AU2013200083A1 - Stackable Cooking Pans and Lids - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a set of stackable or nestable cooking pans with handles and, preferably, accompanying lids. Each cooking pan in the set includes a pan body including a base and a wall defining an internal space, the base including a planar internal surface and a planar external surface. The wall includes an upper rim edge wherein at least a portion of the upper rim edge is level. A rim height is defined by a height of the level portion of the upper rim edge above the plane of the internal surface of the base, wherein the rim height of a smaller one of the cooking pans is substantially less than the rim height of a next larger one of the cooking pans in the set. A handle is connected to the wall of the pan body in the region of the level portion of the upper rim edge, the handle including a connection portion fixed directly to the wall of the pan body, a gripping portion and a transition portion extending between the connection portion and the gripping portion. The transition portion of the handle defines a downward facing recess having a height above the plane of the external surface of the base to which the handle is attached that is greater than the rim height of the next larger one of the cooking pans of the set, whereby when a smaller one of the cooking pans is nested within a next larger one of the cooking pans, the external surface of the base of the smaller cooking pan rests flat on the internal surface of the base of the next larger one of the cooking pans and the recess of the handle of the smaller one of the cooking pans clears the level portion of the upper rim edge of the next larger one of the cooking pans of the set. The cooking pans are intended to be used in the preparation and cooking of food and include saucepans, frying pans casseroles and dutch ovens, to name but a few examples, intended for use on a stove or other cooking hob. However, the present invention also relates to sets of stackable or nestable bakeware including handles and, preferably, including accompanying lids such as baking pots, trays and dishes that are intended to be used inside an oven. Such bakeware may include baking pots, trays and dishes with one or two handles. s

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Stackable Cooking Pans and Lids Applicant: McPherson's Limited The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 6067 DGC STACKABLE COOKING PANS AND LIDS Field of the Invention The present invention broadly relates to cookware. The invention relates to a set of 5 stackable or nestable cooking pans with handles and, preferably, accompanying lids. The cooking pans are intended to be used in the preparation and cooking of food and include saucepans, frying pans casseroles and dutch ovens, to name but a few examples, intended for use on a stove or other cooking hob. However, the present invention also relates to sets of stackable or nestable bakeware including handles 10 and, preferably, including accompanying lids such as baking pots, trays and dishes that are intended to be used inside an oven. Such bakeware may include baking pots, trays and dishes with one or two handles. Background of the Invention 15 Cooking pans are used in the preparation of food, in particular in relation to the cooking and heating of ingredients. There exists a wide variety of cooking pans used for cooking and heating ingredients of various types and for various purposes. Cookware comprises cooking vessels, such as saucepans, casseroles, dutch ovens, frying pans, skillets, saut6 pans, stock pots and woks to name but a few, intended for 20 use on a stove or range cooktop. Bakeware comprises cooking vessels intended for use inside an oven. Examples of bakeware include braising pans, roasting pans and dishes. Such items of cookware and bakeware can be made out of a variety of materials including metal, ceramic and glass. However, for the purposes of the specification the term "cooking pan" will be used herein as a generic term 25 encompassing all such cookware and bakeware. Cooking pans typically include a pan portion, which may be in a variety of forms such as a pot having a base and a wall upstanding from the base defining an internal space for containing ingredients. An opening defined by the wall and spaced apart 30 from the base provides access to the internal space. Cooking pots can come in a variety of shapes and sizes, such as round, square, rectangle and oval to name but a few. Accordingly, cooking pans may have round, square, rectangular or oval shaped bases and a wall upstanding from the edge of the base and extending continuously 2 around the base. A handle, or handles, are typically connected to the wall portion of the pan body to enable a user to carry or otherwise manipulate the cooking pan. The handle may be made out of a variety of materials including metal, or an insulator to prevent a user from burning their hand while carrying a hot cooking pan. The opening 5 of a pan may be enclosed by a lid that is designed to engage the upper edge or rim of the upstanding wall of the pan body. Such lids are typically removable from the cooking pan. A typical domestic or commercial kitchen may contain a significant number of cooking 10 pans of a variety of shapes, sizes and styles including many of the types mentioned above. Storing numerous cooking pans is a problem because each cooking pan including the pan body and the handle extended therefrom can be quite large and don't fit neatly within the other for compact storage and, in significant numbers, this problem is exacerbated. Where many cooking pans, each with their own lid, are to be 15 stored in a kitchen space must be found not only for each pan but also its lid. The above discussion of background art is included to explain the context of the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any of the documents or other material referred to was published, known or part of the common general 20 knowledge in Australia at the priority date of any one of the claims of this specification. Summary of the Invention Accordingly, the present invention provides a set of nestable cooking pans, each 25 cooking pan in the set including: - a pan body including a base and a wall defining an internal space, - the base including a planar internal surface and a planar external surface - the wall including an upper rim edge wherein at least a portion of the upper rim edge is level 30 - a rim height defined by a height of the level portion of the upper rim edge above the plane of the internal surface of the base, wherein the rim height of a smaller one of the cooking pans is substantially less than the rim height of a next larger one of the cooking pans in the set, 3 - a handle connected to the wall of the pan body in the region of the level portion of the upper rim edge, the handle including a connection portion fixed directly to the wall of the pan body, a gripping portion and a transition portion extending between the connection portion and the gripping portion, 5 - the transition portion of the handle defining a downward facing recess having a height above the plane of the external surface of the base to which the handle is attached that is greater than the rim height of the next larger one of the cooking pans of the set, whereby when a smaller one of the cooking pans is nested within a next larger one of the cooking pans, the 10 external surface of the base of the smaller cooking pan rests flat on the internal surface of the base of the next larger one of the cooking pans and the recess of the handle of the smaller one of the cooking pans clears the level portion of the upper rim edge of the next larger one of the cooking pans of the set. 15 In an embodiment, a downward facing surface of the transition portion of the handle extends at an incline from the connection portion to an apex of the recess such that substantially the entire transition portion of the handle is above the level portion of the upper rim edge. 20 In another embodiment, a downward facing surface of the transition portion or the gripping portion extends at a decline from the apex of the transition portion. In yet another embodiment, the recess is a substantially arch shaped recess. 25 In an embodiment, any portion of the handle below the upper rim edge of the pan body to which the handle is attached is cleared by the level portion of the upper rim edge of the pan body of the next larger pan of the set when the pan body to which the handle is attached is nested within the pan body of the next larger pan of the set. 30 In another embodiment, each of the handles of the cooking pans in the set is inclined at substantially the same angle relative to the base of the pan body to which each handle is attached. 4 In yet another embodiment, the handles of each of the pans of the set are substantially identical. Each of the pans of the set can have a removable lid having opposite upper and lower 5 surfaces, each of the lids includes a lifting knob attached to the upper surface and a protuberance protruding from the lower surface, each of the lifting knobs includes a depression in an upper surface thereof for receiving the protuberance of another one of the lids when the lids are stacked one upon the other. 10 In an embodiment, the protuberance and the depression are both frustoconical and the protuberance has a diameter and a height that are substantially the same as a diameter and a depth of the depression. An internal surface of the wall of the pan body of at least one of the cooking pans of 15 the set can include markings at a plurality of spaced apart levels indicating a plurality of volumes of the pan body when the base is resting on a substantially level surface The above embodiments of the invention are advantageous in that the set of nestable cooking pans can be manufactured at less cost due to the fact that the different size 20 cooking pans of the set can be produced with the same handle and do not require differently shaped or configured handles for each cooking pan of the set. Brief Description of the Drawings 25 The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the following figures. The following figures represent embodiments of the invention in the form of a set of nestable cooking pans and lids. It is to be appreciated, however, that the present invention may be suitable for use with other forms of containers, pots, pans and vessels for cooking or for use for other purposes. 30 Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a set of nestable cooking pans in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 5 Figure 2A illustrates a perspective view of the set of nestable cooking pans of Figure 1 further including a set of stackable lids in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 5 Figure 2B illustrates a side view of a cross section of the lids of the set of lids of Figure 2A. Figure 3A illustrates a side view of a smallest one of the cooking pans of the set of the nestable cooking pans of Figure 1. 10 Figure 3B illustrates a side view of a next larger, or medium sized, cooking pan of the set of the nestable cooking pans of Figure 1. Figure 3C illustrates a side view of a next larger, or large sized, cooking pan of the set 15 of the nestable cooking pans of Figure 1. Figure 4A illustrates a plan view of the small cooking pan of Figure 3A. Figure 4B illustrates a plan view of the medium cooking pan of Figure 3B. 20 Figure 4C illustrates a plan view of the large cooking pan of Figure 3C. Figure 5 illustrates a side view of a cross section of one of the lids of Figure 2. 25 Figure 6 illustrates a side view of a cross section of one of the cooking pans of the set of nestable cooking pans of Figure 1. The present invention will now be described in more detail below with reference to embodiments of the invention illustrated in the Figures. 30 Detailed Description Referring to Figure 1, which illustrates an embodiment of the invention, there is shown a set of nestable cooking pans 10 including a plurality of cooking pans ranging from a 6 smallest cooking pan 20 of the set 10, a next larger, or medium sized, cooking pan 30 of the set 10 and a largest size, or large cooking pan 40 of the set 10. Each one of the small, medium and large cooking pans 20, 30, 40 includes a respective pan body 22, 32, 42 including a wall 24, 34, 44 upstanding from the base 23, 33, 43 and including 5 an upper rim 58, 68, 78 that is spaced apart from the base 23, 33, 43. The base 23, 33, 43 and the wall 24, 34, 44 of each pan body 22, 32, 42 defines an internal space 26, 36, 46 for each pan body 22, 32, 42. A respective handle 25, 35, 45 is connected to and extends from the wall 24, 34, 44 of each pan body 22, 32, 42. In the region where the handles 25, 35, 45 are connected to the walls 24, 34, 44 of the pan bodies 10 22, 32, 42 a portion of the upper rim edge 58, 68, 78 is substantially level. Thus, each pan body 22, 32, 42 includes a substantially level upper rim edge portion 58A, 68A, 78A, in the region where the handle 25, 35, 45 is connected to the wall 24, 34, 44 of the pan body 22, 32, 42. The handles 25, 35, 45 extend from the walls 24, 34, 44 of the pan bodies 22, 32, 42 at an incline so that when the pan body 22, 32, 42 of an 15 upper pan 20, 30, 40 is nested within the internal space 26, 36, 46 of a lower pan 20, 30, 40 the handle 25, 35, 45 of the upper pan 20, 30, 40 clears the substantially planar portion 58A, 68A, 78A of the rim 58, 68, 75 of the lower pan 20, 30, 40. The base 23, 33, 43 of each pan body 22, 32, 42 of the small, medium and large 20 cooking pans 20, 30, 40 is substantially planar. The base 23, 33, 43 of each of the pan bodies 22, 32, 43 also includes a respective substantially planar internal surface 73, 83, 93 and an opposite planar external surface 75, 85, 95. The planar internal surface 73, 83, 93 of the base 23, 33, 43 and the wall 24, 34, 44 defines the internal space 26, 36, 46 of each one of the cooking pans 20, 30, 40 of the set 10. The upper 25 rim edges 58, 68, 78 of each of the pan bodies 22, 32, 42 are each flared outwardly relative to the wall 24, 34, 44. The upper rim edge 58, 68, 78 of each pan body 22, 32, 42 defines an opening 59, 89, 79 for accessing the internal space 26, 36, 46 of each of the pan bodies 22, 32, 42. As mentioned above, the upper rim 58, 68, 78 of each pan body 22, 32, 42 includes the level portion 58A, 68A, 78A in the region where the 30 handle 25, 35, 45 is connected to the wall 24, 34, 44 of the pan body 22, 32, 42. As illustrated in Figure 1, the set of cooking pans of the invention are adapted to be nestable such that the pan body 22 of the small cooking pan 20 can be placed within the internal space 36 of the medium cooking pan 30 and the pan body 32 of the 7 medium cooking pan 30 can be placed within the internal space 46 of the large cooking pan 40. Each pan body 22, 32, 42 has a rim height defined by a height of the level portion 5 58A, 68A, 78A of the upper rim edge 58, 68, 78 above the plane of the internal surface of the base 73, 83, 93. The rim height of a smaller one of the cooking pans 20, 30, 40 is substantially less than the rim height of a next larger one of the cooking pans 20, 30, 40 of the set 10. The handle 25, 35, 45 is connected to the wall 24, 34, 44 of the pan body 22, 32, 42 in the region of the level portion 58A, 68A, 78A of the 10 upper rim edge 58, 68, 78. Each of the handles includes a connection portion 60 fixed directly to the wall 24, 34, 44 of the pan body 22, 32, 42, a gripping portion 62 and a transition portion 64 extending between the connection portion 60 and the gripping portion 62. 15 The transition portion 64 of the handle 25, 35, 45 defines a downward facing recess 69 having a height above the plane of the external surface 75, 85, 95 of the base 23, 33, 43 to which the handle 25, 35, 45 is attached that is greater than the rim height of the next larger one of the cooking pans 20, 30, 40 of the set 10, whereby when a smaller one of the cooking pans 20, 30, 40 is nested within a next larger one of the 20 cooking pans 20, 30, 40, the external surface 75, 85, 95 of the base 23, 33, 43 of the smaller cooking pan 20, 30, 40 rests flat on the internal surface 73, 83, 93 of the base 23, 33, 43 of the next larger one of the cooking pans 20, 30, 40 and the recess 69 of the handle 25, 35, 45 of the smaller one of the cooking pans 20, 30, 40 clears the level portion 58A, 68A, 78A of the upper rim edge 58, 68, 78 of the next larger one of 25 the cooking pans 20, 30, 40 of the set 10. Figures 3A and 4A illustrate the smallest cooking pan 20 of the set 10. However, it is to be appreciated that the features of the smallest cooking pan 20 that are described below are also found on each of the medium cooking pan 30 illustrated in Figures 3B 30 and 4B and large cooking pan 40 illustrated In Figure 3C and 4C. As will become evident from the following detailed description the only significant difference between each of the small, medium and large cooking pans 20, 30, 40 of the set 10 is the size (i.e. height and diameter) of the respective pan bodies 22, 32, 42. Features of the 8 small, medium and large cooking pans 20, 30, 40, such as the shape of the pan bodies 22, 32, 42 and the handles 25, 35, 45 can, but need not, be substantially identical. 5 Figures 3A and 4A illustrate the smallest cooking pan 20 which includes the pan body 22 and the handle 25 connected to and extending from the pan body 22. The pan body 22 includes the substantially planar base 23 and the wall 24 upstanding from a perimeter 21 of the base 23. The wall 24 upstands from the base 23 at substantially 90 degrees to a plane in which the base 23 lies. The perimeter 21 of the base 23 is 10 substantially circular and the wall 24 has a substantially cylindrical shape. The pan body 22 of the smaller cooking pan 20 illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 is in the form of a saucepan having an internal diameter of about 160mm. In a preferred embodiment of the set of nestable cooking pans 10, each of the small, medium and large cooking pans 20, 30, 40 are shaped and configured in the form of saucepans having 15 successively larger wall diameters of about 160mm, 180mm and 200mm respectively. However, it is to be appreciated that the set of nestable cooking pans 10 of the invention need not be limited to saucepans but could include any one of a wide variety of types of cooking pans including saucepans, soup pots, frying pans, baking trays or dishes, casseroles and dutch ovens, to name but a few examples. 20 Furthermore, the relative sizes of the small cooking pan 20, the medium cooking pan 30, and the large cooking pan 40 may vary from the dimensions described above. As illustrated in Figure 1, the internal surface 52 of the wall 24 of the pan body 22 includes markings 150 at a plurality of spaced apart levels above the internal surface 25 73 of the base 23 indicating a plurality of volumes of the internal space 26 of the pan body 22 when the base 23 is resting on a substantially level surface. Each of the other cooking pans 30, 40 of the set of cooking pans 10 may also be provided with similar volume markings as those described above with respect to the small cooking pan 20 of the set 10. The provision of volume markings for one or more of the 30 cooking pans 20, 30, 40 of the set 10 is advantageous in that they that indicate to a user various volumes of the respective pan body 22, 32, 42 when resting on a substantially level surface, such as a cooking hob or on a food preparation surface. The markings 150 enable a user of the cooking pan 20 to measure required volumes 9 of liquid or other ingredients when cooking without the need to use a separate volume measuring cup or other volume measuring device. As mentioned above, and as illustrated in Figure 1, the small, medium and large 5 cooking pans 20, 30, 40 have respective handles 25, 35, 45 connected to the wall 24, 34, 44 of each respective pan body 22, 32, 42. For the sake of convenience the pan body 22 and the handle 25 of the small cooking pan 20 illustrated at Figures 3 and 4 will be described in more detail. However, it is to be appreciated that the features of the pan body 22 and the handle 25 of the small cooking pan 20 described below are 10 also found in each of the handles 35, 45 of the medium and large cooking pans 30, 40. Furthermore, the handles 25, 35, 45 of each of the small, medium and large cooking pans 20, 30, 40 can be substantially identical in shape, configuration and design. 15 Referring to Figures 3A and 4A, the wall 24 of the pan body includes an inwardly facing cylindrically shaped internal surface 52 and an opposite outwardly facing cylindrically shaped external surface 54. The base 23 also includes an upwardly facing planar internal surface 73 and an opposite downwardly facing planar external surface 75. The internal surface 52 of the wall 24 and the internal surface 73 of the 20 base 23 together define the internal space 26 of the pan body 22. The external surface 75 of the base 23 of the pan body 22 is adapted to rest on a surface, such as a cooking hob. At an upper end 57 spaced apart from the base 23 the wall 24 terminates at an upper rim edge 58 that adjoins the internal surface 52 and the external surface 54 of the wall 24. The rim edge 58 extends around a perimeter of 25 the wall 24 and defines an opening 59 for accessing the internal space 26 of the pan body 22. As illustrated in Figures 3A and 4A, in particular, the handle 25 is attached to the external surface 54 of the wall 24 of the pan body 22. In particular, the handle 25 is 30 connected to the external surface 54 at the upper end 57 of the wall 24 immediately adjacent to the rim edge 58. As mentioned above, the handle 25 includes the connection portion 60, the gripping portion 62 and the transition portion 64 that extends between the connection portion 60 and the gripping portion 62. The 10 connection portion 60 is preferably in the form of a plate that is fixed to the external surface 54 of the wall 24 of the pan body 22 by any suitable means such as by a mechanical connection in the form of rivets, fasteners, screws or the like or can be fixed by adhesive, brazing, soldering or any combination thereof. The transition 5 portion 64 of the handle 25 is preferably in the form of a tapering extension of the plate forming the connection portion 60. The transition portion 64 extends from the connection portion 60 and the wall 24 at an incline and is substantially contiguous with the rim edge 58. The transition portion 64 of the handle 25 also includes strengthening creases 66 for increasing the strength and rigidity of the handle 25. As 10 mentioned above, the rim edge 58 is substantially level in the portion of the rim edge 58A where the handle 25 is connected to the wall 24 of the pan body 22. Furthermore, the transition portion 64 of the handle 25 is closely adjacent to, and substantially contiguous with, the level portion 58A of the rim edge 58. 15 The gripping portion 62 of the handle 25 includes an extension of the tapered transition portion 64 of the handle around which is moulded a polymeric gripping member. Alternatively, the gripping portion 64 may be comprised only of an extension of the same material from which the tapered transition portion 64 is produced. Accordingly, the connection portion 60, the transition portion 62 and the 20 gripping portion 64 of the handle 25 are a substantially unitary, rigid structure. Furthermore, when the handle 25 is connected to the pan body 22 the resulting cooking pan 20 is also a substantially rigid, unitary structure. In any of the above embodiments, the gripping portion 62 may be moulded or shaped into an ergonomic form for being gripped by a user. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the 25 gripping portion 62 of the handle 25 further includes an aperture 65 that is provided to enable the cooking pan 20 to be hung from a hook or the like. The transition portion 64 of the handle 25 further includes folds or creases to provide additional structural rigidity to the transition portion 64 of the handle 25. 30 As can be seen in Figure 3A, in particular, a downward facing surface of the transition portion 64 extends at an incline from the connection portion 60 to an apex 67a of the recess 69 such that substantially the entire transition portion 64 of the handle 25 is above the level portion 58A of the upper rim edge. Furthermore, a downward facing 11 surface of the transition portion 64 and/or the gripping portion 62 extends at a decline from the apex 67a of the transition portion 64. The arrangement of the transition portion 64 and the gripping portion 62 of the handle 25 is such that the recess 69 is substantially arch shaped having the apex 67a between the substantially level portion 5 of the rim 58A and the gripping portion 62 of the handle 25. Furthermore, at least the apex 67a of the recess 67, and the recess 67 itself, is substantially above the planar portion of the rim 58A of the pan body 22 to which the handle 25 is attached when the base 23 is resting on a horizontal surface. Accordingly, as can be seen in Figures 1, 3A, 3B and 3C, each of the small, medium and large cooking pans 20, 30, 40 includes 10 a respective arch shaped recess 67, 107, 117 and a respective apex 67a, 107a, 11 7a thereof. Referring to Figures 1, 3A and 4A, in the small cooking pan 20, the apex 67a of the recess 67 is at a height above the external surface 75 of the base 23 of the pan body 15 22, when the external surface 75 of the base 23 is resting on the internal surface 83 of the medium cooking pan 30, that is greater than the height of the rim 68 above the internal surface 83 of the medium cooking pan 30 when the external surface 85 of the medium cooking pan 30 is resting on a planar horizontal surface. Similarly, in the medium cooking pan 30, the apex 107a of the arch shaped recess 107 is at a height 20 above the external surface 85 of the base 33 of the pan body 32, when the external surface 85 of the base 33 is resting on the internal surface 93 of the large cooking pan 30, that is greater than the height of the rim 78 above the internal surface 93 of the large cooking pan 40 when the external surface 95 of the large cooking pan 40 is resting on a planar horizontal surface. 25 Thus, the small cooking pan 20 can be nested within the next larger one of the cooking pans of the set 10, namely the medium cooking pan 30, in such a manner that the arch shaped recess 67 of the handle 25 of the small cooking pan 20 does not impinge upon (i.e. clears) the rim 68 of the medium cooking pan 30 into which the 30 small cooking pan 20 is nested. Similarly, the medium cooking pan 30 can be nested within the next larger one of the cooking pans of the set 10, namely the large cooking pan 40, in such a manner that the arch shaped recess 107 of the handle 35 of the medium cooking pan 30 does not impinge upon (i.e. clears) the rim 78 of the large 12 cooking pan 40 into which the medium cooking pan 20 is nested. Thus, the small cooking pan 20 can be nested within the next larger one of the cooking pans of the set 10, namely the medium cooking pan 30, and the medium cooking pan 30 can be nested within the next larger one of the cooking pans of the set 10, namely the large 5 cooking pan 40, in such a manner that each of the handles 25, 35, 45 of each of the cooking pans 20, 30, 40 of the set does not impinge upon the rim 58, 68, 78 of the next larger one of the pans into which it is nested. As mentioned above, the upper rims 58, 68, 78 of each of the pan bodies 22, 32, 42 10 are each flared outwardly relative to the wall 24, 34, 44. The outwardly flared rims 58, 68, 78 are inclined to the wall 24, 34, 44 at substantially the same angle at which the handles 25, 35, 45 extend from the walls 24, 34, 44 of the pan bodies 22, 32, 42. When the pan body 22, 32, 42 of an upper pan 20, 30, 40 is nested within the internal space 26, 36, 46 of a lower pan 20, 30, 40 the handle 25, 35, 45 of the upper pan 20, 15 30, 40 and the outwardly flared rim 58, 68, 78 are substantially parallel to each other. Thus, the handle 25, 35, 45 of the upper pan 20, 30, 40, in particular the transition portion thereof, clears the substantially planar portion 58A, 68A, 78A of the outwardly flared rim 58, 68, 75 of the lower pan 20, 30, 40. 20 Thus, the set of cooking pans 10 described above are advantageous in that they include small medium and larger cooking pans 20, 30, 40 that may be nested one within another to thereby reduce the overall volume occupied by the set of cooking pans 10 when stored. Thus, the nested cooking pans 10 occupy less space when packaged for transport and sale and/or when stored in a domestic or commercial 25 kitchen. The set of cooking pans 10 are also advantageous in that each of the small, medium and large cooking pans 20, 30, 40 of the set include a respective pan body 22, 32, 42 having a rim 58, 68, 78 that is substantially planar at least in the region where the handle 25, 35, 45 is attached to its respective pan body 22, 32, 42. Thus, the rim 58, 68, 78 of each of the pans 20, 30, 40 may be planar in the region to which 30 the handle is attached to the pan body or the entire rim 58, 68, 78 may lie in a single plane. Thus, the set of cooking pans 10 provides each pan with a flat rim that can be engaged and substantially sealed by a lid having an annular rim. 13 It will be appreciated that although the preferred embodiment of the invention described herein includes a set 10 of three cooking pans, namely the small, medium and large cooking pans 20, 30, 40, it is to be appreciated that there may be no limit to the number of cooking pans included in the set 10. The prerequisite for each cooking 5 pan 20, 30, 40 of the set 10 illustrated and described herein is that the height of the apex 67a, 107a, 117a of the arch shaped recess 67, 107, 117 of their respective handles 25, 35, 45 above their respective external surfaces 75, 85, 95 of their respective bases 23, 33, 43 is greater than the height of the rim 58, 68, 78 above the internal surface 73, 83, 93 of the base 23, 33, 43 of the next larger one of the cooking 10 pans 20, 30, 40 of the set 10. Accordingly, the above principle can apply regardless of the number of cooking pans in the set whether it be 2, 3, 4 or more. Furthermore, the above principle can apply regardless of the type of pan bodies adopted for the cooking pans whether they be saucepans, frying pans, baking trays, casseroles and dutch ovens, to name but a few examples. Yet furthermore, the above principle can 15 apply regardless of many aspects of the design and configuration of the handle for each of the pans in the set whether they be relatively long handles such as those use for saucepans or whether they be relatively short or squat handles such as those used for soup pots, baking trays or dishes or casseroles. 20 Figures 2A, 2B and 5 illustrate a set of stackable lids 120 adapted for use with the set of nestable cooking pans 10 described above and illustrated in Figures 1, 2A, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 4C and 6. The set of stackable lids 120 includes a small lid 130 that is sized to mate with the rim 58 of the pan body 22 of the small cooking pan 20 to enclose the internal space 26 thereof. The next larger one of the lids of the set 120 is 25 a medium lid 140 that is sized to mate with the rim 68 of the pan body 32 of the medium cooking pan 30 of the set of the cooking pans 10 to enclose the internal space 36 thereof. The next larger one of the lids of the set 120 is a large lid 150 that is sized to mate with the rim 78 of the pan body 42 of the large cooking pan 40 of the set of cooking pans 10 to enclose the internal space 46 thereof. 30 Each one of the lids 130, 140, 150 includes a respective closure portion 132, 142, 152 that, in the embodiment of the set of lids 120 illustrated in Figures 2 and 6, is in the form of a disc shaped member having a slightly convex profile. The closure portion 14 132, 142, 152 of each of the lids 130, 140, 150 respectively include a convex upper surface 132A, 142A, 152A and an opposite concave lower surface 132B, 142B, 152B. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 6, the closure portion 132, 142, 152 of each of the lids 130, 140, 150 is made of glass, preferably toughened glass, however 5 it is to be appreciate that other materials such as metal, stainless steel or the like may be employed. An aperture 133, 143, 153 is provided through the closure portion 132, 142, 152 of each of the lids 130, 140, 150 to enable the release of steam when the lids 130, 140, 154 are placed upon a respective one of the cooking pans 20, 30, 40 in use. Each one of the lids 130, 140, 150 also includes an annular skirt 131, 141, 151 10 about a periphery of each of the closure portions 132, 142, 152 that is shaped to mate in a relatively tight, sealing fit with the rim 58, 68, 78 of a respective one of the cooking pans 20, 30, 40 to enclose the internal space 26, 36, 46 thereof. Furthermore, each one of the lids 130, 140, 150 includes a respective lifting knob 134, 15 144, 154 fixed centrally to the upper surface 132A, 142A, 152A of the lid 130, 140, 150 to which the lifting knob 134, 144, 154 is attached. The lifting knobs 134, 144, 154 are preferably formed out of a polymer material, such as an injection moulded material. Each one of the lifting knobs 134, 144, 154 is substantially identical in shape and configuration and includes a narrow lower portion 135, 145, 155 and an enlarged 20 upper portion 136, 146, 156 adapted to be gripped by a user to lift and place the respective lid 130, 140, 150 on its respective cooking pan 20, 30, 40. Each one of the lifting knobs 134, 144, 154 has an upwardly facing upper surface 137, 147, 157 having a centrally located depression or recess 138, 148, 158. Each one of the depressions or recesses 138, 148, 158 is substantially identical in shape and 25 configuration and may take any suitable form or configuration. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 6, the centrally located depression or recess 138, 148, 158 has a substantially frustoconical shape. However, the shape of each of the depressions or recesses 138, 148, 158 may have any suitable concave shape. Furthermore, each one of the lids 130, 140, 150 includes on its lower surface 132B, 30 142B, 152B, a centrally located protuberance 139, 149, 159. Each one of the protuberances 139, 149, 159 is sized and shaped to conform with the size and shape of the depressions or recesses 138, 148, 158 in each of the lifting knobs 134, 144, 154. 15 Thus, as illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B, in particular, the lids 130, 140, 150 of the set 120 can be stacked by inserting the protuberance 139, 149, 159 of one of the lids 130, 140, 150 into the depression or recess 138, 148, 158 in the lifting knob 134, 144, 5 154 of another one of the lids 130, 140, 150 of the set 120. As a result, the lids 130, 140, 150 can be stacked as illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B and, when stacked, are relatively stable and not prone to toppling. The portion of the upper surface 137, 147, 157 of the lifting knobs 134, 144, 154 surrounding the central depressions or recesses 138, 148, 158 is adapted to engage the lower surface 132B, 142B, 152B of the lid 10 130, 140, 150 stacked thereon to thereby provide additional support and stability for the lid 130, 140, 150 stacked thereon. The lids 130, 140, 150 of the set 120 can be stacked in any order with either the larger lid 150 at the bottom as illustrated in Figure 2, or can be stacked with the smaller lid 130 at the bottom. In this latter configuration, the set of lids 120 can be stacked upon the nested set of cooking pans 10 by mating 15 the closure portion 132 of the small lid 130 with the rim 58 of the pan body 22 of the small cooking pan 20 wherein the medium and large lids 140, 150 are stacked above and on top of the small lid 130. Furthermore, as illustrated in Figure 2A, the set 120 of the stackable lids 130, 140, 150 can be placed upon the nested pans 20, 30, 40 by stacking the lids 130, 140, 150 with the smallest one of the lids 130 at the bottom and 20 the larger lids 140, 150 stacked thereon and with the smallest lid 130 placed upon and mated with the rim 58 of the smallest one of the pans 20. The present invention described above with reference to preferred embodiments illustrated in the Figures is advantageous in that it provides a set 10 of cooking pans 25 20, 30, 40 that may be nested one within another to thereby reduce the overall volume occupied by the set of pans 10 when stored. Thus, the nested cooking pans 10 occupy less space when packaged for transport and sale and/or when stored in a domestic or commercial kitchen. The invention is also advantageous in that it provides a set 10 of nestable cooking pans 20, 30, 40 that each include a pan body 30 22, 32, 42 having a rim 58, 68, 78 that is substantially planar at least in the region 58A, 68A, 78A where the handle 25, 35, 45 of each pan 20, 30, 40 is attached to the pan body 22, 32, 42. Thus, the rim 58, 68, 78 may be planar in the region 58A, 68A, 78A to which the handle 25, 35, 45 is attached to the pan body 22, 32, 42 or the entire 16 rim 58, 68, 78 may lie in a single plane. Thus, the present invention can provide a set 10 of nestable cooking pans wherein each pan 20, 30, 40 has a flat rim 58, 68, 78 that can be engaged and substantially sealed by a lid 130, 140, 150 having a closure portion 132, 142, 152 with an annular periphery that lies in a single plane, which in the 5 illustrated embodiment includes an annular skirt 131, 141, 151. Embodiments of the present invention described above with reference to the Figures are advantageous in that they provide a set of nestable cooking pans 10 wherein the handle 25, 35, 45 of each cooking pan 20, 30, 40 is rigid, and is rigidly fixed to the 10 pan body 22, 32, 42 of each cooking pan 20, 30, 40 of the set 10 and does not require the handles 25, 35, 45 to be movable, pivotable or the like to facilitate nesting of the cooking pans 20, 30, 40. Furthermore, in embodiments of the pans 20, 30, 40 of the invention, when nested, the external surface 75, 85, 95 of the base 23, 33, 43 of a smaller one of the cooking pans 20, 30, 40 can rest flat on the internal surface 73, 83, 15 93 of the base 23, 33, 43 of a next larger one of the cooking pans 20, 30, 40 and the handle 25, 35, 45 of the smaller cooking pan clears the substantially planar portion 58A, 68A, 78A of the rim 58, 68, 78 of the next larger one of the cooking pans 20, 30, 40 into which the smaller one of the pans 20, 30, 40 is nested. Thus, when the set 10 of the pans 20, 30, 40 are nested the external surface 75, 85, 95 of the base 23, 33, 20 43 of the cooking pans 20, 30, 40 rests flat on the internal surface 73, 83, 93 of the base 23, 33, 43 of the next larger one of the cooking pans 20, 30, 40 thus rendering the nested set 10 of cooking pans 20, 30, 40 stable in their nested state. Embodiments of the present invention described above with reference to the Figures 25 are advantageous in that they provide a set of lids 120 for the nestable cooking pans 20, 30, 40 wherein the lids 130, 140, 150 are stackable and are, therefore, able to be stored neatly alongside or upon the set 10 of nestable cooking pans 20, 30, 40. Furthermore, the lids may be produced using identical lifting knobs 134, 144, 154 and/or protuberances 139, 149, 159 thereby reducing the cost to manufacture the set 30 120 wherein each lid 130, 140, 150 is of a different diameter and is for use with a different one of the cooking pans 120, 130, 140 of the cooking pan set 10. 17 Various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 18

Claims (10)

1. A set of nestable cooking pans, each cooking pan in the set including: - a pan body including a base and a wall defining an internal space, 5 - the base including a planar internal surface and a planar external surface - the wall including an upper rim edge wherein at least a portion of the upper rim edge is level - a rim height defined by a height of the level portion of the upper rim edge above the plane of the internal surface of the base, wherein the rim height 10 of a smaller one of the cooking pans is substantially less than the rim height of a next larger one of the cooking pans in the set, - a handle connected to the wall of the pan body in the region of the level portion of the upper rim edge, the handle including a connection portion fixed directly to the wall of the pan body, a gripping portion and a transition 15 portion extending between the connection portion and the gripping portion, - the transition portion of the handle defining a downward facing recess having a height above the plane of the external surface of the base to which the handle is attached that is greater than the rim height of the next larger one of the cooking pans of the set, whereby when a smaller one of the 20 cooking pans is nested within a next larger one of the cooking pans, the external surface of the base of the smaller cooking pan rests flat on the internal surface of the base of the next larger one of the cooking pans and the recess of the handle of the smaller one of the cooking pans clears the level portion of the upper rim edge of the next larger one of the cooking 25 pans of the set.

2. The set of nestable cooking pans of claim 1, wherein a downward facing surface of the transition portion of the handle extends at an incline from the connection portion to an apex of the recess such that substantially the entire 30 transition portion of the handle is above the level portion of the upper rim edge. 19

3. The set of nestable cooking pans of claim 2, wherein a downward facing surface of the transition portion or the gripping portion extends at a decline from the apex of the transition portion. 5

4. The set of nestable cooking pans of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the recess is a substantially arch shaped recess.

5. The set of nestable cooking pans of any one of the preceding claims, wherein any portion of the handle below the upper rim edge of the pan body to which 10 the handle is attached is cleared by the level portion of the upper rim edge of the pan body of the next larger pan of the set when the pan body to which the handle is attached is nested within the pan body of the next larger pan of the set. 15

6. The set of nestable cooking pans of any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the handles of the cooking pans in the set is inclined at substantially the same angle relative to the base of the pan body to which each handle is attached. 20

7. The set of nestable cooking pans of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handles of each of the pans of the set are substantially identical.

8. The set of nestable cooking pans of any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the pans of the set has a removable lid having opposite upper and 25 lower surfaces, each of the lids includes a lifting knob attached to the upper surface and a protuberance protruding from the lower surface, each of the lifting knobs includes a depression in an upper surface thereof for receiving the protuberance of another one of the lids when the lids are stacked one upon the other. 30

9. The set of nestable cooking pans of claim 9, wherein the protuberance and the depression are both frustoconical and the protuberance has a diameter and a height that are substantially the same as a diameter and a depth of the depression. 35 20

10. The set of nestable cooking pans of any one of the preceding claims, wherein an internal surface of the wall of the pan body of at least one of the cooking pans of the set includes markings at a plurality of spaced apart levels indicating a plurality of volumes of the pan body when the base is resting on a 5 substantially level surface. 21