Abstract:
An articulating handle for an item of cookware is provided. The articulating handle is configured for connection with the cookware through a hinge assembly. The handle may be locked into substantially horizontal position such as for use of the cookware, or a substantially vertical position for storage. As such, cookware including such a handle can be stacked in a space-saving manner. A method for stacking cookware and a stack of cookware incorporating such a handle are also provided.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/781,453 filed Mar. 10, 2006, entitled “An Articulating Handle for Space-Saving Cookware and Methods for Doing the Same”, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to an articulating handle for space-saving cookware and, more particularly, to an articulated handle for cookware that is configured to save space by rotating between and locking into multiple positions, and methods for using the same. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Consumers have been frustrated for many years by the inability to neatly and efficiently store cookware, e.g., a variety of sizes of pans, pots, etc., in cabinets, particularly a variety of sized pieces of cookware. Conventional cookware generally includes a handle that is fixed to a side of the cookware and protrudes outwardly from the side. This protruding handle generally occupies shelf space within the cabinet, preventing another piece of cookware from being positioned in a side-to-side manner adjacent the first piece of cookware. Such a conventional handle design creates wasted space within the cabinet. 
     Moreover, although conventional cookware pieces may nest within one another, there has always been a problem with conventional cookware nesting in a level stacked arrangement due to the attached handles. Inevitably, the end result of any effort to nest cookware pieces (e.g., pans with handles) for storage is an unstable, un-level arrangement that does not make the best use of available storage space due to the acute angle of the nested cookware. This acute angle is caused by the handle of an inner, smaller piece of cookware resting on a sidewall of an outer, larger piece of cookware. 
     Generally, cookware designed to address this problem includes either collapsible or removable handles. However, these types of handles create separate problems of their own, such as adding complexity to the cookware&#39;s design and manufacture as well as demands on the consumer. In addition, the removable handles also require the consumers to remove and store the handles separately, which adds the potential risk of the consumer misplacing the handles. Thus, there is still a need for an improved handle for cookware. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention solves the problems heretofore encountered in the prior art by providing an articulated handle for cookware wherein the cookware may be nested in a level arrangement, thus saving storage space. The articulated handle of the present invention does not require removal of the handle prior to storing the cookware due to the inventive handle assembly which permits locking and unlocking the handle assembly for vertical positioning the handle when storing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the invention, embodiments of the invention will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an articulating handle for cookware according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the handle illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the handle illustrated in  FIG. 1  in a substantially vertical position; 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the handle illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the handle illustrated in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the handle illustrated in  FIG. 4 , wherein the locking lever is in the unlocked position; 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a nested arrangement of cookware pieces having articulating handles according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of the nested arrangement illustrated in  FIG. 7 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded view of the nested arrangement illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative in nature and not intended to be limiting of the invention which is defined by the claims. Moreover, individual features illustrated in the drawings will be more fully apparent and understood with reference to the following detailed description. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals indicate similar elements throughout the views. 
       FIGS. 1-6  disclose an exemplary embodiment of a space-saving cookware  10  according to the present invention. Such an embodiment saves space within storage cabinets and permits multiple cookware pieces to be neatly stacked and stored within the cabinets. The exemplary cookware  10  includes a receptacle  20  and an articulating handle assembly  40 . Receptacle  20  may include a sidewall  24 , bottom wall  26 , a reservoir  22  formed by sidewall  24  and bottom wall  26 , and a hinge assembly receiving device  28  connected to the sidewall. Hinge assembly receiving device  28  may be connected to sidewall  24  by any conventional device or method known to one of ordinary skill in the art, including but not limited to a rivet, screw, bolt, welding, brazing, etc. It is understood that receptacle  20  may comprise, but is not limited to, pots, pans, boilers, woks, griddles or any other cookware as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In addition, receptacle  20  may be fabricated from any conventional materials used in cookware such as metals, metals coated with non-stick material and/or other materials as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , cookware  10  may include a hinge assembly  30  that is connected to sidewall  24  of receptacle  20  using a fastener  32  that connects hinge assembly  30  to hinge assembly receiving device  28 . It is understood that hinge assembly  30  may be connected to sidewall  24  by any conventional device or method known to one of ordinary skill in the art, including but not limited to a rivet, screw, bolt, welding, brazing, etc. In the exemplary embodiment, fastener  32  is a screw that is threadingly received into hinge assembly receiving device  28 . The exemplary hinge pin shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  5  and  6  includes two detents  36  and  38  spaced approximately 90 degrees apart from each other along the circumference of hinge pin  34 , permitting handle assembly  40  to be locked into a substantially horizontal position (e.g.,  FIGS. 1 and 5 ) or a substantially vertical position ( FIG. 3 ), respectively. It is understood that hinge pin  34  may include multiple detents in order to permit handle assembly  40  to lock into multiple positions along the hinge pin. 
     Handle assembly  40  is configured such that when connected to receptacle  20  via hinge assembly  30 , it may rotate about hinge pin  34 . For example, in the exemplary embodiment, handle assembly  40  rotates about hinge pin  34  between the substantially horizontal position (e.g.,  FIGS. 1 and 5 ) or the substantially vertical position ( FIG. 3 ). Handle assembly  40  includes a locking lever  42 , a locking cam  44  connected to locking lever  42 , an upper clamp  60 , a lower clamp  70  rotatably connected to upper clamp  60 , a clamp actuator  50 , and a handle grip  80  attached to an underside  66  of upper clamp  60 . 
     Lower clamp  70  includes a first lower clamp end  72 , a lower clamp hole  74 , and a protrusion  75 . Lower clamp  70  is formed such that a portion of its body substantially confirms to the shape of hinge pin  34  and that protrusion  75  extends inwardly from an inside surface  73  of clamp  70 . Protrusion  75  is configured to engage detents  36  and  38  in order to stop and/or lock handle assembly  40  into the substantially horizontal and vertical positions, respectively. 
     Upper clamp  60  includes a first upper clamp end  62  and a hollow  64  disposed within upper clamp  60 . At first clamp end  62 , upper clamp  60  is formed to substantially conform to the shape of hinge pin  34 . Upper clamp  60  and lower clamp  70  are rotatably connected to each other at upper and lower first ends  62  and  72  using clamp pin  78  such that they encompass hinge pin  34  in order to rotatably connect handle assembly  40  to receptacle  20 . Clamp actuator  50 , in the exemplary embodiment, includes a first actuator end  54  at one end and a head  52  at an end opposite the first actuator end. Clamp actuator  50  and head  52  may comprise a bolt and head, respectively. It is understood that other devices may be used for clamp actuator  50  and head  52  as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     Locking lever  42  includes a hinge pin hole  48  disposed near cam  44 . Locking lever  42  is rotatably connected to clamp actuator  50  and upper clamp  60  within hollow  64  using a lever hinge pin  46  that is disposed through pin hole  48  and actuator first end  54  and connects the lever to upper clamp  60 . In addition, clamp actuator  50  is disposed through an aperture (not shown) in upper clamp aperture  60  within hollow  64  and through lower clamp hole  74  such that head  52  engages an outer surface  76  of lower clamp  70 . As such, clamp actuator  50  causes upper clamp  60  and lower clamp  70  to substantially encompass hinge pin  34 . 
     In operation, when lever  42  is moved to the unlock position as shown in  FIG. 6 , cam  44  moves actuator  50  such that head  52  disengages outer surface  76 , permitting the upper and lower clamps to move apart or partially separate. When upper and lower clamps  60  and  70 , respectively, move apart, protrusion  75  disengages detents  36  and/or  38 , which permits handle assembly  40  to rotate about hinge pin  34 . For example, if handle assembly  40  is locked in a substantially horizontal position shown in  FIG. 1 , lever  42  may be moved up and away from upper clamp  60  to the unlocked position, and handle assembly  40  may be rotated to the vertical position shown in  FIG. 3 . Once in the substantially vertical position, lever  42  may be moved back toward upper clamp  60  into the locked position, wherein the upper and lower clamps close, tighten around, and/or clamp onto hinge pin  34 . This closing of upper and lower clamps  60  and  70  cause protrusion  75  to engage detent  38 , locking the handle assembly in the substantially vertical position. Alternatively, the process may be repeated to cause protrusion  75  to engage detent  36 , locking handle assembly  40  into the substantially horizontal position. 
     It is understood that hinge assembly  30 , handle assembly  40  and any or all of their components may be fabricated from a variety of conventional materials, including but not limited to metals, plastics, ceramics, composite materials, any combinations thereof, or any other materials as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In one exemplary embodiment, the upper clamp, lower clamp, and actuator are fabricated from aluminum, the locking lever is fabricated from stainless steel, and the handle grip is fabricated from plastic. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7-9 , an exemplary embodiment of a nested arrangement of stacked cookware according to the present invention is shown as  90 . Nested arrangement  90  may include multiple cookware pieces having articulated handles as described herein. The exemplary embodiment includes nine (9) cookware pieces ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400 ,  500 ,  600 ,  700 ,  800  and  900 ), wherein the size, e.g., the diameter of the receptacle, may increase in ascending order. Thus, in the exemplary, cookware piece  100  is the smallest (e.g., smallest diameter), cookware piece  200  is slightly larger in size compared to piece  100  (e.g., larger diameter than cookware piece  100 ) and so on. The nested arrangement is assembled such that each correspondingly smaller cookware piece fits within and is placed within the next correspondingly larger cookware piece. For example, piece  100  is placed within the receptacle of piece  200 , which is placed within the receptacle of piece  300 , which is placed within the receptacle of piece  400  and so on until the nested arrangement includes all nine (9) pieces. 
     As set forth above, a plurality of the cookware pieces includes articulated handle assemblies (e.g., handle assemblies  102 ,  202 ,  302 ,  402 ,  502 ,  602 ,  702 ,  802  and  902 ) that when rotated to the substantially vertical position may fit within the next correspondingly larger cookware piece&#39;s receptacle as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . Such a configuration reduces the overall height (H) of nested arrangement of cookware pieces  90  but also the length (L) and width (W). The height (H) of the exemplary is approximately 336 mm, the length (L) is approximately 360 mm, and the width is approximately 313 mm. In other words, nested arrangement  90  occupies a volume of space less than 0.04 m 3 , in another exemplary less than or equal to 0.0379 m 3 . The present invention saves shelf space and provides for a user to neatly stack a plurality of cookware pieces having a variety of sizes and shapes. 
     While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. The presently preferred embodiments described herein are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof.