WO2007080416A1

WO2007080416A1 - A lid

Info

Publication number: WO2007080416A1
Application number: PCT/GB2007/000094
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kevin Mckay
Original assignee: Thomas Plant (Birmingham) Limited
Priority date: 2006-01-13
Filing date: 2007-01-12
Publication date: 2007-07-19
Also published as: GB0600659D0; GB0700636D0; GB2434080A; GB2434078A

Abstract

A lid (2) for a container (1), the lid (2) having a handle (3) which is configured to engage an underside of another such or similar lid (2') so that the latter (2') can be supported on the handle (3) in a substantially stable condition.

Description

Title: A Lid

Description of Invention

This invention relates to a lid, particularly but not exclusively a lid for a container such as a cookware vessel, e.g. a pot or a saucepan. The invention also relates to a set of lids which are configured to be stacked on top of each other for convenient, compact and stable storage. The invention has been devised in relation to the fields of cookware, cooking and catering, but it must be understood that the invention could be utilised in any field where containers and lids are used.

In the past, various containers, e.g. pots and saucepans, have been known which stack on top of or within each other to save storage space. However, the lids for the pots and saucepans must be stored separately and generally cannot be stored conveniently. A known method of storing lids is to place them upside-down inside one another, but this results in an unstable arrangement and still takes up considerable amount of storage space.

One solution to this problem has been to provide pots/saucepans of varying diameters, with a respective lid for each pot/saucepan. The lids can be placed on top of each other, on top of the stacked pots/saucepans, with the largest lid uppermost and the smallest lid lowermost. In this case the pots/saucepans are configured to have their rims level with one another when stacked inside one another, so that the lids each rest upon their respective pot/saucepan. This has the disadvantage of increased production costs associated with multiple lid and pot/saucepan diameters.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lid for a container which provides for improved storage of a set of said lids. According to a first aspect of the invention we provide a lid for a container, the lid having a handle which is configured to engage an underside of another such or similar lid so that the latter can be supported on the handle in a substantially stable condition.

Other features of the first aspect of the invention are set out in claims 2 to 10 appended hereto.

According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a set of lids, at least two of which are in accordance with the lid of the first aspect of the invention.

According to a third aspect of the invention we provide a set having a plurality of containers and a respective lid for use with each container, wherein at least two of said lids are in accordance with the lid of the first aspect of the invention.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention we provide a set of cookware items having a plurality of cookware vessels and a respective lid for use with each vessel, wherein at least two of said lids are in accordance with the lid of the first aspect of the invention.

Specific and non-limiting examples of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a pot and lid according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of another pot and lid according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the lid of figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side view of the lid of figure 1 ; Figure 5 is another side view of the lid of figure 1;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a plurality of pots and lids according to the invention;

Figure 7 is a side view of the pots and lids of figure 6 in a stacked configuration; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a plurality of lids, each in accordance with the invention.

In the following description, various aspects of the present invention will be described. For the purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. Furthermore, some well known features may have been omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a pot 1 which is circular in cross-section and tapers slightly towards its base. The pot 1 has a handle 4, which is connected to a circumferential lip or rim 5 positioned at an opening to the pot 1 , so that the pot 1 can easily be moved by a user. The pot 1 is shown supporting a lid 2 which itself is circular in plan view and which has a peripheral formation to engage the lip or rim of the pot 1. In this example the peripheral formation is a downwardly depending rim 6 (best shown in figure 8).

The circumferential lip or rim 5, as well as engaging with the rim 6 of the lid 2, is provided for controlling a relative nesting position of the pot 1 with other pots 1 ', 1" (discussed later). The lip or rim 5 may include one or more protrusions from a circumferential wall of the pot 1 or a substitute structure or form. Figure 2 is a side view of a pot V which is similar to the pot 1. Like components are given the same reference numeral with the addition of a prime symbol, e.g. 2'. The pot 1' is similar in its dimensions to the pot 1 except that it is shallower than the pot 1. This allows the pot 1' to be received within the pot

1 for stacking purposes. In figures 6 and 7 the pots 1 and V are shown in a stacked configuration with a further pot 1" (which is shallower than the pot 1'), with respective lids 2, 2', 2" stacked on top of the uppermost pot 1".

Referring now to figures 3, 4, 5 and 8, the lid 2 has a handle 3 which is substantially Y-shaped in plan view. The handle 3 has three supporting portions, which in this example are provided by elongate parts 3a, 3b, 3c (see figure 8) each of which projects away from a hub 3d towards a periphery of the lid 2. When viewed from above, the hub 3d is off-set from a centre region of the lid 2, such that the elongate parts 3a, 3b, which are identical in length, are shorter than the elongate part 3c. When viewed from above the elongate parts 3a, 3b, 3c are spaced at about 120° from each other about a vertical axis which intersects the hub 3d. As the elongate part 3c is longer than the elongate parts 3a, 3b, the elongate part 3c can be grasped by a user to lift the lid 2.

Each elongate part 3a, 3b, 3c is connected to the lid 2 by a connecting formation which space the elongate parts 3a, 3b, 3c away from the upper surface of the lid 2, thus allowing a user's fingers to pass under the handle 3. The upper surface of the handle 3 is shaped so as to cooperate with an underside of another lid 2. In this example, the upper surface of the handle 3 is convex, and is substantially identical in curvature to the concave curvature of the underside of the lid 2. This ensures that when a further lid 2', 2" is stacked on top of the lid 2, the lid 2', 2" is supported on the handle 3 of the lid

2 in a substantially stable condition (see figures 6 and 7). For the avoidance of doubt, the term 'substantially stable condition' means that the staked lids 2, 2', 2" are unlikely to topple over unless subjected to strong lateral forces. The lids 2, 2', 2" are preferably identical and each is configured to rest stably on any one of the pots 1 , 1', 1". Furthermore the lids 2, 2', 2" are preferably able to be stacked stably in any order. Free ends of the elongate parts 3a, 3b, 3c also provide for location of the lid 2, 2', 2" on top of another such lid 2, 2', 2", as the free ends engage or lie close to the lip or rim 6, 6', 6" of the upper lid 2, 2', 2". Thus the free ends of the elongate parts 3a, 3b, 3c jointly prevent lateral movement of the lid 2, 2', 2" supported thereon.

The lip 5, 5', 5" for controlling the stacking of the pots 1 , 1', 1 " may be formed by means of protrusions which may be spot welded to the pot 1 , 1', 1". The pot is preferably of steel, such as stainless steel, but may be of aluminium or a substitute therefor. There may be a polishing, brushing or enamelling step or substitute therefor in the manufacture thereof. The lid may be similarly manufactured but may alternatively be of glass or a substitute therefor.

As used herein, the terms 'pot' and 'pots' are intended to include cooking vessels, saucepans and pans, as applied to cookware. As such, the terms 'pot', 'saucepan' and 'pan' may be used interchangeably, and their plurals likewise.

The handle 3, 3', 3" could alternatively be X-shaped, T-shaped, H-shaped or variations thereof. Additionally the handle 3, 3', 3" may be composed of multiple elements, such as three bars, which may be substantially parallel; the central one being longest. In addition, it is not necessary for all of the upper surface of the handle 3 to engage the underside of the another such lid 2'. Instead, the underside of the lid 2' may engage and be supported by the free ends of the parts 3a, 3b, 3c of the handle 3. Three points of contact provide a stable support, although any number of points of contact could be used. The term "profile" as used herein is intended to mean the curvature/shape of the or a part of a surface, whether 2D or 3D. The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A lid (2) for a container (1), the lid (2) having a handle (3) which is configured to engage an underside of another such or similar lid (2') so that the latter (2') can be supported on the handle (3) in a substantially stable condition.

2. A lid (2) according to claim 1 wherein the handle (3) includes three supporting portions (3a, 3b, 3c).

3. A lid (2) according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the handle (3) is configured to engage a rim (5') of the another such or similar lid (2').

4. A lid (2) according to any preceding claim wherein a part of each of supporting portion (3a, 3b, 3c) of the handle (3) is configured in use to engage a part of the rim (5') of the another such or similar lid (2').

5. A lid (2) according to any preceding claim wherein the handle (3) is substantially Y-shaped.

6. A lid (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the handle (3) is substantially star-shaped.

7. A lid (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the handle (3) is substantially T-shaped.

8. A lid (2) according to any preceding claim wherein an upper surface of the handle (3) is shaped so as to cooperate with an underside of the another such or similar lid (2').

9. A lid (2) according to claim 8 wherein a profile of the upper surface of the handle (3) is substantially identical to a profile of the underside of the another such or similar lid (2').

10. A lid (2) according claim 8 or claim 9 wherein an upper surface of the handle (3) is convex so as to cooperate with a concave underside of the another such or similar lid (2').

11. A set of lids (2, 2', 2"), at least two of which are in accordance with the lid of any of claims 1 to 10.

12. A set having a plurality of containers (1 , 1\ 1") and a respective lid (2, 2', 2") for use with each container (1 , 1', 1"), wherein at least two of said lids (2, 2', 2") are in accordance with the lid (2) of any of claims 1 to 10.

13. A set of cookware items having a plurality of vessels (1, Y, 1") and a respective lid (2, 2', 2") for use with each vessel (1, T₅ 1"), wherein at least two of said lids are in accordance with the lid (2) of any of claims 1 to 10.

14. A lid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

15. A set of lids substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

16. A set of cookware items substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

17. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.