Cookware handle for housing electronic components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12369756-B2
Application number	US-201916758013-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 21, 2019
Priority date	Oct 22, 2018
Publication date	Jul 29, 2025
Grant date	Jul 29, 2025

Abstract

A handle for a cookware device contains a power supply that is operative to energize one or more of a processor, transceiver and accelerometer, as well as a memory device. The processor is also connected to a one or more external leads that extend into the handle at least to the connection to a sidewall of cooking device for further connection to a sensing circuit or power harvesting circuit. The end of the handle holds at least the processor but is in removable engagement from the portion with the power supply with a resilient sealing member to form a water proof seal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A handle for a cookware article that comprises:
a. a flange portion having a distal end for connection to one of a cookware vessel and a lid of the cookware vessel, the flange portion also having a proximal end opposing the distal end,
b. an elongated cavity extending from the distal end of the flange portion toward a rim that defines a perimeter of an open distal end of the elongated cavity,
c. an interconnection module disposed within the elongated cavity, the interconnection module comprising a battery module for receiving one or more batteries, wherein the battery module is held within the elongated cavity,
d. an electronic module for sealing the open distal end of the elongated cavity at the rim to form at least a distal portion of the handle for the cookware article, the electronic module comprising at least one electronic component, wherein the battery module is separate from the electronic module so as to allow the battery module to remain held within the elongated cavity when the electronic module is separated from the rim of the elongated cavity,
e. one of the interconnection module and the electronic module comprising a male appendage that is received in the other module of the interconnection module and the electronic module,
f. at least one external lead that extends from the flange portion to the interconnection module to make a connection with a first terminal of the electronic module, wherein said first terminal is in one of signal and power connection to the at least one electronic component in which the connection is capable of being disengaged when the electronic module is rotated with respect to the interconnection module to disconnect a pair of contact terminals of which a first contact terminal of the pair is on the male appendage and a second contact terminal of the pair is on the other module of the interconnection module and the electronic module that does not comprise the male appendage.

2. The handle for a cookware article according to claim 1 wherein the connection of the first terminal of the electronic module is disengaged from the interconnection module when the electronic module is separated from the rim of the elongated cavity.

3. The handle for a cookware article according to claim 1 wherein the first contact terminal of the pair is on a cylindrical surface of the male appendage.

4. The handle for a cookware article according to claim 3 further comprising a gasket to provide a common seal between the rim of the elongated cavity and a rim of the electronic module.

5. The handle for a cookware article according to claim 3 further comprising a gasket to provide a common seal between the rim of the elongated cavity and the rim of the electronic module and wherein the cylindrical surface of the male appendage further comprises at least one annular o-ring to seal the battery module.

6. The handle for a cookware article according to claim 3 wherein the male appendage has a set of external helical threads that engage a set of internal helical threads on a portion of the other module of the interconnection module and the electronic module in which one of the internal helical threads and external helical threads has an end stop that limits the rotation of the male appendage to align and connect the terminals of the electronic module to mating terminals of the interconnection module.

7. The handle for a cookware article according to claim 3 wherein the male appendage has a first set of external helical threads adjacent a distal end of the male appendage, wherein the first set of external helical threads enter the other module of the interconnection module and the electronic module, wherein the male appendage has a second set of external helical threads disposed at a proximal end of the male appendage that is opposed from the distal end, wherein the first and second set of external helical threads each engage a corresponding sets of internal helical threads on spaced apart portions of the other module of the interconnection module and the electronic module.

8. The handle for a cookware article according to claim 3 further comprising a plurality of contact terminals disposed on each module between a first and a second set of helical threads.

9. The handle for a cookware article according to claim 3 wherein the male appendage has a first set of external annular threads adjacent a distal end of the male appendage that first enters the other module of the interconnection module and the electronic module, and a second set of external annular threads disposed at a proximal end of the male appendage that is opposed from the distal end in which the first and second set of external annular threads each engage corresponding sets of internal thread on spaced apart portions of the other module of the interconnection module and the electronic module.

10. The handle for a cookware article according to claim 9 further comprising a plurality of contact terminals disposed on each module between the first and second set of external annular threads.

11. The handle for a cookware article according to claim 9 further comprising a gasket to seal the rim of the elongated cavity and seal the electronic module and wherein the cylindrical surface of the male appendage further comprises a first annular o-ring to seal the battery module and a second annular o-ring.

12. The handle for a cookware article according to claim 1 wherein a cylindrical surface of the male appendage comprises one or more additional contact terminals that form a disengageable signal or power connection between the interconnection module and the electronic module.

13. The handle for a cookware article according to claim 1 wherein the male appendage is on the electronic module and is received within a cavity within the interconnection module when the electronic module seals the open distal end of the elongated cavity at the rim to form at least a distal portion of the handle for the cookware article.

14. The handle for a cookware article according to claim 13 wherein the battery module includes opposing polarity terminals that are capable of a disengageable connection to the electronic component of the electronic module when the electronic module and interconnection module are separated to one of remove and insert the one or more batteries in the battery module.

15. The handle for a cookware article according to claim 14 wherein the electronic module comprises an O-ring seated in an annular groove that is adapted to seal the battery module when an end cap containing the electronic module compresses a first generally annular outer gasket to seal the rim of the elongated cavity.

16. The handle for a cookware article according to claim 1 further comprising a gasket to provide a common seal between the rim of the elongated cavity and the rim of the electronic module.

17. The handle for a cookware article according to claim 1 wherein the cookware article is the cookware vessel and the handle is connected to a sidewall of the cookware vessel via a flange.

18. The article of cookware comprising one of the lid and a vessel body that is attached to the handle according to claim 17 in which the electronic module of the handle comprises at least one of a user interface and a display.

19. The handle for a cookware article according to claim 1 wherein the cookware article is the lid for covering the cookware vessel.

20. The handle for a cookware article according to claim 1 further comprising a flange insert disposed adjacent the rim of

Assignees

• Meyer Intellectual Properties Ltd

Inventors

• Jenkins Jonathan A
• Duncombe-Smith Brenden
• Buesseler Joshua Robert
• Mccann Jedediah Joaquin
• Poon Eva

Classifications

• A47J45/068 Primary

  Handles having indicating means, e.g. for temperature (A47J45/07 takes precedence) · CPC title

• Y02E60/10

  Energy storage using batteries · CPC title

• A47J36/32

  Time-controlled igniting mechanisms or alarm devices · CPC title

• A47J45/061 Primary

  Saucepan, frying-pan handles (A47J45/07 takes precedence) · CPC title