Cookware utensil system

A cookware utensil system having at least one cookware further comprising a cookware body with a perimetric edge and at least one handle extending outwardly from the cookware body, and a utensil having at least one notch that is configured to engage with the at least one handle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to cookware generally, and more specifically to a cookware utensil system.

BACKGROUND

Cookware utensils in the nature of spoons, spatulas, ladles and the like, are typically used with cookware in a temporary fashion, such as when stirring or moving food around in a pot or pan. When not engaged with cookware, a utensil is typically stored in a location separate from the cookware, such as on a counter, on a special holder such as a spoon rest, on the side of a sink, or the like, which leads to dirtying a surface that will need to be cleaned. Sometimes a utensil is stored submerged in the cookware contents, or precariously balanced along a cookware handle. There is also a storage need for the utensil after use, which is commonly put in another countertop storage vessel or inside a drawer. Therefore, there is a need for a better way to manage the engagement between cookware and various utensils, such that a utensil may be engaged with the cookware and not have to be stored separately therefrom during use or thereafter.

SUMMARY

A cookware utensil system having at least one cookware further comprising a cookware body with a perimetric edge and at least one handle extending outwardly from the cookware body, and a utensil having at least one notch that is configured to engage with the at least one handle. The at least one notch is configured to engage with the cookware such that the utensil is likely to become separated therefrom while the cookware utensil is not being used to stir or manipulate the contents of the cookware or thereafter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This disclosure describes the best mode or modes of practicing the invention as presently contemplated. This description is not intended to be understood in a limiting sense, but provides an example of the invention presented solely for illustrative purposes by reference to the accompanying drawings to advise one of ordinary skill in the art of the advantages and construction of the invention. In the various views of the drawings, like reference characters designate like or similar parts.

FIG.1illustrates a cookware utensil system50that is comprised generally of at least one cookware utensil100, such as a spoon for example, that is used with one or more cookware such as a first cookware200in the form of a pot, for example, and a second cookware300in the form of a pan, for example. While the system50is illustrated inFIG.1with three elements100,200and300, it will be understood that the utensil100may be used separately with either the pot200or the pan300, or both the pot200and the pan300, or with other cookware not illustrated or described herein. In addition, while the utensil100, pot200and pan300are illustrated with a particular shape, size, configuration, construction, depth and capacity, it will be understood that the illustrations are not limiting and that utensils and cookware of any configuration may be used.

FIG.2illustrates an upper perspective view,FIG.3illustrates a lower perspective view, andFIG.4illustrates a side view of one embodiment of the cookware utensil100comprising a head110and a handle130and a neck120defined between. While the head110is shown as a spoon, it will be appreciated that the head110may take the form of any cookware utensil head such as a spatula, pasta fork, ladle and the like. Other cookware utensil heads are contemplated. The handle130further comprises an upper surface140and a lower surface150having one or more notches152,154,156that are spaced from each other by distances153and155. While three notches are illustrated in accordance with certain spacing, it will be appreciated that the utensil100may have only notch152or notch154or notch156, or a combination of notch152and notch154, or a combination of notch152and notch156, or a combination of notch154and notch156, each at similar or different spacing. Alternatively, the utensil may have more than three notches as desired, with similar or different spacing. Alternatively (not shown), the notches may be situated on the upper surface140instead of the lower surface150, or both the upper and lower surfaces, or also on the side surfaces if desired. While in the illustrated embodiment, distance153is slightly greater than distance155, it will be appreciated that distances153and155may be the same, or distance155may be greater than distance153. The notches152,154,156are configured and spaced to engage certain features of the cookware200,300as described herein.

One or more of the notches152,154,156may be used to engage the utensil100with the cookware200,300as shown herein.FIGS.5-9illustrate a cookware or pot200comprising a cookware body or pot body210having a perimetric edge220and at least one handle230extending outwardly from the pot body210, the handle further comprising an outer leg232that is generally parallel to the perimetric edge220of the pot body210and a pair of connecting legs234that connect the outer leg232to the pot body210. Handle230is typically referred to as a helper handle as handle230is used to help carry the pot200and pour the contents (not shown) from the pot body210such as through a spout222. While the pot200illustrated inFIGS.5-9comprise two helper handles230and a single spout222, it will be appreciated that the pot200may only include a single helper handle of the same or different configuration as handle230, or more than two helper handles230, or no spout222or more than one spout222as desired.

FIG.6illustrates one embodiment of the engagement of utensil100with pot200, wherein notches154and156of utensil100are spaced to simultaneously engage with the outer leg232of helper handle230and with the perimetric edge220of pot body210respectively, as shown inFIG.6A, such that the utensil100rests across the helper handle230with the utensil head110positioned over the pot body210and is prevented, by virtue of the notch system, from sliding off the helper handle and into the pot body210. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), notches152and154of utensil100may engage respectively with the outer leg232of handle230and with the perimetric edge220of pot body210so long as the spacing of the engaged notches is consistent with the spacing between the pot body210and the outer leg232of the handle230.

FIG.7illustrates one embodiment of the engagement of utensil100with pot200, wherein notches152and156of utensil100simultaneously engage respectively with the connecting leg234of handle230such that the utensil100rests across the handle230with the utensil100positioned tangentially relative to the pot body210. This positioning of the utensil100relative to the handle230is useful in the event that a cookware lid400is attached to the cookware or pot200as shown inFIG.8. However, if the cookware lid400is not attached, then it is possible to engage a plurality of utensils100with the handles230as shown inFIG.9.

FIGS.10-15illustrate a cookware or pan300comprising a cookware body or pan body310having a perimetric edge320with one or more spouts322, a first elongated handle315having an upper surface317and at least one node319positioned near an opening324in the perimetric edge320, and at least one helper handle330extending outwardly from the pan body310, the at least one helper handle330further comprising an outer leg332that is generally parallel to the perimetric edge322of the pan body310and a pair of connecting legs334that connect the outer leg332to the pan body310. While the pan300comprises one elongated handle315, two spouts322and one helper handle330, it will be appreciated that the pan300may only include a different combination of such features, including not having such features, such as not having a spout322, or not having a helper handle330, or having additional helper handles330, and so on.

FIG.11illustrates one embodiment of the engagement of utensil100with pan300, wherein any of notches152,154,156of utensil100engage respectively with the at least one node319on the elongated handle315. WhileFIG.11shows notch154engaging with node319, it will be appreciated that either notch152or notch156could also engage with node319. While this engagement references a notch-node engagement, it will be appreciated that other types of mating elements may be used so long as the functionality of engagement is maintained, such as a peg-hole engagement, a post and depression engagement, mating magnetic elements, a mating male and female groove engagement, a key and slot engagement, any type of male and female structural engagement, and the like. In one embodiment (not illustrated), the mating elements may be reversed such as if one or more notches were positioned on the handle315and one or more nodes were positioned on the utensil100. Other configurations are contemplated. The positioning of the at least one node319near the opening324in the perimetric edge320is beneficial as it allows for the utensil head110to extend into the pan body310while the utensil100is engaged with the elongated handle315through the engagement of one of the notches152,154,156. In the embodiments ofFIGS.11and11A, notch154is engaged with node319. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), more than one node may be situated on the elongated handle315to simultaneously engage with a plurality of notches on the utensil. In a further alternative embodiment (not shown), the number of nodes on the elongated handle315matches the number of notches on the utensil.

FIG.12illustrates one embodiment of the engagement of utensil100with pan300, where notches154and156simultaneously engage with the outer leg332of helper handle330and with the perimetric edge320of pot body310such that the utensil100rests across the helper handle330with the utensil head110positioned over the pan body310. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), notches152and154of utensil100may engage respectively with the outer leg332of helper handle330and with the perimetric edge320of pan body310so long as the spacing of the engaged notches is consistent with the spacing between the pan body310and the outer leg332of the helper handle330.

FIG.13illustrates one embodiment of the engagement of utensil100with pan300, wherein notches152and156of utensil100simultaneously engage respectively with the connecting legs334of helper handle330such that the utensil100rests across the helper handle330with the utensil100positioned tangentially relative to the pan body310. This positioning of the utensil100relative to the helper handle330is useful in the event that a cookware lid500is attached to the cookware or pan300as shown inFIG.14, wherein one utensil100is engaged with helper handle330while another utensil100is engaged with the elongated handle315such that the utensil head extends into the pan (seeFIG.11) body through the opening324(seeFIG.15) in the perimetric edge320.FIG.15illustrates the engagement of a plurality of utensils100with the handles315,330.

In one embodiment of the cookware utensil system50of the present disclosure, the same utensil100may be configured to engage with different cookware, such as with the helper handles230of the pot200, the helper handles330of the pan300, and the elongated handle315of the pan300. One or more of the notches152,154,156may be used to engage with various features of each cookware such as the perimetric edge220,320of each cookware200,300respectively, the elongated handle315of the pan300via the at least one node319, and the various legs232,234,332,334of the helper handles230,330respectively. In a preferred embodiment, the perimetric edge220,320of each cookware200,300, the node319on the elongated handle315of the pan300, and the various legs232,234,332,334of the helper handles230,330respectively, are each similarly configured to accommodate the one or more notches152,154,156of the utensil100, thereby enabling use of the utensil100in various positions relative to the pot200and/or pan300. Furthermore, a variety of different cookware utensils embodying the notch system as shown, for example, inFIG.16A(scoop),FIG.16B(scraper),FIG.16C(spatula) andFIG.16D(ladle), may be independently or simultaneously utilized with different cookware as described herein. Other cookware utensil and notch configurations are contemplated, such as wherein the notches are on the front and/or back and/or side of the utensil handle.