Vessel strainer

A combination, including:

• a vessel having at least one side wall and a rim extending about the side wall defining a top opening of the vessel;
• a lid for covering the top opening to close the vessel, the lid having a peripheral edge region bearing on the rim when closing the vessel;
• and, a straining element extending at least partially about the lid adjacent the peripheral edge region and depending from the lid to a terminal edge, the straining element having an outer face providing at least one perforated straining zone through which vessel contents can be strained from the vessel, a peripheral region of the outer face at the terminal edge at least adjacent the straining zone being curved inwardly of the straining zone, the straining element being spaced inwardly and clear of the vessel side wall when the lid closes the vessel whereby the lid can be lifted clear of the vessel without interfering engagement between the straining element and vessel to completely open the vessel, and whereby the lid can also be pivoted away from the vessel to partially open the vessel, the lid being pivotable about a portion of the pepripheral edge region located across the lid from the straining zone with the rim acting as a fulcrum for the peripheral edge region, pivoting of the lid causing the straining zone to arcuately swing out of the vessel until the inwardly curved outer face region of the straining element adjacent the straining zone interferingly engages the vessel side wall in face-to-face relationship zone generally extends between the pivoted lid and partially open vessel, whereupon the vessel together with the lid and straining element can be tilted to strain vessel contents through the straining zone.

A combination, including:

• a vessel having at least one side wall, a rim extending about the side wall, defining a top opening of the vessel, and an abutment shoulder provided adjacent the rim;
• a lid for covering the top opening to close the vessel, the lid having a peripheral edge region bearing on the rim when closing the vessel;
• and, a straining skirt extending about the lid adjacent the peripheral edge region and depending from the lid to a terminal edge, the straining skirt having an outer face providing at least one perforated straining zone through which vessel contents can be strained from the vessel, a peripheral region of the outer face at the terminal edge at least adjacent the straining zone being curved inwardly of the straining zone, the straining skirt being spaced inwardly and clear of the vessel side wall when the lid closes the vessel whereby the lid can be lifted clear of the vessel without interfering engagement between the straining skirt and vessel to completely open the vessel, and whereby the lid can also be pivoted away from the vessel to partially open the vessel, the lid being pivotable about a portion of the peripheral edge region located immediatedly adjacent the abutment shoulder and across the lid from the straining zone with the rim acting as a fulcrum for the peripheral edge region, pivoting of the lid causing the peripheral edge region to abut against the shoulder and also causing the straining zone to arcuately swing out of the vessel until the inwardly curved outer face region of the straining skirt adjacent the straining zone interferingly engages the vessel side wall in face-to-face relationship so that the lid and straining skirt are jammed between the shoulder and side wall thereby to positively hold the lid in a position partially opening the vessel with the straining zone generally extending between the pivoted lid and partially open vessel, whereupon the vessel together with the lid and straining skirt can be tilted to strain vessel contents through the straining zone.