Patent ID: 8584894

Claim:
A kitchen appliance comprising: a housing having a base and a side wall extending therefrom, the side wall having an exterior surface and an opposing interior surface, at least portions of the interior surface of the side wall and base defining a cavity within the housing, the housing having a housing rim at a first, free edge of the side wall defining an opening to the cavity; a heating or cooling element disposed within the housing proximate the cavity to heat or cool the cavity; a container having a generally hollow interior and a container rim defining an opening for accessing the interior thereof, the interior of the container being capable of retaining contents therein, the container being sized and shaped to fit within the cavity of the housing; a lid sized and shaped to at least partially cover the opening of the container when placed on the container, the lid having an exterior surface and an opposing interior surface facing the interior of the container when the lid is placed on the container, the lid further comprises two spaced-apart tabs extending outwardly beyond an outer edge thereof from diametrically opposing points on the lid; a handle pivotally mounted to the exterior surface of the side wall of the housing, a first end of the handle being pivotally mounted to the exterior surface of the side wall of the housing at a first location, an opposing second end of the handle being pivotally mounted to the exterior surface of the side wall of the housing at a second location generally opposed to the first location, the handle being pivotable between an engaged position in which at least a portion of the handle contacts at least a portion of the lid to retain the lid in sealing engagement with the container rim to inhibit leakage of the contents from the interior of the container and a disengaged position in which the portion of the handle is spaced-apart from the lid to permit the lid to be removed from the container rim, the handle further comprises a connection portion and two spaced-apart pivot members mounted to diametrically opposing points on the exterior surface of the side wall of the housing, each pivot member being pivotable between an engaged position in which at least a portion of the pivot member contacts at least a portion of the one of the tabs to retain the lid in sealing engagement with the container to inhibit leakage of the contents from the interior of the container and a disengaged position in which the pivot member is spaced-apart below the housing rim to permit the lid to be removed from the container; and the connection portion of the handle surrounding at least a portion of each pivot member, the connection portion being movable with respect to each pivot member between a lowered position in which the handle is pivotable between the engaged and disengaged positions and a raised position in which the connection portion of the handle prevents the pivot members from pivoting with respect to the housing.