GB2527313A

GB2527313A - Tessellating cookware range

Info

Publication number: GB2527313A
Application number: GB1410759.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Asa Jolian Shoul; Matthew Adam Shoul
Original assignee: Itooshii Design Ltd
Current assignee: Itooshii Design Ltd
Priority date: 2014-06-17
Filing date: 2014-06-17
Publication date: 2015-12-23
Also published as: GB201410759D0

Abstract

A tessellating cookware range to be used in a scenario where there are problems experienced when using numerous items of cylindrical cookware on a limited number of hot plates. The cookware range consists of a plurality of pans being a common multiple, or fraction of sectors of a hotplate, i.e. sixths, thirds or halves. The user may preferably have a means of varying the temperature in individual pots via the means of creating an air gap of variable size between the hot plate surface and the base of each pan. The cookware range may also have a range of insulated pads which are similarly shaped to those of the cooking range to be used to reduce hot plate heat loss when using a limited number of pots.

Description

Tessellating Cookware Range

BACKGROUND

Technical field of the invention

Cookware is almost exclusively designed for use on hobs with numerous gas burners or hot plates and is therefor predominantly cylindrical, or round in form, primarily for ease of stirring, to enhance even heat distribution, for being evenly balanced for ease of handling & for ease of manufacture. However, in instances where hobs are limited to only two large hot plates, as in the combined central heating system, hob & oven type of appliance, such as embodied in AGA [Registered Trade Mark] or RAYBURN [Registered Trade Mark] brands, cooking with round shaped cookware is compromised, due to each hotplate being too small to safely & securely accommodate numerous items of cookware at any onetime. Many meals necessitate the simultaneous use of more items of cookware than there is space for, on a limited number of hotplates, as evident in AGA [Registered Trade Mark] type cookers, rendering cooking any meal which requires more than 2 items of cookware per hotplate, awkward and unsafe, due to cylindrically shaped cookware competing for limited hotplate space, resulting in unnecessarily extended cooking time. This compromise in available hotplate space therefor results in uneven heat distribution, with cookware being half-on, half-off a hotplate, with a consequent risk of accidents.

There are also temperature control issues with using hotplates, such as embodied in AGA [Registered Trade Mark] type cookers, each of which is set at either a boiling temperature or a simmering temperature, as well as the issue of dramatic heat loss from the AGA [Registered Trade Mark] as a whole, due to the heat lost from those portions of hotplates which are unoccupied by cookware. Both the AGA [Registered Trade Mark] boiling & simmering plates tend to cook too quickly, with no means to reduce the temperature of each, in a controlled manner, during the cooking process and there is no means to extend the cooking time period, which is presently unduly shortened due to rapid hot plate heat loss.

Description of Related Art

There are presently no integrated ranges of cookware designed specifically to overcome the practical cooking problem presented by hobs with a limited number of fixed temperature hotplates. Although SMOTHERS MILTON [US] U520060431 320 20060510 describes a single triangular shaped, ow sided tem of cookware, it is stated as intended solely for the purpose of frying; the invention therefor does not address the practical implications of preparing meals on a limited number of hotplates, which can commonly involve the simultaneous cooking activities of boiling, frying, sautéing or simmering, numerous individual dishes, each requiring cookware of differing capacities.

SMOTHERS MILTON [US] US20060431320 20060510 also fails to provide an adequate description of the mechanism by which a solution to overcoming the common problem nherent in one-piece cast iron, or cast aluminium cookware, in which the cookware handle invariably becomes too hot to hold in comfort or safety, due to heat gain, i.e. the handle-pan interlace of SMOTHERS MILTON [US] US20060431320 20060510 has no functional heat dissipating structures present, despite being alluded to with the term insulation'. George Henry Eymer, US 377712, describes four 1/4 sector pans, which lock together, by means of flanges, which act to prevent the four pans from collectively or individually falling through a fire hole, which they sit on above a wood fire. The cooking pans in George Henry Eymer, US 377712, have to be placed on the fire hole in the correct order, so the pan's flanges interlock correctly and likewise cannot be removed from the fire hole without attention to this same correct order of placement. This dependance on the correct order of placement & correct order of removal of the pans, compromises the act of cooking, given that the freedom to remove any given pan from the heat is an impossibility, without risking the collapse of the remaining 3 pans into the fire hole on which they are designed to sit collectively. George Henry Eymer, US 377712 does not provide a complete, integrated cookware solution, whereby a range of cookware may be used, in which the essential purpose of individual cookware items is to enable separate cooking functions, which may be utilized independantly of oneanother. It should be noted that both SMOTHERS MILTON [US] US20060431320 20060510 and George Henry Eymer, US 377712, fail in this regard: neither describe a full range of cookware, in which there are the various disparately sized & shaped common cookware items, necessary to prepare the numerous dishes for a contemporary meal, such as a small skillet, a large frying pan, a sauce pan or larger volume pans and a kettle.

It is therefore an object of the invention to overcome these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invenflon is set out in the claims. The tesseflafing cookware range overcomes a number of the common problems experienced when using numerous items of cylindrical cookware on a limited number of hotplates & affords the cook independent control over the temperature of each cooking vessel. The tesseilating cookware range involves the bases of ali pans being a common multiple, or fraction of sectors of a hotplate, i.e. sixths, thirds or halves. In this way, all cookware items, be they tall for boiling spaghetti, medium height for preparing sauces, shallow for frying, or a kettle, can tessellate, thereby utilising all the available hotplate space efficiently & safely. This tessellating function not only serves to allow numerous cooking vessels of different volumes to be used simultaneousl on a single hotplate, but also helps prevent unnecessary heat loss from hot plates, by enabling the entire hot piate surface to be utilised, thereby extending the cooking time-period. The tessellating range of cookware rriakes use of a device, various iterations of which are iflustrated & described, which allow the cook to decrease or increase the temperature of individual pans, by means of creating an air gap of variable size between the hot plate surface & the base of each pan. Some of these iterations of raising & lowering devices include a three foot system, so the cookware items remain perfectly level during cooking, regardless of the size of air gap, however double or single feet on the curved or straight sides of the cookware item could also be employed, as well as a clip-on device.

Clip-on devices would be made from wire, pressed steel strips or other sectional variants, in a variety of thicknesses, from 0.5mm to 2mm in 0.5mm [approx.] increments, to create air gaps of the same range of sizes & have been designed to easily snap into the rebate in the base of each pan prior to, or during the cooking process.

The invention incorporates highly insulated 116, 113. 112, or other fractional sector pads, to be placed directly on the hotplate for use during the cooking process, to reduce hot plate heat loss on areas of the hotpiate not in use & thereby extend the time which the hotplates remain hot enough to cook on. The pans also make use of an array of heat dissipating elements: holes, fins or slots, at the pan-handle junction, to help maintain the handle or knob temperature within a range which is comfortable & safe to hold. It should be noted that although the sectors mentioned in the description are predominantly of sixths, thirds & halves, it is envisioned that cookware & corresponding insulated pads may be produced in any tessellating fractions of a circle. -4.-

This invention therfor provides a complete solution to the compromises posed by cooking on a limited number of fixed temperature hotplates, affording the cook complete control of unwanted heat loss from unused portions of a hot plate, with tessellating insulated pads and with hotplate use maximised with a full range of tessellating cookware, whose temperature may be adjusted prior to, or throughout the cooking process.

These factors of the invention collectively render cooking on a fixed temperature hotplate comparable in ease & controllability to cooking on a multi-burner gas hob, thereby offering a complete solution to the limitations of hotplate cooking.

The tesseflating cookware range is to be sold either as individual cookware items, along with a corresponding insulated pad, or as complete sets of cookware with corresponding insulated pads: making up a set to cover the entire surface of a circular hotplate, with any given combination of cookware items & insulating pads. In this way, any permutation of cookware items & insulating pads may be used, to maximise the use of a given hotplate, with the flexibihty of buying further individual cookware items &Ior corresponding sets of insulated pads. Sets may include cookware which comprises combinations of 1/6, 1/3 or 1/2 sector pans with corresponding insulated pads, or be made up of cookware & pads comprised of other fractional sectors of a circle, such as fifths. Sets including or excluding insulated pads may also be defined by the purchaser at point of sale, to cover less than an entire hot plate, an entire hotplate, more than a single hotplate, two hot plates, or more.

The sector shaped cookware bases preferably match the profile of the circumference of the hot plate, the diameter of which is 14.5" or 368.3mm: minimising any heat gain of the cookware handles which are thereby heat-shielded from heat radiated directly from the hotplate.

In use, the cook may cover the entire hotplate surface with a variety of insulated pads and proceed to remove them, to make space for matching shaped pans, as dictated by the meal being prepared. Likewise, on removing a cooked dish from the hotplate, a correspondingly sized insulated pad would take it's place; thereby continuing to extend the hotplate's heat retention, for effectively cooking other dishes.

The foregoing and other objects, aspects and advantages will be better understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1.0 shows an isometric view of a 1/6th sector sauce pan, from above.

Figure 1.1 shows an isometric view of a 1/6th sector sauce pan, from above, with a lid.

Figure 2.0 is an isometric view of a 1/6th sector sauce pan, from below, incorporating a lever adjustable raising & lowering mechanism, comprised of a system of cams.

Figure 2.1 is an isometric view of a 1/6th sector sauce pan, from below, incorporating an adjustable raising & lowering mechanism, comprising screw-in feet, with the feet flush with the cookware base.

Figure 2.2 shows an isometric view of a 1/6th sector sauce pan, from below, with feet extended.

Figure 3.0 is an isometric view of a 1/6th sector sauce pan, from below, incorporating an adjustable raising & lowering mechanism, comprising three faceted cams, which can be oriented in any of 3 stable positions.

Figure 3.1 is an isometric view of a 1/6th sector sauce pan, from below, without cover plate.

Figure 3.2 is an isometric view of a 1/6th sector sauce pan, from below, showing an enlarged view of the faceted cam device.

Figure 4 shows a selection of tessellating 1/3 & 1/6 sector pans & a kettle.

Figures shows a selection of tessellating 1/3 sector cookware.

Figure 6 is an isometric view of a 1/3 & a 1/6 sector insulated pads.

Figure 7 shows a 1/6 sector kettle.

Figure 8.0 shows an underneath view of a 1/6th sector pan with a clip-on device fitted.

Figure 8.1 shows an enlarged view of the clip on device fitted to the rebate in the corner of a pan base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A preferred embodiment of the tessellating cookware range is one in which all cookware is manufactured as a one-piece casting, or laser sintered or 3D printed, to minimise the components which comprise each tessellating item within the range, for purposes of reducing the need for any assembly with fittings & thereby increasing the overall structural integrity of each cookware item.

The base thickness on all cookware will be approximately 10mm & wall thickness will be approximately 4mm.

Figure 1.0 shows an isometric view of a 1/6th sector sauce pan, from above, in which three vertical walls [al, a2 & a3] extend upward from a sector shaped base [b]. A handle [ci connects to the curved vertical wall [a1], by means of numerous slender rods Ed], interspersed with slots [e], which act to dissipate heat and thereby maintain the handle at a comfortable temperature to hold. The rods [d] are interconnected at the 90° handle bend [f] to increase structural integrity & rigidity of the handle. A lip [g], positioned within the pan, supports a lid, illustrated in Figure 1.1.

Figure 1.1 shows a pan [a] with a lid [b] and a knob [ci with heat dissipating rods Ed].

Figure 2.0 shows an isometric view of a 1/6th sector sauce pan, from below, with one of the mechanisms by which the air gap between a hot plate & the pan base [a] can be adjusted, during the cooking process, from zero to 3mm, in 0.35mm increments, through turning a control knob [bl] through 90°, in approximately 11.25° increments, determined by the spacing of dimples [b2] in a control track [b3]. The control knob pivots on an axel [c], which connects to 3 cams [dl, d2, d3], via a connecting rod [e] housed between the pan base & a cover plate [f], each of which have voids & holes [g] to accommodate the mechanism components & bolt holes [hi, to connect the pan base to the cover plate.

Figure 2.1 shows an isometric view of a 1/6th sector sauce pan, from below, with an alternative mechanism for creating an adjustable air gap, comprised of three threaded feet [a] & three threaded holes [b], which can be screwed in or out of the pan base [ci, prior to, or during use.

Figure 2.2 shows an isometric view of a 1/6th sector sauce pan, from below, with all three threaded feet unscrewed to a length of 3mm to create an air gap.

Figure 3.0 shows an isometric view of a 1/6th sector sauce pan, from below, with another alternative mechanism for adjusting the size of air gap between a hot plate & the pan base, comprised of three faceted cams [a] which can sit in any of 3 stable orientations, creating air gaps of approximately 1mm, 2mm or 3mm, a cover plate [b], allen key bolts to secure the cover plate to the pan base [d].

Figure 3.1 shows an isometric view of a 1/6th sector sauce pan, from below, showing the 3 faceted cams [a] with the cover plate removed.

Figure 3.2 shows an enlarged view of the faceted cam: each of the cam's 3 facets supports the pan at a different height above a hot plate: facet [a] 1mm, facet [b] 2mm & facet [c] 3mm, due to the facet's respective distances from the axel pivot point. The faceted cam rotates about an off centre axel [d], which is held in position by an axel support [e].

Figure 4 shows a number of tessellating pans of 1/3 & 1/6 sectors, including a 1/6 sector shaped kettle.

Figure 5 shows a number of tessellating 1/3 sector pans: a large saucepan [a], a shallow saucepan [b] & a frying pan [c].

Figure 6 shows a 1/6 & a 1/3 sector insulated pad, for use on unused areas of the hotplate during cooking, comprised of a fireproof fabric [a], a cutaway showing an insulating filling material inside the fireproof fabric housing [b] & a handle [c].

Figure 7 shows an isometric view of a 1/6 sector kettle.

Figure 8.0 shows an underneath view of the base [a] of a 1/6th sector pan with a clip-on device [b] fitted, to create an air gap.

Figure 8.1 shows an enlarged view of the rebate [a] in the base of a 1/6th sector pan, with a clip-on device [b] fitted to a corner of the rebate.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A set of cookware for use on a circular heating plate, the set including interchangeable components, wherein the base of each component is a portion of a circle such that, when in use on the heating plate, the components can fit together to form a whole circle and thereby substantially cover the heating plate.
2. A set of cookware in accordance with claim 1, wherein a component is a receptacle.
3. A set of cookware in accordance with claim 2, wherein the receptacle includes a temperature control system, wherein the temperature control system has receptacle raising means operable between a first position whereby, in use, the base of the receptacle is in good thermal contact with the heating plate and a second position whereby, in use, there is an air gap between the base of the receptacle and the heating plate.
4. A set of cookware in accordance with claim 3, wherein the raising means comprises a plurality of feet adjustable between a first position where the feet are flush with the base of the receptacle and a second position whereby the feet are proud of the base of the receptacle.
5. A set of cookware in accordance with claim 4, wherein the height of the feet above the base is adjustable, and thereby the air gap between the base of the receptacle and the heating plate, is adjustable.
6. A set of cookware in accordance with claim 5, wherein the height of the feet above the base are adjustable in increments.
7. A set of cookware in accordance with any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the feet are mechanically connected to each other so that they are simultaneously adjustable from a single control point.
8. A set of cookware in accordance with claims 4 to 6, wherein the feet are independentlyadjustable.
9. A set of cookware in accordance with any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein each of the feet include a rotatable cam.
10. A set of cookware in accordance with claim 8, wherein the height of each of the feet is adjustable by means of a screw.
11. A set of cookware in accordance with claim 3, wherein the raising means is a clip-on spacing device.
12. A set of cookware in accordance with any one of claims 2 to 11, wherein the receptacle is a pan, frying pan or a kettle.
13. A range of tessellating cookware in accordance with claim 12, wherein the pan or frying pan has fillets between the internal surfaces, to facilitate stirring and cleaning.
14. A set of cookware in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein a component is an insulating pad.
15. A set of cookware in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the base of one or more of the components is semi-circular.
16. A set of cookware in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the base of one or more of the components is a quarter section of a circle.
17. A set of cookware in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the base of one or more of the components is a third section of a circle.
18. A set of cookware in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the base of one or more of the components is a sixth section of a circle.
19. A set of cookware in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the base of one or more of the components is any fractional section of a circle.
20. A set of cookware in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein each component has a handle, wherein the handle includes heat dissipating elements.
21. A set of cookware in accordance with claim 12, wherein each pan has a lid with a means for grasping the id, wherein the grasping means includes heat dissipating elements.
22. A set of cookware in accordance with claim 19 or 20, wherein the heat dissipating elements are holes, fins or slots.
23. A component for use in the set of cookware as claimed in the preceding claims.Amendments to the claims have been made as followsCLAIMS1. A set of cookware for use on a circular heating plate, the set including interchangeable components, wherein a plurality of the components are receptacles, and wherein the base of each component is a portion of a circle such that, when in use on the heating plate, the components can fit together to form a whole circle and thereby substantially cover the heating plate, wherein the receptacles have a temperature control system, wherein the temperature control system has receptacle raising means operable between a first position whereby, in use, the base of the receptacle is in good thermal contact with the heating plate and at least one other position whereby, in use, there is an air gap between the base of the receptacle and the heating plate.2. A set of cookware in accordance with claim 1, wherein the raising means comprises a plurality of feet adjustable between a first position where the feet are flush with the base of the receptacle and at least one other position whereby the feet are proud :.: :* of the base of the receptacle.* ..*** * 3. A set of cookware in accordance with claim 2, wherein the height of the feet above *:" the base is adjustable, and thereby the air gap between the base of the receptacle and the heating plate, is adjustable.4. A set of cookware in accordance with claim 3, wherein the height of the feet above the base are adjustable in increments.5. A set of cookware in accordance with any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the feet are mechanically connected to each other so that they are simultaneously adjustable from a single control point.6. A set of cookware in accordance with claims 2 to 4, wherein the feet are independently adjustable.7. A set of cookware in accordance with any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein each of the feet include a rotatable cam.8. A set of cookware in accordance with claim 6, wherein the height of each of the feet is adjustable by means of a screw.9. A set of cookware in accordance with claim 1, wherein the raising means is a clip-on spacing device.10. A set of cookware in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the receptacle is a pan, frying pan or a kettle.11. A range of tessellating cookware in accordance with claim 10, wherein the pan or frying pan has fillets between the internal surfaces, to facilitate stirring and cleaning.12. A set of cookware in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein a component is an insulating pad.13. A set of cookware in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the base of one or more of the components is semi-circular.14. A set of cookware in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the base of one or more of the components is a quarter section of a circle.15. A set of cookware in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the base of one or more of the components is a third section of a circle.16. Aset of cookware in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the base of * * one or more of the components is a sixth section of a circle.17. A set of cookware in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the base of :. one or more of the components is any fractional section of a circle.18. A set of cookware in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein each component has a handle, wherein the handle includes heat dissipating elements.19. A set of cookware in accordance with claim 10, wherein each pan has a lid with a means for grasping in the lid, wherein the grasping means includes heat dissipating elements.20. A set of cookware in accordance with claim 18 or 19, wherein the heat dissipating elements are holes, fins or slots.21. A receptacle for use in the set of cookware as claimed in the preceding claims, wherein the base of the receptacle is a fractional section of a circle and wherein the receptacle includes a temperature control system, the temperature control system having receptacle raising means operable between a first position whereby, in use, the base of the receptacle is in good thermal contact with the heating plate and at least one other position whereby, in use, there is an air gap between the base of the receptacle and the heating plate.