Vessel comprising a thermochromic indicator coating

Abstract

A vessel for frying, baking or cooking foodstuffs, includes at least one visible first material and one visible second material, wherein at least the first material reversibly changes color thermochromically when heated. The coloring of the two materials is selected in order for a color difference between the two materials to change visibly when the vessel is heated.

Claims

1. A vessel for frying, baking or cooking of food having at least a visible first material and a visible second material, wherein at least the first material reversibly changes color thermochromically when heated, wherein the color of one of the two materials serves as a reference color for the respective other material, wherein a color difference between the two materials changes visibly when the vessel is heated, wherein a color difference between the two materials in a first temperature range corresponding to a cold basic state of the vessel is high, and in a second temperature range corresponding to a desired temperature range in the heated state of the vessel is low such that the color difference between the two materials disappears, wherein a bottom of the vessel and an inner edge of the vessel comprise the two materials, wherein the bottom is the lowermost surface of the vessel adjacent the inner edge, and the inner edge of the vessel is an interior surface of the vessel configured for receiving food, wherein the first material covers the entire surface of the bottom of the vessel and the second material covers only a portion of the one material such that the color difference is visible simultaneously, wherein the second material is in a form of speckles disposed along the inner edge of the vessel and the bottom of the vessel.

2. The vessel according to claim 1, wherein an alphanumeric character is recognizable in the first temperature range corresponding to the cold basic state of the vessel and is little or no recognizable in the second temperature range.

3. The vessel according to claim 1, wherein an alphanumeric character is little or no recognizable in the first temperature range corresponding to the cold basic state of the vessel and is recognizable in the second temperature range of the vessel.

4. The vessel according to claim 1, wherein the vessel comprises a reference field over which different temperature ranges during heating or cooling of the vessel due to changing color differences of the two materials are readable.

5. The vessel according to claim 1, wherein a middle layer is configured to be completely thermochromic and an upper layer is sprayed on in the form of speckles.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The disclosure is explained in more detail on the basis of the following figures. These are only to be understood as examples and are not intended to limit the disclosure to the embodiments shown, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1: shows a pan according to the disclosure in the cold basic state,

(3) FIG. 2: shows the pan from FIG. 1 in the heated state,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a pan according to the disclosure,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of a pan according to the disclosure, and

(6) FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of a pan according to the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(7) FIGS. 1 to 5 show a vessel 20 according to the disclosure, here a pan, from above. Recognizable is a handle 22 and a vessel body 24. The vessel body 24 comprises a bottom 26 and an edge 28.

(8) FIG. 1 shows the vessel 20 in the cold basic state. Recognizable is a first material 30 and a second material 32. The first material 30 covers in the shown embodiment the entire surface of the interior of the vessel body 24, while the second material 32 is applied only in certain areas in form of speckles or small-area areas. The first material 30 is thermochromically reversible and changes color with increasing heating. The second material 32 is however not thermochromic and has a color which the first material 30 takes on when it is heated up to a certain temperature range.

(9) FIG. 2 illustrates the state of the vessel 20 when it has been heated to the point where it has reaches the desired temperature range. The previously visible areas or speckles of the second material 32 are no longer visible, as the color difference between the first material 30 and the second material 32 no more or hardly exists. While the first material 30 changes color thermochromically, the second material 32 retains its color.

(10) As already mentioned, an reverse arrangement of the two materials 30, 32 may also be provided. According to that the base area of the vessel 20 would not be thermochromic and the small-area areas or speckles of the second material 32 would change color.

(11) FIG. 3 shows an embodiment where alphanumeric characters 34 are used. In the embodiment shown the vessel 20 is warmed up, by what a color difference between the first material 30 and the second material 32 arises, so that the lettering “hot” is clear recognizable.

(12) FIG. 4 however shows a reverse example in which a color difference between the first material 30 and the second material 32 arises when the vessel 20 is located in the cold basic state. Recognizable is the lettering “cold” which optically disappears when the pan is heated.

(13) FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which the temperature change during the heating process is recognizable. In a reference field 36 a color gradient is shown, in the embodiment shown fields or areas in row. The reference field 36 has different color ranges each corresponding to a temperature-dependent discoloration of the thermochromic material. In the embodiment shown the first material 30 is again thermochromic and covers at least the bottom 26. The reference field 36 is made of non-thermochromic material 32. Thereby, each field within the reference field 36 represents a certain temperature range with regard to the coloring. If the vessel 20 is now heated, the color of the second material 30 changes continuously, for example from a light red hue to a dark red hue. The reference field 36 for different temperature ranges, for example 0 to 50° C., 50 to 100° C., 100 to 150° C., 150 to 200° C. and more than 200° C., has the respective red shade of the thermochromic material 30. Thus this allows a user to recognize at first glance which temperature the vessel 20 or the pan actually has. The reference field 36 is arranged on the bottom 26 in the embodiment shown, but preferably it may also be provided near the edge 28. Also conceivable is the use of several reference fields 36, for example in the bottom 26 and in the edge 28.

(14) The vessel 20 may be made of different materials, for example of stainless steel, aluminum or any other material suitable for a coating.

(15) According to the disclosure merely the bottom 26 may have the two materials 30, 32, but advantageously also the edge 28 has the two materials 30, 32. This is particularly useful because the bottom 26 is often completely covered with frying good.

(16) The disclosure is not limited to the described and shown embodiments, but there are numerous other possible applications. It is essential that the color differences of the two materials 30, 32 are used to make arising temperature ranges visible.