Abstract:
Provided is a kitchenware item comprising a pan provided with a side wall, a cover suitable for covering the pan and a handle comprising attachment means for attaching to the side wall. The handle comprises an electrical energy source, and an electromechanical device fed by the electrical energy source and controlled by control means, and the electromechanical device is suitable for driving an actuating device that acts on the cover in order to move same.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the United States national phase of International Application No. PCT/FR2012/051579 filed Jul. 5, 2012, and claims priority to French Patent Application No. 11 56364 filed Jul. 13, 2011, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     This invention concerns a kitchenware item designed to cook food, in particular, a frying pan, casserole, sautéing pan, stewpot or pressure cooker with a handle and cover. 
     Description of Related Art 
     Document CH686338 describes a kitchenware item with a cover with a motor powered by a battery and an agitator which is rotated by the motor to mix the food. Such an arrangement automates the shaking function using a motor and battery to assist the user. 
     However, a kitchenware item with such a cover does not allow the user to easily monitor how the food is cooking. The weight of the cover is increased by the weight of the motor and battery and, as a result, it is difficult to move. Further, the motor and battery protrude from the upper portion of the cover which complicates storage of the kitchenware item with a cover. 
     The purpose of this invention is to eliminate the aforementioned inconvenience and offer a kitchenware item with a cover which is ergonomically optimized to allow the user to easily and safely handle it. 
     Another purpose of the invention is to offer a kitchenware item with a cover which can be easily stored. 
     Another purpose of the invention is to offer a kitchenware item with a cover with a simple design which is easy to use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These purposes are achieved with a kitchenware item with a pan with a lateral face or side wall, a cover designed to cover the pan and a handle with an attachment mechanism to attach it to the lateral face, wherein said handle contains an electrical energy source, an electromechanical mechanism powered by the energy source which is controlled by a control mechanism and wherein the electromechanical mechanism is designed to activate a trigger mechanism which moves the cover. 
     Such an arrangement allows a kitchenware item with a cover which offers mechanized functions to the user to use the cover. The heavy, bulky components, which mechanize the functions, i.e., the energy source, electromechanical mechanism and trigger mechanism are located in the handle. This does not increase the cover&#39;s weight and does not protrude. Therefore, the cover remains easy to use and store. Further, the positioning of the heavy components in the handle improves ergonomics by shifting the center of gravity toward the handle held by the user. 
     Advantageously, the trigger mechanism contains a lever which moves from a rest position in which the lever is located within the handle and an activated position in which the lever projects from the upper face of the handle to raise the cover placed on the cap, thereby controlling the flow of steam when food is heated in the cap. 
     This arrangement allows the steam release mechanism to be mechanized. 
     Using the control mechanism located on the handle, the user may easily control the release of steam without touching the cover, thereby not risking a burn. 
     Preferably, the lever consists of a rotating cam. 
     This arrangement creates a mobile lever which is simple and easy to use. 
     Advantageously, the lever consists of at least one, movable piston. 
     Preferably, the cover contains a ring-shaped trammel and the trigger mechanism contains a cog rotated by the electromechanical mechanism where said cog works with a trammel to rotate the cover on the cap. 
     This arrangement allows for a cover which rotates on the very light pan, which is easy to move and store. 
     Advantageously, the cover contains a mechanism to shake or grind the food located in the pan where said shaking or grinding mechanism acts on the food when the cover is rotated on the pan. 
     This arrangement mechanizes the shaking or grinding of the food located in the pan. 
     Preferably, the shaking mechanism includes a mixing paddle. 
     Advantageously, the electromechanical mechanism contains a motor to activate the trigger mechanism. 
     This arrangement makes activating the trigger mechanism very easy. 
     Preferably, the electrical energy source is a rechargeable electrical energy source designed to be recharged by a recharger. 
     This arrangement creates independence sufficient to mechanize the planned functions. 
     Advantageously, the handle attachment mechanism can be detached so that said handle can be attached to and removed from the lateral face. 
     This arrangement improves the storing of the kitchenware item and also facilitates battery recharging since the handle and battery can be placed on a recharging base once detached from the kitchenware item. 
     Preferably, the kitchenware item is a frying pan, casserole, sautéing pan or stewpot. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       The invention will be better understood by viewing the methods of implementation, which are in no way limitative, shown in the attached drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a partial cut-away view of a kitchenware item and a cover in accordance with one method of implementation of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic view of the handle of the kitchenware item along line II-II shown in Diagram  1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows a partial schematic cut-away view of the kitchenware item in Diagram  1  with the cover raised. 
         FIG. 4  shows a schematic view of the handle of the kitchenware item along line IV-IV shown in Diagram  3 . 
         FIG. 5  shows a partial schematic cut-away view of a kitchenware item, cover and removable handle in accordance with a second method of implementation of the invention. The cut-away view of the handle is shown along line V-V shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the removable handle of the kitchenware item in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  shows a partial schematic cut-away view of the kitchenware item, cover and removable handle in  FIG. 5  with the cover raised. The cut-away view of the handle was prepared along line VII-VII shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of the removable handle of the kitchenware item in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  shows a partial schematic cut-away view of a kitchenware item and a cover which is rotated in accordance with a third method of implementation of the invention. 
         FIG. 10  shows a schematic view of the handle of the kitchenware item along line X-X shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     In accordance with an initial method of implementation shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , kitchenware item  1  includes sap-pan  2  with a side wall or lateral face  3 , cover  4  designed to cover pan  2  and handle  5 . Handle  5  is attached to lateral face  3  by the attachment mechanism (not shown in the drawings). The attachment mechanism may include a gudgeon attached to the pan which cooperates with a screw which is located in an opening in the handle. 
     Lateral face  3  includes an upper edge  15  on which cover  4  rests. Cover  4  contains exterior ledge  10  which extends radially beyond upper edge  15  which has fold  11  which forms a basically horizontal face. Ledge  10  of cover  4  contains positioning shoulder  12  on the upper edge. 
     Handle  5  is elongated and extends from lateral face  3  in longitudinal direction X. Handle  5  contains electrical energy source  6 , electromechanical mechanism  20  powered by electrical energy source  6  which is controlled by the control mechanism and trigger mechanism  30  driven by electromechanical mechanism  20 . 
     Trigger mechanism  30  contains a lever which forms rotatable cam  31  which is located in the front section of handle  5 , under ledge  10  of cover  4 , when it rests on man  2 . Cam  31  is located in front section  33  of shaft  32  which is rotated by flat piece  35 . Shaft  32  includes second section  34  which is rotated by the electromechanical mechanism driven by electrical motor  21 . 
     Handle  5  contains upper face  51  under which housing  36  is located. Cam  31  is housed in housing  36  and is connected to the exterior by upper face  51  of handle  5 . Cam  31  is rotated by electrical motor  21  to move between a rest position in which cam  31  is housed inside housing  36  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and an activated position in which cam  31  projects from upper face  51  of handle  5  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). In the rest position, the principal axis of cam  31  is essentially parallel to the horizontal plane of handle  5 . In the activated position, the principal axis of cam  31  is essentially perpendicular to the horizontal plane of handle  5  and is oriented upward when pan  2  is placed on a horizontal support. 
     In the activated position, cam  31  is supported on ledge  10  and cover  4  is raised in an inclined position to create space  37  through which steam may escape when food is heated in pan  2 . When in the activated position space  37  is a maximum of 25 millimeters in size. 
     Preferably, cam  31  may occupy multiple intermediate positions between the rest and activated positions to that the user can adjust space  37  to the amount of steam produced. 
     Preferably, electrical motor  21  includes reduction gear  25 . For example, the rotation speed of the electrical motor is designed to move the cam from the rest position to the activated position, i.e., 90°, in two seconds. The motor power should be approximately two watts. 
     Electrical energy source  6  may include a rechargeable electrical energy source (a large battery or super capacitor) or one or more small batteries. For example, the large battery could provide 3.6 volts and 780 mA/hour. Electrical energy source  6  may be removed and be recharged in a charger outside kitchenware item  1 . 
     Preferably, cam  31  is located in the front section of handle  5  and electrical energy source  6  is located near the rear section of handle  5 . The control mechanism, electromechanical mechanism  20  and trigger mechanism  30  are located between cam  31  and electrical energy source  6 . Electromechanical mechanism  20 , trigger mechanism  30  and electrical energy source  6  are essentially aligned in longitudinal direction (X) which allows for a compact handle  5  in a generally elongated shape to allow it to be grasped by a user to raise kitchenware item  1 . 
     The control mechanism includes control button  22  which can be accessed from the exterior of handle  5  and an electronic circuit (not shown) connected to control button  22  and electromechanical mechanism  20 . In the example in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , control button  22  is located on handle  5 . 
     When the user presses control button  22 , a signal is transmitted to the electronic circuit which orders electrical motor  21  to rotate. 
     Control button  22  has three positions: a stable rest position, a more forward position to select an initial rotation direction for electrical motor  21  to open cover  4  and a second rotation direction to close cover  4 . 
     In operation, the user places the food to be cooked in kitchenware item  1  and, to cook it, he places kitchenware item  1  on a heat source. He grasps cover  4  and positions exterior ledge  10  on upper edge  15 . Cam  31  remains within handle  5 . Once the food has started to cook and the user would like release steam, he activates electrical motor  21  by pressing control button  22 . Accordingly, cam  31  is rotated is supported on ledge  10  to raise cover  4 . Space  37 , through which the steam may escape, is created. Depending on cooking progress and the adjustment of the heat source, the user may modulate the release of the steam by adjusting the position of cam  31  between the activated position in which space  37  is at a maximum and the rest position in which space  37  is at a minimum. 
     In one method of implementation shown to  FIGS. 5 to 8 , kitchenware item  1   a  includes pan  2   a  with lateral face  3   a , cover  4   a  designed to cover pan  2   a  and handle  5   a . Handle  5   a  contains a detachable attachment mechanism to attach said handle  5   a  to and remove it from lateral face  3   a . The attachment mechanism includes two jaws  60  and  61  which form a pincer of which jaw  60  moves in relation to the other jaw  61  between an open and a closed position in which the two jaws  60  and  61  form a pincer which grasps lateral face  3   a  of kitchenware item  1   a . The attachment mechanism also includes a movement mechanism designed to move jaws  60  and  61 , which form a pincer between the open and closed positions. The movement mechanism includes lever  62  mounted to pivot on handle  5   a  between a remote position and a retracted position inside handle  5   a . A set of rods  63  is designed to move mobile jaws  60  when lever  62  is manually pivoted by the user. Such a removable handle is described in more detail in document FR 2 898 031. 
     In this method of implementation, handle  5   a  includes trigger mechanism  30   a  which also allows cover  4   a  placed on pan  2   a  to be raised. Trigger mechanism  30   a  includes a lever driven by two pistons  40 , each activated by motor  41 . Motor  41  contains a screw/nut system (not shown in drawings). The nut is rotated and acts using the screw on piston  40 . These motors  41  are powered by energy source  6   a  housed in grasp body  50   a  of handle  5   a.    
     Pistons  40  move perpendicularly to longitudinal direction (X) between a rest position ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ) in which they are retracted (in full or nearly so) within the grasp body  50   a  and an activated position ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ) in which they protrude from upper face  51   a  of the handle and are generally perpendicularly to it. Pistons  40  are aligned along the edge in front of the grasp mechanism in a direction perpendicular to longitudinal direction (X). 
     Handle  5   a  grasps lateral face  3   a  of pan  2   a  from the top of the lateral face. As shown in  FIG. 5 , when pistons  40  are in the rest position (retracted), cover  4   a  is shaped to rest on pistons  40  and cover mobile jaws  60  to leave as little space as possible between cover  4   a  and handle  5   a . Cover  4   a  includes support ledge  10  which rests on its external periphery and which supports pistons  40 . When pistons  40  are in the activated position ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ), they are in contact with support ledge  10  support of cover  4   a  and pushes the cover up to form space  37   a  between cover  4   a  and mobile jaws  60  of handle  5   a . Therefore, space  37   a  created between cover  4   a  and the upper ledge of pan  2   a  to allow the steam to be released. 
     In one variation, the pistons may be activated by a electromagnet, in particular, a “push” type electromagnet which includes a cylindrical body and a coil moves a metallic stem. 
     If a rechargeable electrical energy source is used, handle  5   a  includes an electrical connection mechanism accessible from the outside of the handle to allow rechargeable electrical energy source  6   a  to be recharged. The electrical connection mechanism may include two electrical connection terminals  65  connected to rechargeable electrical energy source  6   a . The electrical connection terminals  65  may be connected to and disconnected from the two electrical connection terminals provided on a recharging base to allow electrical energy source  6  to be recharged. The terminals of electrical connection  65  are located on the back of handle  5   a.    
     In one variation, the control mechanism includes a mechanism to detect the presence of steam in the cap to operate the trigger mechanism. This variation allows the steam release function to be automated, reducing the attention required to cook food in the kitchenware item. For example, the risk of overflow may be eliminated when cooking pasta if the boiling is not being monitored. For example, the detection means could include a temperature sensor which would detect boiling water, an optical sensor or an electrical sensor with capacity electrodes. 
     In another method of implementation shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , kitchenware item  1   b  includes pan  2   b  with lateral face  3   b  and cover  4   b  designed to cover pan  2   b  and handle  5 . Lateral face  3   b  includes upper edge  15   b  on which cover  4   b  rests. Cover  4   b  contains exterior ledge  10   b  which extends radially beyond upper edge  15   b  which has fold  11   b  which forms an essentially horizontal face. Ledge  10   b  of cover  4   b  contains positioning shoulder  12   b  on the upper edge. 
     Trigger mechanism  30   b  contains cog  45  which is rotated by electromechanical mechanism  20 . Cog  45  is located in the initial section of handle  5 , under ledge  10   b  of cover  4   b  when it rests on pan  2   b.    
     Cog  45  forms part of the initial section of the shaft. The cog is housed in housing  36   b  in handle  5 . Housing  36   b  is connected to the exterior by upper face  51  of handle  5 . Cog  45  partially projects from upper face  51  and is rotated by electrical motor  21  to drive trammel  46  located on ledge  10   b  of cover  4   b . Trammel  46  rotates cover  4   b  on pan  2   b . Shoulder  12   b  guides cover  4   b  on upper edge  15   b . For example, the motor rotation speed is designed to cause the cover to rotate at approximately fifteen rotations per minute. Cover rotation speed may be adjustable. 
     In one variation, trammel  46  and shoulder  12   b  are made of a single injection molded plastic piece to make them slippery to reduce the wear and tear of cover  4   b  on lateral face  3   b . Plastic is also resistant to temperature and may be, inter alia, a polyamide, polytetrafluoroethylene or polysulfide. This piece may be removable to be changed. 
     Cover  4   b  contains paddle  16  to mix the food (for example, purée, fried vegetables or soup) located at the bottom of sap-pan  2   b . Paddle  16  could be assembled on the cover using an attachment mechanism to allow the user to remove the paddle to, for example, make washing easier. The paddle may be soft and folded in the cover. The paddle may have various forms depending on the type of preparation. For example, the paddle could contain a vertical face with a fold on the lower section to return the food during mixing or the paddles could have a perforated face for sauces and soups. 
     In one completion variation, the cover contains means to grind the food. The grinding means may include a perforated paddle which is inclined in the food in relation to the bottom of the cap. In this method of implementation, the cover contains mechanisms in the cap which only allow rotation. 
     Of course, the invention is not in any manner limited to the methods of implementation described and shown which have been provided only as examples. Modifications are possible, in particular, from the point of view of creating other items or replacement with equivalent techniques, without, however, falling outside the scope of protection of the invention. 
     Accordingly, in one variation of implementation, cover  4  has a transparent section to allow the user to monitor cooking without touching the cover.