Slow cooker including a removable lid with dual lid panels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9521925-B2
Application number	US-201213402939-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 23, 2012
Priority date	Feb 25, 2011
Publication date	Dec 20, 2016
Grant date	Dec 20, 2016

Abstract

A slow cooker includes a base having a heating element coupled thereto, a cooking vessel removably positioned in a compartment defined in the base, and a removable lid coupled to the cooking vessel. The cooking vessel has a cooking chamber defined therein. The removable lid includes a first panel that pivots between an open position in which access to the cooking chamber is permitted and a closed position in which access to the cooking chamber is prevented. The removable lid includes a second panel that also pivots between an open position in which access to the cooking chamber is permitted and a closed position in which access to the cooking chamber is prevented.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A slow cooker comprising:
a base having a heating element coupled thereto,
a cooking vessel removably positioned in a compartment defined in the base, the cooking vessel having a cooking chamber defined therein, and
a removable lid coupled to the cooking vessel, the removable lid comprising:
a first panel that is moveable between (i) an open position in which access to the cooking chamber is permitted and (ii) a closed position in which access to the cooking chamber is prevented, wherein the first panel has an upper surface and a lower surface,
a second panel that is moveable between (i) an open position in which access to the cooking chamber is permitted and (ii) a closed position in which access to the cooking chamber is prevented,
a frame, wherein the first panel and the second panel are pivotally coupled to the frame, and
a locking mechanism configured to lock the first panel in the closed position, wherein the locking mechanism includes (i) a handle pivotally coupled to the first panel, the handle having a grip positioned above the upper surface of the first panel, and (ii) an arm secured to an end of the handle below the lower surface of the first panel, the arm being movable between a locked position in which a tip of the arm is engaged with the frame, and an unlocked position in which the tip of the arm is disengaged from the frame.

2. The slow cooker of claim 1 , wherein:
the frame includes (i) an outer rim engaged with the cooking vessel, the outer rim defining an outer perimeter of the frame, (ii) a first inner flange, the first inner flange defining a first opening in the frame, and (iii) a second inner flange, the second inner flange defining a second opening in the frame,
the first panel is positioned within the outer perimeter of the frame, the first panel being configured to engage the first inner flange and enclose the first opening when the first panel is in the closed position, and
the second panel is positioned within the outer perimeter of the frame, the first panel being configured to engage the second inner flange and enclose the second opening when the second panel is in the closed position.

3. The slow cooker of claim 2 , wherein the first panel includes an outer gasket configured to engage the first inner flange, and the second panel includes an outer gasket configured to engage the second inner flange.

4. The slow cooker of claim 2 , wherein the frame includes a handle positioned between the first opening and the second opening.

5. The slow cooker of claim 4 , wherein the handle includes a support base and a grip positioned above the support base, and the first panel and the second panel are pivotally coupled to the support base of the handle.

6. The slow cooker of claim 5 , wherein the removable lid includes a retention mechanism configured to maintain the first panel in the open position.

7. The slow cooker of claim 6 , wherein the retention mechanism includes a clip secured to the first panel, the clip being configured to engage the grip of the handle when the first panel is in the open position.

8. The slow cooker of claim 7 , further comprising a cooking utensil having a handle arm, wherein the clip is sized to receive the handle arm when the first panel is in the closed position.

9. The slow cooker of claim 1 , wherein the removable lid includes a biasing element configured to bias the first panel in the open position.

10. A slow cooker comprising:
a base having a heating element coupled thereto,
a cooking vessel removably positioned in a compartment defined in the base, the cooking vessel having a cooking chamber defined therein, and
a removable lid coupled to the cooking vessel, the removable lid comprising:
a handle,
a first panel pivotally coupled to the handle and moveable between (i) an open position in which access to the cooking chamber is permitted and (ii) a closed position in which access to the cooking chamber is prevented,
a second panel pivotally coupled to the handle and moveable between (i) an open position in which access to the cooking chamber is permitted and (ii) a closed position in which access to the cooking chamber is prevented, and
a retention mechanism configured to maintain the first panel in the open position, wherein the retention mechanism includes a clip secured to the first panel, the clip being configured to directly contact the handle when the first panel is in the open position.

11. The slow cooker of claim 10 , wherein the removable lid further comprises an outer shell, and the handle is pivotally coupled to the outer shell.

12. The slow cooker of claim 10 , further comprising a serving utensil having a handle arm, wherein the clip is sized to receive the handle arm when the first panel is in the closed position.

13. A slow cooker comprising:
a base having a heating element coupled thereto,
a cooking vessel removably positioned in a compartment defined in the base, the cooking vessel having a cooking chamber defined therein, wherein the cooking vessel includes a rim that defines the cooking chamber, and
a removable lid coupled to the cooking vessel, the removable lid comprising:
a handle,
a first panel pivotally coupled to the handle and moveable between (i) an open position in which access to the cooking chamber is permitted and (ii) a closed position in which access to the cooking chamber is prevented, wherein the first panel includes a glass plate and an outer shell secured to the glass plate, the outer shell being configured to engage the rim of the cooking vessel,
a second panel pivotally coupled to the handle and moveable between (i) an open position in which access to the cooking chamber is permitted and (ii) a closed position in which access to the cooking chamber is prevented, and
a support arm having a first end secured to the outer shell of the first panel and a second end pivotally coupled to a grip of the handle.

Assignees

• Gregory Christopher A
• Norland Leif A
• Colasanti John A
• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Gregory Christopher A
• Norland Leif A
• Colasanti John A

Classifications

• A47J36/06 Primary

  Lids or covers for cooking-vessels (specially adapted for pressure-cookers A47J27/08) · CPC title

• A47J43/287

  Holders for spoons or the like attached to cooking pots (plates with integral holders for spoons A47G19/06) · CPC title