Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
     During cooking, cookware can be exposed to a wide variety of temperatures. Many times, the temperatures used in preparing food can range beyond what is comfortable or safe for human skin. Cookware is designed to efficiently transfer heat from the cookware to food, specifically at a desired temperature at the desired time. 
     The type of materials being used to create cookware helps determine how and how well the cookware will transfer heat from the heat source. In many instances, cookware is made of metal that has a high conductivity. A material&#39;s conductivity is in part a measure of how well the material is able to transfer heat. For cookware, it is important to consider how well the cookware materials transfers heat in order to provide cooking. 
     Some materials, such as metal, have high conductivity and are thus favored in the construction of cookware. Among the favored, highly conductive materials are metals, namely copper, aluminum, iron and steel. Less conductive materials, such as glass and ceramics can also utilized in cookware; glass and ceramics are poor conductors, and as such, take longer to heat and cool which is ideal for preparations that require a long, slow cooking time. 
     During cooking, heat is transferred throughout the cookware to ensure even heat distribution as desired by the chef. Often times this heat distribution will continue throughout conductive materials (like metals) in the cookware, including the handle. A person then touching cookware that has been on the stove or freezer for a prolonged period of time may burn or injure him or herself when touching the cookware. 
     One remedy to prevent this type of injury is to use some type of protection when touching a hot or cold handle. While objects like a towel or pot holder may be used to insulate a handle, they do not provide a tight grip which could result in the cookware slipping and spilling its contents. Also, since towels and pot holders are used ad hoc to hold on to a handle, the user may feel discomfort from the handle over prolonged use. 
     While some cookware utilizes plastic handles or handle coverings to prevent injury to the user, these handles limit the use of the cookware. Plastics generally have a melting point lower than oven temperatures, leaving them susceptible to melting if left in the oven and ruining both cookware and oven. This limits the range and scope for the cookware to be used based on the properties of the handle. Likewise, such cookware can be more expensive since it requires additional materials for each individual handle or if more cookware must be purchased in order accommodate all possible uses. 
     There remains a need to protect a person from being injured from cookware while still providing the needed flexibility in using the cookware for a variety of purposes. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY 
     It is an object of certain embodiments of the invention to provide a detachable sleeve. 
     It is an object of certain embodiments of the invention to provide a detachable sleeve that may be used with various compatible handles. 
     It is an object of certain embodiments of the invention to provide components for a detachable sleeve that can reversibly engage a handle. 
     It is an object of certain embodiments of the invention to provide a detachable sleeve that limits motion from the handle when the detachable sleeve is used with the handle. 
     It is an object of certain embodiments of the invention to provide a detachable sleeve that insulates inserted handles. 
     It is an object of certain embodiments of the invention to provide a detachable sleeve for comfortable gripping of an inserted handle. 
     It is an object of certain embodiments of the invention to provide a kit including a detachable sleeve and objects with a compatible handle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  a cross-section of an embodiment of a detachable sleeve in the locking and non-locking state. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic of one embodiment for a reversible locking mechanism, comprising the release lever, latch, hammer, slide and clamp. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-section of an embodiment of the detachable sleeve showing a reversible locking mechanism in the lower housing piece of the elongated body. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram of an embodiment for an upper housing piece for the elongated body in some embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  is an expanded view of an embodiment of the release lever. 
         FIG. 6  is an expanded view of an embodiment of the latch. 
         FIG. 7  is an expanded view of an embodiment of the hammer. 
         FIG. 8  is an expanded view of an embodiment of the slide. 
         FIG. 9  is an expanded view of an embodiment of the clamp. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     By virtue of the present invention, in one embodiment, is provided a detachable sleeve which includes an elongated body, with an opening at one end of the elongated body with a cavity designed to hold a handle and a reversible locking mechanism. 
     In some embodiments, the present invention discloses a detachable sleeve that may be used with a variety of handles. In other embodiments, the detachable sleeve may provide protection from varying temperatures the handle may be exposed and provide a more ergonomic design for the user. The invention may also prevent a handle from moving once it is inserted into the detachable sleeve to provide greater support and stability when in use. 
     The detachable sleeve may be in either a reversibly locking or non-locking state. In some embodiments, the non-locking state occurs when a handle is being inserted into or taken out of the detachable sleeve. In other embodiments, the locking state occurs when the handle has been inserted into the sleeve with minimal movement until being released or when the detachable sleeve is otherwise at rest. Whether the detachable sleeve is in the locking or non-locking state may be controlled by the user of the detachable sleeve who would be engaging the locking or non-locking states. 
     In some embodiments, whether the detachable sleeve is in the locking or non-locking state is based on the interaction between the varying components. In other embodiments, the user engaging one component may alternate the detachable sleeve from being in the locking or non-locking state. The components themselves may individually and/or collectively help to both receive the inserted handle and to prevent the inserted handle from moving once inserted. Likewise, the components may individually and/or collectively help to remove the handle after it has been inserted into the detachable handle. 
     The invention may be utilized for a variety of handles. In some embodiments, the handle may be a part of cookware, that may include, but is not limited to, angel food cake pan, baking pan, braising pan, bread loaf pan, broiler pan, buffet server, cake pan, casserole pan, chef&#39;s pan, chestnut pan, crepe pan, double boiler, Dutch oven, egg poacher, fondue pot, frying pan, gratiné pan, griddle, grill pan, meatloaf pan, muffin pan, omelet pan, paella pan, pasta pot, pie pan, roasting pan, rondeau, sauce pan, sauce pot, sautéing pan, sauteuse pan, sautoir, sheet pan, skillet, stir-fry pan, stock pot, tart pan or wok. In other embodiments, the handle may come from handles of non-cooking objects which may be inserted into the detachable sleeve. The object may include, but is not limited to, cookware, utensils, hand tools, industrial tools, garden tools, cleaning devices and sports equipment. 
     In some embodiments, the invention may be compatible for use with a variety of handle materials. These materials may include, but are not limited to, aluminum, anodized aluminum, cast aluminum, beryllium, cadmium, ceramic, chromium, cobalt, copper, enamel, glass, iron, cast iron, lead, molybdenum, magnesium, manganese, nickel, porcelain, silicon, silver, steamer insert, steel, carbon steel, cast steel, stainless steel, tin, titanium, tungsten or mixtures thereof. 
     The invention may also be utilized in a kit. In some embodiments, this kit may include the detachable sleeve along with one or more objects that have a compatible handle to be inserted into the detachable sleeve. In some embodiments, the detachable sleeve may be used with any of the included objects or any non-kit included objects that have a compatible handle. 
       FIGS. 1-9  illustrate an embodiment of the detachable sleeve.  FIG. 1  demonstrates the detachable sleeve  100 , in both the locking state  110  and the non-locking state  120 . In one embodiment, the elongated body  130  has an upper housing piece  400  and a lower housing piece  410  to form the exterior of the detachable sleeve  100 . Alternatively, the elongated body  130  may be made from a single piece. 
     The detachable sleeve  100  may be made from a variety of materials, such as heat-resistant materials including, but not limited to, plastic, metal, ceramic, rubber or other like materials. The detachable sleeve  100  and all of the component parts may withstand a variety of temperatures. These temperatures can include from about −40° C. to about 300° C. Alternatively, the detachable sleeve  100  may be coated with a heat-resistant material. In some embodiments, the elongated body  130  may be made from more than one piece, for example, an upper  400  and lower  410  housing piece which may be held together by screws or other fasteners. The elongated body  130  may include ergonomic design features to increase the comfort of using the detachable sleeve  100 . 
     In other embodiments, the elongated body  130  contains a first end  102 , which has an opening  140  to allow a handle to be inserted into the detachable sleeve  100 . In other embodiments, the detachable sleeve  100  has a cavity  150  running from the first end  102  to the second end  104 . This cavity  150  may be designed to receive a handle as well as to hold the reversible locking mechanism  200 . In some embodiments, whether a handle may be inserted or removed from the detachable sleeve  100  depends on if the detachable sleeve  100  is in a locking  110  or non-locking  120  state. When the detachable sleeve  100  is in a non-locking state  120 , a handle may be inserted and removed from the detachable sleeve  100 . When the detachable sleeve  100  is in a locking state  110 , a handle is held in place in the detachable sleeve  100  by the reversible locking mechanism  200 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of the reversible locking mechanism  200 . In some embodiments, the reversible locking mechanism  200  may consist of a release lever  500 , a latch  600 , a hammer  700 , a slide  800  and a clamp  900 . The reversible locking mechanism  200  may be partially enclosed within the elongated body  130  and may have the release lever  500  partially exposed.  FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment with the reversible locking mechanism  200  inside the lower housing piece  410 .  FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment of the upper housing piece  400 . Whether the detachable sleeve  100  is in a locking  110  or non-locking state  120  may be determined by the release lever  500 . The locking mechanism components may be made from a variety of materials which may include, but is not limited to plastic, metal, ceramic, rubber or other like materials. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a magnified view of one embodiment of the release lever  500 . In some embodiments, the release lever  500  has a lifting end  510  and a pushing end  520 . The pushing end  520  may have two pushing end arms  530 . The release lever  500  may also be approximately bisected by two release lever pins  540  or other such axis points which may make contact with the elongated body  130 . 
     In one embodiment, when the lifting end  510  is pulled upward (towards the upper housing piece  400 ), the detachable sleeve  100  is in the non-locking state  120 . When the lifting end  510  is not being engaged, the detachable sleeve  100  is in the locking state  110 . In some embodiments, the release lever  500  is held in the locking state  110  by two release lever springs  160  under each of the pushing end arms  530 . When the release lever  500  is in the non-locking state  120 , the pushing end arms  530  compress the release lever springs  160 . 
     Between the locking  110  and non-locking states  120 , the release lever  500  rotates at the release lever pins  530 . Due to the force being applied by the release lever  500  when engaged in the non-locking state  120 , the release lever  500  may be made from metal in some embodiments. 
     In some embodiments, when the detachable sleeve  100  engaged in the non-locking state  120 , the release lever  500  may engage the latch  600 .  FIG. 6  illustrates a magnified view of one embodiment of the latch  600 . The latch may have a locking end  610  and a pivoting end  620 . On the pivoting end  620 , there are two latch pins  620  or other like axis points that may contact the elongated body  130 . The latch  600  rotates along the latch pins  630  on the pivoting end  620  in between the locking  110  and non-locking states  120 . In some embodiments, a latch spring  170  approximately bisects the latch  600  on its bottom. In other embodiments, the latch  600  is held in the locking state  110  by the latch spring  170 . 
     In one embodiment, when the release lever  500  is in the non-locking state  120 , the pushing end  520  of the release lever  500  pushes down (towards the lower half of the elongated body  130 ) to exert force onto the latch rods  640  located on either side of the latch  600 . As the pushing end  520  engages the latch rods  640  the latch spring  170  is compressed. The compressed latch spring  170  allows the pivoting end  620  to rotate along the latch pins  630  which permits the locking end  610  to drop towards the lower half of the elongated body  130 . 
     During the locking state  110  in some embodiments, the locking end  610  of the latch  600  engages a handle that is inserted into the detachable sleeve  100 . The locking end  610  may make contact with a handle either by pushing the handle up towards the upper half of the elongated body  130  or by inserting the locking end  610  through an aperture at the handle&#39;s end. The engagement of the locking end  610  of the latch  600  with the inserted handle reduces the movement of a handle within the detachable sleeve  100  and may help prevent the inserted handle from moving in or slipping from the detachable sleeve  100 . When a handle is inserted into the detachable sleeve  100 , the latch  600  and the hammer  700  both interact with the end of the handle to prevent the handle from moving within the detachable sleeve  100 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a magnified view of one embodiment of the hammer  700 . In one embodiment, the hammer  700  has a locking end  710  and a pivoting end  720 . The pivoting end  720  may also have two hammer pins  730  or other such axis points that allow the hammer  700  to pivot between the locking  100  and non-locking  120  states. In other embodiments, the hammer  700  is held in the locking state  110  by the hammer spring  180 . 
     In the locking state  110 , the hammer  700  is pushed towards the first end  102  of the detachable sleeve  100  by the hammer spring  180 . The force exerted by the hammer spring  180  helps to prevent movement of a handle inserted into the detachable sleeve  100 . As the hammer  700  is being pushed forward by the hammer spring  180 , the latch  600  is exerting an upward force on the inserted handle which holds the handle in place. In some embodiments, the locking end  710  of the hammer  700  is designed to receive the end of a handle, further reducing the amount of movement of an inserted handle. 
     During the non-locking state  120  in some embodiments, as the release lever  500  engages the latch  600 , the latch  600  may engage the hammer  700 . The locking end  610  of the latch  600  engages the hammer  700  by applying force against the hammer  700  towards the second end  104  of the elongated body  130 . This force by the latch  600  compresses the hammer spring  180  which disengages the hammer  700  from the inserted handle and, in part, allows the handle to be removed from the detachable sleeve  100 . The locking end  710  of the hammer  700  may also include a slide engager  740  in some embodiments. The slide engager  740  may engage the slide  800  during the non-locking state  120 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a magnified view of one embodiment of the slide  800 . In some embodiments, the slide may have a pushing end  810  and a sloping end  820 . The sloping end may include a sloped edge to engage and press against the clamp  900  during the locking state  120 . In other embodiments, the slide engager  740  of the hammer  700  may be inserted into the hammer engager  830  in the slide  800 . In other embodiments, the slide  800  may be held in the locking state  110  by the slide spring  190 . 
     During the locking state  110  of some embodiments, the slide spring  190  may force to push the slide  800  towards the first end  102  of the detachable sleeve  100 . In other embodiments, as the latch  600  pushes against the hammer  700 , the slide engager  740  of the hammer  700  may push against the hammer engager  830  of the slide  800  and may push the slide  800  towards the second end  104  of the elongated body  130  during the non-locking state  120 . The movement of the hammer  700  against the slide  800  compresses the slide spring  190 . 
     The slide  800  may interact with the clamp  900  in some embodiments.  FIG. 9  illustrates a magnified view of one embodiment of the clamp  900 . In other embodiments, the clamp may have the clamping end  910  and a pivoting end  920 . The pivoting end  920  may make contact with upper housing piece  400  through the clamp pins  930 . The clamp pins  930  or other such axis points may allow the clamp  900  to pivot between the locking  110  and non-locking  120  states. 
     During the non-locking state  120 , the clamping end  910  moves upward towards the upper half of the elongated body  130 . In other embodiments, during the locking state  110 , the sloping end  820  of the slide  800  engages the clamping end  910  of the clamp  900  by pressing the clamping end  910  down towards the lower half of the elongated body  130 . When the sloping end  820  engages the clamping end  910 , the clamping end  910  may press down onto a handle inserted into the detachable sleeve  100 . In certain embodiments, the clamping end  910  helps to reduce movement and increase the hold of the inserted handle.

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