GB2092435A

GB2092435A - Cooking pan with lid

Info

Publication number: GB2092435A
Application number: GB8133913A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-11-15
Filing date: 1981-11-10
Publication date: 1982-08-18
Also published as: FR2494979A1; NL8105104A; DE3043218A1

Abstract

A cooking pan includes external projections (3) on the pan bottom (2) for holding the pan bottom spaced from a hotplate, and internal recess (4) in the pan bottom, and a lid (7) supported by supports (9) so as to define a gap between the rim of the pan and the lid for ingress of air into the pan. Closable apertures (13) are provided in the lid. The supports (9) may be replaced by an annular slotted member. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cooking pan with lid This invention relates to a cooking and more particularly a cooking pan with a lid for the preparation of foods.

Numerous kinds of pans with lids are already known. In the majority of modern pans which are intended for use on electric cookers or hotplates, the bottom outer surface is flat and, in order to protect it from distortion on heating, made from relatively thick material; these pans are, therefore, relatively dear.

There are also pans which are so designed that between the bottom of the pan and the upper surface of the electrical hotplate an air cushion is formed, and the heated air is conducted inwards by means of a central funnel-shaped tube.

The present invention is designed with the object, by means of a new arrangement of the pan and the matching lid, of providing effective and efficient heating of the food to be cooked particularly in connection with all those foods in which the pan with a central funnel-shaped tube is found to be inconvenient.

According to the invention there is provided a pan with a lid, comprising means for holding the pan spaced from a cooker hotplate, a recess in the pan bottom, the lid extending outwardly beyond the rim of the pan and means for supporting the lid so as to define a gap between the lid and the rim of the pan.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a vertical, radial cross-section through the right hand half of one embodiment of a pan and lid in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows diagrammatically the arrangement of the projections extending downwards from the flat bottom of the pan; Figure 3 shows as a detail of construction, viewed from below, of part of the rim area of the lid of the embodiment of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 a pan 1 has a flat bottom 2, which, adjacent its outer area 4, is provided with downwardly extending projections 3. These projections 3, as may be seen from the diagrammatic drawing Figure 2, are arranged at regular intervals around the arc of a circle. The lower ends 3' of the projections are situated in a plane parallel to the bottom 2 of the pan. Radially outwardly of the projections 3 - in relation to the centre of the pan the bottom 4 is formed as a circular recess, the depth of which is less than the depth of the projections 3, so that between the outside of the recess 4 and the top of the hotplate K used for heating the pan a space is defined. If the pan is used for grilling, then the fat from the food can collect in the spaces inside the pan corresponding to the projections 3 and in the circular recess 4.

Between the circular recess and the upper vertical rim of the pan 1 the pan wall 5 curves outwardly. The rim 8 of the lid 7 is bent downwards and projects in the outward direction beyond the rim 6 of the pan walls 5 for a distance, for example, of from one to two centimetres. The rim 8 of the lid 7 is provided with supports extending inwards 9 which bridge the space 12 between the rim 8 of the lid 7 and the rim 6 of the pan 1. When in use supports 9 rest on the rim 6 of the pan 1. The free ends 10 of the supports 9 are, in the example of construction shown, bent downwards, and thus form stops which prevent the lid from slipping out of place horizontally.

Air heated in the space between the bottom of the pan 2 and the hotplate K will flow between the projections 3 and upwards over the convex rim 5 as a more or less separate layer, and through the gap 12 into the inside of the pan 1 covered by the lid 7.

When the food is heated in the pan such heating is effected not only from below through the bottom of the pan 2 and the wall 5, but also from above by the hot air which has entered through the gap 12. The hot air which normally in the case of pans of standard design flow away along the side wall into the kitchen is, therefore, used again here for heating the upper surface of the food being cooked. This is of particular importance in view of the current efforts to save energy.

Air leaves the pan through the openings 13 in the lid 7. Thus a continuous air current is provided from the hotplate Kto the upper surface of the food being cooked. The lid 7 is provided with a knob-shaped handle 14, and the pan 1 with an elongated handle 15.

The supports for the lid may take the form of indentations let into the lid.

The embodiment of Figure 4 differs from that of Figure 1 in that instead of individual lid supports 9 being provided on the lid, a separate annular support 20 is adapted to sit just inside the rim 6 of the pan. Support 20 includes an outwardly projecting flange 22, which extends radially, outwardly beyond the pan rim. The outward edge 24 of the flange 22 is upturned. Arcuate slots 26 are provided at intervals around the flange 22.

In use the support 20 is located in the pan so that flange 22 rests on the top of the rim 6. The lid can be placed on flange 22 so that air can flow into the pan through slots 26. The upturned edge 24 keeps the lid in place.

Many modifications can be made to the pan. For example, as illustrated in Figure 4the apertures 13 may be arranged in a circle and the lid handle 14 disposed radially outside the circle.

1. A pan with a lid, comprising means for holding the pan spaced from a cooker hotplate, a recess in the pan bottom, the lid extending outwardly beyond the rim of the pan and means for supporting the lid so as to define a gap between the lid and the rim of the pan.

2. A pan with a lid as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the means for holding the pan spaced from a cooker hotplate comprise a plurality of projections on the pan bottom.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Cooking pan with lid This invention relates to a cooking and more particularly a cooking pan with a lid for the preparation of foods. Numerous kinds of pans with lids are already known. In the majority of modern pans which are intended for use on electric cookers or hotplates, the bottom outer surface is flat and, in order to protect it from distortion on heating, made from relatively thick material; these pans are, therefore, relatively dear. There are also pans which are so designed that between the bottom of the pan and the upper surface of the electrical hotplate an air cushion is formed, and the heated air is conducted inwards by means of a central funnel-shaped tube. The present invention is designed with the object, by means of a new arrangement of the pan and the matching lid, of providing effective and efficient heating of the food to be cooked particularly in connection with all those foods in which the pan with a central funnel-shaped tube is found to be inconvenient. According to the invention there is provided a pan with a lid, comprising means for holding the pan spaced from a cooker hotplate, a recess in the pan bottom, the lid extending outwardly beyond the rim of the pan and means for supporting the lid so as to define a gap between the lid and the rim of the pan. Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a vertical, radial cross-section through the right hand half of one embodiment of a pan and lid in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows diagrammatically the arrangement of the projections extending downwards from the flat bottom of the pan; Figure 3 shows as a detail of construction, viewed from below, of part of the rim area of the lid of the embodiment of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment. Referring to Figures 1 to 3 a pan 1 has a flat bottom 2, which, adjacent its outer area 4, is provided with downwardly extending projections 3. These projections 3, as may be seen from the diagrammatic drawing Figure 2, are arranged at regular intervals around the arc of a circle. The lower ends 3' of the projections are situated in a plane parallel to the bottom 2 of the pan. Radially outwardly of the projections 3 - in relation to the centre of the pan the bottom 4 is formed as a circular recess, the depth of which is less than the depth of the projections 3, so that between the outside of the recess 4 and the top of the hotplate K used for heating the pan a space is defined. If the pan is used for grilling, then the fat from the food can collect in the spaces inside the pan corresponding to the projections 3 and in the circular recess 4. Between the circular recess and the upper vertical rim of the pan 1 the pan wall 5 curves outwardly. The rim 8 of the lid 7 is bent downwards and projects in the outward direction beyond the rim 6 of the pan walls 5 for a distance, for example, of from one to two centimetres. The rim 8 of the lid 7 is provided with supports extending inwards 9 which bridge the space 12 between the rim 8 of the lid 7 and the rim 6 of the pan 1. When in use supports 9 rest on the rim 6 of the pan 1. The free ends 10 of the supports 9 are, in the example of construction shown, bent downwards, and thus form stops which prevent the lid from slipping out of place horizontally. Air heated in the space between the bottom of the pan 2 and the hotplate K will flow between the projections 3 and upwards over the convex rim 5 as a more or less separate layer, and through the gap 12 into the inside of the pan 1 covered by the lid 7. When the food is heated in the pan such heating is effected not only from below through the bottom of the pan 2 and the wall 5, but also from above by the hot air which has entered through the gap 12. The hot air which normally in the case of pans of standard design flow away along the side wall into the kitchen is, therefore, used again here for heating the upper surface of the food being cooked. This is of particular importance in view of the current efforts to save energy. Air leaves the pan through the openings 13 in the lid 7. Thus a continuous air current is provided from the hotplate Kto the upper surface of the food being cooked. The lid 7 is provided with a knob-shaped handle 14, and the pan 1 with an elongated handle 15. The supports for the lid may take the form of indentations let into the lid. The embodiment of Figure 4 differs from that of Figure 1 in that instead of individual lid supports 9 being provided on the lid, a separate annular support 20 is adapted to sit just inside the rim 6 of the pan. Support 20 includes an outwardly projecting flange 22, which extends radially, outwardly beyond the pan rim. The outward edge 24 of the flange 22 is upturned. Arcuate slots 26 are provided at intervals around the flange 22. In use the support 20 is located in the pan so that flange 22 rests on the top of the rim 6. The lid can be placed on flange 22 so that air can flow into the pan through slots 26. The upturned edge 24 keeps the lid in place. Many modifications can be made to the pan. For example, as illustrated in Figure 4the apertures 13 may be arranged in a circle and the lid handle 14 disposed radially outside the circle. CLAIMS

3. A pan with a lid as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the projections are arranged at equal intervals at a constant radial distance from the centre of the pan bottom.

4. A pan with a lid as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the recess in the pan bottom is of smaller depth than the depth of a projection.

5. A pan with a lid as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the recess forms an annular channel in the pan bottom.

6. A pan with a lid as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the side wall is outwardly convex.

7. A pan with a lid as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein, when the lid is in position on the pan, the edge of the lid extends downwardly beyond the rim ofthe pan.

8. A pan with a lid as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the supporting means comprises a plurality of strip supports fixed to the lid and extending radially inwardly of the edge of the lid.

9. A pan with a lid as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the radially inner end of each strip is downturned to form a stop.

10. A pan with a lid as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the supporting means comprises a rim having an outwardly directed flange, said rim being adapted to sit in the pan with the flange extending across and beyondthepan rim, there being apertures in said flange.

11. A pan with a lid as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the outward edge of the flange is upturned.

12. A pan with a lid as claimed in Claim 10 or Claim 7l,wherein the apertures are arcuateslots.

13. A pan with a lid as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein closable apertures are provided in the lid.

14. A pan with a lid as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the supporting means comprises indentations formed in the lid.

15. A pan with a lid substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.