Abstract:
An article of cookware has a hollow outward extending handle that is subdivided into a flange, a tubular or hollow grip portion and a terminal portion that seals the grip portion. The terminal portion is also hollow, but has a downward facing aperture to facilitate storage in a vertical position.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application of the same title that was filed on Jun. 29, 2010, having application Ser. No. 61/359,693, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     The present application also claims the benefit of priority to the PCT application of the same title filed on Jul. 17, 2011, having international application no. PCT/US2011/040988, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a cookware article, and in particular to a handle for cookware, and an article of cookware deploying such a handle. 
     Cookware handles commonly have holes at the end for receiving hooks or pegs for vertically hanging in a kitchen. Hollow handles are preferred for their lighter weight, as well as lower conductivity of heat, with respect to solid metal handles. As the hollow handle also dissipates heat, is provides the user with greater latitude to directly grasp the handle when cookware article is used on a stove top for a generally reasonable period of time. Hollow handles can also be relatively large for easy and secure gripping, but remain light in weight so the pan is not tipped over. 
     However, providing a hanging hole in a hollow handle presents some problem and complexity in its design and manufacturing, as it is desirable to prevent water and other materials from entering the hollow handle and flowing toward the flange where it would be heated and possibly produce steam. Thus, this hanging hole is preferably a pipe that extends downward through the open cavity of the handle to seal it, or in fact a solid plug at the end of the cookware with a simple bore through it. The former approach of providing a sealed pipe through the hollow portion is more complex to manufacture than a solid plug. However, the solid plug adds weight, in contradiction to the otherwise beneficial attribute of a hollow handle. 
     It is therefore a first object of the present invention to provide a generally hollow handle with a hanging mount that is simpler to manufacture without adding significant weight. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a hollow handle with a hanging mount that is unlikely to collect or accumulate debris. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     In the present invention, a primary objective is achieved by providing an article of cookware comprising: a cookware vessel having a bottom and substantially upright surrounding sidewalls to provide a container capable of retaining fluid; a handle attached to the sidewall of said cookware vessel and extending outward thereform, the handle comprising: a flange portion attached to the sidewall of the cookware vessel, a hollow tubular grip portion having a first terminal end attached to said flange portion, the hollow tubular grip portion then extending outward therefrom to a second terminal end opposite the first terminal end, a hollow terminal portion that connects to said hollow tubular grip portion that extends outward in the same direction therefrom, being sealed at a proximal terminal end adjacent the connection to said hollow tubular grip portion, with a downward facing aperture defined by a rim for vertically hanging the article of cookware, and further comprising a sealed distal terminal end generally opposite said proximal terminal end wherein said flange portion and hollow terminal portion respectively seal the opposing first and second terminal ends of said hollow tubular grip portion. 
     Another objective is achieved by providing handle for an article of cookware comprising a flange portion having means for attached to the sidewall of a cookware article, a hollow tubular grip portion having a first terminal end attached to said flange portion, the hollow tubular grip portion then extending outward therefrom to a second terminal end opposite the first terminal end, a hollow terminal portion that connects to said hollow tubular grip portion that extends outward in the same direction therefrom, being sealed at a proximal terminal end adjacent the connection to said hollow tubular grip portion, with a downward facing aperture defined by a rim for vertically hanging the article of cookware, and further comprising a sealed distal terminal end generally opposite said proximal terminal end wherein said flange portion and hollow terminal portion respectively seal the opposing first and second terminal ends of said hollow tubular grip portion. 
     Another objective of the invention is achieved by providing a method of forming a handle for an article of cookware, the method comprising the steps of providing a first tubular member open at least at a first end and having a second end opposite the first end thereof, the second end being adapted for attachment to the sidewall of a cookware vessel, providing a second tubular member that is shorter in a tube axis direction than the first tubular member, which is sealed at the first end and at a second end, the second end being opposite the first end thereof, the second tubular member having an aperture defined by a rim on one side, the aperture being disposed between the first and second end thereof, attaching at least one end of the first and second ends of the second tubular member to the first end of the first tubular member to close the opening therein. 
     The above and other objects, effects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a side elevation of a cookware article and handle, whereas  FIG. 1B  is a cross-sectional elevation through the cookware article and handle in  FIG. 1A .  FIG. 1C  is a front elevation of the cookware article and handle of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional elevation through the end section of the handle. 
         FIG. 3A  is an exterior elevation of the handle in use in a second hook configuration, whereas  FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional elevation through the handle and hook in  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 4A  is an exterior elevation of the handle in use in a second hook configuration, whereas  FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional elevation through the handle and hook in  FIG. 4A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A through 4B , wherein like reference numerals refer to like components in the various views, there is illustrated therein a new and improved cookware article, generally denominated  100  herein 
     In accordance with the present invention, the cookware article  100  has a vessel portion capable of retaining fluid  110  and a hollow handle  120  that has three sections, the first of which is a flange section  130  that is generally solid for attachment to the sidewall of a pot, pan or other cooking vessel  110 . The flange section  130  typically is winged shaped with respect to the hollow handle portion  120  that extends in the generally orthogonal direction therefrom, and typically has  2  or more mounting or rivets holes. Next, a hollow sealed tubular grip portion  140  is attached to the terminal portion of the flange section  130  distal from the vessel  110 . The third portion of the hollow handle  120  is a terminal section  150  that is plugged at the end opposite the connection to the grip portion  140 , and otherwise has a hollow cavity  155 , with at least one side opening or aperture having rim  151  that is spaced apart from the far end of the cavity  155 . The aperture is preferably downward facing to prevent contaminating from food spatter or dripping utensils while the cookware article is used. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates in further details more preferred embodiments of the cookware handle  120 , showing the terminal portion  150  having a cavity  155  with an aperture defined by rim  151 . The cavity  155  has curved inner sides  154   a ,  154   b ,  154   c  and  154   d . Disposed between curved inner sides  154   a  and  154   b  is a flat inner upper surface  153   a . The rim  151  has an upper edge  152  toward the side thereof most distal from the grip portion  140 . The handle  120  is preferably constructed of stainless steel, but may combine other metals, and include a rubber grip coating. The curved inner sides  154   a - 154   d  facilitate cleaning and discourage attachment of debris within cavity  155 . The curved inner sides preferably have a radius of curvature of at least about 2 mm. Ideally rim  151  terminates close to the bottom inner surface  153   b , just above the end of the curve of inner sides  154   c , of cavity  155 , which along with the inner smoothly curved inner sides facilities draining of fluid that may enter during cleaning It is also preferable that the rim  151  of the aperture is displaced closer to the end of the termination portion most proximal to the cookware article  100  than the opposing which is more distal from the cookware article  100 . 
     Terminal portion  150  is preferably fabricated with a sealed lower portion  157  that engages the opening in the hollow grip portion  140  at a lower rim  158  having the same shape but slightly smaller inner dimensions of adjacent portion of the grip portion  140  to aid in the assembly of handle  120 . 
     Further, the upper portion of the cavity  155  from the upper edge  152  of rim  151  to the inner surface  153 , denoted H 1 , is preferably at least 25% of the vertical extent of the aperture defined by rim  151 , denoted as H 2 . Thus, the portion of the cavity in the direction of the handle  120  that is closed, and not open via aperture  151  is at least about 20% of the total height of cavity  155 . 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  show one mode of using a hanging hook  10  to suspend the cookware article  100  from a fixed upper surface  5 . The hanging hook  10  terminates in end surface  11 . In this embodiment the end  11  of the hanging hook is optionally flat and supported substantially horizontally to fixed upper surface  5 . This flat end  11  enters cavity  155  of handle  120  at rim  151  to support the pan  100  by making contact with the flat inner upper surface  153  of cavity  151 . 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  show another mode of using a hanging hook  10 ′ to suspend the cookware article  100  from a fixed side surface  5 ′, but is equally applicable to a hook  10  that can pivot. In this embodiment a portion  11   a  of the hanging hook  10  enters cavity  155  of handle  150 , but cooking article  100  is supported at the upper edge  152  of rim  151  which contacts the distal end of portion  11   a , denoted as  12 . Portion H 1  is preferably at least about 5 mm to secure hook  10 ′. H 2  is preferably about 20 mm or longer to facilitate the user inserting the end  11  of hook  10  into rim  151 . 
     While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.