Cookware vessel with removable handle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12274398-B2
Application number	US-202318135304-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 17, 2023
Priority date	Sep 29, 2020
Publication date	Apr 15, 2025
Grant date	Apr 15, 2025

Abstract

According to one example, a cookware vessel includes a bracket attached to an exterior of a vessel, and a detachable handle. The bracket has upper and lower partial geometric surfaces. The handle includes a grip portion, a coupling, an actuator, and a spring. The coupling has a channel configured to surround at least a portion of the upper partial geometric surface. The actuator is rotatingly attached to the coupling, and has one or more hooks that are configured to engage the lower partial geometric surface when the actuator is rotated in a first direction and that are further configured to disengage from the lower partial geometric surface when the actuator is manually rotated in a second direction by the user. The spring is configured to apply a force to the actuator so as to rotate the actuator in the first direction, when the actuator is released by the user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cookware vessel, comprising:
a. a vessel having a bottom portion surrounded by a substantially upright sidewall that terminates at a rim to define an interior volume for holding a food item;
b. a bracket attached, directly or indirectly, to an exterior of the substantially upright sidewall, wherein the bracket includes two vertically spaced apart partial geometric surfaces that extend horizontally along the bracket, wherein the two partial geometric surfaces comprise an upper partial geometric surface and a lower partial geometric surface; and
c. a detachable handle for the vessel, the handle comprising:
(i) a grip portion;
(ii) a coupling attached, directly or indirectly, to the grip portion, the coupling having a channel configured to surround at least a portion of the upper partial geometric surface when positioned against the upper partial geometric surface,
(iii) an actuator rotatingly attached, directly or indirectly, to the coupling, the actuator having one or more hooks configured to engage the lower partial geometric surface of the bracket when the actuator is rotated in a first direction and further configured to disengage from the lower partial geometric surface of the bracket when the actuator is manually rotated in a second direction by the user; and
(iv) a spring attached, directly or indirectly, to the actuator, wherein the spring is configured to apply a force to the actuator so as to rotate the actuator in the first direction, when the actuator is released by the user.

2. The cookware vessel of claim 1 , wherein the handle further comprises a cavity attached, directly or indirectly, to the grip portion, wherein the coupling, the actuator, and the spring are positioned at least partially within the cavity.

3. The cookware vessel of claim 1 , wherein the upper partial geometric surface is an upper partially cylindrical surface, and wherein the lower partial geometric surface is a lower partially cylindrical surface.

4. The cookware vessel of claim 1 , wherein the bracket is attached to a flange that is attached to the exterior of the substantially upright sidewall.

5. The cookware vessel of claim 1 , wherein the handle further comprises a lock that is configured, when engaged, to prevent the actuator from being rotated in the second direction.

6. The cookware vessel of claim 1 , wherein the actuator has an arm that is accessible to the user from a top portion of the handle, wherein the arm is configured to be manually depressed by the user in order to manually rotate the actuator in the second direction.

7. The cookware vessel of claim 1 , wherein the one or more hooks of the actuator comprise two horizontally spaced apart hooks.

8. The cookware vessel of claim 1 , wherein the upper partial geometric surface includes a gap that prevents the upper partial geometric surface from forming a complete geometric shape, and wherein lower partial geometric surface includes a gap that prevents the lower partial geometric surface from forming a complete geometric shape.

9. The cookware vessel of claim 1 , wherein the handle further comprises a spring plate attached, directly or indirectly, to the coupling, the spring plate having a portion that is configured to be deformed by the lower partial geometric surface of the bracket when the handle is attached to the vessel.

10. The cookware vessel of claim 1 , wherein the handle is configured to be attached to the vessel without the actuator being manually rotated in the second direction by the user.

11. The cookware vessel of claim 1 , wherein the first direction is a forward or counterclockwise direction, and wherein the second direction is a backward or clockwise direction.

12. A detachable handle for a cooking vessel, the handle comprising:
a. a grip portion;
b. a coupling attached, directly or indirectly, to the grip portion, the coupling having a channel configured to surround at least a portion of an upper partial geometric surface that extends horizontally along a bracket attached to the cooking vessel when positioned against the upper partial geometric surface;
c. an actuator rotatingly attached, directly or indirectly, to the coupling, the actuator having one or more hooks configured to engage a lower partial geometric surface that extends horizontally along the bracket and that is vertically spaced apart from the upper partial geometric surface of the bracket when the actuator is rotated in a first direction and further configured to disengage from the lower partial geometric surface of the bracket when the actuator is manually rotated in a second direction by the user; and
d. a spring attached, directly or indirectly, to the actuator, wherein the spring is configured to apply a force to the actuator so as to rotate the actuator in the first direction, when the actuator is released by the user.

13. The detachable handle of claim 12 , further comprising a cavity attached, directly or indirectly, to the grip portion, wherein the coupling, the actuator, and the spring are positioned at least partially within the cavity.

14. The detachable handle of claim 12 , wherein the actuator has an arm that is accessible to the user from a top portion of the handle, wherein the arm is configured to be manually depressed by the user in order to manually rotate the actuator in the second direction.

15. The detachable handle of claim 12 , wherein the one or more hooks of the actuator comprise two horizontally spaced apart hooks.

16. The detachable handle of claim 12 , further comprising a spring plate attached, directly or indirectly, to the coupling, the spring plate having a portion that is configured to be deformed by the lower partial geometric surface of the bracket when the handle is attached to the cooking vessel.

17. The detachable handle of claim 12 , wherein the handle is configured to be attached to the cooking vessel without the actuator being manually rotated in the second direction by the user.

18. The detachable handle of claim 12 , wherein the first direction is a forward or counterclockwise direction, and wherein the second direction is a backward or clockwise direction.

19. A detachable handle for a cooking vessel, the handle comprising:
a. a grip portion;
b. a coupling attached, directly or indirectly, to the grip portion, the coupling having a channel configured to surround at least a portion of an upper partial geometric surface of a bracket attached to the cooking vessel when positioned against the upper partial geometric surface;
c. an actuator rotatingly attached, directly or indirectly, to the coupling, the actuator having one or more hooks configured to engage a lower partial geometric surface of the bracket when the actuator is rotated in a first direction and further configured to disengage from the lower partial geometric surface of the bracket when the actuator is manually rotated in a second direction by the user;
d. a spring attached, directly or indirectly, to the actuator, wherein the spring is configured to apply a force to the actuator so as to rotate the actuator in the first direction, when the actuator is released by the user; and
e. a lock that is configured, when engaged, to prevent the actuator from being rotated in the second direction.

Assignees

• Meyer Intellectual Properties Ltd

Inventors

• Chan Hing Fai
• Cheng Stanley Kin Sui

Classifications

• A47J45/071

  Saucepan, frying-pan handles · CPC title

• A47J45/07 Primary

  of detachable type (separate handles, {devices for gripping hot cooking utensils} A47J45/10) · CPC title