Electric cooking apparatus

Abstract

A cooking apparatus includes a container, a cooking plate above the container, and a receiving pan between the container and cooking plate. The cooking plate includes an electric heating element. A plurality of drip holes in the cooking plate allows cooking juices to drain from the cooking plate during cooking. The receiving pan supports the cooking plate and catches the juices to permit easy clean-up after cooking. The container supports the receiving pan and insulates both the cooking plate and receiving pan from a table or countertop surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cooking apparatus, comprising: a cooking plate;   means for heating said cooking plate;   a plurality of drip holes in said cooking plate;   each of said drip holes being individually surrounded by . .one of a separate projection and.!. a separate groove on a bottom side of said cooking plate;   a first container disposed below said cooking plate for supporting said cooking plate and for receiving a fluid dripping through said drip holes; and   a second container disposed below said first container for supporting said first container.   
     
     
       2. A cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a size of said first container is at least as large as said cooking plate. 
     
     
       3. A cooking apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a side wall of said second container having a curved portion for permitting a hand of a user to fit therein. 
     
     
       4. A cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said second container has at least one hole through said container; and   said at least one hole is on one of a bottom thereof and a side end thereof.   
     
     
       5. A cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for heating comprises: a heating element disposed on a bottom side of said cooking plate; and   said heating element avoids said drip holes.   
     
     
       6. A cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: each of said drip holes has an upper portion and a lower portion; and   a cross-section of each of said drip holes becoming narrower from said upper portion to said lower portion.   
     
     
       7. A cooking apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an attachment opening formed at a part of a side wall of said second container for receiving a socket attached to a side of said cooking plate; and   said socket permitting connection of a detachable control.   
     
     
       8. A cooking apparatus, comprising: a cooking plate;   a heating element attached to said cooking plate for applying heat to said cooking plate;   a plurality of drip holes formed in said cooking plate;   each of said drip holes being individually surrounded by . .one of a separate projection and.!. a separate groove on a bottom side of said cooking plate; and   a container disposed below said cooking plate for supporting said cooking plate and for receiving a fluid dripping through said drip holes.   
     
     
       9. A cooking apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: a socket attached to said cooking plate; and   a recess in a side wall of said container for receiving said socket when said cooking plate is mounted in said container.   
     
     
       10. A cooking apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said drip holes are surrounded by one of projections and grooves on a bottom side of said cooking plate. 
     
     
       11. A cooking apparatus, comprising: a cooking plate having a plurality of drip holes therein;   a plurality of projections on an upper side of said cooking plate;   means for heating said cooking plate;   a plurality of legs on said cooking plate;   a socket attached to said cooking plate;   a first container disposed below said cooking plate;   said first container being substantially similar in shape and size to said cooking plate;   a side wall of said first container having a first curved portion for permitting a hand of a user to fit therein;   a plurality of supports on said first container;   said plurality of supports having a plurality of recesses for receiving said plurality of legs on said cooking plate;   a second container disposed below said first container;   said second container being substantially similar in shape and larger in size than said first container;   said second container having an attachment opening for receiving said socket;   a side wall of said second container having a second curved portion for permitting said hand of said user to fit therein;   a plurality of bosses in said second container having a plurality of heat-resistant tips for supporting said first container; and at least one ventilating hole in said second container.   
     
     
       12. A cooking apparatus, comprising: a cooking plate having a plurality of drip holes therein;   an upper face of each drip hole being gently inclined;   a lower face of each drip hole being steeply inclined;   means for heating said cooking plate;   a plurality of projections on an upper side of said cooking plate;   a plurality of legs on said cooking plate;   a socket attached to said cooking plate;   a first container disposed below said cooking plate;   said first container being substantially similar in shape and size to said cooking plate;   a side wall of said first container having a first curved portion for permitting a hand of a user to fit therein;   a plurality of supports on said first container;   said plurality of supports having a plurality of recesses for receiving said plurality of legs on said cooking plate;   a second container disposed below said first container;   said second container being substantially similar in shape and larger in size than said first container;   said second container having an attachment opening for receiving said socket;   said attachment opening having a plurality of recesses;   said socket having a plurality of bosses for interlocking with said plurality of recesses in said attachment opening;   a side wall of said second container having a second curved portion for permitting said hand of said user to fit therein;   a plurality of ribs on a surface of said second container;   a plurality of bosses in said second container having a plurality of heat-resistant tips for supporting said first container; and   at least one ventilating hole in said second container.   
     
     
       13. A cooking apparatus, comprising: a cooking plate having a plurality of drip holes;   a plurality of ridges surrounding said drip holes;   means for heating said cooking plate;   a socket attached to said cooking plate;   a plurality of legs on said cooking plate;   a one-piece container disposed under said cooking plate;   said container having a container wall and a container bottom;   a plurality of supports on said container bottom;   a plurality of recesses in said plurality of supports for receiving said plurality of legs of said cooking plate;   a heat-resistant synthetic resin in each of said recesses;   said container wall having an attachment opening for receiving said socket;   a plurality of feet on an underside of said container bottom; and   at least one ventilating hole in said container wall.   
     
     
       14. A cooking apparatus, comprising: a cooking plate having a plurality of drip holes therein;   a plurality of projections on an upper side of said cooking plate;   means for heating said cooking plate;   a plurality of legs on said cooking plate;   a socket attached to said cooking plate;   a first container disposed below said cooking plate;   a plurality of supports on said first container;   said plurality of supports having a plurality of recesses for receiving said plurality of legs on said cooking plate;   a second container disposed below said first container;   said second container having an attachment opening for receiving said socket;   a side wall of said second container having a curved portion for permitting a hand of a user to fit therein; and at least one ventilating hole in said second container.   
     
     
       15. A cooking apparatus, comprising: a cooking plate having a plurality of drip holes therein;   an upper face of each drip hole being gently inclined;   a lower face of each drip hole being steeply inclined;   means for heating said cooking plate;   a plurality of projections on an upper side of said cooking plate;   a plurality of legs on said cooking plate;   a socket attached to said cooking plate;   a first container disposed below said cooking plate;   a plurality of supports on said first container;   said plurality of supports having a plurality of recesses for receiving said plurality of legs on said cooking plate;   a second container disposed below said first container;   said second container having an attachment opening for receiving said socket;   a side wall of said second container having a curved portion for permitting a hand of a user to fit therein;   a plurality of heat-resistant supporters in said second container for supporting said first container; and   at least one ventilating hole in said second container.   
     
     
       16. A cooking apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising: a plurality of legs on a bottom side of said cooking plate;   a plurality of supports on said first container; and   said plurality of supports having a plurality of recesses for receiving said plurality of legs on said cooking plate.