GB2456157A

GB2456157A - Pan lid with wiper

Info

Publication number: GB2456157A
Application number: GB0800124A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Saba
Original assignee: Salton Europe Ltd
Current assignee: Russell Hobbs Ltd
Priority date: 2008-01-04
Filing date: 2008-01-04
Publication date: 2009-07-08
Also published as: GB0800124D0

Abstract

A pan lid 2 comprising a first major surface 6 and a second major surface 8 and a wiper 12 which is operable to move the wiper 12 against the second major surface 8 of the lid 2. The pan may further comprise an actuator 14 to rotate the wiper and an axle 18 to which the wiper 12 is connected through the lid 2. The lid 2 may be transparent. The lid 2 preferably has a handle 16. The wiper may comprise a solid spine 12a connected to a flexible wiping section 12b. The lid 2 is designed so that condensation can be wiped from the lid 2 without lifting the lid 2 from the pan so that a user can see into the pan.

Description

A Pan Lid

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to pan lids.

Pans include all domestic cooking vessels that can have a lid such as skillets, woks, frying pans and casserole dishes.

Background of the Invention

Generally, pans are used in the preparation of food. Food is placed inside the pan and the pan is placed on a heating means such as a gas hob or an electric ring. The majority of foodstuffs cooked in this way are liquids and contain a large proportion of water or are solids and are boiled in water.

As the water is heated it eventually reaches a temperature at which is starts to evaporate and boil. At this stage of cooking a lot of steam is produced from the pan and a pan lid can be placed on the pan to reduce the amount of steam escaping.

Transparent pan lids made from either clear or tinted glass or plastic are known. These not only reduce the amount of steam escaping from the pan but they also enable the user to see through the lid and into the pan.

Problems that exist with pan lids result from the fact that steam tends to condense on the second major surface of the lid. The condensation reduces the visibility through a transparent lid and when a lid is removed the condensation can spill onto work surfaces.

An aim of preferred embodiments of the invention is to provide a pan lid that overcomes or obviates at least one of the abovementioned problems.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention, there is provided a pan lid comprising: a first major surface and a second major surface; and a wiper; whereby the wiper is operable to move the wiper against the second major surface of the lid.

Suitably, the pan lid further comprises an actuator; which actuator is operable from the first major surface of the lid to operate the wiper.

Suitably, at least a portion of the pan lid is transparent, and the wiper is operable to move the wiper at least partly across the transparent portion.

Suitably, the actuator and the wiper are connected through the lid by an axle.

Suitably, the actuator can be operated to rotate the wiper.

Suitably, the pan lid further comprises a handle fixed to the lid. Suitably, the handle can be held so that as the wiper is rotated against the second major surface, the pan lid is also secured in place.

Suitably, the wiper comprises a solid spine connected to a flexible wiping section.

Suitably, the flexible wiping section is configured, in use, to wipe condensation from the second major surface of the pan lid.

Suitably, the pan lid, actuator and wiper are sealed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings; in which:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first example of a pan lid according to the present invention with a pan; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the pan lid of figure 1 on the line II -II; Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the second major surface of the pan lid of figure 1; and Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of a second example of a pan lid according to the present invention.

Description of Preferred Embodiments

As illustrated in figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a pan lid 2 is shown on a pan 4 suitable for use on a domestic cooker. The pan lid 2 has a first major surface 6 and a second major surface 8. The first major surface 6 is normally the upper surface when the pan lid 2 is in use on the pan 4. The second major surface 8 is the concave side of the pan lid 2 on which surface, in use, condensation often builds up as described above. The pan lid 2 comprises a handle 16 by which the pan lid 2 can be held. The pan lid 2 further comprises a wiper 12 which comprises a solid spine 12a, a flexible wiping section 12b and an axle 18. The solid spine 12a carries the flexible wiping section 12b.

The wiper 12 is disposed on the second major surface 8 of the pan lid 2. The wiper 12 is controlled by an actuator 14 connected to the wiper 12 by the axle 18. The actuator 14 is operable from above the first major surface 6 of the pan lid 2 to operate the wiper 12.

The handle 16 is fixed relative to the first and second surfaces 6, 8, respectively, of the pan lid 2, while the actuator 14, axle 18 and wiper 12 are movable, specifically rotatable, relative to the pan lid 2.

The pan lid 2, handle 16, axle 18, actuator 14 and solid spine 12a are of solid construction and made from materials such as glass, plastics, resins, metals or ceramics. The flexible wiping section 12b is made from a flexible, resilient material such as rubber, plastics or foam.

In use, the pan lid 2 is placed onto the pan 4 and, in use, condensation forms on the second major surface 8 of the lid 2. The actuator 14 is connected to the wiper 12 and when activated by turning, causes the wiper 12 to rotate and wipe condensation from the lid 2, creating a reduced condensation area.

To reduce the required rotation of the pan lid 2 when the actuator 14 is activated, the handle 16 is fixed to the lid 2 and can be held. As the actuator 14 is turned and the wiper 12 is moved, friction between the wiper 12 and the pan lid 2 creates a force on the lid 2. Holding the handle 16 still therefore prevents the lid 2 from moving.

The wiper 12 can be used to remove the majority of condensation from the lid 2 prior to lifting of the lid 2.

This therefore reduces the amount of condensation spillage onto work surfaces.

The pan lid 2 is transparent to enable the contents of the pan 4 to be seen. This also enables the condensation to be seen on the second major surface 8 of the lid 2 and helps to identify when the condensation has been removed by the wiper 12.

In figure 2 the actuator 14 is shown as connected to the wiper 12. Also, the handle 16 is connected to the pan lid 2. As the actuator 14 is activated and rotated, the wiper 12 is also rotated and moved against the second major surface 8of the pan lid 2. The handle 16 is held still and since it is connected to the pan lid 2, the pan lid 2 is also held still. In this embodiment, the actuator 14 is connected through a central portion of the pan lid 2 to the wiper 12 at a substantially central section of the wiper 12. The wiper 12 extends to a position substantially at the edge of the pan lid 2. The actuator 14, pan lid 2 and wiper 12 are sealed to reduce the amount of steam passing through the central portion of the lid 2.

The wiper 12 has a solid spine 12a which acts as a stable and rigid support for the flexible wiping section 12b. The flexible wiping section 12b is moved against the second major surface of the pan lid 2 and acts to remove condensation.

In figure 3 the wiper 12 is shown in place on the second major surface 8 of the pan lid 2. In this embodiment the wiper 12 is moving in a clockwise direction and removing condensation. To remove the condensation from the whole of the pan lid 2, the wiper 12 is rotated by at least 180 degrees to ensure a full circle has been wiped.

Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the actuator 14 is connected to the wiper 12 which extends from a central portion of the pan lid 2 to a position substantially at the edge of the lid. To remove the condensation from the whole of the pan lid 2, the wiper 12 is rotated by at least 360 degrees to ensure a full circle has been wiped.

Although the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is not restricted to these embodiments since there are variations that would also fall within the scope of this invention. Such variations include but are not limited to the following.

The pan lid has a circular shape however there are other shapes of pan lids such as oval lids and square lids. The handle and actuator are located at the centre of the lid however other arrangements are also possible such as handle or actuator off centre or at the edge of the lid.

The actuator could take a different form such as a button, a switch or a level, all of which are capable of activating a wiper. The pan lid is transparent however it could be completely opaque or contain a transparent window in a portion thereof or multiple window sections.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features

disclosed in this specification (including any

accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A pan lid comprising: a first major surface and a second major surface; and a wiper; whereby the wiper is operable to move the wiper against the second major surface of the lid.

2. The pan lid of claim 1, further comprises an actuator; which actuator is operable from the first major surface of the lid to operate the wiper.

3. The pan lid of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the pan lid is transparent, and the wiper is operable to move the wiper at least partly across the transparent portion.

4. The pan lid of any preceding claim, wherein the actuator and the wiper are connected through the lid by an Q axle.

5. The pan lid of any preceding claim, wherein the actuator can be operated to rotate the wiper.

6. The pan lid of any preceding claim, wherein the pan lid further comprises a handle fixed to the lid.

7. The pan lid of claim 6, further comprises the handle can be held so that as the wiper is rotated against the second major surface, the pan lid is also secured in place.

8. The pan lid of any preceding claim, wherein the wiper comprises a solid spine connected to a flexible wiping section.

9. The pan lid of any preceding claim, wherein the flexible wiping section is configured, in use, to wipe condensation from the second major surface of the pan lid.

10. The pan lid of any preceding claim, wherein the pan lid, actuator and wiper are sealed.

11. A pan lid substantially as described herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 0) (\1