Ergonomic handle

A handle having ergonomic and heat dissipation properties. For example, the handle can include a cross section that is concave in a first direction at a position closest to a body to which the handle is attached, and concave in a second direction opposite the first direction at a position closest to the user's hand, opposite the body. The handle can include a base with a surface wider and taller than an extension coupled to the base, so that the handle can act as a heat sink and dissipate heat that would otherwise burn a user.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a handle. More particularly, the present invention relates to an ergonomic handle with heat sink properties for cookware.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Handles are prevalent on many devices. For example, cookware can include a handle so the user can hold the cookware while it is positioned on a stove. The handle is coupled to the body of the cookware and allows the user to distance themselves from the heat applied to the body of the cookware.

Common conventional cookware often includes metallic handles connected to the cookware that heat up substantially when the cookware is heated. Users must therefore hold the handle with an oven mitt or towel, or wait until the handle cools to avoid being burned. Conventional handles are also simple and not ergonomically structured to a user's hand. Users are often forced to hold the handle with one hand and hold the body of the cookware with their other hand, for example, with an oven mitt.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention broadly includes a handle that can be connected to a body, such as cookware, and that is structured in an ergonomic and heat dissipating manner. For example, the handle can include a cross section that is more concave at a position closest to the body, and more convex at a position closest to the user's hand, opposite the body. The handle can include a base that is coupled to the body and that includes a surface area wider and taller than an extension coupled to the base, allowing the handle to act as a heat sink and dissipate heat that would otherwise burn a user.

For example, an embodiment of the present invention broadly comprises a handle including a base and an extension. The extension has upper and lower opposing surfaces. The extension extends from the base and includes proximate and distal opposing ends. The extension further includes a first portion located near the proximate end, with the upper surface being concave at the first portion in a first direction, a second portion located between the proximate and distal ends, with the upper surface being substantially flat at the second portion, and a third portion located near the distal end, with the upper surface being concave at the third portion in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Another embodiment includes a handle having a base and an extension. The extension has upper and lower opposing surfaces. The extension extends from the base and includes proximate and distal ends. The extension further includes a first portion located near the proximate end, with the upper surface being concave at the first portion, a second portion located between the proximate and distal ends, with the upper surface being substantially flat at the second portion, a third portion located between the second portion and the distal end, with the upper surface and the lower surface being convex at the third portion, and a fourth portion located between the third portion and the distal end, with the upper surface being convex and the lower surface being less curved at the fourth portion as compared to the third portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

While the present invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, embodiments of the invention, including a preferred embodiment, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to embodiments illustrated. As used herein, the term “present invention” is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention and is instead a term used to discuss exemplary embodiments of the invention for explanatory purposes only.

An embodiment of the present invention broadly includes a handle having ergonomic and heat dissipation properties. For example, the handle can have a cross section that is more concave at a position closest to the body, and more convex at a position closest to the user's hand, opposite the body. The handle can include a base having a surface area wider and taller than an extension coupled to the base such that the handle can act as a heat sink and dissipate heat generated from the body.

As shown inFIG. 1, one embodiment of the present invention includes cookware10having a handle100coupled to a body105. For example, the body105can be a pan, saucepan, crepe pan, pot, Dutch oven, tea kettle, coffee brewer, or any other device that can benefit from the addition of a handle.

Referring also toFIG. 2, the handle100can include a base110and an extension115extending from the base110. The base110can include holes120for coupling to the body105, and the extension can include a hanger125located opposite the base110, for hanging the handle100, for example. Fasteners can be used to couple the handle100to the body105through the holes120. The fasteners can be screws, rivets, or any other suitable fastener. It will be appreciated that the handle100can be coupled to the body105with any means, such as adhesion or weldment as well, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Referring also toFIG. 3, the extension115extends from the base110at a proximate end100ato an opposing distal end100b. Near the proximate end100ais a first portion130of the extension115. Between the proximate end100aand the distal end100bis a second portion135. Also, near the distal end100bis a third portion140.

Referring toFIGS. 4-6, the extension115of the handle100can be concave near the proximate end100a, as shown inFIG. 4, with respect to the first portion130. For example, the first portion130can have a top surface100cthat is curved in a concave manner in a first direction (e.g., curved upward), and a bottom surface100dthat is either flat or similarly curved to the top surface100c. The extension115can then gradually become flat at the second portion135, and then become concave in a direction opposite the first direction (e.g., curved downward) near the third portion140. This structural configuration provides a grip that allows the user to ergonomically grip the handle100at the extension115near the third portion140due to the concave nature of the extension115at the third portion140. Further, due to the concavity of the first portion130, the extension115can release heat from the base110so that the heat does not carry towards the user's hand via convective heat transfer.

The base110can have a surface wider and taller than the extension115so that the handle110can act as a heat sink and dissipate heat that would otherwise burn a user. For example, referring toFIG. 2, the base110can have first110aand second110bwings extending from a midsection110cto which the extension115is coupled. The first110aand second110bwings can be wider than the midsection110c, and can therefore provide greater heat dissipation properties. In another embodiment, the handle110is coupled to the body105at an angle of approximately 15°. It has been determined that such an angle provides adequate distance of a user's hand from a heat source and provides an ergonomical grasp and comfort for lifting a heavier body.

Referring toFIG. 7, and similar to the embodiment shown inFIG. 3, the embodiment ofFIG. 7includes a first portion330, second portion335, third portion340, and fourth portion345sequentially located between a proximate end100aand distal end100bof the extension115. Sectional views of embodiments of the first330, second335, third340, and fourth345portions are shown inFIGS. 8-11, respectively. As shown, the first portion330can be concave to allow for greater heat dissipation near the base110. For example, the first portion330can have a concave, curved upper surface100cand a convex, curved lower surface100d. The second portion335can include a flat upper surface100cand a convex lower surface100d. The third portion340can include a convex upper100cand lower100dsurface. The fourth portion345can have an upper surface100cthat is convex and a lower surface100dthat is either flat, or less curved than the lower surface100dof the third portion340. The upper100cand lower100dsurfaces of the extension115ofFIG. 7therefore allow similar heat dissipation properties near the proximate end100a, and greater ergonomic properties near the distal end100b.

The handle100has been discussed herein as relating to cookware devices. However, the handle100can be implemented on any device, for example, cookware, tools, office equipment, automotive devices, luggage, machinery, or any other device or structure.

As used herein, the term “coupled” and its functional equivalents are not intended to necessarily be limited to a direct, mechanical coupling of two or more components. Instead, the term “coupled” and its functional equivalents are intended to mean any direct or indirect mechanical, electrical, or chemical connection between two or more objects, features, work pieces, and/or environmental matter. “Coupled” is also intended to mean, in some examples, one object being integral with another object.