Abstract:
A food cooking apparatus having a container that forms a housing. A strainer is positioned within the housing and is rotatably mounted with respect to the container. A pressing element, such as a tab, is connected with respect to the container. When the container is filled with a cooking liquid, such as hot water, the strainer can be held with a handle and the tab can be pressed to apply a torquing force that rotates the container into a dumping position while simultaneously maintaining a generally horizontal position of the strainer, for example to prevent food from falling out of the strainer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates to kitchen utensils for cooking procedures, including rinsing cooked pastas, fruits, vegetables and other foods or similar products. More particularly, this invention relates to a colander or container that fits within a bowl or pot, wherein the bowl or pot can be rotated or turned with respect to the colander, for example with either a right hand or a left hand of a user.  
         [0003]     2. Discussion of Related Art  
         [0004]     When rinsing foods with conventional colander or strainer devices, multiple bowls are typically required, particularly when rinsing or draining liquids from cooked pastas. Conventional kitchen utensils need to be poured in an upside down fashion, which requires extreme care. Quite often the food and/or the colander or strainer falls out of the kitchen utensil, such as out of a bowl or a pot, and onto a working surface or a ground surface.  
         [0005]     Pastas, vegetables or other similar foods are often cooked in a pot containing hot water. When the food is finished cooking, the hot water and the food are often dumped into a strainer, which often requires both hands of a user. Not only is there a danger that the user can be easily burned, but also the food can stick to an inside surface of the pot or other cooking vessel.  
         [0006]     In other known food cooking processes, a strainer is positioned within a pot of hot water and then the food is placed into the hot water so that the strainer is between the pot and the food. When the food is finished cooking, the user can lift the strainer and all of the food within the strainer out of the hot water. However, when the user moves the strainer to a sink or other drain facility, the food and/or the strainer can drip hot water onto a work surface or a ground surface, which can also create a hazardous environment and/or an unclean work area.  
         [0007]     There is a need for a food cooking apparatus that can be easily operated with a single hand, either a right hand or a left hand, so that the hot cooking water can be separated from cooked foodstuffs without creating a mess and/or a hazardous condition.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     It is one object of this invention to provide a food cooking apparatus that can be operated with one hand of a user.  
         [0009]     It is another object of this invention to provide a food cooking apparatus that prevents pasta, rice, vegetables and other similar foodstuffs from sticking on an inside wall of the cooking pot.  
         [0010]     The above and other objects of this invention are accomplished with a food cooking apparatus having a container, such as a bowl, a vessel or another suitable cooking pot, and a strainer that fits within a housing formed by the container. The strainer is preferably rotatably mounted with respect to the container. In one embodiment of this invention, a shaft is connected to the strainer and is preferably fixed in position with respect to the strainer. When the shaft is fixed with respect to the strainer, the shaft can be rotated with respect to the container, which causes the strainer to rotate with respect to the container.  
         [0011]     A handle can be fixed with respect to the strainer and/or the shaft. Thus, a user can grasp the handle and thereby control a position of the strainer and/or the shaft relative to a position of the strainer.  
         [0012]     A pressing element is preferably connected with respect to the container. For example, a tab, a handle or another suitable structural element can be used as the pressing element. When a user grasps the handle and establishes a controlled position of the strainer with the handle, the user can then apply a finger, even from the same hand, to press upon the pressing element or tab and thereby rotate the container with respect to the strainer. Thus, the user can contain food within the strainer, and maintain the strainer in a generally level position so that food does not fall out of the strainer, while rotating the container to dump the hot water or other hot cooking fluid from within the container.  
         [0013]     In one embodiment of this invention, a quick-release device, such as a clamping device or other similar structural device can be used to quickly release the strainer, the shaft and/or the handle from its rotatably mounted position with respect to the container. Such quick disconnection can provide easy cleaning of the individual components of this invention.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     The above and other objects of this invention can be better understood when the specification is read in view of the drawings, wherein:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a partial cross-sectional view of a strainer rotatably mounted within a container, according to one embodiment of this invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of a container having two pressing elements connected to the container;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of an opposite side or portion of the container as shown in  FIG. 2 , showing a hole within a wall of the container;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of a strainer connected to a shaft which is connected to a handle;  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of an opposite side or portion of the strainer, as shown in  FIG. 4 , showing a second portion of the shaft;  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view showing a shaft fitting within an opening of a wall of the container, according to one embodiment of this invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view showing a cover for the container and a mounting structure for rotatably attaching the strainer with respect to the container, according to another embodiment of this invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is a partial perspective view of a handle connected to an outer surface of the container, according to one embodiment;  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  is a partial perspective view of the handle shown in  FIG. 8 , and also showing a connector mounted on an inside surface of the container; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 10  is a partial cross-sectional view of a container rotatably mounted with respect to a container, according to another embodiment of this invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]      FIG. 1  shows a partial cross-sectional view of kitchen utensil  10 , according to one embodiment of this invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , kitchen utensil  10  comprises strainer  11  rotatably mounted with respect to bowl or container  15 . As used throughout this specification and in the claims, the term strainer is intended to relate to a colander or any other suitable straining device that is used to drain a liquid, such as water, from a solid, such as food. As used throughout this specification and in the claims, the term bowl and the term container are intended to be interchangeable with each other and individually or collectively are intended to relate to a vessel or a pot or any other suitable cooking utensil for housing liquids and/or solids.  
         [0026]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , food cooking apparatus or kitchen utensil  10  of this invention comprises strainer  11  that fits within a housing of container  15 , preferably but not necessarily in a corresponding fashion. As shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , each of strainer  11  and container  15  has a generally semi-spherical shape. It is apparent that strainer  11  and/or container  15  can have a semi-cylindrical shape or any other suitable corresponding shape or any other suitable non-corresponding shape. For example, strainer  11  can have any suitable shape that allows strainer  11  to rotate with respect to bowl  15 , preferably about axis  20  which is located along a generally longitudinal direction defined by shaft  12 A and/or shaft  12 B. As long as strainer  11  clears or does not interfere with container  15  throughout a range of relative rotatable motion of strainer  11  with respect to container  15 , strainer  11  can have a shape that does not correspond with the shape of container  15 .  
         [0027]     As shown in  FIG. 7 , cover or lid  35  can be detachably mounted with respect to container  15  and/or strainer  11  to partially or fully close or seal the cooking space formed within container  15  and/or strainer  11 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 7 , a bottom surface of cover or lid  35  can abut or contact an upper surface of container  15  and/or strainer  11 .  FIG. 7  also shows the upper surface of container  15  higher than an upper surface of strainer  11  and this configuration provides a space between both upper surfaces. However, both upper surfaces can also be at a same elevation.  
         [0028]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , shaft  12 A is mounted within bore  16 A of container  15  and shaft  12 B is mounted within bore  16 B of container  15 . Shaft  12 A and/or shaft  12 B each preferably rotates or turns with respect to container  15 . Shaft  12 A and/or shaft  12 B each is indirectly or directly connected to strainer  11 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , shaft  12 , strainer  11  and handle  14 A rotate about longitudinal axis  20  which passes through shaft  12 A and shaft  12 B. Any suitable portion of shaft  12 A and/or shaft  12 B can be rotatably mounted with respect to container  15 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 6  shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment for rotatably mounting shaft  12 A within opening or bore  16 A within wall  21  of container  15 . Different types of resistance forces can be used to vary how easily shaft  12 A and/or  12 B rotate with respect to container  15 . For example, a relatively tight clearance between an external surface of shaft  12 A and/or shaft  12 B and the portion of wall  21  that forms opening  16 A and/or opening  16 B, respectively, can be used to increase or decrease the frictional resistance between the outside surface of shaft  12 A and/or shaft  12 B and the corresponding inner surface of wall  21  that forms opening  16 A and/or opening  16 B. Also, a spring bias force can be applied to urge wall  21  toward and contact shaft  12 A and/or shaft  12 B, to create increased friction.  FIG. 6  shows one embodiment of shaft  12 A, having flats about a portion of shaft  12 A that can be used to apply a bias force and/or that can be used to rotate shaft  12 A.  
         [0030]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , spacer  13  is connected directly to or with respect to shaft  12 A and/or shaft  12 B. Spacer  13  can also be integrated with or form one piece with shaft  12 A and/or shaft  12 B. Spacer  13  can be shaped and sized to limit longitudinal movement or play, such as in a direction generally parallel to axis  20 , of shaft  12 A and/or shaft  12 B, and thus strainer  11 , with respect to bowl  15 . By increasing a dimension of spacer  13  which spans between strainer  11  and container  15 , it is possible to reduce the overall size of strainer  11  without causing movement of strainer  11  with respect to container  15  in a direction generally parallel to longitudinal axis  20 . By decreasing the size of strainer  11 , it is possible to decrease or eliminate the need to precisely match the overall shape of strainer  11  to the overall shape of container  15 . Thus, it is possible to use relatively lesser expensive manufacturing processes for making strainer  11 .  
         [0031]     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 3  and  4 , shaft  12 A forms a first section and shaft  12 B forms a separate second section, for example so that strainer  11  has an unobstructed opening. The first section, shaft  12 A, is connected with respect to a first portion of strainer  11 . The second section, shaft  12 B, is connected with respect to a second portion of the strainer. In one embodiment of this invention, the first portion and the second portion are on opposing sections of the strainer.  
         [0032]      FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of a portion of container  15 . In one embodiment of this invention, the pressing element comprises tab  17  and/or tab  18 , each of which is mounted to or otherwise connected with respect to container  15 . Tab  17  and/or tab  18  can be integrated with and/or connected to container  15  in any suitable structural attachment manner. One or both of opposing sides of container  15  can have tab  17  and/or tab  18 . The pressing element of this invention may comprise any other handle, lever, bar or other suitable structural member that can be used to apply a torque force and thereby cause container  15  to rotate about longitudinal axis  20 , with respect to strainer  11 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , having tab  17  on one side of longitudinal axis  20  and tab  18  on an opposite side of longitudinal axis  20  allows a left-handed or a right-handed user to operate kitchen utensil  10  with one hand.  
         [0033]     In operation, a user holds handle  14 A in one hand and while holding handle  14 A uses a thumb or finger of the same hand or another hand to press on either tab  17  or tab  18 . The force applied to either tab  17  or tab  18  creates a torque that causes container  15  to rotate or turn with respect to strainer  11 , such as about longitudinal axis  20 .  
         [0034]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , handle  14 B can provide additional support for the user to better grasp, manage and thus support kitchen utensil  10 , particularly a relatively large kitchen utensil  10 . Thus, for example, if food is contained within strainer  11 , strainer  11  can be maintained in a generally horizontal position and container  15  can be rotated downward to the left or downward to the right to dump the liquid, such as hot water, out of container  15 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 3  shows one embodiment of an opposite side of container  15 , without tabs  17  and  18 . However, tab  17  and/or tab  18  could also be attached to the opposite side of container  15 .  FIGS. 4 and 5  each shows a perspective view of a portion of strainer  11 .  
         [0036]     Handle  14 A and/or handle  14 B can be mounted, attached, connected or otherwise fixed directly to or with respect to container  15  and/or strainer  11 , or such as shown in  FIG. 10  can even be integrated or formed as one piece with container  15  and/or strainer  11 .  FIGS. 1 and 4  show handles  14 A and  14 B connected to shafts  12 A and  12 B, respectively. In other embodiments of this invention, such as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , handle  14 B can be mounted, attached, connected or otherwise fixed in any suitable manner to contact an outer surface of container  15 .  FIG. 8  shows an exterior view of handle  14 B mounted to and directly contacting container  15 .  FIG. 9  shows connector  30  mounted, attached, connected or otherwise fixed in any suitable manner to an inner surface of container  15 .  FIG. 9  also shows connector  30  having opening  31  that can accept insertion of shaft  12 B, such as shown in  FIG. 5 , and allow shaft  12 B to rotate within opening  31  and thus allow strainer  11  to rotate with respect to container  15 . The dashed line in  FIGS. 8 and 9  represents one general direction along which shaft  12 B can be inserted or removed from opening  31 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , structural element  12 C is connected to or integrated with shaft  12 A and shaft  12 B to increase the structural integrity of the cooking apparatus by having one continuous shaft element.  
         [0037]     In another embodiment of this invention, shaft  12 A and/or shaft  12 B can have or be mounted using a quick-release device that allows strainer  11  to be easily and quickly detached from its mounted position with respect to container  15 . Any suitable latch mechanism or other retaining device can be used to provide a quick-release connection between strainer  11  and container  15 . For example, wall  21  of container  15  may form a generally U-shaped opening in which at least a portion of shaft  12 A and/or shaft  12 B is positioned. A cover or door element can be used to close the upper portion of the general U-shaped opening. Also, a hinged element can be used to pivot the cover or door element into and out of bore  16 A and/or bore  16 B. Also, a latch mechanism can be used to lock the cover or door element into a latched or closed position.  
         [0038]     In a closed position, the quick-release connector can keep or maintain the shaft rotatably mounted with respect to the container. In an open position, the quick-release connector allows the shaft to be removed from the rotatably mounted position, for example to clean or to change the strainer element.  
         [0039]      FIGS. 2 and 3  show plate  26 , which is used as a reinforcement for the thickness of wall  21 . Plate  26  may or may not be used, depending upon the intended use of kitchen utensil  10  and the size, shape and type of materials used for strainer  11  and/or container  15 .  
         [0040]     While in the foregoing specification this invention has been described in relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and many details have been set forth for purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention.