Abstract:
A handle system attaches to the side of a cooking vessel and enables the removable handle to be securely fixed to the cooking vessel and to be easily removed when it is not required. Multiple embodiments of the engaged and engagement structures are illustrated and include a rectangular handle bracket and a variety of handle; a variety of rivet heads and shafts and a variety of rivet engaging tong structures, along with a variety of mechanisms for operating all of the engagement and disengagement functions of the above.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to cooking vessels, such as pots or pans and the like, and more specifically, to a cooking vessel with one or more removable handles.  
         [0002]     The construction, packaging and transport of cooking vessels are significantly complicated by permanent handle extensions. Handle extensions promote packaging and shipping inefficiency from not being able to stack vessels efficiently and in the creation of dead space around the protruding handle. In a mature industry, such inefficiencies create significant sources of cost.  
         [0003]     These increased manufacturing costs of packaging and shipping are multiplied at the retail level in terms of increased uptake of inventory storage. After sale, these space problems continue with the cooking vessels&#39; ultimate consumers.  
         [0004]     When putting away cooking vessels, such as pots and pans for storage, one of the most annoying aspects is not only that the cooking vessel handles take up much of the precious space in kitchen cabinets, but also they interfere with attempts to neatly and stably stack them. The handles particularly interfere with the ability to nestle a smaller vessel in a larger one. This problem is particularly acute where living space is limited and where storage space is unavailable.  
         [0005]     In order to solve these problems with cooking vessels, it would seem that one of the most effective ways is to make the handle removable. However, removability alone will not suffice. Safety is an important issue, and the removability of any handle must be surpassed by its safety and security of connection. In other words, a mechanism used for handle attachment must not fail during use.  
         [0006]     Removable handles currently marketed are of the type where the handle is not very securely attached to the rim of a cooking vessel. The handle is merely clamped on to the rim of a cooking vessel, which is unsafe, breaks the evenness of the rim line of the cooking vessel, and can inhibit the even more sealable placement of lids. Rim attachment is inherently unstable and places significant holding forces over a narrow area of the rim. Rim attachment requires pressure grasping or some variable mechanical method which is more prone to failure.  
         [0007]     What is therefore needed is a system for detachable handles which is safe, secure and easy to use. The system should permit and even enhance stacking and handle storage. The handle, once attached, should be as secure as a permanently attached.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The handle system attaches to the side of a cooking vessel and enables the removable handle to be securely fixed to the cooking vessel and to be easily removed when it is not required. Several embodiments are disclosed. In one embodiment, a rectangular handle bracket is mechanically (screwing, riveting) or physicochemically (welding) attached to the side of a cooking vessel. The bracket is generally horizontally oriented with respect to the wall of the cooking vessel so that a vertical opening, which may be rectangle-shaped, is formed with the sides of the bracket and the surface of the wall. The interfitting removable handle has a hook on one end, which may be tilted or V-shaped. The removable handle also includes a separate press-down plate. This preferably V-shaped hook is inserted upward into the bracket hole from the bottom side of the bracket, with the press-down plate being placed against the upper edge of the bracket and top of the V-shaped hook. These two components of the removable handle stay together with the use of a circular clip attached to the other end of the V-shaped hook. The other end of press-down plate slides in with a sleeve which slides onto the other ends of the V-shaped hook and the press-down plate, the removable handle is securely attached to the cooking vessel. This combination of a rectangle handle bracket and a removable handle with a hook, and especially with a tilted-V-shaped hook shall be hereafter referred to as “V-Hook Handle.” 
         [0009]     The system described cooperates with the preference presently of selling cooking vessels as a pre-assorted set with pots and pans of different sizes. Cooking vessels will be able to take less storage space and will be able to be stacked neatly and in a stable manner. Further, the system enables smaller packaging used to save very precious point-of-sale space for retailers and ever-increasing freight costs for distributors.  
         [0010]     The objective of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-store cooking vessel by incorporating a removable handle(s) so that the handle(s) can be removed, and multiple cooking vessels may be neatly and stably stacked up or nestled in one other. The bracket anchoring device may be a set of two rivet-like structures. These rivets are mechanically attached to the side of a cooking vessel and horizontally aligned. These rivets are shaped and attached to the wall of the cooking vessel in such a way so that the exterior (outside of the vessel) portion of each of the rivets has a riser portion and a head portion which diameter is larger than that of the riser portion. A removable handle for this type of anchoring device is tong-shaped with a slotted end piece attached at an angle of approximately 90 degrees on each arm&#39;s end. By sliding each end piece of the tong-shaped handle into the space between the wall of the cooking vessel and the underside of rivet head and fitting the riser portion of the rivet into the slot of the end piece, the removable handle is attached to the cooking vessel.  
         [0011]     This combination of a set of rivets and a removable tong-shaped handle shall be hereafter referred to as “Tong Handle.” Furthermore, the idea of removable Tong Handle may be applied to the lid of a cooking vessel in order to facilitate easier storage and to save storage space. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     The invention, its configuration, construction, and operation will be best further described in the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  shows a section of a cooking vessel with a rectangle bracket attached;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  shows a top view of the bracket of  FIG. 1  and further details on the manner of connection of the rectangle bracket to a partially shown wall of a cooking vessel;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  shows a top view of a complete cooking vessel having two brackets;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a v-Hook Handle with its two components, V-shaped hook with a circular clip and press-down plate;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  shows a side view of the v-hook handle of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of a v-Hook Handle with a v-hook which is more shallow;  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of a v-Hook Handle having its press-down plate removed;  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of a v-Hook Handle with press-down plate having a curved end;  
         [0021]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a v-Hook Handle with a v-hook which will engage a bracket with both its front wall and press-down plate;  
         [0022]      FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of a v-Hook Handle engaging a cooking vessel;  
         [0023]      FIG. 10  is a schematic view showing the engagement of the v-hook handle of  FIGS. 4 and 6  onto a bracket;  
         [0024]      FIG. 11  is a schematic view showing the engagement of the v-hook handle of  FIG. 8  onto a bracket;  
         [0025]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a v-Hook Handle secured with a slide on sleeve;  
         [0026]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a v-Hook Handle having a curved press-down plate secured with a slide on sleeve;  
         [0027]      FIG. 14  is a side view of a v-Hook Handle of  FIG. 13  and secured with a slide on sleeve;  
         [0028]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a v-Hook Handle with curved press down plate which will engage a bracket with both its front wall and secured with a slide on sleeve;  
         [0029]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the v-Hook Handle of  FIG. 12  engaged onto a bracket of a cooking vessel  
         [0030]      FIG. 17  illustrates a perspective view of a pair of rivets mounted on a cooking vessel wall;  
         [0031]      FIG. 18  is a top view of a cooking vessel of  FIG. 17 ;  
         [0032]      FIG. 19  is an expanded perspective view of a curved head, square shaft rivet;  
         [0033]      FIG. 20  is an expanded perspective view of a plate shaped head rectangular cross sectionally shaped shaft rivet;  
         [0034]      FIG. 21  is an expanded perspective view of a round head cylindrically shaft rivet;  
         [0035]      FIG. 22  is an expanded perspective view of a plate shaped head and rectangular cross sectionally shaped shaft rivet;  
         [0036]      FIG. 23  is a partial sectional view of a tong shaped load member having a square slot;  
         [0037]      FIG. 24  is a perspective view of the tong shaped load member of  FIG. 23 ;  
         [0038]      FIG. 25  is a partial sectional view of a tong shaped load member having a rounded end slot;  
         [0039]      FIG. 26  is a perspective view of the tong shaped load member of  FIG. 25 ;  
         [0040]      FIG. 27  is a view of a pair of tong shaped load members engaging a cooking vessel having rivets by movement of the tong shaped load members toward each other;  
         [0041]      FIG. 28  is a view of a pair of tong shaped load members engaging a cooking vessel having rivets by movement of the tong shaped load members away from each other;  
         [0042]      FIG. 29  is a perspective view of a pair of vertically oriented brackets which define horizontal, generally rectangular shaped through holes;  
         [0043]      FIG. 30  is a top view of cooking vessel seen in  FIG. 29 ;  
         [0044]      FIG. 31  is a partial sectional view of an “E” shaped plate of a tong shaped load member;  
         [0045]      FIG. 32  is a perspective view of the “E” shaped plate of a tong shaped load member of  FIG. 31 ;  
         [0046]      FIG. 33  is a partial sectional-view of an “E” shaped plate of a tong shaped load member;  
         [0047]      FIG. 34  is a perspective view of the “E” shaped plate of a tong shaped load member of  FIG. 33 ;  
         [0048]      FIG. 35  is a perspective view of the “E” shaped plates of a pair of tong shaped load members oriented toward each other and engaging the vertical brackets seen in  FIG. 29  on a cooking vessel;  
         [0049]      FIG. 36  is a perspective view of the “E” shaped plates of a pair of tong shaped load members oriented away from each other and engaging the vertical brackets seen in  FIG. 29  on a cooking vessel;  
         [0050]      FIG. 37  is a perspective view of an overall tong handle having a tie brace;  
         [0051]      FIG. 38  is a perspective view of an overall tong handle having a linking brace;  
         [0052]      FIG. 39  is an exploded view of the linking brace of  FIG. 38 ;  
         [0053]      FIG. 40  is an assembled view of the overall tong handle of  FIG. 38  engaging rivets of a cooking vessel;  
         [0054]      FIG. 41  is a partially exploded perspective view of a handle assembly which includes a pair of tong members directed away from each other and captured in an engagement sleeve;  
         [0055]      FIG. 42  is a partially exploded perspective view of a handle assembly which includes a pair of tong members directed toward each other and captured in an engagement sleeve;  
         [0056]      FIG. 43  is an assembled handle assembly seen in  FIG. 42 ;  
         [0057]      FIG. 44  is a partially exploded perspective view of a handle assembly which includes a pair of tong members directed away from each other and captured in a grip guide having a guide slot;  
         [0058]      FIG. 45  is a partially exploded perspective view of a handle assembly which includes a pair of tong members directed toward each other and captured in a grip guide having a guide slot;  
         [0059]      FIG. 46  is an assembled handle assembly seen in  FIG. 45 ;  
         [0060]      FIG. 47  is a sectional side view of a lid;  
         [0061]      FIG. 48  is a top view of the lid of  FIG. 47 ;  
         [0062]      FIG. 49  is a view of the ends of opposing handle members having curve ended slots, about a round rivet shaft;  
         [0063]      FIG. 50  is a view of the ends of opposing handle members having square ended slots, about a square rivet shaft;  
         [0064]      FIG. 51  is a view of the ends of opposing handle members having curve ended slots, about an oval rivet shaft;  
         [0065]      FIG. 52  is a view of the ends of opposing handle members having square ended slots, about a rectangular rivet shaft;  
         [0066]      FIG. 53  is an exploded view of the handle assembly of  FIG. 49  along with illustration of a tray and grip insert for securing the handle assembly;  
         [0067]      FIG. 54  is a side view of the assembled handle assembly shown in  FIG. 53 ;  
         [0068]      FIG. 55  is a partial sectional view of a lid having a single rivet;  
         [0069]      FIG. 56  is a top view of the lid of  FIG. 55 ;  
         [0070]      FIG. 57  is a perspective view of a oval shaped handle mounted atop the lid of  FIGS. 55 and 56 , the handle using overlapping hook members;  
         [0071]      FIG. 58  is a closeup view of the oval shaped handle of  FIG. 57 ;  
         [0072]      FIG. 59  is a closeup view of the oval handle oppositely oriented overlapping hook members seen oppositely engaging a rectangular rivet shaft;  
         [0073]      FIG. 60  is a closeup view of the oval handle oppositely oriented overlapping hook members seen oppositely engaging a square rivet shaft; and  
         [0074]      FIG. 61  is a closeup view of the oval handle oppositely oriented overlapping hook members seen oppositely engaging an oval rivet shaft. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0075]     The removable handle mechanism of the present invention consists of two main components, a removable handle and an anchoring device for the removable handle. There are two types of removable handle disclosed. The first is a handle with a v-shaped hook at one end and the second is a tong-shaped handle. The handle with a v-shaped hook at one end shall be referred to as “v-hook handle” hereafter and the tong-shaped handle shall be referred to as “tong handle”. Each type of these removable handles is associated with a different type of handle anchoring device. The following is a brief description of each type of removable handle and its anchoring device.  
         [0076]     Throughout all of the structures shown, interfitting of parts may be assisted by a magnetic property of the materials, or in the alternative, they may be interference fit or other manner of making a stable assembly. Some of the potential geometry and magnetic orientation of the materials may be mentioned, but the specific magnet polarity arrangement may vary widely from structure to structure. Further, it is understood that heat can have a deliterious effect on magnetic materials and it will generally be preferable to locate the holding force and magnetic field polar focus to locations as much removed from the heat source as is possible.  
         [0077]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a portion of a cooking vessel  101  shows a side wall  103  and a bracket  105 . Bracket  105  is generally expected to be rectangular in order to leave a thinner space in terms of distance between the side wall  103  and the center of the bracket  105 . The bracket  105  may be attached to the side wall  105  through a pair of oppositely oriented footing members  107  which are oriented generally parallel or following the outer surface of the side wall  103 . Footing members  107  may be attached to the side wall  105  by welding, bolting, riveting, screwing, or other safe, secure method.  
         [0078]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a top view of the portion of cooking vessel  101  illustrates a somewhat rectangular shaped through hole  109 . The component parts of the bracket  105  are seen to be a pair of riser sections  111 , each located adjacent the turning corner of the bracket footings  107 . The riser sections  111  angle sharply toward each other and a main portion  113  of the bracket  105  is identified.  
         [0079]     The width of the through hole  109  is defined by the space between the cooking vessel wall  103  and main portion  113  of the bracket  105 . The shape of the through hole  109  will be narrower at the center of the main portion  113  for cooking vessels  101  with more sharply curved walls.  
         [0080]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a view of two sides of a cooking vessel  101  is seen as fitted with a pair of brackets  105 .  
         [0081]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a side perspective view of a v-hook handle member  115  is seen, with the name referring to the lateral shape. A front wall  117  is sharply angled with respect to a rear wall  119  to form a “v” hook shape from a lateral perspective. The angle of the front wall  117  may have an angle with respect to the rear wall  119  to form a friction fit with respect to the structures surrounding the somewhat rectangular shaped through hole  109 . A raised side edge  121  and a raised side edge  123  are seen, and a press-down plate  125  is seen between the side edges  121  and  123 . A circular clip  127  is seen at the far end of the v-hook handle.  
         [0082]     A pair of slots  129  are seen in the front wall  117 . The slots  129  are upwardly directed and may be cut or formed. The two slots  129  are shaped in such a way that each slot accepts the corresponding riser section  111  of the bracket  105 . The v-hook handle  115  circular clip  127  is attached or formed with the end of the v-hook handle  115  farthest away from the cooking vessel  103 . The press-down plate  125  is a separate structure. Either the press-down plate  125  may be made magnetic especially to engage the top of the front wall  117  as well as the structure underlying the press-down plate  125 . The circular clip structure  127  may serve to hold down and cover the other end of the press-down plate  125 . In the alternative, raised side edges  121  and  123  could be oppositely magnetically polarized to trap the press-down plate  125 .  
         [0083]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a side view of the v-hook handle member  115  is shown.  
         [0084]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a further embodiment of a variation on the v-hook handle member  115  is seen as a v-hook handle member  131  having a more shallow “v” shape. The press-down plate  125  is shown in lifted position to expose an underlying horizontal planar member  133  which supports the pair of opposing side edges  121  and  123 .  
         [0085]     As an alternative magnetic arrangement, the press-down plate  125  can be vertically magnetically polarized, as can the underlying horizintal planar member  133 . However, mechanical structure for facilitating connectivity is also possible.  
         [0086]     As can be seen the pair of opposing side edges  121  and  123  can act at minimum as a guide for the placement of the press-down plate  125  and can have surface modifications including snap interference surfaces and more. The circular clip  127  is designed in a way so that it allows the press-down plate  125  to slide snugly into its opening defined by raised side edges  121  and  123  and underlying planar member  133 .  
         [0087]     The v-hook meeting shape of the front wall  117  and rear wall  119  is shaped in a way so that when its front wall  117  is applied to the side wall  103  of the cooking vessel  101 , the open end front wall  117  lies nearly flat to perfectly flat against the side wall  103 . Of course, different curvature cooking vessels  101  will have different curvature side walls  103 , and there is no particular restriction that a given v-hook handle  115  can be only applied to one corresponding cooking vessel  101 .  
         [0088]     When the front wall  117  of the v-hook handle member  115  or  131  is inserted upward into the bracket hole  109 , the press-down plate  125  is placed on top of the underlying planar member  133 . Also, the end of the press down plate  125  is inserted into the opening of the circular clip  127 . When the handle of the v-hook handle  115 ,  131  presses down on the upper edge of the bracket  105 , the v-hook handle  115 ,  131  is securely attached to the wall  103  of the cooking vessel  101 .  
         [0089]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a variation on the v-hook handle member  115  is seen as a v-hook handle member  131  where the press-down plate  125  has a curved end  135  which extends downward to meet the upper edge of the front wall  117 . Magnetic structure may be expected to be employed in all of the remaining embodiments in a manner which may be similar to or different from that described for  FIGS. 4-6 .  
         [0090]     Referring to  FIG. 8 , a further variation on the v-hook handle members  115  and  131  is seen as a v-hook handle member  141 , which has a press-down plate  143  having a curved forward end  145  which is somewhat complementarily shaped with respect to the structure below it. The curved forward end  145  may have a deeper fitting extent, and is shown as having a pair of downwardly extending side projections  147  which are complementary to a centered upward projection  149 . A vertical gap is preferably had between the downwardly extending side projections  147  and the centered upward projection  149  where it is desired to engage the inside and outside of the bracket  105 . The other details of the v-hook handle member  141  are the same as for v-hook handle members  115  and  131 . If it is desired only to engage the inside of the bracket  105 , the width of the front wall  117  could be expected to be narrower to enable the front wall  117  to fit more completely within the rectangular shaped through hole  109 , preferably closely fitting against the inside of the footing members  107 . The v-hook handle members  115 ,  131 , and  141  may be altered to suit an individual applications.  
         [0091]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , a perspective view of the attachment of the v-hook handle members  115  to the cooking vessel  101  by engagement with the bracket  105  is shown. In terms of the action of attachment, with the press-down plate removed, the front wall  117  is positioned adjacent the side wall  103  directly underneath the bracket  105  in a position where the two slots  129  of the front wall  117  are directly underneath riser sections  111 .  
         [0092]     Referring to  FIG. 10 , this is somewhat schematically illustrated with the side wall  103  eliminated for clarity of illustration. The front wall  117  is shown underneath the bracket  105 , while the press-down plate  125  is shown above, as having been removed. Upward movement of the front wall  117  through the inside rectangular shaped through hole  109  and outside of the rectangular shaped through hole  109 , combined with downward implacement of the press-down plate  125  will form the structure seen in  FIG. 9 .  
         [0093]     Referring to  FIG. 11 , a view similar to that seen in  FIG. 10  illustrates front wall  117  of v-hook handle member  141 . As shown, the curved forward end  145  of the press-down plate  143  is shown with the pair of downwardly extending side projections  147  which are sized to fit to the outside of the riser sections  111 . The centered upward projection  149  fits within the rectangular shaped through hole  109 . Thus, the v-hook handle member  141  “bites” or engages bracket  105  on its inside and outside.  
         [0094]     In terms of providing a structure to hold down the press down plates  125  and  143  it is noted that the positioning and choice of materials for the circular clip  127  can assist in holding press down plates  125  and  143  down. In addition, the use of magnetic materials can also aid this effort. The bracket  105 , press down plates  125  and  143 , underlying planar member  133 , or raised side edges  121  and  123  can each have magnetic materials of the proper polarization to form a secured interfitted relationship.  
         [0095]     Referring to  FIG. 12 , a different holding and securing arrangement is shown. A v-hook handle member  151  uses a slide on holder sleeve  153  to secure press-down plate  125  onto the top of an underlying planar member  133  instead of the circular clip  127  which is shown attached to the v-hook  115 .  
         [0096]     Underlying planar member  133  is the same as was seen for v-hook handle member  115 , but the raised side edges  121  and  123  are removed and the holder sleeve not only holds the press-down plate  125  into position over the top of the front wall  117 , but also gives it the lateral stability and centeredness over the underlying planar member  133 . The holder sleeve  153  can be elastomeric or metal and may be stressed to put force pressure onto the stacked press-down plate  125  and underlying planar member  133 .  
         [0097]     Referring to  FIG. 13 a  v-hook handle member  155  uses the slide on holder sleeve  153  to secure the press-down plate  125  having a curved end  145 , with respect to the top of the front wall  117  and the upper surface of the planar member  133 . The view of  FIG. 13  shows an assembled v-hook handle member  155 . Referring to  FIG. 14 , a side view of the v-hook handle member  155  seen in  FIG. 13  is shown.  
         [0098]     Referring to  FIG. 15 , an exploded view of v-hook handle member  161  includes the press-down plate  143  with downward projections  147  opposing a front wall  117  having a centered upward projection  149  is shown.  
         [0099]     Referring to  FIG. 16 , a perspective view of the attachment of the v-hook handle member  151  to the cooking vessel  101  by engagement with the bracket  105  is shown. The v-hook handle member  151  is attached to a handle anchoring device bracket  105 , which is permanently attached to the exterior wall  103  of the cooking vessel  101 . Again, the bracket  105  is a rectangle bracket permanently attached at its footing members  107  which extend outward by means of screwing, bolting, riveting or welding on the wall  103  of the cooking vessel  101 .  
         [0100]     The vertical rectangular shaped through hole  109  formed with the three sides of the bracket  105  and the wall  103  of the cooking vessel  101  is sized and shaped to snugly accommodate the end wall  117  of the v-hook handle  151  when it is inserted upward into the rectangular shaped through hole  109  from the bottom side of the bracket  105 . The slide-on sleeve  153  is preferably box-shaped with an open side. When the press-down plate  125  is placed on top of the underlying planar member  133  and the slide on holder sleeve  153  slid over the underlying planar member  133  and press-down plate  125 , v-hook handle member  151  will become secured onto the wall  103  of the cooking vessel  101  as shown in  FIG. 16 . The design of the front wall  117  and the press down plate  125  or  135  may be altered to suit any individual application. The slide-on sleeve  153  is shown as being box-shaped. However, the shape of the slide-on sleeve may be altered to improve its ergonomic and aesthetic qualities.  
         [0101]     Referring to  FIG. 17 , a beginning of an explanation of a tong handle system is presented. A cooking vessel  101  side wall  103  has a pair of stand out rivets  201 . Rather than include insertion up to the heads  203 , the rivets  201  are stood off from the surface of the side wall  103  to expose a length of the shafts  205  of the rivets  201 .  
         [0102]     Referring to  FIG. 18 , a top view of cooking vessel  101  illustrates the positions of the rivets  201  on a cooking vessel  101  having two pairs of such rivets  201 . For stacking, the rivets  201  should be located close to the top of cooking vessels  101  with the height of each additional stacked cooking vessel adding a dimension between the rivets  201  and the top of the cooking vessel  101 .  
         [0103]     Several rivet shapes are possible, with the shape of rivets  201  shown as having spherical heads  203  and a rectangular shaft  205 .  
         [0104]     Referring to  FIG. 19  an expanded perspective view of rivet  201  and illustrating the curved head  203  and square shaft  205 . As shown in  FIG. 19 , the rivet  201  may have one head  203  larger than the other, typically with an internal (inside side wall  103 ) head (typically smaller) being closely conforming to the side wall  103 . The exterior head  205  seen in  FIG. 17  is typically large to enable significant torsional and pulling forces to be supported.  
         [0105]     Referring to  FIG. 20 , a rivet  211  having a pair of plate shaped heads  213  and a rectangular cross shaped shaft  215  is shown. The use of a rectangular cross sectional shaped shaft  215  can enable more significant torsional load in one direction than another.  
         [0106]     Referring to  FIG. 21 , a rivet  221  having a pair of rounded heads  223  and a cylindrical cross sectional shaped shaft  225  is shown. The use of a cylindrical shaft  225  can enable more load spreading and controlled wear due to elimination of edges.  
         [0107]     Referring to  FIG. 22 , a rivet  231  having a pair of plate heads  233  and a rectangular cross sectional shape shaft  235  is shown. The use of a rectangular cross sectional shaped shaft  235  can enable a tighter tolerance head  233  engagement and more controlled torsion.  
         [0108]     Referring to  FIG. 23 , a tong shaped load member  251  includes an overall “U” shaped plate  253  having a square slot  255 . Overall “U” shaped plate  253  is at right angles to a main length  257  which would normally extend from the paper.  
         [0109]     Referring to  FIG. 24 , a perspective view of the extent of the tong shaped load member  251  illustrates that the overall “U” shaped plate  253  may be curved and may be angled with respect to the main length  257 .  
         [0110]     Similar to  FIG. 23 , and Referring to  FIG. 25 , a tong shaped load member  261  includes an overall “U” shaped plate  263  having a rounded slot  265 . Overall “U” shaped plate  263  is at right angles to a main length  267  which would normally extend from the paper.  
         [0111]     Referring to  FIG. 26 , a perspective view of the extent of the tong shaped load member  261  illustrates that the overall “U” shaped plate  263  may be curved and may be angled with respect to the main length  267 .  
         [0112]     Referring to  FIG. 27 , tong shaped load member  251  is shown engaging rivets  201  extending from a side wall  103  of a cooking vessel  101 , in order to show the manner of engagement of the tong shaped load member  251  to lift the cooking vessel  101 .  
         [0113]     Referring to  FIG. 28 , tong shaped load member  261  is shown engaging rivets  221  extending from a side wall  103  of a cooking vessel  101 , in order to show the manner of engagement of the tong shaped load member  261  to lift the cooking vessel  101 .  
         [0114]     In terms of interfit and use, the “U” shaped plate  253  and  263  has a slots  255  and  265  formed in them. The, “U” shaped plate  253  and  263  is preferably slightly curved so that when it is applied to the exterior surface of the wall  103  of the cooking vessel  101 , it can lie flat to eliminate an otherwise gap between the “U” shaped plate  253  and  263  and the surface of the wall  103 . The tong shaped load members  251  and  261  are made of metal or heat-resistant hard plastic and made flexible enough or are mechanically joined so that the tong shaped load members  251  and  261  can be squeezed closer, decreasing their relative distance or spread wider, increasing the distance between each other.  
         [0115]     As has been shown, the anchoring device for the tong shaped load member  251  and  261  are rivets  201  attached to the wall  103  of a cooking vessel  101 , and they are shown horizontally aligned. One of the heads of each rivet  201  rests against the interior surface of the wall  103  of the cooking vessel  101 . The exposed shaft  205 ,  215 ,  225 , or  235  of the rivet  201 ,  211 ,  221 , or  231  acts as a riser and its cross sectional size is such as to enable tong shaped load members  251  and  261 , by their “U” shaped plate  253  and  263 , to be firmly fixed against the exterior wall  103  of the cooking vessel  101 .  
         [0116]     As with all rivets in this description and throughout the specification, the head of each rivet is larger in at least one dimension to allow the rivet to be mechanically engaged. Generally, the height of the exposed shaft beyond the exterior surface of the wall  103  of the cooking vessel  101  is equal to or slightly larger than the thickness of the “U” shaped plate  253  and  263  so that it allows the “U” shaped plate  253  and  263  slip into the space between the exterior surface of the wall  103  of the cooking vessel  101  and the bottom of the rivet head  203 ,  213 ,  223 , and  233 .  
         [0117]     Squeezing the arms of the tong shaped load member  251  or tong shaped load member  261   261  together allows them to be placed between (or outside of and embracing) the two rivets,  201  for example, on the wall  103  of the cooking vessel  101 , aligning the slots  255  or  265  the shafts  205 ,  215 ,  225 ,  235 .  
         [0118]     Referring to  FIG. 29 , a beginning of an explanation of an alternative version of a tong handle system is presented. A cooking vessel  101  side wall  103  has a pair of vertically oriented brackets  281  which define horizontal, generally rectangular shaped through holes  283 . The pair of vertically oriented brackets  281  each have a pair of footing members  285  and a main portion  287 .  
         [0119]     Referring to  FIG. 30 , a top view of cooking vessel  101  illustrates the positions of the pair of vertically oriented brackets  281  on a cooking vessel  101  having two pairs of such pair of vertically oriented brackets  281 . For stacking, the pair of vertically oriented brackets  281  should be located close to the top of cooking vessels  101  with the height of each additional stacked cooking vessel adding a dimension between the pair of vertically oriented brackets  281  and the top of the cooking vessel  101 . Again slight variation in the shape of the pair of vertically oriented brackets  281  are possible.  
         [0120]     Referring to  FIG. 31 , a tong shaped load member  291  includes an overall “E” shaped plate  293  having a pair of narrow, rounded slots  295 . Overall “E” shaped plate  293  is at right angles to a main length  297  which would normally extend from the paper.  
         [0121]     Referring to  FIG. 32 , a perspective view of the extent of the tong shaped load member  291  illustrates that the overall “E” shaped plate  293  may be curved and may be angled to one side with respect to the main length  297 .  
         [0122]     Similar to  FIGS. 31 and 32 , and Referring to  FIGS. 33 and 34 , a tong shaped load member  299  is of opposite orientation than the tong shaped load member  291 , but otherwise has the same structures as tong shaped member  291 .  
         [0123]     Referring to  FIG. 35 , a pair of tong shaped load members  291  and  299  are shown engaging pair of vertically oriented brackets  281  with each of the tong shaped load members  291  and  299  opposing each other with the slots  295  of the tong shaped load members  291  and  299  in an opposing relationship. In the orientation of  FIG. 35 , the middle portions of the plates  293  engage the vertically oriented brackets  281  by moving toward each other.  
         [0124]     Referring to  FIG. 36 , the pair of tong-shaped load members  291  and  299  are shown engaging pair of vertically oriented brackets  281  with each of the tong shaped load members  291  and  299  opposing each other with the slots  295  of the tong shaped load members  291  and  299  facing away from each other. In the orientation of  FIG. 36 , the middle portions of the plates  293  engage the vertically oriented brackets  281  by moving away from each other.  
         [0125]     In order to facilitate moveable placement of members, followed by fixation of placement of the members heretofore described, some locking into a desired attached state is preferable. A secure sliding lock, fitting, ring lock, or other structure which prevents disengagement can work well with any structure to maintain its locked position.  
         [0126]     Referring to  FIG. 37 a  complete tong handle  301  includes a pair of connected tong shaped load members  261 . A tie brace  303  is shown as being moved from a rearward resting position  305  to a forward resting position  307 . Now especially where the tie brace  303  is non-rigid, the tong handle  310  may be formed to naturally spring wide apart without any tie brace  303 . In this case, moving the tie brace  303  to the rearward position  305  would insure that the tong shaped load members  261  untrammel their natural spring force to use spring force to engage rivets  201 ,  211 ,  221 , or  231 . The forward movement of the tie brace  303  to the position  307  will exert inward displacement force enough to enable disengagement of the rivets  201 ,  211 ,  221 , or  231 . Rearward resting position  305  and forward resting position  307  may typically be indented portions of the overall tong handle  301 .  
         [0127]     The tie brace  303  may be of one piece construction, or may be a once-twisted ring, forming two rigid separated ringlets. Each ringlet of the tie brace  33  encircles one of the arms of the tong shaped load member  251 .  
         [0128]     By sliding the tie brace  303  along the arms of the tong shaped load member  251 , or  261 , the relative movement of the engagement ends toward or away from each other is restricted and controlled, to a position of either spreading them further apart or bringing them closer together. The tong shaped load members  251  and  261  can be spring biased toward or away from each other with tie brace  303  working with or against the direction of spring urging. Rearward resting position  305  and forward resting position  307  can be established physically by forming a set of two grooves or other physical structure which promotes stability at either of the two positions  305  and  307 . Generally, where the spring bias is set to move the tong shaped load members  261  away from each other, the rearward resting position  305  will enable manipulation of the “U” shaped plates  263  into a locked position, while forward resting position  307  will enabled the “U” shaped plates  263  into an un-locked position.  
         [0129]     Referring to  FIG. 38 a  complete tong handle  311  includes a pair of connected tong shaped load members  261 . A linking brace  313  is shown as being moved from a rearward resting position  305  to a forward resting position  307  to insure that the tong shaped load members  261  remain urged away from each other after they engage the rivets  201 ,  211 ,  221 , or  231 . Rearward resting position  305  and forward resting position  307  may typically be indented portions of the overall tong handle  301 .  
         [0130]     Linking brace  313  is shown to be a bracket-type device which is snapped onto the arms of the tong shaped load members  261  and slid along their length, increasing or decreasing the distance between the two tong shaped load member  251  or  261 . Again, grooves or other physical structures may be present to give effect to the rearward resting position  305  and forward resting position  307 . Again, the load members  261  may be spring biased to either position, but preferably toward a locking position.  
         [0131]     Referring to  FIG. 39 , an exploded view of the linking brace  313  having a top plate  315  which is shown to be of an inverted “W” shape, and a bottom plate  317 . The forward resting position  261  is seen as an indentation section  315 .  
         [0132]     Referring to  FIG. 40 , an overall view similar to that of  FIG. 27  illustrates a complete view of the cooking vessel  101  having a connected tong handle  321  in which the tong shaped load members  261  are oriented so that the main lengths  267  are oriented such that the rounded slots  265  face each other and in which the linking brace  313  is engaged to keep the rounded slots  265  engaged onto the rivets  201 .  
         [0133]     In  FIGS. 37 and 39 , the complete tong handle  301  and  311  were seen as having an elongated letter “U” shape. However, a support structure may be designed to be shorter and more square-shaped, and utilize a square relationship so that, for example, two support structures join or are supported at right angles. The shortness of support structure will inhibit flexibility and make more difficult any sliding brace locking structure. However this problem is addressed by providing a fixation groove in other more specialized structure to hold support structures into an engagement position.  
         [0134]     Referring to  FIG. 41 , a handle assembly  331  includes a pair of tong members  333  having oppositely directed slots  255  and which are captured in an engagement sleeve  335  and secured by a slidable cover member  337 .  
         [0135]     Referring to  FIG. 42 , a variation is seen as a handle assembly  341  includes a pair of tong members  343  having opposing slots  255  and which are again captured in an engagement sleeve  335  and secured by the same slidable cover member  337 .  FIG. 43  illustrates the handle assembly  341  in completely assembled position. In  FIGS. 41 and 42 , the tong members  333  and  343  may be connected to each other or integrally formed.  
         [0136]     Referring to  FIG. 45 , a further variation is seen as a handle assembly  351  which includes a pair of tong members  333  having opposing slots  255  and which are captured in a handle grip guide  353  having a guide slot  355 . Once the grip guide  353  is fitted under the tong members  333  such that the tong members  333  fit closely within the guide slot  355 . To secure the engagement, a curved grip mold cover  357  snaps around the handle grip guide  353  tong members  333  assembly.  
         [0137]     Referring to  FIG. 45 a  further variation is seen as a handle assembly  351  which includes a pair of tong members  333  having opposing slots  255  and which are again captured in handle grip guide  353  having a guide slot  355  and covered with curved grip mold cover  357 .  
         [0138]     Referring to  FIG. 46 , handle assembly  361  is shown in assembled condition. Again in  FIGS. 44 and 45 , the tong members  333  and  343  may be connected to each other or integrally formed.  
         [0139]     Stacking and storage can also be facilitated by the use of removable lid handles. A pot lid  371  has a pair of stand off rivets  201 .  FIG. 48  is a top view of the lid  371  of  FIG. 47 .  
         [0140]     Referring to  FIG. 49 , a pair of opposing handle members  375  having rounded termination slots  377  lie on opposite sides of a cylindrical shaft  255 . When the opposing handle members  375  pass one over the other in a manner which brings the slots  377  against the shaft  255 , a stable configuration will be achieved so long as the handle members  375  are held together to continue to effectively capture the standoff rivets  221 . Handle members  375  are preferably identical and can achieve the orientation of  FIG. 49  by rotating one of them  1800  to a position where the slots  377  oppose each other.  
         [0141]     Referring to  FIG. 50 , further variations are seen.  FIG. 50  illustrates, a pair of opposing handle members  381  having square termination slots  383  which lie on opposite sides of a square shaft  205 . When the opposing handle members  381  pass one over the other in a manner which brings the slots  383  against the shaft  205 , a stable configuration will be achieved so long as the handle members  381  are held together to continue to effectively capture the standoff rivets  201 .  
         [0142]     Referring to  FIG. 51 , a pair of opposing handle members  385  having oval termination slots  387  lie atop each other on opposite sides of an oval shaft  235 . The opposing handle members  385  lie one over the other in a manner which brings the slots  387  against the shaft  235 , a stable configuration will continue so long as the handle members  385  are held together to continue to effectively capture the standoff rivets  231 . Again, handle members  385  are preferably identical and can achieve the orientation of  FIG. 51  by a 180° rotation.  
         [0143]     Referring to  FIG. 52 , a pair of opposing handle members  391  having square termination slots  393  which lie on opposite sides of a rectangular shaft  215 . As before, the opposing handle members  391  overlie each other in a manner which brings the slots  393  against the shaft  215 .  
         [0144]     Referring to  FIG. 53 , an exploded view of the handle assembly of  FIG. 49  illustrates one way to hold the opposing handle members  375  together, by a tray  397  having a “C” cross sectional shape and an overlying plate or grip insert  399 . The relationship between tray  397  and grip insert  399  can be plastic snap, or metal magnetic, including a plastic coated magnetic material.  
         [0145]     Referring to  FIG. 54 , an assembled handle assembly  401  is secured by a grip assembly  403  atop a lid  371 .  
         [0146]     Referring to  FIG. 55 a  variation for lids  371  having a single, centrally located rivet  221  with a cylindrical shaft, for example, is shown.  FIG. 56  is a top view of the complete lid  371  seen in  FIG. 55 . Referring to  FIG. 57  an oval handle  409  with a pair of oppositely oriented overlapping hook members  411  are seen. The handle  409  has a grip portion  413 .  
         [0147]     Referring to  FIG. 58 , a closeup of the oval handle  409  is seen. The pair of oppositely oriented overlapping hook members  411  are seen oppositely engaging the shaft  225  of the rivet  221 .  
         [0148]     Referring to  FIG. 59 a  variation illustrating a pair of rectangular overlapping hook members  415  are seen engaging the rectangular cross shaped shaft  215  of a rivet  211  is seen.  FIG. 60  illustrates a pair of square overlapping hook members  421  engaging the square cross shaped shaft  205  of rivet  201 .  FIG. 61  illustrates a pair of oval overlapping hook members  425  engaging the cross sectionally oval shaped shaft  235  of rivet  231 .  
         [0149]     While the present invention has been described in terms of devices and systems used to make handles removable for better shipping and storage, and in particular stackable storage of cooking structures, one of ordinary skill in the art can see that the device of the invention can be applied to many appliances and process tools. The present invention may be applied in any situation where handles and holding structures are desired to be removable.  
         [0150]     Although the invention has been derived with reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, included within the patent warranted hereon are all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of this contribution to the art.