Waterless cooking apparatus

Claim 2

A waterless cooking apparatus, comprising in combination: a. a cooking pan having a generally cup-shaped configuration, said pan having an open top portion and a smooth lip on said top portion, said smooth lip having a sealing portion which lies in a common plane; b. a lid adapted to close said pan, said lid having a smooth rim portion, said rim portion having a sealing portion which lies in a common plane and, having a configuration to match the configuration of said sealing portion of said lip of said pan; c. a stove adapted to supply heat to said pan, said stove having a regulator including at least positions for heat on and heat off; d. a knob on said lid, said knob having a top surface and composed of material having a low thermal conductivity, whereby said lid may be manipulated while it is hot; and e. a metallic attaching means connecting said knob to said lid; wherein the improvement comprises: f. a metallic heat sink element retained within said knob and in thermal contact with said attaching means, said heat sink element having a top surface; g. a coating of reversible color thermally sensitive material in thermal contact with said top surface of said heat sink element, said coating having a first color corresponding to a cool condition and a second color corresponding to a hot condition; h. a transparent cover over said coating, said cover having a top surface, and said top surface of said cover so positioned that said coating is visible through said cover at said top surface of said knob; and i. said lid, said metallic attaching means, said heat sink element, and said coating of sensitive material constructed of materials having thermal coefficients and so correlated that said coating will maintain said first color during a cooking cycle until a predetermined temperature has been attained and maintained for a predetermined time period and then change to said second color, whereby said regulator of said stove may be manipulated to a heat off position, and the contents of said cooking apparatus cooked in a partial vacuum with a minimal energy expenditure.

Claim 3

A cooking apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which there is provided a substantial air space between said coating of thermally sensitive material and said transparent cover.

Claim 4

A lid assembly for a waterless cooking pan, comprising in combination: a. a lid adapted to close a cooking pan; b. a knob on said lid, said knob having a top surface and composed of material having a low thermal conductivity, whereby said lid may be manipulated while it is hot; and c. a metallic attaching means connecting said knob to said lid; wherein the improvement comprises: d. a metallic heat sink element retained within said knob and in thermal contact with said attaching means, said heat sink element having a top surface; e. a layer of reversible color thermally sensitive material in thermal contact with said top surface of said heat sink element, said layer having a first color corresponding to a cool condition and a second color corresponding to a hot condition; f. a transparent cover over said layer, said cover having a top surface, and said top surface of said cover so positioned that said layer is visible through said cover at said top surface of said knob; and g. said lid, said metallic attaching means, said heat sink element, and said layer of sensitive material constructed of materials having thermal coefficients and so correlated that said layer will maintain said first color during a cooking cycle until a predetermined temperature has been attained and maintained for a predetermined time period and then change to said second color.

Claim 5

A lid assembly for a cooking pan as defined in claim 5 in which there is provided a substantial air space between said layer of thermally sensitive material and said transparent cover.