VARIABLE INSERT BAKING TRAY AND PAN DEVICE

Abstract

Variable insert baking tray and pan device is disclosed herein. In one embodiment the device may comprise a cooking device, such as a baking pan, having a plurality of baking trays removably installed therein. The device may comprise a notch and shelf design, wherein the interior of the cooking pan provides a shelf onto which one of the baking trays may be placed for baking. The notch design may be implemented to allow all of the plurality of baking trays to be placed within the baking pan for storage. The plurality of baking trays may be sized such that a first fits into a second, which fits into a third, and so on, for stacking and storage within the baking pan. The handles of the baking pan may further comprise heat resistant material for user safety.

Claims

1. A variable insert baking tray and pan device, comprising: a baking pan; and a plurality of baking tray inserts; wherein said baking pan further comprises a central cavity and a plurality of grips; wherein said central cavity further comprises a middle notch shelf and a lateral notch shelf; and wherein said plurality of baking tray inserts further comprise a plurality of recesses, a middle notch, and a lateral notch.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said middle notch shelf is attached to a first end of said central cavity; wherein said lateral notch shelf is attached to a second end of said central cavity; wherein said middle notch comprises a first end of each of said plurality of baking tray inserts; and wherein said lateral notch comprises a second end of each of said plurality of baking tray inserts.

3. The invention of claim 2, wherein said plurality of baking tray inserts comprise a large recess baking tray, a medium recess baking tray, and a small recess baking tray.

4. The invention of claim 3, wherein each of said plurality of baking tray inserts further comprise a plurality of recesses.

5. The invention of claim 4, wherein said plurality of recesses of said large recess baking tray comprise large-sized recesses; wherein said plurality of recesses of said medium recess baking tray comprise medium-sized recesses; and wherein said plurality of recesses of said small recess baking tray comprise small-sized recesses.

6. The invention of claim 5, wherein said small-sized recesses fit into said medium-sized recesses; and wherein said medium-sized recesses fit into said large-sized recesses.

7. The invention of claim 6, wherein said plurality of baking tray inserts are stackable.

8. The invention of claim 7, wherein said plurality of baking tray inserts are stackable within said central cavity.

9. The invention of claim 8, wherein one of said plurality of baking tray inserts is placeable within said central cavity such that said middle notch is placed on said middle notch shelf and said lateral notch is placed on said lateral notch shelf.

10. The invention of claim 9, further comprising: a plurality of grips; wherein said plurality of grips are attached to said baking pan.

11. The invention of claim 10, wherein said plurality of grips comprise a heat-resistant material of construction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Elements in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale in order to enhance their clarity and improve understanding of these various elements and embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, elements that are known to be common and well understood to those in the industry are not depicted in order to provide a clear view of the various embodiments of the invention.

[0029] FIG. 1 illustrates an upper isometric perspective view of variable insert baking tray and pan device, as contemplated by the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG. 2 illustrates a top plan view of variable insert baking tray and pan device, as contemplated by the present disclosure;

[0031] FIG. 3 illustrates a left side elevation view of variable insert baking tray and pan device, as contemplated by the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG. 4 illustrates a front side elevation view of variable insert baking tray and pan device, as contemplated by the present disclosure;

[0033] FIG. 5 illustrates an upper isometric perspective view of variable insert baking tray and pan device with baking tray inserts removed, as contemplated by the present disclosure;

[0034] FIG. 6 illustrates an upper isometric perspective view of variable insert baking tray and pan device and baking tray inserts, as contemplated by the present disclosure; and

[0035] FIG. 7 illustrates an upper isometric perspective view of variable insert baking tray and pan device and baking tray insert, as contemplated by the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] Certain terminology is used in the following description for reference only and is not limiting. The words “front,” “rear,” “anterior,” “posterior,” “lateral,” “medial,” “upper,” “lower,” “outer,” “inner,” and “interior” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the invention, and designated parts thereof, in accordance with the present disclosure. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms “a,” “an,” and “the” are not limited to one element, but instead should be read as meaning “at least one.” The terminology includes the words noted above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.

[0037] The illustrations of FIGS. 1-7 illustrate variable insert baking tray and pan device, as contemplated by the present disclosure. In one embodiment the device may comprise a cooking device, such as a baking pan, having a plurality of baking trays removably installed therein. The device may comprise a notch and shelf design, wherein the interior of the baking pan provides a shelf onto which one of the baking trays may be placed for baking. The notch design may be implemented to allow all of the plurality of baking trays to be placed within the baking pan for storage. The plurality of baking trays may be sized such that a first fits into a second, which fits into a third for stacking and storage within the baking pan. The handles of the baking pan may further comprise heat resistant material for user safety.

[0038] The device may comprise, generally, a baking pan 100 and a plurality of baking tray inserts. In one embodiment the baking pan 100 may comprise a generally square or rectangular horizontal surface having a first side, a second side, a first end, a second end, and a central cavity 110. The first side, second side, first end, and second end may form a lip around the perimeter of the central cavity 110. The central cavity 110 may further comprise a middle notch shelf 112, which may be attached to a first end of the central cavity 110, and a lateral notch shelf 114, which may be attached to a second end of the central cavity 110.

[0039] The baking pan 100 may comprise any size appropriate to a baking pan, and may vary in its length, width, and height of its sides as desired. By way of example, the dimensions of the baking pan 100 of the variable insert baking tray and pan device may be approximately twenty-one (21) inches in length, twelve (12) inches in width, and two and one half (2.5) inches in height.

[0040] In one embodiment the plurality of baking tray inserts may comprise three baking tray inserts, which may be a large recess baking tray 102, a medium recess baking tray 104, and a small recess baking tray 106. The plurality of baking tray inserts may further comprise a generally square or rectangular horizontal surface having a first side, a second side, a first end, a second end, and a plurality of recesses. The perimeter dimensions of the plurality of baking tray inserts may match the perimeter dimensions of the baking tray 100 central cavity 110 of a particular embodiment.

[0041] The first end of each of the plurality of baking tray inserts may further comprise a middle notch 116, which may comprise a width identical to the width of the middle notch shelf 112 of a particular embodiment. The second end of each of the plurality of baking tray inserts may further comprise a lateral notch 118, which may comprise a width identical to the width of the lateral notch shelf 114 of a particular embodiment.

[0042] The large recess baking tray 102 may comprise a plurality of large-sized recesses arranged throughout its horizontal surface. By way of example, the plurality of recesses may be arranged in multiple rows organized so as to maximize the number of recesses present throughout the horizontal surface. The medium recess baking tray 104 may comprise a plurality of medium-sized recesses arranged throughout its horizontal surface such that a central point of each of the medium-sized recesses matches the central point of each of the large-sized recesses. The small recess baking tray 106 may comprise a plurality of small-sized recesses arranged throughout its horizontal surface such that a central point of each of the small-sized recesses matches the central point of each of the medium-sized recesses.

[0043] By the design the small recess baking tray 106 may be placed on the medium recess baking tray 104 such that the small-sized recesses fit within the medium-sized recesses and the small recess baking tray 106 horizontal surface rests on the medium recess baking tray 104 horizontal surface. The medium recess baking tray 104 may then be placed on the large recess baking tray 102 such that the medium-sized recesses fit within the large-sized recesses and the medium recess baking tray 104 horizontal surface rests on the large recess baking tray 102 horizontal surface. In this way the plurality of baking tray inserts may be stackable and may fit within the central cavity 110 of the variable insert baking tray and pan device.

[0044] The baking pan 100 may further comprise a plurality of grips 108, wherein one of the plurality of grips is attached to the first end of the baking pan 100, and one of the plurality of grips is attached to the second end of the baking pan 100. The plurality of grips 108 may comprise a heat-resistant material of construction for user safety.

[0045] To begin using the device a user may take the baking pan 100 and one of the plurality of baking tray inserts, and may orient the selected baking tray insert such that its middle notch 116 is positioned above the middle notch shelf 112 and its lateral notch 118 is positioned above the lateral notch shelf 114. The user may then lower the selected baking tray insert into the central cavity 110, and the selected baking tray will be supported such that its horizontal surface is generally planar to the horizontal surface of the baking pan 100. The user may then cook baked goods sized according to the selected baking tray insert. Alternatively, the user may remove the baking tray insert and may then cook baked goods sized according to the central cavity 110.

[0046] To begin storing the device a user may take the baking pan 100 and the plurality of baking tray inserts, and may orient the plurality of baking tray inserts such that their middle notches 116 are positioned above the lateral notch shelf 114 and their lateral notches 118 are positioned above the middle notch shelf 112. The user may then first lower the large recess baking tray 102 into the central cavity 110, then lower the medium recess baking tray 104 into the central cavity 110, and finally lower the small recess baking tray 106 into the central cavity 110. The shape of the various shelves and notches are such that the plurality of baking tray inserts are permitted to rest on the surface below them and, as such, all of the plurality of baking tray inserts may be positioned within the central cavity 110.

[0047] The variable insert baking tray and pan device may be substantially constructed of any suitable material or combination of materials, but typically is constructed of a resilient material or combination of materials such that the device is resistant to damage as a result of compression, twisting, heating, or submersion in water. As an example, and without limiting the scope of the present invention, various exemplary embodiments of the variable insert baking tray and pan device may be substantially constructed of one or more materials of plastic, acrylic, ceramic, polycarbonate, steel, aluminum, brass, fiberglass, carbon fiber, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments the various components of the system may be coated, lined, or otherwise insulated to prevent contamination. In one embodiment the material of construction may vary from one component to the next within the system.

[0048] In one embodiment the variable insert baking tray and pan device may comprise a resilient material of construction that either comprises a material having antimicrobial properties or comprises a layering of antimicrobial material or coating. Antimicrobial properties comprise the characteristic of being antibacterial, biocidal, microbicidal, anti-fungal, anti-viral, or other similar characteristics, and the oligodynamic effect, which is possessed by copper, brass, silver, gold, and several other metals and alloys, is one such characteristic. Copper and its alloys, in particular, have exceptional self-sanitizing effects. Silver also has this effect, and is less toxic to users than copper. Some materials, such as silver in its metallic form, may require the presence of moisture to activate the antimicrobial properties.

[0049] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.