POT LID HOLDER

Abstract: A pot lid holder (10) for a pot lid (24) having a central knob (26) which includes an elongated member (14) having a recess (12) intermediate ends thereof. The ends of the elongated member are joined to end sections (18) which are fastenable to a flat surface (22) so as to space the elongated member away from the flat surface and thereby permit insertion of a pot lid between the member and the flat surface. The recess receives and retains the central knob and provides stability to the lid.

Description: POT LID HOLDER BACKGROUND The present invention relates to a holder for a pot li used to support the lid from a substantially vertical surface. A common problem of storing pots together with their lid occurs when it is desired to stack the pots so as to save space Obviously, with the lids in place on the pot stacking i impossible. One can remove the lids and attempt to store the together with the pots but again the usual curvature and shape o the lids makes them unstable and difficult to store on a fla surface. A known device used to store the lids separately agains a vertical surface such as a cupboard door consists of a wire fram which is fastened to the vertical surface and which has a pluralit of vertically spaced upwardly and outwardly directed wire racks The lid is placed against the wire rack and supported near th bottom vertically while the upper portions of the wire rack preven tipping of the lid and to some extent restrain lateral movemen thereof. The device holds several vertically spaced lids However, the lids have a tendency to roll off of the supports an fall upon rapid swinging motion of the cupboard door. Moreover the structure projects out from the flat surface such that i installed on the inside of a standard cupboard door would interfer with or hit the cupboard shelves. A simple, more secure system fo storing pot lids is needed. Another problem with any product whose members extend i three dimensions is the volume taken to package and ship th product. Known pot lid holders occupy unacceptably large volume making shipment costs for such holders relatively high. Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide an improved pot lid holder for storing a pot lid from a flat vertical surface. It is a further object of the invention to provide a pot lid holder which more effectively restrains lateral movement upon rapid swinging motion of the flat vertical surface to which the pot lid holder is affixed. Another object of the invention is to provide a pot lid holder which can be shipped in a flat form to facilitate shipping and bent into an operative form. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided a pot lid holder for a pot lid having a central knob which includes an elongated member having a recess intermediate ends thereof and at each end joined by a flange. The end section is fastenable to a flat surface so as to space the elongated member away from the flat surface and thereby permit insertion between the member and the flat surface of pot lid. The recess in the elongated member receives and retains the central knob of the pot lid and thereby supports the lid. Preferably, the end sections are integral with elongated member and substantially orthogonal thereto. Advantageously, the recess is curved. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a pot lid holder for a pot lid having a central knob which includes an elongated member having a curved knob receiving portion intermediate side arms joined thereto and at each end joined by a flange. Each side arm has a laterally extending notch proximate an end thereof defining a flange arm. Each flange arm can be bent to a position transverse to its associated side arm. Thus, each flange is fastenable to a flat surface so as to space the elongated member away from the flat surface and thereby permit insertio between the member and the flat surface of a pot lid. The curve portion in the elongated member receives and retains the centra knob of the pot lid and thereby supports the lid. Preferably, the notches are V-grooves whose sides are a right angles to each other. Advantageously, the curved portion side arms, and flange arms all lie in a common plane prior t bending of the flange arms. The end sections may have flanged portions for permittin passage therethrough of screw fasteners. Both the elongated membe and end sections are preferably made of molded plastic. particularly advantageous form of such plastic is polypropylene. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The novel features believed characteristic of th invention are set forth in the appended claims. The inventio itself, however, as well as other features and advantages thereof will be best understood by reference to the detailed descriptio which follows, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a front elevation view of the pot lid holde with a pot lid shown in broken lines; Figure 2 is a side elevation view with a flat vertica panel shown in section to which the pot lid is fastened; Figure 3 is an elevation view of another embodiment o the pot lid holder; Figure 4 is a plan view of the holder of Figure 3 showin one flange arm in bent position in dotted lines; Figure 5 is a perspective view showing self-locking webs to lock the flange arms relative to corresponding side arms; Figure 6 is a partial perspective view of the locking web; Figure 7 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment in which flange portions are bendable from a flat position; Figure 8 is a front elevation view of the variant of Figure 7; and Figure 9 is a bottom view of the variant of Figure 7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS Referring to Figure 1, the pot lid holder 10 is made up on an elongated rod 14 with a central semi-circular curved recess and integral, orthogonal end sections 16 (see Figure 2) . The end sections 16 each have a flanged portion 18 adapted to receive a screw 20 for fastening the holder 10 to a vertical panel 22 or wall (not shown) . Ordinarily, the holder 10 is made of molded plastic. Once fastened to a vertical surface, a pot lid, shown in broken lines in both Figures 1 and 2, is inserted between the elongated rod 14 and the panel 22. A central knob 26 of the pot lid 24 is received by curved recess 12 and serves to provide vertical support to the pot lid 24 to position the lid laterally and constrain sideways movement of the lid 24 in the event panel 22 is rotated rapidly as, for example, when panel 22 is cupboard door. End sections 16 act as secondary stops to further constrain the lid 24 against lateral movement in the event the knob 26 moves excessively from the centre of recess 12. An alternative embodiment of the pot lid holder shown i Figures 3 and 4 facilitates packaging and shipping by manufacturin and shipping the pot lid holder in a flat form. In each side ar 12 there is a V-groove 34 whose sides intersect at an angle of 9 degrees as seen in Figure 4. The region between each groove 34 an the respective flange 18 defines a flange arm 38. Flange arm 3 is bendable about groove 34 from a flat position with respect t side arms 14 and curved portion 12 to a position at right angle to the latter. The 90 degree angle of the V-groove 34 prevent bending beyond the latter position. A second V-groove 35 i provided so as to enable selection of the desired flange arm lengt from one of two possible lengths. Obviously, any number of V- grooves may be provided. Thus, holder 10 may be packaged and shipped in flat for and on installation, flange arms 38 and flanged portion 18 bent. A locking web 40 may used to lock the rod 14 and the flange arms 38 at right angles to each other as shown in Figures 5 and 6. In this case web 40 has a resilient free end 42 which is enlarged and rod 14 has an opening 44 dimensioned to receive end 42 and hold the latter in place. End 42 must be forced into opening 44 until it snaps into the latter. As seen in Figures 7, 8 and 9 another embodiment of the invention involves formation of the flange 50 by bending the latter relative to wall arm 58 about V-groove 54. Wall arm 58 is also bent relative to side arm 14 about V-groove 35. This embodiment is formed from a completely flat position and offers even better advantages for shipping but at the cost of having to bend flanges 50 and wall arms 58 both into position. Obviously, other means for fastening the holder 10 to a vertical surface are possible. For example, a three-piece system is possible with two hooks separately attachable to the door and hook receptacle formed at the ends of the side arms 16. In such an arrangement the hooks are first fastened to the vertical surface and then the elongated rod 14 and end sections 16 attach to hooks. Accordingly, while this invention has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the illustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to this description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments as fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims: AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 24 December 1990 (24.12.90); original claims 1-7 cancelled; claims 8-16 renumbered as new claims 1-9 (2 pages}] 1. A pot lid holder for use with a pot lid of a type having a central knob, comprising an elongated member having a curved knob receiving portion, a side arm affixed to each side of said curved portion, a flange affixed to the end of each side arm, each of said side arms having a laterally extending notch proximate an end thereof defining a wall arm bendable inwardly to a position transverse to said side arms and attachment means affixed to an end of each wall arm for attaching said wall arms to a support surface. 2. A pot lid holder according to claim 1, wherein said attachment means includes a flange affixed to an end of each of said wall arms. 3. A pot lid holder according to claim 1, wherein said notch is a V-groove transverse to a corresponding one of said side arms. 4. A pot lid holder according to claim 2, wherein said elongated member is polypropylene. 5. A pot lid holder according to claim 4, wherein said side arms and said wall arms are bendable to a substantially flat position. 6. A pot lid holder according to claim 5, wherein said side arms, wall arms and flanges are bendable to or from a flat position. 7. A pot lid holder according to claim 5, wherein said curved portion is centrally located with respect to said member. 8. • A pot lid holder for use with a pot lid of a type having a central knob, comprising an elongated member having a curved knob receiving portion; a side arm affixed to each side of said curved portion, a flange affixed to the end of each side arm, each of said side arms having a plurality of spaced apart transversely extending notches therein defining associated arm portions of predetermined lengths, said side arm and arm portions bendable about said notches to a position substantially orthogonal to each other. 9. A pot lid holder according to claim 8, wherein sides of each of said notches are V-grooves whose sides intersect at an angle of approximately 90 degrees.

Inventors: MENEGHELLO LINO, MENEGHELLO, LINO
Applicants: JONES WILLIAM, MENEGHELLO LINO, JONES, WILLIAM, MENEGHELLO, LINO
Application year: 1990
Main classification: A47J47
IPC codes: A47J47