AU2008201234A1

AU2008201234A1 - A device for fastening a handle of reduced thickness to a cooking utensil

Info

Publication number: AU2008201234A1
Application number: AU2008201234A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jean-Francois Brasset; Pascal Cuillery; Stephane Plichon
Original assignee: SEB SA
Current assignee: SEB SA
Priority date: 2007-03-21
Filing date: 2008-03-14
Publication date: 2008-10-09
Also published as: EP1972243A2; CA2626155A1; JP2008289857A; RU2468734C2; BRPI0800964B1; TR201808686T4; KR20080086411A; PT1972243T; MX2008003823A; PL1972243T3; ES2674078T3; CN101268920A; FR2913869B1; BRPI0800964A2; RU2008110819A; EP1972243A3; CN101268920B; FR2913869A1; EP1972243B1; CA2626155C

Description

S&F Ref: 848347

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: SEB of Les 4 M Chemin du Petit Bois, 69130, ECULLY, France Pascal Cuillery, Stephane Plichon, Jean-Francois Brasset Spruson Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) A device for fastening a handle of reduced thickness to a cooking utensil The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 5845c(1166819_1) 00 A DEVICE FOR FASTENING A HANDLE OF REDUCED THICKNESS TO A Cl COOKING UTENSIL tThe present invention relates to a device for fastening a handle on a cooking utensil such as a saucepan, a frying pan, etc.

US patent No. 2 787 805 discloses a device for fastening a handle to a side wall or pan of the cooking utensil of the type comprising a cast stud of square section extending from the wall of the cooking utensil c- 10 and including a tapped orifice at its end. The end of

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0the handle is suitable for docking against the pan of the cooking utensil and it includes a housing that cooperates with the square section of the stud and that provides positioning in two directions perpendicular to the axis of the handle: a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. In line with the housing, the handle has a passage and a bearing zone for a screw that cooperates with the tapped orifice in the stud. A collar acting as a flame guard is fastened under the end of the handle.

That fastener device presents the drawback of not being durable since the assembly of the handle on the pan of the cooking utensil rapidly becomes slack. The handle material which comes directly into contact with the pan of the cooking utensil is subjected to heating and cooling cycles and degrades over time.

In addition, that fastener device requires the end of the handle to be of bulky construction. The plastics material commonly used for the handle is of the thermosetting type. That material requires significant wall thicknesses in order to obtain mechanical characteristics that are sufficient for withstanding user-induced forces.

British patent No. 1 077 475 describes another example of a device for fastening a handle on a pan of a cooking utensil of the type that comprises a stud suitable for being fastened to the pan of the cooking o00 C utensil via one end, together with a reflector or collar C surrounding the end of the handle and suitable for t docking against the pan of the cooking utensil via a first end and for receiving a shoulder of the handle in abutment against its second end. The second end of the stud has means suitable for providing axial fastening of the handle, and also has means suitable for putting the Mhandle into place by mutual engagement. In other words,

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the shoulder at the end of the handle defines a N- 10 projection that is substantially rectangular in shape,

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0 also referred to as a "square", and at its center it presents a housing for receiving the stud.

That fastener device improves the above-mentioned problems of the device aging. Nevertheless, when the user picks up the cooking utensil while it is fully loaded, the material of the handle situated between the stud and the top face of the collar is highly stressed and runs the risk of the handle breaking. Furthermore, that device also presents the drawbacks of requiring the end of the handle to be of construction that is bulky and expensive.

An improved solution is described in US patent No. 4 032 032. The device for fastening a handle on a pan of a cooking utensil comprises a stud suitable for being fastened to the pan of the cooking utensil via a first end, and having a tapped orifice at its second end, together with a collar surrounding the end of the handle and suitable for docking against the pan of the cooking utensil via a first end and for receiving a shoulder of the handle in abutment against its second end. The device also comprises a ring having firstly an opening of section that corresponds to the section of the stud so as to be held stationary thereby, and secondly an outside section that corresponds to the inside section of the collar so as to be stationary relative thereto. In that device, the handle is not positioned on the stud, but rather in the collar.

o00 That fastener device presents the drawback of CI requiring an additional part, thereby leading to tadditional fabrication cost. Furthermore, fabrication tolerances for that part mean that additional dispersions are added in the assembly of the handle on the cooking utensil.

The object of the present invention is to remedy the above-mentioned drawbacks and to propose a fastener device that is inexpensive by minimizing the number of ci 10 parts involved and by minimizing the quantity of material

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0 used at the end of the handle.

Another object of the invention is to propose a fastener device that provides fastening that is secure and long-lasting.

Another object of the invention is to propose a fastener device that is narrow in a vertical direction in the vicinity of the collar and the end of the handle.

These objects are achieved with a fastener device for fastening a handle to a pan of a cooking utensil, the device comprising a stud adapted to be fastened via its anterior first end to the pan of the cooking utensil and including an opening in its posterior second end, a handle having one end with at least one protuberance forming a housing that is suitable for receiving the stud and that is extended by a through orifice enabling a screw to pass through and be inserted in the opening of the stud, and a collar that is adapted to surround the stud and the protuberance of the handle and that connects the handle longitudinally to the pan of the cooking utensil, because the protuberance(s) of the handle come(s) into contact on either side of the stud on a lateral transverse axis, and because the collar includes positioning means for positioning on a vertical transverse axis against the stud and against the handle.

According to the invention, the fastener device enables the handle to be positioned accurately and directly on the stud in a horizontal transverse direction o00 O because of small clearance between the walls of the Cl protuberances of the handle and the side faces of the t stud. This construction also makes it possible to avoid the cooking utensil turning about the longitudinal axis of the handle. This provision also enables positioning to be achieved in the vertical transverse direction of the handle directly by the collar on the stud. This construction is very inexpensive in terms of the quantity of material used for the handle.

(N 10 Preferably, the positioning means for positioning 00 Sthe collar against the stud are constituted by a rib situated on the inside face of the bottom portion of the collar co-operating with an edge situated at the bottom portion of the posterior end of the stud.

This disposition makes it possible to have the collar bear against the stud without an extra fitting, the rib being made directly in the process of fabricating the collar, preferably by drawing aluminum.

Advantageously, the means for positioning collar against the stud are constituted by a rib situated on the inside face of the bottom portion of the collar cooperating with a middle line of the bottom face of the stud.

Preferably, the means for positioning the top portion of the collar against the stud are constituted by the bottom edge of the top end face of its anterior end co-operating with a top face of the stud.

This provision, together with the two preceding provisions, enables the collar to present a construction that is narrow in a vertical transverse direction.

Advantageously, the means for positioning the collar against the handle are constituted by the bottom end face of its posterior end co-operating with a shoulder formed at the bottom portion of the handle.

Preferably, the means for positioning the collar against the handle are constituted by the top edge of the bottom end face of its posterior end co-operating with at 00 O least one bottom face of the protuberances at the end of C the handle.

tAdvantageously, each of the external surfaces of the Stwo protuberances comprises at least one side contact face contacting the collar in such a manner as to position it relative to the handle on the lateral transverse axis.

M Preferably, the external surfaces of the two

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protuberances include at least two vertical contact faces C 10 making contact with the collar in such a manner as to 00 position the collar relative to the handle on the vertical transverse axis.

These last two provisions enable the end of the handle to be positioned in a collar of small thickness and thus to obtain a narrow construction for the end of the handle. This makes it possible optionally to add additional functions; for example, a module for measuring temperature or an anti-spattering cap on the collar or a device for turning the handle.

Preferably, the external surfaces of the two protuberances include respective tapers relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle.

The term "taper" is used to mean that the protuberances present a shape that is frustoconical, i.e.

the section of the protuberances becomes smaller towards the anterior end of the handle.

This provision enables the handle to be positioned in the collar solely via the bases of the two protuberances. When the user handles the cooking utensil, the material constituting the two protuberances is not stressed in bending. This ensures that fastening is secure and long-lasting.

Advantageously, the end of the handle includes a solid rim on the top portion of the collar.

This provision makes it possible to provide a cap for protecting the collar so as to make it easier to clean. While the cooking utensil is in use, the collar o00 which is in contact with the pan becomes heated.

CI Spattering that drops onto the collar will dry or even t become carbonized and will therefore adhere very strongly, thus making cleaning difficult. With a solid rim that is cold since it is not in contact with the pan, spattering becomes easy to clean off.

The invention can be better understood on studying embodiments taken in non-limiting manner and shown in the c-I accompanying figures, in which: cq 10 Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a

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0 device of the invention for fastening a handle to a pan of a cooking utensil; and Figure 2 is a section view of the Figure 1 device and containing the axis of the handle.

The fastener device 1 of the present invention serves to fasten a handle 3 to a pan 6 of a cooking utensil 2. It is constituted by a stud 5, by a collar 8 surrounding one end 30 of the handle 3, and by a screw 4.

As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the stud 5 is generally prismatic in shape, possibly having a square base and a longitudinal axis 40. Said stud 5 has an anterior first end 14 adapted to be fastened to the pan of the cooking utensil 2, and a posterior second end including a blind opening 16 that receives the screw 4.

The anterior end 14 of the stud 5 is shaped so as to facilitate fastening thereof to the pan 6 of the cooking utensil 2 by welding, and it includes a slightly domed disk 17 carrying an outwardly-directed spike 18.

The collar 8 is generally in the form of a hollow tube and it may have a base that is substantially oval.

The collar 8 possesses an anterior first end 21 adapted to dock with the pan 6 of the cooking utensil 2, and a posterior second end 22 suitable for receiving the handle 3 in abutment thereagainst. To ensure proper docking between the anterior end 21 of the collar 8 and the pan 6 of the cooking utensil 2, the end surface defined by said 00 O end 21 and the zone of the pan 6 against which it is to I dock are substantially parallel.

tThe end 30 of the handle 3 has two projecting Sprotuberances 31, 32, disposed on either side of a vertical transverse axis 41 perpendicular to the axis of the handle 3, and spaced apart by a gap forming a housing 33 suitable for receiving the stud 5. Said M housing 33 has two plane faces constituted by two

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internal walls 34, 35 of the two protuberances 31, 32 and N1 10 suitable for co-operating with two side faces 11, 12 of 00 0the stud 5; this enables the handle 3 to be held Sstationary on the stud 5 on a lateral transverse axis 42, perpendicular to the axis 40 of the handle 3, thereby preventing the handle 3 from turning about its longitudinal axis The end 30 of the handle 3 formed by the two protuberances 31, 32 is suitable for engaging in the collar 8. In their external portions, the protuberances 31, 32 have surfaces 36, 37 that match the internal side surfaces 23, 24 of the collar 8. Each of the external surfaces 36, 37 has a side contact face 46, 47 for contacting the collar 8 so as to position it relative to the handle 3 on the lateral transverse axis 42. The external surfaces 36, 37 of the protuberances 31, 32 also have two vertical contact faces 48, 49 for contacting the collar 8 so as to position it relative to the handle 3 on the vertical transverse axis 41.

The external surfaces 36, 37 of the two protuberances 31, 32 include respective tapers relative to the longitudinal axis 40 of the handle 3. In other words, it can be understood that the protuberances 31, 32 present a frustoconical shape, i.e. the section of each protuberance becomes smaller towards the anterior end of the handle 3. This taper may vary between the top and bottom portions of the two protuberances 31, 32.

The end 30 of the handle 3 is defined by a shoulder 38 peripheral to the two protuberances 31, 32 and 00 O suitable for coming into abutment against the end face of C the posterior end 22 of the collar 8, thereby defining tthe maximum extent to which the protuberances 31, 32 can be pushed into the collar 8. The top edge of the bottom end face of the posterior end 22 of the collar 8 bears against the bottom faces of the protuberances 31, 32.

On the inside face of its bottom portion 25, the Scollar 8 has a rib 26 that bears against an edge 19 situated in the bottom portion of the posterior end 15 of Ci 10 the stud 5, or in another embodiment, that bears against 00 0 a middle line of the bottom face 10 of the stud In the top end face of its anterior end 21, the collar 8 has a bottom edge 28 that bears against a top face 13 of the stud A through orifice 39 is made in the end 30 of the handle 3 extending the housing 33. The screw 4 previously engaged in the orifice 39 is suitable for cooperating with the blind opening 16 in the stud. The orifice 39 has a shoulder against which the head of the screw can come into abutment. The screw 4 can be a selftapping screw to eliminate the operation of tapping the blind opening 16 in the stud, thereby reducing the cost of fabricating the device.

The end protuberances of the handle that remain from the previously-known square, have a function that is reduced to a strict minimum of positioning the handle 3 relative to the stud 5 along the lateral transverse axis 42. While the cooking utensil is in use, the collar 8 is maintained mechanically in its primary function: it presents a portion in compression held between the opposing torques of the top connection via the screw 4, the handle 3, and the stud 5, and the bottom connection via the pan 6, the collar 8, and the handle 3. In particular, this compressed zone is highly stressed and is heated by the cooking hob. The top portion of the collar 8 participates in positioning on the stud solely o00 via its anterior portion, the posterior top portion being c mechanically of less importance.

tAs an illustration of an additional function made possible by the fastener device of the invention, the end 30 of the handle 3 has a solid rim 45 that covers the top portion 27 of the collar 8. The distance between the end of the solid rim 45 and the pan 6 is less than three millimeters. This solid rim acts as a protective cap for protecting the collar 8 from spattering and it makes CI 10 cleaning easier. In another implementation of this 00 function, a notch is formed in the posterior top edge of p the collar 8 and the notch that has been formed is filled with a solid rim on the handle. This embodiment enables the construction of the end of the handle 3 to be even narrower.

To fasten the handle 3 to the cooking utensil 2 by using the fastener device 1 of the invention, the anterior end 14 of the stud 5 is initially fastened to the pan 6 of the cooking utensil 2, e.g. by welding.

The two protuberances 31, 32 of the end 30 of the handle 3 are inserted into the posterior end 22 of the collar 8. Thereafter, the plane faces 34, 35 of the two protuberances 31, 32 of the handle 3 together with the collar 8 are put into position around the stud Finally, the screw 4 is engaged in the orifice 39 of the handle 3 and since the orifice 39 and the blind opening 16 in the stud 5 are in register with each other, the screw 4 penetrates into the blind opening 16.

The orifice 39 has a shoulder against which the head of the screw 4 is suitable for coming into abutment. By continuing screwing, the end face of the anterior end 21 of the collar 8 becomes pressed against the pan 6 of the cooking utensil and the end face of the posterior end 22 of the collar 8 becomes pressed against the shoulder 38 of the handle 3. Once the screw is tight, the radial force exerted by the collar 8 on the inclined pan of the cooking utensil 2 causes the bottom edge 28 of the top 00 end face of the anterior end 21 of the collar 8 to press CI against the top face 13 of the stud tThe present invention is not limited in any way to Sthe embodiment described and its variants, but covers numerous modifications within the ambit of the claims.

Thus, the means for positioning the collar 8 against the stud 5 may be constituted by the inside face of the M bottom portion 25 of the collar 8 co-operating directly

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with an edge 19 situated in the bottom portion of the C 10 posterior end 15 of the stud 00 Likewise, the means for positioning the collar 8 Sagainst the stud 5 can be constituted by at least one rib situated on the inside face of the top portion 27 of the collar 8 co-operating with a top face 13 of the stud These two variants enable the position of the collar 8 relative to the stud 5 to be modified, and optionally, in the first variant, to make the collar 8 even narrower on the vertical transverse axis 41.

Claims

1. A fastener device for fastening a handle to a pan of a cooking utensil, the device comprising a stud adapted to be fastened via its anterior first end to the pan of the cooking utensil and including an opening in its posterior second end, a handle having one end with at least one protuberance forming a housing that is suitable for receiving the stud and that is extended by a through Sorifice enabling a screw to pass through and be inserted 00 10 in the opening of the stud, and a collar that is adapted Sto surround the stud and the protuberance of the handle and that connects the handle longitudinally to the pan of the cooking utensil, wherein the protuberance(s) of the handle come(s) into contact on either side of the stud on a lateral transverse axis, and wherein the collar includes positioning means for positioning on a vertical transverse axis against the stud and against the handle.

2. A fastener device according to claim 1, wherein the positioning means for positioning the collar against the stud are constituted by a rib situated on the inside face of the bottom portion of the collar co-operating with an edge situated at the bottom portion of the posterior end of the stud.

3. A fastener device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the means for positioning collar against the stud are constituted by a rib situated on the inside face of the bottom portion of the collar co-operating with a middle line of the bottom face of the stud.

4. A fastener device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the means for positioning the top portion of the collar against the stud are constituted by the bottom edge of the top end face of its anterior end co-operating with a top face of the stud. 00 CI

5. A fastener device according to any one of claims 1 to t4, wherein the means for positioning the collar against Sthe handle are constituted by the bottom end face of its posterior end co-operating with a shoulder formed at the bottom portion of the handle.

S6. A fastener device according to any one of claims 1 to wherein the means for positioning the collar against 1 0 the handle are constituted by the top edge of the bottom 00 0 end face of its posterior end co-operating with at least one bottom face of the protuberances at the end of the handle.

7. A fastener device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each of the external surfaces of the two protuberances comprises at least one side contact face contacting the collar in such a manner as to position it relative to the handle on the lateral transverse axis.

8. A fastener device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the external surfaces of the two protuberances include at least two vertical contact faces making contact with the collar in such a manner as to position the collar relative to the handle on the vertical transverse axis.

9. A fastener device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the external surfaces of the two protuberances include respective tapers relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle. A fastener device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the end of the handle includes a solid rim on the top portion of the collar. 00 0 11. A fastener device for fastening a handle to a pan of CI a cooking utensil, the device substantially as chereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying Sdrawings. Dated 14 March, 2008 SEB S.A. CPatent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person C SPRUSON FERGUSON 00 (N 00