OVERFLOW PREVENTION CONTAINER

Abstract

An overflow prevention container or a boiling container has a bottom member configured with an underside connector plate having a first portion in contact with and a second portion of various contours extending in a thermal separation from the external surface of the bottom member. A thermal gradient is created between first and second portions, thus forming thermally distinct sides of the cooking vessel, causing liquid in the vessel cavity to circulate with a horizontal convectional flow pattern, resulting in prevention of the liquid medium from spillage from the vessel cavity. Grooves on an internal surface of the bottom member terminate in a jump board to provide directional constraint to the liquid as it is being heated.

Claims

1. An overflow prevention container containing a liquid medium being heated, comprising: a sidewall extending in a vertical direction; a bottom member having an internal surface contiguous a liquid contained within said container, and an external surface, said bottom member joined to said sidewall in one piece formation at a peripheral joint area, wherein said external surface of said bottom member includes a first portion and a second portion, said bottom member being configured with an underside connector plate, wherein said underside connector plate has a first area integrally fixed to said first portion of said external surface of said bottom member and a second area positioned in vertical alignment with said second portion of said external surface of said bottom member, said second area of said underside connector plate extending in a horizontal direction in spaced apart relationship with said second portion of said external surface of said bottom member defining a horizontally directed slot or thermal isolation gap therebetween.

2. The overflow prevention cooking vessel as recited in claim 1, said side wall has an inner surface and an outer surface, said side wall extending vertically from said peripheral joint area of said bottom member in an integral connection therewith, wherein a vessel cavity is defined by said internal surface of said bottom member and inner surface of said side wall.

3. The overflow prevention container of claim 2, wherein, upon bringing said underside connector plate in a thermal contact with a heat source, a thermal gradient is created between said first and second portions of said external surface of said bottom member, thus forming distinct first and second thermally different sides of said cooking vessel, with said first side of said cooking vessel in correspondence to said first portion of said bottom member and said second side in correspondence to said second portion of said external surface of said bottom member, respectively, wherein said first side of said cooking container containing has a liquid medium temperature exceeding a liquid medium temperature of said second side of said cooking vessel.

4. The overflow prevention container of claim 3, wherein said liquid medium received in said vessel cavity is exposed to a thermal gradient to displace said liquid medium from said second side towards said first side of said container, thus creating a circular convectional flow of the liquid medium within said vessel cavity, resulting in prevention of the liquid medium from overflowing the vessel.

5. The overflow prevention cooking vessel of claim 4, wherein said underside connector plate and said second portion of said external surface of said bottom member define said thermal isolation gap sandwiched therebetween, said thermally isolation gap reducing heat transport to said second portion of said external surface of said bottom member by the heat source disposed in thermal contact with said underside connector plate.

6. The overflow prevention container of claim 5, wherein said thermal isolated gap is devoid of any intervening material.

7. The overflow prevention container of claim 5, wherein said bottom member and said side wall of said cooking vessel are fabricated of a metal having a predetermined thermal conductivity, and a thermal insulating member inserted within said thermal isolation gap a thermal conductivity lower than said predetermined thermal conductivity of said bottom member and sidewall of said container.

8. The overflow prevention container of claim 2, further comprising an array of grooves fabricated on said internal surface of said bottom member, said grooves extending substantially in parallel relationship each to the other between respective portions of a peripheral edge of said bottom member with a plurality of inter-groove channels formed between adjacent grooves to provide a directional flow of a liquid medium within said vessel cavity along said inter-groove channels.

9. The overflow prevention container of claim 8, wherein each groove of said array of grooves has groove walls extending above said internal surface of said bottom member, and wherein said each inter-groove channel is defined between said groove walls of said adjacent grooves.

10. The overflow prevention container of claim 8, further comprising a first array of substantially parallel grooves extending on said internal surface of the bottom member above said first portion, a second array of substantially parallel grooves extending on said internal surface of said bottom member above said second portion of the external surface of said bottom member, and a jump board extending on said internal surface of said bottom member in an inclined relationship therewith across and between said first and second arrays of said substantially parallel grooves.

11. The overflow prevention container of claim 10, wherein said jump board lifts the flow of the liquid medium within said vessel cavity moving along said inter-groove channels in a direction from said second portion towards said first portion of said external surface of said bottom member.

12. The overflow prevention container of claim 10, wherein said first and second arrays of grooves provide a smooth and continuous thermal transformation for the flow of the liquid medium moving along said inter-groove channels.

13. The overflow prevention container of claim 2, further comprising a heat radiant member disposed at the outer surface of said side wall at a location proximal to said second portion of said external surface of said bottom member, said heat radiant member includes a plurality of fins formed on and extending from said outer surface of said side wall to dissipate heat therefrom.

14. The overflow prevention container of claim 1, wherein said second portion of said external surface of said bottom member is defined by a respective portion of said peripheral joint area and an arcuated bordering line extending between said first and second portions of said external surface of said bottom member.

15. The overflow prevention container of claim 1, wherein a contour of said second portion of said external surface of said bottom member is selected from a group including a straight, angled, semi-circle, crescent, concave-convex contours, and a combination thereof.

16. The overflow prevention container of claim 2, wherein said side wall has an upper edge, and wherein the whole or at least a portion of said upper edge of said side wall is curved inward of said vessel cavity to direct a flow of liquid medium inward of said vessel cavity.

17. The overflow prevention container of claim 2, wherein said side wall has an upper edge may be detachable, and wherein the whole or at least a portion of said upper edge of said side wall is curved inward of said vessel cavity to direct a flow of liquid medium inward of said vessel cavity.

18. The overflow prevention container of claim 2, further includes a handle attached to said side wall in proximity to said second portion of said external surface of said bottom member, said handle having a thermal insulating member attached thereto.

19. A spill-proof container, comprising: a bottom member having an internal surface, and external surface, and a peripheral joint area outlining said internal and external surfaces of said bottom member, wherein said external surface of said bottom member has a first portion and a second portion bordering with one another, and wherein said bottom member is configured with an underside connector plate, wherein said underside connector plate has a first area integrally secured to said first portion of said external surface of said bottom member and a second area positioned in vertical alignment with said second portion of said external surface of said bottom member, said second area of said underside connector plate extending horizontally in a spaced apart relationship with and in a thermal separation from said second portion of said external surface of said bottom member; and an array of grooves fabricated on said internal surface of said bottom member, said grooves extending substantially in parallel to one another between respective portions of said peripheral edge of said bottom member with a plurality of inter-groove channels formed between adjacent grooves to provide a directional flow of a liquid medium within said vessel cavity along said inter-groove channels.

20. The spill-proof container of claims 19, further comprising a first array of substantially parallel grooves extending on said internal surface of the bottom member above said first portion, a second array of substantially parallel grooves extending on said internal surface of said bottom member above said second portion of the external surface of said bottom member, and a jump board extending on said internal surface of said bottom member in a tilted relationship therewith across and between said first and second arrays of said substantially parallel grooves, wherein said jump board lifts the flow of a liquid medium within said cooking vessel moving along said inter-groove channels in a direction from said second portion towards said first portion of said external surface of said bottom member.

21. A spill-proof container, comprising: a bottom member having an internal surface, and external surface, and a peripheral joint outlining said internal and external surfaces of said bottom member, wherein said external surface of said bottom member has a first portion and a second portion bordering with one another, and wherein said bottom member is configured with an underside connector plate, wherein said underside connector plate has a first area integrally secured to said first portion of said external surface of said bottom member and a second area positioned in vertical alignment with said second portion of said external surface of said bottom member, said second area of said underside connector plate extending horizontally in a spaced apart relationship with and in a thermal separation from said second portion of said external surface of said bottom member, and wherein a contour of said second portion of said external surface of said bottom member is selected from a group including a straight, angled, semi-circle, crescent, concave-convex contours, and a combination thereof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the present boiling container positioned on an external source of heat;

[0050] FIG. 2A is a schematic perspective view of the boiling container;

[0051] FIG. 2B is a schematic elevational side view of the present boiling container;

[0052] FIG. 2C is a schematic top view of the subject boiling container showing grooves for directional formation of convection flow of liquid being heated;

[0053] FIG. 2D is a schematic bottom view of the subject boiling container;

[0054] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation exploded view of the present boiling container showing the container sidewall, a bottom member of the container and a connection plate;

[0055] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the boiling container in perspective showing heat radiating members formed on a sidewall of the boiling container;

[0056] FIG. 5A is a schematic top view of the present cooking vessel having a grooved internal surface;

[0057] FIG. 5B shows schematically a top view of the subject boiling container having a grooved internal surface extending horizontally within a portion of the grooved internal surface;

[0058] FIG. 5C is a schematic cross-section of the subject boiling container taken along cross-sectional lines C-C of FIG. 5B;

[0059] FIG. 5D is a perspective view of the bottom of the subject cooking vessel with the grooves formed on the internal surface of the bottom showing a raised portion and a jump board;

[0060] FIG. 5E is a top view of the subject boiling container showing arrays of grooves extending throughout the bottom member of the boiling container;

[0061] FIG. 6A-6F show differing configurations defining the first lower temperature zone and the second higher temperature zone defined by the contour of the underside connector plate;

[0062] FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the subject boiling container showing the arcuate edge member on the hot side and heat radiating members formed on the cool side of the boiling container;

[0063] FIG. 7B is a top perspective view of a portion of the boiling container shown in FIG. 7A;

[0064] FIG. 7C is a cross-section taken along lines C-C of FIG. 7B; and

[0065] FIG. 7D is a side perspective view of the boiling container sidewall showing the heat radiant configuration for dissipating the heat from the side of the vessel adjacent to the handle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0066] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2A-2D, 3, 4, 5A-5E, 6A-6F, and 7A-7D, the subject overflow prevention container vessel 10 (also referred to herein intermittently as a boiling container or cooking vessel), includes a bottom section (also referred to herein as a bottom member) 12 and a side wall 48 with the sidewall 48 defining an interior sidewall surface 42 integrally connected to a peripheral joint 16 of the bottom 12 and extending from the peripheral joint 16 of the bottom member 12 to the top edge or rim 18 which is a length defining the height of the cooking vessel 10 extending in a vertical direction 13.

[0067] A handle 20 is attached to the top edge 18 of the side walls 14. The handle 20 may be fabricated from a metal or any suitable material as customary in the art. The handle 20 also may be made of a rubber material, or the rubber material 22 may be deposited on (or attached to) the handle 20 (as shown in FIGS. 2A-2D, 3-4, and 5E) to provide convenience and safety for a user of the boiling vessel 10.

[0068] The bottom section 12 of the cooking vessel 10 is formed with an underside connector plate 24 which extends in a horizontal direction throughout the bottom section 12 of the internal area of the boiling container 10.

[0069] Referring to the schematic FIG. 2B, it is seen that the bottom section of boiling container 10 is formed of an underside connector plate 24 which in effect divides the liquid contained in boiling container into two zones namely zone B defining an area of higher temperature than zone A during the heating phase of the heat being transported by the external heat source shown in FIG. 1 to be described in more detail in the following paragraphs with the demarcation between zones A and B being depicted by the virtual line 112 of FIGS. 1 and 2B.

[0070] Bottom section 12 in one embodiment may include underside connector plate upper member 100 and underside connector plate lower member 102 formed in one piece fabrication defining bottom section 12 of boiling container 10. As is seen in FIGS. 1 and 2B, underside connector plate upper member 100 is displaced from underside connector member lower member 102 with both extending in horizontal direction 11. Underside connecting plate upper member 100 extends throughout the horizontal length of bottom section 12. Underside connector member lower member 102 extends through a portion of the length of bottom section 12 and includes an underside connector member first section 104 and an underside connector member second section 106 formed in one-piece formation each to the other and to underside connector plate upper member 100. A gap 36 is formed between underside connector plate upper member 100 and underside connector member first section 10. Thus, underside connector plate upper member 100 and underside connector plate lower member 102 form a horizontally directed gap 36 therebetween which define zone A and zone B within boiling container 10 during the heating transport process effected by the heating source 44.

[0071] In this embodiment of the boiling container 10, underside connector plate 24 consists of underside connector plate member first section 104, underside connector plate member second section 106 and third underside connector plate third section 108 joined together in one piece formation as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2B.

[0072] In an alternate embodiment of the boiling container 10, underside connector plate 24 may be formed as a component to be releasably secured to a bottom of the boiling container 10 wherein the container bottom section 12 includes bottom member 110 joined in one piece formation to boiling container sidewall 48 to form boiling container 10. In this case underside connector plate 24 includes under underside connector plate first section 104, and underside connector plate second section 106 formed in one piece formation which is releasably attached to bottom member 110. Attachment of underside connector plate 24 may be releasably secured through a number of standardly acceptable manners for example by tongue in groove components, a releasable joint member 16 as schematically shown in FIG. 2B, a releasably threaded attachment connecting bottom member 110 to the underside connector plate 24 or some substantially equivalent releasable securement mechanism, not important to the inventive concept of creating a convection flow of contained liquid between zone A and zone B within the boiling container during heat transport.

[0073] Once again referring to FIGS. 1 and 2B, gap or slot 36 is formed between bottom member 110 and underside connector member first section 104 to an extent defining the zone A and a zone B where the temperature in zone A is at a lower temperature than the temperature in zone B during the heating process.

[0074] Bottom member 110, and underside connector plate member 24 are generally formed of a highly conductive metal composition such as copper, aluminum, stainless steel or some like metal composition which have relatively high thermal conductivity parameters. Gap or slot 36 which is generally an air gap has a low thermal conductivity and serves as a thermal insulator for the portion of the bottom member having the slot or gap 36 under the bottom member 110. The gap or slot 36 is equivalent to a heat insulation layer which may be an air gap or a low conductivity composition material which may be a high temperature fiberglass or some like material resulting in the temperature difference between zones A and B within the boiling container 10. The temperature gradient between zones A and B create a circular vortex of the liquid medium as depicted by the convectional directional flow arrows 52 shown in FIG. 1. Liquid medium 46 is transported from zone A to zone B as a circular vortex created.

[0075] In an alternate embodiment, an insulating composition may be inserted within the space created by the slot gap or slot 36 which may be an insulation material composition which is adapted to be an insulation material which is capable of withstanding the high temperatures developed during the heating process.

[0076] As depicted in FIG. 6A underside connector plate is formed of a first portion 21 and a second portion 23 of underside connector plate 24. The demarcation between the first and second portions of the underside connector plate 24 is defined by the gap or slot 36 extension in the horizontal direction 11 defining the underside connector plate edge 30.

[0077] In order to obtain differing geometrical contours for the vortex of the convectional fluid flow of the liquid medium 46 within the confines of the boiling container 10, differing contours of the underside plate edge 30 may be of use due to the specific contour of the boiling container 10 which is generally circular, rectangular, oval, oblong or some other geometrical contour when taken with respect to a top view cross-section of the boiling container 10. Different contours of the underside connector plate edge 30 are provided in FIGS. 6B-6F.

[0078] In FIG. 6E, the underside connector plate edge 30 is linearly directed throughout the diameter of the boiling container 10 sidewall 48 and results in a demarcation line 34 between the underside connector plate first portion 21 and the underside connector plate second portion 23. In this contour, the demarcation line 34 is coincident with and linearly directed across the diameter of underside peripheral edge 28 of the underside connector plate 24.

[0079] FIG. 6B depicts a continuous arc shaped underside connector plate edge 30 defining the boundary 34 between the underside connector plate portion 21 and the underside connector second portion 23.

[0080] FIG. 6C depicts a continuous sine shaped underside connector plate edge 30 and coincident demarcation line 34 between underside connector plate first and second portions 21 and 23.

[0081] FIGS. 6D and 6F depict other undulating contours for underside connector plate edge 30 and demarcation line 34 which are in vertical alignment with zones B and A.

[0082] In overall concept as depicted in FIGS. 6A-6F, the first portion of underside connector plate 21 or first area 21 and the second portion of the underside connector plate 23 or second area 23 of the underside connector plate 24 may be contoured in various shapes so that the gap 36 between the second area 23 of the underside connector plate 24 and the second portion 27 of the external surface 26 of the bottom 12 are shaped accordingly in various contours, including, but not limited to the crescent contour, semi-circle, moon-shaped contour, or any other contours outlined with convex-concave and arcuated lines.

[0083] Thus, the contour of the second area 23 of the underside connector plate 24 is defined between the underside connector plate edge inner edge 30 and an outer underside connector plate edge 28. The contour of the first area 21 of the underside connector plate 24 is defined by the arcuated inner edge 34 shown in FIGS. 6B-6C 6D and 6F. The demarcation or border line 34 coincides with the arcuated inner edge 30 or the second area 23 of the underside connector plate 24.

[0084] By pre-selecting a contour or shape of the demarcation line 34 the size and configuration of the of the second area 23 of the underside connector plate 24 as well as the contour height dimension of the gap 36 the thermal gradient created in the subject the thermal gradient between zones A and B within the boiling container 10 can be modified. Thus, the efficiency of insulation can be controlled to create an improved convectional flow of the liquid medium 46 within the boiling container 10 resulting in the fluid flow convection vortex within the boiling container or cooking vessel 10 as defined by the convection flow arrows 52 shown in FIG. 1 for aiding in the prevention of spillage of liquid from the vessel during a heating process.

[0085] The benefits of separation of the volume within the boiling container 10 into the zones A and B having a thermal gradient therebetween defining a hotter zone B and a cooler zone A to create a fluid flow vortex are further enhanced in the subject boiling container 10 by creating grooves 60 within the internal surface 40 of the bottom member 12.

[0086] As depicted in FIGS. 2A, 2C, 3, 5A-5E, and 7A-7B, and 7D, the grooves 60 extend substantially in parallel each to the other within the internal surface 40 of the bottom member 12. The grooves 60 may either span uninterrupted along the entire diameter of the bottom member 12 (as shown in FIGS. 2C, 3, 5A), or may span over the cool portion 54 corresponding to zone A of the internal surface 40 (as shown in FIGS. 5B, 5D) with the grooves 60 terminating in the jump board 62.

[0087] The grooves 60 may be formed within the surface 110 or alternatively formed by groove bar members 60 as depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2C.

[0088] Alternately as seen in FIG. 5E there are two arrays, i.e., an array 60,61 of grooves 60 extending over the hot portion associated with zone B and an array 60,63 of grooves 63 extending over the cool portion associated with zone A, where the grooves 60 which extend in alignment with the cool portion 54 terminate with the jump board 62 with the arrays 61 and 63 extending on the internal surface 40 on both sides of the jump board 62 (as shown in FIG. 5E, and 7A-7B).

[0089] The jump board 62 is disposed in an inclined relationship to the internal surface 40 of the bottom member 12 to give the liquid medium 46 within the cooking vessel 10 a lift (as schematically shown in FIG. 5C) to further facilitate convection and to direct the boiling liquid 46 towards the bottom 12.

[0090] The grooves on either side of the jump board 62, both on the hot portion 56 (zone B) and the cool portion 54 (zone A) of the internal surface 40 of the bottom member 12 augment the cooking vessel's surface area. The increased surface area permits the liquid medium 46 within the boiling container 10 to heat more rapidly, thus making the cooking process more efficient and convenient.

[0091] The grooves 60 have side walls 64 and a top wall 66 extending above the inner surface 40 of the bottom member 12 by a predetermined height of the grooves 60 so that inter-groove channels 68 are formed between the side walls 64 of the grooves 60. The efficiency of the boiling process within the boiling container 10 is highly improved by fabricating the internal surface 40 of the bottom member 12 with the grooves 60 raised above the internal surface 40 since the channels 68 between the grooves 60 provide an enhanced directional flow for the liquid 46 from the cooler side zone A to the hotter zone B of the boiling container 10. The liquid flow directionality from the cooler area to the hotter area further facilitates improved boiling process with the simultaneous laminar behavior of the flow of the liquid within the channels 68.

[0092] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4 there is shown boiling container 10 in a partial exploded format. The boiling container or cooking vessel 10 is further provided with one or more radiant members 70 with one or more heat radiant members 70 which are either fixedly adhered to boiling container 10 sidewall 48 adjacent to zone A depicting the cooler volume of the liquid medium 46 during a heating process.

[0093] As depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4 a radiant heat assembly 70 containing one or more heat radiant members 70 is/are mounted on/or formed in one-piece formation with boiler container 10 which serves to dissipate heat from the side wall 48 of the container 10 adjacent the boiler handle 20.

[0094] The one or more heat radiant members 70 includes a plurality of fins 72 which may be integrally formed on the side wall 48 adjacent at the cooler side 48 (adjacent zone A) of the cooking vessel 10 in proximity to the connection of the handle 20 to the side wall 14 adjacent zone A. Alternatively, the heat radiant members 70 may be fabricated separately and subsequently attached (adhered) to the outer surface of the side walls 14 also in proximity to the handle 20 to dissipate heat from the side of the vessel 10 which is adjacent to the handle 20 to provide safety and convenience to a user of the cooking vessel 10.

[0095] The handle 20 may be formed of a metal material. A low conductivity composition member 22 serves as an insulation barrier and may be formed of a rubber composition or some like composition to impede the heat transport from the handle 20 during the heating process. The insulation barrier or other low conductivity composition member 22 shown in FIGS. 2A-2D, 3 and 4, may be either applied as an additional layer of the rubber insulation material onto the portion of the metal handle 20, or the handle 20 can be inserted into the prefabricated rubber insulation sheath 22, dependent on the manufacturing specifics of the fabrication process of the cooking vessel 10.

[0096] Referring now to FIGS. 7A-7D, a further improvement to the subject cooking vessel 10 includes fabrication of the top of the side wall 14 with an inward edge member 76 on the hot side 50 of the cooking vessel 10. In this embodiment, the sidewall upper edge 18 is contoured inwardly with respect to zone B for inwardly directing the rising liquid during the heating process internally into the cooking vessel 10 to aid with the vortex flow within the boiling container 10 and to provide an additional protection from spillage of the liquid external to the boiling container 10 during the heating process.

[0097] The inner edge member 76 is generally formed in an inwardly facing arcuately shaped contour for directing the flow of any impinging liquid or vapor back into the confines of the boiling container 10. The inner edge member 76 may be formed in one piece formation with the boiling container sidewall 48 or be a releasable attachment which can be releasably attached to the sidewall upper edge 18. Where the inner edge member is releasably attached to the sidewall upper edge 18 such can be accommodated with a snap-on contour or some like releasable attachment.

[0098] The inner edge member 76 may extend circumferentially around the entire periphery of the sidewall upper edge 18 or throughout a portion thereof coincident with the periphery of boiling container sidewall 48 within the heated zone B. The inner edge member 76 may be formed of a metal or plastic composition not important to the inventive concept with the exception that the composition of the inner edge member 76 is a composition which can withstand the heated temperature of the heated liquid medium 46 during the heating process without deformation.

[0099] A test was performed to confirm the efficiency of the subject boiling container 10 in prevention of the spillage of the liquid during a heating process in accordance with the dimensions shown in FIG. 7C. The test was performed using a standard aluminum vessel having an internal diameter of 8.5 inches and a depth of 4.5 inches. The metal container was filled approximately half full with water having a temperature of approximately 25 degrees C. Heat was applied by a gas heating source 44 until the temperature approximated 100 degrees C. when boiling was initiated.

[0100] Test set-up included an external surface 26 for directing fluid flow in a direction approximating 38.9 degrees from the horizontal as fluid flowed from zone A to zone B into a vortex defined by the directional arrows 52 shown in FIG. 1. An edge member 76 having an angle of 50 degrees from the vertical directed the heated liquid and vapor back into the metal container 10.

[0101] A mathematical formula was applied to numerically solve the Navier-Stokes equations for the two-phase fluid flow (water and air) using a volume of fluid (VOF) method in order to solve the dimensional aspects of the fluid flow. A software program Ansys Fluent was used which is a fluid simulation computer program for modelling and accuracy in computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The result was obtained indicating the evolution of the fluid flow that was produced based on the thus obtained solution of the Navier-Stokes equations.

[0102] During the heating process no spillage of liquid was observed confirming the efficacy of the prevention spilling system.

[0103] Another embodiment of the subject Patent Application concept is directed to creating a fluid vortex in a container which develops the flow current through the use of material compositions. Container or vessel or pot 10 is provided containing liquid 46 which is being heated by a heating system 44 such as that shown in FIG. 1. The container 10 has a side wall 46 and a base member or base section 12, however, however in this embodiment the base section is formed of two generally metallic materials having different thermal conductivities creating a Zone A and a Zone B as depicted FIG. 1. Where Zone B contains the liquid being heated having a high heat transport capability and is at a higher temperature than Zone A.

[0104] In this embodiment, the base member is formed in one-piece formation of two (or more) solid metal compositions having differing thermal conductivities being devoid of an insulation layer associated with the portion of the base section below the Zone A shown in FIG. 1. As an, as seen in FIGS. 6a-6f, the base section 12 is divided into separate areas of heating represented by the area 23 formed of a metal composition having a lower thermal conductivity than the area 21. Boundary line 30 represents the line where base area 23 is the boundary where base area represents the surface of a first metallic composition having a low thermal conductivity and base area 21 represents a base section area having a second metallic composition of higher thermal conductivity than the metallic composition associated with base section 23.

[0105] Base member or section 12 is thus formed in one piece formation as a solid metal member devoid of thermal insulation layers dividing the Zones A and B into higher and lower temperature zones A and B, whether they be of low thermal conductivity material in certain areas or using air in one of the zones as an insulator. The concept of this embodiment is to use two slabs of metallic composition members having differing thermal conductivities to create the flow vortex represented by the directional arrows depicted in FIG. 1. For example base section 21 may be formed of copper having a thermal conductivity within the range 365-423 w-m.sup.1-K.sup.1 in contact with container liquid in Zone B for high heat transport whereas Zone A (associated with the base area 23) is formed of a lower thermal conductivity material such as possibly stainless steel having a thermal conductivity in the range or 16-24 w-M.sup.1-K.sup.1 (associated with the base area 21) or even aluminum having a thermal conductivity in the range of 70-100 w-m.sup.1-K.sup.1.

[0106] Joining the base area 21 to the base area 23 may be accomplished through welding, or some like technique dependent on the material compositions making up the base member 12.

[0107] Alternatively, a heat flow vortex can be created by placing two metal composition slabs of differing thermal conductivity within a casing such as aluminum and joined to the sidewall 48 of the heated container 10 in one piece formation.

[0108] In this manner the liquid floe 52 vortex is created during a heating process to provide for smoother, less dynamic approach to the container liquid being heated.

[0109] Although this invention has been described in connection with specific forms and embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that various modifications other than those discussed above may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, functionally equivalent elements may be substituted for those specifically shown and described, certain features may be used independently of other features, and in certain cases, particular locations of elements, steps, or processes may be reversed or interposed, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.