Patent Publication Number: US-2021169267-A1

Title: Protective liner for cookware

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/943,368, filed on Dec. 4, 2019. The entire disclosure of the above application is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to cookware and, more particularly, to a protective liner for cookware. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Cooking is a common activity enjoyed by many people. Ranges and ovens are commonly used during meal preparation and, as such, cooking often involves extremely hot surfaces. Burn injuries are common not only from direct contact with hot stoves and ovens, but also from direct contact with hot cookware surfaces. 
     Various types of cookware are widely known and used in the art. For example, sauce pots, frying pans, and cast iron pans are utilized in the preparation of food. Though cookware comes in various shapes and sizes, typically cookware includes an opening defined by a top edge. This top edge is often configured to receive a lid. 
     When in use, the top edge of cookware may be extremely hot. This poses a risk to a user of the cookware, as it is easy to burn oneself on the exposed top edge of a pot or pan. There is a continuing need for a protective liner for cookware that militates against burn injuries. Desirably, the protective liner may be adapted to fit on cookware having variable diameters, thicknesses, and handle portions, and configured to receive a lid. 
     SUMMARY 
     In concordance with the instant disclosure, a protective liner for cookware that militates against burn injuries, is adapted to fit on cookware having variable diameters, thicknesses, and handle portions, and is configured to receive a lid, is surprisingly discovered. 
     In one embodiment, a protective liner has a main body having a bottom portion and a top portion. A rim extends laterally inwardly from the top portion of the main body, and a lip extends upwardly from the rim. The main body and the rim are configured to fit adjacent a top edge of a cookware apparatus in use. 
     In another embodiment, a protective liner has a main body having a bottom portion and a top portion. A rim is integral with and extends laterally inwardly from the top portion of the main body, and a lip is integral with and extends upwardly from the rim. A recess is disposed in the main body. The main body and the rim are configured to fit adjacent a top edge of a cookware apparatus in use. The recess is adapted to fit around a handle of the cookware apparatus. 
     In yet another embodiment, a protective liner has a main body having a bottom portion and a top portion. A rim is integral with and extends laterally inwardly from the top portion of the main body, and a lip is integral with and extends upwardly from the rim. A recess is disposed in the main body. the recess defined by a symmetrical, rectangular curve having a first end and a second end extending from a bottom surface of the bottom portion of the main body upwardly toward the top portion of the main body at an angle that is greater than about 20 degrees and less than about 75 degrees. The recess is adapted to fit around a handle of the cookware apparatus. The main body and the rim are configured to fit adjacent a top edge of a cookware apparatus. The main body, the rim, and the lip are fabricated from a flexible, heat resistant silicone material, and the lip is configured to receive a lid that corresponds with the top edge of the cookware apparatus. 
    
    
     
       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  is a side perspective view of a protective liner in use on a cookware apparatus; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the protective liner of  FIG. 1  removed from the cookware apparatus; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the protective liner of  FIG. 1  in use on the cookware apparatus; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged cross-sectional side elevational view of the protective liner of  FIG. 1  removed from the cookware apparatus taken at section line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged cross-sectional side elevational view of the protective liner of  FIG. 1  in use on a top edge of the cookware apparatus taken at section line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of the protective liner of  FIG. 1  removed from the cookware apparatus; 
         FIG. 7  a top plan view of the protective liner of  FIG. 1  removed from the cookware apparatus; 
         FIG. 8  a rear elevational view of the protective liner of  FIG. 1  removed from the cookware apparatus 
         FIG. 9  a side elevational view of the protective liner of  FIG. 1  removed from the cookware apparatus 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom plan view of the protective liner of  FIG. 1  removed from the cookware apparatus; and 
         FIG. 11  is a rear perspective view of the protective liner of  FIG. 1  removed from the cookware apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description and appended drawings describe and illustrate various 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 scope of the invention in any manner. 
     A protective liner  2  for cookware  4  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure is shown in  FIGS. 1-11 . The protective liner  2  includes a main body  6 . The main body  6  has a bottom portion  8  disposed adjacent a top portion  10 . An inner surface  9  of the main body  6  is adapted to form an interference fit with an outer surface  11  of the cookware  4 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a rim  12  extends laterally inwardly from the top portion  10  of the main body  6 . The rim  12  may be integral with or separate from the top portion  10  of the main body  6 . A bottom surface  14  of the rim  12  is adapted to abut a top surface  16  of a top edge  18  of the cookware  4 . The rim  12  and the main body  6  are configured to receive and form an interference fit with the top edge  18  of the cookware  4 . 
     In one alternative embodiment (not shown), the rim  12  has a first portion that extends laterally inwardly from the top portion  10  of the main body  6  and a second portion that extends downwardly from the first portion of the rim  12  at an end opposite the top portion  10  of the main body  6 . Together, the main body  6  and the first and second portions of the rim  12  form a U-shape configuration that defines a channel configured to receive the top edge  18  of the cookware  4 . More specifically, the inner surface  9  of the main body  6  is adapted to form an interference fit with the outer surface  11  of the cookware  4 , the bottom surface  14  of the first portion of the rim  12  abuts the top surface  16  of the top edge  18  of the cookware  4 , and an inner surface of the second portion of the rim  12  abuts an inner surface of the top edge  18  of the cookware  4  forming an interference fit. The channel may expand to be disposed on the top edge  18  of the cookware  4  and then contract around the top edge  18  to secure the protective liner  2  to the cookware  4 . Advantageously, the channel may be configured to be disposed on cookware  4  having varying thicknesses. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2-5 , a lip  20  extends upwardly from the rim  12 . The lip  20  may be integral with or separate from the rim  12 . In certain embodiments the lip  20  may also extend upwardly or laterally outwardly from the top portion  10  of the main body  6 . The lip  20  has an outer surface  22  adapted to receive a lid  24  that corresponds with the cookware  4 . In certain embodiments, the lip  20  has a semicircular or rounded shape extending upwardly from the rim  12 . It should be appreciated that a skilled artisan may choose other shapes and configurations for the lip  20  within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     A recess  26  is positioned in the main body  6  of the protective liner  2 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the recess  26  is disposed adjacent a handle  28  of the cookware  4  during operation. The recess  26  includes a first end  30  and a second end  32 . The first end  30  and the second end  32  extend upwardly from a bottom surface  34  of the bottom portion  8  of the main body  6  to form a symmetrical indentation adjacent the top portion  10  of the main body  6 . In certain embodiments, the recess  26  may extend into the top portion  10  of the main body  6 . The recess  26  may be a rectangular curve in certain embodiments, however, any suitable shape and configuration may be chosen by a skilled artisan within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3, 8, and 11 , in certain embodiments, the first end  30  and the second end  32  extend upwardly at an angle D toward the top portion  10  of the main body  6 . Likewise, in certain embodiments, the first end  30  and the second end  32  curve inwardly toward one another at an angle C. In certain preferred embodiments, angle D is between about 20 and 75 degrees, and angle C is between about 105 and 160 degrees. In a most particular embodiment, angle D is between about 50 and 75 degrees, and angle C is between about 105 and 130 degrees. Angles D and C may be any suitable size as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     A width  36  of the recess  26 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , may vary according to various embodiments of the invention. In certain preferred embodiments, the width  36  is about 3.5 inches. The width  36  may be consistent in certain embodiments or varying as the first end  30  and the second end  32  extend upwardly. 
     In further embodiments, there may be more than one recess  26  disposed in the main body  6  of the protective liner  2  to facilitate easy application to cookware  4  having more than one handle  28 . 
     The protective liner  2  may be fabricated from a flexible material. In certain embodiments the flexible material is a heat resistant material such as cotton, wool, rubber, silicone, or other heat-resistant polymers, as non-limiting examples. In certain preferred embodiments, the flexible material may be silicone, and in a most particular embodiment, the silicone may have a minimum elongation at break of 30%. A skilled artisan may select another heat resistant, flexible material, or a combination of heat resistant, flexible materials, as desired. 
     The protective liner  2  may have a predetermined shape in certain embodiments. In a preferred embodiment, the predetermined shape may be configured to coincide with the top edge  18  of the cookware  4 . More particularly, the predetermined shape may be circular, however, any suitable shape may be selected by a skilled artisan within the scope of this disclosure. Alternatively, the protective liner  2  may not have a predetermined shaped in certain embodiments. 
     The inner surface  9  of the main body  6 , the bottom surface  14  of the rim  12 , and the outer surface  22  of the lip  20  may be smooth in certain preferred embodiments to facilitate an interference fit between the protective liner  2  and the cookware  4  and lid  24 . 
     One of ordinary skill in the art may select any suitable size, thickness, height, shape and configuration for the main body  6 , the rim  12 , the lip  20 , and the recess  26 , as desired. It should be understood that various aspects including but not limited to the size, thickness, height, shape, and configuration of each of the main body  6 , the rim  12 , the lip  20 , and the recess  26  may be uniform throughout the protective liner  2  or may vary according to different embodiments. 
     In one alternative embodiment, the main body  6  may not form a complete circle, such that the main body  6  has free ends (not shown). The free ends may also allow the protective liner  2  to be used on cookware  4  of varying sizes absent a flexible material capable of stretching to fit cookware  4  of varying sizes. A skilled artisan may select other suitable shapes and configurations for the main body  6 , as desired. 
     In operation, a user may stretch the main body  6  of the protective liner  2  over the top edge  18  of the cookware  4 . The flexible material stretches and then tightens around the top edge  18  of the cookware  4  to form an interference fit. More specifically, an inner surface  9  of the main body  6  forms an interference fit with the outer surface  11  adjacent the top edge  18  of the cookware  4 , and the bottom surface  14  of the rim  12  forms an interference fit with the top surface  16  of the top edge  18  of the cookware, thereby securing the protective liner  2  to the cookware  4 . Advantageously, the protective liner  2  can be stretched to varying degrees to facilitate a secure connection with cookware  4  having varying diameters. In certain preferred embodiments, the protective liner  2  has a diameter  38  of about 6.5 inches when not in use in order to facilitate a secure connection with cookware having a diameter between about 7.0 and 10.0 inches during use. 
     Additionally, the configuration of the rim  12 , and more specifically, the inward, lateral extension of the rim  12  from the top section  10  of the main body  6  allows the protective liner  2  to be used with cookware  4  having variable thicknesses. 
     Likewise, the configuration of the lip  20  on the rim  12  facilitates use with cookware  4  and corresponding lids  24  in various sizes. The inward, lateral extension of the rim  12  positions the lip  20  directly above the top surface  16  of the top edge  18  of the cookware  4 . Accordingly, the lip  20  is disposed directly adjacent to the top surface  16  where the corresponding lid  24  connects to the cookware  4  during use. In certain preferred embodiments, a diameter  40  of the lip  20  is smaller than the diameter  38  of the main body  6  to facilitate placement of the lip  20  directly above the top surface  16  of the cookware  4 . 
     Additionally, the curved shape of the lip  20  in certain preferred embodiments facilitates a more secure fit with the lid  24  by providing a slope along which the lid  24  can be secured. The curved shape of the lip  20  also militates against the lid  24  sliding off the protective liner  2 . 
     The recess  26  facilitates an uninterrupted interference fit between the protective liner  2  and the top edge  18  of the cookware  4 , while enabling use of the protective liner  2  with cookware  4  having handles  28  that vary in shape and size. 
     Advantageously, if the user makes unintended contact with the top edge  18  of the cookware  4  during use, the heat resistant material of the protective liner  2  protects the user from burn injuries. Additionally, the flexible material allows for easy application and removal of the protective liner  2  in use with cookware  4 . 
     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.