Device for fixing a handle to a cooking vessel

A device for fixing a handle to a cooking vessel comprises a member fixed to the wall of the vessel and including an outwardly projecting central part surrounded by an exterior part whose surface adjacent the wall of the vessel espouses its curved profile. The lateral surface of the projecting central part has a shape matching the interior surface of the ferrule and is engaged in the latter. The front surface of the projecting part incorporates an opening extending outwards by a projecting flange. The interior surface of the opening is smooth. The screw for fixing the handle has a tapping thread that cuts a thread for itself in this opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention concerns a device for fixing a handle to the wall of 
a cooking vessel and comprising a part adapted to be fixed to said wall 
including an opening into which is screwed a screw engaged in an elongate 
opening in the end of the handle and a metal ferrule adapted to be engaged 
over the end of the handle between the latter and the wall of the vessel. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Prior art fixing devices are either costly, because they include a 
plurality of parts, or unreliable, because the screw fixing the handle 
eventually loosens with the result that the handle becomes loose, which is 
uncomfortable. 
GB-A-2 118 431 discloses the use of a stamped sheet metal fixing member 
including an inwardly projecting central part that with the wall of the 
vessel defines a cavity, this projecting central part being surrounded by 
an exterior part whose surface adjacent the wall of the vessel espouses 
its curved profile. 
However, the handle is fixed by a screw and a nut accommodated in the 
cavity formed by the projecting central part, and this has the drawbacks 
already mentioned. 
Moreover, the fixing member and the ferrule are in contact only at the 
peripheral end of the ferrule, which has the disadvantage of a weak 
mechanical connection between the ferrule and the fixing member, usually 
leading to play between the handle and the wall of the vessel. 
An object of the present invention is to provide a device for fixing a 
handle to the wall of a cooking vessel that is economical, easy to fix to 
the wall of the vessel, facilitates fitting of the handle and provides a 
reliable and durable fixing. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention consists in a device for fixing a handle to the wall of a 
cooking vessel, comprising a member stamped from sheet metal adapted to be 
fixed to said wall incorporating an opening into which is screwed a screw 
engaged in an elongate opening formed in the end of said handle and having 
an outwardly projecting central part defining with said wall of said 
vessel a cavity and surrounded by an exterior part whose surface adjacent 
said wall of said vessel espouses its curved profile, said lateral surface 
of said projecting central part having a shape adapted to fit inside and 
espouse the interior surface of a metal ferrule adapted to be engaged over 
the end of said handle between the latter and said wall of said vessel, 
the front surface of said projecting part incorporating an opening 
extended outwardly by a projecting flange, the interior surface of said 
opening being smooth, and said screw having a tapping thread adapted to be 
engaged in said opening. 
This fixing member is economical because it is cut and stamped from sheet 
metal. It does not require any reinforcing part, nut or washer since the 
screw has a tapping thread engaged in the deep smooth well formed in the 
projecting part of the fixing member. 
The projecting part has a lateral surface that espouses that of the ferrule 
with the result that the latter nests virtually without play in the fixing 
member, strengthening the mechanical connection between the handle and the 
wall of the vessel. 
In one advantageous embodiment of the invention the exterior part of the 
stamped member incorporates openings for rivets fixed into the wall of the 
vessel. 
It could equally well be fixed by welding, of course. 
In one preferred embodiment of the invention the lateral surface of the 
projecting central part has a plurality of faces over which the ferrule is 
nested to prevent it rotating. 
Said stamped member is preferably cut and stamped from sheet aluminum. 
The fabrication of this member is therefore very economical, since aluminum 
is easily cut and stamped. Moreover, as aluminum is relatively soft, 
screwing the tapping screw into the smooth opening formed in the 
projecting part of the fixing member is not in any way difficult and 
prevents loosening of the screw. 
Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the 
following description given by way of non-limiting example with reference 
to the appended drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the device for fixing a handle 1 to the wall 2 
of a cooking vessel such as a saucepan 3, shallow frypan 4 or deep frypan 
5 comprises a member 6 fixed to said wall 2 and incorporating an opening 7 
into which is screwed a screw 8 engaged in an elongate opening 9 formed in 
the end 1a of the handle 1. A metal ferrule 10 is engaged over the end of 
the handle 1 and fits between the latter and the wall 2 of the vessel 3, 
4, 5. 
In accordance with the invention, the member 6 is stamped from sheet metal 
and includes (see FIGS. 4, 5 and 6) an outwardly projecting central part 
11 defining with the wall 2 of the vessel 3, 4, 5 a cavity 12. This 
projecting central part 11 is surrounded by an exterior part 13 whose 
surface 13a adjacent the wall 2 of the vessel 3, 4, 5 espouses the curved 
profile of the latter, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. 
The shape of the lateral surface 11a of the projecting central part 11 
matches the interior surface of the ferrule 10 and the central part 11 is 
engaged in the ferrule 10 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The front surface 11b of 
said projecting part 11 incorporates an opening 7 extended outwardly by a 
projecting flange 7a. The interior surface of the opening 7 is smooth, as 
shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. 
In FIGS. 1 and 2, the tapping thread 8a of the screw 8 for fixing the 
handle 1 is engaged in this opening 7. 
The exterior part 13 of the stamped member 6 incorporates openings 14 for 
rivets or the like fixed into the wall of the vessel. 
The lateral surface 11a of the projecting central part has a plurality of 
non-circular faces over which the ferrule 10 fits to prevent it rotating. 
The lateral surface 11a of the projecting part 11 is joined to the exterior 
part by a shoulder 15 against which the end of the ferrule 10 bears. 
The stamped member 6 is preferably cut and stamped from sheet aluminum. 
The projecting central part 11 has on its lateral surface facing towards 
the bottom of the vessel 3, 4, 5 one or more openings 16 (see FIG. 4) to 
drain off any water that may enter the cavity 12. 
Despite its thinness (2 mm to 3 mm) and the fact that it is made from 
aluminum, the fixing member is very rigid because its projecting central 
part 11 and its exterior part 13 espouse the curved profile of the wall of 
the vessel. 
This projecting central part 11 fits inside the ferrule 10 and prevents it 
rotating. In particular, as can be seen in FIG. 2, the ferrule 10 espouses 
the outer peripheral surface of central projecting part 11 with a 
surface-to-surface contact that extends for a substantial distance in the 
direction of the length of the handle. 
When the fixing member 6 has been riveted to the wall 2 of the vessel, the 
ferrule 10 is fitted over the projecting part 11 of the member, the end of 
the handle 1 is fitted inside the ferrule 10, and the screw 8 is inserted 
into the elongate opening 9 in the handle and the opening 7 in the member 
6. 
The screw 8 is then turned so that its tapping thread cuts a thread for 
itself in the interior surface of the opening 7. 
The resulting fixing is rigid and the screw remains tight.