Patent Publication Number: US-2017354286-A1

Title: Cooking implement

Description:
FIELD 
     The invention relates generally to cooking implements and more specifically to compact cooking implements adaptable to alternative heat sources. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may or may not constitute prior art. 
     Outdoor sporting activities have long been a source of enjoyment for people. Hunting, camping, hiking, fishing, canoeing, etc., are just some of the ways people take advantage of the opportunity to get back to nature in the woods, on the lakes and streams, and in the mountains. When people make their way outdoors many also choose to do their cooking and eating as a more immersive way of enjoying the experience. Traditionally, some of the usual cooking methods include using campfires, propane stoves, charcoal or gas grills, a heat sources. 
     More recently, people have been attempting to extend their outdoor season into colder months or be more comfortable during the hunting season by using portable heaters to keep warm. Some portable heaters offer yet another heat source by which one can utilize to cook. People wanting to cook or warm food using portable heaters have attempted to do so with limited success while increasing the hazards of fire, etc. Therefore, to this point, there has been no development regarding cooking implements for safe use in conjunction with portable heaters. Thus, there is a need in the art for a new compact, lightweight, and durable cooking/food warming implement for safe use with portable heaters or other alternative types of heat sources. 
     SUMMARY 
     A compact cooking implement is provided, the compact cooking implement including a pan, a top flange, a handle, and a stand flange. The pan has a rectangular bottom and four perpendicular walls. One of the four walls extends from each of four edges of the bottom. The top flange is disposed on a top edge of the walls of the pan. The top flange extends perpendicularly outward from a top edge of each of the four walls. The handle extends outwardly from the top flange. The stand flange extends from the top flange. The stand flange extends outwardly at an angle from a plane including the top flange. 
     In another example of the present invention, the angle between the stand flange and the top flange is about 65°. 
     In yet another example of the present invention, the stand flange is further disposed on an opposite edge of the top flange from the handle. 
     In yet another example of the present invention, the handle includes a heat resistant coating, a carrier hole, and a curved profile. 
     In yet another example of the present invention, the cooking implement further includes a hinge disposed on the top flange. The stand flange is rotatably supported by the hinge. 
     In yet another example of the present invention, the stand flange includes a stop portion proximate the hinge and the stop portion contacts an underside surface of the top flange to prevent further rotation in a first direction. 
     In yet another example of the present invention, the implement is manufactured from stainless steel using a stamping method. 
     Further aspects, examples, and advantages will become apparent by reference to the following description and appended drawings wherein like reference numbers refer to the same component, element or feature. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary cooking implement, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of an exemplary cooking implement, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a portion of an exemplary cooking implement, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a portion of an exemplary cooking implement, according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a top view a side view of a portion of an exemplary cooking implement, according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a compact, portable cooking implement or pan  10  is illustrated and will now be described. The compact cooking implement  10  includes a cooking surface or bottom  12 , a plurality of vertical sides or walls  14 , a top flange  16 , a handle  18 , and a stand flange  20 . More specifically, the sides  14  of the compact cooking implement  10  are disposed on the outer perimeter of the horizontal bottom  12  and extend perpendicularly from the bottom  12 . Thus, the sides  14  and the bottom  12  combine to form a shallow bowl or pan  22  having solid surfaces preventing any liquids that may be in the pan  22  initially from dripping out of the pan  22 . Additionally, the pan  22  preferably has a generally square or rectangular shape. However, other shapes, such as circular or oval, may also be considered without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     The top flange  16  extends perpendicularly outward from the sides  14  of the compact cooking implement  10 . The top flange  16  purposefully deflects excess heat outside of the compact cooking implement  10  when the compact cooking implement  10  is placed above a heat source  26 . The handle  18  is disposed at the edge of the top flange  16  and extends outwardly. The shape of the handle  18  begins at the top flange  16  as flat and transitions into a gentle radius at its terminal end. Additionally, the handle  18  includes a heat resistant coating  24  for handling comfort and a carrier bore or hole  26  for ease of transport. 
     The stand flange  20  initially extends outwardly from the top flange  16  on a side of the compact cooking implement  10  that is opposite the side on which the handle  18  is disposed. Shown more directly in  FIG. 2 , the stand flange  20  includes a radius r that extends the stand flange at an angle a from the top flange  16 . In a preferred example of the present invention, the angle a is approximately 65° from the reference line i which is co-linear to the top flange  16 , however, other angles may be considered without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     As shown in the side view of  FIG. 2 , the stand flange  18  is disposed between two grounded members  30 ,  32  such that the remainder of the compact cooking implement  10  is cantilevered over the top of the heat source  26 . In some examples, the members  30 ,  32  are a part of the heat source  26  mechanism. In either case, the handle  18  is extended away from the heat source to help prevent overheating the handle and thus leading to a handle that is uncomfortable to the touch. Still, other handle configurations may be considered including two side handles or a bail handle, without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 3-5 , another example of a compact cooking implement  100 , according to the present invention, is illustrated and will now be described. In  FIGS. 3-5 , reference numbers are carried over from  FIGS. 1 and 2  when referring to the same or similar features of the invention. More specifically, the compact cooking implement  100  includes an alternative feature to extend the stand flange  120  from the top flange  16 . The compact cooking implement  100  includes a hinge  122  connecting the stand flange  120  to the top flange  16 . The stand flange  120  is connected to the hinge  122  such that a portion of the stand flange  120  referred to as a stop  124  extends under the top flange  16  to prevent the stand flange  120  from over rotating. As in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the stand flange  120  rotates to approximately 65° from the top flange  16 , however, other angles may be considered without departing from the scope of the invention. When not in use, the stand flange  120  rotates back into the bowl or pan  22  to provide for a more compact cooking implement. Also shown in  FIG. 4  is the how the stand flange  120  may be utilized with two grounded members  130 ,  132  to cantilever the compact cooking implement  100  over the heat source. 
     The compact cooking implement  10 ,  100  may be manufactured using a stamping process using a stainless steel material. However, other manufacturing processes may be considered using alternative materials. For example, the compact cooking implement  10 ,  100  may be cast or stamped from lightweight aluminum having a high heat transfer rate and anti-corrosive properties. 
     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.