Patent Description:
Baking and roasting pans are widely used for preparing food in an oven. Normally, the pans are designed quite simply with a rectangular shape and having a bottom and a side wall. The simple shape ensures that the pan can be easily inserted in an oven for food preparation.

During food preparation in an oven, particular roasts of meat will give off liquid, which will seep out of the meat during heating in the oven. The liquid will be collected in the pan and if the liquid is to be used, e.g. for preparation of sauce, you will have to remove the pan from the oven and pour the liquid from the pan into a container or cocking pot. As the liquid and the pan is normally very hot, i.e. above <NUM> degrees Celsius when removed from the oven, this may be a risky process which can cause injuries on persons such as burn injuries.

Moreover, as the hot pan is normally removed from the oven by a person using pot holders or oven gloves, the pan and its content may be difficult to control, which again may promote the risk of accidents and injuries.

<CIT> discloses a roasting pan provided with a draining device that needs to be operated by using a handle. At the same time, the user is required to insert a collection member under the outlet of the draining device for draining the roasting pan into the collection member. The handle will typically be extremely hot when the roasting pan is inside an oven. Moreover, placing a collection member below the outlet may be a challenge task especially while operating the hot handle. Accordingly, it would be desirable to be able to provide an alternative solution making it possible to drain a roasting pan in an eased manner.

<CIT> discloses a roasting pan having an opening (a tubular member) and a plug configured to be sealingly inserted into the opening and hereby close the opening. The plug needs to be manually removed, while at same time, a collection member must be placed under the opening. Accordingly, it would be desirable to be able to provide an alternative solution making it possible to drain a roasting pan in an eased manner.

<CIT> discloses a roasting pan having a drain opening connected to a faucet provided with a valve that is configured to open when the roasting pan is turned. Accordingly, draining the roasting pan requires that the roasting pan is turned, which is difficult when the roasting pan is placed in an oven. Moreover, whiling turning the roasting pan, a collection member (e.g. a cup) must be placed under the faucet. Accordingly, it would be desirable to be able to provide an alternative solution making it possible to drain a roasting pan in an eased manner.

An object of the present invention is to provide a baking or roasting pan, which can be removed from a hot oven in a safe manner.

A further object is to provide a baking or roasting pan from which liquid can be extracted in an easy and uncomplicated manner.

The present invention relates to a collecting tray comprising a collecting device for collecting fluid in a baking or roasting pan and a baking or roasting pan for an oven comprising:.

The pan is to be arranged for use for a home appliance oven, i.e. a household oven. The width of the oven may be up to <NUM>, i.e. the width of the baking or roasting pan being less than <NUM>.

The side of the baking or roasting pan is to have a height such that a pan is formed having a depth for containing a liquid. An example of a height could be in the range of <NUM> to <NUM>, such as <NUM> to <NUM>, or such as <NUM> to <NUM>. The baking or roasting pan may constitute a deep pan, i.e. a pan having a side with a height in the higher end of the mentioned ranges.

According to the invention, the pan comprises a pan outlet in a bottom part and the valve is placed in and controls the flow of fluid or liquid through the outlet. The control is managed by an inlet port connected with an actuator. The actuator is operated by engagement of an actuator member with a collecting device.

The collecting device is preferable a handheld device which can engage with the valve and the actuator member while the pan is in an oven.

When the collecting device engages with the actuator member, the actuator will open the inlet port in the valve and fluid can flow through the valve and out of the pan. Preferably, the collecting pan includes a collecting compartment into which the liquid may flow.

The collecting department may be formed to have a volume between <NUM> to <NUM> liters. The height of the collecting department may be <NUM> to <NUM> such as <NUM> to <NUM>, such as <NUM> to <NUM>.

Dependent on the hinge arrangement of the oven, the collecting device may have different forms. For example, when the pan is used together with an oven having a side-hinged door, the collecting compartment may have a height in the higher end of the above-mentioned range, such as between <NUM> to <NUM>.

The collecting device may be arranged such that when it actuates the actuator member, an opening into the collecting compartment is below the pan outlet such that the liquid falls down into the opening.

The pan, the valve, the actuator and the collecting device are made from material, which can resist heat from an oven, and preferably made from steel, such as stainless steel.

As e.g. a roast may not only give off liquid during the heat treatment in the oven, but also particles of meat and other impurities, a filter is preferably mounted at the inlet port for filtering impurities from said fluid.

In an embodiment of the baking or roasting pan, the filter is replaceable. Thus, when the filter is stuffed up by impurities, the filter can be replaced and optionally cleaned and re-used.

The valve in the baking or roasting pan according to the invention preferably has a valve with a valve axis orthogonal to the bottom of the pan, and the valve turning between the closed state and the open state around the axis. This means that the inlet port, which opens and closes the valve, rotates around the valve axis for opening and closing the valve.

The baking or roasting pan in an embodiment comprises a pawl for guiding the collecting device. The pawl may e.g. be mounted on or in relation to the valve, such that the collection members are guided to the valve for collecting the fluid in the pan. The baking or roasting pan can then be emptied for fluid in an easy and safe manner.

It is further disclosed a kit of parts comprising the baking or roasting pan described above, and a collecting device for collecting the fluid in the baking or roasting pan.

In an embodiment of the kit of parts comprising the baking or roasting pan and a collecting device, the collecting device comprises the collecting device.

In an embodiment, the collecting device has a first track such that the actuator member will be moved by the first track when the tray member engages the actuator member. The actuator, which controls the opening and closing of the valve is in this manner activated by the collecting device and the first track in the collecting device, such that the valve will open and allow a flow of fluid through the valve.

For the purpose of facilitating the handling of the baking or roasting pan and the collecting device, the collecting device preferably has a handle for holding the collecting device. The handle is preferably mounted on the collecting device, such that no heat from the oven or the baking or roasting pan will reach the handle.

In an embodiment of the kit of parts, the collecting device has a compartment for containing the fluid. Thus, the fluid from the baking or roasting pan, which can be rather warm can be collected and contained/stored in a safe manner in the compartment in the collecting device.

The kit of parts according to the present invention also includes an embodiment where the collecting device has an inlet extending under the pan outlet when the collecting device is engaging the actuator member.

In an embodiment, the kit of parts, the collecting device has a second track for guiding the collecting device while the actuator member being moved.

Preferably, the first track is curved and preferably, the second track is linear. The first track engages the actuator member, which should be moved in a non-linear manner to effect the opening of the valve in the pan. The second track serves as guiding means for the engaging the pan and the collecting device and should preferably be linear.

The invention will now be described in further details with reference to drawings in which:.

The figures are only intended to illustrate the principles of the invention and may not be accurate in every detail. Moreover, parts which do not form part of the invention may be omitted. The same reference numbers are used for the same parts.

<FIG> shows a baking or roasting pan <NUM> and collecting device <NUM> constituting a collecting tray.

The pan <NUM> is shaped as a traditional pan with bottom and side defined by a sidewall <NUM> extending from the bottom.

The pan may have a pan outlet (hole) in the bottom or at a lower part of the sidewall for letting fluid out of the pan. The pan outlet is not visible on <FIG>.

Arranged in connection with the outlet is a valve <NUM>. The valve has an inlet port <NUM> and an outlet port (not shown), and a passage between the inlet port and outlet port for passage of a liquid through the valve. The outlet port is arranged over the pan outlet.

The flow of liquid through the valve is controlled by a valve member for closing and opening the valve.

The valve member may be actuated by an actuator member <NUM>. The actuator member is arranged to be operated by the collecting device.

The actuator member may be L-shaped - the foot of the L-shaped actuator member may be a knob, and the opposite end of the L-shaped actuator member may be attached to a stem of the valve.

The valve further comprises a pawl <NUM>, which serves to guide the collecting device <NUM> when operating the actuator member.

The collecting device <NUM> comprises a compartment <NUM> for containing liquid collected from the pan. The compartment is closed (besides from having an opening/inlet <NUM> into the compartment for receiving liquid from the outlet of the pan). The opening is arranged on top of the compartment.

The collecting device has a handle <NUM> for holding the collecting device.

The collecting device comprises a collecting arm <NUM> extending from the collecting device for operating the actuator member.

The collecting device is arranged such that the collecting arm extends over the pan, and the inlet <NUM> is below the pan when operating the actuator member with the collecting device.

The collecting arm is arranged opposite the handle.

<FIG> shows the pan <NUM> and the collecting device <NUM> from below.

In the pan bottom is a pan outlet <NUM> adapted for engagement with the inlet <NUM> on the collecting device <NUM>.

The pan outlet <NUM> is connected with the valve <NUM> and the inlet port <NUM> such that liquid/fluid from the pan <NUM> can be transported to the collecting device <NUM> via the pan outlet <NUM> and the inlet <NUM>.

When the fluid from the pan <NUM> is transferred to the collecting device <NUM>, it is contained in the compartment. When the fluid is to be used, it can be poured out of the collecting device <NUM> via the inlet <NUM>. Alternatively, the collecting may have a compartment outlet, which is separate from the inlet.

<FIG> also shows details of the arm <NUM>, which comprises an actuator track 16a for engagement with the actuator member on the valve <NUM> - the knob/handle of the actuator member may go into the actuator track.

The actuator track 16a has a course, which will move/rotate the actuator member sideways during engagement and thereby open the valve and provide a free flow for fluid from the pan <NUM> to the collecting device <NUM> via the inlet port <NUM>, pan outlet <NUM> and inlet <NUM>, i.e. the actuator track may be curved or it may be substantially linear/straight, but having an angle with respect to a guide track 16b.

The collecting member <NUM> also comprises a guide track 16b, which is substantially linear and is adapted for engagement with the pawl <NUM> for guiding the collecting device <NUM> in respect of the pan <NUM>.

The shape of the actuator track and the guide track may be exchanged - such that the actuator track may be substantially linear and the guide track may be curved.

Both of the tracks may also be curved, or they may be linear and having an angle with respect to the movement of the collecting device, i.e. when it is intended that the collecting device is to be moved along a substantially straight line towards the pan.

The collecting device may also be a tool (without a compartment for containing liquid) for operating the actuator member, i.e. the tool may comprise an arrest for the actuator member for moving the actuator member. At the same time, a compartment may be held below the pan outlet for receiving the liquid from the pan.

<FIG> illustrates the kits of parts as seen from a user perspective as the user is moving the collecting device towards the pan inside an oven (the oven is not illustrated in the figure.

The parts include the pan <NUM> and the collecting device <NUM>. The pan <NUM> is a traditional rectangular pan with bottom and side.

The pan <NUM> also includes the valve with actuator member <NUM> and pawl <NUM> for operating the valve and engaging the pan <NUM> and the collecting device <NUM> with the collecting member <NUM>, compartment and handle <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A collecting tray comprising a collecting device (<NUM>) for collecting fluid in a baking or roasting pan (<NUM>) and a baking or roasting pan (<NUM>) for a household oven comprising:
- a bottom for placing a food article to be baked,
- a side extending upwards from said bottom for containing a fluid in said baking or roasting pan (<NUM>),
- a pan outlet (<NUM>) arranged in said bottom or at the bottom of said side for letting out said fluid,
- a valve (<NUM>) for controlling a flow of said fluid trough said pan outlet (<NUM>),
said valve (<NUM>) having
an inlet port (<NUM>) for receiving said fluid,
an outlet port in fluid communication with said pan outlet,
an actuator (<NUM>) for opening and closing said valve (<NUM>),
said actuator (<NUM>) having a closed state and an open state, and
an actuator member for operating said actuator by engaging said actuator member with the collecting device operated by a user such that said valve (<NUM>) opens for said flow of said fluid when being engaged by said collecting device (<NUM>) for a safe and clean emptying of said baking pan (<NUM>).