Patent Publication Number: US-2012024865-A1

Title: Springform pan

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the priority of German Patent Applications, Serial Nos. DE 10 2010 038 526.3 filed on Jul. 28, 2010, and DE 10 2010 007 809.6 filed on Apr. 20, 2011, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a springform pan for baking pastries, in particular cake. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Background Art 
     Springform pans for baking pastries and in particular for baking cake are known for a longer period of time through prior public use. Springform pans of this type have substantially simple, regular geometries and are for example round or rectangular. The reason for this is that the springform pan comprises a closure which is known per se and which causes the rim of the springform to expand when opened. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an aspect of the invention to improve a springform pan in such a way that there is a variety of shapes for the springform pan to be selected from. 
     This aspect is achieved by a springform pan for baking pastries, in particular cake, with the springform pan comprising a bottom, a rim which is connectable to the bottom, the rim comprising a first rim portion, a second rim portion and a third rim portion, and a closure which is provided at the third rim portion for opening and closing the springform pan, with the first rim portion and the second rim portion being pivotably connected to each other. The gist of the invention is that two adjacent rim portions of a rim which comprises a plurality of rim portions are pivotably connected to each other. This may be done in particular by means of a hinge; alternatively, the rim may also be designed in one piece. To this end, the rim may for example have a reduced height and/or sheet metal thickness in the region of the pivotable articulation of the two rim portions. The design of the springform pan according to the invention provides for an increased flexibility of the rim, thus enabling even springform pans with complex contours to be opened and closed. This allows a springform pan to be formed which has a new contour that had been impossible so far such as in particular a contour in the shape of a segment of a circle having a center, with the central angle advantageously amounting to 90°. Such a contour corresponds to a quarter of a circle so that when a springform pan of this type is used several times, this allows one to produce a circular cake consisting of four individual quarters of a cake, it being possible for each of the four quarters to look different. By means of the springform pan according to the invention, it is conceivable as well to form other contours such as for example contours in the shape of a segment of a circle having a central angle different from 90° or even contours in the shape of a triangle. The springform pan according to the invention increases the variety of shapes for the springform pan. 
     Additional features and details of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description of two embodiments by means of the drawing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a springform pan according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a partially sectional side view of the springform pan according to  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a springform pan according to the invention according to a second embodiment; and 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of a rim region of the springform pan shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A springform pan  1  according to a first embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  comprises a bottom  2  and a rim  3  which is connectable to the bottom  2 . 
     The springform pan  1  encloses an inner space  4  which may be filled with a raw mixture such as dough for baking in particular a cake. The bottom  2  is arranged at a lower side  5  of the rim  3 . Correspondingly, the springform pan  1  is open on an upper side  6  of the rim  3 , which is opposite to the lower side  5 , in order to be filled with dough, for example. 
     The bottom  2  is made of a steel plate and is coated on both sides, in other words on an upper side facing the inner space  4  and on a lower side remote from the inner space  4 , with a non-stick coating such as Teflon or enamel, in particular flexible enamel. 
     The rim  3  has a multi-part design and comprises a first rim portion  7  and a second rim portion  9  which is pivotably connected to the first rim portion  7  by means of a hinge  8 . Furthermore, a two-part third rim portion  10  is provided which comprises an outer part  11  and an inner part  12 . The third rim portion  10  is provided with a closure  13  which is known per se for springform pans for opening and closing the springform pan  1 . By operating the closure  13 , the outer part  11  and the inner part  12  are displaced relative to each other along a contour of the rim  3 . The outer part  11  is connected with the first rim portion  7  in such a way as to form one piece. The inner part  12  is connected with the second rim portion  9  in such a way as to form one piece. 
     It is conceivable as well for the rim  3  to be designed in one piece in such a way that the first rim portion  7  and the second rim portion  9  are formed as an integral unit. A pivoting movement between the first rim portion  7  and the second rim portion  9  is achievable for example by reducing the sheet metal thickness of the rim  3  and/or the height of the rim  3  in the relevant region. 
     The rim  3  has a contour in the shape of a segment of a circle having a center M, with the central angle amounting to 90° in the embodiment shown. It is conceivable as well to select other central angles for a springform pan. Corresponding to the contour of the quarter of a circle, the first rim portion  7  and the second rim portion  9  have a plane surface. The third rim portion  10  on the other hand has a convex shape. 
     The upper side  6  of the rim  3  is provided with a circumferential bulge  14 , with the bulge  14  having a substantially ring-shaped cross-section in a sectional plane which is perpendicular to the contour of the springform pan  1 . In a connection region between the outer part  11  and the inner part  12 , the size of the bulge  14  of the outer part  11  is reduced in such a way that the bulge  14  is insertable into the bulge of the inner part  12 . 
     The rim  3  is made of a strip of sheet metal for example of steel or stainless steel although other materials are suitable for producing the rim  3  for the springform pan  1  as well. On the lower side  5 , the rim  3  is rolled up such as to form a flared edge  19 . A contour formed by the flared edge  19  serves as a support for the springform pan  1  on a basis. Adjacent to the flared edge  19 , the rim  3  is provided with a circumferential bead  20  in such a way that the bead  20  projects into the inner space  4  of the springform pan  1 . The flared edge  19  is designed in such a way as to be directed in the direction of the inner space  4  of the springform pan  1 . Between the flared edge  19  and the bead  20 , a groove  21  is formed into which the bottom  2  is insertable. 
     A width of the groove  21  corresponds to a thickness of the bottom  2 , allowing the bottom  2  to be securely fastened to the rim  3  so as to form the springform pan  1  when the closure  13  is closed.  FIGS. 1 and 2  show the closure  13  in a closed position. 
     In the connection region of the inner part  12 , the flared edge  19  is reduced in such a way that the inner part  12  is insertable into the flared edge  19  of the outer part  11 . As the bulge  14  of the outer part  11  is guided in the bulge  14  of the inner part  12  while the flared edge  19  of the inner part  12  is guided in the flared edge  19  of the outer part  11 , the parts  11 ,  12  are arranged relative to each other in such a way as to ensure a secure and controlled displacement along the contour of the rim  3 . 
     The closure  13  comprises a fastening sleeve  15  which is attached to the outer part  11  and an operating lever  16  which is secured to the inner part  12  and is pivotably connected to the fastening sleeve  15  by means of a bracket  17 . Furthermore, the operating lever  16  is attached to the inner part  12  in such a way as to be pivotable about a pivot axis  18  which is perpendicular to the bottom  2 . By pivoting the operating lever  16  about the pivot axis  18 , the fastening sleeve  15  is displaced along the contour of the rim  3  through the bracket  17  which is opposite to the operating lever  16 . The closure  13  is secured to the outer part  11  and to the inner part  12  by means of several rivets  24 . 
     The hinge  8  comprises a bending wire  22  which is inserted into the bulges  14  of the first rim portion  7  and of the second rim portion  9  in such a way that the first and the second rim portion  7 ,  9  are connected to each other by the bending wire  22 . The bending wire  22  completes the contour of the bulge  14  of the rim  3  which is interrupted in the region of the first and second rim portion  7 ,  9  to form the contour which is in the shape of a quarter of a circle, the bending wire  22  being formed in such a way as to correspond to the central angle of 90°. Furthermore, the hinge  8  comprises a connection strip  23  which is made of stainless steel. The connection strip  23  has a high rigidity and good elastic properties at the same time. The connection strip  23  is formed in one piece with the second rim portion  9  and is securely connected to the first rim portion  7  by means of two rivets  24 . The connection strip  23  may also be a separate component. The sheet metal thickness of the connection strip  23  may then be reduced for example relative to the sheet metal thickness of the rim  3 . 
     In addition to the bending wire  22 , the hinge  8  is provided with another bending wire which is not shown, the second bending wire being guided in the flared edges  19  of the first and second rim portions  7 ,  9  so as to connect the two rim portions  7 ,  9  with each other. By combining the two bending wires  22  with the connection strip  23 , a hinge  8  is produced which ensures a connection of the two rim portions  7 ,  9  that is rigid and flexible at the same time. The flexibility of the hinge  8  in particular provides for an easier opening of the springform pan  1  by means of the closure. 
     The hinge  8  is arranged in the center M of the contour which is in the shape of a segment of a circle. The hinge  8  may also be provided in a different shape, with the pivoting movement of the two rim portions  7 ,  9  relative to each other being ensured by a hinge axis  25  which is in particular perpendicular to the bottom  2 . 
     The following is an explanation of the functioning of the springform pan  1  according to the invention. Starting from the arrangement of the springform pan  1  according to  FIGS. 1 and 2  in which the closure  13  is in the closed position, the operating lever  16  is operated by pulling the operating lever  16  away from its position abutting the rim  3 . When this happens, the operating lever  16  is pivoted about the pivot axis  18  in a manner known per se which causes the bracket  17 , which is connected to the operating lever  16 , to be displaced from the inner part  12  of the third rim portion  10  towards the outer part  11 . The bracket  17  is arranged in the fastening sleeve  15 , which is securely fastened to the outer part  11 , so as to be pivotable in such a way that when the bracket  17  is displaced by opening the closure  13 , the outer part  11  and the inner part  12  are moved away from each other along the contour of the rim  3 . The opening movement of the parts  11 ,  12  relative to each other is guided along the flared edge  19 , the bulge  14  and the rim  3 , with the outer part  11  being in a surface-to-surface contact with the inner part  12  between the bulge  14  and the flared edge  19 . As the parts  11 ,  12  are in each case connected with the rim portions  7 ,  9  in such a way as to form one piece, the bending wires  22  and connection strips  23  of the hinge  8  are elastically bent up which causes the central angle of the rim  3 —amounting to 90° in the closed position—to be slightly increased which in turn causes the contour of the rim  3  to expand. Consequently, the groove  21  in which the bottom  2  is held in place when the springform pan  1  is closed is expanded as well so that the bottom  2  is removable from the groove  21  when the springform pan  1  is in an open position. The central angle of the bottom  2  amounts to 90° and remains unchanged when the closure  13  is operated. When the central angle of the rim  3 , which central angle is arranged at the hinge  8 , is increased by for example a few degrees when the closure  13  is opened, this causes the contour of the rim  3 , which is in the shape of a segment of a circle, to be increased with respect to the segment of a circle of the bottom  2  when in the open position. The closure  13  allows the contour of the rim  3  to expand to such an extent that the bottom is removable from the groove  21 , and thus from the springform pan  1 , either via the bead  21  or via the flared edge  19 . Correspondingly, when the springform pan  1  is in its open position, the bottom  2  is insertable into the groove  21  so as to be safely clamped in the groove  21  when the closure  21  is closed again. 
     The following is a description, with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , of a preferred second embodiment of the invention. Identical components are denoted by the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment to which reference is made. Differently designed components having the same function are denoted by identical reference numerals with a subsequent “a”. 
     Again, the springform pan  1  comprises a bottom  2   a  and a rim  3   a  whose contour is substantially in the shape of a triangle or in the shape of a segment of a circle, preferably in the shape of a quarter of a circle. 
     The bottom  2   a  has a bottom plate  26  whose basic shape corresponds to the contour of the rim  3   a . It is in the shape of a quarter of a circle. Furthermore, the bottom  2   a  has a circumferential side wall  27  which adjoins the outside of the bottom plate  26  and extends downwards from the bottom plate  26 . Between the side wall  27  and the bottom plate  26 , there is an angle which amounts to 90° or approximately 90°. The side wall  27  is adjoined by an outwardly projecting trough bottom  28  which forms an angle of 90° or approximately 90° with the side wall  27  and is closed when seen in the circumferential direction. The trough bottom  28  is parallel to the bottom plate  26 . The outside of the trough bottom  28  is provided with an upwardly projecting, circumferential boundary web  29  which is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the trough bottom  28 . The side wall  27  and the boundary web  29  are substantially parallel to each other. They are opposite to each other. Seen from the trough bottom  28 , the boundary web  29  has a lower height than the side wall  27 . The upper side of the boundary web  29  is provided with a flared edge  30 . The bottom plate  26 , the side wall  27 , the trough bottom  28 , the boundary web  29  and the flared edge  30  together form the bottom  2   a . The trough bottom  28  allows the bottom  2   a  to be supported on a basis. 
     Furthermore, the bottom  2   a  has a circumferential receiving trough  31  which is downwardly bounded by the trough bottom  28 . The receiving trough  31  is inwardly bounded by the side wall  27 . The receiving trough  31  is outwardly bounded by the boundary web  29 . The receiving trough  31  is tray-like and upwardly open. It has a U-shaped cross-section. The receiving trough  31  may however also have another cross-sectional shape. 
     The rim  3   a  of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  differs from the rim  3  of the embodiment according to  FIGS. 1 and 2  in that the rim  3   a  does not have a bead  20  and is therefore not provided with a groove  21  either. The rim  3   a  extends from the upper bulge  14  in the direction of the flared edge  19  in a substantially straight direction. Furthermore, the flared edge  19  of the second embodiment is flared, in other words rolled, outwards. In contrast to the first embodiment, the bulge  14  and the flared edge  19  of the second embodiment are not provided with bending wires  22 . 
     Furthermore, the rim  3   a  is formed in one piece. The first rim portion  7  forms a central angle with the second rim portion  9  which preferably amounts to 90°. Between the first rim portion  7  and the second rim portion  9 , there is a bending region or curved region  23   a  which is provided in the center M of the contour, which is in the shape of a segment of a circle, and allows for a relative pivoting movement to occur between the first rim portion  7  and the second rim portion  9  when the closure  13   a  is operated. The bending region  23   a  thus forms a kind of hinge  8   a  in the manner of an integral hinge having a hinge axis  35 . It is formed in one piece with the first rim portion  7  and the second rim portion  9 ; in other words it forms an integral region of the rim  3   a . The bending region  23   a  is thus formed directly in the rim  3   a . It is therefore made of the same material as the first rim portion  7  and the second rim portion  9 . The bending region  23   a  forms a connection angle such that the rim  3   a  is provided with a corner. The bending region  23   a  is formed by bending the first rim portion  7  and the second rim portion  9  towards each other. The bending region  23   a  preferably has resilient properties and defines the hinge axis  25  of the first rim portion  7  or the second rim portion  9 , respectively. It extends between the bulge  14  and the flared edge  19  at right angles thereto. 
     The rim  3   a  comprising the hinge  8   a , in other words the bending region  23   a , is producible by bending a strip of sheet metal. 
     The following is an explanation of the functioning of the inventive springform pan  1   a  according to the second embodiment. When the closure  13   a  is in its closed position and the rim  3   a  is connected to the bottom  2   a  in accordance with its intended purpose, a lower foot region  33  of the rim  3   a  abuts the outside of the side wall  27 . The foot region  33  is then pressed tightly against the side wall  27  from outside so as to enclose the side wall  27 . The bottom  2   a  and the rim  3   a  are rigidly clamped to each other so as to form a tight connection. The central angle of the rim  3   a  amounts to 90°. The flared edge  19  is furthermore supported on the trough bottom  28 . It is arranged at a distance to the boundary web  29 . Therefore, one function of the receiving trough  31  is to receive the flared edge  19 , i.e. the side wall  27 . 
     When the closure  13   a  is opened, the central angle of the rim  3   a  is increased by a pivoting movement of the rim portions  7 ,  9  relative to each other when pivoted about the hinge axis  25 . When this happens, it is advantageous for the integral bending region  23   a  to have resilient properties which facilitate the opening of the closure  13   a  and the expansion of the rim  3   a . The bottom  2   a  and the rim  3   a  are then easily separable from each other. The closure  13   a  is closed against a spring bias of the integral bending region  23   a.    
     Another function of the receiving trough  31  is to receive dough which has run over the rim  3   a . The receiving trough  31  therefore also forms an overflow protection. 
     Due to its one-piece design, the rim  3   a  is producible in an extremely simple and cost-effective manner and does not require a laborious assembly. Another advantage of the integral design of the rim  3   a  including the bending region  32   a  is that density problems are avoided.