DE29814190U1 - Pouring aid - Google Patents

Description

Applicant: 3 August 1998

1241G106 CS-rc

Alfred Börner Plastics and
Metalware Factory GmbH
industrial area

D-54526 Landscheid-Niederkail

Drainage aid

The present invention relates to a device for holding a lid on a cooking pot filled with a cooking product and a cooking liquid in a position relative to the cooking pot which enables the cooking liquid to be poured off largely completely from the cooking pot without the cooking product falling out of the cooking pot, wherein the holding device extends in one direction at least over a length which corresponds to the distance between two generally diametrically opposed pot handles.

When cooking, food such as vegetables, meat or fish is heated in a cooking liquid such as water or broth and thus cooked. As soon as the food is cooked, it usually has to be separated from the cooking liquid. This can be done using a sieve. However, sieves are relatively difficult to clean and often not quickly at hand once the cooking process is finished.

In practice, it has therefore become common practice to use a kitchen towel or other cloth for pouring liquid. To do this, the lid of the cooking pot is placed on the pot at a slight angle so that a small gap is created. Then the kitchen towel is placed across the lid and simultaneously grasped with the two diametrically opposite handles of the cooking pot so that the lid cannot fall off the pot, even if the pot is tilted to pour off the cooking liquid.

If you don't use a kitchen towel for this purpose, the lid would either fall off during the pouring process or be pushed away by the food in the pot, with the result that the food ends up in the drain. However, this should be avoided for hygienic reasons.

Furthermore, with most pot sizes it is not possible to simultaneously grasp the two handles of the pot and a handle that is usually located centrally on the lid of the cooking pot. Due to the cooking process that takes place before pouring, the lid is so warm or hot that it cannot be reached anywhere other than the handle. This is another reason why the kitchen towel is used for pouring.

By using the kitchen towel, you can ensure that the kitchen towel is "stretched" over the lid without it being necessary to touch the lid itself.

For inexperienced people, this attempt often results in the kitchen towel not being held tightly enough, so that the lid and the food slip under the kitchen towel and into the sink. Furthermore, even experienced people are often unable to prevent rising steam or even cooking liquid from getting into the kitchen towel when pouring. Since the liquid is usually no longer clean water after cooking, the kitchen towel becomes dirty and cannot be reused. However, frequent washing of kitchen towels is harmful to the environment and is also expensive.

As mentioned above, the safe use of a kitchen towel as a pouring aid is reserved for experienced people. Inexperienced people, on the other hand, often hold the kitchen towel in such a way that it is not uncommon for the food to fall out or even for the person's hands to be scalded.

Against this background, the problem underlying the invention is to develop a holding device of the type mentioned at the beginning in such a way that even inexperienced persons can safely carry out pouring processes with the lid placed at an angle on a pot.

This task is solved in the holding device mentioned at the beginning in that the holding device has an opening for a handle of the lid.

By providing an opening for the handle of the lid, it is ensured that the lid always remains securely in the inclined position on the pot, even if the holding force exerted on the holding device, i.e. the tension of the holding device, decreases. Because the handle of the lid passes through the opening in the holding device, the lid can only move within the "play" between the handle size and the opening size, even if the tension of the holding device decreases, but cannot slip between the holding device and the pot. Therefore, using the holding device according to the invention, even inexperienced people can carry out pouring processes without spilling the food or scalding their hands.

It is preferred if the holding device is generally flat, in particular with a thickness in the range of 0.5 to 4 mm, preferably in the range of 0.75 to 2 mm.

The generally flat design means that a large contact area can be created between the lid and the holding device, so that if the material used for the holding device is suitable, relative movements between the holding device and the lid due to friction can be largely eliminated. This further increases safety for inexperienced people during pouring processes.

It is also particularly advantageous if the holding device is generally elongated.

This solution is based on the idea that the function of a pouring aid is determined solely by the fact that the pouring aid extends from one pot handle to the other across the lid. This can be achieved excellently with an elongated holding device. If the holding device were not elongated, it could be that a middle section of the holding device lies over the gap between the lid and the pot.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the opening is generally elongated, in particular approximately oval.

This has the advantage that the size of the opening can be minimized overall. The holding device should preferably be suitable for pots/lids of different diameters and in particular for different types of lid handles. With an elongated opening it is possible for all common round handles on lids to pass through, but also longer handles that extend like a web over the lid.

It is particularly preferred if the holding device has a central section in which the opening is formed, as well as two holding sections extending approximately diametrically from the central section, by means of which the holding device can be secured to the pot during the pouring process. This ensures that the holding sections are provided in accordance with the generally diametrical alignment of handles on pots. In other words, in this embodiment it is possible to attach the holding device either to the handles

or to hold it in the area of the pot handles, for example using the operator's two thumbs.

According to a preferred development, the central section is approximately 1.5 to 4 times as wide as the holding sections.

On the one hand, this ensures that the holding sections do not become too large and therefore unwieldy. On the other hand, the central section is large enough to provide an opening for all common types of lid handle. At the same time, if the holding device is designed to be flat, a sufficiently large area is available for contact with the lid.

Preferably, at least one projection is provided on each of the holding sections.

This measure ensures that the holding device can be easily grasped with the thumbs when pouring and without great effort. The projections also make it particularly easy to exert a pulling force on the respective holding section, so that the holding device can be stretched ergonomically over the lid by exerting such a pulling force on the two diametrically opposed holding sections.

In a preferred development, the projection is concavely curved transversely to the longitudinal extension of the holding device.

This further improves ergonomics, as the projection is ideally adapted to the generally rounded, i.e. "convex" underside of the thumb.

It is particularly preferred if several, in particular three, projections are provided on each holding section.

This has the advantage that the holder can easily be used with saucepans/lids of different diameters. For smaller diameter pots, the closest opposite projections are used to exert a pulling force on the holder. For larger pots, the projections further apart are used.

Furthermore, it is preferred if one or more projections are provided on both an upper side and an underside of each holding section.

This makes it possible to use the holding device on both sides. Since pouring processes are often carried out quickly for various reasons, this measure is advantageous as the person pouring does not have to worry about which side they have to place the holding device on the lid from first.

It is further preferred if the holding device has at least one hole for hanging the holding device on a hook, preferably a separate hole on each holding section.

This makes it possible to hang the holding device on a hook rail - similar to other kitchen utensils such as knives, mashed potato mashers, etc. Such hook rails are often arranged in kitchens in the immediate vicinity of the stove or sink in order to have the necessary equipment quickly available. By providing the hook hole, the holding device according to the invention is also quickly available for pouring. If such a hole is provided on each holding section, the person does not have to worry about the orientation of the holding device when hanging it up.

The holding device preferably has a length in the range of 30 to 50 cm, in particular in the range of 35 to 45 cm. A length of approximately 38 to 40 cm is particularly preferred.

It has been found that the holding device with such a length can be used for pouring processes on pots of all common diameters.

It is further preferred if the opening has a width in the range of 6 to 12 cm, preferably in the range of 7 to 9 cm. A width in the range of 8 to 9 cm is particularly preferred.

It has been shown that all common round handles fit through an opening with such a width - and at least of course such a length. The opening is preferably elongated, with a length in the range of 9 to 13 cm, especially 10 to 12 cm. It has been shown that with a

With such an opening length, all common, bar-like handles on lids can also fit through the opening.

In a further embodiment, a hook is provided on at least one holding section for securing to a pot handle.

Such an embodiment could be particularly useful if the holding device is also designed for people who have no thumbs on one or both sides or if it is to be usable without a thumb in general. The hook makes it possible to attach the holding device to the corresponding pot handle, so that it is no longer necessary to hold the holding section with the thumb in the area of this pot handle.

It is particularly advantageous if the holding device is designed as a one-piece molded part.

Such a measure means that the holding device can be manufactured particularly inexpensively. Since such a holding device usually has no undercuts, it can be manufactured using particularly inexpensive molds. A molded part is understood to mean that the holding device is either manufactured in a mold specially designed for this purpose or is cut out of sheet or web material. The one-piece design means that there are no "interfaces" between different materials, which experience has shown to be avoided from a hygiene perspective, especially in the kitchen area.

It is particularly preferred if the holding device has a water-repellent surface.

This essentially ensures that the holder is easy to clean. On the other hand, the holder cannot become soaked with liquid like a sponge, like a kitchen towel, for example.

It is particularly preferred if the holding device is made of an elastomer.

An elastomer is particularly suitable for the holding device according to the invention for many reasons. Firstly, elastomers do not have high thermal conductivities, so that the holding device can be used in a way in which it is pressed directly against the pot with the thumb. Secondly, the holding device fits snugly against any lid/pot shape and at the same time has a generally smooth basic shape that makes cleaning easier.

Finally, elastomers generally have a surface that exhibits high friction values compared to conventional lid materials such as glass and metal, especially stainless steel, even in the presence of water.

In this context, an elastomer is understood to mean any type of material that meets the properties mentioned above. For example, this could also include rubber-like or caoutchouc materials.

It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Further advantages are evident from the following description and the attached drawing. They show:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of the use of the holding device according to the invention in perspective;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the holding device according to the invention;

Fig. 3 in the upper part a sectional view through the holding device of Fig. 2 along the longitudinal central axis and in the lower part a side view of the holding device of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 in the upper part a second embodiment of the holding device according to the invention and in the lower part a third embodiment of the holding device according to the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V of Fig. 4.

In Fig. 1, a casting process is shown in a schematic manner.

A cooking item 14 is shown schematically in a pot 10. The pot 10 has a lid 12 with a centrally arranged handle 13. The lid 12 could be a glass lid, for example, through which the cooking item 14 can be seen. The cooking item 14 can be a vegetable, especially potatoes, for example. However, it could also be meat or fish.

The pot 10 also contains a cooking liquid 16 in which the food 14 has been cooked, for example water.

To serve the cooked food 14 or to process the cooked food 14 further, the cooking liquid 16 must be poured off. To do this, the lid 12 is placed slightly diagonally on the cooking pot 10, for which purpose the lid 12 can be taken by the handle 13. This creates a narrow, approximately crescent-shaped gap 18 between the lid 12 and the pot 10. Depending on how diagonally the lid is placed on the pot, the gap 18 is either larger or smaller. To pour the liquid, the operator grasps two pot handles 20 provided diametrically on the pot 10 with his hands 22 and grips the holding device 30 shown schematically in Fig. 1 with his thumbs 24.

The holding device 30 has a central portion 32 in which a central opening 34 is provided, and two holding portions 36 extending diametrically from the central portion 32.

Before the pouring process, the holding device 30 is placed on the obliquely placed lid 12 in such a way that the centrally arranged handle 13 of the lid 12 passes through the central opening 34 of the holding device 30. The two holding devices

cuts 36 extend, starting from the central section 32, to the diametrically opposite pot handles 20.

By grasping the holding sections 36 by the two hands 22, in particular by exerting a pulling force using the thumbs 24 at the same time as the pot handles 20, the lid 12 can be held or temporarily fixed in the oblique position relative to the pot 10. By exerting a pulling force using the thumbs 24, the holding device 30 is virtually "tensioned" over the lid 12.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the holding device 30 is shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The holding device 30 has a central section 32 with an approximately oval to lemon-shaped central opening 34, which has a width B of 8.5 cm. Starting from the central section 32, two holding sections 36 extend in diametrical directions along an axis of symmetry S. The side edges of the holding device 30 are curved in an arc so that the holding sections 36 merge seamlessly into the central section 32.

The width of the central section 32 is approximately 13 cm in the area of the greatest width B of the central opening 34. The holding sections 36 are approximately 3.5 cm wide in their narrowest part. Towards the end, the holding sections 36 widen again slightly to a width of approximately 5 cm.

The holding device 30 is generally flat. Only in the area of the holding sections 36 are both upper and lower

Three projections 38, 40, 42 are also provided on the underside. The projections 38, 40, 42 generally run transversely to the axis of symmetry S and are curved in an arc-like concave shape. In the illustration in Figures 2 and 3, the cross-section of the projections 38, 40, 42 is approximately rectangular. However, for reasons of more comfortable handling, the cross-section can also be rounded, trapezoidal or even semi-circular.

The holding device 30 has a length L of approximately 39 cm. Of the three projections 38, 40, 42, one projection is located at the end of each holding section 36, both on the bottom and the top. The outermost projections 38 are thus approximately 38 cm apart from one another.

The innermost projections 42 are approximately 25 cm apart.

Between the outermost projections 38 and the middle projections 40, a hole 44 is provided on each of the holding sections 36. The hole 44 has a convex lens-shaped shape that is opposite to the concave orientation of the projections 38, 40, 42 and therefore fits optically particularly well into the design of the holding device 30.

The thickness D of the holding device is preferably about 1 mm. The height of each projection is about 3 mm, so that the holding device is about 7 mm thick in the area of the opposing projections 38 on the top and bottom.

The holding device 30 is made in one piece from an elastomer.

The holding device 30 is so elastic that it flatly adheres to the top of the lid 12 during the pouring processes shown in Fig. 1. However, the holding device 30 is only elastically deformed, so that the holding device 30 generally returns to its approximately flat position after pouring processes.

The projections 38, 40, 42 arranged in pairs opposite one another allow pots/lids 12/13 of various diameters to be held securely during pouring processes. For smaller pot diameters, the holding device 30 is gripped by the projections 42, and for very large pot diameters, it is gripped by the projections 38.

The slightly elongated oval shape of the central opening 34 enables the holding device 30 to be placed over all possible lid handle shapes, i.e. in particular over all common round handles of usual diameter as well as over bar handles running in the direction of the axis of symmetry S.

The holding device is constructed symmetrically with respect to three planes. It is constructed symmetrically with respect to the plane of symmetry S, but also with respect to the vertical transverse plane Q, with the planes Q and S running perpendicular to the blade surface of Fig. 2. However, the holding device 30 is also symmetrical with respect to a central plane running perpendicularly with respect to the representation of Fig. 3.

Due to this highly symmetrical design of the holding device 30, the user does not have to distinguish between the top and bottom of the holding device 30. The holding device

The device can thus be grasped quickly and without much thought and placed over the lid 13 for the purpose of pouring. The holding device 30 can also be hung up as desired through the holes 44 on both holding sections 36. With the holding device 30, there is basically no distinction between the top and bottom or between one end and the other.

In the respective upper parts of Figures 4 and 5, a further embodiment of a holding device 50 according to the invention is shown. It consists of two longitudinal webs or bands, which are combined at their ends in an end piece 54. An opening 53 for a handle 13 of the lid 12 is thus formed between the webs 52 and the end piece 54.

The end piece 54 can be formed in one piece with the webs 52 or be designed as a separate component. The end piece 54 is provided with a projection that is semicircular in cross section on the top side. On the bottom side, instead of a projection, a hook 56 is provided for hooking this end piece 54 into a handle 20 of the pot 10. An end piece 54 with such a hook 56 can be provided at one or both ends of the holding device 50. This means that the holding device 50 can also be used without a thumb.

A third embodiment of the holding device according to the invention is generally designated with the reference number 60 in the respective lower parts of Figures 4 and 5. The holding device 60, in contrast to the holding device 30, has a circular opening 62. Instead of projections on both sides the holding section shown has

device 60 only one projection 64 is shown which projects to an upper side on one side and which is approximately semicircular in cross section.

Although it is stated above that the holding device 30, but also the holding devices 50, 60 are preferably made of an elastomer, in principle any material can be used. However, materials with poor thermal conductivity are particularly preferred, although it is also conceivable to make the holding devices from metal. Elastically deformable materials are also preferred, although the holding devices can also be made rigid, in which case they are given a shape that essentially corresponds to the approximately curved course from one pot handle over the lid to the other pot handle.

It is also understood that at least the surface of the holding devices should be made of a material that allows the holding devices to be cleaned in conventional dishwashers, i.e. as water-repellent as possible.

Due to the sometimes high temperatures, the materials used must of course also have a certain degree of heat resistance.

Claims (17)

Protection claims 1. Device (30; 50; 60) for holding a lid (12) on a cooking pot (10) filled with a cooking product (14) and a cooking liquid (16) in a position relative to the cooking pot (10) which allows the cooking liquid (16) to be poured out of the cooking pot (10) to a large extent without the cooking product (14) falling out of the cooking pot (10), the holding device (30; 50; 60) extending in one direction at least over a length (L) which corresponds to the distance between two generally diametrically opposed pot handles (20), characterized in that the holding device (30; 50; 60) has an opening (34; 53; 62) for a handle (13) of the lid (12). 2. Holding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding device (30; 60) is generally flat, in particular with a thickness (D) in the range of 0.5-4 mm, preferably in the range of 0.75 - 2 mm. 3. Holding device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the holding device (30; 50; 60) is generally elongated. 4. Holding device according to one of claims 1 - 3, characterized in that the opening (34) is generally elongated, in particular approximately oval. 5. Holding device according to one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the holding device (30; 50, 60) has a central section (32) in which the opening (34) is formed, as well as two holding sections (36) extending approximately diametrically from the central section (32), by means of which the holding device (30; 50; 60) can be fixed to the pot (10) during the pouring process. 6. Holding device according to claim 5, characterized in that the central section (32) is approximately 1.5 to 4 times as wide as the holding sections (36). 7. Holding device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that at least one projection (38, 40, 42) is provided on each of the holding sections (36). 8. Holding device according to claim 7, characterized in that the projection (38, 40, 42) extends in a concave arc shape transversely to the longitudinal extension of the holding device (30). 9. Holding device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that several, in particular three projections (38, 40, 42) are provided on each holding section (36). 10. Holding device according to one of claims 7-9, characterized in that one or more projections (38, 40, 42) are provided on both an upper side and an underside of each holding section (36). 11. Holding device according to one of claims 1 - 10, characterized in that the holding device (30) has at least one hole (44) for hanging the holding device (30) on a hook, preferably a separate hole (44) on each holding section (36). 12. Holding device according to one of claims 1-11, characterized in that the holding device (30) has a length (L) in the range of 30-50 cm, in particular in the range of 35 - 45 cm. 13. Holding device according to one of claims 1-12, characterized in that the opening (34) has a width in the range of 6-12 cm, preferably in the range of 7 - 9 cm. 14. Holding device according to one of claims 5-13, characterized in that a hook (56) for securing to a pot handle (20) is provided on at least one holding section (54). 15. Holding device according to one of claims 1 - 14, characterized in that the holding device (30) is designed as a one-piece molded part. 16. Holding device according to one of claims 1 - 15, characterized in that the holding device (30) has a water-repellent surface. 17. Holding device according to one of claims 1 - 16, characterized in that the holding device (30) is made of an elastomer.