U.S. patent application number 11/808791 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-20 for cooking utensil with means of resting on pot, pan, skillet or otherwise.
This patent application is currently assigned to Brandon Howard Shaw. Invention is credited to Brandon Howard Shaw.
Application Number | 20070289981 11/808791 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38860553 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070289981 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shaw; Brandon Howard |
December 20, 2007 |
Cooking utensil with means of resting on pot, pan, skillet or
otherwise
Abstract
This invention relates to a cooking utensil with protrusions
from its handle. While cooking, the utensils protrusions allow it
to be rested on a pot or pan in order to prevent sauces and oils
from dripping on stovetops, spoon rests, or other unwanted
surfaces. Also since the utensil is held on the pot, bacteria and
viruses cannot contaminate the utensil or food as easily. This
invention also lends itself towards being quickly and easily placed
and removed from its resting spot on the container, as well as
minimizing workspace clutter by aligning its own handle with the
handle of the container. This invention also has the means to be
secure in its resting spot, which prevents it from falling into or
to the side of the cooking container. Furthermore the invention can
be easily manufactured by making small changes to the mold cavities
and/or metal stamps currently used for utensil production.
Inventors: |
Shaw; Brandon Howard; (Menlo
Park, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Brandon Shaw
Apartment F
770 Coleman Ave
Menlo Park
CA
94025
US
|
Assignee: |
Shaw; Brandon Howard
Menlo Park
CA
|
Family ID: |
38860553 |
Appl. No.: |
11/808791 |
Filed: |
June 13, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60813044 |
Jun 14, 2006 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/735 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 43/281 20130101;
A47J 43/288 20130101; A47J 43/287 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/735 |
International
Class: |
B65D 25/00 20060101
B65D025/00 |
Claims
1. A utensil comprising a cooking implement and a handle, said
handle having means for securing said utensil to a container having
a rim and a handle.
2. The utensil of claim 1, wherein said means comprise one or more
protrusions from said utensil handle which receive and hold said
container rim.
3. The utensil of claim 2, further comprising one or more
protrusions from said utensil handle, which receive and hold said
container handle.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of the Provisional
Patent Application US60/813,044 filed Jun. 14, 2006 by Brandon Shaw
(present inventor), which is incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a cooking utensil with a
means of securing the utensil on a cooking container. When cooking
with a conventional utensil it is placed to the side of the pot or
pan where it typically spreads the food being prepared onto the
surroundings of the container, making a mess on stovetops and/or
spoon rests. Clearly a better method for holding cooking utensils
is needed.
[0003] Some previous inventions, such as the patents listed in
references 1, 2, and 3 include a 3.sup.rd mechanism that allows a
spoon to be attached to the cooking container. Having a third,
smaller mechanism as is described in these other patents, lends
itself towards being easily misplaced. With regard to references 1
and 3, the spoon or other utensil protrudes from the side of the
cooking container, which creates more obstruction in the work area.
With regards to reference 2, the 3.sup.rd device used to secure the
utensil must be customized for a specific cooking container and
cooking utensil.
[0004] Reference 4 describes a mechanism attached to a cooking
container handle that pivots outward and supports the utensil.
Again, the device creates additional workspace clutter, furthermore
it does not secure the cooking utensil from rotating about the axis
of the utensils handle, and therefore possibly rotating and
coming/remaining in contact with the heated bottom surface of the
cooking container, which may either injure the user or damage the
utensil.
References Cited
[0005] 1) U.S. Pat. No. 1,483,833 POTTER Feb. 8, 1923 SANITARY
SPOON AND LADLE HOLDER [0006] 2) U.S. Pat. No. 1,464,731 SMITH Mar.
26, 1921 SPOON HOLDER [0007] 3) U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,211 GASKILL May
21, 1996 UTENSIL HOLDER FOR CONTAINERS [0008] 4) U.S. Pat. No.
5,715,570 HYUN Feb. 10, 1998 COOKING APPLIANCE HANDLE
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a cooking utensil, having additional supporting members
that allow secure placement onto most cooking containers (such as
pots or pans), to keep stovetops and spoon rests cleaner as well as
keep bacteria and other contaminants on countertops from contacting
cooking utensil.
[0010] The objects, features, and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the presented descriptions and
the appended claims, taken conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1--an isometric view of the preferred embodiment of the
utensil handle (claim 1) without cooking implement.
[0012] FIG. 2--a top view of utensil handle.
[0013] FIG. 3--a side view of utensil handle.
[0014] FIG. 4--a rear view of utensil handle.
[0015] FIG. 5--an isometric view of utensil handle on container,
with preferred embodiment of the front protrusion(s) (claim 2)
receiving container rim, and the preferred embodiment of the rear
protrusion(s) (claim 3) receiving container handle.
[0016] FIG. 6--a side view of the utensil on a container, with
front protrusion(s) (claim 2) receiving container rim, and rear
protrusion(s) (claim 3) receiving container handle.
[0017] FIG. 7--An isometric view of an alternative embodiment of
claim 1, shown with a slotted turner as the cooking implement, and
shown in position on a cooking container.
[0018] FIG. 8--an isometric view of the alternative embodiment
described in FIG. 7.
[0019] FIG. 9--a rear view of the alternative embodiment described
in FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] With reference to FIGS. 1, 5, and 6, item 11 is the
preferred embodiment of the handle described in claim 1 without a
cooking implement. With reference to FIG. 7, item 11a is an
alternative embodiment with a slotted turner shown as the cooking
implement. With reference to FIGS. 1, 3, and 7, item 12 is
preferred embodiment of protrusion described in claim 2, which is
capable of receiving a container rim. With reference to FIGS. 1 and
3, item 13 is the preferred embodiment of protrusions from handle,
which receives container handle as described in claim 3, in this
embodiment, the protrusions take the form of rear tabs that
accommodate the container handle. With reference to FIG. 1, item 14
is position of any possible cooking implement, which could include
but is not limited to a cooking spoon, slotted spoon, turner,
slotted turner, spaghetti spoon, turning fork, or ladle. With
reference to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, item 15 is an example of a cooking
container with rim and handle, such as a pot or pan. With reference
to FIGS. 8 and 9, item 16 is an alternative embodiment of the
protrusion described in claim 3. In this embodiment, a curved
handle creates outer protrusions that serve the same purpose in
locating and holding the utensil on the container handle. The front
tabs in this possible embodiment are similar to those shown in the
first embodiment.
[0021] Accordingly, with the embodiments shown in the figures, the
cooking implement that engages the food is held suspended above the
container, as such there is no need to worry that substance from
the cooking utensil (such as cooking oils or sauces) shall drip
onto the surroundings of the container.
[0022] FIG. 1 shows the utensil (11) that consists of a cooking
implement (14) and front and rear protrusions (12 and 13
respectively). In the preferred embodiment shown, the utensil (11)
has two U shaped tabs (12) that protrude near the front of the
utensil and secure the utensil around the rim of the cooking
container. The front tabs described above are shaped as an upside
down V or U in order to provide a slot for the container rim to
receive. Also in the preferred embodiment shown, are two rear tabs
(13) that align the handle of the utensil to the handle of the
container, and secure the utensil from moving side to side when in
the rested position. The rear tabs (13) are simple angled
protrusions which help guide the utensil handle onto the container
handle during placement, and help secure it while resting.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the item described in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 shows a side view of the item described in FIG. 1. FIG. 4
shows a rear view of the item described in FIG. 1.
[0024] FIG. 5 shows the utensil (11) resting on a cooking container
(15). When the utensil (11) is placed on the container (15), the
tabs (12, 13) secure the utensil (11) to the rim of the container
(15), holding the implement (14) over the interior of the cooking
container (15), ensuring that food material on the cooking
implement (14) falls into the interior of the cooking container
(15), rather than on the stovetop or other surfaces.
[0025] The alternative embodiment in FIG. 7 accomplishes the same
functionality, but rather than having a set of rear tabs, the
protrusions described in claim 3 take the form of a curved handle
(16). With this embodiment, starting in the middle of the handle
and traveling away from the cooking implement, the handle tapers to
become narrower and less curved, which makes a clear protrusion
(16) midway on the handle that can locate and hold the utensil on a
range of cooking container handles. The handle embodiment is shown
with detail in FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the
utensil handle and FIG. 9 is a rear view that shows the curvature
of the handle that creates the protrusion.
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