Pressure Pans

Abstract

A pressure-cooker having a cover provided with an outer diametrical arm which centrally forms a cylindrical projection having a threaded axial hole centered with respect to a lower neck engageable around a central upper projection of the cover. A pin threadedly engages the axial hole, the upper end of the pin holding a knob and the lower end terminating in a ball point laterally received in a slot of the cover projection. A pair of plates, having an inverted L-shaped hook upper section and a V-shaped projecting tooth followed by a round outer corner, are affixed to the outer surface of the cooker body diametrically opposed and partially projecting beyond the upper edge of the cooker body. Each end of the diametrical arm having its upper surface provided with a longitudinally recessed V-shaped central portion for engaging an associated projecting tooth.

Description

This invention relates to a pressure-cooker of improved design. Among the various kitchen utensils the pressure-cookers are widely known as dependable ones for preparing many different alimentary means, several food substances in a manner which is both more economic and with more quickness.

The pressure-cookers of conventional design currently in use nowadays embody undoubtedly many advantageous characteristics due to their own particular method of construction. However, without trying to diminish these advantageous features of the existing pressure-cookers, it must be stressed that otherwise some other disadvantageous details can be found which seriously and unquestionably limit their use in a more ample way.

As may be appreciated, among said limiting details there are quite a few which are inherent to the very own manufacturing process of said pressure-cookers as is the case, e.g., of the conventional locking arm attaching means which owing to their particular format must be casting shaped thus increasing the product cost besides the fact that if one contemplate their industrial scale production, it will be apparent that they cannot follow in identical conditions the pattern set for the manufacture of the remaining components wherewith the mass production of said pressure-cooker is prejudicially restrained.

Another disadvantage of the conventional-type pressure-cookers which does not necessarily originate from its method of construction and which may accidentally occur relates to the opening of said utensils when the user inadvertently fails to follow the strict instructions set by the manufacturer that the knob or round handle must be slowly rotated so that the steam held within the pressure-cooker is allowed to escape through the junction represented by both cover and body of said utensil and the user therefore proceeds to the opening with a brusque turn of the handle and almost instantaneously releases the arm ends in relation to the side locks, this leading to a violent stream burst resulting in the well-known ruinous consequence or it is the arm itself which turns loose and escapes its mount in the central hub diametrical outer slot, also with disastrous results.

In view of the aforementioned circumstances, and in order to overcome them, improvements are hereby provided (to be described in detail later on), comprising simple means both ingenious and practical with which said problems are conveniently solved, this regarding not only the decreasing of the costs involved or a quicker assembly line production but also the elimination of any possibility of disastrous results originated from any oversight or lack of attention on the part of the user or housewife when using the pressure-cooker of this invention.

As it will be appreciated and clearly understood through thefollowing description, other well-known inconveniences of the conventional pressure-cookers are equally outdone by this invention.

In fact, one of the most important features of the pressure-cooker of this invention is essentially based upon the addition, besides the usual exhaust valve, of four or any other number of supplementary valves formed by small orifices disposed along the cover periphery, said valves being adapted to allow the escaping of a smooth vapor in the event of any built-up pressure inside the pressure-cooker.

Another feature of the pressure-cooker of this invention pertains to its novel and improved locking mechanism comprising a locking arm positioned diametrically and externally with respect to said cover and rotatively free around a central projection thereto and being firmly attached to said cover by means of a knob or round handle journaled on a threaded pin upper and transversally positioned on said locking arm and attaching thereto through its lower round end into a diametrical slot with enlarged lower portion, said arm having its free ends adapted to be applied to and confined by a pair of locking means with side entrances and fitted to the pressure-cooker free upper edge.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment, given by way of example and which does not mean any limiting to the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an improved pressure-cooker constructed in accordance with the present invention showing its parts in exploded line taken along lines X--X and Y--Y;

FIG. 2 is also a perspective view of the same assembly, but showing the cover out of its normal position on the pressure-cooker;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, but shows the cover fitted to the pressure-cooker body; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

Referring now the the above figures, it may be seen that the pressure-cooker for which said improvements were specially designed is of the type which comprises a body 1 of cylindrical, round or any other format having a cover 2 comprising besides the customary exhaust valve 3 four or any other number of additional valves formed by small orifices 4 disposed along the cover periphery, said cover being also provided with an upper central projection 5 of cylindrical format and reduced height which has a transversally bore 6 open into an upper diametrical slot 7.

In addition and as a complement, said cover is provided with an outer diametrical arm 7' which forms a centrally cylindrical projection 8 having a threaded axial opening 9 centrally adjusted in respect to a lower cylindrical neck 10, and secured around the outer projection 5 of the cover, said axial opening 9 being trespassed by a threaded pin 11 the end of which houses the driving knob or handle 12, and having its lower extremity terminated in a ball point 13 laterally engageable into the slotted orifices 6-7 of said cover projection 5.

The aforementioned improvements also include for engagement and fixing purposes of the free arm extremities 7 of cover 2, a pair of metal plates 14 which are applied and riveted on the outside surface of the cooker body 1 (or thereto attached by means of pin 19 and the pressure-cooker's own handle 20), diametrically opposite and partially projecting beyond its free upper edge, each of said plates forming an inverted "L" 15, its axial portion having an inner "V"-shaped projecting tooth 16 followed by a round outer corner 17.

The arm 7', in turn, is formed with extremities each one provided in its upper surface with a longitudinally recessed central portion 18 also "V" shaped and therefore adapted to substantially engage under tooth 16 of fitting hook 15 on the corresponding side.

In the improved pressure-cooker of this invention when the arm 7' and the cover 2 are joined together by means of the central pin 11 with ball end 13 attaching into the slotted orifice 6-7 of projecting part 5, the closing operation results extremely simple and practical, the user having only to rotate the arm 7' until its extremities are engaged under hooks 15 of side plates 14, further having to proceed to a simple clockwise turn of handle 12 with which the arm 7' gradually ascends guided by a threaded orifice 9 around pin 11 until its longitudinally recessed extremities 18 tightly engage under the "V"-shaped teeth 16 of hooks 15 with which a tight closing of the pressure-cooker is achieved.

It must be emphasized in addition that both the tooth 16 and the recess 18 of the fitting apparatus provide guidance for an appropriate closing of the pressure-cooker in case it eventually occurs an oversight or any other negligence--the arm recessed portions 18 do not fit exactly under the "V"-shaped teeth 16 of fitting hooks 15-- the closing procedure evidently will cause the gradual ascending of arm 7' until its extremities meet with the round corners 17 of said hooks, but escapes laterally through them.

The pressure-cooker opening operation is also accomplished by turning handle 12 but in opposite direction, i.e., counterclockwise with which the arm will gradually descend, this operation obviously requiring a certain time to be performed until the recessed extremities 18 of arm 7' are set completely free from the "V"-shaped teeth 16 of hooks 15, this time being enough for the gradual vapor escape through the connected pressure-cooker body and cover portions, therefore making it impossible for the steam to escape in a more brusque and violent way with its inevitable and damaging consequences.

The slow opening of the pressure-cooker followed by a gradual escape of vapor consequently enables to the utensil opening when still directly over the fire for an eventual inspecting of its contents or cooking progress and therefore dispenses with the usual period required for the pressure-cooker to cool-off and also the immersing under current water.

It is also convenient to point out that in the opening operation the locking devices only allow for the turning and detaching of the arm when the latter itself is well under level, i.e., when the inner central neck 10 already covers a great portion of the diametrical slot 7 of the cover central projection 5, thus preventing the lateral disengaging of pin 11 and consequently of the entire arm 7'.

Finally, the aforementioned improvements make it possible to use locking plates 14 for the arm 7' made by a stamping process instead of by casting, the same as with the original assembly engaging means, with which apart from the resulting economy it becomes possible to produce them in a quicker manner and in parallel line with the production in series of the pressure cooker.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. An improved pressure-cooker comprising, in combination:

a cooker body;

a cover which is provided with an exhaust valve and at least one small orifice disposed along the periphery of said cover;

said cover also being provided with a central upper projection which is cylindrical in shape and of reduced height and which has a slotted orifice formed by a transverse bore opening into an upper diametrical slot;

said cover being provided with an outer diametrical arm which centrally forms a cylindrical projection having a threaded axial hole centered with respect to a lower neck engageable around said central upper projection of said cover;

a threaded pin being adapted for being threadedly engaged in said axial hole and the upper extremity of said threaded pin holding a knob and the lower extremity of which terminates in a ball point laterally received into said slotted orifice of said cover projection;

a pair of plates affixed to the outer surface of said cooker body and being diametrically opposed and partially projecting beyond the upper edge of said cooker body;

each of said plates having an inverted L-shaped hook upper section and having a V-shaped projecting tooth followed by a round outer corner; and

each end of said outer diametrical arm being provided in its upper surface with a longitudinally recessed V-shaped central portion adapted to engage an associated one of said projecting teeth.