Abstract:
A set of cooking vessels includes 2 or more fluid containing vessels that nest within each other for compact storage. Side gripping handles on opposing sides of the vessel also and asked with each other, as the larger vessel has cite handles with a laterally extending cavity that accommodates the contour of the smaller vessel handles which are mere extension of the rim thereof. The vessel set may also accommodate a sieve or strainer that nest within the smaller vessel, as well as a third nestable vessel that can optionally be used as a lid to cover the larger vessel during cooking.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority to the following U.S. Provisional patent applications, having serial numbers: 61/699,110 (filed Sep. 10, 2012), 61/650,384 (filed May 22, 2012) and 61/648,365 filed May 17, 2012, which are all incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present field of invention is cookware, and more particularly nested cookware vessels. 
         [0003]    Prior methods of nesting cookware are known, however they lack versatility. 
         [0004]    Furthermore, the handles of such cookware sets, unless removable, will increase the required storage space for the set, or alternatively provide less potential foodstuff volume in the individual cookware vessels. 
         [0005]    Further, the use of single removable handle that fits multiple pieces in the set precludes or makes very cumbersome the simultaneous use of more than 2 vessels in the set. 
         [0006]    It is therefore a first object of the present invention to provide to provide a set of nesting cookware vessel that overcome the above and other disadvantages of the prior art sets of stacked cookware. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0007]    In the present invention, the first object is achieved by providing a cookware vessel set comprising a first cooking vessel, having a first bottom surface with first upward extending walls connected thereto that terminate at a first rim, a second cooking vessel, having a second bottom surface with second upward extending walls connected thereto that terminate at a second rim, and a first laterally extending flange connecting to the second rim, wherein the second cooking vessel is smaller than the first cooking vessel and the second rim thereof is smaller than the first rim such that second cooking vessel can nest upright in the first cooking vessel, a third vessel having a third bottom surface with third upward extending walls connected thereto that terminate at a third rim, and a third laterally extending annular flange that connected to the third rim, wherein at least one of the third rim and third laterally extending annular flange of the third vessel has at least an annular portion capable of overlapping the second rim and the first rim when disposed thereon in an inverted position to act as a lid. 
         [0008]    A second aspect of the cookware set of the present invention is characterized in that the first and at least one of the first and second vessels have handles that interlock in both upright and inverted position to substantially sealing mate the respective flanges of each vessel and preclude lateral motion there between. 
         [0009]    Another aspect of the cookware set of the present invention is characterized in that the second vessel is at least partially perforated at the bottom thereof to provide a removable sieve or steamer insert. 
         [0010]    Another aspect of the cookware set of the present invention is characterized in that each of the first second and third vessels has pairs of handles latterly disposed and connected to at least one of the portion of the sidewall and the rim of the respective vessel, each handle in the pair disposed on the opposite side of the vessel. 
         [0011]    Another aspect of the cookware set of the present invention is characterized in that the pair of handles of the first vessel includes an aperture adapted to receive both the handles of the second vessel when the second vessel is vested in upright position in the first vessel. 
         [0012]    Another aspect of the cookware set of the present invention is characterized in that the pair of handles of the third vessel is adapted to be received in a stable mating engagement with the combination of the aperture and handles of the first vessel at the second vessel when inverted for storage or use as a steam containing lid on either the first and second vessel. 
         [0013]    Another aspect of the cookware set of the present invention is characterized in that the third vessel is a sieve having a plurality of perforations on the third bottom surface. 
         [0014]    The above and other objects, effects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1A  is a cross-sectional elevation view of an embodiment of the cookware vessel set in a first nested condition, whereas  FIG. 1B  is a split cross-sectional elevation view of this embodiment of the cookware vessel set in second configuration.  FIG. 1C  is a detailed view of the handle portion of the vessels in the set at their common junction, whereas  FIG. 1D  is a detailed view of an orthogonal portion of the vessels in the set at the junction of the rims. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional elevation view of another embodiment of the cookware vessel set in a different nested condition.  FIG. 2B  is a detailed view of the handle portion of the vessels in a first stage in nesting, whereas  FIG. 2C  is a detailed view of the handle portion of the vessels in a subsequent stage of nesting that inverts the top most vessel. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of 2 components of the cookware set of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of 2 components of the cookware set of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective exploded view of the sieve/steamer support component and second vessel in the orientation for nested storage, both within the first or outer vessel of the cookware set. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a perspective exploded view of the sieve/steamer support component as oriented for use in which the second vessel is inverted to serve as a lid that extends over the steamer component and sealing engages the first or outer vessel. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional elevation view of another embodiment of the cookware vessel set. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 7 , wherein like reference numerals refer to like components in the various views, there is illustrated therein a new and improved Nesting Cookware Set, generally denominated  100  herein. 
         [0023]    In accordance with the present invention cookware set  100  comprises a first and second cookware vessel, each having a bottom surface ( 1110  for the first vessel  1000  and  2110  for the second vessel  2000 ) and connected surrounding sidewalls ( 1120  for the first vessel and  2120  for the second vessel) that extend upward and outward to a rim ( 1130  for the first vessel and  2130  for the second vessel), wherein an annular flange ( 1140  for the first vessel and  2140  for the second vessel) extends laterally about the rim. The first  1000  and second cookware vessels  2000  have handles ( 1150  for the first vessel and  2150  for second vessel) that extend outward from the flange formed adjacent to the rim portion. The first vessel  1000  is the largest and hence outer vessel in the nested set  100 , whereas the other component vessel(s) is/are shorter and narrower (at least at the bottom thereof), to fit with the first or outer vessel  1000  for storage, as described in further below. 
         [0024]    Within the first vessel  1100 , the handle portion  1150  is optionally connected to the rim  1130 , or any flange portion that extends there from, being generally horizontally flush with the rim  1130 , and generally including at least a partial depression, perforation or aperture  1155 . However, the handle  1150  can also extend outward from the upright sidewall of the vessel. 
         [0025]    Within the second vessel  2000 , the handles  2150  are optionally connected to the rim  2130 , or any flange portion  2140  that extends from the rim, being generally horizontally flush there with. Hence, the narrower and shallower second vessel  2000 , can be stored in a nesting configuration within the larger outer vessel  1000 , in which the respective handles intermesh within each other so that the rim of each vessel is substantially in the same horizontal plane. As shown in  FIGS. 1C and 2B , the handles of the first and second vessel intermesh or interlock to restrict the lateral motion of each vessel against the other, such movement being restrained by the vertical interference of the intermeshed fitting portion of the handles. Hence, as shown in the various embodiments, to the extent the handle of the first vessel  1150  has aperture  1150 , a second or third, or other mating vessel can deploy a handle having at least a portion that enters the aperture  1150  and generally conforms to the aperture&#39;s lateral profile to restrain lateral motion once inserted. 
         [0026]    Furthermore, the surrounding portion of each handle is preferably covered with a generally non-thermally conducting layer or coating (such as rubber, and preferably typically silicone rubber) which is preferably deployed to form vertical projections  2156 , hence preventing the user&#39;s hands from contacting handle portion that become hot during use, so the vessel can be safely gripped by these handles. 
         [0027]    Further, set  100  also preferably comprises a sieve/steamer support  4000 , having a perforated bottom surface  4110  that is connected to surrounding sidewalls  4120 , which extends outward and upward to a rim portion  4130 . The rim portion  4130 , which optionally includes an outward extending annular flange, has at least a portion that extends sufficiently outward to be disposed on the rim of either the first or second vessel, thus supporting the perforated bottom surface  4110  having holes (such as  4100   a  and/or  4110   b ) well above the bottom of the cookware vessel during use. Further, sieve  4000 , can likewise be nested within set  100 , being disposed above vessel  2000  as shown in  FIG. 1A . 
         [0028]    As shown in further detail in  FIG. 5 , sieve  4000  bottom surface  4110  has a raised circular ridge  4111  that is concentrically aligned therewith to divide the bottom surface  4110  into 2 regions, central region  4110   a,  and an annular region  4110   b  that surrounds the central region  4110   at.  Both these regions  4110   a  and  4110   b  have holes. The ridge  4111  forces dripping condensate to drain through the holes  4112   a  of the annular region  4110   a,  before this liquid can enter the inner region  4110   a  between holes  4112   a,  where it would excessively dampen foodstuff supported thereon. 
         [0029]    The sieve component  4000  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) also preferably includes a pair of oppositely disposed wire handles  4170 . Each of the wire handles  4170  in the pair has a generally semi-circular shape but for the end portions  4171  that extend radially from the circle perimeter to engage in an axle bore or coupling  4175  formed below the rim or flange of the sieve  4000 , that is in wall  4120 . The pairs of axle bores  4175  that receive the ends of the handle  4170  are adjacent to each other, with each pair on the opposite side of the rim from the other pair. This permits the handles to fold downward when the sieve  4000  is resting on the rim or flange of either vessel, generally falling just within the annular rim portion. However, by folding both pairs of handles upward from their resting position, the sieve  4000  and its content can be lifter up and away from the vessel for rinsing, removing and/or serving. 
         [0030]      FIG. 1D  illustrates the details of the interlocking rims distal from handle  1150  and  2150 , corresponding with the left side of  FIG. 1B . Flange  1140  of the first vessel  1000  has two concentric annular portion, the lower region  1140   a  being inward and connected to the side wall  1120  at rim  1130 . A higher annular surrounding region  1140   b  is connected thereto by a partially vertical transition or slope to define a sealing annulus at portion  1140   a  for retaining both the flange  4120  of sieve  4000  and the horizontal annular flange  2140  of the second vessel when inverted to provide a lid over the outer vessel  1000  and the sieve  4000 . The lower region  1140   a  sealingly support the flange  4140  of the sieve  4000 , which in turn sealingly supports the flange of  2140  when vessel  2000  is inverted to provide a lid. 
         [0031]    Alternatively, while the flange  2130  can laterally extend to rest on the upper annular flange portion  1140   b,  this is less preferred as it would not locking seat the lid to preventing it from laterally sliding off vessel  1000 , absent adding another upward transition to a final raised outer annular on flange  1140 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 2A-C  illustrates an alternative embodiment, which optionally can also include sieve  4000 , or use vessel  2000  as a sieve (if perforated at the bottom  2110 ) as well as the use of a third vessel  3000 , having a bottom  3110 , with upward extending sidewalls  3120  that terminate at an annular rim  3140 . A flange  3140  horizontal projects as an annular lateral extension from the periphery of rim  3140 . The third vessel also has handles  3150  having a portion that is capable of matingly intermeshing with either the aperture  1155  in handle  1150 , or extends around the outer perimeter thereof, as shown in  FIG. 2C . Hence, the third vessel  3000  having a bottom surface  3100 , sidewalls  3120  and a rim  3130 , as well as handles  3150  is optionally included in the set, and in the stacked configurations shown  FIGS. 1 and 2  is arranged as a lid that is inverted so that the rim  3130  sealingly engages the corresponding rim  1130  or  2130  of both the first and second vessels respectively. 
         [0033]    Hence,  FIG. 2A  illustrates a storage position, or a means of using vessel  3000  as a lid with either vessel  100  or  2000 . In this embodiment, handle  3150  in the inverted position surrounds both of handles  1150  and  2150 , having a concave upper surface that conforms to the horizontal extent and vertical height of the combination of these 2 handles that themselves intermesh as shown  FIG. 2B . Thus, while  FIG. 2B  illustrates the insertion of handle  2150  into the aperture  1155  in handle  1150 ,  FIG. 2C , shows the overlaid placement of the concave portion of handle  2150  over the intermeshed combination of handles  2150  an  1150 . 
         [0034]    It should now be appreciated that the handles of the second vessel  2150  have an optimal size and shape to nest or be disposed within the cavity or aperture  1155  of the handle  1150  of the first or lower vessel  1000  in the set  100 . More specifically, the aperture or hole  1150  in handle  1150  accepts a complementary shaped portion of the second vessel in an upward position for storage, but also accepts the complementary shape of the inverted third vessel  3000  when used as a lid. Furthermore, the second vessel when used for cooking also accepts the complementary shape of the inverted third vessel when used as a lid. Hence, at least the second vessel in both embodiments has a handle with a vertically projecting portion  2156  that is received in the aperture  1150  that extends both above and below the horizontal reference plane defined by the surface if the second vessel&#39;s flange  2140 . 
         [0035]    Hence the set of cookware described herein, and in particular as shown an described with respect to  FIG. 2 , provides in another embodiment as many as 3 separate cooking vessels, one of which can be used as an optional lid which is easy to securely seat and seal to the rim portions of either of the other vessels that optionally form part of the set  100 . 
         [0036]    In another embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the upper cookware vessel  2000  that can serve as a lid for the lower cookware vessel  1000  has a non-stick coating  7005  deposited on the inside surface  2000   a,  and in particular a flouro-polymer or silicone polymer coatings. As such coating have limited durability when used for high temperature cooking, the user of the set has the option of high heat cooking in the first vessel, which is made optionally of cast iron, steel, stainless steel, aluminum or coated copper, included clad metal layers combining these and other material, but does not deploy a coating that would be susceptible to degradation at high cooking temperatures. In this embodiment, the handles  1150  and  2150  of each vessel are shown as optionally connected to the sidewall  1120  and  2020  respectively by discrete flanges  7010  and  7020 , without any attempt to limit the application to other embodiment of handle attachment. 
         [0037]    It should also be noted that the first, second and third cookware vessels of the present invention achieve the aforementioned objectives while also providing a useful wok like shape, that is the vessel width is substantially greater than the height, with the surrounding sidewalls  120  sloping upward from a smaller bottom  110  this is optionally curved or flat. It should be appreciated that in the foregoing discussion of the vessels shape, nothing precludes the merger of the sidewalls into the bottom, when the entire inner surface has continuously curving spherical or aspherical shape. However, because of the flush nesting configuration achieved by the progressive profile changes of the vessels in decreasing size from the bottom or outer vessel  1000 , along with the interlocking handle portions that are generally flush with the rim, the configuration is both compact and stable. Such stability is also a benefit in that the vessel surface will not contact and potentially mar each other during shipping. 
         [0038]    While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.