GB2421895A

GB2421895A - A straining device

Info

Publication number: GB2421895A
Application number: GB0500041A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dan Southern; James Matthew Buss
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-01-05
Filing date: 2005-01-05
Publication date: 2006-07-12
Also published as: GB0500041D0

Abstract

A device to assist in the straining of liquid from canned food comprises a flat circular pressure plate D and a handle A attached to the pressure plate D that allows the user to apply pressure via the pressure plate to the contents of a container/tin when the device is placed inside the container, thereby forcing the liquids out of the container. In the rim of the pressure plate D there is a notch E to allow the user to direct the liquid out form the container/tin when the tin and device are both tilted at an angle. The device allows the user to strain liquid from canned food such as tuna without coming into contact with the food by applying pressure to the container's contents to adequately drain the liquids. The device may be made form wood, metal, plastic or a combination of these materials.

Description

CONTAINER STRAINER

This invention relates to the extraction and/or straining of juices, waters and oils from liquid packed produce (e.g. canned tuna fish).

BACKGROUND

Straining the juices, waters, or oils (liquids) from packaged produce, such as cans, is often an awkward and messy process with the risk of the person injuring their hands on the opened can's sharp edges The usual method to strain the contents would be use the lid of the can when removed. However, many modern tin-openers open cans from the side leaving the removed lid larger than the opening of the can. This means that the lid cannot be used to strain the contents without difficulty. Because of this, the person straining the contents might find that juices from the can squirt out uncontrollably and that the process is very tricky. Also, as mentioned above, applying pressure with fingers so near to sharp edges of an opened can could lead to injury.

To overcome this, the invention allows the user to strain the liquids without coming into contact with them. It also allows the user to easily apply pressure to the container's contents to adequately drain the liquids, reducing the risks of injury, in particular, on the sharp edges of a can. This invention's unique features include the capability of the user to predict and aim the strained juices wherever required. Also, it does not contain a Sieve/mesh type feature, as it is designed so that it has no part that can become blocked or clogged with the content of any container Because of this, the invention is Particularly easy to clean after use.

There are various advantages associated with the invention. These include: * It allows the user to strain the contents of the container while avoiding getting their hands covered in the container's contents.

* It allows the user to exert increased pressure to the contents of the container with relative ease.

* It reduces the risk of injury when straining the contents, for example, on the sharp edges around the opened tin can.

* It allows the user to predict the flow and aim the container's juices wherever required.

* It allows easy cleaning after use as there are no features that can become blocked or clogged. When dealing with foodstuffs this might be considered a hygiene benefit.

Preferably, the invention is made of wood, metal, plastics or a combination of these materials depending on the appearance and strength required, it also has the potential to be scaled to strain the contents of any size of produce container or can.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description, certain specific terminology will be employed for the sake of clarity and a particular preferred embodiment of this invention, but it is to be understood that the same is not intended to be limiting and should not be construed inasmuch as the invention is capable of taking many forms, variations and sizes within the scope of these drawings and

description.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 - A front elevation view of the invention's preferred embodiment.

Figure 2 - A side elevated view of the invention's preferred embodiment.

Figure 3 - A plan/top view of the invention's preferred embodiment.

Figure 4 - A perspective view of the invention's preferred embodiment.

As shown in Figures 1 -4, this invention comprises of a flat surface area, feature D, and a column, feature C, to effectively direct and distribute pressure. Feature A is designed as a handle to assist the user to exert pressure through the aforementioned features. Feature B is a preferred embodiment of the handle; feature A, allowing ergonomic shaping to make gripping and use easier. Feature E allows the user to direct flow for packaged liquids to exit container when tilted.

This invention is to be used by plunging the flat surface, feature D, into produce containers, for example, canned tuna Feature D is designed to distribute pressure onto the containers contents forcing the packaging liquids (e.g. brine) out from the container. When the container is tilted slightly the liquid from the container is directed out of feature E wherever the user requires/aims.

To allow the user to effectively exert pressure through feature D the user can push, using fingers or thumbs, on feature A. The intention is that the user will resist against the bottom of the container, using fingers or thumbs, while using feature A to offer resistance from the top. On containers that might be too big to hold in between the users fingers and thumbs, the user might simply use a palm of each hand at the top and bottom of the container while tilting it.

The invention is a solid one-piece utensil/product that might be fabricated out of metal, wood plastic or a mixture of any of these. It can also be created in any size or dimension to allow the user to strain the contents of various sized containers.

Figure 4 allows a clearer view of the entire utensil/product in perspective.

Claims

1. A utensil to assist in the straining of juices, waters and oils (liquids) from tinned food produce, such as tinned tuna; it comprises of a circular flat and smooth surface that is smaller in diameter than the opening of the respective tin/can that is being strained; it has a small semi-circular area at the periphery of the circular surface removed to allow the user to aim the flow of the removed liquids; rising from the centre of the flat surface a column connects it to an ergonomically shaped raised rectangular surface that is no longer in length than the diameter of the flat circular surface which will be used to handle the utensil; when the utensil is forced into compress the tin/can's contents and both are tilted it strains the liquids that can be aimed out.

2. A straining utensil as claimed in Claim 1, having a one-piece construction comprising a flat pressing surface shaped to fit inside a tin/can, a handle and a pouring notch with particular dimensions that allow it to fit into the tin/can.

3. A straining utensil substantially as herein described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.