Patent ID: 7975874

Claim:
A removable folding handle and bracket for cooking vessels comprising in combination: a bracket on an outer circumferential surface of the vessel, the bracket defining a channel between the outer circumferential surface and the bracket, two spaced apart slots communicating with one edge of the bracket and a hole between the two spaced apart slots for engagement with a locking pin; a first handle portion having opposing end portions, two spaced apart parallel sides and a back defining a channel between the ends, each side having a handle flange at a first end portion extending opposite the channel for releasable engagement with the slots and channel defined by the bracket, a forward locking pin support in the channel proximate the first end portion defining a hole for a first end portion of an axially movable locking pin, a rear locking pin support within the channel spaced apart from the forward locking pin support defining a hole for second end portion of the locking pin, a thumb slide having a base portion communicating with the locking pin through an elongated hole defined in the back between the forward and rearward locking pin supports, a spring on the locking pin between the thumb slide base and a locking pin support biasing the locking pin so first end portion extends through the hole defined in the forward locking pin support to releasably engage with the hole defined in the bracket, and a locking bracket seat defined in the back at the second end portion for releasable engagement with a handle lock; a second handle portion having opposing end portions, two spaced apart parallel sides and a back defining a channel between the ends, having a first end portion pivotally interconnected to the second end portion of the first handle portion by a pin hinge extending through aligned holes defined in the sides, a handle lock carried in the channel proximate the first end spring biased toward engagement with the locking bracket seat; and a thumb grip operatively connected to the handle lock for a user to overcome the spring biasing so the first handle portion and second handle portion may be folded about the pin hinge.