Abstract:
A bakeware for preparing food includes a container for receiving ingredients and for separating a resulting food into predetermined portions during a cutting operation. The container has a bottom portion and at least one side wall extending outwardly along a periphery of the bottom portion. The bottom portion and the at least one side wall define an interior surface of the container. The at least one side wall terminates at an upper rim. A cover is disposed on the upper rim and is formed from a low thermal conductivity polymer. The cover includes a portion indicating indicia formed thereon, and each indicium of the portion indicating indicia has a cooperating indicium on an opposing side of the container. The cover includes a portion indicating indicia formed thereon, and each indicium of the portion indicating indicia has a cooperating indicium on an opposing side of the container.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/704,898, filed Sep. 24, 2012, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates to bakeware, and more particularly to a baking pan having a silicone cover over a rim of the baking container. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many types of foods are prepared by mixing ingredients and placing the ingredients into a baking pan or container for heating in a cooking device such as a microwave or an oven, for example. Various baking pans are known in the prior art. Known baking pans have various shapes and configurations and are made from various materials such as metal, glass, and plastic. Some baking pans have indicia included on a surface of the baking pan such as a side wall, for example. Additionally, it is known to include a handle or rim on a baking pan such that a user is able to grasp the baking pan more easily. Baking pans are also known to have lids and corresponding cutting tools. 
     Baking pans are typically extremely hot when they are removed from an oven. Often times, additional equipment is required for removal of the baking pans. For example, oven mittens or other external covers may be used. However, oven mittens and the like are usually awkward and bulky making it difficult to grasp a baking pan and more likely that the user will tilt or drop the baking pan. Additionally, oven mittens and covers are not sanitary and often not effectively heat resistant. Most importantly, oven mittens and the like do not effectively prevent burns to the user. 
     It is desirable to have a baking pan that is easy to remove from an oven, and which militates against a user burning the user&#39;s fingers when handling the hot baking pan. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Consonant with the instant disclosure, a baking pan that is easy to remove from an oven and that militates against a user burning the user&#39;s fingers when handling the hot baking pan, has surprisingly been discovered. 
     In one embodiment of the disclosure, a container for receiving ingredients and for separating a resulting food into predetermined portions during a cutting operation is disclosed. The container has a bottom portion and at least one side wall extending outwardly along a periphery of the bottom portion. The bottom portion and the at least one side wall define an interior surface of the container, and the at least one side wall terminates at an upper rim. A cover is disposed on the upper rim, and the cover is thermally insulating. 
     In another embodiment of the disclosure, a container for receiving ingredients and for separating a resulting food into predetermined portions during a cutting operation includes a container having a bottom portion and at least one side wall extending outwardly along a periphery of the bottom portion. The bottom portion and the at least one side wall define an interior surface of the container, and the at least one side wall terminates at an upper rim. A cover is disposed on the upper rim. The cover is formed from a heat-resistant polymer and includes a portion indicating indicia formed thereon. Each indicium of the portion indicating indicia have a cooperating indicium on an opposing side of the container. 
     In yet another embodiment of the disclosure, a container for receiving ingredients and for separating a resulting food into predetermined portions during a cutting operation is described. The container includes a bottom portion and at least one side wall extending outwardly along a periphery of the bottom portion. The bottom portion and the at least one side wall define an interior surface of the container, and the at least one side wall terminates at an upper rim. A cover is disposed on the upper rim. The cover is formed from a heat-resistant polymer and includes a portion indicating indicia formed thereon. The portion indicating indicia includes alternating major indicia and minor indicia. Each indicium of the portion indicating indicia is formed as a raised line on the cover and has a cooperating indicium on an opposing side of the container. At least one handle extends outwardly from one of the upper rim and the side wall, and the cover is one of removably and permanently affixed to the handle. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The above, as well as other advantages of the present disclosure, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, particularly when considered in the light of the drawings described hereafter. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a baking pan according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2 a    shows a cross-sectional side elevational view of the baking pan taken along section line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2 b    shows a cross-sectional side elevational view of the baking pan taken along section line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 , according to another embodiment of the disclosure including an adhesive; 
         FIG. 2 c    shows a cross-sectional side elevational view of the baking pan taken along section line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 , according to yet another embodiment of the disclosure including a fastener; 
         FIG. 3  shows a top plan view of the baking pan illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows an enlarged, fragmented top plan view of a cover around a rim of the baking pan of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  shows a top plan view of a square baking pan according to another embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  shows a top plan view of a circular baking pan according to yet another embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  shows a cross-sectional side elevational view of a handle of the baking pan taken along section line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 8  shows a cross-sectional side elevational view of the baking pan taken along section line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 , according to a further embodiment of the disclosure including a bumpy surface. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description and appended drawings describe and illustrate various exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description and drawings serve to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-7  there is illustrated a baking pan, generally identified by reference numeral  10 , for use in preparing food. The baking pan  10  includes a bottom portion  12 , at least one peripheral side wall  14 , a rim  16 , and a cover  18 . The baking pan  10  may be used to bake various food items such as cakes, brownies, and casseroles, for example. Additionally, the baking pan  10  may be used with any cooking device such as a microwave, oven, stove top, or grill, for example. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the at least one peripheral side wall  14  extends upwardly from a perimeter of the bottom portion  12  of the baking pan  10 . In certain embodiments, the bottom portion  12  and the at least one peripheral side wall  14  are perpendicular to one another. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the at least one peripheral side wall  14  may extend upwardly away from the bottom portion  12  at an obtuse angle relative to the bottom portion  12  of the baking pan  10 . 
       FIG. 1  illustrates the bottom portion  12  and the at least one peripheral side wall  14  both having flat, smooth surfaces. However, the bottom portion  12  and the at least one peripheral side wall  14  may have uneven, rough, or bumpy surfaces. 
     In certain embodiments, the bottom portion  12  and the at least one peripheral side wall  14  are fainted from a sheet metal. It should be appreciated that the baking pan  10  may be formed from other materials such as glass or plastic, for example, which may be suitable for baking. The materials forming the bottom portion  12  and the at least one peripheral side wall  14  may be the same or different materials. Additionally, the bottom portion  12  and the at least one peripheral side wall  14  may be separate pieces coupled together using a connecting means, or may be integral with one another, as desired. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 5, and 6 , the bottom portion  12  and the at least one peripheral side wall  14  may be any desirable size and shape capable of housing and cooking the food such as square, rectangular, circular, or irregular, as nonlimiting examples. 
     An inner surface  20  of one or both of the bottom portion  12  and the at least one peripheral side wall  14  may further include a non-stick coating such as a polytetrafluoroethylene coating, commercially available under the trademark Teflon®. 
     It should be understood that, although a pan is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-7 , a pot, plate, or tray may also be formed in accordance with the disclosure. Additionally, in certain embodiments such as a cookie sheet or a pizza tray, for example, it should be appreciated that the pan may not include the at least one peripheral side wall  14 . 
     In the embodiments shown, the rim  16  extends outwardly away from a perimeter of the at least one peripheral side wall  14 . In exemplary embodiments, the rim  16  is integral with the peripheral side wall  14 . The rim  16  may extend only partially around the perimeter of the at least one peripheral side wall  14 . The rim  16  and the at least one peripheral side wall  14  are perpendicular to one another in certain embodiments of the disclosure, and the rim  16  and the bottom portion  12  are parallel to one another. In alternate embodiments of the invention, the rim  16  may extend outwardly from the at least one peripheral side wall  14  at an obtuse or acute angle relative to the peripheral side wall  14 . 
       FIGS. 2 a , 2 b , 2 c   , and  8  illustrate the rim  16  having a flat, smooth surface. However, the rim  16  may have an uneven, textured, rough, or bumpy surface  100  (shown in  FIG. 8 ). The rim  16  may be formed from a sheet metal or may be formed from other suitable materials such as glass or plastic, for example, having desirable thermal properties. A width W 1  of the rim  16 , as shown in  FIG. 2 a   , may be wide enough so that the user may grasp and hold on to the rim  16 . 
     In alternative embodiments, the rim  16  may be formed from a separate piece that is either permanently affixed or removably coupled to the at least one peripheral side wall  14 . The material forming the rim  16  may be the same as or different from the material forming the bottom portion  12  and the at least one peripheral side wall  14 . 
     The pan  10  may also have one or more handles  10  that facilitate a handling of the pan  10  by the user. In certain embodiments, the one or more handles  17  may be integrally formed on the rim  16 . A width W 2  of each handle  17  may be sufficient to permit the user to grasp and hold onto the handle  17 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . For example, the width W 2  of each handle  17  may greater than the width W 1  of the rim  16  (see  FIGS. 2 a    and  7 ). In a particular example, the width W 2  of the handle  17  may be at least twice as long as the width W 1  of the rim  16 . Another width W 2  of the handle  17  may be selected by a skilled artisan, as desired. 
     It should be appreciated that the width of each handle  17  may be uniform along a length of the handle  17 , or may vary along a length of the handle, for example, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 7 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the width of the handle  17  may gradually increase from a first end of the handle  17  to a center of the handle  17 , and then gradually decrease from the center of the handle  17  to a second end of the handle  17  along the length of the handle  17 . Other shapes for the handle  17  may also be used within the scope of the disclosure. 
     Additionally, a thickness of the handle  17  may be the same as, or different from, a thickness of the rim  16 , the at least one peripheral side wall  14 , and/or the bottom portion  12 . The thickness of the handle may also vary throughout a length, a depth, or the width of the handle, as desired. 
     Where the baking pan  10  includes more than one handle  17 , the handles  17  may be identical to one another, or different from one another, as desired. Additionally, the handles  17  may be positioned opposite one another, or adjacent one another, as desired. Alternatively, there may only be one handle  17 . 
     Further embodiments may include handles  17  on each of the at least one peripheral side walls  14 . The one or more handles  17  may alternatively be grooves, apertures, or other gripping elements disposed on the at least one peripheral side wall  14  or the rim  16 . Each handle  17  may be a separate element extending outwardly from the rim  16  and/or the at least one peripheral side wall  14 , or may be integral with the rim  16  or the at least one side wall  14 . 
     The cover  18  is disposed around the rim  16  and/or the one or more handles  17  in certain embodiments of the disclosure. The cover  18  may envelope one or more of a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side surface of the rim  16  and/or the one or more handles  17 . In certain embodiments, the cover  18  may also coat a portion of the at least one peripheral side wall  14  or the bottom portion  12 . 
     A heat resistant material such as cotton, wool, rubber, silicone, or other heat-resistant polymers, for example, forms the cover  18 . Desirably, the material forming the cover  18  has a lower thermal conductivity relative to a body of the pan  10 , and minimizes an opportunity for the user to be burned while the pan  10  is hot. Although silicone is contemplated as one particular type of material suitable for the cover  18 , it should be appreciated that other suitable materials may also be used within the scope of the disclosure. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 a -2 c   , the cover  18  may be permanently or removably connected to the rim  16  and/or the handles  17  by one or both of a mechanical fastener  21  and an adhesive  19 . Mechanical fasteners  21  such as rivets, screws, or press fasteners, for example, may be used (see  FIG. 2 c   ). In other embodiments, the mechanical fasteners  21  may be in the form of surface projections which serve to hold the cover  18  in place. 
     Adhesives  19  such as glue, rubber, or other natural or synthetic adhesives that do not degrade and can withstand repeated exposure to temperatures associated with the baking of baked goods may also be used (see  FIG. 2 b   ). Where a polymer such as silicone is used as the material forming the cover  18 , it should be appreciated that the polymer may be compounded with bonding ingredients such as silane and the like that chemically bond or increase an affinity of the polymer for the material forming the pan  10 . 
     In another example, the cover  18  may be made from a flexible, stretchable material capable of expanding during installation and returning to a form-fitting, secure shape once disposed on the rim  16  and/or the one or more handles  17  of the baking pan  10 . 
     In further example, the cover  18  cooperates with the rim  16  and/or the handles  17  with a tongue and groove construction (not shown) to secure the cover  18  to the pan  10 . The cover  18  may have one of a tongue and a groove that cooperates with a corresponding one of a tongue and a groove on the rim  16  and/or handles  17 . The tongue may be provided by a rib on the rim  16  that is disposed around a periphery of the pan  10  and cooperates with a corresponding groove in the cover  18 , for example. Likewise, the tongue may be provided by a rib on the inner surface of the cover  18  that cooperates with a corresponding groove in the rim  16  and/or the handles  17 . One of ordinary skill in the art should understand that the tongue in groove configuration may further be employed together with the adhesive  19 , such as a silicone adhesive, as desired. 
     In certain embodiments, the cover  18  may be transparent. In illustrative embodiments, the cover  18  may be provided with one or more colors. For example, one or more colorants may be added to the material forming the cover  18  in order to display one or more colors in the cover  18 . Alternatively, a coating may be added to the cover  18  to display the one or more colors on the cover  18 . Additionally, the cover  18  may include a design or a pattern on it, in order to facilitate a visual appeal of the cover  18 . 
     A thickness of the material forming the cover  18  may be uniform throughout the cover  18 , or may vary, as desired. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the thickness of the cover  18  may be greater on the one or more handles  17  than on the rim  16 . It should be appreciated that this may further minimize an opportunity for a user being burned when gripping the handles  17 . 
     The thickness of the cover  18  along the one or more handles  17  may also vary. For example, the thickness of the cover  18  on the handles  17  may be thicker toward a perimeter of each handle  17 , and thinner toward an area of each handle  17  adjacent the peripheral side wall  14 . In other embodiments, the thickness may taper off as the cover  18  approaches the peripheral side wall  14 . Furthermore, the cover  18  on the handle  17  may have finger grooves to facilitate the gripping of the handle  17  by the user. 
     In certain embodiments, a variable thickness of the cover  18  may provide for variable textures, such as groves and bumps, for example. The cover  18  may have a smooth, rough, or textured surface, as desired. Additionally, a handle, groove, aperture, or other gripping element corresponding with or separate from the at least one handle  17  may be included as an extension of or an integral part of the cover  18 . 
     Advantageously, the cover  18  may include indicia  22  for assisting the user in cutting uniform portions of the food. The indicia  22  may be raised lines on and/or grooves in the cover  18 , marks on or additional components extended outwardly from an external surface  24  of the cover  18 , marks or additional components included in an inner portion of the cover  18 , numerical designations, or any other appropriate indicia  22 . Alternatively, the indicia  22  may be included or formed on the rim  16  where the material forming the cover  18  is clear. The indicia  22  may also be included on the at least one peripheral side wall  14  and/or the bottom surface  12 . 
     The indicia  22  may include both major marks  26  and minor marks  28  such as those found on a ruler, for example, and as shown in  FIG. 4 . In certain embodiments, each indicium  22  has a corresponding indicium  22  on an opposing side of the baking pan  10 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The major marks  26  and minor marks  28  may be arranged in an alternating pattern or any other pattern. The indicia  22  may be clear, one or more colors, or may have a pattern or design formed on them, as desired. 
     In operation, the user mixes the ingredients and places the ingredients into the baking pan  10 . The bottom portion  12  and the at least one peripheral side wall  14  contain and house the ingredients in a desired configuration, i.e., the shape of the baking pan  10 . The baking pan  10  is gripped by the user by either the rim  16  or the one or more handles  17  and placed in the oven, microwave, or other cooking device. The baking pan  10  and the ingredients are then heated by the cooking device until the ingredients are sufficiently cooked. 
     When the baking pan  10  is ready for removal from the cooking device, the user grasps the rim  16  or the one or more handles  17  of the baking pan  10  that are enveloped by the cover  18 , and removes the baking pan  10  from cooking device. The surface of the cover  18  may be textured or rough in order to prevent the baking pan  10  from slipping out of the user&#39;s hands. Due to a difference in thermal conductivity between the cover  18  and the body of the pan  10 , the cover  18  provides a cool surface that allows the user to grasp the baking pan  10  without receiving a burn. 
     Once the baking pan  10  is removed from the cooking device, the user may separate the food contained in the baking pan  10  into uniform or non-uniform portions using the indicia  22  disposed along the cover  18 , the rim  16 , the at least one peripheral side wall  14 , and/or the bottom portion  12 . The major marks  26  and/or the minor marks  28  may be used to measure and separate the food into the desired portions and the corresponding indicia  22  disposed on opposing sides of the baking pan  10  allow a user to more accurately separate the uniform portions. 
     Means for cutting or separating the food (not shown) may also be included with the baking pan  10 . The user may grasp the cool surface of the cover  1  with one hand in order to hold the baking pan  10  steady if separating the food prior to the baking pan  10  cooling, or the user may wait for the baking pan  10  and the food to cool before separating the food into portions. Where the baking pan  10  includes a colored cover  18 , the color of the cover  18  may be indicative of the temperature of the baking pan  10 . For example, the cover  18  may be red when the baking pan  10  is hot and may be blue when the baking pan  10  is cool. Other indications of a temperature of the baking pan  10  may also be included. 
     There are numerous advantages of the above described baking pan  10 . First, the user is not injured when handling the baking pan  10  because the heat-resistant cover  18  surrounding the rim  16  protects the user from burns. Second, additional potentially contaminating and inconvenient equipment, such as oven gloves, pads, or additional trays, for example, are not required to handle the baking pan  10 . The cover  18  also allows the user to more easily grip and hold onto the baking pan  10 . Third, the indicia  22  included on the cover  18 , the rim  16 , the at least one peripheral side wall  14 , and/or the bottom portion  12  of the baking pan  10  allow the user to separate the food into uniform portions, as desired. 
     While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for purposes of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure, which is further described in the following appended claims.