STACKABLE COOKWARE

Abstract

A stackable cookware with a novel feature of an upward projection locking mechanism. The upward projection is close to the upward wall of the vessels and this design helps secure the lid of cookware articles during their storage and transport. The upward projection feature also helps in stacking of the containers and to get a grip while moving these stacked containers. Upward projection is designed to securely fit into the slot depression of the bottom profile of the stackable handle to lock the vessels together, thus helping in the stacking of the containers. In addition to Dutch ovens, this locking mechanism may also be extended to other types of containers, such as saucepans and frying pans.

Claims

1. A stackable cookware 10 comprising: i) a vessel 12 having a closed bottom surface 36, an open top, and a sidewall 34, said sidewall extending upwardly from a bottom surface of the said vessel to the vessel rim 38; ii) a pair of stackable handles 24a 24b placed diagonally opposite to each other, wherein the said handle has an upward projection 32 at the top surface of the handle and a curved slot depression 42 at the bottom surface of the handle to enable locking 50; and iii) optionally including a lid 18 to rest upon said vessel rim, said lid having a knob 72 on its top.

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

3. The stackable cookware 10 as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stackable handle 24 is attached to the sidewall of said vessel 12 using metallic insert 52.

4. The stackable cookware 10 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stackable handle 24 may be of similar length and design irrespective of the cookware size.

5. The stackable cookware 10 as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upward projection 32 of the side handle can also be extended to other types of vessels such as saucepans, and frying pans.

6. The stackable cookware 10 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stackable handles 24a 24b include an open hole 33.

7. The stackable cookware 10 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the knob 72 can be of various shapes.

8. A stackable cookware set 10 comprising a plurality of vessels 12, 14, 16, a pair of stackable handles 24a 24b, 26a, 26b, 28a, 28b placed diagonally opposite to each other, said set including optional lids 18, 20, 22, wherein a first larger vessel 12 with a pair of first stackable handles 24a, 24b, a second smaller vessel 14 with a second pair of stackable handles 26a, 26b, a third smallest vessel 16 with a pair of third stackable handles 28a, 28b such that the first larger vessel is the outermost vessel in the stack and the third smallest vessel is the innermost vessel in the stack, each vessel having a progressively smaller diameter and height such that the smaller vessel fits within the next larger vessel, the said handle has an upward projection 32 at the top surface of the handle and a slot depression 42 at the bottom surface of the handle such that the said upward projection in the handle of a first vessel fits and locks in 50 with the slot depression in the handle of the second vessel.

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

10. The stackable cookware 10 as claimed in claim 8, wherein said stackable handles are attached to the sidewall of said vessel using metallic inserts 52.

11. The stackable cookware 10 as claimed in claim 8, wherein the upward projection 32 of the handles 24a 24b, 26a, 26b, 28a, 28b prevents the external surface of the base of one smaller vessel from resting flat on the internal surface of the base of a second larger vessel.

12. The stackable cookware 10 as claimed in claim 8, wherein a space 56 between the bases of two consecutive vessels can be further utilized to store a lid 18, 20, 22.

13. The stackable cookware 10 as claimed in claim 8, wherein the stackable handles may be of similar length and design irrespective of the cookware size.

14. The stackable cookware 10 as claimed in claim 8, wherein said upward projection 32 of the side handle can also be extended to other types of vessels such as saucepans, and frying pans.

15. The stackable cookware 10 as claimed in claim 8, wherein the stackable handles 24a 24b, 26a, 26b, 28a, 28b include an open hole 33.

16. The stackable cookware 10 as claimed in claim 8, wherein the knob 72 can be of various shapes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 depicts a set of stackable cookware and lids.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows a stackable cookware pot with handles.

[0023] FIG. 3 depicts another embodiment of a set of stackable cookware with handles in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 4 illustrates the upward projection locking mechanism of the handles.

[0025] FIG. 5 illustrates an upward projection at the top surface of the cookware handle.

[0026] FIG. 6 shows a depression at the bottom surface of the cookware handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] FIG. 1 depicts a stackable cookware 10 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The stackable cookware may include a plurality of pots or vessels 12, 14, 16. The stackable cookware may also optionally include a plurality of accompanying lids 18, 20, 22. In the illustrated example, the stackable cookware set 10 may include a first larger vessel 12 with a pair of first stackable handles 24a, 24b, a second smaller vessel 14 with a second pair of stackable handles 26a, 26b, and a third smallest vessel 16 with a pair of third stackable handles 28a, 28b wherein the first larger vessel is the outermost vessel in the stack and the third smallest vessel is the innermost vessel in the stack, each vessel having a progressively smaller diameter and height such that the smaller vessel fits within the next larger vessel.

[0030] Each vessel has an optional lid which may include a knob 72 on its top surface. The knob can be of various shapes such as round, triangular, square, rectangle, octagon, or hexagon. The lids 18, 20, 22 may be positioned on top of any one of the vessel rim 38 or may be specific to specific vessels. Each cookware article has a pair of stackable handles 24a 24b, 26a, 26b, 28a, 28b, placed diagonally opposite to each other, extending from the upper sidewall of the vessel. The handle of each cookware is comprised of an upward projection 32 at the top surface of the handle and a slot depression 42 in the bottom surface of the handle. The upward projection 32 in the handle of a first vessel locks in with the slot depression 42 in the handle of the second smaller vessel, to enable locking 50, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0031] The cookware has a sidewall 34 extending upwardly from a bottom surface 36 of the vessel to a vessel rim. The cookware may be aligned and inserted into the cavity of another cookware unit for stacking, accommodating a plurality of vessels. The cookware is designed in such a way that the smaller one of the cookware vessel is stacked within a next larger one of the cookware vessel.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a stackable cookware pot with handles. The stackable cookware 12 comprises a bottom surface, vertical sidewalls extending upwardly from a bottom surface 36 of the vessel, a corresponding optional lid and a pair of stackable handles 24a, 24b placed diagonally opposite to each other. The handles are attached to the vessel sidewalls with one or more metallic insert 52. The metallic insert is preferably a stainless steel insert. The handle also has an open hole or aperture 33 to enable hanging the cookware.

[0033] FIG. 3 depicts another embodiment of a set of stackable cookware 10 with stackable handles 24, 26, 28 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure as illustrated in FIG. 1. The handles allow for the vessels to be gripped or carried and also accommodate stacking. During stacking of the cookware, the upward projection 32 of the handles prevents the external surface of the base or bottom surface of one smaller vessel 16 from resting flat on the internal surface of the base of a second larger vessel 14, thus preventing damage to the inner coating of the vessels. This arrangement also leaves considerable space or gap 56 between the bases of two consecutive vessels. This said space can be further utilized to store a lid, if any, thereby saving space. The cookware is held in a stable stacked position using the handles.

[0034] FIG. 4 illustrates the upward projection locking mechanism of the stackable handles. The handles may be positioned so as to stack on top of each other in a stacked handle configuration. The handle of each cookware is comprised of an upward projection 32 at the top surface of the handle and a slot depression 42 in the bottom surface of the handle. The upward projection 32 in the handle of a first vessel locks in 50 with the slot depression 42 in the handle of the second smaller vessel, to enable locking. The upward projection also helps to get a better grip against the thumb while carrying the stacked containers. The stackable handles may be of similar length and design irrespective of the cookware size, thereby being cost-effective.

[0035] FIG. 5 illustrates an upward projection at the top surface of the cookware handle. The upward projection 32 at the top surface of the handle is close to the upward wall of the vessel, such that it helps to secure the lid during storage and transport. The upward projection is designed to securely fit into the slot of the bottom profile of the handle to lock the vessels together. The upward projection also helps to get a better grip against the thumb while carrying the stacked cookware set 10. The handle also has an open hole or aperture 33 to enable hanging the cookware.

[0036] FIG. 6 illustrates a depression at the bottom surface of the cookware handle. The handles of each cookware article have a slot depression 42 in the bottom surface of the handle. The upward projection in the handle of a first vessel locks in with the slot depression in the handle of the second smaller vessel to enable locking.