Boiling sink cooking system for a kitchen

Details Boiling sink cooking system for a kitchen Boiling sink cooking system for a kitchen

1999-11-15

2001-02-27

Alexander, Reginald L. (Department: 1761)

Foods and beverages: apparatus

Cooking

Boiler or deep fat fryer type

C099S330000, C099S407000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06192791

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the art of cooking and, more particularly, to the incorporation of a boiling sink and matching basket system in a kitchen.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Modern day kitchens, in both commercial and residential settings, are typically provided with various different cooking appliances that can be used individually or in combination to perform a wide range of cooking operations. Some of these cooking operations are performed in boiling water. For instance, poultry, shrimp, eggs, pasta and vegetables are often cooked in boiling water. Although some of these cooking operations can be performed in a microwave oven, most commonly a pot is filled with water and heated upon a surface element of a cooktop in order to boil water for such cooking operations. Obviously, the use of a surface element to perform this operation makes this surface element unavailable for another cooking operation to be preformed at the same time.
There is also a tendency to provide certain cooking units which have dedicated functions. For instance, steamers and deep-fry cookers are fairly popular cooking appliances. Such type of appliances generally enable a single type of cooking operation to be performed on a variety of different food items. However, providing individualized appliances for various different cooking operations would be quite cumbersome. Therefore, there is considered a need in the art for a cooking appliance dedicated for use in cooking food items which need to be boiled in water, but wherein the appliance is integrated into a kitchen countertop.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a kitchen cooking system including a sink having a basin which is recessed within an elongated work surface of a countertop. The sink includes a water inlet opening into the basin at a level below the work surface for supplying water into the basin. An outlet is also provided in the sink for draining the water. Around a body portion of the basin is arranged an energy source that can be activated to boil water supplied into the basin.
Also provided in accordance with the invention is a cooking container including a main body which is preferably shaped to conform to the basin. The container is adapted to hold food items to be cooked in the boiling water of the basin. In the most preferred form of the invention, the container constitutes a colander having bottom and side wall portions provided with a plurality of spaced through holes. The colander includes an elongated handle which projects along the countertop to enable the container and food items to be readily removed from the sink following the completion of the cooking operation.
With this arrangement, water directly enters the basin from the internal water inlet in order to avoid any spillage on the countertop. The energy source is then activated to heat the water, preferably to a boiling point. Food items, such as pasta or vegetables, can be placed in the container and then submerged in the water boiling in the basin. In this manner, the food items can be cooked. After a prescribed cooking operation has been completed, the container can simply be lifted out of the basin, with any water dripping from the food items being simply caught in the sink. Thereafter, the cooked food items can be directly transferred to another serving container, platter or the like. Once the cooking operation is complete, the water can be readily drained from the sink in preparation for a subsequent cooking operation.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1999231 (1935-04-01), Davock
patent: 2978975 (1961-04-01), Rossi
patent: 3626840 (1971-12-01), Day
patent: 3958503 (1976-05-01), Moore
patent: 3964637 (1976-06-01), Luebke et al.
patent: 4574688 (1986-03-01), Barbieri
patent: 4668390 (1987-05-01), Hurley et al.
patent: 4684412 (1987-08-01), Fritzsche
patent: 4741261 (1988-05-01), DiMaria
patent: 5103801 (1992-04-01), Herring et al.
patent: 5385084 (1995-01-01), Laibson
patent: 5609093 (1997-03-01), Hohler et al.
patent: 5758572 (1998-06-01), Hennessy et al.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Boiling sink cooking system for a kitchen does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Boiling sink cooking system for a kitchen, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Boiling sink cooking system for a kitchen will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2584150