# US 4,397,298 A · Utensil for cooking food by steaming

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- Number: US 4,397,298 A
- Document ID: US4397298A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/228,125
- Filed: 1981-01-26
- Granted: 1983-08-09
- Earliest claimed: 1981-01-26
- Inventors: Anne C. Abell
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4397298A

## CPC

- A47J 27/04: for cooking food in steam; Devices for extracting fruit juice by means of steam {; Vacuum cooking vessels (steam-heated vessels for hotels, restaurants or canteens A47J27/16)}
- A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES

## Abstract

A utensil for cooking food by steaming comprises a boiler and a food holder. In the wall of the food holder is at least one perforation through which steam may pass from the boiler to cook the food. The perforation is arranged to leave a sump, in the bottom of the food holder, in which juice from the cooking food may settle and be collected.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A utensil for cooking food by steaming, said utensil comprising a boiler and a food holder, wherein:
(a) said boiler has a lower region in which an aqueous liquid may be boiled to produce steam;
(b) said food holder has a wall extending to an upper level, said wall and said upper level defining a holder volume, within said food holder, in which said food may be held above said lower region;
(c) said wall has at least one perforation through which said steam may pass from said lower region to said holder volume to cook said food by steaming;
(d) said at least one perforation is above a lower level, said wall and said lower level defining a sump volume within said food holder; and
(e) said sump volume is at least 0.1% of said holder volume.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A utensil according to claim 1 wherein said sump volume is at least 10% of said holder volume.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A utensil according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) said boiler has a top;
(b) said wall of said food holder engages said top to support said food holder upon said boiler;
(c) a portion of said wall is received within said boiler below said top and above said lower region; and
(d) said at least one perforation is in said received portion of said wall.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A utensil according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) said food holder is disposed entirely within said boiler;
(b) said food holder has legs fastened to said wall; and
(c) said legs rest internally upon said boiler to support said food holder above said lower region.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A utensil according to claim 1 wherein said at least one perforation is a narrow slot, the longer dimension of which is aligned substantially perpendicular to the horizontal.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A utensil according to claim 1 wherein said wall, at the location of said at least one perforation, is dimpled inwardly by a distance of the order of the minimum dimension of said at least one perforation.

### Claim 7

A food holder, for use as a component of a utensil for cooking food by steaming, in which:
(a) said food holder has a wall extending to an upper level, said wall and said upper level defining a holder volume, within said food holder, in which said food may be held;
(b) said wall has at least one perforation through which steam may enter said holder volume to cook said food by steaming;
(c) said at least one perforation is above a lower level, said wall and said lower level defining a sump volume within said food holder; and
(d) said sump volume is at least 0.1% of said holder volume.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A food holder according to claim 7 wherein said sump volume is at least 10% of said holder volume.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

A food holder according to claim 7 wherein said at least one perforation is a narrow slot, the longer dimension of which is aligned substantially perpendicular to the horizontal.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

A food holder according to claim 7 wherein said wall at the location of said at least one perforation, is dimpled inwardly by a distance of the order of the minimum dimension of said at least one perforation.