Patent Application
20080316868
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to potholders in general, and more particularly to a timing system comprising a timing device integrally attached to a potholder.
2. Description of the Related Art
A common problem encountered in meal preparation revolves around the general necessity to distinguish which cooking vessel is associated with which timing device. The prior art discloses the use of timing devices as integrated into a particular cooking vessel; however, the majority of households currently house and utilize a plurality of cookware that is not fitted with such devices. It would be desirable to most to utilize the cookware they currently own rather than replace their entire stock with such prior art cooking vessels with timers.
The use of timers in connection with cooking vessels and timepieces in relation to gloves is known in the art as described in the following U.S. Patents.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,192,600, issued to Carl Lurtz on Mar. 5, 1940, discloses a timing mechanism combined with a whistle contained in the cover of a cooking receptacle. At the conclusion of a timed period, the whistle is aligned with an orifice in the cooking receptacle. This alignment allows steam to pass through the whistle which then signals the end of the time period.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,451,156, issued to Gerd Kloppsteck on May 29, 1984, discloses a cooking ware lid with a retaining knob that houses a bell timer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,611, issued to Young S. Kim on Aug. 30, 1988, discloses a glove with a removable watch that contains Velcro hooks for attachment to a flap on the glove containing Velcro loops.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,644,552 and U.S. Design Pat. 382,767, issued to Chang-hsing Lien on Jul. 1, 1997 and Aug. 26, 1997 respectively, disclose a lid with a timer wherein the timer is situated in a circular recess located in the center of the lid.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,578,469 and 6,860,192, issued to Richard Sharpe on Jun. 17, 2003 and Mar. 1, 2005 respectively, disclose a digital frying pan containing indications of temperature and/or food doneness digitally displayed on the handle. Audible and/or visual indicators warn of programmed events, e.g., cooking time, temperature or food doneness. The removal of the handle electronics, which is preferably thermally shielded, for use on different sized pans or for ease of washing is also disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,580,662, issued to Stephen Vassallo on Jun. 17, 2003, discloses a food timer attachable to a cooking surface that includes a temperature monitor, which begins the timing mechanism once a pre-determined temperature is achieved.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,028,605, issued to Edward S. Owen, et al on Apr. 18, 2006, discloses a timer that attaches to a cooking vessel that includes a slide valve. The slide valve is set at a first position and emits a first signal once a pre-determined temperature is attained. The slide valve is then moved to a second position effectively terminating the first signal while simultaneously actuating the timing mechanism. A second signal is activated at the expiration of the set time interval.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,088,642, issued to Randall Cornfield on Aug. 8, 2006, discloses a cooking vessel with a lid and a timer removably associated with said lid. The timer may be attached to the lid handle during operation or removed and placed in a separate area or kept with the user while in use. The timer is also removable for ease of washing the vessel. A dove-tail joint is specifically disclosed as a means for attaching the timer to the cooking appliance.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,124,447, issued to Thomas J. Arganese on Oct. 24, 2006, discloses a glove with a mating ring sewn or glued into the material for accepting and mating with a watch head containing a snap-on rim along the periphery.
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/096,222, filed by Chris Chilton, published on Sep. 11, 2003, discloses a cooking pot with a plurality of measurement markings contained within the container area. The cooking pot contains a handle with a device that may function as a timer.
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/455,184, filed by Michael B. Ronci, published on Dec. 21, 2006 discloses a coffee pot with a manually activated timer built into the handle. The display shows the elapsed time since the previous resetting of the timer in order to track the freshness of the coffee.
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/428,526, filed by Eduardo E. Drake, published on Jan. 11, 2007, discloses a removable timer that can sense the opening of a door and actuate a visible or audible alarm. The attaching means comprise a magnet, reusable adhesive or suction cup.
The prior art does not disclose, either singularly or in combination, the present invention consisting of a timing device integrally attached to a potholder or oven mitt.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a timing device integrally attached to a potholder wherein the potholder is capable of being removably attached to the handle of a cooking vessel, the timing device operable to signal the end of a designated time period in relation to that particular cooking vessel.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide one or more timing systems, each comprising a timing device integrally attached to a potholder, in order to track, in a cost-effective manner, the cooking time of individual cooking vessels.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a timing device integrally attached to a potholder that may be utilized interchangeably with any number of cooking vessels.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a timing device integrally attached to a potholder or oven mitt that may be retained by the user in order to signal the end period of a designated time in a location away from the associated cooking vessel, oven, microwave, toaster oven or the like.
The present invention comprises a timing system for use in kitchen applications. The timing system includes a potholder with a timing device integrally attached thereto. The desired time is entered into the timing device. The timing system removably attaches to the handle of a cooking vessel. This allows the desired time for that particular cooking vessel to be monitored. An audible or visual alarm is engaged once the desired time has elapsed. The timing device may be removably attached to the potholder.
Alternatively, the timing system may include an oven mitt with a timing device integrally attached thereto. The timing system may be retained by the user for notification of the elapsed time in a location away from the cooking vessel or cooking apparatus.
In an alternative embodiment, the timing device may be removably attached to the potholder or oven mitt.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following Detailed Description of an Example Embodiment of the Invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The invention and its advantages are best understood by referring to the drawings, like numerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings.
Referring to
A potholder 12 in an exemplary embodiment is formed in a generally truncated oval shape. The potholder 12 is composed of two members 42,44. Both members 42,44 have an outside surface 34 and a corresponding directly opposite inside surface 36. At least one layer of insulating material, not shown, is disposed intermediate the outside 34 and inside 36 surfaces. The two members 42,44 are fixedly attached to each other about a majority of their periphery by a connecting seam 46. End seams 48 are fixedly attached at an insert end opening 22 along each independent member 42,44. The end seams 48 define the insert end opening 22 of the potholder 12.
Inside surfaces 36 of the two members 42,44, the connecting seam 46 and the insert end opening 22 define an internal channel 14 of the potholder 12.
Referring to
The housing 52 includes a front surface 54 and a back surface 56. The front surface 54 and back surface 56 are integrally attached by a sidewall 58. The sidewall 58 extends the length of the longitudinal perimeter of the housing 52. A battery compartment, not shown, is contained within the housing 52.
The display 20 is located on the front surface 54. The display is generally rectangular in shape and is disposed proximal the top 60 of the housing 54; however, as with the shape of the housing 52, it is within the scope of this invention for the display 20 to comprise other shapes not depicted herein. The display 20 is operatively connected to the battery compartment, not shown.
The timer controls 18 are disposed at the front surface 54 proximal the display 20. The display 20 is disposed intermediate the top 60 of the housing 52 and the timer controls 18. It is within the scope of this invention for the depicted orientation of the display 20 and the timer controls 18 to be reversed or to be positioned in any other desirable orientation.
The timing device 16 is controlled by the timer controls 18. Generally, the timer controls 18 consist of three independently operated buttons 62,64. The activation button 62 activates or deactivates the timing device 16 when pressed. The remaining buttons are the time increment controls 64 of the timer controls 18. Additional timing controls 18 may be added as desired. A desired duration of time is entered utilizing the timer controls 18 and the timing device 16 is activated by pressing the activation button 62. Once the desired time is reached, an audible or visual signal from the timing device 16 will activate. The pressing of the corresponding timer control 18 will discontinue this signal.
Referring to
In an alternative embodiment, the timing device 16 may be removably attached to the potholder 12 such as by a clip, not shown, or cooperating hook and loop fasteners.
Referring to
Attachment end 72 of the handle 24 is integrally attached to the body 66 at a point on the exterior of the annular member 70 that is intermediate the cooking surface 68 and the top rim 74.
The timing system 10 removably enshrouds the handle 24 in operation. This is achieved by placing the insert end opening 22 of the potholder 12 adjacent to the insert end 26 of the handle 24. The timing system 10 is then slipped onto and over the handle 24. The handle 24 rests within the internal channel 14 once inserted into the timing device 10 and the insert end opening 22 is disposed proximate the attachment end 72 of the cooking vessel 28.
The second illustrative embodiment in
Referring to
Inside surfaces 108 of the two adjacent members 102,103, the folding seam 98 and the insert end opening 118 define an internal channel 96 of the potholder 100.
The first member 102 and second member 103 inside surfaces 108 contain a hook and loop fastener system 120,121 proximate the end seams 106. The hook and loop fastener system has a first fastener component 120 attached to the inside surface 108 of the first member 102; and a second fastener component 121 attached to the inside surface 108 of the second member 103.
In the exemplary embodiment, the timing device 16 is attached to the potholder 100 proximate the seam 98. The timing device 16 may be placed in any desired location on the potholder 100.
Referring to
Attachment ends 114 of the handle 112 are integrally attached to the body 116 at a point on the exterior of the body member 116.
The timing system 10 removably enshrouds the handle 112 in operation. This is achieved by placing the insert end opening 118 of the potholder 100 adjacent to the insert end 124 of the handle 112. The timing system 10 is then slipped onto and over the handle 112. The handle 112 rests within the internal channel 96 once inserted into the timing device 10 and the insert end opening 118 is disposed proximate the attachment end 114 of the cooking vessel 110. The first fastener component 120 of the hook and loop system is releasably fastened to the second fastener component 121. This coupling prevents the timing system 10 from dislodging from the handle 112. Although a hook and loop fastener system has been described herein, any fastening system that is capable of being removably fastened will suffice.
In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the timing device 16 may be removably attached to the potholder 50 by a clip, corresponding hook and loop fasteners or like attachment mechanism (not shown).
The inside surfaces 88 of the two members 82,84 and the insert end opening 22 define the internal channel 30 of the oven mitt 12.
In operation, a user inserts their hand into the internal channel 30 through the insert end opening 32. The user's hand will lie intermediate the inside surfaces 88 of the first 82 and second 84 members within the internal channel 30. The thumb of the user's inserted hand will lie intermediate the inside surfaces 88 of the first 82 and second 84 members within the thumb portion 94 of the internal channel 30.
The timing device 16 is attached to the oven mitt 40 proximal the end seams 92 on the first member 82. Alternatively, the timing device 16 may be placed on the second member 84 proximate the end seams 92, depending upon the user's preference. Alternatively, the timing device 16 may be removably attached to the oven mitt 40, not shown.
The foregoing description of the invention illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof. Various changes may be made in the details of the illustrated construction within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the true spirit of the invention. The present invention should only be limited by the claims and their equivalents.
