Cooking receptacle with at least one pivoting handle

The invention relates to a kitchen receptacle (1) provided with at least one pivotally mounted handle means (2) suitable for pivoting from a deployed position in which it extends substantially radially relative to the wall (3) of the receptacle to a rest position in which it extends substantially non-radially, and vice versa, said kitchen receptacle being characterized in that said at least one pivotally mounted handle means (2) comprises:

CROSS REFERENCE RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national phase of PCT/FR02/002821 filed Dec. 21, 2006, which claims priority to French Application Serial No. 05/13409 filed Dec. 23, 2005.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the general technical field of kitchen receptacles of all types designed to be used for preparing or cooking food, such a receptacle being provided with at least one pivotally mounted handle means that is suitable for taking up a deployed position in which it extends substantially radially from the wall of the receptacle and a rest position in which it extends substantially non-radially, and vice versa.

The present invention relates to a kitchen receptacle, e.g. a pressure cooker or a deep fryer, or indeed, more generally, a receptacle for assisting in various types of food preparation, said receptacle being provided with at least one pivotally mounted handle means that is suitable for pivoting from a deployed position in which it extends substantially radially relative to the wall of the receptacle to a rest position in which it extends substantially non-radially, and vice versa.

PRIOR ART

It is already known that kitchen receptacles, and in particular stewpots, saucepans, or even certain pressure cookers, can be provided with handles that are suitable for pivoting along the wall of the receptacle so as to take up either a deployed position in which the handle extends substantially radially relative to the wall, or a rest position in which the handle occupies a non-radial position, i.e., in general, a position in which it extends substantially parallel to the wall of the receptacle.

Such devices can be referred to as “pivoting handles” or “pivotally mounted handles”. They make it possible to improve the compactness of the receptacle while it is not being used, and thus to facilitate storage of it, while also procuring appreciable space-saving in the storage zones that are used for storing that type of utensil.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,452 is known that describes a handle that is pivotally mounted on a kitchen receptacle. That device is formed by a handle pivotally mounted via a stud to a base that is secured to the wall of the receptacle, said handle being provided with a wedging piece that comes into abutment under the rim of the receptacle when the handle is in the deployed position, and that wedges the handle relative to the receptacle by co-operating with the rim of said receptacle. Such a device already offers an appreciable advantage for the user, and is particularly simple. However, such a device is unstable and therefore dangerous insofar as the handle is not locked in the deployed position. Thus, when the handle(s) is/are in the deployed position, i.e. when they extend substantially radially relative to the walls of the receptacle, the handle(s) can, in the event of accidental manipulation by the user or merely while the user is attempting to pour out the contents of the receptacle, fold partially or totally away to their rest position, which, naturally, is dangerous for the user and for the surrounding environment.

More recent devices are also known that implement complex control systems that make it possible to lock the handle in the deployed position. In general, such a device comprises a control element mounted inside the pivotally mounted handle and on which the user acts, said control element making it possible to wedge the handle or to release it so as to enable it to pivot from its deployed position to its rest position and vice versa.

Although such devices undeniably procure additional comfort and safety for the user, they nevertheless suffer from drawbacks due, in particular and firstly, to their complexity because they implement a large number of parts that are mounted to move relative to one another. This makes the manufacturing and then assembly operations complex while also increasing the overall cost of such devices. In addition, such devices are both fragile, precisely because of the large number of moving parts necessary, and also often even not entirely safe because the device can jam or a part can break suddenly and in untimely manner during manipulation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Objects assigned to the invention are thus to remedy the drawbacks of known devices and to propose a kitchen receptacle provided with a novel pivotally mounted handle means which, while being particularly stable in its deployed position, is nevertheless very simple to make, to mount on the receptacle, and to control, while having a cost that is as low as possible.

Another object of the invention is to propose a novel kitchen receptacle provided with a novel pivotally mounted handle means that is guided totally safely and that avoids any possibility of accidental manipulation.

Another object of the invention is to propose a novel kitchen receptacle provided with a novel pivotally mounted handle means that makes it possible for the parts to be moved and pivoted particularly easily and smoothly relative to one another.

Another object of the invention is to propose a novel kitchen receptacle provided with a novel pivotally mounted handle means that makes it possible for the handles to be locked automatically in a particularly safe manner.

Another object of the invention is to propose a novel kitchen receptacle provided with a novel pivotally mounted handle means that is particularly easy for the user to control.

The objects assigned to the invention are achieved by means of a kitchen receptacle provided with at least one pivotally mounted handle means suitable for pivoting from a deployed position in which it extends substantially radially relative to the wall of the receptacle to a rest position in which it extends substantially non-radially, and vice versa, said kitchen receptacle being characterized in that said at least one pivotally mounted handle means comprises:a base fastened to the wall of the receptacle;a handle mounted on the base to pivot between the deployed position and the rest position; anda locking means designed to lock the handle in its deployed position, said means being mounted on the base in a displaceable manner, and being under the control of a control means that can be actuated by a user.

BEST MANNER OF IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION

FIG. 1shows a kitchen receptacle1provided with at least one pivotally mounted handle means2mounted on the wall3of the receptacle and comprising a handle6. In the example shown merely by way of illustrative example, the cooking receptacle1is provided with two handle means2mounted in diametrically opposite manner on the wall3of said receptacle. Such a configuration is shown entirely by way of illustration, the invention relating to kitchen receptacles that can be equipped with a single pivotally mounted handle means or with a plurality of pivotally mounted handle means, the plurality not necessary being limited to two pivotally mounted handle means.

In the following description, based on the kitchen receptacle as shown inFIGS. 1 to 7of the present patent application, reference is made to a kitchen receptacle formed by a pressure cooker bowl made of a metal material and designed to receive a lid (not shown in the figures) that is provided with a locking device of any known type, e.g. having jaws or bayonet-type means. The reference to a kitchen receptacle formed by a pressure cooker is merely illustrative, it being possible for the invention to apply to and to relate to any type of kitchen receptacle independently of the use for which it is designed, and of the material of which it is made, such kitchen receptacles being, for example and in a manner that is in no way limiting, pressure cookers, deep fryers, stewpots, frying pans, saucepans, or indeed food preparation receptacles of the mixer type or of some other type.

The invention thus relates to a kitchen receptacle1in the general sense that is provided with at least one handle means2and in particular its handle6that is pivotally mounted and is suitable for pivoting from a deployed position (FIG. 2,3, or5, for example) in which it extends in a direction that is substantially radial relative to the wall3of the receptacle, to or towards a rest position (FIG. 4) in which the handle means2extends in a direction that is substantially non-radial, or indeed extends in a direction that is substantially parallel to the wall3. In its deployed position, the handle means2is locked and can pivot into its rest position and vice versa.

As shown, for example inFIGS. 2 to 4, the pivotally mounted handle means2of the invention comprises:a base5fastened to the wall3of the receptacle;a handle6mounted on the base5to pivot between the above-defined deployed position and the above-defined rest position; andlocking means7designed to lock the handle6in its deployed position, said locking means7being mounted to move on the base5and being under the control of a control means8that can be actuated by a user.

In other words, the locking means7is mounted on the base5in a manner such as to be movable relative thereto, i.e. it is incorporated into the base and enjoys a certain amount of mobility relative thereto.

In addition, the control means8, like the locking member7, is preferably mounted on the base, thereby facilitating actuation of the control means8by the user while also: reducing the risks of accidental manipulation, increasing the overall strength, and also facilitating assembly.

In accordance with the invention, the base5can be in the form of a substantially frustoconical part made of metal or of plastics material, for example, provided with one or more recesses9,9A opening out freely outwards or inwards in a manner such as to receive means for fastening it to the wall3and to procure such fastening. As shown inFIG. 3, the base5is advantageously fastened to the wall via a bracket11that is secured, e.g. by welding, to the wall3, the base5being mounted via one of its recesses9A over the bracket11, and being fastened permanently thereto via a fastener, such as a screw12. It is thus possible to obtain mounting that is particularly simple, easy, and strong for the entire pivotally mounted handle means2.

In this first variant embodiment, the fastener means used result in a pivotally mounted handle means that is fastened permanently to the wall3. However, it is possible to imagine implementing pivotally mounted handle means2that are not fastened permanently to the wall3, but rather that are fastened with a possibility of being removed quickly so that, in the meaning of the invention, the term “pivotally mounted handle means” should be considered to cover both pivotally-mounted handle means2that are fastened permanently, i.e. that are not easily removable by the user, and removable pivotally mounted means that can be removed very easily and quickly by the user.

The handle6is in the form of a U-shaped handle (e.g.FIG. 7) with a graspable central zone15and two side branches16A,16B that have their respective ends18A,18B connected together by a link bar19. The handle6is mounted to pivot on the base5via studs20carried by the ends18A,18B.

As can be seen inFIGS. 2,3, and7, and in a feature that can constitute a separate invention, i.e. independently of the whether or not the locking means7is present, the handle means2is provided with pivotal guide means for guiding the handle6as it pivots on the base5.

Advantageously, the guide means comprise a curved slider piece provided on the handle6, which slider piece co-operates with a slide path5A of complementary curvature, said slide path5A being provided on the base5.

As shown inFIGS. 2,3and7, the guide means are advantageously formed by the link bar19whose curvature is complementary to the slide path5A situated on the outside face of the base5, the link bar19thus coming to be guided pivotally over said slide path5A.

By means of this assembly configuration, excellent guidance is obtained for guiding the parts, thereby imparting excellent robustness and excellent safety to the assembly.

By adding pivotal guide means that are distinct from the bearing surfaces of the studs20, it is possible to offer an additional contact area between the handle6and the base5, said area forming an additional bearing surface, thereby contributing to limiting slack in the pivot coupling and to improving the bedding of the handle6relative to the base5.

Advantageously the base5is provided with an abutment21which, in the variant embodiment shown inFIGS. 2,3, and7, is situated at the top portion of the base5, against which abutment21the handle6comes to be applied in the deployed position while also being locked in position by the locking means7, so as to be locked in situ in the two possible opposite pivot directions of the handle6.

As shown inFIG. 2, the abutment21is in the form of a longitudinal groove provided in the base5itself and against which the end face or edge of the link bar19comes into abutment. By means of this feature, the deployed position is thus particularly stable and safe.

In this first variant embodiment, the locking means7is mounted to move resiliently inside the base5. As shown inFIGS. 2,3,4, and7, the locking means7is formed by a bearing plate mounted to slide freely in a slot22, substantially normal to the wall3and provided in the base5, the handle6coming into abutment, advantageously via the bottom end face or edge of the link bar19, on or against which the plate can be locked in the deployed position. In the deployed position, the handle6is thus locked in both of the possible pivot directions about the axis of the studs20, in a first direction by the abutment21and in the opposite other direction by the locking means7which, in this example, is constituted by the bearing plate.

In the first variant embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 to 4and7, the control means8is formed by a piece distinct from the locking means7. It is advantageously formed by a button8A that is guided movably on the base5, that is preferably mounted at or on the top portion of the base5, and that is provided with at least one control leg25(FIG. 7) connected to the locking means7.

Advantageously, as shown inFIG. 7, the button8A is mounted to move in translation on the base5in the directions F1and F2, and it has two substantially parallel legs25passing through the base5and coming to engage the bearing plate7in order to cause it to move in translation via respective orifices28in which said legs25come to be engaged.

Advantageously, the bearing plate7is mounted to move resiliently inside the slot22via a compression spring28that biases said bearing plate7permanently in the direction F2as shown inFIG. 3.

Thus, when the handle is in the rest (or lowered) position (FIG. 4), the bearing plate7is fully engaged into the slot22, and the link bar19covers the opening of the slot22, while the button8A is in its position in which it is closer to the wall3. In order to reach its deployed position (FIG. 3), the bearing plate7moves in translation as indicated by the arrow F2towards its locking position in which it supports and locks the link bar19. The button8is also moved in translation in the same direction F2since its movement is associated with the movement of the bearing plate7so as to take up its second position in which it is further away from the wall3.

In this variant embodiment, the user, starting from the deployed position shown inFIG. 3, pushes or presses on the button8A in the direction F1, thereby causing the button8A to move towards the wall3. By moving as indicated by arrow F1, the button8drives, via its legs25, the locking means7, i.e. the bearing plate, also in the direction F1inside the recess22against the reaction force exerted by the spring28until the locking means release the bottom portion of the link bar19, thereby enabling the handle6to pivot freely until it reaches its final rest position shown inFIG. 4.

In this variant embodiment, the handle means6is designed so that, in the rest position, the handle6extends towards the base of the receptacle, i.e. towards the bottom3A of the receptacle. In the version shown inFIGS. 1 to 4, the abutment21is situated above the locking means7.

In a variant embodiment shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, the handle means6is designed so that, in the rest position (FIG. 6), the handle means6extends upwards, towards the opening in the receptacle, starting from its substantially radial deployed position.

This second variant embodiment differs from the variant shown inFIGS. 1 to 4only by the position of the abutment21which, instead of being situated above the locking means7, is situated below the locking means7on the base5, as shown inFIG. 5. The abutment21is thus provided at the bottom portion of the base5such that the bottom portion of the link bar19comes into abutment against said abutment21when the handle6is in a substantially radial position, i.e. when it is substantially perpendicular to the wall3. In this position, as shown inFIG. 5, the bar19is shaped and dimensioned so that the locking means7, as biased by the spring28in the direction F2, comes against and bears against the top edge of the link bar19so as to lock the handle6completely in its deployed position.

As in the first variant embodiment, action by the user on the control means8by pressing in the direction F1causes the locking means7to move in the same direction F1, thereby releasing the locking means7which can then retract fully into the slot22to enable the user to raise the handle6to its high position shown inFIG. 6, which corresponds to the rest position.

In another variant embodiment that is particularly simple (FIG. 8), it is possible to implement either of the variants shown inFIGS. 1 to 7by having the general control function (control means8) for controlling the movement of the locking means7performed not by a button8A that is independent of and distinct from said locking means7, but rather by the locking means7itself, in particular by a portion of said locking means.

In this way, the locking means7performs two functions, namely the function of the locking means and also the function of the control means. In this variant embodiment, the button8A shown inFIGS. 1 to 7is omitted, and the user causes the locking means7to move in translation directly by acting on the locking means7, e.g. on a suitable zone or portion8B that is dedicated for this purpose and that is situated on the edge, as shown merely diagrammatically inFIG. 8in which the pivotally mounted handle means2is in the deployed position.

By way of a particularly advantageous variant, it is possible to provide a system for taking up slack on the handle means2as shown inFIG. 2A. Thus, the handle means2are provided with a slack-take-up system designed to guarantee that locking is safe and precise under all circumstances. Advantageously, it is formed by a slope50provided on the locking means7, preferably at that end portion of the bearing plate7that is designed to come into contact with and to support the handle6, in particular the bottom edge of the link bar19. Said slope50, which extends over the entire width of the bearing plate and towards the handle6, makes it possible to accommodate any dimensional differences between the parts and thus to obtain locking that is safe.

It is remarkable that a slack-take-up system of the invention, i.e. that implements a moving wedge suitable for compensating for any slack beginning to form between the component parts of the handle means2, more particularly when said handle means is in the deployed position, is suitable for being adapted to any type of handle means2equivalent to the above type. In particular, it is possible to imagine incorporating a slack-take-up system into the locking means7even if said locking means7is mounted on the handle6instead of being mounted on the base5.

The device of the invention thus makes it possible to obtain pivotally mounted handles that are stable both in the deployed position and in the rest position. This also imparts excellent strength and excellent safety to the assembly, in particular while the receptacle is being carried.

In accordance with the invention, and in a particularly advantageous variant embodiment, the handle means2can also be a one-piece unit, i.e. they can form an integral single part in which all of the elements are pre-assembled together, thereby making it particularly simple to mount on the receptacle. In which case, the handle6, the base5and its component parts, including the control means, are mounted directly, e.g. by screw-fastening to the bracket11.

The mechanism is also particularly ergonomic and the actions involved in using it are easily understandable and memorizable by the user, given the shapes and the locations of the parts, in particular the control and locking parts.

The locking mechanism is particularly strong and it procures an impression of the mechanism being very safe because of its robustness and because of the full locking that is guaranteed. Safety is obtained that is appreciable in particular when tipping the receptacle.

SUSCEPTIBILITY OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

The invention finds its industrial application in design, manufacture, and use of kitchen receptacles designed for preparing or cooking food.