GB2489392A

GB2489392A - Saucepan lid with an adjustable access window

Info

Publication number: GB2489392A
Application number: GB1101884.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John William Cornock
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-02-03
Filing date: 2011-02-03
Publication date: 2012-10-03
Also published as: GB201101884D0

Abstract

A saucepan lid commonly used in domestic and professional kitchens incorporating an adjustable aperture which provides access to the contents without the need to remove the lid. The adjustable aperture also facilitates temperature adjustment through adjustment of the aperture. The lid may comprise a main lid body 3, a rotating glass panel 5 which is rotated by an adjustment control knob 1. The size of the aperture may be around half the size of the lid. The panel may be rotated to a maximum of 180 degrees from the fully closed positon.

Description

SAUCEPAN LID WITH AN ADJUSTABLE ACCESS WINDOW

DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a standard saucepan lid commonly used in the home or professional kitchen.

The invention seeks to solve two problems with standard saucepan lids; 1. A standard saucepan lid must be lifted off the saucepan to be gain access to the contents. When the lid is removed from the saucepan it is usually very hot which makes it difficult to handle. Depending on the size of the kitchen it can also be difficult to find sufficient and/or suitable work surface space to place the lid.

The design of the adjustable lid incorporates an aperture approximately half the area of the lid. The outer main body of the lid is constructed from stainless steel, aluminium or any other suitable heat resistant material. The adjustable glass panel rotates within the outer main body of the lid using the central knob assembly as the pivot point. The panel is moved by rotating the control knob. The glass panel and aperture serve two purposes: 1. The glass panel allows the user to see inside the saucepan without having to lift the lid. 2. When the glass panel is rotated to its fully open position, the user can access the contents to stir and/or season without having to remove the lid. The adjustable panel does not need to be constructed from glass to satisfy the latter function.

2. A standard saucepan lid is not temperature adjustable. Some saucepan lids have an adjustable knob which allows a limited amount of heat to escape through the knob assembly. However due to the size constraints of the knob it is not possible to incorporate a large enough aperture within the knob assembly to facilitate adequate ventilation therefore the contents of the saucepan can still overheat and spill out from the rim of the lid and/or the knob itself. This can lead to excess hot vapour and liquid escaping directly under the knob. Non-adjustable lids must be either removed or canted' on the edge of the saucepan rim to prevent the contents from boiling over. In the canted' position, the contents can still boil over due to the limited effectiveness of this method.

The design of the large aperture allows the lid to be fully vented by the user reducing the risk of the contents overheating and boiling over. Furthermore the vent is positioned away from the control knob which reduces the risk of hot vapour and/or liquid burning the users hand. The control knob and fixed knob element incorporate a slot and spigot arrangement which act as a positive movement stop to limit the rotational movement of the control knob and hence the glass panel to a maximum of 180 degrees from the fully closed position.

Fig. I shows the top view! elevation of the invention.

Fig. 2 shows the side view I elevation of the invention.

Fig. 3 shows the exploded isometric view of the invention.

The adjustment control knob is marked (1).

The fixed element of the control knob is marked (2).

The main outer body of the lid assembly is marked (3).

The friction washer is marked (4).

The rotating glass panel is marked (5).

The assembly is held together using a plurality of fixing screws which pass through the rotating glass panel (5), friction washer (4), main lid body (3), fixed knob element (2) and are screwed in to the underside of the adjustment control knob (1).

Claims

SAUCEPAN LID WITH AN ADJUSTABLE ACCESS WINDOWCLAIMS1. A saucepan lid commonly used in domestic and professional kitchens incorporating an adjustable aperture which provides access to the contents without the need to remove the lid.
2. The adjustable aperture also facilitates greater temperature adjustment than any other existing design.