GB2270459A - Cooking utensil with enlargeable cooking chamber - Google Patents

Abstract

A cooking utensil preferably comprises a base member 6 comprising a generally circular bottom wall 14, and a peripheral sidewall 12, a circular recess 18 extending through the bottom 14, being bounded by an upwardly-extending rim 20. Preferably a cooking dish 8 is provided having a generally circular bottom 22, smaller than the diameter of the bottom of the base, and a peripheral side wall 24. A cover 10 is provided, preferably such that when the dish 8 is placed on the base member 6, and the cover 10 placed on the cooking dish, a cooking chamber 40 is provided. A spacer member 50 is provided which is preferably in the form of a hollow cylinder, having a diameter at one end which is the same as the rim of the cover 10, enabling the member 50 to be placed on the cooking dish 8, whilst the cover member 10 may be seated on an outflared margin 52 at the upper end of the spacer member 50. In this manner, a means is provided for enlarging the volume of the cooking chamber 40, when desired. Preferably a tray 60 is also provided, to trap liquid flowing from the cooking chamber in the event that the contents thereof boil over. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "Improvements relating to cooking utensils" Description of Invention This invention is concerned with improvements relating to cooking utensils.

In the specification of my U.K. Patent GB 2120530 there is described a cooking utensil (better known as a "Dutch oven") of the kind (hereinafter referred to as being of the kind specified) comprising (a) a base member adapted to be positioned over a source of heat, the base member providing an upwardly-open cavity defining a heating chamber into which heat flow from the source through one or more apertures in the bottom of the base member; (b) a cooking dish adapted to be mounted over the heating chamber with the bottom of the cooking dish spaced from the bottom of the base member and a side wall of the cooking member spaced from the side wall of the base member whereby heat flowing through the aperture or apertures in the bottom of the base member flows over the bottom of the cooking dish and around side walls thereof; and (c) a cover adapted to be mounted over the cooking dish, to define, in conjunction therewith, a cooking chamber.

Difficulties are encountered at times in that it is necessary for the cover to be of a size such as to accommodate within the utensil relatively large objects to be cooked, and at times such a large volume is not necessary, and heating of the large volume is wasteful.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a cooking utensil of the kind specified, comprising a spacer member adapted to be mounted over the cooking dish and upon which the cover member may be mounted to define, in conjunction therewith, said cooking chamber, the construction and arrangement being such that, with the spacer member present a cooking chamber having a first, large volume is provided, and when the cover is mounted on the cooking dish without the spacer member, a cooking chamber having a second, smaller volume is provided.

Preferably the spacer member is cylindrical, preferably having a diameter equal to that of the rim of the cover, enabling either of the spacer member or the cover member to be seated on the cooking dish.

Where the cooking dish is provided with one or more apertures in the rim, preferably both the cover member and the spacer member are adapted to be seated on the cooking dish outwardly of said apertures whereby heat flowing from the heating chamber may flow through the apertures into the cooking chamber.

Preferably the spacer member comprises a diameter at an opposite end which is larger than the rim of the cover member, providing a seating for the rim of the cover member on the upper end portion of the spacer member.

Additionally it has been found that when using a cooking utensil of the kind specified, particularly of the type having one or more apertures provided in the rim of the cooking dish, on occasion liquids overflow from the cooking dish and pass downwardly through the apertures, and flow into the base member.

Since the base member is in direct contact with heat, such liquids tend to burn, emitting smoke, and are difficult to clean.

According to this invention there is also provided a cooking utensil of the kind specified, comprising an annular tray adapted to be located within the base member so as to engage the peripheral wall thereof, into which liquid flowing through said apertures will flow.

Preferably the tray affords an upwardly-open concave chamber in the form of a ring, preferably being semi-circular in cross-section, and side walls adapted to fit closely within the interior of the base member, the ring like shape of the tray providing no impedance to the flow of heat into the utensil for heating the heating chamber.

If desired, on completion of cooking fluid caught by the tray may be utilised as stock.

There will now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawing of a cooking utensil which is a preferred embodiment of this invention, having been selected for the purposes of illustrating the invention by way of example.

The accompanying drawing is a vertical sectional view of the preferred embodiment.

The cooking utensil which is the preferred embodiment of the invention is an improvement in or modification of the cooking member described in the specification of my earlier patent GB2120530, to which reference should be made for details omitted herefrom.

The cooking member comprises a base member 6 comprising a generally circular bottom wall 14, and a peripheral side wall 12 extending upwardly from the bottom. Extending through the bottom 14 is a central circular recess 18 bounded by an upwardly-extending rim 20, and the peripheral side wall 12 is set outwardly in the upward direction, providing an upwardly-facing annular shoulder 13.

Extending outwardly from the central section of the peripheral wall 12 are two handles 16.

The cooking utensil also comprises a cooking dish 8 having a generally circular bottom 22, smaller in diameter than that of the bottom 14 of the base member, and a circular peripheral side wall 24. Extending upwardly from the side wall 24 is an outwardly-stepped margin 26, which extends to a rim 28, provided with two, generally diametrically opposite flanges 30. Extending through the horizontal section of the margin 26 there is provided a plurality of apertures 32.

The cooking utensil which is the preferred embodiment of this invention is intended for use with a heat source which may be an electricallypowered heating element, or a gas ring, and is constructed in a manner such that when the base member 6 is placed over a source of heat, heat from the source will pass through the central recess 18 into a heating chamber 17 defined by the base member.

The cooking utensil also comprises a cover 10 having a generally circular part 34, a peripheral side wall 36, and a lower circular rim 38. The diameter of the rim 38 is such that the cover may be positioned on the horizontal part of the margin 26 of the cooking dish, extending around the outside of the apertures 32, as is shown. In this position of the cover member, the cover member and the cooking dish 8 together define a cooking chamber 40.

The cooking utensil which is the preferred embodiment of this invention also comprises a spacer member 50, in the form of a hollow cylinder, having a diameter at one end (the lower end, as shown in the drawing) which is the same as the rim of the cover 10, enabling the cover 50 to be placed on the horizontal part of the margin 26 radially outwardly of the apertures 32, in place of the cover member 10.

At an upper end the spacer member 50 is provided with a flared margin 52, providing an outer diameter into which the rim 38 of the cover member may be seated.

By the use of both the spacer member 50 and the cover member 10, a cooking chamber 40 may be provided which is of larger volume than that which is provided when the spacer member is not used.

The cooking utensil also comprises a drip tray 60, which is of annular form, presenting an upwardly-open semi-circular cavity 62, and a side wall 64 adapted to seat against the side wall 12 of the base member 6, and having a lip 66 adapted to seat against the shoulder 13 provided by the base member.

With the drip tray 62 in position, should liquid within the cooking dish boil over and flow downwardly through the aperture 32, it will be caught in the cavity 62, and thus prevent it from running onto the bottom surface 14 of the heating member 14.

On completion of use the drip tray 62 may be lifted upwardly out from the base member 6, and the contents thereof poured out.

The accompanying drawing shows the use within the cooking chamber 40 of a grid 44, enabling certain articles to be cooked, such as by boiling in the lower part of the cooking dish, whilst another portion may be steamed in an upper portion of the cooking chamber.

A vent 35 is provided, by which a vent hole 35 provided in the top 34 of the cover member 10 may either be closed, or brought into communication with one of a number of apertures, only to 35a and 35b of which are shown, conveniently of different size.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (9)

1. A cooking utensil of the kind specified, comprising a spacer member adapted to be mounted over the cooking dish and upon which the cover member may be mounted to define, in conjunction therewith said cooking chamber, the construction and arrangement being such that, with the spacer member present a cooking chamber having a first, large volume is provided and when the cover member is mounted on the cooking dish without the spacer member, a cooking chamber having a second, smaller volume is provided.

2. A cooking utensil according to claim 1 wherein the spacer member is cylindrical.

3. A cooking utensil according to Claim 2 wherein the diameter of the spacer member at one end is equal to that of the rim of the cover member.

4. A cooking utensil according to Claim 3 wherein the diameter of the spacer member at an opposite end which is larger than the rim of the cover member, providing a seating for the rim of the cover member on the upper end portion of the spacer member.

5. A cooking utensil according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cooking dish is provided with one or more apertures in the rim, and both the cover member and the spacer member are adapted to be seated on the cooking dish outwardly of said apertures.

6. A cooking utensil of the kind specified, comprising an annular tray t.; adapted to be located within the base member so as to engage the peripheral wall thereof, into which liquid flowing through said apertures will flow.

7. A cooking utensil according to Claim 6 wherein the tray affords an upwardly-open concave chamber in the form of a ring, and side walls adapted to fit closely within the interior of the base member.

8. A cooking utensil constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. Any novel feature or novel combination of features hereinbefore described and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.