Patent ID: 8186265

Claim:
A deep fryer comprising: a cooking vessel configured to simultaneously contain associated hot oil and associated foods to be cooked in the associated hot oil, the cooking vessel including a food entry opening surrounded by an upper rim; a heating source configured to heat the associated oil contained in the cooking vessel; a food support; a first handle assembly and a second handle assembly; the first and the second handle assemblies being attached with the food support on opposite sides of the food support, the first handle assembly and the second handle assembly being cooperatively operative to move the food support and any associated supported food between lowered and raised positions, thereby moving the associated supported food into and out of the associated oil contained in the cooking vessel; wherein the first handle assembly includes a first handgrip having a first substantially vertical grasping surface, the first handgrip being disposed below the upper rim when the food support and the associated supported food is submerged in the associated oil contained in the cooking vessel; and, a first guard member directly adjacent to, and substantially parallel to, the first substantially vertical grasping surface, the first guard member being disposed between the first vertical grasping surface and the cooking vessel.