Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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COOKING POT WITH BOIL-OVER PROTECTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a cooking pot with boil-over
protection, and more particularly to a cooking apparatus including such a
cooking pot
that comprises at least one of an external overflow collection basin
surrounding an
upstanding wall of the cooking pot and a foam breaking member supported on the
cooking pot at a spaced height above a rim of the cooking pot for rupturing
bubbles
emanating from the cooking pot.
BACKGROUND
A conventional cooking pot, even when used with a cover having an
escape valve for releasing steam from within a closed interior of the cooking
pot, is
conducive to foaming when water is boiled in the pot. The foam tends to lift
and pass
underneath the cover and subsequently spill onto a cooktop of a stove during
boiling.
The pot contents that boil-over and spill onto the cooktop, when dried
thereon, are
difficult to clean from the cooktop, particularly so when the cooktop is of a
smooth glass
type.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a cooking
apparatus comprising:
a cooking pot including a bottom wall and an upstanding wall supported
on the bottom wall to define an interior of the cooking pot;
a pot rim defined at a top of the upstanding wall that delimits a top opening
communicated with the interior of the cooking pot;
a cover removably positionable on the top of the upstanding wall;
at least one handle connected to the cooking pot;
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an overflow collection basin comprising a base wall supported on the
upstanding wall of the cooking pot externally of the cooking pot and at a
spaced location
below the pot rim, the base wall of the overflow collection basin being
oriented
transversely to the upstanding wall and extending around a periphery of the
upstanding
wall, and a peripheral wall upstanding from the base wall of the overflow
collection basin
at an outwardly spaced location from the upstanding wall of the cooking pot
and
extending around the periphery of the upstanding wall of the cooking pot such
that an
overflow receptacle is formed externally of the cooking pot for collecting
overflow fluid
which exits the interior of the cooking pot;
a plurality of overflow holes defined in the upstanding wall of the cooking
pot at angularly spaced locations from one another relative to an upstanding
axis of the
cooking pot that is encompassed by the upstanding wall of the cooking pot for
communicating the interior of the cooking pot with the overflow receptacle;
an upper surface of the base wall of the overflow collection basin being
shaped to permit the fluid to flow towards the upstanding wall of the cooking
pot; and
bottoms of the overflow holes being contiguous with the upper surface of
the base wall of the overflow collection basin such that the fluid received in
the overflow
receptacle is enabled to return to the interior of the cooking pot via the
overflow holes.
In this arrangement, the overflow collection basin remains functional even
when the cover is used to close the top opening of the cooking pot as the
overflow holes
are located below the pot rim. Also, the volume of the interior of the cooking
pot is
substantially uncompromised or unchanged by location of the overflow holes in
the
upstanding wall of the cooking pot to communicate with the external overflow
collection.
Additionally, the overflow holes enable any fluid which has overflown the
cooking pot to
return to same so that, overall, fluid is not substantially lost due to boil-
over.
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Preferably, tops of the overflow holes are spaced below the pot rim. Thus
the overflow holes are located wholly spaced below the pot rim proximal which
the cover
is received.
Preferably, the overflow holes are elliptical in shape.
In one such arrangement, the overflow holes are circular shaped.
In one arrangement, the upper surface of the base wall is generally
horizontally oriented.
In one arrangement, the cooking apparatus further includes a foam
breaking member, which comprises a projection arranged to define a surface
encompassing the periphery of the upstanding wall of the cooking pot that is
suitable
for rupturing bubbles emanating from the interior of the cooking pot. The
projection is
supported at an external generally radially outward location of the upstanding
wall of
the cooking pot and protrudes in an inward direction towards the upstanding
wall of the
cooking pot. A free terminus of the projection is located at a spaced height
above the
pot rim.
Preferably, the terminus of the projection is spaced generally radially
outwardly from the upstanding wall of the cooking pot such that an opening
delimited
by the projection above the top opening of the cooking pot is sized larger
than the top
opening of the cooking pot.
In one arrangement, the projection comprises a flange defining a lower
surface facing generally towards the top opening of the cooking pot.
In one arrangement, the flange extends around the periphery of the
upstanding wall of the cooking pot.
In one arrangement, the foam breaking member is removably attachable
to the overflow collection basin.
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In one such arrangement, the foam breaking member includes an upright
support base depending from the projection in transverse orientation thereto
to a bottom
edge of the support base spaced below the terminus of the projection, the
support base
forming an annulus which is receivable in the overflow receptacle.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a cooking
apparatus comprising:
a cooking pot including a bottom wall and an upstanding wall supported
on the bottom wall;
a pot rim defined at a top of the upstanding wall that delimits atop opening
of the cooking pot;
a cover removably positionable on the top of the upstanding wall;
at least one handle connected to the cooking pot;
a foam breaking member comprising a projection arranged to define a
surface encompassing a periphery of the upstanding wall of the cooking pot
that is
suitable for rupturing bubbles emanating from the interior of the cooking pot;
the projection being supported on the upstanding wall of the cooking pot
at an external generally radially outward location of the upstanding wall of
the cooking
pot;
the projection protruding in an inward direction towards the upstanding
wall of the cooking pot; and
a free terminus of the projection being located at a spaced height above
the pot rim.
In this arrangement, the foam-breaking projection is operably located in a
manner not substantially obstructing use of the cover on the cooking pot so
that the
cover can be maneuvered through an opening delimited by the projection above
the
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top opening of the cooking pot.
Preferably, the terminus of the projection is spaced generally radially
outwardly from the upstanding wall of the cooking pot such that an opening
delimited
by the projection above the top opening of the cooking pot is sized larger
than the top
opening of the cooking pot.
In one arrangement, the projection comprises a flange defining a lower
surface facing generally towards the top opening of the cooking pot.
In one such arrangement, the flange extends around the periphery of the
upstanding wall of the cooking pot.
In one arrangement, the projection is operably connected to the
upstanding wall of the cooking pot at a spaced location below the pot rim.
In one arrangement, the foam breaking member is removably attachable
to the cooking pot.
In one such arrangement, the foam breaking member includes an upright
support base depending from the projection in transverse orientation thereto
to a bottom
edge of the support base spaced below the terminus of the projection. The
support
base forms an annulus which is carried on a supporting wall that is carried on
the
upstanding wall externally of the cooking pot and extending around the
periphery of the
upstanding wall.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings in which:
Figure 1 is an exploded view of an arrangement of cooking apparatus
according to the present invention comprising a cooking pot with overflow
collection
basin, a cover, and a foam breaking member;
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Figure 2 is a top plan view of the arrangement of cooking apparatus of
Figure 1 with the foam breaking member and the cover omitted; and
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the arrangement of cooking
apparatus of Figure 1 showing the foam breaking member installed in the
overflow
.. collection basin and the cover removed.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The accompanying figures illustrate a cooking apparatus indicated at 10,
which generally includes a cooking pot 12, a cover 13, an overflow collection
basin 15,
and a foam breaking member 17. The overflow collection basin 15 and the foam
breaking member 17 provide boil-over protection for the apparatus 10, as will
be further
described and better appreciated shortly.
The cooking pot 12 comprises a bottom pot wall 20 and an upstanding
.. peripheral pot wall 21 supported on the bottom wall 20 to define an
interior 24 of the
cooking pot where foodstuffs (not shown) can be received for cooking, for
example by
being boiled in water received in the interior 24 of the pot. An upper pot rim
26 is defined
at a top of the upstanding wall 21, which delimits a top opening 28 of the pot
that is
communicated with the pot interior 24. Additionally, there is provided at
least one
handle 29, for example two handles 29 on opposite sides of the upstanding pot
wall 21,
each of which is connected to the upstanding wall 21 of the cooking pot at a
spaced
location from the overflow collection basin 15.
The cover 13 includes a handle portion 31 and a lid portion 32, and is
removably positionable on the top of the upstanding pot wall 21, for example
by placing
on the pot rim 26 across the top opening 28, to close the pot interior 24
during cooking.
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The overflow collection basin 15 is provided proximal to the pot rim 26,
located closer to the pot rim than to the bottom pot wall 20, and comprises a
base basin
wall 35 which is supported on the upstanding pot wall 21 externally of the
cooking pot
12 and at a spaced location below the pot rim 26. The base basin wall 35 is
oriented
transversely to the upstanding wall 21 and extends around a periphery of the
upstanding wall 21. The collection basin 15 further includes a peripheral
basin wall 38
upstanding, that is standing upright, from the base basin wall 35 at an
outwardly spaced
location from the upstanding pot wall 21 and extending around the periphery of
the
upstanding pot wall 21 such that an overflow receptacle 40 is formed
externally of the
cooking pot 12 for collecting overflow fluid (not shown) which exits the
interior 24 of the
cooking pot 12 during cooking. The overflow receptacle 40 is the space
collectively
formed and delimited by the base and peripheral basin walls 35, 38 and an
upper
portion 42 of the upstanding pot wall 21 disposed above the base basin wall
35. The
external location of the collection basin 15 leaves a volume of the pot
interior 24
unchanged while still providing a structure for collecting the overflow fluid
so that the
fluid which inadvertently exits the pot interior 24 does not reach a cooktop
of a stove
(not shown) on which the cooking pot 12 is placed during cooking. Where the
respective pot handle 29 is disposed at a location where it does not pass
through the
overflow receptacle 40, the base and peripheral basin walls 35, 38 extends
around the
full periphery of the upstanding pot wall 21.
This overflow fluid may inadvertently exit the cooking pot interior 24 over
the pot rim 26 or through a plurality of overflow holes 44 which are defined
in the upper
portion 42 of the upstanding wall 21 of the cooking pot at angularly spaced
locations
from one another relative to an upstanding axis A of the cooking pot 12 that
is
encompassed by the upstanding pot wall 21 (as more clearly shown in Figure 2).
The
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overflow holes 44 communicate the interior 24 of the cooking pot with the
overflow
receptacle 40. The overflow holes 44 are formed through a full thickness of
the
upstanding wall 21 and also are sized sufficiently small so as to enable a
suitable
release of the overflow fluid therethrough to the overflow receptacle 40 on
the outside
of the cooking pot 12 to minimize the likelihood of the fluid boiling over the
pot rim 26
during a boil-over event occurring during the cooking process. Thus, despite
presence
of the overflow holes 44 below the pot rim 26, the fluid inside the cooking
pot 12 is
substantially retained therein. This is further enhanced by tops 44A of the
overflow
holes 44 being spaced below the pot rim 26s0 that the overflow holes are
wholly spaced
below the pot rim 26, and by providing holes 44 which are elliptical in shape.
In the
illustrated arrangement, the overflow holes 44 are circular shaped so as to be
generally
elliptical in shape.
Bottoms 44B of the overflow holes 44 are contiguous an upper surface 47
of the base wall 35 of the overflow collection basin 15, which surface is
shaped to permit
the overflow fluid to flow towards the upstanding wall 21 of the cooking pot,
such that
the fluid received in the overflow receptacle 40 is enabled to return to the
interior 24 of
the cooking pot via the overflow holes 44. In other words, the overflow hole
bottoms
44B are flush with the upper base wall surface 47 so that flow of the overflow
fluid back
into the pot interior 24 is substantially unimpeded, for example by any raised
areas
intermediate the overflow receptacle and the pot interior 24. In the
illustrated
arrangement, the upper surface 47 of the base basin wall 35 is generally
horizontally
oriented which is sufficient to enable the overflow fluid to return through
the overflow
holes 44 to the pot interior 24, whether by gravity and/or fluid mechanics or
suction due
to a pressure gradient between the pot interior 24 and an exterior of the
cooking pot 12.
The foam braking member 17 comprises a projection 50 which is
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arranged to define a surface encompassing the periphery of the upstanding pot
wall 21
that is suitable for rupturing bubbles emanating from the interior 24 of the
cooking pot
12. That is, the projection 50 is a single element or a plurality of elements
which alone
or collectively form a surface surrounding the periphery of the upstanding
wall 21 of the
cooking pot 12. The projection 50 is configured to provide at least a lower
breaking
surface 53 which is oriented transversely to the upstanding axis A of the
cooking pot 12
against which bubbles emanating from the pot interior 24 collide and
consequently
burst. The projection 50 may also be configured to provide a pointed breaking
tip or
edge 55 upon which contact with a bubble can act to break a surface tension of
the
bubble and thus cause it to burst. The projection 50 is supported on the
upstanding
wall 21 of the cooking pot 12 at an external generally radially outward
location of the
upstanding pot wall 21. Thus the projection 50 is operably located in a manner
forming
an access opening 57 delimited by the projection 50 above the top opening 28
of the
cooking pot which does not substantially obstruct or impede use of the cover
13 on the
cooking pot 12 so that the cover 13 can be maneuvered through the access
opening
57 for placing upon or removing from the cooking pot 12 while the projection
50 is
suitably positioned for stopping emanating foam. In the illustrated
arrangement, a free
terminus of the projection which is defined by the breaking edge 55 is spaced
generally
radially outwardly from the upstanding wall of the cooking pot such that the
access
opening 57 is sized larger than the top opening 28 of the cooking pot to
ensure
unobstructed passage of the cover 13 therethrough, which cover 13 is sized
correspondingly to the top of the upstanding pot wall 21 (i.e., the pot rim 26
in the
illustrated arrangement). The projection 50 protrudes in an inward direction
towards
the upstanding pot wall 21, and the free terminus of the projection defined by
the
breaking edge 55 is located at a spaced height above the pot rim 26. In the
illustrated
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arrangement, the whole of the lower breaking surface 53 is spaced above the
pot rim
26. This may provide a vertical distance over which emanating bubbles can
accelerate
so that they collide with the breaking surface 53 with sufficient force to
burst.
In the illustrated arrangement, the projection 50 comprises a flange
defining the lower breaking surface 53 facing generally towards the top
opening 28 of
the cooking pot 12. The flange extends around the periphery of the upstanding
wall of
the cooking pot. That is, the flange is a single continuous element which
extends
uninterruptedly around the periphery of the upstanding pot wall 21.
As more clearly shown in Figure 1, the foam breaking member 17 is
removably attachable to the cooking pot, and more specifically, so attached to
the
overflow collection basin 15 such that the projection 50 is operably connected
to the
upstanding wall 21 of the cooking pot at a spaced location below the pot rim
26. This
operable connection is facilitated by an upright support base 60 of the foam
breaking
member 17, which depends from the projection 50 in transverse orientation
thereto to
a bottom edge 61 of the support base 60 spaced below the terminus 55 of the
projection. The support base 60 forms an annulus which is receivable in the
overflow
receptacle, and more specifically, carried on a supporting wall that is
carried on the
upstanding wall 21 externally of the cooking pot 12 and that extends around
the
periphery of the upstanding pot wall 21. This supporting wall is formed by the
base
basin wall 35 on which the bottom edge 61 rests when the foam breaking member
17
is installed in the overflow collection basin 35. The support base 60 forms a
peripherally
enclosed space within its annulus to contain emanating foam therewithin.
The cooking apparatus 10 may be sold as a kit including the cooking pot
12 with the affixed overflow collection basin 15, the cover 13 and the foam
breaking
member 17. Alternatively, the foam breaking member 17 may be sold separately
of the
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remaining components of the cooking apparatus 10.
In use, a foodstuff (not shown) is disposed in the interior 24 of the cooking
pot 12, and typically water is added into same. The cooking pot 12 containing
its
contents is located upon a cooking element of a stove cooktop (not shown),
which is
activated so as to heat the pot 12 for cooking the contents therein.
Typically, the cover
13 is disposed on the top of the cooking pot 12 so that the foodstuff in the
pot 12 can
cook more quickly, and to retain the liquid therein. When the pot contents
begin to boil,
the cover 13 may be left in the closed position upon the pot rim 26, as any
rising liquid
and foam may escape through the overflow holes 44 and into the overflow
receptacle
40 provided by the collection basin 15. When the contents are boiling, the
heat of the
stove element may be reduced, and consequently any foam within the closed
cooking
pot may fall and subside. Any fluid which has overflown, that is, escaped to
the overflow
receptacle 40, may re-enter the pot interior 24 through the overflow holes 44.
Thus
bidirectional flow is enabled between the pot interior 24 and the overflow
receptacle 40
via the overflow holes 44.
If the cover 13 is removed, i.e., not residing on the pot rim 26, at the time
of boiling, or should the foam otherwise rise above the pot rim 26, the foam
breaking
member 17 and particularly the projection 50 may disrupt further emanation of
the foam
above the free terminus 53 thereof. Even with the foam breaking member 17
installed
in its working position as shown in Figure 3, the cover 13 may be suitably
installed on
the cooking pot 12 or removed therefrom.
It will be appreciated that in other arrangement which are not shown, the
foam breaking member 17 and particularly the projection 50 thereof may be
affixed to
the upstanding wall 21 of the cooking pot 12 or to the peripheral wall 38 of
the overflow
collection basin, which in such an embodiment may extend above the pot rim 26
to a
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suitable height for operation of the projection 50 in disrupting further
emanation of the
foam.
The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred
embodiments set forth in the examples but should be given the broadest
interpretation
consistent with the specification as a whole.
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