GB2369589A

GB2369589A - A colander with pivoted trapdoor

Info

Publication number: GB2369589A
Application number: GB0124800A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Fiona Meikle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-10-17
Filing date: 2001-10-16
Publication date: 2002-06-05
Also published as: GB0025423D0; GB0124800D0

Abstract

A colander 1 has a base provided with a door 2 that is pivotably movable between an open and a closed position where the door 2 lies substantially flush with the base. Preferably the door 2 is provided with a recess 6 and is attached to the end walls 3 by a corresponding circular protrusion 7. The door may be provided with lip portions 8 along the longitudinal edges 2a which abut recessed sections 9 in the side walls 3 of the box section 1and prevent the door from rotating past the horizontal. In use the door preferably remains closed and may be pushed by the user to pivot about a shaft member into the open position. Alternative opening arrangements may be provided by a bolt or spring-loaded clip which may be remotely operated. The colander may be made of plastic and facilitates quick and easy means for emptying the contents.

Description

STRAINING APPARATUS

The present invention relates to the field of kitchen utensils and in particular to a straining apparatus.

The use of colanders is known for draining vegetables, pasta or the like. Furthermore, there exist colanders which fit into sinks so as to prevent waste such as vegetable peelings or the like from clogging the drain of a sink. At present, in order to empty such colanders of the drained food or waste, the colander is removed from the sink and emptiedeither onto a serving plate or dish in the case of drained food, or into a bin in the case of waste. In order to empty the colander, the user must tip the contents out. Emptying the contents in this manner is inconvenient and can lead to spillage.

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a colander and straining apparatus which may be used in the conventional manner, but which facilitates quicker and easier emptying of the contents of the colander after use. It is a further

aim of the present invention to enable division of the colander into separate areas for food preparation. It is a yet further aim of the present invention to allow the straining apparatus to be utilised outwith a sink unit.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a colander including a base, at least a portion of said base comprising a door which is pivotably moveable between a closed position and open positions, the door lying substantially flush

with said base in the closed position.

In one preferred embodiment said colander further comprises a shaft member adapted in order that said door pivots about said shaft member so as to move between said closed and open positions.

In another preferred embodiment, the colander further comprises at least one hinge, said door being connected to said colander by said hinge, and said hinge being adapted to permit said door to move between said closed and open positions. Preferably, said colander further comprises fastening means adapted to hold said door in any of said closed or open positions. Preferably, the fastening means is selected from the group comprising at least one bolt or at least one clip. Most preferably, said bolt or clip is spring-loaded. Preferably, the colander further comprises release means adapted to remotely release said at least one bolt or clip.

Preferably, said colander is produced from a plastics material.

Preferably, the circumference of said colander is octagonal in shape.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a straining apparatus comprising the colander of the first aspect of the present invention and at least one perforated receptacle adapted be mounted within said colander.

Preferably, said apparatus further comprises a portable basin adapted such that said colander may be mounted therein.

Preferably, said apparatus is made from a plastics material.

Preferably, the circumference of each of said colander and basin is octagonal in shape.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a first embodiment of a colander ;

Figure 2 shows a sectional view through II-II of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 (a) shows a basin which forms part of a first embodiment of a straining apparatus ; Figure 3 (b) shows drainer components which form part of the first embodiment of the straining apparatus ; Figure 4 shows a vertical section view of the

f ltSt eLrrWodi ment of the stralr. ing apparatus ; Figure 5 shows a plan view of a second embodiment of the colander ; Figure 6 shows a view on arrow VI of Figure 5 ; and

Figure 7 shows a plan view of a second L-1 embodiment of the straining apparatus.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a colander 1 in accordance with the present invention. In this particular embodiment, the colander 1 is manufactured from a plastics material and is substantially rectangular in shape, having a trap door 2, a pair of end walls 3 and a pair of side walls 4. Each of the trap door 2, end walls 3, and side walls 4 are provided with a number of drainage holes 5. The end and side walls

3, 4 are integrally formed with one another to form a substantially rectangular box section.

The trap door is independent of the box section and is attached to the end walls 3 so that it may pivot.

At the base of each of the end walls 3 is provided an integrally formed circular protrusion 7. Each transverse edge 2b of the trap door 2 is provided with a circular recess 6 which accepts the corresponding circular protrusion 7 of the end walls 3. Thus, the door 2 is attached to the box section so as to form the base of the colander 1, but it may pivot about the longitudinal axis of the colander 1 on the protrusions 7 of the end walls 3. The dimensions of the protrusions 7 and recesses 6 are such that the friction force between the two components 6,7 ensures that the door 2 stays closed unless pushed open by a user using sufficient force to overcome the friction force. In order to keep the door 2 flush with the base of the colander 1 when in the closed position, the door 2 is provided with lip portions 8 on its longitudinal edges 2a. These lips 8 abut recessed sections 9 at the base of the side walls 3 of the colander 1, and the plate 2 is therefore prevented from rotating past the horizontal when closing, as illustrated in Figure 2 (the dotted lines indicating the door 2 when open).

Figure 2 also illustrates that at the top of each end and side wall 3,4 is formed a further lip portion 10.

This lip 10 runs around the top of each of the end

and side walls 3, 4 and acts both as a handle for lifting the colander 1 and also for fitting the colander 1 inside a basin or sink unit.

Figure 3 shows additional components which, along with the colander, form a straining apparatus in accordance with the present invention. As with the colander, these components are manufactured from a plastics material. Figure 3 (a) is a cross-sectional view of a portable basin 11 which is intended to accept the colander 1 therein. Thus, the colander 1 may be used without taking up space in a sink unit.

For example, if the colander 1 was to be used to hold defrosting food, the basin 11 would catch all the defrosting liquid without the need to leave the food and colander 1 in the sink unit. Figure 3 (b) shows drainer components 12 that can be added to the colander 1. These drainers 12 are shaped so that a number of them may fit within the colander 1 together. In the embodiment described herein, if the colander is rectangular in section, the additional drainers 12 may be square in section to fit within the colander 1. Figure 4 shows the preferred embodiment of the colander 1 when used in conjunction with the basin 11 and drainers 12. By using the drainers 12, separate foods may be drained in the colander 1 without being mixed together.

Furthermore, the drainers 12 may also be used to ensure correct sized servings of particular foods at mealtimes, such as pasta, for example.

It is to be understood that the above is only one preferred embodiment of the present invention. The straining apparatus need not be of rectangular section, but may instead be of octagonal shape, as shown in Figures 5-7. This second embodiment shows the colander, generally designated 101, operating in essentially the same manner as the first embodiment, with a trap door 102 provided in the base of the colander 101. As the second embodiment is octagonal in shape, the circular protrusions 107 are formed at the bases of two diametrically opposite faces of the colander 101. The trap door 102 itself is also octagonal and is provided with two circular recesses 106 in diametrically opposite edges of the trap door 102, the recesses 106 engaging the protrusions 107 to allow the trap door 102 to pivot about the axis between the protrusions 107. The edges of the trap door 102 which run substantially parallel to the axis between the protrusions 107 are provided with the lip portions 108 which prevent the door rotating past the horizontal when closing. As before, recesses 109 are provided in the corresponding edges of the walls of the colander 101 which accept the lip portions 108 of the door 102. The second embodiment of the colander 101 is also provided with an upper lip portion 110 for carrying and fitting inside a basin or sink unit.

Figure 6 shows a view on arrow VI of Fig. 5 and shows the trap door 102 in a partially opened position.

Figure 7 shows the straining apparatus, with the colander 101 fitted with drainer components 112. As

a result of the octagonal shape of the colander 101, the drainers 112 in this embodiment are wedge shaped, such that eight drainers 112 will fit inside the colander 101 for separation of foods whilst draining.

The straining apparatus can also be provided with an octagonal basin (not shown) for draining or defrosting outwith a sink.

The benefit of an octagonal shape for the colander is that the colander may fit within both a round, rectangular or square shaped sink unit. Thus, only one colander is required no matter what shape the sink unit.

With regard to the trap door arrangement, other alternative arrangements for the pivoting of the door may be used. For example, the door could be hinged at one end, with small bolts or clips placed on the base of the colander to hold the door in place. When the door is to be opened, the bolts or clips could be slid away from the door, thereby allowing the door to fall open, pivoting about the hinge or hinges. With clips or bolts present, the friction between the protrusions and the recesses would not be necessary.

A further possible arrangement would be to have a spring-loaded clip which is connected to a button on the colander. When the door was to be opened, the button would be pressed, thereby pushing the clip away from the door and allowing the door to fall. In both of these alternative arrangements, the user can

simply clip or bolt the door back into position when the colander is empty.

A yet further alternative would be to provide the trap door with a rod member which is threaded through the door and runs along either the longitudinal or transverse axis of the trap door. The rod member would also run through the sides of the colander and be secured by fixings to the colander so that the rod is fixed in position. Washers are provided to ensure the necessary friction to hold the door closed when necessary. In order to open the door, the user could then simply push with sufficient force to overcome the friction, and the door would pivot open about the rod.

These and other modifications and improvements can be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A colander including a base, at least a portion of said base comprising a door which is pivotably moveable between a closed position and open positions, the door lying substantially flush with said base in the closed position.

2. The colander of Claim 1, further comprising a

shaft membel adapted in order that said door pivots about said shaft member so as to move between said closed and open positions.

3. The colander of Claim 1, further comprising at least one hinge, said door being connected to said colander by said hinge, and said hinge being adapted to permit said door to move between said closed and open positions.

4. The colander of Claim 3, wherein said colander further comprises fastening means adapted to hold said door in any of said closed or open positions.

5. The colander of Claim 4, wherein said fastening means is selected from the group comprising at least one bolt or at least one clip6. The colander of Claim 5, wherein said at least one bolt or clip is spring-loaded.

7. The colander of either Claim 5 or Claim 6, further comprising release means adapted to remotely release said at least one bolt or clip.

8. The colander of any preceding claim, wherein said colander is produced from a plastics material.

9. The colander of any preceding claim, wherein the circumference of said colander is octagonal in shape.

10. A straining apparatus comprising the colander of any preceding claim, and at least one perforated receptacle adapted be mounted within said colander.

11. The straining apparatus of Claim 10, further comprising a portable basin adapted such that said colander may be mounted therein.

12. The straining apparatus of either Claim 10 or Claim 11, wherein said apparatus is made from a plastics material.

13. The straining apparatus of any of Claims 10 to 12, wherein the circumference of each of said colander and basin is octagonal in shape.

14. A colander substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. A straining apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.