Bowl with liquid drain

Abstract

An assembly for separating liquid and solid components of a food product. The assembly includes a lower bowl, and an upper bowl nested in the lower bowl and defining a cavity within the bottom portion of the lower bowl. The upper bowl includes a plurality of apertures in communication with the cavity whereby the liquid component can be separated from the solid components by straining the liquid component into the cavity. In an alternate embodiment, the assembly further includes an intermediate bowl nested between the lower bowl and the upper bowl.

1 . A soup or cereal bowl assembly for separating liquid and solid components of a food product comprising:
 a. a lower bowl; and   b. an upper bowl nested in the lower bowl and defining a cavity within the bottom portion of the lower bowl, the upper bowl including a plurality of apertures in communication with the cavity whereby the liquid component can be separated from the solid components by straining the liquid component into the cavity.   
   
   
       2 . The soup or cereal bowl assembly of  claim 1  further comprising an intermediate bowl nested between the lower bowl and the upper bowl, in which the wall of the intermediate bowl has an opening that aligns with at least a portion of the plurality of apertures in the upper bowl. 
   
   
       3 . The soup or cereal bowl assembly of  claim 2  in which the opening is disposed adjacent the rim of the intermediate bowl. 
   
   
       4 . The soup or cereal bowl assembly of  claim 2  in which the upper bowl is nested in close-fitting relation to the intermediate bowl. 
   
   
       5 . The soup or cereal bowl assembly of  claim 1  in which the plurality of apertures are disposed adjacent the rim of the upper bowl. 
   
   
       6 . The soup or cereal bowl assembly of  claim 4  in which the plurality of apertures are disposed in the bottom of the upper bowl. 
   
   
       7 . The soup or cereal bowl assembly of  claim 4  in which the plurality of apertures are disposed proximate the rim of the upper bowl and also in the bottom of the upper bowl. 
   
   
       8 . The soup or cereal bowl assembly of  claim 1  further comprising at least one support member in supporting relation to the upper bowl. 
   
   
       9 . The soup or cereal bowl assembly of  claim 1  in which the rim of the lower bowl and the rim of the upper bowl include mating engagement members for securing the nested bowls together for use. 
   
   
       10 . The soup or cereal bowl assembly of  claim 9  in which the bowls are joined by rotational engagement. 
   
   
       11 . The soup or cereal bowl assembly of  claim 9  in which the mating engagement members secure the nested bowls in fluid-tight relation. 
   
   
       12 . The soup or cereal bowl assembly of  claim 9  in which the mating engagement members include at least one  0 -ring sealing member. 
   
   
       13 . The soup or cereal bowl assembly of  claim 1  in which the exterior of the lower bowl has an hourglass or footed bowl configuration. 
   
   
       14 . The soup or cereal bowl assembly of  claim 1  in which the lower bowl has a fluid-tight removable bottom portion. 
   
   
       15 . The soup or cereal bowl assembly of  claim 1  in which is fabricated from molded plastic. 
   
   
       16 . The soup or cereal bowl assembly of  claim 1  in which the bowls are joined in a snap-fitting relation. 
   
   
       17 . A food serving assembly for separating liquid and solid components of a food product comprising:
 a. a lower bowl; and   b. an upper bowl nested in the lower bowl and defining a cavity within the bottom portion of the lower bowl, the upper bowl including a plurality of apertures in communication with the cavity whereby the liquid component can be separated from the solid components by straining the liquid component into the cavity.   
   
   
       18 . The food serving assembly of  claim 17  in which the plurality of apertures defining a straining portion adjacent the rim of the upper bowl for transferring the liquid component into the lower bowl. 
   
   
       19 . A soup or cereal bowl assembly for separating liquid and solid components of a food product comprising:
 a. a lower bowl providing a supporting base;   b. an intermediate bowl nested in the lower bowl; and   c. an upper bowl nested in the intermediate bowl, the upper bowl including a plurality of apertures whereby the liquid component can be separated from the solid components by straining the liquid component into the intermediate bowl.   
   
   
       20 . The soup or cereal bowl assembly of  claim 19  in which the upper bowl is nested in close-fitting relation to the intermediate bowl. 
   
   
       21 . The soup or cereal bowl assembly of  claim 19  further comprising a pair of handle grips attached to the upper bowl.