Cooker assembly for pleasure boats and other vessels

• US 10,638,868 B1
• Filed: 02/03/2017
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brent S. Straight
• Original Assignee: Brent S. Straight
• Inventors: Straight, Brent S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Akar, Serkan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Liu, Chris Q
• Application Number:
  US15/530,594
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 99328, 99339, 99356, 99340, 99445, 99448, 99449, 99451, 126 24, 126 25 R, 126276, 126 25 A, 126 56, 126 9 R, 126 19 M, 126 29, 126 30, 126 39 R, 1263901, 126 41 R, 126 50, 219391, 219392, 219521, 219385, 219386, 219389, 219 8517
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 2027/043 for cooking food in steam
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/002 Construction of cooking-vessels; Methods or processes of manufacturing specially adapted for cooking-vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/004 with integral electrical heating means drinking cups with integral heating means A47J36/2466
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/20 Perforated bases or perforated containers to be placed inside a cooking utensil ; Draining baskets, inserts with separation wall
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/34 Supports for cooking-vessels

Abstract

An assembly for cooking onboard a boat or other vessel, having a pot that is suspended outboard of the vessel to reduce hazards and inconveniences while boiling or steaming food such as shellfish or vegetables. A burner or electric heat source is mounted at the bottom of the kettle, and the upper end of the pot is mounted to a gimble assembly so that the pot and heat source remain upright as the vessel pitches and rolls. A support assembly holds the gimble assembly away from the side of the vessel so as to suspend the pot over the surrounding water and away from the deck and the cabin and other enclosed areas. The inboard end of the support may be releasably mountable to a rod holder previously installed on a gunwale of the vessel.

Claims

1. A cooking apparatus for boiling or steaming food onboard a boat or other vessel having sides and an interior, said apparatus comprising:

an upright arm assembly that is configured to be mounted to an edge of said boat;

a pot assembly that is configured to hold said food and water; and

a gimbal mechanism that supports said pot assembly on said upright arm assembly, said gimbal mechanism comprising;

a cantilever arm that extends horizontally from said upright arm assembly, said cantilever arm having a base end, an outer end and a longitudinal axis;

an axial pivot connection that is configured to permit said pot assembly to pivot about an axis parallel to said longitudinal axis of said cantilever arm;

a transverse pivot connection that is configured to permit said pot assembly to pivot about an axis transverse to said longitudinal axis of said cantilever arm;

wherein said transverse pivot connection of said gimbal mechanism comprises;

at least one transverse pivot connection that joins said outer end of said cantilever arm and a side of said pot assembly;

a support bracket mounted to said outer end of said cantilever arm that extends on opposite sides of said pot assembly; and

first and second pivot connections formed between said support bracket and said opposite sides of said pot assembly in coaxial alignment along said transverse pivot axis; and

a pivot plate mounted to said base end of said cantilever arm that extends perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said cantilever arm, said pivot plate comprising;

an opening defining first and second ends of an arcuate path about an axis perpendicular to said pivot plate; and

a stop pin mounted to said upright arm assembly that extends through said opening in said pivot plate along a stationary axis, so that said stop pin reacts with said pivot plate at said first and second ends of said arcuate path to limit pivoting motion of said gimbal assembly relative to said upright arm assembly;

said gimbal mechanism being dimensioned to space said pot assembly horizontally from said upright arm assembly a distance sufficient to position said pot assembly over water surrounding said boat or other vessel and away from said interior thereof.

2. The cooking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said support bracket comprises:

a support yoke, said support yoke comprising;

a base portion that is mounted to said outboard end of said cantilever arm; and

first and second arm portions that extend horizontally from said base portion on said opposite sides of said pot assembly.

3. The cooking apparatus of claim 1, wherein, said pot assembly comprises:

a cooking pot having said first and second pivot connections to said support bracket mounted directly to opposite sides thereof, so that said cooking pot is directly attached to said support bracket of said gimbal mechanism.

4. The cooking apparatus of claim 3, wherein said pot assembly further comprises:

a heat source that is integrally mounted to a bottom of said cooking pot, so that the weight of said heat source cooperates with said first and second pivot connections to maintain said pot assembly level and upright.

5. The cooking apparatus of claim 4, wherein said heat source is a fuel-fired burner.

6. The cooking apparatus of claim 5, wherein said heat source is an electric burner.

7. The cooking apparatus of claim 5, wherein said pot assembly further comprises:

a spigot mounted to a bottom portion of said cooking pot, that permits said cooking pot to be drained while remaining attached to said support bracket and being positioned by said gimbal mechanism away from said interior of said boat or other vessel.

8. The cooking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said axial pivot connection comprises:

at least one axial pivot connection that joins said base end of said cantilever arm to said upright arm assembly.

9. The cooking apparatus of claim 8, wherein said at least one axial pivot connection comprises:

a pivot pin mounted to said base end of said cantilever arm that extends through a cooperating bore in said upright arm assembly in pivoting relationship therewith.

10. The cooking apparatus of claim 8, wherein said upright arm assembly comprises:

an upright member that extends in a vertical direction and to which said gimbal mechanism is mounted;

a base member that is configured to be mounted to an edge of said boat or other vessel; and

a lateral member that connects said base member to said upright member and extends in a horizontal direction so as to offset said upright member outboard from said interior of said boat or other vessel.

11. The cooking apparatus of claim 10, wherein said upright member of said upright arm assembly comprises:

a lower segment that is mounted to said lateral member of said upright arm assembly; and

an upper segment that is pivotably mounted to said lower segment for rotation about a vertical axis, said upper segment having said gimbal mechanism mounted thereon, so that said pot assembly on said gimbal mechanism is pivotable about said vertical axis through an arc towards and away from said interior of said boat or other vessel.

12. The cooking apparatus of claim 11, wherein said upright member further comprises:

a locking mechanism that releasably secures said upper segment to said lower segment in a position with said pot assembly on said gimbal mechanism pivoted to a position away from said interior of said boat or other vessel.

13. The cooking apparatus of claim 11, wherein said lower end of upper segments of said upright member are constructed of tubular material, and wherein said upright member further comprises:

a sleeve-and-socket pivot connection formed between said upper segment and said lower segment that permits said upper segment to rotate about said vertical axis relative to said lower segment.