STACKABLE FRYING PANS AND SAUCEPANS

Abstract

A stackable cookware and more specifically it relates to frying pans and saucepans. The stackable cookware with stackable handles may include a plurality of pans which may be stacked within one another. The stackable handles have an upward projection in the proximal end of the top surface of the handle and a slot depression in the bottom surface of the handle such that the upward projection in the top surface of a bottom handle fits and locks in with the slot depression in the bottom surface of a top handle. The upward projection feature also helps in stacking of the containers and to get a grip while moving these stacked containers.

Claims

1. A stackable cookware 10 comprising: i) a pan 12, having a closed bottom surface 37, an open top, and a sidewall 38, said sidewall extending upwardly from a bottom surface of the said pan to the pan rim 39; ii) a long stackable handle 22 mounted to the sidewall of the said pan wherein the said handle has an upward projection 32 at the proximal end of the top surface of the handle and a slot depression 34 at the bottom surface of the handle to enable locking 50; and iii) optionally including a lid 42 to rest upon said pan rim, said lid having a knob 48 on its top.

2. The stackable cookware 10 as claimed in claim 1, wherein upward projection 32 in the top surface of a stackable handle is close to the upward wall of the said pan 12.

3. The stackable cookware 10 as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stackable handle 22 is attached to sidewall of said pan using metallic insert 36.

4. The stackable cookware 10 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stackable handle 22 may be of similar length and design irrespective of the cookware size.

5. The stackable cookware 10 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stackable handle 22 include an open hole 33 to enable hanging the cookware.

6. The stackable cookware 10 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the knob 48 can be of various shapes.

7. A stackable cookware set 10 comprising a plurality of pans 12, 14, 16 of varying size with long stackable handles 22, 24, 26 mounted to the sidewall of the said plurality of pans, said set includes a plurality of optional lids 42, 44, 46, wherein a first larger pan 12 with a first single long stackable handle 22, a second smaller pan 14 with a second single long stackable handle 24, and a third smallest pan 16 with a third single long stackable handle 26 wherein the first larger pan is the outermost pan in the stack and the third smallest pan is the innermost pan in the stack, each pan having a progressively smaller diameter and height such that the smaller pan fits within the next larger pan, the said handle has an upward projection 32 at the top surface of the handle and a slot depression 34 at the bottom surface of the handle such that the said upward projection in the handle of a first pan fits and locks in 50 with the slot depression 34 in the handle of the second pan.

8. The stackable cookware 10 as claimed in claim 7, wherein upward projection 32 in the top surface of a stackable handle is close to the upward wall of the said plurality of pans.

9. The stackable cookware 10 as claimed in claim 7, wherein the upward projection 32 in the top surface of the stackable handles 22, 24, 26 prevents the external surface of the base of one smaller pan from resting flat on the internal surface of the base of a second larger pan.

10. The stackable cookware 10 as claimed in claim 7, wherein the space 56 between the bases of two consecutive pans is further utilized to store a lid 42, 44, 46.

11. The stackable cookware 10 as claimed in claim 7, wherein said plurality of stackable handles are attached to sidewalls of said plurality of pans using metallic inserts 36.

12. The stackable cookware 10 as claimed in claim 7, wherein the stackable handles 22, 24, 26 may be of similar length and design irrespective of the cookware size.

13. The stackable cookware 10 as claimed in claim 7, wherein the stackable handles 22, 24, 26 include an open hole 33 to enable hanging the cookware.

14. The stackable cookware 10 as claimed in claim 7, wherein the knob 48 can be of various shapes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a stackable frying pan set in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows an additional view of a set of stackable frying pan with stackable handles according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIGS. 3A and 3B depict top-view of a set of stackable cookware with stackable handles in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 4 shows a side view of a stackable saucepan set according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 5 illustrates a stackable handle embodiment.

[0026] FIG. 6 illustrates a stackable handle in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the stackable handle in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the Figures and specific language will be used to describe them. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory of the invention and are not intended to be restrictive thereof.

[0029] Such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as would normally occur to those skilled in the art are to be construed as being within the scope of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a stackable frying pan set 10 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. The stackable frying pan set may include a plurality of pans 12, 14, 16. The stackable set may also optionally include a plurality of accompanying lids 42, 44, 46 as shown in FIG. 4. In the illustrated example, the stackable frying pan set may include a first larger pan 12 with a first single long stackable handle 22, a second smaller pan 14 with a second single long stackable handle 24, and a third smallest pan 16 with a third single long stackable handle 26 wherein the first larger pan is the outermost pan in the stack and the third smallest pan is the innermost pan in the stack, each pan having a progressively smaller diameter and height such that a smaller pan fits within the next larger pan.

[0031] Each has an optional lid 42, 44, 46 which may include a knob 48 on its top surface as shown in FIG. 4. The knob can be of various shapes such as round, triangular, square, rectangle, octagon, or hexagon. The lids may be positioned on top of any one of the pan rim 39 or may be specific to specific pans.

[0032] Each cookware article has a single long stackable handle 22, 24, 26 extending from one side of the sidewall 38 of the pan. Each stackable handle has an upward projection 32 in the top surface of the handle and a slot depression 34 in the bottom surface of the handle such that the upward projection in the top surface of a bottom handle 22 fits and locks in 50 with the slot depression in the bottom surface of a top handle 24 to enable locking, as shown in FIG. 7. The slot depression in the bottom surface of the handle is preferably a curved slot depression.

[0033] The cookware has sidewalls extending upwardly from a bottom surface 37 of a pan to a pan rim. The cookware may be aligned and inserted into the cavity of another cookware unit for stacking, accommodating a plurality of pans. The cookware is designed in such a way that the smaller one of the cookware pan is stacked within a next larger one of the cookware pan 10.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows an additional view of a set of stackable frying pan with stackable handles according to another embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The handles are attached to the pan sidewall with one or more metallic inserts 36. The metallic insert is preferably a stainless steel insert.

[0035] FIGS. 3A and 3B depict top-view of a set of stackable cookware 10 with stackable handles 24, 26, 28 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 3A depicts the stackable cookware set along with stackable handles and an optional lid 42. FIG. 3B depicts the stacking arrangement of the cookware set without a lid. The handles allow for the cookware to be gripped or carried and also accommodate stacking.

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a side view of a stackable saucepan set 10 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 1. During stacking of the cookware set, the upward projection 32 in the top surface of the handles prevents the external surface of the base or bottom surface 38 of one smaller pan 16 from resting flat on the internal surface of the base of a second larger pan 14, thus preventing damage to the inner coating of the cookware. This arrangement also leaves considerable space or gap 56 between the bases of two consecutive pans. Each pan is spaced apart an equal distance when stacked and this said space can be further utilized to store a lid thereby saving space. The cookware is held in a stable stacked position using the handles.

[0037] FIG. 5 illustrates a stackable handle embodiment as shown in in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4. Each cookware set has a single long stackable handle 22, 24, 26, extending from one side of the sidewall of the pan. The handle is attached to the sidewall of the pan using metallic insert 36. The stackable handle has an upward projection 32 in the top surface of the handle and a slot depression 34 in the bottom surface of the handle such that the upward projection in the top surface of a bottom handle 22 fits and locks in 50 with the slot depression in the bottom surface of a top handle 24. Since the projections are provided at proximal ends of handles, it would not hurt users while holding the containers using handles.

[0038] FIG. 6 illustrates a stackable handle in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention where the stackable handles may be of similar length irrespective of the cookware size. The handle also has an open hole or aperture 33 to enable hanging the cookware 10.

[0039] FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the stackable handle in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. The stackable handle has an upward projection 32 in the top surface of the handle and a slot depression 34 in the bottom surface of the handle such that the upward projection in the top surface of a bottom handle 22 fits and locks in 50 with the slot depression in the bottom surface of a top handle 24.