 F of the sink with a guide directing the spray downwards. It is understood that this is a non-limiting example and that other configurations of spray nozzles are possible within the inventive concept. 
       FIG. 2  shows in detail the drainage assembly  100 . The drainage assembly is attached to the stockpot, the stockpot having a front  150 F and an exterior  150 X, the drainage assembly  100  having a housing  130  with an inside  130 N and an outside on the exterior  150 X of the stockpot. Inside the housing  130  is an angle ball valve  120  having an inlet  122  and an outlet  124 . The inlet  122  is connected to the stockpot  150 , the stockpot having an opening at the bottom front of the stockpot for the inlet  122 . The outlet is connected to the integrated funnel  210  on the burner plate. On the outside of the housing  130  is a knob  110 , the knob  110  connected to a shaft  112  inside the housing  130 , the shaft  112  having a vertical gear wheel  114  attached. The vertical gear wheel  114  engages a horizontal gear wheel  116 . The horizontal gear wheel  116  rotates the ball valve  120 , opening and closing the valve inlet  122 . When the knob  110  is turned, the shaft  112  turns the large gear wheel  114 , engaging the horizontal gear wheel  116  to open or close the ball valve  120 . When the ball valve  120  is open, water  22  drains out of the stockpot  150  through the valve inlet  122 , through the valve  120  to the outlet  124 , through the integrated funnel  210  into the sink. It should be noted that cooking liquid in the stockpot may be plain water, pasta water, vegetable water, stock or broth, and all are primarily water, and included wherever water in the stockpot is mentioned as the cooking liquid in this discussion. 
       FIG. 8  shows the burner plate  200 , shown in outline, in an upright position for periodic cleaning. The burner plate  200  is attached to the sink back  170 B by a hinge that allows the burner plate  200  to swing upwardly, giving access to the sink body  172  for thoroughly cleaning the sink body  172 . The burner plate  200  has a support rod  206  that keeps the burner plate  200  upright during the process. The rinse head assembly in the sink body  172  allows the user to rinse food residue when necessary to minimize the frequency of cleaning the sink bowl by raising the burner plate. 
       FIGS. 9A-9D  illustrate the burner plate in various views, the burner plate having four corners.  FIG. 9A  shows a top plan view of the burner plate  200 , having a burner  230  in a burner well  232 , a plurality of steam vents  212 , a plurality of riser pins  202 , a plurality of set pin sockets  254 , a socket in each corner and the integrated funnel  210 . The steam vents allow steam to escape from the heated liquid while it is flowing into the sink. In the bottom plan view shown in  FIG. 9B , the burner plate has a heat source  216  connected to the burner  230  in the burner well  232 .  FIG. 9C  shows a side elevation of the burner plate  200 , using a gas heat source  216  as an illustration. It is understood that many varieties of heat sources are available with the cooktop, such as, for example, but not limited to electrical, natural gas, liquified propane, and cooking gas. The heat source  216  connects to the well  232  beneath the burner  230 . The burner plate  200  has a front  200 F and a rear  200 R. At the front of the burner plate is the integrated funnel  210 .  FIG. 9D  shows the rear elevation of the burner plate  200  with at least one hinge  214  on the rear  200 R that attaches to the sink bowl. The riser pin  202  maintains space between the burner plate  200  and the grate on top of the burner plate  200  when the cooktop is assembled, allowing air to circulate around the burner as well as additionally supporting the grate. 
       FIG. 10A  and  FIG. 10B  show the grate  250  with the bore  260  for the integrated funnel. The grate  250  has a plurality of stock pot supports  248  radiating from a center circle  246 .  FIG. 10A  shows a plurality of set pin sockets  254  to receive set pins on the bottom of the stockpot to properly position the stockpot in place so that the outlet of the drainage assembly valve connects to the integrated funnel.  FIG. 10B  shows the grate having corners with a plurality of set pins  252 , one in each corner to properly align the grate  250  with the burner plate. 
       FIG. 11  shows a further embodiment of the invention  20 , the cooktop drain having a pot filler assembly  50 . The pot filler assembly  50  has a head  62  with an actuator  64  and nozzle, a hose  54 , a grip  52 , and a mount  56 , the filler assembly  50  sitting in a second opening on the apron  34 . The hose  54  is connected to a potable water source. The hose  54  is of sufficient length to extend above the stockpot  150  so that nozzle on the head  62  directs a spray into the stockpot  150 . Illustrated in  FIG. 11  is the rinse assembly  40 , showing the tubing  44  supplying potable water to the rinse nozzle, the tubing connecting to an actuator  42  and the nozzle in the first opening in the apron  34 .  FIG. 12  shows the hand grip  52  in detail and a hose band  58  attached to the sink  170  that keeps the filler hose  54  in place but allows the hose to extend as needed.  FIG. 13  is a top plan view of the further embodiment of the invention. The actuator button  64  and the spray head  62 , and the mount  56  for the filler assembly  50 , the actuator button  42  for the rinse assembly  40  and the burner control knob  32  are disposed on the apron  34 . It is understood that the layout of the apron is not significant and that variation in the position of the control knob and actuator buttons is possible within the inventive concept.  FIG. 14  is a bottom plan view of the further embodiment showing the filler hose  54  attached to the sink  54  by the hose band  58 . 
       FIG. 15  shows another embodiment of the invention, wherein the draining the stockpot  150  is performed on a portable drain basin  270  without a cooktop. The portable drain basin  270  with a bottom  270 B is placed inside a separate sink  268  in the countertop  24 , the separate sink  268  slightly larger to accommodate the drain basin  270 . The stockpot  150  with the drainage assembly  100  is placed directly on the portable drain basin  270 .  FIG. 16A  shows a top plan view of the drain basin  270 . The drain basin  270  has a top flange  276  with an opening  278  for the drainage assembly  100 , a bottom drain opening  282  and sockets  254  for the set pins on the bottom of the stockpot. The drain basin  270  has a pair of handles  272  for transporting the basin  270 .  FIGS. 16B and 16C  illustrate the plurality of feet  274  on the bottom  270 B of the basin  270  that defines a space underneath the basin for water to flow. The drawings also illustrate the basin having concave sides  270 S on the outside.  FIG. 15  shows in cross-section the drain basin  270  having an interior wall  270 N that is convex to promote the flow of water from the drainage assembly  100  on the stockpot  150 . The water flows following a path  38  out of the output  124  of the drainage assembly  100  and down the convex wall  270 N of the basin  270 . 
       FIGS. 17A-17C  show yet another embodiment of the invention using a temporary basin  284  on top of the grate  250  and burner plate  200 . The temporary basin  284  provides the user with a temporary sink for use when the cooktop is not in use. The temporary basin  284  has a bottom, the bottom having a plurality of set pins  160  and a drain outlet  282 . The drain outlet  282  is above the integrated funnel of the burner panel so that water passes through the outlet  282  and integrated funnel into the sink body and down the drain. The temporary basin  284  also has a drain stopper  292  shown in  FIG. 17C . The temporary basin  284  acts as a regular sink with drainage access. When the cooktop drain has the filler assembly, the basin  284  can be filled with water and used to wash vegetables or dishes or to soak food as part of the preparation. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , to use the cooktop drain  20 , the user lowers the burner plate  200  on the hinges at the back  170 B of the sink body  172  and drops the support rod  206  into place. The user places the grate on top of the burner plate  200 , placing the set pins  252  on the grate  250  as shown in  FIG. 7  in the set pin sockets on the burner plate, placing the bore of the grate over the integrated funnel  210  of the burner plate  200  and resting the grate on the riser pin  202 . The stockpot  150  is placed on the grate  250 , placing the set pins  160  on the bottom  150 B of the stock pot  150  into the set pin sockets on the grate  250  and the output  124  of the drainage assembly  100  into the integrated funnel  210 , using the inverted handles  154  to rotate the stockpot  150  for proper placement. The strainer  156  or other utensil is selectively set in the stockpot  150  and the user covers the stockpot  150  with the lid  162 . 
     When the user is ready to cook using the stockpot  150  on the cooktop drain  20 , the user fills the stockpot  150  with water or other cooking liquid. In one embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the user fills the stockpot  150  with potable water from the pot filler assembly  50 . The user turns on the heat source in the burner plate  200 , by turning the burner control knob  32  to a desired setting. When the user is finished cooking, the user turns off the heat source with the burner control knob  32 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , when the user is ready to discard the hot liquid  22  in the stockpot  150 , the user turns the knob  110  on the drainage assembly  100  to open the valve  120  in the drainage assembly  100  that connects the inlet  122  on the bottom  150 B of the stockpot  150  to the valve  120 , allowing the liquid  22  to flow through the valve  120 , through the output  124  into the integrated funnel  210  following the path  28  into the sink body and down through the drain opening into the drain pipe. Referring to  FIG. 1 , to clean any food residue left in the sink body  172 , the user pushes the rinse assembly actuator on the apron  34  and the rinse spray nozzle  48  washes any residue down the drain opening  176 . In the embodiment with the pot filler assembly, the user can further rinse down the stockpot with the pot filler and thereby having a complete clean-in-place (CIP) system. If there is no pot filler, the stockpot  150  is removed and cleaned conventionally. The cooktop drain  20  is ready for additional use. 
     In yet another embodiment, as illustrated in  FIGS. 17A-17C , the user replaces the stockpot with a temporary basin  284 , aligning the set pins  160  on the bottom of the basin with the set pins sockets on the grate and the drain with the integrated funnel on the burner plate. The user uses the basin conventionally, and when ready to drain the basin  284 , opens the plug  292  to the integrated funnel, allowing the water to flow down the basin  284  into the sink body  172  and down the drain opening  176 . The user washes any residue down the drain pipe  174  by pressing the actuator on the rinse assembly, shown in other drawings, to rinse the sides of the sink body  172 . When the user is ready to cook with the cooktop drain  20 , the user replaces the stockpot on the grate  200  after removing the temporary basin  284  and aligns the stockpot on the grate as described hereinabove. 
     In another embodiment, illustrated in  FIG. 15 , if the cooktop drain is not available for draining the stockpot  150 , the user removes the stockpot from the grate. The user places the stockpot  150  on the removable basin  270  either prior to or immediately after the removable basin  270  is place in a conventional sink  268 . The user aligns the set pins  160  with the set pin openings  254  and the drainage assembly output  124  with the opening  278  in the flange on the removable basin  270 . To empty the stockpot  150 , the user turns the drainage assembly knob  110 , opening the ball valve, allowing the path  38  of water through the input on the bottom of the stockpot into the ball valve and down the output  124  into the removable basin  270 . The liquid flows to the drain base opening  282  and out the basin  270  into the conventional sink  268  and down the drain pipe  174 . When the user wishes to use the cooktop drain, the user replaces the stockpot on the grate as described hereinabove. 
     In conclusion, herein is presented a drain, having a cooktop and a valved stockpot and a sink connected to the drain, the sink having a rinse assembly. The sink, cooktop and stockpot are assembled such that heating, draining the stockpot of water into the sink and rinsing the sink of residue are performed by a single apparatus. The invention is illustrated by example in the drawing figures, and throughout the written description. It should be understood that numerous variations are possible, while adhering to the inventive concept. Such variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention.