Abstract:
In summary there is provided in one embodiment a combination of a pan with a box for holding a roasting material. The roasting bag is positioned within and removable from the box.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/231,083 filed Sep. 13, 2011, which is a continuation in part of U.S. Pat. No. 8,496,112. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to pans and more particularly to baking and roasting pans having secured thereto in a convenient manner to roasting materials. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Baking and roasting pans otherwise referred to herein generally as pans, have long been used to cook food in ovens. Often used with the pans are cooking or roasting materials, such as but not limited to aluminum foil, plastic bags, etc. The aluminum foil is used to cover the food during roasting and the plastic bags are designed to place a roast, turkey, or other type of food in the bag for cooking and roasting. These additional roasting materials are typically sold separately. There is a need to provide a convenient manner in selling the roasting materials with the pan and more importantly a convenient manner in which to connect the roasting materials to the pan such that when sold the two do not accidentally separate. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention there is provided in one embodiment a pan used in connection with a label having a pouch or pocket to hold roasting materials, such as aluminum foil and/or roasting bags. The pan can be further defined to include a bottom base and sidewalls with the label being secured within a well defined thereby. The label includes a pocket either on the front or rear side. The pocket has an internal space for holding the roasting materials. The pocket is formed from different or the same material of the label. 
     In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of attaching the roasting materials to a pan. In a first step, a pan is provided to include at least a bottom portion and sides extending from the bottom portion to form a well. In a second step, the label is provided which can be affixed to the bottom portion of the pan. The label has a pocket formed on one side of the label to define an interior pocket region. Upon obtaining the label, roasting materials are placed within the pocket region and then the label is affixed to the pan. 
     Numerous other advantages and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A fuller understanding of the foregoing may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pan having a label pouch for holding at least a roasting material in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of  FIG. 1  showing the partial removal of the label; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an underside of the label pouch; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the label pouch showing the removal of a roasting bag and a tie; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the use of the roasting bag; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the use of a tie around a roasting bag; 
         FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of the use of the pan and roasting bag; 
         FIG. 7B  is a perspective view of the use of the pan and aluminum foil; 
         FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of a pan having a label pouch for holding at least a roasting material in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 8B  is a perspective view of a pan having a label pouch for holding at least a roasting material in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of a pan having a box for holding at least a roasting material in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 9B  is a perspective view of the box and roasting material from  FIG. 9A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     While the invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein, in detail, the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the spirit or scope of the invention and/or claims of the embodiments illustrated. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-4  there is provided a pan  100 , used for baking, roasting, or simply used for preparing and storing meals. The pan  100  includes a bottom base  105  terminated to an bottom edge that meets with a sidewall  110 . The sidewall may be a single continuous sidewall or be sectioned into various sides (i.e. front, rear, left, right, or angled sides). Therefore the shape of the pan may be changed into various geometrically shapes, such as but not limited to a square, rectangular, circular, or other symmetrical polygonal shape. The sidewall  110  extends upwardly forming a depression or well  115  for which food can be placed. The sidewall  110  terminates at an edge  120  where it meets and forms into an outwardly extending ridge  125  that substantially surrounds the entire bottom base  105 . The ridge  125  may have a length away from the sidewall that is uniformally dimensioned around the entire sidewall or it may extend further about a pair of opposing sides or edges of the pan  100  to form elongated handles. As is common with the commercial sale of these types of pans  100 , a label is often affixed to the inside portion of the bottom base  105  within the well  115 . However, the current invention forms a new type of label and a new use for the label not known in the prior art. 
     The label  200  includes a front side  205  and a rear side  210 . The front side  205  would most likely have some form of indicia printed about the manufacturer, the contents, and other information about the pan, sale thereof, etc. The rear side  210  would include a means of securing  215  the label  200  to the pan itself, such as a strip of adhesive, glue or epoxy spots, etc. In addition, the rear side  210  of the label  200  includes a formed pocket  220  for the receiving and holding roasting materials. These roasting materials may include but are not limited to a roasting bag  225 , a roasting tie  230 , promotional materials, or aluminum foil or other similar items. The label and pocket may be formed from a single sheet of material or may be separate and formed together around edges (either both the edges together or having the edges of the pocket formed to the rear side of the label) to create the pocket. Once formed, the pocket  220  can be used to store and transport the roasting bag  225  and a roasting tie  230 . The pocket  220 , because it is placed flat against the bottom base  105  of the pan, will remain closed. However, if needed the pocket  220  can include a means for sealing the pocket shut, for example, a reusable, re-sealable plastic zipper can be used or secondary epoxy spots can be used to help keep the pocket sealed until used. The consumer can then easily remove the label open the pocket and remove the roasting materials. As shown in  FIGS. 5-7A , the roasting bag is used to receive a food item the tie helps seal the bag shut during cooking and then the contents can be placed on the pan  100 . As shown in  FIG. 7B , the pan is used with aluminum foil that is shipped, transporting and carried with the pan. 
     In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of attaching roasting materials to a pan. In a first step, a pan is provided to include at least a bottom portion and sides extending from the bottom portion to form a well. In a second step, the label is provided which can be affixed to the bottom portion of the pan. The label has a pocket formed on one side of the label to define an interior pocket region. Upon obtaining the label, roasting material is placed within the pocket region and then the label is affixed to the pan. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 9A and 9B , in another aspect of the invention the roasting materials could be placed inside a small box  300 , which is then affixed to the bottom portion  105  of the pan  100 . The small box  300  could be substantially flat to hold the roasting materials and thus not take up a large area, especially for transport and display on shelves. In another aspect of the invention, the roasting materials could be secured directed to the bottom portion of the pan. An adhesive, epoxy or tape could be used to affix the roasting materials directly to the pan. 
     In  FIGS. 8A and 8B , there are shown other embodiments of the present invention. In  FIG. 8A , the label pouch  200  is affixed to an outside surface  108  of the bottom of the pan  105 . In  FIG. 8B , the label pouch  200  is affixed to an outside surface  112  of the side wall  110 . Similarly, the label pouch may be affixed to an inside surface  114  of the side wall. 
     One of the main advantages of the present embodiment is that it provides a flat, easy, and inexpensive manner for transporting the roasting bag and tie with the pan. Therefore, the pans can still be stacked or nested with each other for display on the store and when separated for individual purchase, the label and more importantly, the pouch with its contents, will separate and be purchased by the consumer as a single combined kit or item. 
     From the foregoing and as mentioned above, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concept of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific methods and apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.