Abstract:
A detachable handle for a container having an upper rim comprises a body having a front portion and including: a pressure pump actuated with a first control button, wherein the pressure pump includes a first piston and contains viscous fluid, preferably oil; a control valve chamber in fluid communication with the pressure pump through a first fluid path, the control valve chamber including a control valve being actuated with a second control button; a pressure cylinder in fluid communication with the control valve chamber through a second fluid path, wherein the pressure cylinder includes a second piston; and an actuating assembly connected to the second piston. The actuating assembly includes a hook extending out of the body for engaging the upper rim of the container.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a handle for a cooking utensil, such as pot or pan, and more particularly, to a handle removably attached to the cooking utensil. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Conventional cooking utensils, such as pots and pans, are well known and used in a kitchen. Although, such cooking utensils are most frequently used during cooking, other types of cooking utensils are not frequently used and usually are stored for a long period of time between uses. In addition, pots and pans require a larger storage space in the kitchen. 
     Generally, pots and frying pans are made with handles that are securely and permanently fixed to the outer bodies by such methods as welding or screw joints. The conventional cooking utensils have a handle(s) fixed to a body of the cooker, which makes it unsuitable for use in an oven for cooking or for placement on a table for serving after the completion of the cooking. Moreover, the cooker of the related art is inconvenient for cleaning or storage and transportation because of its fixed handle. 
     Pots and pans with detachable handles require less space, as the handles may be removed and placed inside the pots or pans, thereby enabling the pots and pans to be stored closer together. Many prior art detachable handles include a pair of opposing, tong-like members which grip the upper rim of a pot or pan. Because the upper rim is generally not very wide, the detachable handle has only a small surface area with which to grasp, making it difficult for the handle to attach securely to the pan. As a result, the connection between the handle and the pan is unstable. 
     Several ideas have been proposed to solve these problems and inconveniences by constructing a handle that can be coupled with or separated from the cooker. One of the ideas is taught in Korean Utility Laid-Open No. 2000-0013999 which was published on Jul. 15, 2000. 
     The detachable handle for a cooker published in the above laid-open is shown in FIG. 6 of the present application and the operation of the separable handle is as follows. When a push button  42  of an operation bar  40  that protrudes out of a handle cover  20  is depressed, the operation bar  40  overcomes the force of a spring  60  (working through a keeper  50 ) and pivots downwardly by using an axis pin  41  as a rotation point. 
     From a timing standpoint, from the point which the operation bar  40  starts to rotate downwardly, the force of the spring  60  working on the operation bar  40  through the keeper  50  acts to push the operation bar  40  downward. As a result, the rear portion of the operation bar  40  protrudes out of the lower portion of the handle body  10 . 
     In accordance with the downward rotating operation of the operation bar  40 , the keeper  50 , which is coupled between a bump on the operation bar  40  and the rear end of an operation plate  30 , moves the entire operation plate  30  forward. This leaves a proper interval between the handle arm  31  at the front end of the operation plate  30  and the front end  11  of the handle body  10 . 
     By maintaining the above-mentioned state, the operation bar  40 , which protrudes out to the bottom of the handle body  10 , and the handle body  10  are squeezed together with hand upon placing the rim of a cooking vessel  200  betweeen the handle arm  31  and the front end  11  of the handle body  10 . Due to the squeezing pressure, the operation bar  40  pivots upward into the handle body  10 . Such motion causes the keeper  50  to rearwardly pull the operation plate  30 . As a result, the upper rim of the cooking vessel  200  is securely held between the handle arm  31  and the front end of the handle body  10 . 
     The handle  1  according to prior art is detached from the cooking vessel  200  by pushing the push button  42  of the handle  1 . One disadvantage of the handle  1  according to prior art shown in FIG. 6 is it fails to securely hold the cooking vessel  200  due to the weakness of the keeper  50  pulling the handle arm  31 . 
     In light of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide a compact detachable handle which may be easily attached to and removed from a cooking utensil and which does not interfere with the cooking utensil&#39;s contents. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a separable handle of a cooker that substantially solves one or more of the problems,limitations, and disadvantages of the related art. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a handle structure which can be separated from a cooker by securing a strong force to hold the cooker with the handle. 
     Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structures particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
     To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the detachable handle for a container having an upper rim comprises a body having a front portion and including: a pressure pump actuated with a first control button, wherein the pressure pump includes a first piston and contains viscous fluid, preferably oil; a control valve chamber in fluid communication with the pressure pump through a first fluid path, the control valve chamber including a control valve being actuated with a second control button; a pressure cylinder in fluid communication with the control valve chamber through a second fluid path, wherein the pressure cylinder includes a second piston; and an actuating assembly connected to the second piston. The actuating assembly includes a hook extending out of the body for engaging the upper rim of the container. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, when the first control button is depressed, the viscous fluid is transferred from the pressure pump to the control valve chamber through the first fluid path and into the pressure cylinder through the second fluid path. When the second control button is depressed, the viscous fluid is transferred from the pressure cylinder to the control valve chamber through the second fluid path and to the pressure pump through the first fluid path. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a first spring is disposed inside the control valve chamber to bias the control valve to block the flow of the viscous fluid from being transferred from the control valve chamber to the pressure pump. In addition, a second spring is disposed inside the pressure cylinder to bias the actuating assembly connected to the second piston to disengage the container. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, the front portion of the handle has a step-like configuration for receiving therein a flange of the container. Preferably, the front portion of the handle is at least partially covered with a support plate to prevent erosion after a prolonged use. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, the pressure cylinder is laterally disposed within the handle so that the second piston moves laterally to allow the hook to move forward and backward with respect to the handle. Moreover, the pressure pump is longitudinally disposed within the handle. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate the embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a top plan view of a detachable handle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate cross-sectional views of the detachable handle along line II—II in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the detachable handle along line III—III in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the detachable handle attached to a cooking utensil; 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the detachable handle attached to a cooking utensil along line V—V in FIG. 4; and 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a conventional detachable handle. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     A detachable handle  70  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated with respect to FIGS. 1 to  5 . Referring to FIG. 1, the detachable handle  70  includes an elongated body  50  that functions as a handle, and an L-shaped hook  93  protruding from a front end of the body  50 . The detachable handle  70  has a pair of actuating buttons, namely, a coupling button  71  and a releasing button  72 . In order to attach and detach the detachable handle  70  to an upper rim of a cooking utensil, such as pots and pans, the coupling button  71  and the release button  72  are respectively used. Preferably, the hook  93  and the connecting plate  92  are integrally attached together and moves as a single piece. 
     FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate cross-sectional views of the detachable handle  70  along line II—II in FIG.  1 . Similarly, FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the detachable handle along line II—II in FIG.  1 . The engagement of the detachable handle  70  illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the detachable handle  70  according to the present invention has various internal components and chambers to allow itself to be removably attached to a cooking utensil. Preferably, the detachable handle  70  includes an oil pressure pump  75 , an oil pressure cylinder  95 , a control valve chamber  83  for opening and closing a first oil path  78  disposed between the oil pressure pump  75  and the oil pressure cylinder  95 , and an actuator assembly for engaging the upper rim of a cooking utensil  200 . In the preferred embodiment, the actuator assembly includes a connecting plate  92  and a hook  93 . 
     Although the present invention is described using oil has pressure conveying substance placed in various chambers, other viscous materials known to one of ordinary skill in the art may also be substituted, such as hydrolic fluid. 
     According to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the coupling button  71  is coupled to a piston rod  73  of the oil pressure pump  75 . When the coupling button  71  is depressed, the oil  77  in the oil pressure pump  75  egresses through a first oil path  78 . 
     A piston  88  of the oil pressure cylinder  95  accomplishes its stroke by receiving oil pressure generated from the oil pressure pump  75  through a second oil path  87  located at the bottom of the oil pressure cylinder  95 . The actuator assembly which comprises the connecting plate  92  and the hook  93  is connected to a piston rod  91  of the piston  88 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the connecting plate  92  is coupled to the piston rod  91 . The hook  93  of the actuator assembly moves to the direction toward the front of the handle body  99  provided that the piston rod  91  is pushed by oil pressure. A spring  90  is disposed around the piston rod  91  of the piston  88  of the oil pressure cylinder  95  to bias the hook  93  of the actuator assembly to disengage the upper rim  205  of the cooking utensil. Preferably, there is provided an O-ring  89  around the circumference of the piston  88  to enhance sealing. 
     The control valve chamber  83  includes a control valve  80  blocking the first oil path  78  in the control valve chamber  83 , and a valve stem  79  to which the control valve  80  is attached. The control valve  80  opens or closes the first oil path  78  transferring the oil out of the oil pressure pump  75  to the oil pressure cylinder  95 . Once the pressure in the oil pressure pump  75  is greater than that of the oil pressure cylinder  95 , the control valve  80  of the control valve chamber  83  is opened. The control valve chamber  83  also includes a pair of O-rings  81  and  82  placed around a circumference of the valve stem  79 , and a valve spring  84  biasing the valve stem  79  toward the opening of the oil path  78  to force the control valve  80  to close the first oil path  78 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the valve stem  79  is coupled, for example using a pin, to an end of a lever  85 . The lever  85  is pivotally connected to a base using a second pin  86 . The other end of the lever  85  is coupled with the releasing button  72  using a third pin or other method known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Normally, due to the biasing force of the valve spring  84 , the control valve  80  normally blocks the first oil path  78  to prevent the flow of oil  77  into the control valve chamber  83 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 to  3 , a cover  94  of the handle  70  has a plurality of holes to allow the coupling and releasing buttons  71  and  72  to protrude therefrom. Preferably, the cover  94  is coupled to the lower body  99  of the handle  70  using fastners, such as screws  101 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, an L-shaped support plate  96  is attached to the front portion  97  of the lower body  99  to prevent wearing or erosion due to frequent contacts with the cooking utensil. In this regard, the support plate  96  is preferably made of a rigid material, such as stainless steel, to provide additional support when the front portion  97  of the detachable handle  70  is pushed against the outer wall of the cooking utensil  200  during lifting. The support place  96  and the front portion  97  of the detachable handle  70  is convexly shaped, preferably in a shape of an outer-curvature of a cooking utensil, in order to provide an accurate and tight fitting of the handle  70  against the upper rim  205  of the cooking utensil  200 . For example, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, if the upper rim  205  of the cooking utensil  200  has a flange  207 , the front portion  97  of the detachable handle  70  may be prepared to have a step-like receptacle. Alternatively, the shape of the front portion  97  of the detachable handle  70  is a design choice depending on the shape and form of the upper rim of a cooking utensil. Therefore, the shape of the front portion  97  is not to be limited to the specific forms shown or described herein. 
     The operation of the detachable handle  70  according to the preferred embodiment will be described using FIGS. 2A and 2B as illutrations. First, a user places the detachable handle  70  against a side wall  201  of the cooking utensil as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, when the flange  207  of the upper rim  205  engages the step-like receptacle formed by the front portion  97  of the handle  70 , the user depresses the coupling button  71 . 
     Through such action of the user, the oil pressure in the oil pressure pump  75  is increased by the depressing motion of the piston  74 . As a result, the oil  77 , due to its viscousity, is forced out of the oil presure pump  75  through the first oil path  78 . Such force is exerted against the control valve  80  and the valve stem  79  of the control valve chamber  83 . The control valve  80  is pushed upward despite the biasing force of the valve spring  84 . Preferably, there is provided an O-ring  76  around the circumference of the piston  88  to enhance sealing. 
     As the first and the second oil paths  78  and  87  are in fluid communication with each other, the oil  77  from the oil pressure pump  75  is transferred to the oil pressure cylinder  95 . As more oil  77  is pushed into the oil pressure cylinder  95 , the pressure is increased which in turn pushes the piston  88  of the oil pressure cylinder  95 . The piston  88  pushes the piston rod  91  out of the oil pressure cylinder  95 . The rearward movement of the piston rod  91  pushes the connecting plate  92  and the hook  93 , thus allowing the hook  93  to securely engage the upper rim  205  of the cooking utensil  200 . 
     In this case, the coupling force transferred to the hook  93  of the detachable handle  70  is several times greater than that of the force applied to the coupling button  71 . The coupling force may be amplified by adjusting the cross-sectional size of the piston  74  used in the oil pressure pump  75 . In particular, as a larger cross-sectional sized piston  74  is used, the coupling force transferred to the hook  93  becomes greater. 
     Once the coupling buttom  71  is fully depressed, the oil  77  no longer flows through the first and the oil paths  78  and  87 . As a result, the valve stem  79  and the control valve  80  connected thereto closes the first oil path  78  due to the biasing force provided by the valve spring  84 . The first and the second oil paths  78  and  87  are no longer in fluid communication with each other. Because the oil is now trapped in the oil pressure cylinder  95 , the connecting plate  92  and the hook  93  are biased toward the rear of the handle  70  thus maintaining a tight grip of the upper rim  205  of the cooking utensil. 
     To release the detachable handle  70  from the cooking utensil, the user simply needs to depress the releasing button  72 . When the releasing button  72  is depressed, the lever  85  is pivotted which in turn allows the valve stem  79  to be displaced upwardly to ascend the O-rings  81  attached to the circumference of the valve stem  79 . Then, the first and the second oil paths  78  and  87  are once again in fluid communication with each other, thereby transferring the oil in the oil pressure cylinder  95  to the oil pressure pump  75 . The shifting of the oil from the oil pressure cylinder  95  to the oil pressure pump  75  retracts the piston rod  91  into the oil pressure cylinder  95 . As a result, the hook  93  moves away from the upper rim  205  of the cooking utensil, thus releasing it. 
     In the preferred embodiment, various chambers are provided in the handle body  50  to receive the oil pressure pump  75 , the control valve chamber  83 , the oil pressure cylinder  95  and the actuator assembly. The first and the second oil paths  78  and  87  may be provided by preparing conduits in the body  50 . Alternatively, the first and the second oil paths  78  and  87  may be provided by using hoses or other methods known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     The scope of the present invention is not limited to the handle to be coupled with pots or frying pans but may also be used with other apparatus or containers. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents.