GB2490172A

GB2490172A - Detachable gripping handle assembly for a cooking container or baking screen

Info

Publication number: GB2490172A
Application number: GB201106871A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bing Yuan Lv
Original assignee: Maxpat Trading and Marketing Far East Ltd
Current assignee: Maxpat Trading and Marketing Far East Ltd
Priority date: 2011-04-21
Filing date: 2011-04-21
Publication date: 2012-10-24
Also published as: GB201106871D0

Abstract

A detachable gripping handle assembly 10 for securely lifting a cooking container or baking screen 14 is provided, comprising, an elongate handle 16 having a first aperture 30 at one end for receiving a fixture 12 on a container or screen 14, the aperture extending from an open mouth to a blind end along a first axis. A second aperture (32,fig.2) in the handle intersects with the first aperture (30,fig.2), and is positioned to align with a recess 28 in the fixture 12. A latching member 18 movably connected to the handle 16 includes a nub 48 disposed in the second aperture (32,fig.2), the latching member 18 being movable to extend the tip of the nub 48 into the first aperture (30,fig.2), and into the recess 28 in the fixture 12. No resilient means is provided for urging the nub 48 into the first aperture and as such the latching member must be moved by a user to securely hold the cooking container or baking screen 14.

Description

I

Quickly detachable gripping handle assembly for a cooking container

Technical field

The present invention relates to cooking containers, such as pizza baking screens and to associated handles or accessories for grasping and manipulating cooking containers.

Background of the Invention

In commercial pizzerias long-handled paddles are used to lift pizzas on their baking screens, allowing them to be readily inserted into and removed from the back of pizza ovens. However, manipulating pizza screens in this manner requires some skill as there is no latching or prehensile mechanism providing positive engagement with the pizza screen, the pizza screen simply rests upon the top of the paddle. It will be appreciated that there is a need, particularly in domestic kitchens, for tools allowing users to readily manipulate pizza screens, particularly when they are hot, with a positive gripping action for improved safety.

It is known to proiide cooking containers such as pots or pans with detachable handleè. However, many of the prior art detachable handles include a resiliently biased latching member on the handle which is urged into a recess in a fitting on the container to connect the handle and the container. A drawback with many of these old releasable handles is that the detachment process is slow, or that they are * 20 relatively costly to produce owing to a large number of separate parts. US4083081 ::f::; describes such a handle where the latching member is a cantilever-type spring element fixed internally in the handle, and requiring a tool to release it, thus making detachment somewhat time-consuming. The external release lever on the handle of US638O66 allows a user to manually release the latching member and thereby release the handle, but it requires a positive action by the user to press the release handle and an additional release lever. It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages or more generally to provide an improved gripping handle assembly for securely lifting a container.

Disclosure of the Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a gripping handle assembly for securely lifting a cooking container, comprising: an elongate handle: * 10 a first aperture at one end of the handle adapted for receiving a fixture on the * container, the aperture extending from an open mouth to a blind end along a first axis: a second aperture in the handle that intersects with the first aperture, the second aperture being positioned to align with a recess in the fixture: a latching member movably connected to the handle, the latching member including a nub disposed in the second aperture, the latching member being movable to S.....

extend the tip of the nub into the first aperture, and wherein no resilient means is provided for urging the nub Into the first aperture.

Preferably the apparatus further comprises a pivot connecting the latching member for pivoting movement relative to the handle. Alternatively, for instance, the latching member may be slidably connected to the handle., Preferably the pivot is generally transversely extending, the latching member including first and second arms extending on opposing sides of the pivot, the nub being located on the first arm remote from the pivot.

Preferably the first and second arms are received in respective slots disposed in opposing sides of the handle.

Preferably the handle is a one-piece moulded component. Preferably the opposing sides of the handle are curved longitudinally, comprising longitudinally-extending concave and convex surfaces, the second arm and complementary second recess are disposed in the convex surface, and abutment faces on the latching member and handle abut one another when the nub. is retracted from the first aperture, to limit the rotatjon of the latching member.

In another aspect the invention provides cookware, comprising: * a cooking container having substantially planar surface, an elongate fixture fixed at one end to the container, the fixture having a projecting end inclined obliquely to the planar surface, a recess in the projecting end; an elongate handle; a first aperture at one end of the handle adapted for receiving a fixture on the : :* container, the aperture extending from an open mouth to a blind end along a first axis; a second aperture in the handle that intersects with the first aperture, the second aperture being positioned to align with the recess in the fixture; a latching member movably connected to the handle, the, latching member including a nub disposed in the second aperture, the latching member being movable to extend the tip of the nub into the first aperture, and wherein no resilient means is provided for urging the nub into the first aperture.

This invention provides a gripping handle assembly and cookware which has a handle that can be readily removed, and without the need for tools. The apparatus has an overall simple design which minimizes manufacturing costs and maximizes performance.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference' to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an exploded pictorial view of a gripping handle assembly and pizza screen according to the invention, and. , Figure 2 is a schematic longitudinal section through the gripping handle assembly and pizza screen of Fig. 1.

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Description qf the Preferred Embodiments

Referring to the drawings a gripping handle assembly 10 is provided for ready attachment to, and detachment from, a fixture 12 on a cooking container such as the S...

pizza baking screen 14 shown. The, gripping handle assembly 10 includes an elongate handle 16, which may be formed from moulded polymer in one piece. A latching member 18 is connected to the handle 16 by a pivot axle 20.

The pizza screen 14 comprises a substantiallyflat, metallic, foraminous disc 22 with a ring 24 fixed about Its periphery. The fixture 12 is fastened to the ring 24, as by * welding. The fixture 24 comprises a bar of rectangular cross-section with a straight protruding end 26 aligned obliquely to the disc 22, for instance extending at about 45 degrees to the plane of the disc 22. A recess 28 is formed in the protruding end 26, * extending between its major opposing faces. . * A first aperture 30 disposed at one end of the handle 16 has a rectangular cross-section complementary to the fixture 12 and extends generally centrally along a first straight axis through the handle from an open mouth 30a to a blind end 30b.

* A second aperture 32 in the handle.16 intersects with the first aperture 32. The second aperture 32 may extend generally transverse to the axiè of the first aperture * 30, and is disposed in a lower side of the handle. With the end 26 of the fixture 12 received in the first aperture 30, its end may abut the blind end 30b, in which position the second aperture is aligned with the recess 28 in the fixture. First and second shal low slots 34 and 36 are disposed parallel to one another in an upper, longitudinally-extending convex surface 60 and an opposing lower longitudinally-extending surface 62 of the handle. The slots 34, 36 are connected by an openin * 38 extending transversely.through the handle 16. The second aperture 32 is .: . 20 disposed at the end of the second slot 36.' An axle-receiving hole 40 passes transversely through the handle 16, and intersects with the opening 38. I. * *sn

The latching member 18 includes a hub 42 from which first and second arms 46a, * 46b extend on opposing sides df the pivot aperture 44 through the hub' 42. The arms 46a, 46b are shaped complementary to the slots 34, 36 in which they are received. A nub 48 disposed in the second aperture 32 is located on the first arm remote from the pivot 20.

The latching member 18 is thereby free to pivot. If the arm 46a is pressed down, the tip of the nub 48 projects into the first aperture 30 and into the recess 28, thereby positive engagement between the nub 48 and sides of the recess 28 restrains movement of the handle 16 relative to the screen 14. No resilient means is provided * for urging the nub 48 into the first aperture 30. Abutment faces 64, 66 on the latching member 18 and handle 16 abut one another when the nub 48 is retracted * from the first aperture 30, to limit the rotation of the latching member 18.

In use, with the pizza screen held generally horizontal by the attached handle assembly 10, the weight of the pizza screen applies a couple to the handle 16. This couple and the resulting frictional engagement between the inner surfaces of the first aperture 30 and the outer surfaces of the fixture 14, tends to preVent the fixture 14 dropping out of the handle in this orientation. However, for further security, * 15 particularly when extracting a hot screen laden with a hot pizza, the arm 46a of The latching member 18 can be pressed, providing the positive engagement, as discussed above. When the screen 14 is supported on a surface, its weight no lOnger applies a couple so the frictional engagement is eliminated, and by simply releasing the arm 46a of the latching member 18 the handle can be removed. Faces of the recess 28 and nub 48 abut when the handle is withdrawn, and this abutment se 0a * tends to pivot the latching member 18 (to the released position indicated by dashed tines in Fig. 2). Thus in the absence of any resilient means, such as a spring, acting b * * to urge the nub 48 into the recess 28, the handle can be both readily removed and attached. In fact, rather than having a resilient member urging the nub 48 into the* recess 28, within the scope of the invention resilient means could be provided for acting on the latching member 18 to urge the nub 48 out of the first aperture 30. In either, case, by simply releasing the' latching member 18 the handle* can be readily detached from the cooking container.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and ft should be appreciated that modifications and addition may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof.

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Claims

BCLAIMS: 1. A gripping handle assembly for securely lifting a cooking container, comprising: an elongate handle; S a first aperture at one end of the handle adapted for receiving a fixture on the container, the aperture extending from an open mouth to a blind end along a first axis; a second aperture in the handle that intersects with the first aperture, the second aperture being positioned to align with a recess in the fixture; a latching member movably connected to the handle, the latching member including a nub disposed in the second aperture, the latching member being movable to extend the tip of the nub into the first aperture, and wherein no resilient means is provided for urging the nub into the first. aperture.
2. The gripping handle assembly of claim I further comprising a pivot connecting the latching member for pivoting movement relative to the handle.SI..... 5, 5
3. The gripping handle assembly of claim 2 wherein the pivot is generally 0 transversely extending, the latching member including first and second arms extending on opposing sides of the pivot, the nub being located on the first arm remote from the pivot.
4. The gripping handle assembly of claim 3 wherein the first and second arms are received in respective slots disposed in opposing sides of the handle.
5. The gripping handle assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein the handle is a one-piece moulded component.
6. The gripping handle assembly of any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the opposing sides of the handle are curved longitudinally, comprising longitudinally-extending concave and convex surfaces, the second arm and complementary second recess are disposed in the convex surface, and abutment faces on the latching member and handle abut one another when the nub is retracted from the first aperture, to limit the rotation of the latching member.
7. Cookware, comprising: a cooking éontainer having substantially planar surface, an elongate fixture fixed at one end to the container, the fixture having a projecting end inclined obliquely to the planar surface, a recess in the projecting end; an elongate handle; a first aperture at one end of the handle adapted for receMng a fixture on the * container, the aperture extending from an open mouth to a blind end along a first axis; a second aperture in the handle that intersects with the first aperture, the second aperture being positioned to align with the recess in the fixture; a latching member movably connected to the handle, the latching member * 10 * including a nub disposed in the second aperture, the latching member being movable to extend the tip ofthe nub into the first aperture, and wherein no resilient means is provided for urging the nub into the first aperture. 2. The gripping handle assembly of claim 1 further comprising a pivot C nnecting the latching member for pivoting movement Eelative to the handle..5. The cookware of claim 7 wherein the pivot is generally transversely extending, the latching member including first and second arms extending on opposing sides of the pivot, the nub being located on the first arm remote from the pivot 9. Th cookware of claim 7 wherein the first and second aims are received in respective slots disposed in opposing sides of the handle.10-The cookware of any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein the handle is a one-piece * moulded component.11. The cookware of any one of claims 8 to 10 wherein the opposing sides of the handle are curved longitudinally, comprising longitudinally-extending concave and convex surfaces,, and the second arm, the second arm and complementary second recess are disposed in the convex surface, and abutment faces on the * latching member and handle abut one another when the nub is retracted from
S....the first aperture, to limit the rotation of the latching member. a * s * I.. ** .. * * * * . . S * * .*