Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02602207 2006-03-29
DEFORMABLE STRAINER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION :
The present invention relates to the general field of food preparation
implements and
is particularly concerned with a deformable strainer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
There exists a plurality of situations wherein, in the preparation of food, it
is desirable
to separate or strain a liquid from a solid. For example, it is often
desirable to drain
cooking liquids such as water out of a cooking vessel in which a given food
such as
vegetables, pasta or the like has boiled or otherwise been cooked.
The conventional straining operation is typically performed using conventional
strainers. These conventional strainers typically are substantially bowl or
pot-shaped
and may incorporate one or more features such as a single handle, a pair of
handles
or an extended handle and leg combination. These conventional strainers
typically
include drainage apertures that vary in number and size in proportion to the
items to
be strained. The volume of these conventional strainers also varies from small
to
large. The material of their construction also typically varies. Conventional
strainers
are, nowadays, typically made out of a polymeric resin although some strainers
made
out of aluminium, stainless steel or the like are also used.
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CA 02602207 2006-03-29
During a typical straining operation, using a conventional strainer, the
latter is placed
in or held over a sink or a large bowl. A cooking vessel containing both food
and the
liquid to be strained is tilted sideways or upside down over the strainer and
the food
falls from the cooking vessel into the strainer. This tilting action is often
considered
unergonomical and can cause the user to drop the cooking vessel or its
contents,
especially as the weight of the cooking vessel shifts.
Also, if the cook transfers the food and liquid too quickly, the liquid may
splash onto
the cook's face or body, or onto the surrounding countertop and/or floor. In
addition,
the food itself may not fall directly from the cooking vessel into the
strainer and may
land in the sink, on the floor, or other undesired locations.
Furthermore, if the food has been boiled, hot steam typically rises from the
cooking
vessel. Hence, if boiling liquid is poured out of the cooking vessel, the
cook's arms
and hands may be exposed to the steam, potentially resulting in a burn injury.
Another problem associated with conventional strainers is the fact that such
conventional strainers are not adapted to be used with various sizes of
cooking
vessels. When there is not a good fit between the strainer and the cooking
vessel,
the hereinabove-mentioned problems are compounded.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved cooking strainer.
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CA 02602207 2006-03-29
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved cooking
strainer.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a strainer for
straining
liquids being poured through a pouring aperture of a cooking vessel, the
cooking
vessel having a vessel base wall and a vessel peripheral wall extending from
the
vessel base wall, the vessel peripheral wall defining a peripheral wall upper
edge
substantially circumventing the pouring aperture and a peripheral wall outer
surface;
the strainer being releasably attachable to the peripheral wall outer surface;
the
strainer comprising: a straining plate extending substantially through a plate
geometrical plane, the straining piate having a plate first surface, an
opposed plate
second surface and a plate peripheral edge; the straining plate having
straining
apertures extending therethrough; an attachment flange extending substantially
from
the plate peripheral edge, the attachment flange having a flange contacting
surface
for frictionally contacting a circumferential contacting portion of the vessel
peripheral
wall so as to generate a frictional force between the flange contacting
surface and the
contacting portion of the vessel peripheral wall; at least a stretchable
portion of the
straining plate being made out of a resiliently deformable plate material so
as to allow
the straining plate to be stretchable substantially in the plate geometrical
plane from a
plate unstretched configuration wherein the plate peripheral edge has a
peripheral
edge first dimension to a plate stretched configuration wherein the plate
peripheral
edge has a peripheral edge second dimension, the peripheral edge second
dimension being greater than the peripheral edge first dimension; wherein upon
the
straining plate being stretched towards the plate stretched configuration, the
resilient
nature of the stretchable portion of the straining plate biases the straining
plate
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towards the plate unstretched configuration for exerting a compressive force
on the
contacting portion of the vessel peripheral wall and increasing the intensity
of the
frictional force between the flange contacting surface and the contacting
portion of
the vessel peripheral wall. Typically, the stretchable portion of the
straining plate
extends substantially throughout the straining plate.
Conveniently, at least a resilient portion of the attachment flange is made
out of a
resiliently deformable flange material so as to allow at least a movable
portion of the
flange contacting surface to move substantially outwardly from a movable
portion first
position to a movable portion second position, the perimeter of the movable
portion of
the flange contacting surface being greater in the movable portion second
position
than in the movable portion first position, wherein upon the resilient portion
of the
attachment flange being deformed so as to move the movable portion of the
flange
contacting surface towards the movable portion second position, the resilient
nature
of the resilient portion of the attachment flange biases the movable portion
of the
attachment flange back towards the movable portion first position.
Typically, the resilient portion of the attachment flange extends
substantially
throughout the attachment flange. Conveniently, the movable portion of the
flange
contacting surface extends substantially throughout the flange contacting
surface.
Typically, the flange contacting surface is provided with a circumferential
contacting
surface groove extending at least partially therealong, the flange contacting
surface
defining a contacting surface first portion extending from the contacting
surface
groove substantially towards the straining plate and an opposed contacting
surface
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second portion extending from the contacting surface groove substantially away
from
the straining plate.
Conveniently, the contacting surface groove has a substantially U-shaped cross-
sectional configuration, the nadir of the contacting surface groove being
located
substantially radially outwardly.
Typically, the straining plate and the attachment flange are both made out of
an
integral piece of resiliently deformable elastomeric material.
Conveniently, the strainer further comprises a strainer handle, the strainer
handle
being coupled to the attachment flange by a handle-to-attachment flange
coupling.
Typically, the strainer handle, the handle-to-attachment flange coupling, the
attachment flange and straining plate are all made out of an integral piece of
resiliently deformable material.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, the staining plate is provided
with a
stirring aperture extending therethrough. In at least one embodiment of the
invention,
the straining plate is provided with a pouring aperture extending
therethrough, the
pouring aperture being located substantially adjacent the attachment flange.
In at
least one embodiment of the invention, the strainer is further provided with a
pouring
lip extending substantially outwardly from the straining plate.
CA 02602207 2006-03-29
Typically, the strainer is configured and sized such that upon a radial force
being
exerted on the strainer for stretching the strainer radially outwardly, the
radial
deformation of the straining plate is substantially greater than that of the
attachment
flange.
In accordance with the present invention, there is also provided, in
combination, a
cooking vessel and a strainer for straining liquids being poured through a
pouring
aperture of the cooking vessel, the cooking vessel having a vessel base wall
and a
vessel peripheral wall extending from the vessel base wall, the vessel
peripheral wall
defining a peripheral wall upper edge substantially circumventing the pouring
aperture and a peripheral wall outer surface, the cooking vessel having a
circumferential bead extending from the peripheral wall outer surface
substantially
adjacent the peripheral wall upper edge; the strainer being releasably
attachable to
the peripheral wall outer surface; the strainer comprising: a straining plate
extending
substantially through a plate geometrical plane, the straining plate having a
plate first
surface, an opposed plate second surface and a plate peripheral edge; the
straining
plate having straining apertures extending therethrough; an attachment flange
extending substantially from the plate peripheral edge, the attachment flange
having
a flange contacting surface for frictionally contacting a circumferential
contacting
portion of the vessel peripheral wall so as to generate a frictional force
between the
flange contacting surface and the contacting portion of the vessel peripheral
wall; the
flange contacting surface being provided with a circumferential contacting
surface
groove, the contacting surface groove receiving the circumferential bead; at
least a
stretchable portion of the straining plate being made out of a resiliently
deformable
plate material so as to allow the straining plate to be stretchable
substantially in the
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plate geometrical plane from a plate unstretched configuration wherein the
plate
peripheral edge has a peripheral edge first dimension to a plate stretched
configuration wherein the plate peripheral edge has a peripheral edge second
dimension, the peripheral edge second dimension being greater than the
peripheral
edge first dimension; wherein upon the straining plate being stretched towards
the
plate stretched configuration, the resilient nature of the stretchable portion
of the
straining plate biases the straining plate towards the plate unstretched
configuration
for exerting a compressive force on the contacting portion of the vessel
peripheral
wall and increasing the intensity of the frictional force between the flange
contacting
surface and the contacting portion of the vessel peripheral wall.
Advantages of the present invention include that the proposed cooking strainer
is
releasably mountable over the pouring aperture formed by conventional cooking
vessels. The straining operation using the present invention hence only
requires
tipping of the cooking vessel with the proposed strainer mounted thereon
without
requiring the separate manipulation of a separate straining entity. The risk
of injuries
to the user and of creating a mess and/or wasting food is hence reduced.
The proposed cooking strainer is designed so as to be releasably secured over
the
pouring aperture of cooking containers in such a manner as to prevent
involuntary
removal thereof while the liquids are being poured from the cooking vessel and
the
solids retained therein.
The proposed cooking strainer is designed so as to be readily adaptable or
adjustable to cooking vessels of various sizes. Furthermore, the proposed
cooking
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strainer is designed so as to be substantially ergonomically attachable and
detachable to and from a conventional cooking vessel without requiring manual
dexterity or excessive strength.
Furthermore, the proposed cooking strainer is designed so as to be
manufacturable
using conventional forms of manufacturing and conventional materials through a
relatively simple manufacturing process such as injection moulding so as to
provide a
cooking strainer that will be economically feasible, long-lasting and
relatively trouble-
free in operation.
In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the proposed cooking
strainer is
provided with strainer handles adapted to further secure the strainer to the
cooking
vessel and/or facilitate gripping of the cooking vessel handles.
Yet, still furthermore, in at least one embodiment of the invention, the
cooking
strainer is designed so as to allow insertion therethrough of various cooking
implements such as stirring spoons, spatulas or the like in order to
facilitate various
cooking steps being performed as the food is being prepared without the need
for
removing the proposed cooking strainer from the cooking vessel.
Yet, still furthermore, in at least one embodiment of the invention, the
proposed
cooking strainer is further provided with a pouring spout in order to guide
the flow of
liquid as the liquid is being poured out from the cooking vessel.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example,
with
reference to the following drawings in which:
Figure 1, in a partial perspective view with sections taken out, illustrates a
strainer in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the strainer being
shown
mounted on a cooking vessel and used for pouring liquid out of the pouring
vessel
into a sink, the cooking vessel and sing being shown in phantom lines;
Figure 2, in a perspective view, illustrates the strainer shown in Fig. 1;
Figure 3, in a top view, illustrates the strainer shown in Figs. 1 and 2;
Figure 4, in an elevational view, illustrates the strainer shown in Figs. 1
through 3;
Figure 5, in a cross-sectional view taken along arrows 5-5 of Fig. 3,
illustrates some
of the configurational features of the strainer shown in Fig. 3;
Figure 6, in a cross-sectional view, illustrates the strainer shown in Figs. 1
through 5,
about to be mounted to a conventional cooking vessel, the conventional cooking
vessel being shown in phantom lines;
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Figure 7, in a cross-sectional view, illustrates the strainer shown in Fig. 6
mounted on
the conventional cooking vessel also shown in Fig. 7, the conventional cooking
vessel being shown in part and in phantom lines;
Figure 8, in a cross-sectional view, illustrates the strainer shown in Figs. 1
through 7
mounted on a larger cooking vessel than that shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the
larger
cooking vessel being shown in part and in phantom lines;
Figure 9, in a perspective view, illustrates a strainer in accordance with an
alternative
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 10, in a perspective view, illustrates a strainer in accordance with an
alternative embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a strainer in accordance with an
embodiment of
the present invention, generally indicated by the reference numeral 10. The
strainer
is shown mounted on a conventional cooking vessel generally indicated by the
reference numeral 12. It should be understood that although Fig. 1 illustrates
the
strainer 10 mounted, by way of example, on a conventional boiling pot-type
cooking
vessel, the strainer 10 could be used on any other suitable type of vessels
including
any other suitable cooking vessels such as pots, pans, or the like of various
sizes
and configurations without departing from the scope of the present invention.
CA 02602207 2006-03-29
In Fig. 1, the strainer 10 is shown straining a liquid from a solid. The
liquid, generally
indicated by the reference numeral 14, is shown being poured out of the
cooking
vessel 12 through the strainer 10 into a sink, generally indicated by the
reference
numeral 16. It should, however, be understood that the strainer 10 could be
used in
numerous other contexts for separating solids from liquids and pouring the
liquid into
any suitable receptacle or the like without departing from the scope of the
present
invention.
Figure 6 will now be used to designate various sections or features of a
conventional
cooking vessel 12 usable with the strainer 10. Each cooking vessel 12
typically
includes a vessel base wall 18 and a vessel peripheral wall 20 extending from
the
vessel base wall 18. The vessel peripheral wall 20 defines a peripheral wall
outer
surface 22. The vessel peripheral wall 20 also defines a peripheral wall upper
edge
24 substantially circumventing a vessel pouring aperture 26.
The cooking vessel 12 may, in some instances, be provided with a vessel flange
28
extending typically radially outwardly from the peripheral wall outer surface
22. The
vessel flange 28 may take any suitable form such as that of a rolled flange
emanating
from the peripheral wall upper edge 24. Typically, the vessel flange 28 is
located
substantially adjacent to the peripheral wall upper edge24 although the vessel
flange
28 may be spaced from the peripheral wall upper edge 24 in some instances.
It should be understood that the strainer 10, in accordance with the present
invention,
is adapted to be usable with cooking vessels having various types of vessel
flanges
28 and with cooking vessels 12 deprived of any vessel flange.
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The conventional cooking vessel 12 may also be provided with at least one and
typically two vessel handles 30 extending typically substantially radially
outwardly
therefrom for facilitating the manipulation thereof. The vessel handles 30 may
take
any suitable form and size and be located at any suitable location. The
strainer 10, in
accordance with the present invention is adapted to be used with cooking
vessels
having any suitable type of vessel handles and with cooking vessels 12
deprived of
any vessel handle.
As shown in cross-section in Fig. 5, the strainer 10 includes a straining
plate 32
extending substantially through a plate geometrical plane 34. The straining
plate 32
has a plate first surface 36, an opposed plate second surface 38 and a plate
peripheral edge 40.
The straining plate 32 has a plurality of straining aperture 42 extending
therethrough.
The straining apertures 42 are shown throughout the Figures as having a
substantially square-shaped configuration. It should, however, be understood
that
the straining apertures 32 could have any other suitable configuration without
departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, throughout the
Figures, the
straining apertures 42 are shown as having an aperture bevelled peripheral
edge 44.
It should, however, be understood that the straining apertures 42 could be
deprived
of such straining aperture bevelled peripheral edge 44 without departing from
the
scope of the present invention.
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The strainer 10 also includes an attachment flange generally indicated by the
reference numeral 46. The attachment flange 46 extends substantially from the
plate
peripheral edge 40. The attachment flange 46 has a flange contacting surface
generally indicated by the reference numeral 48 for frictionally contacting a
circumferential contacting portion 50 of the vessel peripheral wall 20 so as
to
generate a frictional force between the flange contacting surface 48 and the
contacting portion 50 of the vessel peripheral wall 20.
At least a stretchable portion of the straining plate 32 is made out of a
substantially
resiliently deformable plate material so as to allow the straining plate 32 to
be
stretchable substantially in the plate geometrical plate 34. The resiliently
deformable
plate material allows the straining plate 32 to be stretchable from a plate
unstretched
configuration, shown in Fig. 6 wherein the plate peripheral edge 40 has a
peripheral
edge first dimension to a plate stretched configuration, shown in Fig. 7,
wherein the
plate peripheral edge 40 has a peripheral edge second dimension, the
peripheral
edge second dimension being greater than the peripheral edge first dimension.
As shown throughout the drawings, the straining plate 32 typically has a
substantially
disc-shaped configuration. The straining plate 32 hence typically defines a
plate
diameter 52. The plate diameter 52 is smaller than the straining plate 32 is
in the
plate unstretched configuration than then the straining plate 32 is in the
plate
stretched configuration. By way of example, Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate
situations wherein
the perimeter of the peripheral wall upper edge 24 of the respective
illustrated
vessels 12 is respectively smaller and greater and the corresponding increase
in size
of the plate diameter 52.
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The resiliently deformable plate material is selected such that upon the
straining plate
32 being stretched towards the plate stretched configuration, the resilient
nature of
the stretchable portion of the straining plate 32 biases the straining plate
32 towards
the plate unstretched configuration for exerting a compressive force on the
contacting
portion 50 of the vessel peripheral wall 20 and increasing the intensity of
the frictional
force between the flange contacting surface 48 and the contacting portion 50
of the
vessel peripheral wall 20.
Typically, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the stretchable portion
of the
straining plate 32 extends substantially throughout the straining plate 32. It
is,
however, contemplated within the scope of the present invention to provide a
straining plate 32 wherein only a limited portion thereof is stretchable. For
example,
in alternative embodiments of the invention, only a central portion of the
straining
plate 32 or a peripheral portion of the straining plate 32 could be made out
of a
resiliently stretchable material.
Typically, at least a resilient portion of the attachment flange 46 is made
out of a
resiliently deformable flange material. The resiliently deformable flange
material
allows at least a movable portion 44 of the flange contacting surface 48 to
move
substantially outwardly from a movable portion first position, for example
illustrated in
Fig. 6, to a movable portion second position, for example illustrated in Figs.
7 and 8.
The perimeter of the movable portion 44 of the flange contacting surface is
typically
greater in the movable portion second position than in the movable portion
first
position.
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Upon the resilient portion of the attachment flange being deformed so as to
move the
movable portion of the flange contacting surface 48 towards the movable
portion
second position, the resilient nature of the resilient portion of the
attachment flange
46 biases the movable portion of the attachment flange 46 back towards the
movable
portion first position.
Typically, the resilient portion of the attachment flange extends
substantially
throughout the attachment flange 46. Also, typically, the movable portion of
the
flange contacting surface 48 extends substantially throughout the flange
contacting
surface 48. It is, however, contemplated within the scope of the present
invention
that only a portion of the attachment flange 46 be of a resilient nature. It
is also
contemplated within the scope of the present invention that only a portion the
flange
contacting surface 48 be actually movable.
The flange contacting surface 48 is typically provided with a circumferential
contacting surface groove 56 extending at least partially therealong. In the
embodiment shown throughout the Figures, the contacting surface groove 56
extends uninterrupted circumferentially. It is, however, contemplated within
the
scope of the present invention that only a portion of the perimeter of the
contacting
surface be provided with a contacting surface groove or that the contacting
surface
groove be intermittent according to a predetermined interval pattern.
CA 02602207 2006-03-29
The flange contacting surface 48 defines a contacting surface, or first
portion, 58
extending from the contacting surface groove 56 substantially towards the
straining
plate 32 and an opposed contacting surface second portion 60 extending from
the
contacting surface groove 56 substantially away from the straining plate 32.
In the embodiment shown throughout the Figures, the contacting surface first
and
second portions 58, 60 extend in a substantially common contacting surface
geometrical plane 62. Also, the contacting surface geometrical plane 62 is
shown
extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plate geometrical
plane 34.
It is, however, contemplated within the scope of the present invention that
the
contacting surface first and second portions 58, 60 be in different
geometrical planes
and that such geometrical plates be in any suitable orientation relative to
the plate
geometrical plate 34.
Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate situations wherein only the contacting surface second
portion
60 actually frictionally contacts the contacting portion 50 of the vessel
peripheral wall
20. Fig. 9 illustrates a situation wherein the vessel 12 is deprived of a
vessel flange
and wherein the contacting surface first and second portions 58, 60 contact a
correspondingly shaped contacting portion 50 of the vessel peripheral wall 20.
Referring to Fig. 5, there is shown that typically, although by no means
exclusively,
the contacting surface groove 56 has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional
configuration. The nadir of the contacting surface groove 56 is typically
located
substantially radially outwardly. Typically, at least a resilient portion of
the
attachment flange 46 is deformable for reducing the size of the contacting
surface
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groove 56. For example, when a smaller bead or vessel flange 28 is inserted
into the
contacting surface groove 56 without fitting the latter, stretching of the
attachment
flange 46 typically causes the size of the contacting surface groove 56 to be
reduced
so that the deformed contacting surface groove 56 substantially fittingly
receives the
smaller size bead or vessel flange 28.
Typically, the outer surface of the attachment flange 46 has a substantially
rounded
and convex configuration. It is, however, contemplated within the scope of the
present invention that the outer surface of the attachment flange 46 be
otherwise
configured without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The strainer 10 typically further comprises at least one and preferably two
strainer
handles generally indicated by the reference numeral 64. Each strainer handle
64 is
coupled to the attachment flange 46 by a corresponding handle-to-attachment
flange
coupling 66. Typically, the handle-to-attachment flange coupling 66 is
resiliently
deformable.
As shown more specifically in Figs 1-3 and 10, typically, each handle-to-
attachment
flange coupling 66 includes at least one and preferably a pair of generally
elongated
handle attachment members 68 extending between a corresponding handle 64 and
the attachment flange 46.
Referring to Fig. 5, there is shown that, typically, at least one and
preferably both
strainer handles 64 have a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional
configuration
defining a handle cavity 70 for receiving a corresponding vessel handle 30.
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CA 02602207 2006-03-29
Each strainer handle 64 has a handle-to-handle outer surface 72 for contacting
a
corresponding hand of an intended user and a handle-to-handle inner surface 74
for
contacting a vessel handle 30.
As shown in Figs. 1-3 and 10, the straining plate 32 is typically further
provided with a
stirring aperture 76 extending therethrough. The stirring aperture 76 is
adapted to
allow insertion therein of the stirring implements such as a stirring spoon,
spatula or
the like. Typically, the stirring aperture 76 is located substantially
adjacent the
attachment flange 46.
Typically, the stirring aperture 76 is at least partially circumvented by a
stirring
aperture rim 78. The stirring aperture rim 78 typically merges integrally
about a
section thereof with the attachment flange 46. Typically, although by no means
exclusively, the stirring aperture 76 has a substantially oval configuration.
As illustrated more specifically in Fig. 10, the strainer 10 may optionally be
further
provided with a pouring aperture 80 extending therethrough. The pouring
aperture
80 is typically located substantially adjacent the attachment flange 46.
Also, the strainer 10 may optionally be further provided with a pouring lip 82
extending substantially outwardly from the straining plate 32. The pouring lip
82 is
adapted to be used for guiding the flow of liquid 14 being poured. Typically,
the
pouring lip 82 extends substantially from the plate peripheral edge 40, over
the
attachment flange 46 and radially outwardly therefrom. Typically, although by
no
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CA 02602207 2006-03-29
means exclusively, the pouring lip 82 has a substantially radially convex and
circumferentially concave configuration. Typically, the pouring lip 82 is in
fluid
communication with the pouring aperture 80.
When both the stirring aperture 76 and the pouring aperture 80 are provided,
the
stirring and pouring apertures 76, 80 are typically located in a substantially
diametrically opposed relationship relative to each other.
Typically, the straining plate 32 and attachment flange 46 are both made out
of an
integral piece of resiliently deformable elastomeric material. For example,
the
straining plate 32 and attachment flange 46 may be made out of an integral
piece of
heat-resistant Silicon approved for use in the industry such as the product
identified
by the trade mark O-THANE #RP 6400-1 manufactured by the company Ciba.
Typically, the strainer handle 64 and the handle-to-attachment flange coupling
66 are
also made integrally with the attachment flange 46 and the straining plate 32
out of
an integral piece of resiliently deformable material.
Typically, the difference in thickness between the thickness of the straining
plate 32
and the attachment flange 46 combined with the configuration of the straining
plate
32 and that of the attachment flange 46 is such that upon a radial force being
exerted
on the strainer 10 for stretching the strainer 10 radially outwardly, the
radial
deformation of the straining plate 32 is substantially greater than that of
the
attachment flange 46. This feature is adapted to facilitate mounting of the
strainer
over the cooking vessel 12 and to reduce undue deformation of flange
deformable
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section. Typically, the radial deformation of the straining plate 32 is in the
range of
square times the elongation of the attachment flange 46.
In use, a radial force is exerted by the intended user so as to stretch the
strainer 10
radially outwardly for fitting the flange contacting surface 48 over the outer
surface of
the cooking container. The radial force is then released to allow the external
surfaces to frictionally contact each other. The frictional contacts prevent
unwanted
removal of the strainer and also prevent the fluid from leaking between the
flange and
the cooking vessel.
The handles may be stretched so as to cover the cooking vessel handle acting
as a
further means for preventing unwanted removal of the strainer and also as a
cover for
facilitating the gripping of the cooking vessel handles.
