WO2020161755A1

WO2020161755A1 - Lid for cooking vessels

Info

Publication number: WO2020161755A1
Application number: PCT/IT2020/050015
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antonio Chiti
Original assignee: Ipac S.P.A.
Priority date: 2019-02-05
Filing date: 2020-01-31
Publication date: 2020-08-13
Also published as: CN113395923A; IT201900001645A1

Abstract

Lid for cooking vessels, comprising a closing surface (1) consisting of a plurality of plates (101, 201) formed substantially in a circular sector, and substantially equal to each other, each of said plates (101, 201) being provided with a linear slot (131, 251) arranged along the bisector of the angle of the respective circular sector, and said slot extending for a substantial stretch from the vertex to the arch, the slots (131. 251) of all said plates (101, 201) being crossed by a single pin (103), slidingly movable therein, and being said plates (101, 201) coupled together from first to last along the respective sides (111, 211, 121, 221) in a freely oscillating way, and partially superimposed in a spiral succession.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

Lid for cooking vessels

TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to kitchen items, and in particular to cooking vessels, such as pots, casseroles, pans and the like; more particularly, the present invention relates to a lid for cooking vessels.

An ever-present problem in the management of a kitchen, especially of a kitchen inside a home, is related to the management of the lids of cooking vessels, which cannot generally be stored together with the respective container except at the price of a huge waste of space.

At the state of the art this problem has mainly two different approaches; the first takes into consideration the use of a sufficiently large lid that turns its convex wall towards the opening of the cooking container with which it is to be used. The convex wall can be continuous or have steps, corresponding to the different diameters of the containers in common use. A problem related to the use of this type of "universal" lid lies in the fact that the smaller the underlying container, the less stable the position of the lid on it. Another problem is linked to the fact that the lid, which is generally rather large in size, is located in the proximity, if not in contact, with the containers located on the burners adjacent to the one on which it is used.

The other approach is to create a lid of reduced dimensions to which one or more additional annular elements can be connected, which allow to increase its diameter. This solution, albeit brighter than the first from the user's point of view - which has a small cover and a larger one according to the needs - is however questionable from the point of view of the organization of the spaces. In fact, if it is true that the annular elements take up less space than another lid, it is also true that they must be stored in an orderly way, and in any case the joining systems between the innermost lid and the outer annular elements are stable if they are quite complex, and therefore they can be delicate or too expensive.

Moreover, document US 1524185A describes a lid provided with a fixed central portion to which is connected a plurality of peripheral portions sliding with respect to the fixed portion, so as to be able to vary the size of the lid. However, this solution shows the problem of positioning the various peripheral portions in an effective and orderly manner, and furthermore the coupling system between the fixed portion and the sliding portions can easily be subject to fouling, which can affect the operation of the lid.

The aim of the present invention is therefore to provide a lid that can be adapted for use with containers of various diameters, which is of relatively simple construction and which is ergonomic both from the point of view of use and from that of the space occupied when it is not in use. The object of the present invention is therefore a lid for cooking vessels, comprising a closing surface consisting of a plurality of plates formed substantially in a circular sector, and substantially equal to each other, each of said plates being provided with a linear slot arranged along the bisector of the angle of the respective circular sector, and extending said slot for a substantial stretch from the apex to the arch, the slots of all said plates being crossed by a single pin, slidingly movable therein, and being said plates coupled together from first to last along the respective sides, and partially superimposed in a spiral succession, in a freely oscillating way; said pin can be coupled to the handle means of said cover. Above and below the closure plane there are two shields, mechanically coupled to said pin, suitable to give solidity to the structure of the cover and to protect its mechanism.

In a preferred embodiment, said plates which make up said closing surface are at least four, and preferably at least seven. The number of plates is a compromise between the stiffness of the single plate, the thickness of the set of plates superimposed on each other in the center of the lid and the efficiency of the mechanism of the lid itself.

In another preferred embodiment, the last plate, the one at the upper end of the spiral arrangement, and at least one intermediate plate are provided with handle means protruding radially outwards and preferably obtained by piece with said plates.

In another execution variant, said plates are provided with a plurality of through holes, and said cover is therefore configured as a splash guard, while maintaining the same dimensional adaptability.

Further advantages and characteristics of the device according to the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description of some embodiments of the same provided, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein: figure 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention, in the completely open configuration; figure 2 is a top plan view of the device of figure 1, in a completely closed configuration; figure 3 is a longitudinal section view of the device of figure 1 ; figure 4 is a longitudinal section view of the device of figure 2;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the device of Figure 3; figures 6A and 6B are plan views of the plates that make up the device of the invention; and figure 7 is a plan view of a plate in an executive variant of the device of the invention. Figure 1 shows a top plan view of a lid according to the present invention, in the completely open configuration; 1 indicates the closure plane, which comprises a plurality, in this case seven, of plates having a shape, substantially the same as each other, of a circular sector; plates 101 (see also figure 6A) have through holes 111 on the side of the circular sector of the plate, near the arc of the circle; these holes allow the coupling of two consecutive plates through the rivets 121. Similarly, the plates 201, which also have a flap 231 protruding radially outwards in which the through hole 241 is made, are provided with the holes 211 on the side of the circular sector near the arc, which by means of the rivets 221 are coupled to the respective holes 111 of the plates 101. A shield 2 is positioned on the plates in the manner best illustrated and described below, in the center of which the handle knob 3 protrudes axially. In figure 2 the lid of the invention is shown in a completely closed configuration; to the equal parts correspond equal numerals. Figure 3 is a longitudinal section view of the lid of Figure 1 ; here too equal parts correspond to equal numbers. As can be seen, the closure plane formed by the plates 101 and 201 is enclosed between two shields 2 and 102, and the pin 103 crosses the shields 2, 102 and the plates 101, 201, to then connect with its own threaded end 123 with the threaded cavity 203 of the knob 3. The pin 103 is also provided with a groove 113 for positioning a locking ring of the seeger type or the like. From Figure 3 it is also possible to note the spiral overlap between the different plates. The section of Figure 4 shows the analogous situation for the lid in the closed configuration of Figure 2.

Figure 5 shows the lid in a cross section of Figure 3, in which it is deprived of the upper shield 2 and of the knob 3; to the equal parts correspond equal numerals. The figure highlights the fact that all plates 101, 201 are provided with a slot 131, 251 arranged along the bisector of the angle of the respective circular sector, which extends from the vertex of the sector itself for about half the radius. This slot cooperates with the pin 103, which can slide from one end of the same to the other.

Figure 6 A shows a plate 101 of the lid previously described; the plate has holes 111 on the sides of the circular sector, near the arc of circle, and the slot 131 along the bisector of the angle, the vertex of which is suitably rounded. Figure 6B illustrates the plate 201, which substantially has the same features as plate 101, except for the fact that the flap 231, provided with the through hole 241, protrudes radially outwards with respect to the circular sector, as evidenced by the dotted line shown in the figure.

Figure 7 shows an executive variant of the present invention, in which the single plate 301 is provided with not only the holes 311 and the slot 331, but also with a plurality of small holes 341, so as to make the lid closing plane a splash guard rather than a real lid.

The operation and construction of the lid according to the present invention will be evident from the following. As mentioned in the introduction, to provide an effective solution to the problems highlighted in the state of the art, it was necessary to conceive a device in which it was possible to vary significantly the diameter of the closing surface without the need to add or remove elements; the mechanism according to which the lid of the invention operates is able to operate effectively in this sense. The seven plates 101, 201 which make up the lid illustrated in figures from 1 to 5 are arranged with the respective slots 131, 251 crossed by the pin 103, and the plates are superimposed on each other counterclockwise, and pivoted with the rivets 121, 221 in the respective holes 111, 211.

When the lid is in the completely open configuration shown in figure 5, if the protruding flaps 231 of the two plates 201 are gripped and the two plates 201 are pushed against each other, the result is that the slots 131, 251 of the plates 101, 201 slide on the pin, and the external diameter of the closing plane 1 decreases, to the limit up to the completely closed configuration illustrated in figures 2 and 4. On the contrary, to increase the diameter of the closing plane, it is necessary to move the two plates 201 moving away from each other, and in this case the pin will move in the slots until it returns to the position near the respective apex, as shown in figure 5.

The plates can be made in a number, and therefore consequently in a size which represents an effective compromise between the best functionality of the device and its structural simplicity; if the plates are in small numbers, they must be more rigid to ensure the stability of the lid, and consequently must have a greater thickness; on the other hand, if they are in large numbers, they must be thin enough not to make their overlap too bulky. In the various approaches, a number of plates between four and nine is optimal. The plates provided with the protruding flap equipped with the grip means, i.e. the flap 231 and the hole 241 of the plates 201, are located at the upper end of the spiral overlap and in an intermediate position, preferably diametrically opposite to that placed at the upper end. The plates that form the closing surface can be made of metallic material, such as aluminum, steel and their respective alloys, as well as they can be made of plastic material.

The shields 2, 102, positioned above and below the closing surface, have the purpose of providing guidance in the variations of diameter and support in use on the closing surface itself, in addition to providing adequate protection to the mechanism, constituted by the slots of the plates and by the pin, with respect to vapors and splashes emerging from the cooking vessel on which the lid is used, and which could block or limit its operating ability. The shields will preferably have a diameter substantially equal to half the diameter of the lid closing surface.

The plate made as illustrated in the executive variant of Figure 7, with the plurality of small holes 341, allows the creation of a splash guard that has the same functional characteristics as the lid with variable diameter of the invention.

The lid according to the present invention solves the problems highlighted in the state of the art in a very efficient way, providing a single device that can be adapted to several cooking vessels, and which has an extremely small footprint in its closed configuration. It should be noted that the grip means of the plates provided with radially protruding flaps can be used comfortably to hang the lid on a hook, increasing its practicality of use.

Claims

1. Lid for cooking vessels, comprising a closing surface (1) consisting of a plurality of plates (101, 201) formed substantially in a circular sector, and substantially equal to each other, each of said plates (101, 201) being provided with a linear slot (131, 251) arranged along the bisector of the angle of the respective circular sector, and said slot extending for a substantial stretch from the vertex to the arch, the slots (131. 251) of all said plates (101, 201) being crossed by a single pin (103), slidingly movable therein, and being said plates (101 , 201) coupled together from first to last along the respective sides (111, 211, 121, 221) in a freely oscillating way, and partially superimposed in a spiral succession.

2. Lid according to the claim 1, in which said lid is provided with handle means (3), the said pin (103) being coupled to the handle means (3) of said lid.

3. Lid according to claim 1 or 2, wherein above and below the closing surface (1) are provided two shields (2, 102), mechanically coupled to the said pin (103).

4. Lid according to anyone of the preceding claims 1 to 3, in which the said plates (101, 201) making up said closing surface (1) are at least four.

5. Lid according to anyone of the preceding claims 1 to 4, in which the last plate (201) at the upper end of the spiral arrangement and at least one intermediate plate are provided with handle means (231, 241) protruding radially outwards.

6. Lid according to claim 5, in which the said handle means comprise a flap (231) integral to the given plate (201), and a through hole (241) formed in the said flap (231).

7. Lid according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, wherein said plates (101, 201) have, along the sides and in the vicinity of the arc of the respective circular sector, the holes (111, 211) intended for coupling with the contiguous plates, the said coupling being made with suitable means (121, 221).

8. Lid according to the claim 7, in which said means for coupling the contiguous plates (101 , 201) are rivets (121, 221).

9. Lid according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 8, wherein said plates (301) are provided with a plurality of small through holes (341).

10. Lid according to anyone of the preceding claims 1 to 9, in which the plates (101, 201) that form the closing surface (1) are made of metallic material, such as aluminum, steel and their respective alloys, or are made of plastic material.