Cooking apparatus

Abstract

A cooking apparatus includes, but is not limited to, a bottom surface that lies at the bottom of a perimeter wall and having one or more stands operable to support a cooking plate, the perimeter wall having an angled edge; an electric heating element that can be interchangeably positioned on the one or more stands; a gas heating element that can be interchangeably positioned on the one or more stands; a cooking plate that is operable to seat on the base above the electric or gas heating element, is detachable from the base, and has an angled edge portion complimentary to that of the perimeter wall; a lid that is operable to rest over the cooking plate and extends beyond the perimeter edge of the cooking plate but completely covers the plate and allows for condensation to drip outside of the plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for cooking comprising:
 a base having a bottom surface that lies at the bottom of a perimeter wall, the base having one or more stands operable to support a heating element, the perimeter wall having a first angular edge operable to support a cooking plate;   an electric heating element that is interchangeably positionable on the one or more stands of the base;   a gas heating element that is interchangeably positionable on the one or more stands of the base;   a cooking plate comprised of a surface with a second angular edge portion that is operable to seat on the base above either the electric or the gas heating element, the cooking plate being detachable from the base by lifting without use of fasteners and disposed by way of complimentary angles between the first angular edge of the perimeter wall of the base and second angular edge of the cooking plate;   a lid that is operable to rest over the cooking plate and that extends beyond a perimeter edge of the cooking plate such that the lid fully covers the cooking plate and allows for condensation to drip outside of the pan instead of onto the cooking plate; and   one or more legs.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base is defined by at least one of the following types of shapes: squared, rectangular, round, circular, polygonal, or trapezoidal. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface lies near, just above, a specified distance above, or a specified distance below the bottom of the perimeter of the perimeter wall. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the specified distance above is one-quarter inch. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the specified distance below is one-quarter inch. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter wall comprises a border wall that encircles all of or a portion of the base. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the angular edge of the perimeter wall and complimentary angle of the cooking plate are at a specified angle and complimentary angle relative to the surface of the base. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the specified angle is 20 degrees and the complimentary angle is 70 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more stands are defined by at least one of the following types of shapes: half-cylindrical, pyramidal, polygonal, cuboid, prismatic, spherical, frustum, or circular, wherein the one or more stands are a specified height and wherein the one or more stands are arranged in a pattern around the base defined by at least one of the following types of shapes: circle, X, line, triangle, square, hexagonal, pentagonal, octagonal. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the stand is a hook characterized by a single piece of metal with an area of 31.85 mm by 25.50 mm, with a 13.5 mm by 13.7 mm section with a U-shaped gap cut out and bent 90 degrees upward perpendicular to the original piece, two pieces bent 90 downward perpendicular to the original piece, and with a hole located in the remaining unbent area by which it can be attached to the base, such that the entire piece appears as an inverted Y when viewed from the axis on which the piece has been bent. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the stand is a hook stand is a hook characterized by a single piece of metal with an area of 28 mm by 21.74 mm, with a 14.41 mm by 16 mm section with a U-shaped gap cut out bent 90 degrees upward perpendicular to the original area, such that the entire piece appears as an inverted T when viewed from the axis on which the piece has been bent. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gas heating element or electric heating element is attached to the one or more stands through a latch whereby the gas heating element or electric heating element is secured to the base, two plates compress and hold the gas heating element or electric heating element by friction, a hole wherein a peg on the gas heating element or electric heating element is inserted and held by a corresponding hole in the stand, or a channel wherein the gas heating element or electric heating element is slid. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is defined by at least one of the following types of shapes: cylindrical, semi-spherical, spherical dome, pyramidal, polygonal, cuboid, conical, or prismatic. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lid extends a specified radius beyond the edge of the cooking plate. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the specified radius is one-half inch. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lid has a specified radius and specified height and is in the shape of a spherical dome. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the lid has a specified height of two inches and the lid has a specified radius of one foot. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the legs are defined by at least one of the following types of shapes: half-cylindrical, semi-spherical, pyramidal, polygonal, cuboid, conical, prismatic, or frustum. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for cooking comprising:
 a base having a bottom surface that lies at the bottom of a perimeter wall, the base having one or more stands operable to support a heating element, the perimeter wall having a first angular edge operable to support a cooking plate;   an electric heating element that is interchangeably positionable on the one or more stands of the base;   a gas heating element that is interchangeably positionable on the one or more stands of the base;   a cooking plate comprised of a surface with a second angular edge portion that is operable to seat on the base above either the electric or the gas heating element, the cooking plate being detachable from the base by lifting without use of fasteners and disposed by way of complimentary angles between the first angular edge of the perimeter wall of the base and second angular edge of the cooking plate;   a lid that rests over the cooking plate that fully covers the cooking plate;   one or more legs.   
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for cooking comprising:
 a base having a bottom surface that lies at the bottom of a perimeter wall, the base having one or more stands operable to support a heating element, the perimeter wall having a first angular edge operable to support a cooking plate;   a heating element that is positionable on the one or more stands of the base;   a cooking plate comprised of a surface with a second angular edge portion that is operable to seat on the base above either the electric or the gas heating element, the cooking plate being detachable from the base by lifting without use of fasteners and disposed by way of complimentary angles between the first angular edge of the perimeter wall of the base and second angular edge of the cooking plate;   a lid that is operable to rest over the cooking plate and that extends beyond a perimeter edge of the cooking plate such that the lid fully covers the cooking plate and allows for condensation to drip outside of the pan instead of onto the cooking plate; and   one or more legs.