Patent Publication Number: US-2022211217-A1

Title: Removable Handle With Reinforced Support Member

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to a removable handle designed to cooperate with a cooking container, said cooking container, such as a saucepan, a frying pan or a stewpot, having a side wall that is extended upwards by an outwardly-curved portion. 
     STATE OF THE ART 
     Document EP1523266 discloses a removable handle designed to cooperate with a cooking container having a side wall that is extended upwards by an outwardly-curved portion comprising a free end. The removable handle extends in a longitudinal direction and comprises an inner supporting member and an external support member designed to rest against, respectively, an interior surface and an exterior surface of the side wall. The removable handle has a plastic gripping body that extends longitudinally and has a front end equipped with the external support member. 
     However, in the event of misuse, especially on a gas fire, the plastic material of the external support member may be burned by the flame of the gas fire. Thus, the geometry of the external support member is modified and the correct assembly of the removable handle on the cooking container is no longer guaranteed. As a result, the cooking container could become detached from the removable handle in case of strong stresses. The removable handle can include a metal part arranged on a lower exterior surface of the front end that acts as a flame guard. However, the external support member may be thermally degraded, and the metal part is not dimensioned to compensate for this degradation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is intended to remedy these disadvantages. 
     The technical problem at the basis of the invention consists of proposing a removable handle that enables safe and reliable operation over time. 
     Another purpose of the invention is to propose a removable handle intended to cooperate with a cooking vessel of a design that is simple and economical to use. 
     To this end, a subject matter of the invention is a removable handle intended to cooperate with a cooking container having a side wall that is extended upwards by a outwardly-curved portion comprising a free end, said removable handle extending in a longitudinal direction and comprising an internal support member and an external support member intended to come against, respectively, an interior surface and an exterior surface of the side wall, said removable handle comprising a plastic gripping body which extends longitudinally and which comprises a front end equipped with the external support member, characterized in that the gripping body comprises a metal reinforcement attached to the front end and provided with a tab that extends at the external support member, the metal reinforcement and the tab being dimensioned to guarantee the geometry of the removable handle/cooking container assembly in the event of thermal degradation of the plastic material at the front end of the gripping body. 
     By a tab that extends at the support member, it is understood that the support member is formed in part by the front end and in part by the tab. 
     Advantageously, the front end forming the support member and the tab are aligned to be in contact with the exterior surface of the side wall of the cooking container. 
     With the metal reinforcement and the tab being dimensioned to guarantee the geometry of the removable handle/container assembly in the event of thermal degradation of the plastic material of the front end of the gripping body, it is understood that the metal reinforcement and the tab have a rigidity that guarantees the geometry of the removable handle/container assembly in the event of thermal degradation of the plastic material of the front end of the gripping body. 
     As the metal reinforcement and the tab are dimensioned to guarantee the geometry of the removable handle/container assembly, it is understood that if the support member, in particular the plastic part, is degraded by improper use, in particular on a gas fire, the metal reinforcement and the tab are dimensioned so that the tab withstands the stresses against the exterior surface of the side wall during use of the cooking container. 
     Thus, the metal reinforcement tab ensures an identical and stable position of the external support member over time even in the event of thermal degradation of the plastic material of the front end of the gripping body. 
     Advantageously, the front end has a front face with a lower portion and the lower portion of the front face has a cavity to receive the tab. 
     Thus, the tab and the parts of the lower portion located near the tab form the external support member. 
     Preferably, the metal reinforcement comprises a vertical plane of symmetry passing through the longitudinal direction, the tab extending on either side of the plane of symmetry. 
     Thus, the metal reinforcement and the tab are distributed in a balanced manner on either side of the plane of symmetry. 
     Advantageously, the metal reinforcement is made from a sheet having a thickness greater than 0.6 millimeters, preferably greater than 0.8 millimeters. 
     Thus, the mechanical strength of the tab and the metal reinforcement is sufficient to guarantee a good hold over time, under any type of conditions of use of the cooking container. 
     Preferably, the metal reinforcement extends over a lower outer face of the front end of the gripping body. 
     Thus, the metal reinforcement extends near the tab. 
     By [sic], the metal reinforcement extends over a lower outer face of the front end of the gripping body, it is understood that the metal reinforcement extends at least partially over a lower outer face of the front end of the gripping body. 
     Advantageously, the lower outer face of the front end of the gripping body comprises first and second upper ends and the metal reinforcement comprises first and second fasteners arranged at the first and second upper ends. 
     Thus, the first and second fasteners of the metal reinforcement are arranged on the front end of the gripping body so as to be as far away from the heating device, in particular from the gas fire, in order to be affected as little as possible by overheating. 
     Preferably, the first and second fasteners are formed by first and second material returns that extend along the longitudinal direction and towards the interior of the gripping body and the first and second upper ends comprise first and second receiving housings of the first and second material returns. 
     Advantageously, the first and second material returns are arranged in the first and second receiving housings by elastic deformation of the metal reinforcement. 
     Such an arrangement is particularly economical in terms of material used and assembly time. 
     Preferably, the metal reinforcement covers mostly the lower outer face of the front end of the gripping body in order to form a flame guard. 
     Thus, the metal reinforcement performs several functions. 
     Advantageously, the metal reinforcement is embedded in the front end. 
     Such a provision makes it possible to improve the maintenance of the metal reinforcement in the front end in the event of stresses on the tab. 
     Advantageously, the metal reinforcement surrounds the front end of the gripping body. 
     Preferably, the tab is arranged between a first portion and a second portion of the metal reinforcement. 
     Thus, the tab is easily held in position by the first portion and the second portion of the metal reinforcement. 
     Advantageously, the first portion is immobilized on the gripping body by screwing and the second portion comprises a return of material that is embedded in a cavity of the gripping body. 
     Thus, the second portion provided with the return of material and which extends on a lower outer face of the front end of the gripping body ensures an absorption of the forces transmitted by the tab, when using the cooking container. 
     Advantageously, the removable handle comprises a structural part which comprises the internal support member and an upper support member intended to come against the free end of the curved portion and in that it comprises a lock movable in translation between an open position and a closed position, the lock comprising a blocking wall intended to be away from the internal support member in the open position of the lock and intended to generate a force on the free end in the closed position of the lock, under the action of a pressurization means. 
     Preferably, the removable handle comprises means of maneuvering the toggle lock comprising a lever which is mounted movably in rotation on the structural part and on the gripping body, a connecting rod and a compression spring forming the pressurization means. 
     The spring is pushed on the lock in the longitudinal direction when the lock is in the closed position. This arrangement makes it possible to adapt the position of the lock to the thickness and length of the free end. 
     The invention also relates to an assembly formed by at least one cooking container comprising a side wall that is extended upwards by an outwardly-curved portion comprising a free end having an upper edge and a lower edge and equipped with a removable handle as described above. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The purposes, aspects and advantages of the present invention, according to the description given below of a particular embodiment of the invention presented by way of non-limiting example, will be better understood by referring to the attached drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a removable handle fitted to a cooking container according to a particular embodiment of the invention, the lock being in the closed position; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the removable handle arranged on a cooking container of  FIG. 1 , the lock being in the open position; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the removable handle along the median vertical sectional plane III-III of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the removable handle along the median vertical sectional plane Iv-Iv of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the gripping body of the removable handle illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the bottom of the sub-assembly formed by the structural part, the clip, the lock and the connecting rod of the removable handle illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the top of the sub-assembly illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the gripping body of a variant of embodiment of the removable handle illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the removable handle along the median vertical sectional plane IX-IX of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     Only those elements required in order to understand the invention have been depicted. In order to facilitate interpretation of the drawings, the same elements are labeled with the same references across all the figures. 
     It should be noted that in this document, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “lower”, “upper”, “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “rear”, “longitudinal”, and “transverse”, used to describe the removable handle, refer to this removable handle when positioned for use, when it is fitted onto a cooking container that is resting flat on a work surface. 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , a removable handle  1  is designed to cooperate with a cooking container  60  which comprises a horizontal bottom wall  68 , a side wall  61  rising from the bottom wall  68 , and an outwardly-curved portion  64 . The side wall  61  comprises an interior surface  62  and an exterior surface  63 . The curved portion  64  extends the side wall  61  and delimits the upper opening of the cooking container  60 . The curved portion  64  comprises a free end  65  with an upper edge  66  and a lower edge  67  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The upper edge  66  and lower edge  67  are preferably superimposed in a vertical plane. 
     The removable handle  1  extends in a longitudinal direction  3 . The removable handle  1  comprises a gripping body  2  which comprises, at a front end  72  oriented towards the cooking container  60 , a front face  4  having an outer supporting member  14  designed to cooperate with the exterior surface  63  of the side wall  61 . In one vertical sectional plane oriented in the longitudinal direction  3  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ), the outer supporting member  14  is substantially vertical. The removable handle  1  comprises a median vertical plane that extends along the longitudinal direction  3  and which forms a plane of symmetry for the removable handle  1 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , the gripping body  2  extends along the longitudinal direction  3 . The gripping body  2  is made of a plastic material. Preferably, the plastic material is of the thermosetting type, in particular a phenol-formaldehyde resin. The gripping body  2  comprises a metal reinforcement  80  attached to the front end  72 . The metal reinforcement  80  is provided with a tab  81  that extends at the support member  14 . The front face  4  of the front end  72  comprises a lower portion  73 . The lower portion  73  of the front face  4  comprises a cavity  74  for receiving the tab  81 . The lower portion  73  of the front face  4  comprises two support zones  75   a ,  75   b  arranged on either side of the cavity  74 . The support zone  75   a  and the support zone  75   b  are arranged symmetrically in relation to the plane of symmetry of the removable handle  1 . The tab  81  and the two support zones  75   a ,  75   b  form the external support member  14 . Advantageously, the tab  81  and the two support zones  75   a ,  75   b  are aligned to be in simultaneous contact with the exterior surface  63  of the side wall  61  of the cooking container  60 . In one embodiment variant, the tab  81  and the two support zones  75   a ,  75   b  are offset by a few tenths of a millimeter to promote contact between the two support zones  75   a ,  75   b  with the exterior surface  63  of the side wall  61  of the cooking container  60 . The tab  81  comes into contact with the exterior surface  63  of the side wall  61  only when the two support zones  75   a ,  75   b  are worn or thermally degraded. 
     The front end  72  of the gripping body  2  comprises a lower outer face  76 . The metal reinforcement  80  extends over almost the entire lower outer face  76  to form a flame guard. The front end  72  comprises a housing  77  in which the metal reinforcement  80  is embedded. The housing  77  comprises a front shoulder  78   a  and a rear shoulder  78   b . The metal reinforcement  80  comprises a front edge  82   a  which is arranged in the front shoulder  78   a  and a rear edge  82   b  which is arranged in the rear shoulder  78   b . The cavity  74  receiving the tab  81  is connected to the housing  77 . The tab  81  extends from the front edge  82   a  of the metal reinforcement  80  forward then upward, along the front face  4 . 
     The lower outer face  76  of the front end  72  of the gripping body  2  comprises first and second upper ends  79   a ,  79   b  arranged on either side of the plane of symmetry of the removable handle  1 . The metal reinforcement  80  comprises first and second fasteners  83   a ,  83   b  arranged at the first and second upper ends  79   a ,  79   b . The first and second fasteners are formed by first and second material returns  83   a ,  83   b  that extend along the longitudinal direction  3  and towards the inside of the gripping body  2 . The first and second upper ends  79   a ,  79   b  comprise first and second receiving housings  90   a ,  90   b  of the first and second material returns  83   a ,  83   b . The first and second material returns  83   a ,  83   b  are arranged in the first and second receiving housings  90   a ,  90   b  by elastic deformation of the metal reinforcement  80 . The metal reinforcement  80  is made from stainless steel sheet having a thickness equal to 0.6 millimeters. 
     According to  FIGS. 3, 4, 6 and 7 , removable handle  1  has a clip  50  made of metal material. The clip  50  comprises two tabs ( 51   a ,  51   b ) arranged on either side of a vertical median plane. The two tabs  51   a ,  51   b  form an upper supporting member  15  designed to cooperate with the upper edge  66  of the free end  65  ( FIG. 3 ). The two tabs  51   a ,  51   b  extend along the longitudinal direction  3 , at the front end. 
     The removable handle  1  comprises a structural part  10  which is made of metal material. The structural part  10  is substantially flat and comprises an end tab  13 . The end tab  13  extends downwards and comprises an inner wall forming an inner supporting member  12  designed to cooperate with the interior surface  62  of the side wall  61 . 
     The inner supporting member  12  and the outer supporting member  14  are offset in the longitudinal direction  3  ( FIG. 3 ) to enable the insertion of the side wall  61  and the free end  65  during the assembly of the removable handle  1  on the cooking container  60 . 
     The removable handle  1  comprises a locking member formed by a lock  20  movable in translation along the longitudinal direction  3  between an open position ( FIG. 4 ) and a closed position ( FIG. 3 ). One front end of the lock  20  comprises a blocking wall  21 . As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , in the open position of the lock  20 , the blocking wall  21  is intended to be separated from the upper support member  15  to enable the insertion of the side wall  61  between the internal and external support members  12  and  14  and to allow the upper edge  66  of the free end  65  to come against the upper support member  15 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , when the lock  20  is in the closed position, the blocking wall  21  is designed to rest against the lower edge  67  of the free end  65  and thus to block the upper edge  66  against the upper supporting member  15 . In a vertical sectional plane comprising the longitudinal direction  3 , a straight line on the blocking wall  21  and the longitudinal direction form an angle α comprised between 40 and 50°, preferably 45°. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , the removable handle  1  comprises a return means of the lock  20  placed between a tab  58  borne by the clip  50  and a stop  28  borne by the lock  20 . The return means is formed by a spring  11 . The spring  11  works in compression when the lock  20  is in the closed position. The spring  11  is adapted to apply a return force on the stop  28  to pull the lock  20  to its open position. 
     According to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the removable handle  1  comprises means of moving the locking body formed by the lock  20 . The means of movement comprise a lever  30  which is pivotally mounted on the structural part  10  and the gripping body  2  around a pivot pin  34  extending in a transverse direction, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction  3 , and a connecting rod  40  which enables the movement of the lock  20  when the lever  30  is pivoted. The connecting rod  40  is pivotally mounted, by a first end  45 , to the lock  20  around a pin  43 , and by a second end  42  to the lever  30  around a pin  44  which is slidably mounted in an oblong opening  31  made in the lever  30  ( FIG. 2 ). 
     The lever  30  is movable between a closed position and an open position after moving through an intermediate position of unstable balance. When the lever  30  is in the closed position, the lock  20  is in the closed position and when the lever  30  is in the open position, the lock  20  is in the open position. In addition, the means of movement also comprise a spring  47  which is disposed on a rod  41 . The pin  44  is inserted into the rod  41  and into the oblong opening  31 . The spring  47  is slidably mounted on the rod  41  and supported on a transverse wall  32  of the lever  30 . This compression spring  47  pushes back the pin  44  via the rod  41  to enable an adjustment of the position of the lock  20  in a closed position to the thickness of the side wall  61  of the cooking container  60 . 
     According to  FIG. 3 , when the lever  30  is in the closed position, the pin  44  around which the second end  42  pivots is located above a line passing through the pivoting pin  34  and the pin  43 . The second end  42  is held in contact with the structural part  10  under the action of the compression spring  47 . Thus, the lock  20  naturally stays in its closed position, without the user having to maintain any force on the removable handle  1 . The intermediate position with unstable balance of the lever  30  is reached when the pin  44  around which the second end  42  pivots is moved under the line passing through the pivoting pin  34  and the pin  43 . 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the structural part  10 , the clip  50  and the lock  20  form a sub-assembly. The lock  20  comprises a substantially flat central portion  22  that extends along the longitudinal direction  3 . The clip  50  covers the central portion  22  of the lock  20  and is attached to the structural part  10  by laser welding. The clip  50  and the structural part  10  form a housing  23  for receiving and guiding the lock  20  in translation. The sub-assembly also comprises the spring  11 , the connecting rod  40  and the pin  43 . 
     The structural part  10  equipped with the clip  50  comprises a part  46  equipped with two lateral wings  15   a ,  15   b  ( FIG. 7 ) arranged near the end tab  13 . The structural part  10  comprises a part taking the shape of a lamina  16  which extends along the longitudinal direction  3  from the part  46  provided with the two lateral wings  15   a ,  15   b  up to a rear end which comprises an inverted U-shaped yoke  17 . The lamina  16  comprises a through opening  18 , arranged near the rear end. The structural part  10  comprises a tab  19  ( FIG. 7 ) provided with a free end  24  deformed upwards, transversely in the longitudinal direction  3 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , the gripping body  2  comprises a receiving housing  5  of the sub-assembly. The housing  5  comprises a tubular portion  6  which extends along the longitudinal direction  3  and includes a free end  7  which opens on the front face  4  to form an insertion orifice  8 . The insertion orifice  8  is arranged above the external support member  14 . The housing  5  comprises an inverted U-shaped portion  9 , which extends along the longitudinal direction  3  in the extension of the tubular portion  6 . The inverted U-shaped portion  9  comprises a lower opening  25  for inserting and receiving the lever  30 . The housing  5  in the tubular portion  6  comprises two upper lateral grooves  26   a ,  26   b  which extend along the longitudinal direction  3 . The two lateral wings  15   a ,  15   b  of the structural part  10  are intended to slide in the two grooves  26   a ,  26   b  when inserting the sub-assembly into the housing  5 , more particularly into the tubular portion  6 . The housing  5  has an upper face  27  provided with a lug  35  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The lug  35  is arranged in the inverted U-shaped portion  9 . The lug  35  comprises an inclined face  36  intended to flex the lamina  16  elastically during assembly until the lug  35  enters the through opening  18  at the end of insertion. The lug  35  comprises a vertical face  37  that cooperates with the through opening  18  to prevent the extraction of the sub-assembly of the gripping body  2 . The lamina  16  provided with the through opening  18  and the lug  35  form a self-locking device of the sub-assembly in the gripping body  2 . The lever  30  is assembled by inserting in a transverse direction, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction  3 , the pin  34  into two perforations  38   a ,  38   b  ( FIG. 5 ) of the gripping body  2 , into the yoke  17  and the lever  30 . Such an assembly ensures the maintenance in position of the lug  35  in the through opening  18 . 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the removable handle  1  comprises an opening button  70  that enables the lever  30  to be moved from its initial closing position to beyond its intermediate position with unstable balance. The opening button  70  is arranged on an upper face of the gripping body  2 . The opening button  70  can be turned around a transverse pin, horizontal to the longitudinal direction  3  of the removable handle  1 . The opening button  70  is movable between a lowered resting position in which the lever  30  is in its closed position, an intermediate raised position in which the lever  30  is in its intermediate position in which balance is unstable, and a raised position in which the lever  30  is in its open position. A holding spring  71  ( FIG. 7 ) of the opening button  70  in its raised position is arranged on the structural part  10 . 
     In operation, to assemble the removable handle  1  on the cooking container  60 , the user grasps the gripping body  2  and moves the lock  20  into its open position. To do this, he uses his thumb to pivot the opening button  17  from the lowered resting position in which the lever  30  is in its closed position to the raised position in which the lever  30  is in its open position. The movement of the lever  30  from its closed position to its open position causes the movement of the lock  20  from its closed position to its open position by means of the connecting rod  40 . The user then inserts the free end  65  of the curved portion  64  between the internal support member  12  and the external support member  14  to bring the interior surface  62  of the side wall  61  against the internal support member  12  and the exterior surface  63  against the external support member  14 , and also to bring the upper edge  66  against the two tabs  51   a ,  51   b . Then, the user presses on the lever  30  to move it from its open position to its closed position and thus moves the lock  20  from its open position to its closed position. The blocking wall  21  then rests against the lower edge  67  of the free end  65  and thus locks the upper edge  66  against the two tabs  51   a ,  51   b . The tab  81  of the metal reinforcement  80  and the two support zones  75   a ,  75   b  which form the external support member  14  are in contact with the exterior surface  63  of the side wall  61  of the cooking container  60 . In the event of thermal degradation of the front end  72  of the gripping body  2 , in particular of the two support zones  75   a ,  75   b , the tab  81  itself forms the external support member  14  to preserve the geometry of the removable handle/cooking container assembly. 
     In an alternative embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the gripping body  2  comprises a metal reinforcement  180  attached to the front end  72 . The metal reinforcement  180  is provided with a tab  181  that extends at the support member  14 . The front face  4  of the front end  72  comprises a cavity  174  which extends into the tubular portion  6  of the housing  5 , along the longitudinal direction  3 . The cavity  174  forms a receiving housing of the tab  181  and a first portion  183  of the metal reinforcement  180 . The lower portion  73  of the front face  4  comprises two support zones  75   a ,  75   b  arranged on either side of the cavity  174 . The support zone  75   a  and the support zone  75   b  are arranged symmetrically in relation to the symmetry of plane of the removable handle  1 . The tab  181  and the two support zones  75   a ,  75   b  form the external support member  14 . Preferably, the tab  181  only comes into contact with the exterior surface  63  of the side wall  61  when the two support zones  75   a ,  75   b  are worn or thermally degraded. The metal reinforcement  180  extends over the lower outer face  76 . The front end  72  comprises a housing  177  ( FIG. 9 ) in which a second portion  184  of the metal reinforcement  180  is embedded. The housing  177  has a cavity  178 . The metal reinforcement  180  comprises a material return  182  which is arranged in the cavity  178 . The metal reinforcement  180  thus surrounds the front end  72 . The metal reinforcement is assembled on the front end  72  by elastic deformation, in particular the second portion  184  which extends over the lower outer face  76  and which comprises the material return  182 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 9 , the structural part  10  comprises a cylindrical slug  190  equipped with threading intended to cooperate with a screw  191 . The front end  72  comprises a hole  192  for the screw  191 . The second portion  184  of the metal reinforcement  180  is completely immobilized on the front end  72  by tightening the screw  191  in the threading of the cylindrical slug  190 . 
     In this embodiment, the gripping body  2  comprises a flame guard  185  which is separated from the metal reinforcement  180 . 
     Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and illustrated, since this embodiment was only provided by way of example. Changes can still be made, particularly with regard to the constitution of the various elements or by substituting technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention. 
     Thus, in a first variant of embodiment, the gripping body  2  comprises a stiffening part arranged behind the metal reinforcement  80  at the tab  81 . The stiffening part extends along the longitudinal direction  3  and can be attached to the metal reinforcement or to the front end  72 . The stiffening part is made of a flame-resistant material and allows the geometry of tab  81  to be maintained. 
     Thus, in a second variant of embodiment, the metal reinforcement  80  is attached to the gripping body  2  by screwing. The first and second fasteners are formed by first and second tabs, each equipped with a perforation for passing a screw and the first and second upper ends  79   a ,  79   b  comprise first and second receiving housings of the first and second tabs. The two screws place the first and second tabs on the gripping body by screwing directly into the gripping body  2  or into the structural part  10 .