GB2456318A - A device to prevent cooking vessels from boiling over - Google Patents

Abstract

A device to prevent cooking vessels from boiling over, the device supports the lid of the cooking vessel thereby providing a gap between the lid and the body of the cooking vessel to allow steam to escape. The device may be permanently or temporarily attached to the lid or rim of the cooking vessel, and may be made from plastic or formed from a wire framework. The device may allow the gap between the lid and the body of the cooking vessel to be adjusted (figs 4 and 5).

Description

I

A Cookin2 Aid

SPECIFICATION

This invention remedies the problem of pots boiling over.

An often encountered problem for the home or professional cook/chef is the boiling over of saucepans and other cooking vessels. This is a function of the fact that the cook will put the heating source on at the highest setting in order to bring the pan and contents to temperature as soon as possible or that the dish or ingredients require very vigorous boiling in order to be at its best (pasta for example). This very often leads to the pot boiling over with resultant mess on the pot and cooker hob etc and also significant danger from uncontrolled steam and hot liquid.

To overcome this, the present invention proposes to support a variable percentage of the saucepan lid in an elevated position above the pot thus increasing the potential exit area for excess steam.

All of the following variations of this device are designed to solve this problem.

Version 1 This incredibly simple and utterly hygienic device completely solves the above mentioned problem. It has preferably no moving parts although these may be introduced during manufacture, and is very easy to mass produce with currently available methods, machinery and materials. The hygienic and easy cleaning nature of the device is assured due to the simplicity of its construction, the preference of complete lack of moving parts or complicated shape changes etc that could trap food and the use of currently available, food grade stainless steal, other materials can be introduced during manufacture.

An example of the invention Will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings.

The following is a description and usage method of version 1 of this device: -Figure 1 shows that, by the user holding the device using the two handling loops 1, and applying pressure (bringing the handling loops closer together) the wire is deformed, this increases the distance between the internal wire loop 2, which will subsequently be lowered inside the pot, and the two external loops 3. The necessary amount of pressure to be applied is a function of the lip size of the pots, for example pressed pots have a formed lip which is therefore wider in relation to a cast pot. The design of the device allows it to fulfil its task for a very broad range of saucepans etc. Figure 2 shows that having applied pressure to the handling loops I as described above the user lowers the device on to the side of the pan such that the internal loop 2 is inside the pot and the two external loops 3 are on the outside surface.

Figure 3 shows that when the original saucepan lid is then lowered into position as normal; the presence of the device ensures that the loose seal of the lid against the pan is broken on one side whilst the lid is still largely located on the saucepan as before. This allows a much greater amount of steam, in a much more predictable and safer manner to escape than if the device was not fitted.

The amount of steam allowed to escape can be controlled by several means as dictated by the slight adjustments in the design of the device descr1bed-a) Several versions of the device could be manufactured to give a range of potential lid positions, in this manner the user could have more than one of these devices and use them in accordance to their specific needs.

b) Different diameters of wire and size of device could be used for different sized pot and pan lid height.

c) The wire used could be of a slightly stronger type which would allow the inner ioop 2 and the outer loops 3, as shown in figure 1, to strongly grip the pan to the extent that it is not necessary for the wire to sit on the top edge of the pan in order for the lid to be held aloft.

d) More than one device could be used to ensure that the loose seal between the pan and the lid is broken over a greater percentage of the pot circumference than if a singe device were used.

Version 2 Figure 4 shows that the basic principles and objectives of the initial version set out and described starting on page 1 can be improved with relation to economies of scale during manufacture etc by producing a plastic moulded device; this would again clip to the side of the lid or the saucepan. As shown in Figure 4 the pan lid height can be varied with a double sided device. This has two thickness variations 1 and 2 at the point where the device would st on the pan edge.

Version 3 Figure 5 shows a further version that involves the use of an adjustable device which would allow a greater range of lid position variation. This could again be an aftermarket fitment or could be a permanent or removable addition to the saucepan/lid provided by a cooking goods manufacturer

Claims (5)

1. A device for interrupting the loose pot-lid seal in cooking pots, kettles and other cooking vessels comprising of a method of mounting to the pot lid or pot rim and a means of supporting the pot lid away from the pot.

2. A device according to claim I comprising of a formed, wire framework.

3. A device according to claim 1 that is manufactured from plastic.

4. A device according to claim 1 that is attached to the side of a cooking vessel (either permanently or temporarily)

5. A device according to any of the previous claims in which the height of the pot lid

is adjustable.