Apparatus and methods for draining and serving a food item

Abstract

An apparatus and methods for preparing, cleaning, draining, and serving food items, such as, pasta, fruits and vegetables are described herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus can include a vessel configured to selectively contain a liquid. The vessel includes a bottom portion having a plurality of apertures, and a wall extending upwardly from the bottom portion. An armature assembly is coupled to the vessel for rotational movement relative to the vessel between a closed configuration and an open configuration. A sealing mechanism coupled to the armature assembly is configured to selectively seal the plurality of apertures in the closed configuration, thereby preventing liquid contained by the vessel from flowing out of the vessel, and selectively open the plurality of apertures in the opened configuration, thereby providing a fluid passageway out of the bottom portion of the vessel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a vessel configured to selectively contain a liquid, the vessel including a bottom portion having a plurality of apertures, and a wall extending upwardly from the bottom portion;   an armature assembly coupled to the vessel for rotational movement relative to the vessel between a closed configuration and an open configuration; and   a sealing mechanism coupled to the armature assembly configured to selectively seal the plurality of apertures in the closed configuration, thereby preventing liquid contained by the vessel from flowing out of the vessel, and selectively open the plurality of apertures in the opened configuration, thereby providing a fluid passageway out of the bottom portion of the vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a base configured to support the vessel above a horizontal surface.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the base defines a recess for receiving at least a portion of the sealing mechanism when the armature assembly is in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing mechanism includes a removable sealing member. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the sealing member is removable from the sealing mechanism by rotational movement. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the armature is coupled to the vessel for rotational movement by pins disposed on the vessel. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel includes a protrusion configured to frictionally engage the armature assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cover configured to be removeably disposable on the vessel.   
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising:
 a vessel configured to selectively contain a liquid and having a plurality of apertures therethrough;   an armature assembly coupled to the vessel for rotational movement relative to the vessel, the armature assembly including a first portion disposed in a first plane, and a second portion disposed in a second plane; and   a sealing mechanism coupled to the second portion of the armature assembly, the sealing mechanism configured to move from a closed configuration to an open configuration by movement of the first portion of the armature assembly.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first plane and the second plane intersect at an angle greater than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the sealing mechanism is configured to selectively seal the plurality of apertures in the closed configuration, thereby preventing liquid contained by the vessel from flowing out of the vessel, and selectively open the plurality of apertures in the opened configuration, thereby providing a fluid passageway out of the vessel. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a base configured to support the vessel above a horizontal surface.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the base defines a recess for receiving at least a portion of the sealing mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the base includes a rubber material configured to be placed in contact with the horizontal surface. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing mechanism includes a removable sealing member. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first handle coupled to the vessel; and   a second handle coupled to the first portion of the armature assembly.   
     
     
         17 . An apparatus comprising:
 a vessel configured to selectively contain a liquid, the vessel including a bottom portion having an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a plurality of apertures therethrough, and a wall extending upwardly from the bottom portion and having an interior surface defining with the interior surface of the bottom portion an interior of the vessel and having an opposite, exterior surface;   a base configured to support the bottom portion of the vessel above a horizontal surface;   an armature assembly movably coupled to the vessel between a closed configuration and an open configuration; and   a sealing mechanism coupled to the armature assembly configured to selectively seal against the exterior surface of the bottom portion to prevent liquid contained in the interior of the vessel from flowing out of the vessel through the apertures, and to selectively permit liquid to flow through the apertures.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the base defines a recess for receiving at least a portion of the sealing mechanism when the armature assembly is in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the sealing mechanism includes a removable sealing member. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the armature assembly is removable from the vessel.