CA2114841A1 - Cooking utensil - Google Patents

Abstract

A cooking utensil for reducing spattering of juices in an oven, comprising a container having an upper opening and a base, a grill substantially traversing the opening, and an intermediate liner located within the container, wherein a space is defined between the intermediate liner and the base of the container.

Description

r~ J r ~ J V ~t v V
RECE~VED 1 6 APR 1993 `

COOKING UTENSIL

FIEI.D OF THE IMVENTiON ;~

The invention relates to ~ utensil for use in an oven.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

5 Tr~ditionally ovens Are of fl}-proximately cube shape having a central cavity in which food ls pl~ced to be cooked. Other types of ovens ha~e been promoted includinE~ ov~ns with domed top~ ancl oven~ which havo an inside cavity approx~mntlng ~ spherical shape.

Foods such as meats, which flre cookecl in ovens are cooked in a dish in which fat is often ~dded to promote ~rowning of the meflt. Consequently, ~:
the meat is cooked in thAt ~nt ~s well ~ those jlllces which issue from the ~. -meat. Meat cooked in this w~y cPn be hlgh in saturated fats w~ich sre a significant sollrce of cholesterol ~nd nowAdays considered to be ~.
. ~, unhealthy .

In an effort to reduce the -Imollnt of f~t ir which meat i~ cooked, ~.
arrangements have been ~roposed wh:ich en~ble food to be placsd upon a ~ .
grill above a container. Tllis: sep~r?~tes the food: Erom the~ fsts and from juices issuing from it. Thi~ ~190 ~void~ the need to:~add~ f~t other than that which may : be ~ nece~ry : to: ~romote: browning .: F~t and jutce ~ ::
20 gravitate away ~rom th~e fo~ci~ An~l drot~ or fiow into the~ ~nnt~iner.

In the ollowing description reference to "Juice" is me~nt;to include not~ :
only the ~uice issuing from Ihe food e.g. meP~t, ~but al~o the basting~oi~ or; "'~
fat. With either of these form~ ol~ cookin~, the juice comes into cvntact ;
with the~.hot sur~c~s of th~? contFIiner. This callses the juice to~ attain a 25 hlgh temperature very ~ ickly ~t whlch it tends t o explode cAusing droplets of ~uice to be spr;lye~l onto the inside::walls :o the oven. With `:
fan forced ovens the droplets ~re ~llrther circuiated within the oYen by the moveme!lt of air. :

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IPE~VSllBSTlTUTe SHE@T
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r~ U ~ / U U 't V U
REC3~VED 16 APR 1993 2. 2 1 ~

Cleaning o ovens in whi~ mestt ~ heen cooked has always been a problem as the spr~ye~ ice l)Qcomes b~ked on the w~lls of the oven . :~
Also i~ the oven has A viewing ~l~s.c it become~ obscured by the sprayed juice preventing effective ob~cerv~tiotl o~ the interior of the oven. Many 5 oven cleaners have been ~ropose-3, however, these are usually toxic in nature and a gre~t deal of c~re i.~ necess~ry by the user to ensure that no residues are left and f ~lrther th~t they are not inhaled .

It will be appreciated th~qt thi~ ~roh1em is particlllarly prevalent when the ~-oven is operated at high t~mr)erAtllrex, e. g 180C and in particular at 2'10C ~nd above, where ]~licec m~y vslporise ;~nd subseqllently conden9e. `~

Accordingly, ~nv~tigPti-)n~ h~,e ~een carried out in an effort to ascertain why tlle Jl~ice iq qpr~yed cluring coc>king, and whst arrangement snay .qer~vR to rninimi.c~ thi~ spraying. Sllch inve~tigations have revealed that in ~tl O ven n~ratecl at high temper~tures, the 9uice is at a much lower tem~eratllr~ t.han th;lt of the container walls or dish walls ~ -in which the meat i~ be~ng cooked. Con~equently when ~uice contacts these walls ~ts tem~erAt~lre i~ r~pidly increased b,y heat exchange wlth the w~ll. This C~111S~C n r;lT)id e~ nn~ion of the volllme of. the juice and explosions result ~rhich pr- r~l drQr~ f j~liCe itl ~riolls directions~

In addition, oeten S.he ~l~ice~ ~hi~h rlln Ollt of the meRt contain a large portion of water ~nd other li<l~licl~ wl)icl~ e,Yplode ~lpon comillg illtO contact ~:
with boiling fat l~r oil.
'~'' ' DESCRIPTION OF THE_INVENTION
' When considering the fol m ,r ~ t~tlsil which ma,y r e~ ce the spr~ying phenomenon lt is propo~ed ~ r)nr~ t~le me~t frorn the container by :~
means o~.~ grill ~AS ~ k11nWr~ lh~ r)ri--r ~rt~. lT~>wever, it has now been discovered th~t ~:prs-,yin~ -f )~ e~ ~f t~le food being cooked in an oven can be reducecl hy lo(~tin~ ~n intermedi~te liner between the contalner and the grill. ~t i~ b~ ve~ th?~t the reduction in the spraying ~:of jllices occurs as A re~l~lt f eitl~er o r both the. ternperature oE the lin~r being less than the tem,~err~1 ~1t'e of the cont~iner or l~y shApin~ the lln~r ~, E~3 .

r~ u ~ I V -t u V
/ti3 1 6 APR 1993 3. 211~84 so that juices which ~r;lvit~t~ 01)t~ th~ Iin~r tend not to substantially spray beyond the cont~iner.
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According to this inventi-~n, t~-er~ i~ provided a cookjng utensil for food comprising a cont~iner hP~ inF~ an 1Ip~?er opening ~n~l a base, a grill S substantially traver~sin~ the o~eninF~ to receive food to be cooked, and an `' intermediate liner locAte~l ~Jithin the cont~iner ?Ind ~leEil~ing a sp~ce with ~ -the base of the cc~ntait1~r, t~l-? int~rlr~e~liate liner h~vitlg at least one outlet positioned ~ncl prt r)nrtinne~l to ~ermit .j~1ices iS.c~ g ~rom tha food ~:-to pa.ss therethroll~h into t~ pnce ~nd to si~b~t~ntially prevent ~the Juice~ from spl~q~hinF~ h~ok tt1erethr~ gh ~ a res111t of jlllces contacting --the bass. ~ `
.: .
In a preferred ~sr)e~t ~f tht~ invrnti~l, the intermr(l~ate liner is clear c>f the base of the contAiner.

The space between the int~rmediRte lin~r and tt~e b~e of~ the container 15 appe~rs to help insul~t~ the litler frorn tl~e eorl~Rin~?r, thereby maintaining the liner at a low~r ~emr~rt;~ r~? tll~ rl t~ eont~1n5?r for ~t least R portion of the cooking cyele time. ::
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The intermedi~te liner m~lD t~kf~ nrl.v Ct)rlVellieDt ~ pe. ~Prefer~bly, the liner compri~es downwl~-11y ~ e(1 ~r ~CI~t`VeC1 W71~ . Such ~loped or curved w~lls c'~lu~e: fl1~idc (.~i1t~ t1~ em~n'rltin~ froln the :food heing ~`~
cooked) f~lling or-to the ~v;~ rr~ t~ t-~ ~ 1nw~r p~rtion of the liner.
A liner having con~ v;~ c~ rl~v r~ref-~rrrd .
O ,~
The intermedi lte linPr prerern~ vi11 i~ e s t ltmct o~r~e ~v;~11 wi~ich .slopes.
Erom fln flren ~dJ~c~?l1t 11~ r~t,~lin~r irc1lmfer~nc~ o~-t the oE~ening, 25 downwardly tow~rd~ tli-~ 1OWc~.t ~r t inn ,r tl~ e- In thi~ ~rr~ngement, ~uice clrops.o~to s~ch r~ w;~ n(l ~on~Tn~ t-- ~rnvitnt~ tow~rds the lowest ;-portion o~ the intermedi:~t~ r ;~ di~c~7~ d, ~ove. Pre~erably~, a top , .
portion of a w~ll of the ini~rm~(li,~te lint?r hz~ n '~ngle o~ inclination of at least 45 downw~rdly fro~n tll~ hori7,ont~
:
30 A.ccorclingly, it is p~rtic~ rly p1~ferre~ t tht? outl~t be situ~ted At the lowest port}on of the lirl~r. 'l`l~e j~lire.~ which F~r~vitflte tow,~rd~ the ~3 :'':

U ~ J V ~ U U
1 6 APR 199.

2I14~41 lowest portion of the lin~r ~ill enter the outlet and pflSS into the base of the container.

Further, a cover m~y b~ po ~i1ione~cl ovQr, but sp~ced ~rom, the outlet in orcler to prevent juice~ from tlrop~in~ straight througll the outlet without 5 first contacting the cover or the intermediate liner. The cover wil~
therefore prevent jl~ices w~icl~ h~vt~ pa~secl thrnugh the outlet into the base Oe the container frnm ~itting ~r ~pr~ying bf~ck up through the outlet .

As an alternative, the ba~t~ prefel ~bly has an s1pw~rdly extending 10 protrusion which i~ rl~?~l with the outlet~ The protr~lsion may ext~nd f~lrther into the olltlet c r in fact thl t)l~gh it. In thi~ ~rrangement julce~
falling directly t-~w~r~l~ tlle ~ tl-`t nre deflectecl by the protrusion to inhibit any potenti~l ~pl~sh ~)~ck.

Is~ a p~rticularly preferrt?tl emboclirnent of the Invention, ~he space 1 5 cdefined between the liner ~nd the ~)a~e oF the container is at lea~t partially occ~lpiecl by an it~slllatin~ material or by ~ater. Mo~t preferal~ly the s~ee is P~t k~.ct ~; r~ occl~pie(l b!~ t~nter.: The water may be~ precent ?~ ot)l i~ e ~ nf the contairler. More preferably, the IeveI of the w~ter in tl~e ContF~iner iS suffici~nt or the water to 20 cont~lct at le~st on~ r~or ~ n of Rn ~ ler~cit1e ~curf~ce Oe the intermediateliner. l~he level of w~ter i~ r~rt- fernhl y ~re~ter th~t1 tlle lowest portiotl of the liner. This ~n;~le~ lire~ t ~t`lh;~Tl~e hehvt?en the liner and the ~ater wherein ti~P li-~er ~cf.~ t .c~nree ~n~l the wnter ~15 ~ heat ~ink. ~rhe u~e of w~ter irl tll- cn~t; irler tentls to mnint~ the liner at a 25 lower temperature tll;~n ~n~ltl l~e ill~ c;lct? if no water l~n~l heen used.

The use oE water in tht? ~ ce nl~n ~imr lifi~ the clen~ing of the container ~s juice~ w~ich p~s thro~ th~ -efle~ in the liner tend to fIoat on or be dispersed ~n the wnter.

Where water is to ~)e ll~e~l in the ont7~ner the liner will further 30 preferably compri~e a pr-lJection extending clown from ~bout the outlet of the liner for Immersion ill thf? ~ ter. This extends the ~eriod of time during which the liner c<!rltnct.~ the wPlter, ~ the W?~ter tends to ~"';

1~!!
''':'' ~ _~/r~u ~ U ~ J V ,.
RE~JV~ 1 6 APR 199 3 r> 21~ ll & 4 1 evaporate during cooking, reducing the level of the water in the containsr. Th~ projection m~y eornprise ~ w?ll ~urrounding anci -extanding from the outlet.

.
Also, when water is ~l~e(~, steam is produced on a sm~ll scàle. It ha~
5 been found thnt this tend~ to m~inl: till ~I moist at.mosphere within the ovenand has a beneficial effect on m~intaining the moisture and flavour o~ the :
food being cooked.

The cooking ~-tenQll o~ this invention rnæy further comprise a lid to sub3tantially cover the ~lpper openinF~ of the cont~iner. The lid m~y have an outlet for ste~m to escnpe therethrough. The lid may further ~ ~
comprise a handle W~iC71 mn~y prefer~bly be in thre~ded engagement with : ~:
the outlet of the licl.

In a urther preferre(l embocliment, the illtermediRte liner may be inverted and placed over the upper opening lo constitute the lid. When used a3 ~-n lid, tha intermediate liner ma~ ~ave a handle attached lthereto for .
lift~ng the llner. The h~ndle mA~y h~i ndapted to thre~dably enga~è tlh3 ::
liner through the outlet of th~ lin~r.

Surprisingly, the ~lse of ~ cookinF~ l1tensl1 according to the above ~.
descri~tion reduces spatterin~ or spr ~,ring when ovens are operated at - ~:
high temperatllres ~lc~l nS nbove lROC. When wnter is llsed in the container, as clescri~ecl ~ nve, it m~v ~Iso contri~lte to the maintenance o ~ mois$ atmosphere i~ hicl~ e ro-~cl is r~ookecl wl-ic~ enhances its flavour. .

The container m~y be ~n y ~litnbl~ nr)e, .~uch ~ rectnngular, spherieal or elliptical. The ~hflp~? of the intermedint* lin~r will l~e adapted to ~lt `
within the- cont~in0r ~ crihed n~ ve .
.
D13SCRIPTIOM OF THE D.RAWINGS
:
The inv~ntion will t~ow 1)~ tr~te~l with refereJ-ce to the: accompanying .~
drawings in which~

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IPl~SUB5TlTuTE~ SHEET
`:

r~l/Au ~ IJ U 4 U U
~CEiVF~ APR 199 .
211~8~1 Figure 1 is a perspectiv~ vi~ oE the grill ~nd the intermediate liner according to ~n embodiment of the ins~ention.

~ig7lre 2 iY n CrOSs-secfinTl~l view n~ ~ cooking lltensil ~ccording to one embodiment o~ the inventio1l showtl in ~igllre 1. ..

S Figure 3 is a pers~ective view o~ the interme~i~te liner o~ Figure 1 in an inverted positionO

FlguI~e 4 is A top ~l~n view sln~ icle plnn ~iew oE ~ handle for the -~
lntermed~te liner.

F~gure 5 is a top plAn view of ~he intermec3ihte liner of Figure 1, with the ~;
10 handle oE Figllre 4 ~ttnchesl thereto.

Figure 6 is ~ ~Ide plP~n ~riew of ;~ cooking utellsil Plccorcling to another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 7 is ~ cross-~c~ion~l: ViPW of tlle co--klng ~Iten~il of :Figure 6. ~`

Figure 8 is P per~pee~iv~ view -f i1~e ~rill s~ncl tl~e irlte1medi~te liner 15 ~ccord~ng to ~n embo~liment of the invelltion.

Figure ~ is ~ crosF-è~ctio-~ni ~ie~v Or ;~ cookin~ ~Iten~ ccording to the embodiment of the in velifion e~nwn irl ~ie~lr~

Figure IO is ~ per~e~t.iv~ Vir~J r~ t7~-~ irlter mecli~te 7inF~r -r Fl~l7re 8 in ~n :~
inverted position.

Figure 11 is ~ top plnn vi~ tll~ irltPrme~liz te liner c-f Figllre 8, with ~
the han~e of Fig~re ~ s~ttn(~ l lhl~rF~tn. -,;

Figure 12 is a si~le pl~n view of r? ~noking ~lten~ ceordillg to ~nother embodiment of the 1nv~ntion.

~iigure 13 i~ ~ cross-~ectiot-~l view of th~? cooking utensil o~ Figure 12. ;-,~.

L~PIZEJUSUBSTITUTE3 SH~ET~
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r~ w ~ ~J J V l) 4 U U

7 211~841 ~

Figure 14 is ~ per~pectiv~? vi~w of the grill ~ncl the intermediate liner according to an embodim~nt ~f the inv~?nti~>n.

Figure 15 is a cro~s-~ecticnPI :view of ~ cookillg utensil according to the embodiment of the inventinn ~hown in Figl~re 14.

5 Figure 16 is ~ per~pectiv~ ViPW oî tl~e intermedi~te liner oE Pigure 14 in an inverted position. :.:

. . .
Figure 17 i~ a top ~l~n vi~ Qf tlle interm~ te liner of Figure 14, with (~;
the hand!e of Fig~lrQ ~ P~tt~cherl th~ret~

F~gure 1~ is ~ sitl~ plrln view of A ooking uten~ ccording to another embodiment of the invenfion. :

Figure l9 is ~ cro~s-~ctio~ l ViPW ~-f th~ cooking utensll o~ Eigure 18.

Figure 20 is an Ps~emhly (lr~win~ cook~ng utensil acoording to a: :
~urther embodlment O~ ~th~! it)V~tiOIl; ~

Figure Zl is R cro~ ti- n:ll vi~v -f th~ ~It~n~il o~ Figure 20 ~with water 15 added;

Figures 22, 2~, 26 ;In~l 2~3 nr~? f ur t.her n~em~ly ~ ~lr~wings o~ cooking ~: utensils according tQ oti~r ~nl~-ndim~ f the inventinn; ::~

Figures 23, 25, 27 Rnrl 2 n~ rn~-cr~tioll~l vla~ of ~ tl~e utensll of Figures 22, 2q,2fi ~ncl ~2n ~itll:~ ter ;n~kle(l;

20 Figures 30 ~nd 32 ~re r~?r.~r?P(~ti~e view~ of co-~kin~ ~tten.~ ccording to ~further ~mbodiment~ o~ th~ inV~n~inn; nnt~

: Figures 31 and 33 ~re~ cro~ eetiotlni view~ o~ t~le cooking utensil~ of figures 30 and 32.: ; ~ ~

Figur~s 34, 35 ?nd ~.~fi slr~? crn.s~-sectionPl view of coo}cing utensils `.
25 ~ according to A further emh~ im~nt -f th~ ;J1V~nt;On.

: .' .
:~ .~'.`
~PEAJSUBSTITUTE SHEE~,I

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PC~AU ~J 9 ~ 4 0 0 ~ i3 1 ~ APR 1993 ~114&~1 `

In the drawings, like comr)on~nt~ ~r~ clesign~ted with the same number~.

As will be apparent from ~ig~1re~ 2, 9, 1.5 ~nd 20 to 29 the cooking utensil 10 comprises ~ conts~ine~ liner 1 ~nd a grill 2. Container 3 is a bowl shape but m~y ~e nf ~ny ~it~ble ~h~pe to fit into ~n oven ~not 5 shown ) .

As shown in Figures 1, .~, n, ~ nncl 1~, liner 1, h~s ~ flAt rim 5 ~or - ~ .
engaging a shoulder 6 of tl~e 07~tzliner .~ ; showtl in Figures 2, 9 and 15. Alternatively, as ~-own in ~ig~lre~ 21 ~nd 23, line~ 1 has a periphery 11 which cont~cts tl-e inner surface 12 of container 3 at polnt 13 on its surface.

In place, as sllown in ~igure~ 2, ~1, 1.~3, 21, 23, 25, 27 ~nd 29, the liner has a lower ~ rf~ce 7 w71i~h i~ pended ~ e the ba~e 14 of ;i container 3.

LiTler 1 has an o~ltlet l formesl in its lowest position. As shown in Figures 20 to 27, abov~ oll~1Qt 1~ i~ f3 cov~r 16. Cover lfi comprise~ a ~:
~rusto-conical surfac~? I7 n nzl lhr~ legs l~ tnot ~hown in igure 24)~
These three legs 1~3 e~ g~ liner 1 nhollt the o-ltlet 15, .IS shown in Fi~ures 21, 23, 25 an~ 27~ ~ig~re.5 2~ and 2~ show a co~ver 16 comprising a triang~ r ~l~rfar~ l7 z~n~l nllmero~ls l~gs 18:
,~
Grill 2 is plac~ci ove~ nt;liner .~ ; n~l 1in~r l . ~t comprises a circumferentiRl ring l~3 nntl r~r- ~s ~oF~m~rS 2n ~ which ~xt~nd ~cross ring 1~ and nre nffi,Y~d to r in~ v v~l~lin~. ~ig~ll'~!.C: 20 to 2.~ show ~ .attnchment m~mbers 21 ~nrrnf~rl nt l~nth ~r)d~ of tllP grill 2 fnd the sides o~ : -the grill 2. Th~se ntt?.hlnfult m~rnl)ers 21 compri~e Pt hori7.0l~tal portion 22 : .
which eng~ges upon t~ r-r~rirhet y 2'3 n~ c-~ntslin~r 3 (':hOWD in Figures ~
20 , 22 , 24 and 26 j . -;

Figures 22 to 29 show n w~ll 2r ~cten~ling (1OWntVaJ~I from about outlet lS ..
tow~rds the upper s~r~P ce nf the Figures 21, 23, 25 ~n~l 27 shnw lh~ lioer I hnvirlg a surface: ang1~
3C; adjacent the rim 11 of nt l~n!:t ~lr~ dn~vnwnrdly ~rom the hori7,0nt~1. The ~ 9u~ e s~: ~:

PCI~/~U~ ) U 4 () 0 ~C ~V~ APR 1993 ``

211~841 `: ~;

- steepness of the surf;lce ~ irh t~ers oEf ~s the liner approaches the base 14 of container 3, ensl~re~ t.hQt the j~ice from the cooking meat (not ~-~
shown) runs quickly down l-- ~ lo~ver portion of the liner. ~ .
.-~
Figures 26 and 27 sho~ rectang~ r sh~qped form o~ the invention. The :.
-5 components are the stlme i~l r~lnction to those shown in Figures 20 to 25. `~
The rectangular ~h~pe ms y in ~ome inst~nces be more functionally a~nd ~esthetically accept~ble t-~ th~ con~llmQr. ~t i5 more stable than the : ~-spheric~l shape and i.~ al~o mo-e tr~litio~ in its outw7rd appearance.

Figures 28 nnd 2D show t~n~ er r~ct~qngul~r form o~ cooking utenoîl 10.
10 Again the components o~ lh~s ~It~nsil 10 ~re functiorlP~lly the same as the utensils shown in the previ~ (Irawin~s. Unlike th~ earlier embodiments,~;
there are few cllrv~ rfac~ which may ll?sscn the m~nufacturing :`
C05tS. More partic~ rly, li~ t ~ln.q fol~r pls~ p~n~?ls ~,B,C and D ::
which converge tOWal'CI.'; e~lCIl oth(?r. ~nst.e~cl oE the frtlsto-conical surface 15 of the cover 16 of Figl~rPs 20 to 27, the s~lrf~ce of the cover 16 of thl ::
form o cooking uten~il lO i~ compose(l o~ V-sh~ped cross-section which substantially extend~ th~ lel gth o~ ~h~ ~Itensil.

; ~ -Another v~ri~tion of ~l~e em~ lim-~n~ str~tet3 ~re ~o-~n in Figures 6, 7, 12, 13, 18, lg, ~n~l ~'3() t~ i(l 26 se;lls the: interior of the utensil 20 10. Preferably the llcl le~ t~ iT)t'r 7 Wl~it'll h;lS been in~verted. ; :
l~ fl1rther vari~tion is il!-lst r :~t~-l irl fi~lr~s: .~, 35 ;~n~ 6 . Protrusion 27 is shown on h7se 1~t ~>f îl)~ n-~t~irl~r ~ z~lle .~ r-~trllsion 27 does nclt e~tend throllgh n~ltk~ r. rrl ~ fi~l1r~ .lfi, ~rotr~ ion 27 exterlds through outlet 15. prDsrl1gi~n 27 cz~rl ns~ist the~ ices Issl~ing~from food (not shown) by direetin~ the~ e~ thlnllgh o~ltlet l.'~

Accordin~ly, where th~ t7~ n~il ln i.~ not to he l-~e~l with the cooling system, the liner I ie rem-~v~e~ n~l mn~y ~ct ~s ;~ Iid. The utensil 10 is therefore readily adPpt~l t-- t;-ke the form o ~ conventionP~1 b~king dlsh having a lid by invertin~ the liner 1.
, In use, the utensil lO is ns~em~ (l as shown in Figures 9, 15, 21, 23,~.
25, 27 and 29. W~ter 2/1 (~ howtl in ~iFIlres 21, 23, 25, 27 and 29) i5 ~:' r/Au / 9 ~ ) 0 4 0 0 ~E'~ APR 1993 lO. 21148~

placed ~nto container ~ ~]1~ to ~ level which is preferably above outlet 15 but below the surf~ce 17 of the cover 16. Me~t (not shown) is plaeed -`-;
upon the grill 2.

Once in the oven, ~s the temperattlre e~ceeds 200~C, juice begin~ to 5 drop from the me~t. The tem~er~ture of the liner 1 is regulatecl by its contact with water 24 . The lin E?r 1 ~cts ~s ~ heat source ~nd the water 24 ~ `
as a heat sink. Conse(luet-tl~,r, nt high opernting temper~tures the juice drops onto liner 1. As the litler t hR~; n ~teep ~n~led rim the juice runs ~;
towards outlet 15 ~ncl encollnter s water 24. Sltrf~cP 17 covers outlet 15 to .
10 prevent julce from dropl-ing directly into cont~et wlth water and splashlng back. Whilst thi~ i~ not e~entiAl, it ~ further reduce~ the potential ~or ~pattering F~nl tic~ rly w7len the lktuid hns evaporated. :
Legs 18 dist~nce sllrfPcF? 17 ~rom lin-~r l. to enP~ble j~lice to run beneath surface 17 into out1et 1~5 and wnter Figure 4, shows ~ hAndle 4 comprl~in~ A handle portion 8 and a thread ;
portie~n 9. As shown in Fig~lre~ 7, 13 and 19 the thre~d portion 9 1~
inserted through the olltlet 15 to c~onneQt the hnndla 4~ to the liner 1. `~:
. ~ .
~s the temper~ture nf tlle o-er- fllri~ler incre?l~e.q, the heat e,Ychange between the water 24 nnd lîne? 1 ~imil~rly incre~es: ~s wnter: 24 does not 2() increase its temper~t.~lr~ ~t the ~m~ r~te ~s ~llner 1. Effective heat transfer is there~ore ;lci~ieve-i nnt.tt~ithstandill~ the use o ~ hlgh temperatures.

At temper~tures below 20~)~, tlle l~e!~sil llas ~ n~ beerl found to reduce the Pmount o~ sp~tter. It ie t5lo~i~tht that the~ ~ low~?r ~e.m~er?tUreS the 25 steep angle o~ the rim r~nsl~re~ thnt ~hQ ~ c;~used to ~uickly gravitate to the centre p~rtion nf tllR liner 1 ~nd cloes not give the liqu~d an opps:~r~unlty to eXplOrlQ or ~tter, The c~mtalner may be of: I~.nst metnl~ or: l~e pres~ed into the :desired shape:
u~lng known metal forming techt~ e~. J~ikewise the intermediate liner - ~
30 :c~n~ be simll~rl~ formed~. Th~ grill i~ typ~c~lly formed by weldlng lattice work of metnl bnrs or rnds together at their intersectixlg point~

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'::~, l~w5~ uT~ sr .

Claims (19)

11.
AMENDED CLAIMS
[receveid by the International Bureau on 6 November 1992(06.11.92) ;
original claim 5 cancelled; original claims 1 and 3 amended ;
new claims 6 - 8, 18 and 19 added ; claims 6 and 7 - 15 amended and renumbered as claims 5 and 9 - 17 ; other claims unchanged (3 pages)]

1. A cooking utensil for food comprising a container having an upper opening and a base, a grill substantially traversing the opening to receive food to be cooked, and an intermediate liner located within the container and defining a space with the base of the container, the intermediate liner having at least one outlet positioned and proportioned to permit juices issuing from the food to pass therethrough into the space and to substantially prevent the juices from splashing back therethrough.

2. A cooking utensil according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate liner is clear of the base of the container.

3. A cooking utensil according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate liner comprises at least one downwardly sloped or curved wall.

4. A cooking utensil according to claim 3, wherein the intermediate liner comprises concave walls.

5. A cooking utensil according to claim 4, wherein the intermediate liner further comprises a cover situated over but space from the outlet.

6. A cooking utensil according to claim 4, wherein the base of the container includes an upwardly extending protrusion which is aligned with the outlet.

7. A cooking utensil according to claim 6, wherein the upwardly extending protrusion extends into the outlet.

8. A cooking utensil according to claim 6, wherein the upwardly extending protrusion extends through the outlet.

9. A cooking utensil according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein at least one of the walls slopes from an area adjacent the upper opening of the container.

12.

10. A cooking utensil according to any one of claims 3 to 9, wherein a top portion of a wall of the intermediate liner has an angle of inclination of at least 45° downwardly from the horizontal.

11. A cooking utensil according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a lid to substantially cover the upper opening of the container.

12. A cooking utensil according to claim 11, wherein the intermediate liner is adapted to be inverted and constitute the lid.

13. A cooking utensil according to claim 11 or claim 12, further comprising a handle for lifting the lid.

14. A cooking utensil according to claim 13, wherein the handle includes a thread removably engaged with the lid through an outlet in the lid.

15. A cooking utensil according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the space is at least partially occupied by water.

16. A cooking utensil according to claim 15, wherein the water is in contact with a portion of the intermediate liner.

17. A cooking utensil according to claim 15, wherein the water is at a level higher than a lowest portion of the intermediate liner.

18. A cooking utensil according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the intermediate liner is suspended from a wall of the container.

19. A cooking utensil for food comprising a container having an upper opening and a base, a grill substantially traversing the opening to receive food to be cooked, and an intermediate liner which, in a first position, is located within the container and defines a space with the base of the container and has at least one outlet to permit juices issuing from the food to pass 13.
therethrough, and in a second position covers the opening to close the container.