GB2111373A

GB2111373A - Improvements in or relating to cooking utensils

Info

Publication number: GB2111373A
Application number: GB08137757A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Desmond Arthur Tyrrell
Original assignee: TI TOWER HOUSEWARES Ltd
Current assignee: TI TOWER HOUSEWARES Ltd
Priority date: 1981-12-15
Filing date: 1981-12-15
Publication date: 1983-07-06

Abstract

The handle (7) of a saucepan is secured thereto by means of a screw (16) passed through an aperture (13) into a scew-threaded bore (6) in the boss (2), the bore (6) being inclined to the axis of the boss (2). The boss has a square cross-section in a plane transverse to its axis, and has an outer end face with a bevel (5). The handle has a recess (9) to receive the boss (2), the recess (9) also having a bevel (10) that engages the bevel (5) of the boss (2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to cooking utensils This invention relates to cooking utensils and has especial but not exclusive reference to domestic cooking utensils for example saucepans.

Many domestic cooking utensils are fitted with handles to enable a user to handle the utensil and in many cases, the handle is fitted to the utensil by means of a boss that projects from the side wall of the utensil and over which fits one end of the handle. A screw is then used to secure the handle to the boss, the screw being passed through a passage in the handle and into a blind bore in the boss. Quite frequently the screw lies on or is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the handle and the boss and it is found that after some use the screw loosens so permitting the handle to become loose and perhaps, in time, to detach from the utensil.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cooking utensil with an improved method of securing the handle so obviating the problems just referred to.

According to the present invention, a cooking utensil has a projecting boss extending from an outer wall, the boss having therein a bore whose axis is inclined to that of the boss, and a handle formed at one end with a recess for receiving the boss and an aperture located to allow a screw or similar device to be passed through the aperture and into the bore to secure the handle to the boss.

Preferably, the boss has a cross-section normal to its axis that is non-circular, i.e. square. The outer end of the boss may be contoured in a manner such that a surface is provided against which a correspondingly contoured surface in the recess is urged by the screw or similar device.

By way of example only, a domestic saucepan embodying the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a cross-section through part of a wall of the saucepan and its handle.

The saucepan is of generally conventional shape with a curved wall a part only of which is shown in the drawing and referenced 1.

Extending diametrically outwards from the wall 1 adjacent the edge thereof is a metal boss 2. The boss is of square cross-section in a plane transverse to its length and has a slightly concave end face 3 that is welded to the outer surface of wall 1 as indicated at 4. The other end face of the boss is also flat but is also bevelled as shown at 5.

The boss 2 has an open-ended bore 6 whose axis is inclined to that of the boss 2, for example at 45 . The bore 6 is screw-threaded.

The drawing also shows a handle 7, one end 8 of which has a central recess 9 contoured to match the transverse cross-section of the boss 2 and that of the outer end face thereof. Thus, the recess 9 has a flat inner wall bevelled at 10.

The handle 7 is undercut as at 11 to provide a surface 12 normal to a passageway 1 3 which, when the handle 7 is correctly mounted upon the boss as will be described later registers both in position and alignment with the bore 6 in the boss 2.

End 8 of the handle 7 has a circumferential recess 14 in which seats one end of a ferrule 1 5 that locates round the boss 2 to conceal the latter and bridges the gap between the end 8 of the handle 7 and the wall 1 of the saucepan.

After the boss 2 has been welded in place, the ferrule 1 5 is slipped over the end 8 to engage the recess 14. The handle 7 is then offered up to the saucepan and the boss 2 engaged in the recess 9, the bevel 5 of the boss mating with the bevel 10 in the recess 9.

A screw 1 6 with a washer 1 7 is passed through the passageway 1 3 and screwed into the bore 6 to secure the handle 7 to the boss 2.

As the screw 16 is tightened, the handle 7 is drawn on to the boss 2 the bevels 5 and 10 engaging tightly and providing a lock that holds the handle 7 securely in place.

Access to the head of the screw 1 6 is provided by the cut-away 11 and it is possible to use a power driven driver to drive in the screw and tighten it.

It will be appreciated that there is no possibility of the handle 7 rotating about the axis of the boss 2, this being prevented by the transverse crosssectional shape of the boss together with the inclined orientation of the screw 1 6.

However, it is possible to use bosses of other than non-circular transverse cross-section, i.e.

circular and in such a case, rotation of the handle is prevented by the screw 1 6. However, a noncircular transverse cross-section has other advantages in that it facilitates correct orientation of the boss prior to the welding of the latter to the saucepan.

Use of an open-ended bore 6 to receive the screw is advantageous because it prevents "bottoming-out" of the screw which might otherwise occur with a blind bore and which would prevent full tightening of the screw.

It will be appreciated that the above described technique for securing a handle can also be applied to, for example, frying pans, omelette pans, deep fat fryers, egg poachers, skillets, waffle pans.

1. A cooking utensil with a projectiny boss extending from an outer wall of the utensil, a bore in the boss, the axis of the bore being inclined to that of the boss, and a handle recessed at one end to receive the boss, the handle having an aperture located to allow a screw or similar device to be passed through the aperture and into the bore to secure the handle to the boss.

2. A utensil as claimed in claim 1 in which the bore is open-ended.

3. A utensil as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the outer end face of the boss is bevelled, the recess in the handle being correspondingly contoured.

4. A utensil as claimed in claim 3 in which the bore terminates at one end in the bevel.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to cooking utensils This invention relates to cooking utensils and has especial but not exclusive reference to domestic cooking utensils for example saucepans. Many domestic cooking utensils are fitted with handles to enable a user to handle the utensil and in many cases, the handle is fitted to the utensil by means of a boss that projects from the side wall of the utensil and over which fits one end of the handle. A screw is then used to secure the handle to the boss, the screw being passed through a passage in the handle and into a blind bore in the boss. Quite frequently the screw lies on or is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the handle and the boss and it is found that after some use the screw loosens so permitting the handle to become loose and perhaps, in time, to detach from the utensil. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cooking utensil with an improved method of securing the handle so obviating the problems just referred to. According to the present invention, a cooking utensil has a projecting boss extending from an outer wall, the boss having therein a bore whose axis is inclined to that of the boss, and a handle formed at one end with a recess for receiving the boss and an aperture located to allow a screw or similar device to be passed through the aperture and into the bore to secure the handle to the boss. Preferably, the boss has a cross-section normal to its axis that is non-circular, i.e. square. The outer end of the boss may be contoured in a manner such that a surface is provided against which a correspondingly contoured surface in the recess is urged by the screw or similar device. By way of example only, a domestic saucepan embodying the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a cross-section through part of a wall of the saucepan and its handle. The saucepan is of generally conventional shape with a curved wall a part only of which is shown in the drawing and referenced 1. Extending diametrically outwards from the wall 1 adjacent the edge thereof is a metal boss 2. The boss is of square cross-section in a plane transverse to its length and has a slightly concave end face 3 that is welded to the outer surface of wall 1 as indicated at 4. The other end face of the boss is also flat but is also bevelled as shown at 5. The boss 2 has an open-ended bore 6 whose axis is inclined to that of the boss 2, for example at 45 . The bore 6 is screw-threaded. The drawing also shows a handle 7, one end 8 of which has a central recess 9 contoured to match the transverse cross-section of the boss 2 and that of the outer end face thereof. Thus, the recess 9 has a flat inner wall bevelled at 10. The handle 7 is undercut as at 11 to provide a surface 12 normal to a passageway 1 3 which, when the handle 7 is correctly mounted upon the boss as will be described later registers both in position and alignment with the bore 6 in the boss 2. End 8 of the handle 7 has a circumferential recess 14 in which seats one end of a ferrule 1 5 that locates round the boss 2 to conceal the latter and bridges the gap between the end 8 of the handle 7 and the wall 1 of the saucepan. After the boss 2 has been welded in place, the ferrule 1 5 is slipped over the end 8 to engage the recess 14. The handle 7 is then offered up to the saucepan and the boss 2 engaged in the recess 9, the bevel 5 of the boss mating with the bevel 10 in the recess 9. A screw 1 6 with a washer 1 7 is passed through the passageway 1 3 and screwed into the bore 6 to secure the handle 7 to the boss 2. As the screw 16 is tightened, the handle 7 is drawn on to the boss 2 the bevels 5 and 10 engaging tightly and providing a lock that holds the handle 7 securely in place. Access to the head of the screw 1 6 is provided by the cut-away 11 and it is possible to use a power driven driver to drive in the screw and tighten it. It will be appreciated that there is no possibility of the handle 7 rotating about the axis of the boss 2, this being prevented by the transverse crosssectional shape of the boss together with the inclined orientation of the screw 1 6. However, it is possible to use bosses of other than non-circular transverse cross-section, i.e. circular and in such a case, rotation of the handle is prevented by the screw 1 6. However, a noncircular transverse cross-section has other advantages in that it facilitates correct orientation of the boss prior to the welding of the latter to the saucepan. Use of an open-ended bore 6 to receive the screw is advantageous because it prevents "bottoming-out" of the screw which might otherwise occur with a blind bore and which would prevent full tightening of the screw. It will be appreciated that the above described technique for securing a handle can also be applied to, for example, frying pans, omelette pans, deep fat fryers, egg poachers, skillets, waffle pans. CLAIMS

2. A utensil as claimed in claim 1 in which the bore is open-ended.

5. A utensil as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the aperture is located in a cut-away in the handle.

6. A utensil as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the cross-section of the boss in a plane transverse to its length is noncircular.

7. A utensil substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawing.