WO2009123473A1

WO2009123473A1 - Releasable handle for a lid or similar

Info

Publication number: WO2009123473A1
Application number: PCT/NO2009/000128
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tore Fjeld
Original assignee: Mnt As
Priority date: 2008-04-03
Filing date: 2009-04-02
Publication date: 2009-10-08
Also published as: NO328146B1; NO20081646L

Abstract

A releasable handle for a lid or the like comprising a main body (14) with a through- going bore (15) between a first end portion (17) and a second end portion (16) on the main body. A magnetic body (24) at the second end portion (16) generates a magnetic field which influences a magnetisable body (12) on a release element (10) provided for movement in the bore (15). By means of the magnetic field, the release element (10) is thereby kept in a position of equilibrium relative to the second end portion (16). The release element (10) and the main body (14) are movable relative to each other with the result that the release element (10) is movable to a release position where the release element's (10) first end projects a distance (S) beyond the second end portion (16).

Description

Releasable handle for a lid or similar

The invention relates to releasable gripping devices, especially releasable gripping devices for various objects, such as lids for cooking utensils or other hollow containers. More specifically the invention relates to a releasable handle for a lid or the like, comprising a main body with a through-going bore between a first end portion and a second end portion on the main body.

Lids for pots, frying pans, saucepans and the like are equipped with handles to make it easy for a user to take the lid off and put it on. In many cases the handle projects relatively far above the lid to which it is attached. This is a problem when the lids have to be stacked and when the lids have to be placed in a dishwashing machine, as well as when they have to be stacked or stored in some other way in a cupboard or drawers. In the latter case the fitted handle causes the lid to take up a disproportionate amount of space in the machine. There is therefore a need for an easy and simple method of removing the handle from the lid, for example when the lid has to be washed in a dishwasher. The need for such solutions is also highly relevant in environments with limited space, such as for example in caravans and boats.

A number of removable handles of this type are known. German patent application no. DE 29 33 490 Al describes a pot or pan lid with a handle 4 which consists entirely or partly of a permanently magnetic material. The handle can be removed from the lid. US patent no. 2,731,663 describes a handle 11 with a recess 19 for a permanent magnet 18. The magnet 18 is conical in shape to match a recess 16 in the lid. The handle can be detached from the lid by tilting the handle while holding on to the lid. A similar arrangement is disclosed in international patent application no. WO 98/24352, where the handle 10 is equipped with a magnet 12 which secures the handle to the lid 20. International patent application no. WO 2007/060326 describes a handle comprising a housing 3 and a magnetic disc 2 with an opening and a part 4 which is movable relative to the housing 3 and secured by means of spiral spring 5. Spring arrangements like those in the last-mentioned publication are subject to wear and fatigue fracture, and the handle therefore has a limited service life.

There is, however, a need for a simplified and more functional solution than those known in the prior art.

The invention meets this need as it offers a releasable handle for a lid or the like comprising a main body with a through-going bore between a first end portion and a second end portion on the main body, characterised by a magnetic body generating a magnetic field mounted at the second end portion and a release element provided for movement in the bore and which is provided at a first end with a magnetisable body which is influenced by the magnetic field and whereby, by means of the magnetic field, the release element is kept in a position of equilibrium relative to the second end portion, and where the release element in the bore and the main body are movable relative to each other with the result that the release element is movable to a release position where the release element's first end projects a distance beyond the second end portion. A key aspect of the invention is that it discloses a release body which is moved to abut with the lid and that the main body is thereby lifted in order to detach the handle. Another key aspect of the invention is that the magnetic field's influence on the release element's metal element defines a position of equilibrium for the release element. Various spring systems for holding the release element in position (and bringing it back to a position of equilibrium) are therefore superfluous. The lid's marked attachment portions make placing the handle on the lid simple and intuitive. When the lid is in use, for example on a pot during heating, the handle according to the invention can easily be removed in order thereby to avoid the problem of a hot handle. The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, with reference numerals which will be employed subsequently, wherein:

Figure 1 is a principle drawing of an embodiment of the invention, illustrating a section in the longitudinal direction (see section A-A in figure 3). The handle is shown in an attached position on a lid or the like. Figure 2 is similar to figure 1 with the difference that the handle is shown in a detached position from the lid or the like.

Figure 3 is a principle drawing of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in figures 1 and 2, viewed from one end; from above when the handle according to the invention is mounted on a lid or the like. Figure 4 is an exploded view drawing of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in figures 1-3, along section A-A.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate different Hd variants.

The releasable handle comprises a main body 14, which is advantageously provided with an outwardly curved portion so that it can easily be gripped and held by a user, see for example figure 1. The sectional drawing in figure 1 (see section A-A in figure 3) shows that the main body 14 is provided with a through-going bore 15 between a first end portion 17 (the top of the main body) and a second end portion

16 (the bottom of the main body). The diameter of the bore at the first end portion

17 is larger than the diameter of the bore at the second end portion 16. The transition between the bore's diameters is defined by a shoulder 21. The bottom 16 of the main body is provided with a recessed portion 19 in which a magnetic body 24 is placed to generate a magnetic field, where the body is preferably in the form of a magnetic disc with an opening 32 corresponding to the diameter of the bore 15 at the second end portion 16 (see for example figure 4). The magnetic disc may be glued to the main body, embedded in it or attached to the main body in another way. The magnetic disc may for example be a permanent magnet of the "Neodyn" type.

A release element 10 is located in the bore 15. As the figures show, the circumference of the release element at a first (lower) end is smaller than the circumference of the release element at the opposite end. The transition between the release element's 10 circumferences is defined by a shoulder 28. The release element 10 is movable in the bore and can be moved downwards a distance d (see figure 1) until the two shoulders 21 abut each other. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the bore's 15 diameters, the magnetic disc's opening 32 and the release element's 10 circumferences must be designed in an appropriate manner relative to one another and with the necessary tolerances in order to ensure relative movement between main body and release element.

The release element 10 is provided at a first end with a magnetisable body 12 which is influenced by the magnetic field. The magnetisable body 12 may advantageously be glued or cast into the release element's 10 first end. The magnetisable body 12 may alternatively be in the form of a ring (not shown) and be mounted on the release element's 10 first end.

Figure 1 illustrates the handle in a position of equilibrium, where the magnetisable body 12 (and thereby the release element) is held in position in the bore in a position of equilibrium on account of the magnetic field created by the magnet 24. As can be seen in figure 1, the release element's 10 first end, with the body 12, in the position of equilibrium is substantially level with the second end portion's 16 surface and the magnetic disc 24 attached there.

Figure 1 also illustrates the handle placed on a lid 20' or the like. Only a section of the lid is shown in the figures. The handle is attached to the lid 20' by means of the force of attraction between the magnet 24 and the lid. As a person skilled in the art will understand, the lid 20' may be made of any suitable material, but with at least one attachment portion for the handle, where the attachment portion comprises a magnetisable material. This attachment portion may for example be a metal plate 18 recessed in a cavity 27 in the lid. The handle is thereby kept attached to a metal element 18 affixed to the lid. In figures 1, 2 and 6 sections of a Hd 20' are illustrated which may be of any suitable material. Here the attachment portion for the handle comprises a recessed portion 27 in which a metal disc (or other magnetisable body) 18 is fastened which is attracted by the magnet 24. The handle is thereby held in position against the lid. As illustrated in figure 1, the recessed portion 27 may advantageously be adapted to fit the main body's lower portion 16 in order to prevent lateral movement of the handle on the lid. The design of the lid's attachment portions for the handle helps to pull the handle towards the attachment portion when the handle has to be placed on the lid. This makes the device particularly suitable for blind and weak-sighted people. The metal disc 18 may also advantageously be glued to or embedded in the lid.

Figure 5 illustrates a section of an alternative lid design. Here the lid 20 is provided with an opening 26 where a metal element 18, preferably in the form of a disc, is mounted by means of armature 23a,b and bolt and nut 25a,b.

When a user wishes to detach the handle from the lid, a movement is performed which is illustrated in figures 1 and 2. From the attached state for the handle (figure 1), the user moves the main body 14 upwards with a force which is sufficient to overcome the magnetic force while the release element 10 is pressed downwards (for example by means of the user's thumb), see figure 2. The bottom 16 of the main body with the magnet 24 are thereby forced away from the metal in the lid for a distance S which is sufficiently great for the magnetic field's influence on the metal in the lid to be weakened, thereby enabling the handle to be easily removed from the lid. When the handle is removed from the lid, the pressure on the release element 10 can be released, whereupon the release element 10 slips back to the position of equilibrium. The magnetisable body 12 and the magnetic body 24 are again substantially on the same plane.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the handle according to the invention may be used on different types of lid, including lids with an oval shape and for example two or more attachment portions. In such cases a corresponding number of handles will have to be employed to lift the lid.

It should be understood that even though the invention is described here with references such as top, bottom, upwards, downwards etc., such terms are only used in order to illustrate the embodiment concerned and are not intended to be limiting for the invention.

Claims

1. A releasable handle for a lid or the like comprising a main body (14) with a through-going bore (15) between a first end portion (17) and a second end portion (16) on the main body, characterised by

- a magnetic body (24) generating a magnetic field, mounted at the second end portion (16), and

- a release element (10) provided for movement in the bore (15) and which is provided at a first end with a magnetisable body (12) which is influenced by the magnetic field, whereby, by means of the magnetic field, the release element (10) is kept in a position of equilibrium relative to the second end portion (16), and where the release element (10) in the bore (15) and the main body (14) are movable relative to each other with the result that the release element (10) is movable to a release position where the release element's (10) first end projects a distance (S) beyond the second end portion (16).

2. A releasable handle as indicated in claim 1, characterised in that in the position of equilibrium the release element's (10) first end does not project substantially beyond the second end portion's (16) surface.

3. A releasable handle as indicated in claim 2, characterised in that the magnetisable metal body (12) and the magnetic body (24) are substantially in the same plane when the release element (10) is in the position of equilibrium.

4. A releasable handle as indicated in claim 1 or 3, characterised in that the release element (10) and the main body (14) are movable relative to each other on application of a force on the release element (10) and/or the main body (14), preferably in the bore's (15) axial direction.

5. A releasable handle as indicated in claim 1, 3 or 4, characterised in that the magnetic body (24) comprises a permanent magnet in the form of a disc with an opening corresponding to the bore's (15) diameter at the second end portion (16).

6. A releasable handle as indicated in claim 1 or 5, characterised in that the magnetisable metal body (12) is glued to or embedded in the release element's (10) first end.

7. A releasable handle as indicated in claim 1 or 6, characterised in that the bore's (15) diameter at the first end portion (17) is larger than the bore's (15) diameter at the second end portion (16), and that the transition between the bore's diameters is defined by a first shoulder (21).

8. A releasable handle as indicated in claim 1 or 7, characterised in that the release element's (10) circumference at the first end is smaller than the release element's (10) circumference at the second, opposite end, and that the transition between the release element's (10) circumferences is defined by a second shoulder (28).

9. A releasable handle as indicated in claim 1 or 8, characterised in that the second end portion (16) and the magnetic body (24) are adapted for placing on a portion (27) in said lid or the like comprising a magnetisable body (18; 20).

10. A releasable handle as indicated in claim 9, characterised in that the lid comprises a magnetisable body (18) placed in a recessed portion (27) in the lid, whereby the handle is detachably fastened to the lid (20; 20') by means of the magnetic field's influence on the magnetisable body (18) in the lid when the release element (10) is kept in the position of equilibrium, and whereby the handle is detached from the lid when the release element (10) and the main body (14) are moved relative to each other to the release position where the release element's (10) first end projects a distance (S) beyond the second end portion (16).