Patent Application
20140373733
The present disclosure relates to baking pans, and more particularly, to baking pans having tabs for facilitating handling. Related methods are also described.
Baking pans come in many sizes and shapes and are traditionally heated in an oven for baking various food items. Baking pans often include handles located on either side thereof for providing a surface for a user to grasp while carrying the baking pan. Baking pans are thus typically inserted into an oven with the handles being located at lateral sides of the oven as this is the natural way for a user to insert a baking pan into an oven. Such an arrangement makes it difficult to grasp and move the pan at any location other than the handles. Further, the handles are typically integrated handles manufactured from the same material as the baking pan and often conduct heat when placed into the oven. This presents a dangerous situation when the user has to reach far into the oven to locate and grasp the handles that may be dangerously hot. Accordingly, baking pans having improved grasping mechanisms are desired.
Disclosed herein is a baking pan comprising a baking surface, a plurality of walls extending upward from the baking surface, a silicone wrapping disposed about outer surfaces of the walls, and a tab extending transversely away from the silicone wrapping to provide a gripping surface.
Further disclosed herein is a baking tool for use with a baking pan, the baking tool comprising a nylon portion comprising a lower, flat side; an upper, angled side opposite the lower, flat side; and a nylon tip wherein the upper, angled side meets the lower, flat side. The baking tool further comprises a silicone portion comprising a lower, flat side; an upper, angled side opposite the lower, flat side; and a silicone tip where the upper, angled side meets the lower, flat side.
Embodiments are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying figures, in which like reference numbers indicate similar parts, and in which:
The present disclosure relates generally to a baking pan having a tab coupled thereto for handling the baking pan and a tool for use with the baking pan. In some embodiments, the tab is located on a side of the pan as opposed to lateral ends of the pan where the handles are typically located. In other embodiments, handles are replaced with tabs. For example, baking pans that are small enough to insert length-wise into the oven may utilize a tab located at lateral ends of such pans. The tab according to the present disclosure is preferably rounded; however, the tab may take on a variety of configurations that facilitate grasping by the user. Also, the tab may include a projection or area of raised profile to further facilitate gripping by the user.
The tab of the present disclosure may be used with a variety of baking pans. For example, the tab may be used with bread pans, cake pans, sandwich pans, thin trays, and/or deep trays. In some embodiments, only one tab is provided on the baking pan, while in other embodiments, several tabs are provided. The tab according to the present disclosure may be formed of silicone, or partially of silicone.
Having generally described the principles of the present disclosure, attention is now given to exemplary embodiments described with reference to the figures shown herein.
As depicted in
The tab 108 may be integrally formed with silicone wrap 106 disposed about the baking pan 100. The silicone wrap 106 facilitates handling of the baking pan 100. In some embodiments, indicia may be provided on the silicone wrap 106 to identify the type of baking pan being used. For example, the baking pan 100 may include indicia stating “LOAF” or “BREAD” and indicia may be provided on the silicone wrap 106 to indicate the size of the pan and thus the size of the bread loaf that may be baked in the pan.
As depicted in
The tab 208 may be integrally formed with silicone wrap 206 disposed about the baking pan 200. The silicone wrap 206 facilitates handling of the baking pan 200. In some embodiments, indicia may be provided on the silicone wrap 206 to identify the type of baking pan being used. For example, the baking pan 200 may include indicia stating “CAKE” and indicia may be provided on the silicone wrap 206 to indicate the size of the pan and thus the size of the cake that may be baked in the pan.
As depicted in
The tab 308 may be integrally formed with silicone wrap 306 disposed about the baking pan 300. The silicone wrap 306 facilitates handling of the baking pan 300. In some embodiments, indicia may be provided on the silicone wrap 306 to identify the type of baking pan being used. For example, the baking pan 300 may include indicia stating “CAKE” or “PIE” and indicia may be provided on the silicone wrap 306 to indicate the size of the pan and thus the size of the cake or the pie that may be baked in the pan.
Various other tabs are contemplated as falling within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, with reference to
In some embodiments, indicia may be provided on the silicone handles to identify the type of baking pan being used. For example, the baking pan 400 may include indicia stating “COOKIES” and indicia may be provided on the silicone handles to indicate the size of the pan.
As depicted in
In some embodiments, indicia may be provided to identify the type of baking pan being used. For example, the baking pan 500 may include indicia stating “MUFFINS” and indicia may be provided to indicate the size of the pan.
Various tools may be used with the baking pans of the present disclosure. For example, with reference to
The tool 600 increases in size from the nylon portion 602 to the silicone portion 604. The nylon portion 602 includes a lower, flat side 610 opposed to an upper, angled side 608. A third side of the nylon portion is defined at the interface of the nylon and silicone portions. The upper side 608 decreases sharply towards the distal end of the nylon portion 602 to meet the lower side 610 at a tip 606. Such an arrangement facilitates use of the tool 600 to cut against and loosen the sides of a cake freshly baked in a baking pan. That is, a user may grip the silicone portion 604 and use the nylon portion 602 to free the cake from the pan.
The silicone portion 604 is generally larger in size than the nylon portion 602 and includes a lower side 616 that angles outward from the lower side 610 of the nylon portion 602. An upper side 614 of the silicone portion 604 continues to extend along the same angle defined by the upper side 608 of the nylon portion 602 adjacent to the silicone portion 604. The upper side 614 decreases sharply towards the distal end of the silicone portion 604 to meet the lower side 616 at a tip 612. Although the silicone portion 604 may be used as a handle for using the nylon portion 602 as a tool, it may also be used as a tool itself. For example, the nylon portion 602 may be gripped by the user and the silicone portion 604 may be used as a bowl scraper.
While various embodiments in accordance with the principles disclosed herein have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and are not limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the invention(s) should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the claims and their equivalents issuing from this disclosure. Furthermore, the above advantages and features are provided in described embodiments, but shall not limit the application of such issued claims to processes and structures accomplishing any or all of the above advantages.
It will be understood that the principal features of this disclosure can be employed in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, numerous equivalents to the specific procedures described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this disclosure and are covered by the claims.
Additionally, the section headings herein are provided for consistency with the suggestions under 37 CFR 1.77 or otherwise to provide organizational cues. These headings shall not limit or characterize the invention(s) set out in any claims that may issue from this disclosure. Specifically and by way of example, although the headings refer to a “Technical Field,” such claims should not be limited by the language under this heading to describe the so-called technical field. Further, a description of technology in the “Background” section is not to be construed as an admission that technology is prior art to any invention(s) in this disclosure. Neither is the “Summary” to be considered a characterization of the invention(s) set forth in issued claims. Furthermore, any reference in this disclosure to “invention” in the singular should not be used to argue that there is only a single point of novelty in this disclosure. Multiple inventions may be set forth according to the limitations of the multiple claims issuing from this disclosure, and such claims accordingly define the invention(s), and their equivalents, that are protected thereby. In all instances, the scope of such claims shall be considered on their own merits in light of this disclosure, but should not be constrained by the headings set forth herein.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/838,651, filed on Jun. 24, 2013, which application is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61838651 | Jun 2013 | US |
