Apparatus and method for grasping and stably lifting lids having a handle

An apparatus and method for grasping and lifting a lid having a handle is disclosed. The apparatus is particularly directed to use with Dutch ovens and includes two elongated rods conjoined together, one rod being adjustably coupled with the other rod, and each rod having a handle for grasping formed at one end. One rod has a hook formed at the end thereof opposite the handle, and the other rod has three leg members attached to the end thereof opposite the handle. As the user grasps the handles of the two rods in his hand and brings the handles together, the hook engaged to the handle of the lid raises the lid slightly until the lid contacts the three leg members. The lid is thereby securely held between the hook and the leg members and is prevented from wobbling. The invention facilitates the lifting of a lid from a Dutch oven, the lid typically being loaded with the hot coals, and stabilizes the lid so that coals and ashes therefrom do not fall into the Dutch oven containing food.

BACKGROUND 
1. Field of Invention 
This invention relates generally to devices designed for grasping and 
removing lids from pots, said pots typically being of the culinary type. 
In particular, the invention relates to devices for grasping and stably 
removing the lid of a Dutch oven. 
2. Statement of the Art 
A quest for different methods of cooking meals in the outdoors has been 
undertaken recently with the increased interest in outdoor activities, 
such as camping. To outdoor enthusiasts, one of the most satisfying 
cooking methods is cooking in a Dutch oven. Dutch ovens are heavy cast 
iron kettles typically having a plurality of legs located in proximity to 
the bottom of the pot, a movable handle, and a lid having a handle 
constructed to receive cooking coals thereon. 
In use, Dutch ovens are first filled with a food substance for cooking. 
Such food substances might range from a stew to a batter for bread to a 
standing rib roast. Some form of heating material is then prepared. 
Usually the heating material is charcoal, commercially manufactured 
charcoal briquettes, or heated wood. The heating material is prepared by 
establishing a fire and heating the charcoal, briquettes, or wood therein 
until the material is increased sufficiently in temperature to radiate 
heat therefrom. Once the heating material is sufficiently hot, it is 
placed about the bottom of the Dutch oven and in the recessed lid of the 
oven. The Dutch oven is maintained in contact with the heating material 
until the food substance inside the pot is done cooking. Depending upon 
the item being cooked, the cooking process may take from between less than 
an hour to several hours. 
During the cooking process, it is frequently necessary to remove the lid 
from the Dutch oven to check the progress of the cooking process and to 
remove and replace the spent heating material on the lid so that the 
cooking process may continue. It is also necessary from time to time to 
remove the Dutch oven from the heating material on which it is positioned 
in order to replace the spent heating material so that cooking may 
continue. It is desirable that when the lid is removed from the Dutch 
oven, ashes and charcoal or wood do not fall into the food. 
Many devices and methods have been improvised for removing the lid from a 
Dutch oven. In addition, a number of devices have been commercially 
developed for removing the lid. Both improvised and commercially developed 
devices have proven unsatisfactory in removing the lid because they are 
incapable of stabilizing the lid, and ashes and other heating material are 
too frequently dropped into the food as a result. By way of improvisation, 
people have used pliers, the claw of a hammer, and garden implements such 
as hoes, pitch forks, shovels, and/or the handles of such items. In turn, 
each of these improvised devices have proven to be inadequate in removing 
the lid of a Dutch oven. In particular, pliers, used to grasp the handle 
of the lid, tend to nick and mar the metal of the handle leading to a 
weakening in the iron. Pliers are also unstable because they only allow a 
two-point contact with the lid handle and ashes are therefore frequently 
dropped into the food. Similarly, using the claw of a hammer allows the 
lid to wobble thereby dropping ashes into the food. And, like pliers, the 
use of a hammer causes the user's hand grasping the hammer to get too 
close to the heating material on the lid making removal of the lid 
difficult and painful. The use of garden implements presents the same 
difficulties of instability and the potential for burning the handle of 
the implement. 
Commercially developed devices for removing the lid of Dutch ovens include 
hooking devices and grasping devices. Some of these devices have extended 
handles on them in order to distance the user from the heating material on 
the lid of the Dutch oven. However, no device presents an adequate means 
for stabilizing the lid while it is being removed from the pot. Some 
devices have added a member, such as a peg, in proximity to the hook or 
grasping means in order to stabilize the lifting of the lid from the pot 
relative to the hooking or grasping means. However, these devices do not 
limit the lateral movement of the lid, and heating material is often 
dropped into the food. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention herein presents a novel means of stably removing the lid of a 
Dutch oven so that ashes, coals or other heating materials do not fall 
into the pot as the lid is being removed. The invention generally includes 
two elongated rods conjoined together, one rod being slidably adjustable 
in relation to the other. Both rods have means for grasping by the user, 
said grasping means being attached or formed to the upper end of the rods. 
One rod has formed, at the end of the rod opposite the grasping means, a 
means for stabilizing the lid which contacts the lid of the Dutch oven 
during the removal process. The means for stabilizing the lid may be a 
plurality of leg members, not numbering less than three, which are 
substantially evenly spaced apart from each other in order to eliminate 
any movement or rotation of the lid. The other rod has formed, at the end 
of the rod opposite to the grasping means, an arcuately shaped hook for 
engaging the handle of the lid. 
To remove the lid from the Dutch oven, the hooked rod is lowered in 
relation to the stabilizing rod, and the handle of the lid is positioned 
in the hook of the rod. The grasping means of the hooked rod is then 
brought in close proximity to the grasping means of the stabilizing rod, 
thereby raising the lid slightly until the lid contacts the means for 
stabilizing the lid. The lid is held securely between the hook and means 
for stabilizing the lid and may be removed from the Dutch oven without any 
oscillating movement of the lid. 
In an alternative embodiment, the stabilizing rod may further comprise a 
ring attached to leg members for further stability of the lid. In another 
alternative embodiment, the invention may further comprise a resilient 
spring mechanism associated with the device for maintaining a set distance 
between the hooked rod and the stabilizing rod, such that when the 
grasping means of the rods are brought together by the clenching of the 
user's hand, the spring mechanism is compressed, and when the user relaxes 
his hand, the spring forces the grasping means apart again. 
The invention allows the user to firmly grasp the lid and raise if from its 
horizontal orientation relative to the Dutch oven to a vertical position, 
thereby allowing ashes and spent heating materials to be shaken off. It is 
obviously undesirable to grasp the lid of the Dutch oven with a bare hand 
since it will be very hot. Therefore, the present invention allows quick 
removal of the lid from the Dutch oven and easy unloading of materials 
from the lid without having to touch the lid with a hand. With other 
lifting devices, the lid cannot be readily emptied of spent heating 
materials without grasping the lid with either another device or with a 
gloved hand. 
The invention presents a number of improved features over prior art 
devices. That is, in addition to stabilizing the lid so that ashes and 
heating materials will not be spilled in the pot, the invention has an 
elongated rod construction which allows removal of the lid while 
maintaining a distance between the user and the hot material resting on 
the lid. Consequently, the user will not be burned by getting too close to 
the heating materials on the lid. Since Dutch oven cooking takes place at 
ground level, the elongated rods also allow the user to remove the lid 
from the oven while remaining in a standing position. This feature is 
quite advantageous since it may be inconvenient or physically difficult to 
bend over to reach the Dutch oven. 
The invention is also constructed of strong metal material which allows 
lifting of the lid or lifting of the entire Dutch oven without distorting 
the metal. Users also find that the elongated rod construction of the 
device makes lifting the entire Dutch oven much easier. That is, the 
entire dutch oven can be lifted from the ground by grasping the handle 
attached to the body -of the dutch oven with the hooked rod. Large cast 
iron Dutch ovens which are full of food can weigh up to 100 pounds. 
Therefore, the elongated rod construction and sturdy structural strength 
of the device allows the user to pick up the Dutch oven without bending 
over, thus eliminating strain on the user's back. 
The construction of the invention allows the device to stand upright by 
itself. As a result, the user may place the invention near the Dutch oven, 
in an upright position, and the user will not have to bend over to pick 
the invention up to use it. Also, the invention remains in plain sight and 
near its area of use, unlike other devices which may have to be placed 
away from the Dutch oven for storage until the moment of using it again. 
Additionally, the construction of the grasping means of the rods allows 
the device to be hung from or rested on any ledge, such as the edge of a 
table, a tree branch, or the like. 
These features and others are more fully illustrated by the drawings and 
description below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The invention disclosed herein provides a novel means for removing the lid 
from a cooking pot, such as a Dutch oven. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the 
invention generally includes a first rod 10 having a means for grasping, 
such as a handle 12, formed at one end thereof. The handle -2 may be 
integrally formed with the first rod member 10, as illustrated in FIG. I, 
or the handle may be detachably attached to the first rod member. The 
handle 12 may be covered with a conforming, grippable material, such as 
rubber or plastic. 
The first rod member 10 has formed at the end opposite the handle a means 
for stabilizing the lid. The means for stabilizing the lid may be a 
plurality of stabilizing members, or leg members 14, as illustrated in 
FIG. 1. The legs members 14 should number at least three, but may be any 
greater number. The number of leg members may not be less than three since 
less than three leg members would not provide the necessary stability for 
removing the lid. 
A second rod member 16 is positioned in close proximity to the first rod 
member 10 and is in parallel orientation thereto. The first rod member 10 
and the second rod member 16 are maintained in close proximity to each 
other by coupling means 18. The coupling means 18 generally is attached to 
one of the rod members 10 or 16. The coupling means 18 may be a single 
member or a plurality of such coupling members as shown in FIG. 1. Each 
coupling means 18 has an aperture 19 or void formed therein for receiving 
the other rod member 16. In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in 
FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the coupling means 18 may be a flattened disk of metal 
affixed to one of the rod members 10 or 16. As illustrated in FIG. 2 the 
coupling means 18 is attached to the first rod member 10 by welding means 
20. The coupling means 18 has formed therein an aperture 19 through which 
the second rod member 16 may be received. In FIG. 3 it can be seen that 
the positioning of the second rod member 16 within the aperture 19 of 
coupling means 19 allows the second rod member 16 to slide up and down, as 
indicated by arrow 21, relative to the first rod member 10. 
Referring again to FIG. 1, the second rod member 16 is slidable disposed 
within the apertures (not shown) of the coupling means 18, and the second 
rod member 16 may therefore move in a vertical direction, as shown by 
arrow 21, relative to the first rod member 10. The second rod member 16 
has a means for grasping, such as a handle 22. Similar to the handle 12 of 
the first rod member 10, the handle 22 of the second rod member 16 may be 
integrally formed therewith or may be detachably attached to the second 
rod member 16, and the handle 22 may be covered with a grippable material 
such as plastic or rubber. 
The second rod member 16 has formed at the end opposite the handle 22 an 
arcuate shaped hook 24. The hook 24 curves inwardly so as to be oriented 
beneath the first rod member -0 and substantially centered within the 
stabilizing means or legs 14. 
Gravity acting upon the invention causes the second rod member 16 to slide 
downwardly relative to the first rod member 10 thereby causing the handle 
12 of the first rod member 10 to be spaced apart from the handle 22 of the 
second rod member 16. The upper coupling means 26, by contacting the 
handle 22 of the second rod member 16, prevents the handle 22 of the 
second rod member 16 from dropping more than a specified distance from the 
handle 12 of the first rod member 10. That specified distance is generally 
the average span between the fingers and thumb of a user. In operation, 
therefore, the user positions his fingers about the handle 22 of the 
second rod member 16 and places his thumb on top of the handle 12 of the 
first rod member -0 and brings his fingers in proximity to his thumb. By 
so doing, handle 22 is forced toward handle 12 in the direction of arrow 
28, and the hook 24 is thereby raised upwardly to come into closer 
proximity with the stabilizing means, or legs 14, of the first rod member 
10. 
Operation of the device is more clearly illustrated in FIG. 4 in which it 
can be seen that the hook 24 has engaged the handle 52 attached to the lid 
54 of the Dutch oven 56. The user has gripped the handle 12 of the first 
rod member 10 and the handle 22 of the second rod member 16 in his hand 58 
and has clenched his fingers and thumb together. By clenching of the 
user's fist, the second rod member 16 is raised upwardly in relation to 
the first rod member 10, and the hook 24 raises the lid 54 slightly until 
the leg members 14 contact the lid 54. The lid 54 may then be lifted 
completely from the Dutch oven 56 without dislodging or spilling any of 
the heating materials 70 which are atop the lid 54. While still grasping 
the handles 12 and 22, the user may shake the spent heating materials 70 
and ash from the lid 54 and place the lid back on the Dutch oven 56. The 
hook 24 of the device can also be used to engage the movable handle 72 of 
the Dutch oven 56 so that the entire Dutch oven can be lifted from the 
surrounding heating materials 74. 
The invention can be made of any sturdy material which is structurally 
strong and which maintains its shape and strength with heating. A 
preferred material for construction is cast iron or heavy steel. 
In an alternative embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 a resilient spring 80 may 
be associated with the invention for forcing the handle 12 of the first 
rod member 10 apart from the handle 22 of the second rod member 16. Thus, 
in operation, when the user positions his hand about the two handles 12 
and 22, as described above, the spring 80 is compressed. When the user 
relaxes his grip about the handles 12 and 22, the handles are forced apart 
again. 
In an alternative embodiment of the means for stabilizing the lid, a ring 
90 may be attached to the leg members 14, as illustrated in FIG. 6. As the 
hook 24 engages the handle (not shown) of the lid (not shown) and raises 
the lid upwardly, the lower edge 92 of the ring 90 contacts the lid 
thereby stabilizing the lid for removal from the Dutch oven. 
The descriptions hereinabove are by way of illustration only and are not 
intended to limit the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims 
below.