GB2225741A - Cookware handle - Google Patents

Abstract

A handle 10 for cookware 11 has a core 12 of, preferably, thermoset plastic over which a moulded sleeve is fitted. The sleeve is made of a low durometer, high temperature silicone rubber material having frictional properties and dimensions which prevent rotation thereof about the core. The sleeve is preferably injection moulded and can easily be made of a variety of colors so that matching cookware handles with kitchen decor is possible. The softness of the handle makes it more easily gripped by the user and more comfortable, as well. <IMAGE>

Description

SOFT-GRIP COOKWARE BACGROVNI) AND SVIIKARY DF TRZ ItNVEITI'ON The present invention relates to handles for cookware and, in particular, to handles which are insulated and which have improved surfaces by which the handle can be securely gripped.

Handles made of material having low thermal conductivity are well-known in the art. Wood and thermoset plastic are commonly used. Wooden handles are good insulators, but they can burn and are not as durable as other materials. Thermoset plastic handles are less effective as a thermal insulator, and are somewhat more durable than wooden handles, and they can be molded into various shapes having both eye appeal and utilitarian features. Plastic handles can, through repeated thermal cycling, become brittle or otherwise deteriorate.

Furthermore, plastic handles can become too hot to the touch.

Thermoset plastic handles, because of inherent limitations in the material, also tend to have hard smooth surfaces. Such surfaces have low coefficients of friction which increases the likelihood of their slipping out of the hand oi the user. In addition, there is very little variation in color possible in designing thermoset plastic handles. Generally, only black plastic handles are available.

Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a handle for cookware which has improved resistance to heat transmission.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a handle for cookware which has improved ability to be gripped by a user.

Yet another object is to provide a handle for cookware which is less likely to burn the hand of a user.

A further object is to provide a handle for cookware which can be color coordinated with decor of a kitchen.

Still another object is to provide a handle for cookware which is durable and less susceptible to deterioration due to thermal cycling.

These and other objects are achieved with a handle made in accordance with the invention. Such handles have a phenolic, generally tubular core, having a central opening through which a connecting bolt can extend. The core has an annular recess into which is fitted a high-temperature silicone rubber sleeve.

The core has second and third recesses formed on each end thereof to facilitate its attachment to a piece of cookware.

The handle is preferably used with a spacer which, together with the core, prevents relative rotation of the handle and the cookware. The high temperature silicone rubber sleeve may have surface grooves or bumps to enhance the ability of the handle to be gripped by a user.

DETAtIED DESCRIPTION OF TKE DRAWINGS The objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view in partial section of a handle of the present invention attached to a pan; Figure 2 is a longitudinal partially sectional view of a handle made in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a left end view of the tubular core of the present invention; Figure 5 i. an end view of the spacer used with the handle of the present invention; Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Figure 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In Figures 1 and 2, the handle 10 is comprised of a central core 12 having a central opening 14, and a stan 16 extending coaxially therethrough. The core 12 is configured such that it has enlarged ends 18 and 20 and an annular? exterior recess 22 between the ends. Each enlarged end has a corresponding recess 24 and 26, respectively. These annular recesses operate in conjunction with associated hardware (described below) to maintain alignment of the core 12 relative to the stem 16. The exterior recess 22 is intended to receive and carry a resilient pad or sleeve 28, which should be made of a material which is resistant to degradation at high terperature, and which fits snugly around the core 12.The sleeve 28 should have an inside diameter, which in a relaxed state is 7 substantially less than the outer diameter of the core 12 at a section which includes the exterior recess 22. This is to ensure that the sleeve will not rotate when an eccentric load is applied to the pan held by the handle, even when the temperature of the handle is raised.

The sleeve is shown to have surface interruptions, grooves 30 and raised portions 32, which may be of various arrangements, which may be based at least in part upon considerations of eye appeal.

Similarly, the sleeve may be injection molded, either separately or directly around the core in an insert molding operation. Thus the sleeve can be made to be any of several colors. There may be limitations to the colors available, depending upon the material which is chosen for the sleeve.

For example, the high temperature silicone rubber which has been found to have preferred propertie of low durometer resilience, heat resistance, moldability and a coefficient of friction, is available in a variety of colors, including and and blends thereof.

The interior of the core 12 has an inwardly extending guide 34 which is intended to temporarily support the stem 16 during insertion of the stem into the nut 36. The washer 38 is disposed in the recess 26, and together with the guide 34, provides alignment for the threaded end 40 of the stem 16.

The spacer 42 separates the core 12 and the sleeve 28 from the pan 11 and frem the heat source or burner (not shown). The spacer 42 also serves to prevent rotation of the handle during eccentric loading of the pan 11. One end 44 of the spacer 42 is angles relative to the axis of the spacer 42. The angle is intended to make the end 44 abut the sloping outside surface of the pan, and to provide the handle with a slight upward tilt relative to the plane defined by the upper edge 46 of the pan 11. The other end 48 of the spacer 44 is generally perpen dicular to the axis of the spacer and includes a set of four tabs 50 which are sloped and positioned to fit into slots 54 in the shoulder 56, which define the bottom of the recess 24. A washer 58 surrounds the nut 36 and rotationally engages the hexagonal configuration of thereof.The outer periphery of the washer 58 is shaped to match the interior shape of the spacer 42 in that they each have generallyssround portions and generally chordal or flat sections 60 on the washer 58 and 62 on the spacer 42.

Thus, stabilizing forces to counteract eccentric loading in the pan can be applied through the following chain: Gripping and stabilizing forces applied by the hand of a user to the sleeve 28 are transferred by friction to the core 12. Those forces are then transferred by engagement between the slots 54 and the tabs 50 to the spacer 42. Then, the forces are channelled to the washer 58 by interference between the matching flat surfaces 60 and 62. From the washer 58, the forces are transmitted to the nut 36 by the interfering internal and external hexagonal shapes of the washer and nut, respectively. Because the nut is rigidly attached to the pan by weldment 64, the forces operate to stabilize the pan and prevent rotation of the pan when a load which is not aligned with the axis of the handles is placed in the pan.

Such loading occurs when a large amount of liquid in the pan. The slightest rotation of the pan can quickly cause the substantial eccentric forces which tend to turn the handle about its axis. Therefore, a tight non-rotational fit must exist between the sleeve 28 and the core 12. Similarly frictional aspects of the exterior of the sleeve are important.

m fact, when a user is preventing rotation of the pan the interior and exterior of the sleeve are the only locations where friction is being exclusively relied upon for support.

All other points of load transfer use some mechanical interlocking. Therefore, the friction characteristics of the sleeve are of utmost importance. The (brand name and model number) high temperature silicone rubber has been found to possess the frictional properties suitable for the sleeve of this invention In addition, this material has the moldability, availability of color variation, etc., to make it the most preferable material.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and discussed in this Specification, it should be noted that numerous alternatives, variations and modifications will occur to spilled artisans. Therefore, it is anticipated that many such alternatives, variations and modifications will be included within the scope of the appended Claims.

Claims (16)

1. A handle for cookware comprising an elongated stem, a generally tubular handle body having a central opening into which said stem can extend, a molded sleeve carried by said handle body, said body having an annular recess in the outer surface thereof for receiving and retaining said sleeve.

2. A handle for cookware in accordance with Claim 1 wherein: said recess has a depth which is less than the thickness of said sleeve whereby said sleeve projects radially beyond said handle body.

3. A handle for cookware in accordance with Claim 1 S wherein: said sleeve is a separable member adapted to be placed in and removed from said recess.

4. A handle for cookware in accordance with Claim 1 wherein: said sleeve is molded in place around said handle body.

5. A handle for cookware in accordance with Claim 1 wherein: said handle body and said stem are removable from said cookware and said stem includes means for hanging said cookware from a fixture.

6. A handle for cookware in accordance with Claim 1 wherein: said handle body is made of phenolic material, and said sleeve is a high temperature silicone with surface means for improving gripping engagement with the hand of a user.

7. A handle for cookware in accordance with Claim 1 wherein: said handle includes a spacer, one end of which is shaped to conform to an outer surface of said cookware.

8. A handle for cookware in accordance with Claim 1 wherein: said handle body includes means for guiding said stem, said means comprising at least one inwardly projecting formation disposed on an internal surface of said handle body.

9. A handle for cookware in accordance with Claim 1 wherein: said handle body has second and third recesses formed on opposite ends thereof, said first recess being deeper than said second recess, and each of said second and third recesses being concentric with the longitudinal axis of saidhandle body.

10. A handle for cookware in accordance with Claim 9 wherein: said each of said second and third recesses forms a shoulder, the shoulder formed by said recess having a plurality of radially disposed grooves.

11. A handle for cookware comprising an elongated stem having means for removably engaging attachment means formed on said cookware, a generally cylindrical tubular handle body, said body having two enlarged ends with a narrowed outer section therebetween, said enlarged ends having annular recesses formed therein for maintaining alignment of said tubular body relative to said stem, a spacer having one end shaped to match an outer surface of said cookware and an opposite end shaped to fit into one of said recesses, a molded high temperature silicone sleeve having an inside dimension substantially less than said enlarged ends and an outside dimension generally at least as large as said enlarged ends.

12. A handle for cookware in accordance with Claim 1? wherein: said stem includes means for hanging said cookware from a fixture.

13. A handle for cookware in accordance with Claim 11 wherein: said sleeve projects radially outwardly from said handle body substantially more than said enlargedends.

14. A handle for cookware in accordance with Claim 13 wherein: said sleeve includes surface means for improving gripping engagement with the hand of a user.

15. A handle for cookware in accordance with Claim 11 including means for preventive tilting of said cookware about the axis of said handle.

16. A handle for cookware in accordance with Claim 15 wherein: said means for preventing tilting includes slots formed in one of said recesses, said slots being formed on a shoulder, said shoulder defining a bottom of said one of said recesses.