Receptacles – Container attachment or adjunct – Handle – handle component – or handle adjunct
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-01
2001-07-10
Moy, Joseph M. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Container attachment or adjunct
Handle, handle component, or handle adjunct
C220S769000, C016S425000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257439
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a handle for a food container (e.g., a pot or pan) for conveniently taking up or putting down a heated food container.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, there are two types of food containers (e.g., pots or pans): one type with two short handles or a long handle attached thereto, and the other type is free of handle. A dishcloth is often used when picking up a heated pot or pan, yet the use is inconvenient and the dishcloth has sanitary problem. The handle(s) attached to the pot or pan still might be heated or even burnt during heating. A pincer device has been proposed to pick up the heated pot or pan, yet the clamping is not easy and the force for holding the pot or pan is found insufficient. As a result, potential injury exists. The present invention is intended to provide a handle for a pot or pan that mitigates and/or obviate the above problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a handle that is separate from the food container and may reliably hold the food container for picking up the food container.
In accordance with the present invention, a handle is provided for a food container with a lip and comprises:
a handle main body including a recess defined in a side thereof, the handle main body further including a first clamping portion formed on a first end thereof and a second end for grasp;
a handle cover mounted to the handle main body for covering the side having the recess, the handle cover including an opening;
an actuator mounted in the recess of the handle main body and slidable along a longitudinal direction of the handle main body, the actuator including a first end and a second end with an extension extended beyond the opening of the handle cover for manual operation, the actuator further including a hole in a mediate portion thereof, a button including an enlarged head and being mounted in the hole of the actuator and biased toward the handle cover by a first elastic member, a second elastic member being provided for biasing the actuator toward the first clamping portion; and
a clamping member including a second clamping portion formed on a first end thereof and located outside the handle main body and a second end securely engaged with the actuator to move therewith;
wherein when the actuator is moved away from the first clamping portion and the button is thus moved to a position below the opening of the handle cover, the button is biased outward beyond the opening of the handle cover under the action of the first elastic member, and the enlarged head of the button is retained between the extension of the actuator and an edge defining the opening of the handle cover under action of the second elastic element, thereby securely clamping the lip of the food container between the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion.
The handle main body includes a stepped through-hole having a relatively larger portion and a relatively smaller portion. The clamping member includes a restraining slot in a mediate portion thereof. The handle cover includes a positioning block extended through the restraining slot and the relatively larger portion of the stepped through-hole of the handle main body. A screw is extended through the stepped through-hole for threadedly engaging with a screw hole in the positioning block.
The handle main body includes a plurality of engaging holes, and the handle cover includes a corresponding number of engaging pieces for engaging with the engaging holes.
The actuator includes an engaging groove, and the second end of the clamping member includes a hook member for engaging with the engaging groove.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2362720 (1944-11-01), Reichart
patent: 3059809 (1962-10-01), Thompson, III
patent: 4206853 (1980-06-01), Iten et al.
patent: 4577367 (1986-03-01), Durand
patent: 5887751 (1999-03-01), Kroscher
patent: 6000100 (1999-12-01), Montgelard
patent: 6079590 (2000-06-01), Munari
patent: 6173860 (2001-01-01), Lamers
Moy Joseph M.
Rosenberg , Klein & Lee
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