Kitchen item lid

Abstract

A cooking article lid comprising a cover (1) adapted to cover the cooking article and a gripping member (2) having a shape allowing the lid to be stacked with another lid equipped with a similar gripping member (2), said gripping member (2) resting on the cover (1) and being fixed to the cover (1) by means of a screw (23) bearing against a washer (3) disposed under the cover (1), said washer (3) having a peripheral surface (30A) bearing against the lower surface of the cover (1), characterized in that the cavity (4) comprises a bottom wall (40) and a peripheral wall (41) surrounding the bottom wall (40), the peripheral wall (41) having successively, from radially from the outside to the inside of the cavity (4),a first portion (41A) inclined towards the bottom wall (40) at a first degree of inclination and a second portion (41B) inclined towards the bottom wall (40) at a second, more pronounced degree of inclination, and in that the second portion (41B) of the peripheral wall (41) is located vertically above the peripheral surface (30A) of the washer body (3) when the cover is positioned horizontally. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 5,

Description

Title of the invention: Culinary article lid technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of lids for cooking articles, and more particularly to a lid comprising a hood adapted to cover the cooking article and a gripping member adapted to allow the lid to be gripped, in which the gripping member has a shape allowing the lid to be stacked with another lid equipped with a similar gripping member. State of the art

[0002] It is known, from document EP1871206 filed by the applicant, of a lid for a cooking article comprising a gripping element adapted to allow the lid to be gripped and to allow the lid to be stacked with another lid equipped with a similar gripping element.

[0003] In this document, the gripping member is fixed to the hood by means of a screw which bears against a washer whose body protrudes under the hood, the gripping member having an upper surface provided with a cavity whose shape is adapted to receive the fixing washer and allow stacking with another cover.

[0004] However, such cookware lids have the disadvantage of not being properly guided radially when stacked on top of each other. Thus, the lids are not perfectly centered relative to one another, which can lead to an imbalance in the stack. Such radial movement of the lids can, in particular, cause wear due to friction. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention aims to remedy this drawback.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a lid for a cooking utensil comprising a cover adapted to cover the cooking utensil and a gripping member having a shape allowing the lid to be stacked with another lid equipped with a similar gripping member, the gripping member resting on the cover and being fixed to the cover by means of a screw bearing against a washer disposed under the cover, said washer comprising a projecting body having a peripheral surface that defines the contour of the washer and that bears against the lower surface of the cover, the gripping member having an upper surface comprising a cavity, characterized in that the cavity comprises a bottom wall and a peripheral wall surrounding the bottom wall, the peripheral wall having ceasingly, starting radially from the outside towards the inside of the cavity, a first portion inclined towards the bottom wall according to a first degree of inclination and a second portion inclined towards the bottom wall according to a second, more pronounced degree of inclination, and in that the second portion of the peripheral wall is vertically aligned with the peripheral surface of the washer body when the cover is positioned horizontally.

[0007] In other words, the shape of the surface of the second portion of the peripheral wall is such that the surface covered by the latter is, according to a projection orthogonal to the closing plane of the lid, superimposed with the peripheral surface of the body of the washer.

[0008] Thus the cavity shape is adapted to receive the washer of another lid when the latter is stacked horizontally on the lid and to cooperate with the latter in order to ensure automatic centering of the lids.

[0009] The device may also have one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination.

[0010] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the cavity has a depth which is greater than or equal to the height of the washer.

[0011] Such a feature allows the washer to engage in the cavity without touching the bottom wall.

[0012] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the first portion is inclined towards the bottom wall of the cavity at an angle ai between 10° and 45° and preferably of the order of 25°.

[0013] Such a feature makes it possible to obtain a first portion ensuring a progressive sliding of the cover attached to the gripping member towards the center of the cavity.

[0014] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the second portion is inclined towards the bottom wall of the cavity at an angle a2 between 45° and 90° and preferably of the order of 65°.

[0015] Such a feature makes it possible to form a receiving housing in which the radial immobilization of the cover, which is attached to the gripping member, is optimized.

[0016] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the first portion has a circular contour extending in a straight line from a first radius RI to a second radius R2, the difference between the first radius RI and the second radius R2 being advantageously between 2 and 6 mm and preferably on the order of 4 mm.

[0017] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the second portion has a circular contour extending in a straight line from the second radius R2 up to a third radius R3, the difference between the third radius R3 and the second radius R2 being preferably less than 2 mm.

[0018] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the peripheral surface of the washer body has an inclination which corresponds, to more or less 10 degrees, to the degree of inclination of the second inclined portion.

[0019] Such a feature further optimizes the radial immobilization of the cover attached to the gripping member

[0020] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the body of the washer has a circular contour.

[0021] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the body of the washer has a peripheral protuberance in the shape of an annular ridge.

[0022] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the body of the washer has a central part, receiving the screw, which is located in recess relative to the top of the protrusion.

[0023] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the gripping member comprises a button which is fixedly mounted on the hood and at least one gripping element movable relative to the button, said gripping element being movable between a stacking position in which said gripping element is recessed relative to the top of the button and a gripping position in which the gripping element protrudes above the button.

[0024] The invention also relates to an assembly of at least two lids as previously described in which, when the two lids are stacked one on top of the other, the first inclined portion of the cavity of the gripping member of the lower lid cooperates with the peripheral surface of the washer of the upper lid to guide the washer of the upper lid towards the center of the cavity of the lower lid.

[0025] Such a feature allows for automatic centering of the two lids when they are stacked one on top of the other.

[0026] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the peripheral surface of the washer of the upper cover comes to rest against the second portion of the peripheral wall of the cavity of the gripping member of the lower cover when the two covers are stacked one on top of the other, being centered with respect to each other.

[0027] Such a feature makes it possible to obtain an optimized radial immobilization of the two lids when they are stacked one on top of the other. Brief description of the figures

[0028] The aims, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description of two particular embodiments of the invention. presented as non-exhaustive examples, with reference to the attached drawings in which:

[0029] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the upper face of a lid for a cooking item according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0030] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of the underside of the lid of [Fig.1];

[0031] The [Fig.3] is a radial cross-sectional view of the lid of the [Fig.1];

[0032] Figure 4 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the gripping member equipping the lid of the [Fig.l];

[0033] Fig. 5 is a radial cross-sectional view of two lids made according to the first embodiment of the invention and stacked one on top of the other;

[0034] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the upper face of a lid for a cooking item according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0035] Fig. 7 is a radial cross-sectional view of the lid of Fig. 1 stacked on top of the lid of Fig. 2.

[0036] Only the elements necessary for understanding the invention have been shown. To facilitate reading the drawings, the same elements bear the same reference numerals from one figure to another.

[0037] It should be noted that in this document, the terms "horizontal", "vertical", "lower", "upper", "top", "bottom", "front", "back", "longitudinal", "transverse", used to describe the lid refer to this device in a situation of use, when it rests flat on a cooking article.

[0038] Figures 1 to 3 illustrate a lid for a cooking article, for example for a pan or a saucepan, the lid classically comprising a hood 1 adapted to cover the cooking article and a gripping member 2 allowing the lid to be gripped.

[0039] The cover 1 of the lid has a circular plate 10, advantageously flat, the diameter of which corresponds substantially to the diameter of the cooking article to be covered, and has an opening 11 for the escape of the steam contained in the plate 10.

[0040] Preferably, the plate 10 is made of a transparent material, such as glass or plastic, providing visual access to the contents of the cooking article when the latter is covered by the lid. In an alternative embodiment, the plate 10 can also be made of a metallic material.

[0041] The cover 1 of the lid advantageously comprises a metal ring 12 fixed on the periphery of the plate 10, the ring 12 comprising a skirt 12A projecting on the underside of the lid, intended to be inserted into the cooking article, and a shoulder 12B intended to rest on the edge of the open upper end of the cooking article.

[0042] The gripping member 2 is arranged in a central position on the upper face of the cover and advantageously includes a button 20 comprising a flat lower surface attached against the upper surface of the cover 1.

[0043] Preferably, the button 20 has an overall cylindrical shape and is made of a plastic material by molding.

[0044] The button 20 advantageously comprises two gripping elements 21 that are movable in rotation between a folded position A1, illustrated in dotted lines on [Fig.3], in which the two gripping elements 21 extend substantially parallel to the cover 1 and a deployed position A2, also illustrated in dotted lines on [Fig.3], in which the two gripping elements 21 extend substantially perpendicular to the cover 1.

[0045] For this purpose, the two gripping elements 21 are mounted to rotate freely around an axis extending through the button 20, the latter advantageously containing a return spring 22 bringing the two gripping elements 21 back into an intermediate position, illustrated in solid line on [Fig.3], in which the two gripping elements 21 extend substantially at 45° relative to the plate 10 of the cover 1.

[0046] According to [Fig.4], the button 20 is fixed to the cover 1 by a screw 23 having a head bearing against a washer 3 disposed against the lower surface of the cover 1. The screw 23 passes through the cover 1 and has a threaded shank which is screwed into a tapped bore 24 opening onto the lower face of the button 20.

[0047] According to figures 2 and 4, the washer 3 comprises a body including a peripheral annular bead 30, which protrudes to a height H from the lower surface of the cover 1 and a central part disposed in recess from the bead 30, the central part including a housing for receiving the screw head 23. The bead 30 includes a peripheral surface 30A which defines the contour of the washer 3 and which has an end bearing against the lower face of the cover 1.

[0048] As can be seen more particularly in figures 3 and 4, the button 20 of the gripping member 2 has a cavity 4 on its upper face whose shape is adapted to receive the bead 30 of another lid equipped with a gripping member 2, in particular when stacking different lids for storage.

[0049] Preferably, the cavity 4 comprises a bottom wall 40 and a peripheral wall 41 surrounding the bottom wall 40, the peripheral wall 41 having successively, from radially from the outside to the inside of the cavity 4, a first portion 41A inclined towards the bottom wall 40 at a first angle of inclination a1 and a second portion 41B inclined towards the inside of the bottom wall 40 at a second, higher angle of inclination a2. The first portion 41A advantageously forms a wall with a circular contour extending in a straight line between a first radius RI of button 20 and a second radius R2 of button 20. The second portion 41B advantageously forms a wall with a circular contour extending in a straight line between the second radius R2 and a third radius R3 of button 20.

[0050] By way of example, with respect to the plane of the hood 1, the first angle of inclination oq is on the order of 25° and the second angle of inclination a2 is on the order of 65°. Preferably, the difference between the first radius RI and the second radius R2 is on the order of 4 mm and the difference between the third radius R3 and the second radius R2 is less than 2 mm.

[0051] The depth P of the cavity 4 at the level of the bottom wall 40 is preferably greater than the height H of the washer 3.

[0052] According to [Fig. 4], the second portion 41B of the cavity 4 has a substantially frustoconical surface which is located directly above the peripheral surface of the annular bead 30 of the washer 3 when the cover is positioned horizontally. In particular, the shape of the second portion 41B is adapted so that the surface covered by it is, according to a projection orthogonal to the cover 1, superimposed on the peripheral surface 30A of the body of the washer 3.

[0053] The peripheral surface 30A of the washer 3 has an inclination with respect to the plane of the hood 1 preferably close to that of the second portion 41B of the cavity 4 so that the peripheral surface 30A of the washer 3 and the second portion 41B of the cavity 4 extend substantially parallel.

[0054] The advantages provided by such a construction will now be described in relation to [Fig.5] which illustrates a set of two identical lids stacked one on top of the other.

[0055] According to this figure, when stacking two lids equipped with a gripping member 2 as previously described, the washer 3 for fixing the gripping member 2 of the upper lid engages in the cavity 4 provided on the upper surface of the gripping member 2 of the lower lid.

[0056] In particular, when the user places the upper cover on the lower cover, for example for storage, the gripping elements 21 of the lower cover are moved towards the folded position under the effect of the weight of the upper cover, and the bead 30 of the gripping member 2 of the upper cover comes, initially, when the upper cover is not perfectly centered with respect to the lower cover, to rest on the first portion 41A of the peripheral wall 41 of the cavity 4 of the gripping member 2 of the lower cover.

[0057] Under the effect of gravity and the weight of the upper lid, the bead 30 of the washer 3 of the upper lid then slides gently along the first portion 41A inclined from the peripheral wall 41 and moves towards the center of the cavity 4 of the grasping member 2 of the lower cover.

[0058] When the entire peripheral surface 30A of the body of the washer 3 reaches the second portion 41B of the peripheral wall 41, the bead 30 then abruptly enters the central area of ​​the cavity 4, due to the greater inclination of the peripheral wall 41 in this area.

[0059] The peripheral surface 30A of the body of the washer 3 is then advantageously in contact, on all periphery, against the surface of the second portion 41B of the peripheral wall 41 of the cavity 4, which ensures lateral immobilization of the cover in a position where the upper cover is perfectly centered with respect to the lower cover.

[0060] Figure 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the lid in which the gripping member 2 lacks a movable gripping element but has a taller button 200. In this alternative embodiment, the means for attaching the button 200 remain similar to those described previously for the first embodiment, as does the shape of the cavity 4 formed at the top of the button 200.

[0061] Figure 7 illustrates a stacking of a lid according to the first embodiment on a lid according to the second embodiment. The advantages provided by the cooperation of the shapes of the washer 3 for fixing the upper gripping member 2 with those of the cavity 4 formed on the upper surface of the button 200 of the lower lid remain similar to those previously described in Figure 5.

[0062] Of course, two lids according to the second embodiment can also be stacked while retaining the same advantages as those described above. The lids that are stacked on top of each other can also have different diameters without this affecting the advantages provided by the present invention.

[0063] The invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and illustrated, which have 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.

[0064] Thus, in an unrepresented embodiment, the grasping member may have a non-circular shape, for example an octagonal, hexagonal or square shape.

Claims

Claims

1. A lid for a culinary item comprising a cover (1) adapted to cover the culinary item and a gripping member (2) having a shape allowing the lid to be stacked with another lid equipped with a similar gripping member (2), said gripping member (2) resting on the cover (1) and being fixed to the cover (1) by means of a screw (23) which bears on a washer (3) arranged under the cover (1), said washer (3) comprising a projecting body comprising a peripheral surface (30A) which defines the contour of the washer (3) and which bears on the lower surface of the cover (1), said gripping member comprising an upper surface comprising a cavity (4), characterized in that the cavity (4) comprises a bottom wall (40) and a peripheral wall (41) surrounding the bottom wall (40), the peripheral wall (41) successively presenting, starting radially from the outside towards the inside of the cavity (4),a first portion (41A) inclined towards the bottom wall (40) according to a first degree of inclination and a second portion (41B) inclined towards the bottom wall (40) according to a second, more pronounced degree of inclination and in that the second portion (41B) of the peripheral wall (41) is located in line with the peripheral surface (30A) of the body of the washer (3) when the cover is arranged horizontally.,

2. Culinary article cover according to claim 1, characterized in that the cavity (4) has a depth which is greater than or equal to the height of the washer (3).

3. Culinary article cover according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the first portion (41 A) is inclined towards the bottom wall (40) of the cavity at an angle ai of between 10° and 45° and preferably of the order of 25°.

4. Culinary article cover according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second portion (41B) is inclined towards the bottom wall (40) of the cavity at an angle a2 of between 45° and 90° and preferably of the order of 65°.

5. Culinary article cover according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the peripheral surface (30A) of the body of the washer (3) has an inclination which corresponds, to plus or minus 10 degrees, to the degree of inclination of the second inclined portion (41B).

6. Culinary article cover according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the body of the washer (3) has a circular contour.

7. Culinary article cover according to claim 6, characterized in that the body of the washer (3) comprises a peripheral protuberance having the shape of an annular bead (30).

8. Culinary article cover according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the gripping member (2) comprises a button (20) which is fixedly mounted on the cover (1) and at least one gripping element movable relative to the button (20), said gripping element being movable between a stacking position in which said gripping element is set back relative to the top of the button (20) and a gripping position in which the gripping element projects above the button (20).

9. A set of at least two cookware lids according to any preceding claim, wherein, when the two lids are stacked on top of each other, the first inclined portion (41A) of the cavity (4) of the gripping member (2) of the lower lid cooperates with the peripheral surface (30A) of the washer (3) of the upper lid to guide the washer (3) of the upper lid towards the centre of the cavity (4) of the lower lid.

10. Set of at least two culinary article lids according to claim 9, characterized in that, when the two lids are stacked on top of each other, being centered relative to each other, the peripheral surface (30A) of the washer (3) of the upper lid rests against the second portion (41B) of the peripheral wall (41) of the cavity of the gripping member of the lower lid.

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