Abstract:
A nestable bakeware system includes a first bakeware container having a first container outer rim and defining a first recess, and a second bakeware container disposed within the first recess. A third bakeware container is disposed within the first recess and resides adjacent to the second bakeware container. The second and third bakeware containers are smaller than the first bakeware container and differ from one another. A lid bakeware container has a lid container outer rim and defines a second recess. The lid container outer rim is positionable in mating engagement with the first container outer rim to enclose the second bakeware container and the third bakeware container within a cavity defined by the first recess and the second recess.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/664,515, filed Jun. 26, 2012, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to bakeware and more particularly to nestable bakeware that can be stored in a minimal amount of space. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Bakeware is known having a variety of shapes and sizes for cooking and baking different food items. In many cases, certain types of bakeware are configured to nest together with in order to reduce the storage space required to store two or more bakeware items. For example, cookie sheets, muffin tins, meatloaf pans, and the like can all be configured such that two or more items can be nested together. One shortcoming of these known products is that they are configured only to nest with identically configured items—that is, cookie sheets only nest with identically configured cookie sheets, and muffin tins only nest with identically configured muffin tins. In many cases, consumers do not require more than one of a certain bakeware item. In such instances, the fact that the bakeware item can nest with another identically configured bakeware item is of no benefit to the consumer. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The present disclosures generally relate to nestable bakeware. In particular, nestable bakeware is provided in which several pieces of differently configured bakeware are adapted to nest closely with one another. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, in some aspects, a nestable bakeware system includes a first bakeware container having a first recess, the first recess being defined by a first width and a first length. A second bakeware container is disposed within the first recess and is defined by a second width and a second length. The second width is less than or equal to the first width, and the second length is smaller than the first length. A third bakeware container is disposed within the first recess generally in an adjacent relationship to the second bakeware container. The third bakeware container is defined by a third width and a third length. The third width is less than the first width, and the third length is less than the first length and less than or equal to the second length. 
         [0006]    In other aspects, a method of packaging a plurality of differently shaped bakeware items is provided and includes disposing a second bakeware container in a recess defined by a first bakeware container. The recess has a first width and a first length, and the second bakeware container has a second width smaller than the first width and a second length smaller than the first length. The method also includes disposing a third bakeware container in the recess adjacent to the second bakeware container. The third bakeware container has a third width that is less than the second width, and the second bakeware container and the third bakeware container substantially completely occupy the recess defined by the first bakeware container. 
         [0007]    In still other aspects, a nestable bakeware system includes a first bakeware container defining a first recess and having a first container outer rim and a first container bottom wall. The first container outer rim includes a first container perimeter. A substantially square second bakeware container is disposed within the first recess and includes a second container outer rim, a second container bottom wall, and a side length. The second container outer rim includes a second container perimeter. A third bakeware container is disposed within the first recess and resides adjacent to the second bakeware container. The third bakeware container includes a third container outer rim, a third container bottom wall, and a third container width. The third container outer rim includes a third container perimeter. A fourth bakeware container has a plurality of downwardly extending cups. A first plurality of the cups are received within the second bakeware container, and a second plurality of the cups are received within the third bakeware container. The fourth bakeware container also includes a fourth container outer rim having a fourth container perimeter. A fifth bakeware container has a fifth container outer rim and defines a second recess. The fifth container outer rim is positionable in mating engagement to enclose the second bakeware container, the third bakeware container, and the fourth bakeware container within a cavity defined by the first recess and the second recess. A securement secures the first container outer rim and the fifth container outer rim to one another. The third container width is less than the side length of the second bakeware container. When the second bakeware container and the third bakeware container are disposed within the first recess, the second container outer rim and the third container outer rim rest upon the first container outer rim, the second container perimeter and the third container perimeter are both inwardly offset with respect to the first container perimeter, and the second container bottom wall and the third container bottom wall are spaced above the first container bottom wall. The fourth container perimeter is inwardly offset with respect to the second container perimeter and third container perimeter when the cups of the fourth bakeware container are received within the second bakeware container and the third bakeware container. A combined height of the fourth container outer rim resting upon the second container outer rim and the third container outer rim is less than a depth of the fifth bakeware container. 
         [0008]    Features, advantages and embodiments of the nestable bakeware system may be set forth, or are apparent, from consideration of the following description. Moreover, it is to be understood that the following description is exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    To understand the present disclosure, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which embodiments of the disclosures are illustrated and, together with the descriptions below, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a nestable bakeware system according to one embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the nestable bakeware system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a section view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
       [0013]    The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    While the nestable bakeware system discussed herein is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, exemplary embodiments with the understanding that the present description is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the masking system and is not intended to limit the subject matter of the system to the embodiments illustrated. 
         [0015]      FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a nestable bakeware system  10  that allows several pieces of differently-configured bakeware containers to be stored in a relatively small amount of space. In one exemplary embodiment, at least three dissimilar bakeware items are provided in which two of the three items nest within one of the other items. The illustrated system  10  includes a generally rectangular and relatively deep first pan  14 . The first pan  14  is generally the largest pan of the system  10  and defines a first recess or first recessed area  18  that is surrounded by an outer rim  22 . The outer rim  22  may be substantially flat, or may include a raised ridge  26  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . In some embodiments the first pan  14  is a substantially rectangular cake pan such that the first recessed area  18  has a first length, a first width, and a first depth. Exemplary embodiments of the first pan  14  may include a first length of about 18 inches, a first width of about 12 inches, and a first depth of about 4 inches. Of course the specific length, width, and depth of the first pan  14  may vary. For example the length and width may vary by plus or minus 6 inches, and the depth may vary by plus or minus 2 inches. 
         [0016]    The system  10  also includes a second pan  30  that may be disposed or nested within the recessed area  18  of the first pan  14 . In the illustrated embodiment the second pan  30  is substantially square and can nest within the first pan  14 . For example, the second pan  30  may include an outer rim  34  that rests upon the outer rim  22  of the first pan  14  when the second pan  30  is positioned in the recessed area  18 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the perimeter of the outer rim  34  of the second pan  30  is inwardly offset with respect to the outer rim  22  of the first pan  14  when the second pan  30  is positioned in the recessed area  18 . For embodiments of the first pan  14  having the raised ridge  26 , the outer rim  34  of the second pan  30  rests upon the raised ridge  26 . The second pan  30  is configured such that when the outer rim  34  rests upon the ridge  26 , a bottom wall  35  of the second pan  30  is spaced above a bottom wall  36  of the first pan  14 . The second pan  30  may have second pan side dimensions, including a second pan length and a second pan width. In the illustrated construction in which the second pan  30  is a square pan, the second pan side dimensions are equal to one another. In some configurations, the second pan length may be substantially equal to the first width. In this regard, when the second pan  30  is nested within the first pan  14 , the second pan extends substantially completely across the first pan  14  in the first width direction. When not configured as a square pan the second pan  30  may have a second pan length that is substantially equal to the first width, and a second pan width that is less than the second pan length dimension. Alternatively, the second pan  30  may have a second pan width that is substantially equal to the first width, and a second pan length that is less than the second length. 
         [0017]    The system  10  may also include a third pan  38  that may be disposed or nested within the recessed area  18  of the first pan  14 . In some embodiments the third pan  38  may also be capable of being disposed or nested within the recessed area of the second pan  30 . In the illustrated configuration, the third pan  38  is substantially rectangular and may be disposed within the recessed area  18  of the first pan  14  substantially adjacent the second pan  30 . The third pan  38  may have a third pan length that is substantially equal to the second pan side dimensions. The third pan  38  may also have a third pan width such that a sum of the third pan width and the second pan side dimension (when the second pan  30  is a square pan) or the second pan width dimension (when the second pan  30  is a rectangular pan) is substantially equal to the first length, as shown for example in  FIG. 3 . In some configurations, the third pan  38  may be what is known in the art as a loaf pan. In other configurations, the third pan  38  may be substantially identical to the second pan  30 . Like the second pan  30 , the third pan  38  includes an outer rim  42  that rests upon the ridge  36  of the first pan  14 , and the perimeter of the outer rim  42  is inwardly offset with respect to the outer rim  22  of the first pan when the third pan  38  is positioned in the recessed area  18 . When the second pan  30  and the third pan  38  are nested within the first pan  14 , the second pan  30  and the third pan  38  may substantially completely occupy the first recessed area  18 . In some configurations the depth of the third pan  38  may be greater than the depth of the second pan  30 , as shown, or may be substantially the same as or less than the depth of the second pan  30 . Like the second pan  30 , the third pan  38  is configured such that when the outer rim  42  rests upon the ridge  26 , a bottom wall  44  of the third pan  38  is spaced above the bottom wall  36  of the first pan  14 . In this way the third pan  38  is able to nest within the first pan  14 . 
         [0018]    The system  10  may also include at least one fourth pan  46  that differs from each of the first pan  14 , second pan  30 , and third pan  38 , and that may be disposed within the second and third pans  30 ,  38 . The illustrated system  10  includes one fourth pan  46 , although more than one fourth pan  46  may also be provided. In the illustrated construction, the fourth pan  46  includes a substantially flat top surface  50  and a plurality (e.g., six as shown) of downwardly extending cups  54 . In some configurations, the fourth pan  46  may be what is known in the art as a muffin tin. The cups  54  of the illustrated exemplary fourth pan  46  are sized and arranged to nest within the second pan  30  and the third pan  38 . More specifically, two of the cups  54  are positioned and configured to nest within the third pan  38 , and four of the cups  54  are positioned and configured to nest within the second pan  30 . The fourth pan  46  may also independently nest directly within the first pan  14 . The fourth pan  46  includes an outer rim  48  that rests upon the second pan outer rim  34  and the third pan outer rim  42 . The fourth pan outer rim  48  has a perimeter that, when the fourth pan  46  is positioned on the second pan  30  and the third pan  38 , is inwardly offset with respect to the outer rims  34 ,  42  of the second pan  30  and the third pan  38  (see  FIG. 3 ). The fourth pan  46  is configures such that when the outer rim  48  rests upon the outer rims  34 ,  42  of the second and third pans  30 ,  38 , the cups  54  are spaced above the bottom walls  35 ,  44  of the second and third pans  30 ,  38 . The fourth pan  46  may have a fourth pan length that substantially corresponds to, or may be less than, the first length, but that may be greater than the first width. The fourth pan  46  may also have a fourth pan width that substantially corresponds to the first width in a manner that enables the above-described inward offset of the fourth pan outer rim  48  with respect to the outer rims  34 ,  42  of the second pan  30  and the third pan  38 . 
         [0019]    In various embodiments, the fourth pan  46  may be provided with more or fewer cups  54  configured and arranged such that a first plurality of the cups  54  nest within the second pan  30  and a second plurality of the cups  54  nest within the third pan  38  when the fourth pan  46  is positioned on the second pan  30  and the third pan  38 . In the illustrated configuration, the first plurality of cups  54  includes a majority (e.g., four) of the cups  54  while the second plurality of cups  54  includes less than a majority (e.g., two) of the cups  54 . When the system  10  includes more than one fourth pan  46 , the cups  54  of the fourth pans  46  nest with one another and the lower-most fourth pan  46  nests within the second pan  30  and the third pan  38 , as shown. 
         [0020]    The system  10  may also include a fifth pan  58  that differs from each of the first, second, third, and fourth pans  14 ,  30 ,  38 ,  46  and that may function as a lid for the nested arrangement of bakeware. The fifth pan  58  includes a relatively shallow, rectangular body  62  that defines a second recessed area  64  ( FIG. 3 ), and an outer rim  66  that is sized and configured to matingly engage the outer rim  22  of the first pan  14 . The outer rim  66  of the fifth pan  58  includes an outer perimeter that substantially corresponds to the outer perimeter of the first pan  14 . More specifically, the fifth pan  58  may have a fifth pan length that substantially corresponds to the first length, and a fifth pan width that substantially corresponds to the first width. The fifth pan  58  may be what is generally known in the art as a sheet pan. When the outer rim  66  of the fifth pan  58  is matingly engaged with the outer rim  22  of the first pan  14 , the ridge  26  and those portions of the second pan  30 , the third pan  38 , and the fourth pan  46  that are not received within the first recessed area  18  of the first pan  14  are received by the second recessed area  64  of the fifth pan  58 . In this regard, the second pan  30 , the third pan  38 , and the at least one fourth pan  46  are enclosed within a cavity defined by the first recessed area  18  and the second recessed area  64 . As shown, a combined height of the ridge  26 , the second pan outer rim  34 , the third pan outer rim  42 , and the fourth pan outer rim  48  (resting upon both the second pan outer rim  34  and the third pan outer rim  42 ) is less than a fifth pan depth of the fifth pan  58 , such that the ridge  26 , the second pan outer rim  34 , the third pan outer rim  42 , and the fourth pan outer rim  48  can fit within the second recessed area  64 . At least one securement in the form of a clip  70  can be used to secure the fifth pan  58  to the first pan  14  and may be configured to clamp the outer rim  66  of the fifth pan  58  against the outer rim  22  of the first pan  14 . In the illustrated configuration, the at least one clip  70  is a separate piece. In alternative embodiments, the at least one clip  70  may be moveably or fixedly coupled to, or integrally formed with one or both of the first pan  14  and the fifth pan  58 . 
         [0021]    In use, the system  10  provides a method for packaging the plurality of differently shaped bakeware items  14 ,  30 ,  38 ,  46 ,  58 . The method includes disposing the second pan  30  in the recess  18  defined by the first pan  14  and disposing the third pan  38  in the recess  18  adjacent to the second pan  30 . The method also includes disposing the fourth pan  46  relative to the second and third pans  30 ,  38 , which includes disposing a first plurality of the cups  54  within the second pan  30  and a second plurality of the cups  54  within the third pan  38 . The method also includes providing for mating engagement of the rim  66  of the fifth pan  58  with the rim  22  of the first pan  14  such that when the rim  66  of the fifth pan  58  is matingly engaged with the rim  22  of the first pan  14 , the third pan  38 , the second pan  30 , and the fourth pan  46  are positioned within a cavity defined by the fifth pan  58  and the first pan  14 . 
         [0022]    The above described bakeware containers are referred to generically as pans or tins. It should be appreciated that the bakeware containers may be any type of bakeware and as such may be formed of substantially any material suitable for baking, including various metals and metal alloys, ceramics, glasses, and the like. As used herein, the terms length, width, and depth refer to the overall length, width, and depth of the bakeware items, as those terms are generally understood by those skilled in the art. More specifically, the term length refers to the distance from one end of the bakeware item to the other, and the term width refers to the distance from one side of the bakeware item to the other, with the length being greater than the width. For the exemplary square pan described above, the length and width are equal. The term depth as used herein refers to the distance between the bottom-most surface and the top surface of the respective bakeware item. 
         [0023]    While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the disclosure, and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.