A ring for installation between a cooking pot and a lid and the cooking pot or the lid comprising said ring

Abstract

The invention belongs to the field of household appliances, specifically to the field of appliances for assisting in the frying of food in a pan or similar container. The invention relates to a ring (1, 1 ') for placement between a cooking pot (2) and a lid (3) and the pot (2) or the lid (3) comprising said ring (1, 1'), wherein the ring (1, 1 ') prevents grease from splattering and at the same time enables the collection of condensed water from the lid (3). The ring (1, 1 ') has an outer edge (11, 11') and an inner edge (12, 12'), between which a central part (13, 13') is provided, which is equipped with at least one concentric channel (14') or with at least two radially arranged chambers (14), which are separated from each other by a partition (15'), said partitions (15') being adapted for contact with the lid (3) for the pot (2), so that droplets of condensed liquid on the lid (3) can slide towards the chambers (14) or the channel (14') and collect in them, while the space above the chambers of the ring (1, 1 ') is open to allow air circulation.

Description

[0001] A RING FOR INSTALLATION BETWEEN A COOKING POT AND A LID AND THE COOKING POT OR THE LID COMPRISING SAID RING

[0002] Field of the invention

[0003] The present invention belongs to the field of household appliances, specifically to the field of appliances for assisting in the frying of food in a pan or similar container. The invention relates to a ring, which can be installed between a cooking pot, preferably a pan, and the lid, wherein the ring prevents splattering of the grease and simultaneously allows collection of condensed water from the lid. The invention also relates to the cooking pot and the lid comprising said ring.

[0004] Background of the invention and the technical problem

[0005] It is known that frying food in a pan is associated with splattering of grease and at the same time with the cleanliness of the stove or oven. If the pan is covered with a regular lid to prevent splattering, the food is not roasted, but stewed, since all the water that is released from the food condenses on the lid and flows back into the pan. If the pan is covered with a mesh or similar, the problem is only partially solved, since part of the condensed water still returns to the pan.

[0006] Lids for frying are known that completely solve the problem of splattering and at the same time collect the condensed water. Such lids are very expensive, and an even greater problem is their dimensions and weight, since they are most often made of a combination of steel and glass. Washing and maintaining these lids is very demanding.

[0007] There is also a range of products made of different materials and shapes that prevent splattering, but do not remove water from foods and as such extend baking time, increase energy consumption and deteriorate the quality of the prepared food. The technical problem that the present invention solves is therefore the design of a device that will be easily installed on a pan or similar container for preparing food and will prevent oil from splattering, while at the same time ensuring the collection of condensed water from the lid, which will not be able to return to the pan or pot.

[0008] Prior art

[0009] Various embodiments for protection against oil spraying are known, as described in documents DE102013102363, US20150351588, US3937210; US 20180042426, US6029652, US20220330752, DE102018125480 and BR102016026145-7 B1. However, these solutions do not address the problem of draining the water condensate created during cooking.

[0010] Patent application US4700689 discloses a baking lid that solves all baking problems. The lid has a conical upper part that can be placed on a toroidal-shaped part placed on a pan or container. Said toroidal part has an upwardly extended edge and a channel in the lower part. To prevent water or oil from splashing through the lid during baking or frying, the latter is provided with an opening at the top. This solution differs from the present invention, and has the disadvantage that only the lid with the toroidal part, which form a set, can be used. Thus, a new set is required for each size of container, which is not ideal in view of cookingware optimization.

[0011] Description of the solution to the technical problem

[0012] The invention solves all above-identified problems of known solutions as defined in the independent claims, wherein the preferred embodiments are defined in dependent claims. None of the above-described solutions discloses a design of a ring to be installed between a pan or a pot and the lid, which would be similar to the present invention. The essence of the invention is the ring has an outer edge and an inner edge, between which a central part is provided, which is provided with at least one concentric channel or with at least two radially arranged chambers, which are separated from each other by a partition. The bottom surface of the ring is preferably serrated to ensure a better grip. The number of chambers is arbitrary and the number of partitions depends on the number of chambers. Each partition extends to the height of the ring or slightly below it, preferably few milimeters. In the most preferred embodiment of the ring, the upper edge of each partition is shaped like a depressed letter V, so that the height of the partition is lowest in the middle and gradually increases in both directions towards the inner and outer edges.

[0013] The ring is installed on the pot, which is preferably a pan or any other container suitable for cooking, preferably roasting or grilling food, to which a lid is installed, so that the edge of the lid touches at least two partitions or walls, which separate chambers. Consequently the ring enables air circulation, as said chambers form open spaces between the lid and the pot or the pan, respectively. If droplets of condensed liquid slide down the lid, they slide towards the chambers and collect in them. During cooking, the lid can be removed several times for mixing, turning food or adding new ingredients. After cooking is complete, the lid is removed, followed by the ring, and the water collected in the chambers is simply poured out.

[0014] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the ring is designed as a ring with an inner edge and an outer edge, between which a middle section is provided, which is in its upper part, i.e. on its upper surface, at least one concentric channel arranged to receive an edge of the lid and for water collection, and a bottom part, i.e. a bottom surface, is provided with one, preferably channels or through-holes, which extend from the outer edge to the inner edge and allow passing of air through the ring.

[0015] The shape of the ring is preferably round (circular), but it can of course also be oval, square or rectangular, in accordance with the shapes of the pots and pans that can be used with the ring. The diameter or dimensions of the ring are larger than the dimensions of the pan or container, with the inner diameter or dimension being smaller than the pan or container, so that the inner edge of the ring can be located inside the pan, and the outer diameter or dimension being larger than the pan or container, so that the outer edge of the ring, when placed on the pan or container, can be located outside the latter. As a result, the ring can be used for several different pans or containers, also with different sizes and diameters, as well as with several lids, regardless of their shape or diameter. For example, a lid of greater depth can be used for cooking large pieces of food, or a lid much smaller than the pan, which achieves universality of use and consequently fewer lids and more space in kitchen cabinets.

[0016] The ring according to the invention is made from temperature-resistant materials, so that it can be used on a cooking plate or in an oven. It is made as an integral piece, in contrast to the previously known baking lids, which have many components that can be lost during washing. All chambers are easily accessible for cleaning, so there is no problem with dirt accumulating in hidden places. It is thus very easy to maintain and wash, by hand or in a washing machine. The ring has a low height, preferably in the range between 1 and 3 cm, preferably between 1 and 2 cm, and requires little storage space.

[0017] The use of the ring according to the invention provides protection against splattering, while at the same time preventing condensed water from returning to the pot or pan, as it is trapped in the collection chambers. The invention therefore allows its use to shorten the cooking (roasting or grilling) time, as the water does not return to the pot or pan. As a result, the energy consumption for roasting is reduced and the quality of the prepared food is improved, as the roasting takes place in the oil or fat.

[0018] The invention also relates to a pan or pot comprising the said ring, as well as to a set of pan or pot, lid and ring, as described above in all possible embodiments.

[0019] Within the scope of the invention, the ring can also be made as part of the lid, wherein the edge of the lid is extended inwards to form a channel into which condensed water from the surface of the lid can be collected. The lid itself can have air passage provided in any known manner, either by through holes around the edge, by an opening at the top or elsewhere on the surface of the lid between the edge and the top.

[0020] The invention will be disclosed in further detail based on exemplary embodiments and figures, which show:

[0021] Figure 1 Explosion view of the ring for the cooking pan, which is installed between the pan and the lid

[0022] Figure 2 The ring for the pan installed in a working position during food preparation

[0023] Figure 3 Cross-section of the set formed by the ring, the pan and the lid in the working position shown in figure 2

[0024] Figure 4 Detail of the cross-section shown in figure 3

[0025] Figure 5 The ring according to an alternative embodiment

[0026] Figure 6 An exemplary embodiment of the lid with integrated ring

[0027] Figure 1 shows an explosion view of a ring 1 , which is arranged for placement between a pan 2 or other suitable container and a lid 3, while figure 2 shows the set of pan 2, ring 1 and lid 3 in the working position, i.e. during food preparation in the pan 3. The diameter of the ring 1 is larger than the diameter of the lid 3 and the container or pan 2, with the central part of the ring between the outer and inner edges being designed with a larger number of chambers.

[0028] As shown in figure 3, the ring 1 allows air circulation, as it is placed in such a way that the said chambers allow open spaces between the lid 3 and the pan 2. The ring with its inner edge is located inside the set or under the lid 3, and the outer edge of the ring is located outside the set, whereby the lid 3 is placed on the walls or partitions 8 (visible in Figures 1 , 2 and 4) between the chambers of the central part of the ring. During the preparation of food 9 in the pan 2, in which there is a layer of fat or oil 10, oil sprays in the direction towards the lid 3, as indicated by the arrows 4a. The oil splattering is prevented by the lid 3, which, due to the installed ring 1 and its chambers, allows air circulation, as indicated by the arrows 4b. In this way, the food does not stew (steam), and at the same time, condensate can also flow down the lid, where it is caught in the chamber of the ring 1 and does not return back to the pan 2.

[0029] Figure 4 shows a detail of the situation described above, with some more details of the ring visible. The lower edge 5 of the ring 1 is serrated, which allows for stable placement, as it prevents the ring 1 from slipping off the edge of the container or pan 2. The edge of the lid 3 rests on the barrier 8 between the chambers of the central part of the ring, so that droplets of condensed liquid 6 can slide along the lid towards the chambers and collect in them in layer 7. Since the space above the chambers of the ring 1 is open, air can freely circulate, as indicated by the arrows 4b (visible in Figures 3 and 4).

[0030] Figure 5 shows an alternative solution of the ring according to the invention, wherein the ring T has an outer and inner edge 11 ', 12', between which a central part 13' is provided, which has in the upper part or on the upper surface at least one concentric channel 14' for receiving the edge of the lid and for collecting water, and the bottom part or on the bottom surface is provided with at least one, preferably several channels or through openings 15', which extend from the outer edge 1T to the inner edge 12' and allow the passage of air through the ring T. The arrows 4' show the air movement.

[0031] Figure 6 shows a possible embodiment of the ring 1" as part of the lid 3", with the edge of the lid extended inwards to form a channel inside which condensed water from the surface of the lid can be collected. The lid itself can have air passage in any known manner, either with through holes around the circumference of the edge, with an opening at the top or elsewhere on the surface of the popcorn between the edge and the top, as shown in Figure 6 with arrows 4".

Claims

Patent claims1 . A ring (1 ) arranged for installation between a pot (2) and a lid (3), characterized in that the ring (1 ) comprises an outer edge (11 ) and an inner edge (12), between which a central part (13) is provided, which comprises at least two radially arranged chambers (14) separated with a partition (15), wherein said partitions (15) are arranged for contact with the lid (3) for the pot (2), so that droplets of condensed liquid slide on the lid (3) towards the chambers (14) and collect in them, while the space above the chambers of the ring (1 ) is open to allow air circulation.

2. The ring (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein each partition (15) extends to the height of the ring or slightly below it.

3. The ring (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an upper edge of each partition (15) is shaped as depressed letter V, so that the height of the partition (15) is lowest in the middle and gradually increases in both directions towards the inner and outer edges (11 , 12).

4. The ring (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a bottom surface of the ring (1 ) is serrated for improved grip.

5. The ring (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the number of chambers (14) is arbitrary and the number of partitions (15) is adapted to number of chambers (14).

6. The ring (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the number of partitions (14) is between 4 and 15.

7. A ring (1 ) arranged for installation between a pot (2) and a lid (3), characterized in that the ring (T) has an outer edge (1T) and an inner edge (12'), between which a central part (13') is provided, which has in the upper part or on the upper surface at least one concentric channel (14') for receiving the edge of the lid and for collecting water, and the bottom part or on the bottom surface is provided with at least one,preferably several channels or through openings (15'), which extend from the outer edge (11 ') to the inner edge (12') and allow the passage of air through the ring (1 ').

8. The ring (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the ring (1 , T) is made as a single piece.

9. The ring (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the shape of the ring (1 , T) is circular, oval, square or rectangular, preferably circular.

10. The ring (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inner diameter or dimension of the ring (1 , T) is smaller than the pot (2) to which the ring (1 ) is installed, and the outer diameter or dimension of the ring (1 , T) is larger than the pot.

11. The ring (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the ring (1 , T) is made from temperature-resistant materials.

12. The ring (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the ring (1 , T) has a height in the range from 1 and 3 cm, preferably from 1 to 2 cm.

13. A pot (2) comprising the ring according to any of the preceding claims.

14. The pot (2) according to the preceding claim, wherein the pot (2) is a pan.

15. A lid (3) comprising the ring (1 ) according to any of the claims from 1 to 12.

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