Patent Publication Number: US-2007107821-A1

Title: Cookware having a protective cover

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a cookware and, more particularly, to cookware having a protective cover for use in storing the cookware when not in use.  
      Conventional cookware is generally composed of a container having vertical sidewalls extending upwardly from a bottom surface, an elongated handle, and a lid. High-quality cookware in which heat is transferred uniformly throughout the conductive heat cooking surface, for example iron skillets, aluminum and copper cookware are also well known for cooking. Such cookware often include a non-slip coating on the top surface of the metal cooking surface to prevent the food being cooked or food residue from adhering to the surface. Most non-stick coatings used for cookware work by providing an extremely smooth surface, without surface pockets or indentations, effectively reducing the coefficient of friction of the cooking surface. An example of such a non-stick surface coating is marketed under the trademark TEFLON, which is formed from tetrafluroethylene (TFE) fluorocarbon polymers or fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) resins. One of the short comings of such coatings however is their lack of durability. Many non-stick coatings are relatively soft and can be easily scratched, scraped or otherwise marred.  
      Conventional cookware is also known to be difficult to stack and store without causing damage to the cooking surfaces. Further, it is often desirable to store cookware on the top of a stove or by hooks attached to racks and many times are used for ornamental purposes. Cookware however after repeated use often looses some of its attractiveness and displaying such cookware is not always desirable. Further, storing various pieces of cookware, many having several pieces, such as a pot and matching lid, in a cabinet, shelf or the like, often results in the pieces becoming separated. Such separation can make it difficult to match related pieces, such as a pan with its corresponding lid.  
      Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a cover that would effectively protect cookware from scratches and other damage, that would allow cookware to be easily stacked for storage, keeps related cookware pieces together, and provides an attractive appearance.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is directed to cookware and a protective cover for the cookware that is effective for protecting the cookware from scratches and other damage, that allows the cookware to be easily stacked, keeps related cookware pieces together, and provides an attractive appearance. The protective cookware cover comprises two opposite faces permanently joined along most of their common edge to form an inner cavity with an opening extending along part of the common edge to allow insertion and extraction of the cookware. The cavity having at least two compartments therein which are effective for separating and protecting the individual pieces comprising the cookware.  
      In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the protective cover further comprises closure means for closing said opening.  
      In another preferred embodiment of the invention the protective cover includes a closure means comprising a draw string.  
      In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the protective cover includes a closure means comprising a snap connector.  
      In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the protective cover includes a closure means comprising hook-and-loop fastener tape.  
      In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the faces forming the cover comprises a generally oval portion sized to enclose the base portion of the cookware and a more elongated narrow portion to enclose part or the entire handle of the cookware within the cover.  
      In another preferred embodiment of the invention the protective cover the compartments are formed from at least one inner panel, wherein said inner panel is flexible to permit the lid to rest within the base portion of the cookware.  
      In another preferred embodiment of the invention at least one face of the protective cover is padded.  
      In another preferred embodiment of the invention the protective cover includes a side panel adapted for expanding to accommodate various sizes of cookware.  
      Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying, drawings, and the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      To provide a more complete understanding of the present invention and further features and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a cut-away perspective view of the protective cookware cover of the subject application showing conventional cookware having a base portion and a lid positioned within the protective cookware cover;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the protective cookware cover of  FIG. 1  showing conventional cookware having a container and a lid positioned therein with the opening closed using a draw string;  
       FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view showing one example of a closure means whereby spaced apart snap closure means are used for providing closure to the protective cookware cover of the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view showing another example of a closure means whereby strips of hook-and-loop tape are used for providing closure to the protective cookware cover of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the protective cookware cover of the subject application;  
       FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of the protective cookware cover of the present invention showing a pair of covers, one cover as shown in  FIG. 1  and one cover as shown in  FIG. 5 , without cookware therein stacked for storage;  
       FIG. 7  is a side elevation view if a pair of protective cookware covers of the present invention showing an inner flap effective for permitting the lid of the cookware to be stored within the base portion of the cookware; and  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the protective cookware cover of the subject application showing a padded surface for providing additional protection to the stored cookware. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to cookware covers and more particularly, to a protective cookware cover for protecting cookware from scratches, marring and other damage during storage. The application however, is not intended to be limited by the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the protective cookware cover of the present invention  100  is shown having two opposite faces  102  and  104  permanently joined along most of their common edge  106  to form an inner cavity  108  adapted to enclose cookware  110 , such as a convention pot, pan, container, and other cooking vessels. Although any type of pan, pot or container may be used with the invention, the invention will be described with respect to the cookware as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The cover  100  is further provided with an opening  112  extending along part of the common edge  106  to allow insertion and extraction of the cookware  110 . As shown the faces  102  and  104  forming the cover  100  include a generally oval portion  114  which is sized to enclose the base portion  116  of the cookware  110 . In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the faces  102  and  104  forming the cover  100  also includes a more elongated narrow portion  118  which encloses part (as shown) or the entire handle  120  of the cookware  110  within the cover  100 .  
      It should be understood that the opening  112  has a diameter sufficient to allow the cookware  110  to be easily inserted into the inner cavity  108 . For example, the opening  112  may be a split that extends long the common edge  106  between faces  102  and  104 . Once the cookware  110  is inserted into the cavity  108  the opening  112  can be closed, such as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , by the use of a conventional draw string  122 , as shown, along the periphery of the opening in the front faces  102  and  104  allowing the opening to close. It should be understood that the use of a draw string  112  allows the cover  100  to easily accommodate various sizes of cookware  110 . Other closure means such as intercooperating means, for example spaced apart snaps  124  ( FIG. 3 ) may also be used. As shown, the snaps  124  comprise two separate sections that are used to close the opening  112  such that the inserted cookware will remain within the inner cavity  108 . The first section  126  of the snap  124  is inserted though the first face  102  and the second section  128  of the snap  124  is inserted through the second face  104  such that it sections  126  and  128  can slidably engage to form a snap connection and sufficiently close the opening  112 . It should be understood that the outside surface  130  of the first and second sections  126  and  128  can be imprinted with a predetermined logo or design or an elongated strip of material (not shown) can we sewn along the periphery of the opening  112  to cover the outside surface of each section  126  and  128  of the snap  124 . Another example of intercooperating means is shown in  FIG. 4  whereby strips of hook-and-loop tape  132  are attached respectively to the inner surfaces of the faces  102  and  104  along the opening  112  in mutually facing relationship. Such hook-and-loop fastener tape is commonly known and sold under the trademark VELCRO.  
      In another preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the cover  200  comprises two opposite faces  202  and  204  and a side panel or gusset  205  permanently joined such as by stitching, to the common edges  206  of the faces  202  and  204  to form an inner cavity  208  adapted to enclose cookware  110  (Such as shown in  FIG. 1 ). As shown the faces  202  and  204  forming the cover  200  include a generally oval portion  214  which is sized to enclose the base portion  116  (see  FIG. 1 ) of the cookware  110 . In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the faces  202  and  204  forming the cover  200  also includes a more elongated narrow portion  218  which encloses part (as shown) or the entire handle  120  of the cookware  110  within the cover  200 . The cover  200  is provided with an opening  212  extending along part of the side panel  205  to allow insertion and extraction of the cookware  110 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , forming the cover  200  using side panels or gusset  205  permits the cover  200  to easily expand to accommodate larger cookware  110  while allowing the cover  200  to lie flat (as shown in  FIG. 6 ) when not in use. This permits one or more covers  200  to be easily stored when not in use. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a zipper  225  is provided for opening and closing the opening  212  to allow for the cookware  110  to be inserted or removed from the inner cavity  208 .  
      The cover  100 ,  200  can be made from any suitable material, for example fabric, vinyl, etc. The weight and thickness of the panels may vary depending upon the quality of the product specifically desired, but it should be understood that the thickness should be sufficient to provide structural integrity and wear ability. It should also be understood that the cover can be sized and made in various colors and materials and can be imprinted with predetermined logos and designs and formed in different configurations to accommodate various cookware.  
      As demonstrated in  FIG. 1 , the invention is shown whereby the cover  100 ,  200  has at least one inner panel  134  or flap separating the inner cavity  108  into at least two separate compartments. It should be understood that while the following description refers to the cover of  FIG. 1 , the description may equally apply to the other embodiments shown and described herein. As shown, an inner panel  134  operates to divide the inner cavity  108  into at least two compartments. As shown in this the inner panel  134  operates to separate the inner cavity  108  into a first compartment  136  and a second compartment  138 . As shown, the first compartment  136  is sized to accommodate the base portion  116  of the cookware  110  and the second compartment  138  is sized to accommodate a lid  140  of the cookware  110 . As shown, the inner flap  134  operates to separate and protect the base portion  116  and the lid  140  by preventing their metal surfaces from rubbing against each other and provides a protective cushion between the parts. Preferably, the inner flap  134  is formed from a flexible material, such as fabric, or is sized to permit the lid  140  to be inverted and rest within the base portion  116  of the cookware  110 , as shown. It should be understood that by allowing the lid  140  to be inverted and rest within the base portion  116  allows the protective cover  100 ,  200  with the cookware  110  therein to be stably stacked on other protective covers having cookware therein (as demonstrated in  FIG. 7 ). It should also be understood that the cover may also be provided with additional flaps to separate the inner cavity into additional compartments.  
      Referring to  FIG. 8 , another preferred embodiment of the invention is shown whereby faces  302  and  304  of cover  300  are formed from panels  307  each having inner and outer layers of material  309  and  311 , respectively, which are stitched together at the peripheries by stitching to enclose padding  313 . Such padding  313  will provide the cookware  310  contained within the inner cavity  308  with greater protection from the risk of damage.  
      As shown in  FIG. 8 , the cover  300  can be provided with means for hanging the cover  142  such as by a hook, to store the cover with the enclosed cookware in various storage devices, such as a conventional pot rack.  
      Accordingly, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that the cookware having the protective cookware cover is less prone to scratches and other damage, allows the cookware to be easily stacked, keeps related cookware parts together, and provides an attractive appearance.  
      Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity of understandings, it will be apparent that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, it should be understood that the present disclosure is to be considered as exemplary of the principals of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope and equivalents of the appended claims.