Abstract:
The invention relates to a kitchen utensil, comprising a base ( 4 ) including a bottom ( 14 ) and a peripheral wall ( 16 ) defining a space ( 18 ). The wall ( 16 ) has an edge ( 20 ) opposite said bottom ( 14 ) and two through-openings ( 22 - 24 ) in the vicinity of the edge ( 20 ), opposite one another. A container ( 10 ) is suitable for being housed in said space ( 18 ). Said container has two opposite peripheral lugs ( 44 - 46 ), received in one of the through-openings ( 22 - 24 ). At least one ( 24 ) of said through-openings ( 22 - 24 ) leads onto the edge ( 2 ) into a notch ( 28 ) for receiving one of said lugs ( 44 ). A grasping device ( 6 ) is provided with a bearing portion ( 8 ) at least partially covering the lug ( 44 ) that it receives. A fastening element ( 8 ) maintains the grasping device ( 6 ) in the position in which the lug ( 44 ) is at least partially covered.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a national stage application (under 35 U.S.C. §371) of PCT/FR2010/000879, filed Dec. 27, 2010, which claims the benefit of European application no. 09291003.3, filed Dec. 31, 2009, the contents of each of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a utensil with simplified handling. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Cooking involves the use of different utensils in order to carry out different cooking methods. 
     In some cases, these different cooking methods involve the use of water as heat carrier. To that end there is often used a utensil having a base which receives the cooking water, as well as a container which receives the food to be cooked. 
     Once cooking is finished, the water must be drained off. The operation for draining off the water is generally complex and not very practical. 
     This operation in fact requires a certain degree of precision in order not to drain off the food at the same time as the cooking water, while the utensil is red-hot, which makes this action very difficult. 
     Solutions have been proposed for remedying this deficiency. They consist mainly in providing the base with peripheral lugs and the container with corresponding notches. 
     This makes it possible to establish a connection with a degree of freedom of rotation between the base and the container. It thus becomes possible to drain off the water without the risk of pouring out the cooked food. 
     However, this solution is not very practical in use. Fitting of the container into the base is difficult and relatively unstable. 
     Furthermore, this solution requires a very particular configuration of the elements of the utensil, which puts a strain on the production of such utensils, both from the material point of view and from the point of view of complexity of production. 
     The invention will improve the situation. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     To that end, the invention proposes a utensil comprising a base having a bottom and a peripheral wall which is joined to said bottom so as to define a space, said wall having a rim substantially opposite said bottom as well as two through-openings in the vicinity of said rim, substantially opposite one another. 
     The utensil further comprises a container which is suitable for being accommodated in said space and has two peripheral lugs which are substantially opposite one another and are suitable for being received each in a respective opening of said through-openings. 
     At least one of the through-openings opens at the rim in a receiving notch for one of said lugs, and in that the utensil further comprises a grasping device provided with a support portion suitable for covering at least partially the lug that it receives, and a fixing element suitable for maintaining the grasping device in the position in which the lug is at least partially covered. 
     This device is particularly advantageous because it is simpler to manufacture and use, and it is more reliable. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the invention will better become apparent upon reading the following description, taken from examples which are given by way of illustration and without implying any limitation and taken from the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of a first embodiment of a utensil according to the invention, 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the assembly of the utensil of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the draining of cooking water using the utensil of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , 
         FIG. 4   a  and  FIG. 4   b  show top views of the utensil of  FIG. 1  in two positions of the handle, 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a utensil according to the invention, 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the base of the utensil of  FIG. 5 , 
         FIG. 7  shows a perspective side view of a first container of the utensil of  FIG. 5 , 
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective bottom view of the container of  FIG. 7 , 
         FIG. 9  shows an exploded perspective view of a handle of the utensil of  FIG. 5 , 
         FIG. 10  shows a perspective view of a first step of the assembly of the utensil of  FIG. 5 , 
         FIG. 11  shows a perspective view of a second step of the assembly of the utensil of  FIG. 5 , 
         FIG. 12  shows a perspective view of the draining of cooking water using the utensil of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , 
         FIG. 13  shows another embodiment of the utensil of  FIG. 5 , and 
         FIG. 14  shows a cutaway front view of the utensil of  FIGS. 5 and 13 . 
     
    
    
     The drawings and the description below substantially contain elements of a specific nature. They may therefore not only serve for better understanding of the present invention, but also contribute to the definition thereof, where appropriate. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows an exploded perspective view of a utensil  2  according to the invention. In the example described here, the utensil  2  comprises a base  4  provided with a handle  6 , a sleeve  8 , a strainer  10  and a lid  12 . 
     In the example described here, the base  4  is in the form of a saucepan. More precisely, the base  4  has a substantially flat and substantially circular bottom  14  on which there rests a substantially straight peripheral wall  16  which follows the contours of the bottom  14 . 
     Together, the bottom  14  and the wall  16  define a space  18  for receiving food which is to be cooked, or a container. 
     In the embodiment described here, the bottom  14  and the wall  16  are produced from the same sheet, by stamping. In other embodiments, however, the bottom  14  and the wall  16  can be joined by welding, for example. 
     Furthermore, numerous other shapes can be used for the bottom  14  and the wall  16 . For example, the bottom  14  can be substantially square, elliptical or of any other closed shape, and the wall  16  can be not straight. 
     Generally, the bottom  14  can also be rounded, that is to say convex or concave, and the wall  16  can be joined to the bottom  14  on the inside thereof and not along its periphery as is the case in the example described here. 
     The important thing is that the bottom  14  defines a receiving surface and the wall  16  delimits a containing surface. 
     The upper end of the wall  16  defines a rim  20 . The rim  20  is substantially opposite the bottom  14  relative to the wall. The rim  20  is required especially when a liquid or food received in the space  18  is being drained off. 
     In the example described here, the wall  16  has two openings  22  and  24  in the vicinity of the rim  20 . The openings  22  and  24  are formed substantially opposite one another. 
     More precisely, since the bottom  14  is substantially circular in shape and the wall  16  follows that shape, the openings  22  and  24  are formed in the wall  16  so that they are substantially diametrically opposite. 
     The opening  24  is formed in the wall opposite the handle  6 , which serves as a grasping device with the sleeve  8 . Because the handle  6  is fixed to the wall  16  after the openings  22  and  24  have been formed, it is also possible for the handle to be fixed opposite the opening  24 . 
     In the embodiment described here, the opening  22  is formed very close to the rim  20 , 10 mm therefrom, and with a diameter of 8 mm, so that it does not merge into the rim  20 . The openings  22  and  24  are formed at substantially the same distance from the rim  20 . 
     In other embodiments, the opening could be formed at a greater distance from the rim  20 , up to half the distance between the rim  20  and the bottom  14 . 
     The opening  24  is different from the opening  22  and opens via an enlargement  26  on the rim  20  to form a notch  28 . The enlargement of the notch  26  is relative to the opening  22 . 
     In the example described here, the handle  6  is in the form of an elongate stamped member  30 , one end of which is fixed to the wall  16 . At the other end, the stamped member  30  has an aperture  32  for hanging the base  4  from a hook. 
     On the side of the end that is fixed to the wall  16 , the stamped member  30  has a groove  34  which is arranged substantially opposite the opening  22 . 
     The end of the stamped  30  is fixed to the wall  16  at a distance from the rim  20  which is greater than the height of the enlargement  26 . Thus, when the base  6  is placed on a flat surface, the upper surface of the handle  6  skims the level of the enlargement  26  of the notch  28 . 
     The bottom  14  and the wall  16  can be made in “three-ply” (superposition of three layers of material, used in particular for induction heating), steel, aluminium, stainless steel, anodised aluminium or of moulded steel. 
     The handle  6  can be made of steel, stainless steel, moulded steel, alloy, aluminium or any other heat-resistant material and may or may not be covered with a soft grip. 
     The handle  6  can be fixed to the wall  16  by welding, screwing, riveting, adhesive bonding, clipping or any other assembly technique. 
     The sleeve  8  has a shape which corresponds substantially to the shape of the handle  6  onto which it will be fitted. 
     The sleeve  8  therefore comprises a substantially cylindrical body  36  which is provided at an axial end with a tab  38 . The width of the tab  38  is advantageously slightly smaller than the width of the notch  28 . 
     Accordingly, when the sleeve  8  is fitted onto the handle  6 , the tab  38  is able to fit into the enlargement  26  of the notch  28 , just above the opening  22  and the groove  36 , which it obstructs. 
     The strainer  10  is the container which is to receive the food which is to be cooked. It has a body  40  which has an open, hemispherical shape. 
     The body  40  is pierced with a large number of holes  42  in order to allow water to enter, and two lugs [or spindles]  44  and  46 , only one of which, lug  44 , is visible in  FIG. 1 . Part of the lug  46  can be seen in  FIG. 3 . 
     It will be noted that, if the holes  42  are not formed in the body  40 , there is advantageously obtained a bain-marie. 
     The lug  44  has a substantially cylindrical shape and a diameter corresponding to that of the groove  34 , so that the groove  34  is able to receive the lug  44 . The lug  46  has a substantially cylindrical shape and a diameter corresponding to that of the opening  22 , so that it can be introduced into the opening  22 . 
     The body  40  also has a cut-out  48  in the region of the lug  44 , which cut-out  48  has a shape substantially identical to that of the enlargement  26  of the notch  28  of the wall  16 . 
       FIG. 2  shows an example of the assembly of the container  10  in the base  4 . The lug  46  is first introduced into the opening  22 . 
     Then, in a movement shown by an arrow F 1 , the container  10  is lowered into the space  18  until the lug  44  becomes lodged in the groove  34 . 
     The shape of the notch  28  facilitates this movement, and the lug  44  is in its final position received in the opening  24  and as a continuation thereof in the groove  34 . Finally, the sleeve  8  can be fitted onto the stamped member  30  until it covers the groove  34 , in a movement shown by an arrow F 2 . 
     Once the container  10  has been assembled on the base  4  and the sleeve  8  has been fitted onto the handle  6 , a utensil  2  according to  FIG. 3  is obtained. 
     Since the lug  44  is received in the opening  24  and is covered by the sleeve  8 , and the lug  46  in the opening  22 , the container  10  is in a rotational relationship relative to the base  4 . 
     Accordingly, if the base  4  is rotated according to an arrow F 3 , the base  4  will gradually be turned about a substantially horizontal axis, and the container  10  will remain in place under the effect of gravity. 
     The result is that the water contained in the base  4  can be emptied out without presenting a problem for the food contained in the container  10 . 
     Furthermore, by virtue of the utensil according to the invention, that operation can be performed with one hand, without any risk of the user burning himself by coming close to the base  4 . 
       FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  show top views of the utensil in two configurations. 
     In the configuration of  FIG. 4   a , the sleeve  8  has been pushed on to the same level as shown in  FIG. 3 . In this configuration, the container  10  is free to rotate. 
     In the configuration of  FIG. 4   b , the sleeve  8  has been fitted slightly further. As a result, the tab  38  of the sleeve  8  will enter the cut-out  48  of the container  10 , which will prevent the container  10  from rotating relative to the base  4 . 
     Accordingly, still using only one hand and without any risk of being burned, the user is able to change the utensil from a locked position, in which the base  4  and the container  10  are connected, to a free position, in which the user is able to drain off the water. 
     It will be noted that the utensil  2  is ambidextrous, and that the openings  22  and  24  may be offset slightly, that is to say generally but not diametrically opposite one another. 
       FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a utensil according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
     Here too, the utensil  102  has a base  104 , a handle  106 , a container  110  and a lid  112 . This embodiment does not have a sleeve because it functions differently. 
       FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the base  104 . Like the base  4 , the base  104  has a bottom  114  joined to a wall  116 , which together define a space  118 . 
     The wall  116  is slightly different in shape from the wall  16  and has a slightly rounded shape, so that the base  104  resembles a salad bowl. 
     As has been mentioned above for the wall  16 , the bottom  114  and the wall  116  can be produced in different ways and with different shapes. 
     The wall  116  likewise has a rim  120  opposite the bottom  114 , as well as two openings  121  and  122 . In this second embodiment, the openings  121  and  122  open at the rim  120  to form notches. The notch  121  is formed with a greater width than that of the notch  122 . 
     The base  114  also has two loop handles  123  and  124  which are attached to the wall  116 , opposite the notch  121  in the case of the loop handle  123  and opposite the notch  122  in the case of the loop handle  124 . 
     The loop handle  123  (or  124 ) has the shape of a corner piece, a first surface  125  (or  126 ) being used for fixing to the wall  116  by welding, screwing, riveting, adhesive bonding or any other assembly technique, and a second surface  127  (or  128 ), which is substantially perpendicular to the first surface  125  (or  126 ), being a continuation of the rim  120 , substantially at the same level as the rim  120 . 
     The second surface  127  of the loop handle  123  has a cut-out  129 , the width of which corresponds substantially to the width of the notch  121  of the wall  116 . 
     The second surface  128  of the loop handle  124  has a cut-out  130 , the width of which corresponds substantially to the width of the notch  122  of the wall  116 . It also has two cut-outs  131  and  132  arranged on either side of the cut-out  130 , the purpose of which will be explained below. 
     Finally, approximately at mid-distance between the two loop handles  123  and  124 , the rim  120  has a spout  134  which can serve to facilitate pouring of a liquid contained in the space  118 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a first perspective view of the container  110 . In the example described here, the container  110  is quite similar to the container  10  in that it has a body  140  pierced with holes  142  to form a strainer, as well as lugs  144  and  145 . Here too, it will be possible to omit the holes  142  in order to obtain a bain-marie. 
     The lug  144  has a first cylindrical portion  146 , which projects from the body  140 , and a second portion  147 , which is likewise cylindrical, as a continuation of the first portion  146 . 
     The first portion  146  has a diameter substantially equal to that of the opening  122 , and the second portion  147  has a diameter substantially equal to that of the cut-out  130 . 
     The lug  145  in turn is formed of a single cylindrical part, the diameter of which corresponds substantially to that of the opening  121 . 
     Advantageously, the diameters of the openings  121  and  122  can be chosen to be substantially equal, which facilitates manufacture of the container  110 . In fact, the openings  121  and  122  can be formed in the same operation, like the lug  145  and the first portion  146  of the lug  144 . 
     The configuration of the lugs  144  and  145  facilitates fitting of the container  110  in the base  104 . In fact, as will be seen below, the utensil of this embodiment is not ambidextrous. 
     Within this context, the different sizes of the lugs  144  and  145  ensure that the user does not make a mistake when positioning the container  110  in the base  104 . 
     The container  110  also has an element  148  of generally bent shape, like the loop handles  123  and  124 , and which is arranged along the body  140  between the lugs  144  and  145 , corresponding to the spout  134  of the base  104 . 
     The element  148  is arranged between the lugs  144  and  145  in such a manner that, when the container  110  is received in the space  118  of the base  104 , the element  148  rests on the spout  134 . The support of the element  148  on the spout  134  accordingly prohibits a direction of rotation of the container  110  relative to the base  104 , while that support is ineffective in the other direction of rotation. 
     The element  148  also has two cut-outs  149  and  150  which are formed in a similar manner to the cut-outs  131  and  132  of the loop handle  124 . 
     The element  148  is formed with a gap  151  in the region of the bend. Accordingly, when the element  148  is joined to the wall  116 , a space corresponding to the gap  151  remains between on the one hand the end of the rim  120  of the wall  116  and on the other hand the element  148 . This especially allows the lid  112  to be fitted tightly, whether the strainer  10  is present in the base  104  or not. 
     It will additionally be noted that the cut-outs  149  and  150  are formed in a part of the element  148  that cannot be covered by the lid  112 , as will better be apparent from  FIG. 5 . 
     When the container  110  is received in the base  104  and the lid  112  closes the utensil  102 , the inside of the utensil  102  is therefore in communication with the outside via the cut-outs  149  and  150 , since they are formed in a part of the element  148  that covers the spout  134  between the end thereof and the end of the lid  112 . 
     Accordingly, when the element  148  is resting on the spout  134  and the lid  112  closes the assembly, the cut-outs  149  and  150  allow steam to escape from inside the utensil  102 , which is closed by the lid  112 . 
     This ensures that there is an easy escape path for the steam and prevents steam from escaping through the openings  121  and  122  and therefore burning the user who is handling the utensil  102 . 
     As will be seen in  FIG. 8 , the container  110  further has four feet  152  in the region of the bottom of the body  140 , which allows the container  110  to be placed on a flat surface without tipping over. 
       FIG. 9  shows an exploded perspective view of the handle  106  of the utensil  102 . The handle  106  is removable and is provided to allow the base  104  and the container  110  to be handled, both separately and when they are joined together. 
     The handle  106  has a core  160 , a locking mechanism  162  and a cover  164 . 
     The core  160  is made of metal, for example of steel for die casting, and has a generally elongate shape. On the side of the handle  106  that is used for joining to the base  104  or to the container  110 , the core has a joining region  166 . 
     The joining region  166  comprises a stamped portion  168 , the shape of which is substantially complementary to that of the second portion  128  of the loop handle  124 , and to that of the element  148 . 
     Furthermore, two fingers  169  and  170  project from the end of the stamped portion  168 . The fingers  169  and  170  are of such a size and are so arranged that they engage in the cut-outs  131  and  132  and  149  and  150 . 
     Following the joining region  166 , the core  160  has a locking region  170 . The locking region  170  is the portion of the core  160  that is to cooperate with the locking mechanism  162  in order to maintain the handle  106  and the base  104  or the container  110  in integral connection. 
     The locking region  170  comprises two holes  171  and  172 . The hole  171  is used for interaction between the core  160  and the locking mechanism  162 , and the hole  172  is used for joining with the cover  164  and as support for the spring  186 . 
     Finally, as a continuation of the joining region  166 , the core  160  has a gripping region  174 , which has two apertures  175  and  176 . 
     The aperture  175  allows the handle  106  to be made lighter and serves to receive part of the cover  164 . The aperture  176  is similar to the aperture  32  and serves for hanging the handle from a hook. 
     The locking mechanism  162  comprises a button  178  integral with a rod  180 , as well as an arm  182  which has a groove  184  which houses a spring  186 . 
     The locking mechanism  162  operates as follows: when the fingers  169  and  170  are introduced into the cut-outs  131  and  132  (or the cut-outs  149  and  150 ), by a downward movement, the arm  182  comes into contact with an end of the second portion  128  (or of the element  148 ). 
     As the fingers  169  and  170  advance and the handle  106  is lowered, the arm  182  is urged in the direction of resistance of the spring  186 , which it compresses. The spring  186  is limited in its movement by a stop  188  protruding from the hole  172 . 
     When the fingers  169  and  170  are fully engaged and the handle  106  is fully depressed, the end of the second portion  128  (or of the element  148 ) is fully housed in the stamped portion  168 , and the arm  182  then moves violently in the opposite direction under the effect of the release of the spring  186 . 
     The arm is then situated beneath the end of the second portion  128  (or of the element  148 ), while the fingers  169  and  170  engage therewith from above, which creates a pincer-type connection. 
     When the container  110  is received in the base  104 , the stamped portion  168  covers the end of the lug  144 , as can be seen in  FIG. 12 . 
     The rod  180  is integral with the arm  182 , which allows the locking mechanism  162  to be unlocked. In fact, the button  178  simply has to be pulled in order for the arm  182  to move back and compress the spring  186 , until the arm is no longer beneath the end of the second portion  128  (or of the element  148 ). 
     It is then simple to detach the handle  106  by lifting it and disengaging the fingers  169  and  170 . 
     In the example described here, the cover  164  is made of silicone, which allows a good grip to be obtained while offering excellent heat insulation. In other embodiments, the cover  164  can be made of plastics material, silicone or metal. 
       FIG. 10  shows an example of the placing of the container  110  in the base  104 . As can be seen, it is appropriate first to introduce the lug  145  into the notch  129  until it is lodged partly in the opening  121  and partly beneath the second surface  127  of the loop handle  123 . 
     Then, in a movement according to an arrow F 4 , the container  110  can be lodged in the space  118 , the lug  144  being lodged in the notch  130  of the loop handle  124  and in the opening  122 . 
       FIG. 11  shows the fitting of the handle  106  to the assembly comprising the base  104  and the container  110 . As stated above, the fingers  169  and  170  are introduced into the cut-outs  131  and  132 , and the handle is lowered according to an arrow F 5  until a clicking sound is heard, which corresponds to the release of the spring  186 . 
     Finally,  FIG. 12  shows the use of the utensil  102  for draining off water. Once the handle  106  has been locked, it simply has to be turned according to an arrow F 6  in order to turn the base  104 , while the container  110  remains upright on account of gravity. 
     Since the lug  144  is maintained at the level of the handle  106  and the lug  145  is maintained at the level of the second surface  127 , the base  104  and the container  110  are then in a rotational relationship according to the axis passing through the lugs  144  and  145 . 
     Finally, if the handle is turned in the opposite direction to the arrow F 6 , it will be noted that the container  110  and the base  104  remain connected because the element  148  remains supported on the spout  134 , which allows the contents of the container  110  easily to be poured into a dish. 
     It will be noted that, if the element  148  is located in an opposite manner to that shown here, the directions mentioned above are reversed, but the operation remains the same. 
       FIG. 13  shows a second container  190  received in the base  104 . In this embodiment, the container  190  does not have holes and the utensil  192  therefore forms a bain-marie. 
     Under these conditions, it may be valuable to block the container  190  in terms of rotation when it is being held by the handle  106 . This allows, for example, the contents of the container  190  to be emptied out once the boiling water has been drained off. 
     To that end, the loop handle  122  is modified slightly in order to add a lock  194 . The lock  194  comprises a knob  196  which is connected by a rod (not shown) to a latch  198  through an opening in the opening  200  of the loop handle  122 . Accordingly, the latch  198  can be turned by means of the knob  196  so that it becomes lodged on the rim of the base  104 . 
     Advantageously, the lock  194  can comprise a return spring, which urges the latch  198  towards the knob  196 , which reinforces the holding of the lock  194  when it is engaged and prevents it from being locked accidentally when it is not engaged. 
       FIG. 14  shows a partially cutaway front view of the utensil of  FIGS. 5 and 13 , allowing the relative dimensions of the container and of the base to be explained. 
     As can be seen in this figure, the parameters allowing the dimensions to be defined are as follows:
         Rins, the inside radius of the base,   a, the outside radius of the container,   J 1 , the radial spacing between the container and the base in the region of the rim of the base,   J 2 , the vertical spacing between the container and the bottom of the base,   H, the height of the base, and   Z, the distance between the height of the container.       

     In light of these parameters, the applicant has identified two equations which define the relative dimensions of the container and of the base:
 
 a   2 =( R ins− J 1) 2   +Z   2  and  H≧J 2+ Z+a.  
 
     These equations are provided for the following ranges:
         J 1  from 0.2 cm to 5 cm,   J 2  from 0.2 cm to 5 cm, and   Z from −2 cm to 2 cm (the container can be above or below the top plane of the base).       

     Although the examples described here relate to handles of generally elongate shape, the handles may also have a shorter form in the manner of a loop handle and be arranged symmetrically around the wall, for use as a stewpot, for example. 
     Although the base  4  has been described in the particular form of a saucepan, it must be appreciated that the base  4  can be in the form of any other cylindrical container for culinary use. 
     In addition to the applications described above, solely by way of example, it is possible to envisage implementing the invention in the form of a steamer or deep fryer, inter alia. 
     The preceding description has been made in relation to two distinct embodiments. The person skilled in the art will recognise that numerous variants of form, of materials and of functions can be shared by these two embodiments, and he will be able to use them when advantageous.