Detachable handle with a movable lock and an anti-reversal device

Description

technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a removable handle intended to cooperate with a cooking container, the cooking container such as a saucepan, a frying pan or a stockpot, having a side wall which is extended upwards by a portion curved outwards. State of the art

[0002] A removable handle for use with a cooking vessel is known from document EP3888511. The removable handle has a side wall that extends upwards with an outwardly curved portion having a free end. The removable handle extends longitudinally and comprises an internal support member and an external support member for bearing against, respectively, an internal and an external surface of the side wall, as well as an upper support member for bearing against the free end of the curved portion. The removable handle includes a latch that can move between an open and a closed position. The latch has a locking wall that is moved away from the internal support member in the open position of the latch and that, in the closed position of the latch, exerts a force on the free end under the action of a pressure-generating means.The lock has a protruding part and the removable handle has a fixed recessed part and in the closed position, the protruding part and the recessed part are engaged with each other to prevent the lock from recoiling.

[0003] Such a device is effective in preventing the lock from retracting and ensuring that the removable handle remains on the cooking container.

[0004] However, the protruding part can get stuck in the recessed part when the user wants to move the lock from the closed position to the open position. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks.

[0006] The technical problem underlying the invention is to propose a removable handle designed to cooperate with a cooking container with safe and ergonomic operation.

[0007] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a removable handle that has a simple design and is economical to implement.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to a removable handle intended to cooperate with a cooking container having a side wall which is extended upwards by a portion curved outwards having a free end, said removable handle extending in a longitudinal direction and comprising an internal support member and an external support member intended to come against, respectively, an internal and an external surface of the side wall, as well as a superior support member intended to come against the free end of the curved portion, said removable handle comprising a movable lock in translation between an open position and a closed position, the lock comprising a locking wall intended to be moved away from the internal support member in the open position of the lock and intended to generate a force on the free end in the closed position of the lock, under the action of a pressurizing means,the lock comprising a projecting member and said removable handle comprising a fixed recessed member in the closed position, the projecting member and the recessed member being engaged with each other to prevent the lock from retracting, characterized in that the projecting member extends transversely under the locking wall and in that the projecting member has a free end which cooperates with the recessed member, the free end of the projecting member being movable between a locking position in which the lock cannot retract and an unlocking position in which the lock can retract.

[0009] It is understood that the lock is guided within the removable handle with an operating clearance sized to allow, when the lock reaches the closed position, a downward movement of the locking plate under the action of the pressure-applying mechanism and in reaction to pressure on the free end of the curved portion. The projecting element, positioned closest to the locking plate, moves in the same direction from the unlocked position to the locked position and engages with the recessed element. The projecting element moves in the opposite direction from the locked position to the unlocked position when the lock moves from the closed position to the open position.

[0010] By the protruding organ extends transversely under the blocking wall, it is understood that the protruding organ extends downwards under the blocking wall.

[0011] Advantageously, the lock is movable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction.

[0012] Advantageously, the hollow organ has a height H of less than 0.5 millimeters.

[0013] Thus, the protruding part undergoes a very short movement from the locked position to the unlocked position when the lock moves from the closed position to the open position. Consequently, the protruding part cannot remain stuck in the recessed part when the user moves the lock from the closed to the open position.

[0014] Advantageously, the hollow organ has a height H of less than 0.3 millimeters.

[0015] Preferably, the protruding member extends under the locking wall in an extension direction, the extension direction and the locking wall forming an angle θ between 60° and 120° in a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal direction.

[0016] In the closed position, the free end of the curved portion exerts on the blocking wall, in reaction to the action of the pressurizing means, a downward force in a direction close to the direction of extension of the protruding member.

[0017] Advantageously, the extension direction of the protruding member and the locking wall of the lock form an angle θ equal to 90° in a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal direction.

[0018] Advantageously, the projecting organ takes the form of a leg extending along the direction of extension and having a rectangular cross-section in relation to the direction of extension. The rectangular cross-section is preferably constant.

[0019] Preferably, the hollow organ has at least one housing for receiving the free end of the protruding organ.

[0020] Advantageously, in a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal direction, at least one housing has a V-shaped form having a first flat face inclined at an angle β with respect to the longitudinal direction, the angle β being less than 25° and the free end of the protruding member has a lower edge which cooperates with the first flat face in the locking position.

[0021] Advantageously, the lower edge can be slightly radiused with a radius of less than one millimeter.

[0022] Thus, with a very small angle β, the protruding part can easily disengage from the recessed part by a very short movement when the lock leaves the closed position to move into the open position.

[0023] Preferably, the first flat face and the lower edge extend perpendicularly to the vertical plane passing through the longitudinal direction.

[0024] Advantageously, the first flat face extends perpendicularly to the vertical plane passing through the longitudinal direction over a width LF and in that the lower edge extends perpendicularly to the vertical plane passing through the longitudinal direction over a width LA, LF and / or LA being greater than 5 millimeters.

[0025] Such an arrangement allows for a robust construction.

[0026] Preferably, the hollow organ comprises a plurality of receiving housings arranged along the longitudinal direction and which has a pitch P between two successive housings, the pitch P being less than 1.5 millimeters.

[0027] Thus, depending on the position of the lock linked to the thickness and length of the free end of the curved portion of the vertical wall when passing into the closed position, the protruding part will fit into one of the receiving housings to move into the locking position.

[0028] Advantageously, the lock is movable in translation along the longitudinal direction and the blocking wall is inclined to form with the longitudinal direction in a vertical cutting plane including the longitudinal direction, an angle α greater than 40°.

[0029] Thus, the free end generates on the blocking wall and vice versa a force having a vertical blocking component substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0030] Advantageously, the blocking wall is designed to cooperate with a lower edge of the free end of the curved portion of the vertical wall in the closed position of the lock.

[0031] Preferably, the pressurization means include a compression spring and the spring push on the lock is carried out in the longitudinal direction when the lock is in the closed position.

[0032] This arrangement allows the position of the lock to be adapted to the thickness and length of the free end of the curved portion of the vertical wall.

[0033] Advantageously, the removable handle includes means for operating the toggle lock, the means of operation comprising a lever, a connecting rod and the compression spring.

[0034] This arrangement allows for very ergonomic means of operating the lock.

[0035] Advantageously, the lock is mobile relative to the internal support, external support and upper support members, which are all three fixed and integral.

[0036] The invention also relates to an assembly consisting of at least one cooking container having a side wall which is extended upwards by a portion curved outwards having a free end provided with an upper edge and a lower edge and a removable handle as previously described. Brief description of the figures

[0037] The aims, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, presented by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: there figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a removable handle arranged on a cooking container according to a particular embodiment of the invention. figure 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the removable handle along the median vertical cutting plane II-II of the figure 1 . there figure 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the removable handle along the median vertical cutting plane II-II of the figure 1 the lock being in the open position. figure 4 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the lock with the protruding and recessed parts of the removable handle shown on the figure 3 . there figure 5illustrates a detailed view D of the free end of the protruding part in the locking position within the recessed part and of the removable handle shown on the figure 1 Only the elements necessary for understanding the invention have been shown. To facilitate reading the drawings, the same elements bear the same reference numbers from one figure to another.

[0038] It should be noted that in this document, the terms "horizontal", "vertical", "lower", "upper", "top", "bottom", "front", "back", "longitudinal", "transverse", used to describe the removable handle and the cooking container refer to this removable handle in use, when mounted on a side wall of the cooking container, which is placed on a horizontal plane.

[0039] As seen at figures 1 to 3A removable handle 1 is intended to cooperate with a cooking vessel 60, which includes a horizontal bottom wall 68, a side wall 61 extending from the bottom wall 68, and a curved portion 64 extending outwards. The side wall 61 has an inner surface 62 and an outer surface 63. The curved portion 64 extends from the side wall 61 and defines the upper opening of the cooking vessel 60. The curved portion 64 includes a free end 65 with an upper edge 66 and a lower edge 67. The upper edge 66 and lower edge 67 are preferably superimposed in a vertical plane.

[0040] The removable handle 1 extends along a longitudinal direction 3. The removable handle 1 has a gripping body 2 which includes, at a front end directed towards the cooking container 60, a front wall 4 forming an external support member 14 intended to cooperate with the outer surface 63 of the side wall 61. In a vertical cutting plane passing through the longitudinal direction 3 ( Fig. 2 And 3 ), the external support member 14 is substantially vertical. The removable handle 1 has a vertical median plane which includes the longitudinal direction 3 and which forms a plane of symmetry for the removable handle 1.

[0041] The removable handle 1 comprises a structural part 10 made of metallic material. The structural part 10 is substantially flat and has an end tab 13. The end tab 13 extends downwards and has an inner wall forming an internal bearing member 12 for cooperating with the inner surface 62 of the side wall 61. The structural part 10 comprises two portions 51 arranged on either side of the vertical median plane. The two portions 51 form an upper bearing member 15 for cooperating with the upper edge 66 of the free end 65. The two portions 51 extend along the longitudinal direction 3, at the level of the front end of the gripping body 2.

[0042] The internal support member 12 and the external support member 14 are offset along the longitudinal direction 3 ( Fig.3) to allow the introduction of the side wall 61 and the free end 65 when assembling the removable handle 1 onto the cooking container 60.

[0043] The removable handle 1 has a locking mechanism formed by a lock 20 that is movable in translation along the longitudinal direction 3 between an open position ( Fig.3 ) and a closed position ( Fig. 2 The lock 20 has a substantially flat central portion 22 extending along the longitudinal direction 3. The lock 20 is slidably mounted under the structural part 10 by folding two lateral tabs of the structural part 10. The structural part 10 has a square-section pin 16 extending downwards. The central portion 22 of the lock 20 has a recess 23 extending along the longitudinal axis 3. The recess 23 receives the pin 16 to guide the lock 20 in translation. The lock 20 has a blocking wall 21 at one front end.

[0044] As seen at the figure 3 , in the open position of the lock 20, the locking wall 21 is intended to be away from the upper support member 15 to allow the introduction of the side wall 61 between the internal support members 12 and external support members 14 and to allow the upper edge 66 of the free end 65 to come against the upper support member 15.

[0045] As seen at the figure 2 , in the closed position of the lock 20, the blocking wall 21 is intended to bear against the lower edge 67 of the free end 65 and thus block the upper edge 66 against the upper support member 15. In a vertical cutting plane passing through the longitudinal direction 3, a line belonging to the blocking wall 21 and the longitudinal direction form an angle α between 40 and 50°, preferably 45°.

[0046] In accordance with figures 2 to 5The lock 20 includes a projecting member 24 which extends transversely downwards under the blocking wall 21. The projecting member 24 extends under the blocking wall 21 in an extension direction 5 ( Fig. 4) which is perpendicular to the blocking wall 21. Thus, the extension direction 5 of the projecting member 24 forms an angle θ of 90° with the blocking wall 21 in a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal direction 3. The projecting member 24 takes the form of a tab extending along the extension direction 5 and having a rectangular cross-section with respect to the extension direction 5. The projecting member 24 has a free end 25 with a rectangular flat face 26 substantially parallel to the blocking wall 21. The free end 25 has a front face 27 which forms a lower edge 29 with the rectangular flat face 26. The lower edge 29 extends perpendicularly to the vertical plane passing through the longitudinal direction 3 over a width LA of 10 millimeters.The protruding part 24 is integral with the lock 20 and moves with it between the open position and the closed position and vice versa.

[0047] The removable handle 1 includes a reinforcing piece 50 which is fixed to the gripping body 2 and also fixed to a free end 18 of the pin 16 by a screw 19. Thus, the reinforcing piece 50 is rigidly connected to the structural piece 10. The reinforcing piece 50 is made from a metal strip and has a rectangular cross-section. The reinforcing piece 50 includes a notched portion 52 ( Fig. 4 And 5 ) which extends along the longitudinal axis 3, under the projecting part 24. The notched part 52 comprises a succession of recessed parts 54, all identical. The succession of recessed parts 54 has a pitch P ( Fig. 5) between two successive recessed members 54 equal to 1 millimeter. Each recessed member 54 has a height H equal to 0.25 millimeter. The recessed member 54 has a receiving recess 56 for the free end 25 of the protruding member 24. In a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal direction 3, the receiving recess 56 has a V-shape with a first flat face 57 inclined at an angle β1 with respect to the longitudinal direction 3. The angle β1 is equal to 20°. The V-shaped form is provided with a second flat face 58 inclined at an angle β2 equal to 60° with respect to the longitudinal direction 3. The first 57 and second 58 flat faces and the lower edge 29 extend perpendicularly to the vertical plane passing through the longitudinal direction 3. The first flat face 57 extends perpendicularly to the vertical plane passing through the longitudinal direction 3 over a width LF equal to 10 millimeters.

[0048] The lower edge 29 of the free end 25 of the projecting member 24 cooperates with a first flat face 57 of a receiving housing 56 of a recessed member 54 when the lock 20 passes into the closed position. The free end 25 of the projecting member 24 is movable between a locking position ( Fig. 5 ) in which the lower edge 29 rests on the first flat face 57 to prevent the lock 20 from moving back and an unlocking position in which the lower edge 29 is away from the first flat face 57 to allow the lock 20 to move back.

[0049] In the closed position of the lock 20, the protruding member 24 and the recessed member 54 are engaged in the locking position to prevent the lock 20 from recoiling when the free end 65 generates a force on the locking wall 21 having a vertical component F1, directed downwards and whose intensity is greater than a predetermined value equal to 2.5 N. The central portion 22 of the lock 20 is guided in translation with a vertical clearance dimensioned to allow the protruding member 24 to move from the unlocking position to the locking position in the recessed member 54 or vice versa.

[0050] As seen at figures 2 to 4The removable handle 1 includes a means for returning the lock 20 disposed between a lug 39 carried by the structural part 10 and a stop 28 carried by the lock 20. The return means is formed by a spring 11 which works in compression when the lock 20 is in the closed position and which is adapted to apply a return force on the stop 28 to move the lock 20 towards its open position.

[0051] In accordance with figures 2 And 3The removable handle 1 includes means for moving the locking element formed by the lock 20. These means comprise a lever 30 pivotally mounted on the grip body 2 along a pivot axis 34 extending in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 3, and a connecting rod 40 that allows the lock 20 to move when the lever 30 is pivoted. The connecting rod 40 is pivotally mounted, at one end, to the lock 20 along an axis 43, and at the other end, to the lever 30 along an axis 44, which is slidably mounted in an oblong opening in the lever 30.

[0052] The lever 30 is located on an underside 6 of the gripping body 2 and is movable between a closed position ( Fig. 2 ) and an opening position ( Fig. 3) by passing through an intermediate position of unstable equilibrium. In the closed position of lever 30, the lock 20 is in the closed position, and in the open position of lever 30, the lock 20 is in the open position. Furthermore, the movement means also include a spring 47 which is disposed between the slidingly mounted axis 44 and a transverse wall 32 of lever 30. This compression spring 47 allows adjustment of the position of the lock 20 in the closed position to the thickness of the side wall 61 of the cooking vessel 60.

[0053] In accordance with the figure 2In the closed position of lever 30, the axis 44 around which the second end 42 pivots is located above a line passing through the pivot axis 34 and the axis 43. The second end 42 is held in contact with the structural part 10 by the action of the compression spring 47. Thus, the lock 20 naturally remains in its closed position, without the user having to exert any force on the removable handle 1. The intermediate position of unstable equilibrium of lever 30 is reached when the axis 44 around which the second end 42 pivots is displaced below the line passing through the pivot axis 34 and the axis 43.

[0054] As seen on the figures 1 to 3The removable handle 1 includes an opening button 17 which allows the lever 30, initially in its closed position, to be moved beyond its intermediate unstable equilibrium position. The opening button 17 is arranged on an upper face of the gripping body 2. The opening button 17 is rotatable about a transverse axis, horizontal to the longitudinal direction 3 of the removable handle 1. The opening button 17 is movable between a lowered rest position in which the lever 30 is in its closed position, an intermediate raised position in which the lever is in its intermediate unstable equilibrium position, and a raised position in which the lever 30 is in its open position.

[0055] During operation, to disassemble the removable handle 1 from the cooking container 60, the user grasps the gripping body 2 and rotates the opening button 17 with their thumb from the lowered rest position, in which the lever 30 is in its closed position, to the raised position, in which the lever 30 is in its open position. The movement of the lever 30 from its closed position to its open position reduces the force exerted by the compression spring 47 on the locking wall 21 against the free end 65 of the curved portion 64. The lower edge 29 can then separate from the first flat face 57 to exit the receiving recess 56, and the lock 20 can move from its closed position to its open position.

[0056] To assemble the removable handle 1 onto the cooking vessel 60, the user grasps the gripping body 2 and, following the same procedure as described above, moves the latch 20 into its open position. They insert the free end 65 of the curved portion 64 between the internal support member 12 and the external support member 14 to bring the inner surface 62 of the side wall 61 against the internal support member 12 and the outer surface 63 against the external support member 14, and also bring the upper edge 66 against the two portions 51. Then, they press the lever 30 to move it from its open position to its closed position, thus moving the latch 20 from its open position to its closed position. The blocking wall 21 under the action of the compression spring 47 then bears against the lower edge 67 of the free end 65 and thus blocks the upper edge 66 against the two portions 51.The free end 65 of the curved portion 64 then generates a force on the locking wall 21. This force has a component F1 opposite to the downward-directed vertical locking component F, which displaces the locking wall 21 downwards. Thus, the lower edge 29 of the free end 25 of the protruding member 24 engages in a receiving recess 56 of the recessed member 54 to bear against the first flat face 57, and the lock 20 moves into the closed position. When the user wants to turn the food in the cooking container 60, for example, to flip pancakes, and applies an upward downward motion to the cooking container 60 using the removable handle 1, while firmly braking the movement at the end of the stroke, the free end 65 of the curved portion 64 exerts a significant force on the locking wall 21.But the lower edge 29, which rests on the first flat face 57, in the receiving housing 56, prevents the lock 20 from moving back.

[0057] Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and illustrated, which has been given only by way of example. Modifications remain possible, particularly with regard to the composition of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention as defined by the attached claims.

[0058] Thus, in an unillustrated alternative embodiment, the blocking wall 21 has a front end and the projecting member 24 extends transversely under the front end. Potential for industrial application

[0059] The invention finds its industrial application in the design, manufacture or use of removable handles for cooking containers.

Claims

1. Removable handle (1) intended to cooperate with a cooking vessel (60) having a side wall (61) which is extended upwards by a portion (64) curved outwards comprising a free end (65), said removable handle (1) extending in a longitudinal direction (3) and comprising an internal support member (12) and an external support member (14) intended to come against, respectively, an interior surface (62) and an exterior surface (63) of the side wall (61), as well as an upper support member (15) intended to come against the free end (65) of the curved portion (64), said removable handle (1) comprising a lock (20) movable in translation between an open position and a closed position, the lock (20) comprising a blocking wall (21) intended to be spaced from the internal support member (12) in the open position of the lock and intended to exert a force on the free end (65) in the closed position of the lock (20), under the action of a pressure means (47), the lock (20) comprising a projecting member (24) and said removable handle (1) comprising a fixed recessed member (54) and in the closed position, the projecting member (24) and the recessed member (54) being engaged with one another to prevent the back movement of the lock (20), characterized in that the projecting member (24) extends transversely beneath the blocking wall (21) and in that the projecting member (24) comprises a free end (25) which cooperates with the recessed member (54), the free end (25) of the projecting member (24) being movable between a locked position in which the lock (20) cannot retract and an unlocked position in which the lock (20) can retract.

2. Removable handle (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the recessed member (54) has a height H less than 0.5 millimeters.

3. Removable handle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the projecting member (24) extends beneath the blocking wall (21) of the lock (20) along an extension direction (5), the extension direction (5) and the blocking wall (21) forming an angle θ between 60° and 120° in a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal direction (3).

4. Removable handle (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the extension direction (5) of the projecting member (24) and the blocking wall (21) of the lock form an angle θ equal to 90° in a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal direction (3).

5. Removable handle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the recessed member (54) comprises at least one receiving cavity (56) for the free end (25) of the projecting member (24).

6. Removable handle (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that, in a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal direction (3), the at least one receiving cavity (56) has a V-shape provided with a first flat face (57) inclined at an angle β relative to the longitudinal direction (3), the angle β being less than 25°, and in that the free end (25) of the projecting member (24) comprises a lower edge (29) which cooperates with the first flat face (57) in the locked position.

7. Removable handle (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 6, characterized in that the first flat face (57) and the lower edge (29) extend perpendicularly to the vertical plane passing through the longitudinal direction (3).

8. Removable handle (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the first flat face (57) extends perpendicularly to the vertical plane passing through the longitudinal direction (3) over a width LF, and in that the lower edge (29) extends perpendicularly to the vertical plane passing through the longitudinal direction (3) over a width LA, LF and / or LA being greater than 5 millimeters.

9. Removable handle (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the recessed member (54) comprises a plurality of receiving cavities (56) arranged along the longitudinal direction (3) and having a pitch P between two successive receiving cavities (56), the pitch P being less than 1.5 millimeters.

10. Removable handle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the lock (20) is movable in translation along the longitudinal direction (3) and in that the blocking wall (21) is inclined to form, with the longitudinal direction (3) in a vertical sectional plane comprising the longitudinal direction (3), an angle α greater than 40°.

11. Removable handle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the pressure means comprise a compression spring (47) and in that the thrust of the spring (47) on the lock (20) occurs along the longitudinal direction (3) when the lock (20) is in the closed position.

12. Removable handle (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises toggle operation means for the lock (20), said operation means comprising a lever (30), a connecting rod (40), and the compression spring (47).

13. Assembly composed of at least one cooking vessel (60) having a side wall (61) which is extended upwards by a portion (64) curved outwards comprising a free end (65) provided with an upper edge (66) and a lower edge (67), and a removable handle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.