U.S. patent application number 09/853146 was filed with the patent office on 2001-12-27 for food cooking apparatus with drain spigot.
This patent application is currently assigned to Empire Comfort Systems, Inc.. Invention is credited to Rigney, Donald P..
Application Number | 20010054358 09/853146 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24373908 |
Filed Date | 2001-12-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010054358 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rigney, Donald P. |
December 27, 2001 |
Food cooking apparatus with drain spigot
Abstract
A cooking apparatus includes a container, a spigot, a lid, and a
food support. The container has a bottom surface and a side wall
that extends upwardly from the bottom surface to a top edge of the
side wall. The spigot is attached to the container side wall and
has a valve member that is selectively positionable between opened
and closed positions. The spigot valve member allows liquid
contents of the container to drain from the container when in the
opened position, and prevents the contents from draining out of the
container when in the closed position. The food support is
comprised of a perforated horizontal member with a perforated side
wall extending upwardly from the horizontal member. A plurality of
vertical members spaced around the periphery of the horizontal
member extend upwardly from the horizontal member. The food support
is dimensioned to fit within the interior of the container and some
of the vertical members have top ends with integral support
connectors that are adapted to engage with the side wall top edge
to suspend the food support in a spaced relation from the container
bottom surface. The lid has a handle and lid connectors that are
complementary to and selectively connectable to the support
connectors. The lid connectors can selectively connect with the
food support and allow the food support to be lifted by the lid and
lowered into or removed from the container. The lid shields the
user from the hot contents of the container when the food support
is lowered into or removed from the container. The lid top and
bottom surfaces slant downwardly as the lid top and bottom surfaces
extends inwardly from the lid peripheral edge toward the center of
the lid. The slanting forms a central depression in the lid which
promotes liquid accumulated on the lid bottom surface to drip from
the apex of the central depression.
Inventors: |
Rigney, Donald P.;
(Belleville, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Joseph M. Rolnicki
HOWELL & HAFERKAMP, L.C.
Suite 1400
7733 Forsyth Boulevard
St. Louis
MO
63105
US
|
Assignee: |
Empire Comfort Systems,
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
24373908 |
Appl. No.: |
09/853146 |
Filed: |
May 10, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09853146 |
May 10, 2001 |
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09593223 |
Jun 14, 2000 |
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6269737 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
99/403 ; 99/337;
99/340; 99/410 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 220/912 20130101;
A47J 37/1285 20130101; A47J 27/10 20130101; A47J 36/20 20130101;
A47J 27/04 20130101; A47J 37/1295 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
99/403 ; 99/337;
99/410; 99/340 |
International
Class: |
A23L 001/00; A47J
037/12 |
Claims
What is claimed:
1. A cooking apparatus comprising: a container having a bottom
surface and a side wall, the side wall extending upwardly from the
bottom surface to a top edge of the side wall, the bottom surface
and the side wall defining an interior volume of the container; at
least one manual handle attached to the container side wall, the
handle being adapted for manually carrying the container by the
handle; and, a spigot attached to the container and communicating
with the container interior, the spigot having a spout and a valve
member, the valve member being selectively positionable between an
opened position and a closed position relative to the spigot where
in the opened position a flow path from the container interior
volume through the spigot and spout is opened and in the closed
position the flow path is closed.
2. The cooking apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the spigot is mounted
on the container side wall adjacent the container bottom
surface.
3. The cooking apparatus of claim 1, wherein: a stop is positioned
on the spigot where the stop will engage with the valve member as
the valve member is moved away from the closed position and toward
the opened position and thereby prevent further movement of the
valve member away from the closed position.
4. The cooking apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the spigot has an
interior passageway and internal screw threads along at least a
portion of the interior passageway; and, the valve member has
external screw threads that are threaded into the internal screw
threads of the spigot so that turning the valve member in opposite
directions causes the valve member to move in opposite directions
through the spigot interior passageway.
5. The cooking apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the spigot has
opposite first and second ends and an interior passageway that
passes through the spigot and intersects the first and second
ends.
6. The cooking apparatus of claim 5, wherein: the spout projects
from the spigot intermediate the spigot first and second ends and
the spout has an interior passageway that communicates with the
spigot interior passageway.
7. The cooking apparatus of claim 6, wherein: the spigot interior
passageway has internal screw threads that extend along at least a
portion of the spigot interior passageway; and, the valve member
has external screw threads that are threaded through the spigot
second end and into the internal screw threads of the spigot
whereby turning the valve member in a first direction causes the
valve member to move through the spigot interior passageway toward
the spigot first end and turning the valve member in an opposite
second direction causes the valve member to move through the spigot
interior passageway away from the spigot first end.
8. The cooking apparatus of claim 7, wherein: a stop projects from
the spigot second end to a position where the stop engages with the
valve member as the valve member is moved away from the spigot
first end and thereby prevents further movement of the valve member
away from the spigot first end.
9. The cooking apparatus of claim 8, wherein: the stop has a
U-shaped configuration that projects from the spigot second end and
loops around the valve member.
10. A cooking apparatus comprising: a container having a bottom
surface and a side wall, the side wall extending upwardly from the
bottom surface to a top edge of the side wall, the bottom surface
and the side wall defining an interior volume of the container; a
spigot attached to the container side wall, the spigot has opposite
first and second ends and an interior passageway extending through
the spigot between the first and second ends, at least a portion of
the interior passageway has internal screw threading, the spigot is
attached to the container side wall at the spigot first end and the
spigot interior passageway communicates with the container interior
volume; a spout projecting from the spigot intermediate the spigot
first and second ends, the spout has an interior passageway with
opposite first and second ends, the spout interior passageway first
end communicates with the spigot interior passageway and the spout
interior passageway second end opens out of the spout; a valve
member having opposite first and second ends and external screw
threads on at least a portion of the valve member, the valve member
second end projects from the spigot second end and the valve member
extends through the spigot second end into the spigot interior
passageway, the external screw threads of the valve member engage
with the internal screw threads of the spigot interior passageway
whereby rotation of the valve member in a first direction moves the
valve member first end through the spigot interior passageway
toward the container to a closed position of the valve member where
the valve member first end is positioned between the spigot first
end and the spout, and rotation of the valve member in an opposite,
second direction moves the valve member first end through the
spigot interior passageway away from the container to an opened
position of the valve member first end where the valve member first
end is positioned between the spigot second end and the spout
thereby opening communication from the container interior volume
through the spigot interior passageway and the spout interior
passageway.
11. The cooking apparatus of claim 10, wherein: a stop is
operatively attached to the container and is positioned where it
engages with the valve member when the valve member is rotated in
the second direction and thereby prevents further movement of the
valve member first end away from the container.
12. The cooking apparatus of claim 11, wherein: the stop is
attached to the spigot.
13. The cooking apparatus of claim 10, wherein: a stop projects
from the spigot second end to a position where it engages with the
valve member as the valve member is rotated in the second direction
and thereby prevents further movement of the valve member first end
away from the container.
14. The cooking apparatus of claim 13, wherein: the stop has a
U-shaped configuration that projects from the spigot second end and
loops around the valve member.
15. The cooking apparatus of claim 13, wherein: the stop is
U-shaped and has opposite ends that are attached to opposite sides
of the spigot and has an intermediate portion that loops around the
valve member second end projecting from the spigot second end.
16. The cooking apparatus of claim 10, wherein: the container is
transportable and has at least one handle for manually carrying the
container.
17. A cooking apparatus comprising: a container having a bottom
surface and a side wall, the side wall extending upwardly from the
bottom surface to a top edge of the side wall, the bottom surface
and the side wall defining an interior of the container; a spigot
attached to the container side wall and in communication with the
container interior, the spigot having a valve member and a spout,
the valve member being selectively positionable between an opened
position and a closed position relative to the spigot, the spout
being in communication with the spigot when the valve member is in
the opened position opening a flow path from the container interior
through the spigot and the spout, and the spout not being in
communication with the spigot when the valve member is in the
closed position closing the flow path from the container interior
through the spigot and the spout; and a valve stop located on an
exterior of the spigot and preventing the removal of the valve
member from the spigot.
18. The cooking apparatus of claim 17, wherein: the spigot has
first and second ends and a threaded interior passageway extending
through the spigot between the first end and the second end, the
spigot is attached to the container side wall at the spigot first
end and the spigot passageway communicates with the container
interior; the spout has an interior passageway having first and
second ends, the spout passageway first end communicates with the
spigot passageway, the spout passageway second end opens out of the
spout; the valve member is threaded and has opposite first and
second ends, the valve member is threaded in the spigot passageway
with the valve member second end extending outwardly from the
spigot second end, the threads of the valve member engage with the
threads of the spigot passageway allowing the valve member to be
selectively rotated in opposite directions within the spigot
passageway, the selective rotation of the valve member causing the
valve member to move along the spigot passageway between the first
and second spigot ends and between closed and opened positions of
the valve member relative to the spigot with the closed position
being when the valve member first end is between the spout first
end and the spigot first end thereby preventing communication
between the spout passageway and the spigot passageway, the opened
position being when the valve member first end is between the spout
first end and the spigot second end thereby allowing communication
between the spout passageway and the spigot passageway; and the
valve member stop is connected to the spigot second end and extends
outwardly from the spigot second end, the stop being dimensioned
and adapted to limit the movement of the valve member along the
spigot passageway thereby preventing the valve member from being
removed from the spigot passageway second end.
19. The cooking apparatus of claim 18, wherein: the valve member
stop is U-shaped and loops around the valve member second end.
20. The cooking apparatus of claim 17, wherein: the container is
transportable and has at least one handle for manually carrying the
container.
Description
[0001] This is a divisional patent application from U.S. Pat.
application Ser. No. 09/593,223, filed Jun. 14, 2000 and currently
pending.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] (i) Field of the Invention:
[0003] The present invention relates in general to cooking
apparatus, and specifically to cooking apparatus designed for deep
frying of poultry and other food items and for steaming or boiling
food items.
[0004] (ii) Description of the Related Art
[0005] Typical deep frying food cooking apparatus (deep fryers)
include a container in which oil is heated and a basket or food
support on which food items are placed and then lowered into the
heated oil in the container to be cooked. Prior art fryers include
large fryers for cooking large items such as turkeys, which often
have their own support stand and heat source, and smaller fryers
for cooking smaller items that can be used on a kitchen stove top
or countertop. When deep frying large food items, such as turkeys
or other poultry items, or smaller items such as french fries,
vegetables or fish, the user is exposed to the danger of large
amounts of oil at very high temperatures, typically 350.degree. F.
or more. When inserting frozen food items or items that contain
moisture into deep fryers containing hot oil, the high temperature
oil causes the moisture to flash off the food items and thereby
creates bubbling and turbulence within the hot oil which causes the
hot oil to spatter, potentially burning the user of the fryer.
[0006] Typical prior art deep fryers include baskets with a handle
that extends outward from the periphery of the basket so that a
user may insert the basket into and remove the basket from the deep
fryer with minimal exposure to the dangers of the spattering hot
oil. The large prior art turkey or poultry fryers typically utilize
a flat plate like food support which do not have the same outwardly
extending handle of smaller fryers. Because of the large size of
turkeys and poultry items and their associated weight, such a
handle would not always provide a secure grip on the food support
when inserting or removing the food support into or out of the hot
oil. Therefore, the large prior art turkey and poultry fryer food
supports typically have a center post that extends upwardly from
the center of the food support to a top end of the post that is
adapted to be connected to a handle of some type for inserting and
removing the food support into and out of the hot oil. Typically,
the center post also serves as a skewer upon which the turkey or
poultry items are inserted so as to hold the turkey and poultry
items in a centered orientation during the cooking process. These
handle assemblies of prior art turkey and poultry fryers expose the
user to the dangers of the spattering hot oil. Specifically,
because the food supports are inserted and removed from the hot oil
container by a handle that attaches to the center post of the food
support, the user's hand(s) and arm(s) are exposed to the
spattering hot oil when inserting the food into and when removing
the food from the deep fryer. Therefore, these prior art fryers
require the user to wear protective clothing such as long sleeve
shirts and gloves and/or gloves with extended gauntlets to avoid
the possibility of being burned by the hot oil.
[0007] Typical food steaming or boiling apparatus (food steamers)
include a container for heating and boiling water and a basket for
supporting food items to be boiled or steamed in the container. The
basket typically has a handle that extends across the top of the
basket and, like the prior art turkey fryers, exposes the user to
hot steam or boiling water when inserting or removing the basket
from the container.
[0008] When steaming food or frying turkeys, it is desirable, for
proper cooking, to keep the food off of the bottom surface of the
container. To accomplish this, prior art turkey and poultry fryers
typically utilize a food support that has legs extending downwardly
from the bottom of the food support. The legs serve to position the
food support and the turkey in a spaced relation from the bottom of
the fryer container within which the turkey and the food support
are placed. Likewise, prior art food steamers also often provide a
basket that has legs extending downwardly from the bottom of the
basket. The disadvantage of having legs extending downwardly from
the bottom of the food support/basket is that the user may, when
inserting or removing the food support/basket from the
fryer/steamer, mistakenly believe that the entire food
support/basket has cleared the upper most part of the container,
when in fact, a leg is still extending into the container or
extending outside of the container. This exposes the user to the
danger that a leg of the food support may catch on a lip or side
wall of the container and cause the food support/basket to tip and
possibly spilling its food contents, or worse knock over the
container and expose the user to the dangers of the spilled hot
liquid of the container.
[0009] Prior art fryers and food steamers do not provide a means of
draining the liquid contents from the container. To remove the
liquid contents from the container, typical prior art fryers and
food steamers require the user to pour the liquid contents of the
container out of the top of the container, much like pouring water
from a bucket. This method of removing the liquid contents of the
container exposes the user to the dangers of spilling the contents
and, if still hot, burning anyone who comes in contact with the
spilled liquid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of prior
art fryers and food steamers by providing a cooking apparatus that
minimizes the user's exposure to the hot contents of the cooking
apparatus. The cooking apparatus of the present invention includes
a food support that does not have legs extending downwardly from
the food support and, therefore, does not expose the user to the
potential dangers associated with the support legs protruding below
the food support discussed above. Furthermore, the present
invention also provides a cooking apparatus container with a spigot
that allows the liquid contents to be safely drained without
requiring the container to be tipped on its side to pour out the
liquid contents.
[0011] In one embodiment, a cooking apparatus is provided that is
adapted to be utilized with existing cooking containers that are
suitable for high temperature heating of the desired cooking
medium, such as oil or water. The cooking apparatus is dimensioned
so that it may be easily inserted into and removed from the cooking
container. The cooking apparatus includes a food support that has a
horizontal member which is adapted for receiving and supporting
food items placed thereon. Extending upwardly from the horizontal
member is at least one vertical member having a top end. The top
end has a support connector which is designed to be utilized to
suspend the food support in the cooking container. A lid is
provided that has a handle and a lid connector. The lid connector
is complementary to and selectively connectable to the support
connector. The user can selectively engage the lid connector with
the support connector and use the lid to lift the food support and
suspend the food support from the lid.
[0012] By utilizing a lid having a lid connector that is
selectively connectable to the support connector, the user may
insert or remove the food support from the cooking container using
the lid. The lid provides protection for the user from the
spattering of the hot liquid contents of the cooking container. The
cooking apparatus of the invention thereby overcomes disadvantages
of prior art fryers and food steamers.
[0013] In another embodiment, a cooking apparatus is provided with
both a container and a food support. The container has a bottom
surface and a side wall that extends upwardly from the container
bottom surface to a top edge of the side wall. The container bottom
surface and side wall define an interior of the container which is
capable of holding the desired cooking medium, i.e. water or oil.
The container is further capable of being heated to a high
temperature for the cooking of food. The food support has a
horizontal member which is adapted for supporting food items placed
thereon. Extending upwardly from the horizontal member is at least
one vertical member. The at least one vertical member has a support
connector on it. However, in this embodiment, the support connector
is designed and adapted to engage with the top edge of the
container side wall and the container side wall top edge is adapted
to engage with the support connector.
[0014] The at least one vertical member is dimensioned so that when
the food support is placed within the container interior, the
support connector engages with the side wall top edge and the
horizontal member is suspended in a spaced relation from the bottom
surface of the container. By having the support connector engage
with the side wall top edge in order to suspend the food support in
a spaced relation from the container bottom surface, the necessity
of having legs extending downwardly below the horizontal member is
eliminated. Therefore, the present invention overcomes the
previously discussed disadvantages of the prior art fryers and food
steamers having food supports with legs.
[0015] This embodiment can also be provided with a lid for the
container which has lid connectors on the lid. The lid connectors
are adapted to be selectively connectable to the support
connectors. This allows the food support to be inserted into and
removed from the container interior by the lid, providing all the
protective benefits of a lid, as mentioned above. Alternatively,
the food support of the cooking apparatus can be raised and lowered
by a pair of grab hooks of the type used in the prior art. The grab
hooks can be selectively connectable to the support connector
engaged over the side wall of the container. This enables the user
to lower the food support into or remove the food support from the
container interior while with minimal exposure to the hot contents
of the container.
[0016] In yet another embodiment, the cooking apparatus includes a
spigot attached to the container side wall and in communication
with the container interior. The spigot has a valve member and a
spout. The valve member is selectively positionable between an
opened position and a closed position relative to the spigot. The
spout is in communication with the spigot when the valve member is
in the open position, thereby opening a flow path from the
container interior through the spigot and the spout. When the valve
member is in the closed position the spout is not in communication
with the spigot and the valve member effectively closes the flow
path from the container interior through the spigot and the spout.
By having a spigot attached to the container side wall
communicating with the container interior, the liquid content of
the container can be selectively drained from the container
interior in a controlled fashion. The use of the spigot overcomes
the prior art disadvantage of requiring the contents of the
container to be dumped or poured out of the container by tipping
the container horizontally, much like pouring water out of a
bucket. The spigot thereby reduces the dangers associated with
removing hot liquid contents from the container.
[0017] Additionally, the spigot is provided with a stop which is
connected to the spigot and extends outwardly from the spigot
around the valve member. The stop is dimensioned and adapted to
limit movement of the valve member beyond the opened position, and
thereby prevents the valve member from being removed from the
spigot which would result in uncontrolled discharge of the hot
container contents through the spigot.
[0018] In another embodiment, the cooking apparatus includes a
container and a lid. The container has a bottom surface and a side
wall that extends upwardly from the container bottom surface to a
top edge of the side wall. The container bottom surface and side
wall define an interior of the container which is capable of
holding the desired cooking medium, i.e. water or oil. The
container is further capable of being heated to a high temperature
for the cooking of food. The lid is dimension to fit over the
container side wall top edge and has a handle. The lid also has a
peripheral edge, a vertical central axis and opposite top and
bottom surfaces. The top and bottom lid surfaces slant downwardly
as the top and bottom lid surfaces extend radially inwardly from
the peripheral edge toward the vertical central axis and form a
central depression in the lid.
[0019] By utilizing a lid with a central depression, the lid
provides a point for any liquids that accumulate on the lid bottom
surface to drip off of the lid. The drip point promotes the removal
of liquids from the lid bottom surface and into the container when
the lid is on or above the container and minimizes the possibility
of uncontrolled liquid dripping off of the lid bottom surface in
undesirable locations.
[0020] Thus, the present invention overcomes the disadvantages of
the prior art fryers and food steamers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0021] Further objectives and features of the present invention are
set forth in the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiment of the invention and in the drawing figures wherein:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cooking apparatus of the
invention that is comprised of a container, a spigot, a lid, and a
food support residing in the interior of the container;
[0023] FIG. 2 is a top view of the cooking apparatus of FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a perspective, exploded view of the container,
spigot, and food support;
[0025] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the food support being
suspended from the lid;
[0026] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the spigot;
[0027] FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the cooking apparatus of
FIG. 1 showing the food support being suspended by the container
rim and also engaged with the lid connectors; and
[0028] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the lid of FIG. 4 along
line 7-7 without the food support.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0029] As used herein, words such as "horizontal" and "vertical"
are not intended to be strictly construed in describing the
invention. A "horizontal" member could have only a general
horizontal configuration and a "vertical" member could have only a
general vertical configuration.
[0030] FIG. 1 shows the cooking apparatus, generally indicated as
20, of the invention. The cooking apparatus 20 is basically
comprised of a lid 22, a container 24, a spigot 26, and a food
support 28, shown in FIG. 3. In the preferred embodiment, each of
the component parts of the apparatus are constructed of metal.
[0031] In the preferred embodiment, the lid 22 is generally
circular and has opposite top and bottom surfaces 30, 32, a center
projection 33, a peripheral edge 34, a handle 36, and lid
connectors 38. The lid 22 is dimensioned to fit on the container
24. The lid top and bottom surfaces 30, 32 slant downwardly as the
lid top and bottom surfaces 30, 32 extend radially inwardly from
the peripheral edge 34 toward the center projection 33. The
slanting of the lid top and bottom surfaces 30, 32 form a central
depression 39 in the lid 22. The central depression 39 and the
center projection 33 are adapted to promote liquid on the lid
bottom surface 32 to flow by gravity downwardly along the lid
bottom surface 32 and toward the center projection 33 where the
liquid will drip off of the lid bottom surface 32. The lid 22 also
has a rim 40 that extends downwardly from the peripheral edge 34
beyond the lid bottom surface 32. The lid rim 40 extends around
most of the peripheral edge 34 of the lid but is interrupted by a
pair of notches 41 in the rim on opposite sides of the lid. The
notches 41 in the lid rim are adapted to accommodate portions of
the food support 28 in the container 24 in a manner yet to be
described, while still providing a good fit between the lid 22 and
the container 24. The notches 41 also allow steam or vapor to exit
the container through the notches while cooking. Although, when
using the cooking apparatus 20 to deep fry poultry, the lid 22 is
typically not left on the container 24 while the poultry is being
cooked. The handle 36 and the lid connectors 38 are formed from a
single metal rod. The handle 36 is formed in a generally
rectangular shape at the middle of the rod and the lid connectors
38 are formed as J-shaped hooks at opposite ends of the rod. The
rod is secured to the lid top surface 30 by welding, riveting, or
other equivalent means with the handle projecting perpendicularly
upward from the lid top surface and the lid connectors 38
projecting downwardly from opposite sides of the lid adjacent ends
of the notches 41 in the lid rim 40.
[0032] In the preferred embodiment, the food support 28 is
generally cylindrical in shape and is adapted to support food items
placed thereon. However, it is to be understood that the food
support 28 could have other configurations such as rectangular,
square, or any other shape without departing from the scope of the
invention. In the preferred embodiment, the food support 28 has a
colander type construction with a perforated, circular horizontal
bottom member 42 and a perforated side wall 44 that extends
upwardly from the periphery of the horizontal member 42. Two
vertical members 46 on diametrically opposite sides of the food
support 28 extend upwardly from the periphery of the horizontal
member 42 beyond the perforated side wall 44 to top ends 48 that
are formed as support connectors 50. The support connectors 50 are
complementary to and selectively connectable to the lid connectors
38 to be described. In the preferred embodiment, the support
connectors 50 are formed as inverted U-shaped hooks that extend
radially outwardly from opposite sides of the food support.
[0033] While the food support 28 has been described in a specific
embodiment, it should be understood that any number of vertical
members 46 may extend upwardly beyond the perforated side wall 44
and each may have top ends 48 with integral support connectors 50.
It should also be understood that the food support 28 may have a
construction of a wire basket often used in deep frying foods.
[0034] As can be seen in FIG. 4, the food support 28 can be
suspended from the lid 22 when the lid connectors 38 are connected
to the support connectors 50. When the food support 28 is suspended
from the lid 22 the user may insert or remove the food support 28
from the container 24 by the handle 36 on the lid 22. In this way,
the lid 22 provides a shield that prevents the hot liquid contents
of the container 24 from spattering onto the user's hand and
arm.
[0035] As described above, in the preferred embodiment, the lid
connectors 38 are J-shaped hooks and the food support connectors 50
are inverted U-shaped hooks that are complementary to the lid
connectors. However, it is to be understood that the lid connectors
38 and the support connectors 50 can be of any complementary shapes
that are selectively connectable to each other without departing
from the scope of the invention. It is also to be understood that
while the preferred embodiment is shown with two support connectors
50 and two lid connectors 38, there can be any number of lid
connectors 38 and support connectors 50 without departing from the
scope of the invention.
[0036] In the preferred embodiment, the container 24 is generally
cylindrical in shape and has a bottom surface 54 and a side wall 56
that extends upwardly from the bottom surface 54 to a top edge 58
of the side wall 56. The container bottom surface 54 and side wall
56 define an interior 60 of the container 24. The container 24 has
handles 62 attached to opposite sides of the container side wall
56. The side wall top edge 58 is adapted to engage with the support
connectors 50 on the food support 28 to suspend the food support in
the container interior 60. When the food support 28 is placed in
the container interior 60, the support connectors 50 engage with
the side wall top edge 58, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, to suspend
the food support 28 in a spaced relation from the bottom surface 54
of the container 24.
[0037] In the preferred embodiment, the container 24 has a spigot
26. The spigot 26 includes a valve member 64 and a spout 66. As can
best be seen in FIG. 5, the spigot 26 has first and second ends 68,
70 and an interior passageway 72 that extends through the spigot 26
from the spigot first end 68 to the spigot second end 70. The
spigot passageway 72 has internal screw threads 74 that extend
along a portion of the spigot passageway 72 between the spigot
first and second ends 68, 70. The spigot 26 is attached to the
container side wall 56 at the spigot first end 68 near the
container bottom surface 54. The spigot passageway 72 communicates
with the container interior 60.
[0038] The spout 66 has an interior passageway 76 and opposite
first and second ends 78, 80. The spout passageway at the first end
78 communicates with the spigot passageway 72 and the spout
passageway at the second end 80 opens out of the spout 66.
[0039] The valve member 64 has internal screw threads 82 and
opposite first and second ends 84, 86. The valve member screw
threads 82 mate with the spigot passageway screw threads 74 and
preferably both are fine threads to prevent leakage past the mating
threads. A knob 88 is connected to the valve member second end 86.
The valve member 64 is threaded into the spigot passageway 72 with
the valve member first end 84 positioned in the spigot passageway
72 and the valve member second end 86 extending outwardly from the
spigot second end 70. The engagement of the valve member threads 82
with the spigot passageway threads 74 allows the valve member 64 to
be selectively rotated in the passageway and moved in opposite
directions between opened and closed positions of the valve member
in the spigot passageway 72 by turning the knob 88. As set forth
above, the valve member threads 82 and the spigot passageway
threads 74 are preferably finely threaded, however, any thread
dimensions that can effectuate a leak tight engagement and prevent
the flow of liquid oil or water past the threads is sufficient. The
selective rotation of the valve member 64 causes the valve member
64 to move along the spigot passageway 72 between the spigot first
and second ends 68, 70 and between opened and closed positions of
the valve member 64 relative to the spigot 26.
[0040] When the valve member 64 is in the opened position, as shown
in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, the valve member first end 84 is between the
spout first end 78 and the spigot second end 70, thereby creating a
flow path between the spout passageway 76, the spigot passageway
72, and the container interior 60. When the valve member 64 is in
the closed position, as shown in FIG. 2, the valve member first end
84 is between the spout first end 78 and the spigot first end 68,
thereby closing the flow path and preventing communication between
the spout passageway 76 and the spigot passageway 72.
[0041] In the preferred embodiment, a valve member stop 90 is
connected to the spigot second end 70. The stop 90 extends
outwardly from the spigot second end 70 around the valve member
second end 86 and the knob 88. The stop 90 is dimensioned and
adapted to limit the movement of the valve member 64 along the
spigot passageway 72 to prevent the valve member first end 84 from
being removed from the spigot passageway 72. While the stop 90 is
shown as being "U" shaped and looping around the valve member knob
88, it is to be understood that any configuration of the stop 90
that prevents the valve member first end 84 from being removed from
the spigot passageway 72 is sufficient.
[0042] In operation, the spigot 26 allows for the liquid contents
of the container 24 to be selectively drained from the container
interior 60. When the valve member 64 is in the opened position,
the spout passageway 76 communicates with the spigot passageway 72
and the container interior 60, thereby allowing the liquid contents
of the container 24 to flow through the spigot passageway 72 and
the spout passageway 74. To close the valve member 64, when the
valve member 64 is in the opened position, the user rotates the
knob 88 with their thumb and forefinger in a clockwise direction,
when looking along the spigot 26 toward the container 24, thereby
causing the valve member 64 to move along the spigot passageway 72
toward the spigot first end 68. When the knob 88 is sufficiently
rotated, the valve member 64 is in its closed position and prevents
communication between the spigot passageway 72 and the spout
passageway 76. When opening the valve member 64 from the closed
position, the user rotates the knob 88 in a counter-clockwise
direction, when looking along the spigot 26 toward the container
24, thereby causing the valve member 64 to move along the spigot
passageway 72 toward the spigot second end 70. When the knob 88
contacts the stop 90, the valve member 64 is in 31192.doc the fully
opened position and the spout passageway 76 communicates with the
spigot passageway 72 and the container interior 60. The stop 90
prevents the continuing movement of the valve member 64 toward the
spigot second end 70, thereby preventing the unintentional removal
of the valve member 64 from the spigot passageway 72.
[0043] As set forth earlier, in the preferred embodiment, the
cooking apparatus 20 is made out of metal, such as aluminum, carbon
steel, or stainless steel and may contain a non-stick coating.
However, it should be understood that any material of construction
may be used that is safe for cooking food and capable of being
heated to the high temperatures necessary for deep frying food.
[0044] In the preferred embodiment, the cooking apparatus 20 is
provided with a food support 28 that has support connectors 50 that
are dimensioned and adapted to engage with the container side wall
top edge 58 and are selectively connectable with the lid connectors
38. In use, the user would fill the container interior 60 with the
desired cooking medium, such as water or oil, and then heat the
contents of the container 24 to the desired temperature by a heat
source such as a gas burner. The user would then place the food
items to be cooked in the food support 28. Next the user would take
the lid 22 and connect the lid connectors 38 to the support
connectors 50 of the food support 28, lift the food support 28 into
a position above the container 24, and then lower the food support
28 into the container interior 60. The lid 22 provides a shield
against spattering hot oil or water coming into contact with the
user as the food support is lowered. As the food support 28 is
being lowered into the container 24, the support connectors 50
engage with the side wall top edge 58 and suspend the food support
28 in a spaced relation from the container bottom surface 54. The
user may then leave the lid 22 on the container 24, if desired, or
remove the lid 22. To remove the lid 22, without removing the food
support 28, the user would, after ensuring the support connectors
50 are fully engaged with and being suspended by the side wall top
edge 58, rotate the lid 22 in a counter-clockwise direction, when
viewed from above, to disconnect the lid connectors 38 from the
support connectors 50. The lengths of the lid rim notches 41 and
the positions of the lid connectors 38 at the ends of the notches
provide sufficient clearance for the food support connectors 50
when rotating the lid relative to the food support connectors. The
user can then remove the lid 22 without removing the food support
28. When it is desired to remove the food support 28 from the
container interior 60, the user would place the lid 22 on top of
the container 24 with the food support connectors 50 positioned in
the notches 41 opposite the lid connectors 38. The user then
rotates the lid 22 clockwise, when viewed from above, to connect
the lid connectors 38 to the support connectors 50. The user may
then safely lift the lid 22 and the attached food support 28 from
the container interior 60 with the lid 22 again providing a shield
against hot oil or water coming in contact with the user. The user
may then empty the contents of the container interior 60 by opening
the valve member 64 of the spigot 26, as was discussed above.
[0045] While the present invention has been described by reference
to specific embodiments, it should be understood that modifications
and variations of the invention may be constructed without
departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the
following claims.
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