KITCHEN UTENSIL WITH REMOVABLE HANDLE

Abstract

The kitchen utensil includes a container and a handle. The outer upper perimeter of the container bears an extending retaining bracket provided with at least one opening for the engagement and reception of a hook-shaped end of a latching tab of the handle. The handle also bears a latch mounted slidingly and able to occupy at least an unlocked position and a locked position in which it is pushed back under the action of a return, to extend, on the opposite side relative to the latching tab, under the retaining bracket of the container. The latch is mounted sliding on the handle in a direction forming an acute angle relative to the plane of the retaining bracket so as to tighten toward the retaining bracket under the action of the return to the locked position.

Claims

1. A kitchen utensil, comprising: a container; and a handle, wherein an outer upper perimeter of the container bears an extending retaining bracket provided with at least one opening for the engagement and reception of a hook-shaped end of a latching tab of the handle, the handle bearing a latch mounted slidingly and able to occupy at least an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein said latch is pushed back under the action of a return means, to extend, on the opposite side relative to the latching tab, under the retaining bracket of the container, and wherein said latch is mounted sliding on the handle in a direction forming an acute angle relative to the plane of the retaining bracket so as to tighten, from an unlocked position, separated from the retaining bracket, tighten directly on the bracket under the action of said return means to the locking position.

2. The kitchen utensil, according to claim 1, wherein the hook-shaped end of the latching tab of the handle and/or the opening in the retaining bracket for receiving the end is provided with a deformable damping element able to absorb the functional play between this hook-shaped end and said opening.

3. The kitchen utensil, according to claim 1, wherein, at its end, the latch comprises a bearing surface cooperative with the retaining bracket while pushing the bracket back toward the latching tab of the handle, said bearing surface forming, in the locked position, an undercut angle with the retaining bracket.

4. The kitchen utensil, according to claim 1, wherein the return means are elastic.

5. The kitchen utensil, according to claim 1, wherein the latch extends below the latching tab while being mounted sliding in a housing in the form of an opening in this latching tab.

6. The kitchen utensil, according to claim 4, wherein the latch comprises a body extending through the housing in the latching tab and a control button is secured to the latching tab, preferably made from a thermally insulating material.

7. The kitchen utensil, according to claim 5, wherein the return means is comprised of a spring positioned substantially in the housing while being inserted between the latch and a stop arranged in this housing to perform its function of returning said latch to the locked position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Other aims and advantages of the present invention will appear during the following description, relative to one example embodiment provided for information and non-limitingly.

[0029] The understanding of this description will be facilitated in reference to the attached drawings.

[0030] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a kitchen utensil according to the invention.

[0031] FIG. 2 is a partial sectional schematic view of the handle cooperating with the retaining bracket of the container (not shown) of the kitchen utensil according to the invention.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a detailed schematic view of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] As shown in the figures of the attached drawing, the present invention pertains to a kitchen utensil (1) comprising a container (2) and a handle (3). On the outer upper perimeter (4) of the container (2), at least one retaining bracket (5), also often called lug, extends, with which a latching tab (6) at one end (7) of the handle (3) cooperates.

[0034] In reference more particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, the retaining bracket (5) includes at least one opening (8), generally oblong and preferably extending tangentially to the container (2), or even coaxially inasmuch as this opening (8) can adopt a rectilinear or curved shape.

[0035] This opening (8) is provided for the engagement and reception of a hook-shaped end (9) of the latching tab (6) corresponding to the handle (3).

[0036] On the latter, preferably, but non-limitingly, on the latching tab (6), a latch (10) is slidingly mounted able to occupy at least an unlocked position (not shown in the figures) and a locked position (11) in which it is pushed back under the action of return means (12).

[0037] Specifically, in this locked position (11), this latch (10) extends, more particularly through its end (13), below the retaining bracket (5), in short on the opposite side (14) relative to that (15) above which the latching tab (6) extends.

[0038] In the illustrated embodiment, the latch (10) cooperates with the peripheral edge (16) of the retaining bracket (5). It should, however, be noted that the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment.

[0039] More particularly, the latch (10) extends below the latching tab (6) while being mounted sliding in a housing (17) in the form of an opening in this latching tab (6). Furthermore, the body of this latch (10) extends through this housing (17) and a control button (18) is secured to it, preferably made from a thermally insulating material.

[0040] Thus, through the control button (18), accessible on the top of the latching tab (6), the user can push the latch (10) back into its unlocked position, against the action of said return means (12).

[0041] It should in particular be noted in this regard that these return means (12) can be of the elastic type, and in particular assume the form of a spring, knowing that they can also assume other embodiments. As an example, such return means (12) can be made up of one or several magnets, in particular two magnets acting by opposition. Thus, under the action of the unlocking command, one of these magnets, supported by the latch, can come closer to another stationary magnet mounted in magnetic opposition, such that by releasing the unlocking command, these magnets push one another back while returning the latch to its locked position.

[0042] Many other embodiments of these return means (12) can be considered, while being within the reach of one skilled in the art, in particular the use of an electromagnetic actuator, or even motor.

[0043] Returning to the non-limiting example embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, these return means (12) are of the elastic type and shown by a spring (19) positioned substantially in the housing (17) while being inserted between the latch (10) and a stop (20) arranged in this housing (17) to be able to perform its function of returning said latch (10) to the locked position (11).

[0044] According to the invention, the latch (10) is mounted sliding on the handle (3) in a direction (21) forming an acute angle (22) relative to the plane (23) of the retaining bracket (5) so as, starting from an unlocked position, separated from said retaining bracket (5), to tighten toward the latter under the action of the return means (12) to the locked position.

[0045] According to one advantageous embodiment, at its end (13), the latch (10) includes a bearing surface (24) intended to cooperate with the opposite side (14) of the retaining bracket (5) while pushing the latter back toward the latching tab (6) of the handle (3). Preferably, this bearing surface (24) forms, in this locked position (11), an undercut angle (25) with this opposite side (14) of the retaining bracket (5), so as to avoid any corner effect under the action of the latch (10).

[0046] According to still another advantageous embodiment, the latch (10), at this end (13) intended to cooperate with the retaining bracket (5), includes, on its lower side (26), an engaging bevel (27). Through the latter, the latch (10) is naturally pushed back in its unlocked direction in contact with the retaining bracket (5), when the handle (3) is engaged on the container (2).

[0047] According to still another particularity of the present invention, depending on the case on the hook-shaped end (9) of the latching tab (6) and/or in the opening (8) in the retaining bracket (5) for receiving said end (9), a deformable damping element (28) is arranged intended to absorb the functional play between this hook-shaped end (9) and said opening (8).

[0048] Thus and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, this deformable damping element (28) can be associated with the latching tab (6) substantially in the rotation angle between the handle (3) and the retaining bracket (5). Situated precisely at the height of this rotation angle, this element (28) made from a deformable material has no stress, whether during the placement or removal of the handle (3).

[0049] The advantages resulting from the present invention essentially consist of the absence of play between the handle and the container, without the placement of the handle requiring stressing any deformable element. Furthermore, the locking command can be done with the same ease as a handle not performing any play reacting function.