WO2007142384A1

WO2007142384A1 - Non-stick coated life cycle cooking appliance

Info

Publication number: WO2007142384A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/003430
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hyun Sam Lee
Original assignee: Chefel Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-06-07
Filing date: 2006-08-30
Publication date: 2007-12-13
Also published as: KR100740674B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooking utensil having a non-stick coating layer adapted for preventing cooked stuff from sticking thereto, in which a lifespan of the non-stick coating layer can be estimated by the naked eye thereby readily perceiving time to replace.

Description

[DESCRIPTION]

[Invention Title]

NON-STICK COATED LIFE CYCLE COOKING APPLIANCE

[Technical Field]

<i> The present invention relates to a cooking utensil having a non-stick coating layer to prevent food from sticking thereto, in which the lifespan of the non-stick coating layer can be estimated by the naked eye thereby readily perceiving the time to replace it.

[Background Art]

<2> Cooking utensils such as pots, frying pans, and the like are often furnished with a non-stick coating layer for preventing cooked stuff from sticking thereto. Even though various compositions are available for preparing the non-stick coating layer on a cooking utensil, it is preferable to use 'Silicon Release-316' of Dow Corning or 'Quilon-PS'of Du Pont which has been approved by the FDEA (Federal Drug Enforcement Agency).

<3> In use, the non-stick coating layer may be subjected to a repeated abrasion, which finally leads to exposure of the bottom. As a result, cooked stuff starts to stick thereon. It means the cooking utensil comes to lose its inherent function.

<4> If the cooking utensil, whose non-stick coating layer is damaged, is used in cooking as it is, abrasion would take place on the bottom (usually made of aluminum). It is well known that such abrasion of the bottom entails generation of debris potentially containing heavy metal, which is harmful to a human body. Further, the abraded bottom, which is exposed to the atmosphere, is susceptible to oxidation that incurs corrosion of the metal, which is also harmful to the human body.

[Disclosure]

[Technical Problem]

<5> However, in the instance of the conventional cooking utensil, a user cannot readily perceive the lifespan of the non-stick coating layer unless cooked stuff severely sticks to the bottom. It means that the user is under

BECORO COPY - ^"™MSIAHQN the risk of heavy metal poisoning due to continuous use of the cooking utensil without noticing the damage of the non-stick coating layer.

[Technical Solution] <6> The present invention aims at solving the aforementioned drawback of the conventional cooking utensil. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cooking utensil, in which a lifespan of the non-stick coating layer can be estimated by naked eyes thereby readily perceiving the time to replace it . <7> In order to accomplish the foregoing objects, one embodiment of a cooking utensil including a non-stick coating layer according to the present invention comprises a lifespan determining means for estimating a lifespan of the non-stick coating layer by the naked eye. <8> According to the foregoing arrangement, a user readily perceives time to replace by estimating the lifespan of the non-stick coating layer with his or her naked eye. <9> In the foregoing embodiment, the lifespan determining means comprises a color coating layer, which is coated on a lower surface or an upper surface of the non-stick coating layer. <io> Further, the lifespan determining means comprises a non-stick color coating layer, which is constituted by mixing pigment into the non-stick coating layer. <ii> Moreover, the color coating layer may be embodied in a multi-layered color coating layer, so that degree of the abrasion thereof can be noticed based on variation of color.

[Advantageous Effects] <12> As apparent from the foregoing description, the cooking utensil according to the present invention has advantageous effects as follows: <i3> First, by incorporating the lifespan determining means into the cooking utensil, which is adapted for estimating a lifespan of the non-stick coating layer by naked eyes, the cooking utensil can be replaced before abrasion of the bottom. <i4> Second, since the lifespan determining means is realized by the color coating layer, the abrasion thereof is easily perceived by the naked eye from the faintness of the color. Therefore, a user is surely informed of the time to replace the cooking utensil.

<15> Third, since the color coating layer is embodied in a multi-layered color coating layer, the cooking utensil is provided with a visual alert function that draws user's attention to inform the degree of the abrasion of the color coating layer by way of variation of colors. Therefore, the cooking utensil can be replaced in a timely manner before abrasion of the bottom. [Description of Drawings]

<16> FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooking utensil according to preferred embodiments of the present invention; and

<17> FIGS 2 to 4 are enlarged sectional views of a portion 'A' in FIG. 1.

<18> <Reference numerals>

<i9> 1". vessel 3: bottom

<20> 5: side wall T- handle

<2i> 10: non-stick coating layer 20a: lower surface color coating layer

<22> 20b: upper surface color coating layer 30: non-stick color coating layer [Best Mode]

<23> Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detailed with reference to the attached drawings.

<24> FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a frying pan, which is one of cooking utensils according to preferred embodiments of the present invention. FIGS 2 to 4 are sectional views of various cooking utensils having a lifespan determining means according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

<2S> As shown in FIGS 1 to 4, the cooking utensil according to the embodiment comprises a vessel (1) composed of a bottom (3) and a side wall (5) by which an outer appearance is defined. The vessel (1) is preferably provided with a handle (7).

<26> The bottom (3) is furnished with a non-stick coating layer and a lifespan determining means for estimating a lifespan of the non-stick coating 1ayer .

<27> As shown in FIG. 2, the lifespan determining means comprises a lower surface color coating layer (20a) formed underneath the non-stick coating layer (10). Since the lower surface color coating layer (20a) is disposed underneath the non-stick coating layer (10), the non-stick coating layer (10) is first subjected to abrasion. Thereafter, the lower surface color coating layer (20a) is then subjected to abrasion when the non-stick coating layer (10) is worn away. Namely, depending on the exposure of the lower surface color coating layer (20a), the lifespan of the non-stick coating layer (10) can be estimated.

<28> In this instance, the lower surface color coating layer (20a) is embodied in multi-layered structure having at least two color coating layers such that a user can be informed of the time to replace the cooking utensil by the color change. For example, change of the color from red to purple implies that the bottom (3) will be exposed sooner or later.

<29> As shown in FIG. 3, the lifespan determining means comprise an upper surface color coating layer (20b) superposed on the non-stick coating layer (10). Since the upper surface color coating layer (20b) is superposed on the non-stick coating layer (10), the upper surface color coating layer (20b) is first subjected to abrasion. Thereafter, the non-stick coating layer (10) is then subjected to abrasion when the upper surface color coating layer (20b) is worn away. Namely, depending on faintness of the upper surface color coating layer (20b), the lifespan of the non-stick coating layer (10) can be estimated. Of course, the upper surface color coating layer (20b) comprises at least two color coating layers such that a user can be visually informed of time to replace the cooking utensil by the color change.

<30> In the meantime, as shown in FIG. 4, a non-stick color coating layer (30) is provided by mixing pigment into the non-stick coating layer. With such an arrangement, as the non-stick color coating layer (30) is gradually abraded, a user can be visually informed of time to replace the cooking utensil by way of change or faintness of the color of the non-stick color coating layer (30).

[Industrial Applicability]

<3i> The cooking utensil according to present invention is not limited by the aforementioned embodiments and it should be appreciated with the various modifications that can be made by a person having an ordinary skill in the art without departing from the concept or idea of the present invention.

Claims

[CLAIMS] [Claim 1]

<33> A cooking utensil includes a non-stick coating layer, and a lifespan determining means for estimating a lifespan of the non-stick coating layer by naked eyes.

[Claim 2]

<34> The cooking utensil according to claim 1, wherein the lifespan determining means comprises a lower surface color coating layer, which is coated on a lower surface of the non-stick coating layer.

[Claim 3]

<35> The cooking utensil according to claim 1, wherein the lifespan determining means comprises a non-stick color coating layer, which is constituted by mixing pigment into the non-stick coating layer.

[Claim 4]

<36> The cooking utensil according to claim 1, wherein the lifespan determining means comprises an upper surface color coating layer, which is coated on an upper surface of the non-stick coating layer.

[Claim 5]

<37> The cooking utensil according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the color coating layer is multi-layered color coating layer.