Universal pan and pot lid holder

Abstract

A universal pot and pan lid holder in the form of an open-top cylindrical body having at least one portion of its cylindrical side wall removable for access to the interior of the body from its side. The diameter of the cylindrical body should be smaller than the diameter of the lids to be supported. The removable portion has on its outer surface radial outward projections. For use as a lid support, the holder is placed onto the table or counter top with its open side up, the removable portion is removed from the cylindrical body and is placed onto the table or counter top, using the aforementioned radial projections as supports for the removed portion. When necessary, the hot or fatty pot or pan lid is placed during cooking onto the open top side of the cylindrical body with the internal (pot or pan covering) side of the lid facing up. Since the internal side of the lid faces up, dripping from the lid to the support surface is completely prevented. The cylindrical side wall may have two removable portions. The second removable portion may be located diametrically opposite to the first one and may have a flat pad on the outer side of the removable portion. When removed and placed onto the table or counter top with its flat pad up, this second removable portion may be used as a support for a a kettle, pan, pot, or the like. The perforations in the bottom of the holder make it possible to use it as a strainer for washing such foods products as fruits, vegetable, berries, rice, etc.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a pan and pot lid holder, in particular to a pan and pot lid holder, which is universal in use and fulfills many additional functions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] When cooking with a pot or pan, a user must periodically remove the lid to stir the items therein or to add additional ingredients thereto. The lid is typically very hot and often has splattered food and condensation thereon. A hot lid can cause permanent damage to a counter top, a table or similar support surface if placed thereon. Even if the lid is not extremely hot, condensation and food residue will drip onto the counter top which is messy and inconvenient. Accordingly, there is a need for a device which allows a user to temporarily secure a hot or dirty pan lid eliminating the undesirable practice of placing it on a counter top.

[0003] Many pan and pot lid holders have been developed to hold a lid when it is either raised and is held on the appliance in an appliance open position or removed from the kitchen appliance and is placed onto a temporary support for use during cooking or onto a holder for long-term storage.

[0004] For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application (Kokai) H7-255598 published on Oct. 9, 1995 (Inventor Narita) describes a pan lid holder which is integrally attached at an angle to the edge of the pan so that it extends radially outwardly. The holder has a longitudinal slot for insertion of a narrowed portion of the knob attached to the top of the pan lid. A disadvantage of this device is that, when the lid is placed onto the holder during cooking activity, the lid limits freedom of movement for the user. The holder of this type can be used only with the pan lid with a handle of a knob type and is not applicable for any other purposes.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,616 issued to Jack Carney on Jul. 7,1992 describes a pot lid and utensil holder for holding pot lids and/or cooking utensils. The device includes a first generally planar component with separate notches, apertures, ledges or the like for supporting pot lids or cooking utensils. A second generally planar component is mounted to the first planar component to support this component and to selectively receive cooking utensils supported by the first planar component, as well as retain any drippings from the utensils.

[0006] Although the applicant of the aforementioned patent states that the device of his invention retains any dripping, it can be seen from FIG. 5 of the aforementioned patent that the position of the pan or pot lid on the holder of U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,616 does not prevent dripping to the cooking top or counter top. Furthermore, the device is unstable, especially when supports heavy lids. It is not sufficiently universal and can support only pot or pan lids and some kitchen utensils such as spoons or knifes.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,673 issued in November of 1999 to P. Dooley describes a magnetic cooking utensil holder which allows a user to temporarily secure hot pan lids while cooking eliminating the undesirable practice of placing the hot and sometimes soiled lids on a counter top. The device includes a horizontal tubular magnet having a plurality of support legs pivotally attached thereto, which expand to form a tripod type support structure. A drip tray for collecting condensate or food residue adhering to the lid is removably attached to a pair of opposing support legs. A pair of opposing side arms each extending from an end of the magnet have a plurality of vertically aligned magnetic strips thereon for receiving additional cooking utensils such as knives, forks and spoons. Accordingly, whenever a user removes a lid to add ingredients or to stir the food within a pot or pan, the edge of the pan is placed within a drip tray with an opposing portion magnetically secured to the magnetic bar. The tripod type support structure allows the lid to be obliquely suspended with respect to the counter top so that any condensation or food residue adhering to the lid will easily drain into the drip tray.

[0008] A main disadvantage of the device of U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,673 is that its use is limited to holding only ferromagnetic items. Supporting of non-ferromagnetic items will be either impossible or would not provide stability of the supported items. The second disadvantage is that the residue drips from the lids to the tray, which has to be constantly cleaned from fatty substance. The third disadvantage is that the device is capable of supporting lids of a certain diameter. There is no support for lids of a small diameter and no stability for lids of a large diameter. Nothing prevents dripping from the items supported vertically on the side of the device to the counter top.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide a pot and pan lid holder which is universal in its use, simple in construction, ensures stable support of pan and pot lids, prevents dripping from the lid to the cook or counter top, can be easily disassembled into parts convenient for storage and usable as additional supports for spoons, knifes, forks, kettles, pans, pots, napkins, etc., and ensures convenient access to handles of supported lids.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Provided is a universal pot and pan lid holder in the form of an open-top cylindrical body having at least one portion of its cylindrical side wall removable for access to the interior of the body from its side. The diameter of the cylindrical body should be smaller than the diameter of the lids to be supported. The removable portion has on its outer surface radial outward projections. For use as a lid support, the holder is placed onto the table or counter top with its open side up, the removable portion is removed from the cylindrical body and is placed onto the table or counter top, using the aforementioned radial projections as supports for the removed portion. When necessary, the hot or fatty pot or pan lid is placed during cooking onto the open top side of the cylindrical body with the internal (pot or pan covering) side of the lid facing up. Since the internal side of the lid faces up, dripping from the lid to the support surface is completely prevented. The cylindrical side wall may have two removable portions. The second removable portion may be located diametrically opposite to the first one and may have a flat pad on the outer side of the removable portion. When removed and placed onto the table or counter top with its flat pad up, this second removable portion may be used as a support for a kettle, pan, pot, or the like. The perforations in the bottom of the holder make it possible to use it as a strainer for washing such foods products as fruits, vegetable, berries, rice, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a general three-dimensional view of a universal pan and pot lid holder of the invention in an assembled state.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of the holder of the invention with one segment removed and a pan lid supported by the holder.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional view of a removable segment with radial extensions as supporting legs.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional view of a removable segment with a flat supporting portion.

[0015] FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional view of a removable segment of FIG. 4 in a position with its flat side facing up for supporting kettles, pans, pots, etc.

[0016] FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional exploded view of a pan and pot lid holder made in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, according to which the main portion of the holder can be further disassembled, so that the holder may consist of many separate parts.

[0017] FIG. 7 is a three-dimensional view of a pan and pot lid holder that consists only of two relatively moveable overlapped semi-cylindrical segments.

[0018] FIG. 8 is a top view of the holder 92 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 7, the segments having slots cut in their side walls.

[0019] FIG. 9 is a fragmental vertical sectional view along line IX-IX of FIG. 8.

[0020] FIG. 10 is a view of the holder with segments overlapped to a maximum condition by moving the handles towards each other for supporting knives, spoons, forks, napkins, etc.

[0021] FIG. 11 is a view of the holder of FIG. 8 with means for guide slots for supporting an additional removable segment.

[0022] FIG. 12 illustrates a fragmental view of the holder provided with a rotatable perforated disk for opening and closing perforations of the strainer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] A general three-dimensional view of a universal pan and pot lid holder of the invention is shown in FIG. 1. As can be seen from this drawing, the holder, which in general is designated by reference numeral 10, has a cylindrical housing 12 with an open top 14 and a closed bottom portion 16. The housing has a composite structure and consists of the main portion 18 and removable segments 20 and 22 located preferably, but not necessarily, approximately opposite each other. In an assembled state the main portion 18 and the removable segments 20 and 22 form a complete cylindrical body. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the main portion 18 is made integrally with the bottom portion 16. The bottom portion may have perforation 24 for use of the holder 10 in an assembled state as a strainer.

[0024] In the areas of connection with the edges 26, 28 and 30, 32 of the removable segments 20 and 22, the edges on the segments of the main portion 18 may have respective thickened lugs 34, 36 and 38, 40 with respective vertical guide slots 42, 44 and 46, 48 for slidingly inserting the edges of the removable segments 20 and 22 and for holding them in place when the holder is assembled to the condition shown in FIG. 1.

[0025] At least one of the removable segments, e.g., segment 20, should have a width exceeding the width of the fist of a human hand. The diameter of the top opening 14 of holder 10 should be smaller than the diameters of the pan or pot lids (not shown in FIG. 1), which has to be supported by the holder. As shown in FIG. 1, the removable segment 20 may have on its outer surface two radial outward projections 50 and 52, while the removable segment 22 may have a plate-like pad 54 attached, e.g., glued or fused to the outer surface of this segment, or molded integrally therewith. In use, the assembled pan and pot lid holder 10 of the invention may be utilized as a container for retaining some food products such as fruits or vegetable. If necessary, the holder can be used as a strainer for washing fruits or other products contained in the holder. This is possible due to the provision of the perforations 24.

[0026] When the holder 10 is disassembled, as shown in FIG. 2, i.e., when at least one of the removable segments, e.g., the segment 20, is removed, a relatively wide vertical window 56, which extends from the bottom portion 16 to the top 14 (FIG. 1) is formed. When it is necessary, during cooking, to temporary open the pan or pot and remove the lid 58, the latter can be conveniently placed onto the top of the cylindrical main portion 18 with the edges of the lid resting on the upper edges of the main portion 16 and with the handle 60 of the lid 58 facing down. The placement of the lid, which may be hot or coated with fatty liquid, is done by inserting the hand, in which the lid is held, into the window 56, while holding the lid above the upper edge of the main portion 18, and then slowly descending the hand until the lid rests onto the upper edges of the main portion 18. Since the wet or soiled surface of the lid faces up, no dripping is possible.

[0027] Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 3, which is a three-dimensional view of the removable segment 20, the removed segment 20 can be placed onto the counter top or a table with the use of the projections 50 and 52 as supports, so that the inner cylindrical surface 62 of the segment can be used for supporting forks, spoons, knives, or the like. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 4, which is a three-dimensional view of the removable segment 22, the same function as described above, can be fulfilled by the removable segment 22, when it is supported by its plate-like pad 54. Alternatively, the removable segment 22 can be placed onto the kitchen top or a counter with its plate-like pad 54 up, so that it will be supported by the cylindrical portion 64, while the pad 54 can be used for supporting a pan or a kettle 66, which is shown, e.g., in FIG. 5.

[0028] FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional exploded view of a pan and pot lid holder made in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, according to which the main portion of the holder can be further disassembled, so that the holder may consist of several, e.g., five separate parts, i.e., a support 68 with a circular slot 70, a first cylindrical segment 72, a second cylindrical segment 74, a third cylindrical segment 76, and a fourth cylindrical segment 78. The segments are insertable into the circular slot 70 so that they can slide in this slot for forming the access window, such as window 56 of FIG. 2, of any required width. At the same time, the slot 70 should be deep enough to ensure stability of the segments in an inserted state. For example, the depth of the slot 70 may be within the range of 0.1 to 0.3 of the height of the segments.

[0029] The segments may have radial outward projections, such as projections 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90 on respective segments shown in FIG. 6.

[0030] Still another embodiment is shown in FIG. 7, which is a three-dimensional view of a pan and pot lid holder 92 that consists only of two relatively moveable overlapped semi-cylindrical segments 94 and 96. As shown in FIG. 8, which is a top view of the holder 92 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 7, the segments 94 and 96 have through slots 98 and 100 cut in their side walls. FIG. 9 is a fragmental vertical sectional view along line IX-IX of FIG. 8. As can be seen from FIGS. 8 and 9, the through slots are overlapped and are aligned with each other. A radial outward handle 102 is rigidly attached to the semi-cylindrical segment 94. The handle 102 has a narrow neck portion 104 that passes through both slots 98 and 100. The external part 106 of the handle 102 is wider that the slots 98 and 100. Similarly, a radial outward handle 108 is rigidly attached to the semi-cylindrical segment 96. The handle 108 has a narrow neck portion 110 that passes through the slots 98 and 100. The external part 112 of the handle 108 is wider that the neck portion 110. As a result, the segments 94 and 96 can slide over each other in circular direction while remain interconnected in a radial direction. This allows adjustment of a circular angular dimension of the holder 92 in a plane of FIG. 8.

[0031] The holder 92 can be inserted into the circular slot 70 of the support 68 shown in FIG. 6. In this case the width of the circular slot 70 should be slightly wider than the thickness of both overlapped walls of the segments 94 and 96 to ensure sliding fit of these segments in the slot 70. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7, when the holder 92 is extended in an anglular direction to an angle sufficient to ensure stability for its use without the guide slot 70 of FIG. 6, the holder 92 can be used as an independent item for supporting pan and pot lids without the use of the support 68.

[0032] If the segments are overlapped to a maximum condition by moving the handles towards each other and the holder stands vertically, it can fulfill its main function of a pan and pot lid holder. If necessary, the holder be placed onto its handles 106 and 108 and installed in a horizontal position for supporting knives, spoons, forks, etc., or as shown in FIG. 10, for supporting napkins.

[0033] FIG. 11 illustrates still another embodiment, which is used for improving versatility of the device shown in FIGS. 7 to 10. Since the last-mentioned device consists essentially of two parts and does not have additional functions inherent in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 6, it is suggested to provide the adjustable pan and pot lid holder 92 of FIGS. 7-10 with a removable support 114. This support consists of a plate 116 with legs 118,120 and side walls 122,124. The ends of the side walls 122,124 are slightly bent outward and are used for insertion into guide slots 126,128 formed in the corners of handles 106,108 of the holder 92.

[0034] In use, the pan and pot lid holder 92 is utilized as described earlier with reference to FIGS. 7-10, and the removable support 114 is utilized as devices shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5.

[0035] FIG. 12 illustrates another embodiment of the invention, which is a modification of the device shown in FIGS. 1-6 and differs from it by a provision of a rotatable perforated disk 130. This disk is rotated on an axle 132 and has perforations 134a, 134b . . . . 134n, which are aligned with respective perforations 136a, 136b, . . . 136n formed in the bottom portion 138 of the pan and pot lid holder 140. The holder 140 is in general the same as that shown in the previous embodiments. When it is necessary to use the interior of the holder 140 for holding fruits, vegetables, rice, or the like, the disk 130 is rotated to a position in which the perforations 136a, 136b, . . . 136n of the bottom portions 138 are closed by non-perforated areas of the disk, and when it is necessary to use the holder 140 as a strainer, the disk 130 is rotated to the position, in which perforations of the disk are aligned with perforations of the bottom portion 138.

[0036] Furthermore, the removable segments, such as segments 72, 74, 76, 78 shown in FIG. 6, can be attached to the bottom portion 138 in a manner shown in FIG. 12. In this drawing the removable segment is designated by reference numeral 140. The bottom portion 138 has a circular slot 142, while the lower edge of the segment 140 has a projection 144 having a length equal to or slightly shorter than the length of the slot 142 and a U-shaped slot 146 having a width equal to or slightly wider than the thickness of the bottom portion 138.

[0037] For attachment of the segment 140 to the bottom portion 138 of the holder, the projection 144 is inserted into the circular slot 142 of the bottom portion 138 to a position, in which the slot 146 is aligned with the bottom portion 138. The segment is then moved radially inwardly so that the adjacent part of the bottom portion 138 is inserted into the slot 146 of the projection 144. In other words, the projection 144 and the slot 142 form a kind of a bayonet connection.

[0038] Thus, it has been shown that the invention provides a pot and pan lid holder which is universal in its use, ensures stable support of pan and pot lids, simple in construction, prevents dripping from the lid to the cook or counter top, can be easily disassembled into parts convenient for storage and usable as additional supports for spoons, knifes, forks, kettles, pans, pots, etc., and ensure convenient access to handles of supported lids.

[0039] Although the invention has been shown and described with reference to specific embodiments, it is understood that these embodiments do not limit the application of the invention and that any changes and modifications are possible, provided they do not depart from the scope of the patent claims. For example, such parts of the segments as radial projections 50, 52, pad 54, etc., can be integrally molded, glued, or mechanically connected to the segments.

[0040] The number of removable segments shown in the embodiment of FIG. 6 may be different that shown in this drawing. The segments can be made from different materials such as metal or heat-resistant glass or plastic. The holder housing may have a cross-section different from circular.

Claims

1. A universal pan and pot lid holder comprising at least a first member, a second member, said first member and said second member having means for moveably connecting said first member and said second member to each other, at least one of said first and said second members having means for imparting an additional function to said universal pan and pot lid holder, said holder having at least one open end and a side wall with an opening for access to the interior of said holder through said opening.

2. The holder of claim 1, wherein said first member and said second member each comprises a cylindrical segment which is a part of a cylindrical body having a cylindrical surface, an upper edge, and a lower edge, said first and said second cylindrical segments each having a through slot, said through slots of said first cylindrical segment and of said second cylindrical segment being aligned with each other, said first cylindrical segment having a first radial outward projection which projects outside said holder through said through slot of said second cylindrical segment, while said second cylindrical segment having a second radial outward projection which projects outside said holder through said through slot of said first cylindrical segment, at least one of said cylindrical segment having means for preventing disconnection of said segments in a radial direction, so that said first and second cylindrical segments are moveable with respect to each other in a circular direction but prevented from movement with respect to each other in the radial direction.

3. The holder of claim 2, further provided with a cylindrical support which has a circular slot into which said holder can be inserted with said lower edges of said cylindrical segments, so that said open end being located on the side opposite to said cylindrical support, said circular slot serving for guiding said edges when said first and said second cylindrical segments are moved in the circumferential direction with respect to each other.

4. The holder of claim 1, wherein said first member is a cylindrical housing which has means for removably connecting said second member to form an assembled state, said second member being a first cylindrical segment having an outer surface and an inner cylindrical surface, in said assembled state said cylindrical housing and said first cylindrical segment forming a complete cylindrical body, said means for imparting an additional function comprising radial outward projections formed on said outer side of said first cylindrical segment, so that said radial outward projections can be used as supports for said first cylindrical segment with said inner cylindrical surface facing up for use as a support for various items.

5. The holder of claim 4, said cylindrical housing has, on its side substantially opposite to said first cylindrical segment, means for removably connecting a second cylindrical segment having an inner side and an outer side with second means that impart to said holder an additional function.

6. The holder of claim 4, wherein said first cylindrical segment and said second cylindrical segment have side edges, said means for removably connecting said first cylindrical segment and said means for removably connecting said second cylindrical member comprising longitudinal slots formed on side edges of said cylindrical housing, said side edges of said first and second cylindrical segments being slidingly inserted into said longitudinal slots.

7. The holder of claim 6, wherein said means on said second cylindrical segment that impart to said holder an additional function comprises a flat pad, so that when said second cylindrical segment is removed from said cylindrical housing and is placed with said flat pad up, said flat pad can be used as a support member for various items.

8. The holder of claim 4, wherein said cylindrical housing is further provided with a closed bottom portion on the side opposite to said open end, so that in said assembled state said holder forms a container.

9. The holder of claim 8, wherein said closed bottom portion has perforations for using said container as a strainer.

10. The holder of claim 9, further provided with a disk which has perforations and non-perforated portions, said disk being rotatingly attached to said closed bottom portion so that, by rotating said disk, it is possible to align said perforations of the disk with said perforations of said closed bottom, or to close said perforations of the bottom portions by said non-perforated portions.

11. The holder of claim 1, further provided with a closed bottom portion on the side opposite to said open end, so that in said assembled state said holder forms a container.

12. The holder of claim 11, wherein said first member and said second member each has a radial projection with a slot and wherein said closed bottom portion has a circular slot into which said projection is inserted to a position in which said slot of said projection is aligned with said bottom portion so that by moving said first and second portions in a circumferential direction said first and second portion are secured to said bottom portion.

13. The holder of claim 12, wherein said closed bottom portion has perforations for using said container as a strainer.

14. The holder of claim 13, further provided with a disk which has perforations and non-perforated portions, said disk being rotatingly attached to said closed bottom portion so that, by rotating said disk, it is possible to align said perforations of the disk with said perforations of said closed bottom, or to close said perforations of the bottom portions by said non-perforated portions.